Chapter 293: Kick the Cat Effect (16)
A group of players left the classroom, following Hanako's lead as they set out to locate the infamous thirteenth step.
Cleaning the classroom could wait—what mattered most was uncovering whether ghost story videotapes could truly be produced repeatedly without consequence.
Moments later, the group arrived at the eerie location of the anomalous staircase.
"One, two, three… thirteen steps," someone counted aloud.
"That's right," Hanako confirmed.
"This is the place."
Amamiya halted at the base of the stairs and turned toward Umi. "I'll go in first. Wait here for my signal."
The entry point into this alternate dimension was random each time, and there was always a risk of materializing right next to a hostile ghost. To ensure safety, Amamiya decided to scout ahead.
"Be careful, Amamiya-kun," Umi said with a hint of concern.
Amamiya nodded. "I will."
Without further ado, he stepped onto the stairs—and vanished.
---
The campus fell silent.
The once-familiar corridor now felt oppressively empty, as if frozen in a moment of time.
Amamiya found himself in another dimension, the transition as seamless as it was unsettling.
---
Meanwhile, under Hanako's guidance, the remaining players began heading toward the next location where the thirteenth step would appear.
"East corridor, fourth floor, near the restroom," Hanako directed them nonchalantly.
---
In the alternate dimension, Amamiya stood at the base of the stairs, clutching a notebook. Lines of delicate, flowing handwriting began to appear on the page:
"It's safe. You can come in."
Moments later, Umi materialized on the staircase.
"Amamiya-kun!" she called out, her eyes lighting up as she spotted him. Taking the stairs two at a time, she bounded down to join him.
"So, this is the alternate dimension?" Umi placed a hand on her hip and looked around with curiosity. "It doesn't feel any different from the real world."
Amamiya smiled faintly, closing the notebook. "Now that you're here, let's find a vengeful spirit and complete the task."
---
According to their analysis, there were two prerequisites for filming ghost story videotapes: entering the ghost story's domain and interacting with its subject. To ensure a successful recording, they needed to allow the ghost or spirit to appear on camera.
Amamiya led the way, and the two soon arrived on the fourth floor. There, in one of the dimly lit classrooms, they spotted a vengeful spirit: a ghostly figure of an elementary school student, mechanically wiping down a desk by the window.
"This is it," Amamiya whispered, stopping just outside the door.
"An elementary school kid?" Umi tilted her head, peering into the classroom.
The student was clad in a school uniform, their head bowed low as they continued their repetitive task, seemingly oblivious to the world around them.
"Follow the plan," Amamiya instructed quietly. "Go in and try to interact."
"Got it."
Taking a steadying breath, Umi reached out to push the door open and stepped inside.
The ghostly student froze mid-motion, their hand hovering over the desk. They remained silent, head still bowed.
"Hey, why are you here so late?" Umi asked gently, her voice careful but brave.
The figure gave no response.
"Shouldn't you go home?" she tried again. "Your mom might be worried."
Still, there was no reply.
"Why are you wiping the desk over and over?"
The ghostly student remained as still as a statue, offering neither words nor movement.
"Then I'll go first."
Reluctantly, Umi waved goodbye and turned to leave the classroom.
The moment she stepped outside, a sharp burning pain flared up in her palms. It wasn't just a mild discomfort—the intensity grew with each passing second.
"Ow, it hurts…" Umi winced, glancing back with a pitiful expression.
"It's fine if it hurts," Amamiya replied calmly, handing her a pen. "Write a few words, exactly as I say."
"Okay…"
Following his instructions, Umi obediently took the pen and began writing on one of the desks. To her surprise, as soon as she completed the word, the pain in her hands faded almost instantly. Meanwhile, the ghostly elementary school student cleaning the desk lowered their head even further, as though retreating into themselves.
"How strange," Umi murmured, her eyes widening. "Amamiya-kun, what's going on here?"
Amamiya's tone grew thoughtful.
"Think about it. A girl hiding in a bathroom, soaked in water. A boy's desk covered with the word 'die.' A girl punished by a teacher, endlessly copying lines in the classroom. A student stepping on foreign objects stuffed into their shoes, enduring the pain silently... All these scenes share a common thread."
Umi tilted her head, deep in thought. "Are they... all victims of school bullying?"
"Exactly," Amamiya said.
Umi furrowed her brows, resting her chin in her hand. "But if this space is created for those who bullied others to suffer endlessly, then why did 'we' feel pain? We didn't do anything to them."
"There's another possibility," Amamiya said with a meaningful tone. "What if they aren't the victims? What if they are the perpetrators?"
"Huh?"
Amamiya continued, his voice steady. "Victims of bullying often look for places to hide, like an ostrich burying its head in the sand. They believe that if tomorrow never comes, they won't have to face the pain of being bullied again. That's why this alternate dimension is perpetually stuck in the evening."
Umi blinked in surprise, processing his explanation.
"People who are bullied carry immense pain in their hearts," Amamiya went on. "And as the saying goes, 'how many floors does it take to carry a bag of rice?' Those weighed down by their own pain often find it impossible to be kind to others. Instead, they hope to spread their suffering to the entire world."
He glanced at her. "That's why, when you stepped into the classroom, you felt pain. The vengeful spirit wanted you to experience the same anguish it endures."
Umi bit her lip, her expression softening. "Then why did the pain stop when I wrote a word on the desk?"
"Because it shifted the dynamic," Amamiya explained. "Who do bullied students fear the most?"
Understanding dawned on Umi. Her eyes lit up as she answered, "Their bullies."
"Exactly. By writing on his desk, you unknowingly acted like a bully. The spirit mistook you for one of those who tormented him, and out of fear, he stopped attacking you."
Amamiya's tone turned analytical. "It's a phenomenon referred to in psychology as the 'kicking-the-cat effect.' Humans tend to direct their frustrations and pain at those weaker than themselves. A bullied person won't confront their aggressors—instead, they'll seek out someone even weaker to vent their anger."
"That's why Hanamori-san felt the pain earlier," he added. "She was overly cautious, trying to avoid confrontation. Her submissive behavior made the vengeful spirit perceive her as weak, which is why she was attacked."
"On the other hand, when I barged into the bathroom and confronted the ghostly girl directly, she was so frightened that she kept apologizing."
He shrugged lightly, a hint of cynicism in his tone. "The world is absurd like that."
Umi hesitated, her expression conflicted. "That's... so sad."
"Sad, maybe," Amamiya replied. "But people who seem pitiful often have hateful sides too. Of course, this is all just speculation for now. We'll need to test it a few more times to confirm."
Umi mulled it over for a moment, then lifted her head with newfound determination. Her pretty face lit up with resolve as she declared, "Then let me test it myself!"