by Ono Fuyumi
Still...
"That's just Masako being stubborn," Miko-san asserted.
Before we knew it, the lab room became our base room.
"I think there's a ghost here," Miko-san repeated.
"Really? Then Ayako must've been unsuccessful in exorcising it," Bou-san retorted.
After hearing Bou-san, Miko-san blushed in embarrassment.
"...Okay, I admit it. My exorcism failed. This place is dangerous."
I couldn't help but ask, "Dangerous?"
Miko-san crossed her arms in frustration. "If an exorcism fails, the ghost will act like an injured bear: it'll act fierce..."
"Then, it's your fault Masako's injured!"
"No it's not!"
...But, isn't that what you're saying?!
Naru interposed. "Don't jump to conclusions. The camera recording revealed it as an accident. It's exactly what Hara-san said: she was careless."
True. Masako didn't seem to know that the wall wasn't firm. She didn't know it was only supported by a rotten wooden plank.
She accidentally leaned on the wooden plank, making it crack. The camcorder recorded the entire incident.
Still...
"Hey, Naru? Aren't places considered haunted because bad things like accidents or suicide happen there? Whether it's an accident or a suicide, don't both happen for a good reason? But in the end, people still believe those places are unlucky..."
When I said it that way, Naru crossed his arms, contemplating the matter deeply.
"True. But... This building is strange. I don't understand."
"Why?" Kuroda asked, her tone blunt and frank.
"There have been no responses to the equipment. There have been no temperature declines, no ion deviations, and no electromagnetic wave abnormalities. All of the data appear normal."
"Then, why did Miko-san get locked up? Why was I attacked? Why did the camcorder recording vanish? Why did the windows break? And how come the chair moved by itself?"
"That's why I said I don't understand."
Bou-san interrupted, "Maybe you don't know about this kind of ghost. It could be a ghost strong enough to hide its presence."
Naru pondered the idea. "So you think that..."
"It's a Jibakurei," Bou-san finished the sentence.
"I bet it's a tsukumogami," Miko-san added.
"A tsukumogami?" I asked.
"Sometimes inanimate objects will be possessed by a ghost. For instance, a table, a chair, or even a house. Those inanimate objects absorb human emotions in its environment and then become possessed."
Oh...
"This building probably absorbed the emotions of the students and teachers, especially their fear of this place."
...What the... That's scary.
Thankfully, Masako isn't seriously injured. But...
Bou-san shot Miko-san a look of disgust. "Then where did that earth spirit of yours go?"
"Of course, part of it is the earth spirit's fault."
"This building is a gathering place for spirits. The spirits absorb the negative emotions of the people and then become tsukumogami."
"Oh~."
Naru asked, "What do you think, John?"
"I'm not sure. But this place is dangerous. I'll perform an exorcism."
"Really..."
"Naru, what do you think?" Bou-san inquired.
"I'll withhold my opinion for now. I'm going to investigate this from a different angle."
"Oh.~"
"Mai."
"Yes."
"I'm going back to the van. You stay here. If anything happens, call me," Naru-chan said, pointing to a microphone. "This microphone is linked to the van."
"Okay."
How sly of you. So the narcissist is the only one leaving?
2
Naru left the lab room.
Bou-san asked Miko-san, "What's up with that guy?"
"What's wrong?"
"He brought in lots of expensive equipment, but does he really know what he's doing?"
"How would I know?"
"He's much better than you two," Kuroda retorted.
"Well, young lady, aren't you going home?"
"I want to witness your incapability before going home," she chuckled, "now what are you guys going to say? It sure would be nice if you could actually exorcise the ghost."
Bou-san and Miko-san's eyes filled with anger and hostility.
...You don't need to go around making enemies.
John stood. "My turn."
"Ah.. What a huge honor, Exorcist," Bou-san mocked.
John nodded slightly.
John doesn't look for a fight. He's a nice guy, unlike you guys.
"Do you need help with anything?" I asked John.
"No. But when I start praying, keep an eye on the equipment. There might be a response."
"Okay."
...Don't scare me like that.
The TV screen gave a view of a room on the second floor that was rumored to have a ghost.
It was also the room where Masako fell down. The sunset's afterglow shined into the classroom.
Suddenly the TV's connection was cut, leaving the screen filled with static.
...Huh?
The screen was filled with black-and-white static. Something was wrong with the video camera. Even the angle it was recording from changed.
In a panic, I quickly fumbled for the microphone that was connected to Naru's car.
"Naru."
"What's wrong?"
"The TV screen is all static."
"That's all right. Once it's dark, the videocam changes its recording mode. How's the situation?"
"John said he's going to perform his exorcism... Ah, he's here."
John changed into priest robes, which looked great on him. His stunning blonde hair gives him a mysterious air.
Walking into the classroom, he lifted a cup filled with water. He dipped his finger in the water and drew a cross on the altar with it. After he drew the sign of the cross on the altar and wall, he placed the altar, some gray candles, and a cross onto the platform. The room brightened after he lit up the candles. Then John placed his hands together, bowed his head, and prayed.
A faint sound came from the microphone.
"Heavenly God, please allow us to worship you."
John scattered the water. So that must be holy water. Then he opened his bible.
"God, your soul becomes our heaven and the earth."
The TV screen was recording this smoothly. There was nothing out of the ordinary.
"In the beginning was the word. The word was with God. The word was God..."
After constantly staring at the TV screen, Bou-san finally stood up. "I'm going out for a walk."
"I'm going too."
Miko-san also stood up.
...Where are you two going.
"Kuroda-san, you're not leaving, right?"
"If you're scared, I'll stay here with you."
"Stay here with me...?"
Ah— How embarrassing. But it can't be helped that I'm scared.
3
The sky grew darker and darker.
The light from the TV screens was the only thing that kept the room from being swallowed up in darkness. Even though there are lots of TV screens, the room was still dark and forboding.
Bou-san was in the TV screen, walking in the corridor of the first floor. Dressed in monk robes, he walked towards the room on the far left, his hand holding an object. John continued to perform his exorcism in the classroom above.
He took some white sand from a container and scattered it around the floor. Is that salt?
"The word was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made."
John suddenly stopped praying and started looking around.
...What happened?
I increased the volume of the speakers.
In the midst of John's prayer, a snapping sound could be heard.
"It's noise made from a poltergeist," Kuroda st
ated.
"In Him was life, and that life was the light of men," John continued.
He constantly lifted his head to look at the ceiling.
"The light shone in the darkness. But the darkness could not comprehend the light..."
The ceiling...
"Ah!" I shouted.
I looked at the classroom ceiling on the west side. Near the room with the wooden plank. It's right under the room where Masako fell from.
The wood on the ceiling was bending.
It's almost like something's trying to penetrate through the ceiling.
It's dangerous!
I suddenly pounced up from my chair.
"Taniyama-san?!" Kuroda cried out.
I rushed out of the lab room.
When I ran near the room John was in, I heard a loud cracking sound.
"John! John!"
I forcefully slid the door open, leaving a surprised John staring at me.
"Mai-san..."
"John, it's dangerous. Come out now!"
"Eh?!"
Not even a second passed after I pointed toward the crack in the ceiling that the ceiling came crashing down, rocking the floor. With the candle knocked over, the room was pitch black.
4
The flashlight flickered, then lit up.
The rubble covered up the entire classroom. Pieces of wood and stone were scattered all over the floor.
...The west side of the roof completely collapsed.
"If Mai-san didn't call me, I would've been in trouble," John said, his voice quivering slightly.
Naru picked up a piece of rubble and examined it.
He looked like he was in a trance.
"Since this place is dangerous, let's go down instead," Bou-san advised, a hint of nervousness in his voice.
Miko-san crossed her arms in a cold manner. "...I'm leaving today."
"You sure get scared easily," Kuroda laughed.
Miko-san appeared unaffected by her remark. "Your life is the most important thing. Masako would've died if she fell onto a slightly different place. John almost died too. I'm smart, so I'm retreating before that happens to me."
"Are you scared?"
"It doesn't matter. I'm calling it quits for today. I'll continue tomorrow."
...How can you do that.
"She's correct," Naru stated silently.
"Hey, hey, Naru-chan," Bou-san exclaimed in shock. "You're not scared by this too, are you?"
"Say what you want," Naru replied. "But this time, Miko-san is correct... Mai, you can go home."
"Really?"
Ah, I accidentally let out a laugh.
"Right, you should also..." Naru paused, throwing the rock he was tossing around back into the pile of rubble. Then he faced Kuroda, saying, "Kuroda-san, you should go home too."
"Hey hey, so if I'm not a girl, then..." Bou-san nagged.
Naru sent a deathly glare at Bou-san's direction. "I suggest that all of you go home now."
John sighed. "I... Guess we should go home then."
"How obedient," Bou-san said, smacking his lips, "forget it, let's just call it a day."
Ah, so you're the only one left now. Are you scared... Hmm..
We were all ushered out of the building by Bou-san.
Naru-chan waved to us from the entrance hall. "Good-bye."
"Naru, what about you? You're not going home?"
"I have to investigate more."
...You want to stay here? ...You're a courageous one.
We left the building under Naru's gaze.
Chapter 6 - Wind and Rain Subside and the Waves are High
1
The next day, I went to school right after I got up.
Naru's okay, right?
I'm kinda worried. He just stayed in the old school building by himself. Afterwards, did the ceiling fall... Or...
Man— They say ill weeds grow apace.
Once I was in the old school building, I went directly towards the lab room.
Naru's not here... It can't be that simple.
Nearly half of the equipment was carried out, and the remaining ones weren't recording anything either.
What happened?
I ran outside.
If Naru's not in the lab room, then he must be in the van.
I went around the old school building and saw the van, which was in the same parking space as yesterday.
I peered into the van. Naru was leaning on the equipment, fast asleep.
I knocked on the car window.
"Naru!"
He opened his eyes slightly, apparently still in a daze from sleeping. Then he looked at me.
...This guy... Is really handsome.
It's rare for someone half-awake to make me feel so happy.
"...Mai."
"Good morning."
"Don't 'good morning' me. What's wrong with you, coming here so early in the morning."
Hmph— I came because I was worried about you.
"It's not early at all. It's already past 11 o'clock."
"It's not afternoon..."
It's not afternoon? What kind of life are you living?
"I made coffee. Do you want some?" I offered.
"You are hardly ever this sharp."
Can't you at least say thank you?
Forget it. I'm used to it anyway.
I took out the coffee that I brought with me and poured it into a cup, then handed it to him.
"Last night, did you find anything?"
"Yes."
...Eh?
I really wasn't expecting a yes. The tone in his voice seemed to say that there was more.
"Ah, do you know what's wrong with the building?"
"Yes."
Naru's face was stoic.
Right when I was going to ask more questions, I was interrupted by the rest of the team calling out Naru's name.
The psychics have come.
2
In the front was Bou-san. "Hey, what happened?"
"What do you mean 'what happened'?"
"The equipment in the lab room!" Miko-san shouted in a stubborn tone.
"Are you getting ready to leave?"
Naru calmly replied, "Yes."
"...Are you kidding?"
Miko-san looked surprised.
"No, that's why I started bringing back my equipment."
Silence ensued.
Then, everyone started talking again.
Naru placed a hand on his head.
"Please don't be so loud to someone who just woke up... I just went to sleep a little while ago."
Huh... He stayed up all night?
Bou-san stared at Naru. "...Then why are you putting all your equipment back?"
"I've decided that this case has been solved."
"You exorcised the ghost?" Bou-san asked.
"No."
Huh?!
Naru slowly picked up his files and handed them to Bou-san.
"What's this?"
"Last night, the old school building sank 0.2 inches."
"What did you say?"
Bou-san snatched the graphs from Naru and carefully examined them. Unfortunately for him, he didn't understand it at all and just ended up looking embarrassed.
"I don't understand."
Miko-san interjected, "What's going on?"
"Land subsidence."
"What? Are you saying that all the phenomenon were caused by land subsidence?!"
Not acknowledging the question, Naru reached into his files and took out a sheet of paper.
"A level scale graph, a geological diagram, and a water-course diagram," Naru muttered, placing each diagram beside him.
"What're those?"
"If you look at them, you will know."
We gazed intensely at the diagrams.
"Diagrams..."
"They're diagrams..."
Man— I don't understand these diagrams!
Finally, Naru's fully awake.
He stretched. "The building was
built on moist land. The workers had placed fresh soil on this land in an attempt to lessen the moisture before the school was built. Based on the number of wells around the area, there is a big water vein running beneath the school."
Everyone stared at the diagrams.
Countless circles were drawn onto the diagrams.
"Now only two wells remain, both of which are dry. This is what I discovered yesterday."
"Huh?"
"What I'm saying is, the building is weak because it was built on damp soil. Furthermore, the water vein is almost dry. Because of these factors, the building is sinking. Moreover, the building is sinking at an alarming rate. The area that is sinking the fastest is..."
Naru pulled out another diagram and pointed at blue circles that indicated areas that were falling apart. "Over here. The building is sinking rapidly on this side of the building, and as a result the rest of the building is becoming unstable and distorting. Even though the principal wants to tear down the building, there really is no need. The old school building will come down in a matter of time."
Everybody fell silent.
Bou-san disappointedly lowered his arm. "What, so you're saying the chair moved and the ceiling fell because of this?"
"Correct. The classroom on the west is three inches lower than the one on the east."
"Three inches, meaning 7.5 centimeters... That was unexpected," Miko-san mumbled in dissatisfaction.
"Then the ghost sounds... Were they also?" Miko-san asked.
Naru nodded. "Those weren't sounds made by ghosts. Those were sounds made by the building falling apart."
"...Stop playing with me. Then are you saying we were in a dangerous place like that?" Miko-san asked.
"Apparently, yes."
"Then it's really dangerous. Tell the principal to make that building off limits to everyone desu ," John said.
Bou-san couldn't stand it anymore. "John! I beg you, don't use 'desu' with the Osaka dialect!"
"Sorry..."
Don't be mean to him. It's not John's fault. It's the guy who taught him Japanese fault.
"John's right," Naru said in an icy tone. "Inform the principal that the old school building is to be off limits to everyone. It will collapse soon."
3
In the afternoon, when Naru and I finished putting the equipment back, Kuroda came.
"...What happened?" she asked, observing the scene.
