Chapter 24 More Important than Fear
Tsukasa's POV

The party was now in full swing, and apparently…the parents had decided to hire a bug specialist as entertainment.

"Check it out, kids", he said as he held up a cage. "A real life spider!"

As the children looked at the spider in awe…I felt as I was about to throw up.

"I'm never taking a job at a Halloween party ever again."

"Now", the bug specialist started. "Are any of you brave enough to hold this spider?"

With this, I looked at the children…and I spotted the one I was talking to earlier.

When I saw him, I thought about what I had said earlier…and it give me an idea.

"Sir", I started suddenly. "Perhaps I should hold the spider first to properly demonstrate to the children how to do it?"

"That's an excellent idea", the bug specialist replied. "Alright children! Watch carefully as I show this man how to properly hold the spider!"

"Tsukasa", Sakurako started as she grabbed onto my arm. "What are you doing? I thought you were afraid of spiders?"

"I am", I replied. "But…"

After I said this, I looked at the child from before once again.

"…some things are more important than fear."

With this, I walked up to the bug specialist.

"Are you ready", he asked.

I gulped nervously, but then…I nodded.

"Excellent", the bug specialist said. "Then please hold out your hands. Watch carefully now, children."

With that, I did as told.

Then…a spider was suddenly in my hands.

I wanted so badly to scream and toss it anyway, but I managed to stay calm.

"Well done", the bug specialist praised.

"Thank you", I managed to breathe out. "How long do I have to do this?"

Before I could get an answer…I suddenly felt a tug on my pants leg.

I looked down…and saw the child from before.

"Mister", he started. "Can I hold the spider too?"

"What", I said in shock. "Are you sure?"

"Yes", the child replied. "I wanna show my classmates that I'm not a scaredy-cat."

Upon hearing these words, I looked at the child in shock.

But then, I smiled at him.

"Excellent", I said. "If you are sure, then please hold out your hands like I am at the moment."

With that, the child did as told.

Then…I let the spider slowly crawl into his hands.

He squirmed a bit, but then…he slowly opened his eyes, and smiled when he saw that he was successfully holding the spider.

"Look at that", one of his classmates said. "He's actually holding the spider!"

"I guess he's not a scaredy-cat after all", another classmate said.

Hearing this made me smile as I stepped back a little.

"Now I see what you were doing", Sakurako revealed. "You were trying to help that boy that you were speaking to earlier."

"Yes", I said. "And it seems that my plan has been a success!"

After I said this…Sakurako suddenly smiled at me.

"Why are you smiling at me like that", I asked.

"Oh", Sakurako said, before suddenly turning her head away shyly. "It's…it's nothing."

This confused, but I just shrugged it off.

I then looked at my hands…and shivered in fear.

"I am so glad that I was wearing gloves", I revealed. "Even though I sewed them myself, I'm burning them when I get home.