After surviving Breakfast: The Trial Edition, Sam and Mahiru found themselves relaxing in the living room.
Mahiru was sitting cross-legged on the floor, scrolling through her phone, while Sam stretched out on the couch, finally feeling at ease.
"So," Mahiru suddenly said, "what do you wanna do today?"
Sam thought for a moment. "Dunno. What's there to do around here?"
Mahiru tapped her chin. "Hmm… We could go to the summer festival later tonight. But until then… maybe we should just explore a little?"
Sam smiled. "Yeah, that sounds good. You lead the way."
Mahiru grinned. "Alright, but be warned—there are some places from my childhood that might be too much for you to handle."
Sam raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Like what?"
Mahiru smirked. "Ever been to a haunted shrine before?"
Sam froze.
"Excuse me?"
Mahiru's grin widened. "Oh, this is going to be fun."
Sam suddenly regretted everything.
Mahiru wasted no time dragging Sam outside for their little adventure.
"Alright, today, I'm showing you all the fun places I used to visit when I was a kid!" she declared with a proud grin.
Sam stretched his arms, yawning. "Sounds good, but… about that haunted shrine thing… you were joking, right?"
Mahiru's smirk widened. "Who knows?"
Sam groaned. "Why do I feel like I walked into a trap?"
Mahiru only giggled as she led the way.
Their first stop was a small, nostalgic candy shop nestled in one of the town's older streets.
The moment they stepped inside, Sam was hit with the warm scent of sweet syrup, roasted nuts, and nostalgia.
"I used to come here all the time after school," Mahiru said, her eyes glimmering with fond memories.
An elderly shopkeeper looked up from behind the counter and beamed. "Mahiru-chan! Oh my, it's been a while!"
Mahiru grinned. "I brought a special guest with me today." She gestured toward Sam.
The old man peered at Sam, then smirked. "Ahh, so you're the reason Mahiru-chan is glowing like a summer firefly!"
Mahiru choked on air. "Wha—?! I am NOT glowing!"
Sam chuckled, tilting his head. "I don't know… you kinda are."
Mahiru glared at him while the shopkeeper laughed heartily.
"Ah, young love," the old man said, shaking his head. "Go on, pick whatever you like. It's on me."
Mahiru, still flustered, quickly grabbed a pack of her favorite fruit candies.
Sam, feeling playful, grabbed the exact same one.
Mahiru narrowed her eyes. "Copycat."
"What? I wanna see what you've been obsessed with all these years."
Mahiru pouted. "You'll just say it's too sweet."
Sam unwrapped one and popped it in his mouth. The burst of fruity flavor surprised him.
"Whoa. That's… actually really good."
Mahiru blinked. "Really?"
Sam nodded. "Yeah. Guess you have good taste."
Mahiru smirked, nudging him. "Of course I do."
After visiting a few more childhood spots, Mahiru finally led Sam toward a path leading into the woods.
Sam stopped dead in his tracks.
"Wait. WAIT. Hold on."
Mahiru turned with an innocent smile. "What?"
Sam pointed at the worn-out wooden sign in front of them.
'Shrine of the Forgotten Souls.'
Sam stared at her. "Are you kidding me?!"
Mahiru barely held back her laughter. "Oh, come on! It's not that scary."
Sam crossed his arms. "Says the person who clings to my arm during horror movies."
Mahiru huffed. "That's different! This place isn't haunted. It's just an old shrine that kids made up ghost stories about."
"Uh-huh. And yet, you're taking me here WHY?"
Mahiru grinned. "Because it's fun watching you panic."
Sam sighed deeply. "I walked right into this, didn't I?"
Mahiru giggled and suddenly grabbed his hand.
Sam stiffened.
"C'mon," she said with a smirk. "I promise there are no ghosts. Probably."
"PROBABLY?!"
Despite his very clear protests, Mahiru dragged him toward the shrine.
The deeper they walked into the woods, the quieter everything became. The trees rustled, the wind whispered through the leaves, and the town felt like a distant memory.
Finally, they reached the shrine.
It was ancient, covered in moss, with faded wooden planks and tattered prayer papers still hanging from the beams.
"See? Just a normal shrine," Mahiru said proudly.
Sam looked around suspiciously. "…Yeah. Super normal. Definitely not a horror movie setting."
Mahiru rolled her eyes. "You're such a scaredy-cat."
Suddenly—
CRACK!
A twig snapped behind them.
Sam froze.
Mahiru froze.
Slowly, they turned their heads.
And saw—
A dark figure crouching in the bushes.
Sam's soul left his body. "MAHIRU. I SWEAR TO GOD—"
The figure suddenly jumped forward—
—And revealed itself to be…
A cat.
A very normal, very confused stray cat.
Sam let out the breath he was holding. "Oh, thank god."
Mahiru burst into laughter. "You actually looked like you were about to run for your life!"
Sam rubbed his face. "I HATE YOU."
Mahiru giggled and leaned into him. "Aww, but you still followed me here."
Sam sighed, but despite everything… he couldn't help smiling.
"Yeah, yeah. You owe me dinner for this trauma."
Mahiru smirked. "Fine. But only if you admit that I'm braver than you."
Sam refused.
Mahiru spent the rest of the walk back teasing him.
And despite everything…
Sam wouldn't trade this day for anything.
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