"Isumi, are you hiding something from me?"
Seeing Isumi's hesitant expression, Nagi could tell immediately that her friend was keeping something from her.
"Hmm…"
Nagi's questioning left Isumi visibly conflicted.
"Nagi…"
But before Isumi could say anything, Nagi cut her off.
"Forget it."
Just as Isumi seemed ready to confess, Nagi chose to drop the matter.
"If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. I just needed to know that you and I are in the same boat."
Nagi wasn't the type to push too hard, especially when it came to her closest and most trusted friend. She felt there was no need to press Isumi further. Some things, she believed, would come to light naturally in time.
"Nagi…"
Isumi's heart wavered at Nagi's response, and her voice softened.
"Since you've already come into contact with these things, you'll inevitably encounter them again in the future. Maybe it's better if I tell you now rather than keep hiding it."
The unknown always breeds fear. If Nagi were to face these things unprepared, the consequences could be worse.
"Nagi-chan, there are special powers in this world, and there are also evil spirits that wield them."
"Evil spirits… ghosts?"
"Yes. Nagi-chan, I know how much you're afraid of these things, which is why I never told you before."
"… I see."
Indeed, Nagi's greatest fear was anything related to ghosts or the supernatural. Even just hearing about them made her legs feel weak.
Still, she reached out and placed her hands firmly on Isumi's shoulders.
"What about you?"
"Me?"
Isumi blinked, confused by the sudden question.
"We're the same age, right? I'm terrified of ghosts, but what about you? Aren't you afraid of them?"
"…"
Isumi hesitated before nodding slightly.
"I was scared at first. I didn't know what to do when I encountered them. But as I kept facing them, I gradually learned how to use my power. Even so, during my exorcisms, I met people who feared me because of my abilities."
"That's when I realized people fear what they don't understand. As long as they can't control it, that fear will never go away."
"So that's why you didn't want me to know?"
Nagi took a deep breath, then reached out and pinched Isumi's cheeks with both hands.
"Isumi, I would never be afraid of you. You're not some monster people should fear. You're a knight, someone who steps up to help others when they're in trouble."
"This is your punishment for not trusting me. If anything like this happens again, you have to tell me. We're best friends, aren't we?"
"… Okay, Nagi-chan. I promise to tell you next time."
Looking into Nagi's sincere eyes, Isumi felt a weight lift from her heart.
She didn't even mind Nagi pinching her cheeks. Instead, she stepped forward and hugged her tightly.
"Nagi-chan, I like you the most."
"Huh? Why are you saying that all of a sudden? But… I like you the most too, Isumi."
Nagi's face flushed at the sudden confession, but she didn't shy away from admitting her feelings in return.
The invisible barrier that had existed between them shattered in an instant, and the two reaffirmed their bond as best friends.
---
"Ah, Nagi and Isumi really are close," Maria commented, watching the scene with a smile.
Since she had started taking care of Nagi, Maria had always noticed how close Nagi and Isumi were.
Nagi loved sharing her favorite anime plots with those around her, and she even drew her own manga from time to time.
Although Maria often found Nagi's manga a bit surreal, Isumi was the only one who could fully appreciate both the stories and the art. The two often discussed them in great detail.
Perhaps that was why they had such a strong connection.
And now, their bond seemed even deeper.
---
After the emotional moment, Nagi quickly shifted the topic, clearly uncomfortable with the lingering atmosphere.
"By the way, Isumi, what do you think of this diary?"
"I'm not sure," Isumi admitted, shaking her head.
"This whole thing is strange. From what you've told me, just reading the diary grants you a chance to win something in a lottery. And the rewards… they're absurdly powerful. The effort and the return aren't proportional at all."
The balance was completely skewed, too little was given, and far too much was gained.
"It's basically getting something for nothing," Isumi added.
"Not only is the diary strange, but the person who wrote it is just as odd," she continued.
"That man wrote his name without any hesitation, practically inviting people to investigate him. Anyone who can dig up information on him could easily figure out what he's been up to. It's almost as if he's deliberately setting a trap."
"Why would he write his name in the first place?"
Isumi found it baffling. He could have hidden his identity and gained a significant advantage by doing so.
"True," Nagi agreed, her expression thoughtful.
"Revealing his identity so openly is practically asking for trouble. Normally, you'd keep your identity a secret until you were strong enough to protect yourself. Only then would it be safe to reveal anything."
"If someone realizes how valuable the diary is and decides to control the person who wrote it, that person would be in serious danger."
Having faced numerous kidnapping attempts since childhood, Nagi understood all too well the dark side of human nature.
For money, people were willing to do anything.
And now, with the promise of supernatural power, even more people would likely cross the line of morality.
"That man must know this," Isumi said.
"And earlier today, after reading his diary, he even mentioned the lottery rewards. That wasn't a coincidence, it was intentional."
"So, he's fishing, huh?"
---
A/N: Well, revealing his name so early was a bit of a plot hole. I'll patch it up with some additional explanations. Thank you for your understanding!