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The grounds of Hyakkaou were as active as could be since the school festival was underway. Wherever one looked, they would find an attraction to immerse themselves into, including many that didn't involve gambling.
Mary had stepped out of the den for a break and was content in leaving their own events at the hands of Tsuzura and Yukimi who could handle it.
She was idly walking down the hallways, trying her best not to bump into the troves of students who were all in good spirits, an irony when it came to the environment they were in. But Mary didn't let those thoughts infiltrate her mind, her eyes running over the booths and rooms, some catching her curiosity and others being a hard pass.
Her objective now was to get something to eat as she rounded the corner and a familiar voice called out for her attention, waving amongst the mass of faces.
Given her height, Sakura easily stood out so Mary grinned and went to the older girl when she beckoned Mary over.
"Mary, it's good to see you" Sakura smiled, a clipboard being held near her chest, "Are you enjoying the festival? This is probably one of the few times you can enjoy Hyakkaou".
"No kidding. They really go all out" Mary agreed as a group of students walked by in an array of costumes, "I'm just looking around. How about you? Have you checked out any of the booths yet?".
Sakura signalled to the clipboard, "Duty calls".
"Ah, that's true. I'm sure you can take like 10 minutes off? I won't tell anyone if you don't".
"Tempting" Sakura chuckled at Mary's conspiratorial expression, "If my current task wasn't so important, I might have gotten away with that".
"What do you have to do?"
"I have the task to inspect the safety measures of the haunted house".
Mary didn't even bother to conceal her shudder, "Of course there is a haunted house at something like this. Why wouldn't there be".
"Sachiko was supposed to help but I can't seem to find her".
"Maybe she is already in there, lurking around like the monster she is. Makes sense that she had to be the one to check the creepiest attraction" Mary quipped and earned a laugh from Sakura, "Anyway, haunted houses are not for me so I'm gonna be on my way. Good luck, Sakura".
She turned to flee but before she could do so, another horror popped up in front of her.
"Hello, Mary".
The blonde stumbled after gasping, thinking she was going to fumble backwards but Sakura's free hand on her back steadied her till she was standing upright.
She caught her breath and glanced at Sakura, "Thanks" she said before facing ahead and glared at Mikura, "And you need to stop that".
"Not going to happen" Mikura smirked, looking up at Sakura, "Sakura, are you heading to the haunted house?".
Sakura nodded, "That was the plan but I can't find Sachiko. Do you know where she is?".
She found it odd that Mikura wasn't with her on a day like this but Sakura had been seeing more of them like this; Mikura doing her own thing and Sachiko usually seeking out Mary.
And the latter option would explain why they were separated when Mikura scowled at Mary.
"She went to your den".
Mary sighed and ran a hand down her face, "Of course she did. Poor Tsuzura and Yukimi, I feel bad cause Juraku is most likely going to be waiting for me so they're gonna have to deal with her".
"That sounds nice" Mikura gritted out with all the pleasantness of a wasp, "Having Juraku-sama wait for you. Lucky..you".
"Hey, don't get mad at me" Mary said, "I would pay with my left eye to get your precious mistress to leave me alone".
Just then, a figure walked behind Sakura when she passed by them with her rambunctious entourage and for some reason, Mary felt a chill when she saw the short black hair and the myriad of piercings.
She shook it off as Mikura rolled her eyes at the exaggeration, "You're so dramatic".
"Perhaps it is a bit extreme..but understandable" Sakura hummed, "So, do you plan on returning to the den, Mary?".
"Great, so my options are basically go to hell, or go to hell..".
That was one way to look at it.
And Mary decided she had to ruminate on it, thinking logically, weigh out the pros and cons before choosing her fate.
Screw logic, the haunted house it was.
At least that would keep its hands to itself and not tempt her into being collared.
"I'll join you. The haunted house can't be worse than the den right now so yeah, let's do the inspection".
Sakura nodded in appreciation, turning her eyes to Mikura who was figuring out if she should hate Mary for insulting Sachiko or like her for wanting to stay away.
"Why don't you come with us, Mikura?".
"A haunted house with you and Mary?" the redhead said, mulling it over, "Why not".
It couldn't be worse than having to listen to Sachiko fawn over Mary in person.
"Oh, that's great" Sakura smiled, "With the three of us, the inspection will be more thorough. Thank you both".
"I won't count on my help much" Mary replied, wondering if she had made the right decision.
Watching the way Sakura's eyes lit up at the confirmation was worth it for Mikura as it had been a while since she had spoke to Sakura alone. Well, they wouldn't be alone per se but Mikura didn't mind Mary's company when she was miles away from Sachiko.
Though she would rather throw her collar into a furnace than admit that.
"Alright, let's get going" Sakura said and motioned for the two to follow her, "I hear it has gained quite the stir, a haunted house that is legitimately scary".
"Sure, because Hyakkaou isn't terrifying enough".
Mikura and Sakura exchanged a grin at Mary's commentary.
It was certainly going to prove to be an interesting experience.
***
An experience that Mary really didn't wish to obtain.
When they approached the location which held the attraction, just one look at the decorations had Mary reeling, feeling like she was walking to her death whereas Mikura and Sakura seemed nonplussed as they examined the entrance.
The blonde took a deep breath in as Sakura glanced back, "Do you want to go in first, Mary?".
"No, I do not" Mary insisted and waved to them, "You lead the way".
"Looking kind of pale. Don't tell me you are scared?" Mikura taunted.
"Of a haunted house? No" she lied, "Of being trapped in there with you? Terrified".
Mikura merely grinned, seeing through Mary's facade because anyone could take one look at the girl and see that she was about to keel over.
This examination would prove to be more entertaining than Mikura had assumed, even without Sachiko.
So they all headed inside with Mary trailing behind the two, deliberating on if she should have written a will..or seek religion.
It was fine at first, no major heart inducing jump scares.
There were unsettling portraits with moving eyes that Sakura noticed weren't secured to the wall properly.
Mikura was investigating a particularly sharp broadsword, wondering if it was fake or real and relayed this information to Sakura.
Through her growing apprehension, Mary pointed out loose nails on the coffin which hadn't been hammered in enough and could catch onto someone's clothes.
There was a pathway where the lighting was far too dimmed, a health hazard undoubtedly.
"I think they could add additional lights to that corner" Sakura noted, "It won't take away the impact from the moving figure of the headless body".
"What moving headless-".
The arm of said figure brushed over Mary's arm and she jumped out of her skin, "What the hell!".
She swiftly stepped back and grabbed her arm as she heard Mikura's chuckle while Sakura took a closer look at the figure.
For now, Mary was glad the lighting was terrible, if only to hide the red on her face from that encounter.
"It is remarkably detailed" Sakura mused.
"I hear they took inspiration from a horror film. Right down to where you can see the inside of the neck".
Mary just stared at what she could see of Mikura's face, "Why do you know that?".
The redhead turned, smirking in a way that made her appear quite deranged.
"I suggested it".
Sakura was impressed while Mary was appalled.
"Sounds about right for the actual devil's little helper" she thought to herself.
The deeper they went into the house, the darker it became but Mikura and Sakura were still astute in their observations, working in synchronicity.
They were cool and detached, undeterred by the piercing screams and chilling cackles coming from the speakers.
Meanwhile, Mary was flinching at every sudden movement.
Her palm was on her heart, trying to keep it in place when a student dressed as Sadako jumped out and this time, Mary did scream.
The student cheered, "I am scary!".
"Yeah, go find someone else's TV to crawl out from" Mary gasped, her hands resting on her knees now.
Sakura placed her hand on her back, "We can take a break?".
"There is no such thing as taking a break in a haunted house, Sakura".
And to prove her point, they heard a pop from the ceiling which released webbing onto them, making Mary flail around to clean herself off.
Mikura was enjoying this too much as she collected the silly string from her own body and threw it at Mary, "Boo!".
Mary grunted in irritation, "Real mature".
"Almost as mature as the frightening Saotome Mary, gambling extraordinaire, being afraid of props and costumes" Mikura smirked.
"I swear I am going to bury you here".
"You probably could" Mikura said calmly, pointing ahead, "Gravestones".
"Just great.." Mary griped, "That's all we need".
"We are almost done" Sakura reassured and brushed off Mary's uniform, "I do feel bad for asking you to do this with me so I apologise".
"Oh, it's fine. I agreed to it and besides, the creature at the den scares me more than this stuff" Mary insisted, "This is the worst of it I'm sure so let's get going".
Such was in Mary's temperament, to plough ahead even if things became rough.
So on they went, Sakura and Mikura talking about any problems, and discussing other matters which weren't related.
Sakura carefully moved Mikura away from a badly angled spear with what appeared to be an arm on it.
"Thank you" the redhead smiled, leaning into the touch, "That might be an issue for those of us who can't see the top shelf".
"I can imagine how that would be inconvenient" Sakura replied, "If it satiates your curiosity, there isn't much of interest on said shelves".
"Really? I guess you'll have to show me one day".
Sakura wasn't expecting that, blushing slightly, "Oh, of course".
The hand on Mikura's waist remained as the two looked at each other before Sakura realised and brought her hand away, apologising immediately.
Not that Mikura had an issue with it, surprisingly.
"Juraku-sama mentioned that you have an event coming up? Are you nervous?".
Their conversation went on without either of them batting an eyelid at the terrors which surrounded them and Mary could deduce that their nonchalance to this environment had something to do with their duties.
And Sachiko.
Mary felt like she was eavesdropping on their amiable discussion which felt like the rich people equivalent to flirting by now.
Perhaps being taken out by the zombie who had almost been knocked out by her (due to reflexes) wouldn't have been the worst thing.
Even in the tenebrous lighting she could see how close they were walking together, their shoulders touching far too frequently to be an accident.
At this point, the blonde's main priority was to not pass out.
Which would be quite a feat to accomplish when she almost tripped over a corpse that was casually leaning back on the gravestone, like it had no care that it had almost killed Mary.
Sakura had to hold Mary back from giving the prop a swift kick to the gut.
***
Mary could see the light.
Proverbial, literal, she didn't care anymore.
She just wanted out of this nightmare realm and hearing the chatter of students and feeling the burning of her retinas from the light creeping in was therapeutic. To think that she would actually find relief in this academy was a testament to how finished she was with today's on goings.
Sakura assessed her clipboard filled with hazards and errors, "They have a lot of work on their hands. I wasn't expecting this many errors. It is rather reckless of them. The festival last for a few days so they should have the time to rectify the mistakes".
"Maybe they thought it would add to the horror vibe. Come to our haunted house, have the potential to be killed by a falling portrait!" Mary said in a mocking tone.
"Should you be tempting fate considering how many times you screamed, Mary?" Mikura laughed, turning back slightly, "I thought we would have had to carry your actual corpse out. I guess we could have left you there, kind of like a living prop".
"I screamed twice and screw you".
With the exit in sight and at arms length, Mary was tempted to run between the two and escape but for the sake of what was left of her dignity, she would leave with her head held high..and heart lodged in her throat.
As for her nerves, she had lost them somewhere in the crypt where a vampire, suspiciously looking like Sachiko, had grabbed her.
Just as they approached the curtains which led out, Sakura and Mikura abruptly stopped.
Mary almost walked into them, "Hey, why'd you stop? What is it?".
It was as if the two were frozen in place before Sakura managed to lift a hand, pointing at something wriggling down from the ceiling.
"Is that a.." Mikura started, her eyes widened.
"Spider" Sakura finished, moving back with Mikura.
Mary looked between the two, not sure if she should laugh..or laugh.
"You can't be serious? Spiders? That's the thing that creeps you out instead of all the crap we saw in there?".
The spider prop, slightly large and lifelike, spun on its web as its legs twitched repeatedly. The detailing on it was precise, from the glassy eyes, to the way its decorations resembled the few species which inhabited the grounds of Hyakkaou.
Mary had to hand it to the props department, everything they had created was a carbon copy of the living thing and she couldn't even be mad about this one.
"This is hilarious" she grinned and moved passed the two, "It's a fake spider and you're acting like it's going to jump you".
She reached out and Mary heard Mikura and Sakura gasp, the former saying, "What are you doing?! Why would you touch it, Mary?".
"Relax, Mikura" the blonde laughed and caught the web and spider prop in her hand before facing the two, "Look, it's not gonna hurt you".
When she raised it, Sakura and Mikura instinctively screamed and Mikura reached for Sakura, her arms going behind the girl's head.
"Mary, don't!".
Sakura moved them away and tightened her arms around Mikura's waist, pressing her close against her, just on the off chance that they did have the luck of running into a jumping spider.
Because normal spiders weren't mortifying enough, here, have one that can jump.
"I can't believe you two" Mary snickered, almost in tears, "It isn't going to bite. Look, I can show you".
"Don't come closer with that" Mikura yelled, "Why are you even holding it still?".
"I'm admiring the effort gone into making it. Damn, this is so life like. How are they getting it to move this way?" Mary mused, watching the spider crawl over her hand, "Like, the legs even have hair on it".
Sakura and Mikura could only watch in horror as they clung onto each other, both afraid to approach Mary. They would rather run back into the house than try to escape in the direction Mary was stood with the spider.
So when Mary finally placed the spider back onto the guillotine prop, the two girls sighed in relief, their arms loosening ever so slightly.
Their eyes met, a demure smile passing their lips while Sakura slowly disentangled herself from Mikura, fixing her red hair in process.
They both spoke up to apologise but were distracted by Mary who was still watching the prop spider.
"At least there was one thing about this haunted house that I didn't mind. Spiders are typical, I guess, we saw a few scattered everywhere. Though those weren't as cool since they didn't move like that one does" Mary motioned to the arachnid crawling down the blood covered blade of the guillotine.
Sakura decided that it would be wise to speak up now as she approached the blonde.
"Ah, about that..".
"What is it, Sakura?".
"That spider" she started, "It wasn't a part of the haunted house attractions".
Mary stilled, her gaze on Sakura, "What do you mean it wasn't a part of the house? You're joking, right?".
Sakura shook her head, "I wish I could tell you that I was but none of the prop spiders can move. Certainly not in the way that one is doing".
The blonde went quiet for a moment and Sakura and Mikura exchanged a look, as if to ask what they should do since Mary positively appeared like she was going to faint.
"So..you're telling me that I touched a live spider?".
"Yes".
"And I picked it up?".
"Yes".
"And let it crawl around my hand".
"Yes".
Mary appeared calm, but was definitely screaming internally as she looked at her hands, "I see".
Mikura was genuinely concerned that Mary was about to go into shock, "Mary, are you okay?".
"Nope, I am so done.." she repeated and turned on her heel, marching out of the haunted house, "So done!".
Before either of them could call out to her, Mary was long gone, muttering so many profanities that one would assume she was trying to exorcise a demon out of herself.
***
They had managed to track Mary down leaving the bathroom and drying her hands furiously before disposing of the tissue.
Mary glared at them both, "Not a damn word".
"But your 8 legged friend is missing you. Don't you want to go back and play with it some more?".
"Funny".
Mikura smirked, "I thought so too".
Sakura realised that much like Sachiko, Mikura couldn't help herself when it came to antagonising Mary.
"Are you okay? It didn't bite you, did it?".
"Nah, it's just disgusting" Mary sighed and pulled the sleeve of her blazer down, "But if I do start crawling up the walls, then you might have to do something".
Sakura chuckled, "Well, it was a successful evaluation overall".
"I think so" Mikura agreed.
"Yeah, same. I learned a lot" Mary said, a glint in her golden eyes, "You can make fun of me all you want but your reaction, and Sakura's, was hilarious. You both became one person almost given how you were hugging each other. And don't get me started on the screams!".
Mikura's amusement faded fast as Sakura struggled to come up with a retort and the way Mary was smiling at them indicated how the blonde had certainly picked up some of Sachiko's habits.
Then again, Mary had always had a penchant for goading on her own accord and did it just as exceptionally as Sachiko did
"I mean, it was adorable" she continued, "Who would have thought that you would be freaked out enough to hold each other like that. I wish I could have taken a picture! I bet Juraku would have loved to see it. Mikura looked like she was going to cry and crawl into Sakura's blazer".
"Please, you're exaggerating" she scoffed, folding her arms, "It came out of nowhere and surprised us. I doubt you would want a spider jumping down in front of your face".
"Exactly" Sakura agreed and cleared her throat lightly, a hue of pink on her cheeks, "We were not anticipating it which is why our first instinct was to protect ourselves".
"By jumping into each other's arms?".
"It's a valid method!" Mikura insisted, "You've watched horror movies, the second you separate from the group is the exact moment you get killed".
She couldn't meet Sakura's eyes but could absolutely feel the girl's arms still around her.
Mary grinned, "Sure, sure. If you say so".
In a bid to deflect from the embarrassment, Sakura moved matters on "Anyway, that aside, I do appreciate the help so if it is okay with you, I'd like to express my gratitude by taking you to get something to eat, if that is suitable for you? I saw a cafe in one of the rooms which looked appealing".
Mary smiled at the gesture, "You don't have to. I really didn't mind, Sakura".
"I insist, please" the older girl said and looked at Mikura too, "It is the least I can do for you both".
Mikura tugged her sleeve, "I..guess. If you're sure".
Mary certainly had an opening to tease Mikura at how demure she was being but opted to leave it for another time. To spend a bit of time unwinding in a cafe would help to dull the scares of the day they all had experienced.
So they walked back to the cafe and took a seat, Mikura and Mary selecting a cake of their liking, paired with tea.
The room was beautifully decorated, pastel colours and decorative lights to give it the feeling of a contemporary establishment. It was bustling with students whom were eager to try out the delicacies and Mary couldn't blame them when she looked down at her plate.
The strawberry cake she had ordered was generous in size and layered with fresh cream and the drizzle of chocolate sauce complimented the tartness of the ripe strawberries.
Not only did it look aesthetically appetising, the cake also tasted delicious.
Mary was pleasantly surprised, "Not bad at all. They made these?".
"It seems so" Sakura replied after taking a bite of her own chocolate cake, the three layered piece packed with a decadent vanilla filling and a cream glaze on top of the slice, "You can taste how fresh it is".
"I'm glad we came here after the haunted house" Mikura mused, cutting a slice of her own cake, "It's nice to be able to enjoy it".
Sakura smiled and looked at the redhead, "I agree. Well, I wouldn't say that the experience was entirely negative. It was wonderful to be able to enjoy it with you".
Mikura couldn't disagree either, "True, and..it was interesting to see you scared for a change. You're always so put together" she laughed softly, "It was cute".
The compliment sent Sakura's heart into a flurry, "I thought the same of you, Mikura. I suppose the cake isn't the sweetest thing I have seen today".
"Now you're being mean" Mikura grumbled, face flushing, "Try some of this. I think you will like it and it is much sweeter".
While she couldn't deny that the fluffy cheesecake Mikura had ordered wasn't delectable, what with the array of fresh berries scattered around it and a dollop of cream placed on the soft surface, Sakura highly doubted that there could be anything sweeter than the girl who had raised her fork to her lips, waiting eagerly for her to accept it.
And when she took the bite whilst keeping her eyes locked with Mikura's, Sakura's theory was confirmed.
Mikura was far sweeter.
Now, Mary wasn't sure if they had forgotten they had an audience or simply didn't care but the scene playing out was making her mind spin as her gaze went from Sakura, and then to Mikura.
"What kind of yuri manga moment hell is this?" she mumbled.
They seemed to be in a world of their own and for once in her life, Mary wished Sachiko was here.
Talk about third wheel feels.