Kume Chinatsu hesitated, clearly torn about whether to tell him about Kanzaki Ringo. But sympathy for the Kiryu siblings finally tipped the scale.
"Alright… Kiryu-kun already knows what happened at school that day, right? The other person in that video—the one fighting the ghost—was that shrine maiden."
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a talisman slip identical to the one she'd once slapped onto Dòu Táng's forehead.
"This was given to me by her. She's also investigating the Candy Man case. From what we saw that night, the Candy Men are actually humans who've been transformed."
Dòu Táng furrowed his brow in practiced confusion. "Transformed… from humans?"
Kume nodded eagerly, eyes sparkling.
"Exactly! That night we ran into a wraith—and then we saw a man in black shout 'Transform!' before turning into a Candy Man!"
…Oh. So that's what you saw.
Keeping up the act, Dòu Táng mused aloud, "So the Candy Men are humans, huh? That's kind of like Kamen Rider or something."
"You like tokusatsu too, Kiryu-kun?!"
"Of course." A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Hero stories and wild fantasies—who doesn't like them?"
"I love them too!" Kume clapped her hands, then paused, blushing. "Hehe… isn't it weird for a girl to like tokusatsu shows?"
"Not at all," Dòu Táng said seriously. "Interests aren't bound by gender. People are free. Even a Candy Man could love the Magenta World Destroyer, and it wouldn't be strange."
Kume blinked—then burst into laughter.
"Pfft—hahahaha! Kiryu-kun, you're so funny! The Magenta World Destroyer, hahahaha!" Dòu Táng sighed. "Aren't we getting off-topic?"
"Right, right…" She calmed herself, then continued, "Anyway, we both remember that man was tall—about your height. That's why I thought you might be him before… sorry about that!"
Looking at her bowing so earnestly, Dòu Táng felt a small pang of guilt. Sorry, but… I actually am him.
Outwardly, though, he only smiled.
"So, what else can you tell me? Especially about that shrine maiden."
Kume brightened. "Hehe, Kiryu-kun's worried about his sister, huh? What a good brother." She giggled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I asked the shrine maiden about your sister's condition," she said. "She told me that people with spirit-absorbing constitutions are born that way—but they can be protected through blessings and rituals that ward off spirits. Kiryu-kun, why not bring your sister to see her?"
Ward off spirits… could that really work?
If it could, maybe Huaiyin could live a normal life—maybe, when the Crown Game ended, she wouldn't have to depend on him just to breathe.
But if that shrine maiden saw Huaiyin, would she recognize him as the Candy Man? People like her could sense anomalies. It was too risky.
"I'll think about it," he said. "Once Huaiyin decides to return to school, I'll introduce her to you, Kume-san."
"That's fine too." She nodded. "Then… does Kiryu-kun plan to meet the shrine maiden himself? Maybe she could help you dispel that lingering spiritual energy."
Such kindness.
"No need," Dòu Táng said calmly. "Until Huaiyin's condition improves, mine won't. There's no reason to see her yet."
He bowed slightly. "But thank you for worrying, Kume-san."
"Oh, not at all! I'm just curious. I'd never believed in ghosts before! I thought they were urban legends!"
She laughed, the sound light and genuine.
There was something refreshing about Kume Chinatsu—brash on the surface, but bright and sincere underneath.
The star-shaped earring at her ear caught the sun, scattering a faint shimmer across her cheek. Even under soft daylight, her skin glowed with a warm, healthy color.
Her smile was simple. Honest. And irresistibly cute.
But Dòu Táng didn't react. He simply sipped his juice, eyes calm and clear. He didn't realize how unsettling that steady gaze could be.
Kume tried to focus on her lunch, but she kept sneaking glances. Those eyes—once cold—now held something she couldn't name.
She mistook that rare openness for intimacy, not realizing she'd simply found someone else who believed in the supernatural.
She looked up again— and froze.
At the top of the stairwell, under the bright blue sky, something white fluttered.
A lab coat—empty, suspended midair—its sleeves rippling as if worn by an invisible body. Her heart stopped.
That coat—she knew it.
It was the same one from that night in the schoolyard.
The one belonging to the other entity—not the blood-soaked ghost, but the one that had watched silently from afar.
And now… it was here. In broad daylight.
Her breath caught.
Why is it here? How long has it been watching? Had it followed her? Had she never escaped at all?
"Ah—!"
The lunchbox tumbled from her hands and clattered across the rooftop tiles. Dòu Táng's expression hardened.
He moved instantly—pushing off the wall, leaving a clear footprint behind as he vaulted forward and landed in front of her.
He crouched low, shielding Kume behind him, eyes snapping toward the stairwell. Empty.
Nothing there.
Kume gasped, chest heaving.
The moment Dòu Táng had leapt, the white figure dissolved—vanishing like mist under the sun. "What did you see?" he asked, voice calm but edged. "What's wrong?"
"I…" Kume's lips trembled.
"Take your time," he said softly.
Having handled countless hauntings, he knew how to anchor a frightened witness. "No need to rush."
"It's nothing," she managed finally, forcing a shaky smile.
"Maybe it was just my imagination. Thank you, Kiryu-kun. I'm fine now."
But she knew it hadn't been an illusion.
She wasn't the type to spook easily—and what she'd seen was real. The same wraith as before.
And it had vanished the instant Kiryu Dòu Táng stepped in front of her. Surely… that couldn't be coincidence.
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