Ghost School

Surprise From Maeru

"Yurin, there's something I want to tell you"

"What?"

"No... It's nothing"

For a moment things became quiet. And that silence was broken by Yui's voice looking for me.

"Ririn, where are you?" Yui Shouted

"That's Yui. That's right, we've been here over an hour"

"She must be nagging when she gets home" I muttered

"Ririn! Are you here?" Yui shouted continuously looking for me

"Let's go home, Izumi" I said, then bowed my hand to her

Izumi looked at my hand before finally welcoming her.

We walked over to Yui who was yelling for me.

"You're just worrying me! After reaching home I was busy cleaning things to go home until you forgot you haven't come back home yet. As soon as I realized, it was starting late in the afternoon so I was looking for you to go to school!" Omel Yui

"What happened until you were like this for so long?" Ask Yui

Then Yui realized that Izumi was behind me.

"eeh?! You're with this ghost, Ririn?!" Yui shouted in shock

"After you go home you have to explain in detail to me whatever happens!!"

"Nothing happened" I said, glancing at Izumi giving a code to keep things a secret.

"There must be something. I don't like secret games!" Yui Shouted

"It's getting dark, let's go home now" I said and walked first

"Don't divert the speech!" Yui shouted and ran after me

I glanced at Izumi. He was still motionless and his face looked solemnly thinking of something.

"After he regained consciousness, Izumi spoke less. What he said was mostly just an apology" I thought

*

The next day, in the morning...

"Ririn, I'm going home to my parents' house later in the afternoon, so I'm going to buy some snacks for the road and some souvenirs for my sister"

"Oh, yes. Go away" I said as I tidied things up

"When are you coming home, Ririn?" Ask Yui

"Tomorrow afternoon. My parents have things to do in the morning"

"Oh, yeah..."

"You go quickly and buy it. Later you even get drunk when cleaning things for lack of time"

"Oh, I'm going first"

This room also became quiet because there was only me.

I continued to clean up the stuff. When cleaning the book, I was confused to be flanked by a book belonging to Izumi.

"In the previous semester Izumi told me to bring this book. And most likely this time too. But just in case, I'll ask him again first" I thought and set aside Izumi's book.

Shush...

Izumi came to my room for the first time after yesterday afternoon. It's getting a little awkward.

I looked at Izumi's face. His face looked stiff and full of doubt, but he was still trying to look at me.

"Why?" Much

"What are you... Can you take your time for a minute?" Ask Izumi

"All right, but what are we gonna do?" Much

"Walking"

*

In the forest where Izumi usually rests.

"Say it's a walk. But I didn't expect to be here a little" I thought

"Is there a reason why we came here?" Much

"Yes, there's..." Mumbled

"Izumi was still awkward because of yesterday's problems" I thought

After that, we continued walking in silence. The atmosphere was so awkward. And even though I started talking to break the silence, it didn't last long and things got more awkward.

"What the hell did Izumi want to invite me here, but she herself didn't say anything" I thought in frustration

"Yurin, you remember earlier I said there was something I wanted to tell you"

"Ah, what did it mean yesterday afternoon?" Thought

"I want to say that now. Do you want to hear it?" Ask Izumi

"Yes, just say---"

"Well, well, we meet again, Izumi"

Izumi and Izumi gasped at the sound of a half-monster human appearing behind us.

We both looked at him.

"You!!" Izumi said in shock

"It's me, Izumi" he said

The spirit is Maeru. But it's strange. Half of his body was normal left as usual, but the other half was shaped like a monster.on his right cheek, another 2 abnormal eyes appeared. The skin of his right side is brown and spiny. He really is half a monster. Even his voice began to resemble the voice of a monster.

"How, Izumi? Are you surprised by my new look? I promised I'd see you in surprise"

"Crazy grounds" Izumi muttered

"Izumi~ I will seize that red heart crystal and become the leader of evil spirits! Become a real evil spirit, not like you!" Shouted Maeru

"My weak brother, you are not at all suited to be a leader" he continued

"Sister?!" I was surprised

I recalled the previous photos of Izumi, Maeru, and 3 other boys and a grown man.

"So it's a family photo? Maeru didn't lie before?" Thought

"I told you I'm no one's sister!!" Shouted Izumi

"Forget over. I don't care who you are anymore. I'm sure I'll be the leader"

Maeru suddenly disappeared and appeared right in front of Izumi while attacking using his monster-like right hand.

Izumi instantly protected himself by blocking his attack using his aura-coated left arm and fending off Maeru's attacks.

"Yurin, careful! He is far more dangerous than ever! Stay behind me!" Shouted Izumi

"Free~ Izumi, I am now much stronger than you~"

"Whisper!"

Izumi used the power of her blue heart crystal to fight Maeru.

When Izumi was just about to focus on the fight, Maeru attacked Izumi without realizing it.

Maeru was suddenly already behind Izumi.

"You know that my subordinates are very numerous. They were all willing to sacrifice their souls for my sake to become a leader. They were so loyal, that maybe I could let down their hope~" He whispered his hand into Izumi's body.

Jem!

Maeru's hand pierced through Izumi's left shoulder.

"It's a pity~ that I targeted the vital part, but you dodged instead" muttered Maeru

"Izumi!" Shouted

"Ugh, my shoulder hurts a lot" I thought

Maeru glanced at me.

"At a time like this you can still worry about him. You better worry about yourself"

Maeru pointed his hand towards me, just as I let out my strength to take cover.

"Lumayan. Your strength can last at least for a lower-tier spirit attack of 5. But...."

Prangs!

Without touching the protective magic circle I created, the protector suddenly broke by itself.

"It's still a long way off to be able to withstand my power"

Maeru quickly caught up and grabbed me.

"Mmmm!!"

"Yurine!"

"Take him off!" Shouted Izumi

"It's very romantic. I thought forever you wouldn't worry about anyone but yourself. I want this woman"

"I told you to let go!!" Shouted Izumi and directly attacked Maeru

"You forgot in my hand now is he?" Asked Maeru then thrust me forward, making me a shield.

Izumi instantly stopped his attack and kept his distance from Maeru.

Maeru immediately smirked.

"Izumi~ you want him to let me go, right?" Ask Maeru

"Kneel~ Under my feet~ Now~ And beg~"