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Hello. I’m a ghost living in the Old School!

Some people who come occasionally call me an evil spirit, but it hurts my ghostly feelings, so please be careful!

I just like staying in the Basement and playing pranks a bit; I’m not an evil spirit, really.

Actually, I’ve been here for quite a long time.

When I couldn’t even speak or had any special powers, the building was filled with loud students, but then suddenly everyone disappeared.

Even the people who managed the building vanished, and as it grew more eerie, my powers became stronger, but I was saddened that my friends to play pranks with were gone.

Still, for several years, there were students who secretly came to visit, so I found some comfort in that.

Thanks to my powers growing stronger, I could play even more fun tricks too.

One of them is this!

First, I need two people. Why two people, you ask?

Some friends who come to such a spooky place like to test their courage, but there are often friends of the opposite gender who seem to like each other.

So, it’s two!

Now, these two enter the room.

Then I read the mind of the first friend who came in, figuring out what the second one desires.

It’s tough, of course, but hidden desires and all those dark things are my specialty!

Then, I lock these two in the room and don’t let them out until I unravel those desires.

Of course, I have protective measures in place, so friends won’t get hurt, and no one outside will worry.

Now, what will happen next?

Ahem! Thanks to my tricks, I’ve helped create a whopping 42 couples.

At first, there were few visitors, but I guess word spread because after a while, many began to come.

But that didn’t last long.

It seemed too conspicuous; while the friends I wanted to come didn’t show, bad wizards came and started tormenting me and my ghost friends!

So, I hid in my favorite Basement. I even concealed the stairs leading down here.

Fortunately, it seems the bad wizards didn’t notice.

But my joy was short-lived.

I avoided the eyes of the bad wizards, yet friends to prank with stopped visiting altogether.

Now I could read friends’ desires better, but… I was so sad that they weren’t around.

But then, to my surprise!

After such a long time, many lively friends came to visit.

Since they looked young, I don’t think they are the bad wizard uncles and aunts.

First, I invited the most fun-looking friend to the Basement.

The friends who came with her were all nice and worriedly bustling about looking for their missing friend.

I can’t express how happy I was when they found their way to my Basement.

So, I decided to pull a prank after such a long time.

The first target is a cute little wizard. Since she’s adorable, I’m sure she’ll be a good wizard and not like the mean ones who hurt me.

Sure enough, the little wizard friend brought along another pretty friend.

Now, it’s time to read the little wizard’s desires.

If they were friends of the opposite gender, I could create another couple, but I feel a bit disappointed about that.

Huh? But the little wizard’s desire is strange? She wants to hug her pretty friend!

Hmm… Their terms of address seem odd, but I guess they might be like sisters.

I easily cleared it, and they escaped the room.

Alright, since the first one was a bit disappointing, I’m expecting the second friend to show a fun reaction.

The second lucky friend is a little red-haired friend.

Huh? But this second red friend also brought a pretty friend? She’s quite popular.

Now, let’s read the red friend’s desires just like before.

Huh? Our little red friend is quite cheeky.

She wants to kiss her pretty friend!

Hmm… But do girls kiss each other, even if they aren’t friends of the opposite gender?

I’m not sure. I haven’t seen that among the couples I’ve created.

But it doesn’t matter; it seems fun.

As soon as I lock the door, the red friend tries to break it down. But no way! At least in this Basement, no one can overpower my powers.

Finally, the two noticed the phrase written on the door.

Hehehe…

Both their faces turned bright red!

This is the reaction I was hoping for! It feels like the thirst I’ve been holding back for decades is finally quenched.

They stayed still for a while, but don’t worry.

As I mentioned before, time flows differently inside the room and outside.

And finally, it seems the pretty friend is about to kiss the red friend.

Oh ho ho….

The pretty friend looks so shy. She’s frozen right in front of the red friend.

Oh! The red friend, feeling impatient, grabs the pretty friend and starts kissing her nonstop.

Ahhh—

By the time of the last tenth kiss, I was so embarrassed that I covered my eyes. Of course, ghostly hands are transparent, so I could see everything!

The red friend bolts out the door.

I missed such pranks so much! But I can’t stop here.

There’s still one friend left.

The beautiful silver-haired friend looks like a beautiful blonde friend too, but… I feel a bit scared. I’m not sure why.

I wasn’t scared when the bad wizards came, so….

But I can’t give up on a prank after so many years.

Let’s invite the blonde friend. Of course, she’s coming with the pretty friend.

The pretty friend seems to have gotten used to it by now because she’s indifferent when seeing the closed door.

Now, let’s read the blonde friend’s desire?

…

…

…

Hieeeeeeeek!

So…so shameless! Pervert! Lewd spirit! How could she have such desires for a friend…….

But according to the rules of the room, her desires must be put into action.

But I definitely can’t write down that… that… ‘thing’ on the door!

No way. Ghost judging panel, come out!

*

“What is this? Is it broken?”

I knocked on the half-finished door and looked around, but there was no sign of the sentence being completed.

Selian also had a curious expression, unsure of what was happening.

During the moment I thought I really needed to break down the door, suddenly three ghosts appeared from one side of the wall that had previously not shown themselves.

Clang!

As soon as I saw the ghosts, Selian and I quickly drew our swords and took our fighting stance, but something felt off about the ghosts.

Rather than attacking us, they seemed to be whispering among themselves.

As I pondered whether to attack first, the ghosts finally decided to attack us and pulled something from their clothes.

But upon seeing it, Selian and I could only be left with more questions.

What the ghosts pulled out wasn’t a weapon or anything like that, but rather some signs.

All three ghosts held a sign in each hand with O and X written on them.

Then the first ghost held up the O sign, and the second ghost followed by lifting the X sign.

What are they doing?

Based on the situation a moment ago, it should be the third ghost’s turn, but for some reason, the third ghost couldn’t hold up a sign and instead looked conflicted.

She tried to lift this sign, but then she would reach for that one again…….

As Selian and I watched for a while, the third ghost eventually made up her mind and finally held up a sign.

The sign she raised was X.

So, there’s one O and two Xs… What does that signify?

However, instead of answering my curiosity, the three ghosts seemed satisfied with their signs and vanished as they were.

…?

“What was that?”

“Who knows…?”

Inside the room, only Selian and I were left standing awkwardly with our swords drawn.

While the mysterious ghosts faded away, I thought of breaking down the door now that I had drawn my sword.

But, surprisingly, the incomplete sentence from earlier had been completed.

『You must say you love each other 10 times to leave this room.』

…

I wondered if I was a fool for trying to understand the antics of evil spirits.

Well, anyway, this isn’t too difficult of a challenge. At least it’s much easier than the time I kissed Anne ten times.

“Hey, Selian? Can you listen to me without misunderstanding?”

I mentioned the previous times I got trapped with Frecia and Anne to explain the situation about the room.

Of course, I didn’t mention what the conditions were for the previous rooms.

How could I outright say I hugged tightly and kissed them?

“So… that means we need to follow this sentence to get out, right?”

Selian didn’t seem to care too much.

“Yes, that’s right. If we don’t do as the evil spirit says and try to break the door and make it angry, it might give us an even stranger condition, so it’s better to just comply… Whoa! Stop! Selian! Stop, stop!”

While I was talking, Selian suddenly started trying to break down the door, so I quickly pulled her back with all my might.

I understand being angry about such an absurd trap, and considering it’s Selian, she might actually be able to break down the door, but I hope she can hold back because otherwise, they might impose an even stranger condition.

“Alright, alright. Don’t get too angry, just calm down.”

“…I’m already calm?”

Is a person who is calm really trying to break down a door, Selian?

“Just say you lov… Anyway, we just need to say that word ten times. It’s nothing difficult, right?”

“…Okay. I got it.”

Fortunately, Selian agreed to go along with the evil spirits’ prank.

“Now, then I’ll start first?”

“Yes.”

So, Selian and I faced each other to clear the mission.

“I… I…”

…But this isn’t easy.

A moment ago, I thought this would be easier than kissing ten times, but surprisingly, saying ‘I love you’ feels harder than kissing.

“…I love you.”

“Haah…!”

But I managed to squeak it out in a voice that was barely audible.

However, it seemed Selian was also feeling shy, as she quivered all over.

“I love you too.”

Now it was Selian’s turn.

But after hearing her say that, I understood why she was trembling.

Saying it was embarrassing, but hearing her say it was just as embarrassing.

Especially since I’m a guy deep down, so it felt like a real confession directed at me, amplifying that embarrassment even more.

“I love you.”

“Hey… I love you too.”

“I love you.”

“Ahh… I love you more.”

…Selian, making those kinds of playful remarks only makes me more embarrassed.

Finally, after a long time… once we barely reached ten, we heard a click as the door opened.

Having seemingly drained all my energy, I dashed out of the room, leaving behind Selian, who looked somewhat enlightened.

…Just wait till I catch those evil spirits.