A gentleman's revenge, ten years is not too late.
A girl's revenge, from morning till night.
After Shinomiya Kaguya noted down this grudge, she naturally had to get her revenge immediately.
Hayasaka Ai: "Is the Young Lady at the bathhouse down the mountain?"
Shinomiya Kaguya: "That's right, a bug bit my leg, and it's so itchy and painful, it's unbearable, so I went down the mountain to take a bath. Who knew those boys would..."
Hayasaka Ai: "Those boys did something unforgivable to the Young Lady?"
Shinomiya Kaguya: "Of course not! The president was right beside me, alright! If those boys dared to take advantage of me, the president would definitely protect me!"
Hayasaka Ai: "Tsk~ I understand. So the Young Lady and the president were hiding and secretly eating forbidden fruit, but then a few clueless boys interrupted them. So you're holding a grudge and are enraged, preparing to make them suffer, right?"
Shinomiya Kaguya: "I'm not! I didn't! We haven't even officially started dating the president yet, how could we secretly eat forbidden fruit!"
Hayasaka Ai: "Huh, you're already married, doesn't that count as dating?"
Shinomiya Kaguya paused: "How did Hayasaka know?"
Hayasaka Ai: "...I observed from a distance. The Young Lady and the president usually shop together at the supermarket and walk the dog together at the park. It's clearly how a newlywed couple interacts."
Shinomiya Kaguya's attention was immediately diverted: "New...newlywed couple or something...I'm drinking milk!"
In a flash, it was five o'clock in the afternoon.
As the gossiping students returned from their survival experience on the mountain, the quiet valley suddenly became lively.
At the request of the leading teacher, everyone began to form groups again to build fires and cook.
Amamiya Natsuki was grouped with Kaguya, Chika, and Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi today, forming a team of four.
"President, president~" Fujiwara Chika's voice was clear and bright as she curiously asked, "Why didn't I see you on the mountain just now? I found a super big rhinoceros beetle and wanted to play a bug-fighting game with you."
Amamiya Natsuki glanced at the Sheltered Young Lady, whose pretty face was flushed as she lowered her head to wash ingredients, and said casually:
"It was too hot this afternoon, so I found a small stream and soaked my feet there for a while."
Fujiwara Chika's eyes lit up, and she said expectantly:
"President, president, I want to soak my feet too."
Amamiya Natsuki nodded:
"No problem, we'll go soak our feet tomorrow."
Fujiwara Chika then asked: "Oh right, I sent you a message earlier, President, why didn't you reply?"
Amamiya Natsuki said without changing his expression: "My phone was in my pocket, I didn't notice."
Fujiwara Chika: "I see."
(Idiot, idiot Chika-chan!)
Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi watched the reactions of the three, her pink lips moving slightly beside them, wanting to speak but hesitating. Finally, she sighed in her heart, feeling disappointed.
(You believe whatever the president says. How does that look like soaking feet?)
(If you're soaking your feet, you wouldn't be playing on your phone. Are you just going to stare blankly at the sky?)
(It's like when you go to the restroom, if you don't play on your phone, you'll scratch your ears and cheeks, and be miserable!)
Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi's gaze shifted to Shinomiya Kaguya, who was silent beside her.
(From when we met until now, Kaguya hasn't said a single word. Although she doesn't usually talk much, today is super abnormal... She's clearly feeling guilty.)
(Her clothes and hairstyle have changed... Could it be that she just took a bath?)
(What happened that would require a bath in broad daylight?)
Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi quietly pondered for a while, then her eyes widened.
(C-could it be...)
(Idiot Chika-chan, while you were playing with rhinoceros beetles, Kaguya was already hiding and playing with the president's poisonous mushroom!)
"Kashiwagi, why are you staring at me?"
Shinomiya Kaguya tilted her head and looked over.
"N-nothing." Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi quickly lowered her head and stammered, "Kaguya-san's cooking is super delicious, I'll have to rely on you again today."
(I'm sorry, Chika-chan... I don't dare to get justice for you, I'm terribly sorry.)
After dinner, it was time for the most anticipated event for all students.
"The Test of Courage is here!"
Fujiwara Chika clenched her fists above her head and shouted excitedly.
That's right.
The Test of Courage is also one of Forest Camp's traditions, ranking first on the student voting list. As for the reason... those who know, know. Young people, of course, love to seek thrills.
The origin of the Test of Courage can no longer be traced, but it was clearly recorded in ancient texts of the Heian period and was especially popular during the Edo period, mainly as a test of courage for the samurai class.
Today, the Test of Courage has become a common entertainment activity, occasionally also serving as a 'matchmaking event', and has always been extremely popular.
Ordinary students just need to participate, but Amamiya Natsuki and the other Student Council members have many things to do.
First, gather the class representatives and activity committee members from each class to determine their respective areas of responsibility and the portrayal of ghost characters—everyone knows there are no real ghosts in the Test of Courage, but someone still needs to play the role of a ghost, otherwise, the fun would be greatly diminished.
Second, announce the Precautions, including route planning and how to handle emergencies during the event.
Finally, the prizes for the Test of Courage and the completion requirements, and so on.
These are all old topics, and few people actually listen carefully.
Arrangements complete.
Amamiya Natsuki casually picked up a demon mask, then prepared to go up the mountain ahead of time to set up an ambush, saying at the same time:
"Shall we go to Route A?"
This Test of Courage was divided into three routes up the mountain: A, B, and C. The routes were different, and the ambush locations were also different. The gossiping students would embark on an adventure, and finally, take a photo at the small shrine on the mountaintop to successfully complete the challenge.
"President." Shinomiya Kaguya suddenly called out softly behind him, "I'll be responsible for Route C."
"Hmm?" Amamiya Natsuki paused, looking at the Young Lady in surprise, "Not coming with me?"
Shinomiya Kaguya said calmly:
"It's best for everyone in the Student Council to act separately. If unexpected situations arise, it will be easier to handle them promptly."
Amamiya Natsuki: "..."
Impossible.
Absolutely impossible.
The Test of Courage is held every year, what kind of accident could there be? If something really happens, it's the teachers' business, students don't need to worry about it at all.
You suddenly want to split up, there must be some other motive, right?
Amamiya Natsuki couldn't guess the Young Lady's true intention for a while, until he walked through the valley and heard a few familiar male voices coming from the C class area, then he finally understood.
"Crimes of negligence can be given lighter sentences." Amamiya Natsuki looked at Kaguya and whispered, "Go easy on them."
Shinomiya Kaguya crossed her arms over her chest, her expression unchanged:
"I'm sorry, I don't understand what the president is saying."
Go easy on them?
When those guys mocked her for being flat-chested, they didn't hold back at all. How could she go easy on them!
Amamiya Natsuki glanced at the boys who were completely unaware of their impending doom and could only pray for them to fend for themselves.
"Then let's split up." Amamiya Natsuki said, "See you later."
...
With the Sheltered Young Lady going to seek revenge, the group quickly dwindled to just Amamiya Natsuki, Chika, and Kashiwagi.
They walked in silence.
The three quickly arrived at the designated ambush spot.
"This is it." Fujiwara Chika put her right hand on her hip, surveying her hunting ground with satisfaction, "We'll split into two groups, then ambush from left and right, guaranteed to scare everyone."
Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi held a small flashlight, nervously following close to Fujiwara Chika.
It was already dark, and the surrounding forest was shadowy, quickly becoming eerie. Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi dared not leave anyone's side.
"It's still more than ten minutes until seven o'clock." Amamiya Natsuki checked the time on his phone; the Test of Courage was scheduled to start at 7 PM. "Let's wait a bit."
A moment later.
Fujiwara Chika's eyes darted, and she suggested:
"It's so boring just waiting. How about we each tell a horror story?"
"Huh?" Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi paused, stammering, "Th-that, horror stories... maybe let's not?"
"Don't be scared, Kashiwagi-chan." Fujiwara Chika lifted her chin, her voice clear, "We are the demons now."
Amamiya Natsuki said casually:
"We're just waiting anyway, telling one to pass the time is fine."
"Then I'll start first." Fujiwara Chika cleared her throat, then quickly lowered her voice, extending a finger and saying eerily, "Kashiwagi-chan, do you know about the profession of a Haunted House experience tester?"
Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi nodded: "I've seen it online."
"The story I'm about to tell is related to a Haunted House experience tester." Fujiwara Chika's voice grew eerie and deeper, "The protagonist of the story is Sato-san..."
"Sato-san had just graduated from university, and her first job paid meagerly. She also had to repay student loans from high school and university, so her life was particularly tight."
"One day, Sato-san accidentally saw a recruitment advertisement. They were recruiting experience testers; she only needed to sleep in a Haunted House for three days to receive a reward of 200,000 Yen."
"This amount of money was incredibly tempting for the newly graduated Sato-san. After much hesitation, Sato-san chose to apply."
"On the first day of staying in the Haunted House, Sato-san didn't dare to sleep. She sat at a table reading until dawn. She only occasionally felt a chill on her neck and her shoulders inexplicably stiff, but nothing else happened."
"On the second night, Sato-san still didn't sleep, feeling her shoulders becoming increasingly stiff."
"It wasn't until the third night that Sato-san suddenly remembered a legend from her hometown: if you bend down and take a photo from between your legs, you can capture things that are usually invisible..."
Fujiwara Chika looked at Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi and tilted her head:
"Kashiwagi-chan, guess what Sato-san photographed?"
Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi clasped her hands to her chest, couldn't help but swallow, and stammered:
"Wh-what did she photograph?"
Fujiwara Chika turned her head and said:
"President, take a guess."
Amamiya Natsuki pondered for two seconds and replied: "...She photographed Sato-san's panties?"
Hearing this answer, Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi immediately looked over speechless.
lecherous president!
In a horror story, the thing photographed definitely wouldn't be panties!
Slap.
The next moment.
Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi's shoulders were suddenly pressed down by something, then a hand was raised in front of Kashiwagi, and a ghostly voice said:
"This is the photo taken that night."
...
Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi's eyes widened, and she involuntarily looked at the phone, holding her breath instantly.
In the photo was a young woman sitting beside a table, and above the table was a ghost who had hanged herself. The ghost's feet were precisely one on the left and one on the right, stepping on the young woman's shoulders...
"Waaah!"
Kashiwagi immediately screamed in fright, her face pale, tears quickly welling up in the corners of her eyes, "I-I want to go home!"
"It's just a manga picture." Fujiwara Chika quickly comforted her, "Don't be scared, Kashiwagi-chan."
Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi sniffled, her eyes watery:
"Th-this story is too scary, isn't it?"
"Huh, is it scary? It's quite ordinary, I think." Fujiwara Chika turned her head and looked at Amamiya Natsuki, "President, do you think it's scary?"
For players, this kind of horror story truly lacked any thrill; they couldn't feel scared at all.
"I almost fell asleep listening to that," Amamiya Natsuki said, putting away his phone. "The story I'm about to tell is ten times scarier than yours just now."
"N-no!" Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi quickly hugged Amamiya Natsuki's arm, looked up with teary eyes, and pleaded, "President, don't say it!"
A scary story that's ten times more terrifying would surely make people faint, wouldn't it?
She absolutely didn't want to hear it anymore!
With a soft, warm sensation pressing against his arm, Amamiya Natsuki was surprised to find that while Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi looked unremarkable, her actual development was clearly superior to Shinomiya Kaguya's.
"Then I won't say it," Amamiya Natsuki said, looking at Chika. "If Kashiwagi cries, no one will work. We'll talk after the Haunted House event ends."
Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi: "..."
After the Haunted House event, if you two tell horror stories again, I'll definitely cover my ears and run away immediately!
Several minutes passed in the blink of an eye, and it was officially seven o'clock in the evening.
"President, you hide in the bush on the left," Fujiwara Chika directed. "Kashiwagi-chan and I will hide behind the tree on the right. You'll come out first to scare them, and when they relax their guard, Kashiwagi-chan and I will jump out from behind to give everyone a fright."
"Got it."
Amamiya Natsuki nodded and walked into the bush.
Only Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi's face turned pale as she suddenly recalled something she had overlooked earlier.
"Just now, the President was standing in front of me, and Chika-chan held the phone in front of me... W-who pressed on my shoulder?!"
A cold wind blew.
The forest rustled.
Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi quickly hugged herself, shaking her head vigorously.
An illusion.
It was all an illusion!
I must be too nervous and hallucinating; it's all fake, it won't scare me!
As the Haunted House event officially began, it wasn't long before people holding flashlights came walking down the path where Amamiya Natsuki and the two others were stationed—there were no streetlights in the forest, and while the mountain path wasn't particularly rugged or dangerous, one still needed to watch their step, so flashlights were essential equipment and not considered cheating.
Amamiya Natsuki squinted his eyes and looked over, seeing a boy and a girl walking hand in hand, clearly a couple.
"President, ready."
Chika secretary's little finger trembled slightly, sending a reminder through the red string.
Amamiya Natsuki responded with a tremor, indicating his understanding.
As the boy and girl approached, Amamiya Natsuki pressed the small portable speaker he carried, and a haunting, mournful crying sound softly began.
"Ah—"
The boy and girl were startled, and the girl trembled, immediately hiding in the boy's arms.
Then Amamiya Natsuki put on a demon mask, emerged from the bush, and spread his arms as if to pounce.
"Reiko, d-don't be scared, I'm here," the boy said, nervously shining his flashlight on Amamiya Natsuki, feigning composure. "He's wearing our school uniform; he's clearly a classmate in disguise, no need to be afraid."
Slap.
As soon as he finished speaking, the boy suddenly felt a light tap on his shoulder, followed by a chill sweeping across his neck, and a ghostly voice whispered from behind him:
"...Then what about us?"
The boy's body stiffened. He instinctively turned his head and saw two girls wearing blood-stained dresses, with pale faces and blood trickling from the corners of their mouths, staring at him, heads tilted, one on his left and one on his right.
"G-ghosts!"
The boy felt a chill instantly surge from his tailbone to the top of his head; his heart nearly stopped beating. He pushed his girlfriend away and bolted, disappearing into the night in a flash.
"Bastard!!!"
The girl, who had just been soft and delicate, easily scared and trembling by Amamiya Natsuki, instantly became enraged. The fear on her face vanished, replaced by anger and fire. "How dare he abandon me and run away, after promising to protect me forever!"
The delicate girl instantly transformed into a Valkyrie, with no trace of fear left on her face, and pursued him with murderous intent.
Indeed, some girls are born actresses; they appear soft and delicate, unable to even open a bottle of drink, but it's all a disguise.
Watching the two disappear into the night, Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi was dumbfounded and whispered:
"Are we being too much?"
"Not at all," Amamiya Natsuki said calmly. "A Haunted House event is meant to scare people. It's like when you go to a Haunted House, if the staff just stood there playing on their phones, that would be too much."
"That's true, but..." Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi still felt a bit uneasy. "Will that couple break up?"
Fujiwara Chika crossed her arms and couldn't help but retort:
"Knowing there are no ghosts at a Haunted House event, and still abandoning your girlfriend to run away, a breakup wouldn't be anyone else's fault."
"Makes sense," Amamiya Natsuki agreed, nodding. "A Haunted House event isn't a haunted house; it doesn't really scare anyone, so I have a theory... Did that boy want to break up, which is why he deliberately abandoned his girlfriend and ran away?"
Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi: "..."
Soon after, other curious students came with flashlights. Amamiya Natsuki, Chika, and Kashiwagi once again hid on both sides of the road, continuing to play the role of blocking ghosts.
There's not much else to say about what happened next. Most people who came to the Haunted House event were paired up, usually a boy and a girl. Almost every girl would politely shriek a couple of times, and most boys would step forward to protect the girls... As for how much of it was acting, that remains unknown.
"Strange," Fujiwara Chika wondered. "Why isn't anyone coming to the Haunted House event alone?"
Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi tilted her head, thought for a moment, and whispered:
"Perhaps single people would feel embarrassed appearing in this kind of setting?"
"..."
Amamiya Natsuki and Chika looked at Kashiwagi in unison upon hearing this, remaining silent.
Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi took a deep breath, a vein throbbing slightly on her forehead, and couldn't help but shout, "I'm sorry for being single!"
In a flash, it was eight o'clock in the evening.
The relief shift arrived and took over Amamiya Natsuki and the two others' duties.
"There's still an hour, that's enough time," Fujiwara Chika said with a clear voice, inviting, "Kashiwagi-chan, shall we go play together?"
"I refuse," Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi was still sulking, turning her head away. "Single people shouldn't appear at a Haunted House event. You two go play; I'm heading back to the valley first."
Fujiwara Chika quickly grabbed her: "Hey, hey, Kashiwagi-chan, don't go."
Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi's face was expressionless as she said:
"Won't I bother you two if I don't go?"
Fujiwara Chika had no choice but to turn to Amamiya Natsuki, subtly wink, and then say:
"In that case, just the two of us will go play. We won't bring the President; let the President be the single dog."
Amamiya Natsuki silently raised his hand:
"Woof."
Accounting Clerk Kashiwagi: "..."
For the sake of friendship between good girlfriends, Fujiwara Chika decisively left with Kashiwagi, abandoning Amamiya Natsuki alone.
Amamiya Natsuki was curious about what was happening with Shinomiya Kaguya, so after a brief thought, he walked over.
Arriving at Route 3, Amamiya Natsuki quickly learned from a few students coming down the mountain that this Haunted House hiking route was super terrifying. Not long ago, several boys were scared to tears, completely losing their right to choose partners for all three years of high school.
It was still unclear if those were the unlucky ones who had violated Shinomiya Kaguya's taboo, but Amamiya Natsuki believed it was highly probable they were.
Amamiya Natsuki ascended the steps, not encountering Shinomiya Kaguya, but first meeting two groups of accomplices.
These people thought Amamiya Natsuki was there to patrol and emerged from their hiding spots to inquire about the situation.
"President, why are you here?"
"Is there something you need to inform us about?"
"..."
Amamiya Natsuki helplessly waved his hand, indicating: "Everyone, you've worked hard."
All in all, Amamiya Natsuki had no experience of the Haunted House event.
Continuing upwards, when he reached halfway up the mountain, Amamiya Natsuki finally saw Shinomiya Kaguya.
"Eh, President?" Shinomiya Kaguya's sweet voice rang out, surprised. "Why are you here?"
"I've already switched shifts with someone, so I came to play a bit," Amamiya Natsuki said, looking at Shinomiya Kaguya, who seemed to have walked up from the hillside below, raising an eyebrow. "What happened?"
Shinomiya Kaguya's face had a few specks of dust, and there was some mud on her stockings and small leather shoes, which naturally made one curious.
"Nothing, just now my hair ribbon accidentally got caught on a branch, and then the wind blew it down the hillside," Shinomiya Kaguya said, touching the red ribbon in her hair, explaining, "I just... cough, went down alone to look for the ribbon. I looked for quite a while and just found it."
Amamiya Natsuki nodded lightly, not asking further, but instead said:
"Shall we go to the shrine on the mountain together to complete the photo check-in?"
"Since the President invited me," Shinomiya Kaguya stepped forward, her hands clasped elegantly over her lower abdomen, and with a slight upward curve of her lips, she said, "Then let's go together."
With the Student Council President and Vice President acting together, the rest of the Haunted House event naturally offered no experience.
Amamiya Natsuki and Shinomiya Kaguya successfully reached the summit, completed their photo check-in at the shrine, and then descended the mountain.
No one noticed the girl with dog ears hiding in the forest, gazing resentfully at the two as they descended...