I'm so sorry, Kohane!

I had no idea that it was you inside that mask. Honestly, me running from you like that...

No, it's okay!

I'm sorry for chasing after you the way I did. I feel awful about making you feel so scared...

That's totally fine!

If anything, it ended up being good exercise!

Seriously, how did things end up like this...?

But I'm glad that we were able to meet up. We can finally start seeing what your School Festival has to offer.

So, what do you wanna do?

You still up for going inside this haunted house?

O-Of course I'm going in...!

Kohane and her class worked really hard on it!

I-I'm a little scared... B-But I'll be fine!

An...

Thank you...

Fortunately, I have a feeling that you're going to like our haunted house...

Because there's a way for you to enjoy it as a game.

R-Really? What about that scary wolf?

Some other girls from my class made that and it's really only meant for guests who seem like thrill seekers. So, it's not like you'll have a bunch of those chasing after you.

Does that mean the wolves inside will look a bit more standard?

I kinda wanted to see the scary one in action... But I'm also kinda curious to see how they toned it down for the fraidy cats.

Don't worry! It's meant to be fun for everyone!

So, I hope you guys enjoy it...

Kohane...

Okay...

Then... Let's go in!

Alright, we have four entering the forest!

But before you go, you'll get to choose to wear one of three hats! You can be Little Red Riding Hood, a young goat or a hunter!

Hats...? What happens when we wear these?

Oh, how you go through the haunted house changes based on which you choose.

If you're Little Red Riding Hood or a goat, it'll be a maze like a normal haunted house, and your goal will be to reach the exit.

If you choose to be a hunter, you'll be given a toy gun that lets you shoot and chase away wolves.

Whenever you feel like you're in danger, all you have to do is point your gun at a wolf and say, “Bang!” Then it'll go away.

I see... Is this what you meant by enjoying this haunted house as a game, Azusawa?

At the same time, I feel that things would become too unbalanced if we all choose to be hunters.

Oh, actually, only one person per group can choose to be a hunter. The rest will become Little Red Riding Hood or goats.

Then, An, you should be our hunter.

You'd feel better if you knew you could fight back, right?

Alright, Azusawa, you'll be our Little Red Riding Hood. Akito and I will be the goats.

Y-You can count on me!

I'll blast anything scary that comes our way...!

Okay!

Plus...

If things get really scary, An, I'll be there to protect you!

...!

Okay! Thanks, Kohane!

I-It's pretty dark in here...!

But some of these decorations are pretty cute...

Yes, they did a good job of making it feel like a fairytale.

Yeah, I should be able to handle...

<Whoa! Kohane, is this your haunted house?!>

Eep! M-Monster!

My gun! Where's my gun?!

An...

That was just Rin!

Huh? O-Oh, you're right...

Sorry about that, Rin...

Relax, will you...?

Also, we're blocking the entrance, so we should probably proceed.

W-Wait!

We should stick together and...

*Howl*

*Scream*

*Growl*

*Howl*

W-Wolf! I have to... Wait, huh?

*Bark*

*Howl*

It's acting kinda goofy...

Hm?!

*Howl*

It's raising its arms. Is it trying to intimidate us?

I've seen a different animal do this before...

Red pandas, I think?

*Whimper*

Haha...!

It's actually kinda cute!

(*Gasp*

Thank goodness! An's smiling!)

(I'm so glad that I asked Minori to be a cute wolf for us...!)

Bye bye, Wolfie!

Woof♪

Alright, that wolf seemed pretty friendly...

Yeah, I feel a lot better now!

This much I can handle!

Hehe. Great!

So, let's keep going!

*Howl*

*Snarl*

Wh-What's going on?!

That wolf seems pretty wild!

An, your gun! Now's your chance!

O-Oh, right! Bang!

*Whimper*

<You did it!

An, that was so cool!>

Hehe. You think so?

*Howl*

This one seems much cuter.

However, it doesn't seem like it's about to let us pass.

Heh heh heh. Just leave that to me.

Bang!

*Whimper*

How's that? I feel like a pro now.

Yeah, An, you're doing great!

This is so much fun! It really feels like a video game! I was kinda scared of them jumping out at first, but I've gotten the hang of shooting them!

I can probably handle whatever this place throws at me now!

It's good to see that you're enjoying yourself, Shiraishi.

I mean, this is pretty mellow as far as haunted houses go. I guess this is about the level An can really handle.

Speaking of which, Akito, you don't seem all that bothered by the wolves.

That's because I know they're not real. Especially the ones that look goofy and cartoonish. Those aren't gonna...

...

*Growl*

Uhh...

That one sounded pretty real... Was that...?

A real wolf...?

(I asked Shiho to do a little surprise for us since some of us don't seem to be scared easily, like Shinonome.)

Hmm... These trees seem much more realistic. Your class has done an excellent job of recreating a dusky forest.

B-But I have a feeling that something's about to...

*Growl*

*Gasp*

That sound...

*Bark*

Eep!!!

Whoa!!!

W-W-W-Wait a second! That's the zombie wolf Kohane was playing earlier, right?!

Its fangs look real...

Try to calm down, Akito, Shiraishi.

You said just now that it's not real, yes?

Y-Yeah, I know!

A-An!!! Shoot it so we can...

I... I... I...!

I know! But my hands are shaking too much!

Huh?!

Oh no...!

An!

Pass me that gun!

K-Kohane...?!

Here, put on my hat!

O-Okay...!

<Cool! You can do it, Kohane!>

So... I aim the gun at the wolf and...

Fire...! Bang! Bang!

Guh...!

Hey, I think you stunned it...

Is this our chance to head towards the exit?

Let's go, you guys!

Geez, that was scary...

My heart's still racing...

Yeah, I feel pretty tired...

Hehe. Me too...

And it was my first time going in as a guest. That was really thrilling.

So, how was it...?

Did you guys have fun...?

Yeah!

It was super fun!

I don't think I've ever seen a haunted house like this one before!

It was scary... But that wasn't a problem because you were there to protect me in the end, Kohane!

I enjoyed it as well.

I didn't realize haunted houses could be so much fun.

Yeah, our class did a slightly better one, but we never would've been able to put anything together like that last wolf...

*Gasp*

Thank goodness...!

Sounds like you all enjoyed yourselves.

Hehe. I'm so glad for you, Kohane!

Oh, Minori, Shiho!

Yeah, we did! Thank you both for helping me out!

Wait, does that mean...?

Were you both the wolves?

Yup! I was the one that appeared in the beginning, and Shiho was the last one.

What? That really scary one was you, Hinomori? Wow... You put on a really good performance.

Oh, I just tried copying how a real wolf howls... The wolf's head I think did the rest.

Yes, that mask is quite something.

Even when Azusawa was wearing it, I felt that it belonged in a horror film.

Yeah, I get what you mean...

But did you guys have to make it look so realistic?

Interesting...

I guess you're not as tough as you look.

What? Hey, don't get the wrong idea.

Haha! You did great too, Akito!

Anyway, Hinomori, Minori, thanks a bunch!

Hehe...

(I really wasn't sure what was gonna happen when I had to go chase after An...)

(But I'm so glad we're smiling like this now.)