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𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙽𝚒𝚗𝚎: 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙻𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚜

ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 1009

☾︎☀︎︎☽︎☾︎☀︎︎☽︎☾︎☀︎︎☽︎☾︎☀︎︎☽︎

Chapter Nine: The Little Changes

☾︎☀︎︎☽︎☾︎☀︎︎☽︎☾︎☀︎︎☽︎☾︎☀︎︎☽︎

The eighth mystery, Fushigina. Apparently, no one was too surprised to realize that someone impersonated her. It is only her and Hanako that's completely baffled about it.

"What do you want?" She wasn't even visible and was about to do a surprise visit, but Tsuchigomori already knew. "Good afternoon, Tsuchigomori-sensei." Yashiro stepped inside in an awkward stance. She thought this may be the only place she could finally relax. It turns out Tsuchigomori is also in distress. "Is something wrong, teacher?"

"Apparitions are already demanding to release the 1st winner of November's event." The man massaged his temples as he pointed out the things that he's worrying about. Not even the 7th mystery gave a single duck about the situation. Except for the apparitions demand, there is also you, who needs more attention.

He was only recently made aware of your appearance. There were a lot of things that he wanted you to explain to him, along with him itching to say all the things he wanted to say to you. It's not really a good time since that boy should be rushing to get a look at you. "But, shouldn't it be released on the 6th of November?"

"I don't know. They're all so impatient to get their spotlight." The male scoffed. "Why did number seven get us in this much trouble?" If Hanako never arranged such a thing, he wouldn't be sitting on his chair and worrying about his wrinkles popping out.

Yashiro, with her hands clasped together, sat on the chair in front of him. "Tsuchigomori-sensei..." she softly mumbled to him. "What?"

"Do you know who Minatozaki Chiyo is?" The male paused, looking at her for a second. If Yashiro knows, then no doubt Hanako is also aware of it. "Just an old student of mine." Tsuchigomori took a deep breath as if mentioning it was already enough to tire him. "Is she a really close friend of Hanako-kun?" The blonde had her eyes wide and full of curiousity.

Yashiro remembered just how Hanako reacted at the sight of you. It was relief and— joy? She wasn't sure. "Close friend?" Tsuchigomori doesn't know if he should laugh or shiver at those words. "It's not really how I'd describe it, but yeah.. sure, they were pretty close." His words don't seem so trustworthy.

"What do you mean?" Yashiro tilted her head. She's not sure how to interpret that statement. "It's quite a complicated story. So, you shouldn't worry about it." He smiled at her, hoping to have no more questions thrown at him, and at that.. she stayed silent. Nothing more than the sound of the air conditioner dared to make any noise. Yashiro curiously whipped her head around, hoping to take a good look at Tsuchigomori's office. She's not the type to insert herself into something she's not involved with— well, maybe sometimes she doesn't. But, at this moment... she felt awkward when she entered earlier. Seeing Hanako being all responsive to someone is a fresh view.

Her gaze lowered, somehow feeling a little dejected at her situation. She's hiding herself in this office as if she had done something wrong. She just doesn't know what to feel.

"What wrong with that damn skeleton lookin' like wimp? It's making my blood boil! My wrinkles are popping!" Not even Tsuchigomori's leg hair expected a boy to come out of the small mirror that can barely hold a person. Mitsuba came out with a disgusted look, making it seem like the world had given up on him. "Mitsuba-kun? What happened to you?" Yashiro asked.

"Some guy just told me that my hair looks dry— that dipsh*t." The male scoffed, flipping his hair back in frustration. "So, is my place a community center? Why are people suddenly gathering in here.." The boomer muttered to himself. He can't even have time to get stressed.

"If only I can kick that ugly face and let him wail back to his mother like the loser he has always been." Mitsuba groaned, unable to contain his frustration. There are two things that make him triggered the most. One, if Minamoto Kou stands 20 feet closer— and two! If people disrespect him. The saddest thing is that he can barely do much to a living person than to the dead. "Who made you so mad in the first place?" Yashiro blinked, sweat dripping on her forehead at the sight of an enraged apparition.

"I don't care enough to know, but he goes to your class."

"My class?" She never expected his enemy to be so close to her, and it's also a living person and not the dead? How does that make sense? She can see ghosts, but to her knowledge, no one in her class bats an eye whenever Hanako roams around her like a pest. "Are you sure?" Yashiro asked, finding the accusations hard to believe.

Who else is able to see apparitions?

"Can you two stop gossiping here?" Tsuchigomori clicked his tongue, pushing the two towards the door and calmly shutting it in the rudest way possible. They couldn't even rebel as it happened so fast. "Ah, whatever." Mitsuba held his forehead, choosing to forget about it now. Surely he won't run off to a bastard like him again, won't he? As the male began walking off, Yashiro called his name. "Mitsuba-kun, are you free off schedule?"

"So what?" His sour mood really got the best of him. "Aren't you supposed to be with the chuckie-wannabe that scares people with a kitchen knife?" He politely meant Hanako. "He's a little busy with things..." she scratched her head in an awkward manner. "Do you want to hang around for a bit?" She doesn't really need a genuine company. She just wants to be with anyone who can stay for twenty minutes.

"Why not."