Chapter 16: Haunted Hijinks

The festival's final weekend loomed, and Yamato High buzzed with last-minute prep. Riku had hoped to coast through unnoticed, but Yuna Ono had other plans. She'd roped him into "fine-tuning" the haunted house, which somehow turned into him being her personal prop fixer, cobweb hanger, and—most recently—guinea pig for scares. He trudged to the third-year wing after school, already regretting every "yes" he'd ever uttered.

Yuna greeted him with a grin that spelled trouble, her witch costume swapped for a tattered black cloak and a crooked hat. "There you are, cutie!" she sang, tossing him a flashlight. "We're testing the dark maze. You're first."

"Maze?" Riku echoed, catching the light with fumbling hands. "I thought it was just a haunted house!"

"Upgraded," she said, steering him toward a curtained-off section. "Gotta keep it fresh. Now go—walk through, and I'll time how long before you scream."

"I'm not gonna scream," he muttered, though his palms were already sweaty. He hated dark, enclosed spaces, but admitting that to Yuna felt like handing her a weapon. He stepped into the maze, the curtain swishing shut behind him, plunging him into blackness. The flashlight beam wobbled as he crept forward, cardboard walls pressing in, fake cobwebs brushing his face.

A skeleton popped out from a hidden panel, and he yelped, nearly dropping the light. Yuna's laughter echoed from somewhere outside. "One scream already? Weak, Riku!"

"It was a yelp, not a scream!" he shouted back, inching deeper. A ghostly moan played from a speaker, and he jumped, banging his elbow on a corner. The maze twisted, dead ends mocking him, until he turned a corner and slammed into something soft.

"Eep!" a voice squeaked, and the "something" turned out to be Yuna herself, who'd snuck in through a side flap. She grabbed his arms to steady them both, her cloak tangling around his legs. In the dark, their faces were inches apart, her breath warm on his cheek.

"Gotcha," she whispered, her lips curling. "Scared yet?"

"Uh—n-no," he lied, heart pounding from more than just fright. Her hands slid up his arms, resting on his shoulders, and he froze, the flashlight beam jittering between them.

"Really?" she teased, leaning closer. "Because you look terrified." Her fingers traced his collar, and he flinched, the ecchi tension spiking as her touch sent shivers down his spine.

Then the curtain ripped open, flooding the maze with light. Aiko stood there, arms crossed, her princess gown from rehearsal swapped for jeans and a scowl. "What the hell is this?" she snapped, her gaze flicking from Yuna's hands to Riku's flushed face.

Yuna didn't flinch, just grinned wider. "Just testing the scares, cousin. Riku's a natural victim."

"Looks like it," Aiko said, her tone icy. She grabbed Riku's wrist, yanking him out of the maze—and Yuna's grip. "Come on, knight. We're late for rehearsal."

"But—" he started, but she was already marching him away, her pace furious. Yuna waved lazily, calling, "See you later, cutie!" Aiko's grip tightened, nearly cutting off his circulation.

"What was *that*?" she hissed as they hit the hallway, her eyes blazing. "Were you two—?"

"No!" Riku yelped, wrenching his arm free. "She just jumped out at me! It was part of the maze!"

"Sure," Aiko said, not slowing down. "And her hands all over you—that was part of the scare too?"

"She wasn't—I mean, maybe, but—" He stumbled over his words, face burning. "Why do you care so much?"

Aiko stopped dead, spinning to face him. "Because you're my cousin, and I don't want some flirty senpai messing with you!"

"Messing with me?" he echoed, bewildered. "She's just teasing. It's not serious."

"Uh-huh," Aiko said, crossing her arms. "Tell that to your blushing face."

He clapped his hands to his cheeks, mortified. "I'm not blushing!"

"Whatever," she muttered, turning on her heel. "Just stay away from her. She's trouble."

Riku trailed after her, confusion swirling. Aiko's protectiveness felt off—sharper, more personal than usual. Was she worried as family, or… something else? The thought made his stomach flip, but he shoved it down, focusing on the rehearsal ahead. Knights didn't overthink—they just swung swords and hoped not to trip.