Editing Ghost Hunt:Volume2 Chapter2 (section)

===1===

When I woke up on the second day, Naru had already left. Said he had to do some research. And so, I let Lin-san take care of base while I went to Noriko-san's room. 

Lin-san is hard to deal with. When we were alone in base, I almost felt like suffocating. 

Ayami-chan was playing House by herself. 

"Ayami-chan, can I play with you?" I asked. 

Ayami-chan shook her head silently. 

Noriko-san was standing on the side, her arms crossed. 

Ayami-chan let her doll Minnie drink tea, then eat cake. 

"Ayami-chan is really obedient." 

Hearing my words, Noriko-san's face had a kind glow. "She wasn't like this before..." 

"Really?" 

"Yes. She was more extroverted before. She loved to annoy people. But ever since my older brother remarried and moved here, she's been awfully quiet and doesn't smile much anymore." 

"...Hey, Noriko-san?" I tried to be courageous. "Is Kana-san... A good person?" 

"Huh?" Noriko-san looked at me in surprise, then chuckled, "She and my brother's relationship is really good. I get along with her too. Even though she can be strict, she's a good person. But Ayami-chan still acts nervous around her..." 

"So that's how it is..." 

We chatted until 3:00 pm, when Kana-san came in to give us snacks. 

Handing out snacks was really the maid's job, but today she's not here. After yesterday's incident, she quit. 

Kana-san placed the cookie tray onto the table, then turned toward Ayami-chan. "Ayami, are you playing by yourself? Such a good girl. What are you playing?" 

Like a doll, Ayami-chan's expression was emotionless. She did not look at Kana-san. 

"At least answer me," Kana-san's voice tightened, "they're snacks, after all." 

Kana-san roughly placed the cookies right in front of Ayami-chan. Ayami-chan looked unhappy. 

"What's wrong? You don't want them?" 

Ayami-chan shook her head. 

Kana-san glared at Ayami-chan, then left the room. 

Noriko-san let out a deep breath, then looked at Ayami-chan, "Ayami, you don't want to eat the snacks?" 

She shook her head. 

"Then, I'll eat them." 

Suddenly Ayami-chan shouted, "Don't!" 

"Eh?" 

"They're poisoned!" 

We couldn't help but stare at the little girl. 

Ayami-chan tried her best to explain. "Minnie told me! The snacks are poisoned! That woman is an evil witch!" 

...An evil witch. Poison... 

I bent down toward Ayami-chan, "Minnie told you this?" 

"Yes. That person is an evil witch. Don't trust her. She put Daddy under a spell and made him her slave. She thinks me and my sister are in the way, so she's trying to kill us!" 

...What did you say? 

Ayami-chan's eyes were serious. Her eyes were earnest. 

"That witch is going to kill us one day! Because we're in her way!" 

"...So Minnie told you all this? Not someone else?" 

Noriko-san and I continued to look at the serious girl. 

"Minnie told me. Minnie won't lie. So [[Ghost_Hunt:Volume2_Translator's_Notes#Onee-chan|onee-chan]] and Mai-san must be careful! The witch wants to kill onee-chan, cut her body into pieces, and then hide them. Then she'll tell Daddy that onee-chan left home. The witch wants to make me drown in the pond and then say it's an accident!" 

I softly asked Noriko-san, "...You didn't teach her to say all that, did you?" 

"...Why would I!" 

...Then, why is this happening? 

Strange. This isn't something an eight year old would think of. Witch and magic... It sounds like a fairytale. 

Ayami-chan's face was chalk white as she clutched her doll. 

I felt scared. Is this Ayami-chan's imagination? Would an eight year old think that way? Ayami-chan didn't speak again; she just clutched her doll tightly. Pale and weak, the little girl could barely stand. 

Is Ayami-chan always thinking about this? This lonely, skinny girl thought of all this? Is that why she doesn't talk much or smile anymore? 

After that, I went back to my room and took a nap. Bou-san was going to do a prayer again so I wasn't missing out. And so I snatched this opportunity to get some rest. I probably won't be able to sleep well tonight anyway. 

I lay down in bed, then fell asleep. The sun rays streaked in, giving the room a rosy tint. 

...This must be a dream. 

Half-asleep, my body felt light. I wasn't really drifting in air; I was slowly falling down into empty space... It's a hard sensation to describe. 

I opened my eyes in surprise. 

The room was getting dark. 

Someone else is here. 

...Who is it? 

I slowly turned my head. 

A gloomy shadow, a figure clothed in black. Just standing there. A pale face. 
Naru? 

Why would Naru be in my room? When I thought of it that way, I turned to look at him. 

Naru smiled slightly, his eyes warm. The corner of his lips were curved into a smile. 

...What's wrong? Why are you standing there? 

I was about to ask him. Suddenly his face became solemn. He seemed anxious. 

What is he saying. I can't hear. 

...What? What did you say? 

I gazed into Naru's eyes and tried to read his lips. 

...Ayami-chan...? 

What about Ayami-chan? 

I didn't get it. But it looked like Naru said "dangerous." 

...Ayami-chan's in danger? 

...Ayami-chan?! 

Suddenly I woke up. 

...... 

I got up in bed and quickly looked around. The room was kind of dark, but Naru wasn't here. Of course. 

He wouldn't be here. 

Oh? 

...Was I dreaming about him? 

—I must be too tired. Yes, that's it. I'm doing too much work for someone my age. And then there's our relationship. 

...Ayami-chan... 

I started thinking about her again. Frail, little Ayami-chan. Minnie's her only friend, and she plays by herself. 

And then, those words she said today. 

"Evil witch", "Daddy's her slave" ..."The witch will kill me and onee-chan one day." 

What's wrong with this house? 

What's wrong with Ayami-chan? 

...Ayami-chan's in danger... 

I lay flat on the bed. 

Ah—I'm so tired. 

...Why Naru. Sometimes I really can't believe myself. The Naru in my dreams is kind and smiles warmly. Is that what I want? 

Oh— Eh... 

"Ha!" 

I tried to get my spirits back and sat up. Nothing will happen if I just think about it. 
Right now, Ayami-chan's problem is the priority. 

I climbed out of bed and got ready to work again.