Page 12 (1/2)
VOLUME 3 - THE LIGHT BEYOND THE DARKNESS file 02: curse ()
-
1
-
‘Old man, you here?’
Gotou opened the door by force
He found the person he was looking for right away He was sipping tea at his desk by the wall in the room of about four and a half tatami in size
He was Hata Hideyoshi, the perverted old man whose job as a coroner was his hobby
Once Hata looked at Gotou’s face, he let out an ostentatious sigh
Gotou was surrounded by guys like this Wasn’t there anyone as ruh he was serious, there was a proble his head, Gotou sat on the round chair opposite Hata
’What do you need fro? I don’t have the time to babysit you,’ said Hata, a frown on his wrinkled face
This guy was annoying Gotou didn’t have the ti I want you to look into’
’If it’s an investigation, h the proper channels Last ti to for that’
Hata let out a high-pitched giggle that didn’t sound hu It’s really creepy, so could you stop, you demonic old man –
’But I came all this way because it isn’t a request that I couldup trouble too, don’t you?’
Of course he didn’t pick up trouble because he wanted to
Restraining his irritation, Gotou put a plastic bag with the ht now
The blood-stained mobile phone that had been left in Asami’s room
’What’s this?’
’Awhat the details behind it are You really are an idiot’
This old man just went and said whatever he liked Gotou was at the point where he wanted to break his neck, but he didn’t have the ti in an apartment suddenly disappeared’
’A disappearance? Then why don’t you just investigate it normally?’
’It’s a bit of a messy situation’
’Messy?’
’Yeah Seems like Ishii had been at the scene too That woot to the roo…’
’It was a locked room’
If he told someone else that somebody had disappeared froh at him, but this old man – just him – was different
This subject made Hata’s eyes sparkle like a child’s
’Oh! Then this ’
’Don’t get so happy, old ? I rarely see things like this’
Hata let out another high-pitched giggle
’I don’t know anything for sure yet It could easily be somebody’s trick’
’But Ishii-kun was at the scene as well, yes? If it were a trick, Ishii would probably have noticed’
’That fool’s like a decoration He wouldn’t notice even if a ht in front of his eyes’
Gotou felt exhausted thinking about that scared face Ishii had
If Ishii were ht have heard a different story, but since he was a fool, he only got information from the reporter Makoto and the exorcist Kamiyama
He couldn’t know if the information had been distorted
Gotou remembered the spiritual phenomenon he’d experienced in that room, but he decided not to mention it
Inconsistent with his occupation, Hata showed an extree perspective
’So what is Ishii-kun doing today?’
’i made him wait outside We have to move on to the next place fast’
’I see I just have to analyse the blood on this mobile phone’
’Exactly This’ll be wrapped up quickly if it isn’t hu and looked at it with fish eyes It felt like he’d stick out a long tongue and eat it if Gotou looked away
’Well, anyway, that’s all I ask,’ Gotou said finally, and he left the room Now, after the demonic oldin’
Gotou opened the door to the <Movie Research Circle>
Yaku curled up in a corner of the room He really was like a cat
’Oi, wake up!’ said Gotou, sitting down and clapping his hands
Yakuht eye opened to look up at Gotou, but then he closed his eye again right after
’Oi!’
’Gotou-san, just by waking me up you’ve ruined my entire day,’ said Yakuht after he woke up too?
’I don’t care – just wake up!’ urged Gotou, repressing his anger
However, it still didn’t seeh’
’I’o ahead – I’ll listen like this’
Gotou raised a fist, ready to punch him, but he stopped himself A hole would open up in his stomach if he tried to deal with Yakumo fair and square
Well, fine Yakumo and old man Hata were essentially the same If he talked a bit about the case, Yakuht by bait
’Hey, Yakus in this world’
’What are you babbling about?’
’Last night, somebody disappeared froht that you had grown a bit, but I was too naive’
’That wasn’t a joke Somebody really disappeared There itnesses too On top of that, it seehost made her disappear…’
Yaku for the bait
In a better ht in detail, including Ka, Yakumo sat down on the chair opposite hi a hand through his bedhead
His left eye was naked so his red eye was exposed
It was really a good thing he hadn’t brought Ishii He would’ve ain
’What do you think?’ Gotou asked Yaku its face
’I’ve never seen anything like that, at the very least’
’It’s the first time for me as well’
To be honest, Gotou still didn’t believe it
The suspicious that he was being tricked hadn’t gone away
’Under , it is i disappear’
’Ghosts are clusters of human emotions and have no physical influence…’ said Gotou, re what Yaku of mine has not be proven scientifically To put it siuess,’ Yaku it’s possible for a ghost to o that far, but it would be wrong to think that what one does not believe does not exist Even I would changeif I were shown definite proof’
’I see’
There were hosts that hadn’t been explained yet Since they could only infer from experiences, itaside whether the phenomenon truly happened, I have met that exorcist before’
’W-hat did you say?’
’Please don’t speak so loudly in thehis ears
’When and where did youthe aparthost I mentioned had appeared’
’So what do you think? Do you really see him as an exorcist?’
’I don’t know Even if he says he can see ghosts, that is a problem of subjectivity since nobody can completely turn into him’
’How appropriate’
’However, it is a fact that there was a spirit where he said there was one,’ said Yakumo, his brow furrowed No matter what he said, it seemed like he was concerned Well, for Yakumo, it’d be weirder if he weren’t
’Which would mean he’s the same as you’
’That would be the case,’ said Yakue yawn
’This isn’t the time to yawn carelessly’
’Why not?’
’Well, there’s a guy with the same power as you!’
’And?’
’"And", you say…’
Unlike Gotou, as agitated, Yakuhed, as if to say ’Honestly’
’Iable to see the spirits of the dead is just part of my disposition It is only a little rare It wouldn’t be strange if there were other people with the same disposition’
Now that Yakumo mentioned it, it was just as he said
It wasn’t like it was certain that Yakumo was the only person in this world who could see the spirits of the dead Actually, Gotou knew another
A man with two red eyes A h it was true that there were many exorcists ere suspicious, Gotou couldn’t assert that they were all frauds
’What do you want to do then, Gotou-san?’ Yaku
’What do I want to do? I want to find out why so Yakuitated he had been earlier see here is pointless At any rate, the place where – ’
’We’re going,’ Gotou interrupted
’That will be one favour’
Honestly, this guy was only reliable for that
-
3
-
Ishii was sitting on the white bench right inside the school gates of Meisei University
He aiting for Gotou, who had gone to see Yakuone with him However, Ishii didn’t kno to deal with Yakuht phrase To be honest, he was scared of hi to do with him if possible
However, they definitely needed Yakuht replayed in his head
Nounnatural
Somebody disappeared from a locked room in front of everyone He rehost dragging person after person into the dark How terrible He could be next
Ishii felt so run past him
’Ah, could it be Ishii-san?’
Haruka stood in front of Ishii, who had turned around at the voice
’H-H-Haruka-chan’
’It’s been a while’
Haruka bowed her head with a smile
She matched her denim miniskirt with a pink ca outfit
Ishii was captivated by the nape of her neck, which shimmered with a faint layer of sweat
’What is it?’
’No, it’s nothing’
His face red, Ishii hurriedly turned his gaze to his feet
’Why are you here today?’ Haruka said, sitting across from Ishii Ishii’s neck snapped around in his nervousness
A refreshing citrus aroma tickled his nose
’Ah, I, um, Detective Gotou asked, that Yakumo-shi, er…’
’There was some incident then So he went to see Yakumo-kun’
Haruka leant forward a bit and looked at Ishii’s face
Ah, that wasn’t good Haruka-chan She was too defenceless With that posture, he would be able to see her undergarht’
Ishii, who didn’t knohere to look, pointlessly looked up at the sky
’Aren’t you going to go, Ishii-san?’
It hurt to have her say that
’Er, I, um…’
’Could it be that you’re afraid of Yakumo-kun?’
’No, er…’
He was lost for words since she had hit the bull’s-eye
’Could it be that you really are afraid?’ said Haruka, like she thought it was unexpected
It wasn’t really unexpected It would be stranger if Ishii could connect to him normally
’Haruka-chan, er, aren’t you afraid?’
’Of Yakumo-kun?’
’Yes’
Haruka stared afar, like she was thinking about so face, for that moment, looked like an adult’s
’Nope I’ve never felt afraid of hih there’ve beenher right hand in a fist to iht, Yakumo habitually toriveable I will defeat your ene up in his irritation
For a second, Haruka looked blank, and then she suddenly covered her
’Ishii-san, you’re interesting’
Ishii didn’t understand as interesting
’Interesting, is it?’
’Sorry It’s rude to say so like that’
’No, not at all That’s not what I…’
The atmosphere had become sohts Ishii’s shoulders drooped like he had withered and he sat back down on the bench
’Ishii-san, I think that you’ve definitelyThough she was s, the tone of her voice was firm and serious
’Misunderstood… him?’
’Yes Because of that ability, Yakumo-kun has suffered in a e could never understand, and that has made him like a misanthrope’
’Eh’
Ishii had felt that too
In front of Yaku near hi his heart to anyone, he observed others frohtforward and can be very kind’
Kind? Him?
It was difficult for Ishii to believe what Haruka was saying when he still doubted whether Yakus
Rather, Haruka was h he treated him that way
’Is that how it is?’
’But since he isn’t honest, he behaved that way When you become used to it, unexpectedly, he has his cute points’
Haruka smiled happily
Ishii didn’t understand even one millimetre of Yakumo’s cuteness, but at least he understood very well how cute Haruka’s s about? It’s creepy’
Gotou’s fist came down on Ishii’s crown in his happiness
’D-Detective Gotou’
Ishii stood up instinctively
Yakumo was behind Gotou as well He had sleepy eyes as usual, and Ishii couldn’t understand what he was thinking at all
Nokind, Yakumo was a mystery to Ishii
’Gotou-san, it’s been a while’
Haruka stood up and bowed her head
’Oh, it’s Haruka-chan So that’s why Ishii was grinning’
’No, I wasn’t really…’
Ishii lare
’Did you bring trouble for Yakuain?’
Haruka said that sulkily and with a pout
That expression was cute too Ishii couldn’t help but grin a little again
’You can’t really talk about other people’
’Please don’t put ether with you, since I have no trouble this time’
Haruka puffed her chest in pride
’Ah, that so?’
Gotou snorted and then let his cigarette
’Ah, Gotou-san S is forbidden on the school pre more and more like Yakumo You won’t be able to beco rehed and then followed hio?’
’Yeah’
Yakumo replied flatly to Haruka’s question
’About what you requested…’
’Hoas it?’
’It was just as you expected, Yakuave a proud thu for a while, but he finally raised an eyebrow like he had thought of so else I’d like you to look into’
After walking over to Haruka, Yakuht his face close to hers and talked to her quietly
What on earth was he saying? Ishii indirectly approached them and strained his ears
’Eh, that’s impossible’
When the explanation was finished, Haruka objected loudly, but Yaku like he didn’t care
’The address is in the documents in my room, so pick it up from there’
’Like I said, it’s impossible for o take a look’
’But ill I do if I get caught?’
’You can just say sorry and run away’
’That’s…’
Yakuhtly on her shoulder, saying, ’I’ on you,’ and then he walked after Gotou
– What on earth did he ask her to do?
Ishii wanted to know Led by that impulse, Ishii tried to call out to Haruka
’Ishii! We’re going!’
Gotou’s angry voice echoed from far away
Ishii wasn’t sure which to prioritise, but he didn’t have enough courage to speak to Haruka so he followed Gotou’s instruction and started running
He fell –
-
4
-
In order to change her mood, Makoto put aside her work and went to the lavatory
Though there was ain her head so she couldn’t concentrate
She sighed, looking at her reflection in the o –
If somebody abducted her, how did they take Asaet taken away by a ghost like Ka
She wanted to find Asaht now all she could do was entrust the investigation to Gotou and Ishii
She was irritated at herself for not being able to do anything during her friend’s crisis
After sighing countless ti suddenly passed behind her
A chill went down her spine
It wasn’t as if she had seen it clearly, but she had felt it
Makoto stopped breathing and timidly turned around, but there was nobody there She had ht have been oversensitive
Makoto let out her breath and looked at the h the nu, ’Could it be?’
’Hello’
She heard a noise that sounded like rain from the receiver
’Hello Asami?’
Makoto called out, but there was no reply
However, she felt someone on the other end
’Hey, who is this? Respond…’
Makoto called out again, but she was interrupted by a groan froed to a man or a wo with pain –
’…Who is this?’
Though she was shaking in a strange terror, Makoto called out towards the phone
<Diiiiiieeeeee>
The hoarse voice jolted her eardrums
She could clearly tell this time That was a woman’s voice
Makoto threw her mobile phone in her surplus of e so furiously it felt like it would burst out of her chest, and she was covered in a cold sweat
Makoto crouched Though she wanted to run away, she couldn’t move for a while
How ain
A paralysing fear ran through her body
Makoto timidly took her mobile phone from the floor The number displayed on the ht have found so out
Makoto wiped away her cold sweat and answered the phone
’Hello?’
<My na your mobile phone, Makoto-san?>
She could hear Kamiyama’s characteristic calm voice
’Not at all’
A request –
’For me?’
<Yes You mentioned that the first time there was a spiritual phenomenon, it was at a bar>
’Yes, that’s correct’
<Would it be possible to gather the meed email addresses with Shinichi then, she would be able to contact him She could just have him talk to Yuuya
’I think it’d be fine’
<If we solve the mystery of the spiritual phenomenon, ill be able to save Asami-san>
Kamiyama’s voice was filled with confidence
-
5
-
Gotou looked up at the apartarette in hislike that had happened, to hi over only the building and its surroundings
Next to hi up at the apartment in the sa was reflected in those eyes, which were narrowed like they were looking at so?’
’The sky and the clouds,’ Yakumo replied bluntly
’I know that even without you telling me’
’Then please don’t ask’
As usual, only his mouth was skilful He had completely sidestepped the point of his question
Gotou clicked his tongue and turned around to see that Ishii already had tears in his eyes frouy There was no way for a person to disappear anyway
’So this really isn’t soreement
’If that were the case, Makoto-san, the reporter, and Ishii-san as ould be complicit’
It was just as Yakue, that hat it would uy who’d do that But –
’The ht’ve planned it’
’At this point, he does not have a et somethat came to mind
’It would have been different if he had saved her in the nick of time, but currently he would become the exorcist who failed to exorcise the spirit and let a woeful spirit’
It really was just as Yaku about his own failure on purpose The best method would have been to save Asami just as she was about to be taken away, if he had wanted to trick them
’The location is nearby,’ Yakumo muttered
’The location?’
’Yes The apart there’s a connection?’
’I don’t know I just said that it was nearby’
’You’re quibbling…’
’Incidentally, Ishii-san, that exorcist came to this apartnored Gotou’s objection and turned the conversation to Ishii
’Ah, yes He ht it was a wandering spirit since there was nothing there…’
Ishii responded stiffly, as if he were talking to the chief of the police or so to a university student? He should hurry up and get used to hi to hit Ishii
’Perhaps he reached the sa his eyes a little
The same conclusion –
’What do you ave a fir that exorcist called Kamiya to conclusions?’ Yakumo complained, and then he stood in front of the automatic door with the auto-lock
’If you’d just let me say – ’
Gotou was riled up, but Yakumo was not concerned at all
’Please hurry and open the door,’ Yakumo said with a yawn
Gotou opened the door with the key he had borrowed froht by the entrance
Yakumo and Ishii followed after hi the long and narrow corridor to stand in front of Asa the door,’ Gotou said, and he opened the door
Hot air rushed out from the room at his face, but he took off his shoes at the entrance and stepped inside the room
Yakumo, who came into the roo a hand through his ed in the centre of the room and followed Yakuht tatami in size There was a bed, a sideboard and a television on the wooden floor – a normal room that could be found anywhere
Since it was rented, it didn’t see stands out’
Yakus stretched out across froood’
Yakuh his hair in his irritation
’Daht Ishii-san’
Yakuru
Gotou turned to look for Ishii too, but he wasn’t there
’But he was here just a uy probably left the room in his terror
’Oi! Ishii!’ yelled Gotou towards the entrance At the same time, there was the sound of footsteps on the floor, and then Ishii peeked in
’W-were you callinghtened his spine so he was standing still and straight
After shaking his head like he didn’t knohat to do with the two of them, he said, ’When you came into this room, Ishii-san, the door was locked, correct?’
’Y-yes The door to the entrance and theconnected to the veranda were all locked’
’And the door chain?’
’It wasn’t on’
’Did you find Asami’s key?’
’Yes It was on the table…’
’Nobody left the room’
’That’s correct At that time, there were three people in the room, just like now I think it would have been difficult for so’
Perhaps Yaku in the room and then escaped afterwards, but it was impossible in that situation
It really was a locked rooer to his brow The expression in his eyes changed
’So it really is like that… but then she… a to hi?’
’No, not at all’
Yakued dramatically at Gotou’s question
’Don’t lie! Didn’t you just say "So it really is like that"?’
Though Gotou drew closer to hiers in his ears to cohbours’
’It’s your fault for not talking properly’
’I have no proof’
’Just tell me the theory’
’What came to my mind is only a possibility If we head forward recklessly, ill be misled like with the last case’
Gotou couldn’t deny that
There was nothingpreconceptions If they didn’t look at all the possibilities, the carpet could be pulled out fro to do?’
’There isn’t anything to do but continue to straightforwardly investigate all areas, is there?’ Yakumo said with a yawn
Well, it wouldn’t be as convenient as solving the case just froed, but he was still heavy-hearted
’No going about it – I’ll reconsider everyone involved Yakumo, you help too’
’I would rather not’