Ghost Hunt:Volume1 Prologue

Prologue

　It's a total darkness in the room. A blue penlight's glow is moving around. A light too weak to illuminate the entire room. What the blue light is shining on is the floating silhouette of the girl who is holding the penlight.

　It is raining outside. The voice of the little girl is sweeping somewhere through the lonely sounds of the falling rain.

"……This is a story I heard from my uncle before.

　One summer my uncle went to the mountain with a friend of his. They walked, aiming to see the summit of that mountain.」

　She paused for a moment.

"……And you know, the weather was nice, but they lost their way, even though they have been there before.

　They should have arrived at the top in about three hours, but no matter how they walked they couldn't reach it.

　Strange as it may seem, they kept on walking, a completely unknown mountain ridge appeared above them and they couldn't understand where they were anymore. Anyway, under these circumstances they decided to return, and took the way from which they came, but after they walked for a little while the same place appeared before them.

　No matter how many times they walked that way, they always came to the same ridge, eventually it got dark and they had no choice, but to camp at that place."

　No one is able to open their mouths now.

"The night came. They sat by the camp-fire for a chat, when they heard a man's voice. A voice that was asking for help.The two of them looked around for the voice's owner, but couldn't see anyone. Trying to call for him didn't give a result too.

　And just when they were thinking that it was just their imagination, they heard the voice again.This time it was closer than before, they searched again, but after all there was no one around.

　The same thing happened many times again and the voice was steadily closing in to them. At the end the voice got so close to them that it was coming from the campfire. Someone's breath, footsteps and even clothes' rubbing sound could be heard, but still they couldn't see anyone there. As anyone would, they got a very bad feeling about that, so my uncle's friend began chanting a "namuamidabutsu" prayer. All the sounds started to tone down.

　The two of them couldn't sleep that night at all and waited for the dawn. In the morning they realized that near the camp there was a cairn."

"Cairn ?"

"Yeah. When a man died in the mountain, they piled up some stones at that place instead of a grave. That's called a cairn.

　――You see, that cairn was at about a man's height. It was impossible to miss it. Still they didn't notice it the day before.

　The dead person probably felt lonely and tried to invite them... or something like that."

　I still wonder what could have happened if my uncle's friend didn't do the "namiamidabutsu" prayer.

　Yuuri finishes her story and leaves the rain's sound to be the only sign of activity around us.

　She quietly turned off the penlight.

　Another two lights remained inside the room.

"Next is Mai."

　Keiko suggests from the darkness.

As the expert among us, I started my story.

"……It's a story I heard when I was a grade student.

　On a night street there was a woman going back home. That was in the autumn, so her body got cold midway and she felt she needed to go to the toilet. She was just passing near a park and thought she could use the public toilet in there.

　A public bathroom at night doesn't feel right, does it?　Because it's dark and all...

　Although she didn't want she went into the toilet.Then, she heard a voice calling out of the thin air."

　I made my high-pitched voice tremble.

"Do you want a red mantle?"

"No-o!"

　Someone screams.

"That woman totally frightened, left the toilet.

　But somehow the door was stuck.

　The door jolted and again she heard the same voice "Do you want a red mantle?". She hit the door with all her might, but it didn't open.And when she heard the voice for the third time she answered "No, I don't want". Right after that the door opened quickly.」

　No one can speak out. Only a weak rough noise of breathing mingled with the sound of the rain is audible.

　I continue the story.

"The woman got out of the restroom in a haste and was so scared that she just couldn't go home by herself, then she saw two patrol policemen passing by.

　She greeted the policemen and told them about what happened while going home. They told her "That was probably a molester who had hidden himself somewhere inside the bathroom. We can't catch him by ourselves.", so she had to go inside again.

　Before she entered the toilet again the police man told her "When the voice asks you again, please say yes."

　Then the woman entered the toilet and soon after that she heard the creepy voice "Do you want a red mantle?". She, as instructed, answered with "Yes". And at the same instant a terrible scream spoiled the midnight silence."

"The door opened quickly, and the woman there was dead."

　Raindrop sounds. Raindrops...

"She was covered in red just like she was wearing a red mantle.

　She was dyed in deep red blood. Her body was pierced so that it looked like the pointer of a compass, full of small holes everywhere."

　Everyone screamed.

"No!"

"Waah!"

　Hearing the screams, I turned off the penlight.

　Only one light was left.

　Only one blue light was still shining... Michiru started her story.

"It's a story about this school..."

　The blue light is shining on Michiru's hair, her hair that is hanging down from around her face.

"Mai, have you heard the story of the old school building?"

　I turn my face shaking my neck in a negative answer.

"Strange.

　At the ex-school building there is a wooden building at the opposite side of the sports ground. The half-collapsed building."

"...So.

　It wasn't collapsed. That's where the reconstruction stopped."

"Why...?"

　Michiru smiled like a ghost.

"Curse..."

"C-c-curse?"

"Yes...

　That building was cursed... a lot of strange incidents happened there. Every year a teacher and a pupil died there... Was it a fire or an incident, only bad things happened there."

　I saw that right after I entered this school. The old building had half-collapsed. It was full of broken glass and walls around. Really, that building is a scary place.

"The new school building was built before ten years.

　That time, when they had to demolish the old building to start the construction, strange things happened. A machine stopped and workers got ill. But still they tried to break the west wall, and the roof fell down. All the way from the second floor. All of the workers on the first floor died."

　Diseases, injuries, incidents...

"Thereupon the construction was suspended. It was left like that, with the west side collapsed, for a long time.

　After that unpleasant things continued to happen. A child from the neighborhood was found dead in the ex-building, three days after that a teacher committed suicide there...

　...The demolition was restarted last year in order to rebuild the gym. But again only the half of it got demolished, before the work got suspended. The same as last time. A machine broke, a worker got..."

　...huh.

"Once a truck went out of control and drove through the sports ground during class. Two students died and seven sere severely injured. It was on the newspapers too."

　...I don't like this.

　Michiru keeps on in a low voice.

"My senpai's friend saw a man's ghost at the ex-building...

　A person's white shadow was looking at her from the second floor, she said. The road around the school fence isn't a place to walk at night. When I was walking my dog at night at that street I felt someone looking at me. When I turned around, from the window of a half-collapsed classroom a white silhouette was..."

"It can't be..."

　Keiko raises her voice.

"It's true. ...and that person was waving his hand like he was inviting me.

　I got the feeling that I shouldn't go inside the old school so I left staggering on my feet."

"A-and..?"

"That's all. When I started walking, my dog bursted in barking with great energy, so I got back there. I looked again at the window, but the person wasn't there anymore."

"Hyaa..."

"...I'm turning it off."

　Michiru sais quietly. The room got quiet again.

　With a weak sound Michiru's penlight disappeared. The vicinity was wrapped up in the darkness and the sound of the rain.

　Keiko says with a hazy voice from inside the darkness.

"One..."

　Her voice is trembling. After we tell the ghost stories and turn off the lights we have to count upwards from one. The last one should be a ghost.

　Yuuri's voice.

"Two..."

　Mine.

"Three..."

　Michiru's low voice.

"Four..."

　There are four of us. Are we about to hear a fifth voice?

　We strained our ears. *Raindrops*

"FIVE"

KYAAA!!!

　We all screamed, horrified at once. We fell into panic with agonizing cries.

　What was!?　This voice!?!

　Keiko and the others embrace themselves in fear.

"No-o, no-o！"

　At that instant, the dark room was lit up.

　Near the door there is a lights switch.

　Under the small green light there is a group of unsociable looking students among the desks. In the school basement there is a Audio-Video room, that's where we are.　We turned around, and saw a tall boy standing near the door, looking at us with interest.

　He has an impressively beautiful face. A hair as dark as the night, and a deep gloomy look in his eyes. With well-matched black clothes. His white face and hands are like the melting moonlight inside the twilight abyss.

　Without an uniform. Is he an exchange student?

　Keiko asked, "W...was that you?"

"Yes... did I do something wrong?"

　A nice peaceful voice.

　Michiru sits down relieved.

"Ahh, that surprised me. I thought I was going to die."

"Excuse me. The lights were off so I thought there was nobody in here, but suddenly I heard voices... so I just.."

"That's... it's alright!"

　Keiko says joyfully,

"Are you an exchange student?"

　He paused a little.

"...is it like that, I wonder..."

　What's with this pause?

"A first-year?"

"...I'm seventeen this year."

　A strange way to answer.

"So, you are a senpai."

　Keiko says that with a lively voice. ...She is the kind that is attracted only by the looks.

　Actually this guy is really handsome. A tall figure. Long foot too. And again, a beautiful face.

　...But I kind of feel something weird from him. It's just a feeling, but I can tell we don't match.

　Michiru says with a smiling face.

"We are sorry to have surprised you too!

　...we were telling ghost stories."

"Heeh"

　He said and smiled.

"Would you mind if I joined you?"

　Everyone screamed in delight.

"Please, please...sit here."

　Michiru pulled his arm.

"What's your name?"

"Shibuya..."

　Keiko's eyes form a heart at that moment.

"Shibuya-senpai, do you like ghost stories too?"

"Sort of."

　He smiled.

　Everyone screamed happily again, but after all I had this feeling of unrest coming from him. I wonder why, but I didn't really like him.

"Shibuya-san..."

　I said, and he turned at my direction.

　Mm? As I said his face was expressing a smile. But I felt it. This guy had something hidden under the surface. His eyes aren't smiling.

"What are you doing in a place like this?"

"I had something to take care of."

"Then do it faster, because we're going home now."

"Eeh!"

　Keiko and Michiru exclaim, dissatisfied. Even Yuuri who has been quiet until now, pulls my uniform.

"That Mai...Don't worry about it senpai.

　What is it that you have to do here?　We will help you!"

"...Ah, it's only some tape dubbing..."

　Shibuya-senpai once again forces his smile smile.

"The truth is, I'm in a hurry right now.

　How about, next time you tell ghost stories, let me join in?"

"Then, tomorrow after school!"

　Keiko waves her tail.

"Alright. Where?"

"Our homeroom! Room F1!"

　He smiled, bowing his head in assent.

"Okay, then we are off. Goodbye."

　Michiru stood in an unusually graceful manner.

"Take care."

"Yess.(heart)"

　Everyone was in high spirits, Keiko and the others pleased with themselves, and me, who was the only one unsatisfied and thinking about what had just happened in the A/V room.

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NOTE: An alternate version of the prologue (containing minor translation differences but based on the same text) can be found here