Editing Ghost Hunt:Volume 8 Chapter 9 (section)

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I abruptly returned to myself and woke up.

A deep darkness lay before my eyes. I was leaning against the door, nearly lying down.

“A failure...”

I failed.

—He’s obstinate.

I don’t think there are any words that can persuade someone who’s become so obstinate.

“...Kirishima...sensei.”

I understand his pain. I understand, but I cannot leave this as it is.

As it is, the children are miserable. They’re filled with the sorrow of death and wholly paralyzed. Because they’re lonely, they’re starving for something to fill that loneliness, calling out for companions, but it doesn’t console them in the least. They’re sorrow steadily grows once they’ve obtained one.

I will purify those children and ensure one never dies here again. I have to stop the loneliness.

And Kirishima-sensei.

He lost his life, and to make matters worse, he grieved the loss of his student’s lives. In an effort to erase it all, he became an obstinate person.

I understand his feelings, but  I think he’s a very gentle person.

Even so, I want to look after my companions just like he wanted to look after his students. I want us all to meet safely, leave this school together, and say, “See you later.”

Consequently, I remembered Naru’s words.

“Oh, I see now...”

How stupid of me!

“I was told I shouldn’t show them pity or sympathy.”

I smacked my head.

It was pointless even if I scolded myself. I needed to imbue them with light.

“Alright!”

Murmuring to myself, I stood up energetically.

“I’ll try it again.”

<font size="4"><center><b>***</b></center></font>

I opened the classroom door. Somehow, I felt it would be pointless no matter how much I called out from here.

—I’ll go to the classroom.

The place that Kirishima-sensei and the children are particular about. Because, undoubtedly, that place will be at least a little warmer for both the children and Sensei.

Within the darkness, as I walked towards the stairs, feeling my way along the wall with my hand, there was a slight clatter. When I stopped for a moment, the sound grew closer from in front of me.

As I remained still, a small, black shadow appeared alongside the wall. My pulse elevated slightly.

Three shadows appeared at the corner. They were about the size of children, but their silhouettes appeared distorted in some respects. They had small heads and limbs like sticks. Their chests and shoulders were also tremendously small, however, their stomachs were large to the extent of oddity. Their manner of walking with both hands was bizarre.

—’It’s dangerous,’ passed through my mind.

I wonder, is wariness a positive ‘feeling’ or a negative ‘feeling’?

I took a deep breath.

“...Hey, let’s go to the classroom.”

The approaching shadows momentarily stopped.

“Well, shall we go back to the classroom?”

I crouched down.

I mustn’t think of them as monsters. Those in front of me now are children. If a person is made of ‘body’ and ‘spirit’, then these children have no body.

—I love children.

Children are small and soft, and of course they’re brazenly mouthy and say spiteful things, but even so, they possess an atmosphere that makes it unable to resist hugging them.

I remembered that, after I started worked at ‘Shibuya Psychic Research’, I met a variety of children while going on investigations. I smiled lightly.

There were three small children in the house in Noto where we had been until now. We became good friends while our stay there dragged on. When it was time to go home, I was happy that they told me, “Please come again,” with tearful expressions. I wonder what everyone is doing now. —Well, naturally, they’re probably sleeping right now.

A genuine smile escaped.

“Well, would you like to go to the classroom? Shall we go together?”

The children tilted their heads a little. It was a truly endearing, child-like gesture.

“I’d like to see everyone in class and Kirishima-sensei. I want to say I’m sorry for being mean earlier… oh, was that a dream or reality?”

Like before, the children continued to tilt their heads, unmoving.

“I don’t really know. —Still, I feel that I need to say sorry. So, shall we go to the classroom? Will you take me?”

The children looked at each other once again, then moved awkwardly and turned their backs. Taking a few steps, they began walking towards the stairs.

“...thank you.”

<font size="4"><center><b>***</b></center></font>

After we went to the stairs, I saw some children at the bottom of the staircase. I walked without worrying and descended the stairs. None of them were a danger to me. I was gladdened by this and my mood steadily brightened.

—Well, such simplicity is necessary.

There were also two or so children in the entry hall and, as I smiled at them and walked towards the classroom, they toddled after me. Ten or so children followed around me and it was something enjoyable. Before long, the smallest child beside me raised her thin, fragile hand and I took ahold of it.

As soon as I grasped the small hand, which felt like a withered branch, my chest swelled with affection.