After morning classes.
During lunch break, in the drama club’s activity room.
Qiu Mian, Qiu Kui, Xia Qingkong, Misaki, and Shimizu Yuzu—who was huddled alone behind an old table in the corner—formed a rather strange group inside the room.
Misaki was smiling gently as she carefully wiped a pair of old-looking leather bracers that appeared to be props.
She occasionally looked up, her soft gaze sweeping over the others, lingering a little longer on Qiu Mian and Shimizu Yuzu.
Xia Qingkong was enthusiastically flipping through a thick photo album that seemed to record past performances. She kept exclaiming things like “Wow, this costume is amazing!” and “Did they build this set themselves?” in an attempt to liven up the atmosphere. But aside from the occasional glance from Qiu Mian, the others barely reacted.
Qiu Mian had already given up on commenting on Xia Qingkong’s presence.
Qiu Kui sat pressed close to Qiu Mian on a sofa, holding an open script in her hands. However, her eyes weren’t on the words at all. Her gaze was lowered, seemingly fixed on her lap, but her focus was scattered. Her body was tense, on guard against any possible “attack.”
Qiu Mian held a pen and pretended to doodle on a blank sheet of paper, but her mind was completely elsewhere.
She was thinking about the increasingly confusing situation.
What could the password be… Does it have something to do with that “senior”? Or with Qiu Kui?
What exactly is Misaki planning?
She unconsciously tapped the tip of her pen against the paper, making soft tap tap sounds.
The atmosphere was heavy. The only sounds were Xia Qingkong’s occasional remarks and the quiet rustle of Misaki wiping the props.
At that moment, Shimizu Yuzu—who had been quietly shrinking in the corner as if she didn’t exist—suddenly let out a choked gasp.
“Cough… ugh…”
Everyone instinctively looked over.
Shimizu Yuzu was clutching a thick club record book tightly with both hands.
“Shimizu? What’s wrong?” Misaki, who was closest to her, reacted first. She set down the bracer, her face showing the perfect amount of concern as she quickly walked over. Her voice was gentle. “You look so pale. Are you feeling unwell?”
“N-no… it’s nothing…” Shimizu Yuzu shrank back like a frightened rabbit, slamming the record book shut and hugging it to her chest. She dodged Misaki’s hand as it reached out to check her forehead.
Her panicked gaze swept across everyone in the room before, for some reason, landing on Qiu Mian for a moment.
Qiu Mian’s heart jolted.
What did she see? Why is she looking at me?
Xia Qingkong also leaned in curiously. “Shimizu, what did you see? Is there something interesting in that record book?” She tried to peek over.
“No! Don’t look!” Shimizu Yuzu suddenly cried out sharply. Her voice rose in fear, completely different from her usual timid tone.
She hugged the record book even tighter and curled into herself.
The extreme reaction left everyone stunned.
Misaki’s gentle concern deepened. She crouched down to eye level with Shimizu Yuzu, softening her voice even more. “Shimizu, don’t be afraid. We’re all here. Did you see something… unpleasant from the past? It’s okay. Talking about it might make you feel better.”
Her tone was soothing and persuasive, the kind that easily lowered people’s defenses.
But Shimizu Yuzu only shook her head desperately. Her light-brown hair fell messily across her cheeks as she stole another glance at Qiu Mian.
Looking at me again?
The stare made Qiu Mian’s skin crawl. She stood up instinctively.
Qiu Kui immediately rose with her, positioning herself half a step in front of Qiu Mian protectively.
Xia Qingkong dropped her playful expression, frowning slightly as her gaze moved between Shimizu Yuzu, the record book, and Misaki.
“It looks like Shimizu needs some personal space to calm down,” Misaki said with a soft sigh as she stood up. She gave the others an apologetic, gentle smile.
“Why don’t you all step outside for a bit? Let me stay with Shimizu. She’s timid—she might have been frightened by some old record.”
Her suggestion sounded perfectly reasonable.
But Qiu Mian felt deeply uncomfortable.
The natural way Misaki took control over Shimizu Yuzu made her uneasy.
“I’ll stay and help,” Xia Qingkong suddenly spoke up, her tone unusually serious.
She looked at Misaki, her bright eyes full of determination. “Shimizu looks really unwell. It’s better to have more people looking after her.”
Misaki met Xia Qingkong’s gaze, her gentle smile unchanging.
She nodded lightly. “That works. Then I’ll trouble you, Xia.”
She turned to Qiu Mian and Qiu Kui. “Qiu Mian, Qiu Kui, why don’t you two head out and wait? Once Shimizu feels better, we can continue our activities, okay?”
Her tone sounded like a suggestion, but there was an underlying sense of exclusion.
Qiu Mian glanced at Shimizu Yuzu, who was still clutching the record book for dear life, then at Misaki’s flawless smile. The feeling of unease grew heavier.
However, she had no reason to object, and Shimizu Yuzu’s terrified look made her extremely uncomfortable.
“Let’s go,” she said to Qiu Kui.
Qiu Kui nodded and immediately followed her out. Misaki’s two companions also silently followed them and closed the door behind them.
The door cut off the view inside the room, but the faint sound of Misaki’s gentle, soothing words could still be heard.
Qiu Kui pressed tightly against Qiu Mian, almost sticking to her.
Qiu Mian could feel that Qiu Kui’s body was also tense. She was staring unblinkingly at the closed door with cold eyes.
“Jie-jie…” Her lips were almost touching Qiu Mian’s ear.
“Stay away from her.”
Qiu Kui added softly.
Her hand had somehow found its way to Qiu Mian’s wrist again, holding it quietly.
Qiu Mian didn’t pull away.
She stared at the door, listening to the muffled voices inside, while Shimizu Yuzu’s frightened gaze replayed in her mind.
The questions in her head kept growing like a snowball.
Perhaps this weekend’s meeting wasn’t just about getting information on the mask. She should also try to learn more about Misaki from Xia Qingkong indirectly?
After all, Xia Qingkong seemed to have a strange kind of sharpness.
But that also made the weekend “appointment” even more significant.
Qiu Kui continued gripping her wrist tightly, staring stubbornly at the door as if trying to see through the thick wood to what was happening inside—to see clearly the gently smiling “Misaki” who instinctively felt like a threat.
Inside the activity room, Misaki’s gentle, hypnotic murmurs of comfort continued without pause.
Outside in the dim corridor, Qiu Mian’s heart felt heavy as lead.
Her doubts and unease kept growing. What should she do?
The two o’clock appointment on Sunday afternoon no longer felt like simple curiosity. It now felt like stepping deeper into thick fog.