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The table was a mess of empty plates and glasses.
By the time the food had gone through five full courses and the drinks three rounds, Hana Yukikawa had completely shed the shyness and awkwardness she'd shown when they first met. Her tiny mouth hadn't stopped chewing since they sat down.
Mai Sakurajima's eyelids twitched as she watched.
Not because she was annoyed at Hana for being unladylike, but because she was jealous of how much barbecued meat and dessert the girl was stuffing down.
Mai might have been retired from the entertainment industry for years, but she still kept a close eye on her figure.
How the hell was Hana not worried about gaining weight after eating all that?
Miko Yotsuya, sitting across from her, seemed to catch on to Mai's thoughts and said with a helpless sigh,"Ever since I've known Hana, she's always eaten like this. No matter what she eats, she never gains weight."
Then she added, as if to rub it in, "And even if she does gain some… it only shows up in the right places."
As another girl, Mai instantly understood what Miko meant.
Weight in the "right places."
Her eyes flicked, not so subtly, to Hana's chest, and she lowered her head in defeat.
Sure, Mai wasn't exactly flat herself… but compared to her friend Miko, she was clearly losing this competition.
Unfair. Completely unfair!
How could a girl eat sweets like a bottomless pit and never get fat?!
"Hehe, my favorite's strawberry rice cake. I can eat a whole bunch in one go," Hana said cheerfully, cream and crumbs still clinging to her smile.
The meal finally wrapped up after an hour and a half.
When they stepped out of the restaurant, Hana was rubbing her belly with a blissful grin."Ahh, I'm stuffed! Oh? Hey, they're selling ice cream over there! You guys want some?"
She didn't even wait for an answer—she just dashed straight to the stall.
"Boss, I'll take strawberry flavor!"
Then she turned, waving enthusiastically at the others."What do you guys want? My treat!"
Mai was stunned.
They had just left an all-you-can-eat buffet, and this girl still had room for ice cream?!
What was her stomach made of—some kind of black hole?!
She turned to Rosen with a serious look."So, does that mean I can eat like this too and not get fat?"
Rosen chuckled."Well, if you work out enough, your body will burn more calories than before. But if you overeat, you'll still gain weight. You'll have to figure out your own limit."
"…Fine."
Mai accepted defeat.
A moment later, Hana came bouncing back with a bunch of cones in her hands.
"So cold, so cold—but sooo sweet and refreshing!" she said, holding her forehead like the ice cream had given her brain freeze. Then her eyes lit up, like she'd just remembered something.
"Miko, you still haven't told me your big secret yet! Wait—don't tell me… you already have a kid?!"
"No!"
Miko was exasperated at her dramatic friend, but then she got serious."Hana… do you believe in ghosts?"
"Ghosts?! Don't joke like that in broad daylight! You know I'm a coward!"
Even so, Hana suddenly felt a chill crawl over her skin. She glanced nervously left and right, but of course saw nothing.
"Quit trying to scare me, Miko!" she pouted—though her suspicious gaze slid toward Rosen.
Don't tell me Miko had run into… some kind of scam artist?
But no—she and Miko had been friends for years. There was no reason for her to lie.
"I'm not lying," Miko said firmly. "Forget it—just explaining won't do. Rosen, can you show her?"
She'd already decided—she was going to drag Hana into Rosen's world no matter what.
Rosen didn't refuse. He raised a hand, releasing a faint ripple of divine power that opened Hana's "Heaven's Eye."
"Look over by that vending machine," he said.
Confused, Hana followed the direction of his finger."There's nothing there—"
Her words froze in her throat.
By the machine crouched a shadowy figure. It wasn't mist, exactly, but it wasn't solid either. Its face had the vague outline of human features—only hollow, empty, and terrifyingly blank.
The instant she laid eyes on it, chills raced down Hana's spine.
And when the shadow turned its hollow face toward her, she felt every hair on her body stand up.
Then it moved.
The spirit realized she could see it, and in an instant it lunged from the vending machine, its distorted features twisting into a grotesque snarl as it rushed straight for her in broad daylight.
Before it could touch her, Rosen's glare alone shattered it into pieces.
The wail of the dissolving ghost faded into nothing. Hana's legs gave out beneath her, and she would've collapsed if Miko and Mai hadn't grabbed her in time.
Honestly, their first times seeing spirits weren't any better.
Miko remembered all too clearly. She had been so terrified, she'd actually… well… leaked.
The memory still made her burn with shame.
"..."
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