Chapter 35.5 : Bonus Chapter Physics

Presented by: Class 1-B Documentary Club
(which still doesn’t exist, but Kenta insists it does)

11:43 AM – Empty Classroom

The desks had been pushed against the walls.
Kenta was setting up a tripod like he was preparing to film an important announcement.
Daiki leaned against the wall, sipping a juice box.
Hina stood with her clipboard, flipping through pages.

Kenta: “Alright, people, big day. The guest is… unique.”
Daiki: “That’s vague. Is it a celebrity?”
Hina: “Technically… yes for us anyway."
Daiki: “Uh-huh. And are they… dangerous?”
Kenta: “Only if you count emotional damage as danger.”

The door opened.
The camera turned toward a single chair in the middle of the room under spotlight.

Daiki: “…Wait. That’s—”
Hina: “The author.”

I, YuukiDaruma walked in, waved, and sat down.

YuukiDaruma: “Alright, who’s first?”

Interview #1 – Airi

Airi was the first to sit down.
She didn’t say anything right away, just fixed her hair and looked away.

Hina (off-camera): “You can start whenever you want.”
Airi: “…What do you want me to say?”
YuukiDaruma: “Anything, Your thoughts on being in the story?”
Airi: “…It’s fine.”

She paused, then looked at me.

Airi: “…You make me look way too flustered.”
YuukiDaruma: “I just write what happens.”
Airi: “…Sure.”

Before she could say more, the door slammed open.

Usagi: “AIRIIII!”

Airi froze, eyes wide.

Airi: “Wh—Why are you here?!”

Usagi ran straight across the room and hugged her from behind.
The camera shook as Kenta tried to keep up.

Airi: “Usagi—! Get off—!”
Usagi: “Nope!”
Hina (off-camera): “Bonus chapter physics.”
Daiki: “Yeah, nothing makes sense here.”

Yuuji (walking in): “Oh, before I forget... congrats.”
YuukiDaruma: “…For what?”
Kenta: “Royal Road hit three thousand views.”
Yuuji: “Thirty-five hundred, actually.”
Daiki: “Two thousand on Honeyfeed too.”
Hina: “Don't forget nineteen hundred on Scribblehub.”
Airi: “…So this is basically an award ceremony now?”
Kenta: “Where’s the cake?”
Usagi: “I can be the cake!”
YuukiDaruma: “…That’s not how cake works.”
Hina: “Bonus chapter physics says it is.”
YuukiDaruma: “…Moving on.”

Interview #2 – Usagi

Usagi skipped over to the chair while Airi stood off to the side, still fixing her hair.

Usagi: “Okay! First question. Why am I so cute?”
YuukiDaruma: “…Well, you’re based on some—”
YuukiDaruma: “—uh, I mean… uh…”

Everyone gasped.

Daiki: “…Some what?”
Kenta: “Or who?”
Hina: “That sounded like ‘someone.’”
YuukiDaruma: “Nope, You misheard.”
Usagi: “No, no, you definitely said ‘someone’!”
Airi: “…Was it me?”
Usagi: “That would explain why you’re cool and I’m cute... wait, no, that makes no sense!”

The room got loud fast.

Yuuji (walking in): “What’s all the noise?”
Daiki: “The author just admitted Usagi’s based on someone.”
Yuuji: “Oho, Who?”
YuukiDaruma: “Not telling.”

Kenta: “We can guess!”
Hina: “We can interrogate!”
Usagi: “We can group hug them until they confess!”

I leaned back, arms crossed.

YuukiDaruma: “Alright, keep it up and I’ll write every one of you a haunted house chapter.”

Silence.

Kenta: “…With ghosts?”
YuukiDaruma: “With too many ghosts.”
Daiki: “…That sounds bad.”

Snack Break – 12:10 PM

Kenta tossed me a bag of cookies.
I opened it and saw a note inside.

“Thanks for writing us. –Hina”

YuukiDaruma: “…Did you write this just now?”
Hina: “I prepare for everything.”

Interview #3 – The Side Cast (mostly)

Kenta, Daiki, Hina, and Yuuji all crowded into the shot.

Kenta: “My favorite part of being in the story? Obviously my style.”
Daiki: “Your what?”
Kenta: “Style. Energy. Dramatic poses.”
Hina: “My favorite part is that I can keep the rest of you from ruining scenes.”
Yuuji: “I like… not dying. Thanks for that.”
YuukiDaruma: “You’re welcome… probably.”

Interview #4 – Yuuji

Yuuji sat down like he’d been forced into it.

Yuuji: “So, am I supposed to ask you questions, or…?”
YuukiDaruma: “You can. Or you can just talk about yourself.”
Yuuji: “Pass.”
YuukiDaruma: “…That’s not how interviews work.”
Yuuji: “Fine. Uh… thanks for not making me the comic relief.”
YuukiDaruma: “…I mean, not yet.”
Yuuji: “…I’d like to leave now.”

He stood up and left before anyone could stop him.

Daiki: “So, what’s the point of this interview?”
YuukiDaruma: “It’s a bonus chapter, I can do whatever I want.”
Kenta: “Including haunted houses.”
YuukiDaruma: “Exactly.”

I smiled.
And then... snap.

Haunted House – ??? PM

It was dark.
Wooden floors creaked under everyone’s shoes.
Spider webs hung in the air.

Kenta: “Wait, you actually—”
YuukiDaruma: “Yep.”
Yuuji: “…Nope. I’m out.”
Hina: “It’s just a setting. Calm down.”

A door swung open by itself.
Daiki screamed first.
Kenta tripped over him.
Airi clung to the nearest wall.
Only Hina kept walking forward, clipboard in hand, like she was just on a field trip.

Hina: “I told you— bonus chapter physics.”
Usagi: “I think something’s following us—”
Kenta: “Don’t say that!!”
Yuuji: “…I’m pretty sure that chair just moved.”
Kenta: “STOP TALKING!!”
Daiki: “This is worse than the sports festival chapter!”
YuukiDaruma: “Spoilers!!”

One by one, they all begged me to let them out.
I just watched.

Daiki: “Please!”
Kenta: “I’ll be good!”
Airi: “…This is cruel.”
Yuuji: “I don’t even get enough screen time to deserve this!”

And then—
Usagi stepped forward, holding onto my sleeve with both hands, her voice small.

Usagi: “…Yuuki… can we go? Please? I’m really scared.”

I sighed.
Snap.

Rooftop – 5:00 PM

The sun was setting over the school roof.
The air was warm again.
Everyone sat in a row, still catching their breath.

Kenta: “…That was evil.”
YuukiDaruma: “You deserved it.”
Usagi: “It was scary, but… kinda fun.”
Daiki: “Speak for yourself. I think I aged five years.”
Airi: “…Not that I was scared or anything.”
Yuuji: “Oh yeah? Then who was holding onto my sleeve the whole time?”
Airi: “I—it was dark! I didn’t want you to get lost!”
Yuuji: “…Right.

I smiled at Usagi.

YuukiDaruma: “…You really are based on someone.”
Usagi: “Wait, WHAT—”

Hina: “And that’s the cliffhanger?”
YuukiDaruma: “What cliffhanger? That’s just the end.”
Kenta: “…You’re evil.”