pdf-ebookys Chapter 164 The Nighttime Stalking?
Chapter 164 The Nighttime Stalking?
It is said that a very gloomy guest once stayed at this hot spring hotel and checked into room number seven in the main building.
That's right, our rooms are number thirteen and fourteen, which means that the guest room is right across from the window.
The gloomy guest, since moving in, has refused everything. He doesn't need to be served meals and doesn't allow anyone to approach his room.
Although the customer acted strangely, the shopkeeper didn't bother with it since they had already paid a deposit.
However, on the third night of the guests' stay, a scream was heard from every room in the main building. When people opened the door to room number seven, they found a hanging figure swaying from side to side.
Later, people said that the person was cursed by Yuanchi and could not bear the pressure, so he hanged himself.
After that, many people who stayed in room number seven said that they felt something was in the room and that it was particularly oppressive.
Under the dim yellow light, which was a small table lamp that Fujiwara Chika had brought herself, the other three sat attentively on the bed, listening to the story that Fujiwara Chika was telling.
Chitanda looked curious. "Where did Fujiwara-kun hear this story from?"
"Hehe, campus forum."
Uchiha Ryo nodded. "OK, we can now determine that it's fake."
Chitanda Eru drew back the curtains. "We're in room fourteen, so room seven must be across the hall."
Yukinoshita looked at Uchiha Ryo, "This is just a story the students made up when they were bored... And why were you staying in the girls' room?"
Uchiha Ryo ignored Yukino's scrutinizing gaze. "Didn't we say we'd tell ghost stories together tonight? I came because I was worried you'd be scared."
Yukinoshita: "We're scared because you've been staying in the room the whole time!"
Fujiwara Chika pointed at Uchiha Ryo, "Now it's Ryo's turn to speak, and then you can go back to sleep after you're done."
"I don't know how to tell ghost stories, um... midterms are coming up soon, does that even count?"
Fujiwara Chika's expression froze. "Don't...don't say that! I forgot to review again..."
Chitanda sat down next to Fujiwara Chika and patted her head. "It's okay, Yukino and I can tutor you!"
Fujiwara Chika pouted, "We're all out having fun, so let's not talk about things that will ruin the mood! Ling, please find something else to talk about."
Inside the room, the top student in the grade smiled, while the fifth and sixth students had no idea how Fujiwara Chika, who was ranked around 100th in the grade, felt.
"Forget it, I'm going back."
Uchiha Ryo got up and went back to his room. He was indeed not good at telling ghost stories, but wouldn't telling Natsume's childhood stories count?
In fact, if Natsume were to write an autobiography, it would probably become a hit like a novel.
Back in his room, Uchiha Ryo looked out the window and saw a nimble figure appear below the main building of the inn—the little fox he had met in the hot spring.
Just as Uchiha Rin was getting curious, another group of people walked out of the hotel's main entrance, and the little fox immediately ran away upon seeing them.
Uchiha Ryo activated his Sharingan, and the person leaving the hot spring inn... was none other than the inn's proprietress, Hinatsuru Akina.
Why did Xiao Ai's mother go out in the middle of the night, and why did she go not to the city streets, but to the mountains and forests?
Although the back mountain of Shuchiin Temple is open to the public and there are basically no wild animals, there are quite a few mountain spirits like little foxes.
He opened the window and jumped down from the second floor. Uchiha Rin chose to follow him quietly.
In the quiet of the night, Uchiha Ryo followed a beautiful young woman through the dimly lit woods. Please don't misunderstand, he was just worried about Ai's mother's safety.
However, the people accompanying Hinatsuru Ashina were not only Uchiha Rin, but also a little fox.
"Little fox, explain yourself, what is this young crane's boss lady doing out in the middle of the night?"
Uchiha Ryo circled around to Makiko's side, then looked at Hinatsuru Akina, who was heading deeper into the forest.
The little fox sighed, "This human often comes to see Lord Firefly, but ordinary people can't see Lord Firefly's spirit at all."
"I originally wanted to pass on a message from Lady Firefly, but she said that she is different from us worldly yokai and cannot form bonds with humans."
Uchiha Ryo: "Why shouldn't we form a bond?"
The little fox shook its head. "You'll have to ask Lord Firefly. I'm not entirely sure either, since I'm a yokai preparing to enter the world, just like my older brothers and sisters."
At night, by the pond, lies the legendary Abyss Pond of the Hina Tsuru Inn. However, the so-called Abyss Pond is nothing more than a habitat for fireflies.
Hina spread the blanket on the ground and sat down quietly, silently watching the fireflies dancing around the pond.
Strangely, Hinatsuru Akina was holding a golden yukata in her hands. However, the clean yukata was left to soak in the water.
What are you doing... washing clothes? Did you come to the pond in the mountains just to wash clothes?
Uchiha Ryo stood up and walked straight over. He didn't need to hide anything; rather than investigating in secret, he might as well take the initiative to ask.
Hearing footsteps, Hinatsuru Akina was clearly surprised that someone would come over.
"You're that male student from Shuchiin Academy. Why aren't you resting in your room? Did you also come to admire the fireflies?"
"I guess so... but what brings Aunt Hinatsuru here?"
Uchiha Ryo's gaze fell on Hinatsuru Ashina, next to whom sat a person who was invisible to ordinary people on the blanket.
A woman with long blonde hair was looking at them with curiosity.
Hinatsuru Akina smiled. "I just wanted to return the clothes she lent me back then."
"Return the clothes? Before returning the clothes, you have to soak them in water..." Hinatsuru Akina clearly saw Uchiha Ryo's incomprehension and could only sigh helplessly as she spoke.
"Because she would only jump out and scold me when my clothes got wet... But all these years have passed, and she has never appeared again."
Uchiha Ryo shifted his gaze from the blonde beauty to Hinatsuru Akina in front of him.
"Who...is she?"
Hinatsuru Aki looked down at the wet, golden yukata in her hands.
"She is my benefactor and friend. When I was very young, she often sat here with me and watched the fireflies flying all over the sky."
With that, Hinatsuru Akina stood up and took the blanket back.
"I come here whenever I feel bored. But it's getting late, shall we head back together?"
Uchiha Ryo shook his head. "Aunt Hinatsuru, please go back first. I want to enjoy these fireflies a little longer."
Hinatsuru Ashina passed by Uchiha Ryo and suddenly stopped.
"It's fine to look at fireflies, but I hope you won't hurt those little creatures... Fireflies have short lifespans, and I don't want them to deviate from their natural destiny because of human intervention."
"Of course... I just wanted to appreciate this beautiful scenery that's not usually seen."
Hinatsuru Akina left, while Uchiha Ryo walked towards the blonde woman.
"Excuse me, may I ask if you are Lady Firefly?"
The blonde woman, still sitting there, turned her head. "You... are different from ordinary people. You can see me."
"sure."
Uchiha Ryo approached and, together with Yingguang, gazed at the beautiful Milky Way-like scene on the lake's surface, formed by fireflies.
"That auntie Hina Tsuru from earlier... you must be talking about, right?"
Firefly nodded. "Yes, she is also my benefactor... and my friend."