Volume 7 Chapter 3

VOLUME 7 – THE LOCATION OF THE SPIRIT file 03: release ()

–

1

–

‘Masato-kun, don’t be selfish.’

Haruka pulled at Masato’s arm as she pleaded.

However, he didn’t reply. He just looked at his feet without moving.

After leaving Yumiko’s house, Haruka was going to take Masato home, but once they reached the convenience store, he started being stubborn, saying, ‘I won’t go back.’

It wasn’t like Haruka didn’t understand how Masato felt. He wanted to find Yumiko no matter what. But the sun had already set and the surroundings were becoming dark. Since they had been late the day before as well, Haruka couldn’t bring him around any longer.

Yumiko, a child the same age as him, had gone missing. His uncle and aunt must have been worried.

‘I won’t go back.’

Masato’s tone was forceful.

He wouldn’t budge an inch until he found Yumiko. That strong will came through clearly.

‘Your uncle will worry, right?’

‘I don’t want to go back.’

‘Masato-kun.’

‘I’m going to look for Yumiko-chan until I find her.’

It looked like Masato felt that was his duty.

Haruka looked at Masato’s face and placed a hand on his shoulder.

‘I can’t do anything, in the end.’

Masato bit his lip.

‘That’s not true.’

‘It is. I still haven’t found Yumiko-chan.’

He really did believe everything was his fault. It hurt to watch him.

‘Please believe in us.’

‘I don’t want to!’

Haruka had said that to console him, but Masato interrupted her with a shout.

‘Masato-kun.’

‘Sensei, you always save me – I can’t do anything. Even though I should be the one to search, this is just the same as last time.’

Masato’s face was red as his eyes welled up with tears.

Haruka was trying to determine what to do when Yakumo called.

‘Hello.’

Yakumo said that as if he had seen right through Haruka’s troubles.

Even though he acted like he didn’t have any interest in others, the truth was that he paid more attention than anybody else.

‘Masato-kun doesn’t want to go home.’

‘He says he’s going to search for Yumiko-chan.’

‘Yeah.’

Haruka felt like Yakumo was smiling on the other side of the phone.

‘A request?’

Haruka did as Yakumo told her to, giving the mobile to Masato and telling him that ‘Yakumo-kun has a request’.

‘Hello…’

Masato answered the phone, sounding confused.

Haruka didn’t know what they were saying, but she could see Masato’s dispirited expression becoming energised before her eyes.

‘Got it. I’ll go back and look into it.’

After saying that, Masato returned the phone to Haruka.

Yakumo had changed Masato’s mind in such a short time – it was just like magic.

‘Hey, what did you say to Masato-kun?’ asked Haruka quietly, turning her back to Masato and stepping a little ways away.

‘R-really?’

‘That’s true…’

After saying just that, he hung up.

You could have told me over the phone – is what Ishii thought, but he didn’t say it aloud, as was his personality. When he thought about seeing that head once more, he couldn’t do anything but be depressed.

Ishii picked up his jacket and left the room.

After leaving the precinct through the front entrance, he headed towards the parking lot where he had parked the car.

He had just put his hand on the door when he suddenly felt somebody’s gaze on him. He looked around, but nobody was there.

– It appears to have been my imagination.

Since Nanase Miyuki had escaped, he might have been a bit on edge.

Ishii sat in the driver’s seat and started the engine.

The moment he was about to step on the pedal, the door to the backseat opened.

– Eh?

He saw somebody get into the backseat through the rear-view mirror.

A woman. The left half of her face was burnt and her unusually red lips were twisted into a smile. She was –

– Nanase Miyuki.

It was already too late when Ishii realised.

She held a cold and glittering knife at his neck.

The blood left his face all at once in his terror.

‘Ishii-san, we meet again.’

Nanase Miyuki’s breath brushed his ear.

Ishii’s terror doubled. He couldn’t move even an eyebrow, let alone resist.

‘Where is he?’ murmured Nanase Miyuki.

– He?

‘W-what are you talking about?’ replied Ishii in a shaking voice.

Then, the knife at his neck drew closer. A jolt of pain ran through him. Ishii held his breath.

‘You know, right? I don’t mind if you don’t want to say. I’ll kill you and ask somebody else.’

Nanase Miyuki’s sadistic smile was reflected in the rear-view mirror.

She wasn’t lying. If Ishii resisted, she would thrust that knife into his neck without any hesitation.

Ishii could feel it in his skin.

‘So, where is he?’ said Nanase Miyuki calmly.

The ‘he’ she was talking about was probably the head of the man with two red eyes.

‘Hospital…’

‘Hospital? Why?’

‘To be autopsied…’

Nanase Miyuki let out a beastly scream before Ishii could be finished speaking.

‘Don’t joke with me! I won’t allow low-class humans like you to touch that man!’

– She didn’t want to let other people touch him.

Makoto had given that reason to explain why Nanase Miyuki was walking around with the head of the man with two red eyes.

She might have been right. Nanase Miyuki wanted, loved and revered the man with two red eyes so much she was mad.

‘Start the car,’ said Miyuki with ragged breathing.

‘W-where to?’

‘You know, right? I’m going to take him back. I’m going to take that man back.’

Ishii couldn’t resist.

He swallowed his fear and started the car.

–

9

–

Haruka held Masato’s hand as they walked down the narrow road, which was like an animal trail.

Yakumo and Gotou were walking right in front of them, leading the way.

‘You OK?’

It was a rather steep slope, so she spoke to Masato. Though his head was covered in sweat, Masato nodded.

He was propelled by his wholehearted wish to save Yumiko.

Finally, she saw an old wooden building in the middle of the thick forest. That was probably Kinasa Clinic.

‘Nobody’s here,’ said Gotou in a disgruntled tone as he stood in front of the clinic with his hands in his pockets

‘I just said that it was likely she would be around here,’ said Yakumo in exasperation as he shook his head.

‘Hey, why do you think she’ll be around here?’ asked Haruka.

Though she had come here because she believed in Yakumo, she didn’t know what proof he had.

‘This is a place close to Rin-san and her son. In other words, their home.’

‘I see.’

If Rin’s spirit was possessing Yumiko, it made sense to think she would visit her home.

‘Let’s split up.’

‘That would be more effective.’

Gotou agreed with Yakumo’s suggestion.

‘Gotou-san and I will search over here. You and Masato wait here.’

‘OK.’

Haruka nodded.

Masato looked rather tired and it would be dangerous to walk around the mountain. It would probably be better to wait and leave this to Yakumo and Gotou. The moment she thought that, Masato spoke up.

‘I don’t want to.’

‘Masato-kun.’

Haruka wanted to comfort him, but Masato didn’t respond.

‘I’ll look too. Yumiko-chan disappeared because of me, so…’

As Masato said that, his eyes were filled with a strong will.

He wanted to find Yumiko himself no matter what. If they crushed that will, Masato might hole up within himself again.

‘Hey, I’ll go search with Masato-kun,’ suggested Haruka.

Yakumo ran a hand through his hair, as if to say, ‘Guess I can’t do anything about it.’

‘Let them search. He’s not a kid either – he wants to take responsibility for himself.’

Unexpectedly, Gotou agreed.

‘Got it. You and Masato search near the clinic. I’ll go to the east, and Gotou-san, I’ll leave the west to you.’

Beaten by their persistence, Yakumo gave out instructions.

Masato’s face became brighter at once.

‘Promise me one thing. Even if you find Yumiko-chan, don’t chase after her or approach her. Contact me. OK?’ Yakumo said to Masato.

‘OK, I got it.’

Masato nodded with a hard look on his face.

‘Let’s meet up again here in thirty minutes.’

Everyone nodded at Yakumo’s words.

‘I’m going then.’

Gotou briskly started walking towards the west.

‘I’ll leave Masato to you,’ Yakumo said to Haruka quietly. Then, he started walking towards the east.

‘Let’s go too.’

‘OK.’

Haruka and Masato started walking together.

They went along a trackless path. It was humid here and there was leaf mould, so their feet sunk into the ground. It was terribly difficult to walk. It was easy to slip on slopes too.

Furthermore, there were points which were like steep cliffs, so they had to be very careful not to lose their footing.

‘Watch your step,’ she said to Masato.

‘OK.’

Masato nodded with a stiff expression.

He was probably worried about Yumiko.

‘IT’s fine. She’s OK.’

Yakumo might have said it was irresponsible of her if he heard, but they couldn’t search without hope.

‘Hey.’

Masato suddenly stopped.

Masato’s forehead was covered in sweat. He might have walked too quickly.

‘Shall we take a break?’

When Haruka spoke to him, Masato shook his head and took a deep breath.

‘Why was it Yumiko-chan?’

‘Why?’

‘Tomoya-kun and I were there then. But…’

That was true. Why did Rin possess Yumiko instead of Masato or Tomoya?

Yakumo had said something before.

The wavelengths might match – a body easy to attract, or in short, somebody with a body easy to possess.

However, Haruka felt like that wasn’t what Masato was trying to say.

‘Masato-kun, don’t blame yourself.’

‘I should’ve been possessed instead.’

Masato’s eyes welled up with tears.

He was angry at the unreasonable world. He resented himself for being powerless.

Would Masato’s heart be able to take it if the worst-case scenario occurred? The upright and clean-handed Masato would blame himself.

Because he was an awkward but straightforward kid, like Yakumo –

‘Let’s go. Yumiko-chan’s waiting.’

Haruka put both of her hands on Masato’s shoulders.

‘Is Yumiko-chan OK?’

‘I believe so. Do you think differently, Masato-kun?’

Masato sniffled and shook his head.

His eyes were lit up again. He started walking with a strong gait, yelling, ‘Yumiko-chan! Where are you?’

– I have to do my best too.

When Haruka started walking again, her heart started beating loudly.

– Rustle.

The verdant trees were shaking loudly.

She felt her breath caught, like she was in a damp cave.

– Somebody’s watching us.

–

10

–

Ishii passed through the hospital entrance.

Nanase Miyuki was right behind him. Ishii wanted to run away, but he couldn’t do anything about the knife at his side.

If only somebody would notice – is what he was hoping, but it appeared to be no use.

He went down the stairs to the basement by the elevator. He walked along the dim, cavernous corridor with heavy feet.

‘Please knock on the door.’

After coming to the autopsy room, Nanase Miyuki whispered that in his ear.

A jolt went down his spine.

In his terror, Ishii knocked on the door just as he was told.

‘Who is it?’

He heard Hata from Inside.

At Miyuki’s urging, Ishii spoke, conscious of the tremor in his throat.

‘I-it’s Ishii.’

‘It’s open,’ said Hata.

At Nanase Miyuki’s insistence, Ishii opened the door with trembling hands.

‘What? You got caught so easily? How pathetic.’

When Hata turned around, he didn’t speak like he was surprised at the situation.

‘Sorry, but could you return him to me?’ said Miyuki, looking at the head on the stainless steel bed.

Miyuki had been calling the head ‘him’. Just as Makoto had said, she didn’t want to give it to anybody. It was probably special to her.

‘This is a rare research opportunity. I won’t give it back so easily.’

After Hata said that, he let out a laugh inappropriate for the situation.

‘Would it be acceptable if I added one more head for your autopsies?’

Nanase Miyuki put the tip of the knife at Ishii’s neck and pressed down so hard it hurt.

If she put in just a bit more force, it would definitely break through the skin and make him bleed.

Ishii’s forehead started spewing sweat.

‘There’s no point in researching Ishii-kun’s head. Even if you added a head like that – ’

Hata was mumbling, sounding dissatisfied.

‘Now, what will you do?’ said Miyuki with a pointed tone.

It was a worst-case scenario. Even if Hata returned the head of the man with red eyes, Ishii didn’t think Nanase Miyuki would just head home.

She would slice both Ishii and Hata up in a bloodbath.

‘Got it. Do what you want.’

After saying that, Hata looked at Ishii.

– Eh?

Ishii was confused, but then he noticed Hata was holding a bottle of fluid that had been on the wagon. Ishii could read the word formalin from that bottle.

It was dangerous, but it seemed like all Ishii could do now was bet on Hata.

‘My, my. You’re unexpectedly honest.’

Miyuki smiled.

‘Take this too.’

Hata threw the bottle in his hand.

It arced over, shattering at Ishii’s feet.

Ishii shut his eyes tightly and stopped breathing.

Formalin splashed everywhere. Ishii felt an electrifying pain when doused with the strong formalin, but Nanase Miyuki appeared to feel the same way.

‘No!’

Miyuki’s shriek cut through the room. At the same time, the knife left Ishii’s neck.

Ishii used that opportunity to run.

‘Old man! You did it now!’

He heard Miyuki’s furious voice.

However, the alarm bell started ringing, blocking it out. Hata had probably sat it off.

He heard somebody running off.

‘She got away.’

While saying that, Hata went over to Ishii, who was on all fours, and wiped Ishii’s face with a wet towel.

‘It’s OK now.’

When Hata said that, Ishii timidly opened his eyes.

Though there was still a stinging pain, it wasn’t unbearable.

’T-thank you very much.’

While hating himself for being useless, Ishii thanked Hata.

‘It’d be better to get out of the room for now.’

‘Y-yes.’

Ishii stood up while answering. Then, he noticed that the head had disappeared from the stainless steel bed.

‘Hata-san, the head…’

‘Ah, looks like she took it away – ’

Hata murmured that in a truly disappointed voice.

–

11

–

– Who is it?

Haruka felt somebody watching her, so she looked around frantically in the dark forest.

Her heart was beating like a hammer.

Maybe I imagined it – is what she thought when a woman appeared in the corner of her vision.

About five metres in front of her. By a craggy rock, a woman with long hair in a white blouse and navy skirt.

– Is that…?

The moment Haruka tried to approach her, she disappeared, like she had melted into the forest.

‘What was it?’

Haruka walked over to the rock where the woman had been standing. Then, she spotted a white running shoe on the floor.

– Could it be?

‘Masato-kun, over here.’

Haruka called out to Masato who was a little away from her as she walked towards the rock.

There was a hole between the work and the ground about forty centimetres tawl and one metre wide.

She saw a girl lying there.

– We’ve found her!

She had to be Yumiko.

‘Hang in there!’

Haruka crouched on the ground and shook Yumiko’s body as she called out to her.

It was faint, but her chest was moving up and down.

– Thank goodness. She’s alive.

Though Masato kept stumbling, he ran towards her with a pale expression.

Haruka took her mobile phone out of her pocket immediately and called Yakumo. However, she couldn’t contact him since she was out of range.

‘Whaaarr…’

Haruka heard a voice in her ear.

Her body froze like she was paralysed. She slowly looked up and saw the woman from earlier standing there.

Her long hair hung around her face. Her deep red lips moved like worms.

Haruka couldn’t speak in her fear.

‘Whaaarr…’

– I need to run.

Though Haruka thought that, her body wouldn’t move the way she wanted it to.

The woman’s hand reached out.

Haruka’s forehead was sweating furiously. Her throat was dry. She couldn’t even breathe.

– It hurts.

‘Stop!’

Masato shouted out and ran in front of Haruka to protect her from the woman.

With his small body, he spread his arms as wide as he could.

‘Masato-kun, no!’

– If you do that, you’ll –

Haruka shouted, but it was too late.

A spasm ran through Masato’s body, like he had been hit by lightning. Then, he fell to the ground, unmoving.

‘Masato-kun. Are you OK?’

Haruka went to him immediately and called out.

– Oh no. What should I do?

Haruka was panicked when suddenly Masato grabbed her wrist.

‘Masato-kun.’

Just as Haruka spoke, Masato opened his eyes.

Those eyes – weren’t Masato’s.

Somebody else was inside him. It wasn’t her reasoning – Haruka could feel it.

Haruka’s whole body started to sweat.

’…’

She heard somebody whisper.

It seemed to go straight to her brain.

’…Whe… re… am… I…’

Haruka was so frightened that she shook off Masato’s hand and covered her eyes.

However, she could still hear the voice.

‘Noooo!’

She screamed as loudly as she could to try to erase the voice following her ears.

Her body wouldn’t stop shaking.

How long have I been doing this – she suddenly came to her senses.

The voice had stopped.

She noticed that she was cowering on the floor.

She timidly lifted her gaze. Yumiko was collapsed in front of her. However, Masato was nowhere to be seen.

‘Masato-kun? Masato-kun?’

Haruka looked around frantically, but she couldn’t spot him.

She heard the footsteps of somebody running towards her.

‘Masato-kun?’

Haruka turned around. Yakumo was there.

‘What was that scream just now?’ said Yakumo, still panting for breath.

‘Masato-kun… Masato-kun…’

‘Was I too late?’ muttered Yakumo, his eyes narrowed.

– I did something unthinkable.

–

12

–

‘What happened?’ Gotou asked Yakumo, who had his arms crossed as he leant against the hospital wall.

They had heard a scream from the forest and ran over to find Yumiko collapsed there. They quickly brought her to a nearby hospital. The doctor said she would be fine if she got some rest – so they had the doctor’s word. However, Masato had disappeared instead.

Gotou felt like the situation had become more serious.

‘It’s simple.’

Yakumo lifted his head slowly.

However, he was sure tense for something that was supposed to be simple.

‘What’s simple?’

‘The ghost that was possessing Yumiko-chan possessed Masato.’

He said it matter-of-factly, but –

‘Why?’

‘Because Yumiko-chan was weakened and her body couldn’t move any more.’

– I see.

If they had done as Yakumo ordered and didn’t add Haruka and Masato to the search, leaving them in the clinic, this might not have happened.

Gotou was partly responsible. But he didn’t have the time to regret it now.

‘We need to find Masato right away.’

‘Yes.’

Yakumo ran ah and through his hair as he looked out the window.

‘So what are we going to do?’

Gotou leant against the wall and looked out the window like Yakumo as he said that.

The grey clouds blocked out the sun. It made Gotou feel uncomfortable, like it was a sign of what was to come.

‘We still have a trick up our sleeve.’

Gotou felt like Yakumo’s red left eye was filled with force.

‘What?’

Just as Gotou asked that, his mobile rang. It was from Ishii.

Gotou wanted to ignore it, but he decided that would be bad and answered.

‘What?’

Ishii spoke like he was talking to his only surviving parent.

‘Forget about that. What is it?’

His voice was so faint it sounded like he would cry at any moment.

‘It’s even worse here.’

‘Shut up! We’ve got a real situation here!’

‘How long are you going to have this fruitless exchange for? It doesn’t matter, right?’

Yakumo looked at Gotou coldly.

‘What’s the problem?’

Gotou urged Ishii to continue with a click of his tongue.

‘W-what did you say?’

Gotou’s body stiffened instinctively. That really was a problem –

Gotou had heard from Yakumo. The head of the man with red eyes that Ishii and Miyagawa had found.

Why was she so focussed on something when she should be escaping – Gotou had no way to understand.

‘Then what?’

It felt like Ishii’s voice would disappear at any moment.

‘You let her get away again!? You idiot!’ yelled Gotou, kicking the corridor wall in his anger.

Once was already bad enough, but to let her get away twice – he really was useless.

‘Gotou-san, please lend that to me.’

Right after saying that, Yakumo took Gotou’s mobile from the side. Gotou was about to complain, but Yakumo walked away down the corridor while talking on the phone with Ishii.

– Whose mobile does he think that is?

–

13

–

‘It’s my fault…’

Haruka held her head as she sat on the sofa in the hospital waiting room.

It was about four tatami in size with only a sofa for four and a magazine rack – a dreary room.

– Why couldn’t I move then?

That thought kept circling her head.

Masato tried to save Haruka. A boy in elementary school had tried to save her, but Haruka had shut her eyes and ears in her fear.

She hated herself so much for her uselessness.

If anything happened to Masato – when Haruka thought that, her body heated up and her chest felt like it would collapse.

Masato must have felt this way ever since Yumiko disappeared.

‘Want a coffee?’

Haruka looked up at the voice and saw Gotou standing there with two cans of coffee.

– How can he be so calm?

His relaxed attitude irritated Haruka for some reason.

‘Anyway, drink and calm down a bit.’

Gotou held the can of coffee out towards Haruka, sat down next to her and suddenly spoke.

‘The girl called Yumiko’s weak, but it’s not serious.’

‘I see…’

‘Her parents will be here soon too…’

Most of Gotou’s words didn’t enter Haruka’s ears.

Even if Yumiko was saved, Masato had disappeared. Nothing had changed.

‘It seems like she doesn’t remember anything from when she was possessed.’

Gotou finished talking.

He probably didn’t mean it that way, but the way he said it made it sound like the case had ended completely.

Haruka gripped the can of coffee in her hand tightly.

‘It isn’t over yet…’

It slipped out of her mouth.

Gotou’s brows furrowed and he looked at Haruka doubtfully. She didn’t understand why he looked like that.

‘I know how you feel, but regretting what’s happened won’t start anything.’

Gotou pulled open the tab on the can and poured the coffee down his throat.

‘It’s my fault. Of course I regret it.’

‘There’s nothing you could’ve done.’

‘There was!’

She spoke more loudly than she thought she would.

However, Gotou didn’t look disturbed. He looked straight at Haruka.

It was a sharp and forceful gaze.

‘There’s nothing you could’ve down.’

‘How can you say that so lightly? If I had done what Yakumo-kun said, this wouldn’t have…’

Even as Haruka spoke, she could feel her throat tremble.

‘You can’t be sure.’

‘It’s a fact.’

‘Got nothing to do with it.’

‘That’s right. This case doesn’t have anything to do with you, Gotou-san.’

– What on earth am I saying?

Throwing a tantrum wouldn’t change anything. Haruka knew that. But she couldn’t put a stopper on her emotions.

The corners of her eyes felt warm.

‘That’s right. This case doesn’t matter to me at all.’

‘That’s awful…’

While being surprised by the unexpected words that had come out of Gotou’s mouth, a ripple of disappointment spread through her chest.

Gotou really had just been wrapped up in this case against his will this time, but Haruka had thought he had wanted to help. But –

‘To say it outright, I don’t care about the truth of the case at all. It’ll be enough for me if Masato comes back safely.’

Even though Gotou looked like he felt awkward, he said it clearly.

I –

‘Am I wrong?’

Haruka shook her head at the question.

Then, the tears that had welled up in her eyes came spilling down her cheeks.

‘Then lift your head. We don’t have the time to regret what’s happened.’

Haruka nodded at Gotou’s words, sniffled and lifted her head.

‘So you say some good things sometimes.’

Yakumo had come up to them unnoticed.

Though he was running a hand through his hair and seemed annoyed, his red left eye was unusually sharp.

‘Yakumo-kun, I – ’

Yakumo looked straight at Haruka and snorted.

‘If you want to blame anyone, blame me.’

‘Eh?’

‘No matter what you said, I shouldn’t have added Masato to the search.’

‘That’s…’

‘There’ll be no end to it if we talk about things we should have done then. The past is past.’

– That’s right.

‘Then we’ll work for the best outcome now. That’s the best and only method for us now,’ declared Yakumo. Then, he handed a mobile phone to Gotou.

Both Yakumo and Gotou were already thinking about what to do next, but Haruka had been stuck there, looking behind her.

When she thought about that, she felt so embarrassed she thought her face would light on fire.

– We have to go forward.

‘Well, we’re all on the same page now. Time to go search.’

Gotou stood up after finishing his can of coffee.

‘Do you have any idea as to where he went?’ asked Haruka, wiping away her tears.

‘Of course not,’ replied Gotou in a proud town, hand at his waist.

Going w