Chapter 14.5: Sink V


    Even my hands began to quiver along with my speech. All I could do was continue spewing out words even as the corners of my eyes began to heat up once again.


    I dont remember bullying her or anything like that but I said a horrible thing to her calling her a liar and iming what she said was absurd


    I didnt recall much but I probably said something worse.


    She was a good person but one thing led to another and I ended up having a falling out with her


    It was shortly after that that she jumped off the roof.


    I cant think of any other reason. She was a personable, entric person who behaved oddly, but everyone liked her. She wasnt harassed and her family background was normal


    I couldnt imagine any reason for such a person tomit suicide Nothing else applied besides the words I spoke to her


    Even worse, I kept running away from the fact shemitted suicide because I wanted to put it behind me. All the time I never looked back and never went to visit her grave. When I started working at that convenience store, I began to see the same things as Takenaka and the others, which made me realize that what she said was not nonsense but the truth. I called her a liar even though she was honest and I am the worst kind of person


    I bit my lip. I felt like I was stabbing myself with a knife or something.


    I was determined to leave this type of environment when I first got your help at that convenience store, and I intended to follow Takenakas advice But I reckoned that this is my punishment for living so idly, forgetting that she even existed until now


    It was as if she was telling me to suffer the same thing that she did. Like she was sneering at me from under her grave


    It had all been my assumption up to that point. But since I awakened to this power, she has been manifesting herself in front of me frequently in her after-death figure in front of me. Whenever I see her, she remarks the same thing. She still wants to stay in this world and make me suffer, resenting me After all this time I want to make it easier for her. She is covered in blood, and even in death, she is still suffering. But I cant figure out any other way. Apart from me staying there and going through what she went through, I cant figure out any other way


    If I could talk to her, I would.


    <em>What do you wish for? How can I put your suffering to rest?</em> But there was no way I could do that.


    In my dreams, she dies over and over again in front of me I am sure I will be having that dream again today Even though I want to do something for her, I couldnt help but be afraid of it The thought of it makes me realize that in the end, all I care about is myself I hate it.


    Regardless of how many times this struggle was repeated, no exit was in sight. On the contrary, the bottomless swamp would seize my feet and sink me


    Hyuga right?


    Huh, why do you


    Because you were calling that name all the time while you were having a nightmare. All this time, you have been burdened with the idea that it was your fault.


    She still has yet to rest in peace surely.


    Takenaka, please. I know its self-serving. But I cant do it myself I can only ask you to do it for me. I want to do something about her, Takenaka, if you can, please about Hyuga


    About Hyuga


    Cant you please save her?


    <em>If there is anything you can do, anything at all that you can help her with, </em>I pleaded in rapid session.


    I didnt wish to see her like that any further. Her pain must be excrutiating, and she must still be suffering.


    No doubt when she emerged all bloody like that. I was certain of that.


    Please, please


    Watching my frantic state, Takenaka remained as cool and collected as ever. After asking me to look up, he announced with a slightly apologetic look on his face, The odds of me being able to resolve this at this point in time are probably fairly low.


    Takenaka then proceeded to exin why.


    I am not an expert in that kind of thing, aside from Ayame Even if I could drive away the evil spirits that wandered into the convenience store I think it would be difficult to make her rest in peace when she appears at your doorstep.


    <em>Usually, with the help of Yagura, the spirits are driven away. Even if I could drive her away, it would be impossible for me to liberate her soul from negative emotions and lead her to the afterlife.</em>


    Indeed, such an extraordinary feat was not that simple to pull off with the exception of Ayame and Yakumo. Even Takenaka, despite his supernatural powers, was an ordinary person.


    I apologize for my inability


    Oh no, please dont apologize. Its me who cant resolve the problem on my own


    When I was about to say so, Takenaka continued to speak.


    I dont know if I can resolve things, but I might be able to change the situation slightly. If you want to know the truth about why shemitted suicide it is possible to find out


    Can you do that?


    The part that remained shrouded in darkness and unrified, the part that I was dying to know the most. The reason for her death Would I ever discover that?


    How deeply can things be figured out are


    Please do it.


    My body was enveloped in sluggishness as I leaned forward with all of my force.


    I dont mind the slightest detail, I just want to know why she had to die.


    I understand. If you say so, Hakamada Ill do it.


    Did he sense theck of hesitation in my appearance? With a deep nod, Takenaka agreed.


    He told me there was only one thing he needed and I was to offer it to him. It was a photo of Hyuga, me and the onlookers. It was that photo taken at the school festival.


    Um, what are you


    I will begin irvoyance now.


    ir?


    It was another specialized term.


    In short, its a process in which a person in the photo is seen through spiritual power


    It sounds shady, doesnt it?


    Oh, no, no for the time being, please begin.


    Yes.


    Takenaka closed his eyes and appeared to be focusing on the subject as he ced his hand over Hyuga, who was standing next to me in the photo with long ck hair, bob-like bangs, and red-rimmed sses.


    I stretched my neck out a little to observe him.


    Oh On a summertime psychic program special, I saw a scenario when a psychic was operating in a simr manner. At the time, I thought it was a farce, though.


    Takenaka sensed something and opened his eyes.


    She died about a month after the festival?


    Heh, ah


    What a shock Even though I didnt say anything. How did this person figure it out or rather, this was what was called irvoyance.


    Apparently, he could indeed see through the pictures.


    Amazing


    No, I simply learned this by watching others.


    Learning


    Learning by watching others Excuse me, I had to take my words back. You were already above the average person, Takenaka.


    Where did you learn all this?


    My grandfather showed it to me a long time ago He used to do psychic photography and psychic evaluation of relics I can only concentrate my mind and trace memories to a certain extent so I cant do much about it.


    No that was a big enough deal at that point


    For the next several minutes, Takenaka focused his attention on the photograph. I wondered if the events of that day were vividly unfolding behind his closed eyelids.


    <em>Trantor: MadHatter</em>


    What have you found out?


    Thats<em>Not shared on aggregator sites</em>


    When Takenaka removed his hand from the photo and I asked about it, he looked as if he was reluctant to borate.


    I could grasp what kind of person she was but I couldnt get a clear understanding of what was going on because there was too little information in this photo


    I see


    Anything more If there is anything that can exclude a wide range of


    Saying that, Takenaka looked at me.


    Hakamada.


    Y-Yes?


    My body wasining of feeling sluggish. Iy down on the futon and covered myself with a light towelket and drowsiness immediately swept over me. With the lights off, the room was dimly lit but not pitch-ck.


    Are you certain about this?


    I shook my head vertically again for the umpteenth time.


    Its fine.


    No matter how much I im its only for the sake of observing, I might still end up noticing things you dont want me to. To be peered at by others would also be undesirable.


    I dont mind, its fine.


    Even my puke had to be cleaned up by Takenaka. What was there to fear from him now sneaking a brief peep into my head? Plus, if this would rify the mystery of Hyugas death, I didnt really care.


    With these words, I closed my eyes.


    Your consciousness will be connected to the photo and I will send you to your prior recollection. Please rx and be at ease.


    Even without being told, my body was already weakened by sleepiness, and my eyelids were already straining against my eyeballs. The cold hand of Takenaka touched my forehead.


    Was it due to the presence of somebody by my side?


    It has been a long time since I have fallen asleep with such a feeling of security.


    What would happen to me from now on?


    Before I could ponder the question deeply, I slipped into the world of a dream.