Shirakawa's calm demeanor reassured Yumiko. Looking at her classmate's confident expression—even though they'd been in the same second-year class—she realized she barely knew anything about him. Excellent grades, no specific social circle, generally well-liked by classmates…
If she hadn't started seeing ghosts, she likely wouldn't be talking to him like this.
With a confused expression, she asked, "I don't get it... Why am I suddenly seeing... those things? It came out of nowhere."
"You can think of it this way—everyone has some degree of spiritual perception, just that for most people it's too weak to notice. But sometimes, a trigger can awaken it."
"Once it's awakened, you start seeing spirits."
Shirakawa explained the concept of spiritual awareness casually. If he hadn't met Miko Yotsuya, the crossover plot might have remained a slice-of-life.
But now that spirits were manifesting, more people like Yumiko were suddenly gaining spiritual awareness. Their numbers were only going to increase.
And if money was tight—being an exorcist could make you rich.
"There are two basic ways to deal with spirits," he continued. "The simplest is to turn a blind eye. Most spirits will only attack if they're sure the target is aware of them."
The easiest method was what Miko Yotsuya used—pretending not to see anything. But that required serious nerves of steel.
Yumiko shook her head immediately. Just having gained this spiritual awareness, even pretending not to see those terrifying beings left her mentally exhausted.
"If they realize I can see them... what happens?"
"You die."
Miko had just been lucky, managing to escape danger every time. That didn't mean Yumiko could expect the same.
Shirakawa continued, "The second method is to find an exorcist and have them deal with the spirit attached to you. But you should know…"
"There's a reason we say some solutions only treat the symptoms, not the cause. You can't shut off spiritual awareness. If a spirit finds you again, it'll still be a problem."
"…"
Under normal circumstances, she would've laughed this off.
But now, after seeing ghosts with her own eyes and knowing they were watching her, Yumiko found herself believing him.
She didn't want to keep living in fear.
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she said seriously, "Shirakawa, I believe... you must have a way to help, right?"
"Of course I do."
He nodded without hesitation.
The simplest was to become an exorcist. Alternatively, an exorcist could regularly cleanse you and leave a trace of holy light in your body.
Like Hanako from the bathroom or Mary the urban legend—once filled with rage and malice, they had been purified into harmless spirits, and the lingering holy light protected them from corruption.
This kind of purification worked on humans too, giving temporary immunity.
"The easiest way is to become an exorcist," he said. "If you can fight spirits, you won't need to worry about being attacked. You might even be able to destroy the one haunting you."
"..."
Yumiko fell silent. She was just a high schooler at Sobu High. Becoming an exorcist? That wasn't even in the realm of possibility.
Even protective charms from temples hadn't helped. Becoming an exorcist seemed harder than getting into Tokyo University.
So she asked, "Are there any other ways?"
"Sure. You can have an exorcist regularly purify you. But that doesn't last—it needs to be repeated."
He meant himself, clearly.
But that method came with a catch, and Shirakawa doubted she could accept it. He added, "Honestly, I don't recommend that. It comes with a price."
"I understand…"
Yumiko nodded slightly. She was now sure Shirakawa was an exorcist. She just didn't know what the price was yet.
Money?
She'd heard rumors that he wasn't short on cash—his family owned an apartment building.
Seeing Yukino and Chitanda Eru in the same club made her a little weary, but she forced a smile. "Shirakawa, can I add you on LINE?"
"There are things I think would be easier to talk about there."
"Sure."
Talk is cheap—he needed to show her what he could really do. After exchanging LINE contacts, Shirakawa smiled and added, "If you ever run into something you can't handle, I'll help out if I can."
"Thank you."
"It already feels like a weight's been lifted, just being able to talk about this."
After saving his name as "Exorcist" in her contacts, Yumiko felt much lighter without her usual facade.
Telling people like Ebina or Hayama? That would've been a huge emotional burden.
"I just offered a bit of help."
Shirakawa shook his head and watched the blonde gyaru leave. He packed up his lunchbox and got ready to head out.
With permission from homeroom teacher Hiratsuka Shizuka, there was no reason to stay at Sobu High anymore. As nice as being surrounded by pretty girls was, improving his power came first.
"Let's go, Chitanda."
"..."
Chitanda Eru's eyes sparkled as she nodded. "If there's more to this later, Shirakawa-kun, please tell me! I'm really curious!!"
"Of course."
As they left, his gaze passed over Yukino, who had stayed quiet the whole time. She had already put her book down, clearly having heard everything.
Sitting properly at her desk, she asked coldly, "That kind of pickup tactic... are you sure it's not illegal?"
"Let's hope not. Sometimes things aren't as simple as they seem."
He wasn't planning to stick around any longer. Glancing at the cool and composed Yukino, Shirakawa didn't mind briefly sharing some of his powerful spiritual sense with her.
The world was no longer "normal."
Giving her a small push might not be a bad thing. Letting her glimpse the truth might open her eyes to what was really going on.
"..."
After Shirakawa left, Chitanda turned to Yukino with a friendly tone.
"Actually, Yukinoshita-san... Miura-san isn't the first person to come to Shirakawa-kun with this kind of problem. Our Classics Club sort of operates this way."
"If it makes you uncomfortable, we can try to schedule activities at different times."
"Remember to lock the door, thanks."
Shirakawa had already left the clubroom. Chitanda Eru had no reason to linger either, so she placed the clubroom key on the desk and turned to leave.
The room was completely empty now. Yukinoshita stood in silence for a moment. Then the corners of her lips curved slightly as if she'd come to terms with something.
As for ghosts?
She didn't really care if they were just stories, but the way Shirakawa seriously talked about their existence—along with exorcists—felt unreal. It was hard to believe those words came from him.
She picked up a leisure reading book from the desk. It was a quiet place, perfect for reading. She didn't mind being alone. But just then...
A breeze passed through the open window.
Though summer was approaching, a strange chill filled the room. Frowning, she stood up to close the wide-open window.
At that moment, the temporary shared spiritual perception kicked in.
Yukinoshita suddenly sensed a suffocating, malicious presence. Instinctively, she turned around—only to see a ghost with its head drooping, standing behind her.
Its body reeked of decay, black resentment coiling around it like rotting flesh. The hollow eyes locked onto Yukinoshita as a piercing voice asked, "You can see me?"
That sharp, eerie voice reached her ears clearly. Yukinoshita's mind went blank. Her body trembled with fear, nearly collapsing.
Then, she remembered what Shirakawa had told Miura Yumiko: "As long as you pretend you can't see the ghost, it won't harm you."
"Feels... a bit cold. I'll just keep reading..."
Even talking to herself was just a way to muster courage. This was Yukinoshita's first time seeing a ghost. Forcing herself to walk back to her chair, she felt her strength draining.
Her hands trembled as she held her book.
Her worldview was beginning to crack.
Ghosts were real...
Did that mean everything Shirakawa said was true? And the rude things she said earlier—she felt a bit guilty just thinking about it.
When the temporary spiritual sense faded, so did the overwhelming pressure. Yukinoshita looked around. The terrifying figure had vanished.
She finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Just as she tried to stand and leave the haunted Classics Clubroom, she felt a strange dampness... beneath her.
Liquid had pooled on the floor beneath the chair.
She didn't know why, but for someone who always cared about her image, Yukinoshita now truly understood what it meant to have a mental breakdown. Ghosts really existed.
---
Miura Yumiko left the Classics Clubroom with a shaken heart. Few students were active during lunchtime, so the building was eerily quiet.
Only the ghastly faces of ghosts remained in the hallway. They noticed her arrival and turned their eyes toward her.
"..."
"Shirakawa said this should be fine."
For a regular high school student, it's extremely hard to accept seeing ghosts—let alone control the fear that wells up inside.
Yumiko forced herself to act normal and looked around casually, hoping to find a familiar face to walk with. But the hallway was empty except for the horrible screeches of the ghosts.
She took a deep breath. Just as she was about to walk, she noticed something strange.
The ghosts, who had been gathered in the hallway, suddenly scattered like prey fleeing a predator.
"What... what's going on?"
She heard footsteps behind her. Turning quickly, she saw Shirakawa coming down the stairs, bento box in hand.
She wasn't dumb—after all, she'd gotten into Sobu High. A bold idea crossed her mind: could the ghosts be afraid of Shirakawa?
Suppressing her inner questions, Yumiko forced a smile. "Shirakawa, done with club activities already?"
"Not exactly."
Shirakawa smiled and shook his head. "I just went to the Classics Club to pass the president role to another member. Didn't expect to run into you."
"Got it."
The atmosphere around them wasn't oppressive anymore, and Yumiko's state had calmed a bit. She shrugged and walked beside Shirakawa.
"Want to go grab some drinks?"
Usually, it was others trying to curry favor just to join a conversation. But now, facing the usually quiet Shirakawa, Yumiko felt awkward. Still, she offered, "My treat."
"No need. I already got permission from Hiratsuka-sensei to take a leave of absence. I was just heading back to class to grab my bag."
Even though she was a popular student, Yumiko wasn't hard to read. Shirakawa saw right through her. He smiled casually and asked, "Is there something you want to say?"
"Yeah."
Yumiko nodded seriously. Since there were no other students nearby, she was more honest. "Shirakawa, you can see ghosts, right?"
"Yeah."
"I noticed something. When the ghosts saw you coming, they all looked terrified. Are you... an exorcist?"
If Shirakawa really was an exorcist, then maybe... she could be free from the constant haunting. That hope lit up in her eyes.
"My main job is being a student. Exorcist is a side gig."
He didn't try to hide it.
"But I wouldn't place all your hopes on me. Becoming an exorcist is hard, and I'm not great at teaching."
"There's another way to solve your problem. It's not difficult for me, but... it's something you might not be able to accept. There's a price."
They had no emotional connection. Using the Ex Curry Stick to purify her directly would feel way too crude—and perverted. He didn't want to come off like a creep.
"I understand."
Yumiko nodded. She thought back to that difficult method and asked, "I want to try the other way. What's the cost?"
Shirakawa looked at her calmly. "Everything you have."
"What?"
Yumiko froze. She tried to understand what "everything" meant. Was it her body? Her mind?
That price... how could anyone accept that?
"That's why I think it's the hardest method to accept. But I've already told you the simplest solution—just ignore the ghosts, and they won't hurt you."
He didn't wait for her reaction.
Rather than waste time chatting, it was better to spend it refining mana. He knew her personality—this wasn't something she could easily manage.
Force her?
Even if Shirakawa wanted to build a harem, he wanted each member to join willingly. If Yumiko could accept it, he wouldn't mind helping her.
Yumiko stood frozen, watching Shirakawa walk away, unsure what to do.
As his figure disappeared, the suffocating coldness returned. Those grotesque ghosts surrounded her again, like a disease that wouldn't let go.
There was no way to fix it...
Did she really have to pretend not to see them for the rest of her life?
She couldn't imagine that. If she wanted to return to a normal school life, she had only one option—ask Shirakawa for help.
"So... what should I do?"
She didn't think this was Shirakawa's fault. At best, they were just classmates. He had no obligation to help her.
Looking at the ghosts around her, Yumiko took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Shirakawa really was impressive—grades, looks... and he was secretly an exorcist too.
[Note: You know the heroine's gonna get fucked by the mc the second she starts mentioning his qualities]
Finally, she pulled out her phone. Her hands trembled as she typed. After mentally preparing herself, she sent the message.
Yumiko Miura: Shirakawa-kun... I've made up my mind.