Translator: Silver

「36」

「Trick or treat!」

「Ah, you scared me!」

「Have fun trick-or-treating!」

「Happy Halloween. Let the fireworks light up the sky. Let's go trick or treating. One by one, we knock on doors. Everyone gives us sweets and everyone has a good time. Now, its time to have a party.」

English flyers plastered every hallway in the school.

When did this place become an English only zone?

Seats in every cla.s.sroom were filled with witches, ghost, vampires, and werewolf. There was another Halloween tradition, but the rules prevented shenanigans in the cla.s.sroom.

In other words, cla.s.srooms were safe havens.

If you didn't want to partic.i.p.ate, you had to stay in cla.s.s. I was sitting in my seat having my hair done. Since I didn't want to dress up, I was wearing the boy's uniform like usual, but Chiaki said that wouldn't be any fun and brought out the hair decorations she'd prepared in advance.

The interested girls stood in front of me with a mirror. Chiaki could be seen attaching a hair ornament in the reflection. She'd attached a small top hat ornament atop my head. There were Jack-o-lantern and bat pins placed in the top hat's brim.

Does wearing this make me a vampire?

It doesn't fit with ghost or witches.

“Geee!!”

Chiaki happily smiled in the mirror.

“Ah, so pretty. Was it made by Sugawarsama?”

Someone aware of Chiaki's skilled craftworks excitedly asked that question.

“It was. I knew Mizuki would never wear a full costume.”

“It's so beautiful.”

It was strange listening to their compliments with them dressed like they were. Most of the girls in cla.s.s were witches or ghosts.

By the way, I overheard an interesting conversation earlier.

『If you don't give me a treat, I'll play a prank on you.』

『Don't threaten me!』

『Give me candy or prepare for the worst.』

『Well, we'll leave for now. Let's celebrity with our roundup later (spoke in transit)』

That's how it was.

Actually, that last statement was a bit more poetic, but the meaning was the same.

The hallways were rift with tension, while the cla.s.srooms were safe s.p.a.ces. Partic.i.p.ants took advantage of this set up by sticking close to homeroom during breaks to dissuade potential pursuers.

Apparently, Suwa and I were prime targets as there was no shortage of people staring at us from the hallway.

It was a bit unnerving hearing a hitch in someone's voice every time I moved.

Today was a half-day, and the festivities went into full effect in the afternoon. The student council had transformed the auditorium into the main venue. Cakes and other sweets had been prepared in a buffet table for students of all grades. A few of my cla.s.smates invited me to the party, but for the sake of my peaceful school life, I politely refused.

Being too outstanding had its downsides.

“Mizu-chan, what are you doing for lunch?”

Chiaki suddenly asked me a question.

“Huh? I was gonna buy a bento at the café and hide somewhere.”

I wouldn't say where I'd be eating. Those after me would come out of the woodwork if I did that. I thought so and looked back at Chiaki when I heard a distinct high-pitched sound.

“Huh?”

The sound became louder when I turned my head.

A bell?

“Ch〜A〜Ki!”

“Hehehe.  I put a bell in the Jack-o-lantern. It's a bell for Mizu-chan.”

“So cute, Sugawarsama! It's wonderful.”

“Aah!”

“It's not good!!”

Even if I'm hiding, I'd be discovered immediately if I moved carelessly. Ah. Should I have Hayate remove it later? But, Chiaki put so much effort into it.

I was a bit conflicted about what to do.

“Ah, it's almost time. Shall we return to cla.s.s.”

Chiaki looked up at the clock and muttered that.

“Yes. Please be careful.”

The beautiful girl with twin-tails adverted her gaze and obediently followed after Chiaki.

“You too, Mizu-chan. You should be especially careful around the student council.”

After whispering that piece of advice to me, Chiaki turned on her heels and rushed out of the room.

“Then, see you later!”

The girl waved her hand goodbye before das.h.i.+ng out of the cla.s.sroom.

How was the student council connected to anything?

I frowned as I looked in the direction Chiaki ran off in.

Why was the student council interested in me?

When Suwa entered the room, his expression became strained when our eyes met.

“………… ah!”

Suwa dropped his gaze and seemed somewhat sad as he walked pa.s.sed me and took his seat.

“……What's brothering Suwsama? Is he an eye demon…?”

Our cla.s.smates began muttering amongst themselves about his appearance. Was he some kind of youkai? This was a western event, why choose a j.a.panese monster?

I never understood Suwa's sensibilities. And I didn't want to understand them either.

“I think a human face is more interesting.”

The cheek, shoulder, or the back of the hand would've been a more exciting place for the eyes. But, wouldn't it be a full costume at that point? It's a pity he didn't go all the way with it.

“Mizuki-sama?”

“The bell will chime soon. You should return to your seat.”

“That's right. Excuse our rudeness.”

The smiling girls quickly returned to their seats.

I didn't step outside the cla.s.sroom all morning.

Morning cla.s.s came to an end, and it was lunchtime.

I'd ordered a bento before homeroom today, but I couldn't help but worry as I waited in the cla.s.sroom for Hayate to bring it here from the café before we headed off to lunch.

The students wandering the halls also began leaving to enjoy their own lunch. Almost no one was left now. Only then did Hayate come to pick me up.

“Mizuki.”

“Yeah, let's go.”

Just in case, I grabbed a small bag of treats before leaving. To the unaware, it looked like a regular lunch box. But from here on out, this box was my battle attire.

The goal was the avoid the opponent's tricks without losing any treats. If all else failed, I could escape to the safe haven of the nurse's office. Anyone that chased after me would become the Empress's prey. Hiding behind our parents and refusing to partic.i.p.ate in games wasn't allowed in our home. However, alliances were acceptable, so I formed one with my sisters.

My sisters wouldn't hesitate to re-educate anyone who thought they could get away with messing with me. Running away was fine so long as you weren't running to our parents.

Our destination was the back of the greenhouse. Only a small number of salon members even knew that there was a private rest area there. While I occasionally used this area when I wasn't feeling well, most people avoiding coming here.

After leaving the cla.s.sroom, we followed an out of the way route to the salon.

Of course, I never expected to go undiscovered.

“S-Sagarsan! Trick or treat!”

Someone suddenly called out to me from behind.

Dang it, we were found so soon!

“Mizuki!”

Hayate anxiously glanced my way.

The voice didn't sound familiar, so it wasn't an acquaintance. My brother's method of repealing people should work. I nodded to Hayate before taking a deep breath and turned around.

I muted my expression and slowly looked upon my pursuer.

I didn't know the face.

There was a blue strip under their school badge, indicating that they were a first year like me.

Since the badge was used for three years, there was a stripe beneath the surname. First years were blue, second years were green, and third years were red. Third years handed their stripe over to a first-year upon graduation.

The boy looking back at me seemed rather tense.

If you were so nervous, you shouldn't have spoken in the first place.

“…… So? Are you gonna play a trick on me?”

I spoke slowly without giving anything away.

Like Yak.u.mo said, people were caught off guard by an expressionless face and a neutral tone.

Just like he said, the body in front of me seemed frightened by my behavior.

“H…… huh……”

“Aren't you gonna play a treat? On me.”

The edges of my lips gradually rose as I began to chuckle.

It's quite challenging to keep a straight face and laugh, brother!

“Uh, ah, sor…… so-sorry!!”

The boy blurted out an apology before he ran away at full speed.

“As expected of nii-san! Exceptional results.”

I was a little impressed by the outcome.

In opposed to my excitement, I heard a sigh behind me.

“…… Yak.u.mo〜.”

Hayate groaned as he ma.s.saged his head.

“Didn't repeal him properly? Is there a problem, Hayate?”

“What are you gonna do when the treats-seekers return with tricks?!”

“Would you say that to Chiaki? There's always a bit of risk involved when it comes to candy blackmail.”

I thought that was an apt remark. My convictions remained firm.

“But this is just an event.”

“That's not the only way of fighting I learned from my brother. I have to try them all and report the results back to him.”

“Yak.u.mo! What are you filling her head with?”

Hayate groaned as his head fell. It was dangerous to take this any further.

“Hey, Hayate! Let's go. I'm hungry.”

Hayate's mental state rebounded the moment I stumped my foot.

“Do you want me to become anemic and collapses from hunger?”

“I won't allow that to happen!!”

“Really? Well, make sure you carry me properly.”

“Don't collapse! However, you can rely on me if it happens.”

I started walking at a quick pace holding back a laugh.

As someone with a healthy appet.i.te, I'd hate to miss a meal.

While paying more attention to our surroundings, we made our way to the salon.