”Have you heard?”

You walked alone through the empty hallways lit by the warm glow of the sinking sun.

”Number Seven of the Seven School Mysteries, Ryuu. She will grant any wish to the person who has summoned her in exchange for something precious.”

You made a left turn. Back facing the sun, your shadow melted outwards, stretching towards the end of the hallway.

”All you have to do is go to the sixth floor girl’s bathroom,”

The door opened to reveal yellowed white tiles and eight identical doors. Each door remained shut, and all was still within the bathroom except for the trembling of your fingers and the rapid rise and fall of your chest.

“Stand in front of the sixth stall from the windows.”

You stepped further inside. Then, you lifted your hand, rapping your knuckles against wood.

”Knock six times…”

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

”And say—”

“Ryuu, are you there?”

......

Roused from his slumber by a tug on the edge of his consciousness, Ryuu rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. He instinctively understood the feeling to mean that a summoner had appeared. Eager to meet the person who would dare to summon him—how foolish the entangled ones were, he set off to greet you properly.

“Heeere…”

The stall door creaked open, hinges groaning at the movement.

“IIIIIIIII…”

A gust of cold wind followed after, and you took a step back, narrowly avoiding the door as it swung open.

“Ammm…”

You stared, wide-eyed at the empty bathroom stall, heart pounding in your ears. The voice you had heard—imagined?—soon faded. Left with nothing but the heavy sound of your breathing and the complete stillness of the bathroom once more, you wondered if you had simply imagined it in your desire to have your wish answered. You remained frozen for another moment longer, trying to see if there were any signs that the ritual had worked.

An empty toilet stared back at you.

Mayb—

“Behind you.”

Coldness gripped your shoulder.

Goosebumps crawling over your arms, you peeled your eyes away from the toilet seat and to your left.

Ryuu watched as you leapt back, swinging wildly in his direction. He made no move to avoid your failing arms, unperturbed as your limbs phased through him. The grin that had been stretched monstrously wide across his face softened into one of amusement when you gave up your struggling to cower in fear instead. Humming, Ryuu took the opportunity to drift closer.

“Isn’t that,” he leaned down, stopping centimeters away from your face. “Too much of an overreaction?”

You turned around at the sound of his voice, wide eyes meeting pleased crescent moons.