Editing Ghost Hunt:Volume 8 Chapter 15 (section)

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“I’m a mess...”

I rested my back against a tree in the forest. Moonlight was shining down.

Even though I shouldn’t cry, even though there are people who are hurting more than me, even though I should be offering comfort and encouragement…

Despite that, if I don’t look upward, my tears will spill over.

My chest really hurts. …It’s painful.

I don’t really understand why it’s so painful.

“Hmph.”

I want to cry. But I don’t want to cry.

So, I was relieved when I was called out to.

“What are you doing?”

That disgusted tone of voice belonged to Naru. When I scrubbed my face and looked in the direction of the voice, I saw Naru, who looked truly disgusted.

“Do you intend to eat the moon? Even if you wait with your mouth open, the moon won’t fall in.”

...I swear, he’s foul-mouthed!

Still, thanks to that my tears have subsided, so I’ll forgive him in this instance.

“I don’t particularly want to eat it.”

“Where’s Luella?”

To think that he calls his mother so.

“She’s in our bungalow. ...What about your brother?”

“The police took him away.”

“Hmm...”

I wonder why he’s this indifferent. It’s a little irritating that he’s completely the same as always.

“You’re not being honest...”

“What?”

Naru, who began walking towards the light of the bungalow, looked back.

“You sourpuss! Can’t you just cry freely?”

“It isn’t necessarily something to cry over.”

“But you’re sad, aren’t you?”

Naru gave me a slightly cynical smile.

“Unfortunately, I’m a stupid person who doesn’t understand the subtleties of emotions.”

This guy’s holding a grudge.

“You’re not honest.”

“Everyone dies.”

His voice was quiet.

“In a hundred years, not a single person we know will be alive.”

“That isn’t the point.”

“That is the point.”

He’s a truly obstinate person.

I looked up at the moon.

“You’re going back to England...”

“Yeah.”

It's okay to tell him. At this point.

“Umm… I liked you.”

“I heard more than enough about how favorably you view me this afternoon.”

“Idiot. That’s not what I meant.”

I looked at Naru. He was looking at me a little strangely, so I couldn’t help laughing.

“You’re slow.”

“What?”

“Well, I liked you in a very special way.”

Naru stared back at me. His pupils were jet-black. He tilted his head slightly, then his white face smiled faintly.

“Me? —Or Gene?”

For a moment, I was dumbfounded.

What is he suggesting?

“That’s...”

That sort of thing... that’s obvious, isn’t it?

Naru’s going back. So, I thought I’d tell him. Because I won’t be able to see him anymore. Before long.

...We’ll never meet again.

I’ll never see that smile. He’ll never show up again in any of my dreams.

I couldn’t answer. Sad and regretful, I burst into tears.

“But… I didn’t know!”

I didn’t know. That wasn’t Naru. I never realized he was no longer in this world. I was sure that one day Naru would smile at me like that. Even though he never smiles like that.

“I didn’t know… I had no idea.”

He always helped me and encouraged me, but I didn’t even thank him. I was mistaken the whole time and got it wrong until the end. 

“I always called him Naru.”

That’s all I ever called him. I never once tried to get to know the real him.

My chest hurts. It’s so painful I want to die.

I crouched on the spot and cried aloud.