Volume 13 Chapter 319 Tsukimachi Ayana, The Haunted Hotel
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Morning sunlight spilled through the tall restaurant windows, glinting off the polished silverware and glasses. I was enjoying breakfast when Kokona-chan appeared, holding a buffet tray, her face unusually serious.
”Hey… did you know? They say this place is haunted,” she whispered.
”What!?”
”Yeah… haunted. You know, ghosts.”
She sat down beside me, leaning closer as if the air itself might overhear. “I heard it straight from the staff.”
Before I could react, Lisa-chan arrived, balancing a tray filled with bread and salad. Her hair was already neatly curled, even this early in the morning—so typical of her perfection.
”Kokona-san, please don’t scare people first thing in the morning,” Lisa chided gently.
”But it’s true!” Kokona protested. “I heard a woman’s scream last night!”
Just then, Uruha-chan joined us, carrying her tray of Japanese breakfast. Even though we were classmates, she had this cool, dreamlike aura that made my heart flutter a little. No wonder Aqua looked all nervous earlier when he passed her in the hall.
”Hehe, Kokona-chan, are you serious?” Uruha asked, smiling faintly.
”Yeah. The lady at the front desk told me there have been guests and even staff who’ve seen ghosts here.”
Kokona then began listing what the staff called “The Seven Mysteries of the Hotel”:
One — the eight-armed shadow wandering the halls at midnight, born from the hatred of soldiers who died in the war.
Two — the linen room where you can still hear the cries of the maid who took her own life.
Three — the emergency stairs echoing with the sobs of a baby who died in the great fire.
Four — the chapel where the bride abandoned before her wedding still roams, searching for her groom.
Five — the kitchen where the fired waitress counts the number of dishes she broke.
Six — a painting with glowing eyes guarding the sealed secret passage.
Seven — the restless ghost of the hotel’s lifelong bachelor owner.
”That’s what they call the Seven Wonders of this hotel,” Kokona concluded proudly.
”Huh… I see,” I said, trying to sound calm as I lifted my cup of soup—but my hand trembled slightly.
”Ayana-san, your hand is shaking,” Lisa observed softly. “Are you all right?”
”Oh, right—Ayana-chan doesn’t like scary stuff, huh? Sorry!” Kokona added quickly.
”I-I’m fine,” I muttered, though I wasn’t. Honestly, I hated ghost stories. Ugh… would I even be able to go to the bathroom alone tonight?
My eyes drifted toward Aqua. Maybe, just maybe, if I asked him to come with me, he would.
As if sensing my gaze, Aqua looked over and walked toward us.
”What’s wrong, Ayana?” he asked.
”Ah, nothing, really,” I said, dodging his eyes.
Kokona quickly filled him in about the ghost stories.
”I see… so that’s what this is about,” he said, grinning. “Don’t worry! If anything weird happens, leave it to me and Tenga-senpai. We played Abe Seimei and Ashiya Douman, remember? Japan’s greatest shamans!”
The girls nearby squealed. It was true—Aqua’s Abe Seimei had been ridiculously cool.
”So if any of you—Ayana, Uruha, Lisa, or Kokona—see a ghost, call me right away!” he said confidently before heading back to his table.
He’s really dependable, isn’t he? I remembered asking him once if there was anything he feared. He’d looked serious and said, “The only thing I fear in this world is Kohina-senpai.” Poor guy.
After that, our conversation drifted to plans for the day, and breakfast went on as usual.
***
That night, I suddenly woke up needing to go to the bathroom. Ugh, I should’ve gone before bed.
Our hotel was over 120 years old—a grand, historic building, but time had left its marks. Earlier, the staff mentioned that most of the bathrooms were out of order. Only the one on the second floor was usable.
I sat up carefully and glanced toward Tsukino-chan’s bed.
”Mm… I can’t eat anymore… mnya mnya…”
I smiled. What kind of dream was she having? Probably a happy one. Then I looked over at Iku-chan.
”What!? No way! Hagetoru’s true identity was Emily-sama all along!? Ugh… ugh…”
I blinked. Of course, even asleep, Iku-chan was still a hardcore bulletin board addict. She’d probably forget it by morning, but still—solving mysteries in her dreams? Incredible.
I gently tucked her blanket back around her shoulders, then did the same for Tsukino-chan, who had kicked hers off.
Wait… where’s Claire-san?
She wasn’t in the room. Maybe she went to the bathroom too? Hopefully, we’d run into each other.
Trying not to wake anyone, I slipped out of the room.
”Please… let nothing appear…” I whispered, clasping my hands together.
The hallway stretched before me—dim and silent. Why were old hotels always so dark?
As I walked slowly down the corridor, something clattered nearby.
”What—what was that!?”
I froze and turned toward the sound. For a moment, I thought I saw a shadow with eight arms spreading across the carpet.
No way… I must be imagining things. Still, just in case, I should take a look. If something’s wrong, I’ll just scream.
I peeked around the corner.
A woman was lying on the floor.
”Ah—!”
Before I could scream, someone covered my mouth. My heart jumped. This is bad. Really bad.
Eyes squeezed shut, I prayed silently. Please, Aqua, help me!
”Hmm? Oh—it’s you, Tsukimachi?”
Huh? That voice…
When I turned, relief flooded me. “Yamamoto-sensei!?”
It was Mr. Yamamoto, the teacher everyone called “the demon disciplinarian.” He sighed when he saw me.
”Tsukimachi, what are you doing up at this hour?”
”I—I needed to use the bathroom on the second floor… But, um, who is this woman?”
I looked at the person on the floor. Wow… she had really big breasts.
”Oh, her? Probably just another crazy fan who broke in, hoping for a chance with Shirogane,” he said flatly. “Happens all the time. Don’t worry about it.”
He knelt down to check her pulse. She was unconscious.
”I’ll… handle this. You just be careful, okay?” he said, coughing as if to correct himself mid-sentence.
Then, grabbing the woman by her ankles, he dragged her off into the darkness.
So that’s how it is, huh. We were just enjoying our school trip, while the teachers were staying up late, patrolling to keep everyone safe.
I silently thanked Yamamoto-sensei and the others for watching over us.
”Phew… please, let there be nothing else tonight!”
I started walking again, heading deeper down the hall.
But from behind the door marked Staff Only – Linen Room, I suddenly heard a woman’s muffled, distressed moans.
My breath caught. “Wh-what? What is that!?”
Terrified, I covered my ears with both hands.
Then came an even stranger voice, giggling breathlessly.
I squeezed my eyes shut. “I didn’t hear anything! Nothing at all!”
Panicking, I ran toward the elevator hall.
”Please, hurry up!” I pressed the call button over and over.
The elevator lights flickered but didn’t move. “Why is it stuck now of all times!?”
Wait—why is it going down instead of up!?
”No, no, no—come on!”
In a rush of fear, I bolted for the emergency stairs and yanked the door open.
Then I froze.
A baby’s cry echoed from below. “Waaah… waaah…”
I collapsed right where I stood, trembling so hard my knees gave out.
Oh no… I think I just leaked a little. My face burned as I felt the damp warmth against me.
Before I could recover, I heard footsteps coming down from above.
”Huh? Ayana-chan? What are you doing here?”
That voice—?
When I looked up, Kanon-san and Pegonia-san were coming down the stairs, each holding a sleepy baby in their arms.
”Oh… oh thank goodness,” I breathed. “I thought—never mind.”
Trying to act normal, I forced a laugh. “W-what about you two?”
Kanon smiled. “Hehe, the little ones woke up crying, so we came here to calm them down without disturbing everyone else. Right, Pegonia?”
”Yes, my lady,” Pegonia replied softly.
Right… babies cry at night. Of course they do.
”Ugh! And I got all scared for that! Kokona-chan, you liar!” I muttered under my breath.
”So, what about you, Ayana-chan?” Kanon asked.
”Ah, me? I just needed the bathroom, but the elevator wasn’t working, so I thought I’d walk to the second floor. Anyway—good night, both of you!”
Embarrassed by how easily I’d panicked, I hurried down the stairs.
Y-yeah, ghosts are just stories, right? It’s all just rumors!
Still, when I remembered that strange woman’s voice behind the linen room door, a shiver crawled down my spine.
No, better stay alert… just in case.
I reached the third floor and sighed. “Why do we have to use a different staircase to get to the second floor, anyway?”
”Ugh… I think it’s this way,” I murmured, glancing down the empty corridor.
Why is it so quiet tonight? Not a single person in sight.
I started walking, but then a faint groan came from the hotel chapel.
Someone sounded like they were in pain. My stomach twisted.
Maybe it’s another guest in trouble. I’m scared, but… I can’t just ignore it.
I peeked carefully inside.
”Aah… so this too is the will of God…”
Under the pale moonlight, Claire-san stood in the middle of the chapel, wearing a nun’s habit—lifted up around her waist.
At first I thought she was hurt and almost ran to help, but then I noticed something shining under her clothes… a chastity belt.
I froze mid-step. Oh. Oh.
That kind of “will of God.”
Expressionless, I slowly turned around.
Honestly, out of everything tonight, that might have been the scariest.
”Okay… surely, that’s the last weird thing for tonight,” I whispered to myself.
As I passed the chapel, I approached the kitchen.
Right, this was the place where a fired waitress supposedly counts the dishes she broke…
I caught sight of movement inside—the silhouette of someone fiddling with something.
”M-maybe it’s just staff, right? Please tell me it’s staff…”
Then came a voice: “One plate… two plates… three… ah! I’m missing one!!”
”Waaahhhhhh!” I screamed and dropped to the floor, legs giving out.
Warmth spread again beneath me—oh no, not again.
Tears welled up as I sniffled quietly, trying to calm my racing heart.
Wait… that voice. It wasn’t even in Japanese.
And then, a familiar tone broke the silence.
”Huh? Ayana-chan, what’s wrong?”
”E-Emily-san!?”
She reached out and gently helped me up.
Hold on—wasn’t Emily-san still in prison with Yukari-senpai!?
Seeing my confusion, Emily gave an awkward smile.
”Well… the staff said since Kohina-paisen probably won’t be getting out anytime soon, I could go home.”
”Ahaha…” I groaned, rubbing my temples.
Yukari-senpai… maybe at least make your bed before committing crimes next time.
”So, what were you counting just now?” I asked weakly.
”Oh, that. My payment. As Yukishiro Emily, I’d get Beryl’s agency cut, but as plain old Hagetoru, it’s direct pay. Turns out it really was fifty thousand yen—I miscounted at first.”
”Wait—fifty thousand for five days of work!?”
Oh… right. She’s technically performing as an amateur this time.
”But why are you in the kitchen, anyway?” I asked.
”Well,” Emily said cheerfully, “since I’m leaving soon, I thought I’d make a surprise cake for Aqua-sama and the others on their school trip. The hotel staff were kind enough to lend me the kitchen.”
She showed me a sketch of the cake. It was breathtaking—something you’d expect from a world-class pastry contest.
”You’re making this… by yourself?” I gasped. “Wow…”
She stretched her arms. “Yep! I just finished the prep work. Now I’m gonna sneak off and give Kanon a little surprise—oh, and Ayana-chan, keep it a secret, okay?”
”Ah, sure…”
Emily-san, a surprise cake sounds lovely, but maybe skip the surprise part of that “surprise.” She’ll definitely get in trouble.
Also… wait, isn’t this hotel nearly 30,000 yen per night?
If she’s staying two nights, she’s losing money! My brain froze from sheer disbelief.
”Okay, stop thinking too hard,” I muttered, straightening up and heading toward the next staircase.
”Phew… finally made it to the second floor.”
Right, the bathroom should be this way.
I started walking down the hall—when suddenly, one of the paintings on the wall seemed to glint.
Its eyes… were shining.
No, no, it’s just the light. I forced myself to ignore it.
Then—thud, thud!
I jumped back. “Nooo!”
The painting’s eyes glowed brighter, like flashlight beams cutting through the dark.
Rattle! Rattle! Rattle!
The frame trembled violently. My voice caught in my throat.
And then—with a heavy crash—the painting fell to the floor, revealing a hidden door slowly creaking open.
”Haah! Finally—freedom! Come on, you lot, celebrate!!”
…W-wait. That voice.
”Y-Yukari-senpai!?”
There she stood, wearing dusty work clothes, with Mikuni-san, Reira-san, Maron-san, and Iria-san stumbling out behind her, all looking utterly exhausted.
”Huh? Ayana-chan? What are you doing here?” Yukari blinked.
”What am I—what are you doing here!?” I shouted.
She grinned sheepishly. “We dug our way out—with spoons and fire from the cafeteria.”
I stared in disbelief. “You went through all that just to escape? Wouldn’t working a normal job be easier!?”
The group shifted awkwardly under my glare, turning their faces away like guilty children.
”Well, good work, everyone,” came a dry voice from behind them.
”Hey! What are you doing here!?” Yukari yelled.
Ah… so in the end, they’d just been letting them run free for a bit.
Of course. The ever-perfect Berry-Berry staff wouldn’t leave an escape route like that by mistake.
Moments later, Inko-san appeared, expertly roping up Yukari-senpai and the others before lining them up in a row and marching them back the way they came.
”Yukari-senpai, everyone—next time, try leaving prison the proper way, okay? Like, by actually working!” I called after them.
Sigh…
All I’d wanted was to use the bathroom, and now I was completely exhausted.
I dragged myself toward the restroom again—but right in front of the door, I saw a shadowed figure.
Really? Who is it this time?
By now, my fear tolerance had toughened up; I wasn’t about to panic so easily anymore.
Then the voice spoke—low and distorted.
”Where… is the man?”
A man? The boys’ rooms are upstairs, but—wait.
My heart dropped. She had no legs.
No… no way. This time, it’s a real ghost!
I stumbled backward, falling hard onto the carpet. A dark patch spread beneath me before I could stop it.
Oh no. The mix of fear and embarrassment made my eyes sting.
”Hic… hic… I can’t… Aqua, help me…” I whimpered, rubbing my teary eyes.
Then I heard it—footsteps pounding closer.
”Uooooooohhhhhh!”
No way—he actually came when I called!
Aqua burst into view, running full speed and placing himself between me and the ghost.
”Ayana! Are you okay!?”
”Uh… y-yeah…”
Thump. My heart jumped at his sudden, heroic entrance.
Aqua… thank you. But—uh, why are you naked?
Had he been taking a bath at this hour?
”Aqua, look at her feet. She’s a ghost—your attacks might not work!”
”It’s fine,” he said, eyes blazing. “I brought something just for times like this!”
He raised his fist—and punched straight at the ghost.
What!? He actually blocked her attack!?
Then I saw it: he was wearing the protective charm Yukari-senpai had given him—the Body Shield Talisman.
Huh. So that thing really does work.
”Stop!” Aqua shouted. “What are you hoping to gain by doing this!?”
The ghost wailed, “The man… he didn’t choose me!”
Right… Kokona-chan mentioned that one of the Seven Mysteries was about a lonely hotel owner’s ghost—someone who died without ever marrying.
I quickly explained that to Aqua.
”I see… then leave this to me,” he said confidently. “When it comes to women’s hearts, I’m the specialist!”
Aqua tore the talisman from his hand and tossed it toward me.
”Wait—Aqua! Without that, you’ll get hurt!”
”Listen!” he shouted. “My name is Shirogane Aqua! No matter how heavy a woman’s love is, I’ll take it all! If no one else ever loved you, then I’ll love you enough to fill that emptiness—come at me!”
He opened his arms wide and took the ghost’s attack head-on.
Instead of fighting back, he embraced her, his warmth and kindness dissolving the hatred swirling around her spirit.
”Th… thank you,” she whispered faintly. “For holding me, even like this…”
”Don’t worry,” Aqua said gently. “Big love, big heart, big body—those are my specialties.”
I blinked, touching my own chest in silence. Huh.
So that’s what counts as “specialist,” huh?
Aqua softly kissed the ghost’s forehead. Her expression softened, her lingering sorrow fading away as she drifted toward the light.
If only he hadn’t ruined it with that last line, it would’ve been a perfect hero moment—he actually looked like a real exorcist for once!
”Ayana, are you okay?”
”Yeah… I think so.”
Aqua bent down and lifted me up in a princess carry.
Then he paused, noticing the wet mark on the carpet—and the dampness on his arm.
Oh no. Please don’t look! My whole face went red as I covered it with both hands.
”Ayana,” he said softly, “want to take a bath together?”
”…Okay.”
He didn’t say anything else, just smiled kindly—and my heart squeezed at how gentle he was.
Still… why was he naked?
”Uh—!” he flinched. “I was, uh, training! Yeah, just… working out!”
”Hmm,” I said, narrowing my eyes.
Wait a second… his skin smelled faintly of perfume—definitely a woman’s scent.
Maybe I imagined it, but Aqua quickly looked away from my suspicious stare.
”S-so anyway, let’s hurry and get that bath!” he blurted.
”Hey! You totally changed the subject!”
That night, I ended up sleeping beside Aqua in the same bed.
The next morning, when I returned to my room, Tsukino-chan and Iku-chan were both grinning from ear to ear.
”W-what!?” I stammered. “It’s not what you think!”
”Ayana-san, I’m glad you’re all right,” Claire-san said, patting my shoulder.
I hesitated. “Um… you have dark circles under your eyes—are you okay?”
I decided to forget everything I’d seen the night before.
”I know the school trip’s exciting, but you should really rest,” I told her gently.
Then Iku-chan stretched with a yawn. “You know, I think I had a dream about uncovering the secrets of the universe last night. But… I can’t remember a thing!”
”Heh, really? I just dreamed about eating,” I said with a laugh. “You’re lucky.”
I smiled to myself.
There was no way I could ever tell her she’d actually guessed the truth about Hagetoru’s identity.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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