The House in Which Nightmares Dwell 5.3

[touchturnfly]

3

 

Mai stood on her tiptoes. She thought she had heard the sound of a doorbell, but ended up wondering whether that was a dream or reality.

Mai had been allocated into Midori's room. Midori had moved to the Japanese-style room used by Reiko and gave up her own Western-style room.

Even though she had experienced going to her friends' rooms many times, an office lady's room had a totally different atmosphere. She found it interesting.

The greatest difference was the big full-length mirror, she thought without care while changing her clothes. Because she never ceased to fall in some hole or climb to a high place, she basically didn't wear skirts during investigations.

She carried her pouch with things to wash up and got out of the room. Facing the camera placed in the hall of the second floor and perhaps facing someone who might be awake and watching the screen, she said, "Good morning."

At any rate, the thing she had to do after waking up was to go to the base and receive instructions. After washing her face, Mai stopped in the corridor on the way to the base.

"Hnn... ..."

She didn't know why. When she approached the full-length mirror, her feet stopped no matter what. It's not like she did such things like unwrinkling the crease of her clothes.

The full-length mirror was directly opposite of the corridor and seemed to be embedded inside the wall. Because it was at the exact height of the alcove, it reached Mai's height if she raised her hand just precisely. The edges made of plain wood were big.

When she inclined her head, peered in and looked carefully, light shone into the mirror. The reflected door behind Mai had opened.

Mai was startled. The reason unclear to Mai herself. She was surprised to the point of becoming pale, and looked back with a jump. Unexpected words crossed her mind.

-- Don't come in.

At the surprise of her own thoughts, steadfastly looked back..

-- Don't come in. Stay there and get out.

Reiko who opened the door, smiled when Mai came into her view.

"I'm home. -- What's the matter?"

Mai couldn't answer.

-- Quickly.

(I have to say, welcome back.)

-- Get out and don't come back.

(If I don't say it, she will worry...)

"Wel... ... come... ... back."

Even speaking out required the strength of her will.

Carrying a shopping bag, Reiko passed before the door of the living room and walked until the front of the dining kitchen's door.

"Is there something wrong?"

"I... ... was a bit surprised... ... because I was thinking about something... ..."

"Oh my," Reiko said with a smile. "I'm sorry."

"Not at all."

Mai could barely laugh. Reiko bowed a little, opened the door of the dining kitchen, and until she went inside, she desperately kept a smile on her face.

(My... ... legs are, trembling.)

There was the sense of sweat on her back.

-- Why do my feet always stop in front of the full-length mirror?

(... ...Understood)

Reiko's figure vanished and Mai could finally wipe that overdone smile off her face.

(I'm, afraid of the full-length mirror... ...)

She didn't know why she suddenly had that kind of feeling. She was scared to the point of having goose bumps. Even though she had to go into the direction of the full-length mirror to get to the base, she was scared to go back.

All of a sudden she heard a sliding screen open. It was just a little behind Mai's back.

"What's the matter?"

Mai shivered, hearing Lin's voice.

"-- Taniyama-san?"

Mai turned her head into the direction of his voice. Even though she knew who was standing there, she still couldn't help but be frightened.

"What happened?"

The one who stood there was the tall Lin after all, and Mai finally let out a sigh.

"Did something happen?"

Lin's forelock covered one of his eyes. That's why she stared back at the eye that was visible.

"... ...I, that full-length mirror is scary."

Lin turned his head into the direction of the full-length mirror.

"I don't know why, but it's very frightening."

After Lin frowned, he placed a hand on Mai's back. He lightly pushed her into the base.

"At any rate, get inside. You look pale."

(Beyond the full-length mirror... ...)

While she stepped into the the base, that suddenly crossed her mind.

(... ...is Kosori... ...)

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