Sakurai Saki felt no particular discomfort having a strange high school girl in his home.
He wasn't worried about theft—there wasn't much in his apartment worth stealing anyway. The most valuable thing was probably his high-spec gaming PC, but she didn't look like the type to dismantle a desktop computer.
As he pedaled toward school, the image of her clinging to his sleeve, refusing to let him go, kept replaying in his head.
Sakurai didn't like being treated like a savior. In fact, he regretted bringing her home at all. A single act of sympathy had invited all this trouble—exactly the kind of mess he tried to avoid.
Note to self: be less softhearted.
He hopped off his bike as he neared the school gate and began pushing it along the sidewalk.
Up ahead, he spotted Iino Miko, standing stiffly with her signature Disciplinary Committee armband.
Ah. She's in inspection mode.
So serious, even first thing in the morning. Did she subsist on a diet of dried fish and righteous fury?
"Sakurai-kun! Good morning!"
"Sakurai—good morning, General Affairs!"
"Yo, Sakurai! Come shoot hoops with us sometime!"
Classmates passed by, calling out greetings, and Sakurai returned each one with a polite smile.
His popularity wasn't surprising. Ever since he'd made a splash during last autumn's sports festival, he'd become something of a school celebrity.
At the gate, Iino Miko narrowed her eyes at him.
Suspicious.Sakurai-senpai was walking unusually straight. Like a robot.Was he planning something?
Miko's sense of justice flared.
He better not try to bribe me again.
The first time had been a surprise attack—completely unavoidable.The second time could be excused as a gesture of kindness from a senior.But a third time? No way. Three strikes—she had to hold her ground!
"Hm? Miko, why are you looking at me like that?" Sakurai asked, genuinely confused.
"Sakurai-senpai! I won't be bribed with snacks today!" Miko declared, chin high.
"Oh! That reminds me," Sakurai said, rummaging through his bag. He pulled out a handful of coffee candies and held them out. "If you get tired during lunch break, have one of these. Didn't you rank first on the entrance exams? You must study hard—make sure to keep your sugar levels up."
Miko froze.
Why… why is he still offering candy?! I just said no!
She opened her hand instinctively, and by the time her brain caught up, Sakurai had already strolled past her.
Bribed… again!
"Nooo…" Miko whispered in despair, staring at the candy.
Nearby girls, watching the scene unfold, giggled softly.
She's so cute.
A flash of gold shot past the school gates, and Miko's eyes went wide.
"EH?! Hayasaka-senpai!!"
She cried out in despair.
———
Inside the school building, Sakurai lingered at his shoe locker.
After changing into his indoor shoes, he pulled out one of the letters tucked inside—an envelope sealed with a pink heart.
A love letter?
Who still confessed like this? If someone had something to say, wasn't it easier to text?
Still, he slid the envelope into his bag and headed to class without giving it much thought.
The morning lessons were slow and dull.
Sakurai sat by the window, taking notes with his usual diligence. He rarely slacked off in class, but today, his thoughts wandered.
On the podium, the teacher lay sprawled out dramatically.
"Ah~ I want to become a Buddha already," he sighed, idly picking his nose.
As a school for Superpower users, this kind of bizarre behavior was practically normal.
Superpower: Spirit Medium.Effect: Can see spirits. Side effects: Always active, double emotional load.
The curriculum reminded students that even teenage superpower users might encounter wandering ghosts.
Sakurai wasn't interested in finding out.
"Can you see me?" a soft voice asked.
He ignored it.
He kept his head down, taking notes, even as a pale, white-haired girl with gray eyes floated right in front of him, blocking his view of the board.
He couldn't see through her—and thus, couldn't see the board.
Still, listening carefully to the teacher's voice, Sakurai guessed the lesson's content and kept writing.
The ghost girl reached out and tried to poke his cheek.
Her finger passed right through him.
Sakurai scratched his head naturally, then shifted his posture, leaning his cheek against his hand to disguise the motion.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw an old man ghost squatting on the English teacher's shoulder.
Ugh. Gross.
"My name is Yakumo Bai. What's yours?" the white-haired ghost girl pressed, undeterred.
Sakurai Saki didn't want to form any strange attachments with a ghost he could only see for one day.
"You accepted my love letter. Do you want to go out with me?" the ghost asked sweetly.
Sakurai Saki: "…"
Is it too late to regret everything?
As someone who received an average of one love letter a week, Sakurai never imagined one would someday come from a ghost.
"My grades are really good—I can help you cheat!"
Excuse me?I'm ranked third in the entire Shuchiin Academy. You want to tutor me?
"Sakurai-kun, what's the answer to this question?" the teacher called out.
"C," Sakurai replied, standing up calmly.
"Nice! That's a beautiful name," the ghost, Yakumo Bai, murmured beside him. "I really love cherry blossoms. On the day I died, they were in full bloom too."
She smiled as she added cheerfully, "Oh, right! I fell from the rooftop and shattered into several pieces. Everyone walking below freaked out!"
She told this traumatic tale with a completely straight face, like she was reciting a shopping list.
Sakurai had just promised himself he wouldn't act out of unnecessary sympathy anymore.
So, he pretended to be deaf.
Talking to a ghost in the middle of class? No thanks.He didn't want his reputation morphing from the friendly, reliable Student Council General Affairs officer… to a guy who talked to walls.
"It's no use pretending," Yakumo Bai whispered, floating in front of him again. "Only you can activate the love letter."
She stared into his eyes.
"So… will you accept my confession?"
No, thanks.Maybe I can re-gift the letter to someone else.
Sakurai glanced around the room.
Ishigami might take it. That guy's into 2D girls—he'd probably be cool with a ghost girlfriend.
To be fair, Yakumo wasn't scary.She didn't have a twisted face or dripping blood. She was more "anime ghost" than horror movie material.
Just… extremely persistent.
And very close.
Too close.
"Yakumo, your… um… presence is blocking my view of the blackboard."
..p@ treon Rene chan , help me grow