Chapter 37: A Total Killjoy, Get Lost...

In the lush, almost ominous woods, Udo Kaye and Tomie stood on a moss-covered stone plaza, clad in outdoor adventure gear, surveying the abandoned shrine before them. The wooden doors and windows were decayed to the point of blackening, and a statue, missing half its head, sat beneath a tattered, grimy red cloth fluttering in the breeze.

"Is this the place you dragged me to?"

"Uh-huh~"

Hands on her hips, Tomie examined the ruins with excitement, beckoning to Udo, who trailed a half-step behind. "Give me the backpack."

Udo rolled his eyes. He was already exhausted from the hike up like a worn-out dog; did she really think of him as her servant?

*Slap!*

"Hey!"

After dropping the bag beside her, Udo didn't hesitate to give Tomie a smack on the backside. He had to admit, the texture was excellent. He had put a bit of frustration into that swat, and Tomie knew it well.

"Want another one? Or maybe a rub? You can even reach inside if you like~"

"..."

Udo turned and walked away. He picked up his canteen to drink, watching as Tomie pulled out her so-called "exorcism tools" from the bag—items of dubious origin. There were great purification ropes, demon-repelling arrows, amulets blessed by "masters," paper talismans, and a pile of other junk, along with a...

"What are you doing?" Udo asked, staring in confusion as Tomie began to undo her pants.

"Changing, what else?"

Amidst the rustling sounds, Tomie changed into a red-and-white shrine maiden outfit. Throughout the entire process, Udo didn't look away, which earned him an eye-roll from her.

"When you're watching, you’re all eager, but when it’s time to actually do it, you’re scared to death."

"It’s not like I haven't seen you in a swimsuit. It’s just the difference between lace and no lace."

"Is that really the same thing?"

Faced with her sudden retort, Udo found himself momentarily speechless.

"Come over and tie my obi."

He walked behind her to tie the sash. Her waist was incredibly slender, and her waist-to-hip ratio was remarkable. "Why are you changing into this? Aren't we here to research information for the club’s presentation? How did this turn into cosplay?"

Tomie pondered for a moment. "Doesn't it add to the atmosphere?"

Udo sighed, watching her strike poses and pretend to be a real shrine maiden. Captivated by her charming antics, he took out his camera to snap some photos, feeling a sudden stir of desire.

"Don't move."

"?"

"Mmph..."

Faced with Udo's advances, Tomie was more than willing—in fact, she was highly cooperative. However, every time she prepared to let him advance further, Udo would pull back at the last second.

"What a buzzkill. Get lost..."

"..."

With a disdainful kick, she pushed him away and grabbed her gear, heading toward the shrine entrance. The door creaked open, and the dust sent Tomie into a fit of sneezing.

"Stay still."

As he placed a mask over her face, Tomie looked surprised. "How did you have this ready?"

"There was a flu going around recently. Just a habit to carry one."

Tomie arched an eyebrow, shrugged just as he did, and switched on her flashlight to begin the exploration. Inside the main hall, every step on the floorboards produced a piercing screech. Tomie muttered incantations to herself, scattering salt as she went.

Udo, following behind with his own light, grew more puzzled. "Are you here to investigate or to exorcise demons?"

"Both. Don't worry about it."

"Do you even know how?"

Tomie stopped scattering salt and shot him a cold, side-eyed glance. Under her gaze, Udo sighed, tucked his flashlight under his arm, and pulled out his notebook to record their findings.

In the dim shrine, the occasional sound of scurrying rats echoed. Instead of being afraid, Tomie seemed even more excited. Udo, trailing behind, felt speechless—she was just tempting fate because of her ability to regenerate infinitely.

As he shook his head, he noticed inscriptions on the pillars flanking the middle door. He stepped forward to illuminate them, and Tomie joined him.

"Ushi no... what does that mean?"

"How should I know?"

Udo snapped a photo of the characters, and they continued forward. "Didn't they say this place was haunted? Are those expensive items you bought actually that powerful?"

"What did you say?"

Udo, busy photographing the inscriptions on the wall, looked back.

"Nothing. Just take your pictures."

Convinced that her exorcism tools were legit, Tomie grew bolder. Suddenly, her peripheral vision caught a flash of red in the crack of a door, just beyond the reach of their flashlights. She swung the beam over, only to find it was just red string.

"Why is there red string here..."

Curiosity piqued, she moved into the room. As the light hit it, she found a space where the ceiling beams and floor were wrapped in dense webs of red thread, adorned with numerous bells and paper charms.

"Whoa..."

A typical girl might have screamed and hidden in her boyfriend's arms, but Tomie found a sinister, terrifying beauty in the scene. She glanced back at Udo, who was still busy snapping photos, and thought of having him take a picture of her inside. Then, a mischievous idea to prank him crossed her mind.

She chuckled softly, carefully brushing aside the tangled threads so as not to disturb the bells, and stepped into the center of a space that looked like a ritual circle. Disliking the dust, she wiped a spot clean with her shoe and knelt down.

"Ahem..."

She cleared her throat, adjusted her posture, and tugged on a red cord. To her surprise, the cord was brittle and snapped instantly. The sudden, sharp ringing of the bells startled her.

*Jingle, jingle...*

The unexpected sound made Udo jump. He spun around toward the noise. "Tomie?"

He watched her, kneeling in the center of the red threads with her head bowed, as if possessed. A wave of panic washed over him.

Just then, a gust of wind surged through the open door, causing the bells to sway violently. Amidst the dense, jarring chime, Udo shuddered.

"Tomie!?"

His panicked call went unanswered. As he scrambled to figure out what to do, Tomie—who was secretly giggling at his distress while kneeling on the ground—felt something above her. Amidst the cacophony of the ringing bells, there was a soft *thud*. A withered, stiff arm, like someone stretching after a long sleep, slowly and rigidly began to descend toward her.