The event was set deep within the forest, with a carefully arranged path lined with hidden "ghosts" and elaborate traps. Participants needed to follow this route, clear various checkpoints, and collect medals symbolizing their courage.
If someone wanted to quit midway, they were allowed to—but their partner wasn't obligated to stop. The catch? Since the event operated under a two-person team system, medals could only be earned if both members completed the course. Even if one person powered through all the obstacles alone, they wouldn't qualify for the final reward.
Teams were formed based on student numbers, meaning some people were inevitably stuck with random partners. If someone happened to be paired with a coward who was terrified of the dark, their chances of winning dropped significantly.
This was why having the right to choose your partner was such an advantage—it eliminated the risk of being paired with someone unreliable. It was the perfect opportunity to secure a dependable ally!
Of course…
Hah. No one actually joined this event just for the reward, right?
Wouldn't it be way better to invite someone you liked, watch as they clung to your sleeve in fear, and maybe even ended up trembling in your arms after a well-timed jump scare?
And if they got too scared and had to quit? Perfect. That just meant you could comfort them, whispering reassurances while enjoying a romantic moment together under the dim moonlight...
...Who would actually prioritize some silly medal over that?
==================
"President, I think I just saw… two guys holding hands?" Shinomiya Kaguya's voice wavered with uncertainty.
Now that they were deep in the forest, there was no outside light to guide them. The only source of illumination was the faint, warm glow of the flashlight in Kanade's hand.
Kanade blinked. "…I saw it too."
Despite the limited visibility, he could still recognize those two broad backs and the identical crew cuts.
"They… seem to be from the weightlifting club," Kanade mused. "I remember their hairstyles."
"..."
Neither of them said anything for a moment.
Then, instinctively, they squeezed each other's hands just a little tighter.
And silently, they both thought the same thing—
I'm so glad my partner isn't them.
==============
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the lively echoes of the festival faded into silence, swallowed by the looming trees and thick shadows. The only sound accompanying them now was the distant cawing of crows, their cries breaking through the eerie stillness like an unsettling melody.
This alone wasn't the problem. The real issue was that they had been walking for at least five or six minutes without encountering a single soul. No laughter, no screams from other participants, nothing but a seemingly endless winding path. The only signs of human presence were the occasional wooden placards nailed to trees—each carrying cryptic messages.
"Go this way quickly."
"Don't let them catch up to you…"
The oppressive atmosphere pressed down on them. The unknown stretched endlessly before them, uncertainty lurking in every shadow. Humans fear the things they cannot see, the things they cannot predict. And right now, every one of those fears had been meticulously woven into this so-called "haunted" event.
No way forward but onward. No way back but surrender.
"…Kaguya, are you okay?"
Natsukawa Kanade turned slightly, glancing at the girl beside him with concern. Her fingers had unconsciously tightened around his sleeve, and though her face remained composed, there was something fragile in her gaze.
"I'm fine." Shinomiya Kaguya shook her head, her voice even.
But she wasn't fine.
This setting—it was too familiar.
Memories clawed at the back of her mind, whispering of her childhood. Of cold, empty rooms where she had been locked away in silence whenever she failed to meet expectations. Of isolation so profound that even the servants delivering her meals weren't allowed to speak to her. No voices. No comfort. Just loneliness, stretching out endlessly, forcing her to study, to perfect herself, to meet the unreachable standards set for her.
And now, the silence of this forest was pressing against her in the same way. The creeping darkness, the uncertainty, the feeling of being trapped.
She didn't want Kanade to see her like this.
Didn't want him to know how much this place affected her.
"…Alright, I'm glad you're okay." Kanade let out a small breath, nodding. "But if you start feeling uncomfortable, tell me, alright? No need to tough it out. I'm right here."
His voice was casual, but the warmth in it reached her, settling like a reassuring weight in her chest.
He was worried about her.
She swallowed the lump in her throat. "Mm," she murmured, almost too softly to hear.
For someone who had been gripping her hand so tightly moments ago, afraid she might slip away into the night, Kanade sure liked to play the part of the composed and reliable president. Acting cool, saying noble things—did he think this was his grand moment to rescue her from the darkness?
Honestly…
So stupid.
The tension inside her loosened just a little, replaced by something lighter. A warmth she couldn't quite name. Her steps quickened, unconsciously drawing her closer to him. No longer trailing slightly behind—now only a shoulder apart.
Just like always.
The two of them, patrolling the student council room, managing school events, walking side by side. And just like always, her eyes found him before anything else.
She wasn't afraid anymore.
=====================
They walked for what felt like an eternity. The path grew narrower, more rugged, the signs disappearing altogether. A hint of doubt flickered in Kanade's mind—had they taken a wrong turn?
But then—
A light appeared in the distance.
Not just any light. A flickering glow, as if beckoning them closer. The first real sign of life they had seen in minutes.
"We must've reached the checkpoint," Kanade said, exhaling in relief. "Let's go take a look."
Turning to check on Kaguya, he paused.
Somehow, at some point, she had drawn even closer. So close that he could feel the warmth radiating from her, could catch the faint scent of her hair in the cool night air.
So close that when she tilted her head slightly and looked up at him, he found himself momentarily speechless.
"President," she murmured, lips curling into a playful smile. "What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"..."