Supernatural Investigation 101: Chronicles Of Nakashima Wakana

'And he also bullied the people who were bullying you in the police academy.' Hano keeps going. 'Believe me when I tell you this: he has crossed all limits for you.'

"You don't have to say anymore," Choi Minho growls. "I will exorcise you to a super distant world."

"Don't do that." Wakana has a good feeling toward this house spirit. "Hano, you can stay at my house if he tries anything."

"You are not afraid of him anymore." Choi Minho scowls at her. "You were crying when he revealed himself to you."

'That was earlier.' Hano titters. 'She loves me more than you.'

"Hano!" Choi Minho's eyes gleam brightly. "This is my last warning."

"Don't be afraid, Hano." Wakana pulls up her sleeves. "I am not going to let him do anything to you."

"The house is loud after a long time," Oh Soo-Mi mumbles softly as she gathers the cards. "Minjae would have been happy to see this."

"What will you do?" Choi Minho squints his eyes on her. "What can you do?"

She exhales. "Look at this overconfident guy! Do I look weak to you? You should be embarrassed of yourself. Reading my mind, stalking me for years, leaving cookies and sweets like a tooth fairy, and… and…"

"And what?" He raises his brow with a slight smile. "You enjoyed the cookies and sweets. I know that you didn't share them with your siblings and your father."

Her face burns red. This guy knows everything. All of her dark secrets… 

"You have a sweet tooth." Choi Minho pinches her nose. "You would drool whenever you saw something sweet on the storefront. Vegan? You didn't care about it when you were eating all the sweets. I am sure that you will forgive anyone who brings daifuku for you."

Her mouth waters when she hears him say that. She shakes her head. "I am not that --"

The man is gone.

"Where?" Wakana looks around. Oh Soo-Mi stands up and leaves the sitting room, humming a tune. Hano is also quiet. 

What is she supposed to do now? Wakana furrows her brows, awkwardly looking around. Why is she alone suddenly? 

After a few minutes, Choi Minho reappears before her. He places a box in front of her. Sweet scent of strawberry daifuku wafts into her nose. 

"Open it." Choi Minho's eyes smile. "I also brought steamed cakes."

She licks her lips, feeling like she wants to cry. This temptation… He knows her weakness.

"Don't be mad at me." He opens the box when she makes no move. "If reading my emotions makes you feel better, then you can do it as much as you like."

He picks up a piece of steamed cakes and takes it to her mouth. She pinches her lips together, narrowing her eyes on him.

"It's just food." He chuckles. "Aren't we already friends?"

Friends? The creases on her forehead are gone. It's alright to eat it then. She gives in, opening her mouth. Choi Minho stuffs the steamed cake inside her mouth, watching her cheek swelling like a balloon. He can't hold back his laughter anymore. 

"Why are you laughing?" She covers her mouth and asks. "It's not funny."

"Do you like it?" He could tell that she loves the steamed cake. But he still wants to hear her say it.

"It's not bad." She takes a daifuku piece and puts it in his mouth. "There, we are friends now. You better behave from now on."

The steamed cake is too sweet, just like her. He smiles at her. Friendship is fine, but it might not satisfy him anymore. He wants to live for himself from now on.

***

Minami Sei leans against the tree, panting for breath. He glances at the two women a few steps behind him in the same state. They have been climbing the mountain for a few hours already. It's already been two days since Wakana was taken away by Choi Minho. 

The higher they go, the mistier it becomes. The mountain is rather mysterious. They have heard the rumours that the house at the top of the mountain is haunted by spirits. The house doesn't appear to everyone. If anyone ever reaches that place, they are given a room for a night. The travellers often meet a woman who reveals their futures for sending them away the next day.

The residents of the house died a long time ago. They say that the house is still registered under the name of a descendant. The descendant hasn't been seen yet.

"I can't…" Sayuri drops on her knees. "If I take one more step, my legs would fall off."

The night is going to fall soon. Natsumi looks up at Minami Sei who is ghastly pale. It doesn't seem like he's going to stop climbing the mountain. She beckons Sei toward her. "You fool! We have to camp if we don't want to die or get eaten by wild animals around here."

"I heard that there are tigers in this mountain." Sayuri croaks, "I am too young to die."

"There are no tigers." Natsumi barks at her, "There might be some wolves."

Wolves might be present in this mountain. Sei stares at the darkness ahead of him. If he wants to find her, he should not do things recklessly. "We will camp tonight."

Hopefully, they will find the place tomorrow.

***

"I don't understand how this game is supposed to help me." Wakana frowns at Choi Minho. They have been playing Go* for the last few hours. He always wins the game. It's frustrating her a lot. "How is this training?"

"To open the unused areas of your brain." Choi Minho makes the next move, destroying Wakana's formation. "This game lasted for a shorter time, but you are getting better at strategy."

'Minho, she's worse than Soo-Mi.' Hano interrupts them, 'Why don't you play a game with me?'

"Hano, you must destroy him." Wakana looks up at the ceiling with tearful eyes. "I am new at this. He shows me no mercy."

"If I show you mercy, you won't improve." Choi Minho collects the stones and pours them inside the box. "And Hano, I won't play with you. If we start playing, the game might not end for a week."

"Huh?" Wakana wipes her tears. "Why is it that long?"

'He can't read my mind.' Hano tells her, 'Also, I have experience in playing Go with him and Minjae.'

Choi Minho's fingers pause on the board. He peers at Wakana who seems fine after hearing his brother's name. 

"Oh!" Wakana nods her head. "Hano, tell me more about this stalker. Did he always boast after stalking me in the past?"

'We were tired of hearing about you.' Hano tsks. 'If I had ears, they would have melted off. At first, he was looking for your ghost everywhere. When he found you, he came home and didn't leave his room for a week. He kept crying as if someone had died.'

This spirit won't shut up. Choi Minho closes his eyes and sighs. 

"My ghost…" Wakana has seen the vision. It was a short confession from this guy. Then… He does have feelings for her. Now, what is she supposed to do? She should turn this awkward atmosphere into another direction. She asks with a loud voice, "I am going to die?"

Yeah, death is an excellent diversion.

'It was a demon's vision. Who knows? Oh Soo-Mi has predicted your death multiple times. You are still here, alive and kicking.'

"I will stop death if I must." Choi Minho tells her with a soothing voice, "You just have to stop seeking death."

"I don't go around and seek death." Wakana lowers her brows, staring at him. "Troubles find me."

"It will find you more now." Choi Minho releases his breath. "I don't know why, but I heard the ghosts say that your soul shines like a lamp in the dark. It attracts wandering souls a lot. It could have been an after-effect of the…" He doesn't finish his words. 

"Experiment?" Wakana wonders why he's hesitating when she's totally fine with it. He didn't experiment on his brother. It was his brother's choice. "So, some evil organization might want me because I am some successful experiment."

"Not just any evil organization." Choi Minho pauses for a moment, recalling the people who brought his brother's body to him. "It's Monarch."