Utaha's mood at the moment was complicated.

There was embarrassment, a bit of regret, and also that nagging thought of "When will it be my turn?"

Yes—bunny-senpai was already itching to strike back so soon…

She knew perfectly well that Yukino was the official "main heroine," and had known Haru the longest.

Under these circumstances, the wisest thing for her to do was to adjust her mindset and patiently wait for her opportunity.

But emotions aren't something you can control so easily.

Especially when, thanks to Megumi's little reminder, she had—entirely by accident—created a "world-class painting" kind of scene.

Just moments ago, she had been feeling pleased with herself, thinking she might finally get a chance to shine in front of Haru and show off a little.

Any girl, after all, wants to stand out in front of the person she likes.

And yet, just as she was feeling like she'd finally taken the lead, she turned her head—only to see Yukino charging straight ahead.

Meanwhile, she was still smiling to herself, basking in the glow of her own clever little idea.

That… was just plain ridiculous.

Her chest was rising and falling with agitation, her beautiful eyes fixed intently on the direction of the bedroom.

She actually wanted to go and take a look.

But she was also afraid she'd see something that would make the air unbearably awkward—something that might send Yukino into a fit and have her pinning Utaha to the floor.

Bunny-senpai might not be able to beat Miss meow, but she wasn't exactly a masochist either.

After a while, Yukino and Haru finally emerged.

Megumi sat there casually stroking a cat, looking for all the world as if she hadn't noticed a thing.

Utaha, however, didn't even bother pretending. She stared straight at the two of them, openly.

Unfortunately for her, Yukino had already composed herself before coming out. Other than the faint blush lingering on her cheeks, there were no other clues to be found.

"So… what exactly were you two doing in there?"

When Haru and Yukino sat back down, Utaha asked the question with a feigned air of nonchalance.

"Just… nothing worth discussing," Yukino replied calmly.

Haru, sitting beside her, was a little absent-minded. When he thought about it, she was right—there really wasn't anything worth discussing.

Because if they did discuss it in detail, Yukino would likely get flustered and irritated, and Utaha might be tempted to launch her own offensive.

If that really happened, Megumi would end up sitting in the living room listening to cat noises and rabbit noises.

"What do you mean, nothing worth discussing?" Utaha didn't seem ready to drop the matter.

"It's exactly what it sounds like," Yukino said lightly. "If you really want to know, senpai, you can ask him yourself—he knows more about it than I do."

Oh yes, he knew all too well.

After all, just moments ago, his hand had been under her clothes.

The very thought made her cheeks burn hotter.

Utaha glanced at Haru, not speaking right away, but silently asking with her eyes.

Haru shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips—a secret he couldn't share.

Utaha snorted inwardly. Really? This is your big secret? It's just that Yukino made a sneaky attack, isn't it?

But since Megumi was still here, she didn't press further.

By ten o'clock that night, Haru had tidied up the living room, while Yukino and the other two girls went into the bedroom.

The cute pet video they'd just watched had given each of them their own "inspiration," and with the video fresh in their minds, it was the perfect time to jot down ideas and discuss them.

"Since Haru said he can try training Jelly to work with us for filming, let's start shooting in the next couple of days," Yukino decided first.

Utaha didn't respond—her mind seemed to be elsewhere.

When no one else spoke, Megumi said simply, "I have no objections."

Yukino turned toward the third girl.

"Of course I don't mind," Utaha replied. "But you were gone for quite a while earlier. Are you sure you actually got anything out of it?"

Yukino smiled faintly. "When exactly did you get the idea that I didn't?"

Utaha froze, then suddenly realized—this woman must have watched it beforehand!

And seeing the calm, composed look on Yukino's face now, she was even more certain of it.

She bit her lip. She's gotten crafty… she never used to be like this!

At least, not in Utaha's memory. Yukino had rarely resorted to this sort of tactic.

"It was your choice, senpai," Yukino said airily.

Utaha's expression darkened—she'd guessed right.

And Yukino's meaning was obvious: a jab at Utaha's tendency to sneak snacks.

Not only to sneak snacks… but to keep making aggressive pushes on the crystal.

Thankfully, Yukino didn't keep needling her and instead shifted the conversation back to business.

As the atmosphere warmed again, the three girls talked for another ten minutes until they all had a clear picture of the filming plan.

Then Utaha looked toward the door and suddenly asked, "Are we going to sleep soon?"

Yukino and Megumi both turned their heads in unison. Neither spoke, but their synchronized movement all but said: And what exactly are you getting at?

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Utaha's bathrobe had ridden up to reveal smooth, round thighs. She wasn't exactly concerned about appearances here—there were no outsiders present.

"Yukino," she began, "you've known him the longest. Do you think he's afraid of ghosts?"

Yukino frowned slightly. "And what exactly are you trying to say?"

She suspected bunny-senpai was about to stir trouble again.

Hadn't they just agreed during their bath that they'd behave tonight?

"Just answer my question first," Utaha said.

Yukino gave her a glance, then said slowly, "We went to a haunted house back in middle school. If the atmosphere is right and the scare is done well, he'll make some amusing expressions."

Megumi's eyes widened a little at that.

Utaha smiled. "Then isn't tonight perfect?"

Yukino could already guess her plan, but still asked, "Perfect for what?"

"Perfect because the three of us are here, and he's sleeping in the living room tonight. We could totally make a plan."

"You mean… you want to dress up as a ghost and scare him?" Yukino looked at her like she'd lost her mind.

This wasn't a haunted house—it was Haru's own home. She couldn't imagine the three of them managing to scare him here.

But Utaha was confident. "I know what you're thinking. Sure, it's his home, but the living room's so open. At night, with the lights off, it's pitch black in there. You don't think that if he heard a strange sound—or saw a shadowy figure—he wouldn't start imagining things?"

Yukino thought for a few seconds. "If it were me, there's no way I'd be scared in my own home."

Utaha gave a soft laugh. "That's in the daytime. I'm talking about the dead of night, when the house is silent and you see a vague silhouette in the dark."

Yukino fell silent.

Of course she understood what Utaha meant.

Just picturing it was enough to give someone a chill—though she wouldn't think ghost, she'd think intruder.

Seeing that Yukino hadn't refused outright, Utaha turned to Megumi. "What do you think?"

"I think it's a bad idea," Megumi replied evenly.

"Oh? Why?"

"Because Amamiy-kun's very skilled."

The bluntness of her answer made both Yukino and Utaha freeze.

For a brief, strange moment, the two beautiful girls shared an unspoken understanding—when they said Haru's very skilled, it was usually either in the bedroom or during post-bath girl talk.

Utaha coughed lightly, shaking away the sudden heated images in her mind. "Megumi, can you be a little more specific?"

Still perfectly calm, Megumi said, "Amamiya-kun's hand-to-hand ability is incredible—better than some characters I've seen in movies. If you, Utaha-senpai, sneak around pretending to be a ghost, are you sure he won't mistake you for a burglar and give you a judo throw?"

Yukino chuckled. "Given his fighting skills, I think a straight right might be more likely."

Megumi nodded. "True. I didn't consider that."

Utaha's face darkened. "Weren't we discussing how to scare him? How did this turn into a conversation about how I'd get beaten up?"

"Because it's amusing," Yukino said with a smile.

"It is amusing," Megumi agreed, for once taking the initiative.

Utaha: "…"

She took a deep breath, got out of bed, and walked to the wardrobe.

"Yukino, mind if I borrow a pair of your stockings?"

Yukino's suspicion deepened.

"You need stockings to play a ghost?"

Megumi raised her brows.

"Wait… are you planning to do that TV thing—put them over your head?"

At that, Yukino nearly lost her composure.

"If something that stupid really happened, I'd definitely take a picture."

Utaha replied calmly, "So you do have such silly thoughts. No, I'm actually going to wear them."

"And why?" Yukino's smile faded.

"My legs are really pale. If I just walk out like this in the middle of the night, he'll notice me instantly."

Utaha didn't miss the chance to compliment herself.

She wasn't wrong—her legs were pale. And among the three of them, she was the tallest, with the longest legs.

Yukino didn't mind lending them, but when she saw Utaha choose a particular pair of black stockings, her expression stiffened.

"You're sure about those?"

They were black lace patterned stockings—Yukino had only worn them once. That time, it was because Haru had asked her to, and she'd put them on despite her embarrassment.

"Utaha-senpai, are you really trying to play a ghost?" Megumi asked.

In truth, she wasn't even trying to hide her suspicion anymore. Those stockings were far too… sensual.

And the fact that Yukino owned such stockings startled her.

Did I misjudge her? Is Yukinoshita actually… secretly a tease? Megumi thought.

"Of course. I've already told you my plan, haven't I?"

Utaha remained perfectly composed.

With both Yukino and Megumi watching, she laid the lace stockings on the bed, then pulled out a makeup kit from her handbag.

To keep them from overthinking, she added,

"You've seen horror movies, right?"

Yukino nodded.

"You want to paint your face white, like in the films?"

"Mm. As pale as possible."

Her composure made it hard to tell if she was bluffing. In the end, Yukino half-accepted her explanation.

Then Utaha asked, almost casually,

"Want to go first?"

She lifted the makeup kit.

"My makeup skills are decent. Since you're both barefaced right now, I could make you paler."

Yukino refused instantly.

"No, thanks."

Megumi also declined without hesitation. It wasn't that they weren't interested in the "ghost" plan—it was just… dumb.

Utaha, however, felt a silent voice in her head: Perfect. Just as planned.

Once everything was set, they turned off the bedroom light, leaving only the small lamp by the bed.

In the living room, Haru played on his phone for a while before switching off the lights too.

As the room fell into darkness, Yukino glanced at Utaha, now wearing the lace stockings, and then at the slightly ajar door.

"You're still not going?"

"Not yet," Utaha replied patiently.

"He just turned off the lights—he's still alert. If you want to really startle someone, you wait until their mind drifts."

Yukino agreed with the theory, though she still had doubts.

Megumi yawned, leaning back in her chair. She was convinced Utaha was up to something… just not sure what, or how she planned to get away with it under Yukino's watch.

Time passed. The whole apartment grew quiet, save for the occasional rustle of the orange cat in its bed.

Utaha stood by the door until, finally, Haru's figure sat up from the sofa and headed toward the bathroom.

Her eyes lit up.

"Now's my chance."

Yukino, standing beside her, raised an eyebrow.

"You call that a chance?"

Utaha gripped the doorknob, her face relaxed yet brimming with confidence.

"Tell me, Yukinos—do you think anyone's on guard when they're in the bathroom?"

Yukino replied flatly, "I admit you're right. But I still don't trust you."

"Heh… then wait here for the news of my triumphant return."

With that, Utaha slipped out. Her footsteps were silent—completely soundless.

Her sneaky posture left Yukino staring in faint disbelief.

Could she really just be trying to spook Haru?

Soon, Utaha reached the bathroom door. It wasn't locked.

Feigning extra caution, she pushed it open and slipped inside.

Haru had just finished washing his hands. Thanks to his [Perception] skill, he'd already caught the scent of her favorite perfume before she even entered.

So he turned around calmly, looked at her pale-face, and asked,

"What in the hell are you doing?"

Utaha smiled smugly. "I told them I was going to dress up as a ghost to scare you, and they believed me."

Haru's gaze lingered on her shapely legs wrapped in sheer black stockings, and he couldn't help thinking, Are you here to scare me… or seduce me?

~~~~~~~~~~

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