Chapter 3: Abandoned Building.

It was time for recess.

So I ran out in a hurry.

Behind me, a stampede was following me.

And among them, a lioness looked on.

If I'm honest, I might as well tell her things straight and the problem shouldn't escalate.

After all, it was only a notebook.

However, an image from the past, accompanied by a not at all pleasant feeling, gave me the confidence to run away without hesitation.

As I dodged the danger, I lost my way in the vast and intricate corridors.

Disadvantage of being in a huge school.

My breathing was a bit labored.

I should train this body, it was not in very good shape.

Which discouraged me.

All the effort I put into keeping myself healthy and strong in the past disappeared without a trace.

In my previous life I was a very sedentary person so it was even more discouraging.

Now, where is the cafeteria?

I looked from left to right, but there was nothing to help me get my bearings.

Didn't they think to use some kind of signage?

In my school days I faintly remembered seeing some.

In any case, there is no doubt that the price to be paid to enter did not match the quality of the kuoh academy.

Wide, expansive hallways, not to mention perfectly paved walkways with their fair amount of greenery on the outskirts.

I shrugged my shoulders.

Anyway, I could take this as sightseeing.

With the mindset of an explorer, I walked wherever the wind took me.

I spent some time looking at empty classrooms and those that were not.

Some classrooms were for cooking and others, music.

In my youth, I learned to play the piano.

I wasn't particularly capable, but I was proud of what I accomplished.

Besides, I could improve my culinary skills, which had been on my mind lately.

Soon I found a window that looked outside.

There I came to see a gloomy building, like something out of a horror film.

I moved and by pure chance identified an exit that led to the vicinity of that building.

"All right. Let's go."

There was still plenty of time left until the next class.

And it's not like I knew where to go either.

So, in a few moments I arrived at the entrance.

There were bushes and ciders everywhere.

Wasn't anyone looking after this place?

That building wasn't out of the way enough to be ignored.

Besides, where are the people?

Curious, I moved a little closer to get a closer look at the place.

Although the appearance was undoubtedly somewhat frightening, it didn't bother me in any way.

I had a certain stamina for this sort of thing.

I pushed the front door open.

A dark hallway not very well lit presented itself to me.

On the sides closed doors located at some distance from each other.

The only source of light came from a few stained glass windows.

For some unknown reason, I entered without causing any noise, stealthily.

I tried to open some doors, but I couldn't because of them were locked.

Assuming that this would be the case with the others, I simply ignored the next ones and proceeded with my adventure.

A few moments later, I was able to witness a large hall.

High above the ceiling, an unlit chandelier.

Which implied that the light remained limited.

In front, a staircase led to the second floor.

It looked like a rather stately place.

Or the secret base of a satanic cult.

I laughed softly at the strangeness of the situation.

I tried to relax my tense shoulders a bit.

But that action was cut short by a shadow cast in front of me.

Startled, I backed up a few steps.

"A girl...?" I said.

The girl in the Kuoh Academy uniform looked at me expressionlessly.

Her feline yellow eyes were somewhat creepy.

She could act like the unchanging girl from horror video games.

"This... Excuse me? By any chance, did you get lost? where are your parents?"

I thought I saw for a split second annoyance on her indifferent face.

But because she was partially in the shadows, it must have been my imagination.

I approached and at that, she said. "I didn't get lost. I'm not a child either. This is the occult research club."

Oh, I see.

Scratching the back of my scalp in embarrassment, I immediately apologized. "I'm sorry! I didn't know."

She didn't respond.

Apparently, she was a girl of few words.

But seriously, what is it with this world?

This girl's appearance is on a different level.

I don't remember ever seeing someone so beautiful.

Not even those women who opted for plastic surgery.

Maybe here that technology was even more developed?

While I was having those unpleasant thoughts about a person I had just met, my eyes met hers.

A shiver ran down my spine.

It didn't take an exchange of words to understand what was going on.

Well, I should be going now, I guess.

"I-It's a nice place, haha..." I laughed uncomfortably.

Whereupon I turned around.

However, I noticed that the girl followed me.

Apparently, my image was ruined.

She probably sees me as an impertinent person who raids places inconsiderately and shamelessly.

Which, by my actions, I was.

Still, I brazenly pushed away that nagging feeling.

Not that I was entirely to blame either.

This place looked like an abandoned building.

To ease the strange tension in the air, I said. "By the way, what's your name? Mine is Yuki, Yuki Aito."

She looked up so that we could match our viewpoints.

I was about 5'6" tall and she was certainly short enough to mistake her for an elementary school girl.

"Koneko, Koneko Tōjō."

"Emm, that's a pretty name."

I received no response, so believing that I was being a nuisance to her, I didn't speak to her again.

It was my good fortune to run into someone like that, though.

I was not eager to be reprimanded.

It wasn't long before we were off to the outskirts of the Club for Research into the Occult.

"Goodbye..." I said goodbye, but the girl was nowhere to be found.

"Strange," I commented.

Would she be preparing for a play?

I have heard of method actors who really get into their roles to give them an incredible touch of realism.

To me, she was acting for a horror play.

I gave her my full approval.

Without giving it much thought, I began to slowly make my way to what I judged to be the cafeteria.

I should have asked her.