Notes and potential trigger warnings will be at the bottom of each chapter.
Indagation: the act of investigating or researching.
You know, I'm sure there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for this.
Oh god, how can my own words give me déjà vu? That is, if déjà was for thinking or saying the same thing, instead of seeing anyways. Déjà pensé, or déjà dit, perhaps.
While maybe, maybe, I can just about accept that my mind has been implanted into some other girl's head from across the globe, I absolutely can't accept this. Mind swapping with an anime character?
Yeah, I dont think so.
I'm sure Mai Taniyama isn't that uncommon a name to have in the Japanese populace. I mean, there must be other Mai's out there with bobbed hair, no parents or siblings, lives by themselves, and is still in school. It's just a coincidence. A mere coincidence.
I flip the laptop screen up.
My fingers flit across the keys until the words Mai Taniyama have filled the search bar and press enter.
Facebook links fill the page, a few other social media accounts also popping up. To most people, I'm sure this would be completely normal. Type in someone's name, Facebook pages pop up. That tends to happen when you Google a random person.
Mai Taniyama however, is not a normal person.
Mai Taniyama is a fictional character in an anime.
It would be an understatment to say I'm confused by the lack of 'Ghost Hunt' related links.
But hey, maybe Mai changed her search preferences so anime and manga related searches are put towards the end of a page. However, clicking on the final page of my search just comes up with more random Facebook links.
I add the words Ghost Hunt after Mai's name in the Google search bar in the hopes that something will show up.
A few links to 'Haunted Happenings' crop up, mixed in with a few more social media pages. Nothing for the anime.
Deleting the previous search, I type something else.
Ghost hunt anime.
My eyes fix to the screen.
Ghost Stories. Ghost Hound. Ghost in the Shell.
Yet again, no Ghost Hunt.
This is absolutely not happening right now. Ghost Hunt cant just... not exist.
My heart and mind in a frenzy, I search for the author and creator, Fuyumi Ono. I breathe a sigh of relief when she at least exists then click on her Wikipedia page.
Fuyumi Ono is a Japanese novelist best known for writing The Twelve Kingdoms, which was adapted into a popular anime series. She is married to Yukito Ayatsuji, the author of the horror novel 'Another'.
Awesome. Definitely the Fuyumi I want. I scroll down until I reach the 'Works' section and expand the list.
Of course, only to be disappointed.
First, Mai Taniyama nor Ghost Hunt seem to exist on the internet, and now it seems that Fuyumi Ono, the author of the entire series, never actaully wrote it in the first place?!
That definitely cannot be right.
Staring at the screen, I contemplate what I should research to destroy the idea that I now the protaganist in an anime. After all, just because I cant find anything about Ghost Hunt online doesnt suddenly mean I'm in the anime. There are plenty of other explanations that are less far fetched than mind swapping with a character from a television programme.
There is however, something that I am positive will only exist in the universe of Ghost Hunt.
Shibuya Psychic Research.
Or the Society of Psychic Research or whatever. If I am indeed still in the normal world, which I must be, then the results od my search should just be a wiki page on Ghost Hunt, or something related. Or maybe it will just come up with nothing since this laptop doesnt seem to like the anime all that much.
And of course if I was in the world of the anime, hypothetically speaking, links towards the company would pop up.
I take a deep breath before typing and another before pressing the enter key.
Fuck's sake.
The very very first thing that comes up is a Google Maps image for a building located in Shibuya. Of course, for a company called Shibuya Psychic Research.
"This can't be happening!" I half yell half moan before burying my face into the cushions of the sofa.
Dear God,
What did I do to deserve this? Why oh why did you have to pick me, out of all the people in this world, to be a part if some real life isekai novel?
Sincerely,
Rebecca Q
An Atheist, But Now I'm Not So Sure
Raising my head, I stare at the Google Maps image. Shibuya Psychic Research, huh? I wonder if Mai has already started work with Naru, or if they have yet to meet. I suppose it doesn't matter too much, since getting back to my original world and home is the top priority.
I don't even bother to search for genuine isekai cases, I was lucky enough to find an actual experiment on telepathy and mind swapping let alone changing universes.
Speaking of the mind swap study, is it possible that the author might have some kind of knowledge or and idea about my situation? Their article was quite out there compared to the average scientific study. It's not exactly far fetched to say he may have researched alternate universes as well.
The main issue is behind the identity of said scientist. I wasn't able to find any information at all on a Dr. Dark, and even that article I read earlier seems to have disappeared from the internet. It's almost as if they don't want to be found, at least not by common members of the public. I mean, I did manage to read that thesis on the telepathy experiment, however the moment I navigated away from the page I couldnt acutally access it again.
Was it actually supposed to be on a private domain or some kind of secret server and I accidently saw it by mistake? Did someone realise that I had accessed the website and then block me from seeing it again? I feel like that would be too much of a coincidence, but who knows.
Either way, this 'Dr. Dark' might be my one lead to getting the hell out of here. Finding out how to get in contact with them is going to be a pain though if there isn't any information online. I don't recall any names of subjects being written in the experiment report either. Maybe I could get in contact with some scientific research organisations or institutions and see if they know of a Dr. Dark?
My fingers hover over the keys, about to type something along the lines of 'famous scientific institutions' when a thought stops me. Or more precisely, the current page of the laptop screen stops me.
Shibuya Psychic Research.
A branch of BSPR, the British Society of Psychic Research.
Surely in this world, where the main story revolves around Naru and SPR, BSPR must be one of, if not the most, famous research institution.
Yes, while Naru may be a psychic researcher, he is first and foremost a scientist. Plus, telepathy isn't exactly the norm for a study conducted in a regular scientific research centre. A psychic research centre based around science and facts however...
It's perfect.
Mysterious scientists definitely fits the organistion's MO, since Naru is actually the esteemed Oliver Davis whose identity remains a secret, except to a select few. That means if someone knows who Dr. Dark is...
It would be Naru. Or someone else high up in BSPR.
This is of course all entirely speculation. I could be completely wrong and this Dr. Dark person is some American living the high life at the CDC. Or a government official. Again, who knows.
But it's worth a shot.
First, I need a phone. I contemplate looking for a mobile, but Mai has a home phone literally 3 feet away from the sofa so I grab that instead.
I glance at the laptop screen.
The number for SPR is right there, glowing in front of me. If numbers were humans, I would say they were taunting me.
Slowly, I take a deep breath.
Fuck. I'm actually doing this, aren't I. I'm about to call the workplace of an anime character - no, two anime characters - that shouldn't exist.
My fingers type the digits onto the phone, a low pitched buzz sounding every time I press a button. The dial tone sounds as I hold the phone to my ear.
After the second ring, I start to fidget. What if they don't pick up? Do I try again? Oh God, what if they do pick up? What do I even start with? Who will actually answer the phone? Lin or Naru? I should've practised what I was going to say first. It's not too late I can just hang up and practise my words. Yeah. I can just do that. Practise makes perfect right?
The phone clicks.
"O denwa arigatou gozaimasu. Watakushi Shibuya Saikkiku Risaachi no Shibuya Kazuya de gozaimasu."
My mouth goes dry. Yet again, how did I forget that I was in Japan and that the people here speak Japanese. God I'm such an idiot. I give my brain a few seconds to try and work out what was said.
Thank you for something, probably calling based on the context, and then he said 'Shibuya Psychic Research' but in that heavy Japanese pronunciation, and then the speaker's name.
Shibuya Kazuya.
Who speaks English.
"Sumimasen, eigo o hanasemasuka?"
Excuse me, do you speak English?
Or at least, I hope that's what I said. There's a brief moment of silence before he speaks again.
"Why English? Who are you?"
In the next few seconds, I panic a little. The words are straight to the point and a little accusatory so I can't help the nervousness, not really.
"Is this Oliver speaking?"
The line becomes quiet and my mind empties. Of all the things I could've said, I chose that? Jesus wept.
"I'll ask one more time. Who is this?"
Bloody hell Bex, this is supposed to be a secret and you just go blurting it out to him in a moment of panic? Stress is going to be the death of me.
"You probably don't remember me, I work with your father in England though with BSPR. I just had a question that I wanted to ask you specifically if you don't mind."
There's a sound similar to breathing and some whispering in the background but it quickly disappears.
"What kind of question?"
Deep breaths, deep breaths. Here goes nothing. "I was wondering if you knew anything of a Dr. Dark? I recently read an article of their's regarding a telepathy experiment and it was absolutely fascinating, I just wanted to ask them a few questions perhaps?"
My fingers drum nervously on my thighs as I await an answer. God this guy likes to keep people in suspense.
"And why," He drawls it out, his words almost flippant. "Are you asking me?"
"Well I-"
"You must be assuming that this Dr. Dark works for BSPR, yes?
"I mean, I thought there could be a possibility. Given the nature of the study I read about." This phone call is making me tense and he's not even in the room with me. I'm not so sure I ever want to meet this man face to face. He gives me the shivers.
"Then pray tell, why not ask my father instead of his younger, inexperienced son?"
Huh. You know, that might have been a better idea. Call the actual head of the company first, instead of the son who has moved to Japan and only lived what, 16 years?
Oh God, he's sixteen. I'm being intimidated by a sixteen year old. Granted, that's only one year younger than me, but still.
"Well?"
I blink. "Oh sorry, I was distracted." Play it cool. " I did ask him once the other week but he claimed to not know anything. He's been fairly busy these days and he can be quite secretive, which is why of course I've turned to you."
To be honest, I thought I did quite well with that answer, pretty chuffed with it. At least until I hear some kind of condescending hum.
"You know, if there's one thing I hate most in the world, it's liars."
And then I'm left alone in on the sofa with only the grating sound of a disconnected phone to keep me company.
Possible trigger warnings: none.
If I have missed any potential triggers, please PM me.
Isekai: A subgenre of Jaoanese novels, manga, and anime where the main character is transported or reincarnated in a different world. Literally means 'different world'.
Please dont kill me!
Yo so yes this is a LITTLLLEEE late, but I have had a grade 8 piano exam to prepare for and take (I passed whoop! Offically have the highest grade :D ), I'm planning and preparing for a two month long holiday to Japan by myself (I'll get to see Shibuya for real, get ready for some fan descriptions in the future) and I also have an interview coming up to study something at a university (which hopefully I will pass).
So I've been a tad busy sure, and I probably will become busy in the future too, but I don't want to forget about Peregrination. Sometimes the chapters come to me sometimes they don't. I have the overarching plan but it's the little detaila and sentences that sometimes just don't want to play ball, as I'm sure a lot of writers will understand. I mean I was stuck on 400 or so words for the past month and literally I wrote the rest yesterday and today.
Peace out my dudes and hope you enjoy :) Any comments would be greatly appreciated, seeing any compliments no matter how small really make my day and is really the only reason I like to keep writing XD That and I really want to see how this plays out.