Chapter 165: Sensei, Can You Spare Menma a Cookie?
She was a lovely girl in a white dress, a ribbon tied neatly at her chest. Her long white hair shimmered faintly like frost under moonlight, and her pale skin glowed with an ethereal translucence. Hugging her knees tightly to her chest, she sat quietly by the corner of the hallway wall, gazing into the empty air with lost, fragile eyes. The soft morning breeze passing through the hallway seemed to ripple right through her body, as if she barely existed at all. She looked like an abandoned pet—lonely, confused, and waiting for someone who had forgotten to return.
Of course, that wasn't the most important part.
The real issue—was that her entire body was transparent.
That's right. If you used ordinary words... she was a ghost.
This city, for all its peaceful appearance, had always been home to things that weren't quite human. Beneath the calm surface, the unseen world of spirits and youkai had always coexisted. Kouya had long stopped being surprised. He had seen fox spirits, cat youkai, and even mischievous water sprites before. Just a while ago at the amusement park, there had been a youkai hired to perform in the haunted house—playing itself, of all things.
But ghosts were different. They were rare, far rarer than monsters of flesh and bone. In fact, the only ghost he'd ever met was that lonely spirit haunting the resort during summer break—one who could barely hold her form.
Ghosts were born through coincidence and strong emotion. They were fragile beings—afraid of light, frightened by magnetic disturbances, and easily dispersed by yang energy or exorcism charms. A slight imbalance in the surrounding environment could erase them completely. Most were bound to a single location as earthbound souls, unable to move freely.
So why... was there suddenly one sitting outside his apartment door?
"Mm... good morning~"
The girl's soft, sleepy voice broke the silence. She blinked groggily, her eyes a crystal shade of sky blue, pure and endless like a calm summer sky. Her hair framed her delicate face, her cheeks faintly flushed as she slowly rubbed her eyes. Still half-asleep, she gave off an aura of innocence so natural it disarmed even Kouya's cautious heart for a moment.
Then, realizing she was being watched, she blinked again and scrambled to her feet with clumsy urgency.
"G-Good morning, sir!" she said, bowing politely, her voice trembling.
Kouya froze. His brain stalled for a beat. 'Wait—what kind of logic is this? A ghost greeting me like a polite neighbor on a sunny morning?'
"Who are you? And why are you here?" he asked flatly, hiding his unease under a calm tone.
The girl straightened, pressing her fingers together nervously. "Menma is Menma, of course," she said with innocent sincerity. "Last night, I found half a cookie floating in the river... I ate it, and then... I remembered something very important."
'Half a cookie?'
Kouya frowned. It must've been one of the cookies Ruri or the lolis dropped on their way home. The cookies carried condensed spiritual energy, harmless to humans but potent to spirits. Eating it would've strengthened even a weak ghost like her.
Menma's fingers curled around the hem of her dress as she continued timidly. "I remembered that I have a wish to fulfill... but no matter how hard I try, I can't remember what that wish was. So... I followed my heart, and it led me here." She lowered her head, blue eyes shimmering with quiet hope. "I know this is rude, but... could Menma please have another cookie?"
Kouya stared blankly. 'You know it's rude and you're still asking?'
'Who squats by a stranger's wall asking for cookies? Is this Halloween in the middle of spring?'
"No." He rejected her request without hesitation.
Even if he didn't care about those cookies, he wasn't about to casually feed some random ghost that appeared on his doorstep.
"I-I see..." Menma's voice trembled, her head drooping as her faint figure dimmed even more. "I'm sorry for disturbing you."
Kouya exhaled through his nose, half annoyed, half curious. He looked at her one last time before stepping out. "Do whatever you want. If you can steal one while I'm gone, then I guess that's your problem."
She blinked at him, then smiled faintly—like moonlight reflecting on water—and slowly sat back down.
...
When Kouya arrived at school, morning classes hadn't started yet. The classroom buzzed softly with half-awake chatter. Only a few students had arrived early to tidy up.
Vigne, in her usual neat uniform and tied-up hair, walked over carrying a clipboard. "Machiko asked me to give you this," she said, handing over a paper. "It's the sign-up form for the sports festival. Pick which events you'll participate in."
Kouya raised an eyebrow. "Can I opt out?"
Vigne frowned. "Of course not! Every class needs participants. Besides," she said, smiling slightly, "it's a good chance to bond with your classmates."
He stared at her. 'Bond? With these people? Not happening. Half their names aren't even worth remembering.'
He sighed and picked up a pen, lazily checking two random boxes. "There. Happy?"
Vigne nodded, taking the paper—but instead of leaving, she hesitated. Her voice dropped lower. "I asked Machiko what happened that day... but she wouldn't tell me. She just said she was sorry and that I shouldn't worry about it."
Her soft gaze met his. "Kouya... you didn't do anything to her, right?"
He blinked, speechless. "...What exactly do you think I'd do?"
Still, curiosity made him glance toward Machiko. The black-haired girl was seated near the window, nervously fidgeting with her pencil. She tilted her head just enough to eavesdrop, her long hair hiding her expression. When she noticed his eyes on her, she flinched like she'd been shot and buried her face in her arms.
Vigne sighed. "Seems like she's scared of you."
He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Thanks. I hadn't noticed."
'Does she think I'm going to eat her or something? I didn't even do anything.'
He exhaled and muttered, "Call her over. I'll clear this up right now."
Vigne quickly waved her hands. "L-let's not! Class is starting soon, and everyone's watching... maybe later, okay?"
...
The first class of the day was Social Studies, one of Kouya's least favorite.
Their teacher, Mr. Tanaka, was a man in his mid-forties with square glasses, slicked-back hair, and a permanent frown. His thin frame made his oversized suit look even older, and he never went anywhere without his stainless steel thermos full of piping hot tea.
He began his lecture as usual, monotone and slow. Today's topic: inflation.
"Inflation and deflation seem difficult," he said, adjusting his glasses, "but that's because you memorize definitions instead of understanding the underlying concept. Allow me to give an example."
He looked up dramatically. "Before marriage, a young woman's figure is slim and lovely. After marriage, she expands in every direction. Her overall size increases, but her value decreases. That, class, is inflation."
The classroom fell silent for half a second before erupting into laughter and gasps.
"Sensei! That's sexist!" someone yelled.
"Inflation hurts everyone, not just women!" another added.
Tanaka smirked. "It's just an example. Economics is a cruel science."
The humor was short-lived. "Sensei, what's that red mark on your neck?" one girl asked suddenly.
Tanaka stiffened, instinctively covering it with his collar. "That's... nothing."
"Oh, I know!" another girl shouted gleefully. "My mom said you were seen drinking at a hostess club, and your wife caught you!"
The class exploded again. Tanaka's face turned bright red. "That's slander! Baseless rumors!" he barked, his voice cracking. "It was just a business meeting! You kids don't understand adult suffering!"
"Sure, Sensei~" someone teased, and laughter filled the room again.
...
By the time classes ended, the orange glow of sunset stretched across the windows.
Kouya was halfway through the school gate when a clear, melodic voice called out, "Kouya-kun! Over here!"
He turned—of course, it was her. The cunning angel of mischief herself, Raphiel. Standing under the lamppost, the faint sunset made her silvery hair shimmer like spun gold. Her faint smile promised trouble.
"What do you want this time?" he asked, already wary.
Raphiel tilted her head playfully, finger resting on her lips. "Didn't we agree to get coffee together today? You wouldn't break a promise, would you?"
"I never promised anything."
Her expression feigned disappointment. "Aww... so cold. You're really no fun."
He turned away, deciding to walk off—but before he could take two steps, a high-pitched voice echoed from across the courtyard.
"Shiraha-sama! Alice is here!"
A twin-tailed girl came sprinting toward them at full speed, her twin ponytails bouncing wildly behind her like ribbons in the wind. Her bright eyes sparkled with devotion as she threw herself dramatically at Raphiel.
The impact nearly knocked the angel back.
"Filthy pervert!" Alice shouted at Kouya while clinging to Raphiel's arm like a guard dog. "As long as I'm here, you'll never lay a finger on Shiraha-sama!"