Disclaimer: Brrr... it's cold. Looks like this year's winter is going to be freezing. This story might have been better for summer now that I think of it, but well... there's not a lot of stories left that's set in the winter. Ahem, all credit goes to Shingo Nanami and フクロウ. Enjoy.

健全青少年

Healthy Adolescents

Kasane x Kuranosuke

Part One

"It's hot~..."

"Don't say that. You're only going to feel hotter that way."

Hearing Kasane's muttering complaint, Kuranosuke unpleasantly grimaced.

Owari, Nagano was currently in the smack middle of summer and so the humidity of the weather continued on for days.

The heat of summer is a completely different kind of trouble from the cold of winter. Unlike winter where you could survive with wearing more layers and exercising, there was no way to get away from this heat.

"...So hot, so hot, so hot, so hot~."

"You idiot dof! I told you to shut up!"

This time Inuchiyo began to complain, so Kuranosuke snapped at him.

During times like this, Kasane truly missed home.

Air conditioner, electric fans, ice cream… The modern gadgets that she took for granted from the modern world.

"If you're so hot, why don't we have a refreshing story?"

"Refreshing story?"

Unable to let this pass up, Gorouza smiled.

Kasane tilted her head.

"When you think of summer's refreshing stories, it's always the ghost stories right?"

"Ghost story?"

"Yes, I actually prepared a special one for today. How about it? Would you like to hear one?"

"That sounds good. We'll just get irritated in this heat. Let's hear this special ghost story of yours."

"I'm also fine with this! What kind of story is it?"

"Well then."

After hearing their replies, Gorouza went around the room and blew out all but one of the candles, making the ambiance dark.

"I shall now modestly begin."

Saying that, he cheerfully smiled.

"..."

"That is the end…. How was it? Do you feel refreshed?"

S-scary! Too scary!

Kasane yelled out in her mind.

After hearing the contents of the story, the scary story, with the help of Gorouza, had done it's job of raising goosebumps up on her arms.

"I have a lot more you know?"

"I'm fine! That's enough!"

Turning pale in the face, Kuranosuke immediately declined.

It seems that Kuranosuke also became scared like Kasane,

"You look fine…"

Glancing at Inuchiyo, Kuranosuke grumbled.

"Not really? I kinda didn't understand what was going on."

At times like these he was really jealous of idiots, is what was written on Kuranosuke's face as he glanced at Inuchiyo.

"Oh dear, it's already this late. Shall we disperse for now?"

"...T-that would be good."

"I already sleepy~."

Everyone stood up and left to their respective rooms at Gorouza's suggestion.

The sun had long since set from the sky.

"Eh, yo-you guy's are already leaving…?"

Kasane worriedly called out to the group of three.

"Yes. It's already nighttime after all. It would be rude to intrude a young lady's chambers at this time."

"No! I don't think it's rude! Why doesn't everyone…."

"We all have to wake up early tomorrow? It's best if Kasane-dono sleeps early or it'll affect you tomorrow. Now that you've cooled down from the scary story, you'll finally be able to sleep better, right?"

Nope it just became too scary to sleep now! !

Kasane yelled in her mind.

"Well then, good night Kasane-dono."

Unable to object to the aura (different than the one Nobunaga has) Gorouza emitted to her, she watched as he bowed and followed the others out of her room.

She shrank from the silence of her room.

"I-I should get the futon out and sleep…"

Taking out the futon from the closet, she spread it out onto the floor and crept into the covers.

The lone flame of the candle was the only thing that kept loneliness at bay, but it would be outrageous to keep it burning as she sleeps.

"I don't want to blow it out…"

In this era the nights are truly pitch black, there were no lights here.

If she were to put out the light, it felt like something would crawl into her room so she felt too scared to do so.

"..."

Geez, don't be a scaredy cat! Ghosts and demons don't exist in this world!

She frantically persuaded herself and finally blew out the candle.

The room fell silent in the darkness.

The dim light and sounds disappeared.

Feeling a chilling attack from this, she covered the blanket over her head.

Tightly shutting her eyes, she tried wishing herself to sleep, but for reason she still found herself wide awake.

"...!"

Feeling that she heard rustling sounds outside, Kasane shrank under the covers.

She was getting awfully paranoid of the dark corner of her room.

If she recall, she was getting worried about what's behind her back.

If she were to turn around, 'something' might be there.

"Uuu…"

Don't worry about it, ignore it she told herself, but that only made her more conscious of it.

Unable to endure it any longer, she jumped up from the futon.

It's fine if this is embarrassing.

She didn't care if people would laugh at her.

This was her final resort.

She stood up from the bed.

TBC

If you have a brilliant storyteller, it's a given that they will give you goosebumps with horror stories. (First hand experience) Doesn't matter if you believe in ghosts or not. I thought I was fine with scary stories, but no I was totally wrong... Couldn't listen to another story that night. Ahahaha.

Well I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. The next chapter might be posted during this Thanksgiving... since I'll be stuck in the dorms... So until next time, I hope everyone has a healthy and safe week!