Ghost Hunt:Volume2 Prologue

Prologue

If ghosts appear and disappear in your house, you would definitely find it annoying, scary, and also inconvenient.

You'd definitely try to get rid of it.

But how?

If you ask me, you would be walking a tightrope. If you don't live in Tokyo, then you better get on the train to Ueno, Tokyo.

You'd get on the railway, then get off at Shibuya. Actually, it doesn't matter which train, be it the Hanzoumon Line, the Ginza Line, or the Tokyo Line, you get on as long as you reach Shibuya in the end. Once you get to Shibuya, go to the front of the famous Hachiko. Find a kind-looking person and ask him for directions.

After getting directions, you can get here easily. Walk for a while and you'll be able to see a tall, brick building built in an old architectural style. There should be a plaza on the first floor.

—Did you find it?

Once you get there, take the elevator by the water fountain and go up to the second floor. Don't waste time looking at the clothing stores and tea houses downstairs. They're all very tempting, so if you're not careful you may end up going into one.

When you arrive on the second floor, look around. Do you see a blue-gray door?

In the middle of the door is intricate frosted glass, with the logo "SPR" written across in fine, golden calligraphy. Beneath the logo are the words "Shibuya Psychic Research".

Learn to recognize this door.

Eh, so you're wondering whether I'm from a tea house? Where did that come from? Of course I'm not. I said tea houses can't help you get rid of ghosts.

If you just go into a tea house without knowing what you're going to say, you'll be forced to leave. If you're unlucky, you're also be reprimanded with, "Can't you read the English on the door?"

"Shibuya Saikiku Risaachi"—that is to say, "Shibuya Psychic Research."

Do you get it now?

"Psychic Research" means the investigation of paranormal activity. "Shibuya Psychic Research" is a paranormal business office located on Shibuya Street. The name might also be named after the family's surname. Well, it doesn't matter where the name came from. The main thing is you can always reach us by phone.

"For exorcisms performed on a spirit or a possessed person, please call and arrange an appointment."

Basically, the job is about exorcising spirits and such.

Good, now all that's left is for you to have the courage to knock on the door. Inside, you will find an exquisite office. Usually I keep the guests company, but since I also do office work, I'm not always there to do that.

Sometimes there are situations where I'm not there. Instead, a skinny, tall man will greet the guest. If he's not there either, then no one will come out to greet the guest.

When that happens, a handsome, but arrogant, young man should be sitting on the sofa in the main room. He looks like he's sixteen or seventeen.

Never ever assume that he does paper work because of his young age. He has an abnormally high amount of self pride. If you make that mistake, don't think you can just get out of it. After all, he is the most conceited narcissist in the whole wide world, which is why he's known as Naru for short. If Naru's in a good mood, you can easily talk to him. He'll definitely help you solve your problem.

...If he's interested in your situation, that is.

"Is Shibuya Psy-something over here?"

A woman dressed in extravagant clothes entered. I'm working today with no breaks in between, meaning I'll be in the office all day. And so, I was the one who ended up greeting this guest.

"Is there anything troubling you?" I asked. I gave her a warm, business-like smile.

But she ignored me who was standing up and looked towards the sofa where Naru happened to be reading a book.

"That child over there."

...Scary how ignorant some people can be. Man, it's best not to call that guy a "child". It's really dangerous, just like calling a tiger a "meatball."

"Please, is there anything I can help you with?" I asked affably, again.

That woman glanced at me, then continued to ignore my questions. ...Ho ho...

Paying no heed to me she persistently spoke to Naru, "Child, do you work at this office?"

Naru didn't bother lifting up his head. Of course he didn't pay any attention to her. She called him a ‘child’.

I sternly asked her again, "Please, may I help you?" She ignored me again.

...Why you! Despite your age, you have no manners!

"If you have a request, please direct it to me," refraining myself from raising my voice, I politely asked her again.

She stared at me rudely then let out a disdainful hmph.

...Y-you're too much!

The woman turned to face Naru, "That child over there... I'm a guest!"

"A guest...?" Naru said coldly, not looking up from his book.

"Correct. You should answer my question. Otherwise, I will be given a bad impression."

...Exactly who's making the bad impression here!

Naru replied indifferently, "Please leave."

"—What the hell, I already said I'm a guest."

"I have yet to know of the etiquette I must show to a guest I've never met before."

...Nice and strong. Well said. Her face reddened, "You have no manners... Call the person in charge! I want to file a complaint!"

...Ah, stupid jerk.

Naru finally stood up, then faced the woman with eyes cold as ice. This kind of expression can stop anyone from talking. Pitch black hair, black pupils, and completely black clothes... He looked like a frightening, beautiful demon or vampire.

Naru calmly stated, "I am the manager, Shibuya."

The woman became speechless.

The manager looked at her disdainfully, his pale lips curved into a mocking smile, "Please leave." Simultaneously, he directed his voice to the nearby reference room and said, "Lin! Send the guest out."

The rude woman was thrown out by the tall, unfriendly assistant.

"Naru, is that okay?" I asked.

"What is?" He looked at me and calmly asked.

"That woman seemed very rich."

"It's okay," Naru silently reassured me.

"Let's not talk about this. Mai, tea." His gaze turned back to his book. What a terse order.

Tea, can't you do that yourself!

Even though I was thinking that, I knew it'd be too dangerous to say it aloud. Naru's in a bad mood today. People constantly came in, and they were all difficult to deal with too.

There was that rude woman, a request to investigate an extramarital affair, a request to cure an aching waist, and even a request to analyze a horoscope for marriage.

Furthermore, there was that guy who thought we were part of a new religion. The only reasonable request was, "My daughter has been behaving strangely. She must be possessed, so please come and exorcise the ghost."

I have to explain to them every time. This is a paranormal investigation office. We use scientific methods to solve paranormal phenomena.

Well, this isn't a detective agency.

You're mistaken. We do not supply medicine here.

I'm sorry, but we are not divine.

No, this isn't a religious organization.

...People, don't overdo it. Even if I'm not Naru, I'll still be angry.

"Here you go."

I placed the black tea onto the table.

As a sidenote, the tea we're talking about is black tea. Basically they don't drink green tea in this office.

"Eh..."

Naru didn't even raise his head. Can't you say a little ‘thank you’? This is the tea that I carefully prepared for you.

What a pain (I suddenly started to think over this like a little girl), I put all my heart into pouring the tea. It seems that I, towards this director....

I have various jobs here, like making photocopies and pouring tea. I always feel like I'm not helping out much.

And that's why I put all my heart into pouring the tea. Different days call for different teas. Since today was such a tough one, I decided to use Assam tea. I'm very careful about things like this. But it seems like he didn't even notice.

I met Naru during Springtime of this year at my school. —Even though I say it like that, he is in no way a transfer student. He's the head of ‘Shibuya Psychic Resarch’, and he came to investigate the ominous old school building.

Due to a number of random events, I ended up being his assistant during that case. And now I'm doing the same thing, helping him out in his office.

In the beginning I thought he was a very irritating guy. Even though he's handsome, he has a terrible temper. Not only that, he also has a sharp tongue and an arrogant personality. I can't stand it. But...

Love doesn't need to have a reason. How troublesome.

Of course, Naru has no idea about what I think. In his eyes I'm just an assistant (or so I believe).

Maybe Naru's not interested in girls? Sometimes that's what I end up thinking. No matter what the case, he's not the same as other guys—

First of all, he's the head of a paranormal investigation despite only being sixteen. He should be a year above me: a sophomore in high school. But no matter how I look at it, he just doesn't seem to be attending school. Can it be that since he already has a job, he decided to forget about school?

In addition, he seems to be completely into his work. He doesn't watch TV, go to the movies, read novels, and you don't even need to mention manga. He also doesn't listen to music. No matter what, he just doesn't do any of that kind of stuff.

Then, what does he do when he's not working? Well, he probably reads thick piles of documents and books. And of course, they're all books about the paranormal, and they're all in English.

As for hobbies, he likes traveling and magic.

That's a really strange hobby. He has a bunch of travel books and maps. Man, even if he has to go everywhere because of his job, all those maps and books are a bit too much. Sometimes he'll open a map, draw lines on it, then contemplate about it. Even though he often goes out on these little trips, he almost never goes to a tourism site. For instance, even if he goes to Kyoto, he doesn't visit the Kiyomizudera Temple, Kinkakuji Temple, or the Arashiyama Mountain.

It's the same with his magic. He has never performed in front of me. Even though I often see him fiddle with cards, I've never seen him perform a magic trick with them.

...Ne, isn't that strange?

Naru... Is like... A riddle.

You could say it's his strong point...

...It's done. I completed it like a little girl (♥)

Even I'm starting to think it's admirable.

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