Ghost Hunt:Volume 8 Chapter 15
Chapter 15 - August 14th 6:00 pm and Beyond[edit]
1 [edit]
When we rushed out of the bungalow, a crowd full of several curious onlookers was gathered by the water’s edge.
The area was heavy with signs of twilight. The shore was caught in the shadow of the mountain, and the perimeter of the boat on the shadowless lake was brilliant as if illuminated. The surface of the water was glistening in the setting sun.
The black head of the diver appeared at the surface of the water near the motorboat. A hand extended from the inside of the boat and was given a rope. As the person on the boat pulled the rope, some sort of dull-grey mass of cloth soon rose to the surface of the water. The underwater diver got into the boat and the boat began to move. It headed toward the shore.
Watching that scene, it felt like we were observing some kind of ritual.
The boat arrived at the shore. It touched ground at the water’s edge and stopped. When the diver, who jumped down, pulled on the rope, a grey…. No, something wrapped in a dirty silver tarp was hauled forward. It was brought to the water’s edge. From among the people who were watching from a short distance off, a single figure began walking to the water’s edge. It was Naru.
Naru crouched beside the mass of cloth that had been pulled up. He reached out a hand and the middle-aged diver could be heard trying to stop him.
“Don’t do it.”
“No, I’m fine.”
Naru’s voice was calm. He lacked expression.
Naru knelt on the tarp. Stretching out his white hand, he turned up the sheet. From the edge of the bundled tarp, a small bit of jet-black hair could be seen peeking out. The diver, who was beside him, averted his eyes.
Naru stared fixedly at that… then he replaced the tarp with a steady hand. Remaining silent, he stood to his feet and began to walk along the water’s edge.
His profile was tranquil with neither tears nor traces of suffering.
It became an uproar after that. However, Masako, Ayako, and I, followed by Mori-san, quickly left that place and returned to the bungalow. We brought Naru’s mother with us.
Naru’s father is Martin Davis. His mother’s name seems to be Luella Davis. According to Mori-san, his father is apparently called Professor Davis to distinguish from Naru, who received a doctorate. I’m not sure of their age, but I think it’s slightly older than our mother and father’s age.
Also, Professor Davis has brownish red hair and Mrs. Davis has magnificently blonde hair. The Professor’s eyes are blue and hers are violet.
Mrs. Davis cried a lot. It was sad and I felt sorry for her, but I was at a loss for words to comfort her. After a long time had passed and it had become dark outside the window, Mrs. Davis at last raised her face from where it had been resting on Mori-san’s shoulder.
“Please, excuse me.”
Her Japanese had a slightly unsteady feeling.
“I’m sorry, for not greeting you.”
Everyone shook their heads and after seeing that with her tear-swollen eyes, she asked,
“Do you understand my Japanese?”
“It’s very good.”
When Masako said that, Mrs. Davis finally smiled. Even so, it was painful to see her mouth trembling as she smiled.
“Those two would talk secretly in Japanese, so I studied the language. However, Japanese is difficult. I can’t speak it well. I’m sorry.”
‘Those two’ probably meant Naru and his older brother.
“Thank you so much for taking very good care of Naru.”
“Not at all. Thank you, too.”
Masako bowed and Ayako stood up.
“I’ll refresh the tea. Since it’s cooled down.”
“Um… My condolences.”
When I said this, Mrs. Davis looked at Mori-san. Mori-san said something in English, then Mrs. Davis smiled at me.
“Thank you very much. Are you Taniyama-san?”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, too. Naru can be difficult since he’s a serious person. Thank you very much.”
Since she said so, she must know I’m working part-time at the office.
“He really is a bit difficult, isn’t he?”
When I said this, Mrs. Davis laughed.
“But he’s a good child.”
“I know.”
“I’m very proud of both of them.”
Saying that, she opened her hand, which held a handkerchief. In her palm, she had a business-card sized picture frame. She gently caressed it. When I tried to peer into it, she handed it over.
“I’m very proud.”
There were two boys in the picture. They had the same face. The same stature. One’s expression was somewhat more gentle than the other’s. It was two Narus.
“...Gene?”
I pointed to one. Mrs. Davis nodded.
They were really similar. Gene was smiling and Naru was frowning slightly.
“It’s like there are two Genes.”
Masako said as she looked on from the other side. I definitely think so.
Rather than two Narus, it felt as if there were two Genes present in the picture. I understood the reason immediately. Naru was wearing a navy blue sweater. His shirt was dungaree. It was the first time I had seen Naru dressed like that.
...Oh, I see.
I understand.
Those… were for mourning.
All black clothes. They were for Gene.
—For the half he had lost.
Suddenly, tears nearly spilled out, but I quickly fought them back. I have no right to cry in front of his mother. First of all, this sorrow belongs to those who knew Gene well and loved him.
I returned the picture frame to Mrs. Davis. She grasped it in her palm as though it was very important.
“Poor Gene.”
Mrs. Davis said with tears in her eyes once again.
“I think it’s painful for Naru, too. Poor thing.”
“Yes...”
“Though they were born together, it’s wrong for them to be separated like this. It’s truly cruel.”
“I think so, too.”
When I said that, I became tearful and couldn’t hold back. I stood up on the spot and quickly went outside.
2 [edit]
“I’m a mess...”
I rested my back against a tree in the forest. Moonlight was shining down.
Even though I shouldn’t cry, even though there are people who are hurting more than me, even though I should be offering comfort and encouragement…
Despite that, if I don’t look upward, my tears will spill over.
My chest really hurts. …It’s painful.
I don’t really understand why it’s so painful.
“Hmph.”
I want to cry. But I don’t want to cry.
So, I was relieved when I was called out to.
“What are you doing?”
That disgusted tone of voice belonged to Naru. When I scrubbed my face and looked in the direction of the voice, I saw Naru, who looked truly disgusted.
“Do you intend to eat the moon? Even if you wait with your mouth open, the moon won’t fall in.”
...I swear, he’s foul-mouthed!
Still, thanks to that my tears have subsided, so I’ll forgive him in this instance.
“I don’t particularly want to eat it.”
“Where’s Luella?”
To think that he calls his mother so.
“She’s in our bungalow. ...What about your brother?”
“The police took him away.”
“Hmm...”
I wonder why he’s this indifferent. It’s a little irritating that he’s completely the same as always.
“You’re not being honest...”
“What?”
Naru, who began walking towards the light of the bungalow, looked back.
“You sourpuss! Can’t you just cry freely?”
“It isn’t necessarily something to cry over.”
“But you’re sad, aren’t you?”
Naru gave me a slightly cynical smile.
“Unfortunately, I’m a stupid person who doesn’t understand the subtleties of emotions.”
This guy’s holding a grudge.
“You’re not honest.”
“Everyone dies.”
His voice was quiet.
“In a hundred years, not a single person we know will be alive.”
“That isn’t the point.”
“That is the point.”
He’s a truly obstinate person.
I looked up at the moon.
“You’re going back to England...”
“Yeah.”
It's okay to tell him. At this point.
“Umm… I liked you.”
“I heard more than enough about how favorably you view me this afternoon.”
“Idiot. That’s not what I meant.”
I looked at Naru. He was looking at me a little strangely, so I couldn’t help laughing.
“You’re slow.”
“What?”
“Well, I liked you in a very special way.”
Naru stared back at me. His pupils were jet-black. He tilted his head slightly, then his white face smiled faintly.
“Me? —Or Gene?”
For a moment, I was dumbfounded.
What is he suggesting?
“That’s...”
That sort of thing... that’s obvious, isn’t it?
Naru’s going back. So, I thought I’d tell him. Because I won’t be able to see him anymore. Before long.
...We’ll never meet again.
I’ll never see that smile. He’ll never show up again in any of my dreams.
I couldn’t answer. Sad and regretful, I burst into tears.
“But… I didn’t know!”
I didn’t know. That wasn’t Naru. I never realized he was no longer in this world. I was sure that one day Naru would smile at me like that. Even though he never smiles like that.
“I didn’t know… I had no idea.”
He always helped me and encouraged me, but I didn’t even thank him. I was mistaken the whole time and got it wrong until the end.
“I always called him Naru.”
That’s all I ever called him. I never once tried to get to know the real him.
My chest hurts. It’s so painful I want to die.
I crouched on the spot and cried aloud.
3 [edit]
After a long while had passed, my breathing calmed and I was finally able to lift my head.
“At any rate...”
Hearing his voice nearby, I was surprised. Looking to the side, I found Naru standing right next to me. I thought he had left a long time ago, so I was a bit stunned.
“At any rate, you’ll meet him again whether or not you want to.”
He kept his pale face turned away.
“...After a hundred years or so...?”
“In your case, it might be close to two hundred years.”
“Hmph.”
Oddly, my strength deserted me, and I sat down on the ground.
“I’ll definitely live long. You’ll be amazed since I’m a stupid klutz.”
“Probably.”
“I wish you’d deny it instead.”
“Don’t you think it’s better to face the truth?”
Hmph.
“...You should have told me. If you had explained the situation properly from the beginning, I wouldn’t have made that mistake. I blame you.”
“It was stupid of you to jump to conclusions. Do I have that sort of meddlesome personality?”
“That’s true...”
When I laughed, tears spilled out again.
“It seems silly… Without knowing the truth, I let myself be easily affected by your actions.”
“Oh?”
In the forest at night, with the moonlight shining down, the insects were softly singing.
“It’s the perfect mood.”
“Huh?”
I looked upward and stuck out my tongue.
“Until just a while ago, it would have been an absolutely exciting situation.”
“It’d be a bother if you expected the same on my part.”
“I would have. A girl’s heart is like that.... And yet, when I think about it being a completely different person, it no longer holds the same value.”
After I said that, I chastised myself.
“...not good. That was an extremely rude thing to say, wasn’t it? Sorry.”
“It’s alright. I’m used to it.”
When I looked up at his indifferent voice, Naru raised his eyebrows a little.
“The same face and same level of talent. One has a good personality and the other a bad one. —Which would you choose?”
“The one with a good personality.”
“Exactly.”
...I see.
“You’re… a rather pitiful person, aren’t you?”
His brother probably always got all the girls.
“It was quiet, which I was glad of.”
“Idiot scientist.”
Naru looked at me, so I laughed.
“Gene said you were, ‘just an idiot scientist.’”
Naru sighed. I laughed at that and stood up.
“Your outward appearances are really similar, but you’re completely different on the inside.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t meet your expectations.”
“Yup. If your personality was even a little similar, I’d swoon.”
I’m saying a lot of rude things. I’m sorry. Forgive me. If I don’t do this right now, I won’t have the strength to stand.
“I already have enough.”
I laughed.
“Is there perhaps someone you like?”
When I asked, Naru seemed a bit surprised.
“Me?”
“I see… I guess there’s no one after all. For a moment, I thought there was someone in England you wanted to see.”
I’ll ask for Masako’s sake. I’m so kind.
“There’s a woman I’ve been chasing after for about five years now.”
“No way! Seriously?”
“...A woman in Wimbledon.”
“The Wimbledon of tennis?”
“Yes. Living in the attic of an old house.”
“How old is she? Is she a beautiful person?”
“I don’t know. Her age seems to be over eighty.”
...crestfallen.
“She is alive, right?”
Naru laughed a little.
“I can get exceptionally clear data from her. She only appears around this time of the year, so I’m thinking about going to see her first thing when I get back home.”
...Good grief. He seems genuinely happy about it.
“...It would be nice to meet even once a year like that.”
I won’t say with whom.
“You should probably accept that you won’t be able to meet.”
“I know.”
His profile, exposed to the moon, was really similar. Enough to make me cry.
“I loved his beautiful smile.”
“I see.”
“It was really, really beautiful.”
“Yeah—”
4 [edit]
“Mai, are you okay?”
Being spoken to by Ayako, I woke up. Ugh, it’s bright.
“Mornin...”
“Are you okay? Your eyes are swollen.”
“Wow...”
“You should cool them down.”
Masako handed me a wet towel.
“I give up. My eyes won’t open.”
“You were weeping uncontrollably in the middle of the night.”
“Yeah. When I woke up in the middle of the night, I couldn’t help crying. It seems I was somehow expecting to see him in my dreams last night.”
Last night, after I returned to the bungalow, I talked to Ayako and Masako about everything. Somehow, I couldn’t keep silent.
“Here, eye drops. Put them in.”
“Thanks...”
Uuh. The eye drops, along with the morning sun, stung my eyes.
When I got out a hand mirror and peered into it, my eyes were really swollen and my wretched face was bloated.
“Ugh...”
“Here, cool them properly.”
“Hey, the concept of deep, tragic love is beautiful, but the reality of it is unseemly, isn’t it?”
“Why are you talking seriously about such nonsense? Do you feel like spending the day with that face?”
Ye~s.
I laid down and placed the wet towel over my face. It felt really good.
“I’m going to make today’s breakfast with the others. I’ll bring yours over here, so sleep for a little while.”
I heard Ayako’s voice and the sound of the entrance door open, so I fluttered my hand with the towel still on my face.
“Hey, Masako~”
“What is it?”
“I thought seriously last night, but you have a chance.”
I heard a light sigh.
“Just when I was wondering what you might say… Don’t worry. Even I thought so myself.”
“Really?”
“All I have to do is go see him. It’s not like I can’t buy a plane ticket. Although, I doubt whether he would meet with me even if I went to see him.”
“It’ll be fine.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. Until now, I’m sure Naru didn’t have any feelings to spare. He was completely occupied with looking for Gene.”
“I hope that’s so, but...”
Yeah. There’s definitely still doubt.
“I’m telling you, there’s hope. A long time ago, Masako, you would hold arms with Naru, right? He didn’t pull away from you, so I bet that means he wasn’t as annoyed as he would have us believe.”
I heard Masako sigh.
“I think that’s different.”
“Different?”
It seems that’s just Naru’s personality.”
“Huh?”
“It seems it’s extremely difficult for him to deal with being clung to.”
....Oh?
“I think he gets confused about what to do. When I first took his arm, he went rigid for about a minute.”
I sat up. The towel fell and I could see Masako.
“...Really?”
A minute would mean it’s real.
“Really.”
“...Oh. But you often deliberately take his arm.”
Masako turned her head away irritably.
“Even I thought I was being a little shameless, but he didn’t understand at all.”
“Oh, I see.”
“I realized he was uncomfortable with it. After that, I did it just to harass him.”
“Exhibiting that sort of warped regard isn’t good.”
“I know. That’s why I haven’t been doing it lately.”
“Great! Do your best~ If you don’t hurry, I’ll enter the war again.”
“By all means.”
Whoa. Such confidence.
“You don’t mind if I become serious? No matter how you look at it, their faces are similar.”
“I won’t hand him over to someone with such impure intentions.”
“Ahahaha.”
“If you intend to participate in the war, you should do something about that face. ”
She slapped the towel over my eyes.
“He~y.”
“I’m going to go over there to help, but cool your eyes properly. If you cry any further, you’ll be too frightful to be seen twice. After all, your base is your base.”
“Mind your own business. Anyway, I’m not as beautiful as you, Masako.”
“Oh, you’re just now saying such an obvious thing?”
“Damn you.”
When I removed the towel and tried to hit her, Masako was already out of range.
“Goodnight.”
She waved at me with a beautiful smile.
“Yeah, yeah. Night.”
...I’m okay. I won’t cry.
There’s no greater parting than this, but my feelings weren’t denied. I think I’ll be depressed for a while, but I’ll recover fully someday.
It hurts right now, but… it really hurts, but humans can’t always be optimistic. It can’t be helped. Surely everyone has experienced such pain as well, and I expect they got over it properly. Life is like that.
...What a brazen thing for me to say.
“I wonder what it was he wanted to say...”
That’s the one thing that bothered me.
Those words of Gene’s the last time we met.
—There was something I wanted to say, but…
Not all of the mysteries have been solved. Perhaps that’s also life.
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