"Alright, now that everything's been looked into, there's nothing left to worry about, right?"
Reading the complicated expressions on Sakurabara Momo and Kusami Runa's faces, Hozuki Nozomi smiled and slid an arm around each of their slender waists.
"Mm. Since the ghost turned out to be Hazuki Yasuo's girlfriend — and someone we already know — it should be fine."
Sakurabara Momo let out a small breath of relief.
Kusami Runa nodded faintly beside her.
"In that case, let's go on a date."
Hozuki Nozomi's suggestion came with an easy smile. As for Hazuki Yasuo — he honestly couldn't be bothered to care.
"Alright." Sakurabara Momo had no objections. They'd finally carved out time together; they had to spend it properly or nothing would feel settled.
"Let's all go together." Kusami Runa hugged Hozuki Nozomi's arm close, that generous curve of hers pressing high against her sweater and pushing the fabric out in a way that made the softness inescapable.
Hozuki Nozomi couldn't help sneaking another glance, quietly marveling at how exquisitely built both girls were.
None of them noticed the gloomy stare of the Miss Ghost drifting a few paces behind.
…
While Hozuki Nozomi led Sakurabara Momo and Kusami Runa off to the amusement park for their long-postponed outing — carousel and all — Sanshokuin Sumireko finally stepped out for the first time in a while.
She had a soft spot for a particular ginger-fried pork dish, and planned to pick up a portion today to bring back to Sakurasou for Mashiro and the others.
Then, suddenly —
A transparent figure came hurtling through the air.
It slammed straight into Sanshokuin Sumireko, who was quietly waiting in line.
Possession complete.
Sanshokuin Sumireko's body stiffened, a wrongness crawling up her spine as control slipped from her limbs. Her mouth moved without her permission.
"So this is the body of the woman Hose-Kun's in love with? Truly — astonishingly beautiful."
"Well then. I'm going to borrow this beautiful body and go on a date with Hose-Kun."
"We'll kiss sweetly. Do all the happiest things together!"
The girl broke from the line and started walking briskly toward the school's drama club. As she moved, she brought her — Sumireko's — hands up over her chest, cupping the full curve, testing the weight.
"As expected of the white moonlight Hose-Kun loves and can't forget. This figure, these breasts — it's all too perfect."
Sanshokuin Sumireko's expression flickered the moment she heard her own voice betray her.
"Who are you? Why are you doing this?"
She had no intention of going on a date with Hazuki. And kissing him? Out of the question.
"Don't struggle, Sanshokuin. My name is Nishino Rikako, and I'm Hose-Kun's current girlfriend."
"Sadly, even though Hose-Kun agreed to date me, it was only to grant my dying wish."
"The one Hose-Kun's always loved is you. I know that. So I want to grant Hose-Kun's wish too."
"Let Hose-Kun truly have you, just once."
"Don't worry, Sanshokuin. Hose-Kun's very gentle. You'll feel amazing."
Was that really the point here?
Sanshokuin Sumireko was rendered speechless.
"Alright, enough talk. I'm going to use this beautiful body of yours to kiss Hose-Kun and do lovely, happy things — right now."
"Believe me, Hazuki's changed. He won't ignore a girl's feelings anymore. He knows how to read the room."
"Sanshokuin, let's share a proper kiss with Hose-Kun. It'll be wonderful."
"Hehe — I've been practicing with him. You'll see how amazing he is in a moment."
With that, Rikako quickened her stride, and before long she was pushing open the door to the drama club.
Sanshokuin Sumireko — trapped inside her own skin — could only watch as her body ran, smiling, toward that man.
"Hose-Kun, I'm back. Surprised?"
Hazuki Yasuo's whole body trembled at the sight of the girl beaming sweetly in front of him.
"Sumireko!"
"You're Sumireko, aren't you? You've finally come to see me again."
His gaze locked on her, burning.
The braids were still there. The glasses were still there. But that perfect curve pushing her uniform out, the delicate lines of her face, the soft rose of her lips — all of it was exactly the Sanshokuin Sumireko he'd been holding in his memory.
Rikako felt the jealousy twist under her ribs.
But to grant her boyfriend's wish, she wore Sumireko's face and offered him her sweetest smile.
"It's me, Hose-Kun. What are you waiting for? Hurry and hug me. Kiss me."
"If you love me, then prove it."
Hazuki Yasuo's heart bloomed wide open.
His eyes fixed on the stunning girl in front of him, and he stepped forward — trembling.
"Sumireko, I've always loved you."
"Even if you're with that scumbag Hozuki Nozomi, I don't mind."
"I'll make you happy. Right now."
His expression firmed into something resolute. He gently laid his hands on her shoulders, and his lips began their slow descent toward her rosy little mouth.
If this was a dream, Hazuki Yasuo hoped he'd never wake from it.
He wanted to kiss Sumireko here — sweetly, fully. Let her feel how amazing he was.
Rikako, still steering Sanshokuin Sumireko's body, closed her borrowed eyes with a shy flutter. In that moment she was both hollowed out with heartbreak and warmed by relief.
"Sanshokuin, we're about to kiss. Enjoy Hose-Kun's gentleness."
She murmured it and leaned in of her own accord.
It seemed she couldn't wait a moment longer to be close to the Hazuki Yasuo she loved.
Everything looked unstoppable.
Hozuki Nozomi likely never expected the Ghost Girl's obsession to run this deep — deep enough to try something like this.
But — was it really going to be that easy?
Bang.
Before Hazuki Yasuo's lips could brush Sumireko's cherry-soft mouth, he was sent flying three meters back — the back of his skull cracked against the wall, and when he slumped, his head lolled sideways. Out cold.
"What?! Hose-Kun! Are you alright?!"
The Ghost Girl abandoned Sanshokuin Sumireko's body without a second thought and rushed over, ghostly hands trying to gather Hazuki Yasuo up.
Sanshokuin Sumireko exhaled softly, rolled her shoulders, tested her fingers — and her eyes turned cold.
"I don't know you. And what you were about to do to me makes me furious. So —"
She lifted a slender hand and flicked out a silver-white card.
Nishino Rikako was instantly wrapped in a blossom of flame, an agonized wail tearing loose from her throat.
"Aaah — aah — so hot — I'm — I'm melting —"
"How — how do you have this power — you weren't even resisting a moment ago —"
Sanshokuin Sumireko smiled, playful and razor-thin.
"Did you honestly think you could control me? I only suspected there might be something worse behind you, so I played along."
Hozuki Nozomi never kept the important things from her, and so Sanshokuin Sumireko understood the danger perfectly well. Unlike Yukino and the others, she could now channel the magic in her body freely — using cards flowed as smoothly as pouring water.
"It seems there's no other presence behind you after all. Kako, was it? I can understand liking Hazuki. But why would fulfilling his wish require hurting me?"
"…"
At those words, Nishino Rikako's face twisted.
"Because you're too beautiful!"
"How is an ordinary girl like me supposed to compare to a great beauty like you? How could I ever get into Hazuki's heart with you standing there?"
"Sanshokuin — come on. Wouldn't it be lovely, both of us becoming Hazuki-kun's women?"
"Kissing Hazuki-kun feels so good!"
Watching the girl now leaking black mist, her entire spirit body degenerating in front of her, Sanshokuin Sumireko frowned in outright disgust.
"You really are revolting. Just looking at Hazuki makes my skin crawl — I hate him. Don't project your rot onto me."
Sanshokuin Sumireko said nothing more. Her delicate hand rose again, and several more cards flicked from her fingertips.
In under a minute, the fallen ghost was purified clean.
...
At that moment, Hozuki Nozomi stepped out from around the corner, giving her a look of quiet appreciation.
"Not bad, Sumireko. You're already a mature mage."
Yes. Hozuki Nozomi had been close by the whole time, only holding back to see whether anything else was lurking in the shadows — perhaps some subordinate of that Perverted Goddess.
If Sumireko had truly been in danger, how could he possibly have missed it?
As for why he'd suspected Rikako of being tied to the Perverted Goddess — it was the flavor of her words. Hedonistic. Direct in the wrong way, vulgar without meaning to be. Always circling back to comfort, to feeling good, without a shred of restraint.