*Hiroshi's Pov*

Me: So what did you wanted me to do again?

Kaede: We're going to do a test of courage between lovers~!

Wait what?

A test of courage between lovers?

The hell?

Me: But we're not...

Kaede: I know. But we play pretend.

Like that make things any better...

Kamishiro begin to explain what rumor had caught her interest.

Kaede: Kimodameshi (肝試し) is most often translated into English as Test of Courage, which is not literally accurate. The word kimo (肝) actually refers to the liver, while dameshi (試し) does in fact mean “test.”

In Japan, it is known that the liver we carry inside of us is associated with courage. For example kimo ga suwaru, or to sit on your liver, means to be brave or self-assured. So a more literal translation of kimodameshi would be to “prove your guts.”

Like how your classmates dare you to go inside a haunted house and spend the night there to see if you survive. If you refuse, they'll make fun of you for the rest of the school year.

How shrewd...

Kaede: There is this haunted house I've meaning to check out for quite some time. I was hoping you join me.

Me: No.

Kaede: Onigai (Please)...ONIGAI!!!

Me: *Sighs*

She's going to keep bugging if I say no.

-Later-

We arrived at this supposed haunted house.

On the outside, it didn't that much scary. But I guess I shouldn't quick to judge just yet.

Kaede: According to the rumors, a man who once lived there has supposedly died falling down the stairs. Rumors has it, his ghost still haunts the place. Witnesses claim they see his ghost peeking out of the windows watching others. It gives people the creeps~!

She sure is liking this despite almost dying a couple of hours ago.

Another person would probably find this traumatizing.

Me: So we have to pretend to be lovers?

Kaede: Yep. They say this rumor only works when a couple passes by the house at night. But you won't be coupling with Kaede Kamishiro...Instead...

Oh boy....here we go....

She puts on her white wig and attached the red contact into her eye socket.

Misachiko: Hehehehehe~! You'll be going with your lovable gothic idol and mistress of darkeness, Misachiko.

Me: Yeah...Okay...

Misachiko: *Pouts* Oh come on~! Hiroshi-kun, be a little more enthusiastic about this~! Besides almost every boy would love to have a gothic lolita girl as their date~!

Me: I'm not every boy.

Misachiko: Oh hush or I'll curse you.

Me: (I'm already cursed.)

I kept that to myself so I let her have her fun.

Misachiko: Alright. Let's check out that rumor~!

-Later-

Welp. What a huge disappointment that was. We didn't see no old man haunting. The house wasn't even haunted. Just abandoned.

Kamishiro...I mean...Misachiko looked very disappointed.

Misachiko: Ah Phooey...I don't understand. We did everything to make us look like we were dating (excluding kissing), what did we do wrong?

Me: Nothing. It's just the house isn't haunted.

Don't believe every ghost rumor you read on the internet.

Words to live by...

"Misachiko" took off her wig and red contact as she went back to being Kamishiro Kaede.

Kaede: Oh man. What a waste. I was really hoping the house was haunted.

Me: You sure do love spooky things.

Not a lot of girls I know are into that stuff anyway. Especially not Manaka.....

Kaede: Of course I do! The supernatural is interesting to me.

Me: Hey...I got a question. If it's not too personal. How did you became Misachiko...?

I always did wonder how did she start by being an idol...

Kaede:...Well....

....

Kaede: As Misachiko. I'm the "perfect" idol to people. The story begins with a beautiful girl on stage, her perfectly fake smile, her gothic dresses, and the people who love her selfishly for it. Some people do wonder though what transpires behind the scenes of the glittering showbiz industry? How far would Misachiko go to rise for the top and how far would her fans go for the sake of their beloved idol? What is her true story...her goals...her desires...

Me: Desires...?

Kaede: Yes....like spirits who used to be humans. Desire for one thing can lead to one's destruction utterly destroying their minds and extract their essences draining their life force.

That's just how people are...their desires can befome "obsessions".

Money, Power, Sex, Crime.

People who haven't grasp into those situations can only drool with envy. One of darkest of the seven sins.

Me: You do have a point there...

Kaede: To answer your question, I was always into the music industry. Ever since I was a kid. I loved music. I always did want to make a name for myself. To help others, to inspire them...to be their idol...

Sounds tough.

Kaede: So why did you became a hacker?

Me: Short answer. To make money.

Kaede: I see...

Me: Hey. People need to make a living sometime. Just don't tell no one okay. The last thing I want is my uncle finding out.

Kaede: Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me.

Me: Can I really trust you to hold on to that?

I mean. I just met this girl like two weeks ago. Can I even trust her? I've only known her as Manaka's friend, self-claimed fortune telling, horror fetish fanatic, Ruri's surrogate big sister, and Misachiko the gothic idol. But as Kamishiro Kaede herself is still a bit of a mystery.

Kaede: Hmmm...Would you trust me...? Don't worry. I am a psychic. I know your future after all~!

That makes her more suspecious.

Kaede: Anyway. Thanks for hanging out with me tonight. Despite it being disappointing. It was also fun. I bet you had fun too...

Yeah...

I guess I did had fun...despite almost being killed....

Me: I got another question...Was making me do this test of courage being a way to make me feel better...?

After all we been through, I gotta say this was a really nice thing for her to do.

I felt at ease...

Kamishiro giggled and made a small smile.

She winked at me.

Kaede: That's a secret~~~!

Me: Ha....

This girl...

She is one of a kind.

Making me more interested in her...

-Later-

I got home a few minutes later, Kamishiro took off saying she had another investigation to do.

Honestly, that girl should not be wondering alone at night trying to find ghosts.

She might end up bumping into weirdos.

I asked her to let me take her home but she said she was fine. She wouldn't be out too long. Plus, if she runs into danger...she could use her taser...

Me:......

Kamishiro...

Damnit. Why can't I stop thinling about her. Now I'm getting worried. Leaving her alone felt like a bad decision.

She's an idol too. She can't be acting too reckless. She has a makeup concert soon.

*RIIIIING*

Suddenly my phone begin to ring. I looked at the caller ID. It was Kamishiro!!!

I quickly answered...

Me: Hello?

Kaede: H-Hey...Hiroshi-kun....

A chill ran down my spine. What the heck? Why does she sound nervous?

....

Something wasn't right...

Me: Kamishiro...What's wrong?

Kaede:....I screwed up...

*Kaede's Pov*

Me:...I...have a confession to make.

Hiroshi: A confession? What are you talking about?

He sounded concerned. I'm glad.

Me: The reason why I helped you was not only for Ruri's sake. But because you were nice to me...

Hiroshi: Nice?

He sounded unsure about my answer. Sure he made sarcastic remarks. But I knew deep down. He was secretly sweet.

Me: I'm really...envied Manaka...to have a childhood friend like you. All this time. It did made me wonder what she thought about you.

Hiroshi: Goddamnit Kamishiro? What's going on? Why are you telling me this...

....

I might as well tell him...since I've almost out of time...

Me: Hey. You did asked me who I really was...underneath all that fame and glory as Misachiko, right?

Hiroshi: Yeah...?

Me: Well...before I met Manaka and became an idol. Let's just say a lot of people weren't really nice to me. My... situation is the same as Tomoki-kun...

There...I said it. I said my deepest feelings. From my darkest pasts to my sins.

Like Tomoki Tanaka, I've also had experienced bullying.

Hiroshi: Kamishiro.....

He sounded more concerned...

That makes me really glad.

Me: That's why I said you were nice to me. Regarding my image, you didn't care whether I was "Kamishiro" and "Misachiko". It did taught me one thing. I'm both of them. Most boys only cared about my beauty or how I dress. Girls envied me and send a lot of hate comments. But....even though it hurt...what they said to me don't really matter now.

Hiroshi: Kamishiro...Where are you?

Me:....I'm back at Aoyama Cemetery.

Hiroshi: ?!!

Me: I know. It was reckless of me. I screwed up. Hiroshi-kun...she's here...Like you...I can see her too.

Hiroshi: Shit...Kamishiro! Hold on! I'm going to try and reach you...

It was too late for that...

Me: Hiroshi-kun...listen to me. I know where Ruri is at. Look for the Inari Shrine. It will give you the answers you're looking for! She's targeting you and your family! She's targeting everyone...The connections between, you, Ruri, and Tomoki-kun. That's how she gotten ahold of them!

Hiroshi: Kamishiro! What do you mean by that?! Damnit! Hold on!

I heard rustling on the other side of the phone.

I felt tears in my eyes. He's trying to hurry up and save me...

How cute. For me to fall for him like this.

My tears suddenly turned blood soaked...my gothic maid dress was sooned stained with the color of blood...

Whose blood...?

Hiroshi: Inari Shrine...You said Ruri could be there?! How do you know that...?

Me: Ruri...She spoke to me....

Hiroshi: Ruri...spoke to you?

I nodded.

I know it sounds unbelievable but it was what happened.

-Flashback-

After I left Hiroshi about an hour ago.

I saw a vision...somewhere in total darkness stood a familiar little girl with pigtails who crounched up between her legs hiding...

Me: Ruri-chan! Oh thank goodness! Where are you?!

Ruri:...Kaede-chan...

She spoke to me...

She looked so scared...

Ruri: Kaede-chan... Kaede-chan...Please tell big brother...to go to the Inari Shrine...Please...Help...

Just like that...the vision had ended...

The Inari Shrine....

Could she...be there...?

-End Flashback-

Hiroshi: KAMISHIRO!!! KAMISHIRO!!!

Me: Hiroshi-kun....Find Ruri and survive...this game isn't over yet.

Hiroshi: KAMISHIRO!!!

My phone's battery turned dead as the line was cut off...I didn't get the chance to charge it.

The cemetery turned cold. Hannya-Sama watched over me before she pulled a sword.

I now know whose blood this is....

It was mine...

There it was...the abyss...staring back into my face as it gazes at me...

Hannya-Sama then striked me down.

Misachiko's Final Performance has ended....

Me: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!