Chapter 30: The Hand That Grips

“I found this while checking photos at home. Thought it was a mistake at first, but…”

The black hand was too clear, and nothing in the scene could’ve caused it.

“No doubt. This is a ghost photo,” Kishin said.

“Haru, anything come to mind? You’ve been talking to Gahee a lot.”

I shook my head, staring at the photo. “Nothing. She’s a bit unique, doesn’t have many people to talk to.”

Just me and Han Siha, mostly.

I turned the question back. “Is she in danger?”

“Probably. Possessed or targeted by a vengeful spirit—either way, it’s not good.”

“That black hand… could be the black figure we saw,” I said.

“…Right.”

It vanished into the ground at the courtyard, but it was real.

Was it haunting Gahee?

‘But why?’

It’d make sense if it targeted us for investigating, but Gahee had no connection.

“Did you tell Hwaseo?” I asked.

“Not yet. Better to keep it quiet.”

“Why? You said her power could help.”

“We know too little about her other-side ties. If she sees this, she’ll act, but will it be what we want?”

Kishin, the occult enthusiast craving other-side encounters, was genuinely cautious.

“She might solve it in a way that harms Gahee. Or us, for seeing it. Let’s handle it ourselves first, save Hwaseo as a last resort.”

His logic was to convince me, but I didn’t argue.

Excluding Hwaseo made my own moves easier—convenient.

Hiding my thoughts, I nodded as if convinced. Kishin continued, “We need to keep an eye on Gahee. Take turns watching her. Sorry, but since you’re close, we’ll need your help most.”

“Leave it to me.”

“Haru, let’s go,” Dodam said.

“You go alone today.”

“Huh?”

“Gonna hang with a friend.”

Dodam, bag slung over his shoulder, blinked. “Friend? You?”

“You’re dead.”

“Kidding. Who? …A guy?”

“Me, alone with a guy? It’s a girl. New friend.”

My childhood friend, self-proclaimed tough guy, wasn’t clingy.

Respecting my choice, he asked with concern, “You seem busy lately. Everything okay?”

“Obviously.”

“…Well, you’ll handle it.”

Waving, he left.

I approached the blonde girl and tapped her shoulder.

“Gahee.”

“What?! …Lu-chan?” She tilted her head, startled.

I suggested walking home together, and her mouth opened slightly.

“Oh, my job—”

“…It’s fine. Got a break today. Boss had something come up.”

So we walked side by side.

Awkward at first, her outgoing nature soon took over, scanning our surroundings.

Dodam, Sua and her friends, Jiseok and his crew passed by.

Gahee headed a different way.

“Your place this way too, Lu-chan?”

“Yeah.”

A rundown neighborhood with shabby houses.

My place wasn’t actually this way.

“Gahee—”

“Call me Gahee, I said.”

“…Gahee. Anything off lately?”

“Off?”

“Anything different from usual…”

Thinking of the photo, I probed.

She frowned, then clapped her hands.

“Got a KakaoTalk from Siha-chan today~”

“What…?”

“Praising me for doing well~”

She explained how Han Siha kept showing her favor—too much to dismiss as nothing.

‘And he acted like that with me?’

Charming words and light touch in a private moment.

Good thing it was me; another girl might’ve fallen for it.

I made up my mind.

Beneath his kind mask, Han Siha was shady.

“Anything else? Like, feeling sick?”

Her condition mattered more now.

“My shoulder’s stiff.”

“Which one?”

“Left. Here.”

She pointed exactly where the photo’s hand was.

Tap—

“Eek?! What’re you doing?”

“I’ll massage it.”

Nothing was visible, even with spiritual sight, but just in case.

Forcing a massage while channeling spiritual energy, Gahee squirmed with soft groans.

“Ow! Ugh… ah…!”

“Your shoulder’s really tight.”

“Eugh… ha…! Stop…!”

“Can’t leave it like this.”

Enjoying the soft feel and nice scent, I kneaded thoroughly.

“How’s that?” I asked.

“Ugh… feels better, but still stiff.”

As expected, this wouldn’t solve it.
What then?

Pondering, we reached her house.

“This is me.”

A cramped, musty basement apartment.

Most would hide such a place, but Gahee stood proud, hands on hips.

This was just her reality—no reason to shrink.

“Get home safe. I’ve got a bit farther,” I said.

“Come in for a bit. Since you’re here, I’ll whip something up.”

“…Huh?”

Like I’d massaged her, she pulled me inside.

The interior was sparse, just essentials, tidy despite its age.

Stains from leaks and scrubbed mold marked the walls.

A groan came from deeper inside.

“Who’s there…?” a weak voice asked.

“A friend. Stay in bed, Mom,” Gahee replied.

Her mom, not much older than us, looked worn by illness.

As she fell back asleep, Gahee grabbed instant noodle packets from the kitchen.

“Not much of a cook,” she said.

No time to learn, probably.

‘This is how she gets by?’

Worried for her health, I picked a mild Jin Ramen.

“Ugh, this?” she grimaced.

“What?”

“Bought it once, never touched it again… Is it good?”

All ramen’s good, duh.

Grumbling, she cooked two mild packets, and we shared them.

While she was in the bathroom, I approached her sleeping mom.

“She said they don’t know what’s wrong.”

Doctors called it overwork and neglect breaking her body’s defenses.

Cold hands, pale skin.

I sensed faint negative energy.

Just a harsh illness?

Or…

“This is thanks for the meal.”

Not sure if it’d help, but I channeled spiritual energy through her hand, dispelling the dark aura.

“Lu-chan~ Canteen time.”

A familiar arm around my neck.

Used to her skinship now, I headed to the canteen.

She bought me a yakisoba bun.

“What’s this?”

“A gift! After you visited, Mom got a bit better. You must be my lucky charm.”

Her grin made me feel I’d done right.

But mid-smile, she winced, rubbing her shoulder.

“Things are getting worse,” Kishin said in the clubroom, showing a photo.

Same as yesterday, but one change: the black hand, once just fingers, now fully gripped Gahee’s shoulder.

“Might be a vengeful spirit. Maybe it holds a grudge against her,” he said.

“She’s not the type to make enemies.”

Still, the situation was deteriorating.

During P.E., Gahee, swinging her racket, cried out and dropped it.

Thud—

Siha rushed to support her, eyes wide.

“You okay?”

“Y-yeah…”

Was it my imagination, or did he half-hug her?

We intensified our hunt for the black ghost.

After days of searching, we chased it near the auditorium again, only for it to vanish in the sandy patch.

– Danger…

Same warning as before.

“No doubt. It’s targeting Gahee,” Kishin said.

If we exorcised it, she’d be safe.

From that day, I hunted the ghost alone.

But it never reappeared.

Knock, knock, knock!

A steady pounding at the door.

Ignoring it, the knocks grew frantic.

Knockknockknockknock!

I shouted, “Can you stop?!”

– Knock, knock!

“I’ll burn you!”

– Knockknockknock!

Unlike before, when my threats tamed it, the clown doll was suddenly wild.

Opening the door, it bolted out.

It grabbed a kitchen knife.

“Planning revenge? Pointless—hey, where’re you going?!”

I snatched it by the armpits as it sprinted for the exit.

– Eeeek!

“Struggle all you want. Think I’ll let you hurt people?”

– Grkgrkgrk!

No reasoning worked.

It glared at the door like it had a mission.

“Hm.”

Why’s it acting up now?

Maybe this was a chance.

‘Can’t keep it forever.’

Let it do what it wants, watch it, and if it tries to harm anyone, deal with it.

– Gyagyagya!

Holding the flailing doll, I followed its direction.

Expecting a long trip, familiar scenery surprised me.

I stared at the destination, dumbfounded.

“Paradise High…?”

The doll glared at the tall building with a demonic scowl.