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[DISCLAIMER: This chapter’s content delves into psychological themes for entertainment purposes. It should not be interpreted as reflecting real-life conditions. The depicted condition is purely fictional and created for narrative purposes within this chapter. Remember, you hold the power over your thoughts, actions, and interpretations. You alone control what occupies your mind.]

‘So, I can morph… Hm… How could I use this to my advantage? Perhaps pay a visit to Shuuichi’s workplace, transform into some demon, and intimidate his boss?’ she pondered, flipping through pages for inspiration, searching for the most grotesque and terrifying forms she could emulate. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

[QUEST: PREVENT YET ANOTHER MISFORTUNE!]

[REWARD: NONE!]

“Oh? Nothing this time?” She thought as she cast a sideways glance to the digital interface as she walked to the door.

“Delivery! Is Honda present..?”

‘… Ahh, so it has to be Hino-kun,’ she realized almost instantly, as she connected that familiar voice of his with the sudden quest pop-up. 

A wave of memories from the alternate reality washed over her. In that timeline, she remembered stepping out of her apartment, a mess filled with filth from Mr. Kamata and his cohorts. Lost, with her emotions in turmoil and unsure of whom to turn to, she had thrown herself into Hino’s arms, seeking solace in his presence rather than turning to her husband for comfort and help.

But this time was different. She was in a place of relative peace and contentment, or at least as much as one could claim. There seemed no reason to hesitate; welcoming the delivery seemed like the natural next step.

…Or so she thought.

“Hello,” she greeted, opening the door with an ease.

“H-huh? Nanami? Is this your apartment..?” Hino responded, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.

”Nanami’, he says,’ she internally scoffed. ‘I once thought of him as a beacon of innocence, perhaps that’s why I had once unburdened my heart onto him. Yet, recalling how he ‘generously’ offered me his shower that time, and now hearing him say my first name without formality as if we shared a casual familiarity other than being past desk mates… His intentions were never as ‘pure’ as I once believed. There was nothing innocent about his actions, except for the fact that he hadn’t been with a woman until the day we crossed paths again.’

“Nanami?” he repeated, met with silence from the girl at the door.

‘In essence, from the moment Hino-kun laid eyes on me, he only desired my body,’ she concluded in her thoughts.

‘Well, that’s the only thing I cared about back then. But I’m different now.’

“A-ah… Hino-kun, isn’t it? It’s been a while,” she managed, a slight tremor in her voice.

“Y-yeah! I have a delivery for a Honda… Do you know where they are?” Hino inquired, scratching his head.

“…You’re probably looking for my husband,” she replied pointedly, emphasizing the term ‘my husband.’

“N-no way… You’re married?” he exclaimed, disbelief coloring his tone.

“Yes… I’ll take the delivery,” she responded with a forced smile.

“A-ah… Right… I’ll get you a pen to sign for it,” Hino stuttered, retrieving a pen and extending it to her.

The pen slipped from his grasp, tumbling to the ground. “Oh! Sorry! I’m so clumsy. Let me pick it up,” he apologized.

“It’s fine, I’ll handle it,” Nanami countered, both reaching for the fallen pen simultaneously.

‘Just hurry up and leave…’ she thought, ducking down with him to retrieve the pen.

Their hands brushed, and he ‘accidentally’ clasped hers, maintaining the contact for a few moments as they both reached for the pen.

He looked up, his face flushed.

‘Even now… Fabricating excuses to touch me… Just like when I showered at his place, disguising it as “comforting me.”‘

“N-nanami…” he murmured softly, his voice trailing off as their faces drew close.

“Hino-kun,” she responded, offering an empty smile as she tilted her head upward.

“Could you release my hand—” Her words were cut off as his lips met hers fleetingly.

“A-ah…! I’m sorry…” Hino stammered, quickly retreating, his face flushed even redder.

“N-nanami…?” he called, noticing her inscrutable expression after their brief encounter.

She stood upright, pen in hand, her demeanor composed.

“It’s alright, Hino-kun. Shall I sign this form now?” she murmured calmly, as though the recent exchange hadn’t occurred.

“Y-yes…” he responded bashfully, passing her the form, which she promptly signed.

“You know, Nanami… I’ve actually been in love with you since our college days…” he confessed, scratching the back of his head, avoiding her gaze.

“I… I couldn’t resist when I saw you, so… C-Can I at least… stay for coffee? Just to catch up…?” he hesitated, his request hanging in the air.

“Hino-kun,” she interrupted after returning the signed papers, “I have a husband, you know. He’ll be back soon,” she explained, her tone unwavering.

“S-So! I’ll come another day, and I’ll arrive earlier… I was just really happy to see you…! N-Nanami… It’s been so long… And I’ve really missed you…!” he stuttered, his hands poised as if to reach out for her shoulders, but retracting at the reminder of her husband’s impending return.

“… Even though I mentioned I have a husband?” she inquired calmly.

“Y-yes!” he affirmed, his eyes shimmering with emotion, “I’ve missed you so much, I can’t suppress these feelings any longer!”

“I understand,” she responded flatly.

‘In this case…’

‘I won’t feel guilty for paying you back for the shit you just pulled, Hino-kun,’ she thought with a sigh.

“Do as you wish,” she replied evenly.

“R-Really?! Thank you..! T-then… I’ll see you tomorrow!” he exclaimed before hurrying away, leaving the delivery package at her doorstep.

Night fell, casting its veil over the world.

“Sis seemed… different,” Chihiro thought, a shiver coursing down her spine.

“Why did she need me to lie to big bro and say I was sad and that I needed her to stay with me?” Her mind buzzed as she lay on her bed, Mr. Kamata’s lewd magazine staring back at her.

“I hope everything’s okay with her… I never saw her looking like that…” Chihiro told to herself as she laid on her bed, staring at Mr. Komata’s porn magazines. 

“Jeez, sis… I can’t even focus on my research~….” Chihiro muttered in frustration, tossing the mag aside,

“Please… be safe,” she whispered into the emptiness within her room, an unsettling feeling lingering in the air.

Meanwhile, Nanami, shrouded in [NO TRACE] and, for the first time, [MORPH], morphing into a certain thing, slipped into Hino’s apartment complex.

In the darkness of that night, one solitary witness beheld her transformed state besides Hino.
From that moment on, tales spread like wildfire about the ghost of the Resin Apartment Complex. 

A specter towering seven feet tall, its face twisted into a grotesque mask, eyes gaping like voids, and a gaping maw capable of consuming souls whole. Legend had it that those swallowed by its mouth were doomed to an eternity of torment within its belly. And those touched by its malevolent presence shall lose their minds indefinitely. Take, for instance, the unfortunate resident named Hino who was touched by said Demon.

Though outwardly unchanged, he was soon fired from his job, abandoned by his family, and consigned to a mental asylum, where he spent his days endlessly muttering, even during meals and moments of respite, defying even the most potent sedatives.

“I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die, I shall not take advantage of a woman until the day I die,”

It was the seventh day. The suggestion to euthanize Hino was brought up and, with heavy hearts, agreed upon by his parents.

As he lay in his bed, awaiting his demise with resignation filling him, the ‘specter’ visited him once more.

“STOP,” she ordered, staring into his eyes. Her command immediately silenced him.

His mouth went numb and dry.

“Now…”

[BECAUSE YOU TERRIFIED HINO-KUN, YOU HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OVER HIM, AND HIS LOYALTY WILL EXTEND TO THOSE YOU  CARE ABOUT!]

“I admit, I went just a little overboard for this one… But surely you understand, right, Hino-kun? You did something unforgivable, and it took me quite a bit to calm down,” she murmured gently as Hino shivered, his gaze frozen on her.

“But, I’m a kind woman…” she said, bending over him.

This time, she didn’t need to order him not to scream. She didn’t need to tell him to listen.

… But she did need him to keep quiet for certain.

“So, I’ll just order you to stay away from my life, and as for what you’ve been through; keep my name and my involvement out of this. Say a real ghost did it as far as I care,” She said, before she left.

When the doctor returned to euthanize Hino, people started to believe in spirits a lot more. He was miraculously asleep and cured of his condition, later claiming he was cursed by an evil spirit.

… He never bothered Nanami again. Occasionally riddled with nightmare about what he went through.

And he never made such a move on another woman; feeling the shadow of the specter looming over him.

Upon returning home, Nanami finally poured her heart out about what happened. She confessed the truth about Hino, recounting their shared history from college and the unwanted advance he made during a delivery.

… And made sure she didn’t say anything other than that.

Enraged by her ordeal, Shuuichi’s first instinct was to seek out the perpetrator. But Nanami pleaded with him to refrain and stay by her side.

As his anger subsided, relief washed over Shuuichi at Nanami’s revelation.

“I’m grateful, Nanami-san,” he said, catching her off guard with his sincerity as he relaxed.

“Grateful?” she echoed.

“For telling me. Y’know, recently, I’ve felt we’re sharing a lot more. Like I can really talk to you about everything,” Shuuichi said.

Nanami scrutinized his body. ‘His shoulders are looser than before,’ she thought with a content sigh.

“I’m glad. You look really relaxed, Shuu-kun. Did something good happen besides that?” she asked, smiling knowingly.

“Oh, I COMPLETELY FORGOT! Get this, Nanami! I got a laptop from the company. I can work from home now, with fewer hours!” he said excitedly.

“That’s really good to hear, Shuu-kun. We could hang out a lot more,” she replied, crossing her arms.

“Yeah,” he nodded. “I recently feel there’s a guardian angel looking out for me. First the rent exemption and now this?” He chuckled in disbelief.

‘It was a good idea to tell him about Hino after convincing his boss to promote him.’

“A guardian angel, you say?” she muttered. “How curious.”

“I’m… so happy I get to share this luck with you, Nanami-san,” he said, pinning her against the wall.

“Too bad your husband can’t share it with you,” Shuuichi sneered.

She bashfully looked away. “No… D-don’t say that about him,” she said, hiding a content smile as she glanced sideways.