I found it troubling to think this way, but living in this house inevitably led to certain observations.

It was comfortable.

Yes. Incredibly comfortable.

In both my previous life and this one, living alone certainly had its advantages. Not having to worry about others' gazes when you're at home.

Well, except for the fact that there's no one to have warm conversations with. I felt that refreshing sense of liberation when I first lived independently too.

However, living alone has one fatal drawback.

You have to take care of your own life.

No one nags you about personal hygiene, no one prepares meals, and dishes or laundry remain untouched unless you deal with them yourself.

If you do nothing, dust accumulates in your room, you eat poorly or just skip meals altogether.

After your life deteriorates in various ways, you start wishing someone was there beside you.

...

Well, I don't have time to feel that way now, but I was still the one doing most of the housework.

Koko helped a little with chores, but she was still somewhat clumsy. And above all, I felt uncomfortable asking her to do this and that. So I ended up doing almost everything myself.

But here...

"Delicious!"

"...It really is."

Koko and Nakahara exclaimed in succession.

Yes. Shii lived in this house.

And Shii was the most ideal little sister I'd ever seen.

Recalling Shii's testimony, Sasaki was a typical teenage boy who avoided troublesome tasks at home, but Shii would scold him, wake him up early, prepare meals, and even walk to school with him.

Living with such a sister would inevitably spoil anyone's character.

"...Do I have to overcome this environment...?"

Nakahara sighed deeply.

I suppose so.

In the original story, Sasaki mistakenly thought this was normal for girls his age.

I'm not saying he looked down on other girls, but he was harboring a massive misconception.

Originally, he would realize how much he depended on Shii after she was hospitalized due to an encounter with a Kasha, but ironically, that never happened in this world.

"..."

Taking a bite of grilled salmon, I thought about how fortunate Sasaki was.

...Well, I don't know if it's some kind of counterbalance, but having parents like that makes it even in the end. In a way, Shii became this way because of that woman who calls herself their mother.

While we were enjoying our somewhat awkward but peaceful meal,

Ding-dong.

Someone quite rudely rang the doorbell during dinner time.

Sasaki, Shii, and I exchanged glances.

"What's going on?"

Nakahara looked confused by our reaction.

"Do you three have some arrangement?"

"..."

What should we do?

After thinking briefly, I stood up.

As I picked up my rice bowl and soup bowl, Shii and Sasaki quickly followed suit. They both grabbed the dishes that Koko, Nakahara, and I had been using.

"What's happening? Seriously, what's going on?"

"Nakahara."

When I called her name, Nakahara looked at me with the same confused expression.

"...Just follow me without saying anything for now."

"Huh? What?"

Though Nakahara was extremely confused by my serious expression.

"Please."

At Sasaki's earnest look, she found herself nodding without realizing it.

We quickly carried our dishes upstairs and entered Shii's room.

Our shoes at the entrance were probably put away by Sasaki and Shii.

"Meow."

"Shh."

Kuro, who had been sleeping on Shii's bed, meowed, but I held up one finger to silence him. Kuro showed little interest, yawned widely, and curled back up to sleep.

"What's going on?"

Nakahara asked the same question for the third time.

Sensing she might get truly angry if ignored again, I answered:

"Because an unwelcome visitor has arrived."

"Unwelcome visitor?"

"..."

I felt uncomfortable being the one to tell her that the siblings' mother had come, so I just nodded.

"What kind of person is this visitor? Are they trying to harm you two?"

"...Something like that."

Coming to extort money is harmful enough.

By the way, Koko was still downstairs. She had her socks off. She was perfect for the task I had in mind.

"Then shouldn't we go help?"

Nakahara said with an indignant expression, but I picked up my bowl from the floor and continued eating while saying:

"That's why we're here helping."

"Oh."

Nakahara finally stopped trying to get up and stared at me.

Then she sat back down.

"...I see."

Though unintentional, both Koko and I had shown Nakahara our true forms.

I had only shown myself bleeding profusely, but Koko had revealed a form clearly not human.

After I woke up in the hospital and explained what happened, Nakahara didn't ask about our identities. It was probably her way of being considerate. Above all, there was no need to revisit such terrible memories.

Besides, Koko normally just looked like a cute schoolgirl. Someone who seemed somewhat pitiful and sad if you watched her.

"So, Koko is... doing that, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

Nakahara made an uncertain expression at my response.

"Why?"

When I asked while stirring my miso soup with chopsticks, Nakahara hesitated before answering.

"Isn't it... disturbing?"

"..."

At my question, Nakahara thought for a moment before nodding.

Hmm.

How should I explain this?

If asked whether it was disturbing or not, I felt the same way.

As Yuka had told me before, Koko was satisfied with her current life.

She didn't change her appearance in front of others because she worried about my words and about disrupting that life.

"...Do you know why Koko resembles me?"

"...Because you're twins?"

"No."

Nakahara frowned at my answer.

After thinking for a while, understanding dawned on her face.

That's right.

Koko isn't 'originally' that kind of being. As she was in the refrigerator, and as I first encountered her, Koko's original form is closer to something amorphous.

Koko is simply imitating my appearance.

Because it's useful. It's more convenient when staying with me, and when people are watching, she won't be attacked in that form, and everyone likes her that way.

Whether Koko wants that or not—I think it's the former, but that concept of 'wanting' is somewhat different from 'desperately needing.' Koko immediately reverted to her true form when she truly felt it necessary.

'Wanting to' and 'needing to' don't always overlap.

"Koko doesn't want her current life to be disrupted."

I said that and continued eating.

Nakahara didn't ask anything more detailed.

She simply picked up her chopsticks and followed my lead.

Though we couldn't finish our meal.

*

Sasaki was trying his hardest.

It took tremendous effort not to look at Koko, who had deliberately transformed the house interior into something like a theme park horror house.

Isn't that right?

It's not easy for anyone to 'not see' a child suspended from the ceiling, wrapped in thin strands of hair.

He roughly knew what kind of being Koko was. Both Sasaki and Shii were there at that time.

But seeing someone who looked exactly like a girl from their grade hanging from the ceiling like she'd been hanged, staring down at them, was another matter entirely.

"Ah, aah..."

The woman at the entrance, who had fallen on her backside, pointed at Koko and made such sounds.

"What's wrong?"

Shii asked with a voice full of concern.

To this woman who knew nothing about the situation, everything must seem absurd. She probably saw a ghost for the first time in her life.

Though it wasn't actually a ghost.

But Shii wasn't worried about her mother. She was just concerned whether this situation would work as planned.

"Th-that, that thing...!"

The woman screamed.

Sasaki deliberately turned around.

For a moment, his eyes met Koko's and he felt a slight chill, but he forcibly tore his gaze away from her, looking around as if there was nothing there before turning back to the woman.

Frowning as much as possible to hide his expression.

"What are you talking about?"

"Can't you see it? You can't see that?!"

The woman screamed, but Sasaki and Shii gritted their teeth and ignored Koko.

It was becoming difficult.

The black hair that had taken over the ceiling was expanding its territory, now reaching the front door.

It seemed like a thin curtain would soon form over the entrance. A curtain made of hair.

If seen in a movie, it might have been just another scene, but seeing it in reality was completely different. Not awkward CGI, but real hair extending.

"Why on earth—"

"Eek!"

As Sasaki approached with a clueless expression, the woman screamed, jumped to her feet, opened the door, and ran out.

Tap, tap, tap...

It was an anticlimactic ending.

Sasaki and Shii stared blankly at the woman's retreating figure.

"Did I do well?"

The sudden voice from behind startled both of them.

Koko, who had somehow returned to the floor, stood behind them.

Shii hurriedly closed the door, and Sasaki held one finger to his lips.

"Koko, shh!"

"Okay!"

At Sasaki's words, Koko quickly covered her mouth with both hands.

Looking at her like this, she was just an adorably drawn girl. Perhaps because her appearance matched Kurosawa's, she seemed even cuter than Kurosawa, who never showed such expressions.

Though her hair was disheveled.

If Koko had transformed her face too, Sasaki and Shii probably wouldn't have reacted so calmly.

Perhaps Koko had some resistance to changing this appearance?

"...I don't hear any more sounds."

Only after Shii, who had her ear pressed against the door, said this did Sasaki heave a deep sigh.

"...Let's go upstairs and get Kurosawa and Nanami."

"I'll go!"

Koko shouted and ran up the stairs with pattering footsteps.

Sasaki and Shii looked at each other.

Then they both shrugged their shoulders without prompting.

*

"...If that woman comes back, let me know. I'll help again."

"I'll help too!"

Koko raised one hand enthusiastically at my words.

The 'haunted house' strategy was successful in the short term.

But I didn't think that persistent woman wouldn't return.

Aren't people scarier than ghosts? A distant ghost can't hurt me, but a nearby debt collector can break my fingers.

If she comes back determined to just grab the money and leave, things will be different.

"We can't keep asking for help like this..."

"It's fine."

Sasaki closed his mouth at my words.

"Thank you, senpai."

"It's nothing."

After all, I got to sit comfortably and enjoy a delicious meal.

"..."

By the way, Nakahara made various excuses wanting to stay a few more days, but she seemed to run out of arguments when I insisted on leaving today.

"The meal was great."

"Please come again!"

Shii said with a bright smile.

"What about me?"

"Ah... you're welcome to visit too."

"...Isn't your reaction too different?"

Nakahara pouted but soon let out a small sigh.

"See you tomorrow."

"Yes! Bye, Kuro!"

"Meow."

All he did was curl up on Shii's bed and sleep.

Well, I guess it can't be helped since he's cute.

Though my hands were full with luggage, my heart felt lighter. We exchanged goodbyes once more and were able to part ways with refreshed spirits.

Let's continue to torment that woman over time.

Wouldn't that be a good approach? Something like 'the ghost has attached itself to you.' I wonder how she'll react when that time comes.

*

"What the hell? Ghosts don't exist in this world."

"It's true! I saw it!"

A man with a delinquent impression, hands stuffed in his pockets, yawning.

And a woman with a somewhat loose impression guiding him. Passersby subtly kept their distance from the pair.

They were the kind of people occasionally seen even in expensive neighborhoods. Having money doesn't necessarily mean having class.

And these two arrived at the center of a neighborhood lined with such luxurious houses.

It was in front of a two-story house that was clearly worth more than a penny or two.

"Is no one inside? You said your daughter lives here?"

"...I wonder."

The woman muttered at the man's words.

Despite it being dark after sunset, the house seemed empty with its lights off.

There was nothing particularly eerie about the place, but strangely, a chill hung in the air.

The man didn't seem to mind the chill. Well, it was getting to be the season when nights turn cold.

"L-let's just go."

The woman said, wrapping her arms around herself.

If people were inside, they would certainly be her son and daughter. But for some reason, the way the two had looked at that girl hanging from the ceiling yesterday was strange.

As if somehow, what was there seemed natural.

Of course, they might have simply not found anything. They were children abandoned long ago—in fact, she sometimes regretted that—

"Hey, the door's opening."

The man said, holding the doorknob.

Click.

The door opened too easily.

The inside was pitch black, but when the entrance opened, the street lamp light shone in, vaguely revealing the interior.

Whew. The man whistled.

"Can't we just move in here? We just need to deal with that son of yours, right? What was her name, Shii? She doesn't say anything when she's with you anyway."

The man said, turning around, but the woman's face had turned pale.

Her gaze was fixed on the open house.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

The woman moved her jaw as if trying to say something, but no sound came out.

She just pointed at the house interior with trembling fingers.

"Huh?"

The man turned his head.

Far away.

At the end of the corridor visible from the entrance, near the corner leading to the kitchen, a human silhouette was faintly visible.

White legs and the hem of a skirt.

"Oh, what? Someone's inside after all. Hey, Shii, long time no see?"

Come to think of it, she had grown quite well the last time he saw her. Enough to remind him of this woman's younger days.

The memory of her snot-nosed childhood still irritated him, but now.

However, the man's body froze as he was about to casually enter the house.

"..."

Something was off.

Had that child grown so tall?

No, to begin with, if it was a human figure—

Only after pushing his body slightly inside did he realize how strange it was that the silhouette was elongated vertically.

Above the skirt, a waist was visible. As if the uniform had been purchased without anticipating such height, white flesh was exposed.

But it didn't look sensual at all.

Rather, it looked like a person forcibly stretched vertically, a strange appearance.

Hair became visible.

It was slowly peeking its head around the corner after hearing the man's voice.

Fingers appeared. Like playing piano keys in order, starting with the long pinky finger, each one gripped the corner.

Slowly turning its body, it peeked just its head around the corner.

Even if he had only seen Shii's last appearance in photos, the man could tell with absolute certainty that this wasn't Shii.

It wasn't even human to begin with.

The head that had been facing the floor slowly turned toward the man.

A face like a three-year-old child's first attempt at drawing a person with crayons.

The two eyes were misaligned. The nose was just a dot. The mouth, spread wide horizontally, was so high up that there seemed to be no philtrum at all.

The skin was white as paper. One would expect to see blue veins, but there were none, making it look like a mannequin.

But that outer covering was clearly not plastic but some kind of flesh.

The misaligned eyes slowly looked at the man. Those eyes, colored too darkly and drawn too large, stared directly at him.

The mouth opened.

Inside, there were no teeth, just pointed gums that didn't properly interlock but stabbed each other.

Despite having no blood, bright red blood flowed from those gums. It was like looking at teeth made of flesh.

And then, it moved.

"Ugh, aaaahh!?"

The man fell backward on his backside, then quickly turned and crawled away.

"I told you! Didn't I tell you?!"

The woman screamed.

People passing by looked in their direction, but the two paid no attention.

Unlike when they arrived, they ran far apart from each other.

There was not a speck of loyalty between these cohabitants.

*

"Huh?"

"Onii-san?"

"No, the door was open."

Today was a day when both Sasaki and Shii had part-time jobs.

They happened to meet at the station, smiled, and returned home together, only to find the door they had surely locked was open.

Both Sasaki and Shii's expressions hardened simultaneously.

"...Stay right behind me."

As Sasaki said this, Shii stuck close to his back.

As they cautiously opened the door while extremely tense—

"Meow."

Such a sound came from inside.

"Kuro?"

Shii murmured, recognizing that distinctive meow.

"Meow."

When they opened the door, Kuro was sitting in the entrance.

"Didn't Kurosawa take him yesterday?"

"...Maybe he fell off somewhere along the way?"

Shii entered and picked up Kuro.

"Meow."

When she lifted him by placing her hands under his armpits, Kuro meowed with a sullen expression.

"It's fortunate though. What if he hadn't been able to get into our house?"

"...Maybe a window was open?"

"Let's check the house and then contact Kurosawa."

"Yes, Onii-san."

They inspected the house.

Fortunately, nothing was missing.

*

"Kuro is there?"

I scratched my head after receiving Sasaki's call.

I had been searching everywhere with Koko because Kuro wasn't at home.

"How did he get there?"

Saitama and Tokyo. Though they share a border on the map, in reality, the distance is considerable. No, since Tokyo's 23 wards are actually larger than Seoul, the actual distance is even greater.

Kuro went all that way?

...It's not an impossible distance to walk in a day, but still.

This is strange. Both Koko and I definitely saw him at home this morning.

Or did I mistakenly think I brought him home yesterday? No, that can't be right?

[Maybe you lost him along the way?]

Sasaki cautiously suggested, but I could only tilt my head in confusion.

"...Alright. I'll come get him."

[It's late today, so you can come tomorrow.]

"...But what about the litter box?"

I said, looking at Kuro's litter box at home.

[Um... I'm sure we can manage somehow?]

"..."

I sighed and rubbed my face.

"...Okay. I'll come tomorrow."

"We're going to Shii's house tomorrow?"

"Yeah, looks like it."

I nodded when Koko, who had been listening to the conversation, asked.

"Then, can we eat Shii's food?"

[I'll prepare something for you, senpai.]

Shii, who was apparently listening on the other end, answered.

"Wow!"

"..."

Hey, aren't you too excited?

...Have I been relying too much on bean sprouts lately? Should I start diversifying the menu?

I pondered this quite seriously.