Episode 10

“Pst! Hey Catboy, am I hallucinating, or is there some ghost in the middle of the table?” Veena whispered to Ze, but her gaze fixated on the mysterious being at their table.

“It IS a ghost. You’re not hallucinating. Also, who’s the catboy? You little-“ Ze couldn’t finish his sentence because he’s worried about his seatmate on his left side, who’s trembling with fear while tugging his shirt.

‘For a person who can land multiple hits with her bag, she sure is a scaredy cat.’ Ze thought as he looked at Shion, who was trying her best not to panic.

“Hm? Why are you guys so quiet?” Lily, the ghost, asked the AWU Alliance members. It has been a few minutes; they are still frozen cold in their seats. Somehow, Ayumi snapped back to reality and asked the ghost

“What are you?”

Except for Ayumi, all of the students present in the clubroom flinched when the ghost twisted her head to face Ayumi’s direction. Then, all of a sudden, the ghost reappeared behind Ayumi and Bleex

“What am I? I think you guys already figured out that I’m a ghost. I’m bound here in this very room that you called your clubroom.” Lily twisted her head again to the right position that got Bleex all creeped out since he saw it twist up close.

“But why? Did you die here?” Ayumi asked another question. Veena and Bleex know too well that this horror fanatic senior wouldn’t get scared and just ask the ghost straight out as if she’s just talking to a fellow classmate. The others find this side of Ayumi very surprising.

“Oh wow, Ayumi is asking the ghost as if it’s very normal,” Eru whispered to Shin while covering one of her eyes

“Well, she did say she’s a fan of horror,” Shin whispered back, but it was too close to Eru’s ear that Eru flinched and let out a shriek

‘That tickles!’ Eru thought as she covered her ear with her free hand and felt like her heart was about to burst.

“I do love to answer your questions, but I think it’s time to go home. It’s already dark outside.” Lily said as she pointed at the window, showing just as she said it was already dark.

“Oh sh*t! I still have my part-time job.” Ze stood up abruptly, which made Shion let go of his shirt

“The heir of the Rov Group has a part-time job?” Veena asked him, raising one eyebrow at him.

“Quit it! I already said I don’t need some family pocket money.” Ze refuted, and when he was about to dash out of the clubroom, he patted Shion’s head, thinking that might calm her nerves, which it did.

“Aaand he’s gone like a wind. Shall we go home as well?” Ayumi stood up and the rest followed suit

“Yeah, let’s deal with the ghost business tomorrow.” Veena said as she pats Shion's shoulder, and tells her

“Lily is gone for now, Shion, you can relax.” Shion smiled when Veena reassured her

“I bet she was the one who kept stepping on our feet or the one who opened the door for us.” Angi said, and the others nodded in agreement

“I knew there was something weird with the door.” Eru said as she snapped her finger in approval.

The AWU Alliance members’ walk from the clubroom to the school main gate was somehow less tiring because Ayumi made sure Veena was following them.

Then, all members went their separate ways to go home.

The next few days were rather hectic for the club members since they were swamped with assignments and activities, especially since the first midterm exams were getting near.

They need a moment to figure out the ghost haunting their clubroom, so Ayumi told the members to gather during lunchtime. Their seating arrangement is Shin, Eru, Ze, Shion, Veena from the left side, and Lucas, Angi, Ayumi, and Bleex from the right side. The arrangement is the same as the last time.

“So, basically, the ghost’s name is Lily Mizuhara, and she was a student here at AWU Academy?” Veena said as she munched on the sandwich Ayumi prepared for her.

“Indeed, that’s what she said. She also said the Grim Reaper gave her a chance to face her regrets since she couldn’t pass the portal to Nirvana because she still has lingering feelings or regrets.” Ayumi stated as she swatted away Bleex’s hand that was about to grab another sandwich without her permission again.

“Oww…” Bleex yelped in pain

“Grim Reaper? Seriously? Do they really exist?” Angi said after gulping down a spoonful of her curry lunch

“At this point, I think it’s no use to be scared anymore.” Shion sighed in surrender as she continued eating her yakisoba bun

“You say that, but you’re still scared sh*tless of Lily.” Ze said with a smirk, and Shion shot a glare at Ze, but Ze stuck out his tongue in response.

“S-so, what’s Lily’s regret now so she could m-move on?” Lucas asked as soon as he finished his rice balls

Veena observed that Lucas doesn’t stutter as much as before. She’s very proud of Lucas.

“That’s the problem. Remember what that ghost said?” Shin said while wolfing down who knows how many buns

As the group recalls, Lily Mizuhara said:

“Please help me fulfill my first love. He’s the reason why I got into this school, and unfortunately, I died before I could even make more high school memories with him.”

“Fulfill her first love? But it’s been years! I think her first love has already graduated, so how are we supposed to do that?” Eru said as she handed over a bottle of water to Shin, who almost choked on his food.

“How did she die, anyways?” Veena bluntly asked as she took another sandwich from Ayumi’s Tupperware

“Oi Lost Girl! We’re eating here at the moment. Have you no tact at all?” Ze said as he took another bite of his melon bun

“Oops! Sorry, judging from Lily’s wounds, we might lose our appetite, so I’ll ask her later.” Veena said as she gave a peace sign to Ze

“Did she at least know the name of her first love? That would be a great clue.” Angi said as she just finished her curry lunch

“Lily said his name is Aaydan Ast-something” Ayumi recalled as she closed her Tupperware since Veena and Bleex already finished eating it all.

“Aaydan what? She doesn’t remember her first love’s last name?” Veena asked, raising an eyebrow

“Yes, I think so.” Ayumi nodded, and the rest of the members gave out a long sigh.

“C’mon, Lunch break is almost over. We don’t want to be late for our next class, do we?” Ayumi stood up and she remembered it’s Literature Class next, which is Ms. Harley’s class.

“Yeah, we have PE class next right?” Angi said as she stood up and picked up her tray to return it.

Her other three classmates nodded in agreement. To change into their gym uniform, the girls and boys must change in their respective changing rooms, but some boys just straight out change in their classroom.

But for Lucas, he always changed into his gym uniform in the comfort room.

“I got Math Class next, so you and Shin have Science Class next, right?” Eru said to Ze as she picked up the wrappers from the buns Shin ate and threw them away into the bin. Ze nodded in response.

-In the Middle of Afternoon Classes-

When the first years are done changing into their gym clothes, they start heading towards the gymnasium. This time, Shion and Angi held Veena’s hand on each side so she wouldn’t get lost on her own again. Lucas quietly followed them along.

The boys are having a basketball match, meanwhile the girls are having a volleyball match. The three girls from AWU Alliance watched Lucas play in his basketball match as they chatted from a distance.

“So, Shion…” Veena started the conversation with a smug look on her face, and Shion feels like she doesn’t like where this conversation is going.

“What’s up with you and Ze?” Veena finally said the elephant in the room, and Angi felt a wave of relief wash over her because Veena finally said what she was dying to ask her best friend.

“What? Nothing’s up. Shouldn’t you be asking about Eru and Shin?” Shion tried her best to look nonchalant about this while checking out her nails.

“Oh! Please. Those two are just plain obvious. It’s like they’re dating without SAYING they’re dating, but I’m asking YOU since you’ve been chummy with Ze these past few days.”

“Shouldn’t we ask YOU about you and Ze? I mean you two even have a nickname for each other. Catboy and Lost Girl, right?” Shion succeeded at wiping the smug look off Veena’s face and it just turned into a stone-cold poker face.

“Wow, Shion turned the tables just like that. As expected of my best friend.” Angi commented her bestfriend’s sly remark

“It’s totally different from how he treats you and how he treats me. It’s a night and d-“

“WATCH OUT!” Someone from a distance shouted, but it was too late since the ball hit Veena straight to her head, knocking her unconscious.