As the one setting up the prize, Kagura didn't pay much attention to the battle-ready air at the breakfast table. She stuck to her healthy meal plan as usual, ate properly, and went back to her room.
Normally, after breakfast, she'd go run a few kilometers to work it off. But today's weather clearly wasn't going to allow that. Outside, the gale wailed; the storm swept curtains of rain down the streets in rolling waves. It gave Kagura the sudden urge to grab a plastic street-stall chair and a mop, go outside, and just… plant herself somewhere in the wind like a stubborn landmark.
Realistically, though, the only one who'd actually do that was probably Gold Ship.
Back in her room, Kagura lay on the bed and scrolled through videos for a while. The idleness made her drowsy. She set her phone down and considered taking another nap—this kind of weather was perfect for it.
Amid the howl of wind, rain, and thunder, Kagura heard something that clearly didn't belong to the storm—sharp knocking at her door. The raps jolted her awake. She hopped off the bed and opened it.
"Hello~?"
"Morning~ Kagura-san. Hehe, we're here."
Outside was Bizen Nishiki, who'd said she wanted to come over early—then couldn't make it around six-thirty because of the "incident." Now she was here again. Behind her were Ardan and Nice Nature, both greeting Kagura as she peeked out.
"By the way… Kagura-san, in weather like this, you're just sitting in your room without even turning on the lights? It's so dark in here…"
Only after stepping inside did Nice Nature realize Kagura hadn't turned on a single light. With the sky already dim, and the curtains drawn, the room was pitch-black. Once the door shut and the hallway light vanished, it felt even darker.
"On a rare, comfy downpour like this, I prefer it dark. Helps me focus on the wind and rain."
Listening to the rain was one of Kagura's hobbies. Nice Nature had even done it with her before, so the answer didn't surprise her.
"So—did you come to hang out? Did you bring anything?"
"Nishiki-san said maybe we could play board games or something," Ardan said. "But what you just said gave me an idea."
She looked like she'd just thought of something fun, all mysterious and pleased with herself. The other three Umamusume stared at her, curious what she was about to propose.
"Today's weather is perfectly gloomy… so how about we watch paranormal documentaries or horror movies together~?"
"Huh?!"
...
Back when Kagura had seen Ardan tinkering with some strange summoning circle in the dorm, she'd already known Ardan had interests in this direction. Still—Kagura realized she'd underestimated just how deep Ardan's fascination with the occult and supernatural ran.
Even at summer training camp, Ardan had brought her own projector and a memory card loaded with ghost films and horror documentaries. Kagura suspected that even without this sudden typhoon, Ardan would've found some night to sneak over and rope her into watching this stuff.
Bizen Nishiki and Nice Nature looked scared, but Kagura got the feeling that more than fear, they were… excited. Kagura could understand. She'd been pretty timid herself in the past—no way would she ever watch a horror movie alone. But with close friends, or a few fellow doomed roommates?
Then the "show" took over, and it stopped being quite so scary.
"Nishiki-san… and Nature—uh, you two look really frightened. Are you sure you're okay?"
"N-no… no… I-I'm fine!"
"I-I-I think I'm okay!"
"Mm… you both look like you're really not okay…"
With her head pinned between two soft masses, Kagura's face went blank with exasperation. She glanced left and right at Nice Nature and Bizen Nishiki—clinging to her like their lives depended on it—then over at Ardan, who was watching the horror film with lively interest.
If nothing else, the entertainment value was already off the charts.
"No! I-I-I really can handle it!"
"Nishiki-san is stuttering from fear… You two, look at Ardan-ojousama—she's watching so enthusiastically!"
Truthfully, Kagura used to be scared of this stuff too. But after spending so long with Eclipse, her resistance to the supernatural had shot way up. For her, as long as something wasn't clearly hostile, even if a ghost started street-dancing by her bed, she wouldn't be afraid. She'd probably sit up and watch for fun.
Well—Umamusume wasn't one-size-fits-all. And the way Bizen Nishiki and Nice Nature were terrified but still curious was pretty amusing. Kagura didn't mind the two big girls holding onto her.
The only thing that mildly annoyed her was the constant squish on both cheeks.
Tch. Why is everyone built so ridiculously well? Are you sure you're all middle schoolers and high schoolers?
"By the way… Kagura, you don't look scared at all. It's like you're used to this?"
Ardan could understand that her niche hobby was a challenge for most people, but Kagura's calmness still made her curious. Kagura was only twelve, and usually so quiet and well-behaved. Ardan didn't think she looked like the fearless type. And with classmates and seniors hugging her in terror, Kagura still sat there like nothing was happening—so Ardan asked.
"If there's no hostility, even a ghost isn't that scary, right? Besides… I am a miko."
"That's true… Wait, then as a miko, have you ever seen, like… spirits?"
"If I said I can see them, would you believe me?"
"Uh… that sounds kind of hard to believe…"
Ardan looked unconvinced. Nice Nature and Bizen Nishiki—still clinging to Kagura—trembled and shook their heads too, trying their hardest to communicate: I don't believe you.
Seeing how scared they were, Kagura suddenly felt like teasing them a little. So she said:
"Mm… yeah, it does sound unbelievable. It's normal not to buy it. But honestly? I've even seen that kind of thing in the hotel hallway~"
"Huh… um… Kagura, y-you mean… in the hotel?"
"Kagura-san… is that true?"
Nice Nature and Bizen Nishiki's voices were shaking so hard that Kagura blinked. Sure, they were scared, but she was just joking—did they really have to react this much?
"Uh… I-I've been feeling this cold breath by my ear… like someone's blowing on it… Kagura, did you turn on the AC?"
"Hm? The AC in my room is broken. I told the hotel repair guy this morning… W-whoa!? Don't freak out like that! Maybe I didn't close the balcony door properly and it's just a draft—"
Before Kagura could finish, the two terrified Umamusume pounced and tackled her to the floor, wrapping around her like a pair of koalas.
Watching Kagura get flattened under them, Ardan couldn't help laughing. The scene was hilarious—but at the same time, something about it felt… off. She couldn't put her finger on what exactly, but a faint wrongness prickled at her.
Huh… weird. Is it just me?
...
Eclipse-san, you're blowing in their ears again.
——What? I'm just cooperating with you to scare those two a little, that's all~
Eclipse-san, you're mean!
——How am I mean?! I'm a ghost—scaring people is my natural right!
---
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