Once fear is buried too deeply, overing it bees difficult.
That's why the way evil spirits induce fear actually help people front their fears head-on.
Weaker evil spirits trigger fear mradually.
Ren had pnned for a slow buildup.
But who would have thought that, because of an ued enter with an acquaintan Tsukikage Isnd, the process would be interrupted, f a direct frontation instead?
"…Well, at least the result wasn't bad."
"Not bad?!"
Ran couldn't hold back this time and snapped.
"I was terrified just now!"
The memory of her breaking down in tears fshed through Ren's mind, and his smile faded slightly.
"…Sorry."
"This time, I put you through a bad experience."
After venting her frustration, Ran calmed down signifitly.
"…Fine, I'll accept your apology."
"Amamiya, if something like this happens again, at least give us a warning first."
"Getting scared like that out of nowhere is seriously too much."
Evil spirits were truly terrifying.
Ran had never been good with supernatural things, and seeing one up close had nearly made her pass out.
If Ren hadn't covered her mouth in time, her scream would've brought her father running back.
"…I'll be more careful ime."
With a hint of guilt, Ren promised not to let it happen so suddenly again.
"That's better."
Ran's anger came a quickly.
"Ugh… That evil spirit was really terrifying…"
"Their appearance before death… I 't even imagine what they went through in their final moments."
She finally uood why Ren hadn't let her and Sonoko follow him before.
If the spirits in the mountains all looked like that, refleg the state of their deaths, there was no doubt she'd be having nightmares for weeks.
"Don't feel too sorry for them."
Hearing Ren's warning, Ran turned and rolled her eyes.
"They were drug dealers. Why would I sympathize with a bunch of criminals?"
Drug dealers didn't deserve even a shred of pity.
Ran was kind, but her kindness didend to people like them.
Some criminals might have been forced into their as or acted out of desperation but n dealers.
They chose their path.
Ran pouted as she looked at Ren.
"Amamiya, do I seem like the type to blindly sympathize with criminals in some ridiculous story?"
"…I guess not."
Hearing his answer, Ran sighed.
She was starting to realize why she had turned into nothing more than a background character ier parts of the story.
She hated those saint-like characters in stories, the ones who showed excessive sympathy for criminals.
Audiences definitely wouldn't like someone like that, either.
That robably why her presen the story had been reduced.
"…Amamiya, did I bee a really annoying character ter on?"
"…"
His silence was all the answer she needed.
Because of her unpleasant characterization, her role had been diminished.
Most likely, her ter appearances were only tied to Shinichi.
Instead of fog oory, the narrative probably shifted to Shinichi's devotion to her.
The thought made Ran deeply unfortable.
She knew how much Shinichi cared about her.
It was just like how she had once cared so much about Shinichi.
But… did their e really have to be framed like that?
"Amamiya."
She looked at him seriously.
"Don't associate me with the story's version of me."
"I am the real, living Ran."
"I may be kind, and sometimes I might even go too far with my emotions."
"But I will never sympathize with criminals."
"Especially drug dealers."
"This is important—don't fet it."
Her voice was firm.
Ren could feel how serious she was.
This was the sed time she had reminded him—stories were stories, but reality was something different.
The story tained many forced developments.
But iy, those same straints did.
For example, personality differences.
Sonoko, for instance, would likely never experience a cliché "damsel-in-distress" situation, because the Suzuki family's bodyguards were far too petent.
Or someone like Kaguya—given her background, she would never choose Shirogane Miyuki, knowing she was bound by her family's responsibilities.
And then there was Ran.
She wasn't some overly loyal girl who would endlessly wait and give without receiving anything iurn.
She could also be hurt.
She could also feel disappoi.
She was just a normal girl.
Ren took a deep breath, briefly refleg on his own thoughts.
Then he exhaled, lowered his head slightly in aowledgment, and raised his hand toward her.
"o meet you, Mouri Ran."
Ran looked at his outstretched hand for a moment—then, with a natural smile, she reached out and shook it.
"o meet you, Amamiya Ren."
her of them hesitated.
Their hands met, gripped lightly for a moment, and then separated.
"Ohhh~"
Sonoko suddenly leaned in, grinning at Ren teasingly.
"You didn't react as strongly this time~"
No signs of blushing.
Amamiya sighed.
"Suzuki, I told you, I'm just not good at dealing with girls who make the first move."
"I i with girls normally."
Yes, sometimes being around girls made his heart race.
But the truth was, in his past life, he had very little experieerag with the opposite sex.
Sonoko had been the first girl to openly tease him like this.
And st night? Please. Anyone would have reacted the way he did after what Fujiwara showed.
Just because someone has seen adult tent doesn't mean they're some kind of expert.
When a situation calls for innoce, you will be i.
When a situation is awkward, you will be awkward.
"Heh~"
Sonoko csped her hands behind her bad stepped closer to Ren.
"Since you i normally, maybe you should start using more casual names?"
She turo Ran.
"What do you think, Ran?"
Now that the topic had shifted to her, Ran gave it some serious thought before nodding slightly.
"Yeah, I think we should be on a first-name basis."
"We're in the same club, and Amamiya's already so ected to us."
"If that's the case, it makes seo drop the formalities."
With Ran's approval, Sonoko's smile grew even brighter.
"Well, Ran has agreed, so Amamiya, you don't have any objes, right?"
"…I don't."
"Good! Then, from now on, just call me Sonoko."
"And you call me Ran."
Ren nodded slightly.
***
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