Editing Ghost Hunt:Volume 8 Chapter 13 (section)

===<center>1</center>===
Outside, as usual, was overflowing with sunlight so bright it was pure white.

After Lin-san went outside in chase of Naru, I took the opportunity to, for some reason or other, go for a walk by myself and trudged through the forest.

Although the sunlight was still bright, the cry of the evening cicadas could already be heard. The sound was lonesome and depressing. I felt something somewhat gloomy sinking in my chest.

Even I didn’t understand what it was and grew steadily more depressed.  

...I’m depressed. I wonder why.

I should feel more triumphant. I found out something I had been curious about for a long time.

...I wonder what’s caught me in a mood like this.

I wandered aimlessly through the forest as I thought this and caught sight of a figure in front of me. He was standing against a tree.

As soon as I saw that figure, I abruptly understood.

Oh, I…

“I thought you went to see the lake.”

When I said this, his jet black eyes, which were looking straight at me, quickly averted. Whether or not it was a trick of the light, his expression seemed slightly shadowed.

“...Right.”

I muttered and walked over to the tree that Naru was leaning against.

“I’m sorry. For calling you ‘Naru-chan’ so easily.”

“Why?”

His eyes, which turned back toward me when he asked, were truly deep.

“It was a name only your older brother used, right? I was completely unaware of that fact...”

Although, even Lin-san addresses him like that, so maybe it’s no longer such a private name.

“That’s something from when we were really little.”

“Hmm...”

Naru put his back against the opposite side of the thin tree he was leaning against.

“...You really are an amazing person.”

There was no response to my murmuring.

“Or perhaps I should say, the distance between us is noticeable. ...Heheh. I guess that’s why you refer to me as an idiot. Compared to you, I really am an idiot.”

...Undoubtedly, this is the cause of my depression.

“I suppose you’ll return to England soon.”

His family is there and it’s where his life is.

“Then you’ll return to the life before you met us. ...I can’t even imagine what kind of life that is. Somehow, the worlds we live in are completely different.”

“That’s not true.”

“Really? You don’t think so?”

“Just an idiot scientist.”

This was the first time he had referred to himself like that, so I inadvertently looked back behind me. His back was visible on the other side of the thin trunk.

I quickly turned my gaze back.

“I guess you were an orphan, too.”

“My situation was different from yours. I had a brother and was also blessed with adoptive parents.”

“I see. ...What kind of person was your older brother?”

“Who knows.”

...Sure enough, he won’t answer my questions.

“I’m glad I happened to run into you. I sort of wanted to apologize.”

After I said this, I heard a quiet voice from behind me.

“I was looking for you.” 

“Oh?”

“There were a few things I wanted to tell you, so I thought it would be nice to see you.”

“...Tell me what?”

Only his voice could be heard from behind me.

“...It’s possible we might not meet again, so there was something I wanted to say, but...”

“But?”

“Perhaps I won’t after all...”

‘You’re kidding me,’ I silently muttered. He’s keeping me in suspense.

I looked back behind me to tell him to say it, then heard the sound of footsteps treading through the undergrowth. At that moment, I involuntarily turned my gaze in the direction of the sound.

“...Huh?”