From his perch on the mansion's wall, Akagi surveyed the endless rice fields stretching around his new home. Not a single house in sight. Most would call it peaceful, if not for the whole "ghosts in the mansion" situation. His gaze drifted to the looming structure behind him, memories that weren't quite his own telling him this was home.
"What a mess," he muttered, pocketing his wooden toothbrush. The whole situation of dying, getting reincarnated, and now living in a haunted house was seriously testing his patience. Fantasy worlds? Sure, he'd sign up for that. But horror? Hard pass.
With a final spit, he pulled out his phone, carefully angling the front camera, giving his face a quick glance. After the mirror incident, any reflective surface made him gag from trauma, but he needed to check something.
"Seven out of ten," he appraised his new face. "Not bad, actually. Bit of styling, maybe some skincare..." He caught himself mid-thought. "God, I sound like those looksmaxing forums. Cringe."
The morning sun cast long shadows across the grounds as he jumped from the wall, making his way back to the mansion. Breakfast was waiting, and as much as the place creeped him out, cold food was scarier than ghosts any day.
---
After a rather quiet breakfast, his preferred kind honestly, he stepped outside to the driveway. The tinted window of the car parked there caught his reflection, and he paused.
A Rolls Royce. It still left him speechless every time he saw it. Back in his old life, he couldn't have dreamed of riding in one, let alone being chauffeured around in a car worth more than some houses. The thought was as surreal as it was thrilling.
"Young Master, are you ready?" Maya's voice came from the driver's seat, bubbly and expectant.
"Yeah, just a second," he replied, quickly running a hand through his hair. He'd spent a bit of extra time styling it this morning, trying to match the look he used to rock in his old life, the side part. It suited him even better now, he thought, with this new face.
Satisfied, he opened the door and slid into the back seat. The moment he sank into the buttery-soft leather, he felt a contented sigh escape him. This was comfort taken to another level.
"Alright, let's go," he said, settling in as the engine purred to life, a deep, velvety hum that spoke of precision and power.
As they eased out of the driveway, the car's effortless glide made him appreciate this newfound luxury. No bumps, no jarring movements, just a smooth, perfect ride. For someone who had once known what it felt like to count pennies, this was a whole new world—and he intended to enjoy every second of it.
It was these small moments of normalcy, though, that truly kept him sane after experiencing what he had.
—
As the suburban streets blurred past the tinted windows, Akagi leaned back into the Rolls Royce's luxurious seat, trying to shake off the lingering unease from the morning's mirror incident. The car's smooth ride was nearly enough to lull him into forgetting—nearly. Until something outside caught his attention, making his thoughts screech to a halt.
"Maya," he said, keeping his tone calm but firm. "Pull over beside that girl with pink hair. I... know her."
Maya's eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, her expression as cheerful as always. " Got it, Young Master." The Rolls Royce glided to a halt with grace, as if the car itself knew how to make an entrance.
Akagi's fingers brushed the charm bracelet on his wrist, the familiar warmth grounding him. But this time, he wasn't seeking comfort. His attention was locked on the figure stalking behind the girl Aira, his pink-haired classmate.
It wasn't human.
The entity shimmered faintly, like a heat mirage, its crimson dress flowing unnaturally as if caught in a wind no one else could feel. Its face—gaunt and stretched into an impossibly wide smile—looked like something conjured from the darkest corners of folklore. Hollow, void-like eyes bore into him, and the oversized red hat it wore cast shifting shadows that seemed to defy the laws of light.
A notification blinked to life in the corner of his vision.
"Warning: Supernatural Entity Detected"
"Threat Level: Medium-High"
"Note: Traditional Japanese spirits don't appreciate being stared at..."
"Noted," Akagi muttered, breaking eye contact with the thing.
Aira, oblivious to the horror trailing behind her, continued her stroll toward school, her head lowered in thought. It wasn't until Akagi rolled down the window that she noticed the car.
"Hey, Aira! Need a ride?"
Her head snapped up, her face a mix of confusion and curiosity. The sight of the luxury car widened her eyes briefly before she smoothed her expression into a polite smile.
"Oh!" she said brightly, her voice dripping with sweetness. "That's so kind of you!"
Inwardly, she was cautious. She didn't recognize the guy calling her name and, for a moment, wondered if this could be some kind of kidnapping attempt. But a Rolls Royce? Who kidnaps someone in that? And besides, he was wearing the same school uniform as her. That detail helped her relax—at least a little.
Akagi nodded as she approached, though his attention remained divided. Every time he blinked, the crimson figure seemed closer, its hollow eyes narrowing like it knew he could see it.
Akagi opened the door and Aira slid in, her pleasant voice cutting through his spiraling thoughts. "Thanks! I like taking this route to school sometimes. The scenery is just so… calming, you know?"
Akagi bit back a laugh. Calming? The creature's face, now pressed grotesquely against her window, was anything but. Its too-wide smile stretched further, revealing jagged, inhuman teeth, as if it delighted in his discomfort.
"Yeah," he said, voice strained. "The view's... something else."
Aira tilted her head, frowning slightly. Was he… sweating? She misread his tension entirely.
'Is my makeup off today? Or…' She smirked inwardly. 'Maybe he's one of those shy boys who get flustered around pretty girls.'
"You seem a little tense," she said, her tone a mix of concern and flirtation. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Akagi replied curtly, signaling Maya to speed up with a subtle gesture.
Maya's eyes caught his signal, and the car picked up speed smoothly, leaving the crimson specter shrinking in the distance. Akagi exhaled, wiping cold sweat from his brow as his body finally began to relax.
This world is insane, he thought, his legs still trembling from the encounter.
Meanwhile, Aira, oblivious to the supernatural drama, concluded that his unease and trembling was just bashfulness. Her smirk widened. He's likely into me. Poor guy must be dying from the nerves.
"So," she continued, her voice light, "I don't think I've seen you around school much. Are you new? I noticed we wear the same uniform."
Akagi reached into his pocket, pulling out his student ID. "Actually…" He handed it to her.
Her smile faltered as she read the name. For a moment, genuine shock replaced her usual polished expression. "You're... Akagi?" Her eyes darted between the ID and his face. "Akagi?"
"Crazy what a decent haircut can do, right?" he said, smirking at her rapidly changing expressions.
The old Akagi had been a textbook nerd, awkward in every way that mattered for a social life, from his terrible fashion sense to his painfully introverted personality. It hadn't taken long for the bullies to seize on that.
The only saving grace was his somewhat pretty face and smarts.
"You look so… different," she managed, still trying to reconcile this well-dressed guy with the awkward, forgettable classmate she knew.
"Yeah, I think I'd be hearing that a lot today," he replied dryly.
"Oh my god!" Aira's tone shifted instantly, her social personality snapping back into place as she cranked up the teasing smile. "Akagi-kun, you've changed so much! Remember how we used to talk? You were always so sweet and thoughtful, and now you're…" She gestured vaguely, her voice trailing into a slight dreamy tone. "So handsome..."
"Thanks, I guess," Akagi muttered, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. He knew Aira's type too well now. She was the school's social queen—kind to everyone, especially to the outcasts and awkward types. Her kindness wasn't cruelty, but it wasn't selfless, either. It was strategic.
People like her usually got a heavy dose of dopamine from knowing everyone looked up to them.
Still, he couldn't entirely dismiss her. Even if her friendliness had been an act, it had been a lifeline during the old Akagi's darkest days. She had smiled at him when no one else did, and that counted for something.
But he wasn't about to get caught up in her games, not with the supernatural chaos already piling onto his plate.
The rest of the ride passed as Aira chatted animatedly, her social skills on full display. Her conversation topics with the precision of a master fencer, each word seemingly effortless.
'Damn, this girl's an actor,' Akagi found himself oddly impressed.. 'No wonder she has half the guys in school wrapped around her finger and the other half is probably just too intimidated to try.'
When they finally arrived at school, one of the better institutions in Kamikoshi city, the crimson ghost stopped briefly at the gates before leaving, as if deciding that educational establishments were beneath its dignity. Or perhaps there were supernatural zoning laws Akagi didn't know about yet.
Maya opened their door with the grace of a perfect maid, revealing a crowd of gawking students. It wasn't every day that someone rolled up to school in a car better suited for a millionaire's entourage.
"Everyone's staring," Aira muttered softly, though Akagi noticed the slight adjustment in her posture, to the attention.
"Let them," he shrugged, not in the mental capacity to give a shit about it.
Maya inclined her head as she returned to the driver's seat. "I'll be back at the usual time, Young Master."
"Actually, Maya," Akagi called, stopping her before she closed the door. "I might stay late today—maybe crash at a friend's place. No need to pick me up." He hesitated, then added significantly, "And... take a different route home, okay?"
Maya's eyebrow raised a fraction innocently as her finger rested on her chin. "Is there something wrong with our usual route, Young Master?"
"Uhmm…Just... humor me on this one."
He still didn't know exactly what his maid was—but his recovered memories did show years of her taking care of him. So supernatural or not, he still cared for her and didn't want to risk her encountering the ghost on the way back. Some things were better left un-haunted.
Not to mention she was his bread and butter here, without her, he would starve to death.
"Okay." Maya nodded, her tone carrying its unusual sweetness.
Satisfied, he turned to join Aira, missing the smile that slowly spread across Maya's face—a smile that made the other students who'd been watching the scene of a guy arriving with two beauties suddenly shiver in fear, though they couldn't explain why.
"Why does she call you 'Young Master'?" Aira asked, her curiosity finally breaking through, once she saw the car leave. "Is this some kind of secret heir situation? Are you studying here to, I don't know, learn the ways of us common folk?"
Akagi's eyes suddenly widened in horror. "Damn, you got me. Guess I'll have to spill." He clasped his hands before sighing heavily. "I'm actually the heir to a massive yakuza empire. My father sent me here to learn humility before I take over the family business. You know, the usual. So please, you must keep this quiet, or I'll fail my secret training and have to leave!"
Aira stared at him for a long moment skeptically before finally catching the barely contained amusement in his eyes. "You..you... you're actually making fun of me!"
"Sorry, couldn't resist," he grinned, dropping the act. "The truth is much more boring—she's my family's maid, that's all. Though I suppose calling someone a young master in this age is indeed quite outdated, but I like it, so I don't really care if it sounds weird. Plus, who's gonna stop me from enjoying it?"
Aira rolled her eyes, though her smirk showed she appreciated the humor but she was also somewhat weirded out by his drastic personality change, it's as if he was a completely different person.
As they walked toward the school entrance, Akagi's gaze drifted back to where the ghost had been. The space was empty now, but he knew it wouldn't be for long.
When you're cursed with a life that seems magnetized to the supernatural, "peaceful" isn't in the vocabulary.
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