1.
Gotou Kazutoshi looked up at the apartment and sighed a little…
It was an eight-story brick walled apartment. It was U-shaped and had a beautiful garden where the lawn were planted and cobblestone trails continuing to the entrance.
Surrounded by beautiful plantings, the grounds were planted with lawns and cobblestone trails continuing to the entrance.
It was built about half a year ago, and it seems to cost 70 million yen with 3 LDK. It was very close to the station and there was a sense of luxury, but it was still expensive.
At first, although this was Tokyo, if it exceeded one signal, it was Kanagawa prefecture.
Soaring prices had been greatly affected by trains. In the past, there was only a stop at Meishin Station, but with the revision of the schedule, the price of land increased as the express train also stopped.
“What did you saw ?” He called out Eishin, who stood next to him.
Although he was quite old, his body was solid build and fleshy. On top of that, he was a monk, dressed in a formal coat, with a mild smile, but it was only a sham. If he opened his mouth he could be sharp, it looked like a monk who could ate people.
“I do not know. I can’t see it just by looking at it”.
When Gotou told him to spit, Eishin sneered and laughed.
“Your body is big, but you’re good for nothing. Unlike you, I’m not solely about my body.”
“Shut up !”
“You shout in vain, who do you think you are talking to ? It’s better to expel you of the house.”
Eishin grinned.
Gotou had no choice but to swallow his anger. Gotou went to this apartment only because he was asked by Eishin.
Gotou used to be a police officer, but he caused problem in a case and he got disciplinary dismissal.
Since he was at a good age, he couldn’t stay unemployed, he started searching for a job that made use of his past experience. It wasn’t just simple research, it was research that mainly dealt with psychic incidents.
When one of this family members inquired that psychic phenomenon was happening in this apartment, Eishin brought this request to Gotou.
It might be a pleasure to bring in the work, but Gotou didn’t feel like riding. A request from Eishin would always be a bother. There was no basis, but he only had a bad feeling this time.
He would like to decline, but now the Gotou’s family lived in the temple’s vault. It was the temple where Isshin served as a priest.
Originally, Gotou who wasn’t a monk couldn’t live in it, but it been possible thanks to the influence of Eishin.
With that in mind, Eishin is leading Gotou in such a troublesome way. Recently, at the end of the day Gotou got accustomed to the monk.
“It is bad. Let’s go faster than that.”
It would be bad to argue here so he didn’t start. When Gotou urged Eishin, he walked toward the entrance responding “Um um”.
Eishin called room 301 on the intercom and informed them of the visit, the automatic door of the auto lock opened.
Once inside, there was a large lobby space with a sofa. It was well kept, and it looked like you had stepped into a hotel rather than an apartment.
They got into the elevator at the back, went up to the third floor, and went to the front of room 301, the door opened at the same timing.
It was a woman in the early thirties who shown her face. This woman would be Setsuko Hirota, the client.
“I am sorry for the wait” Setsuko spoke, her face tense.
“No, no. I am always indebted to my father. This is nothing.”
Eishin was different from Gotou, as he laughed loudly
“Thank you very much.”
After carefully saying thanks, Setsuko turned to Gotou. Even if she didn’t mention it, you could see that she was doubtful of Gotou’s presence.
“This man, who look like a bear, is my disciple.” Before Gotou spoke, Eishin introduced him.
ー Who is the disciple ! First of all, that’s not my name !
He wanted to complain, but he stopped. He didn’t thought he could beat Eishin with words. In the first place, it was useless to get rid of him as long as he lived in the temple.
“Nice to meet you”, Gotou greeted.
Setsuko seemed to be convinced, and urged “Please.”
Following Eishin, he took off his shoes at the entrance and entered.
He looked for gloves before entering, it was like the police age habit.
“It’s here”
Going through the hallway, it was the living dining room where the counter kitchen was installed.
It was a fairly large space, in wooden floor. The windows were large, but from the direction of the sun, it looked like the sun was hard.
There was a dining table in front of the counter kitchen, and there was a television in the back.
It was a clean room, with no trace of life, like a model room. They must had moved not long time ago.
According to the story he heard from Eishin, psychic phenomena were frequent in this room.
You could hear things like rap sounds, and even though you didn’t touch, things seemed to move or the TV turned on itself.
If it was only that, it would be cleared by a misunderstanding but the problem was beyond that.
Setsuko saw a boy ghost in this room. Also, not once or twice. When that happened, you could not get rid of it by mere misunderstanding.
“How is it ?” Eishin approached Gotou’s face and whispered with a low voice.
“I’m not Yakumo, I can’t see it just by looking at it.”
“That’s right. You’re just a monk” Eishin laughed as mockery
It was really embarrassing, but it was a fact that Gotou could not do anything in front of a psychic incident. In the first place, Gotou had no kind of psychic ability at all.
Still, there was a reason that Gotou intended to deal with psychic incidents as a main search. That was the presence of Saito Yakumo.
Although he was a fucking sassy university student, Yakumo had a peculiar constitution. Yakumo had a red left eye which could see the soul of the dead.
When he was still in the police, Gotou had led a number of cases and solved them, with the help of Yakumo’s predisposition.
Gotou thought to do search for psychics etc would be nothing because he thought it would be better to bring in Yakumo, but it may be difficult now.
“What are you doing ?” Eishin smitten him.
“I don’t do anything in particular”
When Gotou shook his head, something strange happened.
The photo stand placed on the sideboard fell with a noise. Everyone in the room froze.
Setsuko put her hand on her mouth and opened her eyes wide.
Wind ? No, that couldn’t be it. This was a room and the windows were not open. Someone moved around and the sideboard didn’t shake
“Just now, was that some porn ?” Eishin said in an unnatural tone.
“Poltergeist” Gotou corrected Eishin’s words, walked to the sideboard, and grabbed the photo frame.
It was a silver framed photo frame, which contained wedding pictures. He turned it over and observed carefully, but it seemed that there was no particular mechanism.
“Is this something common?” Eishin asked Setsuko.
Setsuko nodded, keeping her expression of surprise
However, it was not possible to judge whether this was a poltergeist phenomenon just by a falling photo frame.
Gotou tried to return the photo frame to the sideboard, and he heard a strange noise.
*Growl*
It sounded like a beast snarl.
“What?”
Gotou looked around for a while, but could not grasp the source of the sound. The noise was too loud to be a mistake.
ー What the hell is happening
When Gotou was stunned with the photo frame, he heard a voice from nowhere. It was a child’s laughter.
And not from one direction. But from all around, as if the laughter surrounded them.
He thought he was mishearing, but it was not the case.
“Nooo !” Setsuko raised her voice, she crouched down and hang her head.
Eishin looked surprised too.
If what happened now was a poltergeist phenomenon, something with a tremendous power was hidden.
An unpleasant feeling spread inside Gotou.
2.
“Yo, Mako-chan”
Hijikata Makoto opened the door of the meeting room, and the man sitting raised his hand cheerfully. With a shaggy perm, such as popular in the 1960s, and a dark tanned skin, he said with a smile to show off his awfully white teeth.
It was Sayama Takeshi, a freelance photographer.
“Sayama-san. Long time no see. It’s so sudden, what happened ?”
Makoto sat on the opposite chair with a smile.
She had worked with Sayama several times so far. Contrary to his seemingly frivolous appearance, he was a solid and reliable person.
Just before at the reception desk Makoto heard Sayama was visiting her, this was the first time that Sayama came out after work.
“In fact, there was something I wanted to consult with you a bit.”
“Consult…”
She was puzzled by his unexpected words.
“Before that, is it alright for you to return?” Sayama rushed over while asking.
“Did you know that I was absent?”
When Makoto asked surprised, Sayama said “It is natural. It made a fuss”
What he said was true.
It was one week ago that Makoto left the company for about ten days and returned.
As Sayama, a photographer, might not have known it because he was absent for vacation or sickness, Makoto was caught in a certain incident and was stabbed in her abdomen, and was hospitalized.
It was reported in the news, it would be strange if he didn’t know.
“Oh, is your wound okay?” Sayama asked again.
“Yeah, it wasn’t a serious injury.” Makoto smiled bitterly.
Luckily, even though she was stabbed, it didn’t hurt her internal organs.
The treatment was just suture the wound and she was discharged after three days. However, the moment she was stabbed, she felt that she would die.
When she put her hand on the belly, the fear that she faced was still clear and the wound aching.
“That’s good” Sayama nodded.
He was really relieved.
“So what is the consultation?”
Makoto cut out. Sayama began to fish in the bag he had placed at his feet, ceasing speaking.
“What do you want me to see?”
“Yes. Ah, here it is.” Sayama put a tablet on the table.
“Just wait a minute”
Sayama seemed to be searching for data while swiping the monitor of the tablet.
“Ah, this.”, he displayed a photo on monitor.
Without knowing why, Makoto looked at the picture projected on the tablet and looked into it.
There was a room in it.
Wooden floor, sofa, table.
Besides, there was a large TV. It was a room with nothing wrong.
“What is it ?”
“This, this is my room…”
It was a bit surprising.
It must be a prejudice, but she thought that the room of a single man would be a little more scattered.
“I’d like to say that I’m surprised it’s clean”
“You noticed ?”
Makoto could see it.
“Well, if I were alone, it might have been messy…”
Sayama covered the back of the neck as he was blushing.
She didn’t heard about this kind of story, but from his current reaction, it seemed that Sayama had been dating someone.
“What? Did you show me this photo to show off what your girlfriend did?”
“That’s not it. Look carefully. Here…”
Having said that, Sayama pointed at the television’s side on the picture.
Makoto focused her eyes, but she didn’t know what Sayama’s true intention as he show this.
She looked up at Sayama, raising her face with a confused expression.
Like it couldn’t be helped, Sayama manipulated the monitor to expand the side of the TV.
She did not notice when she was watching in the distance. However, when he expanded in this way, she realized that something strange was reflected.
It was vague, not obvious, but it looked like a round, black shadow.
“Is this…”
“I think this is the face of a person.”
As Sayama spoke, the black shadow, which was vague, connected the image at once.
Certainly, the shade in the black shadow looked like a human face.
“There are other things”
Sayama said that and displayed another photo.
This time he photographed the corridor.
You could see a black shadow on the door. She used to see only a face, but this photo looked like a standing person.
“This one too…”
Sayama show another picture.
He took a picture of the ceiling in the corner of the room, and at the corner there was a shadow of a human face, similar to the one on the side of the television.
“I think it’s the so-called psychic photographs…” Sayama stared at Makoto.
It was a mysterious picture, but it was too soon to judge it as a psychic photograph. The reason was that Sayama is a photographer.
“Well done. What kind of processing did you use ?” Makoto carefully asked.
Since Sayama was a photographer, retouched this pictures shouldn’t be a problem.
His purpose was unknown, but she speculated that it must had been created by Sayama.
“The photos I just showed are not processed at all”
As to prove his innocence Sayama raised both hands.
“Is it true ?”
“Obviously. It doesn’t make sense to take so much time and effort for a photo.”
“You can make a profit by selling such photos.”
“That’s not enough to make small money.” Sayama was smiling, but his voice was slightly frustrated.
He didn’t seem to lie. It meant that it was not a photo created. By chance, did it meant that some shadow had been reflected ?
If that was the case, a photographer like Sayama couldn’t miss it.
“Is this a real psychic photo?”
“I think so”
When Makoto asked, Sayama waved, saying, “No, no.”
“In fact, when I was sleeping in my room, I started to hear strange sounds.”
“Strange sounds ?”
“Yes. At first, it sounded like a roaring wind, so I didn’t care so much, but sometime I heard footsteps like someone walking around in the house.”
“Wasn’t that your girlfriend?”
“No, she was sleeping next to me. And it’s not just footsteps. I can hear strange voice too…”
“Voice ?”
“Yes. I don’t know what it was talking about, but it was a voice that sounded like some kind of child.”
“So, did you mean to took a picture?”
Makoto looked Sayama in the eyes. Sayama nodded. His expression was also serious. It did not seem to be a kind of fiction.
“I don’t care if it’s elsewhere, but it’s my room anyway”
“I agree.”
If something like this was taken in her room, she would feel so weird that she could not live calmly.
“So, I thought I should show it to you Mako-chan.”
“Why me ?”
“Why, Mako-chan, it’s your specialty”
ーThat’s right.
At the same time that Makoto was convinced, she involuntarily smiled bitterly.
Makoto knew that a rumor spread over saying she was familiar with psychic phenomenon
This was because she had been involved in a number of cases with such incidents. But Makoto did not do something directly. It was another person who solved the case. Saitou Yakumo.
When Makoto explained that, Sayama asked, “If so, please ask that person.”
It was not a problem to ask, but the chance to received it was extremely low.
Yakumo, now, had a big problem.
ー I’m sorry.
A sincere sigh naturally leaked from Makoto’s mouth.
3.
Yutaro Ishii was busy in a small room, organizing documents.
Originally it was a warehouse but it had been renovated in a simple room with two opposite desks and a cabinet.
There was no window, just sitting down made him feel awkward. Not only that, under the fluorescent light, the sense of time went mad.
“That’s so annoying …”
While sitting on the opposite desk, Hideya Miyagawa leaned back to the back of his chair while speaking in an irritated tone.
Despite being small, he had sharp eyes and a bald head with a sleek face.
Miyagawa, who once was the chief of the criminal section, has been transferred to Ishii’s “Unresolved Special Investigation Agent”, taking responsibility for a scandal.
The “Unresolved Special Investigation Agent” was the department that handled unsolved cases, the so-called cold cases.
It sounded like it was an important job, but it was not.
Ishii and Miyagawa were the only members of this so-called specialized department, and the contents of their work were to organized and classified materials of unsolved cases.
When a major incident occurred, they sometimes participated in investigations as a support, but it was extremely rare.
It would be safe to say that they were prisoners.
However, Ishii was proud of his current work.
Although they are treated as prisoners from their surroundings, there had been many cases in which “Unresolved Special Investigation Agent” led to the solution.
“Well, don’t say that”
Ishii called while repositioning the glasses in silver frame with his fingertips.
As soon as that, Miyagawa’s sharp gaze flew his way. To be honest, he was pretty scared. At first glance he looked more like a normal person than the police.“You, it doesn’t bother you,” Miyagawa said in bitter tone.
“What ?”
“Don’t ‘what’ me. Why are we out of the mosquito nets ?”
“What are you saying ?”
“Even if I said it, you won’t understand”
As Miyagawa beat his desk, Ishii bang his head involuntarily.
Even if he get frustrated like that, Ishii wouldn’t understand if he doesn’t know.
“What are you so angry about?”
When Ishii asked, Miyagawa sighed loudly.
“It’s about Miyuki Nanase” Miyagawa spitted out.
Ishii heard that and finally understood.
Miyagawa was talking about an incident related to an emerging religious group called “Jikou Koushinkai”.
Following this incident, they come to face the fugitive murderer Miyuki Nanase.
As a result, she had been missed since then and they didn’t know her whereabouts.
Based on the incident, the investigative headquarter was chasing Miyuki Nanase with bloody eyes.
However, Ishii and him did not participate in the investigation. Miyagawa seemed to be angry at that.
“It can not be helped.”
As Ishii spoke, Miyagawa stood up vigorously.
“Don’t 'It can not be helped’ me !” First of all, that religious groups was completely unmarked ! If we did not investigate, the case itself would not have come to light! “
Miyagawa was red-faced, like a boiled octopus.
He did not understood his feelings. If you looked at Miyagawa, it was like having a delicious treat. But Ishii didn’t feel angry.
Some said that he was not particularly interested in this things, but in the case of 'Jikou Koushinkai’ Ishii did not pursue Miyuki Nanase, but was trying to save Gotou who was haunted by ghost.
In that sense, Ishii had achieved its original purpose.
In addition…
"Miyuki Nanase is a dangerous person. It is safer to leave it to the criminal division.”
Ishii had been exposed to mortal danger many times by being involved in Nanase Miyuki.
Next time, he may be really killed.
“Idiot ! You weak, what are you saying !”
“B-But…”
“If you’re a detective, be a little bit more crunchy!”
“Y-Yes…”
Ishii was sorry for what he was doing and scratched his forehead.
It can not be helped if it he thought that it was rude. But it was also true.
At the time of the last incident, Ishii was about to be stabbed by Miyuki Nanase. It was Makoto who saved him.
Because she became a shield, Ishii was left unscathed, but instead she was stabbed in her belly.
It was scary to be harmed, but that was not all.
ー If something else had happened to Makoto…
When he thought so, he felt like he could not stand.
Since that one case, Ishii’s feelings for Makoto had begun to change significantly, but he could not tell for sure what was those changes are or what they meant.
While thinking about that, there was an incoming call on his mobile phone.
What was displayed on the monitor was Makoto’s name. His face loosen up.
“Hello”
<It’s Hijitaka.>
“Makoto-san. Do you take it easy ?”
When Ishii asked with a sloppy tone, Makoto laughed.
<Again. You always say the same thing.>
“I-Is that so ?”
When he thought about what she said, he felt like it was true.
Since that incident, he was visited her every day until Makoto was discharged from the hospital.
After leaving the hospital, they sometimes got in touch.
He knew that Makoto was completely cured, but he could not dispel his anxiety somehow.
<More than that Ishii-san. Do you have time today ?>
Makoto continued to talk without feeling worried.
“T-Today ?”
What was it ? His heart was so loud, it might burst.
<Yes. In fact, there is something I want you to see.>
“Of course it’s okay”
<I’m glad. Then, there is a coffee shop in front of the station if you like?>
“Yes. Gladly.”
After they decided the time, they hang up.
He felt a frozen eyes in his back, when he turned his face Miyagawa was arm-folded and stood in Ishii’s frame.
“Making the promise of a date during work, doesn’t it feel great”
“No, I, that’s not…”
“Shut up!”
Miyagawa wrapped his arm around Ishii’s head and tightened up with a headlock.
“H-Help me…”
4.
Haruka Ozawa was walking towards a prefabricated building on the back of B’s university.
The wind blowing was cold. Autumn was getting deeper.
She stood in front of the deepest door on the first floor of a two-story prefabricated floor.
There was a plate named <Movie Research Club>
She came to this place many times.
“Yakumo-kun, are you there?”
Haruka asked, opening the old door.
Yakumo was sitting in a chair, in a fixed position.
With such a difficult face like it was the end of the world, he was crawling the pages of a huge book.
When he noticed Haruka’s visit, he slightly raised his face.
He was the same as usual, he stood out with a rough white shirt.
He had a well-behaved appearance, but it felt like a field because of his messy hair.
However, one thing was different from usual.
An eye patch was attached to the left eye of Yakumo.
Yakumo was not born with only a red left eye, he could also saw the soul of the dead.
With his unique constitution he could see ghosts.
Speaking of that, Yakumo has led various psychic incidents to resolution. Haruka met Yakumo, when she had an opportunity to consult him about a psychic case.
However, after the incident that happened the other day, Yakumo suffered damage to his red left eye.
It was cut off with a knife by the fugitive murderer Miyuki Nanase.
Luckily, the eye was not hurt and he only cut his eyelids. Suture repaired the wound, but Yakumo’s left eye did not recover.
According to the doctor’s diagnosis, it was psychogenic visual disorder.
In other words, it affected the mind, there was no problem with the eye itself, but there was an impairment in vision.
She didn’t know how he felt.
Yakumo had a lot of hard times because of his red left eye.
Being able to see ghosts, you could see more things than others.
The ghosts who envied this world often had some sort of prejudice. Many, but not all, are negative, with a lot of hatred.
Because he was involved in many incidents, Yakumo continued to see not only ghosts but also the work of living people.
It must have put an unimaginable burden on Yakumo’s heart.
That was not all.
Just because his left eye was red, there were many people who felt weird or scared about Yakumo.
Being exposed to such criticizing eyes, Yakumo’s heart has been deeply damaged.
So far, Yakumo has been facing it hard.
It must been painful to lose sight of your left eye, but if it remained invisible, Yakumo may be released from such a negative chain.
If you thought that way, you must thought it was fine.
However, it was Haruka’s selfish emotion, and she did not know how Yakumo himself thinks. It might be better to ask, but Haruka didn’t had the courage to do it.
“What do you want…”
Yakumo said, annoyed.
When they first met, when he took this attitude, it was quite hollow, but now she was completely used to it.
Yakumo was like this with everyone. It was strange because she thought it looked lovely.
“I came to play”
Haruka sat in a seat opposite Yakumo, speaking in an angry tone.
“You’ve been around everyday recently. Are you that free ?”
While complaining, Yakumo closed the book he had read and put it on the table.
“Yes.” Haruka replied proudly.
She was just one step away from graduation. She had decided on her place of employment and there was no lecture to be received. She was genuinely free.
The loneliness spread in the chest of Haruka.
She was happy to be able to come to see Yakumo frequently because she had the time but soon she will graduate. When this will happen, she wouldn’t be able to visit Yakumo this way.
“Do not boast”
Yakumo scratched his sluggish hair while yawning a great deal.
“I’m not boasting”
“To me, you seem to be proud”
“That’s because you are twisted.”
“I do not want to hear that from you”
“Then, who could say it ?”
“Well, your mouth improved”
“Thank you”
Haruka returned a smile.
Before, she couldn’t say something like this. It was nostalgic when she was angry with what he said.
However, this relationship was not bad.
From that time on, she felt closer and comfortable with Yakumo.
“Yakumo-kun. I have one request, is it all right?”
Haruka asked in a formal tone.
“Is it a problem again?”
“No, no. Stop thinking me = trouble.”
“It’s a fact”
“I’m telling you, but I have not brought in any trouble lately.”
Haruka hadn’t brought troubles to Yakumo at least in recent months. Generally speaking, it was mostly Gotou to begin.
No, rather, Haruka was more likely involved in Yakumo troubles.
“If it is not trouble, what is it?”
“It’s not a big deal, but … Next time, we have the last concert in our circle”
“So ?”
Yakumo had a suspicious look.
Usually, Yakumo looked ahead with excellent insight and reasoning power, but when it came to this kind of story, that did not work.
“I want you to come to listen”
“What ?”
“Because I want you to come and listen to my last concert”
“Why ?”
Yakumo slightly leaned his head.
ー So insensitive !
She wanted to scream but endured it.
Why, she wanted him to come and listen but she didn’t felt like explaining. If she did that, it was the same as confessing her secret thoughts.
However, Yakumo was not likely to nod unless she presented something clear.
While she thought about it, the door of the room opened.
5.
“Sorry to disturb”
Gotou opened the door of the <Movie Research Club> room while speaking out.
“If you know you’re in the way, please go back now”
A man was sitting in a fixed pipe chair ー Saitou Yakumo, said in a very carefree manner.
He had a messy hair as usual, with white shirts and jeans. His left eye was still covered by an eyepatch.
“Gotou-san.”
It was Haruka who was sitting across from Yakumo who spoke.
Round face, with shortcut’s hair, she gave the impression to be younger than her age, but she was quite strong. Well, otherwise she could not go with Yakumo.
Until a while ago, Yakumo had a dark eye that hated everything in the world.
If he had stayed this way, he could have take the wrong path. Gotou was very concerned about this danger.
Bluntly, he had changed, he couldn’t felt the previous danger from Yakumo.
That was probably due to the existence of Haruka. Her heartfelt feelings melted the heart of Yakumo.
“Oh, Haruka-chan. You come”
Gotou responded while raising his hand lightly, and sat down in the chair that was at hand.
“Didn’t I asked you to go home?”
Yakumo looked really annoyed.
“Yes, yes. I have something for you.”
“What does a bear have for humans ?”
“Who is a bear ?”
“Oh. Aren’t you conscious?”
Yakumo smiled with a look that was purposely surprised.
Haruka pressed her mouth and laughed at what was funny.
“Stop saying crap. Fine, hear my story.”
“You don’t have it.”
“Ah ?”
“What do you say when you ask someone for something ?”
“………..”
“Aren’t you taught that at school ? Ah, bears do not go to school”
“This brat……”
“If you have a complaint, please go home”
Yakumo shook his hand as to chase away a fly.
He wanted to do a one shot, but if he lose his temper by doing something strange, there would be no formers or children.
“Can you hear the story ?”
Gotou said while swallowing his anger.
“That’s it ?”
Yakumo narrowed his right eye with arms folded
“P, Please…”
“Good job”
Yakumo clapped his hands.
He’d endured humiliation so far. Anyway, he would pull out Yakumo.
“What I want talk is about psychic phenomena …”
“I refuse”
“Huh ?”
“Didn’t you hear me ? I told you I refuse.”
“What! You bastard! You made me do this and looked ! I’ll kick your ass !”
Gotou squirmed and grabbed Yakumo’s chest.
But, Yakumo had a cool face. He knew Gotou would not hesitate. That was true, Haruka stopped smiling.
“Help me, a little bit”
“I don’t want to.”
It was an immediate answer.
Well, that was always the case. So far, he had consulted Yakumo many times about incidents of spirits, but he never heard once honestly.
At this level, he withdraw, he didn’t know what to say to Yakumo.
“Hear the story”
“Like I say, I don’t want to”
“You……”
“It’s useless”
“Huh ?”
“Even if I heard your story, it’s useless”
“What do you mean ?”
“I can not see it anymore”
Yakumo’s voice had changed.
It was a clerical tone without any emotions.
Therefore, the weight of his words hung over Gotou’s chest.
During the last incident, Yakumo had his left eye cut with a knife. It did not hurt his eyes, it just cut his eyelids.
However, he heard that even after the wounds were sewn, his vision did not return.
It seemed that spiritual things was greatly affected. Gotou was optimistic that he would recover in the meantime.
He thought that the eye-patch was also for hiding the scar, but hearing from his mouth now, Yakumo’s vision did not seem to return even now.
“You can’t see it yet?”
Gotou released his hand from Yakumo and sat down in a chair.
“Yeah”
“How come ?”
“About this, I don’t know.”
Yakumo said annoyed, but he felt like it was quite the opposite.
“You…”
“Stop your sympathy please, it’s strange. I feel released with this”
The expression of Yakumo was fresh.
ー Is that true ?
Yakumo had lived while seeing ghosts like it was natural.
Because of that, Yakumo had a lot of painful feelings so far.
Yakumo himself hated that and sometimes tried to crush his left eye. It was natural that there was a part of him that was relieved by having lost his power that he hated.
However… It wasn’t only that.
He didn’t know how to put it into words but, he had lost a part of himself, that was a matter of course.
But, he couldn’t feel any emotions.
Thanks to his left eye, it was also true that there were many souls saved.
Gotou had been watching it closely, and Yakumo himself should be aware of it.
At the very least, he should be proud of it. So…
“You don’t have to see it. Anyway, just listen to the story.”
Gotou spoke.
Whether Yakumo’s left eye couldn’t see, getting involved on psychic incident was a rough cure, but it was one way to engage things.
“That’s why I said, I refuse.”
“It’s fine, just listen”
Even though he was aware that Gotou was forcing, he began to explain the psychic phenomenon that occurred in the apartment.
He thought he would complain, but Yakumo was silently listening to Gotou.
“What do you think ?”
Gotou asked to Yakumo when he finished talking.
“About what”
Yakumo donated an uneasy reply.
“I’m talking about the psychic phenomenon that happened in the apartment, what do you think ?”
When Gotou asked again, Yakumo sighed loudly.
“It’s probably someone else prank or something”
Yakumo said irritated, while scratching his messy hair.
“Why do you decide if it’s prank ?”
“What did you see so far, Gotou-san ?”
“Ah ?”
“I define ghosts as a mass of the thoughts of the dead, so there is no physical influence.”
It was so. That was Yakumo’s theory.
However, that did not mean that he was convinced for everything.
“I know that, but I actually saw things falling down. Also, what was that sound ?”
“They are the work of a ghost ?”
“Yes. Isn’t it a poltergeist?”
Hearing Gotou’s claiming, Yakumo poked his cheek with an amazed face.
“Aren’t you listening to people ? As far as I listen to the current story, it is reasonable to think that it’s a prank. Aside from laughter and sounds, falling or vibrating things is not a phenomenon that ghosts can make.”
Yakumo said, pissed off.
“If so, go to the scene with me to check for yourself.”
“I don’t want to.”
“You stupid !”
“That’s my line. I can’t see it anymore. I can’t confirm it even if I go.”
Yakumo smiled and said in a light tone. However, Gotou chest weighted heavily.
He looked like he was desperate. He must had thought that because he lost his red left eye no one else needed him anymore.
“That’s not right. I.…”
“It’s fine already. Go home for today, please”
Saying that, Yakumo declared the end of the conversation.
But the story was not over yet. He intended to insist on that, but he stopped for now.
As Yakumo said, the phenomenon happening in the apartment was likely to be someone prank. It must not be necessary to get upset.
Besides, it would not make much sense to force the current Yakumo.
“Okay, I’ll withdraw for today.”
Having saying that, Gotou left the <Movie Research Club> room.
6.
“Hey. Is this really okay ?”
Haruka asked Yakumo while listening to the sound of the closing door.
Gotou seemed to be in trouble, and she thought that it would have been difficult if he became a little brisk.
“It’s fine”
Yakumo answered with a big yawning.
“But…”
“Don’t be foolish about starting being a detective who specializes in psychics if it’s for relying on others in the end”
It was clear that Gotou started detective for psychics by relying on Yakumo from the beginning.
“But it is okay to leave it alone?”
Honestly, she could not think that Gotou could manage it alone.
“It’s alright”
“Don’t you think it’s a pity for Gotou-san ?”
“I don’t think so”
“That's…”
“I said it earlier, but as far as I could hear, it’s likely to be a kind of prank”
Gotou said that ghost had physical influence, contrary to Yakumo’s theory.
“It might be true…”
“Also, even if I’m involved, I can’t do anything.”
“What do you mean ?”
“It’s like I said. I have lost my left eye vision. I can’t even judge if the phenomenon that’s happening is real or not.”
Yakumo smiled while putting his hand on the eye patch.
Seeing his smile of self-derision, Haruka’s chest became so heavy.
“Say. You can not see with your left eye because it affects you mentally.”
Haruka spoke carefully while choosing words.
Haruka had not talked much about the fact that the vision of the left eye of Yakumo had not recovered.
That was because Yakumo did not talk in detail, but that was also that Haruka herself avoided the topic.
Of course she was bothered and worried. But if she asked, what kind of reaction Yakumo would have ? Given that, she was scared to say anything.
In a sense, Gotou’s case could be a good trigger this time.
“Yes”
Yakumo responded lazily.
“What about the treatment?”
“I have a regular check-up, but it is just an examination and an interview.”
“That’s all ?”
“Yes, that’s all.”
“Anything else, isn’t there any treatment? If you are affected by mental things, try counseling or something.”
“It’s not necessary”
Yakumo said immediately.
“Why ?”
“Even if I don’t see it in the future, that’s fine”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes, I’m serious. I have difficulty in getting a sense of perspective, but there is no problem in daily life.”
She knew what he was trying to say, but the problem was not that.
Yakumo saw ghosts with his red left eye. In other words, that was something anybody else in the world had not.
It was not just a matter of not having one eye sight.
She wondered what he really thought ? She tried to ask questions, but as she thought, words did not come out.
“I think that is good”
Yakumo said like a soliloquy.
“Huh ?”
“So that’s good”
“Why ?”
“Now I don’t have to look at something I don’t like”
“That's…”
It might be right.
Yakumo had seen so many things with his red left eye.
He had received from the front negative emotions such as suffering and hate that the ghosts had. Those emotions had become a sharp gift and had torn the heart of Yakumo into a crush.
If Yakumo didn’t see disgusting things, he couldn’t also feel theirs feelings.
But it should not had been just that.
Thanks to the fact that Yakumo saw the truth with his red left eye, there were many souls released from bitterness, stain and hate.
Haruka was also saved by Yakumo’s red left eye.
She knew the true spirit of her dying twin sister, Ayaka, and was released from trauma.
If Haruka didn’t met Yakumo, she would have always stayed in her shell, carrying on her own act while dragging her elder sister.
However, she did feel too selfish to ask Yakumo for the role of the Savior.
When saving someone, Yakumo himself was also hurt.
It was too cruel to force him because some people are saved.
“It’s rare from you to have difficult face”
Yakumo said to tease Haruka’s silent.
“It’s because I’m thinking about many things”
“You don’t have to think”
“That’s right, but…”
“This is my problem. I think it’s good, so it’s good.”
This is my problem.
That one word echoed unpleasantly in Haruka’s ear.
It seems like he told she was nothing to him.
At one time she felt like the distance to Yakumo was getting smaller, but it seemed that it came back again.
If she thought about it, Yakumo was always like that.
He never told the important things to others, he kept it to himself. Haruka knew Yakumo’s true feelings only after everything was over.
She could see it, but she didn’t could not hate it. As his name suggested, he was like a cloud.
Haruka sighed a little.
7.
When Ishii entered the coffee shop, Makoto, who had arrived, sat at table at the back, and raised her hand.
He intended to come earlier than time, but apparently Makoto had arrived first.
“I’m sorry, I am late”
Ishii rushed to Makoto and dropped his head.
“There is no need to apologize because you are not late.”
“No, but…”
“Ishii-san, I think that it would be better to be selfish.”
Makoto smiled softly.
Makoto, who usually had a dignified impression, turned childlike when she laughed like this. That gap left Ishii stunned.
“That … then how is the condition of the wound?”
When Ishii asked, she laughed with a loud voice.
“Come on, Ishii-san. I heard it on the phone just before.”
“I, Is that right ?”
Although he tried to play it dumb, it was as Makoto said.
“I’m fine already. Please, do not worry.”
Makoto put her hand on her wounded stomach.
“I’m glad”
- I’m truly glad,
Ishii felt that again.
If something bad happened to Makoto, he would not be able to live. Ishii bite into the reality that Makoto was now laughing in front of him.
- Why do I think this way?
He never had such feelings for Makoto. What exactly was the true identity of this feelings ?
When he let go his thoughts, his face get hot for some reason.
“Hm… Would you like to sit down ?”
Makoto spoke.
When he realized that, the waiter was standing next to Ishii with the menu. Probably waiting for the timing to take the order.
“I, I am sorry”
Ishii sat down in the seat opposite at Makoto and ordered a coffee from the waiter.
“In fact, I have something I would like you to see today, Ishii-san”
After calming down, Makoto cut out.
Her expression was not soft as before. By that time, he was convinced that it would be a serious story.
“What is it ?”
Ishii corrected his posture.
“This”
Makoto put a tablet on the table, swiped it, and displayed a picture.
The photo was taken in a room like a living room
Something like black smoke was visible next to the large TV.
“What is this ?”
When Ishii asked, Makoto enlarged the black smoke part of the picture.
“Does it look like a human face?”
Ishii didn’t know what it was like, but looked at the monitor with his nose on.
At first, it appeared to be just a shadow, but the contours gradually came to light as if it were an old picture.
“Eeeek !”
Ishii screamed involuntarily jumping up.
Just unlucky, he hit a waiter who brought coffee. It became a catastrophe the coffee cup fell to the floor and broke, and Ishii’s shirt get stained.
He apologized, wiped the floor, a new coffee came in, and he wasted enough time for fifteen minutes.
However, thanks to that, he was somewhat calm and recovered.
“I got you surprised, I’m sorry.”
Once again, Makoto lowered her head while sitting opposite to each other.
“No, it’s not at Makoto-san to apologize. I’m sorry”
“But…”
“Anyways, that picture just before, was it a spirit picture?”
There was a sense of wanting to escape from embarrassment, Ishii returned the story to the main point.
“Yes. In fact, it was taken at my acquaintance’s house.”
“I, Is that so…”
His responding voice is high enough to be understood by oneself.
Urban legends related to paranormal phenomena were his favorite things, but when he actually dealt with it, fear would win.
Until now, he had been accustomed to being involved in a spirit-related incident many times, but he could not get used to it at all.
“In that person’s house, strange phenomena often occur. I tried to check it and tried to take a picture.”
“As a result, do you mean that ghosts have been photographed ?”
“Yes”
He understood the circumstances, but Ishii had nothing to do with it.
“Why is this photo for me?”
“I was asked to investigate the psychic phenomenon from the acquaintance, but I ’m alone, so… I know that I am selfish, but I would like to associate with you Ishii-san”
Makoto looked Ishii in the eyes.
- Is that so.
He was convinced, but there was a part he could not understand.
It was not a problem to cooperate with Makoto. He had the favor of the last case, but rather he was willing to devote himself to her.
However, if she wanted to resolve the psychic case, Ishii wasn’t well-qualified. Honestly, Ishii had no choice but to be involved.
“After that, Yakumo-shi…”
When Ishii put out his name, the expression of Makoto was cloudy.
From this reaction, did something ugly happened between Makoto and Yakumo?
“I thought about that too but…”
“What is it ?”
“He seems to have not recovered his left eye vision yet”
“Oh…”
- It was so.
In Ishii’s mind, the sight of that awful scene reappeared. Yakumo had his left eye cut with a knife in the last incident.
But he was hurt at his eyelids, but Ishii wondered if his eye were safe?
When Ishii asked about it, Makoto shook her head small.
“Yes, but …. It seems to be a psychogenic visual disorder.”
Psychogenicity meant that mental things was affecting you and you was losing sight. He heard that such things was rare, such as when you get a major injury.
“But he might be cured now.”
“In fact, after contacting Ishii-san, I tried contacting him as well. Then …”
Makoto admitted with a bitter face.
Apparently, Yakumo had already turned down because his vision had not recovered.
When it happened, Ishii couldn’t not cooperate.
“I understand. I will do what I can.”
“Thank you very much.”
Makoto smiled.
8.
“I’m home”
Gotou opened the front door of the storehouse
Someone was making meal. He could smell the fragrance.
He took off his shoes at the entrance and went through the corridor into the living room. He stood in a warm and divided kitchen and he could see the back of his wife Atsuko.
During the police days, Atsuko was preparing their meals like this. He had never been back in time.
“Oh. You are back.”
Atsuko said while turning back and forth whether she had noticed the signs of Gotou.
“Yeah, just now”
“I see. So, how was it?”
Atsuko asked.
This too was unthinkable in the police age.
When Gotou was working in the police, Atsuko never asked for work. She understood that he had a job as a police officer and that he had a confidentiality obligation, and he thought that she did not dare to ask him, but he felt that it was not only that.
“How, it’s bad. That old man pushed me into troubles.”
“That means it’s real this time”
Atsuko asked, as she find out everything from Gotou’s words.
He said that he was psychic detective, but most of the requests that came in were misrepresentation or misconception.
But in this case, Gotou himself had experienced psychic phenomena.
“Well, that’s about it.”
“If so, it might be better to ask him. You can’t handle it.”
It sounded like she was making Gotou an idiot, but it was a fact.
Unfortunately, Gotou was losing the hand when it came to real psychic phenomena. That was why he must ask Yakumo for cooperation. But …
“I asked him already”
“So ?”
“He refused”
“It’s always like that about you”
Atsuko laughed from behind.
If a person who knew the personality of Yakumo, he would embrace the same thoughts. Yakumo had never heard what he asked, for anything.
“No, I don’t feel like it is the same as usual this time”
Gotou shook his head.
“What happened ?”
“This guy… His left eye didn’t recover his vision yet”
When Gotou spoke, Atsuko looked down like under thought.
“Because the eyeballs were fine, of course, his eyesight should be restored.”
“Yeah, that’s right… But it’s a spiritual things”
Gotou sighed involuntarily.
At that time, although he thought he was going to be in a bad fight against Yakumo, now he became calm, he could understand that it wasn’t a such simple things.
It would even seem that if he could not see it, it would be for Yakumo’s sake.
“Say, when will you bring him home next time?”
“Do you want to persuade him ?”
“You’re wrong. It’s just to get together and eat some meal.”
“Meal, huh…”
“Yes. You also have to take this opportunity, and try to face each other about this incident ?”
He was shocked by Atsuko’s words.
She had a mild appearance, but contrary to her appearance, she had a much more solid core than Gotou and other people saw.
As Atsuko said, Gotou had hardly ever encountered Yakumo in the past outside of the cases.
It was not such a bad time to talk with Yakumo just because of this incident. But would Yakumo agreed ?
If it was Yakumo, he would say “If I go with Gotou-san, the food will tastes bad.”
“Nao will also be pleased.”
At Atsuko’s words, Gotou said “That’s right”.
If he had Nao, Yakumo wouldn’t say he doesn’t want it.
“By the way, where is Nao ?” Gotou asked.
At this time, Nao was usually in the living room. She liked to draw and often run out of pencils insanely, but he could not see her.
“About that … she was a little feverish.”
Atsuko’s face suddenly became uneasy.
“Feverish ?”
“Yes. Because she was ill, I took her to the hospital this after noon. It seems that her throat is slightly red with a slight fever.”
“It’s a cold…”
“I think. It is the change of the season.”
“I’ll see her a little”
Gotou left the living room and headed for Nao’s room.
When he opened the door, Nao slept on the bed.
Nao’s mother died when she was alone. It was the uncle of Yakumo that took her over, and it was Isshin that was the priest of this temple.
But Isshin also died. He was caught in a case and killed.
Gotou made the decision to take over Nao.
Gotou’s couple had no children, he took Nao by sympathy and because he could not stand this situation. But that was not the only reason.
Before the death of Isshin, Gotou and others kept Nao temporarily. At that time, he intended to protect Nao, but in reality it was not.
With the presence of Nao, Gotou was able to face Atsuko for the first time in a long time.
His rough heart was soften by the presence of Nao, and he could walk forward.
He knew it was an ego, but Gotou felt that he needed Nao.
Of course, at first he was anxious. Nao had lost her parents twice. Her heart’s wounds were ridiculously deep.
Nao’s hearing is impaired.
Above all, it was the fear that they became parents.
However, these worries blew away immediately after they began to live together.
His affection for Nao had grown day by day, and she quickly became irreplaceable.
The thought that he had something to protect brought various changes in Gotou.
He was deeply impressed by the fact that this must be that to be parent.
Whatever, for Gotou, Nao was genuinely the daughter of this family.
“Nao-”
Gotou bent to the side of Nao’s bed, speaking aloud.
She was breathing painfully, probably because of the fever.
“It’s okay, you’ll get better soon.”
Gotou touched Nao’s cheek.
This touch seemed to smooth his raging mind.
He would like to see her sleeping face forever, but she was sleeping with a cold. It would be a pity to wake her up.
When Gotou went to the door to get out of the room, his spine shivered.
It felt as if something has run around through his body, a disgusting sensation.
- Just now, what was that ?
Looking back, Nao had opened her eyes.
“Sorry, I wake you up. Rest slowly.”
Gotou stroked Nao’s head when he returned to her.
He thought that she would go back to sleep as it was, but Nao never closed her eyes.
She glared with beast’s eyes as she looked at Gotou.
- What ?
“Guuu”
Nao raised up her body while making a roaring voice.
“What’s wrong ?”
Gotou put his hand on Nao’s shoulder.
“Giii”, Nao squeezed it out, uttering a strange voice.
Her mouth was shaking and she was breathing repeatedly.
Clearly, it was a different reaction from being feverish. Exactly, what was going on?
“Gooo”
Nao roared again.
Like a dog that intimidated an enemy, she had her teeth raised.
From the edge of her mouth, drool dripped.
“Oï, Nao…”
Gotou shook Nao by her shoulders.
Eyes wide open, Nao bit Gotou’s arm.
“It hurts !”
Gotou tried to pull off his arm of this intense pain, and he was not able to do it.
Nao bit as she crawled on Gotou’s arm. It seemed that Gotou’s arm was about to bite off.
Although he could forcibly shook it off, he couldn’t afford Nao to get hurt.
“Nao ! Calm down ! Nao !”
Gotou repeated it, enduring the pain while his arm was bitten.
“What’ wrong ?”
Hearing the noise, Atsuko jumped into the room.
Seeing the disaster in front of her, she lost her voice and stiffened.
Nao’s eyes were turned to Atsuko from Gotou.
She had eyes with a strong aggression like a bloodthirsty beast.
- It’s bad !
As he thought so, it was too late.
Nao got out of Gotou, lowered her center of gravity and rushed to Atsuko.
Atsuko could not escape, but received Nao from the front. As it was, she fell to the floor, all messed up.
“Oï ! Are you alright !”
Gotou rushed and ran over the two of them.
Nao did not fell heavily. But her breathing was normal. She seemed to had lose consciousness. Atsuko turned to Gotou in such a way that she did not know what it was.
Even with such eyes, Gotou too could not understand what it had happened. However, it does not mean that he was not aware.
He had seen a phenomenon similar to this before.
People who are possessed by ghosts could be like this.
Gotou, thinking ahead, was remembering the horror.
9.
Haruka stood in front of the door of <Movie Research Club> after the evening.
The blue sky was melting into the dark.
As always, she only had to open the door, but she was a little bit hesitant.
Just like yesterday, he might told her “Are you here again?”, but it was too late to worry about that now.
Yesterday’s conversation was stuck.
He said that he was good as it was, but Yakumo seemed to be troubled with his red left eye. She wanted to be a little more stronger, but she didn’t know what words to say.
She intended to be in touch with Yakumo with her true feelings. By doing so, she felt that the distance would shrunk.
However, the closer she got the more frightened she was to being hated this time, so she hesitated to knock.
She wondered by herself.
As a result, she had not been able to get stuck about the left eye of Yakumo so far.
As she thought carefully, she wasn’t able to step on. Human relationships were really difficult.
However, if she kept standing in a place like that, nothing would start.
When Haruka tried to put a hand on the doorknob, the door suddenly opened.
“Wah !”
She involuntarily jumped back.
It was Yakumo that came out of the room.
As usual, he had his messy hair, white shirt and jeans, but he looked different.
Something like impatience was oozing out.
“Something happened?”
When Haruka asked, Yakumo said “Yes” with a small nod.
“Nao seems to have fallen”
“Nao-chan ?”
Haruka understood the significance of things at once.
For Yakumo, Nao was his only relative. For everyone, Yakumo was blunt, but he was different about Nao.
Even a bystander could see that he doted her.
It was not only because she was just a relative but also because he has been saved many times by Nao’s carefree smile.
Of course, that was not limited to Yakumo. Nao’s existence was great for Haruka, too. When she was in pain or lonely, she doesn’t know how many times she was saved by Nao’s smile.
“I just got in touch with Gotou-san.”
“What happened?”
“I don’t know the details. I heard that they were transported by ambulance last night.”
“Ambulance !”
She said involuntarily in a loud voice.
It was not a mere incident when it came to be transported by ambulance.
“But now, they are back home, I do not think that she is in critical condition …”
“I see…”
As Yakumo said, if they were already home, it didn’t seem like a serious thing. In the meantime, she was relieved, but not completely.
“That’s why I have no time to play with you”
Saying so, Yakumo tried to walk away quickly.
“Wait. I’m coming too”
Haruka followed Yakumo.
She must be annoying, but she still cared about Nao’s condition.
Yakumo looked at Haruka’s face for a while, but then he sighed a little bit as if he gave up.
“Then hurry up”
“Yes !”
Haruka walked out alongside Yakumo.
In front of the main entrance to the university, they took a taxi. After telling him their destination, the taxi started running.
“Nao-chan will be fine”
Sitting side by side Haruka looked at Yakumo.
“Gotou-san talked about strange things…”
Yakumo said with a sour face.
“Strange things ?”
“Nao is not ill …”
“Then she is hurt ?”
“That’s not it either”
“What do you mean ?”
“I didn’t get the point, but it seems that something unusual happened to Nao’s body.”
Yakumo dropped his eyes at his feet and bit his lower lip.
Haruka had no idea what it meant, but Yakumo seemed to have an idea of why Nao fell.
She wanted to ask why, but she stopped.
At this time, Yakumo wouldn’t speak out of his thoughts until he had obtained proof. Now, even if she asked him, she’ll just get swayed.
Then both of them stayed silent.
The running noise of the taxi felt loud. The view of the flowing car window looked somehow distorted.
Perhaps, it was a sign of Haruka’s anxiety.
She didn’t know what was happening, but she had a terrible feeling.
10.
Ishii was in front of the ticket gate of the station before he met with Makoto.
He thought they were doing bold things earlier on their own without consideration.
From now on, in order to investigate the psychic phenomenon with Makoto, both of them were going to the apartment in question. What’s more, Ishii told a lie to Kanagawa when he said he would go out for another investigation.
He helped with such sense of immorality, and while waiting for Makoto, he was worried about the eyes of the people who were coming and going, somehow he was not calm.
“Ishii-san”
Suddenly, a voice was heard from behind, and Ishii looked back while replying “Yes!” with a loud voice.
Makoto was standing here.
He was relieved and ashamed of himself at the same time for being surprised more than necessary.
“It looks like you’ve been surprised. I’m sorry”
Makoto apologized.
“No. It’s fine. I was just a little surprised …”
“It’s true. That’s surprised me.”
After laughing at each other, They regained their mind and decided to go to the scene.
“It’s here.”
After a short walk from the station, Makoto stopped.
Here was the apartment where the psychic phenomenon happened.
Surrounded by beautiful plantings, the grounds were planted with lawns and cobblestone trails continuing to the entrance.
The apartment was eight stories high and U-shaped. The wall imitating a brown brick had an elegant impression.
Aside from the planting, there was a plate with the name of the apartment, “Saton Post”.
Before, when he was doing some work, he went through this area, but it seemed that it was this apartment.
“Let’s go”
Makoto started walking to encourage Ishii.
Ishii answered “Yes” and followed Makoto.
When she called the room number on the intercom in front of the entrance, a male voice came back saying “I’m opening now”
Although he did not confirm it, Makoto’s acquaintance was apparently a man.
They waited for the automatic door to open before entering in the entrance.
Chic color, with a sense of luxury. There was sofas, it looked like a hotel lounge.
He climbed with Makoto into the elevator and get on the eighth floor, the top floor. After a few turns in the hallway, Makoto stopped in front of the room 801’s door.
“It’s here”
Saying so, Makoto pushed the intercom beside the door.
Soon the door opened and a man came out.
His age must be in his late thirties. Although his hair was wild, his face had deep carvings and a neat appearance.
“Hey Mako-chan. I’m sorry”
The man said and smiled lightly.
His attitude somehow surprised Ishii. Besides, the familiarity he called Makoto "Mako-chan" was also frustrating.
In the first place, why does Makoto allowed him to call her like this ? Does this guy had a deep relationship with Makoto ?
The more he thought, the more unpleasant feelings spread in Ishii.
While Ishii was thinking, Makoto introduced him.
Ishii lowered his head saying, “I’m Ishii”, though he was startled. Then, Makoto introduced the man who appeared in front of him, saying, “This is Sayama-san”
“Nice to meet you, I’m Sayama-san. But why are you with the police ?”
Sayama tilted his head.
Well, it was natural to think so. Now he was wondering how to explain it.
“Ishii-san has been involved in many spirit-related incidents so far. I wanted an objective opinion and I personally asked for him.”
Makoto explained simply on behalf of Ishii.
She must had thought about what to answer in advance, assuming that he would ask such questions.
Sayama was convinced by Makoto and urged them to go inside, saying, “Please”.
Ishii went up to the entrance after nodding with Makoto.
The corridor was straight and there was about two doors along the way. There was a door at the end, and the end was the living room.
There was large windows glass installed, it was a very sunny room.
There was the same large TV that he saw in the photo, and there was a sideboard and a sofa in addition. There was also a dining table.
It was a simple but calm room.
He thought for a moment that he wanted to live in such a room, but he immediately canceled it. A ghost appeared in this room.
“Is this your girlfriend, Sayama-san ?”
Makoto said, grabbing the photo frame on the sideboard.
“Yeah”
Sayama laughed, embarrassed.
“What kind of person is she ?”
“Well, she is great, isn’t she ?”
True to Sayama, Makoto answered, “Yes.”
Apparently Sayama had a lover. If so, he thought if Sayama was so familiar with Makoto it was probably just his personality, and Ishii was strangely relieved.
“Ishii. Let’s search.”
Although he answered “Yes” to Makoto’s call, he did not know what to do specifically, he just looked around in the room.
“How is it ?”
After a while, Makoto came to him.
No matter what, he could not answer.
“Nothing for me .…”
There was no particular discoveries. Wasn’t it a mistake to think that psychic phenomenon had happened in this room… Then, he heard a strange sound from nowhere.
Grooowl. It sounded like something groaned. It sounded a lot like the sound of a subway train passing by. However, it was not such inorganic things. To put it another way, it sounded like a giant creature was making a roar.
Then the glasses and dishes lined up in the kitchen cupboards began to vibrate with a rattling noise.
“Wha- !”
While he was surprised, it sounded like something could be played back and forth this time.
For many things, Ishii was about to scream, but he managed to endure it by closing his mouth with both hands.
After a while, silence suddenly came back.
“Just now…”
Ishii’s voice was cut off by the photo frame which Makoto had just seen fell flatly.
Nothing was shaking.
It was as if it was moved by something invisible.
Maybe this was a poltergeist phenomenon that he heard from stories.
“That was, psychic phenomenon…”
When Makoto spoke, Sayama nodded a lot.
“Yeah. And that’s happening not just at home ”
“Huh ?”
“There are psychic phenomena happening in the others apartments”
Sayama’s words echoed ominously.
11.
“How is Nao’s conditions ?”
Face to face with Gotou, Yakumo came closer with an urgent look
Normally, Yakumo was expressionless, but when it came to Nao, he changed.
However, Gotou could tell about Yakumo. He had finally settled down, but last year was terrible.
Love, in a sense, must be something that caused him to lose his coolness.
“Anyway go in”
Gotou guided Yakumo and Haruka in the living room.
Yakumo wanted to see Nao, but there was something they must said face to face.
“Where is Nao now ?”
When he sat facing each other, Yakumo spoke.
From his tone, it was clear that he was upset.
“Before that, please listen to the story”
When Gotou started out, he explained in detail the events that happened with Nao last night.
Both Yakumo and Haruka couldn’t hide their surprise for the unbelievable story they were told suddenly.
“Why Nao-chan did that?”
Haruka’s voice was higher than usual.
“The doctor said it was because she got a fever and she was mentally unstable …”
Having said that, Gotou swallowed up the words.
Yakumo narrowed his right eye.
“That seems to be true”
In contrast to Haruka, Yakumo said in a bland tone.
Once he heard Gotou’s story, he recovered his usual calmness.
“Yes”
Gotou gave him a nod.
He was the one who called Yakumo. It was because he wanted him to examine about the possibility that Gotou was thinking.
“What ?”
Yakumo prompted.
“Nao may be haunted by a ghost”
Gotou spoke and Haruka hold her breath.
Even without words, feeling of incredibility was stuck to her face.
On the other side, Yakumo…
“What is your reason to think so?”
He asked this question, while keeping calm.
“First, simply, Nao can not do such a thing. It’s not a girl who hurts someone because she is mentally unstable.”
Gotou looked at his right arm with gauze on.
He was bitten by Nao and he bled. It was a wound that he had to suture.
“Well, that’s right.”
Yakumo agreed.
Yakumo had been with Nao for a longer time than Gotou. He should understand how unnatural the behavior of Nao was.
“Maybe it may be my fault …”
Gotou gritted his teeth.
“What do you mean?”
Yakumo floated a dubious look.
“If Nao was haunted by a ghost, I thought about the cause. There is only one I remember.”
“Are you talking about the apartment yesterday ?”
Yakumo read ahead the idea of Gotou.
Gotou said “Yes” and nodded
Yesterday, Yakumo said that apartment would be a prank, but it was not.
When Gotou went to that apartment, he came back with a ghost without being conscious of it. It had possessed Nao.
If he thought like this, it made sense.
Perhaps Nao’s cold, made her fall asleep, and weakened her, creating an environment that made it easy for the ghost to possess her.
When Gotou explained his thoughts, Haruka made a sad voice “That’s .…”
Yakumo remained silent and seemed to think about something.
“What do you think ?”
Gotou urged Yakumo.
“I do not know”
Yakumo shook his head a little.
His voice was weak and he did not see his strength as usual.
If his left eye could saw, he could confirmed it immediately, but now Yakumo could not do it. He could not do that. He felt like he was giving up if he could do nothing.
But still, Yakumo had solved several psychic incidents, not only because he saw the ghost with his red left eye.
He had some rare insights and reasoning powers. Even if he could not see with his left eye, he should be able find some clues.
“If you can, please take a look.”
Gotou bowed his head to Yakumo.“
There was no immediate reply from Yakumo. Gotou had no intention of raising his head until it received a response.
A long silence followed.
"Yakumo-kun”
Haruka urged Yakumo
“Whatever, please let me see Nao”
Yakumo said quietly.
Gotou raised his face and stood up.
He guided Yakumo and Haruka and stood in front of the door of Nao room. When he knocked, the voice of Atsuko said, “Come in”.
Gotou slowly opened the door.
Nao was asleep in bed and Atsuko was sitting at her side.
Since the incident last night, because they had no idea how Nao would react, Atsuko took care of her.
“Nao…”
Yakumo entered in the room while speaking. Haruka followed too.
“She slept all day”
Atsuko said while stroking Nao’s head.
Her voice was tired but did not lost her energy. Despite what happened she watched over Nao with her whole body.
She was truly a strong woman.
When Yakumo bent above Nao, he removed his eye patch that he had on his left eye.
It seemed that Yakumo’s heart was moved at the sight of Nao’s crisis situation. If Yakumo’s left eye could not seen, if it was a spiritual thing, he may recovered with the desire to save Nao.
Gotou watched over Yakumo with that expectation.
Yakumo slowly opened his eyelid.
He revealed his bright red-colored eye.
Yakumo stared at Nao sleeping for a while.
Gotou felt like praying and held his breath. That was the same for Atsuko and Haruka.
After a long silence, Yakumo sighed for a long time.
“How was it ?”
Gotou got excited and asked, but he saw the face of Yakumo and realized the answer.
“It is useless”
Yakumo said with a face like he bit a bitter worm.
“Useless…”
“I can not see anything”
Yakumo shook his head left and right without force.
In front of Gotou’s eyes, it became dark in an instant.
He knew that Yakumo was not at fault. But still, he could not hide his disappointment.
Yakumo felt it too and bit his lower lip.
12.
Haruka who left the house of Gotou was walking side by side with Yakumo.
As they get down by the slope from the temple gate, she looked at Yakumo’s profile.
He wore an expressionless mask and was able to shut his emotions, but she felt his anger swirling deep inside him.
“I wonder what happened to Nao-chan”
Haruka muttered to herself.
Gotou was suspecting she was being haunted by a ghost, but to the extent Haruka saw, she seemed only to be asleep.
However, it seemed like Nao went wild and injured Gotou.
Haruka had no way to judge what was happening.
“I don’t know…”
Yakumo shook his head a little.
The eye patch that covered his left eye looked very painful.
At that time, Yakumo took off his eye patch and looked at Nao. But it seemed that he did not see anything. He had not recovered his vision yet.
Yakumo had said that it would be alright if his eyesight did not return, but now he must be thinking the opposite.
Nao could not be saved because he had not his left eye vision.
The anger that Yakumo kept at the bottom of his heart must be directed at himself.
“As Gotou-san said, could it be the ghost who was in the apartment possess Nao-chan?”
“I can not judge.”
Yakumo’s voice was so painful.
Yesterday, Yakumo speculated that the psychic phenomenon that happened in the apartment was a prank. It was probably the answer derived from Yakumo’s past experience. However, a phenomenon different from that was happening now. Even if they wanted to make sure, they could not do that with Yakumo, where he could not see with his red left eye.
They would like to leave it to Yakumo now, but they could not do that.
“Aren’t there any ways to help?”
If Nao was haunted by a ghost, it must be fine for now, but she would eventually weaken and eventually lead her to death.
“I can not do anything…”
Yakumo’s voice sounded as if he was in pain.
“But…”
Even if Yakumo had not recovered his left eye’s vision, it should be possible to search for a way to help.
Otherwise, Nao…
“It’s strange …”
Yakumo stopped his legs and looked up at the sky.
There was no cloud today. The moon was shining brightly. Yakumo narrowed his right eye to the light.
“What’s strange ?”
“I hated this red left eye”
Yakumo put his hand on his left eye from the top of his eye patch.
Haruka understood painfully. He hated his cursed ability.
“Yes”
“I felt a little scared when I realized I could not see with my left eye. But at the same time, I felt relieved.”
“……”
Perhaps Yakumo thought that it was not necessary to see something that he did not want to see anymore. So he did not get caught up in the spirit’s case.
Seeing a ghost was painful.
Nobody could blame him for being released from the spirits.
“Earlier, I was frustrated that I could not see anything”
He clenched his fist tight.
So tight that his blood vessels come up at the back of his hands.
“Yakumo-kun…”
Haruka tried to touch Yakumo’s hand but could not.
She thought that Yakumo would only get hurt if she comforted him, and above all, Yakumo was releasing an air that would reject others.
“I’m selfish. I’ve always be disgusted but I’m asking for this power only when it is convenient”
Yakumo’s fury was clearly directed at himself.
“Don’t blame yourself”
“I’m to blame”
Yakumo walked out, saying so. His pace was faster than before. Haruka chased after his back, as if being dragged.
“Yakumo-kun”
Even if Haruka called, Yakumo did not stop his walk.
“I understand now”
After walking for a while, Yakumo suddenly said.
“What ?”
“My existence’s value may have been only this red left eye.”
“What do you mean ?”
“If there is no red left eye, I have no meaning to exist”
ーWhat are you saying? That’s not right!
She tried to say that, but as she thought, the words did not come out. It was probably because the air pressure was similar to the air that Yakumo emitted.
Yakumo kept walking.
However, Haruka stopped.
She did not know well why she stopped.
As he dragged his shadow, she could only stare at the back of Yakumo, walking.
13.
“Nao…”
Gotou stood at the side of Nao’s bed and stared at her sleeping face.
Discouragement weighted on his shoulders.
He thought that if she felt Yakumo’s presence she would eventually wake up, but it was useless.
He couldn’t saw anything and he couldn’t went further.
However, he could not gave up as it was.
There was no doubt that a ghost was possessing Nao. Gotou would save her using whatever method, he renewed his determination when the door opened.
It was Atsuko.
“Eishin-san came”
Gotou heard his name, and he was totally insane.
The reason about this, if he thought about it, was because Eishin brought a strange request to Gotou.
He thought about turning him down, but soon he changed his mind.
“I’m coming”
Gotou left Nao’s room and headed for the living room.
Eishin was drinking tea with a relaxed face. It was as if he didn’t see his angry face, but now was not the time to give up.
“So, how is the case of the pretty apartment ?”
Eishin, who knew nothing, asked in a slopping tone.
Gotou, who stood up in frustration sat in front of the Eishin, explaining the strange thing that happened with Nao, considering that the cause might be due to the psychic phenomenon of the apartment.
Eishin seemed surprise .
“Did you ask Yakumo to do something?”
“I did it already”
Gotou was half tired, but Yakumo’s left eye vision had not recovered, and that factor was a mental problem. Yakumo had already looked at Nao, but he told him that he did not understand anything.
“That’s a challenge.”
Eishin folded his arms.
However, Gotou thought that Eishin had a way to defeat this situation.
“Are you acquainted with a monk who can do exorcism ?”
When Gotou asked, Eishin had a bitter face.
“Well, there is nothing else to do”
“Then, please introduce me to the monk.”
Gotou bowed his head low.
Eishin was an old man not good enough, but if it was for Nao, he would bow his head.
“I can introduce you, but I think it is useless.”
“Why ?”
“Think. Why do you think that I bother asking you to solve this psychic phenomena?”
“What do you mean ?”
“Those who practice exorcism are, after all, just for show, it is not a solution. This is only a waste of money.”
“Do you mean it’s cheating ?”
“Well, it resolve a side of the problem”
“Huh ?”
“Some people feel relieved with that.”
It was an ambiguous explanation.
“In other words, does it mean that you can’t really exorcise ghosts?”
“Well, that’s right”
Gotou bit his tongue at Eishin’s answer.
To save Nao, he would pay as much gold, but if it was not effective, it made no sense.
He had a little hope, but he lost another solution.
“But you…”
He could hear the scream of Atsuko, interrupting his discussion with Eishin.
ー What ?
Gotou ran before he thought.
Gotou, who opened the door of Nao’s room, lost his words at the sight in front of him.
The window glass was shattered into pieces, and the cold wind outside was blowing in a loud noise.
The futons were scattered, and the bed where Nao was supposed to sleep was empty.
“What happened ?”
He asked to Atsuko, which fell of the bedside.
“Nao… Suddenly…”
There was a cut on the forehead of Atsuko who answered in pain, blood was dripping from there.
ー I have to do first aid immediately
He thought so, but he was worried about Nao’s whereabouts.
“Where did Nao went ?”
“Out of that window …”
Atsuko pointed at the broken window glass.
ー What is this ?
“You can leave Atsuko-san to me.”
After thinking about the situation, Eishin placed his hand on Gotou’s shoulder.
Gotou grinned and jumped out of the window barefoot.
Fortunately, thanks to the moon coming out, he was able to recognize the footsteps, only a few though.
Gotou chased after the footsteps and started running. He had a cold pain in his feet, but he could not afford to worry about it.
“Nao ! Nao !”
He knew that there will be no reply since Nao was deaf. Still, Gotou repeatedly shouted her name.
By continuing to call her, he felt he could be able to brought Nao with himself.
He went through the gate and down the slopes of the ginkgo trees that began to color.
“Nao !”
Gotou screamed and ran again.
At the end of the downhill, he would arrived at a crossroad. Looking in this direction, he could not find Nao.
Gotou carefully looked around.
ーWhere did she go ?
In the midst of his frustration, he heard horns.
When he looked at the sound, he saw the shadow of a child, which was lit by the headlights of a car.
“Nao !”
He screamed, but Nao did not move.
ーShe will be smashed at this rate
He thought so, but the car ran off past Nao.
However, if he stood like that, he did not know when she would run away.
Gotou rushed out toward the shadow of Nao.
ーShe’s just a few steps away…
He thought so, and the headlights of a car illuminated Nao again.
Unlike the previous car, this time there was no horns sounds and it ran straight. Apparently, it did not notice her.
Gotou was feverish. He rushed straight to Nao and held her body. The next moment, an impact struck and teared his body.
Before his eyes everything went black.
When he noticed, he was lying on his back on the pavement.
He was struck with an intense pain and he could not move one finger. The wet feeling was probably his own blood that flowed out.
ー Maybe I will die like this.
Though thinking so, Gotou searched for Nao’s figure.
ー Nao ? Are you safe, Nao ?
To respond to Gotou’s heart voice, someone looked at Gotou’s face.
It was Nao.
“Nao…”
Gotou tried to reach out and touch Nao, but his body was not moving.
Nao gave a small smile to Gotou.
Nao was looking down at Gotou for a while, but eventually she turned her heels and walked away.
Before Nao went into darkness, Gotou’s consciousness had fallen to bottomless hole.
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