Ghost Hunt:Volume2 Epilogue

Epilogue

Tokyo, Shibuya Street.

I'm in "Shibuya Psychic Research" right now, organizing tapes. ‘The Case of Morishita*’ i.e.‘The Morishita Case’, I wrote that on the label (in Japanese) and pasted it on the tape. Then I made a memo of it for Lin-san.

What's this? ‘Corridor of Ground Floor*’...I don't know what it means. Oh, forget it. I'll just copy it down.

Arghh. Why do they like using English so much? I really hate this stupid notion of constantly using English. Do they think using English on everything is cool?

Hmph. I guess in the end, my English just sucks.

Ah, there's a guest. I quickly put on a smile and stood up.

...What, it's just you.

"Yo."

Bou-san carefreely waved hello.

This guy had been coming over rather often.

"It's so hot. Mai-chan, give me some tea."

"Why do I have to pour tea to someone who's not a guest? Or maybe, Bou-san, you have a request?"

Bou-san sighed in response. "Why is everyone being so cold lately?"

"This is our business policy."

"Business policy, what's that? Hey, I have a request: tea. Next time I'll take you out to a movie."

This guy is so demanding.

Oh well. Right when I was going to prepare the tea,

"Mai, I want black tea."

Huh? Ayako.

"Bou-san, what are you doing around here?"

"I wanted to ask you the same thing."

Aren't you guys making this place into a coffee shop?

"Where's Naru?" Ayako asked.

"The director is in his office, thinking over things," I replied in a serious tone.

"Huh?"

"What is he doing?"

"I don't know," I replied. "That's what he told me. He's staring at a map, thinking over things. I think he's planning to travel."

"Oh—"

"Plus, if you bother him at a time like this, he'll get furious. So, forget about Naru, drink your tea, and go back home."

Ayako pouted. "Come on, I want Earl Gray."

...Okay, okay.

What noisy guests. Oh wait, they're not guests.

When I was about to go to the kitchen, the doorbell sounded.

...Did a guest...finally come?

"Ah, hello everybody."

"Ah— John," I murmured to myself.

"Yo," Bou-san greeted.

Man, forget it, if it's John.

But I decided to ask anyway, "John, is something up?"

"I was near the area, so I decided to drop by and say hi."

...Ah, I see.

"Do you want anything to drink?"

"...I'm sorry. Anything's fine. Don't mind me."

...Okay~okay~. Nice, I like his humility. Bou-san and Ayako, you guys can really learn from him.

I took out a pot and was about to boil the tea. And then, I had a weird feeling. Bou-san came, Ayako came, and John came. In other words, that means...

At that moment, the director's door opened, and Naru came out.

"Mai, tea..."

Naru said, and as he looked around the room, his eyes widened. "...Do you have some business here?"

"When you put it that way—"

"Kind of—"

Naru impatiently listened to their excuses.

"...Mai, what's going on here?"

"I don't know. Maybe they're your fan club? —What kind of tea do you want?"

"Any is fine," Naru replied, taking another glance at the crowd. "This isn't a coffee shop."

"Well, well," Bou-san said, clapping his hands. "Come on, don't be so mean— I heard you're going on a trip, right?"

"Who said that?"

"Weren't you studying a map? You're not just thinking about stuff, right?" I asked.

"That's what I had thought. But it seems it won't work out that way."

Naru sighed and sat by John.

The conversation quickly changed direction. Now they were talking about the latest books and thesis, psychic phenomena, and generally other things that only a specialist would know about.

I can't believe it.

Shaking my head, I began to pour tea.

Well, I'm fine with this. This way, I don't have to do any work. I just couldn't concentrate on my work when they're here.

After I arranged the teacups onto the plate, I was about to leave the coffee room. At that time, the doorbell rang again (I swear it's the fourth time now). ...It can't be.

My eyes were locked on the door.

The door opened, and in came a girl wearing a kimono.

...My head hurts.

"So it's just Masako. Is something up?" Ayako coldly greeted her.

"Well now, Matsuzaki-san, do you have any business here?"

"I just happened to be nearby, so..."

"Same here. Hello everybody."

Masako smiled at Naru.

Naru stood up in a flash. "...Mai, I'm going out for a while."

Huh?

"Ara, you're going out then?" Ayako asked.

"Yes... I have some business to take care of."

"I'll go with you."

"There's no need. You are free to do what you want."

...Naru, are you trying to run from Masako?

Come to think of it... In the case with Ayami-chan, when Ayako wanted to call Masako, Naru was absolutely against that idea.

"Well, if you're going out, then I'll go with you."

"No..."

Naru's gaze landed on Masako and Ayako. Masako slyly reached out for Naru's hand.

"I'll go with you," Masako offered.

Such an affectionate tone.

...This girl... Hmph. Is Naru the type to be ordered around by others? If he said no, then he'll say no until the very end.

...B-, but.

"........."

Naru mumbled something inaudible before walking out the door. He didn't shake Masako's hand off.

...*shock*

Masako turned back to us, a smile on her face. "Sorry to disturb you."

...We stared blankly at them for quite a while.

"...What's up with that person!"

I wondered who Ayako's statement was directed to.

...Man, didn't he say it was a misunderstanding? Naru, you liar!

Bou-san stood up. "Hey, Mai? Did Masako just use Naru's weak spot?"

"Weak spot? Would Naru have one?"

"...But, if that wasn't because of a weakness she knew, then what was that about?"

...If you ask me, who can I ask?

"Actually..."

Confused, John tilted his head.

"Mai, I've always wanted to ask this," Bou-san lowered his voice. "Is Naru really the director here?"

"...What are you talking about. Of course he is."

"So there aren't any other superiors then?"

"No."

...I don't think so.

"Why do you ask?" I questioned Bou-san.

"I thought you knew... How much do you think this office is worth?"

Ayako spoke as realization hit her. "When you put it that way, this is located on Shibuya Street, it's a new building, and it's very spacious..."

"Right? And all that equipment too. How much do those video cameras cost?" Bou-san continued.

...A lot. More money than you can imagine. I asked that question before.

John murmured absently, "Could it be a patron?"

...Hey! Hey!

"Did I say something strange?" John asked.

"A patron, you..."

John started to explain, "This is very common in Western society. Parapsychology isn't a recognized field yet, so it's quite common for a research institute to be supported by a patron, such as a financial group or a donation from a parapsychology professor."

"John... About that," Bou-san cautioned him.

"What?"

"Be careful with your Japanese. Patron means something different in Japan."

"...Huh?"

...Ah, he had me scared for a moment.

"That's strange," Bou-san said, pulling his hand back. "Maybe he really does have someone who supports him financially, and that person is Masako's father or something along those lines."

"Ah, so then, he wouldn't be able to reject Hara-san's offer," John concluded.

"Right."

Ayako stood up, "There's also another possibility... Naru could be their leader."

...Oh—

Everyone was deep in thought, when suddenly Bou-san shot up from his seat.

"Man, let's not think about this. In the end, Ayako was rejected."

"...Mind your own business!" Ayako shot back.

"How about we lighten up our mood? Want to go on a date with me?"

...Bou-san, you really do go overboard teasing people.

"I refuse. Who wants to go on a date with you."

"Okay, okay. Well, Mai, what about you?"

......Me?!

"In return for pouring me tea, I'll take you out to the movies."

...In return for pouring tea? The tea was from the office, not from my own pocket. There's nothing to say...

Huh? Just like that, Bou-san asked me out.

"...Bou-san, are you treating me?"

"Of course. I just got my payment from the previous case, so now I'm rich."

"I'll go."

...I'll go. Just wait and see! Stupid Naru!

I'm a young, fifteen-year old blossoming girl. Who wants to wait for that idiot Naru anyway!

John and Ayako looked at us in surprise.

"I didn't realize you were into loli," Ayako remarked.

"Man, the younger they are, the better they are. Right, Mai-chan?"

"Right, Bou-san."

"Since you like little girls, why don't you go after that Masako? Then I can..."

...Hey, you.

"I make very good judgements," Bou-san responded frankly. "And compared to Masako, Mai is way better."

...Huh?

"Her personality is way better than Masako's."

...He sure knows how to flatter people. Bou-san, you have a really bright future in front of you.

"I— I think Bou-san's handsome too—"

"Oh~so you knew all along," Bou-san agreed.

"Yup (♥)"

Ayako stared at us. "Okay then! John, we're going on a date!"

"Eh??? M-...me?"

"Right. I'll treat you! Let's go!"

Ayako dragged John along.

...And that's how things went.

To any guests that come here later today, I'm terribly sorry I'm not in the office. Please try to talk with Lin-san instead. He's actually not that scary a person. I think.

Maybe you guys will even get into a deep conversation.

And so that's how things were... Have a nice day.

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