Ghost Hunt:Volume4 Chapter5
Chapter 5 - I was Watching That[edit]
1[edit]
Naru left the room to persuade the principal once more. ‘At least let us have a little more time’ was the message. If the investigation was aborted, and we were evicted from the school, there would be nothing that we could do.
During this period of time the few of us gathered together and discussed whether anyone had found any clues to resolve the problem.
“More investigation is necessary, but the problem is how to investigate, and what we are going to investigate.” The monk grumbled.
“If we are not able to enter the school, our hands would be tied.”
“As you say.”
Ayako sighed.
“How should we proceed now?”
“Don’t just ask others; use your own brain to think a little.”
“Thinking about it you’re the one… sorry, Ayako doesn’t have a brain that can be used.”
“Hey, what do you mean by that?”
Are the two of you not clear about our current situation? Now is not the time for friendly squabbling.
The monk sank into thought, muttering to himself, “Let us try re-organizing this situation.”
Saying that, he raised his hands, clenched as fists.
“Since about the end of the summer vacation, Kokkuri-san has been very popular in the school. This is the start.”
Ayako followed the Monk’s words.
“The summoned spirits loitered around the school.”
“Because by chance the school happens to be a place which can enclose spirits…”
After Yasuhara finished, John followed on and spoke.
“The spirits fed on each other, and the school has turned into a situation of a kodoku.”
Is this a game of continue the sentence?
“Indeed.”
The monk scratched his head.
“I somehow feel there’s something odd – this part about summoning the spirits.
“There shouldn’t be this possibility. Non-psychics perform ten or twenty thousand summonings, and even succeed in calling forth a cannibalistic spirit. There is definitely something hidden in all this. To summon spirits with so little ease, right? … did Naru put it this way?”
That fellow is unable to maintain the tense atmosphere.
“Hey,”
I tried asking.
“Isn’t the so called Worikiri-sama really very strange? It’s the first time I’ve heard of a Kokkuri-san like this.”
The monk nodded.
“En, it’s my first time hearing of it too.”
“I’ve regularly heard of Cupid-san, etc godly manifestations and the like.”
Ayako also tilted her head.
“However, the method of summoning and the rest…”
“Is completely different, and the way it is performed is also very strange, right?
“Ah, right, Ayako hasn’t seen it before, that piece of paper.”
“Paper?!”
“En, the paper used in Worikiri-sama.
“There are the Fifty Sounds, numbers, and ‘yes’ and ‘no’ drawn on top – all of these are very ordinary, right?
“Look, if it is Kokkuri, don’t they usually draw a Torii in the middle? The difference with Worikiri-sama is that a strange symbol is drawn instead.”
“Ke~ What is it like?”
“En~ I can’t remember too clearly. It looked very complicated. There were words written in a circle… the word used was ‘鬼’ (oni, demon). It was creepy.”
“En~ that’s really strange.”
When Ayako was grumbling, Lin-san, who had listened unmoving to our conversation, suddenly grabbed my forearm.
“Did you say the word was ‘鬼’?!”
After asking me that somewhat interrogatingly, Lin-san hurriedly let go of my arm.
“What’s up? Is there anything?”
The Monk’s face was filled with shock.
“What was that paper like? Please try your best to recall that in detail.”
“I don’t remember it. Oh yes, what about Yasuhara-kun? Haven’t you played it before?”
Yasuhara sank deep in thought.
“I also only played it just once before…”
He said that while he took out a loose sheet of note paper.
“That, there is a circle made up of the word ‘鬼’. Then in the middle there are 2 checkered patterned pictures(???)…”
Yasuhara drew the picture out as he thought.
The circle made up of the word ‘鬼’, and inside that were 2 4-cornered (zigzag?)dividing lines. And in the middle of that was the shape of a man.
“There were some words written inside here… I don’t quite know.”
Yasuhara showed his picture to us.
“Yes… it was really like this.”
Lin-san looked like he was squinting, then he spoke in his deep voice.
“Can’t you get hold of this paper?”
“I think I might be able to get something out of catching and intimidating some of the nearby students. Is there a problem with this?”
Lin-san did not answer. Yasuhara picked up the paper with the drawing, and very neatly started writing something on it.
“Yasuhara-kun, was that like this?”
Exactly like this…
“That’s right. Here and here…”
Yasuhara pointed to the blank spaces on either side of the human figure.
“There are some words written here.”
And that is?
“Worikiri-sama… it’s called that, right?
“The way of calling it is from an incantation, right?
“ ‘on, onikilitei, meiritei, meiwayashimaire, sowaka’…”
“Ah, it is this one!”
“Then, after using the paper, it has to be buried somewhere.”
“Yes. That’s what is said to be done. What with being only able to use it once. After using it one has to properly take it to the shrine or something.”
“Shrine…”
Lin-san softly repeated those words, and then he looked straight at Yasuhara.
“Do you know where the shrine is located?”
“Not clearly… but there is only one shrine nearby.”
I glanced out of the window. In the place where the trees flourished was the shrine. I had seen it in my dreams. In the thick fog… Maybe.
“Please bring me there, hurry.”
Wait a moment, Lin-san…
“Hey, Lin.”
Lin-san ignored the Monk’s voice trying to stop him.
Dragging Yasuhara, Lin-san sprinted out of the Work Room.
2[edit]
In the end all of us followed the two of them to the small shrine.
I jumped in shock.
It was exactly the same as what I had seen in my dream…
The wooden Torii that was going black. The unmoving Inari Kami with flags stuck on it. The small main hall with slopping tiled roof. Only… the thick fog was missing…
Lin-san walked straight up to the Inari Kami. He walked around the small memorial hall investigating something.
Stones were stacked into a pedestal, and a small wooden memorial hall was placed on top. Even the donation box placed in front of the memorial hall was so small it was pathetic.
Lin-san said, after walking around and looking at the memorial hall, “It is not here.”
After that grumble, this time he walked towards the Main Hall. Lin-san studied the floor which was higher than many other temples, and said, “Brown-san.”
He shouted for John.
“I’m sorry, I am unable to crawl in. Please crawl under this floor and take a look.”
To prevent cats and dogs from going under the floor, it was surrounded by a wire mesh. There was a small hole in a dark corner of the front steps. It was a small hole that the nearly 190cm Lin-san could never have crawled into.
John nodded and climbed in. He would definitely get dirt all over him, poor dear.
“Is there anything inside?”
John replied to Lin-san’s words.
“There is a bit of paper.”
“Just a piece will do, please take it out.”
John quickly crawled back out. He coughed a few times gently, and handed the piece of paper to Lin-san.
“This is it.”
Lin-san spread out the paper which had been crumpled into a ball, then said, “As expected.”
Grumbling softly, Lin-san passed the paper to us. The paper was already soiled. It had the symbol in the center, and the fifty sounds.
“…This is!”
“Is this the paper used to play Worikiri-sama?”
The Monk and I nodded. Yasuhara too, firmly said, “There’s no mistake about this. That… this is…”
Why would it be buried in this type of place?
Lin-san’s profile was expressionless.
“If you wish for madness, bury it the crossing of paths…”
“Ai?”
“If you wish to kill, bury it beneath the palace.”
What?!
Lin-san looked straight ahead.
“This is the seal of the curse. If it is buried beneath a shrine, it can become a killing curse.”
… … … …
My ears started to ring.
What was that? Killing curse?
We hurried back to school to look for Naru. We found him when we went back to the Meeting Room. Naru looked like he had had a serious talk with the principal, but that was not the situation or the problem we wanted to discuss. The problem was that piece of paper.
“Curse Seal?”
Lin-san nodded to Naru’s words.
“Yes. If this is buried at a junction it can make someone else go crazy, if it is buried beneath a shrine it can kill someone.”
Naru was deep in thought, his finger knocking repeatedly on the table. Lin-san continued speaking to his profile.
“Somebody… called this curse seal a Kokkuri prop and spread it around… The ignorant students unconsciously became accessories to murder.”
Naru’s low, clear voice: “Is it confirmed?”
“Yes. Fortunately the ones who made and activated the curse are only outsiders. If it were me, this single piece would have been enough to kill a person.”
… … tsk… …
“If it is like this.”
Naru took the paper from my hands.
“The completely ignorant students, unaware of the consequences, created these curse seals and performed the ritual for a killing curse every day. Incidentally this was used supposedly as a summoning prop; spirits were gathered together… and in the end it became a situation of mutually devouring spirits, it became a Kodoku…”
“Yes, I think it is like this.”
“What will happen when the Kodoku is complete?”
“This person will die.”
Who is it? The target of the killing curse is?
“Matsuyama Hideharu.”
Matsuyama?
“Matsuyama?!” I howled loudly.
It was exactly at that moment. As though in reply to my voice, Matsuyama appeared in the Meeting Room.
3[edit]
Matsuyama came to a halt suddenly, then gave us an all-over.
“What was that, this rude form of address?!”
All of us looked at Matsuyama. Now was already not the time to be venting anger anymore.
“Have you completed your preparation to leave?”
He said that with a face full of triumph at someone else’s troubles.
Naru’s expression did not change.
“Excuse me, could you please leave for a moment?”
“What the, still scheming about something?”
This fellow! This is clearly not the time for this type of thing!
“I feel that Sensei would be better off not listening to our discussion.”
“Ke~ Why is that?”
Naru quietly picked up that piece of paper, and showed it to Matsuyama.
“What is this thing?”
“A curse seal.”
“Curse seal?!”
“Sensei, are you aware that Kokkuri is popular in the school?”
Matsuyama’s mouth slanted.
“Of course I know. I don’t even know how many times I’ve caught these foolish students.”
“This is the paper used by that Kokkuri.”
“Isn’t this a curse seal?”
“This is a curse seal. Someone masqueraded this curse seal as a new style of Kokkuri an spread it around.”
Matsuyama wrinkled his nose looking very unconvinced.
“And then?”
“Amongst other things, this curse seal can be used for a killing curse. Something used to curse someone and cause their death. Following that, we believe the target of the curse is… you, Matsuyama Sensei.”
Instantaneously, Matsuyama’s face stiffened. Naru turned to look at Lin-san.
“It is like this, right, Lin?”
“It is.”
“And the reason for that is?”
Hearing Naru’s query, Lin-san spread out the paper used for Worikiri-sama. He asked the Monk, “Takigawa-san, are you able to read sanscrit?”
“Ah, En, just about.”
Lin-san displayed the symbol at the center, the symbols on the right of the human figure. With a finger, he pointed to the worm-like words crawling around.
“The target of the curse is written here.”
“… so it is like that… however one looks at it Matsuyama Hideharu is written here.”
Matsuyama looked like he wanted to shout something. His color was also very poor. Lin-san completely ignored all these.
“It doesn’t mean to say that it needs to be written in Sanskrit. And here,” pointing to the left of the human figure, “the age is written here, exactly as seen by everyone.”
“Current age fifty three” was written there.
“Naru, do you know how to read?”
“I’m not too good at Kanji.”
“53 years old this year, this is the meaning.”
“Indeed, he looks about this age.”
Saying that, Naru looked at Matsuyama with a “What do you think about that?” questioning look. Matsuyama nodded.
Lin-san continued.
“It is better to write it in Kanji as it was over here. Or rather, this is the correct way of writing it. However.”
“If Matsuyama’s name were written clearly, anyone would find it suspicious.”
“Yes.”
“Therefore it is purposely written in Sanskrit.”
“I think it is like this.”
Naru’s dark gaze settled beside his own hand; as though Matsuyama’s situation would soon cease to be the main topic.
“The target is Matsuyama… who is the culprit?”
Asking now is pointless… Everyone wanted to know this answer.
“Worikiri-sama started with a first year student in the Aesthetics Department. Furthermore this is not a commonly known spell. Someone not very interested in this type of thing…”
When he heard Naru’s low-toned mumbling, Matsuyama shouted loudly.
“Is it Sakauchi?! It is Sakauchi!”
… Sakauchi-kun. The male student who aspired to become a ghost hunter. And then he died…
Naru nodded.
“It should be him. This incident started around September, just at the start of the second semester. It was mid-September when it really caught on. After that time, Sakauchi-kun committed suicide. I’m afraid he… lit the sparks, and saw the sparks light a fire, then sought his own death.”
The Sakauchi-kun that appeared in my dream, waiting on the roof: he had said before, as though enjoying it greatly, “I’ve seen it…”
That… so it was something like this… However, in the end this Sakauchi-kun also…
Matsuyama groaned balefully.
“Why would that idiot do such a thing?! Why would I…”
Yasuhara glared at Matsuyama.
“Don’t you understand?”
“Understand what…”
“Sensei, do you really not understand the reason why you were chosen?”
Matsuyama was silent.
“Sakauchi-kun left a suicide note. ‘I am not a dog.’ This was the prologue of his suicide note. The school plans to train us like dogs, that’s why we, as students, understand. If someone were to ask who the representative in all this is, even I would reply with Matsuyama-sensei’s name. Because you are the symbol of the school.”
Matsuyama’s face flushed bright red upon being chided by Yasuhara like this. Matsuyama expression changed to one of fury.
Naru expressionlessly stopped Matsuyama who was about to scream in anger.
“It is meaningless even if we now know who the culprit was. Right, Lin?”
Following Naru’s gaze, Matsuyama’s greenish face looked at Lin-san.
“Yes. The curse has already been activated. Even the one who made the curse cannot stop it. The spirits mutually devour each other to complete the Kudoku – this is the only even we are waiting for now.”
“Is there no way at all?!”
Matsuyama shouted.
Even Matsuyama didn’t say things like “what nonsense”. Still harboring conflicting emotions, we looked at Matsuyama who was stuck in an awkward position.
“The solutions are?”
Naru asked the cool Lin-san.
“None.”
“The curse can be reflected back, right?”
… reflect the curse back…?
“That can be done. Is it all right to reflect the curse back?”
Naru sank deep into thought.
Long silence.
“… with this too there is no alternative.”
Naru looked coolly and darkly at Matsuyama.
“Although it’s a person whom I will not feel sorry for even if he died, I cannot stand aside and let him be killed. Reflect the curse back.”
“… If that is your wish.”
Naru momentarily wore a dark look.
“That’s right.”
Matsuyama was clearly gawking.
“Wait… wait a moment! I don’t understand what you are saying!”
I could not help shouting out.
“What are you talking about? Hey?!”
“Mai.”
Naru spoke with a low voice.
“What we call ‘reflect the curse’ is to send the curse back to the curser.”
Ok.
“There are only about 4 large spirits left in the school. The winner would be chosen from amongst these 4. Regardless of which spirit it is, we are already unable to handle it; I will not consider such an option that will put our lives in danger. Do I want to see Matsuyama killed in front of my own eyes? When the Kudoku is complete, Matsuyama would only be waiting for death. And I’m afraid it would be a terribly cruel death.”
The cannibalizing spirits… very soon only the evilest spirit would remain. That spirit, to Matsuyama…
“No. This scenario is no good at all.”
“If that’s the case then shut up. Does anyone else have a different opinion?”
No one replied to Naru. No one could say something in the vein of just let him die. Not lest with the very subject right in front of us.
“It is just like this.”
Naru raised his head to look at Lin-san.
“Yes.”
Matsuyama started laughing softly. It was a laugh of relief. It was a laugh of having pleaded with people whom he had called con-men, and being saved by those very people. Although it affected my emotions, it didn’t exactly make me angry.
Naru turned to look at the laughing Matsuyama.
“You are the cause. Please remember this point.”
Naru looked severely at Matsuyama; Matsuyama ceased his laughter and turned to avoid Naru’s gaze.
The Monk asked softly.
“But Naru-chan, Sakauchi-kun is already dead. Is it possible to reflect the curse back to a dead person?”
“Curses cannot be reflected back to dead people, and this has got no relation to Sakauchi at all.”
Naru said stiffly.
“The curser was not him.”
The entire scene suddenly froze.
“If the curse is reflected back, the curse would return to the curser. Disregarding whether or not they knew of the consequences, the ones who activated the curse are the students.”
----.
What? What did you say?
The students are the cursers?!
Everyone in the room started shouting.
“Naru… wait… a moment.”
My voice turned hoarse.
“If this is the case… then, everyone will…”
My gaze automatically landed on Yasuhara. His face had turned green.
“Have those 4 evil spirits… reflect back on those who have played Worikiri-sama before?”
Naru turned to look at me. I could not move with Naru’s deeper than black stare pinning me.
“I should have already explained this.”
“Don’t do this, Naru!”
“Don’t do what?”
His ice cold gaze allowed for no further expression.
“Reflect the curse back? Allow Matsuyama be killed?”
I didn’t say it like that…
“Even you’ve turned stupid. Without discussing whether they knew or not, the students activated the curse. Even if they never receive any punishment from the law, they are in fact accessories to murder. Reflect the curse back to them. The one who is the cause of all this will regret it for life. Is this not what is called fair?”
It’s not like this… This is much more complicated and ambiguous.
“Yasuhara-kun… can you understand?”
Yasuhara, who had only played Worikiri-sama only once – we would also be reflecting the curse onto him.
“… I understand.”
He nodded, with a deathly pale face.
“If the curse is reflected back, what will happen to us?”
“The number of cursers is too big. The strength will be dispersed; the effectiveness should also be diminished. Theoretically it is like this. Please pray that this will be the case.”
… Wait a moment, this is so cruel.
Yasuhara nodded.
“We were the ones who asked you to resolve this case. If this is the only way.”
“There is no other way.”
“Then we are counting on you.”
A hint of a smile appeared on Yasuhara’s pale face.
It was so simple. Too simple.
“What about Matsuyama?!”
I shouted. Matsuyama’s body suddenly shrunk a little.
“Matsuyama is the only one who is protected, but the others cannot be protected?! Only this person is in the safe zone without having to undergo any punishment?! This is too sly!”
“You’re really stupid.”
“Regardless of who it is, no matter what type of person it is, there is no reason for him to be killed.”
What Naru said was right. Even I, who was extremely confused, understood. However…
“Exactly. There is also no reason to kill everyone. Yasuhara-kun too… he clearly only played it once! He clearly never thought of cursing another person!!”
“Everyone must be responsible for their own actions.”
“Everyone didn’t know!”
“Ignorance is not an excuse.”
That cool voice. And that disgustingly beautiful expression.
I hate him to death, that Naru. Despite his reason he is completely heartless. I hate him, I hate him, I hate him!
Naru turned back to look to Lin-san, who was waiting shadow-like.
“Lin. Start the preparations.”
“Yes.”
4[edit]
Taking Lin-san with him, Naru left the Meeting Room.
We were left behind.
Unaware of the time, the darkness of dusk settled over us. The lights were forgotten so the room was so dark that we could not see each other’s expressions.
No one had anything to say. Even I could not say a word.
Although Matsuyama had sneaked out and left the Meeting Room, we still didn’t feel like talking.
Naru was right. Based on principles he is absolutely correct. And there were not that many paths we could have chosen. Amongst them the best one… at least the best one to Naru, he chose this one, and he is probably not wrong. No matter how cruel a choice it was.
Even if my brain could accept this argument my heart could not.
Everyone was completely ignorant. None of them hated Matsuyama so much to the level of wanting him dead.
… However.
I don’t want this. I can’t approve of this result. I can never approve of this type of thing no matter how hard I try.
Naru must be stopped. Something like this must be stopped.
I moved my stiff legs and stood up.
“Mai.”
Ayako hurriedly grasped my forearm.
“Give it up; this is already something we cannot change.”
“I don’t want to.”
“What are you saying ‘don’t want to’, you!”
I forcefully shrugged off Ayako’s hand, then ran out of the Meeting Room in the same movement.
Don’t tell me that there is no other way!
There must be some other way!!
“Mai!”
“Mai-san!”
I ignored their calls and sprinted away.
“… not here…”
I set down the receiver. I was at a phone booth near the school.
Although I had thoroughly searched the nearby places, I didn’t see Naru. I was a little concerned that the car was no longer in the car park; I thought they might have gone back to the office.
I called the office but nobody replied. Basically neither Taka nor I can receive calls in the office. I made several calls to Taka’s home, and I finally found Taka who had returned home from the office.
“How is it? Is the investigation progressing well? It’s really incredible, there were reporters and all that gathered in front of the office. But I did as boss told me to and told them there was no comment.”
That was ignorant Taka’s innocent voice.
“Taka… Taka!”
Ah ah, this is not important at all!
“What’s up, Mai?”
Taka’s voice turned uneasy.
“What about Naru? Did he not return to the office?”
“En, he didn’t come back. Isn’t he over on your side?”
“Not here. I’ve already searched. If Naru is not stopped…”
I broke off. What should I do…
“I understand. Boss is not there, right?”
Taka said with a firm voice. Although I have not explained a thing to Taka regarding this incident.
“You want to look for boss, right? I will return to the office now to take a look.”
Taka…
“I will go now; I will leave the moment I hang up. When I get there, you call the office. I will spend the entire night tonight waiting in the office.”
“Thank you…”
Once more I searched the places nearby. After counting the time I made another call to the office. Naru had not returned to the office. Taka also said it didn’t look like they had been there while she(?) was away.
If only I knew how to contact Naru’s home at such a time.
Giving up hope, I replaced the receiver. What I saw in front of me was the pitch-black school compound. The Meeting Room was not lit. Who knows where everyone else had gone.
“Naru must be found.”
After finding him, I will stop him.
I don’t mean to abandon Matsuyama. No one deserves to be sent to death.
However, there must be some other way. There must be.
I left the phone booth, and walked close to the school gates. The gates reflected a cool glow. Iron gates.
“… have the remaining 4 spirits…”
My hand touched the gate.
If only those things disappeared. If I do this…
I poured all my strength into my arms, and heaved myself onto the gate. From the gate I jumped down. The moment my feet touched the ground I ran towards the field.
5[edit]
The front door was open. From there I entered the school compound.
I was empty handed. What I knew was only some half-assed exorcism techniques. With that I couldn’t possibly achieve anything.
“However, one won’t know unless one tries.”
Yes, I won’t know unless I try.
I walked through the dark corridor. First, there was one over here…
I gathered up my courage and opened the door.
When the door opened, I felt a wave of dizziness.
The equipment that should have been set up here had disappeared. Furthermore, the floor inside was completely covered with water. A dim light oscillated. The air swirled. I suddenly felt a wave of nausea.
I took a step forward into the room. Immediately my feet sank down. It was like stepping on a wet sponge.
I gathered up the seal with both hands. It was the hasty exorcism technique of an outsider like me.
“Naumaku, sanmanda, bazaradan, kan.”
As I was reciting the incantation, suddenly it felt like someone else had appeared in the room.
The room was pitch-black. At most, I could see only the weak light shining through the corridor. Water dripped from the ceiling. My shadow vaguely appeared in the room, on the wall facing me.
“Naumaku, sanmamda, bazaradan, kan.”
Gurgle.
The mysterious, deep sound came from beneath my feet. Extending across the floor, the entire puddle of water… From the puddle not more than 5 cm deep, arose white bubbles one by one. It looked like there was someone breathing beneath the water. Water dripped off the ceiling onto my face.
“Naumaku, sanmanda, bazaradan, kan.”
I released the Acalanatha Seal and gathered the Sword Seal.
Rin (臨). – Across.
Once more, a drop hit my face and forehead.
Pyō (兵). – Down.
Immediately the bubbles beneath my feet rose up. Waves appeared on the surface of the water; as though the room too was shaking.
Tō (闘). – Across.
Water dripped down; as though it was raining. Rain wet my hair and face; droplets fell from my wet hair. More bubbles appeared by my feet. My feet sank down.
Sha (者). – Down.
It was pouring. I felt the droplets sliding across my skin were a little warm. There was a slight odor. It was vague.
Kai (皆). – Across.
My shadow cast on the wall directly in front of me started to swell. That was no longer my shadow. Through the weak light, the droplets fell relentlessly down.
Jin (陣). – Down.
The droplets falling on my forehead rolled pitter patter towards my eye lids. Just as the water was about to enter my eyes, the vision of my right eye was dyed completely red.
Retsu (列). – Across.
Even in the dark, my hand criss-crossing continuously was also visibly red. All of it was, all these line-like things, were all blood! My entire body was drenched with blood.
Zai (在). – Down.
The shadow that floated on the wall turned back to look at me. It bent its body low and stopped there. Once more a gurgling sound could be heard, and a white object floated up by my feet. It was a pale human face. Only the tip of its nose was above the water.
“Zen (前)!”
The Sword Seal cut vertically downwards.
“Be gone!”
Instantly the floor started bubbling furiously. A man, as white as wax, stood up next to me. Simultaneously, the shadow that had been stuck against the wall flew over.
My feet was caught, I retreated backwards.
“Naumaku, sanmanda, bazaradan, kan!”
One more time. I have to continue, no matter how many times, until I succeed!
A black object cut through the air and flew towards my shoulder. In front of my eyes was a crowd of 2 dimensional wax-like figures. The blood from the room seeped into the corridor.
“Naumaku, sanmanda, bazaradan, kan!”
The figures in front of me all suddenly raised both hands. Unconsciously I took another step backwards.
“Naumaku, sanmanda, bazaradan, kan!”
I, who had taken yet another step back as though to escape, suddenly felt a pair of hands grasp me from behind. Behind?! Before I could even think, the wax figures quickly crowded around me.
“Rin (臨)!”
I cut a straight horizontal line through the air.
The torso of the wax figures split straight open and fell down with a thump. At the same time the pair of hands behind me circled my neck to pull me down.
--Ah ah, this won’t work – as expected if I were alone!
I had fallen and my vision was bright red because of the blood.
When I was pulled strongly over, I fell towards the wall nearer to the corridor. My breath completely stopped.
“On, kirikiri, bazaar, bashiri, hora, manda, manda, on, hata!”
Crack was the sound of hard objects colliding. A golden glow extended from the floor of the corridor into a straight line.
“Monk?!”
The Monk, who had been drawing something on the floor with his golden ritual tool, looked towards me.
The monk continued to draw lines. The blood that had spilled from the Printing Room disappeared, as though drawn through a small wound. It was like it had fallen off a precipice.
Without further ado, the Monk grabbed my arm. Just like that he carried me and left the Printing Room. At the end of the corridor was the green glow of the emergency light. Beneath the light were some familiar faces.
John, Ayako, Masako.
I was really scared to death.
As though I had been released from my bonds, I leapt in the direction of everyone. I jumped into Ayako’s open arms. Ayako caught me and fell sitting onto the floor.
“You… idiot!!”
The Monk, who had been panting at the side, now towered in front of me.
“Is this an opponent you can handle with your level of skill in exorcism? Do you really want to die that much, you big moron!!”
Getting scolded by the Monk like that, I curled up into a ball. Ayako hugged me from behind.
“It does not matter anymore. Great, we’ve caught up with you.”
Ayako’s voice was really too gentle, I couldn’t stop my tears.
“Let’s go. We have to leave the school quickly.”
John helped Ayako and me up. Masako laid my hand on her shoulder. Her yellow kimono was instantly stained with red.
I stopped my tears. Sniffing, I was helped out of the dark school by everyone.
6[edit]
Taking the Monk’s car, we went to Ayako’s apartment.
When we arrived in the room which was as green as an ancient forest, I was brought to the bathroom. Looking into the mirror, I was completely red, as though I had just swam in a pool of blood.
I set the hot water to shower from above my head, giving myself a thorough wash. The bathroom, too, was filled with numerous unnamed bonsais. Ayako really appreciates plants. I can’t help feeling it’s interesting that the pair aren’t quite complementary.
When I walked out of the bathroom after putting on clothes handed to me by Ayako, she was cleaning the stain on Masako’s Kimono.
“Have you calmed down?”
“En… Sorry.”
Ayako handed the soiled cloth to John and went into the kitchen to heat me some milk. With a little granulated sugar, it had a mild alcoholic smell. Ayako, who handed the cup to me; and the Monk, who was smoking, were both covered in blood.
Ayako took a towel, covered my head and helped me dry my hair.
“You’ve taken years off my life.”
“Sorry.”
“Really... You’re really an impatient and reckless person.”
En…
“Something that none of us can do, you probably can’t do it as well.”
Yes…
“I understand Mai-san’s feelings, but that is already an undeniable fact.”
John used a gentle voice to speak. Ayako dried my hair forcefully; the milk in the cup swished.
“All’s well ends well.”
Suddenly the Monk stood up.
“Excuse me, I need to use the bathroom for a moment.”
“That’s fine, but don’t mess up my place.”
“If you have a change of clothes for me I’d be very pleased.”
“I don’t have clothing suitable for men here. How about a towel to wrap around?”
“Hey hey.”
The monk waved smugly. He looked like he had been drenched in blood.
“Monk.”
I called after the back which had turned completely red.
“Thank you… and sorry.”
The monk barked a laugh. Ayako immediately said, “what are you laughing at so simple mindedly; you are laughing like Jason.”
Pfft - John burst out laughing. Indeed, he looked like a serial killer heading off to wash the blood splattered on his own body.
“Hey, Mai you can’t laugh too.”
After that, when the Monk had entered the bathroom, we could not control ourselves anymore and laughed out loud.
We kept talking about other irrelevant matters; just like that I know not what time I fell asleep.
The next morning Ayako woke me up.
“Mai, let’s go.”
As Ayako spoke to me, I opened my eyes.
“The school?”
Ayako, who had already dressed, nodded. The monk and John and Masako – everyone had already prepared to leave. Did everyone get any sleep last night?
“You’ve also decided to see this to the end, right? I think there isn’t much time left before the Kodoku is completed. If this is the case Naru will probably act today.”
“Yes...”
I dragged my heavy body up.
Naru wanted to reflect the curse, returning it to the students who had activated it…
7[edit]
The school was deserted in the morning.
After we entered the school, we were a little in awe.
“I completely cannot sense the presence of anyone –“
The monk raised his head and looked at the school compound. It was like it was a rest day.
“Where is Naru?”
Ayako said, “Let’s go. Anyway let’s head to the Meeting Room to check.”
“If we are discovered by the teachers, won’t we be chased away?”
“We’ll deal with it when it arises.”
We crept silently to the Meeting Room. Next door was the Office. There wasn’t the shadow of a person around there.
“What happened?”
The monk studied the surroundings. The gymnasium was in front of us. Unconsciously we walked nearer to the gymnasium, and looked at it through the windows below, that were used to let light in.
“It is here.”
A whispered voice. I, too, bent down to look. The students were waiting in the gymnasium. It should be time for morning assembly. In the world closed in by the windows, I couldn’t hear any sound from inside. I could only see the figures of students lined up in neat rows.
“Let’s go, the time is now.”
With Ayako’s urging, we ran through the doorway.
We had already taken the staircase next to the door towards the third floor. We went all the way to the front of the Meeting Room, and peeked inside. Quietly opening the door and looking inside, we saw the figures of Naru and Lin-san.
“Yo.”
The Monk opened the door wide. Naru looked back and frowned.
“What are you all doing back here?” (naru)
“I was still wondering how you guys will do it.” (ayako?)
“Don’t you need our help?” (masako?)
“I’m here only to join the fun.” (monk)
“This isn’t an exhibition.” (naru again)
Naru sighed. Lin-san remained beside the table, and did not even raise his head. On the table there were candles and flat alms bowls made of metal. In the alms bowls were white notes with some Kanji written on them. Unknown incense burnt in the censer, filling the air with smoke. Lin-san sat very straight on the chair without moving, and held a straight golden colored knife in his hand.
Lin-san was about to make the curse… planned to take this curse with severe consequences and reflect it back to the cursers. The cursers: all the students who had summoned Worikiri-sama before. Of course, that included Yasuhara.
My body started shivering unconsciously. I felt that this job had come to the end of a phase.
“Lin-san, don’t continue anymore!” I could not help exclaiming.
“I beg you, Naru, please make Lin-san stop!”
Naru replied in a cool and severe tone, “Are you still saying these foolish things?”
“It’s not foolish! Nobody ever did anything bad! No one planned to curse Matsuyama to death!”
Naru’s ice-cold gaze fixed unmoving on me.
“Get out. You are interfering with work.”
“No!”
I grasped Lin-san’s shoulders.
“I beg you! Lin-san, please stop!!”
Just like that Lin-san gently closed both eyes without moving his body. Naru grabbed my hands.
“Get out.”
“No! Everyone is here, inside the gymnasium. Aren’t completely oblivious? About what they have done and what will happen to themselves.”
Without further ado, Naru pulled my hand and dragged me out of the Meeting Room.
“Naru, wait a while, don’t do this, don’t be this rough.”
Ayako’s voice halted Naru. That shoulder was also given a push, “Everybody out! Don’t interfere with Lin!”
“Hey, Naru.”
Naru studied us with a dark look.
“I’ve said it, everybody out.”
Masako was the first to leave. Next was the Monk. Following that was John and Ayako. I was the only one who persisted in staying in the Meeting Room. Grabbing my arm, Naru dragged me out of the meeting room.
“Naru! What exactly are you planning to do! Why do you save Matsuyama, but abandon everyone else in the face of death?! No one had any evil intention at all; they clearly never thought of cursing Matsuyama at all!!”
I felt that my words were heartlessly ignored. Naru forcefully dragged me outside, shut the door of the Meeting Room, then barricaded the entrance of the Meeting Room.
“Cold blooded.”
Naru did not reply.
“Everyone might be unconscious accomplices in activating the curse, perhaps they all wanted to kill Matsuyama. But, you, who plan to kill everyone like this, what does one consider you to be?!”
No response.
“A murderer. As long as the situation is resolved, the future consequences are irrelevant.”
His face wore a nauseatingly beautiful expression.
“Who will die, and who will cry, whatever happens it’s all OK.”
“Mai.”
In place of the completely unresponsive Naru, the Monk patted my shoulder.
“That’s enough. This is an inevitable situation.”
“It’s not a hopeless situation at all!”
If the curse is returned, what will happen to everyone? Okamura-san and her friends, Araki-san and her friends, Miyazaki-san and her friends, and the class of 3-1? … Yasuhara…
Such a thing must not be done!
“… Mai.”
“No!”
Naru was really completely expressionless. Using a cold voice, he said, “Monk, take Mai away.”
“Ah ah. – Let’s go, Mai.”
“I said no!”
Carrying the struggling me, the Monk left the Meeting Room.
No, no, no!
This must not be done. It definitely must not!
The Monk brought me to the stairs and forcefully sat me down.
“Monk, go and stop him! Make him stop!”
The Monk gently patted my cheek.
“Believe in Naru.”
… Monk.
“Has Naru ever betrayed our hopes?”
“… But.”
“Has he ever?”
“… no…”
“Then believe in him. It’ll be all right.”
“But.”
“The young man Yasuhara is amongst those students. Do you think that I’m not worried?”
The Monk looked serious. His eyes took in my sorrowful expression.
“… Ok…”
“Such a good child.”
I buried my face between my knees. Tears fell pitter patter, seeped through my skirt, and wet my feet.
The Monk sat beside me and gently caressed my head.
I don’t know how much time passed.
Suddenly a noise resounded from behind me. There was the presence of people. Unconsciously I stood up.
Just as I was turning, Naru etc was about to turn the corner in the corridor.
“Is it done? Really?”
Ayako asked Naru.
“Ah.”
The moment I heard Naru’s answer, I raced down the stairs.
“Mai!”
That was the Monk’s voice. Don’t stop me.
It is done? Then what about everyone? Everyone waiting in the Gymnasium?
I rode the momentum and flew down the stairs. I dashed out of the door and ran towards the Gymnasium. I heard the sound of footsteps of someone chasing behind me and voices telling me to stop.
I arrived in front of the Gymnasium, placed both hands on the thick and heavy iron door, and pushed it open with all my strength.
… … … …
… … … …
… this is… what?!
I stared blankly at the scene in the Gymnasium.
On the floor of the Gymnasium, the neat rows were now scattered, into piles of human dolls.
“… but, just now it…”
I mumbled softly.
But the ones waiting here just now were people. It was really students lining up here.
I walked into the Gymnasium. I picked up a doll by my feet. It was a wooden board cut into a human figurine, and even had a note stuck on it.
Doll. I ran my fingers over the doll. Part of the arm and chest broke off and fell.
A white hand reached out from my side and picked up the broken pieces.
“… Naru.”
Naru looked at that fragment. He quickly looked around, checking the dolls around us.
It looked like every single doll appeared to have sustained damage somewhere.
“Naru… this is…”
The Monk shouted.
“Confirm the state of the dolls. Gather the dolls that have not been damaged.”
“… Ah.”
The Monk wore a complicated expression of slight confusion and relief.
“Matsuzaki-san, Hara-san, … Mai.”
“—Yes.”
“You will separately check the names on the dolls that have not been damaged, and call those people. Their names are on the notes. Check the telephone numbers in the register, and then ask if this person is all right. Use the telephone in the office.”
“… Yes.”
At the same time, the Monk and John abruptly walked into the pile of dolls.
… don’t tell me this is…
There was a certain time Naru had previously used dolls. He had said that they were made by Lin-san. They are used as body doubles for people.
They were used as curse tools, by focusing one’s hate on the doll and driving a nail into it. And the reverse.
By taking sickness and transferring it to the doll, and letting it get cleansed by a flowing river, it is used as a tool to heal sickness.
Body double…
The curse was returned to the body doubles of the students.
To the dolls which were unfortunately as numerous as the number of students.
8[edit]
The result of the phone calls from the office was there wasn’t a single student whose doll was not damaged who had anything abnormal happen.
“Is there anything abnormal? No, right?”
I called the last student’s home.
“This question is a little random, but have you ever played the game Worikiri-sama that is so popular in school before? – yes. Ah, you have not. I understand. Thank you.”
I hung up.
Masako and Ayako looked at me.
“That person said there’s nothing wrong.”
Ayako clapped her hands.
“That’s done!”
The curse that was to be reflected back to the players of Worikiri-sama – the students who activated it – had been completely transferred to the dolls. In the end various parts of the dolls were damaged… the undamaged dolls belonged to students who had no link to the curse.
Ayako gave me a hug.
“That’s great, that’s incredible, Mai.”
“En…”
We gave each other high-fives.
“How is it?”
John appeared in the office.
“It’s fine. Everyone’s fine!!”
John’s face glowed.
“What ‘fine’?”
I turned to look at the Monk who had entered the office. The Monk took out the thing in his hands.
Dolls that were damaged in various places. I looked at the name tag. “Araki Kozue”, “Okamura Kazumi”, “Miyazaki Masayo”… “Yasuhara Osamu”.
… Everyone is fine. The dolls had borne the curse. It’s fine…
I gently hugged the dolls I received from the Monk. He caressed my head.
I flew out of the office.
Where is Naru?
I looked into the Gymnasium, and searched my surroundings.
… Over there.
He was solitarily gazing at the field.
“Naru!”
The normal, beautiful expressionless face turned back.
“How is it?”
“Everyone is fine. They all said they had never played Worikiri-sama.”
“Is that so?”
A small, satisfied smile rose to his lips.
“The dolls… were everyone’s body doubles?”
“So you know this?”
… wu. Of course I know something at this level.
“Today the school is?”
“I persuaded the principal to stop classes. I said to have everyone stay at home and await further instructions.”
Was that the case?
“It had been properly discussed with the principal before.”
“Because Matsuyama helped us out.”
… so it was like that.
“Hey, if you are using dolls as substitutes, wouldn’t just making a doll for Matsuyama do?”
I stood beside Naru.
“Four spirits versus one person or versus six hundred people, which do you think is safer?”
… is it… ?
“… You should have told us so earlier.”
If you had told us that you were transferring it onto the dolls… that you planned to use dolls as substitutes…
“Transferring the curse is very difficult. Even Lin cannot guarantee saving everyone.”
“… but.”
I’ve said some terrible things to Naru. I have to apologize. I’ve said some hateful words, I’m sorry.
… Yes. Hate. I do hate Naru a little. I hate the part of him that refused to grant us a little relief. Clearly it’d be all right if he simply explained to me. At least if he said something like, “I will try my best, believe in me.” If he did, clearly regardless of whatever happened next, I would believe in him, I would also be at ease.
“I’m sorry.”
Huh?
Naru’s profile is really extremely beautiful.
“I’ve said some terrible things. I’m sorry.”
…Naru.
“Because Mai is very considerate of others… It must have been very painful, I’m sorry.”
… … … …
My tears had welled up. I wanted to cry out loud. Whether it was in pain or in joy, I was not too clear.
So, I used all my energy to shout at the top of my voice.
“That’s too sly!!!”
“… ha?”
Naru jumped in shock.
“I clearly wanted to apologize! But for you to say it first, Naru you’re too sly!!”
“Ah, that.”
“You, Naru, always take whatever advantage there is! That’s too sly!”
“Hey.”
“Because Naru is really very sly.”
Naru expression turned into one of resigning the fight. He extended his white hand, and suddenly tapped my forehead.
Following that he smiled slightly, then walked in the direction of the office. Naru’s cat-like soft footsteps were very warm.
“Let’s burn and cleanse these.”
Lin-san looked at the mountain of dolls piled in the Gymnasium. Naru nodded.
“This would be safer. – Monk, we’re counting on you.”
“Yeah.”
When we were collecting the dolls, the Monk had built a fire-altar in the corner of the school compound. The dolls were piled on this.
The Monk lit the fire. The flames licked the sky and swallowed everything.
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