- Iori -

  Alright, the next day.

  If everything worked out, Nanako and Sora should've pitched the ghost tour idea to those three by now.

  All I have to do now is to wait, and hopefully, they'll come to me.

  That is, if everything went as it should've.

  I mean, the plan was strategized by Zika, who does manipulation on a professional level.

  Find some seemingly neutral party, explain the concept, and emphasize how badly that would affect the ones they wanted to get at.

  All in all, a sound concept.

  Therefore, I have my hopes up.

  I meet up with Chiaki again.

  She comes awfully close on our way to class, as it happens quite regularly recently.

  I guess it's payback for the dimensional transports I subjected her to.

  Yep, that must be it.

  What bothers me more is that Makoto is still nowhere to be seen.

  Just what is going on with him?

  If not for the predictable reactions, I definitely would've already asked about him at his home.

  Hey, now that I think about it, I know someone who can go in my stead.

  And they conveniently owe me.

  "Ehm, Chiaki? Would it be okay for you to go to Makoto's shrine home, and check on him? I think I'm banned from entering the premises ever again." (I)

  "They can ban you from entering a public shrine?! That's outrageous! You should go there just for this!" (C)

  "God, Chiaki, not so loud. People have ears. I don't want to cause a commotion, okay? It would be a big favor for me. Also, he's your friend as well." (I)

  "Yeah, that's true. Which is why I already went at the start of the week." (C)

  "You did what!?" (I)

  "Why would I wait with something like this? Unfortunately, they just fobbed me off. The usual quotes of how he's not feeling well, is out of the house, having some family case going. All at the same time, for some reason." (C)

  Okay, maybe I should go there personally.

  But I doubt he actually came to harm.

  For all her weirdness, I doubt his mother would actually allow the exorcist association to harm him and cover it up.

  Therefore, I believe, going there and causing entropy with my appearance that certainly has to be reported later on is certainly not going to end well.

  It's basically a miracle that nothing bigger came from that barrier incident.

  I was pretty sure that I'd be shadowed already at every step I take.

  Though, I may have got the respective ominous feeling that something's going on, ever since my dump tube has gone missing.

  Yet as my eyes would point me right at anyone intruding into my privacy, this doesn't seem to be the case.

  Also, the school may already have announced something if the authorities contacted them.

  I'm going through the usual school cycles.

  Lessons, small break, yet during the midday break, what I've been waiting for seems to finally get started, when a certain group approaches us in the classroom, with a loud declaration in front of everyone.

  "Chiaki Sato! I'm challenging you!" (Sh)

  "You are? Well, okay. Just let me go to the next vending machine first." (C)

  "Eh... why?" (Sh)

  "Weren't we going to see who can drink the most soda without popping? It's this popular internet challenge." (C)

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  "What!? No! I'm challenging you to come at night to school! We'll see who lasts longer!" (Sh)

  "Oh, a dare?" (C)

  Damn, Chiaki plays her part really well.

  A bit too well, to be honest.

  She seems to be a natural at deceiving others.

  "Yes! I'm challenging you and Nomia! We will see who lasts longer!" (Sh)

  "Iori? Why would you challenge Iori?" (C)

  "Because this is about what you did at the sports festival!" (Sh)

  "What does our kiss have to do with this?" (C)

  "It was only on the cheek!" (I)

  Why did she have to bring that up?!

  "No, I meant how you cheated! We want to settle this once and for all!" (Sh)

  It's almost uncanny how good this works.

  So much so, I actually feel bad for tricking them like this.

  While this is all for the greater good of coexistence between ghosts and students at this school, maybe I can look into how to make it up to them.

  "Okay, I'm all in for settling stuff! But this isn't quite like you. So why would you do that?" (C)

  "It blew a bit out of proportion." (Sh)

  Promptly, someone who makes my skin crawl with her far too polite demeanor moves in front of the group.

  "My respects. It's a pleasure to meet you again, Iori Nomia." (H)

  Eh, why her?

  What does this weirdo want from me?

  Do I have a stalker?

  That's scary!

  What if she follows me home?!

  Well, I could probably just switch dimensions, but still!

  I hide a little behind Chiaki, hoping that her extrovert-field may filter out most of the attempts at reaching out to me.

  Chiaki obviously notices and directs her attention towards the smiling princess.

  "Okay, could I ask how exactly you are involved here?" (C)

  Thank you for asking the question on my tongue, Chiaki!

  "When I heard about these rumors, I became quite interested. This challenge sounds so intriguing. I really want to see you partake!" (H)

  This was certainly not in accordance with my plan!

  Though, maybe this can work?

  If there's one thing that's undeniable, it's that Himeko is popular.

  If I get someone like her to spread the new rumors, then convincing the students should be a simple matter.

  "So, will you accept?!" (Sh)

  "Didn't I say already you could count me in?! A big nightly school event? That's more than cool enough!" (C)

  "However, both you and Iori are into this! So she'll have to partake as well!" (Sh)

  Yeah, this part was a bit hard to sell, but it seems like they caught on.

  A nudge from Chiaki reminds me that I have voice lines as well as in this play.

  "Whaat?! Why would I? I've got nothing to do with that." (I)

  Yeah, forgive the monotonous speech.

  I was never good at acting.

  Or speaking with others, in general.

  "But Iori! You have to come! I can't do this without you!" (C)

  Chiaki, on the other hand, is an absolute natural at this.

  "But I don't want to." (I)

  "The challenge goes to you two! Bailing out doesn't count!" (Sh)

  "See?! You have to come!" (C)

  Should I now steer in, or show a little bit more reluctance?

  "But, but I can't." (I)

  "Please, Iori. We have to!" (C)

  Whoah!

  Chiaki looks so serious here, I'd almost believe she's meaning this.

  Maybe I should now rein in.

  "I..." (I)

  "Iori! If our friendship means anything to you, you'll have to help me out here!" (C)

  Isn't this going too far?!

  I was actually put off just now.

  "I... Okay..." (I)

  "Great! Thank you so much!" (C)

  The most disturbing thing about this is how I can actually picture this working on me for real.

  Next, Chiaki turns towards the gathered.

  "Seems like we have a deal!" (C)

  "Okay... Guess we'll do this..." (Sh)

  Yeah, and there the doubts set in.

  I seriously feel ya.

  They are certainly not unfounded.

  "We certainly will! With this, everything is clear now! We'll meet this Saturday at school! Just leave the preparations to me. You only need to show up. Oh, and I recommend that you actually do so. No bailing out at this point." (H)

  This smile of hers is just unnerving.

  It looks polite, but coupled with her threats, it reminds me of a cracking mask.

  A mask that suddenly appears far too close to my face!

  "I'm very glad that we're doing this, Iori Nomia. This will surely become quite the event. One we will remember for a long time. Let's make it special, shall we?" (H)

  "Uhh, y-yeah. Sure." (I)

  Help!

  "Magnificent! I can't wait for it to become Saturday already." (H)

  I kinda feel like it was a mistake to get that girl involved.