Chapter 25 Thank you so much for taking care of me all these years.
Yato, you idiot!
Chizuru Takanashi roared in her heart.
Kenji Hagiwara pointed at himself in surprise and asked, "You can see me?"
"Nonsense! I've already said I'm a god, of course I can see you! You can clearly see me, can't you!"
"Hmm..." Kenji Hagiwara said to Chinatsu Takanashi with delight, "Now that he mentions it, it does seem to be true! He's all golden and shiny, unlike humans!"
Takanashi Chinatsu lowered her head. Okay, she already believed that Yato was a god, but this damn god had made things even more complicated!
"What are you talking about?" Matsuda Jinpei glanced in Hagiwara Kenji's direction again, but still couldn't see anything.
However, he could sense it.
From the moment he stood in front of Chinatsu Takanashi's door, he could feel the constant gaze following him like a shadow.
Someone is watching him; someone is paying attention to him.
Matsuda Jinpei initially thought it was a security camera, but after searching the surrounding area, he found no surveillance cameras in front of the door.
Was it just his imagination? That was the only thought Matsuda Jinpei could have. But now, the reactions of the "liar" in front of him and Takanashi Chinatsu gave him a different perspective.
How could that be?
How can a person have a soul after death?
Even if we assume there are souls, they should go to the legendary underworld, so how could there be...ghosts wandering in the mortal world?
"Your thinking is very clear. You don't seem to be an evil spirit. So, the evil one is actually you?" Yato looked at Takanashi Chinatsu in disbelief.
Takanashi Chika rolled her eyes. "I'm really sorry for being so wicked."
"Don't put on an act in front of me. Do you think I'll believe you just like that?" Matsuda Jinpei gripped Yato's wrist tightly.
Yato immediately protested, "I didn't! Judging from the fate lines, you have a very close relationship with the earthbound spirits!"
Kenji Hagiwara smiled wryly. He and Jinpei Koji grew up together and were naturally the closest of friends.
The gods are truly incredible; they can even see who he is close to.
"Hey, tell me your name!" Yato shouted at Kenji Hagiwara.
Takanashi Chika instinctively wanted to stop her, her mouth was open, but she swallowed the words back and stood there silently.
Never mind, she shouldn't have stopped her.
Kenji Hagiwara glanced at her with a smile and said in a light voice, "Never mind, we're going to be exorcised anyway, so let's not cause any more trouble for Chinatsu and Jin."
Yato, completely oblivious to the trouble he was causing others, shouted loudly in self-defense, "Although he didn't tell me his name, he called you Jinpei!"
Matsuda Jinpei's hand trembled slightly.
Kojinpei. He hadn't heard that name since that guy died.
Could it be...that guy?
That can't be right, all talk of ghosts and gods is obviously a lie...
"Can you untie it first? I'm not going to run away anyway." Yato realized Matsuda Jinpei was wavering and pressed his advantage: "I can drag him over here for you to see!"
"You can't escape anyway." Matsuda Jinpei awkwardly offered a reason as he unlocked the handcuffs.
Yato immediately pounced on Hagiwara Kenji, who was trying to escape, and forcefully pushed him to Matsuda Jinhei's front.
"Look, it's him!"
Matsuda Jinpei could only see a wisp of air, and Yato was gripping it tightly with both hands... Did it really have a soul?
“I can’t see,” he said coldly.
"Yeah, ordinary people can't see ghosts, how am I supposed to explain that to you?" Yato scratched his head, clearly stumped.
Takanashi Chinatsu sighed and took the initiative to say, "He is Hagiwara Kenji, a policeman who sacrificed his life here three years ago. Because of his obsession, he became a bound spirit and has been trapped here ever since. I brought the deity here today in the hope that the deity can guide him to the underworld."
Matsuda Jinpei was visibly taken aback. Because he was wearing sunglasses, his eyes couldn't be seen, but a barely audible murmur could be heard: "hagi."
Kenji Hagiwara instinctively took a step closer to him, his voice gentle and affectionate: "I'm here."
But Matsuda Jinpei couldn't hear it.
"You investigated this matter and deliberately set a trap?" Matsuda Jinpei quickly became serious again, this time even his gaze towards Takanashi Chinatsu carried a hint of coldness.
"Don't you believe me? You're such a difficult person." Yato rolled his eyes and was pulled aside by Yukine.
"But what could Matsuda-san have that would make someone want to take advantage of him?" Takanashi Chinatsu asked.
Matsuda Jinpei was unable to answer.
“It’s normal that Matsuda-nii doesn’t want to admit some things, after all, this is too unbelievable. But today is the day to officially say goodbye to Hagiwara Kenji. Matsuda-nii, just act in a play with me and come with me, okay?” Takanashi Chinatsu didn’t want Hagiwara Kenji to have any regrets, and she didn’t want Matsuda Jinpei to have any unresolved issues.
Matsuda Jinpei remained silent, but that was tantamount to acquiescing.
He didn't know if it was true or not, but since Takanashi Chika said so, he was willing to go crazy with her, even if he was deceived, this would be the last time.
Unexpectedly...
“He can’t leave.” Yato’s words made the two humans and the demon all turn to look at him.
Yato shuddered, hid behind Yukine, and said again, "I can't send him away. I came to see if he was an evil spirit. If he was, I would have to kill him. But he's not an evil spirit, and it's not my duty to send ghosts to their deaths. I can't do it."
Takanashi Chinatsu exclaimed in surprise, "Aren't you a god?"
"But I don't know how to perform rituals for the deceased! That kind of thing is more suitable for senior monks." Yato looked innocent.
Chinatsuko: ...
Hagihara Kenji:…
The human and the ghost stared at each other, both seeing the despair in each other's eyes.
No!
They have been acting recklessly during this period, crossing many boundaries that they dared not cross before, just because Kenji Hagiwara is about to be forced to die.
But now, Yato can't even get rid of him!
Compared to Kenji Hagiwara, Chinatsu Takanashi was even more devastated.
Oh no! She even revealed the organization's affairs to Kenji Hagiwara. How come this ghost still can't be sent away? Could it be that it will never be sent away?
"Are you lying to me again?" A hint of mockery flashed in Matsuda Jinpei's eyes. Sure enough, they were all lying.
"I'm not lying to you, Matsuda-nii, I'm absolutely not lying to you!" Takanashi Chinatsu explained anxiously, but her explanation remained dry and unconvincing.
Kenji Hagiwara also realized that he couldn't let Chinatsu Takanashi become a liar in Jinpei Matsuda's eyes, so he quickly proved his identity: "When I was 12 years old, I took apart my sister's phone and framed Jinpei for it, and Jinpei got a good beating from my sister for it."
Takanashi Chika's eyes became incredibly complicated. What a terrible friend.
But she still told Matsuda Jinpei the truth: "Hagiwara-kun said that when he was 12 years old, he took apart his sister's phone and framed you for it, which caused you to be beaten."
Matsuda Jinpei's eyelashes behind his sunglasses trembled slightly.
This is something only he and Hagi know; even Chisato doesn't know the truth.
How could this be? Did Hagi tell someone else? If it really is a scam, how did these people find out about it?
"When we were in college, the water heater broke down because Xiao Zhenping secretly took it apart to play with it and lost a screw. We went to a hardware store together to buy a new one and then we were able to put it back together."
Chizuru keeps repeating the same thing over and over.
Kenji Hagiwara floated in front of Jinpei Matsuda. The ghost peered at him and, through the black sunglasses, saw the shocked look in Jinpei Matsuda's eyes.
"He believed it," Kenji Hagiwara said confidently.
"You believed me." Takanashi Chinatsu breathed a sigh of relief.
Matsuda Jinpei put one hand in his pocket, his gaze sweeping from left to right, then from top to bottom.
It's true, just as Takanashi Chika said, Hagi is really here, she just can't see him.
Where is he?
Matsuda Jinpei took a step forward, overlapping with Hagiwara Kenji's body.
Chinatsu's eyes looked a little strange.
Matsuda Jinpei quickly retreated and asked, "He's right in front of me, isn't he?"
In the dimly lit hallway, Kenji Hagiwara smiled bitterly, his eyes revealing a deep longing for his childhood friend.
He was always very likable, and his words and actions always carried a hint of a smile. He never showed any disappointment in front of Takanashi Chinatsu.
It was only at this moment that Takanashi Chinatsu realized that Hagiwara Kenji might not have had a good time these past two years; he was just better at hiding his emotions.
She gave a muffled "hmm".
How long have you known him?
“Two years. We’ve known each other since I moved in two years ago.” Takanashi Chinatsu’s heart sank.
Yes, two years.
She had known Kenji Hagiwara for two years, yet she never asked about his identity, his family, or anything related to him.
All she could do was say a few words to him from time to time and leave the TV for him to watch; she did nothing else.
Takanashi Chika lowered her head, not daring to look Matsuda Jinpei in the eye. She was a cold-hearted person, especially towards people she had met in recent years. She didn't care what they said or thought. No matter how much Hagiwara Kenji begged her, she could harden her heart and bring back Yato.
But what if it's Matsuda?
Will I resent her? Will I be disappointed in her?
Matsuda-san is such a perceptive police officer; he must have understood how much could have happened in two years, and he must have also understood that she had been standing idly by while Hagiwara Kenji was in trouble.
"You've been able to see him all along?"
“Yes, I’ve had the ability to see and talk to ghosts since I was a child,” Chinatsu Takanashi answered numbly.
"Only you can see him?" Matsuda Jinpei pressed closer.
Chinatsu Takanashi shrank back slightly, but still told the truth: "Yes, only me."
The deity did not speak.
Hagiwara Kenji also stood by and watched.
Just like her, when only she could help Kenji Hagiwara, she stood by and did nothing.
Takanashi Chika lowered her head. She could feel the gazes around her, among which Matsuda Jinpei's gaze was particularly intense and unsettling.
My heart felt as if it had sunk into a boundless sea, the water so cold it was icy, freezing my heartbeat and stopping my blood flow.
If even Matsuda-san complains about her...
"Thank you, China!" Matsuda Jinpei held Takanashi China's hand tightly.
Matsuda Jinpei's hands were very hot, as if they had scorched the ice, causing the ice to melt and even the most barren land to bloom instantly.
Thank you? To express gratitude?
Takanashi Chika slowly raised her head, her eyes filled with utter confusion.
Matsuda Jinpei's eyes burned with fervor, like the blazing sun, as he said with excited gratitude, "Thank you so much for taking care of Hagi these past two years! I'm truly grateful!"
A note from the author:
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Kenji Hagiwara didn't stop him because he understood his childhood friend, so Matsuda wouldn't hold a grudge.
The police academy team are all really nice people!
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