A few hours later
Mountain
1
Character icon
Emu

Let's see... Just gotta mark where to jump out and... All set!

2
Character icon
Emu

I'm done over here♪

How are you guys doing, Honami?

3
Character icon
Honami

We've finished setting up as well.

So, that just leaves...

4
Character icon
Mizuki

Hey, everyone!

5
Character icon
Emu

Hi, Mizuki!

6
Character icon
Mizuki

Huff... Huff... Sorry for the wait!

This customer asked me to help with their outfit near the end of my shift, and I really had my work cut out for me!

7
Character icon
Shizuku

Hehe. That's okay.

We haven't begun the test of courage yet.

8
Character icon
Emu

Exactly!

So, let's have go out there and have fun scaring everyone!

9
Character icon
Mizuki

Thanks!

I promise to be a really good scarer in return for being late!

10
Character icon
Mafuyu

Okay, thank you.

11
Character icon
Mafuyu

Then, now that we're all here, let's quickly review the plan.

12
Character icon
Mafuyu

Starting with our roles.

I'll be guiding everyone to the finish line, while the rest of you will be scarers.

13
Character icon
Mafuyu

Each group will consist of three people.

Whenever I reach a scare point, I'll give the signal for you to jump out—

14
Character icon
Emu

And that's when we jump out and scare the pants off them!

15
Character icon
Mizuki, Honami & Shizuku

Yeah!

16
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Mafuyu

That's it for me...

Is there anything you'd like to add, Otori?

17
Character icon
Emu

Anything I'd like to add...?

Oh, that reminds me!

18
Character icon
Emu

I don't want just the participants of our test of courage to have fun. I want everyone to, including the guide and the scarers!

19
Character icon
Emu

So...

20
Character icon
Mafuyu

...?

21
Character icon
Emu

Let's all enjoy ourselves and make sure we all go home smiling!

22
Character icon
Mizuki, Honami, Mafuyu & Shizuku

Yeah!

Okay.

23
Character icon
Mafuyu

It's very dark, so please watch your step as you go along.

24
Character icon
Miya Girls Student A

O-Okay...

25
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Miya Girls Student B

I-It's a lot darker than I thought...!

26
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Miya Girls Student C

Yeah...!

And that tree... I bet something's gonna jump out at us from behind it!

27
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Miya Girls Student B

Still, it's really nice to have Asahina guiding us through...!

28
Character icon
Miya Girls Student A

Yeah!

Even if a ghost were to pop out, we should be fine!

29
Character icon
Mafuyu

Are you sure about that?

What if I dashed ahead and left you all behind?

30
Character icon
Miya Girls Student B

No, please don't!

31
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Mafuyu

Hehe.

Oh, wait. Did you hear that?

32
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Miya Girls Student C

Huh? Hear what...?

Don't tell me...

33
Character icon
???

“Grrr...”

34
Character icon
???

“Rawr! Raaawr!”

35
Character icon
Miya Girls Student A

Eep! Wait, huh...?

Hold on...

36
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Miya Girls Student B

That was actually kinda cute...

37
Character icon
Emu

Now, Mizuki!

38
Character icon
Mizuki

Okay!

39
Character icon
Miya Girls Student B

Huh? Something's coming at us from behind...

40
Character icon
???

“Woof! Woof! Woof!”

41
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Miya Girls Student B

Huh?!

I-It's a big monster... No, wait!

42
Character icon
Miya Girls Student A

Check it out! It's a big dog plushie!

It's so adorable!

43
Character icon
Miya Girls Student B

This isn't scary at all. I guess we got all worked up over nothing.

44
Character icon
Miya Girls Student A

If anything, this is sorta heartwarming.

45
Character icon
Mafuyu

Hehe. But this dog isn't alone.

Quite a few other ghosts haunt this place, so you'll have to keep your eyes peeled.

46
Character icon
Miya Girls Student A

...!

Hey, I'm hearing more weird noises.

47
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Miya Girls Student C

M-Me too... And it sounds like they're getting closer.

48
Character icon
???

Meooow!

49
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Miya Girls Students

*Scream*

50
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Emu

Meow♪

51
Character icon
Emu

Meow♪ Meow meow♪

52
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Miya Girls Student B

Huh...? Wh-What?

It's hopping around so much.

53
Character icon
Emu

Looks like you're here to test your courage meow♪

54
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Emu

There are lots of fun and scary things up ahead meow! But it's really dark, so be careful meow♪

55
Character icon
Miya Girls Student A

Oh! It's so cute and helpful!

56
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Mafuyu

Hehe. Looks like you're welcome here.

Thank you, Ms. Monster.

57
Character icon
Mafuyu

Anyway, shall we keep going?

58
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Miya Girls Student B

Okay!

Bye bye, Ms. Monster!

59
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Emu

Bye bye meow!

60
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Miya Girls Student A

That monster was so nice...!

I kinda wish we could've stayed to talk to her more!

61
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Miya Girls Student B

Me too! Huh...?

Is it just me, or is it starting to get colder?

62
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Miya Girls Student A

Yeah...

It was really warm a second ago. Wait, does this mean...?

63
Character icon
Mafuyu

Yes.

Legend has it that she appears here.

64
Character icon
Mafuyu

Ah, take a look.

65
Character icon
???

Good evening.

66
Character icon
Miya Girls Student A

I-It's...

67
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Miya Girls Student A

Shizuku Hinomori!

*Scream*

68
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Miya Girls Student B

Th-This is my first time seeing her up close! I only saw her from afar a couple of times while pulling weeds...

69
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Miya Girls Student C

A-And she's dressed as a yuki-onna!

How often does this happen?!

70
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Miya Girls Student A

Also, why's it snowing here?!

71
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Shizuku

As a yuki-onna, I have the power to make it snow♪ Isn't it perfect for a hot summer day?

72
Character icon
Shizuku

You're welcome to rest and cool down here.

But please watch your step when you resume your adventure.

73
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Miya Girls Student A

Thank you!

74
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Mizuki

Talk about elegance!

75
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Honami

You did such a wonderful job that you seemed just like the real thing...!

76
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Shizuku

Hehe. I'm so glad that I was able to borrow that snow maker from Kamishiro♪

77
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Emu

On top of being really cute, you gave them a chance to cool down while they tested their courage!

78
Character icon
Emu

Anyway, let's keep up the good work, and scare lots and lots more people!

79
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Elementary Schoolers

That was a really fun test of courage!

80
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Elementary Schoolers

Yeah!

It's wasn't scary at all! Let's go again!

81
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Emu

Mr. Head Priest! We're back!!

82
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Mafuyu

All the participants have safely descended the mountain and gone home. Oh, one group is still using the restroom. Once we see them off, that'll be everyone.

83
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Head Priest

Ah, welcome back.

Thank you for being such wonderful monsters and spirits.

84
Character icon
Boy

Pardon me!

85
Character icon
Head Priest

Hm?

86
Character icon
Honami

Oh, he was a part of the final group...

Is something the matter...?

87
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Boy

I... I had a lot of fun today!

I promise to come back again soon!

88
Character icon
Head Priest

...!

89
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Boy's Father

Kenta!

If you're done using the bathroom, we're going home!

90
Character icon
Boy

Okay!

Anyway, thanks again for today!

91
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Head Priest

He wants to come back.

I don't know what to say...

92
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Honami

Hehe. That's so wonderful.

93
Character icon
Head Priest

Yes, it is...

94
Character icon
Head Priest

Even while we pulled weeds, I heard quite a few people say many kind things.

95
Character icon
Head Priest

And I have all of you to thank.

Your efforts have not gone unnoticed.

96
Character icon
Emu

Hehe...

I'm so glad we got everyone to smile!

97
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Mizuki

Anyway!

Now that everyone's gone, let's start cleaning up!

98
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Shizuku

Right.

It's very dark, so we'll need to be careful.

99
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Honami

It feels much spookier now...!

100
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Mafuyu

Oh, sir... Would you mind lending us the key to the storeroom? We'd like to put back everything we borrowed.

101
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Head Priest

Yes, of course.

Let me just... Huh?

102
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Honami

Is something wrong?

103
Character icon
Head Priest

No, it's just...

I can't seem to find the key to the storeroom...

104
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Emu

What?

105
Character icon
Head Priest

I might've dropped it somewhere...

106
Character icon
Mafuyu

Would you like us to help you look?

If you can tell us about where you think you dropped it...

107
Character icon
Head Priest

Yes, so...

I definitely had it on me after we finished pulling weeds. I remember going to and from the storeroom a few times.

108
Character icon
Head Priest

Then, I walked the course for your test of courage to make sure everything was ready. Which means...

109
Character icon
Head Priest

I may have dropped it somewhere along that path.

110
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Shizuku

Along the course...?

That may make finding it a bit difficult.

111
Character icon
Head Priest

I know...

But you've all been working since morning. I couldn't possibly ask you to...

112
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Emu

No, I wanna help!

113
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Honami

Emu...

114
Character icon
Emu

We might find it while we're cleaning everything up, so I'll be more than happy to look for it...!

115
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Mizuki

Me too...!

I've still got plenty of stamina left!

116
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Head Priest

All of you...

117
Character icon
Mafuyu

Then, I think we've reached a consensus.

118
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Mafuyu

The course itself is very long, so let's divide it up into two halves. Sir, if you, Hinomori and Mizuki can search the area from the start line until the midpoint...

119
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Mafuyu

Otori, Mochizuki and I will search the latter half.

120
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Mizuki

Okay, sounds good!

121
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Honami

U-Until the finish line...?

122
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Mizuki

Haha. It's part two of our test of courage! Let's do our best, you guys!

123
Character icon
Emu

Yeah!

Next Chapter: When You Smile