ALSS 120

Story 120

Screw-Up

“Ah! Thank goodness! Hey, can I talk to you for a sec?”
“Ah, it’s you. What is it?”
“Did I… do something stupid yesterday? Everyone seems mad at me.”
“Yesterday, huh… You were pretty drunk. I see, you don’t remember.”
“Yeah… that’s right.”
“Well… you did something like that. Of course everyone’s angry.”

“Eh… what did I do…? The last thing I remember is… holding a bottle of alcohol…”
“Yes. You climbed onto the table holding bottles in both hands. Then you yelled, smashed the two bottles you were holding, lost your balance, and—bam—the shards pierced your neck. And that was it. Fun Christmas party ruined. No wonder everyone’s angry.”

“Wait… I died?”
“Yep. But, well… everyone ignoring you isn’t anger—they just can’t see you.”
“Then… why can I still talk to you?”
“Hey, whose fault do you think that is? You fell on top of me, and I died too.”
“Ah… sorry about that.”
“It’s fine. But if you feel bad, why don’t you stick with me a bit before you… move on?”

The two of them walked to an office run by some underworld folks.

“I want you to scare the top guy here. I’ve got a little grudge, you see.”
“But… people can’t see us, right?”
“No worries. That guy’s sensitive to spirits. I’m a coward, so I’ll wait out here.”
“Alright. Then I’ll give him the scream of a lifetime—just wait a bit.”

A few minutes later:

“Wait… hold on. Can everyone see me? Wait… why are you touching me? Eh, hold on… wait, could it be I didn’t die? Eh!? Eh!? So… was that a prank? No way… oh, sorry! I just got tricked, ahhhhhhh!! It hurts, it hurts! My arm… ahhh! Ughhh! Ueeeh! Haah… haah… I-I’m so sorry… please, please spare my life…”

Shashhh—