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"Don't look."
The hand that covered her eyes felt strangely… warm. Alive, even.
Yet that wasn't the least of Nene's troubles. While her vision remained obscured, she could feel like something had drastically shifted around her to something entirely different.
The voice that had whispered to her earlier from behind had that certain tone to it. That hint of mischief Nene has learned to get used to (and grown fond of, but that's not something she's willing to admit juuust yet).
"...Hanako-kun?" She spoke up softly, unsure if it's really who she thinks she is. The voice lets out a chuckle, before lowering their hand down from her eyes. Nene blinks a few times, letting her eyes get used to the light. Now she knew her first hunch is correct: she wasn't in the classroom anymore. Somehow, she had ended up somewhere else entirely, standing in between the shoe lockers. It's still nighttime judging from the dark skies outside, and everyone else… well, Nene had no idea where they are at the moment, now fully aware that she's not exactly in the world she knows.
She spins around to face Hanako—erm, Amane? He looks a lot like how he did back in the fake world, except he's in the school winter uniform—a twinge of relief and a bit of skepticism washing over her system. "Hanako-kun, i-is that really you? Or another faker?"
Hanako grinned, tilting his head slightly to the side. The moonlight did its best job illuminating his entire form. "Good thing I got you outta there on time, huh, Yashiro? It took me a while to get here… do I really look that weird? Can't even recognize little old me already?" He spread his arms wide for a bit, and he had that stupid puppy dog eyes look on his face like he wanted her most honest opinion.
Yep. Definitely Hanako. And to top it off, one of his hakujoudai, the green one, floated next to him in the air. The red one, she assumed, was out roaming the school assessing the entire place for him.
"You didn't have to go as far as to disguise yourself… did you really need to make yourself taller, though?" Nene suppressed a smile of her own, feeling relieved even for a moment. At least there's someone she actually knows in this weird place and not a fake version.
"Okay, that doesn't matter right now! What matters is getting us out of this place." Hanako starts circling the lockers, knocking on them, checking for… something. What that something is, Nene had no idea, but she followed his lead regardless.
"Where even are we, Hanako-kun?"
"Hmm… from what I can understand, there's recently been ghost stories of weird stuff happening around the 3 PM mark at night. And knowing the power stories have over at this school, I'm not surprised it began to manifest as an actual phenomena." He tipped a trashcan to the side, peeking inside it before setting back up to its proper place again. "None of the friends you know in that classroom were real people, but you probably already knew that already. You're smart after all, Yashiro." The unexpected praise threw Nene off guard for a moment, making her blush and her heart flutter.
"Ah! I get it now!" Nene exclaimed. The rumors of "things that go bump in the night at exactly 3PM" seemed to be a popular topic around with the students lately… but since there wasn't any tangible entity to take out of it, it's strange that the stories just decided to create an alternate universe all on its own.
He walked away from the shoe lockers, gesturing to Nene to follow him as they made their way through the empty hallways. She luckily had found a flashlight after checking a random classroom drawer, so she could use it for a while. It seemed so eerie at night in the building, with no one around (not even any scurrying mokke) but the two of them.
The two of them. Alone together. And with Hanako looking every part of a regular Kamome Academy student… it really reminded her of the fake world, and all that…
Nene shook her head, slapping her reddening cheeks. No, she can't afford to think such thoughts right now! Gotta focus, focus on getting home!
Hanako opened a door to a random classroom, quickly doing a glance over before closing it. "Nope, not here…"
"Uh… what are you even looking for, exactly?" Nene asked.
Hanako turned to face her with that confident yet reassuringly familiar insufferable smirk on his face. "An exit. Usually in these kinds of places, things you normally see in the real world don't exist or are straight up different. But sometimes, there's stuff from the real world that leaks into here, and they're basically our ticket out. A familiar object, or whatever. Anything works."
"You seem to know a lot about these types of places, Hanako-kun." Nene remarked, as she started to check on other classrooms and shining the flashlight at the seemingly normal spots, but as Hanako had said… everything looked absolutely off. Some had very obviously reversed room layouts, some had some extra objects that were never there before or missing things that are supposed to be there, others had completely altered decor and such, and a lot of the rooms and doors that existed in the real world didn't seem to exist in this world. The creepiest of them all was in her classroom, as it seemed to be completely empty inside: no desks, no tables, no shelves, nothing. Just barren walls and the moonlight shining in through the clear windows. It's like any soul in it has been wiped away.
"When you're a ghost stuck in a school for decades, Yashiro, you learn about a whole lot of weird things." Hanako chuckled again, closing another door behind him. "And besides, it's a good thing I didn't let you look up at your doppelganger's face. It's like one of those randomized entities that are somehow manifested in worlds like this. Out of all things, it had to be that, huh?"
Nene couldn't help but feel a shiver down her spine as she remembers what had happened earlier. The whole doppelganger story Mitsuba had told, and then hearing her own voice from the other side of the room when she was right there, it was terrifying to her, understandably. If it weren't for Hanako's interference, she would have looked up and saw her doppelganger's face and die.
That would have been quite the way for her lifespan to end. Death via doppelganger. Hah.
He must have noticed her sudden silence, as she felt him take her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze as they continued to walk through the dark hallway. "Don't worry, Yashiro. I'll protect you, so… just stick close to me, okay?"
There was that slight tremble in his voice when he said the last part, but Nene just chalked it up as nothing too serious. "Okay, Hanako-kun."
They end up near the school gym, and just as Nene was about to enter through the door—
squeak.
She froze. There was no mistaking it. The echoing noise of shoes squeaking against the gym's smooth floors is as loud and clear as it could be.
Someone's… no, something's inside.
Hanako's grip on her hand tightens, as he looks at her, a sense of urgency in his gaze. "We have to run. But whatever you do, don't look back. Even if it tries to call out to you, you mustn't look back at it."
Nene could only nod as the footsteps were now fast approaching. Her legs trembled from the fear, but she did manage to get herself running with Hanako leading her away. Maybe because he's there, a familiar presence in this familiar yet unfamiliar world… that the fear in her didn't feel as bad as it usually did. Her heart pounded hard in her chest. From the adrenaline? The terror? Or something else entirely?
The hallways seemed so endless, stretching on and on and on. Nene could hear the footsteps behind them, still chasing after them. "Heeeyyy! Where are you going? Wait for meeeeee!" She could hear her own voice shouting out to them, but instead of sounding remotely human with emotions, it sounded lifeless, mechanical. It imitated her likeness and voice, sure, but it had that tone to it that reminded Nene of a robot attempting to shout.
"Yashiro, don't look back!" Not once did Hanako release his hold on her hand as they continued to run away. They passed by multiple corridors, before he suddenly made a left turn and dove straight inside a janitor's closet, locking the door behind him as they huddled the best they could inside the cramped space.
Nene wanted to make a sound, but Hanako pressed a finger to his lips, signalling her to be quiet while he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer in an attempt to shield her from the danger.
They listened in for the muffled footsteps outside, and heard it slowing down, the mimic possibly realizing it lost them. "Where did you goooo… don't leave meeee…" The mechanical version of Nene's voice came out of the doppelganger's mouth, and then it shuffled away, unable to find their hiding spot.
Nene's heart pounded in her ears as she looked at Hanako, his face only dimly illuminated by the faint moonlight filtering through a small window. "Hanako-kun…"
"Shh." He whispered. "We can't be sure it's really gone… let's wait a little more."
She nodded her head, feeling the unusual warmth that radiated from his body. Although she knew it's just an elaborate disguise he's put on, it both felt strange and comforting.
But I don't really mind it even when Hanako-kun's cold too…
"Is it gone?"
"Yeah, it's clear now. We can get out." He reached down and grabbed the doorknob, slowly turning it around and opening the door very slowly. The hinges made a slight creaking noise, but fortunately it wasn't loud enough to alert that thing back to them.
Nene reluctantly stepped away from his grasp, looking around. "W-was that… was that my doppelganger? Like from Mitsuba-kun's story?"
Hanako remained to be on guard, as he took her hand once more and gently tugged her along with him. "In the flesh, it seems. It's already on the move and looking for you."
"Eh? Me? Why?!" Nene almost shouted out loud, slapping a hand in her mouth before she could compromise their position.
"Well, since you don't exactly belong in this world, it's essentially trying to, uh… get rid of you. The whole "there can be only one" kind of deal… look, what I'm saying is that it wants to replace you. Once it does, it's gonna find a way to get to the real world and… you know."
A look of horror etched across the girl's face, but Hanako looked back at her with that gentle, reassuring smile. "But it's fine. I won't let anything happen to my assistant. We'll get out of here soon."
Nene's silence made his smile falter a bit, so he leaned in forward, concerned. "Yashiro? Are you okay?" He was met with tears running down her cheeks, as she started sniffling and hiccuping.
"W-what's wrong? Was it something I said!?"
"I-it's not that…" Nene tried wiping her tears away, to no avail. They just kept coming no matter what. "I'm… I'm sorry, Hanako-kun… I must have done something stupid that I ended up in this world… and you had to risk yourself just to save me again… I'm so stupid…"
His gaze softened. "Yashiro, you're not stupid. This place is messed up, and none of this is your fault. You just happen to be put in the wrong place at the wrong time. We'll figure this out together, okay?" He pulled her into a tight embrace, letting her rest against his chest.
She nodded, mumbling a quiet "thank you" into his uniform, and he responded with a gentle pat on her head. "You're being a lot nicer lately, Hanako-kun. Are you sure you're not a fake created by this world?"
"Well, it's nice to see you not upset anymore, at least. I'm allowed to be nice, ya know! I'm not just a pain to be around with constantly!" Hanako put on another one of his puppy dog eyes look, pretending to be upset.
Nene giggled. "I guess you're not wrong… you have saved me a bunch of times, Hanako-kun."
"And I'll keep saving you over and over again, as long as I'm around." He gave her a little squeeze before letting go at last. Nene felt that familiar flutter in her heart again.
Someday… I want to save you just as much as you save me too, Hanako-kun.
"Alright… let's be quiet this time. Hakujoudai told me the mimic moved to the second floor, at one of the classrooms." He reached out as the red hitodama returned to him, floating above his palm.
"Second floor…" Nene mumbled to herself. That means that at some point, they'll have to go up there to search the place for the hidden exit. She shuddered at the thought. Should she blindfold herself or something?
They continue on walking, Nene's flashlight providing them light. While Hanako scurried towards every corner and opened doors and peeked inside classroom after classroom, she was deep in thought. Come to think of it, wasn't she in a similar situation before? No, not in the world Shijima drew… rather…!
But just as she was about to speak up to him, she found herself left all alone. Hanako was nowhere to be seen. Her blood ran cold, fear once again gripping her entire system.
"Hanako-kun! W-where are you?" She called out. Despite the risk of the doppelganger hearing her, she had to find him. Maybe they got separated? The hallways seemed to be purposely altering itself to confuse them.
"Okay, focus… if what I'm thinking of is correct… then it's like when Natsuhiko-senpai and I got lost in that weird place with the doors. All I have to do is find the right door to get back home… since every single classroom door looks the same, it's gotta be on the third floor at the old school building! Hanako-kun's bathroom!"
Before she could celebrate, quick moving footsteps suddenly began to approach. "Thereeeee you areeeeee!" Her doppelganger exclaimed, and without looking back, Nene began to make a mad dash towards the staircase leading to the third floor. Well, at least she hoped it's the third floor. Everything was starting to look completely different now, even the walls around her were literally changing as she ran past by.
"Kyaaaaah! Go away, go away, go away! Stop copying my voice, I don't sound like that!" She shouted, running as fast as her daikon legs could carry her.
Eventually, she reached the stairs, and just as she was about to make a run for it to the girls' bathroom, the light of her flashlight began to wane. "No, not now! Come on, work!" She hissed at it, shaking it around like it would shine any brighter.
"You can't escape meeeee… I am youuuu… look at meeee!" Her doppelganger sounded so close behind her, like it was one step away from grazing at her hair. She screamed, beginning to run even faster than before, the adrenaline rushing through her.
"Nuh-uh!" Nene shook her head in response. Then at long last, she spotted a familiar sight: the bathroom! Finally! Without thinking, she ran straight towards the door, shutting it behind her and locking it for good measure, as the doppelganger began banging on the wood, demanding to be let inside.
She took a moment to catch her breath. That… that was close!
Her flashlight began to flicker again, making her jump back to her feet as she shone the light on the stalls. They looked normal so far, but the one that stood out the most is that certain third stall. The red paint job of the door looked significantly brighter than the rest, but it was probably because it's being shined on directly by the moonlight. Still, it looked like a silver lining more than anything.
Nene took a deep breath, trying to ignore the noise outside, the doppelganger getting even more and more aggressive in it's demands to be let in. "Here goes nothing…!"
She wasn't able to take a step forward when the bathroom door finally broke down, making her freeze up. It's now inside the room with her. Nene didn't dare turn around, but she was too scared to make any sudden movements, her fists clenched tightly.
"Hey. Heeeyyyy… why won't you look at me? Look at meeeee…" The thing complained in it's emotionless voice. It took one step forward with each sentence, until it was now close enough that it could reach out to her, hand hovering above her shoulder.
"Come on, look at me… Yashiro…" Suddenly, she could hear Hanako's voice. She almost turned her head to see if it was really him, but then, she stopped herself.
No. It can't be him. It's way too convenient… it must be the doppelganger trying to mimic his voice, trying to trick her into looking at it!
I'm not falling for your tricks! Just you watch! Hanako-kun doesn't sound like a robot, you know! How stupid do you think I am, huh?!
Nene squinted her eyes shut as tightly as she could, feeling herself tearing up again. No, she mustn't look at it. No matter what, she must never look back at it.
I don't want to die… not like this! I'm going to go back to my own world, with Hanako-kun… and live!
The atmosphere changed all of a sudden, and Nene felt something coil around her form, something white… it's hakujoudai!
"Hitodama-chan!" She exclaimed, the immense relief coming down on her upon seeing the familiar wisp. It seemingly bobbed up and down slightly as if answering her, and then her eyes were abruptly covered by a hand, just like last time.
"I got you, Yashiro. Sorry for the wait."
That's when everything went black for Nene, but weirdly enough… she didn't feel that scared anymore. That voice that spoke to her, that hand shielding her from the doppelganger… she knew exactly who it is.
"Nice work, hakujoudai. I'll take it from here." Hanako praised his hitodama as it brought him Nene's unconscious form to his arms. They're finally back in the real world, and it seemed that time hadn't really gone by that much at all compared to the other world, as it's still around 9 PM in the evening.
He turned to the quivering mokke by the corner, giving them an exasperated look. "Next time, don't touch No. 4's stuff without her permission, alright? I'm already in enough trouble with her as it is…" He had it in mind to return Shijima's sketchbook later. She'd be really pissed off for sure… and the rumors that helped strengthen the existence of the other world will have to be ceased at once, too.
The mokke squirmed about, huddled together. "We just wanted to make a candy world!" One tried to explain.
"World with infinite candy!" Another chimed in.
"Don't lie. You were literally drawing up torture chambers in the pages and you thought I wouldn't notice?"
"Tch."
Hanako sighed, turning his attention back to Nene. "I better get her to the infirmary…" With the mokke following behind him, he carried her all the way to the school's infirmary, setting her down gently on one of the beds and tucking her in with a blanket before sitting down on a chair next to her.
In all honesty, he had been so worried for her when they got separated back in the other world. He couldn't imagine how scared Nene must have been all alone, but the fact that she figured out how to escape all on her own brought a sense of pride to him.
The mokke continued to fidget and mutter among themselves in the infirmary, but Hanako paid them no mind for the time being. His focus was solely on Nene. He reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his touch tender.
"You really are something, Yashiro," he whispered softly. "You've come a long way since we first met, you know? But I still can't really help but worry about you… with your lifespan and all that crap." Knowing Nene, she could be reckless at times, selfish… not selfish in the way she wanted happiness for herself, but selfish in the way she wanted her happiness to extend to everyone else… and that included him.
"You know, Yashiro," he said quietly, a hint of red appearing on his pale cheeks, "I may be a ghost, and you may be human, but that doesn't change the fact that I care about you. Even if I don't outwardly say it out loud." With that, Hanako leaned closer, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. It was a tender gesture, something he finds himself reserving for her.
"You've got a lot of living still left to do, Yashiro. So until then, don't go doing anything reckless, okay?"
He almost forgot about the mokke's presence if not for them suddenly chanting "Honorable No. 7's a big softie!" right behind his back. He glanced back at them with an annoyed expression.
"Keep that up and you'll be an ingredient in my kitsune udon."
That shut them up in an instant.
Hanako breathed out a sigh (or what the ghost equivalent of it is, I guess), settling back into his chair, continuing to watch over Nene as she slept. Hopefully, tomorrow wouldn't be another fiasco waiting to happen…
Pop! Goes the cap of a permanent marker.
"No. 7, can we draw on her face?"
"No."