Editing Ghost Hunt:Volume2 Chapter4 (section)

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I was floating, drifting.

I opened my eyes.

In the dark room, I could hear the whirring sounds of the equipment. I was looking at our base.

The person sitting in front of the equipment was Naru, not Lin-san.

Naru's not supposed to be here. He didn't come back yet. I must be half-asleep...in that case, I can't wake up.

I looked at Naru. He was smiling.

Ah, how I love the way he smiles. The real Naru would never smile that way.

"Naru?" I asked while lying down.

Naru cocked his head, as if wondering why I asked this way.

"Can we save Ayami-chan?"

If we're defeated, then Ayami-chan will be taken away by that woman, just like all those other dead children.

"Everything will be fine," Naru reassured me with a smile.

"Did you go on a date with Masako?"

...Ahhh, what am I saying at a time like this.

Naru smiled again. "You're mistaken."

Such a warm smile. I was satisifed with this.

...I'm glad it's just a misunderstanding...

Suddenly I heard a sound. The door in our base opened.

This time I was really awake.

Hurriedly, I shot up from the sofa.

Naru had just come back.

...Huh? Am I still asleep?

Naru looked at me. "Are you awake?"

Not even a slight tone of warmth.

Hmph. It's the real thing.

"You came back?!"

"If I didn't come back, how would I be here."

...Ah, sorry. That was a dumb question.

Naru faced Lin-san now. "Lin, replay the recording."

"Okay."

Lin-san sat in front of the equipment. That same empty seat.

Bou-san and company came in too. John and Masako, who were supposed to be guarding Ayami-chan, was also here.

"What about Ayami-chan?" I asked.

Bou-san shrugged in response. "Naru said we could come back and leave her with Noriko-san."

...What?!

"Naru! Is it okay if we just leave those two there?"

"It shouldn't be a problem," Naru responded bluntly.

"What do you mean 'it shouldn't be a problem'...how irresponsible."

"Tonight this case will be solved." He looked back at me with his deep, profound eyes. There was no worry and no hesitation.

"Will it succeed?!"

"Did you think I was out doing nothing the past few days?" He retorted disdainfully. "Even with this many people, everything is still a mess."

...Your personality really sucks.

Unconvinced, Ayako inquired, "Are you sure this will work? You don't know everything so some things might be unclear. That woman isn't an easy one to deal with."

Naru's eyes were overflowing with contempt. "I knew from the start that the woman was no ordinary ghost. From a poltergeist standpoint, it was obvious."

For a moment Ayako had nothing else to say so Bou-san pursued it instead, "Well, let's listen to your strategy and decide whether or not it's good."

Not looking at the T.V. anymore, Naru crossed his arms. "The situation is obvious. That woman wants to find her child."

Ayako interrupted, "We don't know anything about that. The problem is, how do we get her to give up?"

"As long as we give her the child, things will be okay."

"What?!"

"If that child is here, that woman will be satisfied and pass on."

"And where...would that child be? How old is she now? We probably won't find her."

"Are you implying that (with my intelligence) I did not think of this? Bringing Tomiko here would not only be impossible, but also meaningless. Even if she sees Tomiko now, she might not recognize her."

"...Then what do you mean..."

Naru ignored Ayako. "Hara-san, how's the situation now?"

Masako listened carefully for a moment. "The living room...They're still in the living room. They haven't tried to go to the hotel yet..."

Ayako butted back into the conversation, "Hey, why don't we consider our safety first?!"

Naru shot her a cold glare. "Well, that's not something a professional would say."

"Even professionals have limits! This place is dangerous! I've seen many haunted house, and this is the first time I've seen one this bad."

...Then what about Ayami-chan? Are you going to leave her to die?!

I turned toward Bou-san.

Bou-san calmly nodded his head. "If we don't handle this situation carefully, we may become jibakurei ourselves—"

"...Hey!"

I was about to interrupt him, but then Ayako beat me to it. "Quitting while you're ahead is also a strategy!"

"But!"

I was about to continue, but then Naru calmly called me out. "Mai, anyone who wants to go home can leave. I do not want to work with mediums of that caliber."

Ayako was fuming.

Bou-san pressed Naru, "So will your plan be successful?"

"Whether or not you trust me is your choice," Naru replied in a cold tone.

Bou-san and Miko-san exchanged glances.

"Okay..." Bou-san stood up. "Then I'll just trust you. I'll suffer through this again and try to exorcise the ghost."

"Oh, forget it. I'll join too..." Ayako murmered hesitantly as she stood up.

"Try our best. At least until we fall," Bou-san offered.

"I'll bury your corpse."

"If it's a Shinto style burial, you'll never live down the shame."

...Talkative bastard. But now that things are working out, I'm thankful.