277: Dating Simulation in Haunted House

The two sat on a bench in the corner of the waiting room, with no other people in the vast space.

After stepping forward, Iroha thought the timing might be right and naturally raised the question.

But it seemed a bit too early—her statement felt somewhat rough and interrogative.

Chisato likely noticed something. His gaze lingered quietly on her face, not easily pried away.

Iroha, who was already deep in thought, felt uneasy under his stare.

As she pondered, she averted her eyes while gripping the edges of the bench, her fair calves—uncovered by stockings—gently swaying back and forth in an attempt to calm her wavering confidence.

"It doesn't matter if I don't say it. I was just suddenly curious," she said, trying to cover for her reckless remark while secretly hoping to buy some time.

"There's nothing much to say. We like each other, and their relationship is also very good, so we can each make certain compromises from the other's perspective." 

"Naturally, the three of us became what you see today."

Chisato answered with a focused tone, though his gaze seemed somewhat distant.

For a moment, Iroha couldn't determine whether he was responding earnestly or simply giving her a polite yet perfunctory reply.

After considering it, she believed the latter was more likely, so she remained firm in her initial thoughts.

Yes, no matter how she looked at it, even if he did use a special method, there was no way he would simply reveal everything just because she asked.

I am not his person now...

Not his...

Who…

Wait a minute!

The heavy silence between them suddenly made Iroha realize something.

She recalled a figure she had seen in her dream but had previously overlooked.

Miri.

That was the only person in the dream who fully understood Chisato's overarching plan. His confidant.

Without her secret efforts behind the scenes, Iroha felt she would never have fallen so deeply.

She loved Chisato so much, devoted to him from beginning to end. Even if the final outcome was tragic, she had no regrets.

In Iroha's eyes, Miri was an intricate and deeply tragic character.

The reason she suddenly thought of this person wasn't that she felt sentimental, but because an idea had struck her.

Miri gained Chisato's trust, thereby learning his true nature and plans.

So if she could find a way to replicate that, couldn't she also gain Chisato's trust and uncover his secrets?

The bold idea surfaced in her mind.

She felt her heart start to race.

This plan was undoubtedly difficult to execute, but if it succeeded, the benefits would be immense.

One only had to watch spy films and corporate espionage thrillers to understand how devastating the consequences could be when someone in a crucial position suddenly turned against their allies at a critical moment.

But while the idea itself was promising, there were still several significant issues.

In the dream—

Miri had grown up with Chisato in the same orphanage, and to some extent, they understood each other's boundaries.

Moreover, after a fateful night together, Chisato confirmed her feelings for him through her actions and adoring gaze. 

Only after confirming her unwavering loyalty did he entrust her with assisting him.

Iroha looked at herself. 

In reality, not only had she never crossed paths with Chisato in such a way, but she had also never had that kind of… intimate night with him.

Their relationship had only reached the level of basic acquaintance. The incredible dream they shared created a connection, but it wasn't enough to build trust.

So, she needed to think of another way.

Iroha's original plan slowly evolved as her thoughts deepened.

She no longer intended to rely on passive means to extract the truth from Chisato during their interactions.

His obviously guarded reaction just now had sounded an alarm in her mind.

Relying on luck and hoping for slip-ups was far too unreliable. It wasn't a perfect plan—especially against someone as shrewd as him.

Iroha decided to take a different approach.

Even if she didn't have the childhood connection, she could use the excuse of having him act as her "dating coach" to gradually deepen their bond. 

Step by step, she would earn his trust.

Once he saw her as someone dependable, she would undoubtedly get what she wanted.

This was a far more mature and foolproof plan than the one before.

…

"Guests, thank you for waiting. Please follow me."

A haunted house staff member—sporting an arrow through his head, a dagger plunged into his chest, and a shirt drenched in dark red bloodstains—approached them with a polite smile and led them toward the haunted house entrance.

After storing their belongings at the counter, Iroha stared at the pitch-black entrance and instinctively swallowed.

Chisato, noticing her reaction, spoke up.

"If you're really scared, you don't have to force yourself. There are plenty of other ways you can ask that senior out later."

Iroha quickly shook her head.

What a joke. She had already bought the tickets.

Besides, haunted houses might sound terrifying, but at their core, they were just themed attractions.

At the end of the day, it was a venue meticulously designed for scares. 

The eerie music, the ominous atmosphere, and the actors in frightening costumes might make her jump, but as long as she reminded herself that everything was fake, there was no reason to be excessively afraid.

Iroha slowly collected her thoughts and exhaled.

"Let's go."

She stepped forward, taking the lead into the haunted house's entrance.

Chisato followed behind.

The wide entrance gradually narrowed, and the corridor grew dimmer and more oppressive. 

Only a dark red glow flickered at their feet, casting vague illumination on the twisted and grotesque writings smeared across the walls.

The atmosphere was well-crafted—just stepping inside gave her chills.

"Senior… By the way, did it suddenly get colder here?"

Iroha held her arms with her hands and gently rubbed them back and forth.

She had seemed eager to try the haunted house when she first stepped inside, but after officially entering, her pace noticeably slowed. 

Once Chisato caught up, she deliberately adjusted her steps to stay close to him, following him step by step.

This subtle movement was well-concealed, but it did not escape his observation.

Chisato calmly turned his head, glanced at her, and said indifferently,

"Not qualified."

"Huh?"

The unrelated remark stunned Iroha, making her stop in her tracks.

Chisato, who had taken two steps ahead, turned back to explain,

"Didn't we agree that my purpose in accompanying you here is to help you prepare for asking out that senior?"

"Ah... That's right."

"So now, considering this from that perspective, what you just said was unqualified."

This time, Chisato deliberately crossed his arms in an X shape.

"…Oh."

Iroha understood that his reasoning was sound, even considerate of her. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, she still felt somewhat displeased.

The feeling came out of nowhere, but it was undeniably there.

She resumed walking, this time letting go of her arms and clasping her hands behind her back instead. 

Deliberately avoiding Chisato's gaze, she fixed her eyes forward and asked,

"Why doesn't it meet the criteria?"

"You said before that, for that senior, you're still in the stage of unrequited love."

"Mm-hmm."

"If the other party is as perceptive as I am, he might pick up on your feelings just from what you said earlier."

"Senior, you're too full of yourself. How could you exaggerate it like that? I was just casually commenting on the sudden drop in temperature."

"For you, it may have been a casual remark, but in an environment like this, when it's just the two of you, it's hard for the person hearing it not to overthink whether it carries a deeper implication."

Chisato looked at Iroha seriously.

"For example, 'Does she want me to take off my coat and give it to her?' That's my first piece of advice for your relationship." 

"If your relationship with that senior hasn't progressed to a certain level yet, then the most important thing is to avoid making careless remarks like that." 

"Otherwise, you'll give him time to prepare in advance."

"If he has feelings for you, everything will work out. But if he doesn't, the situation will become quite passive for you." 

"If you don't want to start off in a disadvantageous position, then you should be more mindful when interacting with him and avoid making similar mistakes."

"...Ah, I see."

Iroha was momentarily stunned and could only respond reflexively.

He really was taking his role as her "love instructor" seriously, just as he had promised.

"Keep moving forward."

Chisato didn't say anything further and continued walking ahead without hesitation.

"Mm-hmm..."

After his earlier words, Iroha's thoughts were in disarray, and she unconsciously widened the distance between them.

They were still walking side by side, but now several fists apart.

As they continued down the corridor, a bloody head suddenly dropped from the ceiling with a burst of eerie music!

"Ugh!"

Iroha's eyes widened as she instinctively took a step back. However, mindful of her dignity, she clenched her mouth shut, unwilling to let out an embarrassing scream.

A reassuring pat landed on her shoulder, making her feel slightly relieved. She turned her head, preparing to act unfazed and comfort herself by saying she wasn't scared.

But then—

Her eyes locked onto a grinning skull resting right on her shoulder!

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

Iroha let out an ear-piercing scream, stomped her feet in panic, and immediately turned to face the wall, gasping for breath.

But that wasn't the end of it.

Clearly, the haunted house staff had anticipated guests reacting this way and had hidden additional tricks within the seemingly ordinary walls.

Before Iroha could fully calm down, she suddenly felt something soft and slimy brushing against her back and thighs—a sensation akin to being licked by something unseen. 

A shiver ran down her spine.

Her entire scalp went numb with discomfort.

With a burst of speed, she practically catapulted herself away from the wall.

After being caught off guard twice in succession, there was no longer any place in the haunted house that felt safe to rely on.

Except—

The person who had entered with her.

Instinctively, she rushed toward Chisato, who stood there watching her flail about with an indifferent expression.

It was the most natural choice when the fright hadn't yet faded.

"This time, your reaction was relatively natural. I'd give it an excellent rating."

Chisato's hands remained at his sides, showing no intention of responding to Iroha throwing herself at him. 

Like a wooden post, he simply stood there, calmly analyzing the situation.

"A frightened girl in need of reassurance often triggers a strong protective instinct in boys." 

"If you ever visit a haunted house with that senior in the future, you can try using this approach a few more times." 

"It will subtly draw you closer at a much faster rate. In a sense, it creates an exclusive memory shared only between the two of you—something you can bring up in conversation later to strengthen your bond."

"..."

Still clinging to Chisato's front, Iroha silently listened as he finished speaking.

Her heart, which had been pounding wildly from fear just moments ago, inexplicably settled into a steady rhythm.

Slowly, she released her grip. As the trembling in her pupils subsided, she took two steps back.

When she looked up again, she wore her usual bright smile.

"I get it. Thanks, Senior."

"Good. Let's keep moving forward."

"Okay~"

What had just happened was merely an appetizer.

As the two continued deeper into the haunted house, more terrifying and chilling events unfolded before them.

But no matter how scared Iroha felt, she clenched her teeth, gripped the edges of her skirt tightly, and forced herself to maintain an air of composure.

By the time they finally exited the haunted house, she no longer displayed the same panicked reactions as before.

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