Editing Ghost Hunt:Volume2 Chapter2 (section)

===4===

"Exactly what happened here?!" 

Kana-san called the taxi to take Noriko-san to the hospital. Ayako leaned closer to Bou-san as he explained, "I'm the one who wants to know what happened! It felt like a small earthquake, but then all this happened!" 

"Aren't you here so that you can prevent this from happening?!" 

"I can't help it either! It came so fast that I couldn't do anything!" 

Naru put a stop to their argument. "...The situation is already like this. Even if you argue, nothing will change. Instead..." 

Naru looked at Ayami-chan, who shrank back in response. 

"Ayami-chan, exactly what happened?" 

Ayami-chan shook her head. 

"Did Minnie do this?" 

Ayami-chan didn't answer. Then she looked like she just remembered something. 

"Where's Minnie?!" 

"I'm taking care of Minnie for you right now. Can you tell me some things about Minnie?" 

"Give Minnie back to me!" 

"When did Minnie start talking?" 

"Give Minnie back! She's my friend!" 

"Ayami-chan!" Naru's imposing voice made the little girl shrink back even more. 

"Listen, your onee-chan is injured. Minnie did that, right?" 

Ayami-chan's eyes were filled with tears. She looked like an injured animal. 

"This is troublesome for everyone. Does Minnie think this is okay?" 

Ayami-chan shook her head, unsure of what to say. 

"Ayami-chan!" The moment Naru shouted, Ayami-chan started to cry. She rushed off the bed and ran to my side. 

"Mai!" she cried out. 

"Don't worry. Don't be scared," I soothed her. 

Naru's voice was still cold and stern. "Ayami-chan, Minnie, did she..." 

I gave Naru a cold stare. "You insensitive jerk! She's already crying so much, but you still won't stop!" 

"Mai! Now's not the time for this!" 

"Now is the time! You cold-hearted bastard!" 

Ayami-chan cried out, and I stroke her hair. "Don't worry, don't worry." 

"...Rry!" 

"Hm? Don't worry. It's not your fault." 

"...I'm...sor...ry!" 

"Ayami-chan..." 

She held onto my hand. "Minnie told me I can't speak with anyone else! If I do, she'll punish everyone!" 

"...Minnie said that?" 

Sobbing, Ayami-chan nodded. "Minnie said I can't speak with other people. If I do, she'll hurt everyone else. But I really want to play with onee-chan and Mai-san...!" 

Minnie's threatening her. Poor girl. 

"When did Minnie start talking?" 

Naru was using a softer tone this time. 

"...After we moved here." 

"What did she say at first?" 

"She said my stepmother's a witch, and Daddy's her slave. She said they want to kill me." 

"What else?" 

"Minnie said onee-chan is also on the witch's side. Minnie said she'll protect me, but then I can't talk to other people..." 

...Poor girl... She must've felt so lonely. 

"Sometimes I forget what she says, and I play with onee-chan. But then Minnie messes up my room and hides my toys." 

"You didn't tell anyone about this?" 

Ayami-chan shook her head. 

So that's why. I get it now. All the poltergeist activity that happened here: the toppled over furniture, the slanted furniture... it all makes sense now. 

All because she threatened Minnie. That day, Ayami-chan smiled at me and introduced me to Minnie. That's why Minnie got angry. 

"She said that was my punishment. So..." the girl continued. 

"—And then Minnie brought all those kids over?" 

"Yes... A lot of kids too. Boys and girls that are about my age. All of them are Minnie's underlings." 

"We must quarantine Minnie for a while." 

It was a fresh and cool morning today. Noriko-san still didn't return from the hospital. Kana-san is with her now. Last night, Ayami-chan slept in my room. 

When we went to base, Bou-san stated his opinion, "Minnie must be the cause of all this." 

"She's the reason for all of it?" 

"Yes. For example, if a former inhabitant of this house died, it might've been Minnie's fault. I have a friend who specializes in destroying cursed dolls. I can ask for him..." 

Naru immediately rejected, "That would be of no use. The problem isn't Minnie." 

"What did you say?! Aren't you wrong? What do you mean it's not the doll's fault." 

"Why?!" Ayako interjected. 

"Intuition." 

Ayako retorted coldly, "Your intuition? Why must we follow your intuition?" 

Naru ignored her. 

"The problem is Minnie is being used as a vessel... The doll, however, is just a toy. A ghost in this house has possessed Minnie..." Naru raised his eyes. "Minnie is dangerous. We must find the real culprit." 

She's dangerous? 
"...Are you kidding?" 

"It would be good if that were so..." 

Right when I was about to ask Naru to clarify, Noriko-san dashed toward us, "Mai! Mai!" 

"Noriko-san! You're back from the hospital? Is your injury healed already?" 

"Now's not the time to talk about that," was her swift response. 

"What's wrong?" 

"Please, come with me. Shibuya-san, you too. Something strange happened." 

"What?" 

Noriko-san pulled us into the corridor. 

Kana-san's face was chalk white as she looked at the wall. 

"Come quickly! Look!" 

Noriko-san pointed at the wall behind us. After we all turned around, we sucked in a big breath. 

Who did this... 

Words completely covered the wall. 

"This bad child must be punished." 

"Bad child, meaning Ayami-chan...?" I asked. 

Naru nodded in response. 

"Ayami-chan violated her promise with Minnie of speaking with other people. Minnie thinks Ayami-chan betrayed her... Mai." 

"Eh?" 

"Stay with Ayami-chan and protect her." 

"...Hey, Naru, nothing will happen to Ayami-chan, right?" 

"I don’t know." 

"It can't be!" 

Naru blinked, then lifted his head, "I can't back down now. I'll call in a professional." 

"A professional?" 

"Yes, Minnie is possessed by a spirit so I have to call in a professional." 

"Are there people who can take care of it?" 

"Of course— Exorcists." 
...Ah! 

John-san? John-san?!