Chapter 6: — "A Small Kind of Magic" [HALLOWEEN SPECIAL: PART 3🎃]

The night air was cold, but not the kind that made you shiver, the kind that carried laughter, the smell of caramel apples, and just enough chill to make your heart feel light.

Streetlights glowed orange along the sidewalk, reflecting on the tiny candy wrappers fluttering by. Kids in costumes darted across the street, vampires, ghosts, superheroes, all armed with plastic pumpkins and sugar-fueled excitement.

And in the middle of it all… there was me.

Me, in a faded witch outfit.
Holding a candy bag.
With two living slime blobs bouncing beside my feet.

Oh, and walking next to three classmates who I’d barely spoken to before tonight.

“So, you’re seriously telling me those are real?” Misaki leaned forward mid-stride, hands on her knees as she peered at Poyo, who puffed proudly under her zombie helmet.

“I mean,” I said, nervously scratching my cheek, “I don’t… really know how to explain it either.”

“They’re so cuuute!” Mei squealed, clasping her hands. “It’s like something straight out of an anime!”

Asuka chuckled softly from behind, her tone calmer but amused. “Leave it to Hanae-chan to have magical pets and never mention it.”

My face turned red instantly. “T-they’re not magical! They’re just… um… slimes?”

“‘Just slimes,’ she says,” Misaki grinned, tossing her short ponytail over her shoulder. “You’re walking with two sentient blobs wearing zombie helmets. You’re officially the coolest witch in town.”

I groaned. “They’re gonna get me suspended again…”

Misaki’s laughter rang through the chilly air, playful and warm. “Nah, tonight you’re safe. It’s Halloween. Anything goes!”

Poyo made a proud “poy!” sound, puffing up as if agreeing. Mochi, the shyer of the two, pressed against my ankle like it was hiding from the world.

The four of us continued down the glowing street, our candy bags rustling, our laughter mixing with the hum of the night. 

Our first stop was a cozy little house with fake cobwebs and a smiling couple handing out chocolates.
The woman gasped when she saw the slimes. “Oh my goodness! What adorable… pets?”

I panicked. “Uh... yes! Very low-maintenance, uh, jelly-type pets!”

Poyo jiggled proudly. Mochi tilted its head.

“Well, they’re so creative,” the woman said with a bright smile. “Here, a little extra candy for the effort!”

She dropped two extra pieces into my bag.
“Thank you!” I said quickly, bowing before Misaki dragged me away.

“See? Bonus loot for originality!” she said, holding up her bag triumphantly.

"Yeah..." I said calmly and shyly.

But the next house, things weren’t as smooth.

As we approached, a motion-sensor skeleton suddenly sprang to life beside the porch, letting out a mechanical “BOO!”

Mochi froze mid-bounce, and then dove straight under my cape.

“M-Mochi!” I gasped, feeling the soft blob clinging to my leg.

The girls burst out laughing.

“Oh my god, it’s terrified!” Mei giggled, wiping tears from her eyes.

“Poor little thing,” Asuka said with a small smile, crouching down. “It’s okay, Mochi. It’s just fake.”

I patted the blob gently under my cape. “You’re fine. It’s just plastic bones.”

Slowly, Mochi peeked out again, trembling slightly but safe.

I couldn’t help but smile. “You’re such a scaredy blob.”

—

At the next stop, a huge house decorated like a haunted mansion, Misaki elbowed me.
“Okay, Hanae-chan. You say it this time.”

“Eh? W-why me?”

“Because you’re the witch! You gotta represent!”

“I—I’m not good at this kind of—”

“Come on!” Mei and Asuka joined in, grinning. “It'll be fun!”

I sighed in defeat, stepping up to the door. “Fine, fine…”

The door opened, a man dressed as a vampire appeared.

I took a deep breath. “Trick or treat!”

Poyo puffed up beside me and let out the most adorably loud “Poy-treat!”

The man blinked… and then burst out laughing. “Oh, wow... You girls are the cutest thing I’ve seen all night. What are you girls dressed as?”

"Uhm... I'm a... a basic witch..." I said shyly.

"I'm a Vampire Hunter, and I suck blood... I guess..." Misaki said, trying to sounds scary but ended up failing miserably

Mei then spoke up next, "I'm a Gothic Fairy—"

"And I'm a Gothic Princess," Asuka answered, cutting off Mei.

"Wow, you girls definitely all look scary. Here's some candy for you all."

The kind man then dropped handfuls of candy into my bag, and later greeted us and closed the door.

Misaki clapped my shoulder. “See? Natural talent.”

I covered my face. “I’m never living that down, am I?”

“Nope,” Mei giggled.

We later wandered further down the street until the sound of music and laughter drew us to a small community booth. A few kids were bobbing for apples, their parents cheering nearby.

“Wanna try?” Misaki asked, eyes sparkling.

“I… guess?” I said hesitantly, watching as she dunked her head into the tub with determination.

She came up victorious, an apple clamped between her teeth. “Ta-da!”

Mei and Asuka clapped.

Then Poyo hopped up onto the edge of the tub.

“Poyo, don’t—!”

Too late.
It leaned forward, touched the water, and absorbed the nearest apple into its body like a gelatin vacuum.

Everyone froze.

“Uh…” Mei blinked. “That… counts?”

I facepalmed. “I’m so sorry! It—It’s just… hungry, I guess.”

The booth owner laughed. “No worries! If I'm gonna be honest, that was worth the show!”

The others burst out laughing again, and soon even I couldn’t help joining in.

For the first time in… maybe ever, I felt like I belonged.
No pretending. No shrinking into the background.
Just laughter, shared moments, and two little slimes that somehow made me the center of something warm.

—

By the time we’d filled our bags, the night had settled into that soft, dreamy quiet that comes after laughter. The streets had emptied, save for a few stragglers and glowing jack-o’-lanterns flickering faintly on porches.

We walked in a loose group, the four of us and two bouncing blobs, under the silver light of the moon.

“Okay, next year,” Misaki said, stretching her arms behind her head, “we need matching costumes.”

“Oooh, group theme!” Mei chimed in. “We can all go as witches!”

Asuka nodded thoughtfully. “Or something cute. Maybe magical girls.”

I smiled softly. “Yeah... if… you still want me to come next year.”

Misaki blinked, then gave me an exaggerated gasp. “Excuse me? Of course you’re coming, Hanae-chan!”

Mei nodded eagerly. “You’re part of the team now!”

Asuka gave a small, genuine smile. “Yeah. I’d like that.”

I felt something in my chest tighten, not painfully, but warm, like the first sip of cocoa after a long day.

“…Really? T-thanks,” I whispered, hiding my face behind my candy bag.

"Of course Hanae-Chan. You're a part of our friend group now" Misaki said with a smile.

I could feel my cheeks burning and my heart skip several beats, but I didn’t care.
Because for once, I wasn’t just watching happiness from the sidelines.
I was part of it.

Poyo bounced ahead, humming a soft “poyuu~,” and Mochi followed, its tiny blue body glowing faintly under the moonlight.

I smiled. Yeah … maybe Halloween’s not just for kids after all.