Chapter 248: Yet, A Hand Was Clutched

【Event Approaching!】

【Entering Countdown!】

【Countdown——】

【Six hours, thirty-seven minutes, twenty-one seconds…】

Huh, six full hours?

So, it wasn’t actually happening anytime soon then!

It totally didn’t count as “approaching”!

Himekoji didn’t know what “event” the System was talking about, but he wasn’t the type to worry just because trouble might come. He could figure things out when the time came.

Also, worth noting, Himekoji did some quick math: the six-hour, thirty-seven-minute, twenty-one-second countdown ended right at three PM.

……

Crammed on the bus for a solid half-hour, they finally got off. Everyone looked sweaty and worn out.

Going to enjoy the Movie Village in this state seemed like a bad idea…

Himekoji thought it might be better to rest at the nearby coffee shop first. But just then, the hyperactive Tobe dashed back, having already bought the tickets.

“Here you go, Ebina-san.”

“Thank you~”

“And here, Himekoji-kun.”

Huh? There’s one for him? That was genuinely surprising to Himekoji.

Was this Tobe’s way of apologizing for Himekoji stepping on him earlier?

Come to think of it, Tobe seemed like he wasn’t actually so bad.

Himekoji said thanks and took the ticket.

……

The group entered the Movie Village.

After walking just a little while, the surroundings completely changed their look, taking on the feel of Japan’s Edo period.

Occasionally, people dressed as samurai passed them on the street. Besides the samurai, common sights were Oiran ladies and Ninja.

What took it to another level, though, was the mysterious ‘dinosaur’ that suddenly popped out of a pond nearby…

At every such surprise, the girls in their group would scream and shout excitedly. But the boys were more into some martial arts performances happening by the roadside, their eyes sparkling with excitement, itching to try it themselves.

Movie star photo sessions, martial arts lessons, make-over photo studios – cool attractions were everywhere.

They tried two of them back-to-back, then happily started looking around for their next stop.

“Next, I think we should head over there!”

“There? That one?”

“Sounds great!”

“Let’s go for that!”

Yuigahama was pointing at Toei’s Haunted Inn on the map – which was known as ‘The Scariest in History.’

Her suggestion got enthusiastic agreement from everyone right away; clearly, this was the spot they had all been aiming for.

After all, a haunted house is a classic theme park staple.

They must all have done tons of research before coming.

Plus, taking a group of boys and girls to a haunted attraction? Skipping the screams and heart-pounding moments just wouldn’t feel right.

The haunted inn at TOEI Kyoto Studio Park wasn’t your average haunted house.

Not only were the props and costumes amazing, but the ghosts and creatures meant to scare them were played by Toei Studio actors! Their acting was top-notch.

……

“Anyone not want to go through with this?”

At the entrance, Hayama, leading the group, thoughtfully checked with everyone one last time.

Not everyone likes haunted houses. There’s usually someone too scared, or someone who just finds them boring.

When Hayama asked the group this, not one of them raised a hand or bowed out.

Himekoji had been hoping that if anyone decided not to go in, he could just stay outside with that person and wait for everyone else. Unfortunately, absolutely no one declined.

So, after hesitating a moment, he reluctantly decided to follow along.

He wasn’t going to ruin everyone’s fun now.

The ten of them filed into the building. Behind them, the door shut with a heavy ‘PONG!’.

Inside, it was dark. Chilly air seemed to blow around them; the sudden temperature drop made them shiver.

Dark. Cold. And sealed in.

If Himekoji was actually traversing into Conan’s world…

Well, it’d probably mean someone was about to die.

Himekoji unconsciously looked toward Tobe, at the front.

For a character who always played background roles to suddenly get loads of screen time in the last few chapters? Wasn’t that the absolute classic sign of someone about to get killed off?

Plus, the overly talkative, loud types? Usually the first ones to kick the bucket.

……

“Eek~~ this haunted house is so scary~~”

Right in the middle of Himekoji’s weird thoughts, Miura, not far ahead, startled everyone with a sudden scream.

Then, she looked directly behind her.

Huh? Was she looking at him?

That acting was seriously terrible though.

Also, Miura? When you try to act all weak and girly like that? It doesn’t suit you. You’re way more appealing looking motherly worrying over everyone, like when you fiercely protected the other girls back on the bus!

Please, genuinely think about what really makes you cool!

While thinking this to himself, Himekoji was also stuck on how he should react to Miura. Luckily, Hayama nearby smoothly handled it for him.

“It’s fine, we have ten people with us,” Hayama offered kindly, reassuring her with a gentle smile.

Ah, right. Miura hadn’t been screaming to Himekoji at all; she was looking at Hayama beside him. That was her clumsy way of trying to be vulnerable to Hayama.

So why was Hayama standing so close to him?

Had his stealth-moving strategy stopped working after all?

Himekoji slowed his pace, deliberately dropping slowly behind until he was alone at the back of the group again.

……

Her poor acting wasn’t stirring any protective feelings in Hayama. Miura just shrugged and gave up, returning to her normal self. As they moved deeper into the inn hallway, she instead charged right to the front! When scary monsters appeared to frighten them, Miura met them with punches and kicks.

Thanks to her, Akiko—who always feared ghosts—was being kept completely safe…

No, it was practically overprotective.

Miura kept clinging tightly to Akiko’s hand.

Because of this, Akiko couldn’t even get close to Himekoji.

She had a Brother Complex, but ever since Miura set her sights on her, it was like being quarantined. For over a day now, she hadn’t been able to snuggle up to her beloved Onii-chan…

…

Further ahead, a fork appeared within the haunted house.

Almost without pausing, Miura dragged Akiko toward the left path.

The others behind them glanced at each other and, sharing the same thought, chose the direction opposite the Queen.

They had no choice. That person completely ruined the haunted house experience…

The ghosts were more scared of Miura than the visitors were of the ghosts! How are you supposed to enjoy that?

Stepping into the right fork—now free of the “ghost-scarecrow” Miura—they finally felt the haunting, creepy vibe the attraction was meant to have.

The surroundings were still decorated in the Edo period style.

In the darkness, only minimal lighting provided illumination. Yet, this lighting itself seemed to manipulate their gaze. If they fixated on a light source, they risked an ambush from the shadows.

Without Miura’s “evil-banishing” presence, raw, primal fear suddenly surged up in everyone’s hearts.

Suffused with an unnamed tension, no one spoke. The quiet corridor echoed only with the ragged rhythm of their breathing.

“Whoosh!”

Suddenly, a prop shot out unexpectedly from an area of indeterminate darkness.

“Gah! What?! Hayato, Hayato! Save me!”

Shockingly, Tobe—the one who usually seemed fearless—was the first to panic.

Honestly, that guy was always good at playing along with the atmosphere. So, right now… had he completely lost himself in the haunted house mood?

Tobe scrambled in fright, clambering right onto Hayama.

Witnessing this, Ebina nearby gave a satisfied, muffled chuckle: “Guhihih~”

“Eek! That weird sound just now…”

Yuigahama was walking behind Himekoji; likely paralyzed by terror, she clutched the hem of his clothes.

Hey… you’re about to yank my clothes off, so mind letting go?

That sound was Ebina, not a ghost. Nothing scary about it…

No, on second thought, Ebina was scary. Fudanshi girls were terrifying…

“I… I’m not very good with this kind of thing…”

It took several minutes before Yuigahama finally let go of the clothing. Hunching over nervously, she now firmly gripped Himekoji’s shoulder the entire time.

She kept scanning her surroundings while talking, wary of something abruptly lunging at them.

Together, they cautiously inched forward a little more.

When they reached the bend at the next junction, a monster suddenly sprang out beside them with a “Grooowl!”

Tobe jerked upright, then bolted full speed without a word.

Totsuka, startled by Tobe’s sudden flight, scrambled after him in panic.

Himekoji maintained a calm exterior, though he was internally quite unnerved.

He reflexively paused mid-step, causing Yuigahama, behind him, to bump right into him.

The back of his head met her forehead forcefully, producing a sharp, clear crack.

“Ungh…”

“That hurt…”

Both sank to the ground, gingerly massaging their respective bumps.

“S-Sorry…”

“No, my bad. I just… got startled…”

Apologizing, Himekoji turned to look at the other person—

Unexpectedly, Yuigahama, whose eyes were even tearing up from the pain, showed concern for him first. She reached out, gently rubbing his head where he’d been bumped as if double-checking.

“Does it hurt?”

Yuigahama asked anxiously.

“N-Not really…”

But hold on!

What was this sudden wave of warmth all about?

Compared to the physical pain, the sheer awkwardness was far worse now! So please stop!

Himekoji twisted his head, awkwardly staggering to his feet to escape her touch.

Yuigahama remained crouched on the floor.

“Hey… we should hurry up. They’ll leave us behind.”

He instinctively held out a hand to help her up—almost like the Onii-chan skills he’d honed for Akiko kicked in automatically.

“Eh?”

Yuigahama stared at his outstretched hand, clearly astonished.

“Urgh.”

Himekoji instantly realized, too. This gesture was far too familiar for their actual relationship.

He rethought it, forced a dry chuckle, and began pulling his hand back into his pocket.

“Thanks.”

But before he could, someone grasped it.

…