"I can't see anything. It's pitch dark in here," Chika whimpered. "How are we supposed to scare someone when we can't even see?"
"Oops, I forgot we can't see well in the dark," Umi said, scratching her head. She turned toward Amamiya. "Amamiya-kun, got any ideas?"
"In situations like this, it's only natural to seek outside help," Amamiya replied before turning his gaze to Shimizu.
"I'm afraid I can't help," Shimizu said, wrapping her arms around herself. "Even ghosts need to follow the laws of science. Without light, you can't see clearly."
'You're a ghost! That's the most unscientific thing here!'
At that moment, a calm, clear voice suddenly broke the silence:
"I can see."
"Huh?" Amamiya turned toward Kaguya, quickly piecing it together. "Is it because of the mission from last time?"
"That's right." Kaguya nodded gently, pressing her hand to her forehead. "After my vision improved, I can now see faintly in the dark."
"That's amazing!" Chika's eyes sparkled as she stepped closer. "Kaguya-chan's eyes have turned into night-vision goggles?"
"Of course not. I can only see vague outlines," Kaguya clarified.
"Can you see through things too?" Chika asked excitedly.
"That'd be a superpower, not improved vision," Amamiya said dryly.
"Since Shinomiya-san can see better than us, let's follow her lead," Amamiya suggested, making a quick decision. "Shinomiya-san, you take the front."
Chika grinned. "Kaguya-chan, we're counting on you."
Umi added, "Lead the way, Shinomiya-san."
Shimizu chimed in playfully, "Have fun, Kaguya-chan."
Kaguya sighed internally. 'Not fun at all!'
'I'm the one leading the way while they all relax and reap the benefits… Don't they feel the slightest bit guilty?'
With a light exhale, Kaguya pressed her fingers to her temples and began walking ahead.
The haunted house's theme was set in a crumbling, abandoned village, with eerie traditional customs. The story was that the villagers mysteriously vanished overnight, and the players were paranormal enthusiasts investigating the truth. If this were a movie, it would be a complete massacre.
In the dim lighting, Amamiya could make out various relics from the Heian period. The level of detail in recreating the era was impressive.
"Have you ever been to a haunted house before, Amamiya-kun?" Chika asked quietly.
"I guess if school haunted houses count, then yes," Amamiya replied.
"You mean the one in junior high?" Umi joined in. "I played the role of the ghost in that one."
As Kaguya continued leading the way, she could hear their conversation from behind. Her pearly white teeth bit down on her lower lip in frustration.
'Too much! I'm navigating the dark, and you're just chatting away?'
Suddenly, Kaguya stopped.
"What's wrong?" Amamiya whispered.
"In the corner up ahead," Kaguya replied softly. "There's someone crouched there."
She was dressed in white with long, loose hair, crouched low in a corner. Judging by her appearance, she wasn't another visitor but likely a staff member of the haunted house.
"Isn't this a bit too much?" Chika hesitated. "What if we scare them?"
"Anyone working in a haunted house is probably brave enough not to be easily frightened," Amamiya remarked. "Just try it. If it works, great. If not, we'll apologize sincerely."
"Alright, that sounds fair," Chika agreed.
Umi handed over a black wig. "Here, Chika-chan, this is for you."
Chika nodded, clenching her fists in determination. "I'm going in."
After slipping on the wig, she quietly approached the staff member crouched in the corner.
To avoid being noticed too early, Amamiya and the others stayed back, keeping a safe distance. Too many people, or too much noise, would ruin the scare attempt.
Chika tiptoed behind the staff member, adjusting her wig and positioning herself silently. The key to a successful scare was to let the other person notice her in an unexpected way.
Several seconds passed, and yet the staff member remained motionless, still staring down the corridor without turning around.
Chika felt frustrated. 'Not moving at all? Your guard is way too low!'
"Looks like I'll have to take the initiative," she muttered to herself.
Chika pulled out a snack bag from her pocket and crinkled it loudly, creating a strange, sudden noise.
The sound startled the staff member, who flinched slightly and began to turn their head. But halfway through the turn, they stopped abruptly.
"Why did you stop?"
"Aren't you curious about the sound behind you?"
Chika, unable to hold back any longer, gently patted the staff member's shoulder.
In the next moment, she felt her hand pass through thin air, as if there was nothing there at all.
"Eh? Hey, hey?"
The figure squatting in the corner slowly lifted its head. Its neck twisted at an unnatural angle, and a hollow, echoing voice came from the figure.
"You... can see me?"
"I-I can't!" Chika immediately shook her head.
"You 'can' see me!" the hollow voice suddenly dropped to an eerie coldness, and a thick black mist surged from the figure's body.
A surge of panic overwhelmed Chika, and without another word, she turned and ran, screaming, "Help, help, help!"
"Hm?" Amamiya, still in conversation with Umi, was startled by the sudden cry for help. He looked up but couldn't see much due to the dim lighting.
"That's not a staff member, that's an 'evil spirit'!" Kaguya's voice came sharply, her usual composed tone now laced with urgency and fear.
"An evil spirit?" Amamiya's face darkened. Without hesitation, he dashed forward along the passage, activating his protective aura against evil spirits as he ran.
The distance wasn't far, and Amamiya soon spotted the pink-haired Chika with the figure chasing her.
A ghastly, rotting face with hollow eyes loomed behind Chika, and it was clear that it wasn't human. The spirit's twisted form revealed glimpses of the corridor through its transparent body. It was undoubtedly an evil spirit.
'Bang!'
Chika collided into Amamiya, the force of her impact pushing him back half a step.
The twisted evil spirit, like a predator drawn by the scent of fear, closed in rapidly. As it neared the two of them, its body began to burn under Amamiya's protective aura. But even engulfed in flames, it relentlessly reached out, trying to grasp Chika until it was finally reduced to ashes.
"Chika-chan, are you okay?" Umi hurried over, concerned in her voice.
"Waaa!! I was so scared!" Chika, normally so bold, couldn't stop herself from crying. "I thought it was just a staff member from the haunted house, but it was an actual evil spirit!"
"Let go already, I can't breathe," Amamiya muttered, trying to catch his breath as Chika clung to him tightly.
"S-sorry!" Chika let go and stepped back, embarrassed.
Kaguya, biting her lip in regret, said softly, "I'm sorry. I didn't realize it was an evil spirit."
"In this haunted house, it's not just actors we need to watch out for," Amamiya said seriously. "There are real evil spirits mixed in. We need to be extra cautious."
With newfound resolve, the group pressed forward.
As they reached a crossroads, they suddenly heard loud screams echoing from the other passages.
"Is it another evil spirit?" Chika whispered, clearly still shaken by her earlier encounter.
"The footsteps sound heavy," Amamiya responded. "It must be people."
Just as he spoke, the three groups collided with each other at the junction. In the dim light, no one could see clearly, and chaos ensued. When the confusion finally settled, Amamiya realized he had become separated from the others.
Except for Shimizu, who stood next to him, eyes wide in innocent surprise.