"Amamiya-kun, have you ever been to Yokohama?"
Chika walked energetically along the white line on the side of the street, her steps light and joyful, resembling a young deer frolicking in the morning sun.
"I've never been there," Amamiya replied, shaking his head.
"I have," Chika said proudly, tilting her chin up to reveal her delicate, snow-white neck. "Yokohama has a famous foodtown with lots of delicious food. Let's go try some together when we're done!"
You're already thinking about food before we've even finished what we came to do? Typical Chika, Amamiya thought with a hint of helplessness.
"Didn't you mention that your family has a curfew? Is it alright for you to stay out late?" Amamiya asked.
"It's fine! I just need to be home by nine," Chika replied cheerfully. "We can eat until about eight..."
Before she could finish, Chika suddenly ducked behind Amamiya, grabbing onto his sleeve in panic.
"A-a huge evil spirit!"
Amamiya turned toward the alley Chika was pointing at.
To ordinary eyes, the alley was empty and desolate. But to Amamiya and Chika, it was teeming with a dozen or so evil spirits of varying sizes.
The largest among them was a hulking creature three or four meters tall, with horns on its head and fangs jutting from its mouth. It was snatching up smaller spirits and devouring them whole.
Sensing their presence, the monstrous spirit turned its glowing red eyes toward them.
Without missing a beat, Amamiya averted his gaze, grabbed Chika's hand, and hurried her forward.
"Let's go, quickly."
They briskly walked past the alley, and once they were sure the spirits hadn't followed, Chika let out a sigh of relief, her hand resting on her chest.
"That was terrifying," she whispered.
"Evil spirits come in all shapes and sizes," Amamiya remarked casually. "Just yesterday, I saw one about as tall as my knee. It looked like an old man, and ran away in fear when I approached."
"And dogs seem to be able to sense them, too," Chika added, clearly not as frightened as her earlier reaction suggested. "When I took Pes for a walk, he started barking at one in the park. It was so creepy."
You're talking so much for someone who was supposedly scared, Amamiya thought.
With Chika still chattering, they arrived at the subway station.
At the ticket gate, two evil spirits dressed as station employees stood on either side, staring blankly at passersby with hollow, dark eyes.
Even after becoming evil spirits, they still keep working? The dedication of corporate drones really does run deep in Japan, Amamiya mused.
Chika edged closer to Amamiya and whispered, "Amamiya-kun."
"Hmm?"
"Use your ability to chase them away. These evil spirits at the ticket gate are dangerous. Imagine a poor office worker accidentally revealing himself to them while on his way home—he'd be doomed!"
'You're so considerate of other players you don't even know. Truly the light of humanity.'
Suppressing a smile, Amamiya silently released a wave of energy, and flames erupted around the spirits. They disappeared with a quiet wail.
Chika watched in awe.
The subway wasn't very crowded at this time of day, and they easily found empty seats.
Once seated, Chika, following the unspoken rule of no conversation on the subway, grew quiet. After fiddling with her phone for a while, her head began to nod, and she let out a small yawn.
"If you're tired, take a nap," Amamiya whispered. "I'll wake you when we reach Yokohama."
Like many who could see evil spirits, Chika hadn't been getting enough rest lately. Her eyes were shadowed with dark circles.
Chika blinked sleepily, as if trying to stay awake, but soon gave in and drifted off, her head gently resting on Amamiya's shoulder.
Amamiya glanced at the pink-haired girl beside him, now sound asleep, before turning back to his phone.
The subway ride was quiet, and they soon arrived at Yokohama.
"Fujiwara-san, wake up," Amamiya said softly, nudging her. "We're here."
Chika opened her deep blue eyes, still dazed from sleep, and blinked at him in confusion.
"Wipe your drool," Amamiya teased. "It's time to get off."
"Wha—I'm not drooling!" Chika quickly wiped the corner of her mouth and sat up straight. "You're lying!"
"Any longer and it really would've started dripping," Amamiya replied with a smirk.
Chika puffed her cheeks in mock annoyance but followed him off the train.
After navigating with their phones, they arrived at the entrance to Yokohama High School, where a girl with a ponytail was waiting. It was Asuka, the clingy girl Amamiya had met in the game the day before.
"Chika-chan!"
Seeing the two approach, Asuka brightened and ran over to greet them. When she reached Amamiya, she bowed politely.
"Good afternoon, senpai."
"Don't call me senpai," Amamiya said with a sigh. "You're a second-year, right?"
Shouldn't you feel weird calling a high schooler 'senpai' when you're a year ahead?
"Asuka-chan, no need to be so formal," Chika chimed in. "We're all friends here. Just call him Amamiya like I do!"
Asuka blushed, hesitating.
She wasn't really one to offer much help during their previous encounter. If anything, she felt like she'd just been hanging on to others for support.
Amamiya diverted the conversation. "Where's your friend?"
"She's in the gym," Asuka answered. "Let's go; I'll take you there."
Following Asuka, they made their way to the school gym, where several girls were in the midst of volleyball practice, their faces flushed with effort.
Amamiya's eyes sharpened, quickly spotting Asuya's friend. It wasn't hard to identify her since she was the only one surrounded by evil spirits.
"There are so many evil spirits," Chika whispered, eyes wide in shock. "How terrifying."
Several evil spirits clung to the girl, each resembling middle-aged men. Some wrapped themselves tightly around her waist, while others grasped her neck, making it an unsettling sight to behold.
"It really is disturbing," Asuka muttered, biting her lower lip. "I'm too scared to even join in club practice now. I keep making excuses, saying I'm not feeling well."
Seeing her friend completely surrounded by evil spirits made it impossible for Asuka to focus on training.
"Why are there evil spirits haunting your friend?" Chika asked, confused.
Asuka remained silent, her lower lip trembling as she bit down harder.
"Don't ask," Amamiya interjected quietly. "It's none of our business."
Over the past week of observation, Amamiya had learned that evil spirits in the real world either wandered aimlessly or latched onto people.
The spirits haunting Asuka's friend were clearly tied to her by some deep, unresolved attachment.
Perhaps it was a deceased parent.
Or maybe someone who had followed her from Hokkaido all the way to Tokyo, waiting for her.
Either way, it was a matter of personal privacy, and Amamiya had no intention of prying.
Activating his spirit-repelling aura, Amamiya watched as the evil spirits clinging to the girl vanished reluctantly, their wails fading into the air.
Asuka let out a sigh of relief, her eyes filled with even more admiration for Amamiya.
Amamiya was the first person she had ever seen who could banish evil spirits in the real world.
Though she had yet to meet other players in person, it didn't matter—Amamiya was clearly a top-tier player, and she had every intention of sticking by him from now on.
With the spirits gone, Asuka invited them both to dinner at a luxurious restaurant. Amamiya didn't refuse; the evening was still young. He followed the two girls, savoring both the meal and the lively atmosphere. After dinner, they strolled through the streets together.
By 7:30 p.m., they bid farewell to the ponytailed girl and caught the subway back to Tokyo.
"The food in that restaurant is so delicious!" Chika exclaimed, rubbing her stomach with satisfaction. "I will definitely come back!"
Amamiya nodded in agreement. "It was excellent."
"If life could always be like this, with no horror games and no more evil spirits, I'd be perfectly happy," Chika sighed wistfully.
You have such simple dreams, Amamiya thought with amusement. And here so many people are expecting you to become Japan's first female prime minister!
But in the next instant, Amamiya's vision blurred. The once-crowded subway car was suddenly deserted, the lights taking on a cold, eerie glow.
Then, a familiar, chilling voice echoed in his mind.
"Special event 'Midnight Subway' has been triggered. Wishing all players a happy game."
Amamiya turned silently to look at the pink-haired girl beside him.
"...You jinxed it."