Chapter : 29 : I Am Telling You, Senpai. Something Is Watching Us!

The four of us stepped into Room No. 7 together, the air thick with dust and a musty scent that spoke of years of neglect.

Mei reached for the light switch, her fingers trembling slightly before she flicked it on. The dim fluorescent tube flickered violently, buzzing like a trapped insect, before reluctantly bathing the room in a sickly yellow glow. The illumination did little to dispel the eerie atmosphere.

Aoi clung to me like a frightened kitten, her grip firm around my arm. Her small frame trembled, her eyes darting around as if expecting something to jump out at her from the shadows. I gently petted her head, running my fingers through her silky, light hair. She exhaled shakily, her body melting into my touch, her death grip on my sleeve loosening slightly.

"So, girls," I said, attempting to sound casual, "why don't we start by clearing these boxes?"

"Okay!" Aisha chirped enthusiastically, her long, black hair swaying as she moved toward the first stack.

"Hmm," Hana murmured in agreement.

"As you wish, babe!" Mei grinned, her usual confidence marred by the faint nervousness in her purple eyes. The ghost stories about this room still lingered in her mind.

I turned to Aoi, who was still glued to my side, her delicate hands gripping my arm like a lifeline.

"Aoi..." I called softly, trying not to startle her. "We can do it together. One box at a time, okay? That way, you'll be close to me, and you won't feel scared."

She gulped, her cheeks tinged pink, before nodding hesitantly. "O-okay! If you say so, Senpai."

And so, we began our work. Each of us picked up a box and made our way toward the storeroom. The wooden floor creaked under our weight, the sound oddly amplified in the silence.

As Aisha bent over to grab a heavier box, she suddenly let out a soft chime. "Ito... You're such a pervert." Her voice was a sultry whisper.

I blinked in confusion. "Huh? What are you talking about?"

She straightened up, placing her hands on her curvaceous hips, and pouted. "Wait? If you didn't... then..." She trailed off, her expression shifting from playful to contemplative. "Just my imagination, I guess." She forced a smile, but there was a shadow in her eyes.

"You're such a handful sometimes," I sighed, shaking my head.

Mei smirked. "Finally gone mad?"

Aisha shot her a mock glare before suddenly grabbing my hand and pressing it against her curvaceous hips. "See? He's touching me. This feels soooo good…" she purred mischievously.

"You're shameless!" Mei huffed, her cheeks burning.

I cleared my throat, ignoring the warmth creeping up my own face. "I'll punish you once we get home. For now, focus on cleaning."

Aisha released my hand, a teasing glint in her eyes. "As you wish, my Ito..."

As we continued, Aoi let out a strangled whimper, her grip on the box slipping slightly.

"Aoi?" I turned to her, concern evident in my voice.

Her face had gone completely pale, her lips trembling. "Senpai... I'm telling you... Something is watching us..."

We all stilled. The air felt... different. Heavier. Like an unseen presence had slithered into the room.

Aoi hesitantly turned her head, her every movement slow and deliberate. Her breath hitched.

Nothing.

"There's no one there, Aoi," I reassured her, though my own voice wavered slightly.

She turned back to me, her eyes wide with fear. "Senpai..."

I leaned down, cupping her soft cheek with my hand. Her skin was warm. Too warm.

Without thinking, I pressed my lips to hers.

Aoi's body stiffened at first, a startled gasp escaping her. But then she melted, her small hands grasping at my shirt as she responded. Her lips, warm and soft, trembled against mine. I deepened the kiss, tilting her head slightly, savoring the innocent warmth of her taste. She let out the tiniest whimper, her lashes fluttering as I coaxed her into surrender.

"Lucky," Mei muttered under her breath, crossing her arms.

Hana hid her mouth behind her hands, watching with wide eyes.

Aisha giggled knowingly.

When I finally pulled away, Aoi was breathless, her lips slightly swollen, her eyes glazed over with a mix of daze and lingering fear.

"Did that make you feel braver?" I asked, brushing my thumb over her cheek.

She swallowed hard. "I-I think so..."

"Good. Now, let's keep moving."

Aoi nodded, her cheeks tinged a deeper shade of red as she focused on lifting the box with me.

Just then, something fell from a nearby table with a loud thud.

We all spun toward the sound.

Aoi and Mei's faces paled.

"Sorry, sorry!" Aisha hummed, laughing awkwardly. "I just bumped into the table."

A sigh of relief rippled through us.

"You okay?" I asked.

"Yeah!"

We continued our work, carrying the boxes outside. Aoi and I carried two together, on top of the other, our hands brushing occasionally. Neither of us moved away.

When we returned to the room, something was... wrong.

The lights were off.

Mei tensed. "We didn't turn them off."

"I remember the same," Hana whispered.

"Guys... there should be a logical explanation," Aisha reasoned, though her voice held a rare trace of unease.

"Senpai... I'm telling you..." Aoi's voice was barely above a whisper.

Ignoring my own growing dread, I stepped inside.

"Don't go!" Aoi called after me, her voice trembling.

I reached for the switchboard.

But—

It wasn't there.

I froze, my breath catching in my throat.

"Aisha..." I called out, my voice unnaturally shaky.

She stepped in. "What is it—huh?" She frowned, walking up to where I was fumbling in the dark. "Ito, the switches are right here." She flicked them on. The lights buzzed back to life.

"Jeez... What will I do with you?" Aisha sighed, exasperated.

I stood there, rooted in place. I could swear... the switchboard wasn't there...

Aisha leaned in suddenly, capturing my lips in a slow, deliberate kiss.

I shuddered, letting myself be drawn into her warmth, the taste of her lips easing my nerves.

As we parted, her eyes gleamed. "Did that calm you down?"

I nodded numbly.

Somewhere in the room, something—someone—watched us, her heart heavy with sorrow.

Then, from the shadows, a faint silhouette emerged behind Aoi.

A sudden, icy shiver crawled down her spine, her breath hitching as an invisible presence loomed closer.

Before she could react, a formless apparition seeped into her, like a cold whisper slipping through the cracks of reality.

Aoi's body jerked slightly—her head tilting downward, strands of hair veiling her expression in an eerie stillness.

We all froze, a creeping unease settling over us.

"Aoi..." I called out, my voice laced with nervous hesitation.

Slowly, unnervingly, she lifted her head, her lips curling into a serene—almost unnatural—smile.

"I'm alright, Senpai," she answered, her tone soft yet distant, as if spoken by someone else entirely.

We exchanged uneasy glances.

"That is surprisingly out of character..."

END OF CHAPTER : 29 : I AM TELLING YOU, SENPAI. SOMETHING IS WATCHING US!