Akumu no Sumu Ie – Ghost Hunt v1c2 part1

1

When they went up on the escalator Hirota sighed of relief. They were in the open hall facing Dougenzaka. He went to the point of taking a breath at the white object in the centre of the wide s.p.a.ce. The scary looking women were not there. The first floor's gallery and impression changed and had a somewhat peaceful appearance.

Three tenants faced the plaza. An interior design shop, an orthodontist and the office of a planning company that didn't make clear what kind of business it was. They could see a blue grey door in the back.

Hirota stopped his feet for a while and examined the establishment's appearance.

The door was a painted wooden frame and the upper half contained a gla.s.s pane that was frosted with a design of the office name and logo, which was written in metal with a stylish font.

-- It said, s.h.i.+buya Psychic Research.

They couldn't see a display of any business contents at all. Next to the door there was a big window, but just like the door it had a big gla.s.s pane that was frosted with a patterned design and framed in a blue grey frame. Since a roll screen hung down from the inside, they could not see what was behind it. They could just barely see the shadow of a decorative plant on the white cloth.

Hirota faltered a little. How does this look like a venerable office?

Speaking of venerable places, he reckoned it wasn't the place where you would invite out the family of an old and wrinkled woman who had died, fumigate evil spirits, recommend a memorial service for one's ancestor, ring out a purification skewer and a string of beads or to talk someone into buying hanging scrolls and pots at an outrageous price.

"Is it here?"

Did she feel similarly surprised? When Midori asked Saki, Saki shrugged and answered.

"Looks like it. -- I wonder if this translates to s.h.i.+buya Psychic Research office."

"It doesn't give off that kind of feeling at all, right."

"It looks like some kind of café. I wonder if this a recent fad? It's somewhat unexpected, huh?"

Saki stepped forward. Midori and Hirota followed after her. When she pushed open the door the light sound of a bell occurred.

"Good day."

A young man of approximately college student age greeted Hirota and the others who entered the office. His looks gave off a really bright-looking and good feeling. Even though he didn't wear a garment or suit, the squarish clothing exuded a business feel. The somewhat intellectual feeling of the thin framed gla.s.ses would surely have felt unfitting if it had been the reception of a venerable place.

Hirota who had been getting worked up about an office of a venerable place, was quite dejected.

"Are you here for a consultation?"

His manner and his tone was crisp and again there was no atmosphere of a venerable place. For some reason with a disappointed feeling Hirota removed the strength of his shoulders.

Saki answered him instead of Midori.

"-- Indeed. Is your boss here?"

"That is," he said, expressing a worried looking smile. "Unfortunately our boss is on a trip. He was supposed to return today, but the air plane was delayed and so he is not here yet."

"Will he come in late?"

"No, I contacted the airport and the air plane seems to have arrived already, because of that I think he's probably on his way from Narita airport to here."

"Would it be better if we wait for him here? Or is it better to come again?"

"If you're going to wait, an investigator will come very soon. However, we cannot say whether we'll take your request without consulting our boss, but for the time being you can tell us the matter and from then on we will contact you afterwards."

"Well then, we shall wait for him I suppose. -- Midori, Hirota-kun, are you okay with that?

Midori and Hirota equally nodded. They were offered to sit on the sofa in the front.

A questionable atmosphere was nowhere to be seen in the office. The window seen at their left was big. Through the branches of the roadside trees in Dougenzaka a bright light came in from beyond the greenery. On an afternoon of a holiday the tumult of people going up the slope was transmitted from beyond the gla.s.s. The office's interior was elegant, but had a bright atmosphere, had no indecent props, and truly had the decency of something what would be called an office.

"I'm terribly sorry about the bad timing. -- Please have some tea."

The young man lined up black tea above the table.

"Thanks," Saki said. "-- Are you a part-time worker?"

"Yes indeed. -- Ah, my name is Yasuhara."

"The atmosphere doesn't feel much like a psychic phenomenon investigation office, huh."

"Yes, everyone says that."

"Does Yasuhara-kun also perform exorcisms and the like?

"No, I'm just a clerk."

Saki looked out over the inside of the office. When entering through the door, one would immediately see one door at the left and two desks placed before the window facing the hall.

"So are the investigators are two people?"

"Yes," Yasuhara nodded.

"Do those people do exorcisms? Or is the one who does the exorcism the boss only?"

Yasuhara seemed to be a little worried.

"They also do such things, but... ... for the time being we are an investigation office, so rather than performing exorcisms, investigating cases and researching the cause is our business. If it is within our scope we will undertake it until there is a solution, so it is a little different from what is called a medium."

"So, they don't do exorcisms?"

Yasuhara appeared to become worried again.

"The investigators also do such things though."

"Both of them?"

"One and a half, I suppose?"

"Eh?"

Yasuhara smiled.

"When it comes to exorcism one person is still only a half."

"Oh I see," Saki smiled. "Have they returned, the full one? Or the half?"

"The half is. However, she will not go alone on actual investigations. There is certainly one more investigator and the boss accompanying her, also working together are the irregulars who are other people in the same business, so please be rest a.s.sured."

"By she, you mean a woman? And the full one, haven't they returned?"

"Aah. He was travelling together with the boss."

"An investigation?"

"No, private matters."

"You're a clerk? Are you the only one doing part-time work?"

"Yes. Sometimes a helper comes in, but she is a student preparing to take examinations, so basically it's only me."

"An exam student huh," Saki suggestively muttered at which Yasuhara inclined his head.

"Um... ... well."

"What is it?"

"For a while I had the feeling that you were investigating me."

Saki laughed.

"I couldn't help it because you're such a mysterious organization. -- Isn't that right?"

"Aah, you are quite right. -- Incidentally, is it fine if I ask you something?"

"Go ahead."

"Can you introduce yourselves to me?"

"Can't we not introduce ourselves?"

"No," Yasuhara waved his hand a little. "It's not like that at all. It's because making a request without an introduction is unusual."

"Aah, is it like that? -- I'm different. I only heard from hearsay that an office like this was here."

"Is that so?"

Just when Yasuhara said that, the sound of the door opening happened. At the same time an energetic young girl's voice leapt out.

"Good day."

It was a girl of senior high school age.

"Yasuhara-san, has Naru returned?"

After she said that her eyes stopped at Midori and the others. "Ah," the girl muttered and quickly bowed.

"E... ... Excuse me."

Yasuhara also said, "I'm sorry", and apologized to Saki and the others.

"Taniyama-san, these people want to make a request."

"Ah, yes. Excuse me, please wait just a minute."

The girl lowered her head, placed her bag on the desk in confusion, took her coat off and hanged it. Hirota opened his mouth dumbfounded and watched the girl attentively. After Saki was identically surprised, she faced Yasuhara and lowered her voice.

"You don't say... ... that girl is an investigator?"

"Yes. -- Don't worry. She may be young, but she carries out her responsibilities properly. Our boss isn't as easy going to the point of giving the t.i.tle of investigator to incompetent people."

"Hm?"

Just as Saki murmured that, the girl returned.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting," she said while bowing, and said "Excuse me," before sitting in the sofa before them. On top of the table she placed a file.

"I'm investigator Taniyama Mai. Please let me hear out your request."
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