spr | The House in Which Nightmares Dwell 2.2

At Saki's urging, Midori talked to the girl about her circumstances.

Her monologue that she had kept to herself didn't seem dubious, but didn't seem very reliable either.

Midori was tired and completely fed up. Even though she was talking about her troubling circumstances to a party she couldn't rely on, she had willpower. Nevertheless she explained it carefully, because the girl who listened was earnest and her performance was moreover good. She was young to the point that she was shocked, but she certainly appeared to be experienced.

"The ones who live in that house are Agawa Midori-san and your mother Reiko-san. Only the two of you, am I correct?"

"... ...Yes."

"Are there people who frequently visit?"

"There are none," Midori said and then looked at Hirota as if she was just reminded of something. Hirota nodded.

"She's concerned, so I will be staying over from tomorrow on."

Hirota glanced at Saki. Strange gossip was not permissible, so in the café they had arranged that he would be called her cousin.

The girl looked into Hirota's direction and lightly inclined her head.

"You are?"

"I am Hirota Seigi. Midori-san's cousin. Incidentally this is my colleague, Nakai Saki."

"I'm sorry, what is your age and occupation?"

"Twenty four. Government worker."

"Yes," Mai said as she took notes and closed the file.

"-- I'm sorry for taking up your time. We will consult this with our boss."

"Taniyama-san," Hirota said to Mai who had bowed her head. "What do you think? Would this be a psychic phenomenon after all?"

Psychic groupings that seem to blame just about everything in the world -- to the extent of forest shadows that were photographed and uneven film development on ghosts and the like was what Hirota despised completely. Now he wanted to know whether the girl before his eyes and those colleagues were of the same kind of people.

Mai inclined her head with not even a little care about her situation.

"As for me, I don't know... ... But it's strange no matter how I think about it."

"So it cannot be blamed on the building?"

"From what I heard I feel like it's a poltergeist. But we haven't been to the scene and done an investigation so I cannot judge."

"What is a poltergeist? I have heard of it many times."

"Uh... ... It means noisy spirit. There were knocking sounds, things were moving and noises happened, right? In the poltergeist phenomenon there are nine phenomena that occur a lot, and these are three from that."

"Then, you say there's something in the house after all?

Mai inclined her head once more.

"I wonder. ... ...Recently poltergeists have been called RSPK... ..."

"What?"

"Recurrent Spontaneous Psychokinesis, in short RSPK. It means PK that occurs repeatedly and spontaneously. PK is often called telekinesis and is a type of psychic ability. In other words it's not the deed of a ghost, because there are many cases of people causing it. A person can do it unconsciously by accident. ... ... Only, in such cases there is certainly something that is called a focus point -- Um, there is a person who focuses on poltergeist damage or a person who is certainly related to the phenomena. In the case of Agawa-san's house it's not made clear, so I feel it's a little strange for a poltergeist."

"You're well informed, huh."

The one who said that with true admiration was Saki. Mai looked at Saki and waved her hand hastily.

"It's nothing. The boss told me this and it's because I've somewhat learned by observation under him."

"But, you're an investigator, right?"

"Yeah. In the meaning of engaging into investigative activities, I'm certainly an investigator. So hearing the story, transporting the investigation equipment, and such. Thanks to that I've developed a my physical strength completely."

Everyone laughed a little at her distinct lack of care.

"But, Taniyama-san. Is there also a possibility that it is not a psychic phenomenon?"

When Hirota asked her that, Mai made a serious face.

"I don't think there's nothing. For example, even at an investigation we did before there was a cause that wasn't psychic, but caused by a land subsidence."

"I see... ..."

Hirota took a short breath. At least he felt that this girl had it put together better than he thought she would be.

Mai turned toward Midori again.

"-- Ah, um. In the case that we undertake your request, do you not mind if we establish a base where we put out our investigation equipment?

"It's fine."

"I'm sorry, but in that case we'll be using a lot of electric power."

"I don't mind at all."

"In the case of a private residence, particularly when it comes to the connection to the power company could you please guarantee the source of electricity? Is that-"

"I'll do it."

"During the investigation we want to ask if it's possible to stay overnight to work."

"By all means. -- But it's cramped."

"Large equipment will be all over the place, regardless of where you go during day and night. To be clear, it will considerably get in the way."

Midori smiled a little.

"I don't mind at all."

"Then, the expenses of the investigation will become like this."

Mai held out the documents. Midori took it and looked it over. Earlier she heard from Saki about the market price, but when compared to that this was astonishingly cheap.

"I don't mind taking up the expenses, but... ... Is this honestly the right amount of money?"

"Yes. This office's foundation purpose is more or less the study of psychic phenomena, so we don't do investigation for the purpose of money. In the case of when we receive something out of gratitude, donations are received to aid research activities," Mai said and stuck a small tongue out. "In the past there have been cases where we got zero or something. We truly take it good feeling."

"Wow."

"Even though it's like that, the expenses are pretty big. After all consumable goods aren't trivial. The longer an investigation goes on, we could use up about five hundred with just video tapes alone. In the case of getting cooperation with people in the same business, that holds half of guarantee."

Midori nodded.

"It doesn't matter how long it takes. At any rate, I quickly want to clear up and solve the problem."

"I understand," the girl said. The sympathetic voice made her irritable mood become softer.

"I was wondering if you boss is going to undertake the investigation?"

Mai smiled with some worry.

"That's... ... how should I put it. Our boss has an unpredictable personality."

"Is he a difficult person?"

Mai gave her another bitter smile.

"Incredibly difficult. -- As long as we don't look into it, we cannot make promises to the clients."

"I see," Midori smiled a little. Setting aside whether she can rely on them or not, she did think that the girl makes people feel relaxed. Anyone who came here as a last resort like Midori, would be grateful to interact with such a girl.

"If possible I will try to persuade my boss to take your case."

"Please do."

"Yes."

When Mai nodded the noise of the door opening was heard once again.

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The House in Which Nightmares Dwell 2.2

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