"Is that... Shinomiya-san?" Miko was stunned, struggling to believe her eyes.
It was one thing for him to get into someone else's car earlier, but now he had brought that person home! What on earth was happening? No ordinary friendship could explain this.
"Miko, listen to my explanation," Amamiya pulled her to the side and whispered, "That's not Shinomiya-san."
Miko bit her lip lightly, her eyes skeptical. "You're lying."
Even though she hadn't spoken much with Kaguya, Miko had seen her many times at school. The familiar black hair and red eyes—who else could it possibly be?
Amamiya sighed and continued, "That's Shinomiya-san's mother."
"What?" Miko was taken aback, her expression disbelieving as she looked at him in shock. "Did you just say... Shinomiya-san's 'mother'?"
"That's right," Amamiya nodded, confirming. "It's Mrs. Shinomiya."
Miko stood silent for a moment, processing what she just heard.
"Wait a second," she said, raising a hand to her forehead. Her face contorted with a mixture of confusion and disbelief. "You're telling me... you brought your classmate's 'mother' home?"
How on earth had this situation spiraled so wildly out of control? Earlier today, he was just helping someone in need, and now this. It was all so absurd!
"It's really not what it seems," Amamiya defended himself. "I just happened to run into her, and well, Mrs. Shinomiya was like your father—an earthbound spirit."
Miko's brow furrowed as Amamiya lowered his voice, speaking more cautiously. "Earthbound spirits might look like they're alive, but they actually lack self-awareness. They act purely on instincts from when they were living. But a guardian spirit is different."
"So, what you're saying is... they're not fully aware?" Miko asked softly.
"Exactly. That's why you still need to be careful around your father," Amamiya warned, "We don't know what might happen if he realizes you can see him."
Miko's face tensed as she bit her lip and nodded slightly.
She had known all along—her father, the one who had returned home after his death, wasn't really 'him' anymore.
There was no way she could have spent so many years with him without noticing something off.
"Let's go to my room," Amamiya suggested, trying to shift the mood. "You still haven't helped me train today."
Miko folded her arms across her chest, glaring at him. "You've got a guardian spirit now, why don't you ask 'Mrs. Shinomiya' for help?"
"She's a ghost."
"I literally just saw her drinking a can of tea."
"That doesn't count," Amamiya argued. "She's still my classmate's mother, and besides, I need 'your' help, Miko-sama."
"Fine," she relented with a sigh. "Let's hurry up, I still have to cook dinner later."
Mrs. Shinomiya, unaware of their conversation, floated in front of Miko, curiously observing her. With her hands clasped behind her back, she commented as though oblivious to the situation, "Such a petite figure! High school girls nowadays develop so quickly."
Miko's eye twitched as she subtly crossed her arms over her chest, feeling self-conscious.
She wasn't some overdeveloped girl! Just... a little bit above average!
Seeing Miko's reaction, Mrs. Shinomiya blinked in surprise and turned to Amamiya. "Amamiya-kun, this girl seems like she can see me."
"That's because she can," Amamiya replied calmly. "Miko can definitely see you."
Mrs. Shinomiya was startled. "Wait, she can see spirits too? Is she a player in that spooky game?"
"No, not quite," Amamiya explained, glancing at Miko. "She suddenly gained the ability to see spirits, probably what they call 'yin-yang eyes'."
Miko, now more composed, bowed slightly in front of Mrs. Shinomiya. "Hello, ma'am. It's an honor to meet you. I'm Miko, your daughter's schoolmate. Nice to meet you."
This was the first time Miko had spoken directly to a spirit, and the experience felt surreal. She imagined this must be what it was like for astronauts taking their first steps on the moon—small for them, monumental for everyone else.
Mrs. Shinomiya smiled warmly, but then waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, please, just call me 'big sister.' I died young, you know, from a heart attack in my twenties. Being called 'ma'am' makes me feel so old."
Miko blinked, speechless. What could she even say to that?
——
Amamiya and Miko climbed the stairs and entered his room.
"Let's get started," Amamiya said as he put down his school bag and laid down on the floor, ready for the session.
Miko hesitated, glancing awkwardly at Mrs. Shinomiya. It was one thing to help Amamiya train, but doing so in front of a mother of someone she knew... that was just too embarrassing.
"Mrs. Shimizu, could you step outside?" Amamiya asked, turning to his guardian spirit. "Miko and I are about to do something... um, that's difficult to explain."
On their way home earlier, Amamiya had learned Mrs. Shinomiya's real name—Nayotake Shimizu. She had asked him to stop calling her "Mrs. Shinomiya," preferring her maiden name instead. Amamiya didn't pry further, figuring it was likely tied to some family politics.
Shimizu's eyes twinkled with mischief as she nodded in understanding. "Ah, I see! Don't worry, Amamiya-kun. I won't tell Kaguya what's happening here."
Miko's face flushed red, and she quickly corrected her. "It's not like that! I'm just stepping on his back!"
"It's all right," Shimizu said, still smiling. "You two have fun. I'll make sure no one disturbs you."
With that, she floated out the door, leaving the two in silence.
---
As Miko stepped on Amamiya's back, she found herself sweating slightly. Balancing while stepping on someone required more effort than she expected, especially while wearing her knee-high socks.
After a few minutes, Miko sighed, stepping off him. "That's enough for today. I've got to head home now. See you tomorrow."
Amamiya sat up, clenching his fist in satisfaction. "Yes! I've gotten stronger again!"
Miko rolled her eyes, adjusting her skirt as she looked at him. "There's something really weird about getting stronger just by having someone step on your back."
"It's not weird," Amamiya replied, his tone serious. "There are no useless abilities, only useless people."
Miko turned to leave, shaking her head. "...Goodbye."
Shimizu, now fully adjusted to her new existence, busied herself exploring the world of the living, her curiosity insatiable after more than a decade of inactivity. Amamiya, needing rest, handed her a spare phone and let her entertain herself by surfing the internet.
The night passed without further incident.
---
When Amamiya awoke the next morning and stepped out of his room, he was startled to find Shimizu's form flickering and growing faint.