He tried to save the fallen girls, but they came after him instead.

So Shirakawa was behind Maki and Sakura.

"Here, Maki, don't burn your hand." Sosuke took out an incense stick, lit it, and placed it in Maki's hand.

Maki bowed respectfully to her father and placed the incense sticks in the incense burner.

When it was Sakura's turn, Sosuke lit the incense and placed it in her hand.

Is it an illusion?

Why does it seem like Sōsuke is taking such good care of his two nieces?

Is it because they are all students?

Shirakawa found it strange.

“Your turn, Shirakawa,” Shinichi said coldly.

"Oh, good."

Looking at the portrait of his "father-in-law" whom he had never met, Shirakawa recalled the events that had transpired with Kana in the locker room the previous night, and couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.

He took a deep breath, tried to put on a sad expression, took out an incense stick, and lit it for Shota.

When he inserted the lit incense sticks into the incense burner.

An accident happened.

A gust of cold wind blew by, and the burning incense stick suddenly broke in half, the broken half falling into the incense burner and going out.

broken?

The burning of incense is an ominous sign and a desecration of the deceased.

Shirakawa was dumbfounded. Was this thing really that bad quality?

The Mido family was all around and saw it.

The grandfather, who values ​​tradition, glared angrily, clearly furious.

The others didn't say much, treating it as an accident.

Shirakawa was a little embarrassed, so he quickly lit another incense stick and put it in the incense burner.

but.

The incense has broken again...

Damn it, stop messing with me!

Why?

The first time could be a coincidence, but the second time is hard to explain.

They were fine when they lit it! Surely they didn't end up drawing all the bad quality incense sticks from this bundle.

Could it be the deceased Shota...?

"Enough!" Midu's grandfather roared. "Where did this brat come from? Are you deliberately trying to cause trouble?"

"Looks like my older brother doesn't like you very much," Shinichi said gloatingly, fanning the flames from the sidelines.

“No, no, no,” Sosuke pushed up his glasses. “I think it’s the older brother who doesn’t approve of Shirakawa, doesn’t approve of someone like him being Maki’s boyfriend.”

Sosuke's words were barbed.

"Is it because Uncle Shinichi's incense is of poor quality?" Maki quickly tried to smooth things over for Shirakawa.

"Impossible, I bought the best..."

Kana remained silent and very nervous. Doing that kind of thing behind the girl's back, she and Shirakawa should be considered "adulterers," so it's normal that "Shota" was unhappy.

"Alright, alright, let's all keep quiet in this kind of situation," Mido's grandmother advised from the side. "Who would joke about something like a memorial service? It's all just a coincidence. Shirakawa, why don't you try another one?"

Hearing their grandmother's advice, the others said no more.

Shirakawa took a deep breath, cautiously pulled out the third cigarette, and lit it with a lighter.

It won't light...

This time, it's even worse; I can't even light it.

"I'm sorry, Uncle Shota. I shouldn't have messed around with Maki and Sakura-sama. I shouldn't have been two-timing. Please, have mercy on me!" Shirakawa confessed softly in a voice only he could hear.

During this time, he stole a glance at his grandfather, who was already furious, his fists clenched. If he caused any more trouble, his grandfather might really beat him up.

"Anything else~~~"

Hmm? That voice~~

Shirakawa paused for a moment.

The voice was deep and resonant, unlike a human voice...

The others didn't seem to hear it.

Is it really Shota's ghost coming to find me?

"And also, I shouldn't have gotten involved with Aunt Meidu, let Aunt Meidu help me solve Xingyu, and I shouldn't have had so much intimate contact with her. I am guilty of heinous crimes, I deserve to die, I am a scumbag, and I don't deserve to live in this world."

With Shirakawa's sincere repentance, the incense was finally lit successfully.

He respectfully placed the incense sticks in the burner and bowed repeatedly.

"Uncle Shota, I know I was wrong. Please don't hold a grudge against me."

"Midnight...come..."

It was that deep voice again.

Midnight? What does that mean? Does it mean I need to see him at midnight?

"Oh? Uncle, could you please not come at midnight? I'm afraid of the dark. Could we come earlier?"

The fact that Shota's ghost appeared is terrifying and bizarre enough in itself.

Coming to the cemetery in the dead of night... Shirakawa was truly guilty and dared not go.

The incense stick trembled slightly in the incense burner, as if it would be broken in half at any moment.

“Okay, okay, Uncle, if you say midnight, then midnight it is. I will definitely be there, I will definitely be there.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Xiang calmed down.

Like other incense, it burns slowly, emitting wisps of white steam.

Seeing that the incense was lit successfully, everyone assumed that what had just happened was a coincidence and did not pursue the matter further.

The entire memorial service has now concluded.

The group dispersed and returned to their cars.

Shirakawa, sitting in the passenger seat, was so frightened that his heart was pounding.

Oh no, this is it.

I need to come to the cemetery at midnight to see "Shota".

What should we do with something that doesn't even exist in physical form?

"Sescia, Sescia!"

In desperation, Shirakawa had no choice but to ask Cecilia for help.

"what happened?"

"Did you hear that just now?"

"What did you hear?" Cecilia was completely unaware.

Shirakawa told her about the strange sound he had just heard.

"Ghosts? Oh, I've seen them before. They're energy entities created after a person dies, carrying strong obsessions or resentment. Don't be afraid," Cecilia said casually.

Hearing this, Shirakawa felt a little relieved.

"Well, but you did that to Kana, tsk tsk, I doubt Shota will let you off easily."

"What should I do? Is there any way to help me get through this difficult time?"

“Look how scared you are. Humans are really strange, to be afraid of such things,” Cecilia laughed. “Your body shouldn’t be bothered by these ghosts, don’t worry.”

Say so.

Coming to the cemetery at midnight...

Shirakawa looked at Shota's tombstone.

I felt a chill run down my spine and a shiver ran down my spine.

295. Small Things About the Mido Family

The group returned to the Mido Mansion, and it was already evening.

Shirakawa had dinner with the Mito family.

It was still in the main house where they had just met.