Miss Heir wasn't very kind to me.

Chapter 187, Section 28: "What will we use to get through the stormy night?"

"I'll go get a towel."

Rinne reacted quickly.

"Thank you, Ms. Kamishiro."

Taking off the hood of my raincoat, I, like an ancient hero, took the towel and wiped my hair and cheeks.

"It's raining so hard outside, why did you come over, senior?"

Masumi closed the door, took the plastic bag from her hand, and felt the weight press down on her knuckles until they turned white.

"Good weight."

"Inside are supplies that have safely weathered the typhoon."

I smiled like an ancient thousand-year-old, wrapped my body in a towel, and furrowed my delicate eyebrows.

"Ugh, it's so uncomfortable being all wet."

"Sister Qian Sui, go take a shower first, you're all soaked," Qian Ai said.

Despite wearing a raincoat, the downpour still soaked her to the bone.

"Well, excuse me for interrupting you then."

◇

Lighting the candles brought by the elders added a calming light to the room.

Masumi heard the bathroom door open.

"Thank you for letting me take a shower."

The warm scent of the shower gel gently enveloped Masumi's breath.

He turned his head and was shocked to find that face so close to his eyes, with slightly damp, shiny black hair and cheeks flushed pink from the warmth.

"Oh, oh..."

Masumi glanced at my senior, who had just come out of the bath, before looking away.

"Senior, you brought a change of clothes."

"Well, I was thinking that depending on the situation, I might be bothering you for the whole night, if you don't mind."

I smiled gently, as if from ancient times.

“I don’t mind, but the guesthouse doesn’t have any extra rooms available…” Masumi thought for a moment and said, “Senpai, please stay in my room.”

"Oh my, that's really bold."

I, like an ancient sage, covered my mouth with my hand, letting out an elegant chuckle, and then nodded.

"Well, on a cold, stormy night, it's good to do something to warm up."

She stood to Masumi's left, her soft, fragrant hand gently caressing his cheek, and spoke slowly in a volume just loud enough for everyone in the living room to hear.

"Let your older sister teach you properly."

"No, it's that we should work together."

She narrowed her eyes, pondered for a moment, and then corrected herself.

She's so considerate; she even took into account the man's pride.

"Masumi!?"

Kurokawa Mio's high-pitched scream rang out.

"Senior, your reckless jokes could cause an accident."

Masumi wore a pained expression, clearly annoyed by the situation.

"Sorry, sorry, I was just trying to lighten the mood, because the girls' expressions were a bit stiff."

I, like a mischievous old man, wore a smug smile as I looked at the girls on the sofa with their various expressions.

Rinne, with her usual cold expression; Asami, with her ambiguous smile; Chiai, with her shy blush; and Kaigetsu, with her expressionless face.

And Kurokawa Mio reacted as if facing a formidable enemy, her guarded expression resembling that of a golden retriever whose territory had been invaded.

"Miss Ruko, would you like to share a room with me and Mio?" Rinne said.

"No need to trouble yourself." I said, my rosy lips parted slightly. "It's just that Masumi will have to sleep on the sofa for one night."

"There's no question of feeling wronged in this kind of situation."

Masumi gently shook her head. "Speaking of which, is it alright for you to come to our place, senpai? There must be a power outage there too, right?"

"The aquarium has a backup generator, and I carefully checked the electrical components in the tank before I came, so it's fine."

"By the way, you should have enough supplies stored up, right?"

"Thanks to Miss Rugu's reminder, I bought some bread at the store. I should be able to get through tonight," Rinne replied.

"Oh dear, this is far from enough, Ms. Kamishiro."

I, like an ancient sage, crossed my arms, shook my head, and sighed.

"Two years ago, Miyako Island was without power for three whole days due to a typhoon, and convenience stores and supermarkets were completely closed."

Qian Ai: "Ugh, that sounds awful."

"But don't worry." I, Ru Gu Qian Sui, smiled as if to reassure everyone. "I'm here to help you all get through this difficult time."

"Qiang Qiang!"

Opening the two large plastic bags she brought, one could see they were filled to the brim with various ingredients, including somen noodles from the prefecture, Okinawan bitter melon, island tofu, and pork.

The other bag contained Miyako Island mangoes, hand-shredded pineapples, and other tropical fruits.

In addition, there were some fish that Masumi couldn't name.

"This is Ryukyu snapper. It's great deep-fried and goes well with Awamori or Orion beer," I introduced Rugu, a senior colleague.

"Awamori! Orion!"

Asami asked, her eyes sparkling, "Does that mean I, Miss Rugu, also brought wine?"

“Of course.” I said with a smile as if it were the most natural thing in the world, “What’s a typhoon party without alcohol?”

"Long live!"

Asami raised her hands above her head and cheered.

"Didn't you come here to help us get through this difficult time?" Masumi asked.

"There's no conflict between having fun during a typhoon, is there?"

I, like a thousand-year-old ancient being, curled the corners of my lips in delight.

"Oh, speaking of which, it is indeed a bit puzzling."

Qian Ai revealed a genuine expression of bewilderment.

"Even though the typhoon was coming, everyone seemed very relaxed when we went to the shopping street in the evening. They didn't look worried at all."

Asami nodded in agreement, "Especially the izakayas, they were almost packed with people."

"This is also a characteristic of the people of Miyako Island," I explained with a smile. "Before a typhoon, the izakayas are packed with people who have left work early."

"Because they arrived at night this time, everyone's vigilance was even lower."

As expected of a Miyako Island resident, my senior, Ruko, seems quite accustomed to typhoons.

"I'm going back to my room to get my bedding."

After deciding to sleep on the sofa, Masumi said this, got up, and went to the closet in her room to get a blanket.

The thunderstorm continued as before, showing no signs of abating. Listening to this unsettling sound, Masumi couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.

"It's getting late, aren't you going back to your rooms to rest?"

After a while, Masumi returned to the living room with a quilt in her arms and saw the girls sitting in a circle around the dining table, chatting in front of lit candles.

Facing him, Qian'ai's face was illuminated by the candlelight, vaguely emerging from the darkness, revealing a hint of fear.

"What are you doing, a birthday party?"

As if annoyed by his abrupt and mood-ruining words, Mami puffed out her cheeks like a pufferfish and turned to look at him.

"We're telling ghost stories, Masumi-kun, want to join us?"

"I'll pass; I don't have any stories to tell," Masumi replied curtly.

"Hey, Masumi-kun is scared, just like Chiai," Mami said sarcastically.

"Let's just say that," Masumi said, ignoring her provocation. "Why the sudden change of heart? Telling ghost stories?"

“Because it’s supposed to be a training camp, but it’s raining, there’s a typhoon, and…” Asami glanced at me, Rugu Chitose, and hesitated before saying, “…something like a long-awaited reunion.”

I, like a thousand-year-old ancient being, remained unmoved and returned her a faint smile.

"In short!" Mami mumbled, finally saying, "There wasn't really any decent training camp activity at all."

Didn't we go to the beach this afternoon?

"That does count, but it only happened once."

Mami shrugged and continued, "The stormy atmosphere outside, coupled with the power outage, makes this not a very suitable environment for telling ghost stories."

I felt like I'd heard that before; it seemed like she'd said it just recently.

“I think it’s not that the environment is suitable for the story, but that you are adapting to the environment,” Masumi said incisively.

"You could say the same thing."

Asami nodded stubbornly, a strange light suddenly flashing in her eyes.

"Speaking of which, there are more than just ghost stories about young men and women gathering together for evening retreats; there are also—"

"No, Mami."

Unexpectedly, the person who interrupted her was Rugu Qiansui.

Her tone was gentle, yet it carried a hint of pressure, as if she were speaking to an innocent child, even using a nickname instead of her given name.

"I only brought typhoon protection measures with me this time, which is harmful to health. Masumi should get some sleep."

"So, no~can't~."

I, like a thousand-year-old ancient being, spoke slowly and deliberately.

Under her pressure, Mami nervously swallowed and frantically waved her hands in front of her face, trying to explain.

"Um, I was just kidding."

“I think so too.” I smiled, my eyes narrowed, like an ancient thousand-year-old.

"healthy?"

Qian Ai tilted her head, looking confused.

"It's nothing, let's continue our ghost story session."

As if nothing had happened, I casually steered the conversation back to the topic, and the shadow of fear returned to the face of the childhood sweetheart.

"Are Mio and Rinne also interested in the ghost story convention?" Masumi asked.

"I'm just not sleepy yet, so I'm just killing some time with everyone," Rinne said casually.

Kurokawa Mio: "Me too." Both of them had an indifferent attitude.

"Ah, it's my turn to tell a ghost story now," I said with a smile, like a thousand-year-old ghost.

Masumi walked away to the sofa, bored, and spread the quilt on it. Even without listening attentively, the ghost story she was telling still vividly entered her ears.

It's Hanako in the Toilet, a classic ghost story.

Like my predecessors, I lowered my voice and spoke in a somber tone.

Combined with the howling rain outside the window and the twisting, swaying shadows of the trees, it actually sounded increasingly eerie.

Gurgle!

Masumi heard someone swallowing hard.

It must be said that the reason why classics are classics is because they can withstand the test of time.

Even if it's a well-worn topic, it can still sound terrifying if told in the right context.

He then lay down in bed and covered his ears with a pillow and a quilt.

After an unknown amount of time, the candles on the dining table went out, plunging the entire living room into darkness.

Masumi fell into a deep sleep.

◇

Boom——

A thunderous sound was heard.

A bright white light illuminated the dark living room.

Masumi awoke with a start from the soft darkness of night.

It was a nightmare.

Despite always boasting that she wasn't afraid of ghosts, Masumi was actually swayed by a mere ghost story. She subconsciously frowned and tightened the blanket wrapped around her.

In any case, as long as you tuck your hands and feet under the covers and don't let them stick out, everything will be fine.

Holding onto this self-comforting thought, Masumi closed her eyes tightly, desperately trying to hypnotize herself into falling asleep.

Rustling.

Suddenly, a faint sound seemed to rise in the living room, sounding exceptionally clear in the pitch-black world.

In a state of constant anxiety, even the faintest sound from an unexpected situation can send every nerve on the body trembling and tightening.

Hanako... isn't she supposed to just stay in the toilet?

The sound only lasted a moment before disappearing. Just as Masumi thought everything was over and her heart, which had been in her throat, slowly calmed down—

A sound that seemed heavier than before came through.

It clearly originated from inside the guesthouse.

In theory, this situation should be ignored, but... through the blanket, I felt a strange sensation on my body.

A hand reached out from the darkness and shook him violently.

"Masumi-nii, Masumi-nii?"

Masumi recognized the voice.

"...Qian Ai?"

He opened his eyes, and a soft outline appeared in the darkness. His childhood sweetheart, dressed in pajamas, stood before him.

"Are you suffering from insomnia again?"

Masumi recalled that on her first night at the guesthouse, she also met Chiai here.

"no……"

She bit her lip as if hesitant, and spoke shyly, seemingly embarrassed:
"Brother Masumi, could you keep me company for a bit?"

"To stay with you?"

"Yes, tonight..."

Wait a minute. A group activity where young men and women gather together for an evening getaway.

Masumi asked incredulously, "You're not planning to do anything unhealthy, are you?"

"What are you thinking, Masumi-nii?"

Whether from fear or shame, Chiai trembled, the occasional flashes of white light from outside the window illuminating the blush on her face.

"I wanted Masumi-nii... to accompany me to the bathroom..." she said shyly.

"Huh? Because of the ghost story that Senior Rugu just told?"

"Ah."

Qian Ai nodded quietly.

Why didn't you ask Mami or Umi to go with you?

"Of course I looked for her, but Mami-nee had been drinking and was in a very deep sleep. No matter how I called her, she wouldn't wake up."

The childhood sweetheart let out a melancholy sigh.

"Haiyue played mobile games in her room until very late before finally falling asleep, and I couldn't bear to wake her."

"I heard that the game she's been playing recently updates at midnight. If we wake her up at that time, Haiyue will probably stay up until the update is complete and finish the next day's game tasks before going to sleep."

"I see."

My childhood sweetheart is really thoughtful.

"I understand, then I'll go with you."

Masumi threw back the covers, stood up, and walked to the bathroom with Chiai.

"By the way, Masumi-nii."

"Ok?"

"You were sleeping in the living room, did you hear any strange noises?"

"Hmm, no, I don't think so."

Masumi thought carefully before answering. What she initially thought was a strange noise was probably just Chiai's footsteps and the sound of her pajamas rustling.

"Is that so?"

Qian Ai trembled with fear, her fair fingers gripping his clothes tightly.

She turned on her phone's flashlight and went into the bathroom. Luckily, the water wasn't cut off.

Masumi waited outside the door as she requested.

"Masumi-nii, are you outside?"

Qian Ai's trembling voice came from behind the door along with another voice.

"I'm here."

Masumi answered with a complex expression, her voice so vivid that it was hard not to let one's imagination run wild.

"...Why don't you come in? Masumi-nii, I'm a little scared."

"Don't talk nonsense." Masumi sighed, "I'm right outside, hurry up and come out."

"Well……"

Qian Ai kept silent.

The silence, where only the sound of water could be heard, seemed even more awkward, so Masumi simply covered her ears with her hands, and only the sound of the toilet flushing leaked in through her fingers.

"...Masumi-nii, Masumi-nii?"

I could faintly hear Qian Ai's voice, almost as if she was about to cry.

I think I missed what she just said because I covered my ears and the sound of the toilet flushing masked it.

"Sorry, I didn't hear you clearly. What did you say?"

"No."

"As long as Masumi-nii is still by my side, that's enough."

◇

When Qian'ai came out of the restroom, her cheeks were flushed to an unbelievable degree.

"Are you alright, Qian'ai?"

Beneath her thin summer pajamas, her long legs trembled slightly.

"Masaki-nii, stop staring at me like that."

Chiai closed her legs together and swayed her body uncomfortably.

"Feel sorry."

Even though it was just an unconscious glance, it was still incredibly presumptuous and rude to the girl.

Masumi shook her head and said, "Well then, goodnight."

"Okay, goodnight, Masumi-nii."

Holding onto the stair railing, she walked up to the second floor, turning back almost every few steps, and the door to the room was gently closed.

Silence returned to the living room, and the rain outside seemed to intensify. The French windows were taped in a crisscross pattern to prevent the glass from shattering.

After the brief incident, the fear had lessened somewhat. Sleepiness returned, and Masumi snuggled into bed and closed her eyes. Just then—

Rustling.

It's still that same voice.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?

Qian'ai should have already gone back to her room to sleep, so what is this sound?

Recalling the fortune teller's remarkably accurate prophecy, Miyako Island might really be...

"Masumi."

A clear, cold, and stern voice.

Masumi opened her eyes again and saw Rinne holding a lamp and standing in front of her.

The flickering candlelight illuminated her eyes, making her pupils resemble a deep lake at dusk, with fireflies floating on the crests of the twilight waves, both ethereal and radiant.

"Rinne? What are you doing here?"

Masumi looked at the girl with long, straight black hair and asked curiously.

She was barefoot and wearing a pure white thin nightgown, looking like a beautiful snow woman.

"Come with me to the toilet."

His tone was stern and calm, without a trace of extra emotion, just as clear and cold as falling snow.

(End of this chapter)