(Suspension bridge effect.)
(The theory where fear causes your heart to race, and you mistakenly think it's love.)
(The suspension bridge effect is seriously terrifying.)
"Hey hey, Saiki-shishou, we already agreed—we can watch one more, right?"
(I never agreed.)
[Yeah, I'm going out to buy something. You two go ahead and watch without waiting for me. I'll be right back.]
Saiki finished speaking, got up, went to the door to change shoes, and left.
[I'm heading out.]
With Saiki gone, the two in the living room fell silent.
"Gulp."
Shiina Mahiru swallowed hard and clutched the Doraemon pillow tighter again: "Doma-san, how about we don't watch anymore for now!"
Umaru agreed: "Mm, makes sense. Let's wait until Saiki-shishou comes back to watch!"
These two were the type who were both bad at handling scary stuff and yet loved to push through it. Without Saiki there to accompany them, the two watching together would probably feel zero sense of safety.
"Mm…"
After Saiki left…
A long while passed, the sky gradually darkened, thick clouds filling the heavens.
"Boom!"
Thunder rumbled.
"Ah!!"
Shiina Mahiru and Doma Umaru hugged each other tightly.
Though scared, Umaru still tried to comfort her: "Shiina-san, i-it's fine… it's just thunder."
"Mm!"
Rain sounds started outside—a light, drizzling rain.
Downstairs at the apartment building, Saiki had reached the elevator, holding two bags of coffee jelly in his hands.
[It's raining after all? The weather forecast was way off.]
Meanwhile, inside the room, Umaru suggested: "I… how about we watch some funny videos instead? That way we won't be as scared."
"Mm."
Umaru picked up the remote and just turned on the TV to search when a sound came from the kitchen.
"Creak~"
Shiina Mahiru ꒰꒪꒫꒪⌯꒱
Umaru Σ( ° △ °|||)︴
Both of them instantly thought of the terrifying scenes that had played on TV earlier.
At that moment, as if the heavens thought the mood was just right, thunder struck even louder than before.
"BOOM!!!"
"Ah!"
"Ah!"
With the thunder, the TV screen went black, and the lights dimmed.
Power outage.
The two girls clung tightly together, looking around the dark surroundings. This time the thunder was farther away, but lightning flashed, illuminating things briefly before the sound followed.
And in that big flash of lightning, it shone through the curtains outside—a doll-faced ghost shadow appeared there.
"Ah!!"
"Ah!!"
The two girls jumped up from the sofa while hugging each other tightly and headed toward the door.
At that moment, Saiki opened the door and came back.
[It's just thunder and a power outage. Don't be scared, this…]
Before Saiki could finish, he saw the two girls charging straight at him.
Saiki's brow furrowed slightly as he instinctively sidestepped. Seeing him dodge, the two used the floor for leverage, bounced off it with reaction force, and landed right on him.
Perfectly split—one on each side: Umaru on the left, Shiina Mahiru on the right, each hugging one of Saiki's arms.
Saiki (=°Д°=)
(This is ridiculous.)
[Sigh, no—wait, you two, let go of me first.]
"Th-There's a ghost, Saiki-kun…"
"Saiki-shishou, there's a ghost…"
[Where's the ghost?]
The two closed their eyes and pointed toward the curtains.
Saiki looked over—yeah, there was a shadow. After one second of x-ray vision through the curtains, he saw it was just a doll.
Saiki used telekinesis to pull the curtains open.
[Look closely. That's just a doll from upstairs that fell down.]
The two opened their eyes, saw it was a doll, and let out relieved breaths—but they still clung tightly to Saiki, making it really uncomfortable for him.
[That last thunder strike must have tripped the breaker. Let go of me first so I can go flip it back on.]
"I'll go with you."
"Me too."
(What is this mess?)
Saiki had only taken two steps when he stopped, cold sweat breaking out on his face.
"What's wrong? Saiki-kun…"
"Saiki-shishou, is something the matter?"
"Creak~"
[Th-There's… a cockroach.]
The sound came from exactly the kind of large cockroach that makes that creaking noise.
[Quick, quick, let go of me—Shiina-san, there's a cockroach!]
But the two girls, still in the dark space and already scared, plus hearing that creak, wouldn't let go—in fact, they gripped even tighter.
Shiina Mahiru: "It's fine, it's fine."
Umaru: "Just wait until the lights are on—it'll leave."
[Of course it's not fine! It's standing right by the breaker!]
Right as Saiki spoke, the cockroach seemed to find something interesting and flew straight toward Saiki's face.
(My life is over.)
Saiki finally couldn't hold back and teleported, then…
...
One week later, after Umaru had come every day for tutoring, it was finally the day results were posted after final exams.
Saiki moved into the crowd and looked at the very top spot.
1st Place: Saiki Kusuo, Doma Umaru, Shiina Mahiru, Yukinoshita Yukino,
2nd Place: Tachibana Sylphinford…
(Well, as expected.)
"Umaru, you're amazing!"
The girls around Umaru were shocked— this exam had been way harder than usual.
"No way, just lucky~"
Umaru said modestly, completely unaware of the dark lines over Tachibana Sylphinford and Nana Ebina standing nearby.
(Yeah yeah, lucky.)
"Did you go to cram school?"
Umaru thought for a moment, remembered Saiki, and grinned: "Private tutor!"
(When did I become a tutor?)
After seeing the scores, Saiki didn't linger. Today was the last day of school—summer vacation was about to start.
(Finally, I can properly enjoy the break.)
"Hey! Saiki… Saiki!"
Inuzuka Shu called from behind. Seeing Saiki not slowing down or stopping, he sped up, ran over, and patted Saiki's shoulder: "Why didn't you stop?!"
Inuzuka Shu's picture →
Saiki looked at Inuzuka Shu, who had chased him down panting.
[Yare yare, it's Inuzuka. Sorry, I really didn't hear you at all just now.]
"Liar! I was yelling so loud—you did it on purpose."
[Anyway, don't worry about it. What's up? If there's nothing, I'm heading home to enjoy my vacation.]
"Phew~"
Inuzuka Shu caught his breath, rested a hand on Saiki's shoulder, eyes sparkling with anticipation: "Saiki, you ready? Vacation's here. Make sure you've got everything you need ready—clothes and stuff."
(Prepare what? Oh, right—gotta enjoy the vacation properly.)
"You know what I mean. I won't explain why. Just a reminder to remember."
(Yeah, yeah—gotta stock up on coffee jelly.)
"See ya then, Saiki. Have fun over break!"
Saiki watched Inuzuka Shu's back as he walked away.
[Mm, see you. Next semester.]
Saiki had only taken two steps when a new figure appeared in front of him, blocking the way.
Shikimori had her hands behind her back, smiling at Saiki: "Saiki-kun, I'm really looking forward to vacation!"
(This time it's you, little fairy number one?)
[Yeah.]
"Inuzuka and the others seem super excited about going to the river. It's thanks to your suggestion too."
[I… it's nothing.]
"But it seems no one has actually asked Saiki-kun if he wants to go? If you don't want to, you don't have to force yourself."
Shikimori forced a smile, but when she said it, you could clearly feel her mood drop.
Shikimori [If Saiki-kun doesn't like going out during break, it's better not to force him. He seems to prefer quiet things.]
(You're… way too considerate.)
"Saiki-kun? Saiki-kun?"
Shikimori waved her hand in front of the spacing-out Saiki.