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VOLUME 9 – THE SPIRIT OF SALVATION file 02: frenzy ()
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1
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Haruka was shocked as she looked at Gotou
In the corner of the Movie Research Circle roo in a wheelchair
His hands and arms were bound with rope It looked like he wasn’t conscious – he sat lis cut There was no trace of the usual Gotou there Haruka had never even dreaain like this
‘Please tell me in detail what happened,’ Yaku directly in front of Gotou
’Sorry It was my fault’
The weak response cae personality, but even he was listless in this situation
’It doesn’t h, Yakuht…’ Eishin said to hi what had happened up until now
In Aokigahara’s Sea of Trees, a wo Then, there had been a phone call frohost’s call, and no other than Eishin had been the one to goad hi it was his fault
’Honestly I have to say it was careless’
Yakumo put his chin in his hand, exasperated
Haruka felt the same way If they had been a bit more careful, this wouldn’t have happened
’Painfully so’
Eishin s to do?’ asked Haruka, leaning forward
There was no point bla what had happened The problem hat to do next
’In all probability, the spirit possessing Gotou-san is probably the ghost of the corpse that was found’
’The problem is the corpse’s identity then’
’Yeah But there’s so that concerns me’
’The man with two red eyes?’ asked Eishin
Haruka was concerned about that too The man with two red eyes whom Rina had seen in the Sea of Trees – it couldn’t be just a coincidence
’If he’s involved in this, there’s a chance that there’s some involve his chin
’Well, there’s no point thinking about it now First, we have to gather inforer on his brow
His alht
’Then what should I do?’ asked Eishin
’That’s right First of all, Eishin-san, could you talk to the ht be new developive it a try’
Eishin briskly got up and left the rooruain
Haruka felt the saht that Gotou would be possessed by a ghost
’Hey, as it Gotou-san?’
Haruka asked the question that suddenly cahosts, and people eren’t This time, Gotou wasn’t the only person who answered the phone The woman named Rina had also answered
But Gotou was the one as possessed – as that?
’I talked about this before, but I think it’s soths’
Yakuth of a soul differs with each one When they match up, possession can occur’
Yakuan transplant before For the transplant to be successful, various conditions such as blood type had to th just happened to match’
’That’s it,’ said Yaku head
Perhaps he had woken up
’G-Gotou-san’
Haruka tried to rush over to him, but Yakuh… Ya… Yakumo… Why are you here?’
Gotou spoke in a pained voice
Yakuot up from his seat and crossed his arms in front of Gotou
’How do you feel?’
’The worst… My head hurts…’
’What happened?’
’I don’t know… I… answered the phone… and then…’
As Gotou spoke, it seemed like it hurt him to breathe His body wrested about violently However, because he was bound with rope to the wheelchair, he couldn’t move as he wanted
Gotou’s body rattled loudly
’Gotou-san! Please get a hold of yourself!’ Haruka yelled frantically
Gotou let out a beastly howl, throwing his head back Then, he stopped’Yakumo-kun’
’It’s fine He’s still alive’
Yakus have become really serious
All Haruka could do was look in shock
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2
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Ishii visited Meisei University with Makoto
After Ishii called Yaku he wanted his advice on, Yakumo had told him to come to the Movie Research Circle roo around the caalong the brick road
’What do youat school remind you of your school days?’
’Ah, now that you reed Ishii
Ishii felt that way sometimes too However, Ishii didn’t have many enjoyable memories of his youth to remember
I wonder what sort of university life Makoto had – Ishii suddenly wanted to know
’And it’s even stranger to be walking with you, Ishii-san’
’I-is that so?’
’Yes It feels a bit strange But it’s fun’
Makoto stuck out her tongue playfully
Why was Ishii’s heart beating so loudly? He thought about it, but he couldn’t find the reason
While this was happening, they reached the prefabricated building in the back of Building B After taking a deep breath, Ishii knocked on the door that had a plate that read <Movie Research Circle>
’It’s open’
Yakumo’s voice came from within
’E-excuse us’
Ishii hesitantly opened the door
’Ishii-san’
Ishii saw Haruka there Next to her was Yaku a hand on his head
Ishii was surprised at how strangely cal Haruka’s face in the past
’Makoto-san’s with you too, I see,’ said Yakuise for cos I wanted to ask you too Please come in’
At Yakumo’s invitation, Ishii and Makoto entered the room
’Ah!’
Then, Ishii’s eyes spotted somebody unexpected
’Detective Gotou!’
Ishii had called Gotou after he quit, but it had been about a month since they had last met in person
Ishii was so happy that he was about to e it impossible for Ishii to approach Gotou any further
’Please don’t carelessly approach him,’ Yakumo said sharply
’Eh? Why not?’
’Gotou-san has been possessed by a ghost,’ Yakuhost, do you host’
Ishii leapt aithout thinking when he heard those words, which he was so sensitive to
’W-ha!?’
When Ishii took a good look from a distance, he saw that Gotou was bound to a wheelchair and that his head was hanging limply
It looked like he was unconscious
’It’s because he runs ahead and does unnecessary things that this happens’
Yakumo kicked the wheelchair casually
’T-that’s awful’
’It’s fine, since the one thing that’s sturdy about Gotou-san is his body’
’No, that’s not the…’
’It sees are quite troublesome’
Even Makoto sounded surprised by the situation
’Yes, it’s an unwelcome nuisance More ied them to sit in the opposite chairs
After Ishii shared a look with Makoto, he sat down, though he was still confused Yakumo waited until they were seated to sit down hiht?’ Ishii asked
’To be honest, I don’t know’
Yakuh his messy hair
His words sounded incredibly irresponsible
’But that’s…’
’I don’t knoho the ghost possessing Gotou-san is or what the ghost is trying to do There’s nothing that can be done’
Yakumo had a point, but still –
’I need to help Detective Gotou right now!’
’Ishii-san, you’re following a different case right now, right?’
’That’s true, but…’
’This is just a suspicion I have, but I think that the ghost possessing Gotou-san and the case you are following are connected in some way’
’I-is that so?’
’It’s only a suspicion, but she mentioned a deep forest and toldabout?’
’Just talking to myself Please don’t concern yourself over it’
’Haa…’
Ishii didn’t understand, but he didn’t press any further
It was Yaku
’Anyway, first we have to clean up the various proble the case’
It sounded like Yaku to convince himself with his words
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3
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Eishin sat at a table in a family restaurant in front of the station
Since it was dinnertime, the shop was rather crowded Perhaps it was unusual for a robedby hi He was used to it though
’Are you the, thin body and a wide grin
Eishin had asked Rina to call out the young one with her into the Sea of Trees so that Eishin could talk to him The truth was, it would be faster to have her here too, but she refused
It seemed like she had been disillusioned by the incident with him in the Sea of Trees
’Are you Hiroki-kun?’
’Yeah,’ Hiroki replied with a shrug
– Deplorable
Young people these days didn’t kno to speak to their elders Maybe they were trying to act like people in Europe or America, but Japan had Japanese culture
’Well, sit down,’ Eishin urged, repressing his irritation
’Hey, you an exorcist?’ asked Hiroki once he sat down
– An incredibly rude guy
’Decide for yourself’
’Eh!? Seriously?! Try showing me!’
Hiroki’s eyes sparkled like a child, like he was happy about so
’If you tell me what happened in the Sea of Trees, I’ll put a curse on you’
’OK!’
After giving that carefree reply, Hiroki started talking about the events that occurred in the Sea of Trees
However, since there was an incredible a and sound effects in his story, it took hiet anywhere It took a full forty th, there was no substance If you talked normally, it would only take five host?’ asked Eishin
Hiroki nodded
’I see So then you contacted the police’
’Yeah Rina-chan had fainted so I was seriously panicked,’ said Hiroki, shuddering draerated, there was no anxiety in his words
It looked like he couldn’t even understand the gravity of finding a corpse
’Were you questioned by the police?’
’Yeah, but they just acted where I was and stuff like that and took the video ca to filet that back’
’Me?’
Eishin couldn’t believe his ears
’I’o all the way to Ya for a toy
– Why do I have to do your errands?
Eishin sed his anger right before it erupted and stood up from his seat
’That was helpful’
’If that’s all you need, call me any time’
Hiroki stood up and patted Eishin’s shoulder
Thatat a brat like this wouldn’t have any effect though
’Hiroki-kun, right?’
’Yeah’
’I’’
’What?’
’The spirits in the Sea of Trees are incredibly ill-willed You’ll be the next to be cursed’
’Joking around?’
Hiroki laughed
However, Eishin’s expression didn’t change He looked straight at Hiroki
Led by the force in Eishin’s eyes, Hiroki’s s down his forehead
’You’re kidding, right…?’
Hiroki’s voice was shaking
’Unfortunately, you’ll die in the near future
’W-wai… Stop that’
Eishin ignored Hiroki’s frantic pleas He went to the counter to pay and then left the faood h before walking away
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4
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Haruka headed for the te to tell Atsuko, Gotou’s wife, what had happened She passed through the gate and went to the priests’ quarters Her legs felt weak
She really didn’t want to go tell such heavy news
However, there was no point standing here and worrying about it Haruka gathered her determination and pressed the intercom button at the entrance
’Yes?’
Haruka heard a voice Then, the entrance’s sling door opened to show Atsuko
’Oh, hello, Haruka-chan,’ said Atsuko, sounding surprised
It was the first time Haruka had co Actually, there is so troubled
Atsuko see as her expression hardened ’Co Haruka inside
Haruka went to the living roo in a sketchbook, looked up
’Nao-chan, it’s been a while’
After Haruka said that, Nao’s face lit up Nao leapt towards her
’You doing well?’ said Haruka, patting Nao’s head
– Yeah!
Haruka heard that voice in her head Nao couldn’t hear, but in exchange, she talked directly to people’s hearts like this
’Well, sit down,’ urged Atsuko
Haruka sat on a cushion Nao sat next to her with a smile
’Would you rather have tea or coffee?’
’Please don’t oing to be relatives in the future anyway’
’Eh?’ said Haruka, confused
’Well, when you and Yakuh Haruka understood what Atsuko meant, unfortunately there were no plans of that
Haruka didn’t want to take it seriously and deny it either, so she decided to let it pass with a wry smile
’Then I’ll have tea’
After a while, Atsuko returned with tea from the kitchen
’So what did you have to tellacross from Haruka
With Atsuko in front of her like this, Haruka didn’t knohat she should say
However, thinking about it wouldn’t start anything Haruka took in a deep breath and started to speak
’Actually, this is about Gotou-san…’
’Did sorim immediately
With a deep breath to calm herself down, Haruka told Atsuko what had happened to Gotou
Atsuko listened to Haruka in silence Since Atsuko’s expression didn’t change
After a silence, Atsuko put a hand over her
’Eh?’
’He really is an idiot’
Atsuko laughed aloud like she couldn’t keep it in any longer
Nao started laughing too
’Excusematter…’
Haruka wasn’t sure what to do with the unexpected response
’It is It’s like that saying – going for wool and co home shorn’
’Aren’t you worried?’
’I am’
For just a moment, Atsuko’s expression clouded over
Those were probably her true feelings – Haruka understood that
’I’m worried, but all I can do at a tiht?’
Atsuko showed Haruka a s
Haruka felt that anew
When Gotou had gonebefore, and when Isshin had been stabbed, Atsuko had stood firmly on her own
No matter what happened, she waited and believed Perhaps she had the resolve to do that
’I thought it’d be tough when I married him,’ Atsuko said suddenly
’Eh?’
’I ht? He always sticks his neck into danger’
’Yes, well…’
Haruka felt like she understood
Even though Gotou treated others’ lives with care, for some reason, he didn’t have that same care for his own Yakuhtened Haruka to watch It was hard to be the one waiting
’At first there were ’
’What did you realise?’
’No matter how reckless he is, he always comes back That’s why I wait and believe in him’
’I see Definitely…’
’And it’s fine with Yaku about it’
Atsuko patted Haruka’s shoulder
’Yes’
Haruka nodded
’Ah, that’s right I’ll show you soood’
It looked like Atsuko had reether and stood up
’So that, Atsuko left the living room
Nao took Haruka’s hand and smiled She definitely believed in Gotou too That hy she could smile like this
– I need to believe to
In her heart, Haruka thought that with conviction
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5
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After Ishii returned to the precinct, he contacted Shimamura Eriko of the Criminal Affairs division ie of Hideaki’s case Ishii chose her because she had been Gotou’s past partner
Ishii thought that she would give him a bit more information than another detective
’I would like so Hideaki-shi’s case, but…’
After saying that, Ishii was told to wait at the conference room
Ishii went into the conference room, as he was instructed It looked like Shimamura wasn’t here yet Ishii sat on a chair and leant back
He had never thought that Gotou would be possessed by a ghost
Yakumo had said that Gotou’s incident and Imoto’s suicide in his flat were connected, but Ishii didn’t understand why Yakuht that
However, all Ishii could do was believe and act
’Sorry I’m late’
About ten minutes later, the conference door opened, and a woman in a dark blue suit came in
She had wide shoulders for a wo
’No, I’ you out’
’It’s fine’
Shimamura waved away Ishii’s concern and sat across from him
’Ah, I’m sorry, I haven’t introduced ht? I’ve heard about you from Gotou and Atsuko’
’Eh?’
Ishii cocked his head unconsciously
It ht that she also knew his wife, Atsuko
’You didn’t know?’
’Didn’t knohat?’
’I’m the one who introduced Atsuko to Gotou’
’Eh!?’
Ishii was so shocked that he almost fell from his chair
’Unexpectedly, you don’t know h you were his partner’
It was true
Though Ishii and Gotou had always been together as partners, they virtually never talked about their private lives
They unexpectedly knew very little about each other
’I-I’ so quickly like that’
’Ah, no, but…’
’I’h hopes for you’
’Eh?’
Ishii was shocked once uy so he can be cold, but he’s different on the inside’
’I-is that so?’
Ishii couldn’t believe it
Ishii had never seen even a tiny amount of that fro over hi trouble
’You didn’t even realise that?’
’I-I’ain’
’I…’
Ishii hurriedly sed the words he was about to say
’Ishii’ll becoood detective, he said…’
’Me?’
’When he quit being a detective, he went out of his way to findme to help you if you were in trouble’
’Detective Gotou did that…’
Ishii felt so up within him
Will I be able to live up to those expectations – Ishii had la he could do nothing, and shut himself inside a shell His own biased view
– I’ll live up to Detective Gotou’s expectations
Ishii was filled with strong determination
’Let’s leave the soppy stories now Here’re the case files’
Shimamura placed a bundle of documents on the desk
<Thank you very o?’ asked Ishii, looking at the files
’He kept saying he could see ghosts, but there’s no way that police can believe that’
Shimamura smiled wryly
As members of the police, they really had no way to accept the existence of ghosts
’So he’s still in detention?’
’We didn’t keep him’
’Eh?’
’It wasn’t an arrest It was just a questioning’
That was true At this stage, he was just suspicious – there was no proof
’Do you think he’s the culprit?’ asked Ishii
’It see to have hiain’
’What do you think personally, Shimamura-san?’
’Innocent, obviously,’ said Shi exasperated
’Why do you think that?’
’I don’t kno to answer, but if I had to say, it’sfro?’
’Yeah It’s been a while since I’ve seen eyes as straight as his He’s the not the type of man who could kill someone’
’Then he really can see…’
’I don’t know about that, but that flat was a completely locked room’
Ishii knew best, as the first eyewitness, that the flat where the corpse was found was a locked room
’Yes, it was’
’And Iested he would commit suicide’
’An… internet forum?’
’Yes There’s a site where people ant to co about that?’
Ishii hadn’t accessed the site himself, but he had heard ruathered on that forum and revealed the emotions they felt In the past, people whoit a societal proble’s a ahara What a ahara?’
’The Yaahara corpse case’
If Ishii re a spiritual phenoahara’s Sea of Trees when he becahost
– So they really are related soahara case?’ asked Ishii
’Seems the victim was from here One of the leaders of Jikoukoushinkai’
’Jikoukoushinkai…?’
’Iious group’
’Eh?’
Yakuahara case and Hideaki’s case were related
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6
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’Honestly… This is awful,’ gru in front of Gotou, as in a wheelchair
If this was going to happen, I should have seriously stopped hi to becoret within Yakuroan His body writhed Then, he slowly lifted his head
Yakuaze
’Who are you?’ Yakumo asked towards Gotou
However, there was no response It looked like he was in pain
’You… gil… ed…’ said Gotou
To be accurate, they were the words of the spirit of whoever was possessing Gotou
’Were you killed?’
’Aiii… wa…’
There were no words after that Gotou’s head dropped down and he stopped ed
’No luck, eh…’
Yakuainst his left eye
The fluorescent light see that for a while, Yakuy from Gotou Yakumo was surprised that it made hio Gotou had been a novice officer, and Yakumo had just been a boy
At that time, Gotou had saved Yaku, a few years after that, Yakuain because of a certain case
At first, Yakureedy detective anted to use his ability
It was only recently that Yakuht Gotou was clumsy, but he supported Yakumo in his oay
At some point, Yakumo himself had started to trust Gotou
He had felt that painfully when his uncle Isshin died At that tih Yakuht that with Gotou, he could entrust Nao to hio, Yakumo had been pursued as a suspect Gotou had come to save hi so would force him to leave the police, but he hadn’t paused anyway