Second Day in the Broadcasting Room...

"How were your classes? Anything difficult? Need help on a subject?! I'd gladly assist!"

"Great. No. Nope. I'm fine." Y/N replied shortly, finding it difficult to keep up with Hanako bombarding her with questions.

"You look tired, though!" Hanako pouted, poking her on the cheek. Y/N knew she shouldn't feel annoyed by the person who had helped her the most, but she couldn't fight it.

"What's gotten into you?" Y/N timidly asked, trying her best to sound polite.

"What's gotten into me?"  He threw his head back in laughter. "What's gotten into you?  You've been so gloomy for the whole day!"

'If you didn't pester me with trivial questions during recess and lunch, I think I'd be much better.' Y/N retorted inwardly. Instead, she replied:

"Can I stay over at Yashiro's today?"

The smile on Hanako's face immediately disappeared. "What was that?"

Y/N nervously rephrased herself. "I-I meant, uhm... I wonder how Yashiro was today..."

His eyes turned a little more sympathetic. He gave her a light pat on the head.

"Don't get yourself worked up! Stay here. Let's talk."

"Why?"  Y/N couldn't help but blurt. "I mean, I'd love to, but... I'm exhausted. I want to take a break."

"I'll comfort you!" Hanako cried. "I'll be here! I'll be-"

"There's something off about you." Y/N  finally decided with a frown. She slowly got up, rushing towards the door. "I'll be back."

"WAIT!"  Hanako threw out a hand, about to command his wisps to restrain her. However, he stopped once he felt a hand on his shoulder.

Y/N left the broadcasting room, the door swinging shut.

"Tsukasa-sama," Sakura's calm, collected tone rang in his ears. "Give her time."

"Not fair!" He crossed his arms. "Why does Amane like her so much? I don't get it. Whatever Amane likes, I want to like, too!"

Sakura stiffened impatiently. "You can't force someone to be your friend. It's not something that happens in the blink of an eye."

"She stole Amane from me," Tsukasa cut in, looking up at the greenette dejectedly.

"Try to think positively." Sakura deadpanned.

"You're right." His eyes narrowed in thought. However, they went wide in almost a milisecond.

"I'll steal her  from Amane!"

"Tsukasa!" The girl interrupted sternly. She tried to mask her worry with an angry expression. She knew beforehand Y/N was a kind student; in spite of being bound to him, she wouldn't allow him to brutally harm her.

"What's the matter?" He frowned.

"You can't simply jump to such drastic actions. She doesn't even like you..."

At this, the spirit's puzzled look faded. A mischievous smile made its way to his face.

"Too bad, then. I've grown to like her."

●●●

That night, Y/N decided to stay over at Yashiro's. She always did that when she couldn't stand being around her mother; for now, that bothersome person would be Hanako.

"Where have you been these past two days?" Yashiro worriedly looked at her from her bed. Y/N decided to sit on the floor; she always liked sitting there.

"I've been with Hanako." Y/N replied simply.

Yashiro pouted. "You two already whisked away into a relationship? So much that you couldn't hang out with me and Kou?"

"I-It's not that!" Y/N hastily cried. "It's just..."

Yashiro noticed the sudden change of emotion in Y/N's voice. She looked a lot more crestfallen and her shoulders were slumped.

Daikon immediately took back her teasing words. "What's the matter, Y/N-chan?"

"Hanako's been acting different," Y/N replied with a heavy heart. "He asks me strange questions like, 'What's your favorite color?' or 'Do you like stabbing things?'.... he also invites me to play childish games."

"Has he, now?" Yashiro piped in confusion. "He just dropped by to meet me and Kou this lunch!"

Y/N's eyes widened. Hanako had been with her in the broadcasting room the whole time during lunch and recess. That wouldn't make any sense!

"What did he say?"

"He asked us about you," Yashiro continued. "He looked very worried. 'Said he couldn't find you anywhere even with the Mokke's help."

Y/N stiffened. That  sounded a little more like the Hanako she was familiar with.

"Something really is fishy." Y/N's expression darkened.

Yashiro dropped down from her bed to join Y/N on the floor. "If you need help, don't sweat it! Just tell me! I'll bring Kou as well!"

Y/N smiled a little at her friend's supportive tone. "I'll be fine! Just tell Hanako I'll be at the broadcasting room."

●●●

Third day in the Broadcasting Room...

"Y/N-chan..... where is Y/N-channnnnnnn?"

Sakura focused on her paperwork, ignoring Tsukasa's caterwauling. He had been like that the whole night, pestering her with questions as to how to be a better friend to Y/N, how to make her less scared of him, and the like.

"Sakura!" Tsukasa called out. She tensed uncomfortably at the mention of her name.

"What is it?"

"I hear footsteps." His eyes were pinned in excitement once more. "Is that my playmate?"

Sakura sighed, putting her papers aside. She walked up to the door and opened it.

There stood Y/N, looking much less tired than yesterday.

"S-Sakura-chan?" Y/N blurted in surprise.

"Good morning, Y/N." Sakura replied, smiling a little. She still felt a little sympathy with Y/N having to deal with an irksome spirit like Tsukasa. "What brings you here this recess?"

"By any chance..." Y/N tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "...is there someone inside?"

"Y/N-chan?" Tsukasa popped up from behind Sakura.

"This person?" Sakura looked down boredly at him.

Y/N was caught off guard. Sakura could see Hanako... was she an exorcist?

She decided she'd leave that for later. She forced a grin and nodded. "Yep! May I... speak to him alone?"

"But-" Sakura started uneasily.

"Sure!" Tsukasa cut in, looking delighted at the fact.

"Well, then." Sakura sighed. "If you say so."

As the elder student brushed past Y/N to exit the room, she dipped her head.

"Be careful, Y/N." She warned in a hushed tone.

Y/N began to panic internally. What did that mean? Soon, however, the door closed. She was now standing in the room alone.

She didn't even want to call him Hanako anymore. For now, she'd simply see him as a spirit.

"Y/N!" He clapped his hands jovially. "Alone time, huh? A fine choice!"

"You've asked me a lot of questions," Y/N started slowly, taking a deep breath in. Her eyes were searching and cautious. "Now, it's my turn."

The spirit's eyes narrowed curiously, but he kept quiet.

"How did my arm get bandaged?" Y/N started.

"You were feeling suicidal, weren't cha?" He daintily tapped a finger to his chin. "You slashed yourself."

"Incorrect." Y/N took a step forward, slowly reaching into her pocket. "My mother did."

"Well, then... my memory can get a little foggy-"

"What's the nickname you gave me?"

"Nickname?  We just met!"

Y/N took another step forward, her grip on the weapon shaky. She swallowed her fear and continued on.

"What was my wish?"

"Well..."

"Hanako." Y/N stopped, her eyes deadly serious. "What was my wish?"

The spirit bit his lip, looking defiant.

"What's the point of all this?"

That was the final straw for Y/N. She pulled out the object within her pocket.

A swiss army knife... not a menacing weapon, but it was sharp. She still couldn't handle holding any bigger blade.

"Y-You're not Hanako!" Y/N stammered, forcing herself to sound confident. "Who are you and what do you want from me?"

The spirit's eyes dawned with understanding. "I see... you're not as docile as I thought."

Suddenly, the knife was knocked out of her hand.

Y/N's pulse picked up. She felt herself being pressed against someone's body, an arm wrapping around her waist as another held something to her neck.

Something cold.  Y/N looked down despite her fright.

It was a knife. And it definitely wasn't small.

"Don't threaten me, Y/N." The spirit hissed in her ear. "Don't hurt me... and maybe I won't hurt you!"

Y/N was too afraid to speak a word. The spirit laughed at her terrified expression. "I just wanted you to be my companion for a while! After all, you've been a good one to Amane..."

Y/N's eyes widened. How did he know Hanako's true name? That was a personal secret Hanako did not just say to anyone.

"Why does Amane like you so much, Y/N?" The spirit pressed.

'What is he? Obsessed with him?'
Y/N thought in horror.

"Admittedly, perhaps I am." Her assailant read her mind. His cold look dropped into a smirk.

"But that's getting a little old, don't ya think?"

Y/N's cheeks burned.... but it was not from a blush. One cheek turned red; but it was...

'...glowing?!'

"Someone's coming." The ghost pulled down the knife, though he kept his sturdy grip on her. Y/N squirmed, trying to fight her way out...

Suddenly, the door was kicked down. Y/N bore a look of terror at first, until...

"Hanako?!"  Y/N exclaimed.

"AMANE!"  The spirit cried.

"I missed you," Hanako slowly got up, an apologetic grin on his face. Y/N's captor grinned with delight, but Hanako's eyes were affixed elsewhere, the words clearly meant for someone else.

"I'm sorry I kept you waiting!"