Editing Ghost Hunt:Volume4 Chapter5 (section)

===8===

The result of the phone calls from the office was there wasn’t a single student whose doll was not damaged who had anything abnormal happen.

“Is there anything abnormal? No, right?”

I called the last student’s home.

“This question is a little random, but have you ever played the game Worikiri-sama that is so popular in school before? – yes. Ah, you have not. I understand. Thank you.”

I hung up.

Masako and Ayako looked at me.

“That person said there’s nothing wrong.”

Ayako clapped her hands.

“That’s done!”

The curse that was to be reflected back to the players of Worikiri-sama – the students who activated it – had been completely transferred to the dolls. In the end various parts of the dolls were damaged… the undamaged dolls belonged to students who had no link to the curse.

Ayako gave me a hug.

“That’s great, that’s incredible, Mai.”

“En…”

We gave each other high-fives.

“How is it?”

John appeared in the office.

“It’s fine. Everyone’s fine!!”

John’s face glowed.

“What ‘fine’?”

I turned to look at the Monk who had entered the office. The Monk took out the thing in his hands.

Dolls that were damaged in various places. I looked at the name tag. “Araki Kozue”, “Okamura Kazumi”, “Miyazaki Masayo”… “Yasuhara Osamu”.

… Everyone is fine. The dolls had borne the curse. It’s fine…

I gently hugged the dolls I received from the Monk. He caressed my head.

I flew out of the office.

Where is Naru?

I looked into the Gymnasium, and searched my surroundings.

… Over there.

He was solitarily gazing at the field.

“Naru!”

The normal, beautiful expressionless face turned back.

“How is it?”

“Everyone is fine. They all said they had never played Worikiri-sama.”

“Is that so?”

A small, satisfied smile rose to his lips.

“The dolls… were everyone’s body doubles?”

“So you know this?”

… wu. Of course I know something at this level.

“Today the school is?”

“I persuaded the principal to stop classes. I said to have everyone stay at home and await further instructions.”

Was that the case?

“It had been properly discussed with the principal before.”

“Because Matsuyama helped us out.”

… so it was like that.

“Hey, if you are using dolls as substitutes, wouldn’t just making a doll for Matsuyama do?”

I stood beside Naru.

“Four spirits versus one person or versus six hundred people, which do you think is safer?”

… is it… ?

“… You should have told us so earlier.”

If you had told us that you were transferring it onto the dolls… that you planned to use dolls as substitutes…

“Transferring the curse is very difficult. Even Lin cannot guarantee saving everyone.”

“… but.”

I’ve said some terrible things to Naru. I have to apologize. I’ve said some hateful words, I’m sorry.

… Yes.  Hate. I do hate Naru a little. I hate the part of him that refused to grant us a little relief. Clearly it’d be all right if he simply explained to me. At least if he said something like, “I will try my best, believe in me.” If he did, clearly regardless of whatever happened next, I would believe in him, I would also be at ease.

“I’m sorry.”

Huh?

Naru’s profile is really extremely beautiful.

“I’ve said some terrible things. I’m sorry.”

…Naru.

“Because Mai is very considerate of others… It must have been very painful, I’m sorry.”

… … … …

My tears had welled up. I wanted to cry out loud. Whether it was in pain or in joy, I was not too clear.

So, I used all my energy to shout at the top of my voice.

“That’s too sly!!!”

“… ha?”

Naru jumped in shock.

“I clearly wanted to apologize! But for you to say it first, Naru you’re too sly!!”

“Ah, that.”

“You, Naru, always take whatever advantage there is! That’s too sly!”

“Hey.”

“Because Naru is really very sly.”

Naru expression turned into one of resigning the fight. He extended his white hand, and suddenly tapped my forehead.

Following that he smiled slightly, then walked in the direction of the office. Naru’s cat-like soft footsteps were very warm.

“Let’s burn and cleanse these.”

Lin-san looked at the mountain of dolls piled in the Gymnasium. Naru nodded.

“This would be safer. – Monk, we’re counting on you.”

“Yeah.”

When we were collecting the dolls, the Monk had built a fire-altar in the corner of the school compound. The dolls were piled on this. 

The Monk lit the fire. The flames licked the sky and swallowed everything.

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