Nakano Yu glanced at Miura Yumiko, closed the door, and quietly took out his phone to call Hiratsuka Shizuka's number.
"Beep~ beep~"
After a short ring, the call connected, and Hiratsuka Shizuka's voice was heard in the receiver:
"Moshi moshi, what now? You brat, don't tell me the key won't open the door. I only have that one key, alright?!"
"Hiratsuka-sensei, I have something very serious to tell you right now."
Nakano Yu suppressed his nervousness and spoke in a serious tone.
"Oh? And what is it?"
Hearing Nakano Yu's tone, which didn't sound like a joke, Hiratsuka Shizuka was also puzzled. It was only the first day of the forest trip, surely nothing could happen so quickly, right?
While Hiratsuka Shizuka was thinking in confusion, Nakano Yu's voice sounded again:
"What I'm about to say, Hiratsuka-sensei, you must take responsibility for it. There's a girl in my room!"
"Mm-hmm, ha? A girl? You brat, are you sneaking into other people's rooms before dark already?! Pervert! Yu, I warn you, our country has a full system of penalties for things like this!"
Hiratsuka Shizuka nodded, already thinking about how to resolve it if it really became a problem, when Nakano Yu's next sentence immediately threw her off.
"Ha?! Shizuka-nee gave me the key! What the hell do you mean 'night intrusion'?! And we didn't do anything!"
Hearing Hiratsuka Shizuka scold him, Nakano Yu was, of course, dissatisfied. He hadn't done anything, yet he was already labeled a pervert. Who would be happy about that?
"In any case, Miura was changing when I entered. We didn't do anything. Shizuka-nee, think about how you'll handle this, alright?"
Rubbing his forehead, Nakano Yu began to wonder if Hiratsuka Shizuka was doing this on purpose, but he had no proof.
"Calm down, this is a long story. Originally, Yu and… Miura Yumiko, right? Originally, you two were supposed to have separate rooms. It was reserved in advance, but the hotel said there was a problem with one of the rooms and it has been sealed for almost a month."
At this moment, Hiratsuka Shizuka appeared calm, obviously already familiar with the issue, and explained the situation to Nakano Yu.
"What? But is it really okay for a boy and a girl to stay together?"
Hearing that, Nakano Yu frowned slightly. It's not that he didn't want to stay with Miura Yumiko, but it would be a little awkward. And what does it mean that the hotel room is sealed? Why is it sealed?
"Originally, other people stayed in that room, but after consideration, the school doesn't really trust the other boys. Yu, you are strongly recommended by me and the group of teachers, so we trust you!"
Hiratsuka Shizuka took a sip of tea and said. As for the other boys in the class, although she didn't know them completely, she still had some understanding of their character. Aside from Nakano Yu, she really didn't dare to trust any other boy.
What if someone ended up in life-threatening danger after this forest trip and returned to school?
"Shizuka-nee, don't you think you're being a little too reckless? Fine, let's ignore that, what exactly is the situation with that sealed room?"
After receiving an explanation, Nakano Yu was momentarily speechless. In short, the current situation was based on the teachers' trust in his character. When he returned to school, shouldn't he at least present a banner to those teachers praising their keen judgment?
Putting those thoughts aside, Nakano Yu turned to ask about the sealed room. According to Hiratsuka Shizuka, he and Miura Yumiko were supposed to have separate rooms, but since one hotel room was unavailable, they had to share the same one.
"Oh~ that, the hotel staff said. They said there's a ghost in that room! They said three or four people died there last month and the Police Department placed a seal. Everything has been checked, so for safety, we can only ask for your understanding."
Seeing Nakano Yu inquire about it, Hiratsuka Shizuka didn't try to hide anything. Although the floor where that room was located was sealed, rumors couldn't be stopped and would probably soon spread among the students.
Regarding that, Hiratsuka Shizuka had already warned the students, but wasn't sure if any of them would tempt death.
"Ghost? Interesting."
After listening to Hiratsuka Shizuka's explanation, Nakano Yu narrowed his eyes and turned to look at the ghost holding a broom, cleaning at the end of the hallway.
Of course, he knew ghosts existed in this world, but don't those beings only harm people who can see them?
Could it really be a coincidence that three or four people who could see ghosts stayed in the same hotel in the same month?
Noticing Nakano Yu's gaze, the ghost who was cleaning turned around. With just one look, the ghost let out a loud scream, and then, as if scorched by the sun, black smoke began rising from its body until it dispersed.
Nakano Yu didn't pay much attention. At that moment, Hiratsuka Shizuka warned him:
"I'm telling you! You brat, absolutely, absolutely do not go to that floor! Absolutely do not enter that room, understand?!"
At that moment, Hiratsuka Shizuka was very anxious. Actually, she had felt curiosity in Nakano Yu's tone just now, which frightened her. She really didn't want Nakano Yu to get into trouble because of such unverified rumors.
Although she didn't really believe it, it was better to be cautious. She trusted that Nakano Yu was a smart person and wouldn't seek death, but for safety, she repeated the warning.
"Don't worry, I won't go."
With a sigh, Nakano Yu waved his hand and said. He wasn't stupid. Since the Police Department was already involved in this case, they would probably resolve it soon. He wouldn't interfere.
She still seemed worried, so Hiratsuka Shizuka warned him a few more times before ending the call.
"Shuuh~"
Just after ending the call, the door behind Nakano Yu opened. The boy turned and saw that Miura Yumiko had already changed, her flushed cheeks visible through the door opening.
"Na-Nakano… you, you're also in this room, right?"
Averting her gaze, Miura Yumiko didn't dare look Nakano Yu in the eyes as she stammered the question.
Usually open, and even a little abrupt in temperament, Miura Yumiko was now frighteningly shy, which made Nakano Yu feel a bit awkward for a moment.
"C-come in."
Just as he regained his composure, Nakano Yu wanted to explain the current situation, but Miura Yumiko fully opened the door and invited him inside.
"Mm."
Nodding, Nakano Yu didn't hesitate and entered the room.
He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but after entering the room, he noticed a faint scent. It definitely wasn't the smell of the room itself, because Ichika's and the others' rooms didn't have it.
"Nakano, did you just get the key from Hiratsuka-sensei?"
Miura Yumiko was sitting at the small table, looking much calmer, and started the conversation herself.
"Mm, I just returned from sensei. Also, stop calling me Nakano, it's a little embarrassing. Just call me Yu. Miura, isn't it surprising that you're not shocked?"
Seeing that Miura Yumiko already knew about this and was acting very calmly, Nakano Yu was confused.
Hearing that, Miura Yumiko's eyes shone as she looked at Nakano Yu, which made him a little nervous. After a short moment, she nodded and said:
"Mm, sensei told me about staying in the same room with Nakano Yu even before we left. Because it's you, Yu, sensei and I trust your character. Besides, Nakano Yu refused me yesterday, so it's not like just because we're sharing a room…"
"I was just trying to… Yu hadn't returned for a while, so I just wanted to change, and I didn't expect such a coincidence…"
"Wait! I don't know how I managed to build such a virtuous image in your minds, but Miura, even if you trust me…"
Seeing that Miura Yumiko intended to continue, Nakano Yu quickly interrupted her. As he spoke, the girl suddenly interrupted him:
"Yu should call me Yumiko, and also, Yu has already seen me completely, so Yu must take responsibility!"
Interrupted, Nakano Yu looked at Miura Yumiko. Seeing the girl look at him, her cheeks were so red it looked like they could bleed.
"I only saw a little, how can that be considered seeing everything? In any case, there are no additional rooms now, so we can only… Yumiko will have to manage with me."
Shaking his head resolutely, Nakano Yu said. He could have completely eliminated that so-called "ghost" on the fourth floor and secured a separate room for himself, but was that really necessary?
Wasn't it better to stay with a beautiful girl?