"A family has two children. Given that one of them is a girl, what is the probability that the other child is also a daughter?"
Hana was sprawled across the table like a dried salted fish, weakly blowing bubbles:
"It's obviously one-half. Why does the answer say one-third?"
"I don't understand."
"I completely don't understand."
"Miko, why do you think it's one-third?"
"No idea." Miko shook her head. "I think it's one-half... Maybe the answer key is wrong?"
Very good.
I appreciate your spirit of sticking to your convictions.
What do you do when you get a problem wrong?
Obviously, it's the answer key that's wrong!
"This is a basic permutation and combination problem." Natsuki looked at the workbook, quite speechless. "The answer really is one-third."
"Eh? Amamiya-kun knows how to solve it?"
Hana's spirits lifted. She quickly sat up straight and moved closer to him.
"Before a child is born, the probability of being male or female is the same—indeed one-half." Natsuki twirled the pencil between his fingers. "But the problem clearly states the children have already been born. It's asking about the permutation and combination between the two children, without regard to birth order."
"Stare—"
Hana's eyes went wide.
Her eyes were large, their irises a clear azure blue, like the sky after rain.
"...Why are you looking at me?"
Natsuki raised an eyebrow.
"Um..." Hana stammered, pressing two fingers together in front of her chest, her face slightly flushed. "Could Amamiya-kun explain it again? I didn't understand just now."
Natsuki silently looked toward Miko.
Miko said nonchalantly: "I understood."
Natsuki said:
"Then you explain it to Yurikawa-san."
"I'm sorry." Miko immediately apologized. "Actually, I didn't understand either."
If you didn't understand, just say so honestly. Your study attitude is always 'good enough,' half-understanding, seemingly comprehending but not really—no wonder your test scores are always stuck in the middle of the class.
Natsuki had no choice but to explain the problem again.
This time Hana finally understood. She immediately scooted over to sit beside him, pressing her palms together:
"Amamiya-kun, please teach me math!"
"Hm?"
"I've been bad at math since I was little. I often fail. It always disappoints Mom." Hana looked pitiful. "Amamiya-kun is really good at math, so please tutor me. I'll offer up delicious sacrifices. Please agree."
Delicious sacrifices?
Natsuki's gaze involuntarily drifted downward.
It's just studying, and you're willing to offer your body as a sacrifice?
"Stare—"
Miko: "Wipe your drool, pervert Natsuki."
"Got it." Natsuki quickly withdrew his gaze and said seriously, "I don't mind if I have time."
"Thank you so much!"
"..."
Before they knew it, it was five o'clock in the afternoon.
Natsuki let out a long sigh.
The saying goes that big breasts mean no brains. Today, Natsuki discovered it was surprisingly credible.
Take Kaguya Shinomiya, for instance—the famous genius girl of the school, top of her grade, with an incredibly high IQ. Unfortunately, it was exchanged for her chest. Her front was utterly unremarkable, flat as a board, on the same level as an elementary schooler.
Chika was well-developed and didn't seem very smart.
Hana before him was the same way.
"It's getting dark." Hana raised both hands over her head in a stretch. The perfect curves of her chest were on full display, though she herself was completely oblivious. "Miko, Amamiya-kun, I'm heading home."
Natsuki stood up. "I should get going too."
"I'll walk you out."
Miko followed them downstairs. Along the way, they encountered her younger brother.
Miko's mother was still at work and hadn't come home yet.
After greeting Miko's little brother, Natsuki took the dog and left Miko's house.
"See you tomorrow."
Hana waved goodbye. Gripping her bag straps with both hands, she walked briskly toward the train station.
The setting sun was a fiery red.
The lingering glow dyed the entire street crimson. The girl's silhouette stretched long under the sunset—it looked quite beautiful.
It would be even better without the wandering vengeful spirits.
"..."
The air quickly fell silent.
After a brief pause.
Miko pursed her pink lips, raised her eyes to look at Natsuki, and asked quietly:
"When did you start seeing those... things?"
"Last night when I went out to walk the dog."
Natsuki didn't hide anything. He recounted the unusual events he'd encountered.
The game hadn't warned him to keep it secret or that he couldn't tell others. Besides, the Vengeful Spirit School alone had dozens of players participating. Who knew how many people in the real world were game players? Telling Miko was completely fine.
"An escape game?" Miko was surprised. She raised a hand to cover her eyes, her tone troubled. "I've never encountered the game you're talking about. It's just that a week ago, my eyes suddenly became able to see those terrifying things. I almost went insane."
While seeing the vengeful spirits, she could also hear their voices. Yet she had to pretend nothing was wrong—couldn't run, couldn't scream, couldn't do anything that might give her away... Every single day had been torture for Miko.
But now things were different.
A ray of hope had appeared in her life!
Miko grabbed Natsuki's right hand, her eyes sparkling: "So those vengeful spirits really can be eliminated, right?"
"They can, yes..."
Natsuki briefly explained the Evil Dispersion aura's effects.
"Come on, come back home with me." Miko's eyes were bright as she pulled him toward her house. "Let's eliminate those things hiding inside first."
Natsuki said: "What about Uncle?"
The Evil Dispersion aura had a five-meter radius. He didn't know what effect it would have if it enveloped Miko's father, so they had to be careful.
"Mm..." Miko pondered for two seconds, then quickly said, "I'll keep an eye on Dad. You go exorcise. We'll stay in contact by phone."
"Okay."
Natsuki returned to Miko's house and began the exorcism mission.
Kitchen, living room, bathroom... In short, he made a circuit of the entire house, activating the aura whenever he spotted a vengeful spirit.
There weren't many spirits, but each one was uglier than the last. Suddenly seeing them was bound to give someone a fright.
Natsuki finished the exorcism and said his goodbyes to head home.
"Tonight I can finally get a good night's sleep!"
At eleven that night, Miko happily set her phone alarm, ready for bed. Then the corner of her eye happened to catch the curtain.
Behind the curtain, at some point, a twisted black shadow had appeared...
Miko silently bit her lower lip. Mist welled up in her eyes.
The monsters "respawn" way too fast.
Do I have no choice but to... move in with Natsuki?
The night passed without incident.
The next day.
After a simple breakfast of bread and a glass of milk, Natsuki headed to school.
"Amamiya-kun, good morning."
Chika waved and called out, her voice bright and clear.
"Morning."
Natsuki responded. His gaze fell on Kaguya—one look told him she hadn't rested well.
"Kaguya-chan, your dark circles are even worse." Chika's eyes went wide. "Did you stay up late again last night?"
Kaguya bit her lower lip slightly. Her face maintained its cool, composed expression. "I didn't stay up late."
It was that she didn't dare sleep at all.
With a terrifying monster standing by the bed, staring at you the whole time—how could anyone possibly fall asleep?!
Natsuki said:
"Never mind that. Let's open the mystery boxes."
They'd agreed yesterday afternoon that they would open the mystery boxes together in the classroom this morning to avoid any accidents. After all, who knew if they might pull a vengeful spirit.
"I'll go first."
Chika raised her right hand. She was the first to purchase today's mystery box, then opened it directly.
"Huh, there's a skill card in the box..." Chika displayed the card's attributes, her tone disappointed. "After learning it, you can change someone's name to 'Outlaw'..."
"Trash skill. One star!"
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