Being a mangaka, Amano Keisuke usually had to work overtime to meet his deadlines while balancing school work AND Agency cases. Most of the time, he managed, but there WERE a few times that he had to skip out on a few things to work on his panels. The Agency usually understood and let him skip out on a few cases, but they still visited to keep an eye on him, especially Natsume, who worried about his health 24/7. So did his parents, honestly, but he was fine with the workload. After all, chasing your dreams had to have some consequences.

Anyway, it just so happens that the Agency has a horror movie night every week. After the entire mess with Filmin, Akinori had suggested it as a way to conquer their fears and grow stronger mentally. Everyone had agreed to do it, so they usually have a sleepover at someone's house (normally Touma's, since his room could fit all of them, or Akinori's, where they stay in the main shrine). Once the adults went to bed, the 5 of them stayed up to watch horror movies, usually classics. If not, they took out psychological thrillers with a bit of horror mixed in, or even video games. Anyone who skipped out had to hand in a letter of absence that explained why that certain person couldn't go that night beforehand (A part of Keisuke wondered if this was a poor attempt to make the Youkai Detective Agency sound more official and legal than it actually was.). Anyone who didn't give in a letter would get a penalty.

Keisuke had never really thought of the penalty that much, since he could usually make time for this. (In his editor's words, it could give him more inspiration, so yeah.)

But he never tried to skip out ever again after that one time that he did.

It's a long story.

*^*^*^ Keisuke's POV *^*^*

"You have got to be kidding me," I mumbled under my breath as I stared at the middle panel that I had accidentally messed up with a single smudge. This can not be happening.

"Of all the days for my luck to be as bad as Naegi Makoto, why choose today?" I groaned, grabbing my eraser from the desk to try to get the smudge off, only for it to worsen.

Hissing in annoyance, I rubbed my tired chocolate eyes, staring at the work in front of me with a stink eye as I leaned on the chair for a bit, analysing my situation.

That smudge would have to go, meaning that I would have to redo the entire sheet. My deadline was tomorrow though, and with the Horror Night tradition happening tonight, I wasn't sure if I could finish the last page in time, particularly due to the complex drawings I would have to do. My editor will have my head if I don't hand it in. This deadline was already outstretched too much due to my school exams and the Agency work I had to deal with before school ended. Agh! Use your brain, Keisuke! Use your brain-

I suddenly froze, an idea forming in my mind.

What if... What if I skipped Movie Night?

That... wasn't a bad idea. I mean, the others were BOUND to understand why I had to do it, right?

But the letter... I wasn't sure if my parents would get back home in time to sign the letter, even if I wrote it super fast. Mom was out with her friends, while Dad usually came home late.

Then it hit me.

Maybe Junior could take my place!

That idea made sense as well. I could just go and ask Junior to take my place. He loved spending time with the others, so this should be a good reason to do so.

I'll just have to hope that Neechan and the others won't notice.

With that, I quickly set off for Neechan's room, quietly whispering an "Excuse me..." before I entered the room.

Since it was the afternoon (the time that I usually worked on my manga during Agency days, which the others used as hang outs), Neechan wasn't in her room, much to my relief. Her overnight bag was already out, placed neatly beside her bed with the Elder watch.

Wasting no time at all, I walked over to the Elder watch and gently put it on before I went over to the Ark Holder, which was located beside her bag, and searched it, quickly finding Junior's Ark and taking it out.

"Alright, let's do this! Shoukan!" I inserted the Ark into the watch and twisted it to the right. "Raito!"

"Ore no tomodachi, degikai, Junior!" I put Junior's Lightside on top of the watch, before raising my hand and allowing my shadow to fall in front of me, summoning Junior in the process.

"Jiitan, daze!" Junior grinned as he did a superhero pose, causing me to crack up a bit before I got into business, "Ne, Junior, can you do me a favour?"

"Eeh? What kind of favour?" Junior tilted his head.

"Can you take my place in tonight's Movie Night?"

At that, Junior's eyes sparkled, "Really?!"

I nodded with a smile, "Yep. I need to work on Masks' 5th volume, but I made this huge mistake on the panels, so I have to stay home. Is it okay if you help me with this?"

"Mochiron, daze!" Junior nodded. I felt huge relief hearing that.

"Arigatou, Junior!" I hugged him.

"No problem, daze!" Junior smiled.

*^*^* That night, Natsume's POV ^*^*^

"Hi guys!" I waved to them as I placed my bag beside Ayame's, causing Touma, Akinori and Ayame to look up from a game of Lightning Speed Age. (Touma and Keisuke had taught us all how to play it, so we usually play it before Movie Night starts.)

"Hi Natsume-chan!" Ayame waved.

"Yo!" Akinori grinned, while Touma smiled as he waved as well.

"How's the game so far? Can I join?" I sat down beside Touma, who looked down at the game they had so far, "It's still in the safe zone so far. I think we have space for 2 more."

"Oh right, speaking of that, where's Keisuke?" Akinori tilted his head.

I shrugged, "Said that he had to work on the panels again."

At that, Touma sighed, "He's working really hard, isn't he?"

"Ah," Ayame nodded in agreement.

Just then, the door opened to reveal Keisuke.

"Oh, Keisuke!" Akinori smiled, "You're here!"

However, Junior's voice spoke out instead, "Hi Fatty-" before he covered his mouth, eyes wide in shame.

Our eyes widened before they narrowed as we looked at him.

Akinori did NOT look amused, "Junior, turn back. Right now."

Junior gulped as he did so, returning to his original form.

"Why on Earth were you pretending to be Keisuke?" I crossed my arms, trying to seem terrifying to him.

"B-Because Keisuke asked me to, daze!" Junior was whimpering as he answered.

We all looked at one another. Keisuke asked him to do this?

"H-He said that he had to fix something i-in his book, s-so he asked me to take his place..."

Cue a dark aura exploding from me, "WHAT?!"

Akinori facepalmed in annoyance, "Why am I not surprised?"

Touma sighed exasperatedly, "It's getting too much, honestly."

Ayame nodded.

Suddenly, an idea popped up in my head which made me put on a dark smirk, "I have an idea."

The other 3 swivelled over to me.

"Since tonight IS a horror movie night, why don't we go surprise him?" I suggested, a mischievous glint in my eyes.

At that, the trio's smiles grew dark as well.

Time to get back at Keisuke~

Requester: Bearlywrote

Prompt: Keisuke is working on a manga but he's supposed to go over to Akinori's house to watch a scary movie, so he summons Junior to take his place while he's working. Meanwhile, Natsume notices that her brother's skipping out on mandatory horror movie night, so they all go to her house and sneak up on him to teach him a lesson.