Chapter 7
Nobita stared at the wrist device Ariana had given him, absentmindedly pressing the screen as he walked. It had been two days since she had shown him her project, and he was still getting used to the idea of actually using it. It wasn't like he had never seen something like this before—technology had advanced a lot over the years—but this felt different. It was something personal, something made specifically for him.
The screen flickered as a reminder popped up: "Homework due tomorrow. Don't forget this time!" He sighed. Ariana really didn't trust him.
He arrived at school earlier than usual, mostly because his mother had kicked him out of the house before he could go back to sleep. The schoolyard was quieter than normal, with only a few students scattered around. Shizuka sat on a bench reading, Gian and Suneo were chatting about something, and Ariana was leaning against the gate, arms crossed as she watched him approach.
"You actually came early?" she said, raising an eyebrow.
"Not by choice," Nobita muttered, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "My mom was in one of her moods."
Ariana smirked. "Well, at least it worked. I was half-expecting you to show up late, as usual."
"Wow, such faith in me," he said dryly.
Before she could respond, Gian's loud voice broke through the morning quiet. "Oi, Nobita! Come here for a second!"
Nobita exchanged a glance with Ariana before heading over, Ariana following out of curiosity.
Suneo was grinning, which was never a good sign. "We were just talking about something important. Thought you might want to weigh in."
"Which is?" Nobita asked warily.
Gian folded his arms. "We're having a contest. A challenge, actually."
Suneo leaned in, smirking. "A test of courage."
Nobita immediately took a step back. "Yeah, no thanks."
"Oh, come on," Gian said, grabbing his shoulder before he could escape. "You haven't even heard what it is yet."
"Does it involve me getting punched?"
"For once, no," Suneo said. "It's something different."
Ariana crossed her arms. "Spit it out already."
Gian grinned. "There's an abandoned building near the river. People say it's haunted. We're going there tonight."
Nobita groaned. "Why would you do that?"
"To prove we're not scared," Suneo said smugly. "And to see if the rumors are true."
"You mean the rumor about the ghost?" Ariana asked, raising an eyebrow.
Suneo nodded. "People say they hear voices at night. Some say it's an old spirit looking for something it lost. Others say—"
"Okay, I get it," Nobita interrupted. "And you expect me to come along why?"
"Because we made a bet," Gian said, smirking. "If you back out, you lose."
"I never agreed to a bet!" Nobita protested.
"You did the moment you walked over here," Suneo said, grinning.
Ariana sighed. "This is stupid."
"Scared?" Suneo taunted.
She rolled her eyes. "No. I just think you guys are wasting your time. But if you're all going, I might as well come along."
Nobita stared at her. "Why would you—?"
"Someone has to make sure you don't run away screaming," she said, smirking.
Nobita groaned again. "Fine. But if I get possessed by some ghost, I'm blaming all of you."
That night, they met near the old building. The structure loomed in the darkness, its windows broken and its walls covered in vines. The wind whistled through the cracks, making an eerie sound that sent a shiver down Nobita's spine.
"Still think this is a good idea?" he muttered.
Suneo pulled out a flashlight. "Only one way to find out."
Gian pushed open the rusted gate, the hinges creaking loudly. "Let's go."
As they stepped inside, the air grew colder. The floor was littered with debris, and the walls were covered in faded graffiti. It smelled like dust and damp wood, a combination that made Nobita's nose itch.
"Alright," Gian said. "We split up. If anyone finds something creepy, yell."
"Terrible idea," Ariana muttered.
Suneo and Gian wandered off, leaving Nobita and Ariana behind. The dim light from their flashlights cast long shadows, making everything feel more sinister.
"You scared?" Ariana asked after a moment.
"No," Nobita said quickly. "Just... cautious."
She smirked but didn't say anything. They moved deeper into the building, their footsteps echoing. Then, just as they reached what looked like an old storage room, they heard it.
A whisper.
Nobita froze. "Did you hear that?"
Ariana's expression shifted slightly, her usual confidence replaced by something more serious. "Yeah."
The whisper came again—low, almost too soft to make out. Nobita's heart pounded. This was a joke, right? Suneo or Gian trying to scare them? But when he turned to look for them, he realized something.
They were alone.
Ariana took a cautious step forward, her flashlight sweeping across the room. "If this is some kind of trick, it's not funny," she called out.
Silence.
Then, suddenly, a loud BANG echoed through the building.
Nobita yelped and grabbed Ariana's arm. She didn't push him away this time, her own grip tightening. "We need to find the others," she muttered.
They turned to leave—only to find the door they had come through was now closed.
"Okay," Nobita whispered. "Now I'm scared."
Ariana swallowed. "Me too."
For once, they were in complete agreement. And for the first time that night, Nobita wished he had just stayed home.
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