Epi.6-2: The One Beyond the Door

The second-floor hallway was already as dark as night.
The slanting light of dusk barely grazed the entrance and didn’t reach the top of the stairs. In that space, where all light from outside was completely shut out, even the air felt heavy.

Yuka flipped on the small light attached to the brim of her cap.
Its beam lit up the grimy walls and the cracked floorboards, tracing out faint outlines.

“…It’s really pitch-black. There’s no way I could do this without the light.”
Muttering to herself, Yuka followed after Sayuri.

“Misaki-saaan! I brought her!”
Just like that, she turned the doorknob and slipped inside.

“Wait, you’re opening it? Not phasing through!?”
Yuka instinctively stopped in her tracks, completely caught off guard by the fact that a ghost would simply open a door and walk in.

“…Wait, the lights are on…!”
She hurried after her, and the moment she peeked through the doorway—

“Excuse me for intru—wait, what is this!? Seriously, this is amazing!”

What spread out before her was a completely different world from the ruined hallway.
The room, strange in its structure yet neatly arranged, even carried a sense of someone living there.

She was led inside and sat across from Misaki with a small table between them.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Yuka. I’m sorry for dropping by so suddenly today.”
Straightening her posture, Yuka bowed her head briefly.

“…I’m Misaki. Nice to meet you.”
A calm voice answered her.

After a brief conversation about the abandoned house and how she lived there—
Yuka suddenly sat in a formal kneel and placed both hands on the tatami.

“Misaki-san… I have a request! Would you do video streaming with me?”

“…Lift your head. And I’m declining that invitation.”
“Wha… but—!”

“You’re free to film anywhere in this abandoned house. But not in this room. This is where I live.
”Her tone was firm, yet calm.
Even so, Yuka didn’t give up.

“But, but! It would definitely blow up! There are cute ghosts, a beautiful resident, and even the gap with this room…!”
Without a word, Misaki picked up an isshōbin and poured sake into her glass.

“If we can monetize it, we can split it fifty–fifty. I’ll handle all the equipment and prep myself!”
“It’s not a matter of money or effort. I just want to drink quietly.”

Saying that, Misaki lifted her glass.
Yuka’s gaze was suddenly drawn toward the corner of the room.

—Stacked commercial cases.
Cases meant for carrying isshōbin, the kind you’d only see at a liquor store, were piled up carelessly.

*…Maybe…*

Betting on the faintest hope, Yuka spoke up.

“…You could get some sake, you know…?”

Misaki’s hand stopped.
Still holding her glass, she slowly turned only her gaze toward Yuka.

—She felt it.

“If it gets popular… you might get things like expensive sake you normally couldn’t afford. Limited bottles and all that. Stuff like that could end up being sent to you.”

“…If it gets popular, right?”

“Yes. But fans are amazing with that sort of thing. There are quite a few who send things.”

“…Expensive sake…”

Misaki’s gaze slowly dropped into her glass.
After a brief silence, the quiet sound of her setting it down echoed.

“…All right. I’ll cooperate. I’m only helping, all right?”
“Yay! Thank you so much, Misaki-san!”

Yuka threw both hands up in delight. Sayuri cheered with a “Yay!”, and Shinobu gave small, crisp claps.

“Okay! I need to think about the schedule and the content!”
Clenching her fist tightly, she stood up with energy and bustled out of the room.

“I’ll come again!”

The sound of the door closing echoed, and the room returned to quiet.

“…Maybe I acted too soon…”

Misaki murmured softly and slowly tilted her glass.