My eyes shoot open as an incoherent wail echoes from the hall outside. Sitting up in bed, I stare at the door like I might be able to see through it, but that's just silly. The dark walls make the open window stand out, the sky beyond covered with a foggy haze. Hearing the mournful wail again, I try to listen, but it's getting further away.
 
“Shicchan?” I whisper into the darkness, forgetting myself.
 
Taking the blankets with me, wrapping them over my shoulder, I stand and head for the door, determined to find the source of that strange sound. Grasping the doorknob, I feel a blast of chill air brush across my neck, making the hairs there stand on end.
 
It's just from the window... it's just from the window.
 
Pulling the door open, I wince at the creaking noise it makes; Jigocchan ought to fix that. Stepping cautiously, I walk down the dark hallway, pulling the blanket closer around my chest and trying not to make a sound.
 
The wail echoes again, this time coming from right in front of me; from the living room. “Hello~?” I whisper, squinting as I take another step forward.
 
“Is anyone there~?” My voice catches in my throat as another wail rises from right in front of me. Confused, I reach forward, expecting there to be some dark figure that's too shadowy for me to see clearly. Instead, my hand passes through the spot, and I'm left with a confused grimace.
 
“Hicchan, this isn't funny~!” I yell, retracting my hand, “come out and show yourself!”
 
As the words leave my mouth, I feel another cold rush of air roll over my shoulders as a pair of glowing yellow eyes appear before me, just inches from my face. Cold breaths and mist exhale from a grotesque mouth under the eyes and I'm frozen in place while another wail, this time filled with malice, fills me with terror.
 
Screaming in response, I find my feet and turn to run. Leaping back onto the bed in Shicchan's guest room, I pull the blankets over me and lay trembling as the wails continue.