Yukino walked away in a hurry, her attitude especially resolute, clearly not intending to integrate into the class.
Kaito naturally wouldn't force her and was happy to take it easy.
This little episode was quickly tossed to the back of everyone's minds.
Kaito continued reading manga, while Bocchi kept squatting in the corner like a mushroom.
As for Miura Yumiko…
The girl leaned on the sofa, still holding her phone and scrolling through forums, trying to find a truly paranormal event.
She didn't have much hope at first, but as she scrolled and scrolled, she actually found a post that seemed kind of real.
'A beautiful piano sound suddenly echoed from the empty music classroom late at night… Eh? There's even an audio recording attached?', Yumiko was a bit curious. She wanted to click and listen immediately but was afraid she might break some kind of taboo.
After all, the trope of a cursed tape killing people is a classic plot in Japanese horror films.
She couldn't help but trot over to Kaito's side, presenting her phone screen like a treasure, "President, look at this post!"
Kaito glanced at it from the corner of his eye, not taking it seriously.
"If you're curious, it's fine to listen. No need to be so scared."
"Then I'll play it?"
Yumiko thought for a moment, then ran to the side and pulled Bocchi over too.
"Let's listen together, the three of us!"
Bocchi: o(╥﹏╥)o
Bocchi: 'Thank you so much for always thinking of me. You're really so considerate!'
'This should count as a rare club activity too, right?', Yumiko rubbed her fists together, and with Kaito by her side, she didn't feel as nervous anymore.
Shuka Academy had many clubs, and each club had its own things to do.
Academic clubs were busy studying, sports clubs were busy training, dance clubs were busy practicing. But the Supernatural Research Club, though it had been established for a while, hadn't had a single proper club activity.
The president even took the lead in slacking off. Either reading manga or playing on his phone. With immeasurable influence on the members.
"What kind of club activity is this?", Kaito was a bit speechless, "It's just listening to a recording."
"How is it not?", Yumiko argued confidently, "After all, the purpose of the Supernatural Research Club is to deal with these weird and mysterious things. Since this audio clip might be related to ghosts or something similar, it definitely counts as a club activity."
"Right, Bocchi-chan?"
Bocchi: o(╥﹏╥)o 'No objections here.'
Seeing her react like that, Yumiko stuck out her tongue and didn't press further. She tapped the screen lightly and opened the audio file in the post.
The first sound that came was a soft, slow melody.
The music was touching, the tune pleasant, gradually rising. Even an outsider like Yumiko could tell the player's skill was extraordinary.
The only flaw was… the audio included a bit of rapid breathing, like a drop of thick ink on white rice paper, ruining the atmosphere quite a bit.
It was probably the recorder's own breathing. Clearly, their emotions weren't calm while recording.
"This piece sounds, sounds like… Beethoven's 'Fur Elise'?", As a music blogger with thirty thousand followers online, although Bocchi's best instrument was the guitar, she still had some understanding of this world-famous piece.
"Indeed," Kaito also nodded slightly, though his expression showed some confusion.
The piano piece did have a calming effect, but perhaps because it was coming through a screen, the effect was very faint.
Seems like they encountered something real.
The recording wasn't long, just a bit over ten seconds, and it ended quickly.
While flipping through the post, Yumiko said, "According to the original poster, she was so absorbed in drawing that day, and when she snapped out of it, it was already completely dark outside. Her art clubmates were all gone."
"She packed up her tools and was planning to leave when she heard piano music coming from the music room upstairs."
"She got curious, thinking someone else was also obsessed with practicing and forgot the time, so she went up to take a look."
"But she found the music classroom completely empty, and the piano was playing by itself."
"She got scared, quickly recorded a bit of audio, and ran away in a panic."
"No video?"
Speaking of this, Yumiko was a little helpless, "She said she was too scared at the time and was worried she'd see something she shouldn't on the camera, so she didn't dare to film."
This kind of thinking wasn't surprising.
Cameras often get tagged as "spirit-sensitive" equipment in horror games, movies, and even novels.
"President, judging by your expression, don't tell me this poster was telling the truth?", Yumiko looked a bit nervous.
After being tricked so many times before, she was suddenly faced with a real paranormal event. It was hard not to get excited.
But at the same time, she worried. After listening to this recording, would a ghost or evil spirit latch onto her…
"It's definitely true," Kaito nodded. Seeing her instinctively hug her arms tightly, he chuckled, "Don't worry. There's no curse. In fact, after listening to this piano piece, your sleep quality tonight might even improve."
Just from the poster's experience, a completely ordinary female student was able to escape unharmed and even had time to record. It was obvious that the invisible pianist in the music room had no malicious intent.
If it had been a murderous evil spirit, there's no way it would've calmly played such a soothing tune.
"The poster's IP address is from Moon Forest!", Yumiko kept scrolling, her emerald-green eyes sparkling, "That's the famous ojou-sama school! I heard all the students there are super rich, and it's not even far from Shuka…"
"President, President, should we go take a look?"
"Curiosity killed the cat."
Kaito didn't even look up, turning his attention back to the manga, his tone lazy, "Weren't you just being all cautious and scared? Now you're suddenly not afraid?"
"That's because you're here!"
Yumiko couldn't help tugging a corner of his shirt, dragging out her voice, "President~ President~ President~"
"What does Gotou-san think?"
Kaito ignored her whining and instead turned his gaze toward the pink-haired girl next to them.
'Eh? Me?', Always being invisible, only able to silently admire Miura-san's boldness in her heart, little Bocchi froze.
She was used to going with the flow, so suddenly being asked her opinion…
Bocchi hesitated for a moment and softly said, "I-I'll go with whatever Kurumizaka-kun says…"
Actually, she was also curious about the mysterious piano sounds in the music room, just too afraid to say it out loud.
For someone with social anxiety, refusing others' requests and making requests of others are both unforgivable sins.
Though Bocchi's tone was vague, her eyes showed anticipation. It was obvious she was interested too.
Kaito thought for a moment, 'The Supernatural Research Club has been idle for so long. It won't hurt to take this chance and have a proper club activity.'
"Then it's decided: the club's first group activity—Midnight Exploration of Moon Forest."
"Yay!"
Yumiko was overjoyed, but also a bit sour.
'He completely ignored my flirting but paid so much attention to Bocchi-chan's opinion. Isn't the double standard way too obvious?'
But thinking about how Bocchi arrived before her and how her personality was like a pitiful little self-conscious kitten, she let it go.
'Hmph~ Just a little Bocchi, with a weak presence and even weaker guts, nothing to worry about!'
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