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"What..?" You panted, holding a hand to your chest. Taking heavy breaths you made your way back to your book that was drifting in the water, "I probably shouldn't touch it since it's red."

"I guess reading your future turns the book red," you concluded. "It makes sense if you would want to prevent someone from changing their future."

"Now, to make my way back to Nene and Kou —"

Suddenly, a flash of yellow crossed your eyesight, and then once again. The second time around, you could clearly see the blonde male out of breath, no doubt from running.

"Senpai! Are you okay!?" He shouted, running up to you and giving you a look over. Surprised, you stumbled back at the sudden question.

"I guess so," Kou sighed and dropped to the floor to rest.

"Take it easy.." Your voice trailed off.

"I hear them!" A familiar voice cried out, you looked up to see Nene — who was also out of breath by the looks of it. "(Y/N)! Are you okay!?"

It was then that you remembered what happened a few moments ago, your eyes widened. Did that happen to them too?

"Yeah!" You reassured the tired female who fell to the ground next to Kou, "I did just see some really scary clone of me though."

Your words made the two jump off the floor.

"What?! Where!" Kou demanded, pushing you behind him. "I'll protect you!"

Nene and Kou looked in every direction but couldn't see anything, you opened your mouth to explain it wasn't here anymore but they continued to shout.

"If it's not here then.." Nene and Kou looked at your face, you expected a simple question like if they were gone or if you got rid of it somehow. Instead, Kou pointed his staff at your face.

"Are you really Senpai!? Or did you eat her!?" He asked, the sharp part of the staff an inch away from your eyes.

Scowling, you pushed the currently weak staff away from your face and crossed your arms. "I just got out of a death situation and now you're threatening to kill me?!"

Kou's eyes widened and he immediately dropped to his knees, "I'm so sorry Senpai! I didn't mean to be rude!"

"..So, you're okay?" Nene asked once again, you smiled at her and nodded.

"(Y/N)!" Another familiar voice cried out, you looked to the side and saw Hanako running up to you. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay." You replied, unsure of how many times you would be asked that today. "Did you guys run into those big things as well?"

You eyed Yako and Kou's teachers approaching the three of you.

"Yeah, but Hanako saved us!" Kou announced, "wait, Senpai. Where did yours go?"

"It burned after I threw a lamp at it," you responded, "I guess they're reactive to fire."

"Actually, they're not." Kou's teacher announced, your eyes flickered to the mutated teacher.

"(Y/N), meet the curator of the 4PM Bookstacks, Tsuchigomori." Hanako introduced, you bowed your head.

"You.. look different from earlier today." You noted, eyeing the extra limbs protruding from his coat.

Tsuchigomori nodded, "this is my true form, when I'm not disguised as a human."

"Oh, I see." You replied, brushing aside the fact one of the teachers was a supernatural, you asked "but what do you mean they're not reactive to fire?"

"I just put one out."

"Supernaturals aren't physically affected by anything a regular human does." The tale male responded, "There are exceptions but it was probably that curse of yours that saved you."

     You furrowed your eyebrows recalling the time you met Hanako for the first time. You were able to see and touch him despite not being cursed yet.

"Because of my curse?" You asked, Hanako flinched at the sudden word.

Tsuchigomori opened his mouth, but was interrupted by Hanako.

"The mermaid one." Hanako said, pulling at the teacher's sleeve.

"The mermaid scale curse, the one I split with Nene..?" You replied, the mentioned female began to apologize profusely once again and you glared at her. "I'm not hearing this again."

"Oh yes, that's probably why you were able to burn your clone." Tsuchigomori said, yanking Yako off of him.

"It still doesn't explain much but I think I had enough of me today," you sigh, pointing at the red book that floated in the water.

Tsuchigomori clicked his tongue, "so many of my books are destroyed now." He frowned and picked up your book, Hanako coughed.

"(Y/N), did you manage to find anything interesting?" He asked, you shook your head.

"No, I only saw entries about me being called out by the teacher."

"I see, anyway back to the main point." Hanako said, you looked at him.

"So you're saying that you seven mysteries work together?" You repeated, "and that there's currently a traitor within you guys spreading around fake rumors?"

"Correct!" Hanako clapped, "you caught on faster than the boy did!"

Hanako stepped to the side to avoid Kou's swing, "and so I suggested we just get rid of the seven mysteries for a while!"

"So," Hanako leaned in front of Tsuchigomori. "Yorishiro, please?"

"No. Is what I'd like to say, however I don't want you destroying my boundary while looking for it." Tsuchigomori explained, Yako scoffed and muttered something under her breath.

"I'll give you my yorishiro, but in return." Tsuchigomori picked a butterfly and swallowed it, "you will tell me your personal secrets."

"What?!" Kou shouted, pointing his staff at his teacher. Nene began to pace back and forth, speaking to herself.

Hanako floated over to you and faced Tsuchigomori, "what if we don't? And I fight you instead?"

"Well then I'll give you my yorishiro, but I'll broadcast all their embarrassing secrets on the announcement."

Your jaw dropped and Nene was just having a mental breakdown at this point, and Kou. While having a tough act on, he was visibly shaking.

Taking a deep breath, you opened your mouth. "Okay, I'll talk." With that, started the long chain of truths revealed that you wished you had never started.

Nene and Kou laid dejectedly on the floor. Tsuchigomori yawned, "anything better? Times running out."

"Hanako!" You shoved the male hiding behind you in front, "you say something!"

"No thanks, he doesn't want to know about a boring ghost like me." Hanako tried to back away but Nene and Kou held his arms down while you pushed him forward.

"What's this? You guys are that desperate to know about me?" Hanako jested, all of you paid no attention to his tone and shouted.

"Yes!"

His eyes softened as he looked at you all, you all had ran into a boundary and was nearly killed just to find out more about him. "Okay, just one thing okay?"

Eagerly waiting for what he would say, Tsuchigomori intently waited for an answer."

"I-I like donuts.."

After his confession, Hanako crouched on the floor and awkwardly put his head on his knees. You pat his back to comfort him while Tsuchigomori raised an eyebrow.

"That wasn't enough! What's your favourite kind? Where from?" Kou hurriedly rushed the ghost, Nene ushered him to answer.

"Plain, homemade.."

"Isn't that interesting?" Tsuchigomori mused, Hanako scowled at him. "Well, times up kids!

"Wait! I'll tell you more —" You felt a hand pat your head, Tsuchigomori cackled.

"I was just kidding," Tsuchigomori says, "follow me."

"..Teacher's aren't really funny are they?" Nene whispered, you hummed in agreement. Tsuchigomori turned and glared at the two of you. Yako snickered from her position on his shoulder.

"Anyways, here it is." He led you to a bookshelf that suddenly began to slide open, leaving a large gap in the wall that was dark. "However, the only person that's going in here with me is that girl."

Nene jumped as everyone turned to look at her, "me..?" She meekly asked, Tsuchigomori nodded. Kou jumped forward to object but Hanako pulled him back, his face indifferent to the situation.

"Take care of her," was all Hanako said before the two disappeared.

author's note 10/04/20

i've wrote this chapter over and over again but i still don't really like how it is.
01/05/20 i wasn't going to publish this until i wrote the next chapter but with the assignments i have to complete by next monday, not sure i can make it happen so i might publish this early.

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