271 Ghost

Evening.

Nakano Family Apartment.

Akira, the quintuplets and their mother gathered on the living room sofa.

"Oh, I remember. If you have free time, come to the Cultural Festival next month."

Akira forgot to tell his family about this.

"Onee-san will definitely come for the sake of my cute little brother."

"Stop it, Ichika-Nee. I am no longer a child."

Shaking off Ichika's hand that was pinching his cheek, Akira complained.

"To Onee-san, Akira-chan has always been a child." Ichika smiled knowingly.

"What event is your class having?" Nino asked while painting her nails, while her face was covered with a face mask.

"Haunted house."

"!!!"

Hearing that, Itsuki stopped the movement of her hand that wanted to put the chips into her mouth. Her body was stiff and motionless like petrified.

"What's wrong with you, Itsuki?"

Noticing an abnormality in Itsuki, Yotsuba asked concerned.

"No-Nothing." Itsuki smiled ugly.

"Itsuki probably remembers her courage-testing experience while on holiday in Indonesia." Miku glanced at her and guessed.

"Ah, that time was so scary. Luckily, we were able to return safely." Yotsuba also remembers, but the experience had little impact on her.

"Don't bring it up again. Even though I've tried to forget it."

While holding her head, Itsuki shivered in fear.

"You're too timid, Itsuki." Nino scoffed.

"As if Nino wasn't afraid. At that time, you couldn't move and could only tremble on the spot." Miku said sarcastically.

"What did you say?! You are no better than me either." Nino glared at Miku.

"What are you talking about?" Rena asked, not understanding the topic of her five daughters.

"So it's like this, mom... Blah Blah Blah..."

Taking on the role of the eldest child, Ichika recounts their experience of encountering a ghost during their summer vacation in Indonesia.

"It turns out there was something like that… Why didn't anyone tell mom?"

"We don't want to worry mom. Besides, thanks to Akira, we're all fine."

Ichika calls her little brother her savior.

"Mom is proud of you, Akira. At the critical moment, you were calm and wise in taking your sister safely away from that dangerous place."

Turning her attention to her quiet son, Rena patted Akira's head praising his bravery.

"That's normal, family members should look after each other." Akira didn't think it was a big thing.

"If Itsuki-Nee is still scared, you don't need to come to class 1-A. However, other classes unlock other events. Also, there are a lot of students opening food stalls."

"I will definitely come."

As soon as the word 'food' was mentioned, Itsuki's fear disappeared and was replaced by twinkling eyes.

"Simple." Akira muttered softly, but Ichika and Nino next to him could hear him clearly.

...

The next day.

The 2nd subject of class 1-A is physics.

With his back to the students, the physics teacher wrote difficult-to-understand formulas on the blackboard.

Even though Teiko Junior High School is an elite school, not all students are good at academics. After all, there were also outstanding students on the sports track. For example, Kise Ryota. He felt dizzy looking at the formula in front of him.

When the physics teacher turned around, he glanced at the students who were taking notes or pretending to pay attention, then his gaze fell on the students sitting near the back door.

"Nakano-kun, what is your conclusion about Cosmic Velocity."

Hearing his name being called, inevitably, Akira stood up and stated his answer.

"Cosmic Velocity is often thought of as the speed of light, or simply an artificial measurement of speed made by authors. In reality, cosmic velocity is the speed at which an object escapes the cosmic body's influence."

"For example, the 3rd Cosmic Velocity is the speed an object must travel to escape the Solar System. The 4th Cosmic Velocity is the speed an object must travel to escape the Milky Way. The 5th Cosmic Velocity is the speed an object must travel to escape from a Black Hole. And the 6th Cosmic Velocity is the speed an object must travel to escape from the Universe."

Akira had long learned this. Anyway, he had the Third Cosmic Velocity.

"Good answer, Nakano-kun, you even mentioned some examples. As expected of an honor student. You may sit."

The physics teacher nodded in satisfaction, then he asked another question to the unlucky enough student to be selected.

...

School break time.

"Want to go to the cafeteria together?"

Shouko came to Akira who was tidying up the books.

"Of course. Miharu is also coming, right?"

Akira invited Miharu.

"Um." Miharu will not refuse.

Having decided, the three walked together towards the cafeteria.

Akira is in the middle, while on both sides there are Shouko and Miharu.

"Wouldn't it be better for me to prepare a bento for you, Akira?"

Shouko used to prepare bento for Akira. However, ever since they had a fight, she stopped giving him bento. Now that their relationship has recovered, she wants to make him a bento like before.

"No need. I don't want to trouble you, Shouko."

"It's not troublesome—"

"Don't lie, I know how complicated it is to prepare bento. Nino-Nee often complains that making breakfast for so many people is tiring."

"But—"

"No words but, just listen to me, okay?"

"If that's what Akira wants..."

Seeing his serious expression, Shouko stopped arguing.

"Regarding the Cultural Festival, what kind of ghost did Akira choose?" Miharu asked curiously.

Because class 1-A is holding a haunted house, the students are free to act as any ghost with the exception of the Japanese ghost. Each student must report the ghost they want to play so that it is not the same as the ghost chosen by other students.

"Pocong." Akira answered without hesitation.

"As I thought, you definitely chose a ghost from Indonesia." Miharu was not surprised by his choice.

She had long known that Akira liked Indonesian culture.

"How about you, Miharu?" It was Akira's turn to ask.

"Because Akira chose pocong, I chose kuntilanak. From the articles I read, pocong and kuntilanak are very harmonious among ghosts."

Miharu's implication is clear, she wants to get along with Akira.

"That's a hoax articles. Don't trust the internet too much." Akira smiled helplessly.

"What ghost did Shouko choose? Don't tell me you also chose a ghost from Indonesia, right?"

"Akira guessed right. The ghost I chose is called Sundel Bolong."

"Oh."

While chatting, the three arrived at the cafeteria.

After ordering food, sitting down at an empty table, the three of them started eating together.