Baka-Tsuki - User contributions [en]

Ghost Hunt:Volume 5 Prologue

2014-07-09T00:37:18Z

114.77.101.157: /* Prologue */

==Prologue==

Tokyo, Shibuya.

Standing by the office window, I stopped moving the rag in my hand.

The trees lining the road outside the window are Sakura trees. White flowers have started to bloom like stars in the sky.

“It's so fast~” I couldn’t help mumbling to myself.

Behind me, someone spoke, “What’s fast?”

It was my colleague. A dignified picture in a white blouse and white Chinese-styled wool sweater, that girl rolled up her sleeves, took a mop and mopped the floor.

“It’s been a year. It’s almost been a year since I’ve started working here.”

“Oh~”

The female who said that with a sigh is named Takahashi Yuuko, Taka in short. She recently became a senior in a certain metropolitan girl’s high school.

In contrast, I am Taniyama Mai. With everyone’s help I’ve become a second year in a certain metropolitan private high school this spring.

And this is the office of “Shibuya Psychic Research” - A place where ghosts and the supernatural and other unimaginable occurrences are investigated.

“You really lasted a year – in a strange part time job like this.”

If we’re talking about the scope of my work, it's commonplace to meet ghosts. For someone like me, who had never encountered a spirit before, this is a clear improvement. How should I put it, I’m no longer scared by strange stories and what not. Even when I see horror movies, the ghosts there aren’t even real, and I can even talk about a lot of other various things.

“And the higher-ups haven't changed either. Yeah, I’m really an incredible person. It’s almost a waste of my talents!”

The boss is Shibuya Kazuya. He’s only 17 years old. He’s a man who has managed a high-class office in a high-class building in a high-class street. Although we’re talking about paranormal events, it's still science and technology that is applied in studying spirits or the supernatural, etc. He's terribly secretive, and his personality sucks, but what pisses me off the most is he's capable and good-looking. He’s a narcissist whom even Buddha would run barefooted from. People call him “The Secretive Naru-chan”.

Taka laughed mischievously.

“Because the boss is like this so it’ll continue, right?”

… Ah.

“That’s true, it’s already been a year. Has there been a little progress within this year?”

“What?”

“Personal relations.”

“Taka-san, we’ve agreed not to mention this, haven’t we.”

“Is that so? I think my memory has been getting poorer.”

“Hm. Did you get dementia already?”

“Don’t say it like that.”

“But I have to.”

On my reply, Taka replaced the mop and placed her hands on her hips with a tough attitude.

“Taking the words of your elder lightly would cause you to get into trouble,” she announced.

Then she ran to my side and leaned out of the window that was open for cleaning.

“Mai likes Naru!!~”

I can’t believe she actually screamed down at the street below. There were a few passers-by who looked up in curiosity.

“Hey! Look what you’ve done!”

“Ha ha, do you respect me yet?”

“I respect you. No, this subject is no match for the upcoming King.” (tl/n: 殿下is probably used to address male monarchy, hence the next line.)

“How rude to call a lady that. You should address me as ‘Queen-sama’.”

“The Queen-sama holding the mop, right?”

“How matching~”

Saying “Ah Ha”, I had no choice but to admit defeat.

“Then how is it? Is there progress?”

“The same.”

A year ago, Naru and I were merely strangers; now the relationship is one of the user and the used. At work I only did jobs like making tea. Last month, with everyone’s help I’ve gotten the title of ‘investigator’, and an increase in salary.

“Only that.” I said resolutely. Taka grasped her head in worry.

“So what've you done this year?”

“My part time job.”

Taka cooed and clenched her fist.

“You have… no will power!”

“But labor is very sacred. You have to separate work and life.”

“Ah, such admirable attention for work. If you keep thinking like that, he’ll be snatched up by someone else.”

… Ah.

“What’s unbelievable is that boss is still single.”

“There’s no mystery to that. Naru's personality is terrible.”

“Saying this type of thing with such confidence, don’t you feel a little sad?”

Yeah yeah yeah… whatever.

Anyway I really wish this supposed progress would occur. But even if I had hopes for that young gentleman, I deeply believe it would be a waste of energy. Because at age 17 he is already a workaholic, i.e. the demon of work. He would definitely choose the vicious spirit of a grandmother over extremely pretty girls with beautiful personalities.

Furthermore, could I, who doesn’t even know his home address or telephone number, hope for any progress in the situation?

As I said that, Taka looked at me with a deeply sympathetic expression.

“Indeed it is like that. It would be much better if he told us his address and stuff at least. At
the very least let us know which direction it is in.”

“Yeah.”

I’ve asked Naru that before. “In case of an emergency, could you tell me how to contact your home.” Was what I said to him.

However Naru answered me like this: “If there’s anything I will contact you.”

Who~ ever~ said it was about you having a situation and contacting me? ‘If something urgent happens to me what should I do’, didn’t I put it like that?

‘Right, I shall tolerate that before I ask something like that’, I thought. And then I thought of saying something like “But, you home is over in 三鹰, right? I’ve met you before at the station.” Perhaps he might answer, “You must have been mistaken, I live in the XX area,” or something – I hope.

But, but, as expected, Naru isn’t the type who’d answer a leading question.

He coolly said a line “Are your eyes bad?”

“Do you think there could be anyone who looks like me in existence?”

‘In an~y case your looks are out of the ordinary but not in a good way.’ That I would get angry is also an expected result.

“It is the end for people once they give up.”

Taka caressed my head.

“Yeah, I won’t admit defeat.”

When I was play-acting at crying, somebody opened the office door.

It was a woman of about 25 or 26 years of age who entered the office.

“Yes?”

I frantically put down the rag and attended her. She smiled – I feel that she is a person who loves to smile.

“I would like to see the boss.”

“But he is currently in the midst of traveling…”

Naru was currently away at the northern mainland (tl/n: I guess this refers to the Hokkaido region?). Although he was ‘away’, it was not work related. It should be called a simple pleasure visit.

“Then, is Lin around?”

The Lin she referred to should be Lin-san.

The person called Lin-san is Naru’s helper. Nobody knows his real name and age – in this way he is more mysterious than Naru.

“Yes. Then, excuse me.”

Before I finished, that person was still smiling broadly.

“My name is Mori, Mori Madoka (森, 森圆). If you tell Lin that he will understand.”

This really shocked me. Could this person possibly be one whom Lin-san is familiar with?

In the end I asked her to take a seat on the sofa first, and then went to the Resource Room to call Lin-san.

The Resource Room located next to the boss’s office is a narrow sound proofed room lined with video recorders and monitors. Although I don’t know what he does, Lin-san spends most of his time in the office there. Although he is frequently re-watching videos of completed cases while working on the computer, today he was teaching a psychic girl to bend ladles.

I gently knocked on the door and opened it, Lin-san and the psychic girl raised their heads.

The psychic girl’s name is Kasai Chiaki. This spring, she has smoothly ascended a grade in a certain metropolitan girls’ school’s junior college. Facing the ladle on a table in the corner of the room, Chiaki-sempai smiled at me.

In contrast, Lin-san was completely expressionless.

“Lin-san?”

Even though I spoke to him, Lin-san did not reply nor did he smile.

“That is, we have a guest. A guest called Mori-san.”

An expression of mild shock crossed Lin-san’s face.

“Her name is Mori Madoka-san.”

Lin-san stood up abruptly. His expressionless face clearly showed signs of shock. Ignoring me who stood at the door, Lin-san walked into the office.

Mori-san sat hunched on the sofa.

“Madoka.”

When she was called by Lin-san, a brilliant smile appeared on Mori-san’s face.

“Lin.”

Mori-san stood up joyously.

Could… could this person possibly be Lin-san’s…?

“Do excuse me for coming without warning. How have you been?”

“Yeah. Please take a seat. What’s up, all of a sudden?”

She smiled a carefree smile.

“Yeah, I thought I’d try to shock you guys ~ are you shocked?”

“I was shocked. You didn’t come just for that reason, did you?”

Eh eh eh. This is scary. There is a smile on Lin-san’s face.

“I suppose so. Is Naru not around?”

“He’s gone travelling.”

Lin-san replied softly. A bitter smile appeared on Mori-san’s face.

“… if that’s the case. Then.”

Mori-san announced resolutely:

“Call him back for me. There is work.”

This was a really abnormal development.

“… Who is that?”

Chiaki-sempai asked softly.

“… don’t know. I even thought she is Lin-san’s lover.”

Taka chattered.

“And don’t you think her tone is a bit like one of giving orders?”

I said under my breath.

We gathered in the kitchen, talking quietly while we made tea.

“Isn’t her attitude towards Lin-san very tough?”

“Exactly.”

“It looks like she has at least a deep friendship with him.”

Talking like that we could not reach any conclusion. But within the me who was brewing the tea, was a curiosity that could not be satisfied.

I placed the tea on the table. Mori-san smiled and nodded to me in greeting. I returned the nod in greeting. Lin-san was making a call. Wearing a difficult expression, he sighed gently, then handed the receiver to Mori-san.

“Please. It is Naru.”

Naru is a person who means ‘no’ when he says ‘no’. I was afraid, on the other end of the line, he’d say something like “don’t joke with me.” However, Mori-san’s smile did not crack.

“You will come back, right?”

Saying that, she smiled. After a moment of silence, Mori-san continued in an excited voice.

“Thank you *heart*”

Like that.

“He wants to come back?”

I couldn’t help asking. Mori-san nodded.

“Yeah. He said he’ll arrive tonight.”

What ~~. Inconceivable.

Naru’s travels last at least a week. The long ones can take over 10 days. Now he will actually come back in 2 days? Do you move just because of a call like that, Naru, Hn?

Waiting for us beyond this unexpected incident was a situation beyond our imagination.

Lin-san wore a perplexed expression and returned to the Resource Room. I poured another cup of tea for Mori-san.

“You’re really incredible.”

I said. A blank look filled Mori-san’s face.

“Incredible? Why?”

“Because it only took you 2 sentences to convince Naru.”

Mori-san gurgled with laughter.

“… so it is like that. – are you from this place?”

“Yes. I am a part timer. I am called Taniyama.”

“Hn~ For me, I think you are the one who is really incredible.”

Ai?

“Whether it is Naru or Lin they are both hard to get along with. They are very shy. That those 2 have employed someone is something I find shocking already, and it also looks like you are very used to them, right?”

Ha~ This, could be considered such. Thanks to them I’ve recently became noticeably more sharp tongued.

I smiled a little embarrassedly, then looked at Mori-san.

“That… what relationship do you all have? Could I ask?”

“To put it simply, I am the master.”

“Master?”

“That’s right. I’m the one who thought Naru to ghost-hunt.”

What in the world.

But, there is that too. Naru couldn’t possibly be independent without having learned it from someone.

“Then, is Mori-san also a ghost hunter?”

“Previously I was; I initially was about to pass the baton over to Naru.”

“You don’t do it anymore?”

“Yes. For me, I am lacking a certain ability to adapt.”

“Ah?”

“I’m no good with machines. I spoil them very quickly.”

Child-like, Mori-san smacked both her cheeks.

“Ah…”

“I clearly follow what Naru and Lin-san say to do. I can only think that I am being disliked!”

That… that really makes one hurt. That is people who don’t get along with machines. That is not a trait suited to being a ghost hunter.

But Mori-san looks like a very nice person to be with. Could it be, I can ask this person? Where does Naru live? What is Lin-san’s real name? What is his age? What was Naru like in school? Who are the members of his family? What is Lin-san’s biography? How lucky, I thought. Just when I was about to fire questions at Mori-san, Lin-san walked out of the Resource Room wearing a thin overcoat.

“Madoka, anyway we are going out first. – Taniyama-san.”

“Ye… yes.”

“I’m going to leave now. Please help me tell Kasai-san that.”

“Yes… thank you for your hard work today.”

Ah ah, I was preempted by Lin-san.

Just like that I was left with my questions; that lady left the office, leaving behind Taka, Chiaki-sempai and I, who were filled with regrets.

<noinclude>
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Return to [[Ghost Hunt|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Ghost Hunt:Volume 5 Chapter 1|Next Section]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Ghost Hunt:Volume 5 Prologue

2014-07-09T00:32:54Z

114.77.101.157: /* Prologue */

==Prologue==

Tokyo, Shibuya.

Standing by the office window, I stopped moving the rag in my hand.

The trees lining the road outside the window are Sakura trees. White flowers have started to bloom like stars in the sky.

“It's so fast~” I couldn’t help mumbling to myself.

Behind me, someone spoke, “What’s fast?”

It was my colleague. A dignified picture in a white blouse and white Chinese-styled wool sweater, that girl rolled up her sleeves, took a mop and mopped the floor.

“It’s been a year. It’s almost been a year since I’ve started working here.”

“Oh~”

The female who said that with a sigh is named Takahashi Yuuko, Taka in short. She recently became a senior in a certain metropolitan girl’s high school.

In contrast, I am Taniyama Mai. With everyone’s help I’ve become a second year in a certain metropolitan private high school this spring.

And this is the office of “Shibuya Psychic Research” - A place where ghosts and the supernatural and other unimaginable occurrences are investigated.

“You really lasted a year – in a strange part time job like this.”

If we’re talking about the scope of my work, it's commonplace to meet ghosts. For someone like me, who had never encountered a spirit before, this is a clear improvement. How should I put it, I’m no longer scared by strange stories and what not. Even when I see horror movies, the ghosts there aren’t even real, and I can even talk about a lot of other vaious things.

“And the higher-ups haven't changed either. Yeah, I’m really an incredible person. It’s almost a waste of my talents!”

The boss is Shibuya Kazuya. He’s only 17 years old. He’s a man who has managed a high-class office in a high-class building in a high-class street. Although we’re talking about paranormal events, it's still science and technology that is applied in studying spirits or the supernatural, etc. He's terribly secretive, and his personality sucks, but what pisses me off the most is he's capable and good-looking. He’s a narcissist whom even Buddha would run barefooted from. People call him “The Secretive Naru-chan”.

Taka laughed mischievously.

“Because the boss is like this so it’ll continue, right?”

… Ah.

“That’s true, it’s already been a year. Has there been a little progress within this year?”

“What?”

“Personal relations.”

“Taka-san, we’ve agreed not to mention this, haven’t we.”

“Is that so? I think my memory has been getting poorer.”

“Hm. Did you get dementia already?”

“Don’t say it like that.”

“But I have to.”

On my reply, Taka replaced the mop and placed her hands on her hips with a tough attitude.

“Taking the words of your elder lightly would cause you to get into trouble,” she announced.

Then she ran to my side and leaned out of the window that was open for cleaning.

“Mai likes Naru!!~”

I can’t believe she actually screamed down at the street below. There were a few passers-by who looked up in curiosity.

“Hey! Look what you’ve done!”

“Ha ha, do you respect me yet?”

“I respect you. No, this subject is no match for the upcoming King.” (tl/n: 殿下is probably used to address male monarchy, hence the next line.)

“How rude to call a lady that. You should address me as ‘Queen-sama’.”

“The Queen-sama holding the mop, right?”

“How matching~”

Saying “Ah Ha”, I had no choice but to admit defeat.

“Then how is it? Is there progress?”

“The same.”

A year ago, Naru and I were merely strangers; now the relationship is one of the user and the used. At work I only did jobs like making tea. Last month, with everyone’s help I’ve gotten the title of ‘investigator’, and an increase in salary.

“Only that.” I said resolutely. Taka grasped her head in worry.

“So what've you done this year?”

“My part time job.”

Taka cooed and clenched her fist.

“You have… no will power!”

“But labor is very sacred. You have to separate work and life.”

“Ah, such admirable attention for work. If you keep thinking like that, he’ll be snatched up by someone else.”

… Ah.

“What’s unbelievable is that boss is still single.”

“There’s no mystery to that. Naru’s personality is terrible.”

“Saying this type of thing with such confidence, don’t you feel a little sad?”

Yeah yeah yeah… whatever.

Anyway I really wish this supposed progress would occur. But even if I had hopes for that young gentleman, I deeply believe it would be a waste of energy. Because at age 17 he is already a workaholic, ie the demon of work. He would definitely choose the vicious spirit of a grandmother over extremely pretty girls with beautiful personalities.

Furthermore, could I, who doesn’t even know his home address or telephone number, hope for any progress in the situation?

As I said that, Taka looked at me with a deeply sympathetic expression.

“Indeed it is like that. It would be much better if he told us his address and stuff at least. At
the very least let us know which direction it is in.”

“Yeah.”

I’ve asked Naru that before. “In case of an emergency, could you tell me how to contact your home.” Was what I said to him.

However Naru answered me like this: “If there’s anything I will contact you.”

Who~ ever~ said it was about you having a situation and contacting me? ‘If something urgent happens to me what should I do’, didn’t I put it like that?

‘Right, I shall tolerate that before I ask something like that’, I thought. And then I thought of saying something like “But, you home is over in 三鹰, right? I’ve met you before at the station.” Perhaps he might answer, “You must have been mistaken, I live in the XX area,” or something – I hope.

But, but, as expected, Naru isn’t the type who’d answer a leading question.

He coolly said a line “Are your eyes bad?”

“Do you think there could be anyone who looks like me in existence?”

‘In an~y case your looks are out of the ordinary but not in a good way.’ That I would get angry is also an expected result.

“It is the end for people once they give up.”

Taka caressed my head.

“Yeah, I won’t admit defeat.”

When I was play-acting at crying, somebody opened the office door.

It was a woman of about 25 or 26 years of age who entered the office.

“Yes?”

I frantically put down the rag and attended her. She smiled – I feel that she is a person who loves to smile.

“I would like to see the boss.”

“But he is currently in the midst of travelling…”

Naru was currently away at the northern mainland (tl/n: I guess this refers to the Hokkaido region?). Although he was ‘away’, it was not work related. It should be called a simple pleasure visit.

“Then, is Lin around?”

The Lin she referred to should be Lin-san.

The person called Lin-san is Naru’s helper. Nobody knows his real name and age – in this way he is more mysterious than Naru.

“Yes. Then, excuse me.”

Before I finished, that person was still smiling broadly.

“My name is Mori, Mori Madoka (森, 森圆). If you tell Lin that he will understand.”

This really shocked me. Could this person possibly be one whom Lin-san is familiar with?

In the end I asked her to take a seat on the sofa first, and then went to the Resource Room to call Lin-san.

The Resource Room located next to the boss’s office is a narrow sound proofed room lined with video recorders and monitors. Although I don’t know what he does, Lin-san spends most of his time in the office there. Although he is frequently re-watching videos of completed cases while working on the computer, today he was teaching a psychic girl to bend ladles.

I gently knocked on the door and opened it, Lin-san and the psychic girl raised their heads.

The psychic girl’s name is Kasai Chiaki. This spring, she has smoothly ascended a grade in a certain metropolitan girls’ school’s junior college. Facing the ladle on a table in the corner of the room, Chiaki-sempai smiled at me.

In contrast, Lin-san was completely expressionless.

“Lin-san?”

Even though I spoke to him, Lin-san did not reply nor did he smile.

“That is, we have a guest. A guest called Mori-san.”

An expression of mild shock crossed Lin-san’s face.

“Her name is Mori Madoka-san.”

Lin-san stood up abruptly. His expressionless face clearly showed signs of shock. Ignoring me who stood at the door, Lin-san walked into the office.

Mori-san sat hunched on the sofa.

“Madoka.”

When she was called by Lin-san, a brilliant smile appeared on Mori-san’s face.

“Lin.”

Mori-san stood up joyously.

Could… could this person possibly be Lin-san’s…?

“Do excuse me for coming without warning. How have you been?”

“Yeah. Please take a seat. What’s up, all of a sudden?”

She smiled a carefree smile.

“Yeah, I thought I’d try to shock you guys ~ are you shocked?”

“I was shocked. You didn’t come just for that reason, did you?”

Eh eh eh. This is scary. There is a smile on Lin-san’s face.

“I suppose so. Is Naru not around?”

“He’s gone travelling.”

Lin-san replied softly. A bitter smile appeared on Mori-san’s face.

“… if that’s the case. Then.”

Mori-san announced resolutely:

“Call him back for me. There is work.”

This was a really abnormal development.

“… Who is that?”

Chiaki-sempai asked softly.

“… don’t know. I even thought she is Lin-san’s lover.”

Taka chattered.

“And don’t you think her tone is a bit like one of giving orders?”

I said under my breath.

We gathered in the kitchen, talking quietly while we made tea.

“Isn’t her attitude towards Lin-san very tough?”

“Exactly.”

“It looks like she has at least a deep friendship with him.”

Talking like that we could not reach any conclusion. But within the me who was brewing the tea, was a curiosity that could not be satisfied.

I placed the tea on the table. Mori-san smiled and nodded to me in greeting. I returned the nod in greeting. Lin-san was making a call. Wearing a difficult expression, he sighed gently, then handed the receiver to Mori-san.

“Please. It is Naru.”

Naru is a person who means ‘no’ when he says ‘no’. I was afraid, on the other end of the line, he’d say something like “don’t joke with me.” However, Mori-san’s smile did not crack.

“You will come back, right?”

Saying that, she smiled. After a moment of silence, Mori-san continued in an excited voice.

“Thank you *heart*”

Like that.

“He wants to come back?”

I couldn’t help asking. Mori-san nodded.

“Yeah. He said he’ll arrive tonight.”

What ~~. Inconceivable.

Naru’s travels last at least a week. The long ones can take over 10 days. Now he will actually come back in 2 days? Do you move just because of a call like that, Naru, Hn?

Waiting for us beyond this unexpected incident was a situation beyond our imagination.

Lin-san wore a perplexed expression and returned to the Resource Room. I poured another cup of tea for Mori-san.

“You’re really incredible.”

I said. A blank look filled Mori-san’s face.

“Incredible? Why?”

“Because it only took you 2 sentences to convince Naru.”

Mori-san gurgled with laughter.

“… so it is like that. – are you from this place?”

“Yes. I am a part timer. I am called Taniyama.”

“Hn~ For me, I think you are the one who is really incredible.”

Ai?

“Whether it is Naru or Lin they are both hard to get along with. They are very shy. That those 2 have employed someone is something I find shocking already, and it also looks like you are very used to them, right?”

Ha~ This, could be considered such. Thanks to them I’ve recently became noticeably more sharp tongued.

I smiled a little embarrassedly, then looked at Mori-san.

“That… what relationship do you all have? Could I ask?”

“To put it simply, I am the master.”

“Master?”

“That’s right. I’m the one who thought Naru to ghost-hunt.”

What in the world.

But, there is that too. Naru couldn’t possibly be independent without having learnt it from someone.

“Then, is Mori-san also a ghost hunter?”

“Previously I was; I initially was about to pass the baton over to Naru.”

“You don’t do it anymore?”

“Yes. For me, I am lacking a certain ability to adapt.”

“Ah?”

“I’m no good with machines. I spoil them very quickly.”

Child-like, Mori-san smacked both her cheeks.

“Ah…”

“I clearly follow what Naru and Lin-san say to do. I can only think that I am being disliked!”

That… that really makes one hurt. That is people who don’t get along with machines. That is not a trait suited to being a ghost hunter.

But Mori-san looks like a very nice person to be with. Could it be, I can ask this person? Where does Naru live? What is Lin-san’s real name? What is his age? What was Naru like in school? Who are the members of his family? What is Lin-san’s biography? How lucky, I thought. Just when I was about to fire questions at Mori-san, Lin-san walked out of the Resource Room wearing a thin overcoat.

“Madoka, anyway we are going out first. – Taniyama-san.”

“Ye… yes.”

“I’m going to leave now. Please help me tell Kasai-san that.”

“Yes… thank you for your hard work today.”

Ah ah, I was preempted by Lin-san.

Just like that I was left with my questions; that lady left the office, leaving behind Taka, Chiaki-sempai and I, who were filled with regrets.

<noinclude>
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Return to [[Ghost Hunt|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Ghost Hunt:Volume 5 Chapter 1|Next Section]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>