Chapter 383: Haunted House

"Aaaaah!!! So scary!!!"

Rinji: "..."

"Help me!!!"

Rinji: "..."

"Aaahhhhhh!!!"

Rinji: "Would you two calm down? You're screaming like you're being murdered in there."

Today, the first-year haunted house project had finally been completed. They were now testing it out with some volunteers.

The test participants were fellow first-years: Iino Miko and the ever-eager Fujiwara Chika.

From the moment they entered, their screams echoed constantly. Even outside, Rinji could hear it loud and clear. They sounded like they were witnessing horrors beyond imagination.

"Looks like it's a big success."

Onodera Rei removed her wig and walked out from backstage, smiling at Rinji.

"Looks like my setup was the scarier one."

"I still don't get what's so scary about it."

Earlier, Rinji had spent half a day decorating the entire classroom into a haunted house. But due to his unique understanding of horror—very different from that of normal people—he came up with some bizarre costumes. The first-year students had no choice but to remake their haunted house costumes from scratch.

Still, no one blamed Rinji. After all, he was the one who handled everything from the costumes to the set design. Even if they weren't satisfied with the results, they couldn't really complain. Without Rinji, they wouldn't have even been able to put on a haunted house in the first place.

"Ugh…"

Fujiwara and Iino stumbled out of the haunted house looking utterly devastated, clearly still shaken.

"I mean… was that really scary?"

"Of course it was! Ghost women jumping out from the dark, blood-covered ghouls… Rinji, aren't you even a little scared?!" Fujiwara looked at him, visibly annoyed.

"I didn't feel anything," Rinji replied. "If anything, it was you and Iino's screams that were scarier."

"Rinji, are you just pretending to be brave in front of the girls?" Fujiwara's eyes narrowed with suspicion.

"I don't see the point in lying about something like this."

"Is that so? Then how about you go through it yourself?"

"I don't know what you're so hung up on, but sure, I'll go."

Probably irritated by Rinji's sarcasm, Fujiwara wanted him to experience true terror firsthand. Since there was nothing else going on, Rinji simply walked into the haunted house.

"Wait!"

"What now?"

"I think you'll just force yourself to stay quiet. So this time, I'm going in with you," Fujiwara said with a mischievous grin as she pulled out her phone. "I'll make sure to capture your scared expression."

"…"

"That's a great idea," Onodera chimed in. "If we manage to get a picture of Rinji terrified, we can use it as promotional material during the festival."

"Tsk… ever since the sports festival, all you guys do is think of ways to mess with me. Why?"

"Because you always came across as dangerous," Onodera said flatly. "From the first semester's fights to threatening the whole school in the second, you've always given off final boss vibes. And no one, not even the union club, can control you. On top of that, your grades are great. It's like you're invincible."

"So what, you're trying to take me down to make a name for yourselves?"

"No, we're just looking for the gap moe."

"Huh?"

"Someone like you, who seems like a big boss character, if you suddenly show a cute or soft side, it gets amplified. Like when you wore a dress during the sports festival."

"Don't bring up the dress again!"

"Fine. But wanting to see you scared is the same logic," Onodera continued. "If 'Shuchiin's Dictator' suddenly looks frightened, it's pretty entertaining."

"…"

Just as Rinji was rendered speechless, Fujiwara pulled him into the haunted house.

Looking at the pitch-dark interior, Rinji said to her, "You were the one screaming like crazy earlier, and now you want to see me scared?"

"Hmph~"

Fujiwara puffed out her chest confidently.

"Now that I've seen it once, I already know the haunted house's layout. I can't be scared anymore."

————Five minutes later————

"Ahhhh! Rinji, help me!"

"It's fake."

As they walked through the haunted house, a figure dressed in white with a scary painted face suddenly leaped out from behind some fake bushes.

The 'ghost' walked toward them slowly, holding a pair of bloodstained scissors.

"Give… me… your… ears…"

"Ahhhh!!!"

Fujiwara latched tightly onto Rinji's arm, pressing her entire chest against him.

Rinji felt the softness on his arm but didn't react much. Or rather, he wasn't thinking about it at all.

"Relax. It's fake. The person in front of you is Onodera."

"Ugh…"

"Weren't you the one saying you weren't scared anymore?"

The 'ghost' took off her wig, revealing her long blonde hair.

It was Onodera Rei, dressed up as the ghost. She looked at Fujiwara clinging to Rinji and sighed softly.

"I knew Rinji wouldn't be scared so easily."

"Logically speaking, there's no reason for me to be scared," Rinji pointed at Onodera's prop. "A woman holding a pair of scissors doesn't exactly scream threat. No battle experience, no power. If it were a rocket launcher, maybe I'd flinch a little."

"…Your thought process really is different from normal people's, Rinji."

"Alright, Fujiwara, you can open your eyes now."

Hearing Rinji's words, Fujiwara slowly opened her eyes.

And the first thing she saw was Rinji snapping a picture of her terrified, tear-streaked face.

"Eh?!"

"I took it when you hugged me," Rinji said. "This should work great as promotional material, right?"

"Rinji, you're so mean!"

Onodera pulled out her own camera from beneath her costume. It had a photo of Fujiwara clinging to Rinji.

"…I think this photo's perfect for promotion. Might even attract couples."