"Wait a minute Daisuke kun!"
Mizuki calls out to the boy far ahead of her.
After the resolution of her house's little invader case, Mizuki finally gets to relax a bit. That night, Mizuki asks Daisuke to accompany her to the convenience store while they chat.
"Do you really have to walk so far away from me?"
Mizuki rushed to Daisuke after coming out of the store.
"Haha I can't help it, I'm a secret agent after all. I must remain in the shadows."
He acts like a chuuni, covering half his face behind his arm like he's holding out a cape. Mizuki can't help but be amused. She's in a good mood after all.
"At the end of the day, that was just a small fry ghost. Huh?"
She sighs. Ignoring Daisuke's antique and opening up the topic.
"Got me worked up for no reason.."
"Hahha small fry or not, ghosts can still be harmful to humans because they can't be detected through normal means"
Daisuke offers his wisdom.
"Still this case is not so pointless after all"
Mizuki tilts her head.
"After this case, it seems you've gotten better at confronting them. Considering how anxious you were earlier today when-"
"Ah-Ah! that was a different story okay!"
Frantically she flails her hand to quiet him down, refusing to be reminded of the details that comes after.
"That many ghosts at the same time is just still too much for me! I'm fine if it's just one..."
She defends herself.
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about, progress is still progress. Besides normal humans would still find them scary regardless of their threat level"
Hearing that makes her feel better somewhat.
"And because you managed to control yourself, the onbu obake didn't react too aggressively, the situation didn't grow out of hand and your parent wasn't harmed."
"Why are you being so nice all of a sudden..."
She grumbles, unable to face his compliment.
"Hmm what was that?"
He asks for confirmation, already having heard what she said.
"Nothing important!"
Sternly.
'Oh speaking of them-'
She recalls.
"Umm that, mom and dad said I should invite you for dinner at our place sometimes..."
The young maiden fidgets. Twiddling her finger.
"Just so we're clear they're the ones that wants you there, okay? And don't think too much about it, they're just excited to meet my friend! Nothing more!"
"I haven't said anything..."
He remarks.
"While that'd be cool too.. for the time being, I'm not sure if I can-"
"Huh why? Don't tell me you're somehow too shy to meet them?"
Her response sounds prepared, like she'd anticipated his response. Also slightly irritated of his rejection.
"Of course! What would I say to your parents?? Just thinking about it makes me nervous!!!~"
He acts all giddy
"Hmph like I'd buy that... or are you just not comfortable to be seen together with me?"
Her steps halt briefly, the relaxed tone escapes her voice for a second. Until Daisuke turns to her, only then she continues pace and regain the casual tone. Giving him no time to seriously answer that question.
"Seriously it's not like we're still at school anymore, you can't keep avoiding me like-"
But then a familiar female voice greeted her.
"Eh it can't be, Kitahara san isn't it?"
'Ack that voice, sounds like someone from school...'
She just grins
"A-ah yes if it isn't- isn't- didn't expect to see you here"
She bails on trying to remember the classmate's name. Faking a smile.
Seeing as the classmate did not glance even once to him, Daisuke casually tries to leave the conversation. Making not a sound to not alert both her and Mizuki. But surprisingly Mizuki noticed, a little annoyed that he tries to run away, she turns to grab his hand to pull him back in the conversation. Not letting him escape that awkward situation. She simple want him to start getting comfortable being seen together with her, no ill intent.
Until the classmate points out
"Ahaha what are you doing Kitahara-san, there's no one there"
This time even Mizuki's stunned.
"What are you talking-"
Though it didn't come out loud enough for anyone to hear, only herself.
Even Daisuke panics, for the first time apparently, and immediately reaches out for Mizuki, trying to touch her face but his hand simply shatters and collapses like frail chunks of dried clay. His limb simply passes through her, unable to interact.
"Do you pull this kinda stunt often? Don't scare me like that! It's already scary around this part since-"
The classmate's conversation drowns out under the more pressing new trouble. Mizuki turns towards Daisuke to find him already gone.
But from Daisuke's perspective, he's still there right in front of her, and the classmate.
"-there's already a lot of scary rumors going around in this small town, just the other day-"
Quickly he escapes the scene. Meanwhile, Mizuki is still confused, looking everywhere for him, unsure of what's happening.
Daisuke's hiding behind a wall not too far from there, nervously observing his hand. Behind it, he sees his lower torso also cracking.
Meanwhile under that same moonlit night, a figure somewhere else overlooking the entirety of Hokubu town from a high up place. Her distant gaze fixed on something happening on the ground.
"So.. that's the cause..."
Her bangs flutter violently under the night breeze. Her pupils glow bright white like the lunar gaze itself.
An Uninvited Company.