Editing Ghost Hunt:Volume 7 Chapter 1 (section)

===4===

Just like this, in the end all of us stayed behind.

The 3 men and 3 women each rented a small wooden hut. It was clearly the peak season, but there were very few campers. This place was so rural, it couldn’t be helped that there were few people.

“Do we have to make our own dinner? Do you guys know how to cook?”

Standing in front of the kitchen, Ayako took a deep breath.

“If it’s simple Udon noodles or something, then I know how to cook.”

When I just finished, Masako immediately made a face of disgust.

“I… I don’t really know…”

There was no use asking, just looking at her expression I could tell she definitely did not know how to cook.

The 6 tatami sized small wooden room had an attached kitchen. It wasn’t that much different from my apartment in Tokyo; but, there appeared to be an enormous terrace where we could eat, there was a table made up of a round log and benches made from wood.

“I don’t know if those men can cook or not.”

“This is not clear then, I don’t know how Naru and Lin are doing.”

“Yeah, we have to get out to buy some stuff regardless; let that stupid bou-san go, I’ll make him a list.”

“Right.”

Ayako really likes to look after people; it’s no wonder she’s the mother.

Like a child being nagged into working, I took the list Ayako had written and ran to the little wood hut next door.

I knocked while I opened the kitchen door.

“Naru has decided to do it like this!”

- ?

Bou-san’s voice flew past my ears.

“That is –”

The windows of the kitchen and 6 tatami sized room were closed, but I could still make out the figures of people. A shadow moved, and the window immediately opened.

“So it is Mai!”

“Yeah, Ayako said to buy stuff.”

“Right, right. I’m coming.”

According to the results of my investigation, the only ones who say they can cook are Mum Ayako and Dad Bou-san.

At the same time, I bravely set forth to attempt to investigate Naru and Lin-san.

When I got to the small wooden hut nearby, this time I knocked properly. It was Naru who opened the door; when he saw my face he immediately showed his displeasure.

You don’t have to be so obvious in your dislike of me, do you?

“That is… Ayako wants to as you how you intend to handle your meals. Ayako says she’ll cook, so will you join us?”

“Do as you please, you don’t need to bother about us.”

- Right, right, I know.

I sighed. Really, how can this fellow – in the midst of my grumbling – 

“Then let’s have it like this, sorry for disturbing!”

After passing through the pine forest and trudging tiredly to the car park, I found Bou-san and John were waiting.

“Did Naru reply?”

Bou-san asked. I spiritlessly replied,

“He said not to bother about him.”

“Yeah-“

Bou-san’s large palm gently patted me; unconsciously, I lowered my head.

“That is –”

“Yeah?”

“Masako said that we might never meet Naru again.”

Bou-san frowned.

“Is it like this?”

“If the office closes, I might really never meet him again.”

Bou-san did not answer.

“Hey, then don’t forget this.”

“What?”

“There are no banquets under the heavens that do not disperse.” (tl/n: all good things must come to an end.)

I sighed softly.

“Yes.”

I don’t know where his home is; I don’t even know his telephone number.

If the company closes, we will never meet again. I think Naru will not take the initiative to contact me. Because, even up till now, he would never make a call regarding anything unrelated to work.

“Perhaps Naru and I are complete strangers.”

Hu- with a gentle pat on my head, I suddenly realized how important it was.

“Thinking closely about it, I don’t know Bou-san’s or John’s address either.”

We only meet in the office, and are together only during our investigations; what each of us does in rest of our time we completely do not know. Although we’ve visited Ayako’s home once, it was a single visit during an investigation, and she said we were not allowed a second visit.

“We won’t meet again anywhere outside work.”

I have never received a call at home; I don’t even know their telephone numbers.

If the office were to close, the probability that everyone would never meet again is very large.

Up till today, everyone has been looking after me; we’ve worked and encountered various experiences together. If I were to ask everyone if we are friends, I can’t say for certain that the answer will be yes.

It’s due to the office that I’ve met such a group of colleagues; we have no other forms of interaction. It must be because everyone feels that it is ideal like this; I too have never asked about the private lives of others, nor have I spoken about my own. Probably we were all like this. That’s why, thinking carefully about it, we are all shockingly ignorant about each other’s issues.

That’s why with desperately trying to get closer to each other at this time, I don’t think we can become friends. Everyone are adults older than me, they must have suitably adult lives and personal relationships; they couldn’t possibly be happy playing with a high school student. Mentioning high school student, although Masako is also a high school studnt she has a proper job.

“Mai!”

When John opened his mouth, Ayako’s voice cut in.

“You fellows! What time are you going to dillydally until?!”

Turning my head, Ayako was pulling a face at the entrance of the campsite car park.

“The small village shops will close earlier, hurry up and go!”

“Yes!”

“Also buy some stock cubes back!”

“Yes yes yes!”

“Answer me properly!”

Ah – she’s still really long winded.

“Yes sir!”

Mothers will still be mothers.

Naru and Lin-san had apparently decided to completely ignore us. Perhaps we don’t exist in their eyes.

When dinner was ready and I asked if they wanted to eat, they only coldly replied in the negative. Left without choices, we could only feed ourselves.

I didn’t know why Naru wanted to stay here, so I also didn’t know why we wanted to stay here. It’s like unreasonably stalking other people’s movements.

After having an early dinner, Bou-san etc went back to their small wooden hut on their own accord. While we were queuing to bath, I ran to the terrace. It was already dark outside, the breeze from the forest made one feel happy.

As I was spacing out, Masko’s face appeared.

“If you space out in this type of place, you’ll become food for the mosquitoes in the bush!”

“It’s alright, I’ve sprayed on insect repellent.”

“Did you spray enough?”

“It’s alright like this; mosquitoes like to go towards those of vigorous blood.”

“I’m sorry my blood is too vigorous!”

“Ah la, I didn’t say that that’s no good. It’s good to be liked by the mosquitoes in the bush.”

“I’ve never seen the benefit of that!”

Masako started laughing secretly.

“Hey, Masako.”

I looked at the bathrobe clad Masako.

“Why would I never meet him again?”

“A feeling.”

“Liar!”

I’m insisted. Masako suddenly spoke seriously.

“ – I can’t tell the real reason.”

“Is what you know related to Naru’s weakness?”

“I can’t say!”

“ – Stingy devil!”

Masako sighed softly.

“I think I probably know everything you want to know.”

I hurriedly looked at Masako.

“But, I still can’t tell you. Because I have an agreement with Lin-san and Naru.”

“Why do you alone know?”

“I only stumbled upon it.”

I tilted my head, thinking.

“Hey, when we just met you’d said it before.”

“Ai?”

“You said you met Naru before somewhere.”

“Did I say something like that?”

“You did; is it like this? You and Naru met before somewhere in the past.”

Masako thought for a moment.

“It shouldn’t have been that meaning.”

Ai, that’s as clear as mud.

“Naru has always been looking for this place –”

Masako’s voice reminded me of that doll like face; Naru’s voice flashed through my mind – 

“ – Finally – I’ve finally found it – ”

“The office, everything was for the sake of finding this place. That’s why, it’s possible to never meet him again.”

“Me?”

Masako replied with a single sentence.

“Not just you, me too.”

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