CHAPTER XXIV
-VIP: Very Irresponsible Poltergeist-
-A few moments after Rin left the Left Wing, leaving Yuzuki alone-
The silence in the freshly cleaned ground-floor classroom shattered as Haruki’s voice rang out, sharp and mocking. “My, my. What’s a janitor doing here?” he drawled, his gaze cold and calculating. “Trying to scare away the Akarui?” His lips curled into a dangerous smirk, the kind that suggested he already knew more than he let on.
Startled, the janitor spun around, broom clutched awkwardly upside down. “Ah…! Hello there! I didn’t see you all back there at all! My apologies,” he replied, his tone friendly but a little too quick, as if caught in the act. The broom’s bristles pointed skyward, and for a split second, it was clear he’d been waving it at something—specifically, the Akarui lurking just above his head on the ceiling.
Nozomi stepped forward, arms crossed, voice sharp. “We didn’t ask whether you saw us. We asked what you were doing.”
The janitor blinked, forcing a smile. “Me? Oh! I was just cleaning the spider webs—”
But his words were cut short by a sudden, wet sensation at the back of his head. Blood. He turned, eyes wide, and caught the scene in a single, horrifying glance: Kaito, perched atop the now-dead Akarui, blood splattered across his face and uniform, katana still dripping in his outstretched hand. Kaito’s eyes, cold and unblinking, locked onto the janitor’s with a predator’s intensity.
The rest of the group—Haruki, Nozomi, Ren, and Toma—stood just behind, their expressions hard and suspicious, daggers in their eyes.
Ren’s voice was a low hiss, his demeanor suddenly dangerous. “This is new. As far as I knew, there were only two staff members who could see supernaturals.” He stepped closer, his finger tracing the janitor’s jawline in a gesture both mocking and threatening. “Another one? Another one blessed with the sight? That’s really surprising.”
Toma’s anger simmered just beneath the surface. “Never in the past eight years have you ever shown a trace of this ability. So why now? Why are we only finding out today?” His voice was sharp, accusatory.
The janitor tilted his head, eyes wide and almost eerily innocent. “Hmm… I wonder…” he murmured, his tone light but his gaze unreadable, as if the answer was a secret only he was allowed to keep.
Suddenly, a piercing scream shattered the tense silence—a woman’s voice, raw with terror, echoing from the corridor outside. Instantly, Haruki, Nozomi, Ren, and Toma sprang into action. They slid the classroom door open, slipped out, and quickly closed it behind them, ensuring no one would glimpse the bloody chaos inside.
In the hallway, they found a female teacher collapsed to her knees, clutching her head, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Nozomi rushed forward, concern etched on her face. “Sensei, what’s wrong?” she asked, kneeling beside the woman.
Haruki, Ren, and Toma exchanged confused, worried glances, trying to make sense of the scene. None of them realized what was unfolding back in the classroom.
Inside, the air crackled with supernatural tension. Kaito stood over the slain Akarui, blood still fresh on his blade, when a familiar, taunting voice rang out:
“Heyyy there, Ghostbuster Reject! WHAT’S UPP, MAN? Long time no see~”
Amane Rin had appeared, his grin wide and irreverent. Kaito’s eyes narrowed in fury as he lunged at the ghost boy, katana slicing through the air. Rin dodged effortlessly, his small form darting and weaving, never missing a beat.
“You jerky bastard! How the hell do you keep shape-shifting your sizes?” Kaito snarled, his blade striking the wall and sending cracks spiderwebbing through the plaster.
“MAGIC~” Rin sang out, giggling as he skipped out of reach.
“Oopsies~” Rin chimed, narrowly evading another swipe. He flipped over the Akarui’s corpse, landing lightly. Kaito’s gaze flicked around, suddenly realizing—the Janitor was gone. He spun back to face Rin, but the ghost boy had already vanished, leaving behind only a swirl of black, dusty smoke.
“DAMN IT!” Kaito roared, his frustration echoing through the empty room.
The commotion drew Haruki, Nozomi, Ren, and Toma rushing back inside. They burst through the door, eyes wide with alarm.
“THEY ESCAPED!” Kaito shouted, his voice edged with madness and defeat, the evidence of supernatural chaos all around them.
-Back to Present, after the Japanese teacher returned to the classroom-
The Japanese teacher returned, sliding the door shut behind her, her expression composed but weary. “Alright, students. There’s no fire or anything. But apparently, it’s only this class which has this smell,” she announced, her voice carrying over the restless room.
Immediately, the classroom erupted into a chorus of murmurs and half-whispered conversations. Students leaned over their desks, voices overlapping in a jumble of confusion and speculation.
All around, students continued to speculate, some pressing their sleeves to their noses, others fanning the air or searching under desks for the source. The tension and confusion only grew, the strange, acrid scent hanging over the chaos like a curse.
“Seriously, what even is this smell? It’s so strong it’s making my head spin,” one boy grumbled, pinching his nose.
“I think it’s coming from the vents. Maybe something’s stuck in there and burning?” a girl suggested, glancing up at the ceiling suspiciously.
“No way, it’s coming from the hallway! I smelled it when I went to the bathroom earlier,” another insisted, rolling his eyes.
“Are you stupid? If it was the hallway, the other classes would smell it too!” someone shot back, voice rising with irritation.
“It’s probably someone’s weird lunch. Didn’t you bring natto last week?” a student accused, jabbing a finger at a classmate.
“Shut up! Your bag smells like dirty socks every day, don’t blame me!” the other retorted, shoving him hard in the shoulder.
The tension in the classroom snapped in an instant.
A desk screeched across the floor as one boy shoved another, their faces flushed with anger. “At least I don’t reek of cheap cologne!” the first spat, his voice echoing off the walls. The other boy’s eyes narrowed, fists clenched. “Say that again, you little—!” he snarled, lunging forward.
Chairs toppled as the two collided, fists swinging wildly. The sharp smack of knuckles against skin rang out, followed by frantic shouts from the students nearby. A girl shrieked and scrambled out of the way, her books tumbling to the floor. Others tried to intervene, grabbing at sleeves and shoulders, but the boys twisted free, knocking over a stack of notebooks in their struggle.
Desks rattled as the scuffle rolled dangerously close to the window. One boy’s elbow caught a pencil case, sending pens and erasers scattering like confetti. The class was in chaos—students yelling, some urging them to stop, others egging them on, the strange burnt scent forgotten for a moment in the uproar.
Ayaka shot to her feet, her chair scraping back with a sharp thud. Her voice cut through the noise, clear and commanding: “Stop it! Both of you, that’s enough!” She waded into the fray, grabbing one boy by the arm and pulling him back with surprising strength for her size. “You’re going to get hurt—just stop!”
At that moment, the teacher rushed over, her expression thunderous. She placed herself squarely between the boys, arms outstretched like a barrier. “Enough!” she barked in Japanese. “Yamete kudasai! (Stop it!)” Her tone brooked no argument.
She seized the nearest boy by the wrist, prying his fist open, while Ayaka held the other back, her grip firm. The teacher’s eyes flashed with anger and disappointment. “This is a classroom, not a street fight! Sit down, both of you, now!” she ordered.
The boys, breathing hard, glared at each other over the teacher’s shoulder but slowly backed down. Ayaka kept her hand on one’s shoulder, guiding him back to his seat, her gaze stern but calm.
Around them, the other students fell silent, the adrenaline draining from the room as order was restored. The teacher stood between the two combatants, her presence radiating authority. “If I see anything like that again, both of you will be sent straight to the principal’s office. Understood?” she said, her voice icy.
Ayaka cast a final, warning look at both boys before returning to her seat, her composure unshaken. The teacher straightened, brushing her hands off, and took a deep breath before addressing the class. “Let’s all remember why we’re here. No more fighting. Is that clear?”
The class nodded, chastened, the earlier chaos now a tense, uneasy quiet.
Himari shot Ayaka a glare so sharp it could cut glass, silently fuming at her for stepping into the prefect’s role. But Yuzuki hardly noticed—her mind was racing, pieces falling into place.
That’s it! she realized. Escalating anger. That’s what that thing wants! She glanced at the ceiling, where the supernatural’s grotesque form lingered, its once-red smile now twisted into a deep frown. It feeds off arguments, turning tiny sparks into raging fires. That’s why it looked so disappointed now—the fight was stopped too soon.
Yuzuki watched as the creature, its purpose thwarted, turned away from the class and slithered out through the far wall, its smoky form dissolving into nothing.
Almost immediately, a new wave of murmurs rippled through the classroom.
“Wait… do you guys smell that?”
“Yeah, it’s… it’s fading?”
“Seriously, it’s almost gone! What the heck?”
Students sniffed the air, confusion replacing the earlier agitation. Some stood up, waving their hands as if to clear invisible smoke, while others pressed their noses to their sleeves, searching for any lingering trace.
“Did someone open a window or something?”
“No, it just… stopped.”
The classroom, moments ago a powder keg of anger and chaos, now felt oddly calm. The tension ebbed away, replaced by relief and bewilderment as the strange, acrid scent vanished as mysteriously as it had arrived. Students exchanged puzzled glances, their earlier arguments forgotten, the supernatural influence gone—at least for now.
The corridor was hushed, every footstep echoing as Rin trailed behind the Janitor, hands tucked behind his head and a mischievous bounce in his step.
The Janitor’s voice broke the silence, laced with disappointment. “And… you didn’t even bother telling me that you’ve tethered someone? No wonder your senses have begun to dull.”
Rin snorted, rolling his eyes with a lopsided grin. “Bro, chill. There’s no dulling here—I just hit the mute button on the ghost radio, y’know?” He spun on his heel, walking backwards, tongue out in a playful taunt.
The Janitor shook his head, unimpressed. “Shut down? Since when did shutting down become an option for you? Oh, right. Must’ve been that human you tethered. They must be real special for you to let your guard down this much.”
Rin threw his hands up, fingers forming a peace sign. “What can I say? Gotta keep life spicy. Besides, who needs full ghost WiFi when you’ve got premium human drama? Way more entertaining.” He grinned, eyes twinkling with mischief. “And trust? Pfft. I just like the chaos. Keeps my afterlife interesting, ya know?”
He skipped ahead, glancing back with a wink. “But hey, don’t get jelly, old man. Not everyone gets to be haunted by yours truly. It’s a VIP experience.” He flashed a goofy, toothy smile, clearly enjoying every second of the Janitor’s skepticism.
The Janitor let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head as he watched Rin prance ahead. “VIP experience, huh? Sounds more like a headache with extra steps.”
Rin spun around, walking backwards again, arms spread wide as if presenting himself to an invisible audience. “C’mon, admit it—you’d miss me if I stopped haunting these halls. Who else is gonna keep you on your toes? The dust bunnies?” He wiggled his eyebrows, grinning.
The Janitor gave him a sidelong glance. “You’re more trouble than a whole army of dust bunnies, kid. And you know it.”
Rin gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. “Ouch! Right in the ectoplasm! That’s cold, even for you.” He stuck out his tongue, then leaned in conspiratorially. “But seriously, you’re the one snooping around with your broom like you’re auditioning for Ghostbusters: The Retirement Years. Don’t blame me for bringing the party.”
The Janitor sighed, but there was a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Just don’t let your ‘party’ get out of hand. Last thing we need is another supernatural mess on campus.”
Rin saluted with two fingers, his expression pure mischief. “Aye aye, captain! But no promises. Chaos is in my brand, after all.” He twirled on his heel, skipping down the corridor, his laughter echoing off the walls like a mischievous wind chime.
“Try not to get expelled from the afterlife, Rin,” the Janitor called after him, shaking his head.
Rin shot back over his shoulder, “Too late! I’m already on the ghostly watchlist. Next stop: haunting the principal’s dreams!” And with that, he disappeared around the corner, leaving the Janitor—and the school—wondering what kind of trouble he’d stir up next.
The final bell echoed through the halls, signaling the end of the school day. Students poured out of classrooms, their chatter filling the corridors with a lively buzz of excitement and relief.
Yuzuki and Reina gathered their things, slinging their bags over their shoulders. They stepped out into the bustling hallway, weaving through clusters of friends saying their goodbyes and teachers tidying their desks.
As they walked side by side toward the school’s main exit, the fading sunlight cast long shadows, painting the walls with warm hues of orange and gold. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of autumn leaves and distant city sounds.
“HAAAH! FINALLY!!! Another day done,” Reina sighed, stretching her arms above her head.
Yuzuki nodded, a tired but content smile on her face. “Yeah, thank goodness. Time to head home and recharge.”
Together, they stepped out into the cool evening, the school doors closing softly behind them as they began their journey home, unaware of the lingering mysteries still woven into the shadows of the halls they’d just left behind.
They walked side by side, their conversation light and easy, the hum of student chatter echoing around them. The corridor was lively—clusters of students gathered near classroom doors, some laughing, others trading snacks or gossip.
To be Continued...
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