Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Is This School Just Full of Perverts?
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After finishing the patrol on the first floor, we arrived at the second.
The second floor looked completely different from how it appeared during the day.
Maybe it was because the science lab, nurse's office, and home ec room were all clustered here. The atmosphere felt way creepier than the first floor... like ghosts might actually pop out.
I unconsciously reached for the crumpled rulebook in my pocket, but then doubt crept in.
...No matter how I think about it, this feels like a rulebook the Sisters wrote just to get frisky. Do I really need to pull it out?
Sigh... If I don't want to stumble into something awkward, maybe I should.
"Yujin, what's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing. Just feeling kinda deflated."
I got scared for no reason. It's my fault for expecting anything from this pervert-infested school.
4. The equipment in the science lab is for students' experiments. Please refrain from using it for anything else. 5. If you need to use a carrot from the home ec room, open the drawer in the first-floor faculty office instead. It's more hygienic and safer there. 6. There might be someone lying on the bed in the nurse's office. If it's the person you're looking for, that's fine—but if not, please leave the nurse's office. ...They're not even hiding it anymore. What, you think this school's a joke? A total joke?
If I were big enough to rewrite the rules, I'd castrate every one of these Sisters for their blatant perversion.
...Except Catherine.
"Come on, Seo-ah unnie. Let's finish patrolling the second floor quick and head back. I'll make you a yummy midnight snack."
Did the words "midnight snack" hit the spot?
I swear, Seo-ah's steps sped up as she held my hand.
She devoured the breakfast I made this morning, too. Does she like my cooking? I hope so.
"Yujin, what're you making for the snack...?"
"Hmm... Anything you're craving?"
"Yeah."
"What is it? If I can make it, I will!"
"...Pancakes."
What a cutie, this beautiful girl.
She's asking so shyly for pancakes? I wanna feed her as many as she wants.
"Sure thing! I'll make 'em super tasty!"
"Hehe, thanks, Yujin."
Squeeze.
Somehow, even though it's not been that long since I met Seo-ah, it really feels like we're family now.
Of course, I'm the big bro(? ) position, and Seo-ah's the needy little sis type! She looks all grown-up on the outside, but inside she's a crybaby who hates being alone.
"...By the way, Seo-ah unnie. What about the third floor tonight?"
Ah, my heart says one thing, but my mouth's still calling her unnie.
But if I don't, she glares at me, and that's scary.
"Dunno. Maybe we should at least take a look around."
"...Aren't you scared of the White Ghost, unnie?"
"Nope. Never actually seen it, and I haven't done anything wrong anyway."
Ah, right—this is who she is.
If she thinks she's right, she doesn't bend.
Heck, if I hadn't spoken up at the kendo club, she probably would've shaved that guy's head clean off.
"Alright, then let's go check it out. I'm a little curious too..."
"Yeah. No matter what happens, I'll protect you, Yujin."
Again with that.
Keep trying to seduce me, and it won't end well... Agh, stop...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After patrolling the second floor—which was nothing special compared to the first—we headed up to the third.
The standout features were the massive door to Cherum and the music room at the end of the hall.
I hadn't paid much attention to that door before, but it's the music room, huh... No wonder I never noticed.
The third-floor rules are probably not worth checking. Bound to be more pervy stuff anyway.
What matters is whether the White Ghost shows up or not.
Gulp.
"Seo-ah unnie, let's go."
"Okay."
Gripping Seo-ah's hand tight, we headed for the music room.
It wasn't far, but the tension building with every step outdid all our previous patrols combined.
"Ah, ahh..."
As we got closer, music started drifting toward us.
Anyone who's touched a piano has heard it: "Für Elise."
The dark, solemn melody flowed passionately, growing more intense the nearer we got to the music room.
"It's fine."
"R-Really...?"
"Yeah. There's no such thing as ghosts. So we just warn whoever's in there—or chase out any intruders."
...Ah, so that's why Seo-ah's so fearless. She doesn't believe in ghosts at all.
B-But I'm scared... What if it's real...
Creeeak...
Finally reaching the music room door, we opened it—and the piano cut off instantly.
The room that came into view was empty. No one there.
"S-S-S-Seo-ah, S-Seo-ah unnie!"
Squeeeze.
"...This is weird."
Terrified, I clung to Seo-ah's waist, but she bravely walked to the piano at the far end and inspected the keys.
W-What kind of courage...
"The piano's still warm. Someone was definitely playing it."
"...You can tell that?"
"Yeah."
...Seo-ah's scarier than any ghost right now. How's a normal person supposed to know that? No way I could...
Whish, whish.
Seo-ah's demeanor sharpened as she scanned the room for whoever might be hiding.
Caught up in her vibe, I looked around too—but all I saw were frames of famous composers and one of a mysterious beautiful girl.
...Huh? Doesn't that one frame feel totally different from the others?
"Hey, Seo-ah unnie... Who's that?"
A silver-haired beauty with a faint smile.
Maybe elementary or middle school age? She wasn't outshone by us Stella girls—in fact, she could even rival top beauty Seo-ah.
Nah, comparing at Stella level is pointless. It's all about taste.
"...The White Ghost."
"Guh."
"Bianca."
"...Bianca?"
Standing on tiptoes to take the frame down, Seo-ah frowned at it.
Is there something wrong with the photo...?
"Why is this frame here? I thought they'd cleared them all out."
"Why'd they clear it out?"
"...Whenever this frame was around, students would fall into mysterious sl—Ack!?"
Pfft.
"Seo-ah unnie!!"
Mid-explanation, white smoke burst from the frame. Seo-ah inhaled it and collapsed, writhing in agony.
I rushed to her, but her eyes were already shut... She wouldn't wake no matter how I shook her.
"S-Seo-ah unnie... Wake up... What's wrong..."
What is this... This isn't real, right? Not like this, so suddenly...?
"Don't worry. She's just taking a little nap."
A song-like, beautiful voice came from behind as I shook Seo-ah nonstop.
Hugging Seo-ah tight, I turned—and there stood a girl identical to the one in the photo.
"Phew, you're quick on the uptake."
"Wh-Who...?"
"By the way, how come you didn't fall asleep? Huh? That was my strongest stuff."
The white-haired girl looming over me exuded intense pressure.
Not like Catherine's or Seo-ah's—it was the innate aura of someone born to stand above others...
A queen through and through.
"Hey, you... Who are you?"
Just... she's tiny. That's the problem.
...This kid's shorter than me, right? Huh? What gives?
"Hey, did you knock out Seo-ah?"
Not a ghost, and smaller than me? Got it.
"Wh-What? You're suddenly all cocky."
"Wake her up! Damn, I thought she was dead and freaked out... What's your name?"
"J-Just... fall asleep already!"
Pfft.
"Ack—..."
The pissed-off little white girl sprayed more smoke from what looked like a mister, but it only stung my eyes a bit. Nothing else.
Perplexed by my standing unfazed, she sprayed several more times—with the same result.
"...That all you got?"
"M-MMonster...!"
Who's the monster here?
The monster's you, popping out of nowhere in the music room!
Flick.
"Ow!"
Flick, flick, flick.
"It huuuurts..."
Sniffle, sniffle...
Hmm, did I go too far? Triple flick on a little kid like this was overkill.
"Sorry?"
"Yeah... So stop flicking the same spot..."
"Sorry, sorry. Wanna blow on it?"
"Yeah."
Whoo.
Rub rub.
"Hehe."
Man, this kid's smallness makes her kinda cute.
Wait... Is this how other people feel about me? Then I get why they treat me nice.
"Hey, what's your name? And why'd you knock out Seo-ah all of a sudden?"
"...Bianca."
"Bianca."
...Seo-ah said that name right before passing out. It was referring to the White Ghost.
"...You're the White Ghost?"
"Yep."
...No way, snap out of it.
Now that my anger buff's worn off, I almost got scared for a sec—but she's no ghost, just a kid shorter than me.
If anything, up close... she's got a ton of scars on her arms and neck...
"Hey, are you the White Ghost I know...? From the rumors...?"
"Yeah. Surprised I'm alive?"
Hehe.
I hugged the smirking White Ghost tight.
"Sorry... I'm so sorry..."
"Wh-Why all of a sudden?"
"Sorry... Really, truly sorry..."
What have I done?
If the ghost story's true... to a girl with scars that bad, instead of being kind, I went and flicked her.
"You can flick my forehead back as much as you want."
"...You're sorry, huh? It's okay."
Bianca was the one stroking my back gently, comforting me.
We stayed like that, hugging for a few minutes, until I calmed down. Then we squatted in front of Seo-ah and talked a bit.
"Hey, why'd you knock out Seo-ah...?"
"Didn't want her finding out who I am. Or that I'm here."
"...I see."
"Can't say more, but... keep it secret?"
"Yeah. Secret's safe."
And then silence fell.
What should I say...? Maybe it's better for Bianca if I just take Seo-ah and leave quick?
"Hey."
"Wh-What...?"
"Could you... visit sometimes? Even just occasionally, at night?"
Her hands clasped wistfully, those big purple eyes staring right through me—desperation radiated from Bianca.
How can I say no to that?
"...Okay."
"Hehe! Awesome! No one's around to hear my piano, so I was worried my skills were slipping."
Ah, that's why... Rumors said she was a genius pianist.
Tons of questions, but... too soon to ask.
Once we're closer, I'll dig into it. Why she's hiding in the music room at night, why her existence has to stay secret...
"What's your name?"
"Yujin..."
"Yujin! Gotta go before that Seo-ah wakes up. Come to the music room alone if you wanna see me! Promise?"
"Yeah, promise."
Bye-bye.
We waved goodbye, and Bianca slipped out the music room door—vanishing in a flash.
...I'll look into Bianca later. For now, what to do about Seo-ah.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "...Yujin!"
"You're up?"
In the end, I went with lap pillow until she woke.
Can't let her keep lying on the marble floor—headache city.
"Wh-What just...?"
"Nothing big. You just dozed off from fatigue."
"N-No... There was definitely the White Ghost..."
"Dream. Got it?"
"...Got it."
Good girl.
Pat pat.
Seo-ah still looked unconvinced, but she read my face—the ironclad "don't ask" vibe—and nodded obediently.
Thanks, Seo-ah unnie. Saving me the trouble... Hehe.
"Sorry, Yujin... I said I'd protect you..."
Smack.
"Eh, e... Huh...?"
"...Let's go."
Really, totally unconscious on my part.
I pecked Seo-ah's forehead quick, then turned away, too embarrassed to handle it.
Wanna bolt right now, but with her head in my lap mid-patrol? Stuck.
Am I insane...? Why'd I do that...
"Yujin... Do it one more time."
"N-No, we're good."
What do I even say on the way back... So embarrassing...