Chapter Text
Hey, have you heard of the rumor?
This school has seven mysteries.
Little did Miss Minori Hanasato know, those few words would eventually lead to an encounter that will forever change her life.
They say that if you find the true story behind each of them.. Something will happen.
Rumors. A hasty, but nonetheless, interesting way for people to pass time. Most of the time these tales are just for scare. To many people, the idea that there is something more than what meets the eye intrigues them. A form of escapism. To run away from the usual mundane everyday, which are a lot of people's reality from the moment they are born and until the day they die.
"You don't know any of them?" Minori's charming blonde-haired friend, otherwise known as Kohane Azusawa, was the first person Minori had heard all about these rumors from. The brunette had always been fond of that kind of make-believe. Many a times she simply likes to give herself her own rules to make her world a bit more magical. A bit more hopeful. After all, Minori's world isn't at all extraordinary nor astounding. So instead she daydreams—fill up her own head with superstitions and tall tales. To her, that was really all that an average girl such as Minori herself could do.
It was only this time, this one fateful moment, that Minori had decided to test out these superstitions once and for all.
"Okay, I'll tell you just one." Kohane leaned in towards the brunette a bit closer.
The Seventh of the School Mysteries is.. Hanako-san of the toilet.
Well, of course, Minori had other reasons to test it out too. You can't really test a risky rumor without knowing what you want out of it, right? So Minori knew exactly what she wanted to do.
In the third stall from the end of the girls' bathroom on the third floor of the old building...
Minori gulped down her nervousness as she traversed up the school stairs. Her heart beat. She didn't know why. At first the idea seemed enticing, but now that she was here, she was a bit scared. Seeing no one around her was probably what made that feeling worse. She started to think that maybe she should have brought Kohane along with her.
You'll find Hanako-san.
But Minori told herself that she needed to do this on her own. She didn't know if it was because Minori did not want to let Kohane know of her intentions or if she was more embarrassed of what Kohane would say afterwards..
Shakily, she slid the door open ever so slowly, first taking a small peek into the abandoned bathroom with a growing hesitance.
She will grant one wish to anyone who summons her spirit.
Ever since Minori heard about the rumor, there was only one thing that she kept thinking about. 'Pull yourself together, Minori..!!' She attempted to calm herself. Although she's scared, Minori doesn't want to throw away an opportunity in order to make her wish come true—even if attaining it sounds quite silly.
But in exchange, that person will have to give up something precious.
But of course, that would mean Minori did not mind having to sacrifice anything for it. She thinks whatever she wishes for is way better than what she already has. Who cares if messing with the supernatural is a careless move? Whatever she loses will all eventually be repaid!
Inhaling a deep breath, Minori stood in front of the third stall's door.
She began to knock.
Knock,
Knock,
Knock,
To summon the ghost, you knock three times... and then—
"Hanako-san, Hanako-san."
The girl paused.
"..Are you there?"
With her head and hands close to her chest, she looked down. Minori closed her eyes as tightly as she could, awaiting for any possible supernatural happening to reveal itself just so she can get over with it already. She did not want to open her eyes just yet, though she also wanted to make sure she could run if anything did happen.
She stood there in silence for a few, painstakingly anticipative, seconds.
...Nothing happened. The rumor wasn't true, after all. How disappointing. Minori opened her eyes—
Creeaaaaaakkkkk...
Minori jumped, backing away immediately.
"Yeeess..!" The bathroom stall door began to creak open, along with a hand slowly crawling out of the darkness. A low-toned voice announced itself playfully, creating a small yet ominous echo from within the bathroom. "I'm heeeree!"
Poor Minori's heart began to take over her entire mind as it thumped faster. Her mind filled with thoughts and fear—all of them telling her to run. Though she couldn't help but freeze up. She couldn't even scream.
Whatever was opening that door.. Minori didn't have the guts to face it.
Creaaaaaaakkkkk..
The door continued to gradually open, with each noise filling Minori up with fear and anticipation.
What could be behind that door..?
Is the rumor actually true?
Will it kill me..?
All these thoughts began to rush through her head, each making sure she didn't have much time to catch her own breath. Yes, she went here on her own will but Minori began to feel regretful about this idea. Minori was willing to sacrifice everything for a wish but she didn't wanna die. She did not know if she actually wanted to know what exactly was behind that door.
But just like every other situation, everything must come to a conclusion.
Alas, the door was fully open.
Behind it was a toilet. So there was nothing after all. Minori sighed,
'Oh good, I just imagined it..'
Maybe it was just a prank, and that someone wanted to play a sick joke on her.
"H.. Hey.. You can come out now..! Ahaha.."
Although her brief sense of relief was then put to a stop by the chilling sensation of a hand on her shoulder.
Immediately, she knew it. Something else was behind her.
"Over here."
A chilling voice spoke a bit too close behind Minori's ears. A huge chill ran down her spine. Her immediate instinct was to fight back.
"NOO—!" She screamed, whilst turning around to clumsily whack whatever was behind her and possibly make a run for it. Though to her shock, her hand simply phased through, making her stumble backwards from the surprise.
Whoosh, her hand swung right through the apparition. So she can't even run nor attack. Minori wanted to scream for help.
"Ee—"
But instead she covered her head and crouched to protect herself.
"WAAAHH—!!!" Minori cried. "PLEASE DON'T HURT ME!"
Though opposite of what she had dreadfully assumed, she did not get hurt by this apparition at all.
"Pff—"
Instead, it laughed.
"Heh.. Ahah.. Ahahaha!!"
Minori was taken aback. First of all.. The voice sounded deeper than she expected. She had initially assumed a child would be there..
"Sorry, sorry about that!"
Secondly.. They were—
"You okay?"
..Actually a ghost.
Minori squeaked. Before her was a tall, pink-haired anomaly wearing an old school uniform and a cap to match with it—just like the rumors say they would have. See-through and light.. Oh god, this is the alleged Seventh School Mystery.
Thirdly, it was real..!! Absolutely real!
Wham! She hurriedly backed away into the bathroom wall, as she cowered in fear. What were they gonna do? Take her soul? She hasn't even made her wish yet!
"H-Hold on..!! I-I have a wish to make—"
But lastly.. To Minori's surprise—
"Yes, yes, I got it!" The ghost would say in a nonchalant manner, as if to completely shrug off Minori's worries and fear.
—It appears that they weren't going to hurt Minori after all.
"Alrighty," The apparition would simply float away, placing themselves atop of the toilet tank found inside their stall. "Let's start off with the introductions." Minori began to slowly tense down, finally taking a moment to observe what exactly was in front of her. The first thing she noticed.. That aside from the uniform, they did not look what the rumors said they would look like at all.
"You.. You're not.."
"Not Hanako-san at all!"
They replied with a huge grin, crossing their legs as they playfully posed.
"My name's actually Mizuki. No. 7 of the School's Seven Mysteries.."
They tilted their head. "Titled, Hanako-san of the toilet.. Nice to meet you."
Minori froze; her eyes wide from the surprise. She was baffled.
"You're.. Hanako-san..?!" The brunette looked at the other up and down. She saw the similarities but.. "N.. No way!!"
"Where's your bob haircut?" Instead of that, they had long pink hair that curled at the tips. "And your red binders?" They wore a completely different attire from the initial description—a light mauve old school uniform along with some brown geta boots to match along with it.
"I mean.. Y-You do have the cap, but—"
"That stuff's just not in style anymore~"
"YOU GUYS FOLLOW TRENDS?!"
The stranger snorted, "Pff- Ahaha!" They grinned. "You're a funny one, aren'tcha? Is that so surprising—?" Minori's mouth was left agape. She had so many questions yet she felt like if she spoke now she'd accidentally create an amalgamation of those words. She simply waited for them to continue.
"Yes, I do not look exactly like what the rumors say." They stated, whilst slowly floating down from the toilet tank to face Minori, with their hand holding the cap atop of their head. "But other than that, all the rumors you've heard of are true."
For some strange reason, it made Minori feel relieved to hear that.
"For the right price, I will grant the wish of whoever summons me." Mizuki, out of thin air, then summoned a small orb from within their palm.
"A hakujoudai.." Minori muttered. Just as the rumors say.
"You have a wish, don't you?" Mizuki asked, even as the other meekly looked down. "So let's hear it. What do you want?"
The brunette stayed quiet for a bit. She still seemed hesitant.
"..But.." She looked up to face Mizuki; doubt plastered on her face. "You're sure that.."
"You're not just some creepy pervert ghost?"
Mizuki froze.
"Ahaha, forget it. Goodbye."
"N-NO! I WAS KIDDING! I THINK MIZUKI-SAN IS TOTALLY AWESOME!!"
The ghost stopped, "Awesome.." they mumbled.
"Okaay—!" The pinkette smiled as they brought out a mere pen and paper. "Simply state your name and your wish!"
Minori lit up in glee, turns out getting her wish seemed super easy..! 'Though they're surprisingly shallow.' She was so close, she could feel it! Her heart could burst in excitement. She had already forgotten of the fear she had felt from earlier.
"Yes, ma'am!" She raised her hand, "Minori Hanasato from Class 1-A of the High School Division, thank you!!" The brunette cheered. "I want my crush to fall in love with me immediately!"
"Hanasato.." Mizuki quickly jotted down her name in messy handwriting. "Got it! And your wish is romantic fulfillment.."
"And the suitor's name is?"
Minori then hastily pulled out her phone, revealing a picture of a short blue-haired girl. The girl gave off a strong and radiant aura, as if to sparkle even across the screen. "Kiritani-san! She's in the same year as me!"
"She's pretty, smart, hardworking.." The girl sighed. "And she's just so nice to everyone. She's just amazing.." Her heart fluttered at the thought of the bluenette. Even thinking about her made Minori so happy. "Just seeing her do her best motivates me already.." Mizuki gazed at the picture for a few seconds and hummed, "I see~" They pondered for a little. Minori looked at the other with determination, will they or will they not actually fulfill her wish..?! She was on edge.
"Alright. I'll grant your wish."
Minori beamed, "YAY!" This was actually happening!!
The brunette began to daydream of things she'd like to do with Kiritani-san. Maybe they could go on dates.. cuddle.. hold hands.. She blushed at the thought. Though Minori wasn't aware that all couples eventually did that.
"So how do you grant wishes, Mizuki-san?" Minori mused. "Do you, like, have special magical items or something?"
"I sure do!" They winked. The ghost began to search through their pockets. "I have something incredible.."
'Incredible..?!' The brunette was intrigued. What could be so powerful that even a supernatural calls it incredible?!
"Here."
A how-to book.
Minori squinted her eyes and looked at the other, feeling skeptical.
"Hey, now. Have a little trust here!" Mizuki floated towards the glass-stained windows and sat on the edge. They began to explain. "I think you already know this.. but when you seek help from a supernatural being like me, you have to pay a suitable price."
Minori knew all about that. She didn't mind at all.
"If you want powers beyond human understanding, the price is going to be much greater. So we use this," They gestured at the book. "It's much safer!"
Minori's head drooped. She already knew all that and had already expected that it would be risky..
"But.. What if I want those powers anyway?" As she promised herself, she is willing to sacrifice many things to attain her wish. For her, the stakes are low for such a great prize. Mizuki blinked, "Then that would be.." The smile from their face faded.
"..Impossible. I haven't got the tools for it. Hehe."
Until it returned. They grinned once more.
"WHAAAT?!" Minori was absolutely stumped. So they did have to use the book after all.. Was this really going to work..?
Though Minori thought that it's not like she had any other choice, anyway. She's here, and she might as well take the chance when she can! Plus, Hanako— Mizuki is a wish granting ghost. They must have granted tons of love wishes before they came along.. Minori giggled. There is hope after all. She will not be easily taken down!
"Let's see here.. Method 78.. Use of your special skills.." Mizuki mumbled as they held the book as closely as they could. "Ah!"
Grinning, they looked at Minori.
"Do you have any special skills, Hanasato?"