Ghost Hunt:Volume 6 Chapter 2

Chapter 2 - Unforeseen Circumstances

1

Voices were heard from the direction of the main building. Naru and the others rushed from the base, and as we all hurried towards the main building, the uproar rapidly increased. There was the violent sound of a voice shouting something. And then, as we rushed in, we were confronted with the figure of Eijirou-san, who was raging and grasping a kitchen knife.

The room appeared to be a living room. Taizou-ojisan and Kazuyasu-san were holding Eijirou-san under the arms from behind. In the corner of the room, crouching and attempting to embrace each other, were Hiroe-obasan and Teruka-san, who had frightened expressions.

Eijirou-san’s face was red with blood. There was a deep cut on his forehead and from there blood flowed down, staining half his face, however, Eijirou-san didn’t seem to notice. The tip of the grasped knife was broken and the broken tip was sticking out of the TV frame. Foam had accumulated at the corners of his mouth and he was shouting something, but he wasn’t speaking clearly and I couldn’t understand what he was saying. He was struggling with his whole body, trying to shake off his restraints. Though both Taizou-ojisan and Kazuyasu-san appeared to be considerably heavy people, the momentum seemed liable to shake off the pair who were clinging to him.

“Lin.”

When Naru spoke in a low voice, Lin-san walked up to Eijirou-san without a word. Moving very naturally, he didn’t seem particularly nervous or enthusiastic. Eijirou-san glared at Lin-san. He raised his voice menacingly and bared his teeth. He raised his right arm, which was holding the kitchen knife. Taizou-ojisan, who clung to his right shoulder, was pitched forward and fell.

“Lin-san—”

I was the one who involuntarily cried out, but the truth was there was no reason at all for me to raise my voice. Lin-san shifted his body and with a *pop*, swept away Eijirou-san’s right hand, which he had thrust out. With excessive force, Lin-san wound his arm around Eijirou-san’s neck, causing him to slump forward, and that was the end of it. ‘Be careful,’ I wanted to say, however, before I could voice it, Eijirou-san’s neck was being embraced by Lin-san and Eijirou-san had fallen on his backside.

Lin-san expressionlessly looked back at us, who were unable to react to the impromptu action.

“I think it would be better if we tied him with something.”

Akifumi-san moved to bound and ran off.

“What exactly happened?”

It was Naru who calmly spoke. At last taking a breath, Hiroe-obasan and Teruka-san stood up again. Teruka-san spoke in a trembling voice,

“I’d like to know precisely what happened here. It happened without warning.”

Her tone was as if she was blaming Naru.

“He suddenly became violent?”

“Yes. When we were talking here, he suddenly stood up and… it was a small argument.”

“May I ask about the details?”

Raising an arm full of small cuts, Teruka-san brushed her hair back.

“It was because of his moodiness at mealtime today, I just asked him the reason why. He insisted it was nothing, so in a moment of anger I said, ‘If it’s nothing, then why did you have such an expression?’ and then he suddenly stood up and left the room. Just when I thought he had immediately come back, he was carrying a kitchen knife… I was certain that he had taken leave of his senses.”

Eijirou-san reached out. Lin-san removed his necktie and fastened Eijirou-san’s arms behind his back.

“Do you have any idea why Eijirou-san was in a bad mood?”

“I don’t know. He was normal before the meal. Even in the itaba...”

“Itaba?”

“It’s the kitchen. My husband is a chef. Ordinarily, with my father, the pair always prepare the dishes. They completed the preparation from start to end, then he left saying he was going outside for some fresh air. When he returned he was like that.”

Akifumi-san came back with a first aid kit and cargo rope. While seeing to the first aid, Bou-san said,

“I wonder if it’s spirit possession.”

Naru nodded.

“I’m sure it is. Looks like we’d better call John. Or—”

Naru looked back at Ayako and continued.

“Matsuzaki-san, can you expel it?”

“It’s not impossible, but… it’s not quite my specialty.”

Oh? Is there something that’s your specialty?

“Bou-san?”

“I might be able to. I mean, it would be my first time doing it on anyone human.”

Tch. Don’t rely on that guy.

“Are you confident of a success?”

“People are supposed to improve after there is a failure for the first time.”

Ayako bluntly ridiculed him.

“That is to say, you’ve never removed a possessing spirit up to now. You’re a terrible spiritualist.”

“If you’re so inclined, maybe we should leave it to you and the nine syllable cuts? But no matter what, I don’t take responsibility.”

What’s known as the ‘nine syllables’ is a type of repulsion magic. Since you cut the air nine times while chanting nine characters, it’s called the ‘nine syllables.’

“What do you mean?”

“I’m saying Buddhist powers shouldn’t be used on a person directly.”

“In what way do you mean?”

“I don’t know. There’s no one who’s done it.”

Huh?

“For that reason, I also haven’t expelled a spirit that’s possessed a human. There was a time I expelled a spirit possessing a vase.”

Bou-san scratched his head and spoke again.

“The spirit came out, but the vase was also shattered. I would probably have an uneasy conscience.”

It was a problem before your conscience!

“Ah! But there was a time I cut the nine syllables towards Taka. She asked me if I could show her.”

Bou-san lightly poked me.

“Don’t do it again. Because it was Mai-grade, nothing happened.”

“Okay.”

Hmm, exactly what kind of mechanism is it?

Naru directed his gaze towards Ayako.

“For the time being, will you try to do it?”

“Okay... Since it’s just expelling, I think I can do it for now. But, I don’t know if it will possess again.”

“It would be better than leaving it possessing Eijirou-san. Since it seems to be an extremely violent spirit.”

...definitely. If they were unlucky, both Hiroe-obasan and Teruka-san could have been killed.

I nodded inwardly, and then had a sudden thought. The people who died in an accident in the past. Did everyone really die in a mere accident?

2

Eijirou-san, who had lost consciousness, was carried to a storeroom in the immediate vicinity of the living room, which appeared to be safe even if he rampaged again. While Naru was contacting John, Ayako prepared for the exorcism. It was actually a little past eleven o’clock when the prayer began.

“Can John come?”

When I asked Naru, he replied,

“Yes. He said he’ll depart from the other side on the first plane tomorrow with Hara-san.”

Wow. With Masako, huh?

I knew John (John Brown, Exorcist) wouldn’t be a problem, but he also called Masako (Hara Masako, Spirit Medium).

“You also called Masako?”

“I don’t want to be outmaneuvered. This way, we’ll avoid trouble.”

...hmm. I’m not so sure.

“I reverently offer this prayer for thy presence...”

Ayako’s chant began.

“In this unhallowed place without thy enshrined aura and I ask that my request be heard and answered, purify these many vessels and may peace and calm be granted.”

She spoke in a believable tone, but it was very doubtful whether there really was an effect. After all, until today, not one person has witnessed a time when Ayako was useful.

We were watching Ayako and Eijirou-san in silence. The equipment was put in the corner, and the expressionless eye of the video camera was fixedly staring at Eijirou-san.

Before long, Ayako snapped her fingers and Eijirou-san, who had been lying limp until then, opened his eyes. He tried to get up as if repelled, but unfortunately for him, his body was wrapped in cargo ropes. Eijirou-san ground his teeth and, as he rolled around like a caterpillar, he began to growl. The sound rumbled in the back of his throat like what a dog issues when intimidating an enemy.

“...is this safe?”

When I asked Naru in a low voice, his answer was an expressionless, ‘Dunno.’

“Isn’t it beyond Ayako’s abilities, after all?”

“Perhaps. At any rate, John will arrive tomorrow.”

“Why can’t Lin-san do it?”

Lin-san is something like a Taoist of Chinese sorcery. He should be capable of a lot of things.

“Because we don’t know the true identity of our opponent.”

...unfortunate.

Just as I thought so, Naru widened his eyes.

“...Mai. Step back.”

When I quickly looked in Eijirou-san’s direction, the shadow of something pale overlapping his figure was visible. Something —it was the form of some kind of beast.

“What... is that?”

There was no reply from Naru. Suddenly, he looked up at the ceiling. Creaking from the house rattling could be heard as it overlapped with Ayako’s chants.

Naru’s eyes moved in the direction of Akifumi-san and the others who were looking inside from the entrance of the storeroom.

“Lin, accompany Mai. Take care of the spectators.”

“Yes.”

With a nod, Lin-san urged me along. I slowly proceeded to walk over to where Akifumi-san and the others were standing in a stupor, visibly surprised. Eijirou-san burst into laughter. I looked back in surprise. Eijirou-san was laughing so hard that he was writhing. The character of his unpleasantly loud laughter was completely empty.

Meanwhile, the creaking also continued. The figure of the beast, which seemed to double in Eijirou-san’s body, gradually became darker. It appeared to be a long tailed beast. Although similar to a fox, it was very large since it was taller than a person. It stooped down and its pair of eyes stared steadily in this direction—

Ayako joined her hands together, making a sound.

“Hail the goddess Marici, I pray to thee, descend here before us and grant thy protection.”

She firmly stated and folded her fingers together. At the same time, the beast sprang up. A muted scream arose in the background.

It was like slow motion from there. Jumping high, the beast passed overhead of Ayako. Visibly surprised, Ayako followed it with her eyes. It was heading straight in this direction. Just as I was about to involuntarily close my eyes, Lin-san and Bou-san stepped forward. The pair were the reason the beast altered its direction of landing. Straight in line of its altered path was Naru. All of a sudden, Naru crouched low as if to square off. It was at that time.

“Naru! Don’t do it!”

Startled, Naru looked at Lin-san just for a moment. About to raise his hands, he suddenly stopped. Almost simultaneously as Naru returned his gaze to the beast, it collided with him.

“Naru!”

I don’t know whose voice it was. At least, I didn’t voice it. Naru’s body was blown back. He immediately slammed into the wall behind, then the figure of the beast disappeared. It looked like time lapse as the head of the beast penetrated Naru’s chest, gradually disappearing until the tip of the tail as if slipping through.

“Are you okay!?”

Bou-san ran over. Naru was kneeling while leaning against the wall. He coughed into his hand.

“Are you injured?”

“...I’m fine.”

I couldn’t move as if somehow paralyzed. Someone from behind put their hand on my shoulder.

“Taniyama-san?”

Akifumi-san looked into my face.

“Are you alright?”

“Ah...yes… I was a little surprised.”

Naru stood up and lightly brushed dust off himself.

“How is Eijirou-san?”

That being said, Ayako rushed over in a panic. Absently, Eijirou-san raised just his head, wearing a blank look.

“Are you alright?”

Hearing Ayako, Eijirou-san looked around restlessly.

“What is this... what happened?”

3

After going outside in the evening, Eijirou-san didn’t at all remember the events of that time onward. I also tried to play the video from during the prayer, but there was a problem where the image got interrupted from around when the figure of the fox-like beast appeared.

“The image doesn’t show up.”

Lin-san nodded.

“It’s probably a spirit barrier. Since the tape is running properly. All the needles on the other instruments are off the scale.”

The screens, which have numbers lined up that I never quite understand, are filled with the letters, “ERROR.” And even the thermography image jumped. This isn’t a trivial matter by any means.

Bou-san spoke in a low voice,

“It appeared to be a mere fox, but it might not be such an easy opponent…”

Yeah. When I nodded, Lin-san looked back with a questioning look.

“Naru?”

Naru was resting his elbow on the table and covering his face.

“What’s wrong!?”

“...Nothing, my back just hurts a little.”

Ah, from that terrible collision.

“Are you okay?”

“Nothing serious. —Lin, I’m sorry, but I’m going to take a nap.”

Lin-san frowned slightly and nodded. His complexion didn’t look particularly bad. Naru stood up and Ayako stood up as well.

“Are you really okay? Are you sore anywhere other than your back?”

While asking those things, she proceeded to follow after Naru. Here, the proper strategy for dealing with Ayako is probably to not interfere.

“I don’t know...”

“What?”

“Ayako. Who does that woman think she is?”

Unreliable?

“There’s no doubt she completely failed that exorcism a little while ago. Have you seen Ayako do something useful?”

That’s true, although…

“Generally, someone who calls themselves a ‘miko’ is suspicious. Does a miko who belongs to a legitimate shrine go around aimlessly performing exorcisms without permission?”

“Huh, really?”

“Really. I’d say Ayako’s ‘miko’ title is merely self-proclaimed. Although there are certainly many spiritualists who become mikos, it’s without permission or it’s just not true. Those kinds of people do exorcisms as part of religious activities. It’s not at all religious to Ayako, but she doesn’t seem to be an ameateur regarding Shinto since she tentatively conforms to the methods of Dual Aspect Shinto. Although, I have no doubt she properly trained somewhere...”

“Hmm.”

“In the first place, why does Naru-bou bring her along if she’s truly incompetent?”

“That’s true.”

When I think about it, Ayako is also quite a mysterious woman.

While thinking that sort of thing, I gazed absently at the monitors and instantly stiffened.

Ack! What is that!?

It was the video of the shop corridor. In the center of the screen, the distant figures of people were visible. It wasn’t anything particularly mysterious, but why did it appear as if both of Naru’s hands were placed on Ayako’s shoulders!?

“What’s happened?”

I was spoken to by Bou-san, but was I in a position to answer? Naru pulled Ayako towards himself. Ah, Ayako’s hands were around Naru’s body. Isn’t— isn’t this a love scene no matter how you look at it!?

Bou-san also spotted the image,

“Ugh!”

That was his short reply. After that he said something as if impressed (amazed?), then suddenly, he stood up.

This hindrance was quickly resented. ...Oh, being ambushed like this. I was only being vigilant of Masako!

“Lin! Come on!”

Bou-san’s voice was desperate. When he looked back, his expression had changed and he ran out of the base. Lin-san even stood up as if he had been repelled. I was stunn— like that, my gaze returned to the screen and I went pale.

—Love scene? ...not in the least!

That’s Naru strangling Ayako.

***

By the time I had rushed into the hallway in a panic, Naru was collapsed in the hallway. Off to the side, Ayako was coughing violently as she sat. Her knees trembled. I’m glad Ayako was safe. For the sake of both Ayako and Naru.

“Bou-san, what happened to Naru?”

“Lin one shot him with a knife hand strike.”

Saying this, he hit his neck with the side of his palm in imitation.

“What the hell is the matter with him…!?”

Bou-san rubbed Ayako’s back, who was wheezing.

“For crying out loud! No matter how bad Naru’s personality is, is it enough to strangle other people?”

...that’s true, but…

“That thing from earlier. It didn’t pass through the wall. It went into Naru.”

...Ah.

“He’s been possessed. It had to have been a strong-willed spirit in order to possess Naru.”

Bou-san said and made a bitter expression.

“This thing is going to be troublesome.”

4

What the hell? How can such a thing happen?

For now, we carried Naru and laid him down in the room adjoining the base.

“What is that thing?”

Ayako’s voice had gone hoarse.

“I’m telling you, it’s trouble. It came out of nowhere. It was awful!”

“Now, now. Naru didn’t do it of his own volition.”

“Would you still be able to say that if you were the one being attacked? Do you have any idea how frightening it was when Naru’s eyes glazed over!?”

...certainly, that would be frightening.

“I’ll never forgive him!”

Yeah, yeah. With a perfunctory pat on Ayako’s back, I cautiously tried to advise Bou-san.

“Wouldn’t it perhaps be better if he was tied like Eijirou-san was?”

Bou-san frowned.

“Tie up Naru-bou?”

Well, that sentiment is understandable. Who knows what he’ll say when he’s recovered his senses. In spite of this, keeping him asleep like this is dangerous.

“I think it will be useless.”

The one who said that in a calm voice was Lin-san.

“Why?”

To Bou-san’s question, Lin-san, remaining absolutely expressionless, answered,

“In the case of being tied, it would be impossible to stop Naru.”

Bou-san tilted his head.

“...What do you mean?”

“It’s as you’ve heard. I think Matsuzaki-san was very lucky.”

Lin-san said and looked at Ayako.

“I think that perhaps the person who has possessed Naru also does not yet quite understand how to use him. Otherwise, Matsuzaki-san would already be dead.”

“Okay, what does that mean?”

“Thus, it’s as you’ve heard. When that thing learns to use Naru fully, we have no countermeasures. It’s useless to try to tie or confine him. We— and also Naru himself, would not be able to survive.”

We directed our gazes to Naru, who was involuntarily sleeping.

?? What do you mean?

“If I ask you what that means, can you tell me?”

“I’m sincerely sorry, but this is my own discretion.”

Crestfallen, Bou-san dropped his shoulders and sighed once.

“Come on...”

“I understand your displeasure, but I cannot say. You have no choice but to believe me here. Believe me that Naru is a more dangerous man than you can imagine.”

Ayako and I looked at each other. I don’t know the meaning at all.

“Answer one thing. Are you strong in a fight?”

Bou-san asked and Lin-san readily answered.

“Presumably.”

“Compared to Naru?”

Lin-san expressionlessly declared,

“If we fought to the death, it would be an overwhelming victory for Naru.”

—What did you say?

Bou-san looked at Lin-san intently, then released a deep, deep sigh.

“...Got it. In other words, it’s useless even if we wrap him in a bamboo mat and throw him in the storeroom, right? You’re saying Naru is a dangerous person. Which means we have no choice but to try to do an exorcism before it’s too late.”

Lin-san looked at Bou-san.

“I think it’s impossible even if Brown-san tries.”

“Why?”

“A human being of the type such as Naru, in exchange for being difficult to possess, is unmanageable once possessed.”

“Type such as Naru...”

“The type that have excellent self-control are very strong-willed. If we fecklessly meddle and lose control, it will be seriously dangerous. Especially for Naru.”

“—Well, what should we do?”

“I don’t know.”

...What do you mean you don’t know!?

“If we were able to grasp the true identity of the possessing spirit, an effective method of exorcism might be found. Conceivably, I may be able to expel it as well.”

Bou-san ruffled his hair.

“Just great...”

“Hey, Bou-san.”

I timidly tried to ask.

“Is it such a difficult thing to expel a possessing spirit?”

As far as what’s seen on television, this isn’t a spiritualist’s typical work. Lin-san, Ayako and Bou-san are spiritualists, but even so, none of those three can exorcise the spirit.

“In brief, it’s because there are various things known as spirit possession. —People will often say, ‘I think I may be possessed by an evil spirit.’ In fact, when a person’s physical condition is poor, in a run of bad luck, no matter what one does it doesn’t work.”

“Why not?”

“Although one might say he’s possessed with something, it’s only keeping close to his side. Since spirits consume the energy of people, a person’s physical condition will become poor and no matter what one does it doesn’t work.”

“Is that so?”

“Maybe. I don’t often have trouble expelling that sort. When it comes to the shabby fellows, they’ll run away when just approached by a spiritualist.”

“Ohh?”

“When it comes to the fellows with a little bit more resistance, they tend to cling tightly. They whisper bad things, or provoke unthinkable desires. When a person is possessed by one such as this, they’re ‘under an evil influence.’ ...still, this also isn’t very difficult. If a spiritualist has a stronger will than the possessed person, then the spirit will come out even if the spiritualist doesn’t call out to it.”

Ahhh.

“The cases that are the most serious are with guys like Naru-bou. For example, even if intense hypnosis is applied, it isn’t possible to make a human commit suicide and murder if he doesn’t even want to. If you’re psychological resistance is too strong, you’ll awaken.”

“Even so, Naru...”

“Right. Therefore, it’s serious. To make a person do something against his own will means that they become unable to compete with their own will. So to speak, the spirit is infesting the inside of the mind. It’s not that easy to expel spirits of this kind.”

“Hmm...”

“Roughly, the power of the possessing spirit is the person’s own will… weakening the energy of the possessed. When this is the case, there are worries, a depressed mood, and a drop in physical strength. When the mental state is enhanced with positive energy, some spirits don’t come in the first place. Most spirits would dislike dealing with Naru-bou.”

“He’s of the type that are obstinate and stubborn, and they have full confidence in themselves and they don’t feel depressed.”

“That’s it. It seems he was probably caught momentarily off guard and forcibly infested, but given the kind of person he is, it can’t be done by a half-hearted spirit. ...definitely, it may be tough even for John.”

“But Naru, so to speak, has exceptional willpower, which is extensive…”

“So it’s more troublesome. The thing that possessed Naru successfully entered his consciousness and has control over him. When this happens, you would expect the willpower to reject the spirit, but the truth is, it’s exploited and used in order to protect the spirit. Exorcism, and all that, is, after all, a battle of wills, so as a matter of course, the one with a better willpower wins. Which one of Naru and John do you think is stronger?”

“...Naru.”

“See? That’s why exorcism is difficult. This means we have no choice but to continue the investigation. However, what do we do with Naru-bou in the meantime?”

It’s useless even if we tie or confine him?

“I will not allow anything. It’s best to leave him asleep as he is, through sleep paralysis. Since he’s dangerous when conscious.”

“Isn’t it dangerous to Naru-bou?”

Bou-san was grim faced.

“So to speak, doesn’t that mean he’ll be completely defenseless?”

“I’ll leave my shiki.”

Shiki means an employed spirit that obeys Lin-san’s orders.

“Is it reliable?”

“If I leave them all.”

“All?”

When Bou-san asked, Lin-san replied,

“There are five shiki in my possession. In each, there is a strong point and there is a weak point. The reason is that they are intended to complement each other in five. If I leave them all, it’s perfectly safe, but instead, I’m not capable of doing much else.”

“In other words, you’ll be completely powered-down.”

“That's the general idea.”

Bou-san snapped his fingers.

“Since we’re confused about what to do about Naru-bou, we need to make him incapable of moving. Especially if, as you say, Naru is dangerous goods.”

Bou-san regarded us.

“Well, what do you want to do? Ayako, Mai.”

Bou-san laughed at Ayako and me, who, confused by his meaning, looked at each other.

“In other words, the fact is, we have to do it without Naru.”

Time stopped for just a moment.

“He’s completely useless. We probably can’t afford to run away and take him with us in his condition. In other words, there aren’t many options for us. Flee and abandon Naru, or else try to do everything within our ability.”

I was involuntarily shouting.

“There’s no way we can leave and we’re not abandoning him!”

Bou-san smiled.

“We’ll then, Mai is staying. What about you, Ayako?”

I looked back behind me. A short silence descended as we stared at Ayako.

“If you lack self-confidence, withdraw.”

Ayako brushed back her hair.

“So you have self-confidence, huh?”

“Well, I think I’ll manage somehow.”

“Doesn’t seem too reliable.”

Bou-san scratched his head.

“It’s painful that Naru-bou isn’t available. But there’s something we have that Naru doesn’t.”

“Oh, that’s news. I wonder if you can tell us what it is?”

Bou-san lightly closed one eye.

“A humble attitude and kind personality.”

...that was bad.

After a moment, Ayako burst into laughter.

“That’s true!”

Well, it is compared to Naru....

Ayako breathed an exaggerated sigh.

“How can I help out? Because I’m no longer human if I abandon Naru.”

“Therefore, when it comes to us, we’re kind human beings.”

“Just so.”

That’s right, if we hold out here, Naru will become indebted to us.

5

—I was running down a path at night.

I was nearly at wit’s end and running with desperation. ‘Oh god,’ I muttered over and over in my mind. (Oh god?) While running away, I steadily began to feel sorrowful. ‘How did it end up like this?’ I think. (Like this?) I wonder what the hell I should do now.

It was a path in the forest. I ran and ran, and when I escaped the forest, I came out to an excessively small open area. Very slightly, all over the grove clearing, there was overgrown summer grass. There were figures visible there. One was standing and the other was lying down. I stopped as if sewn into place, thinking, ‘Oh god,’ once more.

Standing there was Naru. Basking in the moonlight, his complexion was white as if he wasn’t of this world. He was holding a knife in his hand. The blade was wet with crimson and droplets still dripped from the edge of the blade.

“I killed him.”

Naru said. Lying there was Akifumi-san. I closed my eyes tightly (What the hell?). There were no signs of breathing. I covered my face. This..is the end (The end?).

“I had no choice.”

Naru said and threw away the knife. He held out his white left hand.

“...why?”

I couldn’t take his hand.

“When I came, he was here. I thought you betrayed me, Mai.”

“There’s no way I would do such a thing.”

“But he’s richer and also has status.” (Huh?)

“That’s completely irrelevant.”

I covered my face once again.

“I thought you betrayed me, Mai. After all, I thought you chose the better man.”

“But there’s no way...” (This—this must be a so-called ‘liquidation of a love triangle.’)

“If not, then why did he come here?”

“...to do something like this. I told you I’d run away with you. Why didn’t you believe me?”

“Only you should have known about this place.”

“The letter was secretly switched. I was waiting in a completely different place...”

I took Naru’s hand. Naru pulled me towards himself (eek! eek!).

“...what are we going to do now?”

“I killed someone, I can’t run away.” (That’s true.)

“...death?” (eh?)

“Yeah. Even if I surrender, I’ll be killed anyway.”

“...we’ll go together.”

When I said this, Naru smiled. Silently, he lead me by the hand. Still being lead by the hand, I began to run.

—wait a minute.

Of course, isn’t this a dream? What a shameless dream I’m seeing. I mean, caught trying to escape with Naru, someone interfering with it, and a love triangle with Akifumi-san? ...oh, it’s juicy. No, not so. I mean, after this I’m going to commit lover’s suicide with Naru? I think Taka and Senpai will get a laugh out of this when I get back to Tokyo and tell them. —Or not! (Actually, in this situation, the gag would be on me!)

I ran with Naru. When I looked back, pursuers could be seen. We ran and ran until we finally arrived at a shrine.

Suddenly I thought, ‘Why isn’t it the sea?’ I don’t know why, but I had intended to go to the sea.

Barely managing to reach the shrine, my legs lost their strength. Naru tugged, but I couldn’t run anymore. From somewhere, Bou-san appeared standing toward one side.

“There’s nothing else we can do. We’re surrounded.” (Surrounded?)

Naru overlooked the surrounding area.

“This far?”

“What will become of us?”

Ayako said this. Lin-san was toward one side.

“We must prepare ourselves.” (Prepare?)

When I tried to ask, ‘What do you mean?’, people suddenly came out from the surrounding forest. I didn’t know the number. Although we all had swords, there was no way out for us. With a hopeless feeling, I watched those people rush towards us.

—This… betrayal. (Betrayal?)

“Always.”

Someone said. I nodded and clenched my fists.

“They will always be cursed until the end of days…!” (End of days? Cursed? What do you mean!?)

Eijirou-san, who swung up his sword, had approached. His drawn sword gleamed and I just stared as it swung down.

***

—I suddenly woke up.

The inside of the room was dark. On the wide eight tatami mats, there were two futons. A sleeping Ayako was visible.

For some reason, the paper sliding door that was supposed to be closed was open, and the bright, clear moonlight was penetrating through the window of the veranda.

...what a dream that was!

Just as I pondered the dream, there was a loud *bang* from the direction of the window. I lifted my head. The windowpane thudded once again. Someone was throwing pebbles.

I stood up and went to open the window. Beneath the window, the water surface of the cove was far below. Pitch black water extended, mirror-like. From the surface of the water, innumerable white lights were floating up with the speed of falling snow. The very dimly lit lights, which resembled spirit lights, disappeared straight into the sky.

...ah, I didn’t wake up.

The figure of a person on the surface of the water was visible… it was Naru. He raised his head and looked up at me, then called, ‘Come on.’ I climbed over the window frame and jumped down as if drawn. It’s no big deal. Since this is a dream.

I gently descended and landed on the surface of the water. It felt like I had stepped on glass barefoot. A number of lights went floating into the sky. Naru smiled. His warm smile appeared slightly troubled.

“It’s become serious, hasn’t it?”

When I said this, Naru nodded. Then,

“...did you see the dream?”

He asked.

“Dream? Perhaps the one where you and I commit lover’s suicide?”

Naru nodded and smiled as if relieved. Then he tilted his head a little.

“...were you scared?”

“Nah. Not really.”

“If that’s the case, I’m glad.”

Naru smiled. His eyes calmed and his expression became exceptionally beautiful.

“Did you possibly show me that dream?”

“Slightly different. I only showed the direction to enter the dream.”

“Showed the direction?”

I asked in return, but Naru only nodded.

The cove was completely surrounded by cliffs. One of the cliffs was disconnected by a thin, V-shaped crack, and from there the cove joined with the sea. In the thin alley, rocks projected from the cliff as if fighting each other, and waves scarcely shifted the surface of the water. When I looked up behind me, the building was visible, which jutted out atop linked timber similar to the stage of Kiyomizu Temple. It was a rather spectacular view. An infinite number of white lights softly rose up and crossed over there. A large dark hole was visible in the stone of the crack. That’s the cave Akifumi-san was talking about. The sheer cliff seemed to be made of really hard rock. In the rock face, a depression, as if scooped out, led on from the cave entrance. It couldn’t have been made naturally. Someone must have carved out a pathway. It was just wide enough for a person to walk alone, and when I followed it with my gaze, it soon became a stone stairway continuing until the top of the cliff.

Viewing my surroundings, small lights crossed before my eyes.

It truly seemed like snow.

“Are these all spirits?”

“Yes. They seem to be drifting spirits.”

Naru said so and started walking toward the cave. He went to the cave entrance and called to me.

The cave wasn’t that big. It was less than half the size of a gymnasium. I had thought the water most likely passed through here since I heard the cave connected to the cove from the sea, however that wasn’t the case. The ground of the cave was one meter or higher than the surface of the water. Stones, which seem to be scattered about, were lying to one side. The cave curved in the shape of a ‘く’ and the sea could be seen on the other side. Gentle waves rolled across the surface of the water, from which various sized rocks protruded, and broke onto the shore. The ground of the seaward side was a little lower. The waves had reached up to the entrance of the cave. A small shrine was built in the innermost bend of the cave. Then, as if riding a wave, small, white lights blew into the cave from the entrance of the seaward side. After they passed through the inside of the cave and exited to the cove, they blew upwards and went up high.

“Hey, what kind of spirits are these?”

“Probably those of the lives lost at sea around here. Since here seems to be the place where the souls are drifting.”

I tried reaching out my hand. A small light touched my fingertip. There was the sensation of something splashing on the end of my finger, and I somehow understood this was a fish.

“So, there’s a shrine?”

I said and looked back at the shrine. It was a small, old shrine. Somehow, it appeared to be a little bit distorted.

“There’s something... strange.”

Naru nodded.

“I don’t understand it well, either. It’s not a bad place, but it doesn’t seem like a good place... yeah, it’s a sign of sacred ground.”

“Hmm...”

I nodded and tried asking Naru.

“Naru, are you okay?”

“Yeah. Sorry for worrying you.”

“Well... I’m glad you’re okay.”

When I said so, Naru smiled. It was a very beautiful smile. While looking at that smile, I thought, ‘I like Naru after all.’

***

—Then I really woke up.

I woke up? ...Yeah, I woke up.

The moment I opened my eyes, I felt very disappointed. I wanted to talk more. Thinking so, I shifted my head while still lying down. The paper sliding doors were properly closed. The bluish light of predawn was shining in across the white paper.

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