Editing Ghost Hunt:Volume 8 Chapter 8 (section)

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As instructed, I gathered my body together. I focused on my entire body and breathed slowly.

Then, I released the tension in order. First, from the hands. Just as I released the tension from my elbows, my hands, which were folded in front of my chest, fell to my lap. Then, my legs. When I released the tension, my legs fell over sideways. I released the tension from my torso.

When the tension was released from my neck, my head hung down deeply. As I continued to breathe, I felt my body lightly drift upward.

—Then, there was a sudden impact.

“…!”

I was thrown sideways. My whole body was struck so hard that I could barely breathe and when I opened my eyes, the darkness was pitch-black. What happened? I wonder if I failed.

I surveyed the empty darkness. When the beating of my heart calmed slightly, a feeble voice sounded in my ears.

Opening my eyes wide, I listened carefully. As my eyes grew accustomed to the darkness, the surrounding scenery gradually became visible. Along with that, I realized the voice was the cry of many feeble voices.

I could see seats lined up in rows. It was the inside of a bus. It was bent here and there, the glass of the windows was completely broken, and it was leaning severely. The bus was filled with feeble screams and crying.

“...Mariko.”

Someone spoke. It was a man’s voice.

“Tsugumi. Takato.”

A man rose to his feet from below the front seat.

“Are you okay? Is everyone okay?”

He stood up and walked towards the back. He picked up a small girl from a seat close by.

“Ai, come on. Are you okay?”

His voice was pleading rather than asking. Within his words, I could hear the heartbreaking wish of him begging her to tell him she was okay.

The girl was exhausted and groaned weakly. His wish was not granted.

“...Mika…Masamii.”

Continuing to hold Ai-chan, he staggered towards the back. I could see the figures of children who had fallen down in both the aisle and seats. He continued to hold Ai-chan and kneeled down near Tsugumi-kun who had fallen into the aisle. Holding Ai-chan securely in one arm, he embraced Tsugumi-kun. After doing so, he looked around at the devastation surrounding him. Within the crushed and leaning bus, eighteen children were now crying out their final voice.

As he called out the children’s names, he gathered their small bodies. Though he tried to hold them all in his arms, it wasn’t possible for him to hug everyone close.

“...why...did this happen?”

Sobbing could be heard. I saw the man weeping for the first time.

“How could this happen?”

A weak voice called out, ‘Sensei.’

“...it hurts...”

“Sensei...”

The area overflowed with the painful cries of the children. After looking around at this, he fell down on the spot and wept bitterly.

“Sensei, I’m scared.”

Mariko-chan pulled at Sensei’s clothing as she cried. Small hands extended one after the other, seeking his help.

“It hurts, Sensei.”

“I’m scared.”

He looked around at the children who gathered around him. One by one, he patted the hands that clung to him.

“It’s okay… it’s okay.”

“Sensei...”

“Don’t worry. Let’s go back to the school. We’ll go back and treat it, then you won’t have anything to worry about.”

“But, it hurts. I can’t move.”

“Don’t worry. Sensei’s going to bring everyone back. So, let’s go back.”

Though he was crying, he smiled at the children nevertheless.

My vision blurred. When I blinked, my tears spilled over and, once my vision was clear once more, I could see his figure leading the children by their hands towards a dark hole, which had opened at the back of the bus.