Editing Ghost Hunt:Volume 6 Chapter 4 (section)

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Ayako drew charms and, with Masako’s and my help, walked around distributing them to the people of Yoshimi house. We requested that they please not remove them from their persons by any means. Youko-san accepted one and immediately threw it away with an indifferent attitude. She was the mother of Katsuki-kun and Hazuki-chan, and the wife of the eldest son, Kazuyasu-san.

“Excuse me, please do not remove the charm from your person. You can store it in a charm bag or something similar, or by any means...”

When I said this, Youko-san smiled calmly.

“If I wear this, will there be any effect?”

“Yes, it’s a charm that repels evil spirits. There’s no effect if you remove it from your person.”

“But, what about when I take a bath?”

Eh?

“I cannot take it into the bath, it’s paper. If an evil spirit approaches while I’m bathing, isn’t there nothing that can be done?”

“That’s true, but… it’s dangerous. Please keep it with you so it’s less dangerous, even if by a little.”

When I said this, Youko-san smiled.

“All right. I will do so.”

While saying so, she didn’t even look at the charm. I left Youko-san’s room feeling somewhat dissatisfied.

When I tried to give charms to Katsuki-kun and Wakako-chan, they ran away.

“I don’t need something like that.”

“Wait a minute. This is important. Please.”

“No.”

“I don’t need it.”

While chasing the pair, who were running away, I got a strange feeling. Why were they running away? Why did they hate the charms? We exited the main building and came forth into the shop. The pair jumped outside through the entranceway.

“Hey, Wakako-chan!”

I called out to the two who ran off to the front yard.

“Did you know your uncle died?”

When I told that big lie, the pair abruptly stopped. They looked back at me with blank looks on their faces. They immediately beamed in delight.

“Really?”

“He went to the hospital? Riding in the ambulance?”

“Yes. But they didn’t make it in time. Your uncle died at the hospital.”

Katsuki-kun murmured quietly.

“Hooray!”

...these children…no way… 

I deliberately spoke in a whisper.

“And Akifumi-san also...”

“Aki-niisan, too? What happened?”

The pair raised their voices in unison.  They came back two, three steps in this direction.

“What should I do? Should I tell you?”

“Tell us, tell us.”

“Hmm…but I thought I might keep it secret.”

When I mumbled indecisively, the pair drew nearer.

“Hey, oneesan, tell us.”

“Tell us! Did Aki-niisan die, too?”

“Well… ”

“Is he dead? Did he ride in the car?”

“Car… ”

The two of them pulled on my skirt. I quickly caught the pair’s hands.

“What do you mean by car?”

“Let me go!”

“Let me go!”

“I won’t let go! Hey, what did you mean by car!?”

The pair struggled. I clutched their hands desperately.

“Mai? What are you doing?”

Ayako and Masako, and then Teruka-san, came running. Katsuki-kun escaped from my hand. I adjusted my grip on Wakako-chan, who tried to escape along with him.

Katsuki-kun looked back from a slight distance away.

“Let go of Wakako-chan!”

“No. Tell me why you said car.”

“I said let go of her!”

I looked to Ayako who was in a fluster off to the side.

“Ayako, make Wakako-chan hold this charm.”

“Don’t do that!”

I glared at Katsuki-kun.

“Then tell me about the car. Or else we’ll stick this charm to Wakako-chan so that it won’t come off.”

“If you do that, I’ll jump into the sea!”

“....Katsuki-kun, do you know what you’re saying?”

It wasn’t even five meters from the front yard until the stairs that went down to coast.

“I know! If I die, everyone will suffer because of it.”

“I think it will be painful if you die.”

“I know that! If it’s painful, then it serves them right!”

“Who does it serve right?”

“Everyone.”

I pressed against Wakako-chan who was struggling with Ayako.

“Ayako, hold onto her. —Katsuki-kun, who are you really?”

I came out from the front door. Katsuki-kun withdrew one step while glaring at me.

“You’re not Katsuki-kun, are you? The real Katsuki-kun wouldn’t say something like that. And he wouldn’t be afraid of charms.”

“I’m not afraid!”

“You’re lying! You’re scared, aren’t you? That’s why you hate even holding a charm, isn’t it?”

Katsuki-kun smiled. By no means did it seem like a child’s smile.

“I’ll kill.”

“Kill who?”

“You, as well as everyone with you. Everyone in this family, too.”

I gently lifted my hand. (—It shouldn’t be used on a person.)

“This child, too.”

Katsuki-kun— the being inside of him said this and laughed.

“Why?”

My hand was trembling. (But there was the time I did it to Taka. That was a joke, though.)

“Jumping into the sea would be merciful. When compared to having your head cut off, it’ll be pleasant.”

“Head...cut off?”

Am I sure this time is okay? (—Don’t do it again. Because it was Mai-grade, nothing happened.)

“Compared to the betrayal by one’s comrades.”

“What did the people of this house do to you?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“...leave that child.”

“The child will be of no use if he dies. I’ll leave if that happens.”

Katsuki turned laughing. He started running from that spot. A distance no more than five meters. 

“Naumaku sanmanda bazaradan kan!”

Please stop Katsuki-kun!

“Rin Pyou Tou Sha Kai Jin Retsu Zai Zen!”

I swung down the sword seal and Katsuki-kun fell down. There was slightly less than one meter until the stairs. And at the same time, something shrouded in wind rushed past the side of my face and off behind me at a furious speed.

“...what?”

Even though I looked around, there was nothing. Suddenly, Wakako-chan began to cry as if on fire. I hurriedly rushed over to where Katsuki-kun was. When I took Katsuki-kun into my arms from where he had fallen, he began to cry in a tone similar to a scream.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry...”