EE Chapter 19

# Chapter Nineteen - "Just Like in a Movie"

    "Ms. Han, we need to access company records, do we not? Ms. Fujimura has already kicked us out of her office to discuss modeling opportunities with Ms. Junko, and this appears to be the only option left available to us."

    "Oui! Monsieur Kumasawa is off today, making plans to record his new golden chicken. Once we're inside, nobody will have any idea we're here. Megumi's plan is très perfect." Anette reached out and jiggled the handle of her former manager's office door. "Well, it's *almost* perfect…"

    "We'd better try something else then. It's not like we can knock the door down." I giggled nervously. I know that we're not *really* going to find a ghost, but the idea of bonding with our new teammates through a silly ghost hunt is kind of fun, isn't it? And so many of the girls were so excited, why would I oppose the idea?

    But… sneaking out after curfew and tiptoeing through the dimly lit halls is just good harmless fun. The worst thing that could happen is a slap on the wrist or an extra turn cleaning the common area. But breaking into a producer's office?!

    "If I may, Ms. Chanel?" Megumin gestured away Anette's hand and reached into the girl's carefully coiffed hair to retrieve a bobby pin.

    "Oh wow, it's just like they do in the movies!" Anette gushed, watching Megumin in action, carefully twisting and poking the keyhole with the small length of metal

    "Shh! We need to keep a low profile and keep an eye out for-" The lock made an audible pop and the door swung open. Anette immediately jumped inside, followed by Megumin and myself - after looking around again to make sure no one had seen us. I shut the door gently and quietly. "How do you even know how to do that?"

    "Growing up it wasn't uncommon for guests to lock themselves out of their rooms by accident, and this is much simpler than repairing the screens. It turns out I have quite the knack for it. But don't worry, I would never use it for anything insidious or untoward. Idol's honor." Megumin answered my question as though it was a perfectly normal skill for an idol to have. Singing, dancing, picking locks. As long as she doesn't let herself into our rooms, I guess it's not that weird, though how calm she is in such a stressful situation certainly is.

    "Well I think it's très impressive. Now, um, what exactly are we trying to find here?"

    "We need to ascertain the identity of the ghost. If we can figure out who it was in life we can attempt to predict things which the ghost may be drawn to, letting us set a more successful lure. The best way to do this is to reference I MY ME's files on former talent and determine which contracts were voided abruptly."

    "I don't know, Megumin. Now that we're here that sounds awfully morbid…"

    "And like a whole lot of work…" Our new friend pouted.

    "That may be true, but you don't want to let down Ms. Hanazawa, do you?" Megumin looked at me, then to Anette, and continued, "Or Ms. Hoshino?" I'll hand it to her, she certainly knows how to get us to agree to a crazy idea. We both shook our heads meekly. "They should be the files…" Megumi pulled open a long file cabinet stuffed to the brim with manila envelopes. "...in here. Good. I suggest we each take a pile and set aside any which seem suspect."

    "Aww man…" Anette griped. "I didn't think ghost hunting would require so much paperwork…"

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