Editing Ghost Hunt:Volume 7 Prologue (section)

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Cumulonimbus clouds stretched from the gleaming ocean into the cerulean sky.

Due to the sunlight’s reflection, the asphalt road that followed the shoreline sparkled with a white glow.

Beneath the railing, translucent waves could be seen rolling in. I think, it must be very comfortable to jump in. But right now, I am currently holding on to this phone.

“How’s it going over there?”

I said, as I heard the nearly weeping voice of my colleague on the other end of the line – although she's just a colleague from work.

“Even with an air-conditioner, it's still hot as hell. What about your place?”

“I thought it'd be cooler since we're further North, but apparently not.”

Noto-peninsular’s summer, is really summer.

“That’s so disappointing –” a cheerful laugh came through the receiver.

“It’s even hotter than Tokyo, right?”

“Exactly!”

“But if you're by the sea, can’t you go swimming? It'd feel completely different from swimming in a pool.”

“Yeah, in theory. But that won't happen, cause four of us can't swim.”

Of all our members, one is currently hospitalized. As for the 3 others, due to their injuries, it would probably hurt a lot if they bathed in seawater.

“What the heck is Bou-san doing, being so pathetic this time; he should just swim from the start.”

“They all look exhausted. Although their stitches were just removed, I’ve heard that they should still refrain from swimming. Because of lingering wrist pain, work is also cancelled. John is apparently already better, but – ”

“Poor things. I want to see them.”

“Are you coming?”

“If I’m sponsored, I’ll go.”

“Ah? … Ha ha.”

“A-ah, as a poor person, I have no sympathy. I hate myself for having dealt with all the clothes, cakes etc that were for visiting Bou-san in hospital.”

“Forget it, there’s no use regretting. That's just you.”

“You bastard. – What about the boss?”

“He should be discharged in 2 to 3 days; we’ll know after his check-up today.”

“Mai – I think even if he isn’t hospitalized, the boss still won’t put on a swimsuit and go swimming.”

“Yeah yeah.”

“You're lucky, you can look after him hand and foot.”

“What- whatever! Ayako and Masako are the ones that hover over him like a shadow!”

“If that's the truth, then what are you doing every day?”

“I’m looking after Bou-san.”

“You're so cunning!” Came an extra-loud voice from the receiver. I hurriedly pulled the receiver away from my ear. That bastard, why was she so loud.

“I’m joking; I’m doing an assignment now.”

“What? Did you bring your homework there?”

“The hotel lady sent it to me, and all the answers are correct. And Yasuhara's here too.”

“Yasuhara broke his ribs, so he couldn’t possibly bathe in the ocean.”

“Of course. Thanks to you, I’ve gained a free-of-charge home tutor.”

“You're a rude bastard without any manners – you’ll have to treat me when you get back.”

“Yeah, it’s all right if it’s an ice cream cone.”

“Bastard, you're such a bully – only ice-cream?!”

“Grr… you’re gonna do what?”

“Whatever, don’t you have a special subsidy? Just treat it as a special treatment for me; I'll wait until your pay day.”

“Ha-ah, landlord-sama, thank you for your leniency.”

“Don’t be such a pain! I’m looking forward to that day. I’ll stop here today. Talk to ya later!”

“Take care!”

“I’ll take care of the things at home; I’m leaving the casualties to you!”

“Okay, bye-bye!”

Replacing the receiver, the green colored telephone ejected my phone-card and beeped. The cicadas, which were even louder than this, were also crying non-stop.

I, Taniyama Mai, am a second year high school student. 

The reason a student in a Tokyo high school like me is here in Noto is more or less because of work. I hold the title of "investigator", even though I can't really do anything.

Now that it was summer, I had originally thought it’d be fun to travel far away from Tokyo (to Noto). But in the end, we kept getting casualties, and because of the boss’s hospitalization, we remained in Noto even though our investigation ended already.

Too bad for the restaurant that we investigated to provide lodgings. And that explains why I'm just wandering around, waiting for my boss to be discharged. Before I knew it, half a month had already gone by, and my summer holidays were drawing to a close.

Coming out from the telephone booth, I was scanning for shade as I walked along the shore, when I heard the sound of a car horn.

Lifting my head, I could see a car coming over slowly.

“Oh, are you here to visit the hospital?”

I could see the silhouettes of 3 people – a male and two females, the former or which stuck his head out from the driver’s seat.