Akako

"Since you willingly came out to us, maybe you can tell us who you are?" Eito asks, hoping to learn more about Chizuki's true identity.

"I'm Akako, the being that you guys call a ghost," Chizuki, or rather Akako, reveals her true nature, leaving everyone in a state of disbelief.

"She definitely heard everything," Ayumi whispers, realizing that Akako must have overheard their earlier conversations about her.

"I can still hear you," Akako responds, making it clear that her abilities extend beyond what they might expect.

"Um, ma'am, can you please explain everything to us?" Jun gathers the courage to ask, seeking a better understanding of the situation.

"Call me Akako. 'Ma'am' makes me feel old," she requests, lightening the mood despite the seriousness of the situation.

"What should we ask?" Jun whispers to the group, unsure of where to begin with their questions for Akako.

"I'll tell you everything myself. Gather around, kids," Akako says, ready to share.

"Are we supposed to be kids? How old are you exactly?" Ayumi inquires, curious about Akako's age and the nature of her existence.

"I lost count a long time ago. It's no use counting it, really," Akako replies cryptically, hinting at the longevity of her existence.

The three of them exchange worrisome glances with each other, realizing that they're dealing with something far beyond their understanding.

"I won't waste my time telling you everything, so I'll make it quick," Akako states, preparing to share her story succinctly.

"I have some unfinished business with the girl with violet eyes, so I need to take care of her right now. I'll see you guys in the morning, or rather, Chizuki will," Akako announces, getting up.

"That explains nothing; you're just announcing your leave," Ayumi points out, still puzzled by the situation.

"I told you I don't have much time. I was contemplating whether to just tell you all this or stay hidden, so I've already wasted a lot of time," Akako explains, highlighting the urgency of her situation.

"So why did you come out to us?" Eito asks, seeking to understand the reason behind Akako's decision to reveal herself to them.

"I didn't want to waste more time, so I just did it. I'm going now," Akako says and then disappears right in front of their eyes, leaving everyone in the room astonished by her sudden departure.

"So, we all saw Chizuki's body just disappear in front of us, or...?" Jun asks, still trying to process the inexplicable events of the evening.

"We saw that too, Jun," Ayumi confirms, reiterating the surreal nature of the experience they just witnessed.

"Can ghosts just casually disappear with the body they're possessing?" Eito questions, reflecting on the unusual behavior they observed.

"I don't think that was just a ghost," Jun adds, implying that there might be more to Akako's existence and abilities than they initially thought.

"Actually, call the detective and ask her to look for Chizuki instead of the girl with violet eyes," Ayumi suggests, realizing that their priorities have shifted after witnessing Akako's departure.

"Yeah, we just lost Chizuki," Jun adds, expressing the concern and urgency of the situation as they come to terms with the disappearance of Chizuki.

---

I awaken to the scene of everyone peacefully slumbering on the living room floor.

What are those master bedrooms even doing here if everyone prefers to sleep in the living room?

I attempt to rise from the couch where I had been sleeping, only to fall flat on my face.

"What was that?" Eito awakens abruptly, startled by the sound of my fall.

This is embarrassing.

"Nothing much, I just took a tumble," I reply while attempting to stand up.

"Chizuki?" Eito shouts.

Everyone is up now, Great.

"Did something happen last night? My leg hurts as if it's been hit by a wall," I inquire, feeling the pain in my leg and trying to piece together the events of the night.

"Chizuki, it's you, right?" Ayumi asks, relieved to see me awake and hoping for confirmation for some reason.

"Of course, it's me, guys. Why are you looking at me like that?" I respond, puzzled by their expressions.

"I don't know if I believe that," Jun adds, still harboring doubts about the situation after the events of the previous night.

"Can someone please help me? I can't get up," I request, struggling to move due to the pain in my leg.

Ayumi gets up and assists me in sitting back on the couch.

"Yeah, she definitely hit her leg on something," Eito adds, examining the situation and the cause of my injury.

"I didn't. I was just sleeping. Weren't you guys watching?" I question, puzzled by their conclusions about your injury.

"We're talking about Akako, not you," Jun clarifies.

"What? Who?" I ask, still confused by the mention of Akako and their suspicion.

They explain everything me that happened last night.

"I don't want to believe this," Chizuki says, echoing the Absurdity of the situation.

"Me neither, Chizuki, but it's all true," Ayumi says, offering reassurance while coming to terms with the strange events they've experienced.

"How could she just leave without explaining anything about the situation?" Eito wonders aloud, expressing the frustration and curiosity they all share regarding Akako's departure.

"I want to ask the same thing," Chizuki adds, voicing her desire for answers about Akako's actions and intentions.

"Can I sleep some more? I only got like 3 hours of sleep," Jun requests, feeling the need to catch up on rest after the eventful night.

"I also want to sleep in my master bedroom," Ayumi chimes in, seemingly ready to return to her previous plan of enjoying the comforts of the house.

"It's just us then, I guess," Eito adds, acknowledging the smaller group that remains awake and alert.

"Can you help me get to the bathroom, Akiyama-kun?" Chizuki requests, needing assistance due to her leg pain.

"Do I really have to?" Eito grumbles in a half-joking manner, but he ultimately agrees to assist Chizuki to the bathroom.

---

What am I doing? I suggested to eat breakfast to Chizuki without thinking. Why do I keep getting myself involved with her?

I glance at Chizuki, who's sitting quietly in the front seat as I drive to the cafe. With Jun and Ayumi not present, the silence in the car becomes even more pronounced.

---

"What do you want?" I ask Chizuki, noticing that she hasn't even touched the menu or made a decision on what to order.

"I'll have the same as you," Chizuki replies, keeping her choice aligned with mine, perhaps out of habit or an attempt to maintain some level of normalcy in the situation.

"Alright, I'll go order. You wait here," I say, while getting up to place the order, leaving Chizuki at the table.

I return to the table after placing our order, only to realize that it will take longer than I expected for the food to be ready. The two of us continue to wait in the cafe, surrounded by the murmurs of other customers and the vibrant atmosphere of the place.

She hasn't spoken a single word since earlier.

As I glare at her while waiting, I notice that Chizuki's hair is getting longer suddenly.

I quickly take off my jacket and cover Chizuki's hair, hoping to conceal the sudden change from the prying eyes of other people in the cafe.

"You can't do this here in public with so many eyes on us," I express, whispering to Chizuki and emphasizing the need to maintain discretion and prevent others from noticing the unusual transformation.

"Oh, save it for yourself. No one cares what we do, and your jacket on Chizuki's hair looks even more distracting," Chizuki or is it Akako? responds.

"You're Akako, right? Why are you coming out now?" I ask, seeking an explanation for her sudden appearance.

"I don't need anyone's permission to come out, and I was bored. Since you already know, I thought, why not?" Akako responds, asserting her independence and spontaneity in this unusual situation.

"Leave her alone for once. She was just about to eat," I interject, trying to ensure that Chizuki can enjoy her meal without further interruptions.

"You seem to be forgetting something. Just because I haven't been saying anything, you think you can give me orders. I've been trying to hold it in for so long, but you're really getting on my nerves right now," Akako responds, expressing her frustration and the strain she's been under.

It's true that Akako hasn't shown any intentions of harming any of us physically, but her true motives remain unclear.

"What do you want from Chizuki?"

"I'm not answering any more questions, so just sit there with your mouth shut," Akako replies curtly, making it clear that she's not willing to provide further information at the moment.

---

"You're eating everything; leave some for Chizuki to taste too," I say, attempting to ensure that Chizuki has the opportunity to enjoy her meal despite the ongoing tension between me and Akako.

"It's going in her body, so what's the problem?" Akako responds, emphasizing her disregard for Chizuki's physical well-being.

"It's useless to say anything to you. If you're done eating, take Chizuki back to my car. I'll wait in the car," I assert, expressing readiness to leave the situation behind for the moment.

As I step away from the table and head towards the car, I find myself feeling unusually frustrated.

My phone rings.

It's Jun calling.

"Yeah, what's up?" I answer Jun's call, curious about what might be on his mind.

"Where are you right now?"

"I came outside to a cafe to have breakfast with Chizuki, and-" I begin to explain the situation to Jun, providing some context for my current circumstances.

"What are you talking about? You left Chizuki alone here, and I think it's Akako again," Jun responds.

"She was just with me. Is she back home already?" I ask, puzzled by the information Jun has just shared.

"Yeah, and she's not listening to us either. Just come back," Jun insists, conveying the urgency of the situation.

"Alright, I'll coming right away," I reply, concerned by the situation.