Ghost Hunt:Volume 8 Chapter 11

Chapter 11 - August 14th 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm

1

“What will you do after you close the office?”

It was Yasuhara-san who asked such a bold question.

“Is that something that concerns you, Yasuhara-san?”

...See, even if you ask, that doesn’t mean he’ll say.

“Yes, it is.”

Yasuhara-san didn’t seem at all fazed.

“Isn’t it obvious? Come on, we’re good friends, right?”

Naru looked at Yasuhara-san with an extremely icy stare.

“I wasn’t aware of that.”

“Oh? You didn’t realize that? Aren’t we friends?”

Ooh, a bold remark.

“I have no knowledge of that.”

“You’re cold. Even though we’re all very fond of you, Shibuya-san.”

“If this is your usual joke, you’re dealing with the wrong person.”

“It’s true! Well, even now, we were just talking about how Shibuya-san is a nice person.”

Naru smiled faintly.

“Thank you for that vast misconception.”

...this is useless.

“Did you expressly invite me here for the sake of such trivial conversation?”

“It’s not trivial! We’re just concerned about what our beloved Shibuya-san and Lin-san will do from now on.”

“Your concern is unnecessary.”

“It’s natural for someone to worry about people they favor.”

“Then, thank you in advance for your unnecessary concern.”

“Whether I like someone is my own choice.”

“I think what I do from here onward is also my own choice. —Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing that will inconvenience any of you.”

Yasuhara-san sighed.

“Is there a reason you wish to hide everything like this? Or is it because you want to create distance between all of us?”

“You may interpret it however you please.”

“Shibuya-san, do you mean you don’t care even if I think you actually hate the people who are in this room and it makes you so sick that you can’t stand us invading your privacy?”

“Even if you think so, I don’t care in the least.”

...This cold-blooded creature!

“Got it.”

Ugh, I’ve had enough already.

“To be sure, I understand perfectly that you hate us.”

2

I indecorously stood in the middle of the room with my feet planted wide. I’m that angry right now. Today is the day I cannot pardon it!

“If you hate us, then go head and hate us. But if that’s the case, then why involve us?”

Naru slightly frowned.

“Involve?”

“That’s right. You’re the one who asked me to work part-time. You’re the one who called everyone whenever there was an investigation even though they’re neither part-time workers, nor investigators!”

You, you!!

“If you hate us that much, you shouldn’t have involved us to begin with!”

Naru lightly pressed his fingers to his forehead.

“...I can hear you without you barking.”

This—

“At any rate, you probably only see us as dogs and cats. That’s fine, though. Why do you think everyone is here? Everyone is here because we were concerned about you being hospitalized and stayed.”

“There’s also the term known as, ‘Curious Onlooker.’”

“Stop messing around!!!”

I’m furious!

“If you think everyone stayed out of a sense of curiosity, then you’re an idiot.”

“I didn’t know I was an idiot.”

“Is that so? Then since this is a good opportunity, why don’t you learn it? If you don’t know why everyone was worried, then you’re an idiot!”

I thrust out a finger.

“Since we’re good and kind compassionate people, we get worried when an acquaintance collapses. —First of all, if the other person is someone you find disagreeable, why come calling at every investigation? Each and every time it’s a dangerous experience, but everyone always helps you because we think there’s some good even in a guy like you. We forgive you for such a personality. That is goodwill. Do you understand?”

“I don’t recall soliciting your goodwill.”

“Ridiculous! You really are slow, aren’t you? —Of course, this is everyone’s one-sided goodwill! Still, everyone obligingly helps you. If that goodwill is an annoyance, then you shouldn’t tell us to lend you a hand! If you understood everyone’s goodwill and exploited it, then you are a despicable person. And if you didn’t understand that goodwill to begin with, then you are an utter fool.”

Naru breathed a small sigh.

“...Well? What do you want me to do?”

“When goodwill is directed at someone, there’s something known as polite behaviour. Since you’ve been resting on everyone’s goodwill up to this point, you should at least feel obligated to show some good faith.”

In response, Naru’s expression was ice cold.

“I seems like it’s not obligation, but Mai’s selfish hope. Although, you speak as if expressing everyone’s opinion.”

“All right then, my opinion. —Even I have directed goodwill towards you on my own. I’m entitled to hope for a sincere response.”

“One’s hopes don’t always come true.”

“Right back at you. You want to return home like this without making it all clear, but things seldom go as one wishes. The world is not kind enough for everything to work out for your convenience!!”

“Huh?”

Huh what? This guy looks down on the rest of the world!

“I’ll take your picture to a TV station and say you’re an Qigong Master!”

Naru looked at me wearily.

“...What exactly are you upset about?”

“Everything! It doesn’t matter even if I can never see you again. I don’t even want to see someone as callous as you, either! Still, I don’t like uncertainty like this!”

“Whoa, whoa!”

Bou-san struck my head.

3

“Don’t pummel me so easily!”

“Cool off. I get it, so calm down a bit.”

What do you get? Grrr.

“I understand that you’re angry, but Naru-bou has his reasons, too. Don’t get so worked up.”

“Naru does as he pleases, so I’ll do as I please.”

I’ll send letters to every single editor in the media. Fortunately, there’s an occult boom nowadays. So, if the media chases after him, then it serves him right. Hohohohoho.

“The point is, you don’t want things to end with the uncertain remaining uncertain, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Once it becomes clear, then will you be satisfied?”

I looked blankly at Bou-san.

“If it becomes clear, of course. —But, do you think this blockhead will talk? ”

“I don’t know.”

Bou-san said, then looked at Naru.

“You, are you unwilling to crack?”

In response, Naru was expressionless.

“I don’t feel the necessity.”

Bou-san looked up at the ceiling and sighed.

“You’re a stubborn one. —Well then, I’d like to ask you some questions, but will you give me answers?”

“I don’t feel like holding a pointless question and answer session.”

Bou-san raised his eyebrows.

“Well then, do you feel like holding small talk?”

“It's a waste of time.”

With that parting shot, Naru stood up.

“Sometimes in life, futility is necessary.”

Saying so, a smiling Yasuhara-san leaned his back against the door of the entrance.

“Are you resorting to force?”

“Of course not. I just fancy this door.”

“Will you move away from there for a moment?”

“I don’t want to because I’ve fallen passionately in love with this door.”

Naru glanced towards Lin-san.

“I can pass through by force.”

“If you come through by force, it’ll be painful.”

That’s right. Yasuhara-san’s ribs are still broken.

“I think it’ll only aggravate your injury.”

“That would be a problem. My injury would worsen, then we’d end up calling an ambulance. If I do something like let slip that I was assaulted by Lin-san, a policeman will even come.”

“According to the situation, the aggressor is you.”

“That’s even more troublesome.”

Yasuhara-san said so and smiled with his honor student smile.

“Let’s try to proceed with the current situation peaceable. I would hate to damage a shining career and I’m sure Shibuya-san would also hate to be questioned by the police and have what he’s hiding become an open secret.”

Naru sighed.

“...I don’t think it’s something to get so worked up about like this.”

Bou-san smiled wryly.

“Well, that’s your own opinion. Still, humans can’t feel at ease if an uncertainty remains unresolved.”

Naru sighed again and looked back at Bou-san.

“Five minutes.”

“So stingy. I want thirty minutes.”

“Fifteen minutes.”

Bou-san smiled complacently.

“OK. Fifteen minutes, then.”

4

...What’s going on?

When I vacantly looked around the inside of the room, Yasuhara-san and John had oddly knowing expressions. On top of that, these guys have been hanging out.

“What’s this all about?”

Ayako gave voice to my feelings.

Bou-san smiled smugly.

“Making the opaque transparent, right? That’s why I have to proceed quickly. ”

Huh?

“Well now.”

Saying so, Bou-san looked at Naru.

“The first thing I had doubts about was the name.”

I didn’t understand why. I poked Bou-san.

“...Name?”

“Shibuya of Shibuya is something that’s too good to be true.”

“Oh?”

“Mai, didn’t you think it was odd? The director who runs an office in Shibuya is named Shibuya.”

I...I didn’t think it was particularly odd.

“Isn’t it a coincidence?”

“There are only three conceivable possibilities. One: Mere coincidence. Two: He chose an office in Shibuya as a pun since his name is Shibuya. Three: It’s an alias.”

“An alias!?”

Bou-san nodded.

“Right. If it was me or Shōnen, it would probably be a pun. But alas, that wouldn’t be like Naru-bou.”

...That’s true. Naru is the type of person who’s opposed to jokes and puns.

“It being a coincidence is the most likely. There aren’t many places in Tokyo with such prime location. It’s even possible that there’s an Aoyama-san in Aoyama and even a Ginza-san in Ginza.”

“There’s no Ginza!”

“Okay, okay. But, there was something else that bothered me.”

Bou-san said and stared fixedly at Naru.

“It was when we first met. Do you remember Naru’s words? ‘You also addressed me without honorifics just now.’”

...I remember.

That is what he said. Naru had called me “Mai” without honorifics and I complained, “Oh, you addressed someone without honorifics.” Then he said, “You also called me like that just now.”

“It was an odd line, so it left a strange impression. Mai didn’t particularly address Naru without honorifics. She only called him by a nickname. From ‘Naru the Narcissist’. —However,”

Saying that, Bou-san directed his gaze towards Lin-san.

“Lin also calls Naru so. —This is strange.”

I stared in puzzlement.

“Why?”

“Does Lin seem like the type to call his boss ‘Naru the Narcissist’? If ‘Naru’ was a nickname that came from ‘Naru the Narcissist’ as Mai said, then absolutely, definitely, most certainly, Lin, at least, would not call him ‘Naru’. —Am I wrong?”

...That’s true…

“Well, actually, we have no choice but to ask those in question, but I doubt it. So, that’s why I became slightly suspicious. —Maybe Shibuya Kazuya is an alias and his real name is Naru.”

5

His real name is Naru—?

When I inadvertently looked back, Naru’s expression was impassive as always.

“...How shrewd of you.”

“Humph. The fun’s just getting started.”

Bou-san laughed, then began aimlessly walking around the inside of the room.

“If so, there wouldn’t be any harm even if Lin called him ‘Naru’ as if natural. Thinking so, I suddenly realize that I’ve never seen proof that Naru’s real name is really ‘Shibuya Kazuya.’”

...Now that you mention it…

“But Bou-san, what about me? Have you ever seen proof that my name is Taniyama Mai?”

“I haven’t.”

Saying so, Bou-san smiled.

“However, Naru’s circumstances are different from yours, Mai. For one thing, Naru-bou was hospitalized once before.”

“Ah, for a little while.”

“Right. At that time, Naru-bou’s hospital room didn’t have a nameplate.”

“...True...”

“The hospital room’s nameplate is where the person’s name from the insurance card should be written. However, for some reason, the nameplate was blank. Of course, that means his real name wasn’t presented at the time it was supposed to be.”

‘But,’ Ayako said.

“This time there was a proper nameplate. ‘Shibuya Kazuya’ was written on it.”

That’s right.

“It was, wasn’t it?”

That being said, Bou-san smiled smugly.

“Naru-bou was hospitalized twice and of that number, there was a nameplate this time, but there wasn’t one on the previous occasion. And then, though he previously refused visits, this time he didn’t say anything when we went to visit almost daily. Furthermore, I don’t know about the last time, but this time, Naru-bou said there was no insurance and was required to pay outrageous medical fees.”

I tilted my head to the side in confusion.

“In other words? Does that mean he inadvertently gave his real name at the hospital the previous time, so the nameplate was blank?”

Right?

“Then, naturally, the doctors and nurses would know his real name, wouldn’t they? So, I wonder if that means he banned visits so his real name wouldn’t be conveyed to us? —Then that means he deliberately said he didn’t have an insurance card so that wouldn’t happen this time and stuck with his alias in exchange for expensive medical fees?”

“Exactly. It’s only a guess. However, I think the possibility that ‘Shibuya Kazuya’ is an alias is extremely high.”

...Hmm.

“Well, let’s say that ‘Shibuya’ is a fake name. Even if his real name is Naru, this is also strange. Naru— it’s not a surname you hear too much. Well, how about as a first name? Naru, Naru. This name isn’t too likely either.”

Suddenly, I asked,

“Isn’t it that? The alias ‘Narumi’ that he used during that case. That’s actually his real name and ‘Naru’ is the abbreviation.”

“I think it’s different. What about that line he used? He said, ‘Addressed me without honorifics.’”

...That’s true…

“So,”

Saying this, Bou-san directed his gaze to Naru.

“Can you at least tell me whether ‘Shibuya Kazuya’ is an alias or your real name?”

Naru smiled very thinly.

“...I don’t feel obligated to answer.”

“Oh, is that so. Well then, fine. Let’s move on.”

I blinked in surprise and looked up at Bou-san.

“Is there still something more?”

“Is there, you ask? Of course there is.”

6

“I think that Naru = ‘Shibuya Kazuya’ is very suspicious. Not just the name. Naru-bou’s private life is more or less a mystery. Under these circumstances, I can’t say there isn’t any indication of him going to school. I thought about this and it’s unnatural. Obviously, Naru wants to conceal the place where he’s living.”

“That’s right.”

He won’t tell even if you ask.

“Why is the matter hidden?”

“Of course, he’s thinking of the possibility that admirers will pursue him.”

“Rejected. Running an office, there’d be no point to only hiding at home. There’s only one possible answer. In short, there’s the possibility that the place of Naru’s residence is somewhere that just by being leaked out will expose the thing Naru wants to hide.”

“The thing he wants to hide?”

“It’s Naru’s identity. He wants to conceal his profile. The place of his residence holds the risk of revealing his profile as soon as it’s location is discovered. Therefore, he hides it. Am I wrong?”

In the direction of Bou-san’s gaze was Naru’s white face, which held an expression as if the matter wasn’t any of his concern.

“...are you requesting a reply?”

Being told so, Bou-san breathed lightly.

“Hey, Mai. Looking at a house, there are any number of things to discover about the residents of the house, yeah? Whether it’s a single house or an apartment, whether it’s big or small, whether the level of its architecture is high grade or low grade. The size of the garden, whether they keep a dog, the number of cars, the number of residents— There are a lot of things you can deduce from that place. Don’t you think so?”

“Yeah.”

“If ‘Shibuya’ is an alias, then there would be a nameplate with his real name hanging there. So, I understand why he hides his house. However, why does he hide his phone number?”

“Of course… if you know the area code, you can find out which area he lives in and if you patiently look for it in the phonebook, then you can even find the address, right?”

“Can you find a house with only the area code?”

“Um...”

I doubt it?

“There’s nothing you can do unless the number is published in a phonebook. In other words, there’s no need to hide the number if Naru owns a private phone. There’s a need to adamantly conceal it because he doesn’t have a personal phone. For example, consider the case where there’s a call.”

“A call?”

“Right. For example, the case where he lives with his family. In this case, the family doesn’t know Naru is intentionally hiding his profile. If you knew his number, his family might carelessly make conversation with you.”

“Hmm?”

“With that, there’s the case where there’s nothing but a shared phone. If there’s a phone call, a landlord or family member who isn’t aware of his situation may answer. In that case, for someone who wants to hide his profile, it might be slightly awkward.”

...Naru living in a boarding house with nothing but a shared phone...that’s something difficult to imagine.

“—Of course, there are also ways to get the people around him to keep quiet, but this guy can’t do that. There are circumstances that make it impossible. So, he won’t give out his phone number.”

“In that case, wouldn’t he only need to have a private phone installed?”

It was Ayako who interrupted.

“That would be more natural than unnaturally hiding his phone number. It would be convenient for arranging phone calls. Naru even has an income, so there’s no reason not to have a phone installed, right?”

“Probably not. —I agree with you, Ayako. That’s right. What do you think this means?”

Ayako looked up toward the ceiling.

“I don’t think he couldn’t have a phone installed with his type of income, do you? Then, his family won’t let him install a phone. Otherwise, his landlord won’t let him install one.”

“Right.”

“Also, whether it’s his family or landlord, why wouldn’t they cooperate in hiding his profile?”

“Exactly. Moreover, among these, I think the possibility that his family won’t let him install a phone is low. ”

—Huh?

“Why?”

‘Come on,’ Bou-san smiled wryly.

“Naru-bou is a minor, isn’t he? He should need his guardian’s consent to rent an office, install a phone, or doing anything, right?”

“Oh, I see.”

“Naru appears confident when he says he’s the person in charge of the office. In other words, at the least, Naru’s parents aren’t cooperating in what he’s doing. An alternative to cooperation is acquiescence. Well then, wouldn’t they at least let him install a phone?”

“...Surely.”

“In other words, the place where Naru-bou lives is rental housing or a place resembling that, the landlord is difficult to persuade, and it’s a place where you can’t install a private phone.”

...What kind of place is it? Even in the apartment building where I live, you can install a phone. There’s only a common phone, it’s an apartment with a difficult landlord or…

Ayako glared at Bou-san.

“I’ll hit you if you say it’s an apartment building like that.”

Bou-san smiled wryly.

“It’s possible there are apartment buildings like that, but I don’t think so.”

Huh?

“It can’t be a house, or even a maisonette or apartment. —It’s a hotel, isn’t it?”

7

“Ah.”

“Ah.”

Ayako and I spoke in unison.

Bou-san nodded.

“If the place where he lives is a hotel, it would be awkward to give out his phone number. Because the front desk answers. It seems like it would be difficult to persuade the front desk and work out an arrangement. There are also places where you can install a phone, but well, the story is complicated. For the time being, if he doesn’t urgently need a personal phone, then it’s much easier to hide his phone number.”

“But, that means...”

I looked at Naru. What kind of person lives in a hotel? For so long, too.

“Naru is not someone from Tokyo. Also, he has no desire to settle down in Tokyo.”

...Was it something like that…?

“He said he was looking for his older brother this whole time, right? Perhaps this guy came to Tokyo in order to search for his older brother and is staying at a hotel for the time being. He didn’t think it would take so long. Therefore, he didn’t feel like looking for a proper residence. —Am I wrong?”

Everyone’s gaze focused on Naru, but the facial expression of the man in question was unflinching.

“I don’t feel obligated to respond.”

Ayako raised her voice just as Bou-san sighed in disappointment.

“Wait a minute!”

“What?”

“Even though Naru was searching for his older brother, this is actually Nagano, right? Naru was probably traveling for some time in order to look for this place. He was flying around all over Japan. So, there wasn’t any need to establish a stop over point in Tokyo to the extent of living in a hotel, right?”

“That’s it. For example, in your case, Ayako, what would you do?”

“In my case, I would follow the clues with my home as a stop over point. That’s sensible and less expensive.”

“That’s right. But, what if his home is much farther away? How about if going to Hokkaido from his home is farther than going to Hokkaido from Tokyo?”

“That’s true, but...”

“But what kind of place is that?”

When I asked, Bou-san laughed.

“You should try to think about it from your own perspective, Mai. Someone important to you dies somewhere. Why would it be necessary for you to take the trouble of relocating to wherever that was?”

Naru truly was running throughout Japan. In other words, the place where his brother was located may have been Hokkaido and it may have been Okinawa. If that’s the case, it seems like it’s the same wherever one lives. It wouldn’t be necessary to take the trouble to relocate… No, wait.

“...a foreign country.”

If the place where someone disappeared was America and not Japan, then, going to America somehow, there would be no choice but to stay in a hotel or apartment, right?

I looked at Naru. Ayako looked at Naru, too.

Bou-san nodded.

“Exactly. —There are several supporting factors. For example, he’s weak with aphorisms and proverbs. He’s also weak with kanji. He even said so himself, ‘I’m not too good at Kanji.’ He uses a Western language to take notes during investigations, and a Western language is often used to organize the data at the office. There are times when I’ve seen him reading Japanese, but I’ve never seen him writing Japanese.”

“Ah...”

When I murmured, Bou-san raised an eyebrow and looked at me.

“When we first met, after he was asked what grade he was in, he said he was seventeen. I thought it was a very strange answer.”

Afterwards, I convinced myself it was because he didn’t go to school.

“See? —When this is combined with previously discussing that his name might actually be an alias, everything fits exactly into place. This guy is not Japanese.”

“But...”

“Someone’s not necessarily Japanese just because he looks Japanese and speaks Japanese. Lin is a good example. Don’t you agree?”

Lin-san’s Japanese is very fluent. Even his outward appearance looks completely Japanese, but still, he’s not Japanese.

“Viewed in this way, I understand why he doesn’t go to school. As long as he lives in a hotel, he can’t go through the transfer procedures. He couldn’t go even if he wanted to go, and he doesn't want to go.”

“...That’s true.”

Ayako tilted her head.

“Then, Hong Kong?”

“I thought that, too. ‘Is he possibly Chinese?’ However, I didn’t really think so with a name like Naru. Well, it’s faster to ask the person himself about it.”

Saying so, Bou-san asked Naru,

“—Where were you born, Naru?”

Naru didn’t reply. Focusing his dark gaze on Bou-san, he simply gave him a sardonic smile.

Once again, Bou-san lightly sighed.

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