This world has gone mad.
All that is beautiful is trampled under the feet of man’s ignorance, and stars flying nobly in the sky fall down to Earth in a cruel twist of fate.
Although you were finally led away from such chaos, why do you still insist on clinging to this plane?
Kisuke, Kinari… Y-Y’know, if you guys get scared, you can always hide behind me!
O-Okay…
Thank you for the offer, Nishizono-sama. Let us start the movie.
<C’mon, guys! We’re gonna be late to the Halloween party if you don’t hurry! I don’t wanna miss out on the candy!>
<Slow down, Cathy! I can’t really see out of this pumpkin head, so I can’t walk that fast.>
<Ugh… This is why I didn’t want us to wear matching costumes.>
<Oh, is that where it’s at? That run-down mansion on the cliff?>
Oh, wow… It looks…haunted…
Y-Yeah. The vibes are really creepy.
According to the movie’s official website, the mansion was designed using real old castles as a reference.
(Urgh, this is supposed to be for kids, so I thought it was just gonna be some lighthearted fun…! I didn’t think it’d be a horror movie.)
<Now that’s what I call a haunted mansion. Maybe we’ll run into some actual ghosts, since it’s Halloween. Heheh.>
(A-Actual ghosts…!!)
(No, stop getting scared. Kinari and Kisuke are both younger than me. I need to be their support…!)
The main characters have arrived at the Halloween party venue. The staging and decoration may make for good reference material.
Woah… They have…turnip lanterns too… Not just…pumpkins… The pink spider candies are…so cute…
Perhaps we can hand out candy to our guests who arrive in costume.
(…Huh? They don’t seem all that scared.)
Nishizono-sama? I detect an increase in your heart rate and perspiration. Would you like to pause the movie and take a rest?
Oh, uh… No, I’m good! Let’s keep going.
Understood.
(Phew. Calm down, me. This is technically just part of my job, so I should focus on the movie…!)
<Wow, it’s really crowded… Hm?>
<Guys, I’m counting…six of us here.>
<Six…? That’s weird. There should only be five of us.>
<N-No way… Is there a ghost with us?!>
…!!
…What are you three up to?
?!?!
It looks like you’re having fun. Won’t you let me join you…? *grab*
U-UWAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!
Haha, that scream is music to my ears.
Domeki-san…?
Nishizono-sama, I have detected a sudden rise in your heart rate. Deep breathing exercises are recommended.
D-Deep breaths…! *inhale* Hahhh…!
You really got me… I-I thought you were a ghost or something…
Are you scared of ghosts, Renga?
No?! N-No, not at all…!
Ghosts are fictitious beings created by humans, Nishizono-sama.
Huh?
Since ancient times, stories have been passed down about natural phenomena and human mischief that was incorrectly attributed to ghosts… As per common theory.
O-Oh, really…?
Fic…titious…
Are you trying to comfort Renga by explaining to him that ghosts don’t exist? How kind of you, plüss.
Y-You were?! Thanks, Kinari!
But…are you sure they’re not real?
……
Well, it’s none of our concern whether they exist or not.
Even if they did, it’s not possible for the dead to intervene with our lives.
O-Oh… Sounds kinda complex.
……
Kuguri, according to your response, am I correct in presuming that you do not fully deny the existence of ghosts?
Who’s to say? You can interpret my words in any way you wish, plüss.
…Okay.
…That aside, you make for an odd trio. I wouldn’t expect to see the three of you watching a movie together.
Oh, yeah, the movie! We were actually doing some research on Halloween stuff… Right, Kisuke?
! I mean, Kiroku!!!
Ah… Yes…
Kiroku, Kiroku, Kiroku… *sigh* Sorry I keep getting it wrong. I say it right sometimes, but I guess I still can’t break the habit.
Um… It’s okay… You can call me…Kisuke…
Huh? No, but…!
If he’s alright with it, I don’t see a problem.
It can be interpreted as a nickname.
Urk… Then I guess I’ll keep calling you that. To be honest, I kinda liked calling you Kisuke anyway…
So why are you researching Halloween?
We’ll be…holding a walking tour…around Ward 6 soon…
As the mayor of Ward 6, Kinugawa-sama is working with other members who have open schedules to plan the tour.
The theme is “dark Halloween.” Toi-sama will be helping as well, although he is not present today.
Oh, it’s more dull than I thought. But I suppose that’s part of the job.
Um… My idea…
Is to…have the tour…in a place that’s kind of like…the haunted house…in the movie…
That will align with the theme, and it will attract guests who have an interest in horror.
A-A haunted house… Do we have any place like that in the city?
It is possible to search for one, but it may be expensive to rent the house for the tour.
Uu…
Maybe we can ask the chief for some advice…
Haha, it seems you have a bumpy road ahead of you. Best of luck.