spr | The House in Which Nightmares Dwell 5.5

"Hirota-san, I shall... ..."

Reiko stared in confusion at Hirota who was stirring the pan of milk.

"It's fine. I will do it."

For some reason he seemed to be angry, but she was puzzled because she didn't know the reason. Hirota bent the milk pack roughly.

"Um... ... Hirota-san."

"It's fine. I will take care of it."

"No, if you don't add the milk little by little, it will lump up?"

Hirota dropped his shoulders.

When Reiko tilted her head seeing that, the phone rang.

Reiko became a little tense all over. It was the unidentifiable phone call that happened many times before. Due to that, she became concerned in regards to phone calls in any circumstances.

Because Hirota made a doubtful face, Reiko picked up the telephone receiver in a haste. Timidly she held it against her ear.

"... ...Yes. ... ...It's Agawa."

Ah, not again, she thought the moment she held the receiver against her ear. The jarring noise was awful. From the other side a dim voice could be heard from far away.

Even though Midori had listened to it many times, she said didn't understand what they were saying. But to Reiko it was for some reason understandable.

-- Get out.

-- If you don't get out, I'll curse you with murder.

Reiko put the receiver down.

Just for how long was this going to continue?

"Is there something wrong?"

Hirota had come to her side and Reiko raised her face. She went through the trouble of smiling at him.

"It seemed like another prank call."

Once again she felt like she was being attacked by dull headache. Lately it was a headache that seemed like head was fastened with a soft thing that she worried over the whole time. It wasn't painful when she drank, but this couldn't go on for forever. Even though she had felt a little more at ease since last night.

"Are you alright?"

Hirota stared at Reiko's face. He sensed that her complexion was getting worse. Reiko who answered yes when she looked into Hirota's direction, didn't look alright at all.

"Aunt, you're not feeling well?"

After she shook her head and said no, Reiko abruptly looked over her shoulder. Someone said, 'I'm home'. It was Midori's voice.

"... ...Don't," Reiko whispered, and then she shouted, "Don't! Midori, you must not come in!"

"Aunt?"

"Don't come in, stay where you are and get out----!"

-- Please, please.

-- Spare that child at least.

At the same time Midori rushed into the room, Mai and Naru came running into the dining room.

Hirota stood stock still next to Reiko who had screamed and cowered, and looked flustered at the three.

"Mother?"

"Are you alright!?"

Mai and Midori supported her and Reiko raised her face, but her face seemed somewhat empty and her facial expression had reddened.

"Mother... ... Let's lie down for a bit?"

When Midori said that, Reiko whispered with a broken expression, "I have to prepare... ... the meal."

"I will do it. So? Please rest?"

Midori held Reiko in her arms and took her to the second floor.

-- Don't. Midori, you must not come in.

-- Don't do it, stay where you are and get out.

Hirota was deep in thought when he closely listened to the voice that could be heard repeating on the base's speakers.

Isn't this similar to what Mai said? -- No, Reiko who originally did this a while ago. When she was distracted she blurted out things, so that was what Mai remembered and might have unintentionally unintentionally repeated.

It must have been like that. -- but... ...

"At what time does Bou-san arrive?" Naru asked Mai.

"In the evening. He didn't say a time though. He said he can only come after he's done with work."

"Who is?" Hirota got a word in.

"Ah, a co-worker will come," Mai said before looking up at Hirota's face a little. "It's Hirota-san's most disliked medium though."

Hirota was disappointed and didn't reply to this.

"It's a person who always collaborates with us. We requested help, but medium is his side job and he works for another business, so he can't come until evening."

"Long after evening?"

"Yes. I wonder if his work is dragging on."

"Just why is this medium even needed for?"

"That is--"

When Mai began to speak, the doorbell rang. Her complexion brightened in a flash and Mai stood up.

"It's Bou-san," she cried out and ran out of the room.

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