Chapter 18: 18

Chapter 18: The person Ayano always talked to secretly

Shimizu couldn’t find Tanimoto and decided to ask Nobuko. He was walking towards the kitchen but stopped when he saw someone in the room with the white sofa opposite the kitchen. It was the woman with the white parasol that he saw when he arrived at the mansion earlier. Shimizu felt like the woman was observing him covertly. She gave him a slight bow so he bowed back to her.

* * *

Meanwhile, Takato was also wandering around the mansion looking for Ayano.

Could it be that toilet?

Takato was curious about the male ghost in the toilet nearby the entrance that was chatting with Ayano. He went to the corridor behind the toilet and opened the window. When he peeked inside, he saw a man who looked like a student houseboy[1] with his back towards him.

“Hey,” Takato called out to him.

“Oh, Takato-san,” said the ghost like they were friends.

Although Takato was annoyed that the ghost was suspiciously close to Ayano, he didn’t hate his friendly smile and tone when they talked face to face like this.

The male ghost introduced himself as Sudo Satoshi.

Takato: “So, you’ve been here since long ago?”

Satoshi: “Yes. But I don’t remember since when.”

Takato: “Looking at your clothes, I think the latest should be around early Showa period[2]. Why are you hiding here?”

Satoshi: “It’s not that I’m hiding. I’m unable to leave this place. I don’t know the reason but it’s like the door won’t open.”

Takato: “What are you talking about? Anyone can open the door.”

Satoshi: “I don’t mean physically. It’s like there is a massive pressure from the outside, I can’t push through it.”

Huh? From the narrow hallway in front of the toilet door? Takato observed the door behind Satoshi.

Satoshi: “Anyway, I’m so boring with nothing to do so I can only listen secretly to the conversation nearby. All this while, the person who noticed me was Ayano-san and Chizuru-san.”

Takato: “You know Chizuru-san?”

Satoshi: “Yes. She was a very beautiful lady and she had extremely strong psychic power. By the way, Chizuru-san always told me to come out from here. Do you think maybe before this I could walk out from this toilet?”

Because he had been staying at the place for a very long period, his memory was becoming foggy and it was hard for him to perceive the flow of time.

Takato: “I wonder why Ayano didn’t tell others about you. She has noticed you for quite some time, right?”

Satoshi: “Yes. I think Ayano-san started to talk to me since 2 years ago. At that time, her relationship with you was already strained. Maybe she wants someone to talk to without you knowing. That’s why she didn’t tell anyone about me.”

Takato: “It seems she likes to complain everything to you.”

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Satoshi was unable to refute and just gave a dry laugh. “This corridor is a dead end so people rarely come here. If someone want to do something sneakily, they usually use the hallway or have a secret rendezvous in here.”

Unless it was a curious, rumor-loving person, it would be really stressful to stay in this environment. Takato knew it must be unpleasant to keep hearing other people’s malicious rumors. He couldn’t help but felt pity towards Satoshi. However, there was one thing that he must ask.

Takato: “When Chizuru-san disappeared, did you hear anything?”

Satoshi: “Uhm- I heard she ran away with her lover. And some said that Chizuru-san might have fell into shichinin bishaku.”

Takato: “Shichinin bishaku[3]? Human wouldn’t melt if they fall into it. It’s just a dirty pond.”

He himself had fell into the pond and didn’t lose his life.

“You’re right,” Satoshi said while frowning.

Takato: “You’re already an adult. How can you still believe in shichinin bishaku’s legend?”

Satoshi: “The society was still superstitious when I was alive. At that time, nobody would go nearby that place.”

He felt many people were buried in the numerous superstitions in the old days as it was darker than the modern world and many still believed in the mystical beings.

Satoshi: “Hmm. I know this is none of my business but why did you agree with the marriage arranged by Sokichi?”

The question made Takato thought over it once again. First, there was a possibility that Ayano was his aunt. Second, he also needed to consider the family business that was not doing so well.

Takato leaned against the wall and said softly, “I made the decision on the spur of the moment. I got taken in by Grandpa’s words. After all, I’m not honest to myself.”

And with Ayano’s personality, their relationship had turned sour. An outsider might feel it sounded ridiculous, but the marriage arrangement had proceeded to the point where there was no way to cancel it now.

Satoshi: “You all looked happy and free from worry when you were young. You, Ayano and that lawyer too.”

“Well, there are good things too when we get older,” Takato said while watching the summer greenery through the window. He didn’t want to think about his upcoming wedding. Instead, he recalled the time he spent with Ayano.

Satoshi: “Thing never go our way in life, do they?”

Look who’s talking! Takato felt complicated hearing the words of sympathy from a ghost.

[1] Student houseboy: Refers to male Japanese scholar in late 19th century to early 20th century who went to the city to study while living at other people’s house as servant/houseboy.

 

[2] Showa period: 1926 until 1989 

[3] Shichinin bishaku (lit. 7-person ladle): It is a made-up word by the author which refers to the pond in this story. 

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