| Mai: |
*Mrf*
Uu
Waaaa-- |
|
*Augh* |
| Mai: |
Not good--!
I can't help but think about that dream--!
|
|
Sheesh me--
Afterall... |
| Mai: |
Hauu!
Gyaa---
D-d-don't look this way!! |
| Naru: |
......Are you set the one who set the recorder last night, Mai? |
| Mai: |
Y-yeah
V-video would've been better but I didn't know how |
| Naru: |
For you, it's well done.
Some rather interesting sounds were recorded |
|
*blushes slightly* |
| Mai: |
... |
| Naru: |
What? |
| Mai: |
Eh ah... nothing. Aa!
That's right!
Hey, that shoe case!
The one that fell over!
It was warm, that thing
You said that the temperature of things moved by poltergeists go up, right?
|
| Naru: |
You remembered well |
| Mai: |
Ahahaha
Y-yeah
Huh... |
| Naru: |
We're going to set up some equipment |
| Mai: |
--What's this |
| Arrow: |
Got dragged into things
Seems ritual-like and looks fishy... |
| John: |
Where'd you want to set up the infrared camera |
| Naru: |
On that tripod there
|
| Mai: |
Hey- hey-
Hey- hey-
Hey already. What---?
Naru-cha~~n
Lord Shibuya~~
Aa
That?
What's that? |
| Naru: |
......This is a radar |
| Mai: |
You mean like on airplanes!? What're you going to use it for? |
| Naru: |
If I told you, there'd be no effect |
| Mai: |
But
I'm supposed to be your assistant... |
| Naru: |
No go
I'll tell you tomorrow so don't ask until then. |
| John: |
I'm sure Mr. Shibuya has his reasons
In any case, you should just wait until tomorrow. |
|
Grr~~
*NU*
*jumps* |
| Mai: |
Is he going to hit me?
There's no need to get that angry!
|
| Naru: |
Seal all the windows and doors to the lab room with those sheets of plywood. |
| Mai: |
O-oh my
Ohohoho |
|
*GAN GAN GAN* (sound of hammering) |
| Mai: |
Whew--
This is the last of them |
| John: |
Miss Mai, the nail's bent |
| Naru: |
Both of you, if you could sign the boards |
| Mai: |
We did that to the boards we put over the windows inside too
What's the meaning behind doing this anyways-?
...and he ignores me |
|
*pi*
|
|
*PI* |
| Naru: |
Sign here too
You can go once you're done. |
| Mai |
Eh---!? |
|
--I really wonder
Just what is he thinking
This guy--
|
|
*DON* |
| Mai: |
~~Damn him
Ever since Naru-chan came I've constantly been short on sleep... |
|
*staggers* |
| Mai: |
Grr~~ |
|
--Oh?
Aaaa!
It's his actual assistant
Oh boy-...
Talk about awkward
Afterall, I'm the one who got him hurt in the first place... |
|
*hiku* |
| Naru: |
You're here rather early, aren't you? |
| Mai: |
Of course! I couldn't stop thinking about all that stuff from yesterday
So tell me, tell me! |
|
*peko* (bows slightly) |
| Mai: |
Yikes
Crutches~~
|
| Naru: |
...Are you the type who can keep a secret |
| Mai: |
If you tell me not to tell anyone, I never tell |
| Naru: |
Wait a bit. Everyone'll be here soon. |
| Mai: |
Everyone...
You mean the shrine maiden and them?
Why? |
| Naru: |
.........
*ignore*! |
|
*turns* |
| Mai: |
Hmph
What's with him |
|
*ha* (realisation) |
| Mai: |
Eheh (laughs self-consciously)
--Are
Are you okay now? |
|
*JIRO* (glare) |
| Mai: |
Hurry up and get here, everyone...!
|
| Ayako: |
Hey-!
Just why's that kid here |
|
*hiso hiso* (whispers) |
| Mai: |
Aa--...
*whispers*
Naru told her to go back to class but
She said not until he tells her what all that in the Principal's Office was about... |
| Takigawa: |
And?
What're you going to show us today?
Wouldn't it be better to quit before embarrassing yourself again? |
| Naru: |
I just need you to act as witness to the experiment, that's all. |
| Takigawa: |
Huh? |
| Naru: |
Mai, John
Please check the papers you'd signed yesterday and make sure they haven't been tampered with |
| Mai: |
*oh my*
O-okay
|
| Mai: |
Looks good |
| John: |
Yes |
| Naru: |
How about the signatures on the door? |
| Mai: |
It's the same as yesterday |
| John: |
It's okay |
|
*ton* (tap)
*GI* (pry)
*BAKI* (breaks off the plywood sheeting)
*GI*
*BAKI*
*BAKI* |
| John & Mai: |
? |
| Mai: |
Whoa
Just what is all this?!
Is a typhoon coming or something!
......Eh |
| Mai(?): |
Where's the chair...?
|
| John: |
...Mr. Shibuya, the chair has been moved. |
| Naru: |
So it has. |
| Ayako: |
Hang on, just what is that! |
|
*katchi*
*kyururu* (rewinds video) |
| Takigawa: |
Hey Naru-chan |
| Ayako: |
Jeez, just what's going on here |
| Naru: |
...Thank you all for your assistance
|
| Naru: |
I'll be leaving within the day. |
| ??: |
You're not saying that you've solved the case, are you!? |
| Mai: |
! |
| Ayako: |
Ground sinkage? |
| Naru: |
Right
With respect to the investigation requested by the principal,
I think everything can be explained because of ground settlement. |
| Takigawa: |
Huh!
Then how do you explain this experiment and everything that happened two days ago? |
| Naru: |
That was a poltergeist. |
| Takigawa?: |
There you go
You can't exorcise spirits right?
You're just going to investigate and then leaving, aren't you. |
|
*kyurururu* (tape continues rewinding) |
| Naru: |
The way I see it, there's no need for an exorcism.
|
| Naru: |
Did you want to take a look? |
| Kuroda: |
......Just what is all this?
Hey...... |
|
*GOTO* (clatter)
|
|
*kata kata kata* (rattle rattle rattle)
*KATA* (clatter)
*ZU* (drag) |
| Mai: |
Eek |
|
*ZU ZU*
*GI*
*ZUZU...*
*GI* *GI...*
*GA*
*TAN*
*katchi* (click)
|
| Bousan: |
Just now... |
| Mai: |
Whoa~ |
| Bousan: |
That was clearly a poltergeist! If we don't exorcise it... |
| Naru: |
There's no need for that.
Yesterday, I put everyone under hypnosis telling you
That at night, this chair would move. |
|
*katan* |
| Mai: |
! In the Principal's Office... |
| Naru: |
And on top of that, put a chair here.
The windows and doors were all locked from the inside
And on top of that we sealed everything off by nailing plywood sheeting over top
Therefore, people can't enter, and if you tried to force your way in, you'd definitely be able to tell. |
| Mai: |
That's true. The sheeting would become damaged
And since John and I signed it, you couldn't just change them either
Right? |
| Naru: |
Right... |
| Mai: |
--...?
|
| Naru: |
Half the time for poltergeist phenomena, the perpetrator is human |
| Mai: |
You mean as a joke? |
| Naru: |
Idiot
It's a time of psychic ability.
Most often the person does it unconsciously
For whatever reason, the person becomes stressed
And they do it out of the unconscious wish for attention and notice.
In these cases, if you put them under hypnotic suggestion, things happen accordingly |
| Bousan: |
So, the chair moving means that a person's responsible? |
| Naru: |
Probably
At the very least, up until now, I've yet to fail using this technique |
| Mai: |
......Who...? |
|
Wants attention
Wants notice
|
|
Someone with a strong desire to show themselves off...
The shrine maiden and monk are both like that, aren't they?
But......
Most likely that's not it...... |
| Kuroda: |
...M...
Me......?
|
| Kuroda: |
You mean...
To say I did all that!? |
| Naru: |
More than anyone else, it makes sense to think that you're responsible
Right from the beginning, certain things caught my attention
For example,
You'd said that you saw ghosts from the war or of nurses here
However, any talk about this area having suffered from air raids
Or that the school had been used as a hospital--
Or whether there'd been a hospital here are all completely unfounded. |
| Kuroda: |
That...... |
| Naru: |
--In which case it's either a mistake on your part
Or possibly
|
| Naru: |
A minor, favourable lie |
| Kuroda: |
It-
It wasn't a lie! |
|
*gatcha* (ejects tape) |
| Naru: |
At first, I thought you were just playing at being sensitive to ghosts.
So when incidents that could only be explained as poltergeist activity started happening
Truth to be told, it was a bit of a problem.
The readings from the equipment suggested that there were no ghosts and that was Miss Hara's conclusion as well... so
|
| Naru: |
In that case, a person is the cause.
Usually someone in the low-teens...
There are even cases of women who are sensitive to spirits
These people do it unconsciously when under extreme stress.
Those that come under the unconscious category-- |
|
--Please
Look this way
Face
this way...-- |
| Naru: |
......So
The person perpetrating things most often ends up becoming the target of the poltergeist.
If they get hurt, people feel sorry for them
They'll be able to get attention is the unconscious reason
In normal homes, the culprit is usually among the residents
However... there are no residents here.
|
| Naru: |
So who in this group received attention because of the poltergeist?
Those under that category would be Miss Kuroda and...
Mai, that's it. |
| Mai: |
Me!? |
| Naru: |
If you compare the two, clearly the more suspicious is Miss Kuroda. |
| Kuroda: |
! |
| Mai: |
He...
He suspected me too huh
Bastard... |
|
*gabi-n* |
| Bousan: |
Hahaha
That's your boss for you... |
| Naru: |
You've been famous since around Junior High School as being highly sensitive to ghosts,
And for that you received attention from those around you.
You'd said there were evil spirits in the old school building.
However... If rather than ghosts being present in the old school building
Everything could be explained because of ground settlement and everyone found out about it...?
|
| Naru: |
Loss in authority...
In other words, you'd lose credibility.
In that case, you'd end up losing your position--
Miss Kuroda would become extremely insecure
There'd be huge pressure on her unconscious self...
And unconsciously would think |
|
There have to be ghosts there
--It's not possible that there aren't any
There should be poltergeist activity there
--It must be there. |
| Naru: |
And then... |
| Bousan: |
They make it happen unconsciously... eh |
| Mai: |
But I often seriously wish for the school to fall apart before tests and things but
Nothing happens? |
| Naru: |
...That's a problem with ability.
I suspect she's probably a latent psychic |
| Mai: |
Saikikku? |
| Naru: |
In other words someone with supernatural ability
|
| Naru: |
She herself isn't aware of it but,
Most likely, she has a certain level of PK
And I'll explain for Mai's sake, PK stands for psychokinesis or the power of thought. |
| Mai: |
You're too kind |
| Naru: |
For Miss Kuroda
It was important for evil spirits to be in the old school building
In order to continue getting attention from those around her...
For her own sake |
| Mai: |
......somehow
it's easy to understand that way of thinking
|
| Mai: |
...In truth
I think that just about anyone thinks that they want
...to be "special" |
|
Everyone wants to be someone special that others notice
It doesn't matter in what way
You want
Some special ability that others don't have
What Miss Kuroda wanted was paranormal ability
|
| Ayako: |
So that means her stress came to a peak when the ground settlement explanation came to light right?
In that case, what about my getting locked into that classroom, her being attacked
Ah, and also the loss of video? |
| Naru: |
...Shall I explain? |
|
*koku* (nods) |
| Naru: |
In the case of the shrine maiden, this was stuck in the sliding door frame,
The door then got caught on it |
| Ayako: |
...A nail!? |
| Naru: |
I figured this out pretty quickly but
Didn't see any real need to point it out |
| Ayako: |
You mean someone did this deliberately!? Who......
! You did it, didn't you!? |
|
*BIKU* (jumps)
|
| Naru: |
She probably meant it as a minor prank
Afterall, you'd told her off just beforehand as well |
| Ayako: |
Th-then what about the video malfunction!? |
| Naru: |
That wasn't paranormal interference, it was deliberate erasure |
| Ayako: |
That was also her? |
| Naru: |
When Mai arrived to the lab, she was already in there so
Most likely yes |
|
GRRRRR |
| Kuroda: |
I'm sorry... |
|
*pat*
|
| Naru: |
--That's about it. Are you satisfied with everything? |
| Ayako: |
...I suppose
But what now?
The Principal's request was "to make it possible to carry out renovations" |
| Naru: |
I intend to report the following to the Principal
There were ghosts from the war haunting the old school building
They've been exorcised so he can start construction when he pleases--
Would that be acceptable, Miss Kuroda? |
|
*nods* |
| Ayako: |
Do you think that'll take care of things? |
| Naru: |
Probably |
| Masako: |
...That leaves a lot of uncertainty however
How about telling the Principal the truth of the matter?
|
| Naru: |
I think she's been sufficiently warned
I don't see any need to force the issue any further |
|
Naru...... |
| ? |
--And?
Who's going to be the one to have taken care of the exorcism? |
| Naru: |
"Everyone helped out to do so"
I trust that would be sufficient?
Mai, this matter isn't to be mentioned to others. |
| Mai: |
I understand that. |
|
*heheh* |
| Ayako: |
...Huh
You're quite the feminist aren't you Naru
Do you have a girlfriend?
|
| Naru: |
...I don't follow the point of your question |
| Ayako: |
I think I could put up with your being younger |
| Naru: |
...You're too kind, however
Unfortunately
I'm very used to a mirror |
|
*CHOKE*
GYAHAHAHA |
| Ayako: |
What're you guys laughing about
Grrr--! |
| Naru: |
Lin, let's get started on clearing out |
| Takigawa & Mai: |
Huh? |
| Naru: |
Aren't you going to be leaving?
|
| Ayako: |
Aa, that's right
I guess this wasn't much of a case afterall |
| Bousan: |
...for all that you were pretty spooked, weren't you. |
| Ayako: |
Please! Quit the jokes. |
|
--They're... leaving
I guess it's only natural, afterall the investigation's over
There's no reason for them to stay
And there's no need to face scary things anymore
It's over
Over |
|
*hahaha* |
|
--It's over... |
| Naru: |
...Shouldn't you be getting back to class, Mai? |
| Mai: |
Hmm-?
......Um, it doesn't matter anymore today. |
| Naru: |
Don't you think you should put a little more effort into being sensible?
|
|
--What
What is with this guy! Don't you have anything else to say!?
Even if it was for a short while, I was your assistant afterall!
Shouldn't you be a bit more, well sad or... |
|
*turns*
*heart skips a beat* |
| Naru: |
If you're not going to go back to class, then you can help with cleanup |
|
*Gaku-* |
| Mai: |
Yeah- yeah-
It would come to that |
|
*TA TA TA* |
| Mai: |
Aa
Is that everything? |
| Naru: |
Yeah
You can go back to class |
| Mai: |
...okay......
|
| Mai: |
Aa
M-maybe I should see you off!
Even though it was for a short while, you were my boss afterall... |
| Aside: |
Waa
Mai's so sweet- |
| Naru: |
There's no need
Rather than that, why don't you go back to class?
If you become any more stupid than present, you're not going to be able to do anything about it. |
| Mai: |
-----
......Oh
Oh is that so!
I see!
I'll do my best to be a bit more sensible!
Good-bye then
*Iiii!* |
|
*batabatabata...* (Mai's footsteps)
|
|
I feel like such an idiot
Being the only one to feel sad about things
Enough! That's the last I'll think of you
I'll completely and utterly forget all about you!
......I wonder if they've all gone home now......
Come to think of it, I didn't say good-bye to all the others properly
Despite everything, it was actually quite fun
|
|
I wonder if we'll ever be able to meet again... |
|
*chika* (glint) |
|
......Did that window
Waver just now......? |
|
*gata* |
| Teacher: |
Hey Taniyama!
What do you think-- |
|
*GA*
|
|
|
| Girl: |
No way-- |
|
*zun--* (dust settles)
|
| Crowd: |
Whoa- |
| Guy: |
Wow-! |
| Student: |
No way, you're kidding right? |
| Student: |
Did you see that, just now? |
| Student: |
What're they going to do about that? |
|
*Ta* (runs out the door) |
| Teacher: |
Return to your classrooms! |
|
*ZAWA ZAWA* (crowd noise)
|
|
*ZA*
*Huh*... (sighs)
|
| Student: |
--Did you know?
About Miss Kuroda... |
| Student: |
Aa, you mean about the ghosts in the old school building?
I heard, I heard |
| Student: |
Apparently that's supposed to have been true
You remember the old school building suddenly collapsing recently?
That's... |
| Student: |
Eh-- you're kidding |
| Student: |
Seriously, seriously!
But then-... |
| Student: |
That's incredible- |
| Student: |
--apparently
Somehow-- |
| Student: |
The Principal--
|
|
*ka---n
ka---n
dodododo* |
| Girl: |
--Aaaahhh
I wonder what Shibuya's doing right now.
Mai, why didn't you ask him for his address and phone number
It's not listed in the phone book either-
Right-- |
|
I also tried hunting down that information
I even asked directory assistance but |
| Operator: |
If you don't know the address, we have no way to look it up for you |
| Mai: |
I see |
| Girl: |
The Principal should know how to contact him
Let's ask him- |
| Mai: |
You do that |
| Girl: |
Eh---!
You should ask Mai. Afterall you were his assistant for a while! |
| Mai: |
Hey!
Jeez you're persistant!
I don't want to think about that guy! |
|
When I remember, there's a pool of regret
|
|
Being unable to ask anything and saying good-bye so fast
Granted, I'm the one who got annoyed and all but
That's all the more reason why I can't take it all back~~~! |
| Intercom: |
*static*
Miss Taniyama of Class 1-F
Miss Taniyama of Class 1-F, please report immediately to the office.
|
| Mai: |
Umm--
I'm Taniyama |
| Secretary: |
There's a phone call for you |
| Mai: |
Ah
Thanks
Hello? |
|
I wonder who it is |
| Receiver: |
---
Mai?
|
|
--This
This... voice... |
| Naru: |
...Mai? |
| Mai: |
Y
Yes!
Yes, it's me! |
| Naru: |
You don't need to yell, I can hear you. |
|
*gaba* (grips the phone) |
|
Afterall......!
This arrogant voice and manner of speech |
| Mai: |
Wh-
What's wrong?
Phoning like this |
|
It's Naru... |
| Naru: |
Pay |
| Mai: |
--Huh?
|
| Naru: |
Your salary for helping out
If you don't want it, that's fine but |
|
Something work related!!
Th- this guy... |
|
Grrr-- |
| Mai: |
I didn't expect to be able to get paid for that
But if you're going to pay, I'll take it!
Oh yeah! |
| Naru: |
You wouldn't happen to know your bank account number |
|
*tap tap* |
| Mai: |
As if I would; I'm at school right now |
| Naru: |
In that case, I'll mail it, so I'll need your address |
| Mai: |
Yeah yeah
Alright, it's--- |
|
Aw jeez
Getting me all excited like that
There're things like "I need to see you; I've got a cheque for you" or such-
You could've just said that
Sheesh-
Just me (getting all excited), I feel like such an idiot |
| Naru: |
--So, I'll send that out to you within the week
......one more thing
Does your school disallow holding part-time jobs? |
| Mai: |
No |
| Naru: |
--I see
|
| Naru: |
In that case, how'd you like to work part-time in our office? |
| Mai: |
Yeah--
Sure su......
!? |
| Naru: |
It's an office, but we don't have enough people
The person who was working here before just quit |
| Mai: |
I- I'll take it!
I'll take it!!
I'll take it!! |
|
You're kidding--
You're kidding-- |
| Naru: |
In that case, if you could come down here sometime
We're located at... |
|
*GARA* |
| Mai: |
So-
Something to write with!
Could I have something to write with please! |
| Pad: |
Shibuya Ward; Dogensaka |
| Naru: |
Whenever you have time is fine |
| Mai: |
U-um
The day after tomorrow then! Saturday! |
|
In truth, right now would be fine~~~ |
| Naru: |
Alright.
Anytime that's convenient for you will be fine.
......Oh, and one other thing
|
| Naru: |
You were a lot of help
Thank you |
|
Naru...... |
| Naru: |
So, Saturday then. |
| Mai: |
--Yeah
I'll see you again, Saturday!
|
| Author's Note: |
I hope you enjoyed "Akuryou ga Ippai!?" (Lots of Evil Spirits!?). In truth, I'm a big fan of the novel. And so I really enjoyed drawing the story.
I think it'd be great if that enjoyment can be felt by everyone who reads this book too so I'll do my best.!! (Aa, but it's a work of horror so I also have to try and make it scary too!)
I hope you'll continue reading the next volume too
Inada Shiho
Thank you!!
R. Akechi, T. Watanabe, A. Sakamoto, M. Satoh, I. Zushi, F. Ono and you.
|
| Note: |
Regarding the KC version of Ghost Hunt
I'm really happy to see the characters I'd written in my novel match so closely with the ones Ms Inada has drawn in "Ghost Hunt".
My own image of the characters and the stories are already written in the novels and I think that the manga-ka's work is to portray their own concepts and images of things and not to draw pictures in place of the author, so it really is a pleasure to have it match so closely.
I'm really looking forward to seeing the manga version of the "Akuryou Series" and hope the readers of "Nakayoshi" will enjoy things with me.
1998.05 Ono Fuyumi |
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