Chapter 64 BOSS Battle: The Ghost of the Sarayashiki...
“It’s a birthday present from Sakura…”
It still didn't seem to be very proficient in speaking human language, but it slowly uttered these few words, even forgetting the pain in its eyes from the previous pain in its palm.
In a sense, it's so easy to be distracted by something more enjoyable... In that sense, it really is the strange thing that children become. In some habits, there's no difference from before.
In the past, during the Death Mark incident, Kazuo Yashiki also encountered a strange creature that was just a child in life. Because that child had been persecuted by adults in life, it would mercilessly kill any adult who mistakenly entered its "territory," but it wouldn't be so extreme towards minors... although it wasn't much better.
As fellow supernatural beings who were merely children in life, Tsukino and Chiya weren't sure if the ghost of Sarayashiki would show leniency towards minors. But at least he could see the supernatural being's rejection of intruders it had discovered.
Thinking about it this way, choosing to confront the ghost of Sarayashiki directly today was the right decision.
If the two of them are planning to visit tomorrow, then there's no need for such a perfect reason as "celebrating your birthday."
Furthermore, judging from the fact that the ghost of Sarayashiki continued its attack even after being initially repelled by the hilt of the sword, and from the words it uttered…
Just as Ouma Shokichi was willing to risk injury for a clearer situation, there are things more important than pain for the ghost of Sarayashiki.
That is—
Obedient and sensible, doesn't want to make mom angry, wants to receive mom's praise... and so on.
So the threat of pain didn't last long. With the mindset of "Mom said not to let strangers in," "Mom will be happy if I chase away strangers," and "She'll praise me," it quickly took action.
Since deterrence and fear are not enough to calm a strange mind temporarily, after delivering the blow, we have no choice but to offer a sweet treat in time.
This is how Wang Ma Xiaoji made his judgment at the time.
Although in their previous conversations, Ouma Kokichi kept saying things like "the second floor hasn't been explored enough and there aren't enough clues," in reality, the clues they've obtained so far... especially the information from the videotape, are enough for the two of them to deduce the personality of the Sarayashiki ghost before his death.
Moreover, a person's personality cannot be changed overnight. The actual age of the future Chishima Yu who passed away is not much different from that of the current Chishima Yu, who is just starting first grade. Previously, Tsukino and Chiya had also shared information they had obtained about the current Chishima Yu with Ohma Kokichi. Based on the current child's personality, it is not difficult to predict his future personality.
The reaction of the spirit of the Sarayashiki in particular further confirms its character.
So at this point, Ouma Kokichi, Tsukino, and Chiya all confirmed their relationship.
Faced with this strange situation, a more effective approach than trying to deter it with pain is to directly tell this sensitive child who yearns for love...
—It's okay, I love you. So it's alright, calm down. Everyone loves you.
Just like what Watanabe Sakura did in the past... no, in the future. She was a warm and lively girl, as bright as the sun, who would express her affection and kindness directly and without reservation, so she easily became Chishima Yu's favorite friend.
However, words alone might not be enough. Even someone as cheerful as Watanabe Sakura, it's believed that what truly made her an important friend of Chishima Yu was not just her straightforward words, but also her equally straightforward actions.
If words alone are not enough, then...
Add to that the fact that "even though he was hurt because of you, he still showed kindness"... and considering that today is indeed the child's birthday, that should be about right.
Although this practice may seem a bit like deceiving children, it's all about survival, so it's not shameful.
At least for now, the results seem pretty good, don't they?
Although its facial features are not on its face, perhaps due to a habit from its previous life, the ghost of Sarayashiki still lowered its head and "looked" at the white cat sculpture.
"It was... Sakura who gave it to me."
Perhaps because its eyes were located on the palm of its hand, the ghost of the Sarayashiki could easily see the words carved below the sculpture it was holding up through those eyes.
"I thought Sakura had forgotten."
"Mom gets angry because of my friends."
"Because my friends will find out, my teachers will find out, my dad has left, they will take me with them, and then only my mom will be left."
"I don't want to be separated from my mother."
Perhaps it was because of the return of reason, although the ghost of Sarayashiki was still speaking intermittently, the content was much clearer than before.
Chishima Yu isn't the type to readily confide in others. In his harmonious and warm family days, he would express his thoughts under his parents' guidance. After moving, he had friends like Watanabe Sakura for company. But then… obviously, something happened, and he retreated into his protective shell like a turtle.
Chishima Yu didn't know what she could do, so she could only clumsily try to be more sensible and obedient, hoping that everything could go back to the way it used to be.
Unfortunately, things won't be that simple.
“Friends… will come, teachers, and strangers. When they come to the house, Mom will have a headache.”
"They say that's not right, because they don't know."
“Mom wasn’t like that before. So, it’s my problem. I need to be more obedient.”
"Nobunaga is also missing. My mother is busy, so she told me to play hide-and-seek with Nobunaga in the yard."
"But... I can't find it."
As he said this, the ghost of Sarayashiki raised his head and looked in the direction where Chiya and the others were, asking as if he were asking for help.
"Where is Nobunaga?"
"You...come here. Do you...see me?"
Tsukino and Chiya heard Ohma Kokichi muttering behind them: "Oh... we've arrived here. The classic Q&A session."
It's definitely a classic.
Perhaps it's a common trait among the supernatural, but many of them like to ask questions of those who come before them. Some questions seem simple, but if the answers don't satisfy the supernatural, it can have serious consequences.
And the answer to this question...
The strange creatures have limited patience; sometimes, not answering is an answer in itself. Tsukino and Chiya glanced down at the cat skull they were holding in their arms, then handed it over without hesitation.
Even if such an action means, in a sense, that he has to temporarily give up the means to freely control his vision... but for now, this is the only thing he can do, and there is no reason to hesitate.
"..." The ghost of the Sarayashiki took the cat's skull.
One second, two seconds... as if confirming the identity corresponding to the skull, a few seconds later, the head without facial features gently pressed against the skull.
"Nobunaga, great news, we've found it."
"I've found you."
"Got you?"
It seems to be in a good mood.
But... is it not enough for it to become a Buddha at its current level?
But it's not a big problem.
Although all they could see were dark school uniforms, the overall situation remained unchanged, and they didn't detect any strange noises. Tsukino and Chiya concluded that the ghost of Sarayashiki was still in the same spot, maintaining the same posture without moving much.
Therefore, getting to the ghost of Sarayashiki precisely, crouching down and hugging it from the front... is indeed a very simple thing, something an ordinary person like him can easily do... right?
And even if there really is a problem... Ohma Kichi's eyes are still perfectly fine, and Tsukino and Chiya believe that Ohma will remind them in time if anything unexpected happens.
When they touched the ghost of Sarayashiki, Tsukino and Chiya felt their bodies stiffen for a moment.
The next sensation was pain.
Even though they couldn't see it, there were still some flaws... During their embrace, Tsukino and Chiya inevitably bumped into the strange arm, whose sharp spikes immediately pierced Chiya's skin.
...Well, actually it wasn't inevitable, it's just that Tsukino and Chiya intentionally didn't avoid it.
See? You can hurt me, so don't be afraid, you're safe.
—There are still people who don't care if you might hurt them, and who are willing to embrace you... right?
Although it's unclear whether they've conveyed that message, at least Tsukino and Chiya have taken such action.
"Oh dear... there's just no way around it."
Immediately afterwards, Tsukino and Chiya heard footsteps coming from behind them.
The footsteps continued forward a few steps after passing the area where they were standing before stopping.
I see……
Since the front seats were occupied by Tsukino and Chiya, Ohma Kokichi hugged the ghost of Sarayashiki from behind.
"ah……"
After being embraced from all sides, the ghost of Sarayashiki let out a soft sigh.
—How nostalgic, how heartwarming.
The two eyes on the palm of his hand, which had been staring menacingly as if they were dying with unresolved grievances, slowly closed.
It's been so long since I've felt so... fulfilled and cared for.
So happy...
"Thank you... all of you."
"Thank you... big brother."
*******
The matter is probably resolved.
After feeling the touch in their arms gradually disappear, Tsukino and Chiya stood up.
"I'm saying, Kozukino and..."
As the scene before them gradually became clearer, Tsukino and Chiya, having regained their normal vision, saw the face of Ohma Kokichi standing directly in front of them.
"It's such a treat to see that face for the first time." — Just as this thought flashed through their minds, Tsukino and Chiya heard the voice of the purple-haired boy who was staring at them.
"You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
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