Edited
Tokyo, Shibuya.
Standing by the office window, Mai stopped moving the rag in her hand.
The trees lining the road outside the window are Sakura trees. White flowers have started to bloom like stars in the sky.
"It's so fast~" Mai couldn't help mumbling to herself.
Behind her, someone spoke, "What's fast?"
It was Mai's colleague. A dignified picture in a white blouse and white Chinese-styled wool sweater, Yuuko rolled up her sleeves, took a mop and mopped the floor.
"It's been a year. It's almost been a year since I've started working here."
"Oh~"
Takahashi Yuuko, Taka in short, had recently became a senior in a certain metropolitan girl's high school. As had Mai, in a certain metropolitan private high school that spring. Her experience in her past life aiding her in getting ahead in her studies.
"You really lasted a year – in a strange part time job like this."
"Looks like it."
Mai smiled a little nostalgically. 'It must be time soon.' She had been quite tired looking lately. Mostly due to the constant dreams and flashes she'd been having for the last month.
Yuuko laughed mischievously.
"Has there been a little progress within this year?"
"What?"
"Personal relations."
Mai blushed. Her and Oliver had gotten very close since the last case. Everything was so different from her last life.
"Taka-san, that's not really anyone's business but our own."
"Is that so? I think my memory has been getting poorer."
"Hm. Did you get dementia already?"
"Don't say it like that."
"But I have to."
On Mai's reply, Yuuko replaced the mop and placed her hands on her hips with a tough attitude.
"Taking the words of your elder lightly would cause you to get into trouble," she announced.
Then she ran to Mai's side and leaned out of the window that was open for cleaning.
"Mai loves Naru!!~"
Mai burst out laughing as she looked out the window. There were a few passers-by who looked up in curiosity.
"Hey! Look what you've done!"
"Ha ha, do you respect me yet?"
"I respect you. No, this subject is no match for the upcoming King."
"How rude to call a lady that. You should address me as 'Queen-sama'."
"The Queen-sama holding the mop, right?"
"How matching~"
Saying "Ah Ha", Mai laughingly raised her hands in defeat.
"Then how is it? Is there progress?"
"Lots, but a lady doesn't kiss and tell."
Yuuko pouted. "What's unbelievable is that boss is actually taken."
"There's no mystery to that. Naru's personality is terrible but he loves me and I love him."
"Saying this type of thing with such confidence, don't you feel a little sad for the rest of us singles?"
Mai smirked. "You're the one who asked."
While Mai was laughing at Yuuko's pout, somebody opened the office door. A woman of about 25 or 26 years of age who entered the office. Mai instantly looked delighted at the woman. She had been expecting her.
"Madoka!"
Mai threw down the rag with a grin and ran to hug her. Unlike in the past life, Mai had gotten to know Mori Modoka through her office work. They had become fast friends.
"Mai!" Madoka smiled and returned the hug.
"I would like to see Naru."
It hadn't taken long for Madoka to pick up on Mai's nickname for Oliver and often used it herself.
"Sure thing Madoka, go sit down and I'll bring you a cup of tea while you wait."
Mai went off to alert both Oliver and Lin about Madoka's arrival and to make the tea.
Oliver was engrossed in his latest paper for his studies when Mai knocked on his office door. He gently put it down to smile up at Mai.
"Something happen?"
"Hmmm, Madoka's here. She's got a case for us. It's one of those cases."
Oliver nodded and got up, kissing Mai gently as he passed her to leave his office.
Lin was teaching Kasai Chiaki to bend ladles in the Resource Room. Both looked up at Mai with a smile when she knocked on the door.
This spring, Kasai also smoothly ascended a grade in a certain metropolitan girls' school's junior college.
"Lin?"
"Yes, Mai?"
"Madoka's in the waiting room. She's brought us one of those cases."
An expression of mild shock crossed Lin's face. Lin stood up abruptly. Ignoring Mai's knowing smirk with a faint blush covering his cheeks, he raced into the waiting room.
...
"… Who is that?" Kasai asked softly.
"… don't know. I even thought she is Lin-san's lover." Yuuko chattered.
"That's Mori Madoka. She's Naru's ghost hunting teacher."
The three girls were gathered in the kitchen, talking quietly while Mai made them all cups of tea.
Madoka sat lounging on the sofa talking with Oliver and Lin when Mai came out with the tea. Madoka's face turned serious once Mai sat down after serving everyone.
"Do excuse me for coming without warning. How have you been?"
"Yeah. Mai said you had a case for us?"
The four of them turned serious then as they discussed the upcoming case.
...
On the second day, Mai rushed to the office after the first term opening ceremony for Mai's 3rd year. She'd managed to skip up a year again at the end of last term by passing the exams for the 2nd year students.
She was already debating whether to test out of the 3rd year ahead of time. 'Maybe while Naru is back in England settling Gene's burial.' It would give her something to focus on, while her boyfriend was away.
The office was already filled with people.
"Hey everyone." Mai called out as she put away her things and made drinks for everyone.
On the sofa used for guests sat 4 people who were not guests: Takigawa, Ayako, Masako and John.
"Yo." Takigawa raised his hand in greeting.
"What is going on?"
"Oh, we have a case. Naru will go through it soon."
Mai responded placing the drinks on the coffee table in front of everyone. There were two extra cuos placed on the table other than Oliver's and Lin's cups.
"Really? Just as well I cancelled all my prior engagements before coming. Naru told me nothing on the phone."
"But he actually gathered everyone here - what type of situation could it be?" Ayako asked.
Then Masako started laughing softly.
"What is it?"
Ayako used her sharp voice to ask in response.
Masako used the cherry-blossom colored sleeve of her kimono to hide her mouth.
"… then, that is saying there was no adult contacting everyone."
"Contact? What about?"
"Contact from the client in this situation. And when so many psychic users are clearly gathered."
"And this so-called 'client' is?" Ayako asked sharply.
"For me it was a person called Ohashi who contacted me."
Saying that, a mocking smile appeared on Masako's doll-like face.
Mai rolled her eyes at Masako's pathetic attempt to one up Ayako to make herself sound important.
Ayako's face was filled with fury. Just as she was about to speak with displeasure, the door to Oliver's office opened, and the verbal war did not have the chance to start.
Following Oliver out of the office door was Lin's tall form and Madoka's gentle figure. Trailing behind them was Yasuhara.
"… eh?" John and Ayako said simultaneously.
"Young man?!" Takigawa stood up.
"Hey Yasu!" Mai called out.
Yasuhara had entered a certain first class public university that spring.
Regarding everyone other than Mai, who stood there with their jaws hanging open, Oliver looked like he found them noisy. He kissed Mai's cheek then waved his hands and called for everyone to sit on the sofa.
Following Oliver's instructions, they sat. Mai sat next to Oliver. Then everyone asked the question that they wanted to ask. Oliver, looking impatient, waved his hands once more.
"We will explain the situation in order from the beginning to everyone; could I have a bit of quiet?"
A frown had already appeared on his face. There was no use for the irregulars to continue pestering. Out of options, everyone shut their mouths; Oliver looked around at them.
"Someone has made a request to us. I have already accepted. So I hope to receive everyone's help."
Masako cut in and said, "That is… is it a request from the agent – a person called Ohashi?"
"Yes."
"He made his request to me last week."
Oliver nodded. "Then Hara-san must act independently."
"Of course, ask if there's anything I can help with." Masako said that with a coy tone, smiling. Ayako raised her brows while Mai rolled her eyes again.
Oliver only nodded, then looked around at the others once more.
"The investigation will begin in 5 days. Is there anyone here who cannot participate?"
No one replied to Oliver's words.
"I hope to receive everyone's help this time."
Oliver turned to look at Yasuhara. Upon seeing Yasuhara's gentle nod, Oliver dropped a bomb on the others.
"Yasuhara-kun, I would like to ask you to act as my substitute."
"What in the world?" Takigawa exclaimed.
"That is to say, have Yasuhara-kun play your part?"
To Ayako's abrupt outburst, Oliver shot a cold look.
"Didn't you hear what I just said?"
"Of course I heard it. But why?"
"I will explain the situation. Can't you wait a little?"
Swallowing Oliver's ice-cold words, Ayako fell silent. Then suddenly Madoka cut in.
"Wh~y do you have to use that tone of voice?"
She glared at Oliver, shocked. And then she looked around at the others.
"I'm really sorry. This child has such poor manners."
Mai snorted at Madoka's antics.
"Could everyone treat him as a person with an abnormal disposition and tolerate him please."
The irregulars looked on blankly, while Oliver looked extremely displeased and coughed once. Mai patted his shoulder in comfort and he wrapped an arm around her pulling her closer.
"… this is an extremely big job. It could even be called a job for publicity. The client has requested secrecy in its execution, but to what extent secrecy can be maintained I don't know. If the media gets wind of this I can imagine it turning into a big uproar. I did not want to accept it initially, but some events have occurred such that I had to accept. That's why I have requested Yasuhara-kun to be my substitute."
Oliver had good reasons to avoid the media.
"However, is this a situation of the level that requires Naru to orchestrate?"
To Takigawa's query, Oliver replied coolly,
"If that was not the case I would not purposely have Yasuhara-kun come here."
Oliver leant back in his seat pulling Mai along with him.
"It looks like the client has gathered many psychic users. They are practically all suspicious people widely lauded by the media. I don't want to have anything to do with that type of people."
Takigawa smiled, satisfied. "So you are forcing something you dislike onto someone else?"
"I'm not particularly forcing you all. If you don't feel like it, you may leave."
When Oliver said those cold words, once again Madoka interrupted everyone's words.
"Why don't you ask everyone nicely? You do wish for everyone to go together, right? That's why you have gathered everyone here, am I wrong? When you are asking people for something, do you use this tone to speak? I've clearly told you before – such a child that refuses to learn."
Mai giggled. "Give it up Madoka. You know Naru will never change."
The others laughed as Oliver tugged on Mai's hair in retaliation.
"I'm so sorry he is such a mal-mannered child. Could everyone please not hate him."
"Madoka!" Oliver frowned at her.
"Wha~t?"
In contrast, Madoka wore a smile that looked like heart symbols were about to come flying out.
"Could you be quiet for a while? I can't speak at all like this."
"Ah, Ok." Saying that, Madoka flashed a smile.
"If that's the case, you have to mind your tone *heart*."
Oliver glared down at Mai, who was still giggling. She smiled back in amusement.
Madoka looked around at the irregulars again.
"Naru really dislikes the publicity stage. He planned to refuse this job, but he accepted only because of my situation. Although I think it is going to trouble everyone, could everyone please help him."
When asked by someone like that, everyone should have trouble refusing. Everyone nodded, as though influenced by Madoka's smile.
Oliver knocked on the table with his fingertip unhappily.
"In conclusion, I beg to be excused from the foolish uproar like the one that happened the last time. And I don't wish to cooperate with the fools who are immeasurably self-satisfied when lauded by the foolish media."
"And then? Is Naru-chan not going to the site?" Takigawa asked.
Oliver frowned. "Even if I didn't want to go, I don't have any reason not to."
"I have a question." John asked. "What will Naru go as?"
"I will go as a simple investigator from this place."
"Then, what is the client like this time?" Ayako asked.
Using a dangerous expression, Oliver gave a name. The irregulars were instantaneously stumped. That person was a famous person. If the media found out, there really would be a huge uproar.
Regardless, it was the name of Japan's former prime minister.
...
Discussion and preparation took 3 days. On the fourth day they set of for the distant Nagano-ken to begin their investigation. The subject of the investigation was an ancient manor. Because there were spirits appearing it was abandoned for a long time.
Before entering the city they turned off towards the mountains. The cars followed the road, covered by greenery and winding according to the slope and climbed upwards. Very soon they encountered an ancient, dilapidated gate: an unwelcoming iron lattice that was red with rust.
The doorpost looked like it was made with bricks, but it appeared half rotten, covered entirely with green moss. Although there was a door, there were no walls on either side. On both sides of the door was a dense forest. It gave one a feeling of not wanting to take a single step in – a dark and frightening feeling.
When the gates were opened, the SPR van travelling in the lead entered. That vehicle was driven by Lin, with Oliver and Mai as passengers. In Takigawa's car, sat in the passenger was Ayako; John and Yasuhara were in the back.
After travelling in the dim forest for a while, they saw a majestic building.
It was huge. Really very huge.
"I hate this place."
Mai raised her head to look at the building once everyone was out of the vehicles and couldn't help muttering. She kept her senses closed apart from only a the metre or two around her. She was getting fairly good at keeping them permanently open during the day although she closed them deliberately when sleeping.
Yasuhara looked at her side ways.
"Really? It's like a hotel or a museum."
Indeed, this manor looked like an ancient hotel or a museum. Rather than calling it a big house, it might as well be called a castle. The gardens surrounding the house also looked abandoned. Even from the outside, one could tell that this house had been vacant for a long time.
Ayako looked impressed, "Really incredible. There really is everything in this world. But it is very poorly maintained. Left like this it is almost like a haunted house."
Takigawa couldn't control his laughter.
"Certainly, isn't this a haunted house?"
"Ah, it is."
"You have no idea."
Mai muttered under her breath.
Counting the number of windows, the house was basically a 2 storey structure. There were 3 levels at some places. The exceedingly steep roof was a grayish green color, and attic windows could be seen. Brick colored chimneys normally protruded from the roof, but about half of them have already been destroyed.
The windows too, kept up the appearance with cracked glass. Although all the windows were fitted with frames, only about half remained in a whole condition. The wall, which repetitively protruded and receded in a complicated shape, was made with grey stone. On that wound crisscrossing ivy; due to the season, its naked stems created a tortoise shell appearance.
The gravel pathway overgrown with weeds led straight to the building. After disembarking on a patch of withered, yellowed weeds had overgrown such that it was no different from a lawn, our feet up to the calves were buried in leaves dampened by dew.
"Mai, your first impression is?"
Looking up at the house, Takigawa asked.
"This place is one of nightmares. I'm really not looking forward to entering it again."
"Again?" Takigawa looked concerned.
Mai still hadn't explained her past life to the irregulars properly. It was enough for her that Oliver and Lin knew.
Oliver's sharp voice came from where he had walked up to the main door.
"What are you lot doing?"
Takigawa couldn't help bending his head slightly down and whispering into Mai's ear.
"With that type of attitude, do you think he can pass as just a simple investigator?"
"He'll manage." Mai quipped as she headed reluctantly to the door.
She expanded out her own aura slightly. knowing the sheet number of spirits there previously,she wanted to clear as many as she could.
After ascending the stone steps was the main door. Beyond the immense pair of doors was a ridiculously humongous hall. It looked like the electricity was connected; the hanging lamps were lit and shone brightly. At the center of the hall were fairy-tale like stairs. Two men stood at the base of the stairs. One was a man above forty, and the other was about sixty.
The SPR team walked through the main doors which had always been open, one of the men walked up to them.
The minute, Mai entered, spirits came crowding unknowingly to everyone around them other than Lin who gave her a sharp glance after being alerted by the green sparrow sitting in her hair. She offered them an escape from the nightmare of this place and they willingly took it. She grew pale as Lin watched.
"I am called Ohashi."
Saying that, the man in front of them bowed deeply.
"The boss is…"
When that was said, Yasuhara took a step forward.
"That would be me."
Ohashi did not have any suspicion and bowed towards Yasuhara.
"I have been given full responsibility over this issue. You can take me as the client."
Yasuhara also bowed gently.
"I am the boss, Shibuya Kazuya."
He said that with perfect composure, as though without any guilt on his conscience.
"So I see. You are as youthful as I've heard you to be."
Saying that, Ohashi looked towards the others.
"You all are?"
Takigawa gently lowered his head. "I am called Takigawa."
"Takigawa… the first name is?"
"Housou."
Ohashi softly repeated "Takigawa Housou" once then turned to Ayako.
"I am Matsuzaki Ayako."
"I am called John Brown."
Yasuhara spoke. "They are psychics who have deigned to work closely with us. They have specially come to help us this time."
"Is that so. And the other 3 are?"
Yasuhara lightly replied. "They are my assistants."
"And their names are?"
Oliver spoke up first. "I am called Narumi Kazuo."
Ohashi looked at Mai.
"I am Taniyama Mai."
Oliver was alerted by the sudden tiredness in Mai's voice and glanced at her as Ohashi's vision turned lastly towards Lin. As did the irregulars. They had yet to learn his full name and were curious.
Lin wore an extremely blank look and lowered his head.
"I am Lin Koujo."
Compared to Ohashi who had asked the question, the irregulars were gasping unconsciously.
"You are Chinese?"
"I have gone back to China recently."
"Were you born in Hong Kong?"
"Yes."
Ohashi looked around at them all, then gestured towards the corridor at the upper left.
"Please come this way. All the guests have already gathered."
...
Ohashi led them through many turns in the wide corridor, towards the center of the house. It was a really quaint, intricately complicated building, or perhaps a mansion as it was originally called.
Mai delicately covered her nose and mouth to block the blood smell that invaded it and shuddered. Oliver looked at her in concern but Mai waved it off. She was more concerned about the entity standing a little past her sense watching her.
The place Ohashi brought them to, was a very large room. In the center of the grandiose room was a large table with many people sitting at it, waiting.
Masako had arrived there much earlier, and sat there dressed in her usual kimono. She looked at the SPR team with a slight smile on her face.
They were apparently the last group to arrive. After Oliver, who was the last, had entered, the man standing next to the door shut it.
Ohashi had them all seated properly.
"Everyone has arrived, so I shall begin. First, let me introduce each of our guests who have come to visit us."
Ohashi initially gestured to a man seating at the extreme end.
"Mitsuhashi Houmei-sama from Sankonkai (Association of the Three Immortal Souls of Taoism)."
That man wore a face filled with suspicion and nodded in greeting towards everyone.
"Hijiri Shinobu-sama of Choumei Association, with his assistants Uehara Miki-sama and Atsugi Hideo-sama."
A group of 3 consisting of a man about 30, and a young man and woman.
"Professor Igrashi Chief of the National Defense Academy of Japan and her assistant Suzuki Naoko-sama.
A refined old lady and a young miss.
"The Abbott of Housen Temple, Imura Kenshou-sama."
"Psychic, Hara Masako-san."
"Head of Minami Psychic Research, Minami Reimei-sama. And the members Nakahara Kiyoaki-sama, Shiraishi Yukie-sama, and Fukuda Miwa-sama."
An elderly man, a younger one, a middle-aged woman and a young woman. Mai glared the one who had been introduced as Minami, much to the others confusion.
The only ones that had yet to be introduced were SPR, and a kind looking foreign gentleman.
"This person listening by the side is Professor Oliver Davis from the British Society for Psychic Research."
Everyone's vision was immediately focused, although Mai snorted quietly. Oliver nudged her gently aware of her rising amusement.
Professor Davis. A celebrity professor within the industry – a researcher in the English Society of Psychical Research, aka BSPR. He was a psychic gifted with both ESP and PK. Takigawa looked a little starstruck.
Everyone's gazes, baring Mai, Oliver, Lin and Masako, were filled with mixed respect and competitiveness, but only those who were taken aback showed it clearly on their faces.
Ohashi ignored the minor chattering and continued the introductions.
"The Head of Shibuya Psychic Research, Shibuya Kazuya-san and co. Takigawa Housou-sama, John Brown-sama, Matsuzaki Ayako-sama, Narumi Kazuo-sama, Taniyama Mai-sama, and Lin Koujo-sama."
Ohashi pointed them out individually, while correctly listing their names.
"There are twenty persons listed above."
Following that Ohashi introduced the 5 men who had appeared without the others noticing. They were the men standing by the door just now. Saying they were there to look after everyone.
Ohashi continued to speak.
"My master's wish is that everyone lives here during the course of the investigation. Of course, there is no problem if you should wish to withdraw from the investigation and leave, but prior to that could I request everyone not to enter or leave this place."
...
After taking care of the luggage, Mai, Ayako and the others went to the Dining Room. Everyone was together in the Dining Room drinking tea.
After Ayako, Masako and Mai sat down, a man asked if they would like tea. In this manner it was really like a hotel. Mai asked for a cup of coffee.
Seated at the table, Minami from Minami Psychic Research, was talking very proudly to the people around him.
"Please leave it to me. There won't be any trouble at all. Not only do we have advice from Professor Davis, in the worst scenario we can get help and advice from the American Alex Taunus – everyone knows him, right?, he's a famous psychic – and Uri Geller."
Mai laughed sarcastically.
Minami continuously bragged about how wide his connections were. Famous psychics and researchers all appeared to be his friends.
The people around him wore expressions of half-doubt.
"He's really incredible."
Mai whispered snidely to John who was seated next to her.
"Yeah. He actually knows of Professor Davis."
Mai snorted. "If you say so."
The 'Professor' sat next to Minami, smiling calmly while replying to the fragments of English spoken by the people around him.
John tilted his head. "The Professor is much older than I had imagined. … I originally thought he would be a much younger person."
The Professor is probably around 40. Mai laughed quietly. '... and you would be right.'
"Bou-san asked you to interpret yet, John?" Mai asked him.
John smiled.
"Yeah, he did."
"What did Takigawa-san say to the Professor… could I ask?"
"Admiration?"
"Sounds about right."
As they were chit chatting, Oliver spoke to Yasuhara.
"Then, boss, let's begin."
Mai covered a smirk with her hand.
"Yes."
The SPR team stood up to get to work.
...
To begin they had to move the equipment to the room which was to act as the headquarters of the investigation. There were computers, instruments of all shapes and sizes, a huge pile of surveillance equipment, etc. They put together the stands then installed the equipment while connecting the computer and monitor cables.
While they were engaged in those jobs, Ohashi appeared.
"Is the arrangement of having your rooms here alright?"
Yasuhara nodded to Ohashi in greeting.
"Yes. Thank you very much."
"The equipment is really impressive."
Ohashi looked up at the equipment on the stands with a look of awe.
"Thank you for saying so. Then, I have a question I would like to ask you, may I?"
"Ah, ask away."
"Then…" Yasuhara turned back to look at Oliver.
"Narumi-kun, could you please."
Yasuhara smiled pretentiously.
"I have to go to the van to check on the equipment. –Ohashi-san, excuse me. Thank you."
With that said, Yasuhara left. Oliver let Ohashi take a seat, and then sat down himself. He opened a file at the table SPR had asked them to prepare.
"First, could you please confirm once more the content of the initial request."
Ohashi began to speak very seriously.
"This building was originally the property belonging to the master's in-laws. Not only had the mistress never lived here, even her father… that is the previous generation, had also never lived here. Furthermore there are legends about spirits appearing here, and then now these things have all been forgotten. The month before last, there was a boy who vanished in this building."
"… this, how is it explained?"
"Because this is a vacant house, there were some young people from the nearby suburbs coming and going. That is to say the entire 'Bōsōzoku' trespassed in here, then one of them disappeared, and they reported it to the police. Because the design of this huge building is extremely complicated, everyone thought that the youth was not feeling well at some place and couldn't be found; the police also gathered manpower to search, but he still couldn't be found. And this isn't the only thing."
Ohashi laughed bitterly, looking very troubled.
"Even a youth from the fire department involved in the search has disappeared. At that time there were a few who said they had seen ghosts and the type. When this place was renovated, an incident of a workman disappearing had also occurred. The previous generation had repeatedly exhorted during their lifetime that this building should not be touched."
Ohashi himself looked half-believing; his face wore a bitter smile.
"However, two people have disappeared here, and bad rumors have spread, so we can't leave it as it is. Or rather, we also don't wish for more victims to appear… Therefore we are trying to ask you psychics to take a look."
"So that's the case."
Saying that Oliver looked around the room. This was also a posh and spacious room – just like the mansions that appear in foreign films. Although there are some places that have been badly degraded, it was spick and span.
"This looks like an ancient building… when was it built?"
"I've heard that it was initially built around the 10th year of the Meiji Era."
"The 10th year of the Meiji is…"
"About 110 years ago. The year was 1877. However, after its construction this house was continuously added to or renovated, and it is said that there is practically nothing remaining of the original building now."
"Do you know when the renovations took place?"
"Unfortunately… This building was built by the generation before the last – by the mistress's grandfather. Apparently from that time he had frequently renovated the house. When the previous generation was around, he would renovate a part of the house almost every year."
Oliver stopped writing in the notebook and looked up.
"Every year? But they don't live here right?"
"Yes, it was like that."
"Could I ask what the name of the generation before last was?"
"He was called Miyama Kaneyuki. He owned a large piece of land in the Suwa region. Then he built a (cotton? silk?) spinning factory, and was a philanthropist. Apparently he founded an orphanage or a private hospital or something. At first, it was said that due to the unrest in Meiji 40, that is to say 1907, the hospital etc was forced to close amongst all the other businesses that were sold off."
Mai shuddered as she listened. Knowing the full story behind it, the man spoken about gave her the creeps.
"In the end Miyama Kaneyuki passed away about three years later. Subsequently the next generation, Hiroyuki, inherited Kaneyuki's work. The previous generation also died about twenty years ago."
Oliver knocked on the table with his fingertip.
"Did Kaneyuki live here?"
"Yes. The previous generation was born in the main house in the Suwa region, and apparently never lived over here. This place was just a holiday home at first."
"Has Hiroyuki ever been here before?"
"It appears so."
"Have you ever seen anything here yourself, Ohashi-san?"
"I arrived here about a week ago to make preparations. However nothing like that has happened."
"The others too?"
"Yes. I have not heard of anything happening."
Oliver looked deep in thought. He frowned slightly.
"That… Could I talk to the people who were with the missing person?"
"I'm very sorry; if it is possible we would wish to proceed with the investigations in secrecy…"
Oliver frowned slightly. But regarding that issue he made no further comment.
"Lastly, do you have any opinion on the cause of the rumours?"
"I really don't know anything."
"Thank you very much."
Lowering his head gently, Oliver spoke.
"Ah ah, Ohashi-san. Could you give me the floor plan of this building?"
"I'm really very sorry. I've enquired before, but it's said that such a thing doesn't exist at all. Just as a floor plan was about to be drawn the building was coincidentally renovated again and…"
"… is that so? Thank you."
"This building does give one the feeling of a haunted house don't you think?"
Once Ohashi had left, Ayako's excited-for-no-reason voice piped up.
Takigawa also laughed contentedly.
"Exactly. An ancient bungalow. A deep and long history. … Naru-chan, how is it?"
Oliver looked reluctant.
"I feel a little unsettled."
"What about?"
"A haunted house left vacant for a long time. The building itself is very complicated and there is no floor plan. But we have to live inside."
In such situations Oliver has always advocated not staying at the site until safety can be verified and in this case, he would be right to do so.
"Aiyo, such a cowardly statement." Ayako snarked.
"Can't you call this being cautious? – Mai."
"Yes~~."
"Please set up thermographs around this area and observe. Go with Bou-san. Do not continue once the sun has set. After dusk you must stay together with the others. Do you understand?"
"… Yeah."
After saying that, Oliver looked at Ayako.
"Can you write some protective charms?"
"Of course I can. I am a Miko after all."
Oliver rapped the table with a bang.
"The protective charms – please make one for each person. Also make one for each room."
Takigawa tilted his head.
"Isn't this over-reacting?"
"This is a line from a fellow lacking in thought trying to find excuses to be lazy."
Takigawa's face sank momentarily. Then he smiled contentedly.
"-Yeah. It is indeed better to be a little more cautious."
He looked at Oliver with a celebratory expression.
"… what?"
"That attitude, if you aren't more careful and change your behavior normally you would be seen through, Narumi-kun the investigator."
Ayako also clapped her hands.
"Ah, what he says is true. Oh, you are really too arrogant to be seen as an investigator~~ Oh, we were asked to helped to the best of our capabilities by the director, who is our distinguished guest. If you don't listen to us with the appropriate attitude~~"
Oliver frowned slightly.
"… I understand. And your ages are truly much greater than mine."
Oliver stood up. He immediately put a pretentious smile on his face.
"Then, I would like to start work. Could everyone help out? Matsuzaki-san, Takigawa-san?"
John, looking over, hugged his head.
"Whatever… Mai, let's go."
"Yes, I'm coming."
Only Takigawa hurriedly escaped from that place with Mai trailing behind him, green sparrow still attached to keep an eye on them.