Chapter 1: The Haunted House, The Third Resident

This is a story from when I was still an innocent child.

If I were to write the opening like this, Rena would undoubtedly tease me,

“Senpai, there’s no way you could’ve ever been innocent! Cut it out already!”

I have no intention of protesting. Given how I’ve shown myself to be a thoroughly irresponsible adult up until now, Rena is just stating the obvious. From the prosecution’s perspective, there’s no room for leniency or probation.

However, as both the defendant and the defense, I have evidence to refute that—a past where I proudly waved the banner of innocence.

This was when I was in the second grade.

On my way home from school, something unfamiliar caught my eye at the edge of the scenery.

A brown cube quietly placed in the shadow of a utility pole. Driven by curiosity, I approached and found that it was a cardboard box. On its side, the word “mikan” (mandarin oranges) was printed in clear hiragana.

Peeking inside, I saw a bath towel stuffed into the box, and on it was a small ball of fur.

“Meow.”

A faint but earnest cry, filled with the will to live. It was a kitten, its eyes barely open.

Yes, I had stumbled upon the cliché scenario of a kitten abandoned in a mikan box.

The emotion an innocent child feels toward a stray kitten isn’t pity, but adoration. Not “poor thing,” but “how cute.”

Though I’ve since become a thoroughly irresponsible adult, back then, Tamachi-kun’s heart was captivated by the adorable kitten, and he felt a sense of tenderness.

Coincidentally, that day was the end of the first term. Summer break was starting the next day.

The report card Tamachi-kun carried was filled with double circles—90% of them. There wasn’t a single triangle, making it an excellent report that would satisfy any parent.

His birthday was also approaching. He plotted to convince his parents to let him keep the kitten instead of buying him a game console. And so, Tamachi-kun carried the kitten home in the cardboard box as if it were already his.

In other words, he was an innocent child to the point of being completely delusional about keeping a kitten.

To cut to the chase, he was scolded to death.

His father hated cats.

His mother was allergic to cats.

It was the first time he’d learned these facts,

“Why don’t you even remember something like that?!”

And instead of getting to keep the kitten, he earned the wrath of both parents, receiving a double punch of punishment.

Ordered to return the kitten to where he found it, Tamachi-kun tearfully let it go.

After that, he avoided the spot for a week, so he never found out what happened to the kitten.

It was a bitter memory from his innocent childhood, his younger days.

Since then, he never thought about keeping a pet again. He convinced himself that owning an animal was out of the question, and the idea no longer crossed his mind.

Owning a pet? That was something he’d never do in his lifetime.

“Um… Tamachi-san.”

Just as he was about to unlock his door, an elderly woman’s voice called out to him.

“Do you have a moment?”

But before he could respond—

◆

“Welcome back.”

“Yeah, I’m home.”

It was the first week of December. A Friday.

As I welcomed Senpai home, I took his jacket.

“I didn’t get enough to drink. Mind if I have another?”

Watching his back as he headed straight for the bathroom, I tilted my head in confusion.

On Fridays, I always prepare honey lemon water to help with his hangover. But today, he asked for alcohol instead.

When Senpai stops by Gami-san’s place, he doesn’t hold back on drinking. After all, free drinks are too good to pass up. The more he drinks, the more it helps the household budget—or so he likes to delude himself.

The fact that he didn’t get enough to drink suggests he didn’t cut his outing short due to feeling unwell.

“You’ve worked hard this week.”

“Thanks.”

Indeed, Senpai looked refreshed after washing away the day’s fatigue. He sat heavily in his chair and sipped his drink with relish.

“Ahhh!”

“You’re back early today.”

I waited for him to catch his breath before asking.

Senpai usually doesn’t get home on Fridays until after 9 PM. But today, it wasn’t even 7:30 yet.

“Yeah. Gami kicked me out of the shop.”

“Kicked you out?”

“I almost slipped up in front of Kurumi-chan. He told me to go home for today.”

My heart skipped a beat. Not at Senpai’s bitter smile as he recalled his mistake, but at the fact that he’d almost let something slip about me to the person who’d brought information about my sister’s search for me.

Kurumi-chan—Kinomiya Madoka-san. She’s my sister’s best friend and a risk to our connection. Even after realizing this, Senpai had maintained the same distance with her, choosing to keep an eye on my sister’s movements rather than avoiding her outright.

That was two months ago. He’d been careful, but…

“Um, so…”

“Don’t worry. I didn’t do anything to make her suspect your existence.”

Senpai waved his hand dismissively, trying to reassure me as I struggled to hide my anxiety.

But a lingering unease remained.

Madoka-san is a dangerous presence that threatens our world. Ideally, I’d want Gami-san to handle all surveillance of my sister. I didn’t want Senpai to meet Madoka-san anymore.

“Besides, Gami took care of it for me.”

Perhaps sensing my thoughts, Senpai smiled as if to say, “Relax.”

“He told her not to come around during my usual hours anymore.”

Senpai pulled out his phone and waved it emphatically.

“It was fun drinking with such a lively, beautiful university student, though.”

His smile turned self-deprecating as he reflected on his actions.

“But crossing dangerous bridges like that wasn’t like me to begin with. Guess it’s time to call it quits.”

Though he brushed it off casually, his profile looked somewhat lonely.

Even if it was only within the shop, he had been close to Madoka-san.

Their meeting and reunion could be seen as dramatic from a certain perspective. If it weren’t for my existence, perhaps… I found myself thinking such things.

Madoka-san is my sister’s best friend. Someone who stands confidently beside her without being overshadowed. If I were a guy, being admired by someone like her would undoubtedly be fun and delightful.

That’s why I realized I was feeling relieved. Even a sense of happiness was bubbling up.

It must be something like possessiveness.

“Meow.”

As I was confirming the emotions stirring within me, a cat meowed outside the window.

It wasn’t a stray cat from the neighborhood crossing the property and meowing whimsically. It was like the doorbell—a familiar signal that someone had come to visit this house.

Opening the window, a black ball of fur leaped into the room.

“Meow.”

“Welcome, Kurosuke.”

Kurosuke usually visits during the day, but today’s visit was late. Strutting in like he owned the place, his steps headed toward the living room altar… or so I thought. Instead, he stopped at my usual spot, his eyes pleading, Hurry up and sit down.

Complying with his request, Kurosuke jumped onto my lap. As I stroked his head, he purred contentedly, and just that alone made me happy.

Kurosuke’s fur is as amazing as ever today.

My fingers danced across the keyboard.

It’s such a shame you can’t experience how fluffy he is!

“What’s so shameful? You’re not making that face, are you?”

“Hehe.”

Senpai, who had looked up from his phone, made a sour face.

Apparently, Kurosuke never allowed anyone to touch him during his stray days. I don’t know how he interacts with his owner now, but at least Senpai hasn’t been allowed to pet him.

Is he self-aware? Or just proud? Only Kurosuke knows what’s in his heart.

“By the way, Kurosuke. I met your owner earlier.”

“Huh?”

A stunned voice slipped out—not from Kurosuke, who had been addressed.

“You met… Kurosuke’s owner?”

“More like I happened to run into them when they came to visit. We bumped into each other at the entrance.”

“With Senpai?”

“They knew Kurosuke had been coming here, so they said they wanted to properly greet me for a while now… but, well, you get it, right?”

This is the infamous haunted house. Its glorious history and illustrious track record, along with its ongoing notoriety, prove that what resides here is the real deal.

Even if their cat visits, they probably wanted to avoid getting involved with the residents of the haunted house.

The owner’s feelings are totally understandable. Can’t blame them.

My fingers moved to defend the owner’s politeness.

But why did the owner come all of a sudden? It doesn’t seem like it’s about Kurosuke visiting us regularly.

It was clear there was some reason for visiting at such an unusual time.

“Apparently, they’re planning to move soon.”

“Huh…”

“They came to say goodbye—”

“Kurosuke… is going to disappear?”

I stared blankly, my eyes dropping to my lap.

It felt like my body was freezing over. This must be what they mean by “the blood draining from your face.”

The last time I felt like this was when I was sentenced to be a plaything for the upper class.

So, Kurosuke disappearing was that much of a shock to me. It felt like something precious I had tucked away in my heart had been ripped out.

“Listen to the whole story first.”

His tone was like scolding a restless child. If he hadn’t said that, I might have started crying.

“Kurosuke’s owner is an elderly person living alone. Their son and daughter-in-law have been inviting them to move in for a while now. But they couldn’t bring themselves to leave the house full of memories. When they took in Kurosuke as a companion for their lonely old age, they thought they’d spend the rest of their days here.”

“Thought?”

“Well, they’re getting old. The wear and tear on their body has been accelerating, and they’ve started feeling anxious. The thought of dying alone has been crossing their mind more often.”

“So they decided to leave the house?”

“If something happens, it’s their children who’ll have to deal with the aftermath. If they’re going to be a burden either way, it’s better to make it as light as possible.”

Senpai tilted his glass and took a sip.

“They’ve also found a buyer for the house at a good price. It’s the best offer they’re likely to get.”

“Is the reason they can’t get a better price…”

“Because of our house.”

Senpai nodded proudly.

Our haunted house, which single-handedly lowers the property values in the neighborhood. Even while being within its range of influence, being able to sell the house under favorable conditions is a testament to their efforts. It’s probably because they’ve taken in Kurosuke, a recognized presence, under their protection.

Black beckoning cats are said to ward off evil. It’s a perfect role for Kurosuke.

“With the house sale settled, all that’s left is to move in with their son and daughter-in-law, dowry in hand… but there’s one problem they haven’t resolved yet.”

“Is there someone in the family who’s allergic to cats?”

“That’s right. They can’t take Kurosuke with them.”

Senpai glanced at Kurosuke.

“So, Kurosuke will soon be a stray again—a homeless cat.”

“Huh!?”

A sound I’d only ever typed on a keyboard slipped out of my throat.

Looking down at my lap, Kurosuke was yawning widely.

While I was utterly shocked, the one who was about to become homeless again was completely unfazed.

Slowly raising my head, I saw Senpai’s lips curl into a smirk.

Just as I was about to breathe a sigh of relief, thinking it was a joke—

“Well, that was half a joke.”

Wait, so half of it’s true?

My fingers were already moving frantically across the keyboard.

“After the house sale was settled, they’ve been looking for someone to take Kurosuke… but do you think anyone in the neighborhood would give a positive response?”

Of course, right?

“Because he’s been coming to this house regularly.”

Hmm. That’s totally understandable.

Our infamous haunted house, feared by the neighborhood as a place where even getting involved can curse you. Senpai, as one of its residents, has been ostracized by the locals.

Even though Kurosuke was originally a mascot-like presence, bringing him into the family would mean forming a connection with the haunted house—something they’d want to avoid.

“They couldn’t find anyone to take him, so they can’t take him with them. But leaving him at the animal shelter is out of the question.”

There was that incident where the old man who abused small animals got stabbed. If they decided to do that, the owner wouldn’t come out unscathed.

“If no new owner is found, Kurosuke will be straight on the path to homelessness.”

So, leaving Kurosuke behind like this is also irresponsible.

They once welcomed Kurosuke as part of their family. If no new owner is found, it’s just, Oh well, Kurosuke can go back to being a stray, and I’ll move in with my family alone.

It’s a cruel half-joke of a story.

A simmering anger began to rise from the pit of my stomach.

“So, Kurosuke’s owner resorted to a last resort.”

Senpai’s brows furrowed, signaling that things had taken a troublesome turn. Seeing this, the anger that had been rising quickly subsided.

It became clear that Kurosuke’s owner hadn’t come to share their life story—they’d come to say goodbye before moving.

“Could it be…”

“I was the first person they thought to consult, their top candidate.”

“Are you… going to take Kurosuke in?”

The anger in my stomach was replaced by a spreading joy in my chest.

The haunted house, feared by the neighborhood.

Kurosuke’s owner is also one of those locals who fears the curse of the haunted house. Yet, knowing Kurosuke has been visiting this house, they never locked him inside. They respected Kurosuke’s freedom.

Despite their fear of the haunted house, they cared for Kurosuke with such love. They weren’t the type to just abandon him, saying, Oh well, if no one takes him, that’s that.

That’s why this was their last resort. They attempted something no other local had dared—to reach out to the residents of the haunted house.

They came to Senpai, the person most likely to take Kurosuke in.

“Meow.”

The carefree meow from my lap. My eyes met Kurosuke’s as he looked up at me, and my cheeks softened.

Imagining a life where Kurosuke stayed in the house forever felt like a dream.

“I told them to give me time to think, so they left for today.”

But that dream was quickly shattered by Senpai’s serious tone.

“Rena. What do you think I hate the most?”

Before I could ask why, Senpai posed the question.

Why bring this up now? After a moment of thought, it hit me, and my fingers started moving.

Wait, Senpai… do you hate cats?

“No. It’s a two-kanji word you know well.”

Ah, I see.

“Use punctuation, punctuation. I won’t tolerate that laziness.”

In online games, even missing a single punctuation mark can turn a sentence into a banned phrase. Senpai’s sharp retort was on point.

Once the urge to joke subsided, my fingers typed out the answer to Senpai’s question.

The answer is responsibility, right?

“I’ve hired you officially, but I have no intention of taking responsibility for your life. So, if this lifestyle gets exposed to the public, I haven’t thought about what comes after.”

That’s fine. If it all falls apart, well, that’s it. I’m okay with that kind of attitude.

“I know you’re fine with that. That’s why I can stay irresponsible… but it’s not the same for Kurosuke.”

“Ah…”

My breath escaped in place of my frozen hands.

“Taking him in is easy, but taking responsibility for Kurosuke’s life—no, his cat life—is something I can’t confidently say we’re ready for right now.”

“Th-that’s…”

I was at a loss for words.

Taking responsibility for Kurosuke isn’t just about loving him like we have been. It’s not just about feeding him or cleaning his litter box. It’s about committing to guarantee his life permanently.

If this lifestyle is exposed to the wrong people, and it all falls apart, Well, that’s it—I just said that kind of attitude was fine. But I have no right to say I want to take Kurosuke in.

So, I couldn’t say anything more.

Suddenly, the warm weight on my lap disappeared.

“Meow.”

Kurosuke had jumped down from my lap.

His leisurely steps carried him toward Senpai. Without stopping at Senpai’s feet, he began headbutting them repeatedly—thump, thump, thump.

“Kurosuke…”

Senpai blinked in surprise at this unprecedented behavior from Kurosuke.

There was no discomfort or bitterness in Senpai’s expression—just pure astonishment.

When a cat headbutts someone, it’s not an aggressive act. It’s a sign of affection or a request for something.

Kurosuke looked up and stared directly into Senpai’s eyes.

“Meow.”

“You… do you understand the situation you’re in?”

“Meow.”

“Do you… want to come to this house?”

“Meow.”

“…Just so you know, Rena and I could disappear from this house at any moment. If that happens, I can’t guarantee your future.”

“Meow.”

“Kurosuke. I have no intention of taking responsibility for your cat life. Even so… is that okay?”

“Meow!”

Kurosuke let out a loud meow.

Kurosuke, the existence recognized by the haunted house before even Senpai.

Perhaps special cats like him truly understand human words. Maybe they even grasp the logic of human society.

And despite that, he’s saying it’s okay not to worry about the responsibility of his cat life.

It looked like he was showing Senpai that kind of resolve.

“Well, if you’re going to say that much, I guess I have no choice.”

Senpai laughed, as if exasperated.

He knew Kurosuke wasn’t just any cat—he was special. This exchange wasn’t some performance for my benefit.

It was a one-on-one, heartfelt conversation between Senpai and Kurosuke.

“From today, you’re the third resident of this house.”

As if sealing the deal with a handshake, Senpai reached out to pet Kurosuke at his feet.

“Hiss!”

Whack! A swift cat punch slapped his hand away.

Kurosuke’s triumphant cry seemed to say,

Don’t get the wrong idea! I never agreed to that!

Kurosuke stared coolly at Senpai, who was glaring back with a furrowed brow. Then, with a graceful spin, he leaped into my arms.

“We’ll be together forever now, Kurosuke.”

“Meow.”

Kurosuke purred affectionately, licking my cheek and nuzzling his head against me.

Meanwhile, Senpai’s face was a picture of utter confusion.

“Anyway, about Kurosuke…”

Senpai let out a deep sigh but quickly composed himself.

“That aside, Rena.”

“Yes?”

“About Christmas…”

“…!”

I was caught off guard by the sudden mention of Christmas.

Back then, I hadn’t been overwhelmed by embarrassment—I’d been more determined than Senpai. But after going to bed, I’d tossed and turned under the covers, replaying it in my mind.

The torment of my burning cheeks hadn’t subsided even after a night.

The date of our first battle wasn’t uncertain—it was steadily approaching, and the frustration only grew.

Just hearing the word “Christmas” from Senpai’s lips made heat rise from deep within me.

“Want to go out somewhere?”

“…Go out?”

But the heat never reached my cheeks. I was too stunned by the unexpected proposal.

“Um… where to?”

“You came all the way from the northern lands. There must be places you’d like to visit, right?”

“Places I’d like to visit…”

I’d never even thought about it since coming to this house.

After all, I wasn’t supposed to leave this house.

A child like me couldn’t be seen coming and going—it would only increase the risk. One misstep could ruin this stable life.

“Why… all of a sudden?”

Why would Senpai, who always avoided risks, suggest something like this?

“I’ve been grateful for your maid skills. I don’t take all this care for granted, you know.”

The expression on Senpai’s face wasn’t a smile or a sly grin.

“It’s a special day. It wouldn’t hurt to let loose and have some fun, right?”

“Ah…”

It was a gentle, comforting expression.

I felt my heart skip a beat.

We were going to cross a line on Christmas. It wasn’t Senpai’s idea—it was mine.

I’d received so much from Senpai that I could never repay. I didn’t need to prepare anything in return, let alone take unnecessary risks.

Yet, he’d said, It’s a special day.

A day that would be special for us.

To make it even more special.

It wasn’t for his sake.

He wanted to make me happy. That’s why he wanted to take me out.

“I’ll go all out. Whether it’s the dreamland or the Sky Tree, I’ll take you anywhere.”

That thought alone made me happy.

My voice would tremble if I tried to express my joy.

Did you just say anywhere?

I moved my hands to hide my emotions.

“Just so you know, it’s within reason.”

Then I’d like to have a fancy Christmas dinner on the 85th floor of a high-rise in the city.

“Such a place doesn’t exist in this world.”

Amateur. It exists in the city overseas.

“Well, just think about it for now.”

Laughing, Senpai turned back to his computer monitor.

I’ve always been a homebody. Famous tourist spots and amusement parks never really appealed to me.

I’m a natural crowd-hater, so even if asked where I’d like to go, nothing came to mind immediately.

Still, my heart was racing.

Just the idea of going out with Senpai, even though we lived under the same roof, felt special—like something out of a dream.

Christmas tourist spots and events didn’t seem to suit us.

I couldn’t imagine us innocently enjoying the typical festive activities like carefree, social butterflies.

But as I daydreamed, the torment I’d been feeling faded away. Instead, I found myself eagerly looking forward to Christmas.

It was like a peaceful afternoon nap in spring—warm and full of happiness.