"I can feel it… Reveal your secrets to me," I whispered dramatically, pressing the palm of my hand against the hallway wall, where a dark water stain vaguely resembled a face—if you squinted hard enough.
Saki rolled her eyes and tugged at my sleeve.
"The only thing you're going to reveal is a punishment if we're late to Mr. Yamada's class again."
Reluctantly, I peeled myself away from the wall and ran after her. We slid into our seats just as the second bell rang. Math class at Hinode High was exactly what you'd imagine: a battlefield where I always lost the war. Mr. Yamada's monotonous voice droned on about quadratic equations while I doodled little skulls in my notebook.
"Kanzaki-san," Mr. Yamada's voice pierced through my daydream. "Would you like to solve this problem for us?"
I looked up, blinking at the board full of numbers and symbols that might as well have been some kind of ancient curse.
"Uh…"
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Saki subtly slide her notebook toward me. The answer was written neatly at the top of the page, in her perfect handwriting.
"X equals… negative four?" I said, my voice filled with a thread of hope.
Mr. Yamada seemed surprised.
"That is… correct," he replied, turning back to the board, looking slightly disappointed that he couldn't use me as an example.
I gave Saki a silent "thank you," to which she replied with a quick "shh."
Time flew by, and before I knew it, the final bell rang, echoing throughout the school. Whispers of relief and excitement filled the classroom as everyone began packing up. Saki stood up with a smile, clearly glad to have survived another day of math.
"Ready for an after-school adventure?" I asked enthusiastically as I stuffed my notebook into my backpack.
"If you consider 'adventure' going home to study…" Saki raised an eyebrow, though there was a spark of amusement in her eyes, as if she were holding back a laugh.
"Hmm… That's not what I had in mind," I said, shaking my head. "We could investigate that old temple by the edge of the forest. They say weird things happen there."
Rumors about the temple always revolved around ghosts and restless spirits. My desire to uncover the truth was stronger than any warning. Saki seemed to think about it for a moment.
"All right, but another day. I have some things to take care of today," she finally replied. "And I'll only go if you promise not to try talking to spirits. I don't want to end up stuck in some kind of supernatural drama."
I made an exaggerated gesture, as if she had deeply offended me.
"I would never do that!"
As we left the classroom, I felt a rush of excitement. The thought of sharing that adventure with Saki made me smile without realizing it.
While we walked home, we chatted about everyday things. She told me her mom had subscribed to a new healthy meal delivery service and was thrilled about it, though the idea of eating kale didn't exactly make her happy. I smiled, imagining her making a face as she tried to swallow it.
"Can you imagine her saying, 'This is delicious!'?" I laughed, and Saki joined in, shaking her head.
Suddenly, a spark of an idea flashed in my mind.
"Saki!" I exclaimed. "I saw online that there's a new shop in the old part of town. One of those weird stores full of antiques and mysterious stuff!"
Her expression changed, and I could see curiosity flicker in her eyes, though she quickly hid it behind a skeptical look.
"Another 'weird' store? Isn't the dusty one we always visit enough—the one that probably has 'cursed objects'?"
"But this one's different!" I insisted, almost wishing the air itself would crackle with excitement. "There might be something thrilling there—or maybe even something connected to the temple's legend. I have to check it out."
"And you're planning to go alone?" Saki gave me an incredulous look.
"I promise I'll just 'take a quick look.' I'm not going to do anything weird." I gave her a wink.
"Fine, but don't get carried away, okay?" she said, with that mix of worry and resignation that only she could pull off.
I nodded energetically.
"Of course! Just a quick visit. I promise I won't stay until sunset."
Saki smiled, though I could see doubt in her eyes.
"And be careful, Rika. I don't want to hear you've gotten trapped in some spell or something."
"That would actually be really cool," I replied dramatically, laughing as I walked off.
Saki just shook her head but gave me one last smile before heading toward her house.
Now I was alone, and the entire afternoon belonged to me. Honestly, I loved the touch of mystery surrounding all of this. With every step toward the old town center, my heart beat faster, as if I could feel the anticipation in the air.
Whenever I walked these streets—especially when the sun began to set—it felt like the town changed faces. Hinode, by day, seemed ordinary: hurried students, flickering convenience store lights, ramen delivery riders weaving through traffic. But just a few turns into the old district, and everything took on a different air, as if I were walking through the yellowed pages of an ancient book.
I started imagining what the shop might look like. Dark, perhaps? Filled with shelves so tall you'd need a ladder to reach anything? Maybe a tiny bell at the entrance that chimed for every visitor in a special tone? Perhaps there'd be a cat sleeping on the counter, and an old woman with sharp eyebrows who could read your secrets at a glance. Or maybe it would be even stranger—a place with objects that moved on their own and glass cases sealed with indecipherable symbols. The excitement made me quicken my pace.
Just as I turned the last corner, I stopped to look at the shop's silhouette from afar. Its dusty windows reflected the sunset in shades of gold and crimson, and for a second, it looked like the building was glowing with life. I swallowed, smirked slightly, and headed toward it.
The bell chimed softly as I pushed the door open. The sound seemed to announce my arrival—as if the place had been waiting for me. Crossing the threshold, a wave of cool, slightly damp air wrapped around me, like stepping into a secret refuge. The lighting was dim, and a faint scent of aged wood filled the air.
My eyes scanned every corner. Dark wooden shelves rose to the ceiling, packed with strange objects that seemed to have stories of their own. There were jars with odd things inside and carved figures that seemed to stare back at me, though I didn't dare get too close. Every item here exuded a dark, mysterious aura.
"Wow," I whispered under my breath. I couldn't help it; curiosity was consuming me. I approached a shelf where several old books rested. Their spines were worn, their pages yellowed. One of them, titled Carnival of the Dead, especially caught my eye. Could it be a collection of ghost stories?
I took the book from the shelf, and immediately a shiver ran down my spine. The cover was adorned with eerie shadow-like drawings; something about it screamed that it wasn't an ordinary book. Intrigued, I tried to open it slowly—but a small metal lock on the corner stopped me.
"What's this?" I murmured, turning the book in my hands. The lock gleamed faintly, as if inviting me to uncover its secrets. My mind raced with possibilities. Could it contain tales of forgotten spirits? Instructions on how to speak with ghosts? The idea thrilled me.
A soft tinkling sound pulled me from my thoughts. I looked up to find the shopkeeper—an elderly woman with completely white hair—emerging from the shadows. Her gaze was intense, as if she could see beyond me, deep into my thoughts. Behind her counter, an oil lamp flickered, reinforcing the mysterious atmosphere.
"That book holds a special kind of value," she said in a gentle voice, sending a chill down my spine.
"Really?" I asked, unable to hide my excitement.