Fuji-Q Highland. Just the name alone evoked a place where one could admire the majestic Mount Fuji.
Watanabe Tetsu stretched as he stepped off the bus. Compared to the amusement park right in front of him, he was more drawn to the snow-capped mountains in the distance—perhaps a habit ingrained from growing up in a village surrounded by mountains.
Tickets in hand, the group of seven entered the park.
Their first stop was a French fairy-tale town, inspired by the animated series and picture book The Story of Casper and Lisa.
The girls crowded around a giant version of the picture book, along with life-sized 3D characters from the story.
Kunii Osamu subtly gestured at Tetsu, urging him to act and pull Seino Rin away from Ichiki Aoi.
In a world where everyone else seems to be distracted by appearances, who wouldn't occasionally forget their friends? Tetsu thought as he made his way toward Rin.
"You came just in time," Rin said, having been looking for him. "I checked, and this haunted house holds the Guinness World Record for the scariest haunted house in the world."
"Are you planning to go with Senpai? I heard that haunted houses often encourage intimate gestures, which strengthen couples' relationships!" Ichiki Aoi exclaimed excitedly.
Tetsu stared at the picture book and guessed, She probably didn't mean for you to go with Mai-senpai.
"Then… who will you go with?"
"With me… and him," Rin answered.
"In a state of panic, a person's subconscious reaction is the truest. I'm handsome and reliable, so if Mai-senpai chooses to cling to me when scared, it shows her orientation is toward men," Tetsu explained.
Rin added, "This alone isn't conclusive, but it's an important reference. Ichiki, I need you to distract Hanada-senpai. If someone she knows is around, she'll cling to them instead."
"No problem! I'll do my best! But…" Ichiki Aoi looked puzzled at Tetsu, who was three steps away and not even glancing at them. "Why are you talking like that, Watanabe-kun?"
"Sorry, my girlfriend is possessive. I'm utterly consumed by love," Tetsu replied casually.
Rin let out a soft laugh. "I see you've studied the behavior of timid people quite thoroughly."
"Thank you. I am well-educated, after all."
Tetsu returned to the boys. "Kunii, when I suggest we go to the haunted house, I'll secretly handle Rin. After that, it's up to you."
"Haunted house?! You've got this, Watanabe!" Kunii's mind was already filled with fantasies of heroically protecting the terrified Ichiki Aoi.
Saito Keisuke offered advice too—pretend to be scared, wrap her in your arms, maybe slip a hand around her waist…
Leaving Tetsu silently thinking, 'Secretly handle her?' What exactly do you think I'm going to do with Rin?'
With the five deciding on the haunted house, the group left the French fairy-tale town and headed straight for it.
The haunted house was designed to look like a dilapidated, eerie hospital.
Staff split visitors into groups of two to four to maximize fear. If all seven went in together, even the timid would feel less afraid.
This stage was crucial for their "mission," and Ichiki Aoi was eager.
"Hanada-senpai, shall we be a pair?"
"Sure," Hanada Asako nodded. "Mai-senpai, join us too."
Mai Asuka gave a faint nod.
Ichiki, unsure, blurted out, "I want to go with just Hanada-senpai!"
Good thing you're a girl… otherwise Mai-senpai would probably like you, Tetsu thought, dumbfounded.
Kunii looked disappointed.
Realizing her slip, Ichiki quickly corrected herself: "Actually, Rin wanted to talk to Mai-senpai, haha."
Idiot. Rin never lies. You're sacrificing yourself! Tetsu thought, glancing at Rin, whose serene face indeed looked troubled.
He stepped forward. "The Human Observation Club had something to consult Mai-senpai about, which is why we came along. It would be embarrassing if many people knew, so please, could you come with the three of us?"
Mai Asuka looked at Tetsu silently for a full ten seconds before nodding slowly, like a delayed-response video game character.
"Alright," she said, her tone flat.
Tetsu exhaled. Being under Mai Asuka's calm gaze always felt like she could see through him entirely.
"So, the three of us—Rin, Mai-senpai, and I—will be one group, and you four another. Is that okay?"
"Okay!" Kunii looked at Tetsu like he was Prometheus bringing fire to humanity.
"I agree!" Ichiki raised her hand.
Kunii excitedly urged everyone to line up.
Ichiki suggested a group photo before entering the haunted hospital.
"I'll pass," Tetsu said.
"Your family's strict, huh~~" Kunii and Saito teased.
"That's love! You don't understand!" Tetsu fumed.
"I'll pass too," Rin refused.
Her cold, distant demeanor made it hard for anyone to coax her.
The ethereal Mai Asuka shook her head as well.
In the end, only the four of them took a photo, smiling genuinely to prove they were walking into the haunted house happily.
In line, they occasionally saw visitors fleeing—screaming girls, some collapsing to the floor, unable to rise.
"So thrilling!" Kunii clenched his hands nervously.
Ichiki held Hanada tightly as they approached their turn.
When it was Tetsu's group's turn, they were led into a small room to watch a short horror film about the hospital's background.
After the film, staff handed them a small flashlight.
"Please hold hands," one staff member instructed as they opened the curtain.
"Hold hands?" Tetsu repeated.
"Yes," the staff pointed to a notice. It explained that to prevent people from getting lost or overly frightened, visitors were required to hold hands.
No Yuki Miki henchmen here, but none of the three moved at first.
"I'll go first," Rin stepped forward, spreading her hands.
Mai glanced at her hands and took Rin's hand.
Rin noted it was just a normal handshake—no tension, shyness, or clinging. She was evaluating Mai's orientation when suddenly, another hand clasped hers.
Warm, firm, undeniably male. She didn't look at Tetsu, but her eyelashes twitched.
The adventure began.
The three held hands, Tetsu in front with the flashlight, cautiously advancing down the narrow hallway.
The hospital's antiseptic smell filled the air, cold drafts blew, and faint sounds of surgical knives slicing echoed eerily.
Passing an operating room, a figure lay on the table under bright lights, covered in white cloth.
"His nostrils look like they're breathing… fake," Tetsu muttered, half-evaluating the staff's acting.
"Hmm, quite rudimentary," Rin replied.
"Wah—"
Before she finished, the figure's arm slipped from under the sheet.
It swung, swung, then froze.
"Still… okay, surprisingly effective," Tetsu admitted.
Plop.
The white arm fell, a dark liquid pooling at the shoulder.
"Phew…" The figure's chest rose and fell under the sheet.
"Let's go."
"Mm."
Tetsu felt Rin's grip tighten, giving him courage. He steadied himself and continued forward.
As a man, he could not panic!
Mai followed calmly.
The route was long—adventures averaged thirty to forty minutes unless someone took an emergency exit.
Bloodstains, shadows in white patient gowns, and antiseptic smell were everywhere. Tetsu and Rin's nerves were on edge despite knowing it was fake.
Turning a corner, they reached a morgue-like corridor.
Some drawers were sealed, some partially open, some spilling hair or limbs.
Tetsu took a deep breath, forcing himself not to look.
The hallway narrowed—three in a single file. Tetsu led with the flashlight.
Halfway, a visible cold mist emerged from a drawer. Tetsu and Rin froze, instinctively sensing the smell of death.
Suppressing the urge to run, Tetsu kept calm and moved forward.
"Watanabe."
Tetsu snapped to attention.
"Rin… you scared me!"
"Just now, thank you."
"What?" Tetsu responded while advancing.
"Just now."
"Someone's behind us." Mai spoke for the first time.
Rin instantly quieted.
"Other visitors?" Tetsu asked without looking back.
"He seems… stuck," Mai replied calmly.
Tetsu admired her composure in such an environment.
"Stuck?"
"Look."
In a row of cold mist-emitting drawers, someone appeared trapped, crawling out.
"Hiss—"
"What is it?" Rin asked, stiffly.
"Let's keep going."
"Mm."
A few steps later, crawling noises followed.
Three minutes later:
"W-Watanabe… looks like he's gone."
"Seems so."
"You mean that person?" Mai tilted her head. "He was behind me the whole time, trying to grab my ankle."
Rin clutched Tetsu's arm, forcing him forward.
He didn't run, but his steps were fast.
He'd thought haunted houses were no big deal—he had explored mountains alone in the dark and played courage games at village graves.
Now, he regretted it.
In the village, familiarity with every blade of grass and tree kept fear away. The graves held no real threat. And he hadn't really watched urban legend-style horror outside of otaku films.
Thirty minutes later, near the exit, an iron cage fell from the ceiling, enclosing the three.
Clang! A deafening crash. Then silence, save for ghostly wails.
"Uuuu~"
Something approached!
A pale-faced zombie floated down from the ceiling.
Rin buried her face in Tetsu's chest. He gulped nervously, eyes fixed on it.
The zombie's hollow eyes stared at them as it gently descended.
Tetsu instinctively wrapped his arm around Rin's waist, feeling her warmth and trembling.
"Yah—"
The zombie screamed, then was yanked back into the hallway.
Both Tetsu and Rin trembled.
"Hmm?" Mai tilted her head at the sudden appearance and disappearance of the zombie.
Silence returned.
Another clang—the iron cage lifted into darkness.
"Let's… go."
"Mm."
Three minutes later, they reunited with the other four.
Kunii was ecstatic, apparently holding Ichiki's hand.
Hanada comforted the still-shaken Ichiki.
Tetsu looked at Rin in disbelief. "Rin?"
"Mm… cough, yes?" Her face glowed under the sun.
"Did you gather the intel?"
"…"
"I got a bit," he said.
"And the result?" Rin's eyes lit up.
"You're at least attracted to men."
Rin's face turned cold; she shot him a glare but stayed by his side.
"Don't you have questions for me?" Mai asked, expression unchanged.
Rin gave Tetsu a look.
Even if you ask me, I don't know what to say, he thought, and mimed a gesture with his hands.
"Um, Mai-senpai, what's the instrument that looks like a flute but isn't a flute, its proper name?"
"Huh?" Mai tilted her head, giving him the same faintly curious look she gave the zombie earlier.