"Mom! What are you talking about!" Yui couldn't hold back her embarrassment any longer after hearing her mother's words. Her face turned bright red.

  "I-I mean, Ryuji and I aren't even boyfriend and girlfrie!"

  Though she liked him a lot, Yui khey hadn't officially bee a couple.

  "..."

  So, it was a one-sided crush.

  Mrs. Yuigahama's momentary relief crumbled into disappoi. Well, it seems her hopes were a bit premature!

  "You—" She was about to tieasing, but seeing the pani her daughter's eyes, she stopped herself. She didn't want to embarrass her any more than necessary.

  "Okay, okay, I won't say anything more. After all, Ryuji-kun will be here soon!" Yui looked genuinely worried that her mht say something embarrassing in front of him.

  "I know, I know," Mrs. Yuigahama replied, chug to herself. The thoughts and feelings of her daughter were written all over her face. Mrs. Yuigahama wasn't oblivious, she could clearly see how infatuated Yui was.

  She sighed inwardly. It's said that once daughters find love, they drift away from their mothers. Hers wasn't even in a retionship yet, and she was already getting protective of Ryuji. Ah, well.

  "Is this Yui's house?"

  Ryuji had arrived at the Yuigahama resideanding in front of the two-story house, he sed it briefly, sensing the lingering presence of something unnatural.

  "There's definitely some residual energy here, but it's not strong. The maion's still weak, it's more of a nuisahan a real threat," he muttered to himself. Still, weak or not, he couldn't just ig now that he was here.

  Ryuji pressed the doorbell.

  Inside, Yui's eyes lit up when she heard the chime. "That must be Ryuji-kun!" She dashed toward the door, her excitement clear in her voice.

  "Slow down!" Mrs. Yuigahama called after her, though she couldn't help but smile at her daughter's enthusiasm.

  Yui swung the door open. "Ryuji-kun!"

  "Hey, Yui. Good evening," Ryuji greeted her with a smile.

  "Thank you so much for ing, Ryuji-kun. I'm sorry to trouble you so te."

  "It's no trouble," he replied with a warm smile, gently patting her on the head. The gesture was f, and Yui felt her worries melt away as she let him inside.

  By now, Mrs. Yuigahama had made her way down from the sed floor, and her eyes nded on Ryuji. She couldn't help but admire how handsome and calm he seemed. If she were younger, she might have been a bit flustered herself. But looking at him now, she found herself w, could a young man like Ryuji really be ied in her daughter? She only knew Yui had a crush on him, but what did he think?

  Just as she was about to greet him, something cold and sinister fshed before her eyes. A chilling grin appeared in front of her, so sudden that she stumbled ba shock.

  "Mom!" Yui shouted as she saw her mother losing her bance, falling backward toward the stairs.

  Even though the stairs weren't that high, a fall like that could still cause serious injury. But before Yui could eve, Ryuji was already moving.

  In an instant, he appeared beside Mrs. Yuigahama, catg her in his arms just before she hit the ground. There was no impao pain just the warmth of someone holding her securely.

  "Am I… okay?" Mrs. Yuigahama blinked, disoriented but unharmed. Slowly, she realized she was in Ryuji's embrace. Her face turned bright red as the reality of the situatio in.

  "Thank you, thank you so much," she stammered, looking up at Ryuji, who smiled down at her reassuringly.

  "It's nothing," Ryuji replied smoothly, gently setting her ba her feet. As Mrs. Yuigahama stood there, flustered and embarrassed, Yui rushed over.

  "Mom, are you alright?"

  Seeing her mother safe in Ryuji's arms, Yui breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't even mind that Ryuji had held her mother, it was more important that she was unhurt.

  "I-I'm fine," Mrs. Yuigahama said, still feeling a bit awkward. Here she was, getting flustered by a guy her daughter liked. Horopriate! She quickly lowered her head to hide her blush.

  "Thank you, Ryuji-kun," Yui said sincerely, her eyes filled with gratitude. She couldn't imagine what would have happened if he hadn't been here.

  "It's nothing, really," Ryuji smiled, shaking his head. "Besides, it would've been a real shame if someone as lovely as your mot hurt."

  As he said that, he slowly helped Mrs. Yuigahama to the sofa. The words were casual, but they flustered her even more.

  "I'm not that young," Mrs. Yuigahama muttered, embarrassed.

  "Not at all! You look young enough that people would probably think you and Yui are sisters," Ryuji said, smiling.

  Yui giggled happily. "I think so too! Mom looks so young!"

  Mrs. Yuigahama shook her head, a small smile on her face. Her daughter's innoce made the situation less awkward.

  Suddenly, Mrs. Yuigahama winced. "Ow…"

  "Did you sprain your ankle?" Ryuji asked.

  "Yes," she replied. "I think I twisted it when I almost fell."

  "Let me take a look," Ryuji said, kneeling down in front of her. "I know a bit about massage, this should help ease the pain."

  "Oh no, I've already troubled you enough tonight…" Mrs. Yuigahama tried to dee, but Ryuji was already gently examining her ankle.

  "Really, it's no trouble at all," he said, smiling up at her before he began massaging her ah practiced hands.

  Although it urely to help her heal, the touch still made Mrs. Yuigahama's heart race a bit. It had been so long sinyone had taken care of her like this.

  "Speaking of which," Ryuji said casually, hoping to ge the subjed ease the tension in the air, "did anything strange happen to you today?"

  "Strange?" Mrs. Yuigahama thought back to the events of the day. "Well, there was that act at work…" She proceeded to expin about the intern who had died suddenly and the eerie sightings she'd experienced afterward.

  Ryuji listened carefully, nodding as she spoke. "That makes sense."

  "Is it reted to the weird thing that's been haunting her?" Yui asked, curious and a little worried.

  "Most likely, yes," Ryuji firmed. "When someone dies suddenly, especially in a tragic act, their spirit hold ont emotions like rese or jealousy. In this case, it seems like your mom felt pity for the intern, which might have created a e between them."

  "So, that's why this spirit targeted her?" Mrs. Yuigahama asked, looking a bit shaken.

  "Exactly," Ryuji expined. "Newly formed spirits are often drawn to people who express emotions like sympathy or sorrow toward them. This oched onto you because of that."

  "But it didn't seem dangerous, right?" Yui asked, trying to fort her mother.

  "Right," Ryuji reassured them both. "The spirit was weak, more of a nuisahan a real threat. But if left alo could have begressive over time."

  ***

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