Vol 4 Chapter 3 (1/2)

Story 3 - The Ghost, When Examined

1

I've often heard the saying, ”All ghosts, when examined, are just withered flowers” However, in this rasp the idea of ro it up in a dictionary, withered flowers are rarely treated as ghosts, and apparitions in this world are revealed in succession to be nothing more than withered flowers It would probably be difficult for us to notice a real specter if it kept its true form

I was saying that on a bus that was traversing asummer heat was still severe fukube Satoshi+, as sitting next to ht

”Interesting A metaphysical repudiation of the merit of the idea, in the form of a witticism It really suits you, Houtarou”

Ibara, as sitting in front, turned around even though she wasn't called She raised her eyebrows

”I don't like that way of thinking I guess I'”

I listened to their responses, took a short while to digest them, and quickly shouted a denial

”Hey, I said nothing of the sort!”

I was actually intending to bring up soend similar to UFOs and Nessie, or in other words, an extremely common topic of discussion Specifically, I wanted to talk about the story on TV yesterday, ”Reporters on the scene! The truth behind Haht have been rather indirect, but I didn't think that my words would be misinterpreted so willfully Just as I was about to explainnext to Ibara, turned around and smiled

”I'm also curious about the true nature of the withered flowers”

It seems that everyone misunderstood I didn't really want to force everyone to understand what I was saying, so I shut my mouth

There are four h's Classics Club

And ere allits bumpy journey on the mountainous road? The answer to that, of course, lies in the bus' destination The final stop, Zaizen Village, is a village in a ravine fao hiking, so by process of elis

The groan of the bus' engine becarew steeper

2

It was su a holiday fits with my personal beliefs However, thanks to the Classics Club President, Chitanda,I had to go to the hot springs

During this suether to solve what Satoshi+ calls ”The Hyouka Incident”, which was really i the mystery, she thanked us, and to reward our efforts, she planned a trip to the hot springs By default, I just wanted to stay at horee with the plan, but somehow my resistance was broken and it was decided that I would participate

Zaizen Village was one and a half hours from Kamiyama City by bus We did not have to pay for our acco na inn, and since they were currently renovating and were accepting no custo us stay for free

I' transport, but perhaps because the ht before we arrived After that, ere picked up at the bus stop in a van by Ibara's relatives and we finally reached Seizansou I sat down by theofscenery, which dissipated my discomfort

The rooe for just e , and was surprised that ere so close to the e There hite fog rising up here and there, probably stea prefectural road, there were a few inns and private houses I could see a school a little further away Since there were few students, the elementary school was combined with the middle school I'm definitely not a person of plentiful sensitivities, but I'

”This rooood view, huh?”

Satoshi+'s voice ca around,

”I guess this kind of thing isn't bad every now and then I nified to come here alone”

Satoshi+ sniggered

”Houtarou, traveling alone? Stop joking around, you're definitely not the type of person to voluntarily do soet that you're here because Chitanda planned this trip and Mayaka used her connections”

As Satoshi+ intended, I was sullen with silence The one with the ue in the Classics Club was Ibara, but Satoshi+'s eloquent speeches could be quite insulting, too What ht There was no doubt that I wouldn't even think of going to Zaizen Village on my own

That's why I should be thankful to Chitanda for causing e and enjoy the beautiful scenery

I heard footsteps in the corridor, and soon after, there were a few rough knocks on the door

”Dinner!”

That was Ibara's voice

Next ca Ibara

”It's time for dinner!”

”Hear that? Let's go!”

As prompted, I left the area near theWhile it's certainly not a bad thing to be at the hot springs, I souys would be neardown the corridor Dinner would probably be stew or gratin, with the dark horse being cheese fondue Yeah, I guess that would be it I took a deep breath

Seizansou consists of two buildings: the annex, which ere currently using, and therenovation

Both buildings were aleway, and if you look at the inn from a bird's eye view, it would look like the character コ(ko) Each building had two floors and was made of wood; the floorboards in the corridors creak when stepped on There was only one staircase in the whole inn Chitanda and Ibara's room was at the very end of the second floor, while Satoshi+ and I were one rooe rooms could fit all four of us, or even double that, and have extra space re, but that's that

The stairs were quite steep, so I had to concentrate when going down

There was supposed to be a dining hall in the first floor of therenovated, so ere to have dinner in a japanese-style roo screen which had Mount Fuji painted on it, and saw that Chitanda, Ibara, as well as the two sisters had already taken their seats

Chitanda and Ibara were sitting opposite the sisters, and the seats at the head and front of the table were e yet; it see for us, as etiquette dictated I sat on the floor cushi+on nearest toany notice of the seating order in this setting, though

The table was actually quite cra around it On the table, contrary to etables, fried shi+shamo[2], cold cuts of pork, and a miso soup with tofu and radish Rice ad already been scooped into wooden rice bowls There was definitely the fragrance of cheese What could it be from? I scanned the room and murmured,

”Is a cheesecake being baked?”

”Ah, how did you know?”

A girl with centered hair grinned The cushi+on she was sitting on was low, but she was short in stature With her frae eyes, and her jubilant save off the impression of an excitable person She wore a thin T-shi+rt and knee-length deniether with Ibara, they would totally look like siblings, but then again they are related by blood Further a shi+rt and denim pants

Speaking of which, Ibara's appearance hasn't changed a bit since eleer sister when put together with anyone, but I can't say that to her face

That recklessly sociable girl was one of the sisters of Seizansou, Zenna Rie

”A! It's just like what Maya-neechan said!”

What did you tell them, Ibara!

Next to Rie, there was a ponytailed girl sitting well-manneredly To put it otten used to us yet I unnecessarily wondered if she could get on with being in a fa an inn

Even without considering her shyness towards strangers and her frail appearance that I could not iine a smile on, she was not like her older sister I saw both of the up earlier, and noticed that they had around the sa sleeves were thin, she looked earing the to middle school next year, but her stature was similar to that of Rie, ould be in the second year of rown really fast for her age Her name was Zenna Kayo

”Let's eat!”

Ibara, as acting uest, said Everyone then separated their chopsticks successively and started on their htly in prayer, which was normal The sisters' parents weren't in the roo, for this room definitely couldn't it another two people

First was thetime It was delicious, as expected for a business Next, I tried the shi+shamo It probably wasn't actually shi+sha texture

Rie was really interested about Ibara's high school life and was asking her about it On the other hand, Kayo was hesitatingly asking Chitanda about her name Satoshi+ would occasionally interrupt a conversation with a smile on his face, while I would just move my chopsticks in silence, pleased with the shi+sha time

”And then it was like this”

Rie, being i in the air with her chopsticks That was i etiquette, but I shouldn't worry about the home discipline of another family

Rie reached out for the ba her chopsticks towards the pork Sine they moved at about the same time, Rie's arm struck Kayo's hand Kayo's chopsticks, which was holding a slice of pork, jolted a bowl ofto end, I wanted to warn them, but it was too late

Some soup spilled from the bowl Kayo squeaked

”Ah!”

”Aah, what are you doing!”

Rie scolded while frowning From my point of view, they were both at fault, but

”So-sorry, Onee-chan!”

Kayo apologized, and reached for the tablecloth Since it was a little far away, Chitanda passed it to her

”Here you go”

”Th-thank you very much”

Rie told Kayo to be more careful next time After Kayo had wiped up the spilled et more shi+shaetables, but I suppose that would be asking too much

3

After enjoying Rie's handmade baked cheesecake for dessert, we all went about with our separate activities I went back to otten back already, wasn't there Has he already gone to the bath house?

Being alone in the roo I usually use Satoshi+ said that it was really outstanding for aStates period[3], so I borrowed it froood range of human emotion, and the artent into the minutest details, so it was readable Satoshi+ sure has interesting taste

The story was set in the clia's[4] attack on the Asakura Clan nobunaga was about to secure the victory when he received a gift from his little sister It was a pouch tied at both ends, with adzuki beans inside On seeing this, nobunaga declared, ”This signifies that we're trapped like rats! Azai[5] has betrayed us!” It was the episode where nobunaga's sister, who had married into the Azai family, covertly informed her brother about his predicament

It a realized that he was betrayed with only one pouch, but I thought that it was fundaood story Would my sister help me without a moment's delay if I'

After reading for about half an hour,in the room was quite dim, which would be normal for a hotel, but not for an inn

What should I do if not read a? There was a TV in the room, but it would be even more painful for my eyes

As a result, I had a lot of ti, I would usually lie down and sleep, but since ere at a hot-spring lodge, I thought that II carried a tohich was provided in the room and went out to the hallway That was exactly when I ran into Chitanda

”Ah, where are you headed to?”

Chitanda also had a toith her

”Same place as you”

”It seems that there isn't a mixed bath here”

”No one said anything about that”

We walked together, and the flat sounds of our slippers alternated with the creaking of the floorboards After thinking for a while, Chitanda asked,

”This may seem a bit random, but what kind of person is your sister?”

What? That's seriously random

I recalled that Chitanda was an only child I took a little time to choose the words for my answer

”My sister, huh? By some definitions she would be an oddball, and by others she would be a genius I doubt that I could be better than her at anything”

”Ah”

”Though I've never really cared to be Why ask about my sister all of a sudden? Is it because of the Zenna sisters?”

Chitanda nodded slightly She smiled shyly and answered in a small voice

”The truth is, I've alanted a sibling An older sister or a younger brother Don't you think it's wonderful to have so to be always by your side?”

I was slightly a an answer It seehly of others And doesn't she also believe in ghosts?

The annex does have a bath house where one can be i, but apparently it was as narrow as a nor to the others, there was an open air bath house nearby, so we headed there I y, but I'm not so unrefined as to decline two or three er bath house

After exiting Seizansou, we descended down the slope It seeoing round the bend, was ed by the inns and hotels in the area There was amoney at a bamboo counter, but she let us pass e told her that ere guests of Seizansou

Chitanda and I went our separate ways There would have been a serious problem if we hadn't

The changing room was unexpectedly small I didn't see any other people there, but it seems that there was already someone inside, for there was a set of clothes in a basket at o pants in the basket The person inside was most likely Satoshi+

I entered the bath house after taking offarea was made entirely of artificial rock so that it would look like a natural hot spring, and it was larger than I expected it to be The water hite and cloudy, giving off the appearance of an actual hot spring, rather than normal hot water The area was surrounded by a tall bae Well, I guess it would be troubling if people could peek inside with a lower fence I scooped so a bucket, poured it on myself, and quickly stepped into the bath

The water teht I made my way to the interior of the spacious pool and found that there was a large rock in the middle I touched it, and it felt real

I could see someone on the other side of the steaure languidly waved back The person used breaststroke to swi that ti on the rock, and my whole body from the chin doas immersed in the water

”Houtarou! You've coh my body!”

”Getting your blood diluted ater is dangerous”

”It's so Well, I guess it shows that you're relaxing”

With that, I kept quiet, while Satoshi+ also silently enjoyed the hot bath I could hear the sound of so into the water That would probably be Chitanda

It was evening The soft rays of the sun slowly faded, as dusk noticeably fell over us The stars started shi+ning, and the warradually pere of time I felt sleepy, probably because of that uncomfortable bus ride

Before I knew it, Satoshi+ had left the bath to wash his body, while I was still drifting in the hot water

My vision's going dark

Mm

I can't move?

4

I really have to thank Satoshi+ for bringing me back to the room safely If I had been alone, it would have been a case for the hospital, or even ato Seizansou while being supported by Satoshi+'s shoulder, Ibara shouted sharply

”What happened, Oreki!”

I was in no state to reply Satoshi+ answered in my place

”He got dizzy from the hot water”

””

”It's kind of pathetic, really He hadn't even been there half as long as me, but when I turned around, he'd almost passed out”

Ibara ed her eyebrows

”Oreki, you really”

Thanks for worrying about me I was carried into the room, while Ibara quickly laid out a futon and opened theI lay spread-eagled on the futon and breathed deeply

”Sorry about this, both of you”

”Don't mention it”

”You're just so pitifulit's like you're fated to never enjoy an event”

With that, the two of them left the room As Ibara unnecessarily stated, I was seriously pathetic I ht not be what you would call a tenacious person, but I at least had some confidence in my physical capabilities I was probably still sick from that bus ride

As I lay sprawled on the futon with my eyes closed, someone came into the room From the scent of the shampoo, I could immediately tell that it was Chitanda She knelt down by the side of my futon and quietly spoke

”Oreki-sanare you alright?”

”Not really”

”Should I bring a towel?”

A cold toould certainly helpfor Chitanda's assistance

”No, it's okay Sorry for throwing cold water on your carefully planned trip”

”It's fine Anye're going to tell ghost stories in a while Would you like to join us?”

I smiled weakly Isn't that a really old-fashi+oned way of spending suhts? I was somewhat interested, but it was impossible for me to participate in this state

I opened my eyes to find Chitanda's face to belady's sense of personal space is lower than the average person's This is not the first or second time I've been startled by her All I could see was her cherry-colored cheeks and her sparkling, wet hair I instinctively looked away

”Ah, I'll just go to sleep”

”I guess it can't be helped Hope you get better soon”

The door closed, leaving only the smell of shampoo

I checked ht

I could hear soht for a while, and concluded that they were probably the croaking of frogs There was also a taiko[6] beating out a rhythround, I could hear the chirping of insects, even though it wasn't August yet

And then

After a short while, Rie's suppressed voice reached my ears It see much attention, but I could catch her words distinctly

”You know that the inn is separated into the ht? Actually, we don't need the annex There is a secret as to why it was built

”A long tiloomy customer ca However, he told them, 'I don't need meals or room service Just stay away' But he'd already paid in advance, and it was the busy season, so his conditions were accepted

”Then, that night, a piercing screahout the inn Grand a stroll pointed at rooedin the breeze It turned out that the customer had embezzled money from his company and run away

”Ever since that incident, guests staying in roos They say that there's soht And the ninth guest to stay in that room suddenly succuht!

”That's why Grandma asked for an exorcish, so she had the annex built to stop bad ruht across from thisIt's the room furthest in on the second floor We live on the first floor, and we're told to stay away from the second floor

”This story is strictly confidential! Don't talk about this in front of other customers, okay?”

I sniggered into my futon That was seriously old-fashi+oned

I wanted to sleep peacefully, so I soed to move my uncontrollable limbs and crept out of my futon to close theI could tolerate the heat

I thought I saw a shadowy figure in the courtyard while I was grappling with the ever, I didn't ure, for I immediately slipped into the futon and slept soundly until

5

I slowly openedto my watch Wow, I've slept for about twelve hours My head still hurts a little, but I don't think it's because I'm still dizzy from the bath, but because I've simply slept too much

I suddenly noticed that Satoshi+ was sleeping right next to me I was careful not to wake him up as I took care of my personal appearance I went down to the first floor while steadily tapping the side ofa little fuzzy

Rie and Kayo were already in the living room, but breakfast was not on the table yet I was about to ask about Chitanda and Ibara's whereabouts when both of them entered the room

Ibara was acting strangely She was clinging onto the sleeve of Chitanda's dress She then looked at us and said,

”It, it appeared”

I observed that scene coolly Just what appeared?

Ibara drew closer to Rie with a jerk and said in one breath,

”A warht woke me up When I turned over, in the roouely swaying back and forth, like this!”

Haha, this is thoroughly old-fashi+oned It's pretty rare to see Ibara panicking like this, though Too bad you're not here to see this, Satoshi+

Kayo brought us some hot tea I was about to take a cup when I noticed that it had Rie's naht that Kayo would have also written her name on her cup, but I didn't find such a cup

Rie smiled and said,

”I didn't know you were scared of stories like that, Maya-neechan!”

”It's not that I'hosts, and I don't have a reason to detest the like that, it's just so disturbing!”

Kayo, as holding a teapot, stiffened

”Maya-neechan, you saw it?”

”I saw it I definitely saw it I really saw it!”

”Onee-chan! You told them the story? Dad said not to tell anyone!”

”Oh, shut up It's fine, isn't it? It's only Maya-neechan”

As Ibara and the Zenna sisters were talking excitedly about the ghost story, I turned to look at Chitanda, as kneeling a little further away, and our eyes met

Chitanda wore a troubled expression and looked like she was brooding over so Based on past experience, she probably wanted to say so I spoke softly,

”What's the matter?”

She responded

”Er What do you think of Mayaka-san's story?”

”The hanged shadow, huh?”

I smiled

”Well, these kind of standard, or you ht say clichéd, stories live on because they're an indispensable part of life Just like that time”

”That time?”

”Ah, never mind”

I sed my words at the last moment I almost said ”Just like that time when Satoshi+ told his story about the Seven Mysteries[7]” That was also definitely classic, clichéd and old-fashi+oned And of course, it also estion However, I do not wish to dig up that story Especially not in front of Chitanda

Since I had unexpectedly stopped co myself to my oords, Chitanda peered at ht, but thankfully, Chitanda's interest was totally preoccupied with the hanged shadow

” So, do you think what Mayaka-san said is true?”

”Nope”

As I said that, Chitanda looked increasingly troubled and tilted her head in doubt

”Then perhaps I'm mistaken as well”

”Hm? What do you mean?”

For some reason she lowered her voice and whispered into my ear

”I saw it too The hanged shadow that Mayaka-san mentioned”

It was at an unknown time When Ibara woke up, Chitanda did too She opened her eyes heavily, and she saw the shadow of a hangedin the dark

”However, when I woke up, I was still feeling a little dazed That's why I thought I was ”

”Oh”

If it was only Ibara or Chitanda who saw it, then I could conclude that it was just a daydrea at the saed shadow I changed my mistaken theory and said,

”You probably justyesterday, 'The ghost, when examined'”

”was just withered flowers?”

But Chitanda was not satisfied with that answer Her gaze wandered to the ceiling, and then she looked y, showing that she had strong curiosity towards this mystery

”If so, what exactly did I see?”

Before I knew it, Ibara was right behind us

”That's right If you say that weelse for it, then tell us what itIsn't it cowardly to deny what Chii-chan and I saw just because you didn't see it?”

Why did you have to call me a coward?

Chitanda and Ibara were staring at me fixedly Based on past experience, now that it has turned out like this, it's all too late to do anything

”Of course, I will not ask Oreki-san to handle everything Let's investigate together!”

Chitanda forcefully declared without dropping her stare

I did not reply, because I don't like attee of acknowledgingthe final blow, Chitanda exclaimed,

”I'm curious!”

After a sietable consomme, we returned to the second floor We passed Satoshi+, as going down the stairs He didn't know of the incident last night, but that's no problee, but I don't think it would be useful for this case

Ibara had promised to help Rie with her summer homework

”Sorry for not being able to help Good luck, I guess”

”Leave it to us! We'll discover the truth behind the ht, Oreki-san?”

Well, I can't really say for sure

In any case, if I have to do it, make it quick I let Chitanda intoher for more details There were two chairs and a small table near the , so we took a seat there Now, then

”Did you see the hanged shadow in the rooht across yours?”

I asked while opening theand looking at the

”Yes, that's right”