Matsuura is the girl who lost her cat that the PK Academy Psychikers went to look for. The three of them originally went to look for the cat because Toritsuka wanted to get Matsuura to go out with him. She is mentioned here as Matsuura Ayami.
Chapter 49 - Seance
Yumehara felt a strange sort of unease and excitement.
They were gathered in one of the temple's larger absolution buildings. It was a single room building, located in an area of the temple that was not frequented by visitors and monks.
The bosatu galleries and the prayer rooms were bigger, but for obvious reasons, those spaces were not considered for the occult club ritual. Toritsuka's room back in the main temple dormitories was too cramped for so many people.
They were all seated on their own cushion. The floor was the traditional tatami mat. A low level of natural lighting was being let in between the gaps of the shoji sliding door. The air was stifling due to so many bodies.
In the middle of the room was a traditional low table large enough to host everyone. In the middle of the table was a sheet of paper that looked like a hand-drawn magic circle. Above the poster were a wooden ouija board and its associated planchette. Beside the ouija board and the planchette was a silver-colored metal bowl.
Inside the metal bowl was the cursed doll that looked like a replica of Sayaka-chan, the original occult-club doll. The fat, ugly doll had its characteristic bug eyes, a tiny hole on top of its head, and was wrapped in paper charms with the word "curse" written all over it. A chain with a pointy scrying crystal hung from its mouth like the horror legend of the lying woman.
Interspersed in the ritual material was one lit candle among a dozen unlit candles. The candle provided a dim light of the objects and each other's faces.] In front of their resident fortune teller, Aiura, was a small crystal ball resting on a specially made purple cushion.
The ocult mood was definitely in the air.
Yumehara thought back to earlier in the day.
The idea seemed totally crazy. In horror movies, this was the type of deliberate 'poking the beehive' behavior that got the protagonist cursed and the rest of the protagonist's friends killed.
Toritsuka pronouncing people's guardian spirits and Aiura fortune-telling of people's compatibility were one thing. Deliberately trying to summon the dead older brother of their mutual good friend Saiki was another.
For once, Toritsuka offered a reasonable explanation of why he wanted to do something as disrespectful as summoning the spirit of Saiki's dead older brother.
"I want to bring Saiki-san closure," Toritsuka had offered. "I don't think they were on the best of terms when his older brother died." Looking almost contrite, Toritsuka added. "I've brought Saiki-san a lot of annoyance and trouble. It's the least that I can do for him."
Yumehara and Makino both looked at each other, trying to absorb and process Tortisuka's words.
Makino did not have much of an opinion. She had heard of Saiki-senpai's incredible testing performance and felt a little proud of herself for having known Saiki-senpai as someone more than just a name on the school ranking plaque. Personally, Makino was surprised, since Saiki-senpai looked like one of those boys who did the bare minimum and kept out of the limelight.
Makino's classmates, however, were deeply intrigued by the newly ranked No. 1 in school. Since Makino knew him, the students pestered her about the juicy details of the perpetually absent upperclassman. The extra attention was nice.
Still, Makino made an effort not to gossip too much. She had heard from Yumehara that something had happened to Saiki-senpai and for once, Yumehara was against spreading the rumor mill. Makino was glad for that decision. Makino did not know the seriousness of the situation.
Yumehara, however, had another reaction.
Toritsuka's behavior had mostly been lascivious for as long as Yumehara had known of him. All this altruism made Yumehara rather suspicious of the young monk-in-training's true purpose. Plus, she refused to consider that Toritsuka could be closer to Saiki than she originally figured.
"Well aren't you a 'spirit medium?'" asked Yumehara almost mockingly of Toritsuka. "Why can't you just directly talk to Saiki's older brother? Or make it up?"
Again, Toritsuka made almost too much sense. "No way. Saiki-san is a good friend. I won't make it up."
Yumehara narrowed her eyes. Toritsuka was being way too reasonable. "This isn't some whacked-out ploy to get Matsuura Ayami-chan to go out with you, is it?" Yumehara asked.
Oddly enough, Toritsuka turned to Aiura and gave her a plaintive stare. "Nope. Apparently, I'm supposed to be gay. So no more skirt-chasing. It's all pants and shorts from now on"
Yumehara's expression turned uncertain, as if not sure how she should react to this.
Was this Toritsuka 'coming out' speech?
Akechi, who was oddly silent all this time, suddenly snickered like a deranged hyena. He obviously knew some insider information. This caused Yumehara to point a finger at the blonde. "You! Talk. Five words or less!"
Yumehara had learned, from Kaidou, how to keep their overly talkative classmate from being too annoying.
Akechi, who looked like he was dressed for some sort of summer clay shoot with high society, with a button-up shirt, suspenders and all, only laughed some more. Due to the word length restriction, It took him a while to cram whatever long-winded soliloquy he had in his head into succinct words. "Toritsuka's soulmate is a guy."
Somehow, Yumehara did not find the fact funny.
Yumehara remembered that brief time when she thought Toritsuka was one of those 'special guys' who could've boyfriend material.
To be honest, Toritsuka was a relatively handsome young man, with that rare lavender-colored hair and similarly-colored eyes. His face was clear and his eyes finely shaped. He was also taller than most of their classmates so he fit that stereotypically desirable 'taller-than-her' boyfriend criteria. But that could be due to how the geta functioned like platform shoes, giving him additional height. However, his personality, as far Yumehara as remembered, was a total turnoff.
This Toritsuka didn't seem like a bad person, underneath his usual selfish exterior.
In fact, trying to communicate with the dead to bring closure and peace to the living seemed like the thing that a responsible, self-proclaimed spirit medium should be doing.
Saiki did bring out the best of them.
"Why a seance though?" asked Yumehara. "I thought you just 'see ghosts.' Aren't they supposed to be all around us?"
Toritsuka put on one of the most serious expressions that Yumehara had ever seen on the typically hormone-driven young man. "Yes. But, Saiki-san's older brother wouldn't be a normal ghost."
"How is that?"
"Well, Saiki-san's older brother was a psychic."
Yumehara tilted her head back a little, her eyes wide, but obviously not buying whatever nonsense Toritsuka was spouting.
Religious types were a funny lot.
Looking around to Aiura and Akechi, Yumehara noticed that both have that fake smile plastered on their faces, like they were too polite to ask Toritsuka whether he had a few screws loose in his head.
"So how come you think a seance will work?" asked Yumehara.
This time, it was Akechi who smartly pipped up. "Powers that are too similar to each other either voids the ability or create unexpected effects. Since Psychic powers are parapsychology, in similar vein as Aiura-san and Toritsuka-kun, we need something different. The occult is the obvious alternative."
Okay. Maybe Toritsuka was not the only person who was slightly insane.
"And how did you figure that out, genius?" asked Yumehara, trying to sound sarcastic only to realize later that it was probably a fairly accurate statement.
Akechi, of course, was shameless with diving into the details. "The Occult Club's meeting room was in the Audio Visual Room, so it'd been easy to make the videos and watch them. I've seen recordings that suggest that occult power exists in a separate plane than psychic powers."
Yumehara did recall dusting off the unused AV equipment and making videos. She even posted some of them online, trying to get more people to join the Occult Club. It didn't work at getting hot and handsome guys, or getting Kaidou interested in attending the club, but it was the thought that counted.
"So you want to summon Saiki-kun's older brother, who is a psychic, and ask him for some last parting words to Saiki-kun," summarized Yumehara. "Then you'll relay those words to Saiki-kun, bring him closure, so Saiki-kun could move on. Maybe even cheer him up."
"Pretty much," admitted Toritsuka. "I mean, Saiki-san just looked...lost, you know? Like he doesn't know how to react to all of this." He peered at Yumehara gingerly. "You don't think this is crazy, do you?"
On the contrary, Yumehara's eyes were liquidy and full of determination. "No. If this will cheer him up, then, we'll make Saiki-kun's older brother show up, even if it kills us!"
Toritsuka laughed nervously at that declaration. "Yeah...that just might happen."
Yumehara conveniently ignored that remark. Happily encouraged by her mental image of a grateful Saiki. Kaidou would be so proud of her too, since Kaidou and Saiki were close friends. Yumehara further asked. "You got a name? Names are very important in the seances."
"It's...Saiki Kuusuke," said Torituska, still looking nervous.
"We'll have to keep that close to our thoughts," said Yumehara, like a true occultist. "A direct name might be too overwhelming."
Anyways, back to the dark occult setup they all found themselves in.
The star of the seance was Makino Arisu, who procured most of the occult relics. The piece of poster paper with the drawn magic circle, the ouija board and planchette, and the cursed doll Sayaka-chan were hers.
It seemed that Toritsuka had contacted the occult girl a couple of days before, ask her to bring some of the occult-y stuff.
The atmosphere inside the absolution building was now tense.
Makino was completely in her element. For effect, the second-year girl allowed her hair to fall loose on her face. She just needed to drape white bedsheets on her body and she would've been the perfect ghost girl of folklore.
Currently, Makino was muttering a bunch of nonsense.
"Ehaz. Mora. Suri. Jibaba," Makino intoned mysteriously, completely absorbed in the jibberish 'spells.'
Aiura's expression still exuded the full confidence of a woman, but bits of uncertainty oozed through.
In order not to disturb the ceremony with needless narrative, Akechi voluntarily taped his mouth shut with some skin-colored sports tape. His beady black eyes shone ghoulishly as he fully observed the scene like he was fighting an epic battle on an online game. In the low light, Akechi just looked like he didn't have a mouth.
Truly the stuff of nightmares.
"First, we must burn something that belonged to the deceased," said Makino in a suddenly raspy voice. Her faceless head turned to Toritsuka. "Do you have it?"
Toritsuka nodded. From a place behind him, he pulled a long-sleeved white collared shirt. "Do you need the whole thing?"
"No. A small piece would do. Somewhere close to the heart."
Also from the mystery space from behind him,Toritsuka pulled a pair of scissors and began to cut out a piece from the buttoned breast area.
Aiura, who had been mysteriously silent, had to ask, "Err...where did you get that?"
"I've spent a week with him," said Toritsuka. "I certainly don't own collared shirts."
Yumehara heard that and her 6th sense for gossip sprung into action. "Really? Why were you there? What did he look like?"
"Hold on, I need to focus on..." was all Toritsuka said before he yipped from accidentally cutting himself. "Ouch! Damn it!"
It appeared that Toritsuka was not good at talking and wielding a tool at the same time.
Blood was coming out of the fleshy cut in the finger. Torituska immediately started looking for something to wipe the finger clean of blood before being interrupted by Makino.
"Wait, Toritsuka-senpai. Wipe the blood on the piece of cloth that you're cutting out. A blood offering will increase the effectiveness of the spell." Makino, for effect, stood up. "We all need to provide a blood offering."
The occult mood suddenly became extremely heavy.
Aiura, who had been mostly silent since they've entered the absolution room, spoke up. "No. Ari-chan, it should just be me and Toritsuka."
Since Aiura was an upperclassman, Makino offered no resistance.
Still, Yumehara insisted on providing blood, too. She and Aiura were in the same year, same class no less. Yumehara was not about to be outdone and no amount of cajoling was going to change her mind.
It seemed that Akechi came prepared to the meeting too, because he passed out the one-use medical finger prick lancets that he had squirreled away in a pocket somewhere. He even had band-aids. His words came out was muffled mumbles of nonsense behind the sports tape, but at least Yumehara thought she heard something about "hygiene."
Yumehara, Torituska, and Aiura ended up provided enough blood to stain more than half of the hand palm-sized cloth.
Makino took the now blood-spattered piece of cloth and held it above the small metal tray. She picked up the singular lit candle and held the small flame below the cloth.
The cloth immediately ignited as if it was doused in gasoline, completely burning into cinders within seconds, leaving wisps of curled ash in the metal tray.
There was a collective "whoa" in the room as they stared at the silver tray. Even Makino briefly pulled her hair to the side, eyes wide too.
Continuing with the ritual, Makino painstakingly tapped some of the ash into the small hole on top of Sayaka-chan's head, taking care not to spill any ash. She then carefully set the bowl in the middle of the magic circle.
"Senpais. Place your hand on the silver bowl," instructed Makino. Then she quickly added. "Not you Akechi-senpai. You cannot talk and you did not provide an offering of sweet red juice."
Akechi made a muffled "aww" noise behind the sports tape.
Makino then stood up as she held the cursed doll Sayaka-chan with its scrying chain and crystal above the ouija board. "The dead cannot communicate directly with the living, so we'll need Sayaka-chan's help. Senpais, place your other hand on Sayaka-chan as we channel Saiki-senpai's spirit through your sacrifice."
It became a bit like the game of Twister, but somehow, everyone, except Akechi and Makino, was able to get a hand on the silver bowl and the cursed doll Sayaka-chan.
Once Makino was able to determine that everyone was touching the appropriate objects, she uttered some more spells, as if to set the mood, before commanding. "Senpais. Ask a question."
Yumehara, being far more comfortable with the occult than Toritsuka and Aiura, offered the first question. "Saiki-kun's older brother, if you're here, can you show us a sign?"
Upon the prompt, the dozen or so unlit candles lit, immediately brightening the room.
Everyone shifted backward a little, startled. Their eyes were wide as they blinked and rubbed their eyes, then looked at each other.
Aiura and Toritsuka looked nervous.
Akechi only observed with unblinking beady black eyes.
As for Makino, she stood stock still as she searched the cursed doll Sayaka-chan for any movement of its scrying crystal.
Yumehara, however, seemed excited.
The temple monks must have some great self-lighting candles.
Because everyone knew that the occult was simply just a make-believe fantasy.
"So he's here," remarked Makino, her voice vibrated a little. Keeping her focus on the doll, she inclined her head toward Toritsuka and Aiura and said, "Your turn, Senpais. Ask a question."
Both psychics tried to speak at the same time.
"You go first," offered Toritsuka in a whisper, trying not to break the ambiance.
"No. You go first," whispered Aiura back.
There were several exchanges of 'who should go next.' Both of them were clearly uncomfortable with what was happening.
Wimps.
Brave Yumehara came to the rescue.
"I'll ask another question, then." And before Yumehara could be interrupted, she asked. "Why are you here?"
There was a laugh.
The pitch was notably bubbly, like a child's light, delighted giggle, yet restrained.
The sound seemed to echo endlessly in their small room before fading.
Everyone looked at each other, clearly confused but excited, if not somewhat spooked by the development.
"Akechi-senpai, quit making that sound," whispered Makino.
Akechi pointed at his taped-shut mouth and mumbled a bunch of words from his throat. His beady eyes were wide and his eyebrow furrowed, looking slightly offended that someone would suggest such a thing.
"So he's still here for something fun?" guessed Yumehara, intrigued by the development.
"God, I hope not," mumbled Toritsuka, clearly uncomfortable. The brightness of the room, illuminated by candlelight, revealed a sheen of sweat.
Yumehara narrowed her eyes at Torituska. "Hey. This was your idea, wasn't it? Are you chickening out?" she challenged.
"No," Toritsuka defended. "It's just...Saiki-san's older brother was kinda scary in life."
"Well, Kaidou-kun said that he was kinda childish," said Yumehara almost haughtily. Seriously, Toritsuka had a reputation for being weak. Then to Akechi, Yumehara said, "Great sound effect, though, Akechi-kun."
Akechi made a questioning "hum?" noise.
"Focus," said Aiura. "I'll ask a question." She looked determinedly at the small crystal ball that was carefully placed on a purple cushion in front of her. Taking a deep break, "Kusuo-kun's older brother, where are you?"
The crystal ball's inner structure immediately cracked.
And in front of everyone's eyes, the scrying crystal that dangled at the end of a chain from the cursed doll Sayaka-chan's mouth began to move slowly, but surely, pointing to the roman letters on the ouija board.
S
H
I
?
Everyone looked at each other and blinked, not sure if they really just saw what they've just seen. What did "Shi?" mean?
Suddenly, Yumehara rubbed her arms. "Um...does anyone else feel cold?"
At the breaking of the touch with Sayaka-chan and the silver bowl, Makino suddenly shouted. "Yumehara-senpai! No! You can't let go!"
Before their eyes, Yumehara's head suddenly slumped forward as if struck from behind.
"Yumehara senpai?" asked Makino.
It was a painful five seconds before Yumehara responded and sat back up.
When Yumehara's eyes opened, her normally amber-colored eyes glowed a curious, smoldering gold.
