Kaguya-sama Wants My Surrender!

　　"Whether it's true or not, we'll find out when we regroup with the others," Amamiya said calmly, gripping the charred ghost lady's arm. "For now, the priority is getting out of this haunted house." 

"You're right," Sajuna agreed hastily, the reminder of their grim surroundings snapping her back to reality. 

Amamiya raised the flashlight and swept its beam across the room. 

The haunted house wasn't particularly elaborate. It appeared to be a simple, ordinary apartment, complete with a bathroom, living room, foyer, balcony, and a small room with a closed door. Though small, it was well-appointed with basic furnishings: a sofa, a small square table, an old television, and other mundane items. 

"This place doesn't look very scary," Sajuna remarked, her eyes scanning the space curiously. 

"Should I take the hood off Miss Ghost to spice things up?" Amamiya teased. 

"No!" Sajuna shot back indignantly, puffing her cheeks. "Keep her face covered!" 

The sight of the ghostly woman's blood-red eyes, even subdued as they were under Amamiya's grip, was still unnerving. Sajuna couldn't bear to look directly at her and inwardly apologized to the spirit. 

'Sorry, Miss Ghost, but it's better this way. Just keep the cover on for everyone's sake.' 

"Check the room for clues," Amamiya instructed, leading the way with the ghost in tow. "We need to complete the investigation as soon as possible." 

At the balcony, Amamiya reached out and pushed against the door. 

"It's locked tight," he noted. "No jumping out of the balcony for a quick escape, I guess." 

Sajuna tiptoed to peer through the glass, her head leaning slightly toward Amamiya. "It looks like evening outside," she murmured. "The sun is almost completely set." 

Outside, the dim light of a red sun lingered faintly on the horizon, casting a haunting glow. Dead trees lined the view, their skeletal branches swaying in the breeze. 

"Judging by the height of those trees, we're probably on the second floor," Amamiya added, scanning the surroundings. His flashlight paused on a nearby door with a rabbit insignia hanging on it. 

"This must be the bedroom," he said, gripping the handle and giving it a firm tug. The door didn't budge. "No luck. Let's try the bathroom." 

Sajuna nodded and followed closely, her steps tentative. 

When they arrived at the bathroom door, Amamiya reached out confidently to push it open. 

"Wait!" Sajuna whispered nervously, clutching his sleeve. "Don't be so reckless!" 

Amamiya turned to her with a serious expression. "I'll bet there's no evil spirit in here." 

"How can you be so sure?" Sajuna asked, tilting her head in confusion. 

"Because Miss Ghost is single," Amamiya replied matter-of-factly, before pushing the door open without hesitation. 

The bathroom was empty. 

Sajuna let out a small sigh of relief. 

"See?" Amamiya walked in, shining his flashlight around. "There was only one mosaic-patterned water cup in the living room. At the entrance, there were several pairs of shoes, but all of them were the same size. And here in the bathroom..." He pointed to the sink. "There's only one toothbrush." 

Sajuna blinked and quickly pieced the clues together. 

"Oh, I get it now," she said. "The shoes, the teacup, the toothbrush—these small details show that Miss Ghost used to live alone." 

Amamiya nodded. "Exactly." 

The flashlight's beam illuminated the bathroom's interior. Compared to the relatively neat living room, the bathroom was in complete disarray. Towels lay crumpled on the floor, and the showerhead dangled loosely from its mount. The scene had an undeniable air of chaos, as though something terrible had happened here. 

"I feel like this room holds the key to the story," Sajuna murmured, her mind racing. "Maybe... maybe a criminal broke in and killed the owner in the bathroom? That could've caused her transformation into a vengeful spirit." 

"It's possible," Amamiya replied evenly. "Our job is to keep investigating and confirm the theory." 

Leaving the bathroom, they turned to the entrance hallway. The narrow corridor was barely wide enough for a single person to move through comfortably. The front door loomed ahead, its surface marred by chaotic handprints, deep dents, and gouges from what looked like a kitchen knife. 

"Should I try opening it?" Sajuna asked, glancing nervously at Miss Ghost, still in Amamiya's grip. She hesitated only for a moment before straightening her back. 

"In a game like this," she thought to herself, "bad teammates are the worst. If I don't contribute, what's the point of being here?" 

Gathering her courage, she stepped forward. 'This is my moment to prove my worth.' 

　　As Sajuna hardened herself, she walked toward the door, her small hand reaching for the handle. "It's probably locked, but—" 

'Click.' 

The door swung open effortlessly. 

"It actually opened?" 

Sajuna froze, her wide eyes staring at the door in disbelief. Her pink lips parted slightly as an expression of pure shock took over her face. 

'What happened to the haunted house where once you enter, you can never leave?' 

This was far too easy!