The night was young, if chilly.

In the grandiose halls of the mansion, however, sudden blaze surges forth with a horrified gasp.

Seizing nause gives way to quick breaths, sudden motion. Pottery falls sharply as a sheathe is emptied, to aim the blade quickly while taking point.

"Meiya-sama, wait a moment," Mana requests, hesitant.

"Silence, Tsukuyomi," Meiya warns, about to pounce. "I shall vanquish this- whatever this intruder is!"

The ethereal white cloak billows, giving a hearty chuckle. "Oh, welcome to the night of darkness, Meiya!" Takeru says then makes ghastly echoes.

Only managing to make Meiya frown, raise the sword. "How dare you mimic my dear's voice. Stay quiet, fiend. I shan't take long…"

Takeru blinks, lost utterly, hesitating. "Uh, honey? What are you doing?"

"What, you ask? Have you seen yourself, fiend?!"

"Meiya-sama, that is Takeru-sama," Mana corrects.

"Do not take me for a fool," she pouts. "Since when does Takeru have glowy blue eyes? Look at this monster, its complexion is fully white, uncannyly so. And if it is Takeru indeed, I shan't allow no evil spirit to possess him!"

"Ohoho," Takeru spreads arms, tickling the air with a teasing smirk. "Our noble samurai does not yet know, blades cannot sunder the dead. I shall ask you only once. Trick or treat?"

"Enough prattling, fiend. Have at you!"

"Wait, Meiya, this is part of- Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh-"

The Mitsurugi Household gained a new astral observatory since that day.

One moment later…

"I did no wrong!" Meiya pouts, kneeling on the floor. "It is your miss for not telling me in advance…"

"You literally almost slashed me in half. Again! Honey, we talked about you using the Minaru Kamui so quickly…"

"Mmgh… However, what is the meaning of this getup?" she protests.

"Meiya-sama," Mana facepalms. "It is a decoration for Halloween. Takeru-sama thought to organize a small party for your return from the business trip, considering the date. Take a look, he took it upon himself to gather the décor."

"And we got lots of cake too," he says, pointing to the blueish cake with ghostly patterns. "I hate to admit it, but the Three Idiots did a banger of a job."

"Oh… I see. My apologies, you simply did look like a specter… Grandfather used to always tell me how people could be possessed by evil spirits, and to never show those fiends any mercy."

"Siiigh… This reminds me when you destroyed that haunted house last year…"

"See, Takeru-sama? I told you a less… impressive attire would have been a better choice."

"Fine, whatever. Let's eat and then see some movies. I even got some TTRPGs to play with," he boasts with a smirk, gesturing further into the main hold of the mansion.

Meiya smiles, standing to appraise the preparations and ambiance. "I still don't truly see the appeal in horror, but you've my gratitude for gifting me this, Takeru. In that case, shall we- Gasp! Takeru! There's a giant spider right behind you!"

"What? Oh, this is just another dec-"

"Stay quiet, I shall deal with it!"

"Wait Meiya, this- No, lower that Minaru Kamui!"

"Meiya-sama, we just talked about this!"

"Le-Let go of me! Do you expect me to stay my hand when my beloved's in danger?! Oh, w-what is that foul, orange- A-A decapitated head?! It's even smirking our way…"

"That's just a pumpkin!"

"Pumpkins don't glow, Takeru!"

"It's a jack o' lantern!"

"Then it is no pumpkin…"

"Oh my god… Come on, lower that sword before you break anything else. You don't even need a costume to be a slasher film villain…"

"Ahem! Meiya-sama, this is no manner to behave after your husband's preparations," she scolds, pulling the sword off the maiden's hands.

"I guess this means she deserves the 'trick' instead?" Takeru says, smirking.

"What? Whatever do you mean?" Meiya asks, shivering as both of them chuckle slowly.

Takeru again gestures to the table, horror castles, lairs, papers and dice laid out neatly, along some tomes of rules and whatnot.

"If thou thirst for the sweet pastry of this accursed night… thou shall have to defeat me in my realm, games! The night is young still. Can you rescue your beloved Takeru from within the grasp of the darkness and cake?"

"What has cake to do with anything?"

"You don't win," he leans in, tip of the tongue brushing her earlobe, "no treats for you."

"Wh- That is not fair! You know I cannot best you in games of chance."

"Hehe… Then, are you forfeiting your-"

"Never! Tsukuyomi, I call upon your assistance."

"Gladly, milady."

"Hehehe… In that case, I will have my reinforcements as well. Maya-san?"

A puff of smoke later, a vampiress appears right behind him, slivers of fake blood pouring from lips and eyelids. With a silent nod, she takes his side on the table.

With somber music playing, the dice begin to roll, the wine to flow, the sweets to lips, and the stiffness vanishes from Meiya's mind until gentle laughter or blimps for cheeks remain.

And a stomach ache on the following morning due to cake overdose.

"…I told you to show moderation," Mana repines, sighing hard.

Meiya weakly groans, folding further into Takeru's chest under the sheets.

"I suppose, breakfast is off the table?" she asks.

Takeru shrugs, lazily leaning onto the fluffly blue that curls into him. "And the rest of the day, too. Our dear Head of the Group cannot possibly attend no meetings in this state, owing to the large business trip, of course.

She sighs again yet smiles, bowing then stepping to the door. "I'll go fetch some pills for the pains."

As she leaves, however, she finds Maya right outside with an outstretched hand, a blister of medication in her palm.

Mana groans as she takes it, narrowing eyes. "…You truly should stop going along Takeru-sama's whims."

"I do not know what you speak of," Maya looks away, huffing. "Everything went according to plan… to give them the well deserved rest they're in need of. Also, orders are absolute."

"Siiigh… Just don't go so overboard next year."

"I am not who decides that, Mana. And it is but a little trick, to bequeath a sweet treat to our Lady. It wasn't unpleasant, to make Meiya-sama enjoy herself so," she nods, giving a minute smile.

"Hmm… Only Meiya-sama enjoyed herself then?"

"Oh, be quiet. Come on, give her the pills before the pain gets worse."

"Yes, yes, so I'll do. and I'll tell Takeru-sama of your devoted preparations," Mana teases with a smirk, before slowly reentering the main suite.

Maya's lips narrow but she merely turns away. "…You better do."