Two weeks had passed since that case. During that time, Mochi had focused entirely on her new goal: moving out.
With the help of the OHRA, she managed to get a perfect cover story —a fake job that justified her income— which allowed her to freely spend the money from her missions without raising suspicion.
When she told her parents that she had a well-paid job, they not only congratulated her but even insisted on paying for the move and the first month's rent.
At that moment, Mochi and Miyu were in a real estate agency, standing in front of a large board covered with listings and photos of various apartments for rent.
The two were discussing the pros and cons of each property, discarding them one after another. Mochi's specific requirements weren't making things any easier.
—Sempai, what do you think about this one? —Miyu asked, pointing at a picture—. It's close to the school and the OHRA headquarters, and it also looks pretty safe. There's a guard at the entrance.
—Yeah, but that's also a downside —Mochi replied, crossing her arms—. If there's a guard, it means they close the gate at night. I'd have to ask him to open it every time I go out on a night mission.
Think about what people would say if a teenage girl starts going out late and missing classes… and if my family were to find out…
They kept discarding one property after another. Mochi wanted a place where she could make as much noise as she wanted without worrying about disturbing the neighbors, and if possible, with a low enough rent so she could save some money for herself.
With all those requirements, soon there were no options left on the board.
—Miyu, there's nothing left. What do we do? —Mochi asked, puffing out her cheeks.
—Mmm… I'll ask the clerk. Maybe he has something that's not listed.
Miyu approached the counter and explained the situation. The employee thought for a few seconds before slowly nodding.
—One moment… I think there might be one —he said before disappearing into the back of the office.
After a while, he returned with a folder. He took out a sheet of paper and showed it to them with an uneasy expression.
—This apartment meets all your requirements —he murmured, as if he wasn't entirely comfortable showing it.
The place in question was in an old building, almost historical within the city. The apartment was on the top floor, number twenty-five.
It had originally been an attic, but it had been renovated into a livable space. It featured one large room and another smaller one, a separate kitchen and dining area, and a spacious bathroom.
The most striking part was the price: the rent was surprisingly low for its size and location. That made both girls exchange wary glances.
—Why is it so cheap? —Mochi asked, frowning.
Not only did the price seem suspicious, but also the way the clerk presented it, as if he would rather have nothing to do with it.
The man smiled nervously and scratched the back of his neck.
—Well… the rent is low for a reason. All the previous tenants left within a few days.
His tone dropped a little, almost to a whisper.
—In fact, they ran away.
Mochi's ears perked up, her curiosity piqued.
—Ran away? —she repeated.
—Yes —the clerk said, swallowing hard—. They all said the same thing: that the place is… haunted.
Noises at night, doors opening on their own, objects moving from one place to another. Even —he looked around, lowering his voice further— even claimed to feel a presence behind them when they were alone.
The clerk continued speaking, his face slightly pale.
—My bosses forced me to spend one night there to "prove it was safe." —His gaze went distant, as if recalling something unpleasant—. It was the worst night of my life. I heard footsteps in the hallway… but when I went out, there was no one there. The lights flickered, the faucets turned on by themselves… and the TV switched on showing nothing but static.
Mochi and Miyu looked at each other, lowering their voices to a whisper.
—Sempai, are you thinking what I'm thinking? —Miyu murmured.
—Yeah, Miyu. This sounds like an anomaly. —Mochi grinned with excitement—. It's perfect! We just have to take care of it, and that's it. I'll have an amazing apartment for a ridiculously low price.
They wrapped up the meeting, and Mochi approached the clerk.
—We'd like to see the place. Could you show it to us?
—Me? No way! —the man blurted out, taking a step back—. If you want to see it, here are the keys. —He handed them over quickly, as if they were burning his hands—. You can go in, look around, take pictures, whatever you want… just don't ask me to go up there.
Mochi took the keys with an amused expression.
—Let's go see that cursed apartment!
The clerk watched them walk away, looking both nervous and pitying.
—Poor girls… I hope they don't run into too much trouble —he muttered to himself before returning to the counter.
A few minutes later, Mochi and Miyu were walking under the afternoon sun, the keys to the supposedly "haunted apartment" jingling in Mochi's pocket.
When they arrived at the building, they stopped for a moment to take it in. The façade had a classic design, with wrought-iron balconies and elegant cream-colored walls —everything surprisingly well maintained.
—Sempai… this place looks pretty expensive —Miyu commented, impressed.
—I know, right? I think I just hit the jackpot. Come on, I want to see the inside! —Mochi exclaimed, her tail held high with excitement.
They crossed the entrance and headed for the elevator.
—Even this thing has an old-fashioned vibe —Mochi said curiously. It didn't have an automatic door but a metal gate they had to close manually before going up.
—Look, Miyu, even the carpet looks fancy —she added, leaning down to touch the elevator floor with genuine fascination.
Miyu stifled a laugh at how excited Mochi looked, petting the carpet like a child in a candy store. Her gaze drifted upward to Mochi's feline ears, twitching happily with every comment.
Her mind filled with a single thought:
"I want to touch them. I really want to touch them."
"What if I ask for permission? But… does touching a catsith's ears or tail mean something? Would it be weird if I just asked out of nowhere?"
She discreetly took out her smartphone and started searching online, but before she could find an answer, the elevator stopped with a soft ding. They had arrived.
They expected to see a hallway with several doors, but the sight that greeted them was completely different: the hallway was short, only a few steps long, and at the end there was just one door.
—Sempai… is this whole floor really just one apartment? —Miyu asked, surprised.
Mochi nodded, holding the keys in hand, her eyes shining with anticipation.
She turned the lock and opened the door.
The inside was dimly lit. Miyu fumbled along the wall near the entrance until she found the switch. When she flipped it, the lights flickered a couple of times before stabilizing, slowly illuminating the interior.
—Whoa… —Mochi exclaimed as she peeked inside—. It's huge!
Before stepping in, she closed her eyes for a moment and extended her senses, searching for any trace of ether.
Nothing.
Not a single thread of energy floating in the air.
—I can't feel anything, Miyu. We can move forward safely —she finally said.
They both stepped inside. The place had a Western style —clean and spacious. The living room and dining area shared the same open space, wide and bathed in the warm glow of the sunset filtering through a large window.
Mochi spun around with sparkling eyes, as if already decorating the space in her head.
—I'll put a sofa here —she said, pointing to a corner—, a dining table over there, and right in front of the sofa… a giant TV.
—Sempai, you haven't even signed the contract yet —Miyu replied, raising an eyebrow.
—Details —Mochi waved her hand triumphantly—. Fate has already decided this will be my new home.
They continued exploring the apartment until they reached the kitchen. It was compact but modern, clean, and with enough space for three people to move around without bumping into each other.
—It's got an oven, a stove, space for a fridge, and… a window! —Mochi exclaimed, leaning out with excitement.
Next, they moved to the main bedroom.
The room was surprisingly large, almost too big for one person. Mochi imagined placing the bed in one corner, maybe a desk beside it… and still there would be plenty of empty space.
It reminded her of when she used to play The Sims, building ridiculous mansions with just a sofa and a TV in the middle. She giggled softly.
—What's so funny? —Miyu asked curiously.
—Nothing, I was just picturing how I'd decorate this place.
They opened the built-in closet. It was wide and deep, with a few empty cardboard boxes stacked at the back.
Then they checked the second room —smaller, cluttered with old furniture and more boxes.
—This one feels a little… weird —Miyu murmured, glancing around.
The last place they inspected was the bathroom.
It had a large bathtub, shiny tiles, and a spotless mirror.
—Miyu! This bathroom is bigger than the one at my house —Mochi said, peeking inside the tub with sparkling eyes—. Look at this! I could stay in here all afternoon soaking.
—Sempai, if you do that, you'll end up wrinkled like a raisin.
The apartment was in perfect condition, except for a few floorboards that creaked when stepped on. Nothing unusual.
Mochi stopped in the center of the living room, gazing around with a gentle smile.
The sunset light painted the floor in golden tones, and for a moment, she felt something she hadn't felt in a long time —home.
—Yeah… —she finally said, her voice calm but determined—. This will be my new home.
—Alright, Sempai… but if things start floating around at night, I'm sleeping with you!
—Deal —Mochi replied without hesitation, her tail swishing happily.
A soft breeze blew through the window, rustling one of the curtains.
A little too much —as if someone, or something, had just passed by.
But neither of them noticed.