"All of you should go to the inn. My role here ends."
Just as everyone was convinced by Kiyotsugu's words and planned to spend the night at the inn, Kahara suddenly took a step back and said this.
"Professor Kahara! Please come with us! My Kiyotsugu family will cover the inn's expenses!"
Seeing that the yokai doctor he had long admired intended to leave, Seiji Kiyotsugu quickly stepped forward, grabbed Kahara's hand, and tried to persuade him.
"No, no, no, I still have some matters to attend to, so I will go. Have a good time."
"Oh, it will soon be dark. The night is very dangerous; it's best not to go out."
Saying that, Kahara withdrew his hands, said goodbye, and without any hesitation turned and left.
Above him, the strange man controlling the thin threads and wearing an ox-bone mask guided Kahara as he gradually disappeared from the group's view. Just as he was about to leave, a strong, green-skinned monster, covered in leaves and branches, shabby in appearance, suddenly approached.
That green-skinned monster was none other than Aotabo, who had been following Nura Rikuo and his group to Mount Nejireme and got lost in the mountain forest!
"Hm? That guy is…"
"Um, excuse me, how do I get to Mount Nejireme?"
Before the strange man could think further, Aotabo's voice was heard, a simple question about the way, quite politely.
With a gentle smile, the strange man manipulated Kahara to point in the opposite direction from Nura Rikuo and his group, saying:
"There."
"All right, thank you."
Nodding, Aotabo, leaning on his staff, entered the mountain forest.
"You're welcome, take care."
Smiling as he saw Aotabo off, the strange man immediately pulled the thin threads controlling Kahara and turned to hurry toward the Meru shrine at the top of the mountain.
…
"There are really a lot of people at the inn, strange."
Led by Seiji Kiyotsugu, the group quickly reached the inn. As soon as they entered the lobby, everyone noticed several boys and girls in identical sports uniforms.
Looking at the scattered groups leaving the inn, Shimajiro murmured:
"Judging by the school emblem on their clothes, they must be students of Sobu High School."
Kana Ienaga observed the Sobu High School students and said:
"Oh~ From a prestigious school. Maybe it's some school-organized event. Ah, whatever, let's hurry to the inn, I can't wait to try the kaiseki cuisine!"
Hearing the explanation, Shimajiro looked enlightened, then immediately lost interest and focused solely on the food.
While the group was busy checking in, Yura Keikain observed the inn.
The inn had Japanese-style decor, and the lighting in the hallways was dim. As an onmyoji, Yura Keikain knew that such places were most prone to the emergence of evil spirits.
The moment she stepped into the inn, the girl felt that something was off with her.
However, after observing for a while, Yura Keikain didn't detect anything. She lightly furrowed her brows, wondering if she was being too suspicious, when Seiji Kiyotsugu's call was heard:
"Hey! Keikain, hurry, let's go to the rooms!"
"Oh! Coming!"
Hearing the call, Yura Keikain replied and, after one more quick look without discovering anything, had no choice but to give up and follow the group toward the reserved rooms.
However, after Yura Keikain left, the dim light at the end of the hallway suddenly flickered twice before returning to normal.
…
"By the way, Nakano Yu, aren't you going to dinner? I heard the inn is serving kaiseki cuisine tonight."
Inside the room, Nakano Yu was idly watching a TV entertainment program. Miura Yumiko opened the door and entered. Seeing the young man there, she couldn't help but curiously ask:
"Kaiseki cuisine, huh? Not interested."
Hearing that, Nakano Yu waved his hand. For him, Japanese kaiseki cuisine was not particularly tasty. Besides, he had eaten too many of Yotsuba's snacks, so he wasn't hungry now.
"Oh~ I wonder where she secretly ate behind my back."
Hearing this, Miura Yumiko casually approached Nakano Yu and sat beside him, bending her knees.
"Why does that sound like I'm some kind of adulterous scum?"
Nakano Yu twitched the corners of his mouth and turned to respond, but then noticed Miura Yumiko sitting right next to him, carefully watching him.
"What is it?"
Faced with her gaze, the young man lightly furrowed his brows and asked.
"Nothing… It's just that Yui said that tonight several classes are preparing for the test of courage. Nakano Yu, you're going too, right?"
Miura Yumiko looked away, playing with the tips of her hair as she asked.
"Test of courage? You plan to go up the mountain?"
Hearing the words "test of courage," Nakano Yu's already slightly furrowed brows knit even more tightly.
"Yes, I heard from Hayama-kun that the route they prepared starts from the inn, circles around it along the mountain trail, and then returns through the back entrance of the inn. How does that sound? Nakano Yu, will you go with us?"
Seeing Nakano Yu's strong reaction, Miura Yumiko nodded and explained what she knew. Her behavior didn't resemble at all the beautiful girl known as the "Fire Queen" among Sobu High School students.
On the contrary… she acted a bit like a very obedient kitten.
"I understand. Yumiko, you can go with Yuigahama, right? No need to go with me."
Confirming that the group did not plan to go up or to the mountain peak to search for Ushioni, Nakano Yu also breathed a sigh of relief. After all, where in the world would there be so many people seeking death?
"But… Yuigahama is going with someone I really can't stand."
Seeing that Nakano Yu didn't want to be in the group with her, Miura Yumiko's tone carried a trace of dejection. While speaking, she looked at him with a pitiful expression.
"No means no. I've already decided who I'm going with for the test of courage."
Nakano Yu shook his head, firm in his stance. He had already arranged with Nino to go together for the test of courage, so naturally he couldn't break that promise.
"With whom?!"
As soon as the words left the young man's mouth, Miura Yumiko suddenly lunged at him, her voice a little flustered.
"Yumiko-kun, you seem a bit upset."
As Miura Yumiko held his shoulders, Nakano Yu said without changing his expression:
"…Because, if Nakano-kun doesn't want to be in a group with me, then no one will go with me…"
Gently biting her lip, Miura Yumiko looked as if she had lost all her strength. Her hands dropped from the young man's shoulders, and she muttered even more dejectedly.
"Yumiko, you have a lot of friends, right? Even if Yuigahama has plans, it shouldn't be like this."
Seeing Miura Yumiko like that, Nakano Yu was puzzled. Miura Yumiko had many friends, so how could she not find at least one for the test of courage?
"Some of my friends are good at studying, so they didn't come…"
As if sensing Nakano Yu's confusion, Miura Yumiko explained with slightly reddened eyes. Without waiting for his response, she continued:
"N-no, but it's okay! I still have other friends I can ask! Nakano Yu, don't let these things bother you! I'm going to get ready now. See you later."
Wiping the corners of her eyes and trying to return to her usual state, Miura Yumiko finished, stood up, and left the room.
Watching the back of the girl leaving, Nakano Yu didn't know what to say. He only felt that Miura Yumiko had been acting strange lately. Not only did she suddenly start liking him, but she was also always very deliberately trying to get close to him.
Shaking his head, Nakano Yu dismissed the thought. Compared to Miura Yumiko, Nino was a much more important person to him.
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