“So it wasn’t a real ghost after all? That means Amabie and Hakutaku did the trick,” Rui said happily.
Hinata and Mayuka were chatting with their classmate on the way home from school the following day. He was very curious about what had happened after they left the vet’s waiting room.
“So their reputation as evil-repelling youkai was accurate! I’m glad I gave them to you, Hinata.”
Hinata, meanwhile, was having a hard time remembering what Rui was talking about. At last, he recalled the capsule toys the other boy had given him the day before.
Oh, right. I left them in my pants pocket and had to take them out when I took my bath. Where did I put them after that? I’ll have to look for them when I get home…
“You should have seen how depressed Hinata was,” Mayuka said. “He kept crying and crying because he left Chris behind at the mansion.” She stretched out her hands and shrugged theatrically.
“I—I wasn’t crying! I was just feeling guilty about it,” Hinata shot back. He kicked at the ground with the tip of his shoe.
“So Akane owns that mansion, then? She must be really rich!” Rui exclaimed excitedly, putting his hand to his chin and nodding. “I knew she was someone special.”
“We’re going back there again today, to help Yuuma the zombie with his video—”
“Mayuka!” Hinata interrupted. Yuuma had told them not to tell anyone else about the shoot.
…And sure enough, she’s already saying “we”…
“Oh, that’s all right. I’ll pass. I’m really only interested in youkai. Western monsters like ghosts and zombies don’t do anything for me,” Rui said. He paused, then blushed and added, “But if you see Akane, say hi to her for me. She probably doesn’t remember me, though.”
“Okay, I will,” Mayuka said. “How are Chachamaru’s eyes doing?”
“Thanks for asking. He seems to be feeling perfectly fine now. Would you let Dr. Suzune and Mr. Yuusuke know, Hinata?”
Hinata said he would pass on the message, and then they went their separate ways.
“It always ends up like this…”
After briefly returning to their own homes, Hinata and Mayuka took Chris out for a walk. Hinata grumbled under his breath as they made their way toward the police station.
I knew she was going to drag me into this. But at least it wasn’t a real haunted mansion, I guess…
Hinata had a shy nature and didn’t like to visit people he didn’t know very well.
“Of course we’re going together,” said Mayuka happily. “You, Chris, and I are a team.” Chris seemed more relaxed that day, too, since he didn’t have a job to do.
They waited at the light to cross the main road and noticed that Officer Iwata was on the sidewalk across the street, waving. When the signal turned green, he rushed across to meet them.
“Hey, kids. Hinata, are you feeling better after yesterday?”
“Thanks for helping us, Officer Iwata!” Mayuka said, waving energetically.
Hinata bowed. “Th-thank you. Chris told me not to worry about it so much last night…”
“Huh? Chris talked to you? No wayyy.” Mayuka laughed.
“Not like that…”
That’s just how it felt to me, Hinata thought.
Officer Iwata held up his finger and waggled it at Mayuka. “Dogs are very adept at sensing human emotions,” he said. “There are times when you really feel that your minds are connected, and it’s like having a real conversation.”
Hinata nodded happily. Somehow, Iwata had known just what he was thinking. He looked down toward his feet and saw Chris wagging his tail in agreement.
“Oh, I see. Well, Chris is so smart, I wouldn’t be surprised if he really could talk!” Mayuka chuckled again.
Then Iwata’s expression turned serious. “Are you on your way back to that mansion?”
“Yeah. Yuuma the zombie invited us.”
“Well, I was curious, so I did some digging. As it happens, there have been people breaking into empty houses in the area lately. In order to prevent crime and arson, we can’t let that trend continue, so we’re stepping up our patrols. And that mansion is within my jurisdiction, so…”
He took out his notepad and opened it, appearing to double-check something.
“It turns out that mansion did once belong to a man named Kurosaki. It’s listed as being unoccupied since about twenty years ago, but the ownership is currently in the hands of his great-granddaughter, Akane Kurosaki.”
Hinata was stunned. Twenty years! That meant the mansion was empty long, long before he was born. No wonder it seemed so haunted.
“I guess Rui Takeuchi was right—Akane is rich. And she’s only in high school,” Mayuka marveled.
Iwata grinned wryly and continued, “On the official home page for Soukei University, there is indeed a Media Studies Club listed, and the student representative is one Yuuma Terakawa. Given my profession, I have a tendency to be suspicious, but so far his story checks out. I think it’s probably fine for you two to join in the filming, as long as that’s all you’re doing.”
This surprised Hinata. Officer Iwata did this for us! To make sure we wouldn’t be put in danger. Meanwhile, we were ready to march off to the haunted mansion without a care in the world.
“Can I ask you something, Officer Iwata?” Mayuka said.
“What is it?”
“Aren’t you curious about Akane at all?”
“Hmm? What do you mean?” he asked, lips pursed.
“Well… Rui Takeuchi and Yuuma seem to be head over heels for her! Even Mr. Yuusuke said she was pretty. What do you think, Officer?”
His eyes bulged for a moment. Then he burst into laughter.
“Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Rui? And even Mr. Yuusuke? Well, sounds like there’s some stiff competition out there. I suppose she is a good-looking young lady.”
He wiped tears from his eyes and turned to Mayuka. “And what do you think of Akane?”
“I think she’s wonderful,” Mayuka replied. “She’s soooo pretty, like a perfect doll… But I wouldn’t say I’m head over heels for her.”
Hinata jumped in, adding, “I—I think she’s pretty, too. But…I’m not head over heels…”
Iwata nodded. “Well, everyone has different tastes, after all. I suppose I prefer the three of you.”
Mayuka looked delighted. Then she smacked Iwata’s arm. “Now you’re just buttering us up.”
“Ha-ha. Not at all. I’m telling the truth. Now go and get a move on. The days are getting shorter, and it’ll be dark before you know it.”