Can't We Skip Dating?

Because she had left late, by the time Utaha arrived at Eriri's house, it was already around eleven at night.

These large estate-style residences, due to their expansive grounds, were typically located in more remote areas. 

And since similar estates were scattered nearby, population density was naturally lower. Even though the city center would still be bustling at this hour, here, there wasn't a soul in sight.

This made Utaha feel a bit regretful—she had been too preoccupied with worrying about ghosts, and forgot to consider the more real threat: people.

After all, people were often more frightening than ghosts.

She stood at the gate of the Spencer family estate, looking at the brightly lit main residence inside. 

She unintentionally noticed that the gate wasn't properly closed.

It wasn't a huge deal—after all, someone was clearly home. At this hour, it was probably just that the gate hadn't been properly shut earlier and was forgotten.

Still… Why was it that Eriri's whole family was allowed to be there, yet she wasn't?

Utaha felt a little indignant.

If it were merely being treated differently compared to Nanami, she could tolerate it. 

She understood that Akira was attracted to her body, while with Nanami, he was drawn to her soul. That hardworking, independent soul truly was dazzling.

No, it wasn't really that she could accept it—it was more like she had been disappointed enough times that she'd been forced to face reality.

And she didn't even have the will to resist anymore. The brightest part of her soul had long since dimmed.

Like an aftereffect of her former pride and glory, once that inner light faded, all that remained was shame—and debt.

She owed a debt to Tomoya for the immense help he once gave her.

She owed the Spencer family for the trouble she caused.

And she owed Akira for the kindnesses he had shown her.

Until those debts were repaid, she couldn't lift her head—couldn't even stand tall.

She hated this state of being. Yet, she could still accept it.

To her, struggling while hunched over to repay what she owed—however pitiful that looked—was better than standing tall in false pride.

Still, it hurt...

Leaning against the iron gate, Utaha crouched down, instinctively hugging her knees.

Lately, she'd grown more and more accustomed to curling herself up like this. 

Because exposing her stomach might invite not gentle caresses, but instead, a blade that could pierce her soft abdomen.

That kind of feeling… She never wanted to experience it again.

Wiping her moist eyes, Utaha felt she had become a bit stronger lately—at least she didn't cry as easily anymore.

That counted as growth, right? People really did become tougher through hardship—or at least more resilient.

She gave a bitter laugh at herself and shifted her attention back to reality.

And the moment she did, she suddenly noticed a shadow moving in the darkness across the street.

She didn't dare lift her head. 

From her current half-lowered position, she cautiously observed and confirmed that there was indeed a figure hesitating nearby—but she couldn't make out any details. 

Under the streetlight, her vision couldn't penetrate the darkness beyond its glow.

Maybe it was just a passerby concerned about seeing a girl alone at night. 

But before making contact, there was no way to tell whether the other party had good or bad intentions. And by the time contact happened, it might already be too late.

Between good intentions and bad, Utaha was more inclined to believe in malice. There was no way she'd take a gamble.

The regret and anxiety of being outside alone at night surged up within her. 

When she noticed that the figure seemed to be approaching, her sense of crisis pushed her into action. 

She turned and ran into the psychologically safer Spencer estate, slamming the iron gate shut with a loud bang.

She had always been somewhat shy, and after falling into her current state, it had only worsened.

Compared to any potential ghost, she feared people far more.

Moreover, she didn't know that the Spencer family had gone out for the night, and that the lights being on were just part of standard anti-theft measures.

Once inside the shadows by the courtyard wall, Utaha cautiously peered out. 

When she confirmed that the figure was slowly walking away, she finally let out a breath and sat down on the ground.

Since she had already entered the house without permission, not informing the owners would be far too rude.

Shrinking into the corner by the wall, she pulled out her phone and sent Eriri an email.

As someone who frequently pulled all-nighters before manuscript deadlines, Eriri usually slept late. 

If she was already asleep, Utaha wouldn't disturb her. She'd just wait until the area was safe before leaving.

But less than thirty seconds after the email was sent, Eriri called her directly.

"Utaha! Why are you at my house?! Get out, get out now! The button to open the gate is on the wall!"

Hearing the panic in Eriri's voice—and especially the way she said "why are you at my house"—Utaha also sensed something was off. "You're not home?"

As she spoke, she quickly found the gate control button on the wall and pressed it.

But the iron gate didn't budge.

"We're not! Mr. Ogiwara told us to stay out for the night. Anyway, get out of there now!"

Utaha pressed the button a couple more times with a "click, click," her pupils tightening. "I'm okay right now, but... the gate won't open."

"What? It won't open?! That's impossible!"

Utaha turned to look at the house—and realized that the lights that had been on were now off.

"Also, didn't you leave the lights on when you went out? They're off now. It seems like your house lost power."

Eriri's flustered voice abruptly fell silent.

After a few seconds, she spoke again, her voice trembling, "Power outage? No way. Our house has a backup generator. If the power goes out, it switches automatically..."

"…"

"Dad! Dad! We have to go back! Utaha's trapped in our house!"

Behind Eriri's panicked voice, Utaha could hear the voices of Sawamura Sayuri and Mr. Spencer.

"Don't panic, Eriri. It won't help to rush back now," Sayuri's voice came through more clearly next, obviously having taken the phone. 

"Miss Kasumigaoka, stay at the entrance and don't move. We'll contact… first… over..."

With a burst of noise and static, the signal cut out.

Utaha pulled the phone away from her ear and stared at the screen—her signal bar had vanished.

And then, with a flickering glow that hurt the eyes, the streetlights outside also went dark.

There was no moon in the sky, only a few faint stars. No sound of insects, just the faint, unsettling noise coming from inside the house.

Facing what was clearly a supernatural event, and enveloped in a darkness where one could hardly see their hand in front of them, Utaha wasn't as terrified as she had imagined she would be.

It wasn't that she wasn't afraid—but rather, she could still stay calm.

Maybe it was because she'd spent so much time locked away in her room lately, she'd gotten used to this kind of enclosed darkness—both physically and mentally.

Or maybe it was because, during her darkest moments, she'd once considered dying.

So now, when faced with something that seemed to equal death, there was a strange, almost relieved calm.

Lately, she had slowly been coming to terms with reality, and that kind of suicidal thinking had indeed faded.

But when the chance to escape pain and pressure presented itself… there was still a hint of longing.

A bird meant to soar in the sky—how could it willingly trap itself in the mud, not even daring to glance up at the clear blue sky?

Whether she was saved or not… either outcome seemed fine.

So she decided to entrust her life to fate.

She touched the three ofuda in her pocket. As her fingers brushed against them, she felt a faint warmth.

Taking them out, she couldn't see any obvious difference, but if she focused, she could sense they were indeed giving off heat.

Putting two back in her pocket and holding one in her hand, Utaha crouched again by the wall, quietly waiting.

Until—without knowing when or why—she fell into a deep sleep.

___

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