Yuka began boiling water again and spoke to Sayuri.

  “Sayuri-chan, you’re always wandering around the abandoned house with Shinobu-chan, right? Is it fun?”

  “I’m happy just being with Shinobu.”

  She declared it with a smile, then waved toward the camera.

  While the viewers imagined the girls’ cheerful scene and felt a sense of warmth, Sayuri continued.

  “Occasionally, the layout of the rooms changes, and sometimes we run into people we don’t know.

  It’s fun—exploring.”

  “Wow, really? That sounds like fun.”

  There were some confused comments at Yuka, who clapped her hands in delight, but most people brushed it off as just the usual.

  There were also questions about the rooms changing layout, but there was no way Sayuri would know, so they lightly brushed them off and moved on to the next topic.

  Come to think of it, Shinobu used to be so scared of supernatural beings that she’d often faint, but apparently most of it was just misseeing things.”

  “Huh? Really?

  Like when you’re scared, everything you see feels scary?”

  “She says she only realized it after she started exploring with me.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Lately, she can greet people she recognizes normally, and I hope the day comes when she can walk around without being scared.”

  Sayuri said with a bright smile.

  “Shinobu-chan’s growing.”

  Yuka smiled warmly as well, and a gentle mood spread through the comment section.

  “And then, the other day, Shinobu spoke to Haze-san, but that Haze-san turned out to be a different Haze-san.

  That surprised her—Shinobu, you know, she fainted.

  It had been a while, so I was surprised too.”

  Perhaps remembering what had happened, her expression dimmed slightly.

  “Huh? There’s a difference between Haze-san?”

  When Yuka voiced her question, Sayuri—now a little calmer—began to explain.

  “There are actually quite a few Haze-san, but unless they take on a human shape, you can’t tell who’s who. They’ll mix together and become someone else, then split apart again and go back to who they were.

  The Haze-san at that time had three eyes.”

  “Whoa, I might faint too.”

  Yuka said it with a hint of surprise, but Sayuri and the comment section were in agreement: No way.

  “That’s not true!

  I’m a delicate maiden too!”

  “But Yuka-chan, if you saw a moving cursed doll, you’d rush over to it,, wouldn’t you?”

  “If there were a moving cursed doll, anyone would rush over to it,!”

  “I don’t think most people would.

  When people came here for a test of courage, they usually ran away.”

  Sayuri’s perfectly reasonable reply cut down Yuka’s protest.

  Just as Yuka found herself at a loss for words, her eyes shifted to the pot.

  “Oh! It’s boiling!”

  Her face lit up in an instant, but then she suddenly tightened her expression.

  “I can’t be sure just yet. I’ll check properly by touching it.”

  Before anyone could stop her, Yuka’s scream rang out.

  Upcoming Releases

  Main story: "Two in the Abandoned House"

  ?Epi.14-EX & Author's Note: March 10 at 8:00 PM (PST).

  Update Schedule & Related Links

  : Contains the full update schedule and all related links.

  : Get early access and support the project here.

  : Read the Japanese version here

  Feel free to leave a comment or question—I'd love to hear your thoughts.