At that moment, the smartphone rang.
Hino Kaoru took it out and saw it was a call from Fukuyama Shoichi, the last member of the Flame Bird Group aside from herself. It was obvious that Fukuyama Shoichi had also received the news of Matsui Yuki’s death and couldn’t ignore it.
She answered, and Fukuyama Shoichi’s voice came through: “Commander, what is going on? Why is Matsui dead as well?”
Hino Kaoru took a deep breath and explained to Fukuyama Shoichi what she had asked Matsui Yuki to do.
After understanding the situation, Fukuyama Shoichi asked doubtfully: “Are there Reincarnators in that mental hospital? Or did Matsui accidentally expose information about Reincarnators and get erased?”
Of course, Hino Kaoru didn’t know the answer.
“Fukuyama.” Hino Kaoru said with a grave face, “Next, go to that mental hospital to investigate the cause of Matsui’s death. When you’ve found out, report back to me.”
Fukuyama Shoichi fell silent.
Hino Kaoru continued: “Fukuyama, I know that sending you to a place with unknown circumstances at a time like this will make you uneasy, but I have things to do right now as well. Once I’ve dealt with the matter at hand, I’ll come help you.”
“But…” Fukuyama Shoichi still hesitated.
“No buts.” Hino Kaoru said, “You’ve always been the clever one on our team. I believe you can safely infiltrate that mental hospital if you put your mind to it. You won’t disappoint me, will you?”
Hearing Hino Kaoru’s words, Fukuyama Shoichi couldn’t help but smile wryly, but in the end he agreed, “I understand. I’ll find a way, but it might take a bit more time.”
“Taking more time is fine, as long as you ensure your own safety.” Hino Kaoru had no objections to that.
Seeing that Hino Kaoru wasn’t pressing him to resolve the issue quickly, Fukuyama Shoichi breathed a sigh of relief. In such a large mental hospital with so many people, he felt he could easily go undercover if given enough time; he shouldn’t be as unlucky as Matsui Yuki.
That night, Tsukiyomi Ruri had no idea what else had happened at the hospital.
At that moment, in a spacious and tidy room, the four members of the Urban Legend Club were lounging and chatting.
A TV drama was playing on the liquid crystal television mounted on the wall, and the chatting group kept their eyes on the screen, discussing the plot and characters.
Tsukiyomi Ruri had little interest in TV dramas; she was playing a game on her smartphone.
Before long, Tsukiyomi Ruri noticed Leona had sent her a message.
“You haven’t come back yet?” Leona asked.
“Probably a few more days.” Tsukiyomi Ruri replied.
Leona sent a message with a pitiful emoji: “We agreed on just two days at the hot spring inn, but it’s been more than two days and you still haven’t returned.”
Tsukiyomi Ruri paused for a moment, then sent, “Are you afraid of being home alone?”
“How could that be?” Leona quickly replied, “I’m a ghost! How could a magnificent ghost like me possibly be afraid? How could such a thing exist? I just feel that we agreed on two days, and after two days it’s another two days; at this rate, I’ll become the real master of this house.”
“Is that so? Then as the master of the house, remember to take care of the cleaning.” Tsukiyomi Ruri sent.
Leona: “…”
“She is a ghost, after all. It’s really too much to ask a ghost to clean.”
“No more chatting, hurry up and log in, we’re running a dungeon.” Tsukiyomi Ruri continued.
“Coming, coming.” Leona quickly logged in.
The joy from a pay-to-win game was fleeting, accompanied only by brief excitement. Once the excitement faded, everything became dull and tasteless.
The night grew deeper.
The TV drama ended. Izumi Shirayuki asked, “Yuzuki, are we sleeping here tonight?”
Mizuhashi Yuzuki nodded. “This bed is big enough, right? I specially asked Dad to prepare this big bed; it’s more than enough for the four of us.”
The bed beneath them was indeed large enough; four people lying on it could even roll around.
Hearing this, Tsukiyomi Ruri couldn’t help but look up.
Sleeping together, all four of them?
She looked at the three girls before her, all very cute. Hmm, sleeping four together—she had no objections.
Inoue Keiko said timidly, “Do we really have to sleep four together? I’m used to sleeping alone, just give me a body pillow.”
“I can be your body pillow.” Mizuhashi Yuzuki volunteered.
“But… I’m not used to it.” Inoue Keiko lowered her head under Yuzuki’s gaze.
“You’ll get used to it after sleeping together more. Look, Yuzuki and Ruri have no objections; obviously they’ve been sleeping together at the hot spring inn and are already used to it.” Mizuhashi Yuzuki said with a grin.
Inoue Keiko was no match for Mizuhashi Yuzuki’s words; she was defeated in a few sentences and had no choice but to accept the fact that they would all sleep together.
With the TV turned off, the girls began to take off their clothes one by one. With the seemingly inexhaustible Mizuhashi Yuzuki around, there was, of course, some playful teasing and roughhousing.
We won’t dwell on the process.
Soon the lights were off and all four lay on the bed.
Inoue Keiko was on the far left; from left to right were Mizuhashi Yuzuki, Tsukiyomi Ruri, and Izumi Shirayuki.
Inoue Keiko didn’t actually use Mizuhashi Yuzuki as a body pillow; after all, there was a real body pillow. But Tsukiyomi Ruri felt as though she herself had become one.
On her right, Izumi Shirayuki hugged her and nuzzled against her. On the left, Mizuhashi Yuzuki also hugged her and nuzzled.
“What are you doing?” Tsukiyomi Ruri couldn’t help but ask.
“Nothing, just sleeping.” Mizuhashi Yuzuki seemed to think nothing was wrong.
“You’re holding me too tightly; I can’t sleep well.” Tsukiyomi Ruri said helplessly.
“Oh, okay.” Mizuhashi Yuzuki loosened her grip a bit with some regret, but still held onto Tsukiyomi Ruri’s left arm.
Izumi Shirayuki also loosened her hold, merely hugging Tsukiyomi Ruri’s right arm.
This situation left Tsukiyomi Ruri at a loss for words; it still made it difficult for her to sleep.
Aware of the girlish presences on both sides, Tsukiyomi Ruri remained silent and ultimately said nothing more.
“Ah…”
A scream shattered the morning quiet of the hospital.
The four of them, including Tsukiyomi Ruri, were jolted awake and groggily opened their eyes.
As soon as she woke up, Tsukiyomi Ruri realized that Izumi Shirayuki and Mizuhashi Yuzuki had in fact clung tightly to her all along; no wonder she had dreamed the bizarre dream of sinking into a pile of cotton and being unable to climb out.
