Editing Ghost Hunt:Volume 5 Chapter 2 (section)

===9===

Once again we set up equipment in the room that was used for the séance, and then we left that place. Naru resolutely forbade us to conduct investigations at night. Igrashi-sensei looked at our equipment for a moment, then sighed regretfully, then returned to their bedroom with Suzuki-san who had been warned by Naru. It was like Naru had turned rather neurotic…

Masako was the same; after the séance she did not speak a word. After the lot of us returned to the bedroom, with much difficulty we finally showered in a toilet with hot water, then it was about time to turn in.

“Masako, how are you?”

Masako wore a dragonfly patterned pajama and buried herself in her covers. 

“Are you feeling ill?”

“I can smell the stench of blood.”

“Again?”

Masako stared at me.

“Not only do I smell it. It’s like my body and my hair are all drenched in blood. How can everyone behave as though everything is all right?!”

I’m really sorry we can’t sense spirits.

“That room… was clearly so smelly I wanted to vomit.”

“Hey, did that start before the noises began?”

I asked. Masako opened her eyes as though she suddenly saw the light.

“… it began after that.”

“If that’s the case isn’t that a spirit smell?”

“Perhaps…”

Spirit smell, although this sounds strange, refers to the smells brought by spirits. If the smell that Masako says she has smelt since yesterday is due to the presence of spirits nearby…

“Hey, have you seen spirits yet?”

“I’ve seen them. But it’s just a vague feeling and I can’t see them clearly. When I think I’m going to see them, I smell the stench of blood and I can’t concentrate…”

“Is this spirit smell suspicious?”

“… it might be so.”

What’s going on – Masako and I are talking. Isn’t this a rare occasion for me?

“What about you, Mai?”

“Ai?”

“… Have you felt anything?”

This was a completely unexpected line for me, who has always played a supporting row.

“… why do you ask me this?”

I couldn’t help asking back. Masako looked furious.

“I’m just asking for another opinion from another person. My personality and my capabilities are not to be discussed in the same breath.”

“Another… opinion? From me?”

Masako turned her head away unhappily.

“Because in the previous incident, you were the only one who saw the same vision as I did.” 

… Oh. So it’s like this. He he he. I don’t know why, I feel very happy.

“He he. Thank you. – But this time it won’t do. I haven’t felt any~thing at all. Last night I didn’t dream and slept straight through the night.”

Naru has said before that I might have ESP. But there’s the small imperfection that I can only use it in my dreams. It’s almost like saying that I can save people when I doze off; even if I were praised, it feels like it is just someone else’s business.

“Is this so… Then perhaps it isn’t as dangerous as I imagined.”

“How can it be? Last night didn’t all of us refrain from moving around? There are protective seals properly placed in the rooms. I can’t be sure but it might even be because of that.”

As Masako tilted her head slightly in thought, Ayako returned from the bathroom after her bath.

“What’s up? You’re getting on well.”

As I was about to say ‘he he, not bad eh?’,

“You must be joking. I couldn’t get on well with this type of person.”

That was Masako’s infuriating line.

This, this fellow…

“Isn’t calling me ‘this type of person’ to my face very discourteous?”

“I couldn’t possibly have used such uncouth language. ‘This type of person’, was what I said.”

“I am ‘this type of person’, I’m really sorry for that.”

“I didn’t mean to say you’re a bad sort. This is what is called ‘ingrained prejudice’; you think others are just out to antagonize you.”

“Your personality isn’t the least bit cute.”

“But I’m beautiful and capable.”

Re… really not cute at all!

“Why do you hate me to this extent? If you have any reasons could you say them out loud?”

“You know them yourself.”

“How could I know?!”

“Ah la, even your brain isn’t working too well.”

Really, such redundant nonsense. (tl/n: agreed. I really don’t know what they’re talking about back there. If anyone cares that much you’re welcome to try for a better translation.) Although I really am not too bright. Yeah~~, my face and figure are also not out of the ordinary.

Ai ai, are we fighting a mutual grudge match? Hey, stand up. Don’t ignore me and fall asleep. Argue with me properly, Masako.

I was just about to wake her up.

“When did the two of you start to get on so well?”

Because of this line from Ayako, I was suddenly felt momentarily weak.

Which part of our relationship looks like we get on well?

… Really, forget it, do as you please. I’m going to sleep. Who cares about you, hn.


Then we all went to sleep. Of course, we were the only ones who did not investigate and slept; the other psychics should have planned to continue investigating through the night. Many times various footsteps passed by our door.

Waking up after a dreamless sleep the next morning, what was awaiting us was a piece of shocking news.

– Suzuki Naoko-san had vanished.

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