Chapter 16: The Family Being Watched

"Now it's my turn to ask you questions!" Kawasaki Saki showed a hint of displeasure on her face. "Since you don't intend to tell me, then I guess I don't have to tell you my reason, right?" Hikigaya Hachiman calmly looked at Kawasaki Saki. Although if Kawasaki Saki told the teacher about last night's incident, both he and Yotsuya Miko would definitely get scolded. But Kawasaki Saki lingering near the school at night would certainly prompt an investigation by the school as well. "Alright then..." Hearing Hachiman's words, Kawasaki Saki let out a sigh of relief, her face showing resignation. "I want to ask you for a favor." "A favor?" Hikigaya Hachiman sized Kawasaki Saki up and down, thinking, Are you sure this attitude is how you ask someone for help? "That's right, you must have a very special sword, right?" "How do you know that?" Hachiman's words were almost a confession, but he didn't realize it. He was just eager to understand how Kawasaki Saki knew. After all, he only used the Demon-Slaying Sword in the dungeon. Could it be that Kawasaki Saki also got unexpectedly involved in the dungeon yesterday? But that shouldn't be the case—if she had been in the dungeon, he would have noticed her. "Yesterday afternoon, you used it in front of a girl from another class to cut down a black shadow, right?" Seeing Hachiman nervous, Kawasaki Saki breathed easier inside. She was right. She hadn't been mistaken yesterday; what she saw was real. "Is that so?" Hearing Kawasaki Saki's response, Hachiman was a bit amused and embarrassed. Yesterday afternoon, he summoned the Demon-Slaying Sword, dealt with the evil spirit, and sheathed the sword again — the whole process took no more than ten seconds. Yet in such a short time, someone actually saw it. Looks like he has to be more careful from now on. "So that black shadow was a ghost, right?" On Kawasaki Saki's side, after getting confirmation from Hachiman, she grew more anxious. "You saw it?" Hikigaya Hachiman's eyes lit up. What luck is this? In the previous three months, not a single person who could see ghosts was found. Then on his second day in the service club, he met Yotsuya Miko, and this morning Kawasaki Saki came looking for him. Could it be that the service club is his lucky place? "Yes, I can see some kind of vague shadow..." Kawasaki Saki nodded. "Vague shadow?" Hachiman was stunned. What does it mean to only see vague shadows? He and Yotsuya Miko could see the full form of evil spirits, right? "System, what's going on?" Although the AI had left, the remaining system should still be able to handle inquiries. "Information data: 50 spirit coins." A mechanical voice echoed in Hachiman's mind, followed by an encrypted document appearing on his HUD. "One question costs 50 spirit coins; why don't you just rob someone..." Though thinking this silently, Hachiman didn't hesitate and paid the 50 spirit coins. "Ordinary people haunted by evil spirits have a certain chance of seeing traces of ghosts within 72 hours before death, which is what this woman refers to as vague shadows." "You mean she's about to die?" Hachiman quickly asked upon hearing the system's response. After answering, the system fell silent again. With no other explanation, Hachiman could only guess Kawasaki Saki was near death to be seeing the evil spirits. "When did you start seeing those vague shadows?" With a serious expression, Hachiman asked Kawasaki Saki. "The night before last when I was going home. Why?" Seeing Hachiman's sudden change in attitude, Kawasaki Saki found it strange but still answered. 'So there's about one day left?' Hachiman frowned but then suddenly looked up. "By the way, you didn't come to me just to ask questions, did you?" "Yes, I want to ask for your help..." Kawasaki Saki nodded. "In the past few days, my younger siblings have been telling me that at night, black shadows keep crawling on the ceiling at home. I was thinking..." Saki pressed her lips tightly. When she first started seeing ghosts, she immediately called monks from a nearby temple to do exorcism rituals at home. But after spending all her earnings from this semester's part-time job, nothing had changed. Coincidentally, yesterday afternoon she saw Hachiman cut down the shadow, and on her way home from work that night, she saw him sneaking out of the school with Yotsuya Miko. Holding onto a desperate hope, she called Hachiman out. "Alright!" Hearing that Kawasaki Saki's younger siblings could also see the vague shadows, Hachiman almost immediately agreed. "But I don't have any money right now..." At this, Kawasaki Saki's face showed a rare shy expression. "So I hope you can give me some time, and after I get paid from my job, I'll pay you back..." "No need..." However, Hachiman shook his head and refused Kawasaki Saki's offer. "Huh?" At Hachiman's words, Kawasaki Saki first looked stunned, then stepped back and showed a disgusted expression. But then, as if remembering something, her hands, which had been crossed in front of her chest, dropped weakly. "Fine, as long as you can get rid of those things, do whatever you want..." "Do you really think I'm such a worthless guy in your eyes?" Hachiman looked at Kawasaki Saki helplessly. His intention was simply to help without payment. How did Kawasaki Saki twist it like this? "Sorry..." Seeing Hachiman's amused yet troubled face, Kawasaki Saki realized she had misunderstood him. Blushing, she lowered her head and apologized. "No worries, that kind of misunderstanding doesn't hurt me. Just try to avoid going to places like that in the future..." "How do you know?" Raising her head again, Kawasaki Saki looked at Hachiman puzzled. "If you hadn't gone to those places, you wouldn't know so much. Students don't have that many shady thoughts." Hachiman sighed. Though he didn't know Kawasaki Saki's exact situation, from what she said and the place she worked part-time, he guessed her family's financial situation wasn't great. "So, can you come to the service club after school to find me?" Shaking his head, Hachiman dismissed his unnecessary worries. Since Kawasaki Saki chose to work there, he had no right to judge. "Service club?" Hearing the strange name, Kawasaki Saki frowned. "Yes, it's in the old teaching building, you can easily find it..." After roughly explaining the location of the service club, Hachiman waved his hand at Kawasaki Saki and left.