Stealing Spree

Continuing on our search, even though we ended up being disappointed at the bathroom hall, Arisa and I spent our time flirting with each other right in the middle of the supposedly haunting spot.

Like with Izumi, continuing to hug her intimately was fending off any possibility of being inflicted with fear. Maybe even if the rumored ghosts showed up in front of us, we'd still be unfazed in front of it.

If there's one thing that piqued our interest even a little, it should be the purposely dug-up one corner that led us to a basement room where the boiler was located.

It also led us to a path straight to the backside of this hill. It's like a little cave that was properly shut by a metallic door.

It's already opened so we could see that there was a narrow path outside which would bring us back to a higher ground.

Unfortunately, even that discovery failed to provide any clue for us. It was interesting though.

Arisa even lamented not being able to bring our phone. The scenery that could be seen beyond the door was a mesmerizing sight.

In the end, we could only burn it in our minds and concluded our time there by sharing more kisses as it was extremely fitting for the situation.

From everything that happened, this haunted manor exploration turned out to be nothing more than just a special date for us.

Of course, we remembered to explore the second floor. We searched every room, not just the one pointed out by Juri, in hopes of finding something.

And still nothing. No ghosts. No faded photos. No suspicious or ominous writings on the wall.

Everything just felt so forlorn. It's such a waste for a place like this to be abandoned.

Ah. But we didn’t truly go out empty-handed though. The faded digital photo was actually taken inside the room where they reported the first sighting.

Either the women in the photos were really connected to it or someone just truly brought them here as a prank. Whichever the case, we’d probably never find out unless the people in the photos or the one who printed it showed up in front of us. Furthermore, with the two of us going in with little to no clues on what we're trying to find, we’re like headless chickens trying to walk straight to a cliff rather than where the chicken feeds are.

Through this experience, we also understood the reason why paranormal videos on the internet were scarce and more often, fake and fabricated.

Ghosts wouldn't magically appear just because you wanted to see them. Let’s give those who saw them the benefit of the doubt and take their claim as real. However, since we didn’t see the ghosts ourselves, we could only mark it as nothing but a ghost story.

Anyway, while it didn’t result in something we could turn into a fantastical tale to everyone we know, the experience alone was a memory we’d definitely treasure.

“Let’s go back, Ruki. Someday, let’s go somewhere more special.” Arisa said as we started making our way back, casting off the silence that permeated after we both shrugged and called our exploration over.

“How special do you want it to be?”

“On a place for our honeymoon,” Arisa answered without hesitation. She even winked at me, trying to check if I would be flustered at her answer.

She failed though but I liked this conversation.

“I see. You’re also thinking that far ahead. Sure… Wherever that will be, we’ll make more memories there. Maybe ghost hunting too?”

“Pfft. Let’s be grounded on a more realistic goal, shall we? What about scuba diving?”

Right. That’s easier to accomplish rather than chasing after a paranormal being that may or may not exist.

But really… scuba diving, huh? Thinking about it, she might not be part of a swimming club but she’s a great swimmer – according to her, of course.

“So, we’ll pick our honeymoon depending on its proximity to the sea, huh? No problem.”

“This guy. Don’t sound so nonchalant. By the way, I’m sure diving is among your skills, right?”

“It is. However… I’ve only learned the bare minimum and I’ve never tried diving in a deep sea. There’s just no occasion to do so. Does that count?”

“Huh. There’s nothing you can’t do. Don’t worry! Leave it to your girl… I’ll guide you through it.”

Arisa sweetly giggled. From the way her body shuddered in excitement, she was already imagining it. We’re both in a diving suit, paddling near the sea floor hand-in-hand.

That would be a unique experience. I only equipped myself with basic swimming and diving lessons. Swimming is a survival skill, after all. I’m the jack of all trades, master of none when it comes to survival.

Even if we suddenly get transported to another world like most light novels seemingly use as a plot nowadays, those skills will come in handy especially if we don’t get a cheat. And obviously, my girls’ safety will still be my highest priority.

Uh. Alright. Let’s stop that. That’s unlikely to happen.

We continued on this kind of topic which is totally out of place from our current setting.

Just like this, we soon approached the exit.

I reached for the creaky door while Arisa moved back to my side.

However, what we were expecting to see wasn’t really what welcomed us outside.

There, where we left the three girls to rest, they’re all standing like a bunch of strict prefects in front of four kneeling boys.

“Is that…?” Arisa couldn’t hide her surprise in her voice but she soon realized what could’ve happened, “Pfft. I bet those idiots thought they could hit on them, never realizing that it’s Shizu, Izumi, and a camp manager.”

Just like she said, that seems to be the case as we soon heard Shizu scolding the four.

“So, you’re going to kneel, huh? Figures. All of you only amount to this. Thinking you could pick on isolated girls, you never considered you’d encounter someone like me here. Did my authority scare you? Did her sway over the delinquents terrify you? Or maybe, realize that one of us is a camp manager spelled doomsday in your heads?”

Shizu sounded so disappointed there as she looked down at them. Likewise, Izumi and Juri were shaking their heads at the sight.

They’re not looking at them the same way they look at me. In their eyes, they’re nothing but worthless scum who probably attempted to pick them up.

Compared to the mystery that we failed to solve inside the haunted manor, I didn’t need considerable discerning skills to find out what happened.

Since it’s only a one-way path to this location, they certainly came from there. And as ignorant as they are, seeing the three girls without recognizing them first sent them into a frenzy on how they could pick up girls during this camp.

Unluckily for them… they drew the worst combination.

The Student Council President.

The (fake) delinquent girl.

And lastly, one of the camp managers.

Not knowing how to get out of this situation, the four started pleading for Shizu to let them off.

And it was at this point that the flashlight held by Arisa shone in their direction.

Simultaneously, the three girls turned around to see us emerging from the manor. Likewise, the four pathetic losers who were probably a group of friends among the second-year students all shifted their gazes at me.

At first, they thought they were finding their savior but as soon as they recognized my face, the layer of fear in their eyes doubled.