[Original] Chronicles of the Paranormal [Novel]

Chapter 2: Ghostly Shenanigans

Chapter 2: Ghostly Shenanigans
Kotone woke up that morning to find the ghost hovering over her. She closed her eyes again. Was she dreaming? She had to be. It was the only rational explanation.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but please, I need your help!" said the ghost. "I really, really need your help! I wouldn't bother you otherwise, but this is really important, and you're the only person who can do this for me!"

"You're not real!" Kotone shouted at the ghost. "Stop bothering me and go away already!"

"Please, just listen to what I have to say! I've been searching everywhere for a solution an-"

"No!" Kotone said, before she lashed out at the ghost again. Again it went flying through the wall.

After that incident, Kotone undressed from her pajamas and put on her sailor uniform, complete with the shirt, skirt, tie, and stockings that went with it. Once she was satisfied that the tie was knotted correctly in place and there was not a wrinkle anywhere to be found on her dress, Kotone ate a quick breakfast and went outside to meet up with Megumi, who was cheerily waving at her, as always.

"Hey Kotone-chan! How are you this morning?"

"Much better. I'm feeling charged up to do important things today."

"That's the spirit!" Megumi said, and they began walking towards the school together.

"So how was your night?" Kotone asked to spur on a conversation with her friend.

"Oh uh, you know, studying...the character dynamics in the various anime that I watch late at night?" Megumi said with a goofy smile on her face. "Oh, and did I tell you that Ayano-chan told my fortune? Everything was 100% correct! She even predicted the twists in the newest anime that were airing, as well! Isn't that cool?"

"Well, I wouldn't say that it's particularly amazing. Anime has become increasingly more predictable these days. Fortune-telling is a just scam that other people try to persuade other people into believing to make money off of them. There's no such thing as being able to predict the future, that's just silly."

A draft whirled out of nowhere, and Kotone braced herself against the freak wind. Her hair streamed behind her, messing up the straight part she carefully combed. Her eyes then widened and she glanced down. She was wearing a skirt. The wind lifted up her skirt for all the world to see. A flush crept across Kotone's cheeks, staining her cheeks a deep crimson red despite the fact she tried to remain as dignified as possible. She cleared her throat when she noticed Ayano approaching her.

"That's fancy underwear that you're wearing, Kotone-san," Ayano said.

"S-Shut up!" Her cheeks reddened considerably.

"Ufufufufufu..."

A prominent chord stood out. Kotone's eyes narrowed then darted back and forth between the white-haired girl and the seemingly empty space behind her.

"Ufufufu!"

Kotone gritted her teeth and clenched her hands into fists. It's probably that damned ghost from before. She shook her head. No, even if there was a ghost - which there most certainly wasn't - she had another matter to attend to, such as the strange girl that caught her in an inopportune moment.

"Good morning, Ayano-chan!" Megumi said.

"Good morning. May I walk with you to school?"

"Of course!" Megumi said. "The more the merrier, right, Kotone-chan?"

"I suppose it'll do no harm. Do what you like."

Megumi wrapped her arms around Ayano's shoulders and clasped her tight against her. "Thank you so much for telling my fortune yesterday! You're like the most adorable fortune-teller ever!"