Chapter 6: This Is the Real Thing. Because…

“Hey everyone! It’s Yuka!”
She waved both hands wildly at the camera.
Every time she shook her head, her blonde ponytail bounced up and down.
“Today’s livestream is gonna be looking at those insanely dangerous paranormal photos everyone’s been talking about lately! I’ve been holding myself back just for today, so I’m super excited. What if I end up getting cursed or something~?”
Laughing cheerfully, she pulled out her smartphone.

“Alright—guess I’ll check it out first!”
With a casual grin, she leaned in to peer at the screen—and in the very next instant—

Yuka’s smile froze.
Her eyes flew open, and the hand holding her smartphone began to tremble uncontrollably.

“…That’s… messed up…”

She muttered it under her breath, then collapsed forward onto the desk.
The comment section began to stir.

"Huh? Huh? Did she seriously get cursed?"
"That reaction’s way too real—now I’m scared instead."
"Stream accident lol."

Slowly, Yuka lifted her face and, without saying a word, began operating her computer.
“Everyone—take a look too.”
As the photo appeared on the screen, the comment section exploded.

"Got it, lol."
"Damn, this is a whole situation.”
"Ohhh, yeah, yeah.”
"This is way beyond ‘you can kinda see it,’ lol."
"Such a dignified appearance (heart)."

Yuka let out a deep sigh.
“You know, this is actually a photo I took… I was really looking forward to it, so this is seriously the worst.”

She slapped her cheeks lightly, reset herself, and put on a smile.
“Looks like some people don’t know them, so I’ll introduce them real quick. Hey—both of you, come over here.”
Calling out off-screen, Yuka shifted slightly to the side.

A black-haired girl timidly sat down next to Yuka.
Then, from the top of the screen, a twin-tailed girl slid her face into view upside down.

“These are the girls who showed up in the photo. They’re ghosts.”
Yuka stated it plainly.

The comment section instantly descended into chaos.

"A ghost nobody even doubted, lolllll."
"Always cute, no matter when."
"Don’t drop something that important so casually, lolllll."
"An actual legit one just showed up, I’m dead lol."
"Fake, obviously."
"They just look like normal humans to me though?"
"Don’t go in half-assed! → turns out it was their own house."

Yes—everyone had their eyes stolen by the surrounding flashiness, and not a single person noticed that they were the true “protagonists” of the photograph.
Nearly everyone who saw the photo was convinced that the two of them were “just ordinary humans.”
—And even if they fell into that assumption, it was hardly unreasonable.
That was how clearly, how naturally, the two of them were captured there.

However, for those humans who boasted of having “psychic abilities” to fail to notice this— that was fatal.

"You’re telling me there are psychics who missed it even though they were standing out that much? Seriously?"
"Isn’t the actual one showing up a rule violation? lolllll."
"Everyone who acts all high and mighty in this scene is blind as hell."

Among them, there were also some genuine questions.

"Explain the other phenomena too!"

“That day was actually the first time I ever came here, so I didn’t really understand what was going on. I did see Sayuri-chan talking to things around her, though. So—Sayuri-chan, explanation please!”
When Yuka asked, the twin-tailed girl—Sayuri—spun around and gently floated down, settling into a seat between Yuka and the black-haired girl—Shinobu.

"Huh? Wait—are they seriously ghosts?"
"That’s not something a human can do…"
"That wasn’t a jump… no way…"

“Heheh—leave it to me!”
Sayuri flashed a big grin and pointed at the photo.
“See these round things around here? The supernatural being of the haze-san said, ‘Since it’s a keepsake, let’s make it flashy.’ Talk about being full of the spirit of service. Pretty, right?”

“He can do stuff like that? That’s awesome!”
Yuka exclaimed.

“And then, see that white lump between Shinobu and me? That’s also part of the supernatural being of the haze-san, but if you look really closely, it’s giving a thumbs-up. Like, ‘We did it!’ kind of vibe.”
Sayuri laughed, full of mischief.

"Nice work."
"Wait, so the soul was shattered? Or… was that a soul?"

“Whoa, you’re right! That’s hilarious!”

“The white hands by our feet, and that black silhouette behind Shinobu—well, uh… those kinds of supernatural beings. I had them all crowd around and mess about. It was the day I first met Yuka-chan, after all, so I figured we might as well make it lively.”
Sayuri tossed it out casually.
“It’s a little hard to see, but—see that white hand back there?
It’s doing a peace sign.”

"Theory: that one thought it was rock-paper-scissors."
"Who was it that said this was super dangerous again? lolllll"
"Wait—were they actually waving?"
"Okay but the black figure is just straight-up scary."

“I wouldn’t notice that! No way!”
Following up her big reaction, Yuka pointed at the photo.
“And then—what about that white thing in the back?”

“Oh, that? That’s a person whose hobby is jumping down from the second floor!
Ah—well, not a person, though.”

"So they weren’t asking for help, lol."
"Didn’t know there was an existence that could enjoy cord-less bungee jumping."

“Is that even a hobby?”
Tilting her head, Yuka looked at Shinobu.
“Shinobu-chan, was this what you were scared of?”

“…Because it was scary…
That person, and also the black figure right behind me, and the white hands at my feet…”
Shinobu looked down and answered shyly.

The comment section grew lively.

"You’re a ghost and you’re scared of ghosts?"
"Too cute."
"I wanna protect her, but I’m scared too."
"If there were a black figure right behind me, I’d cry too."

“It’s only natural to be scared. And hey—what about the glowing stuff around here?”
Yuka smiled as she reassured her.
“…That… I thought it was pretty.”
She smiled faintly, her gaze lowered.
And then, the speed of the comment section picked up.

"I’ll stan her even if she’s a ghost!"
"Aaaaaaaaaaa!"
"BRB, gonna go become a ghost."
"She’s too cute—I can’t breathe."
"Wait… is she going to stay cute forever?"

“Hey—everyone, calm down!”
Yuka waved her arms wildly, trying to get their attention.
“Hey! What about me? What about me?”
Sayuri hurriedly waved too, appealing right alongside her.

When the comment flow finally settled down a bit—
“So, yeah—turns out this photo was our commemorative picture!”
Clap, clap, clap, clap—the three of them applauded together.

That day’s stream was a huge hit.
With, of course, the wildly off-target explanations from other streamers also getting thoroughly turned into jokes.