CH4 Tricks of the Floating Ghost

Another week had passed, and everything had returned to normal—or at least as normal as things could be, given that I now had a ghost living in my house. Aya had practically become my constant companion, and we had worked out some... creative ways to keep her presence a secret from others.

To avoid people thinking I’d lost my mind from talking to thin air, we agreed on a solution. I

started wearing a wireless earpiece so we could communicate while I was out in public. People would just assume I was on a call. It wasn’t perfect, but it worked.

The only downside was that Aya couldn't stray far from me. Wherever I went, she had to follow. So, naturally, she began coming with me to work. At first, it was awkward. She’d float around the store, completely bored out of her mind while I handled customers. I’d catch glimpses of her moping in the corner or fiddling with random items on the shelves when no one was looking. It became pretty clear that this arrangement wasn’t going to work without her driving both of us crazy.

So, I had an idea. One day, I handed her my handheld gaming console. "Here, use this. It'll keep you busy."

At first, she just blinked at it, unsure of what to do. But once I showed her how to play, her eyes lit up.

Now, every time I head to work, Aya slips into the empty storage closet in the back of the store, out of sight from anyone who might come by. She spends hours playing games, fully immersed, and the best part is she doesn’t have to worry about interacting with the physical world when others are around. Since she can only touch things when it's just me or no one else around, the console works perfectly for her as long as she’s hidden.

The situation was far from ordinary, but it was strangely comforting. Our little routine had

started to feel... almost normal. Like having a roommate. A really unusual, ethereal roommate, but a roommate nonetheless.

This one day, Yumi was on leave for a week because of her school exams. With her gone, I was left with a guy from the other shift named Kenji. We had never worked together before, so it was kind of awkward. The store was slow, the clock ticking away at a snail's pace.

Aya, who had been playing games in the storage closet, got bored and floated over to the register where I stood. She hovered beside me while the other dude, Kenji, was at the magazine shelf, looking fascinated by the models on the cover.

"Hmm, I’m getting bored with this game," Aya muttered. "We should buy another one!"

I sighed and slipped my earpiece back in. “Alright, alright. On my next day off.”

Just then, Kenji glanced up at me, eyebrows raised in surprise. He put the magazine back and walked over, his expression serious.

"Man, are you okay?" he asked out of the blue, catching me off guard.

I stammered, "Y-yeah... why?" My heart started racing. Did I say something weird?

Kenji leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "So I guess the spirit is weak, huh? Not causing trouble."

What? A spirit? He muttered it so quietly, but I caught enough of it to make my skin crawl. "Uh... I’m fine. Why do you ask?" I replied, trying not to sound too freaked out.

He looked at me closely. "Because there’s a spirit floating around you."

My eyes widened. I felt a chill run down my spine. People could actually see Aya? Aya, who had been floating beside me, quickly hid behind my back, clearly spooked by this revelation.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" I tried to shrug it off, pretending like I didn’t know anything.

Kenji gave a small smirk, then extended his hand. "Name’s Kenji. I... well, I can see spirits sometimes."

I hesitantly shook his hand, still trying to process what he had said. If I hadn’t met Aya, I’d probably be laughing in this guy’s face. But now, I was starting to believe him.

"So… what do spirits look like?" I asked, trying to sound casual but genuinely curious.

He glanced around, as if making sure no one else was listening. "To me, they look like orbs. About the size of a human head, floating around, emitting smoke or mist. The color of that smoke depends on their intentions. The blacker it is, the more evil the spirit. You really gotta watch out for those."

I felt a wave of relief wash over me. "And… what about the one around me? The spirit you mentioned?"

He furrowed his brow, glancing behind me before shrugging. "It’s white or kind of transparent.

Doesn’t seem harmful. I can’t see it right now—it hides sometimes, I guess. Spirits like that

aren’t dead yet. There’s a chance they could disappear, either because they’ve been revived or… well, they’re truly dead."

Aya peeking out from behind me, clearly relieved. So she wasn’t an evil spirit, and maybe she wasn’t dead. It gave me a strange sense of hope.

Kenji nodded, adjusting his cap. "Look, I know you can’t see what I can, but just be careful. Sometimes spirits with no aura aren’t dead yet, and when they do pass on, things can get unpredictable."

"Right, thanks for the info," I said, trying to play it cool. Of course, I *could* see Aya, but I wasn’t about to blurt that out to some dude I just met, even if he could see spirits too.

Kenji nodded and walked back to the magazine shelf, leaving me standing there in disbelief. I shot a glance back at Aya, who floated just a little closer now, looking thoughtful. This was the first time we’d encountered someone else who could sense her. It felt like a piece of the puzzle had just fallen into place. Maybe, just maybe, there was a way to help her after all.

Aya floated beside me, her expression still thoughtful. “Do you think he’s telling the truth?” she asked quietly as we made our way down the familiar streets, the evening breeze brushing past us.

"Could be," I replied after a moment. "I don’t think he’d gain anything by lying to us. Besides, he clearly saw you, which is rare. We can’t verify everything he said, but if he’s right... there’s a chance you’re still alive."

Aya sighed, her form flickering slightly. "I have mixed feelings about that."

"At least it gives us hope," I said, trying to sound more optimistic than I felt. The idea that she could be alive or dead was... unsettling in a way.

Suddenly, someone clapped their hand on my shoulder, pulling me from my thoughts. “Hey man! Walking home?”

I turned and saw Kenji walking alongside me, his casual grin plastered on his face. This guy... feeling way too familiar already.

“Yeah,” I said, trying to mask my irritation. I noticed he wasn’t even looking at Aya. So, maybe what he said earlier about spirits hiding was true. He probably couldn’t see her right now, depending on his mood or something.

Kenji seemed to hesitate for a second before blurting out, “So… I’ve been meaning to ask, are you and Yumi dating?”

I blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Uh, no? Why would you think that?"

He shrugged, walking a little closer. "I’ve seen you two together a lot. You seem close. It makes me wanna hide and cry, you know?" His tone was playful, but his words had an edge.

I furrowed my brow. "Hide and cry? Why?"

Kenji looked around conspiratorially before leaning in, lowering his voice to a whisper. "This is just between the two of us, alright? I have a crush on Yumi."

I blinked again, feeling a little awkward now. Of all things to hear today... "Oh," I said. That was all I could muster.

Aya, still floating beside me, gave a low chuckle. "This is getting interesting."

I shot her a quick glance, trying not to react visibly. Meanwhile, Kenji continued, oblivious to Aya’s presence. “Yeah, man, I’ve liked her for a while. But, you know… I don’t wanna mess things up at work. Plus, she’s always around you, so I thought… well, never mind. I didn’t want to assume anything.”

"Well, we're just on the same shifts," I replied, though the weight of Aya’s amused gaze on me made me feel awkward. "We work together, that’s all."

Kenji grinned, patting my shoulder again. "Good to know. Not that it changes much... she's still out of my league," he muttered with a self-deprecating laugh.

I didn’t really know what to say to that. The whole conversation felt bizarre. Here I was, walking with a ghost and talking to a guy about his crush on my co-worker. It felt like a scene out of

some weird sitcom.

"Anyway," Kenji said, breaking the silence, "if you ever hear anything... you know, about her feelings... let me know, okay?"

I nodded, though I wasn’t sure how to respond. "Sure... I guess."

Kenji gave me a thumbs-up, clearly satisfied with the conversation, and jogged ahead, leaving me standing there with Aya hovering beside me.

She floated closer, her voice dripping with amusement. "Well, that was something. Looks like you’ve got some competition."

I rolled my eyes. "There’s no competition, Aya. I told you, Yumi and I are just co-workers." She smirked, giving me a knowing look. "Mmmhmm, whatever you say."

It was Saturday, and, just as I had promised Aya, we were heading to the store to get her a new game. She’d been hounding me about it all week, and even though I dreaded going out on

weekends—especially to a crowded mall—I couldn’t back out now.

Honestly, I don’t know why I agreed to this. It’s been a while since I ventured anywhere near the mall. I don’t do well with crowds, and weekends are the worst. I always feel suffocated, like the air is being sucked out of the place when I’m surrounded by too many people. But a promise is a promise.

The mall was two train stations away from my flat. I reloaded my station card, swiped it at the turnstile, and headed toward the platform.

“Ugh, this is way too crowded,” I muttered under my breath. People were everywhere—long lines forming on the platform, the humidity clinging to the air like a blanket. It wasn’t even that hot outside, but the sheer number of bodies packed into one space made it feel unbearable. I shot a glance at Aya, who was lazily floating beside me, humming some tune with a carefree

smile on her face.

“Must be nice not to feel the heat,” I thought to myself, envying her ghostly state. She wasn’t bothered by the temperature, or the crowds, or anything really. It must be nice to just float through life like that... or death. Whatever it was.

The train arrived, and the scene became chaotic as people rushed out and others pushed their way in. I hated this part the most—being crammed in tight spaces, forced to brush up against strangers. But it wasn’t like I had a choice today. The train was already packed, and there was no avoiding it.

As I stepped inside, the doors hissed shut behind me, and I was instantly pressed between people, feeling my skin touch theirs. I cringed inwardly, trying to create some semblance of

personal space, but it was impossible. The train started to move, and with each brake and jolt, we swayed, bodies bumping against one another like waves in the ocean.

I glanced to my side and saw Aya floating just above the crowd, completely unbothered by the situation. She caught my gaze and gave me a teasing smile.

“Not a fan of the sardine life, huh?” she said in her playful tone. “You think?” I grumbled. “This is exactly why I hate crowds.”

Aya chuckled, twirling in mid-air like she was having the time of her life. “Relax, it’s not that bad. I’d kill to feel a crowded train again.” She paused, and then added, “Figuratively speaking.”

I sighed, not in the mood for her ghostly humor. “I don’t know how you can be so calm all the time.”

“Comes with the territory,” she said, grinning. “Anyway, it’ll be worth it when we get to the store, right?”

“I hope so,” I muttered.

I leaned against the train door, trying to think about anything other than the fact that I was

surrounded by what felt like a thousand people. Aya, meanwhile, was spinning around in the air, now floating upside down and peering at me with an upside-down grin.

“Hey,” she said suddenly, “you know, I’ve been thinking what Kenji said the other day.” “Huh?” I blinked. “You mean, that he has feelings for Yumi for a while now?”

“Yes. By the way , I saw Yumi yesterday at work,” she said casually, glancing at me from the

corner of her eye. I perked up slightly at the mention of Yumi, even though I tried not to show it. “Oh?” I didn’t know Yumi came to the store yesterday.

“Yeah, she was in the back room having a conversation with Kenji. I was in the storage room playing games, so I couldn’t really hear what they were talking about,” Aya said with a bit of a pout, as if it annoyed her that she couldn’t eavesdrop.

“But they were talking for a while.”

“Hm,” I muttered, trying to sound nonchalant. Aya shot me a sideways glance, clearly noticing my attempt to play it cool. “Oh? That’s all you have to say? Just ‘oh’?”

“What do you want me to say?” I shrugged, though inwardly, I was a little curious what they’d been talking about. Had Kenji been making moves? He did say he had a crush on her, after all. Aya smirked, floating backward so she could face me.

“Well, I figured you’d at least ask what they were talking about. Or maybe wonder if Kenji finally worked up the nerve to confess his feelings for her.”

“I’m not worried about that,” I said, probably a little too quickly. Aya grinned wider. “Ah, sure you’re not. You’re such a terrible liar, you know?” I rolled my eyes.

“Even if Kenji likes her, that’s none of my business. Yumi can talk to whoever she wants.” “Oh I smell someone’s jealous.”

“Of course not,” I snapped, trying to keep my voice low so I didn’t look like a crazy person talking to thin air.

She laughed softly, her voice floating in my ear. “Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that.” I sighed again. Why was this train taking so long?

“Don’t worry,” Aya continued, “whether Yumi and Kenji hit it off or not, I’ll still be here. You’ve always got me.”

I rolled my eyes, but couldn’t help the small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "Yeah, thanks for the reassurance."

We rode in silence for the rest of the trip, the train finally pulling into our stop. As the doors opened, I stepped out, grateful to escape the claustrophobia of the crowd. Aya floated beside me, still humming cheerfully, as we made our way toward the mall.

As we made our way to the game store, I noticed Aya slowing down and then finally settling

onto the ground, her usual floating motion stilled. She stood in front of a brightly lit dress shop, staring at the dresses displayed in the windows with an expression I hadn’t seen on her

before—curiosity, mixed with something softer, like longing.

"Something the matter?" I asked, pressing my hand to my wireless earpiece as if I were on a call. It was my go-to cover for talking to a ghost in public—better to look like a guy obsessed with his phone than a lunatic chatting to thin air.

"Just... nothing, really," Aya murmured, her gaze still locked on the elegant gowns and casual outfits hanging on racks behind the glass. “I just want to see dresses up close. Can we go inside?” She turned to me, her eyes sparkling with an almost childlike eagerness.

“This is a girl’s shop, you know,” I said, glancing around nervously. Just the thought of walking into a store filled with floral dresses and frilly skirts made my palms sweat. I wasn’t exactly the type to hang out in a women’s boutique, and the last thing I wanted was to be mistaken for a creep.

Aya, however, was completely undeterred. "Oh, who cares about that!" she said, waving her hand dismissively. "Just tell the saleslady you're looking for a gift for your girlfriend or

something. Easy! Come on, pretty please?" She leaned toward me, her expression pleading and full of excitement.

I sighed, scratching the back of my head. “Well, *I* care about that,” I thought to myself. This was going to be embarrassing.

"Yeah, sure, sure, whatever you want," I muttered aloud, giving in. It was impossible to say no to her when she got that excited.

Aya grinned from ear to ear, floating once again as she eagerly moved through the automatic doors of the shop, leaving me standing outside for a brief moment. Taking a deep breath, I shoved my hands into my pockets and followed her inside. The interior of the store smelled faintly of perfume, and soft music played in the background. Bright colors—pinks, blues, and yellows—lined the racks, and mannequins were dressed in perfectly coordinated outfits that made me feel like I was walking through a magazine spread.

Aya was already flitting from dress to dress, her eyes wide with wonder. "Look at this one!" she exclaimed, pointing to a lacy sundress with a pale yellow hue. She pretended to touch the

fabric, her fingers passing right through the delicate material.

I nodded absently, more focused on not looking like a complete weirdo as I pretended to browse the dresses. A saleslady, with a bright smile plastered on her face, approached me.

"Hi there! Looking for something special today?" she asked sweetly.

I panicked for a second but quickly composed myself. “Uh, yeah, I’m… looking for something for my girlfriend,” I said, trying to sound casual as I glanced at Aya, who was spinning happily in the air.

The saleslady’s smile widened. “Oh, how sweet! Well, let me know if you need any help. We have some lovely new arrivals perfect for gifts,” she said before heading off to help another customer.

Aya giggled, hovering beside me with a mischievous grin. “See? Told you it would work! You’re such a natural at this.”

I shot her a look. “Natural, huh? Remind me never to agree to this again.”

"Come on, you’re doing great!" she teased, floating over to another rack, her eyes settling on a flowy blue dress with floral embroidery. “Now this… this is the one I’d wear on a sunny day.”

I glanced at the dress she was admiring. It was light, airy, and beautiful, perfect for summer picnics or strolls in the park. For a moment, I imagined Aya wearing it, spinning around in the sunlight. The image in my mind was so vivid that it felt real, as if she were more than just a ghost bound to my side.

“You’d look good in that,” I said quietly.

I gave her a small smile, but the air between us grew heavier. There were times when Aya’s reality hit me hard—when I realized how much of her life had been stolen, how much she

missed out on. Moments like this reminded me that despite her playful spirit, she was still tethered between two worlds, unable to fully live or move on.

"Well," I said, clearing my throat, "you’re still the best-dressed ghost I know."

Aya burst into laughter, the lightness returning to her expression. “Wow, thanks. Really setting the bar high, huh?”

"Now, now, I’ll give you the honor of choosing what outfit you’d like to see me in," Aya said proudly, her voice laced with amusement.

I blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "What now?" I muttered under my breath, trying to process the sudden shift in conversation.

Aya gave me a teasing grin. "Well, aren’t you curious how I’m supposed to wear the outfit you’ve chosen?" she asked, clearly enjoying the confused look on my face.

"Uh, yeah," I said, still unsure of where this was going. "How exactly *are* you supposed to wear it?"

With a confident smirk, Aya waved her hand in front of me. "Just watch and learn. Come on now, choose wisely. But!" She paused dramatically, pointing a finger at me. "No pervy dresses though!"

"As if I’d choose something like that," I shot back, rolling my eyes. Ghost or not, Aya had her fair share of quirks.

I turned my attention to the racks of clothes in front of us, scanning for something that wouldn’t make me look like a complete fool for choosing. After a moment, my eyes landed on a cute pink off-shoulder blouse with a delicate blue ribbon at the center of the collar. The edges of the arms were rufled, giving it a soft and feminine touch. Paired with a black, slightly puffy skirt that wasn’t too short but still stylishly wavy, the whole outfit seemed pretty balanced—not too flashy but still charming.

"This one," I said, pointing at the set. "I think it looks good."

"Oho, nice taste you’ve got there," Aya said, winking playfully. "So, you like those girly-girls, huh? Those ‘gal’ types?" She leaned closer, her tone dripping with mischief.

I felt heat creep up my neck. "Uh, not really. I just thought it would suit you," I stammered, trying to play it cool while internally cringing at the teasing.

Aya grinned, clearly not buying my nonchalance. "Oh really?" she said, though her teasing tone faltered just a little, her ears turning a slight shade of red. Embarrassed, huh? I thought to myself.

She leaned in closer to inspect the outfit with the air of a fashion critic, her eyes scanning over every rufle, every detail. "Hmm, not bad. Alright, I’m ready," she announced, stepping back with a proud smile.

"Ready for wha—" I started to say, but before I could finish, there was a loud *poof*, and suddenly, Aya exploded into a cloud of thick white smoke, straight out of a slapstick comedy sketch. I stumbled back, caught completely off guard, my mind racing to process what just happened. I couldn’t see anything past the smoke—her figure had completely vanished.

"Ta-da!" Aya’s voice rang out as the smoke began to dissipate, revealing her standing there… in the very outfit I’d picked out.

I gawked for a moment, still processing the bizarre scene I had just witnessed. "What… in the world…?" I muttered under my breath, staring at her, wide-eyed.

Aya tilted her head, giving me an expectant look. "Hey, this is the outfit you picked, so say something!.

I snapped out of my daze, shaking my head. "Uh, I was just—" I waved my hand toward the lingering cloud of smoke. "You know, kind of shocked by the whole ‘circus magic’ entrance, but yeah… it looks good on you."

Aya did a little twirl, the skirt flowing gracefully with her movement. "You really think so?" she asked, flashing a proud smile.

"Yeah, really," I said, finally letting myself relax a bit. "It suits you." "Thanks!" she chirped, looking genuinely happy with my choice.

I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow. "But you’ve got to tell me how you did that. The whole *poof* thing, I mean."

Aya just winked at me, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Ghost perks. Maybe I’ll teach you someday," she teased before floating toward the mirror to admire her reflection.

I shook my head with a laugh. "Ghost perks, huh? Well, I guess that explains a lot."

As I watched her twirl again in front of the mirror, her carefree spirit shining through, I couldn’t help but smile. Aya always managed to surprise me, even when I thought I had her figured out. She was full of quirks, but those quirks made her… well, *her*.

And honestly, the outfit looked perfect on her.

I chuckled and nodded toward the door. “Alright, let's go. We’ve got a game store to raid.”

Aya floated beside me as we left the shop, her mood lighter now. As we walked, she cast one last glance at the dress shop before turning her attention back to me. “You’re not so bad at this whole shopping thing, you know.”

“Don’t get used to it,” I replied, shaking my head. “Next time, we’re sticking to game stores.”

We continued through the mall, Aya humming a tune as we made our way toward the game shop.

As we entered the game shop, Aya's eyes sparkled with amazement. The shop was filled with shelves upon shelves of video game discs, the walls lined with posters of the latest releases, and the gleaming display of new consoles caught her attention right away.

She floated toward the front, her gaze locked on the newly released console she'd seen advertised on TV. Her excitement was almost tangible.

"Hey! Can we buy this? Please?" she asked, hovering near the display. "This is the new model, you know. I can play games in 4K HD on this thing!" Her pleading eyes looked up at me, wide and full of hope.

"Looks like I’ve got a full-on *neet* ghost on my hands," I muttered under my breath. Aya didn't seem to hear. She was already busy explaining the details.

"Hmm, I don’t know," I teased. "Convince me."

Her eyes lit up even more, taking my teasing as a challenge. "Seriously? Well, don’t mind if I do!" she declared confidently.

She floated closer to me, gearing up for her sales pitch. "This is the new GameStation 5," she

began, pointing at the console like a professional. "It’s packed with power. I mean, just look at it! The newest games are going to look incredible on this, and the 4K capability means you'll see every tiny detail. Plus, it has faster load times, better graphics, and—oh, oh! The games it

supports? Out of this world!" She started rambling enthusiastically, throwing in every little technical detail.

I let her continue, nodding along, already half convinced but enjoying her excitement.

Aya noticed my look and floated closer. "Come on! It'll be fun, and *I* can even show you how to play better!" she added, her voice suddenly more playful.

“Alright, alright,” I laughed. “You win. We’ll get it.”

Aya floated in a small circle of joy, clearly elated by my decision. It was as if she'd just hit the jackpot.

"Yesss! We’re going to have *so* much fun!" she exclaimed, already imagining her time with the new console.

This ghost really was getting a little too comfortable in my space. But, seeing her that happy was kind of contagious.