Mysteries in Daytime: The mysterious woman.

"Second floor or third floor?" I asked.

"second floor. What do you think reina?" Mika asked. 

"Alright, let's head to the second floor," Reina said calmly.

We entered the elevator as it opened with a ding. I pressed the button for the second floor. A light glowed from the number on the button as the elevator began to move upward. We stood silently inside the elevator.

The doors opened slowly, sounding a soft ding! We approached the second floor as it came into view. 

"This place feels a bit lifeless, almost as if a ghost has scared everyone away. Don't you think?"

The atmosphere felt eerily empty, with doors lining the left side and another elevator standing vigilant on the right. Mika, a playful glint in her eyes, couldn’t help but joke about our bleak surroundings, her smirk breaking the silence. I stood there, my mind wandering as I absorbed the scene, lost in thought.

"Hmm. I don't know."

"What are your thoughts, Reina? Imagine a ghost not just haunting, but actually stealing away the living, instead of merely chasing them!"

"It certainly doesn’t appear to be the case. I can distinctly hear shuffling," Reina asserted.

Mika grinned mischievously, clearly expecting us to laugh at her joke. But instead of humor, it sent a chill down my spine. She had joked about ghosts lurking and chasing after people, and the thought was unsettling. As Reina had rightly guessed, her instincts were sharp. Suddenly, the shuffling sounds grew louder, creeping closer to us from the doorway, heightening the tension in the air.

"Is it a ghost, or just my imagination throwing a spooky costume party?"

With a playful grin, Mika folded her arms and positioned herself behind Reina and me, her voice laced with mischief as she mumbled a joke. We exchanged knowing glances, our eyes glimmering with shared amusement, captivated by the unfolding scene before us.

"These boxes are so heavy!"

A frustrated groan spiked through the silence. 

"Let's finish up so we can get more points, and I'll treat ya. How about that?" 

"Are you sure about that?" 

A feminine voice groaned in frustration.

"Yes. I'm very sure, it's a promise."

"Pinky swear?" the girl said. 

"Pinky swear." A male voice said calmly. 

"Ugh! I'm starving!" the girl cried. 

"Ah Ha. Calm down. These are the last of these boxed up coffee beans," the man said, his voice low and calm.

An upperclassman woman wearing an apron walked out of the room, struggling to lift a large box. Her expression showed signs of strain. She carefully carried the box and placed it onto a hand truck. Shortly after, a man emerged, lifting boxes that looked the same as the one the woman had been carrying. He appeared more composed, but I could notice a hint of tension in his eyes.

"They were just students," Mika whispered, her tone laced with slight disappointment. "What a bummer."

The woman sighed as she set the large box down. She raised her head, her eyebrows lifting slightly, and her eyes widening just a bit. After a brief moment, she took a deep breath to regain her composure, smiled lazily, and slowly waved at us. 

I nodded respectfully as we walked past them and made our way to the elevator. We took the elevator to the third floor. The man and woman started talking again as the man stacked one box on top of another. Their voices quieted to whispers. 

The woman was probably surprised to see students on this floor. It seems like students didn’t come here often—rarely, in fact. They mentioned something about points. What points? What were they?

The elevator door opened slowly and automatically.

"Wow, this place looks great!"

I nodded in agreement, and Reina’s smile grew slightly wider.

"You're right. It's great," Reina said calmly. 

The room was slightly larger than those on the previous floors and was decorated in an elegant dining style. Both ends featured a tasteful arrangement of tables and chairs, all neatly placed. There were balconies at each end as well.

"Let's go check them out," Mika said with excitement.

"Alright. lets see them then."

“Of course,” Reina replied.

We approached the table set up at the right end of the room. The chairs were white, and although they were not plastic, they still had a sleek appearance. The table shared the same color and was covered with another white cloth adorned with stitched designs. I nodded, appreciating the passion that went into these handmade crafts. The view from the balcony was wonderful; we could gaze down at the other students and the various buildings within the school. One notable detail was a red table card placed on top of the table that read "Dinner."

After a few minutes, we made our way to the other side of the balcony, where the table was set up at the left end. It was clearly visible to everyone taking the elevator. As we approached the furniture carefully, we examined its features, which were identical to those of the previous table setup. However, upon closer inspection, I noticed that the tablecloth was different—it had smaller designs imprinted on it.

Suddenly, a captivating scent drifted beneath my nostrils, drawing my attention. As I pursued the source, my eyes fell upon a solitary figure. She leaned gracefully against the iron rails of the balcony, her fingers delicately cradling the handle of a steaming mug. With her back turned toward us, her long, jet-black hair cascaded gracefully down her back, swaying gently in the soft breeze. The hem of her uniform skirt fluttered lightly, echoing the subtle motions of the wind, enhancing her air of intrigue.

The breeze hushed as it glided through the room, gradually fading into silence. In that stillness, a calm voice emerged, cutting through the tranquil ambiance with an unmistakable authority.

"So, you finally decided to show up," she said, her voice deliberate as it cut through the silence. "Perhaps now things will become a little more thrilling... perhaps," she added. Her tone was soft yet icy, akin to the biting wind, sending a shiver through my hands.

She turned just enough to cast a piercing sidelong glance at me, deliberately ignoring Mika and Reina, who stood silently in the background.

I felt a sudden tension in my body as I locked eyes with her piercing gaze, each second stretching out as I stood frozen in place.

 She blinked in surprise, her eyes lighting up as she caught sight of Reina and Mika behind me. Turning to face us, she offered a warm, inviting smile that instantly drew us in.