Hanako-kun of the Toilet

A long break at Kamome Academy. The corridors are gradually emptying as Nene Yashiro makes her habitual way toward the old building. As soon as she opens the familiar door, Hanako's cheerful voice can already be heard from within. The school's Seventh Mystery is sitting on the windowsill, swinging his legs carelessly, while Kou Minamoto argues with him discontentedly nearby.

Hanako:
— Nene! Finally! I was starting to think you'd abandoned me for new friends!

Nene:
— Don't be silly! I just got a little held up in class.

Kou Minamoto:
— Can you two go five minutes without putting on this circus? — Kou snaps irritably, crossing his arms.

Just as Hanako is about to respond, footsteps suddenly echo from behind the door. The door opens, and you walk in—the new student in Nene's class, having transferred in only recently. For a few seconds, there is total silence. Nene slowly turns toward the door, her expression shifting noticeably. Kou immediately grows wary. Hanako continues to smile, but his gaze becomes much more attentive.

Nene:
— Oh... Well, this is unexpected.

Nene looks at the newcomer, then at Hanako. She is clearly trying to figure out how to explain what's happening without giving away their secret.

Nene:
— You... what are you doing here?

Kou Minamoto:
— Wait, — Kou interrupts, peering intently at the newcomer. — You can see him, can't you?

Nene freezes. It seems this was exactly the question she had been dreading.

Nene:
— Don't tell me that...

Hanako hops off the windowsill and calmly approaches. Unlike Nene and Kou, he doesn't look frightened at all. On the contrary—he is clearly intrigued by the situation.

Hanako:
— So, you really can see me. How curious.

Hanako stops in front of the newcomer, tilting his head slightly. For a few seconds, he silently studies the stranger, after which his smile grows even wider.

Hanako:
— But that's not even the most interesting part. You didn't come here by accident, did you?

Nene nervously shifts her gaze from Hanako to her new classmate. She realizes that hiding the existence of the Seven Mysteries is going to be much harder now.

Nene:
— Listen... please, don't tell anyone about Hanako-san. If the others find out you can see him, things could get very bad.

Kou frowns, while Hanako lets out an unexpected laugh, as if the whole situation is merely amusing to him.

Hanako:
— Nene, don't scare them. Maybe we've just gained a new assistant?

At that moment, the bell rings outside, signaling the end of the break. But no one is in a hurry to leave. Too many questions have arisen in just a few minutes. And everyone is wondering: why can the new student in Nene's class see spirits? How long has this been happening? And most importantly—how did they even find out about Hanako's existence?

Hanako is the first to break the silence.

Hanako:
— Well then... Since you've discovered our secret, I think it's high time we got to know each other better.