Arc 6.2 Chapter 47
They ran.
“How could this happen?!” Sunset panted. “I was sure that Sayo was benevolent!”
“N-Nichibotsu!” Negi gasped from right behind her, his face stricken with terror. “Wh-wh-what’s going on?! Ako-san! Natsumi-san! The principal! Are- are they r-really-”
“We can mourn the dead later,” Sunset snapped, pulling the child teacher down the hall and around a corner. “Right now, we need to get out of- ACK!”
“Nichibotsu!”
The blade swung. Sunset fell. Her severed head stared off to the side, shocked, unblinking.
Her eyes snapped up to Negi. “W-Wildfire,” she moaned. “Run. Run before they get you.”
“Wh-wh-wh-what?!” Negi knelt beside his fallen student, too frightened to comprehend what had happened. “N-Nichi-”
*thud*
Negi’s head snapped up. A nearby darkened window shuddered, a ghostly-white handprint pressed against it.
*thud*
And another.
*thudthudthudthudthud*
Negi cried out in horror as pale arms smashed through the glass, ghostly hands reaching out to grab him. He stumbled to his feet and ran, screaming all the way.
Madoka leaned out the window, an ax embedded in her head and a guilty look on her tomboyish face as she watched their teacher run off. “Do you think we overdid it?”
“Hey, he’s the one who chose this route,” Sunset said. She pushed the fake floor off of herself and started folding it up. “You’d better hurry; he’ll be reaching the moving floor soon.”
Madoka gave a slight nod and ducked back through the frame before running off. Sunset pulled one of the temporary walls aside, grabbing a replacement window and carefully swapping it out for the shattered one. She then slid the wall back into place, reset the rubber blade, and started making her way back to the entrance.
“Oh! Nichi-chan!” Makie smiled at her as she emerged from the “School Horror Story” route. “Did it look like Negi-kun was having fun?”
“Fun isn’t the word I would use,” Sunset said, tucking the fake floor into a hidden pocket of her skirt. “But he was certainly terrified.” She chuckled. “I’ll admit, when we decided on a haunted house, I didn’t think we’d be able to pull off anything too impressive. But this place is actually pretty good.” She looked towards the main entrance of the “Heartbeat Girl’s Haunted House” and thought of the rest of the festival going on beyond. “Fitting for the over-the-top nature of this whole thing.”
Mahorafest had officially begun. Sunset - having been excused from training by all three of her teachers for the duration of the festival - had taken the rare opportunity to sleep in. When she’d awoken with the rising sun, she’d been greeted by distant cheers and grand commotion. Leaping from the loft, she’d taken a peak out the window and been shocked by the massive crowds that streamed towards Mahora.
The crowds had only grown thicker and more excited as Sunset had approached the academy. She’d slipped past the main entrance, earning a few angry shouts and grumbles from the impatient throng before they’d realized she was a student. Last-minute preparations had surrounded her as she’d made her way to her classroom, and some of the larger, more visible events had already begun. Zazie had already been swinging around the massive trapeze set that had been erected near the entrance, and every food stall and temporary cafe had been up and cooking. Sunset had grabbed a meatbun from Chao Bao Zi and had barely finished it before she’d arrived at class 3-A.
The Haunted House looked spectacular! The main entrance to the classroom had been covered with an impressively realistic stone brick facade, with a menacing, impish gargoyle set over a sturdy wooden door that looked like it had been taken right from a European castle. Yuna, dressed in a skimpy, sexy werewolf costume, had looked over and grinned at Sunset’s approach. She’d handed Sunset her “uniform” for the day - a conservative school uniform modeled after Sayo’s - before ushering her inside to the Haunted House’s foyer.
The foyer was slightly less impressive, the “stone” walls more obviously fake even in the dim lighting. A fog machine sat in the corner, ready to lend some low-hanging smoke to the ambiance. Three doors were set in the back wall, each labeled with their scariness, cuteness, and age restriction. Sunset’s route claimed the highest fear ranking, the lowest cuteness, and an 18+ age recommendation.
The route was simple in concept; the spirit that haunted the school was on a rampage and would kill whoever entered unless they found the exit quickly. Moving floors, hanging “corpses,” and Sayo’s authentic ghost contribution haunted the customers as they tried to escape. What the route lacked in originality, it more than made up for in authenticity. Between a few of Chao Lingshen’s inventions and Sunset’s suggestions, the “School Horror Story” route was almost as terrifying as they could make it.
“We’re not that over-the-top,” Makie retorted. “I mean, compared to some of the other stuff out there. Did you see the dinosaur automatrons?”
“Almost got stepped on by one,” Sunset grumbled. “How the heck did they manage to make those things size-accurate?”
Makie giggled. “The university students really go all-out with their events. I hear they’ve already begun planning for next year, too.”
“No competing with that.” Sunset shrugged. “Still, we should be able to beat out the middle-school division.”
3-A’s Haunted House had seen steady business since the festival had begun, with several of the girls out on the streets in sexy monster costumes to advertise. Already, Yuna was bragging about how their attraction was the most popular in their year, and it looked like 3-A was set to rake in more profits than even the high-school classes.
“Still, I’m surprised you volunteered to take the first shift,” Makie said. “I know I wish I could be out enjoying the festival right now.”
“The first day’s when they work out all the kinks,” Sunset explained with a smirk. “By the time I’m able to get out and explore the festival, any unexpected problems will be fixed and the processes will have streamlined. The last day of any festival is always the best.”
The front door opened and Ayaka walked in, sighing.
“Something wrong, class rep?” Makie asked.
“It’s the couples that keep choosing my route,” Ayaka grumbled. “The first few groups that clung to each other out of ‘fear’ were endearing. The next few were cute. At this point, the novelty has officially worn off. I never thought I would say this, but I am through with lovey-dovey couples.”
Sunset smirked. “That’s what you get for choosing the least scary route. No guy wants to chance actually being scared while looking brave for his girl. I’ve had two couples choose my route, and they inevitably abandon the lovey-dovey fantasy by the time I’m ‘decapitated.’ Seeing ‘dead bodies’ will do that to you.”
Ayaka opened her mouth to retort, but was cut off as the door opened again. She quickly stood beside the door to her route and plastered a smile to her face. A smile that became significantly strained as another couple entered and chose her route.
Sunset and Makie shared a glance and barely managed to hold in their giggles until Ayaka had led the couple down her path.
“Still,” Makie said, “if this route is as scary as everyone’s making it sound, I can’t wait to see what your midnight route is like!”
“You aren’t going to see it. No!” she snapped, cutting off Makie’s response. “I’ve put forth every effort imaginable towards making the Midnight route as genuinely terrifying and realistic as possible. The customers that go through there are going to think that their lives are actually in danger at every turn. I fully expect half of them to pass out and everyone will have to sign a waiver in case any of them have heart attacks. You and the other girls are NOT going through that route.”
Makie rolled her eyes. “It can’t be that bad.”
“Are you familiar with the American film ‘Alien?’” Sunset asked. “Specifically, the chest-bursting scene?”
“...yes?”
“I duplicate that three different times. Once from a corpse, once from a ‘suffering victim’ pleading for help, and once from me towards the end. All of them more realistically depicted than they could manage in ‘79.”
Makie paled.
“Like I said,” Sunset smirked, sure she’d gotten her point across, “none of you girls are going to see it.”
“Seeing even the preparations for it was too much for me.” Akira piped up, shuddering as she walked in, dressed in the same uniform as Sunset and carrying a bundle of clothes in her arms. “Time to switch, Nichi-chan.”
“Already?” Sunset began immediately disrobing. “Time flies when you’re scaring people, I guess.”
“N-N-N-Nichibotsu!” Akira shot a panicked look at the entrance, making sure it had closed behind her. “There are hundreds of customers right out there!”
Sunset laughed off her concerns as she finished stripping and started putting on the costume that Akira had brought in for her. “Relax. No-one’s coming in until Ayaka finishes her most recent tour, and that’ll take some time.”
“What if it doesn’t?!”
“It was a young couple.”
“...ah.” Akira’s panic died instantly. “That will take her a while, then.” She turned to Makie. “So, how has your route been going? No problems, I hope.”
Sunset tuned out the conversation as she pulled on her costume. The class had gone as all-out on the advertising costumes as they had on the actual haunted house, with Chisame’s unexpectedly enthusiastic help. Sunset’s costume consisted of a tight, dark-blue, leggless leotard with an open, long tailed overcoat. A huge, pointed hat sat on her head, and the whole ensemble was decorated with constellation designs. Sunset pulled a small wand out of one of the pockets and posed for Makie and Akria. “Well? How do I look?”
“On a scale of ‘one’ to ‘sexy,’” Akira deadpanned, “I give you a solid ‘shameless.’”
“Perfect.” She quickly folded her route’s uniform and hid it off to the side. “Time to go get some more customers.” With a final wave to the two of them, she exited the Horror House.
Her exit was met with a series of gasps and stares. She turned to the line of red-faced customers, shot them a wink, and sauntered away down the hall, putting as much sway into her hips as possible.
As soon as she was out of sight of the line, she burst out laughing and began to walk normally. “Oh stars! Yuna and Haruna are geniuses for insisting on this tactic! No wonder we’re getting so many customers.” She quickly made her way downstairs and out of the school building, letting herself get caught up in the flow of festival-goers. She made her way towards the entrance as quickly as she could and found Nodoka and Yue waiting for her.
“Nichi-chan!” Nodoka called and waved when she saw her. She and Yue were dressed far more conservatively in long black robes with bat-decorated headbands.
“I’m here to take over,” Sunset said as she approached. Yue handed her a stack of flyers. “You guys have been doing great! There’s a constant stream of customers for the horror house. The line even wraps around the corner and downstairs.”
“Don’t give us all the credit,” Yue said with a small smile. “Word of mouth is that the Horror House is one of the best attractions this year. Apparently, word is even spreading beyond the festival and into the town. I’ve had a few people ask if 3-A’s was ‘that amazing haunted house everyone is talking about’ as they were coming in.”
Sunset let out a low whistle. “That is impressive. Guess everyone will be even more busy these next two days.” She smirked. “Not that that’s my problem. Are the flyers with the Midnight Horror route information here yet?”
Nodoka nodded and pointed to a box sitting by the side of the road. “In there. You can start passing them out as soon as you run out of these. It shouldn’t take too long.”
True to Nodoka’s prediction, the flyers ran out quickly. Between Sunset’s eye-catching outfit, her aggressive advertising, and the already significant reputation of the Horror House, it wasn’t long before Sunset was opening the box and telling the adults who entered about the Midnight Horror route.
“The most terrifying haunted house you’ll ever experience,” she bragged. “Guaranteed to make grown men faint. For those who want a little less eye-candy and a little more blood-curdling.”
“I’m not sure your classmates would appreciate being referred to as ‘eye-candy,’ Nichibotsu.”
Sunset rolled her eyes and handed the potential customer she’d been talking to a flyer before turning to Takamichi. “Have you seen what we’re all wearing?” she asked. “Yuna and Sakurako are even more shameless than this.”
Takamichi smiled and sweatdropped. “I’m sure. In any case, I’m looking forward to your route this evening.”
Sunset hesitated and checked that no-one was too close before lowering her voice. “You might want to reconsider that,” she muttered. “I’m drawing on all the horror I saw fighting dark mages and monsters back home for this. I’m not sure what all you’ve gone through in your warrior days, but something or another in there is bound to bring up bad memories.”
Takamichi’s smile slipped, surprise momentarily claiming his face. “I… didn’t expect that sort of concern from you, to be honest.”
“Shit like we’ve been through messes people up,” Sunset said. “And PTSD is no joke. Just giving you fair warning. There’s a reason we’re making people who go through my route sign a waiver.”
Takamichi nodded, his neutral smile back in place. “I’ll be sure to bear that in mind.”
*****
Sunset let out a groan as she stretched her arms above her head. The sun was beginning to set, and she’d finally run out of flyers for the Horror House. Her shift was done and she was eager to enjoy her first evening of the festival before her midnight shift started.
Starting with the boxing tournament. A few rival schools had come to Mahora and coordinated with the Mahora Boxing Club to set up a small competition. Sunset, as the club’s rising star, had been asked to compete. She’d accepted, somewhat begrudgingly; as much fun as she had with her fellow-boxers, it was hard to get excited for matches with regular people when she regularly sparred against Setsuna, Takamichi, and Evangeline. Still, if it was for the club, she wouldn’t complain.
“Nichibotsu!”
Sunset turned, surprised at the shout. One of her senpais in the Boxing Club was running up to her, a massive grin on her face. “Isuzu?” Sunset questioned. “Shouldn’t you be setting up the tournament?”
Isuzu shook her head, grabbing Sunset’s arm and turning back the way she’d come, dragging Sunset behind her. “Tournament’s canceled. Or should I say ‘expanded?’ Chao Lingshen took over all the smaller fighting tournaments and combined them together. It’s the return of the legendary Mahora Martial Arts Tournament!”
“Legendary?” asked Sunset, pulling her arm from Isuzu’s grip and jogging along beside her.
Isuzu nodded. “Apparently, it was really famous until about 20 years ago. The main draw of Mahorafest, actually. Martial artists and fighters from around the world would gather to test themselves against each other.” She turned to grin at Sunset as they continued running. “And you’re going to represent the Boxing Club and win the whole thing!”
“Me?” Sunset’s surprise warred with her ego. “I mean, there are better boxers in the club, right? Heck, you beat me three times out of five.”
“But this isn’t a boxing tournament,” Isuzu pointed out. “It’s a fighting tournament. Which means you can pull out all those dirty tricks you’ve been learning. If you got into an actual fight with the captain, she wouldn’t stand a chance.”
Surprise lost the war and Sunset’s ego soared. “Well how can I say no after hearing that?” Sunset grinned savagely. “Let me detour back to my classroom for my clothes. Where’s this legendary tournament being held?”
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*dies happily from chapter overload*
Same here. Nice to see that you are back Stopper. Heres to a chapter overload.
Ooooh all these new chapters. I’m excited.
Ahhhhhh Massive Update yesssss😍🥰😵
I needed that wildfire !
Scary Sunset ? Check.
Shameless Sunset ? Check
Battle thirsty Sunset ? This shit will be glorious !
Nice to see this back.
I take she decided to go easy on her customers... I mean, I expected worse from her.
Yeah, something like that. I suppose she mentioned the chest burster because it was easier to explain?
So, between Evangeline and Sunset, which one the other contestants should pray to avoid?
10986822
To your average middle-schooler, that scene is a gore-fest and horror show. And a realistic depiction of a burning corpse - smell and all - is a little too much for them.
I was very grateful while writing about the Midnight Horror route for a bit of advice that I've heard from horror authors: "if you can get away with not giving a detailed description, don't; your audience's imaginations are guaranteed to come up with better things than you could possibly manage to put to script."
Ah yes, appeal to Sunset's ego. Flattery will get you everywhere!