Chapter 4: 4

Chapter 4: The woman on the floor

Takato watched Ayano left through the entrance while wondering what she was doing. He noticed that Ayano had stopped using the toilet nearby the entrance for quite some time. He felt curious because the toilet there was the latest model and it was quite popular among the residents.

He secretly followed after her out of curiosity. Then, he saw Ayano talking to someone inside the toilet in irritation.

A ghost? No, there’s no ghost inside the toilet, Takato thought to himself. He became more curious and decided to observe her.

Ayano: “This is so ridiculous. Well, I know I’m to blame too. I should have gone travelling with Shin-chan instead of waiting here hoping Takato would come home.”

“This might be the last time for Takato-san to visit here before he got married,” said a male voice.

Ayano was at a loss for words. After a while, she replied, “It doesn’t matter.”

Takato also thought what she said was correct – it didn’t matter. One of the reasons why he had accepted this marriage arrangement after the will was announced was because of his argument with Sokichi. The second reason was because of a rumor regarding Ayano that had been going around for years which had bothered him.

“Hmm. Takato-san is going to get married,” said the male voice with a sigh.

Takato noticed the male voice spoke like he knew him.

“You all have grown up and continue to age and eventually will die, right?”

Ayano: “Hey! Can’t you say something cheerful?”

“But I’m a ghost.”

Ayano: “There are many cheerful ghosts.”

The Rainy Mansion was as silent as the grave because they were not so many people in the house during daytime. Takato couldn’t resist the urge to spy on Ayano after seeing her meeting with another man inside the quiet mansion, even though the man was a ghost. He was extremely annoyed when he saw Ayano giggling.

Lately, Ayano had stopped smiling like that in front of him. For years, there had been a rumor going around inside the mansion that she was Sokichi’s illegitimate child. Not sure who started it, but when Ayano started to take care of Sokichi after graduating from college instead of getting a job, everyone treated the rumor like a fact. Besides, Ayano was the only person among the residents that was never told by Sokichi to leave the mansion.

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If the rumor was true, then Ayano would be Takato’s auntie. Although her name was not included in the family register[1], it still bothered Takato.

Ayano seemed to feel better after venting her frustration to the man. She walked through the hallway to return to her room upstairs. Takato immediately hid behind a fusuma[2] in a nearby room. He watched her walked away while regretting spying on her.

It might not be long before he would lose this place called home. His parents lived abroad and have no special fondness towards this mansion. They were not even slightly disturbed when they heard this place might be taken over by someone else.

On the other hand, Takato’s uncles seemed highly motivated by the will left by Sokichi. Personally, he felt Ayano was the only person who could continue to live in this haunted mansion until the end.

However, Ayano had no family nor job. She had been taking care of Sokichi and other ghost in the mansion since graduating from college, so she had no particular income. Takato believed Ayano wouldn’t be able to continue paying the property tax for this mansion – unless she could find a rich husband.

Takato was about to return to the Western-style room with the white sofa when he saw a man holding a horse racing form under his arm walking from the other side of the hallway.

Sudo Toru walked languidly with his shirt unbuttoned. It was his usual style that never changed since years ago. Toru noticed Takato and said, “Toru, you’re back?”

Takato: “Long time no see, Toru-san.”

They chatted for a while and then Takato went back to the Western-style room. He was about to sit on the sofa when he suddenly stopped in the middle of the action. Then, he moved to the side and sit on the edge of the sofa. It was because sometimes there was a female ghost lying on the floor in front of the sofa. Coincidentally, the ghost happened to be lying there at the moment. Takato looked at the woman and muttered to himself, “Why here of all places?” He frowned and turned on the TV.

[1] Koseki is the family registry system in Japan, similar to hukou in China. 

[2] There are 2 types of paper sliding door, one is shoji which use transparent paper, another one is fusuma which use thick paper.

Shoji:

Fusuma:

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