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Ghost Hunt:Volume 7 Chapter 1

2010-06-04T21:57:17Z

72.207.242.150: /* 1 */

==Chapter 1==
===1===

On the second day, we left Noto.

After that we had to pass through the Japanese Archipelago to return to Tokyo. Annoying! I hate driving back; it was too painful.

There are 2 roads from Noto to Tokyo, the North Road and the South Road. When we came, we took the winding, mountainous South road, when we returned it was via the North road, which was from Hokubo to Matsumoto, passing north of Niigata.

“Oh whatever!” Ayako grumbled continuously in the car. “That fellow who only cares about looks!”

Ayako’s displeasure had started when we set off.

Because Bou-san’s car is a normal car, it definitely could not seat (more than) 5 people. Although the company vehicle is a van, it was filled with equipment etc and could only seat 3 people. We had a total of 8 people, so theoretically there shouldn’t have been a problem.

If the company vehicle was to be driven by Lin-san, it was a matter of course that Naru would accompany him. Following that came the problem: who would take the last seat in the company vehicle?

At a time like this, Ayako thought she should have been given special treatment. But Masako had already sat on the seat. Just like that the 2 began quarrelling.

The problem was solved very easily; in the end Masako ended up sitting there. That’s why Ayako's in such a fowl mood now.

“Right, right, don’t be angry any more. Naru might not necessarily want to sit with a beauty in a car.”

“Oh, that's him alright. If there’s a pretty girl he’ll definitely pick her!”

Yes, yes.

“Isn’t it because Hara-san is the most petite?” John said.

“Right, right. It’s definitely because it’s still a little tight with 3 persons seated, that’s why he chose to go with the smaller Hara-san.”

Because it’d take a month for Yasuhara’s wound to heal, he took the passenger seat. John and I were seated on either side of Ayako.

“Ah la, do you mean to say that Masako is thinner than I am?” If your heights are different, your body shape would definitely be different too. Despite thinking like this, I held my tongue. Because everyone still couldn’t shut their mouths, the cramped car was continuously very noisy.

“There’s no such thing!”

“No? Then I see it’s Masako who has grasped Naru’s weakness, hence Naru’s continuous acceptance of Masako’s bullying.”

“Is it really like that? With that impossibly outstanding fellow?”

And I’ve never heard Naru say whether he had received help from Masako, neither has he said that he didn’t need her help or words to that effect.

“Forget it, don’t be so tense.”

“Shut up!”

Even if it’s you, it won’t do.

“ – Wait, are you dozing off while you’re driving? How can you let that car in front overtake us?”

Ayako reproached Bou-san slightly hysterically.

“You fellow, didn’t you see the yellow line?” Bou-san complained.

“I’ve seen it, that’s the overtaking lane!”

Ayako on a rampage is unbeatable; only poison-tongued Naru can control her now. I glanced back slightly; I could feel the mini-van behind us giving off a hate filled glare.

“Then what do you want to do?”

When Bou-san just finished, Ayako stretched from the backseat to the front to madly sound the horn.

“You! Don’t you know this is very dangerous?”

“That’s too outrageous!”

“Ayako-san!”

Just like this a din started inside the car again.

Just like this, this type of reckless driving continued unceasingly for 6 hours; when we realized, we had already driven to some other place.

===2===

“Where is this place?”

“You make a din non-stop like that in the car; in that circumstance how can one look at the road signs?”

“You directionless imbecile!”

“Do you want to walk back from here?”

Because we had gotten lost, everyone started arguing again. We had taken a shortcut back, but the road had suddenly narrowed and gradually became a gavel path. We had completely stuck between a rock and a hard place. The moment the car stopped, everyone started arguing again.

Masako sighed gently.

“I think, because the car did not follow Matsuzaki-san’s directions, that’s why we have ended up in such a strange place.”

“Masako, if you know what to do, then say so.”

“Lin-san is already pressing his horn, asking if there are any routes nearby.”

Bou-san appeared a little defeated.

“Regardless, we have to get back to the highway first.”

Yasuhara opened the map and said,

“There’s no space for the car to make a u-turn.”

“If we continue to drive on straight like this, there’ll be a campsite, and from there we can return to the highway.”

“It looks like that’s our only choice.”

- But, I did not imagine such an unexpected situation to occur. This should be what they call a bolt from the blue.

It was a small incident that became an unexpectedly major event. I don’t quite know how to explain, but this incident changed my life.

While taking a wrong turn was an unexpected situation, if we could backtrack and return to our original road, it wouldn’t be that bad. However, the situation had not ended yet.

This time Lin-san led the party, via the gravel path, to the campsite by the river. If we continued like this we could go back, but at this time, the car in front suddenly stopped.

“What’s up?”

“Are we lost again?”

Bou-san asked while he stopped the car; Yasuhara looked at the map again.

“It shouldn’t be wrong again.” Looking out of the car, Naru got off the vehicle in front.

Ayako frowned.

“Could he be uncomfortable again? It’s that idiot Bou-san’s fault for driving onto this type of road.”

“Whose fault should it be that we’re on this type of road?”

I hurriedly got off the car. Is he really uncomfortable again? Now’s not the time to argue over those minor things.

Naru stood by the railing.

Below us was a relatively large lake; or rather than calling it a lake, it should be a reservoir; in the distance I could see the concrete dyke.

“Naru, are you all right?”

Naru did not answer me; he did not even turn his head. He merely gazed at the scenery ahead.

Lin-san also hurried down from the car and ran to Naru’s side.

“What’s up?”

There was still no answer, it was as though my voice and Lin-san’s voice could not reach Naru’s ears.

As though he was confirming something, Naru opened his eyes wide and looked at the scenery in front of him.

Very strange; what exactly was happening?

“Naru?”

It was only to have Naru gently bend forward; the fingers grasping the rail turned slightly white. Standing by the side, Lin-san gasped in astonishment.

“Is this the place?”

????? What does this mean? I was a little lost already.

Naru’s lips moved.

He mumbled to himself, as though to calm himself down.

“ – Finally – I’ve finally found it – ”

===3===

What exactly had happened?

When I was spacing out, Naru and Lin-san returned to their vehicle, and we hurriedly returned to the car. Because we were in separate cars, I couldn’t ask anything even if I wanted to while we were driving. The company vehicle in front of us returned to the campsite we had passed by just now.

Not only that, Naru actually declared he wanted to stay here, giving us all a shock.

“What exactly happened?”

“I have something to do here, go back to Tokyo Mai.” Naru said coolly, and without any explanation.

“Go back? But…”

We looked at each other; I can’t possibly go back like this! At the very least you should tell me what you are going to do here.

“You’ll only get in my way here; go back!”

You you you! I’ve been crisply rejected.

As he said, we could only go back, but…

“Is Naru going back too?”

“I don’t know!”

“You don’t know? Then what’s going to happen to the office in the mean time?”

It was clear that up till now, the office was already in business. Takahashi alone took care of it.

In the end, Naru’s reply shocked even me.

“Then close it, tell Takahashi-san that!”

“Clo- close it??”

If the boss wasn’t around we couldn’t perform any investigations. We couldn’t cancel the phone line, couldn’t read the mail. That’s why up till now, all Takahashi did was explain to the customers. But even doing this was very different from closing the office.

“Mai should also go and look for somewhere else to work.”

Ai????

“Close that office once you get back.”

Ah!!!!

In an instance a huge panic descended upon my heart.

“Close the office?”

“If it closes does it mean we don’t do business anymore?”

“W… why?”

“You have to explain!”

“Naru!”

Naru frowned and raised his hand.

“I can hear you even if you don’t get angry; can’t you calm down a little?”

“Then answer my question.”

I raised my hand.

“Does closing the shop mean that we’re ceasing business? Why?”

“I have something I have to do.”

“Boss, then explain this thing. I’m being fired by you now; I have, at least, the right to know the reason.”

“I don’t feel there is any necessity to explain.”

You bastard, you actually say there is no necessity!

Just as I had decided to get angry, Bou-san, who had been spacing out, spoke loudly.

“Forget it! I admit defeat!”

“Ai?”

“I’m saying I’ve been defeated by this summer day. There’re only these simple wooden huts here, let’s help this fellow who wants to stay here then!”

Looking at our stunned faces, Naru spoke harshly.

“Bou-san, you doing so will only get in my way.”

“You have a situation, and we’ve all heard so. Is everyone going back?”

“I’m staying.”

Yasuhara raised his hand and spoke; John did the same.

“What about you, Masako?”

“I’d always planned to stay.”

Bou-san nodded.

“Then what about Mai and Ayako?”

I glanced at Ayako, who glanced back.

“What should we do, Mai?”

“What should we do? I…”

Naru had told me go back so calmly and crisply. At this time, Masako spoke to me lightly beside me.

“Say you’ll stay! If you go back like this you might never see him again.”

“Ai?”

- Never see him again? Is she saying I might never see Naru again?

I turned back to look at her, Masako nodded.

“I… I really want to stay, but…”

I also hurriedly raised my hand. Bou-san raised his eyebrows.

“Since Mai is also staying, then I’ll handle her lodging costs.”

Wu… Thanks dad.

“Are you staying in such a place? There’re no restaurants, and there’re definitely very incredible bugs.”

“Then do you want to go back, Ayako?”

“Of course I’m staying!”

It was a unanimous decision, only Naru looked clearly unhappy.

===4===

Just like this, in the end all of us stayed behind.

The 3 men and 3 women each rented a small wooden hut. It was clearly the peak season, but there were very few campers. This place was so rural, it couldn’t be helped that there were few people.

“Do we have to make our own dinner? Do you guys know how to cook?”

Standing in front of the kitchen, Ayako took a deep breath.

“If it’s simple Udon noodles or something, then I know how to cook.”

When I just finished, Masako immediately made a face of disgust.

“I… I don’t really know…”

There was no use asking, just looking at her expression I could tell she definitely did not know how to cook.

The 6 tatami sized small wooden room had an attached kitchen. It wasn’t that much different from my apartment in Tokyo; but, there appeared to be an enormous terrace where we could eat, there was a table made up of a round log and benches made from wood.

“I don’t know if those men can cook or not.”

“This is not clear then, I don’t know how Naru and Lin are doing.”

“Yeah, we have to get out to buy some stuff regardless; let that stupid bou-san go, I’ll make him a list.”

“Right.”

Ayako really likes to look after people; it’s no wonder she’s the mother.

Like a child being nagged into working, I took the list Ayako had written and ran to the little wood hut next door.

I knocked while I opened the kitchen door.

“Naru has decided to do it like this!”

- ?

Bou-san’s voice flew past my ears.

“That is –”

The windows of the kitchen and 6 tatami sized room were closed, but I could still make out the figures of people. A shadow moved, and the window immediately opened.

“So it is Mai!”

“Yeah, Ayako said to buy stuff.”

“Right, right. I’m coming.”

According to the results of my investigation, the only ones who say they can cook are Mum Ayako and Dad Bou-san.

At the same time, I bravely set forth to attempt to investigate Naru and Lin-san.

When I got to the small wooden hut nearby, this time I knocked properly. It was Naru who opened the door; when he saw my face he immediately showed his displeasure.

You don’t have to be so obvious in your dislike of me, do you?

“That is… Ayako wants to as you how you intend to handle your meals. Ayako says she’ll cook, so will you join us?”

“Do as you please, you don’t need to bother about us.”

- Right, right, I know.

I sighed. Really, how can this fellow – in the midst of my grumbling –

“Then let’s have it like this, sorry for disturbing!”

After passing through the pine forest and trudging tiredly to the car park, I found Bou-san and John were waiting.

“Did Naru reply?”

Bou-san asked. I spiritlessly replied,

“He said not to bother about him.”

“Yeah-“

Bou-san’s large palm gently patted me; unconsciously, I lowered my head.

“That is –”

“Yeah?”

“Masako said that we might never meet Naru again.”

Bou-san frowned.

“Is it like this?”

“If the office closes, I might really never meet him again.”

Bou-san did not answer.

“Hey, then don’t forget this.”

“What?”

“There are no banquets under the heavens that do not disperse.” (tl/n: all good things must come to an end.)

I sighed softly.

“Yes.”

I don’t know where his home is; I don’t even know his telephone number.

If the company closes, we will never meet again. I think Naru will not take the initiative to contact me. Because, even up till now, he would never make a call regarding anything unrelated to work.

“Perhaps Naru and I are complete strangers.”

Hu- with a gentle pat on my head, I suddenly realized how important it was.

“Thinking closely about it, I don’t know Bou-san’s or John’s address either.”

We only meet in the office, and are together only during our investigations; what each of us does in rest of our time we completely do not know. Although we’ve visited Ayako’s home once, it was a single visit during an investigation, and she said we were not allowed a second visit.

“We won’t meet again anywhere outside work.”

I have never received a call at home; I don’t even know their telephone numbers.

If the office were to close, the probability that everyone would never meet again is very large.

Up till today, everyone has been looking after me; we’ve worked and encountered various experiences together. If I were to ask everyone if we are friends, I can’t say for certain that the answer will be yes.

It’s due to the office that I’ve met such a group of colleagues; we have no other forms of interaction. It must be because everyone feels that it is ideal like this; I too have never asked about the private lives of others, nor have I spoken about my own. Probably we were all like this. That’s why, thinking carefully about it, we are all shockingly ignorant about each other’s issues.

That’s why with desperately trying to get closer to each other at this time, I don’t think we can become friends. Everyone are adults older than me, they must have suitably adult lives and personal relationships; they couldn’t possibly be happy playing with a high school student. Mentioning high school student, although Masako is also a high school studnt she has a proper job.

“Mai!”

When John opened his mouth, Ayako’s voice cut in.

“You fellows! What time are you going to dillydally until?!”

Turning my head, Ayako was pulling a face at the entrance of the campsite car park.

“The small village shops will close earlier, hurry up and go!”

“Yes!”

“Also buy some stock cubes back!”

“Yes yes yes!”

“Answer me properly!”

Ah – she’s still really long winded.

“Yes sir!”

Mothers will still be mothers.

Naru and Lin-san had apparently decided to completely ignore us. Perhaps we don’t exist in their eyes.

When dinner was ready and I asked if they wanted to eat, they only coldly replied in the negative. Left without choices, we could only feed ourselves.

I didn’t know why Naru wanted to stay here, so I also didn’t know why we wanted to stay here. It’s like unreasonably stalking other people’s movements.

After having an early dinner, Bou-san etc went back to their small wooden hut on their own accord. While we were queuing to bath, I ran to the terrace. It was already dark outside, the breeze from the forest made one feel happy.

As I was spacing out, Masko’s face appeared.

“If you space out in this type of place, you’ll become food for the mosquitoes in the bush!”

“It’s alright, I’ve sprayed on insect repellent.”

“Did you spray enough?”

“It’s alright like this; mosquitoes like to go towards those of vigorous blood.”

“I’m sorry my blood is too vigorous!”

“Ah la, I didn’t say that that’s no good. It’s good to be liked by the mosquitoes in the bush.”

“I’ve never seen the benefit of that!”

Masako started laughing secretly.

“Hey, Masako.”

I looked at the bathrobe clad Masako.

“Why would I never meet him again?”

“A feeling.”

“Liar!”

I’m insisted. Masako suddenly spoke seriously.

“ – I can’t tell the real reason.”

“Is what you know related to Naru’s weakness?”

“I can’t say!”

“ – Stingy devil!”

Masako sighed softly.

“I think I probably know everything you want to know.”

I hurriedly looked at Masako.

“But, I still can’t tell you. Because I have an agreement with Lin-san and Naru.”

“Why do you alone know?”

“I only stumbled upon it.”

I tilted my head, thinking.

“Hey, when we just met you’d said it before.”

“Ai?”

“You said you met Naru before somewhere.”

“Did I say something like that?”

“You did; is it like this? You and Naru met before somewhere in the past.”

Masako thought for a moment.

“It shouldn’t have been that meaning.”

Ai, that’s as clear as mud.

“Naru has always been looking for this place –”

Masako’s voice reminded me of that doll like face; Naru’s voice flashed through my mind –

“ – Finally – I’ve finally found it – ”

“The office, everything was for the sake of finding this place. That’s why, it’s possible to never meet him again.”

“Me?”

Masako replied with a single sentence.

“Not just you, me too.”

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| Return to [[Ghost Hunt|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Ghost Hunt:Volume 7 Chapter 2|Next Section]]
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Ghost Hunt:Volume 7 Prologue

2010-04-21T01:58:29Z

72.207.242.150: /* 1 */

==Prologue==

===1===

Cumulonimbus clouds stretched from the gleaming ocean into the cerulean sky.

Due to the sunlight’s reflection, the asphalt road that followed the shoreline sparkled with a white glow.

Beneath the railing, translucent waves could be seen rolling in. I think, it must be very comfortable to jump in. But right now, I am currently holding on to this phone.

“How’s it going on your side?”

I said, as I heard the nearly weeping voice of my colleague on the other end of the line – although she's just a colleague from work.

“Even with an air-conditioner, it's still hot as hell. What about your side?”

“I thought it'd be cooler since it's further North, but apparently that's not happening.”

Noto-peninsular’s summer, is really summer.

“That’s so disappointing –” a cheerful laugh came through the receiver.

“It’s actually even hotter than Tokyo, right?”

“Exactly!”

“But if there’s the sea, can’t you go swimming? It'd feel completely different from swimming in a pool.”

“Yeah, in theory. But that won't happen, cause four of us can't swim.”

Of all our members, one is currently hospitalized. As for the 3 others, due to their bodily injuries, it would probably hurt a lot if they bathed in seawater.

“What the heck is Bou-san doing, being so pathetic this time; he should just swim from the start.”

“They all look exhausted. Although their stitches were just removed, I’ve heard that they should still refrain from swimming. Because of lingering wrist pain, work is also cancelled. John is apparently already better, but – ”

“Poor things. I want to see them.”

“Are you coming?”

“If I’m sponsored I’ll go.”

“Ah? … Ha ha.”

“A-ah, I, from a poor family, have no sympathy. I hate myself for having dealt with all the clothes, cakes etc that were for visiting Bou-san in hospital.”

“Forget it, there’s no use regretting. This is the type of person you are.”

“You bastard. – What about the boss?”

“He should be discharged in 2 to 3 days; we’ll know after his check-up today.”

“Mai – I think even if he isn’t hospitalized, the boss still won’t put on a swimsuit and go swimming.”

“Yeah yeah.”

“Mai is lucky, you can look after him hand and foot.”

“What- whatever! Ayako and Masako are the ones that hover over him like a shadow!”

“If that’s the truth, then what are you doing every day?”

“I’m looking after Bou-san.”

“You’re so cunning!” Came an extra-loud voice from the receiver. I hurriedly pulled the receiver away from my ear. That bastard, why was she so loud.

“I’m joking; I’m currently doing my assignment.”

“What? Did you bring your homework there?”

“The lady at the hotel here sent it, and all the answers are correct. Furthermore, Yasuhara is here too.”

“Yasuhara broke his ribs; he couldn’t possibly bathe in the ocean, can he?”

“That’s of course. Thanks to you, like this I’ve gained a free-of-charge home tutor.”

“You bastard who doesn’t know manners in any situation – you’ll have to remember to treat me when you get back.”

“Yeah, it’s all right if it’s a stick of ice-cream.”

“You bastard who only knows how to bully me – just an ice-cream?!”

“Grr… you’re going to kill me?”

“Whatever, don’t you have a special subsidy? Just treat it as a special treatment for me; I will wait until your pay day.”

“Ha-ah, landlord-sama, thank you for your leniency.”

“Don’t be such a pain! I’m looking forward to that day. I’ll stop here today, we’ll chat another day!”

“Take care!”

“I’ll take care of the things at home; I’m leaving the casualties to you!”

“Yeah, bye-bye!”

Replacing the receiver, the green colored telephone ejected my phone-card and made a beeping sound. The cicadas, which were even louder than this, were also crying non-stop.

I, Taniyama Mai, am a second year high school student.

Why I, a student in a Tokyo high school, am here in Noto, would be half explained with work. Regardless, I still have a title as an investigator, even though I’m not capable of doing anything great.

With the arrival of the summer holidays, I had originally thought it’d be fun to travel far away from Tokyo to Noto. In the end casualties appeared continuously, and because of boss’s hospitalization, despite the end of the investigation we remained in Noto.

Too bad for the restaurant that we investigated to provide lodgings. Just like this I wandered around and waited for boss to be discharged, and before I knew it, half a month had already gone by, and my summer holidays ended just like this.

Coming out from the telephone booth, I was looking for shade while walking along the shore, when I heard the sound of a car horn.

Lifting my head I could see a common car moving slowly over.

“Ai? Are you here for hospital visitation?”

I could see the silhouettes of 3 people – a male and two females; it was a male who stuck his head out from the driver’s seat.

===2===

The fellow who appeared was the monk Takahashi mentioned – the Romeo Takigawa Hou-sou, aka Bou-san.

Originally of Mount Takano, his current job is apparently at some studio. Despite putting it like this, I haven’t encountered that side of Bou-san ever before. Although Takahashi had shown me many CDs printed with ‘Norio Takigawa’ on the cover, I’m still incapable of linking those two people together.

“Mai! Naru can be discharged. I’m going to pack the bags now, do you want to go too?”

“I’m coming!”

Actually, there’s completely no need for so many people to go to handle the discharge procedure. But Bou-san’s car is installed with an air-conditioner. Compared with walking back along the unbearably hot road, I’d definitely choose to take the car. Drive to the hospital, and then drive back. Hey hey, this is, of course, the most advantageous.

“The heat is killing me!” As I just sat down on the backseat, the woman beside me started speaking immediately.

“Are you an idiot? You still deliberately travel such a long distance on such a hot day to go to a phone booth to make a phone call.”

“But I have to call the office, and there are no public phones where we stay.”

“That shop can’t be heartless; you only have to ask to use the phone. Won’t that do?”

“Mai and Ayako are different; she is not brave, and borrowing other people’s phone to make long-distance calls isn’t too easy either. However, to run such a long distance to a phone booth to make a call isn’t a good idea either.”

It was a 10 plus minute walk from the lodgings.

“I rudely borrowed a phone from someone?”

“There’s no such thing. I think it’s Ayako who doesn’t know manners or perhaps her skin is thicker (tl/n: less easily embarrassed).”

“- Mai, tonight you must tell me fully what you said over the phone!”

“No way!” With that I punched Bou-san, but only lightly though.

Ayako is Matsuzaki Ayako. She’s a self-proclaimed Miko, but a Miko made up so garishly was beyond my imagination; she’s also very cool. Her personality is also very explosive. However, she donated a lot of clothes to the parentless me, who is unable to wear those high quality clothes. That’s why I say, she’s a sharp tongued, soft hearted big sister. She always says, “This clothing suits you very well, it doesn’t fit me” and what not. In a line, to be able to be with Ayako like this is also some sort of fate.

Ayako looked at Bou-san and I and couldn’t stop laughing secretly on one side.

Masako’s full name is Hara Masako. She is a medium who frequently appears on Wideshow and other similar programs. She, clearly, like me, is just the age of a high-school student, but the difference between us is so great, this fellow! She’s currently infaturated with the boss of ‘Shibuya Psychic Research (SPR)’ – our boss. I heard she cried because she had to go back to Tokyo to record a program.

“Apparently it was Naru who wanted to be discharged!”

“He requested to be discharged?” I turned back to look at Masako.

What in the world is he thinking of, that young master! Naru, who I’ve called ‘Naru’ from the first, and who I call ‘Naru-chan’ affectionately now, is our boss who opened his own offices in Shibuya at age seventeen. Towards the older people he always wears an apologetic look; his personality is also terrible. Summing it up it’s a look of supreme arrogance and omnipotence.

“If he’s so willful, he’ll die young.”

“Well said.”

“Forget it, it’s not like that fellow Naru’s willfulness started today.” Ayako opened her mouth to speak.

“And it’s not like he has to create trouble for others, furthermore it’s not only because there’s something wrong with his own body. If Naru does this then isn’t it not wrong?” Although the words are a little too much, they are indeed the truth.

===3===

“That body of his isn’t very study either; it’s better to pay a little more attention to the state of his body.”

“Naru’s weakness should be due to his use of Qi Gong, his previous hospitalizations were also due to this; if he doesn’t use Qi Gong, he should have any problems temporarily, should he?”

“As to this I don’t know, at first I even thought it was leukemia or something, it shocked me to death. So Qi Gong is Naru’s secret.”

“What illness, and it doesn’t have any symptoms… you’re talking about that soap opera from a few years back, right?”

Really, the number of secrets that young master has is really numerous; while it is a matter of course that one wants to keep things hidden, but…

I smiled. “Bou-san, why are you so quiet?”

“Ah?”

“Normally you’ll talk when you’re driving.”

Bou-san glanced into the rearview mirror and smiled bitterly, “even I have times when I think about things!”

“I know. Are you thinking that because work is on temporary hiatus, your living expenses haven’t been dealt with yet?”

“Right right. And there’s the fuel cost for going back, what will I do… hey hey, there’s no such possibility, right?!”

“Is that wrong?”

“Hn, is money the only thing I can think about?”

“Speaking of which, Bou-san hasn’t been very energetic recently.”

“It’s not being unenergetic, it’s thinking about things; that’s very manly, right?”

“As if. This look doesn’t suit you at all.”

“You wench!”

“It’s unrelated, right? Tired yet?”

“Continuously babysitting children is exhausting; I’d consider myself to have experienced the sensation of a teacher leading a school tour – it’s just like Bou-san has been these few days.”

“Young children? Who is a young child here?”

“As for this – who do you think it is?”

Che~ That’s not cute at all.

But the kindhearted me, who had seldom seen Bou-san space out like this, was still worried. Furthermore, the investigation this time around was really exhausting, and Bou-san was even injured – he had 15 stitches on his back.

The other 2 people who remained in the lodgings were similarly injured.

Yasuhara, whose full name is Yasuhara Osamu. This spring, he breezed through his examinations with outstanding results, and is already a university student at a famous university. We encountered him because he had previously made a job request, in the end he became the muscle of the company. This time he even broke his ribs, and is still currently wearing a plaster cast. And during the long awaited relaxing summer break too! Sigh! Poor fellow!

The other is John, whose full name is John Brown. A priest from Australia, John had also endured many injuries – his body is covered with stitched up wounds. Although he isn’t as badly injured as Yasuhara and Bou-san, it is serious enough.

This was a rare visit to the seaside, but the 3 men couldn’t swim. Besides, if there were 3 females looking after Naru it were already more than enough. Just like this we gathered together every day to gossip, sigh! I can’t help feeling it’s a waste of this summer vacation.

Just as I was thinking this, the tall building could already be seen directly in front of us. The building that towered over the other buildings surrounding it was the hospital where boss is staying at.

Entering the entrance hall, I saw Lin-san at the reception area.

Lin-san’s name is Lin Koujo. Based on his name I think he should be a China man, or more precisely he was born in Hong Kong. I’m not sure whether to call him an investigator in Shibuya Psychic Research or the boss’s secretary. Ma~ He is just this type of fellow. Apparently he even knows Chinese Witchcraft techniques – this I know from the things he had done. He is an uncommunicative sort of character. As to why this type of person is working in SPR, I do not know.

Lin-san was making a payment at the reception.

“Yo, are you settling the bill and handling the discharge?” Although Bou-san was greeting Lin-san, his gaze was fixed at his hands.

As a poor person I also couldn’t help looking over. From a distance of 2 to 3 meters I could see a rather thick wad of cash; if it were only 3 or 5 notes, it shouldn’t look that thick; it should be the hospital fee from Naru’s family. If it’s like this, then he is, as expected, a young master from a rich family.

“Is he really getting discharged? Is he alright already?”

“Naru requested it himself.” Although his tone is still very cold, he is making a reply, and that’s an enormous improvement already. Recently I’ve been able to converse with Lin-san, although the conversations are all very short.

I secretly asked Ayako, “Ne, is hospitalization so expensive?”

Ah, Ayako nodded her head.

“Furthermore it appears that Naru doesn’t have insurance.”

- Gei, that fellow.

“Are you lying? Is that fellow paying the full fee out of pocket?” If he had brought along his insurance policy, if he had National Health Insurance, he would only need to pay 30%. That is to say, in reality the victim would only need to pay 30% of the bill, the country would shoulder 70%. If the doctor’s bill were 3000 yen, the actual fee would be 1000 yen.

“The cost of just a single bed is 10 000 a night. Without insurance, the treatment cost would add up to tens of thousands.” On that note, Ayako’s family runs hospitals.

“That’s really scary; clearly with health insurance it’d be decreased by a lot.”

“What about you? As for poor people, it’s still better to take good care of your body!”

“Mind your own business!”

Although Ayako’s words are quite brash, I know she is being concerned for me.

In the midst of our conversation, Lin-san had finished settling the bill, so we walked together towards the wards, and said farewell to the doorman whom we had already gotten familiar with.

The room labeled ‘Shibuya Kazuya’ was his room. After gently knocking on the door we opened it and entered. The patient wore a hospital gown and sat on the bed looking at documents. That document was a record for work – he’s a 17 year old workaholic.

Upon hearing Lin-san’s voice, Naru closed the file.

“Ah.”

He looks like he’s in a very bad mood; his color is also very poor.

When Naru collapsed during the investigation, he nearly stopped breathing. Lin-san and Bou-san performed mouth to mouth resuscitation on him; the paramedics who rushed there had said he was in trouble, and he even entered the emergency room. It really made one feel he had a very narrow escape. He was already like that, is it really all right to get discharged now? If he hasn’t really recovered, the doctors should have stopped him from getting discharged.

Ayako brought the fruits that were prepared and went to greet the doctors and nurses; Lin-san packed the bags; Masako made tea; while I leaned against the wall looking on.

Despite this, in the end everyone still stayed behind.

Naru was hospitalized for 6 days. While it was a matter of course that Lin-san stayed behind to protect Naru, even the other fellows who should have had other jobs scheduled had also stayed behind. Could they possibly be that free – or were they concerned about Naru? He’s clearly a willful and secretive fellow.

But didn’t I also stay behind? As expected I still worry about this fellow.

The last time he was hospitalized he refused to accept visitors, but this time he didn’t say so, perhaps there is a reason on this side I can’t be sure. Originally we only came here because of the investigation; furthermore this time it was even more severe than the last, therefore we were this worried that we didn’t return first. Perhaps even Naru would feel insecure?

- This shouldn’t be possible.

I even thought he would be like the last time and unhesitatingly say “With you lot visiting I’m not able to sleep, you’re getting in the way!” Has his heart changed slightly, does he know gratitude now? – Sigh! Such a thing shouldn’t be possible.

I also don’t know whether Naru’s family knows of Naru’s hospitalization. During the period of his hospitalization not once have I seen a visiting relative. Under normal circumstances, if the son is hospitalized, the mother would come at least. Yasuhara’s well tempered mother had come. But no one from Naru’s family came; it’s like they weren’t contacted at all. Thinking about it, it’s quite incomprehensible.

Naru’s father is apparently a University Professor, a researcher in the paranormal. But is there this type of teachers in University? While his mother is apparently around, as to what type of person she is I don’t know, but I don’t think she’s a normal mother. Otherwise she’d definitely be very angry to see her son not attend school and open a psychic research company instead.

- But… up till now she hasn’t appeared in the hospital.

I don’t know if they are unaware of Naru’s hospitalization? Such a possibility shouldn’t exist, right? Even if they silently accept their son’s suspicious behavior of starting a company to be a ghost hunter, but he hasn’t returned for such a long period of time, could they possibly not think it strange?

It’s really such a puzzle!

Where is his home? What type of home is his home like? Does he have brothers? As to Naru’s situation, there’s nothing that I know of. Even I have started feeling frustrated; he is really an exceedingly secretive person.

“Naru-chan, can we send these things away?”

“Have you forgotten anything? Have you said goodbye to the doctors?” I smiled.

At a time like this everyone was like a temporarily put together family.

Bou-san is the father, Ayako is the mother, Lin is the picky grandfather. The broadminded eldest son and the steady, reliable second son are John and Yasuhara. The carefree and precocious daughters are me and Masako. And Naru is the willful youngest son (although he is slightly older than me). Look, it’s really very suiting.

“You’re still grinning stupidly by yourself over there; hurry up and help out!” My head was knocked a few times – it was Bou-san.

“Put this in the car.”

“Got it, Dad!”

“Haah??” I smile secretly as it’s a secret! I’m not telling you, Bou-san!

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