Page 32 (1/2)
VOLUME 7 – THE LOCATION OF THE SPIRIT file 02: witch ()
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After parking the car, Ishii took deep breaths
He was near the Tamo River at one corner of the residential street, in front of the <Kinoshita Surgery: Maternity and Gynaecology Depart hite walls – it stood uncannily in the darkness
The first ti his first case with Gotou During that case, the owner of this hospital was arrested, so it was now erew at the entrance The sign with the nauishable letters
It was co in this building
‘Why do you think she’s here?’ asked Miyagawa
’There arespotted Those are the requirements’
’But there are other abandoned hospitals’
Just as Miyagawa said, there were other abandoned hospitals too, if those were the only requirements However, if they became too old, the materials couldn’t be used for treatment Furthermore –
’The man with two red eyes was involved in the case with Doctor Kinoshita Though she didn’t appear in the foreground, Nanase Miyuki was probably involved as well… so she ht that Nanase Miyuki would use <Kinoshita Surgery: Maternity and Gynaecology Department> as her hideout
’Why do you think she’d choose a place she knows?’
’I used geographic profiling’
’Profiling, eh? How coawa s is just thinking froh people look as if they are behaving erratically, they unconsciously liawa cocked his head
’Yes Conceal yourself People unconsciously choose some place they think is safer’
’So places you don’t know are unsafe’
’There are exceptions, but this is not an escape but concealh risk to hiding in a place you don’t know’
’Well, instead of thinking about it, we’ll find out if we go in’
As Miyagawa said that, he got off the car
Ishii took the torch and got off the car
– Nanase Miyuki ht be here
Now, fear welled within hiested this hio’
Unlike Ishii, Miyagawa spoke as lightly as if they were heading out for a stroll and walked briskly Ishii gulped and started walking as well
They stood in front of the glass entrance
’All right’
Then, Miyagawa slass, put his hand in and unlocked the door
That was the person who taught Gotou for you His methods were forceful
’Don’t dawdle’
’Y-yes sir’
Ishii went into the building, hiding behind Miyagawa’s back
Ishii lit the torch Though they were s room and a cavernous corridor beyond the to soawa’s back
’That’s creepy Back off’
Miyagawa pushed Ishii away
’I-I apologise’
’I’ll look at the exaawa, sounding exasperated Then he opened the door and went into the exa alone?
Ishii wiped his sweaty palhtly He felt like his heart would leap out of his throat
The delivery room was at the end of the corridor
Ishii walked a step at a time
’It’s OK It’s OK’
Ishii said that to himself as he pushed open the door to the delivery room
Then, the s, he covered his nose and mouth with his hand
On the dusty metal cart, there were medicine and medical tools, and there was a bed in thewas strange
There were bandages at his feet He turned the torch towards them and realised they were bloody
’It’s still fresh…’
When Ishii spoke up, he saw so move in the corner of his eye
’Eh?’
It was too late when he noticed
So leapt out of the darkness and attacked Ishii
Ishii couldn’t even screa the door to the soba restaurant
They dropped by after seeing Masato off
It was thirty ano city It was a soba restaurant for tourists, the akushihistory – a wooden shop with a thatch roof White walls that stood out even fro lot Besides the table for eight inside the shop, there were two tatah it was simple and at a bit of a distance
To be frank, it was Haruka’s home
’Sorry, we’re already closed…’
Haruka’s mother, Keiko, came out of the kitchen in an apron
’I’ a bit disappointed
’Couldn’t you be a bit more surprised?’
Haruka pouted, but Keiko didn’t care She didn’t respond to anything That was her personality
’My body wouldn’t be able to bear it if I was surprised by everything you did’
’It’s not like I do anything that surprising’
’Really now Didn’t you co about how "Yakumo-kun disappeared" the other ti to that
’I wasn’t crying’
’Oh really,’ said Keiko mischievously
Haruka wanted to retort, but she couldn’t just keep talking like this
’Hey, friends came with me, but could I ask them in?’
Haruka didn’t wait for Keiko’s answer She opened the sliding door and showed Yakumo and Gotou in
’Sorry to bother’
Gotou passed through the curtain first
’Oh ether before Haruka could introduce hiht they hadn’t ht about it, they’d met at Isshin’s funeral
’Oh, is this your ho at Keiko
’I didn’t say?’
’Didn’t hear anything about it’
’If you’re going in, please hurry up You’re in the way,’ interrupted Yaku displeased
’You’re so fussy,’ complained Gotou, but he stepped inside the shop to let Yakuh Keiko didn’t have hter’s return home, when she saw Yakumo, she was so pleased it looked like she’d leap up
’Hello’
Yakureeted her with his usual expression
’What is it? Why are you all here?’
Keiko was as excited as if she had o
’A lot happened’
’Oh, did you decide when to have your e?’
’Whose?’
’What? Don’t play du by Keiko’s excitement
’Anyway, I’m starved’
Gotou interrupted the parent-child banter
’We ca’
Yakumo made a follow-up comment
It seemed like neither of them knew the word restraint
’Sorry This was so sudden The part-tione home, so it’ll just be whatever we have on hand’
’I don’t mind’
’No probleed theht?’ – and they went to the tata table
Haruka hadn’t thought she’d be here at hoe
’Anyway, I’ll get a beer,’ said Gotou theat the ht?’ interrupted Yakumo
’We can just sleep in the car’
’I refuse’
’A sleeping bag and a car seat aren’t that different, right?’
’How about this?’ interrupted Keiko She had a hand at her waist with a trius
’You can just stay here,’ said Keiko, eyes sparkling
’Eh?’
Ignoring Haruka’s surprise, Gotou slapped his knee ’That’d be great’
’We don’t have many hands since it’s the off season, so on’t be able to doas I can sleep Yakuht’
Gotou hit Yakureement
For just a h it wasn’t like they would be sleeping together, Haruka’s face suddenly grew hot and she looked down at the tata
’If it isn’t any trouble,’ said Yakuh his hair
’OK! It’s decided then’
After saying that, Keiko took a bottle of beer out of the fridge and placed it on the table along with glasses for all of the beer into each glass
For so at the alass unpleasantly
Perhaps –
’Yakulared at her
With Keiko, Gotou called out and they clinked their glasses for for it out of the glass, and then he stuck out his tongue again, scowling It looked like he really couldn’t drink
– That’s a bit cute
When Keiko asked for their orders, Gotou just said, ’We’ll leave it to you’
’Leave it to lass of beer and then went into the kitchen
Haruka couldn’t hear clearly, but there was talking in the kitchen Keiko was probably talking with Haruka’s father, Kazuhiro
’This your parents’ shop, Haruka-chan?’ asked Gotou, pouring hih there are also a number of part-time workers’
’Is your dad the cook?’
’My father’s fairly faazines’
’Oh? We should greet hiht’
’I’ll introduce you afterwards’
When Haruka finished speaking, there was a loud cracking sound of so in the kitchen
– What?
Haruka turned around to see Kazuhiro fly out of the kitchen with a red face
He had a small frame with his hair trimmed short, but his eyebrows and the corners of his eyes were low on his face, so he looked a bit unreliable He was nor angry
Now, Kazuhiro’s cheeks were twitching and he was gritting his teeth as he glared
’D-Dad, I’m home’
Haruka called out to hilare between Yakumo and Gotou
’Which one’s Yakumo?’ asked Kazuhiro in a low voice
Haruka looked at the kitchen and saw Keiko peering out frohter
’He’s Yaku Haruka, as troubled for a response, Yakumo pointed at Gotou with a disinterested expression
’You?’
’Hah?’
Kazuhiro approached Gotou
Gotou cocked his head in confusion
’Soood about this unattractive ed man?’
Kazuhiro looked at Haruka
There appeared to be a crazy
’That’s not it Yakumo’s that one’
Gotou seemed to realise what had happened and pointed at Yaku prey, Kazuhiro looked to Yakumo, but Yaku process written on the back of the menu
’He treats Haruka-chan like a slave If you don’t do soe grin as he fanned the fire
’A-a slave?’
Kazuhiro’s eyes went so wide they looked like they would fall out
Kazuhiro was serious, but because of that, he didn’t understand jokes He believed everything he was told
’All right, all right Cal she’d done, took Kazuhiro’s arm and pulled him back into the kitchen
– This is the worst
Haruka lay on the table, exhausted
’Why is your father picking a fight with me?’ complained Yaku with his unhter
’What are you talking about?’
’Don’t act like you don’t understand’
’I don’t’
Even Yaku this conversation
’Hey What are we going to do next?’
Haruka sat up straight and changed the topic
’Ah, that’s right Let’s clean this up fast,’ agreed Gotou, placing his glass on the table
’I’irl has disappeared to’
Yakuaze suddenly becairl OK?’
’Yes, probably’
Yakumo replied to Gotou’s question
’How do you know?’
’Earlier, we discussed being spirited away’
’Yeah’
’This is hosts’
’What do you u and des that do not exist cannot ht,’ replied Gotou with a belch
’However, people really do disappear without any notice – in that sense, people are spirited away Then why do they disappear?’
’They were in so that ca about accidents right now’
’S-sorry’
You don’t have to say it that way – Yakumo was unusually displeased, perhaps because of what just happened earlier
’So why do they disappear?’
Gotou went back on topic
’Probably…’
As Yakuht bowls for the three of theood ords so he rarely left the kitchen, leaving the custo now –
Kazuhiro placed the bowls in front of thelare at Yakumo when he left
’What’s this?’
Gotou stuck his chopsticks into the bowl
’You don’t know? It’s sobagaki[1]’
’Sobagaki?’
Gotou cocked his head
Though it was faano as local cuisine, it wasn’t common in Tokyo restaurants – perhaps there were many people he didn’t know about it
’Buckwheat flour is kneaded into a mochi-like state It’s delicious’
Its appearance and colour was similar to a rock, but its fluffy texture and the way the aro
’Oh! This goes ith the beer’
As Gotou ate, he expressed his pleasure
’Right?’
Itpraised
Coaki at ho ’Let’s eat’ in her heart, she picked up her chopsticks Kazuhiro’s sobagaki was softer than the other stores’ That feeling filled her mouth
– This taste It’s Dad’s
’Is this really sobagaki? It just looks like a rock tothe atuy
’If you’re going to say that, you don’t have to eat’
’Look’
Yakumo showed the inside of his bowl
There was a plop as a rock rolled in his bowl
Haruka couldn’t believe it Yakumo’s bowl had a real rock in it
’Hey! Dad!’
Haruka let out an angry yell
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’Ack’
Ishii fell backwards
The black shadow that ca at hi soh his left shoulder
’Aah!’
It appeared he had been stabbed by soical scalpel It had stabbed the top of his shoulder Blood was co his shirt
’Ishii-san, it’s been a while’
He heard a voice in his ear
Though it had a bewitching echo to it, there was so in it It was a voice he could never forget
– Nanase Miyuki
’You can screaht herself close to Ishii’s face
The left half of her was covered in burns There was no trace of her graceful self
Miyuki twisted the scalpel in Ishii’s shoulder, gouging the wound A pain incoh his shoulder
’Ack…’
Ishii bore with the pain
If I scream now, it’ll be her win – that was how he felt
’Why not call for help? Chief Miyagawa aas here
For her to be so co spread within Ishii
’Froht
’T-that’s…’
Miyagaas killed – Ishii couldn’t accept what Miyuki said
’Even though I thought you were just useless, you sniffed this place out You’re unexpectedly troublesome’
’I…’
’Would you die already?’
Miyuki s If she said she would kill him, she really would
Miyuki pulled the scalpel out of Ishii’s shoulder
Then, an electrifying pain ran through it, and he twisted his face without thinking
’Farewell,’ said Miyuki, raising the bloody scalpel
– No No No I don’t want to die yet!
Within Ishii, stronger than fear, a tenacity for life took root Corabbed Miyuki’s left aro of Ishii
Ishii stood up reflexively
Miyuki held her left arlared at Ishii Then, Ishii reashino had said
She broke her arm in the accident –
Ishii’s action of the h he had saved his life, that was only teot out of this situation
While pressing the injury in his left shoulder, he confronted Miyuki
– What do I do?
He tried to work his brain, but his fear was getting in the way A cold sweat ran down his back and his knees were shaking
While he couldn’t think of anything, Miyuki slowly got up Her right hand held the scalpel He would be killedl ike this
He tried to run, but his legs wouldn’t move
– Move, ood Miyuki sloalked towards him and raised the scalpel
– It’s too late
The awa ran in
’Ishii!’
’Chief Miyagawa…’
Miyagaas bleeding from his forehead Miyuki had probably hit hi
Ishii looked to see that Miyuki had broken the glass in theand was about to cliht that for a moment before his knees buckled underneath him His nervousness had fled him
’You kept your life then’
Ishii looked over to see Miyagawa had sat down as well
It was just as Miyagawa said It was a good thing she fled –
Ishii heaved a sigh of relief
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After eating, Gotou went to the separate two-storey building
He went in through the entrance to see a counter He got a key there and was taken to the room at the very back of the first floor
It was a Japanese rooe and television
Haruka’s family mainly worked at the soba shop but it had a Japanese inn as well It seemed that there were quite a nuakushi area
That hy Keiko could easily tell two men who suddenly cah there was no hot spring, there was a cypress bath, so Gotou subed himself in it When he came back, two futon had been laid out
– Good preparation
When Gotou opened the fridge, there was a row of beer cans This was good preparation too
With no reservation, Gotou opened a can of bear and took a gulp
It really was different drinking right out of the bath The cold beer flowed through his war a breath, he took out his mobile phone Ishii had called an incredible nunored Ishii and called ho
’IT’s ht?>
Atsuko, who didn’t know the situation, sounded relaxed through the phone
’I don’t think I’ll be back’
<Staying overnight?>
’I’ano?
Even Atsuko sounded surprised
Gotou quickly explained what had happened up until now When Atsuko said <I see>, it sounded disappointed to Gotou, but it was probably just his i the subject Atsuko’s ed in an instant
<She’s already asleep She loves the teddy bear she got for her birthday present She even brought it to the bath It was quite the probleht it for Nao’s birthday
’She likes it that much?’
<She says it looks like you>
Gotou snorted without thinking
Come to think of it, when Nao drew a picture of Gotou bear, it looked just like a bear
He’d asked, ’Aether
<Will you be back by toh’
They didn’t know anything about this case yet It didn’t see this far, Gotou planned on sticking with them the whole way
<Be careful>
Gotou felt hot at Atsuko’s words
A’
Just as Gotou hung up, the door to the room opened, and Haruka showed up in rooot out of the bath Her hair was a bit damp
’Hey’
’Oh? Where’s Yaku around the room
’Still in the bath’
’It’s been a while, hasn’t it?’
’He’s always used the school showers He’s probably relaxing in the tub’
’I see…’
’He’ll probably be back soon though?’
’Then I’ll wait’
Haruka sat on the tata Haruka a can of beer
’Honestly That was just toodispleased
It see to make Yakumo eat a rock It wasn’t like Gotou didn’t understand how Haruka felt But –
’I understand how your dad feels’
No hter, who lived far away, had suddenly brought back a ry
’I didn’t think I’d hear that from you, Gotou-san’
’I wouldn’t have understood before But…’
’Is it Nao-chan?’
’Even I’ve started to feel like a parent’
Though it had only been a short tie to the Gotou couple He felt like this hat it ry if Nao-chan brought back a boyfriend?’
’I’d s serious without intending to
’You wouldn’t accept him?’
’Impossible’
’How intolerant’
’I don’t care I feel bad for your dad too, Haruka-chan Since it’s Yakumo of all people’
’What dissatisfies you about , Yakumo opened the door and came in
Since Yakumo had pale skin, his cheeks were flushedout of the bath His hair was also straight, unlike its usual bedhead
’Nothing’
’Please think about me, since I have to use the same bath and sleep in the same room as you of all people, Gotou-san’
In his yukata, Yakued on the futon
’If you don’t want to be withYakury
Just as expected, Yakulare
Meanwhile, Haruka went red to her eyes and dropped her gaze to the tatami
’We aren’t in a situation where you can tell jokes that aren’t funny,’ said Yaku annoyed as he put the towel he used to dry his hair around his neck
’All right, all right So what are we going to do?’
Gotou finished drinking his beer, crushed the e where I left off earlier, but I think that the spiriting away incident is related to the ghost Masato saw’
When Yakumo said that, Haruka recalled the spirit photo Masato had shown them
The black shadow by the rock that was a shrine –
’So a ghost made the person disappear?’
’Gotou-san, you’re an idiot,’ said Yakuht?’
’I didn’t say anything like that I just said that a ghost was involved’
’How is it involved?’ interrupted Haruka
’Possession’
Yakuhost took over her body?’ asked Gotou to check
’Correct It is likely that a ghost possessed that girl and led her to leave home with her own feet and disappear’
’Like hypnotis away happen like this’
Gotou felt like he understood
He’d seen people possessed by ghosts before They did things they wouldn’t nor at it like this, it was just like being spirited away
If the girl called Yuical actions made sense
But then Haruka had a question
’Hey Is Yue Further body’
Yakumo’s shoulders fell, as if he was exhausted, and he looked up at the ceiling
’What do you host and walking around without drinking or eating’
’Three or four days,’ Gotou continued
Since she disappeared yesterday, today would be the second They couldn’t relax
’Hey Let’s go look for her’
Haruka leant forward unconsciously
’The local police and firefighters will search Furtherht, we’ll be the ones who disappear’
Even though Yakumo said that disinterestedly, his expression was hard
It was just as Yaku as the police and firefighters were doing, they wouldn’t bethe methods only they could use But –
’What should we do?’
’First, we find out what the ghost Masato saas – we need to make that clear,’ said Yakumo quietly
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’Ouch!’
Ishii cried out without thinking
Though the epain was a part of living
The moment Nanase Miyuki attacked him, the reason Ishii could move his body, frozen from fear, was because of his tenacity for life
Ishii looked up in pain at the <Kinoshita Surgery: Maternity and Gynaecology Depart
It was surrounded by police cars and lit up by outdoor lights Detectives and forensic officers were running amok