Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!? - Volume 1 - Chapter 1

Setting Up Camp

Saturday, April 4th

Just 5,000 yen.

That was the monthly rent for Corona House room 106.

Corona House was a wooden, two story apartment building built twenty-five years ago. Being all the way on the outskirts of the city meant the rent would be cheap to begin with, but even then, 5,000 yen a month for a six tatami1 mat room with a kitchen, bathroom and toilet was exceptionally low. In fact, the rent for the other rooms at Corona House was at least ten times higher. On top of that, room 106 was completely deposit free.

However, there was a reason for its extreme cheapness. Every single person who had moved in had, without exception, moved out just as quickly. The record was just three hours, but even the longest tenant had only stayed three months. About three days was the average. As a result, the going rent continued to get slashed, and the 10,000 yen rent had already been cut in half before spring.

“Don’t treat that box carelessly, Mackenzie. Its contents are more valuable than your life.”

“That’s rich coming from you, Kou. Compared to you, I’m always careful.”

“As long as you understand. Now keep up the hard work, Mackenzie-kun.”

“Yeah, yeah. Who’s helping who move again? Jeez.”

Today—Saturday, April 4th—a new tenant was moving in to that super cheap residence. His name was Satomi Koutarou, but his childhood friend, Matsudaira Kenji, called him Kou. In return, Koutarou called him Mackenzie. The two fifteen year old boys would both officially be high school students as of the school’s opening ceremony on Monday.

Because of his father’s sudden job transfer, Koutarou would be living alone starting this spring. Having grown up with just his father, Koutarou didn’t want to burden him now. When the real estate agent introduced Koutarou to Corona House’s room 106, he’d jumped on the offer before even hearing the reason why the rent was so low.

“Anyways, Kou, it’s a good thing you managed to find such a great place with this kind of timing, huh?”

“I was lucky. When my old man told me about his transfer the other day, I seriously panicked.”

His father’s relocation was decided in late February, just as Koutarou had finished his high school entrance exams and was waiting for the results.

“That said, there wasn’t anything we could do about it. I mean, his coworker that was supposed to get the transfer got hurt and couldn’t do it anymore.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

Originally, the transfer was intended for a colleague of Koutarou’s father. When he was seriously injured in an accident, however, Koutarou’s father ended up having to go instead.

“I was surprised by the suddenness of it all, but I figured it was as good a chance as any for me to become independent. I’m a high school student now, after all.”

“How positive of you.”

“Yeah, so how about you celebrate the start of my journey into manhood?”

“What are you going on about?”

Koutarou and Kenji were working together to carry a suitcase full of clothes. They’d been carrying luggage back and forth between the apartment and the moving van for a while now.

“Should I put the fridge next to the sink?” asked a middle-aged man in work clothes as he poked his head out of room 106. He was the driver of the moving van that had been helping out Koutarou and Kenji.

“Yes, please!”

“Got it.”

Hearing Koutarou’s answer, the man went back inside, and Koutarou and Kenji soon followed suit.

“So this place is really 5,000 yen a month? It’s just too good to be true...”

The boys passed through the open doorway, and Kenji let out yet another sigh.

“Jealous, aren’t you?”

“If I had known it was just 5,000 yen, I would have rented it myself.”

The room was of a somewhat older Japanese style. Entering through the front door, there was a boarded floor hallway leading into the inner, six tatami mat room. On the left side of the hall was the kitchen unit, and to the right was the bath and toilet. While it looked old-fashioned, the apartment was clean and well maintained.

“Look out, Kou. The suitcase is about to hit the wall.”

“I know, I know.”

“I wonder sometimes... We’re coming through, mister.”

“Oh, sorry about that, Glasses-kun.”

Passing behind the man installing the kitchenette, Koutarou and Kenji headed to the inner room. They weaved past the boxes and furniture scattered about.

“So what do we do with this suitcase?”

“Hmm... Let’s put it in the wardrobe.”

“Okay.”

The boys worked together to cram the suitcase inside the wardrobe. As they finished, the mover entered the room.

“That was the last of the luggage, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah, that was all of it.”

“Okay, then I’ll be taking my leave.”

“Thank you very much.”

Koutarou was raised to be respectful of his elders, so he naturally bowed to the man.

“I’m the one that should be bowing. Thank you for your patronage.”

The man flashed a gentle smile and deeply bowed in return. Leaving some papers behind, he exited the room.

“All right, the first part’s over with,” said Kenji.

“Mackenzie, catch.”

Just as Kenji was adjusting his glasses, Koutarou threw a plastic bottle of tea to him.

“Whoa, thanks.”

Kenji caught the bottle without difficulty. Having known each other for a long time, he was used to this kind of surprise.

“It’s lukewarm, but you’ll have to give me a break for that one. The fridge was only just installed,” Koutarou said as he reached into a plastic bag for his own bottle. He’d gotten the drinks a little while ago from the nearby convenience store.

“I know.”

The two boys opened their bottles at the same time and both took a sip.

“Ahh... I feel alive again.”

Koutarou sat down on a stack of cardboard boxes while drinking his tea, and Kenji leaned against the doorframe to the inner room. Kenji looked at the calendar hanging on the wall.

“Time sure flies... The entrance ceremony is the day after tomorrow.”

“That’s right. I have to unpack everything I need today.”

Koutarou looked at the calendar with Kenji, then glanced at the clock he’d put up alongside it.

“Hmm? Can’t you just do that tomorrow?”

“I’ve got my part-time job tomorrow.”

“You actually signed up for that shift? You could’ve at least taken off a couple of days to move.”

Kenji’s eyes opened wide behind his glasses as he looked at Koutarou in surprise.

“There are a lot of necessities in early spring. Don’t lump me in with someone living off their parents like you.”

“Your old man left you some money for that, didn’t he?”

“I’m trying my best not to go into it. That’s what living for yourself is all about.”

“I don’t care what you’re calling it, but don’t come crying to me if you collapse.”

“Unlike you intelligent types, I’m confident in my physical strength.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m sure you are.”

Kenji shrugged at Koutarou, who was puffing out his chest proudly.

“So, Kou, what time do you start tomorrow?”

“In the morning like always.”

“All right, then I’ll pick you up as usual.”

“I’m counting on you.”

The truth was that the two boys actually worked at the same place. After they had been accepted into high school, they applied for the job at the same time. As luck would have it, they were both hired on and began work last month.

“...Hey, Kou, will you be able to wake up in time for school when it starts?”

“Shouldn’t be a problem.”

“That doesn’t sound very convincing when I have to get you up every weekend to go to work.”

“Shut it.”

Weekend shifts started early, so it had become a regular occurrence for Kenji to come wake up Koutarou.

“Starting with living on my own, I’m going to join society as a functioning adult. I can’t act like a kid forever.”

“So I don’t have to come pick you up tomorrow?”

“Apples and oranges, Mackenzie-kun. You should still swing by in the morning.”

“This is what I get...”

Kenji’s shoulders slumped in amazement.

“Thanks as always, grandpa.”

“...I’ve suddenly lost all of my motivation.”

“Don’t be like that. You’re young.”

Their conversation was interrupted by the chime of the doorbell.

“Hmm?”

“A guest?”

But before Koutarou could answer, the visitor opened the door and stepped inside.

“Hello! Is Satomi-san here?” a girl’s voice asked from the doorway.

That voice...

Koutarou had heard that voice before.

“It’s the landlord.”

“Landlord?”

“Ah, yes, coming!” Koutarou called out as he jumped off the cardboard boxes he was sitting on. Likewise, Kenji stood up from leaning on the doorframe.

“Sounds pretty young,” Kenji said skeptically.

“Come on, Mackenzie, you’re in for a surprise.”

“All right...”

The boys headed towards the front door together.

“Hello, Landlord-san.”

“Hello, Satomi-san.”

Standing in the doorway was a girl about Koutarou and Kenji’s age, wearing an apron over her normal clothes. As she greeted the boys, she bowed gracefully. Her face retained a youthful charm, and her long hair was tied up with a large ribbon. By all appearances, she was a bright and healthy girl.

“Huh? Landlord? This girl?”

“Yeah. This is Corona House’s landlord. Surprised, aren’t you, Mackenzie?”

“Y-Yeah...”

Eyes wide open in surprise, Kenji nodded. The young girl in front of him didn’t exactly fit his mental image of landlord. He simply stared in astonishment.

“I was surprised too.”

“Everyone is at first. Teehee...” The girl smiled and turned to Kenji. “Nice to meet you. I’m the landlord of Corona House, Kasagi Shizuka.”

“P-Pleased to meet you. I’m Matsudaira Kenji.”

“I hope we’ll get along, Matsudaira-san.”

“Yeah, likewise.”

Kenji and Shizuka bowed to each other.

“Landlord-san, this guy’s a childhood friend of mine.”

“My, is that so?”

“I’m sure you’ll see him around from time to time, so feel free to just call him Mackenzie.”

Shizuka blinked a couple of times as she stared at Kenji.

“You’re Japanese, aren’t you? With a name like Matsudaira...”

“Oh, yeah, he’s definitely Japanese. Mackenzie is just an abbreviation of his full name, Matsudaira Kenji.”

“Oh, I see. ‘Ma’ and ‘Kenji’ together becomes ‘Mackenzie.’”

Satisfied, Shizuka put her hand over her mouth and giggled.

“That’s just what Kou calls me.”

“Then would you prefer it if I call you Matsudaira-san?”

“Mackenzie is fine. I’m already used to it.”

“All right then, Mackenzie-san.”

Seeing Kenji shrug his shoulders, Shizuka giggled again, causing her ribbon and long ponytail to bounce.

“Landlord-san is starting at Kisshouharukaze High School this year as well.”

“Oh, what a coincidence.”

“With a bit of luck, we could all end up in the same class.”

“Heehee, I hope we can be friends at school too,” Shizuka said, bowing politely again.

“So, Landlord-san, did you need something?”

“Oh, right, I almost forgot.” Shizuka clapped her hands together, then pointed to the window behind Koutarou and Kenji. “I actually happened to see the moving van leave a little while ago and figured it was about time to help.”

“From the window?”

“Yes, Mackenzie-san. I actually happen to live in the room above this one.”

“Jealous yet? I’m sharing a roof with a cute landlord.”

“Oh my...” Shizuka’s eyes opened wide for a moment before she smiled. “You flatter me, Satomi-san.”

“Of course you’re sharing the same roof. This is an apartment building.”

“It’s a matter of perspective.”

“Teehee, the two of you sure get along well... Oh, that’s right, I came to lend a hand. With all the heavy lifting done, I should be able to help now.”

“That would be great, Landlord-san. Kou’s good at breaking stuff and making a mess, but he’s bad at putting things together and cleaning up.”

“Hey, Mackenzie! Don’t talk about me like that!”

“It’s the truth, isn’t it? Do you have any idea how much trouble you cause me?” Kenji let out a heavy sigh as he pushed up his glasses.

“Then you’re always the one stuck cleaning up, Mackenzie-san?”

“Yes, I have a terrible time of it.”

“But I’m grateful for it.”

“...Not that I’d ever know. Oh, but there’s something I wanted to ask you, Landlord-san.”

“Oh? What is it?” Still smiling, Shizuka nodded her head.

“Why is the rent for this room only 5,000 yen?”

“H-Hey, Mackenzie! Don’t just ask something like that all of a sudden!”

Koutarou, who was already aware of the circumstances, began panicking.

“But I want to know. With a great room like this and a reliable landlord, I don’t see anything wrong with the place.”

“This apartment was left behind by her parents and—”

“I don’t mind, Satomi-san.”

Koutarou was worried about angering Shizuka, but she simply smiled calmly and shook her head.

“Mackenzie-san’s right. Besides... Heehee, can’t you tell that he’s worried about you, Satomi-san?”

“Landlord-san...”

“It’s not like there’s anything I can do about it anyway.”

“Y-Yeah...”

Koutarou nodded apologetically as Shizuka turned back towards Kenji.

“Actually, it appears in this room.”

“Appear? What does?”

“The rumors say it’s a ghost.”

“A gh-ghost?!” Startled, Kenji hastily looked around the room in paranoia.

“I’ve never seen it myself, but every tenant that’s moved in here has... Because of that, no one ever stays for long.”

“A ghost, huh? I find that hard to believe...”

“I did too. But every tenant has said the same thing when they moved out, so it must be the truth.” Shizuka smiled weakly and drooped her shoulders as she looked at the perplexed Kenji.

“Leave it to me, Landlord-san. I’m not going to let some ghost scare me off.”

“I’m counting on you. Please stay long enough to get rid of any rumors about ghosts.”

“You bet!”

“But to think there’s a ghost in here...” Still unconvinced, Kenji took another look around the room.

“Nothing will come from thinking too hard about it, Mackenzie. Landlord-san’s here to help out, so let’s start unpacking.”

“...Y-Yeah, let’s.” At Koutarou’s behest, Kenji vigorously shook his head to snap himself out of it. “I’m sure you’d be fine even if a ghost showed up, considering how thickheaded you are.”

“That sounds awfully spiteful, Mackenzie.”

“That was intentional.”

“Figures... Well, let’s get started, Landlord-san.”

“Sure thing, Satomi-san... But you two really do get along well.” Shizuka started laughing as she looked at Koutarou and Kenji.

“You think so?”

“Landlord-san, please don’t say such revolting things.”

“Mackenzie, you really don’t have to put it like that, do you?”

Koutarou and the others began milling about, unpacking the boxes one at a time. With Kenji and Shizuka’s help, room 106 was cleaned up enough to be perfectly livable before dinnertime.

“I’m going home now, but don’t forget about work tomorrow. Keep the unpacking to a minimum and get to bed early, okay?”

“I know, I know. I can’t afford to oversleep, right?”

“You saying ‘I know’ like that is the least convincing thing ever.”

Kenji sighed as he put on his shoes that had been tossed to the side of the front door.

“Then I’ll take my leave now as well, Satomi-san.”

“Landlord-san, you don’t have to call me Satomi-san. We’ll be classmates the day after tomorrow.”

“Okay, then... Satomi-kun.”

“That sounds better.”

“Okay, Satomi-kun it is then.”

Shizuka flashed a radiant smile as she put on her shoes that she’d left neatly arranged by the entrance. Kenji opened the front door for both of them.

“Thanks a lot for today, Landlord-san,” Koutarou said, watching Shizuka and Kenji step outside.

“Don’t even mention it. I was happy to help.”

“What? No thanks for me?”

“You’re more of a give and take kind of guy.”

“That’s not how I see it...”

“Well, goodbye for now, Satomi-kun.”

“Goodbye, Landlord-san.”

“Hurry up and get to sleep.”

“I know, I know.”

Kenji and Shizuka departed room 106 as the door shut behind them.

Being left alone, Koutarou continued unpacking after he finished eating the bento he’d bought at the convenience store.

“Hmm... What to do with this bat...? I can’t treat it like any old bat after all, and I can’t just leave it in the umbrella stand either...”

Koutarou was holding a bat in his hand, trying to think of a place to put it. This was no ordinary bat, you see. It was one of Koutarou’s prized possessions: a bat used and signed by a legendary slugger known as “the god of batting.”

“All right, I’ll get a stand for it. The corner will have to do for now.”

Koutarou put the bat down and got to opening up another box.

“What was in this one?”

Peeling back the tape on the box, Koutarou peeked inside.

“Ah, more memorabilia...”

Trophies, certificates, commemorative plaques, and his beloved glove. They were all keepsakes from Koutarou’s middle school days.

“Whoops. I put this in here too?”

There was one thing in the box that didn’t fit in with the rest of his baseball treasures.

“I better set this aside...”

Koutarou held in his hands a half-knit sweater. He neatly wrapped some packing paper around it, and carefully tucked it inside the suitcase in the wardrobe.

“And that’s that.”

Koutarou clapped his hands together as he stepped away from the wardrobe. That was when the cellphone he had left charging in the corner of the room started ringing.

“Hmm? My old man?”

There was only one person with that ringtone among Koutarou’s contacts: Satomi Yuichirou.

The name of his father flashed on the small screen. Koutarou picked up the phone, answered the call, and put it against his ear.

“Hey, old man.”

“Oh, there you are, Koutarou.”

As expected, the voice coming from the other side was none other than Koutarou’s father, Yuichirou.

“How is it going over there? Have you unpacked all your luggage?”

“It’s going slowly but surely. Mackenzie and the landlord gave me a hand, so I can at least settle in.”

“I see. Make sure you thank them properly.”

“Of course. How is it going for you?”

“I’m living in a dormitory for singles, you know. Even if I don’t lift a finger, I still get dinner and a hot bath. As long as I put my clothes out for cleaning, there’s nothing for me to worry about.”

“That’s good to hear. You’re even more helpless than I am, so I was a little worried myself.”

“Hahaha, that hurts to hear.”

The Satomi family consisted of just father and son, and Koutarou had been the one to do most of the housework. Of course, being as rough as he was, he wasn’t necessarily good at it. But if he hadn’t stepped up, Yuichirou surely would have starved to death. His father was a terrible homemaker.

“Living apart should be a good opportunity for you, so make sure you find a good partner.”

Koutarou wanted his father to remarry as quickly as possible. Until he did, Koutarou would worry that he might actually starve or that he would just let dirty clothes pile up in his room.

“Gwahahaha, finding someone is a bit...”

As hopeful as Koutarou was, it didn’t seem likely to happen anytime soon. Yuichirou was still in love with his late wife. And knowing how he felt, Koutarou couldn’t really complain.

“Hmm, well, it seems everything is going well.”

“You too, old man. Don’t forget to take out the trash.”

“I know, I know.”

“I wonder sometimes...”

It was at times like these that Koutarou understood how Kenji must feel.

“Well, I won’t hold you up anymore. I’ve still got some more unpacking to do myself.”

“Same here. Talk to you later, old man.”

“Yeah. Goodnight, Koutarou.”

“Goodnight.”

Their conversation had gone smoothly.

“I was wondering what would happen when that transfer suddenly came up, but...”

Koutarou set his phone down and plugged it back in.

“It seems to be going well for now.”

Koutarou smiled to himself and took a quick breather before starting up again on getting his room in order.

“Eleven o’clock already...”

Koutarou finally stopped cleaning up as it neared 11 PM.

“Guess I’ll get to bed early tonight. I’ll never hear the end of it from Mackenzie if I oversleep.”

The past few days, Koutarou had had his hands full with moving. And now on top of that he had work in the morning, so turning in early seemed like a good idea.

“All right, time to hit the hay.”

Koutarou slid open the wardrobe door and pulled out a futon and a cover with an uncharacteristically floral pattern on it. Shizuka had been kind enough to prepare it for him.

With some grunting, Koutarou pushed aside a few boxes and threw down the futon in the space he’d managed to clear. As he was about to casually throw himself into the bed as well, the floral cover caught his eye.

“...I guess I should lay it down the right way.”

After a change of heart, Koutarou properly spread out the futon. Since Shizuka had taken the time to prepare the duvet for him, he’d feel guilty if he treated it roughly like he usually did.

“There we go.”

After neatly laying down his futon, Koutarou turned off the light and crawled into bed.

“Goodnight.”

After saying goodnight to an empty room, Koutarou closed his eyes. He normally had a horrible time waking up in the morning, but he was quick to go to sleep. After just a few minutes, he was already fast asleep.

“Zzzzz...”

With everything still in room 106, only the sounds of Koutarou breathing and the ticking of the clock on the wall could be heard. They were so quiet, however, that they were eventually drowned out by the TV that was turned on next door in room 105, and then again by Shizuka opening and shutting her door in room 206 above. The noise didn’t keep up much past midnight, however. By 2 AM, everything was quiet enough for the gentle sound of Koutarou breathing to be heard again.

But that wasn’t the only noise in room 106 now. There was small rattling sound, and it wasn’t coming from Koutarou. Being in deep sleep, he wasn’t moving a muscle.

The sound seemed to be coming from the window, but it wasn’t like it was poorly constructed or the wind was blowing. The window just continued mysteriously rattling as it gradually grew noisier. After a few minutes, it was irritatingly loud.

“Zzzzzzzz...”

But Koutarou showed no sign of waking up.

“Mmm... Mackenzie, just apologize to McKinley already.”

In fact, Koutarou began talking loudly in his sleep. If his own voice wasn’t going to wake him up, the window surely wouldn’t. Almost as if in response to Koutarou’s voice, the strange sounds suddenly stopped dead.

“Gweh heh heh...”

However, as soon as Koutarou began to mumble in his sleep again, the window began to rattle again too. While it couldn’t be possible, it was almost as if it had been startled. After laughing to himself, Koutarou’s sleep talking seemed to stop. Then there was silence. But while nothing happened for several minutes, the abnormality was far from over.

Suddenly, a high pitched sound rang out like a small glass bottle breaking. Strangely, however, there was no apparent cause for the noise. It had certainly come from inside the room, but there was nothing there that could produce it.

The sound of breaking glass continued, and a baseball inexplicably rolled across the tatami floor. The odd noise sounded as if it was coming from roughly the same area the ball had rolled, but neither the source of the sound nor the cause for the ball rolling could be seen.

The new sound persisted with increasing intensity. It was now several times louder than the rattling of the window.

“Heh heh... What, Mackenzie? You can’t handle Landlord-san? She sure is cute, isn’t she?”

Despite the commotion, Koutarou still wasn’t waking up. He only began sleep talking even more.

“You’ve got good looks, but no guts.”

As if trying to drown out Koutarou’s mumbling, the mysterious sounds grew louder still. As if urged on by that, other objects in the room began rattling too. The room was falling into chaos as the furniture and moving boxes started to shake and clatter, and the tumult grew louder and louder.

The sound even passed right over him, but Koutarou simply refused to wake up. Even Kenji, who had known Koutarou for a long time, had trouble waking him up, so something like this was nothing to Koutarou.

“Weh heh heh...”

Once again, the racket stopped when Koutarou made a sound.

If this mysterious phenomenon was caused by someone...

“Enough with the rattling, Mackenzie!”

That someone must have been amazed at Koutarou’s thickheadedness.