Nanako-chan SOS (Part 3)
2/
Play *12
If a human goes through a traumatic experience at a young age, his spirit rots away.
If there is a skeleton to personality, all of those bones get bent.
If he doesn't go to a good bone-setting doctor, he grows up with the bones staying bent, and as a result ends up as someone like me.
Well, in my case they're bent so bad that I have no right to speak.
(Train station)
When I first saw him, I could tell in a moment.
He was broken.
That like me, he was a fucking kid who no longer feared anything.
After the accident in which I lost my parents, I couldn't get into peaceful everyday life.
I couldn't even enjoy being in the classroom without a
single uneasy element.
This classroom is above a railway bridge, so if a sudden typhoon were to come, we'd be driven down into a gorge - imagining things like that, I thought, "Well, it could happen."
It's embarrassing to say, but I had pretended to mature early.
Because I had experience seeing death come without warning, I thought I understood what it was.
It comes in random outbursts.
With no rules, no order, it truly comes at us unfairly.
It doesn't matter if you're a good or bad person.
Like how an unlucky man might trip over a stone, he might receive "death."
I thought I understood that irrationality since I was a child.
No, really, I think I understood.
That's why I recognized someone like me.
In the classroom filled with naive children, that kid who was so broken that you'd think he should be isolated in a hospital.
(Classroom)
Stop music
(cloudy background)
Play *4
What kind of accident was that?
It was definitely during elementary school when we had taken a class trip to some faraway place.
We were in the mountains when it started raining, and it eventually started pouring, so the entire class fled into some shack.
Everyone thought that it was just some regular rain at first.
But the rain kept getting heavier and heavier, and the cliff behind the shack collapsed, and we were caught in a mudslide.
...... Well, the shack was fine, and the cliff hadn't collapsed that badly.
That's right, a few trees had penetrated the roof, and the door was unopenable due to mud, but that was about it.
Still, grouped inside the shack, we were so scared that we couldn't stand it.
The ones who didn't cry were just him and me, and as if playing chicken with him, I pretended to be calm.
...... Yes, that's how it was.
I was merely used to it, but I hadn't actually accepted that death was irrational and could come at no fault of your own.
I just knew the principle, but it's not that I had any answers.
So, in that situation I could do nothing but quietly, as quietly as possible, wait.
That was probably the same with him.
But if there was one thing that was different, it was that he was constantly looking out the window.
I recall that before the mud unraveled, he kept looking outside, and told the teacher that we should close the shutters.
Then when the mudslide came so hard that I thought the shack was going to turn over, I kept my eyes open in order to keep watching the scene to the end.
At first, I think I was pretty calm.
When I realized that the entire shack was drifting down, I didn't act surprised, and when a wall or window started squeaking and cracking, I didn't panic.
I even went to a corner where no one was, because I was annoyed at the crying of my classmates.
But that was a mistake.
Suddenly, with a bang, the roof broke.
A broken branch stuck to the floor.
It fell right in front of my nose, and so my whole mind went white.
I was always ready for this kind of accident, but I had become unable to think or move.
At that moment.
"Let's go back to where everyone is. I think this place is dangerous."
Suddenly his face popped up behind the fallen branch.
"You-----"
'Aren't you scared at all?,' I tried to say.
If he came from behind the branch, that means he was in this area as well.
In this situation where one wrong step could mean death, he was unbelievably calm.
"We're not hurt. I guess we're lucky. Now, let's go somewhere safer."
'Let's go,' he said and started going to the center of the shack.
"--------"
From that I understood a little.
I had accepted the irrationality that humans could die at any moment. I had decided to live however I wished until then.
However, this guy was subtly different.
This guy could accept the irrationality of death, but still live with leisure.
"...... What an idiot."
He's so strange that even I should say that.
Maybe it's obvious that I got the feeling he was broken.
This guy could be easily ready for death, and then on the next moment move about as if nothing had happened.
Thus, can I think anything but that something is wrong with his mind?
Stop music
(grey)
Play *14
"Arihiko-san--, it's morning--"
I hear a voice that doesn't even have a bit of tenseness.
"Wake up, you're going to be late--"
I get slapped in the face with a very hard hand.
"This is bad, Ichigo-san requested me to supervise you well, so now it's time for me to really commit to it!"
The slapping sounds change into some vague tapping sounds.
"Yes-- Then I'm coming--"
I feel something being swung.
(Screen shakes, Arihiko's room)
"--------Ugh!"
At that moment, I got up as if shocked from a nightmare.
On the pillow on which my head was resting until just a moment ago are Nanako's front legs.
"Wh, what are you doing, you brat----!"
"Ah, good morning, Arihiko-san!"
Nanako greets me filled with energy.
...... Maybe she has poisonous breath. No, from the beginning, whenever I talk with her, my head starts to hurt.
"...... It's not a 'good morning.' How many times do I have to tell you not to get involved in my life?"
"Yes, I already know that. That's why I'm talking to you indirectly like this."
"..............."
"Also, I think it's bad if you don't go to school. After all, Arihiko-san is a student."
"-----"
I look at the clock.
It's about 10 in the morning. ...... At this time, there is no point in going to school.
...... Ah, but if I can get away from her, it wouldn't be bad to go to school.
"............"
I crawl out from under the blanket and change into my uniform.
"Ah, are you going out? Arihiko-san, you're becoming more and more like a human; it makes me happy--"
This ghost who on her own whim latched onto a human seems to have made it her goal to rehabilitate me.
...... Ah, won't someone teach me how to kill her?
"...... I'm going to school, so stay here. On the way home, I'll buy some carrots, so don't take stuff from the refrigerator by yourself."
"Of course! You can count on me. Then, have a nice day, Arihiko-san!"
"-------"
With a completely untrustworthy smile, this ghost lying in my room sent me off to school.
(Outside on streets)
"---Now."
After going outside, I look at the sky.
It's a magnificently clear sky without a single cloud.
I can't go to school on a day like this. Since I've got a lot of stress from Nanako these days, let's spend some time having fun in the city.
"Oh--, this freedom I haven't felt in so long!"
I clench both my hands into fists and put my energy into them.
These last few days, I spent all my time thinking about how to get rid of this ghost, so I couldn't play at all.
I think it would be best if from today on, I have some fun while pretending that she doesn't exist.
"---Hah. Won't someone teach me how to get rid of her......"
Tohno, who seems like he'd be good at this occult type of stuff,
"It's best if it exists for people who have it and it doesn't for people who don't."
says some meaningless stuff like that and doesn't give me any help at all.
So after inspecting this ghost by myself, there are two things I've discovered.
First of all, it's that it can't survive outside my room, no, actually our house.
I don't know the reason, but it seems that her movements are limited to just our house.
So it can't even go anywhere else, and it just stays in my room.
And second, this ghost is definitely one of poor quality.
"I'll disappear if I'm just left alone. Please give me some nutrition."
Saying things like that, this horse kept eating the Inui household's food (generally vegetables).
'To be honest, I need a human's energy--,' she complained, but I can't stand to give my energy to a ghost.
For that reason, I'm holding back my tears and buying Nanako things to eat with my own money. Ichigo just says 'it's yours, so you take care of it,' and her acting just as an onlooker isn't any help at all.
...... So for these reasons, not only is my mental situation bad, but so is my financial situation.
If I live like this for just one more week, I'll have no choice but to start working. If that happens, it will get harder to go to school, so I might really have to stay back a year.
"This is frustrating. How did I get to concern myself over this stuff?"
Even extraordinary things need limits.
The most absurd thing is my apathy from starting to get used to being around a ghost.
"...... Hah. Why did I give it a name?"
A little bit of regret.
Maybe it's just a feeling I'm having, but since I gave it a name, it seems to be following my directions.
It's really unlike me.
I'm the type of person to do nothing even if someone is starving to death in front of me if he has nothing to do with me, so how did I end up doing something to make it happy?
Really, I am truly regretting it.
"At first, I had given it a name to annoy it."
That was unsuccessful.
I should've realized sooner that ironic things like that don't work on it.
"Hmph, I shouldn't have called it Nanako. Damn it."
Stop Music
Play *6
"Yes, what is it, Arihiko-san?"
"Ah, what I mean is, I was trying to annoy-------
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?"
"Haaaaaaaaaa, what do you mean by that?"
I quickly retract my body.
What is it what is it, people say as they stare.
But I don't have time to care about things like that.
"Na, Na, Na-------"
Shaking, I point at Nanako.
Nanako is definitely there, but the people around me can't see anything.
No one has noticed this strange being that suddenly appeared on the street.
"No--, that's embarassing, Arihiko-san. You are my temporary master, so please don't become a laughing stock."
"Uuuuuuuuu............!"
I grab Nanako with my left hand.
"Ow. Arihiko-san, that hurts--"
Ignoring those words, I run into a back alley.
(back alley)
Stop Music
"Punishment!"
"Owie!"
As soon as we were in the alleyway I hit Nanako's head with my right hand.
Play *14
"Ow--, what are you doing-- Arihiko-san, please stop starting everything with violence--"
"Stop it, that's what I should say! As a ghost who appears during the day, and at somewhere crowded with people, don't say something that conceited! Realize a little that you are strange!"
"What? What's strange about me?"
"-----Oomph."
The ghost has a puzzled look.
...... Ah. Really, this is exhausting.
"...... Alright. I got it. You really came here to annoy me, right? Lying around at home, you decided to ignore my orders to stay in my room and came here to give me a nervous breakdown."
And the one who sent her must definitely be Tohno.
"Eh--, I'm not that leisurely. Since Arihiko-san is the lowest of the low as a master. Usually I wouldn't be your protector even if you asked."
"-------"
Why is it that this thing always says a little more than it should.
"So, is that right. Then hurry up and disappear. I'm not someone strange enough to receive protection from you."
"I can't do that. Even though Arihiko-san is a temporary one, you are my master, so I have to successfully serve you.
And also, since I can't get out of Arihiko-san's house, I can't disappear to anywhere."
"----Yeah, that."
"Yes?"
"That's what I'm talking about. You can't come out of our house. So how did you come out to this street?"
"Well, that is, it's because as long as I'm near Arihiko-san, I can exist. It's definitely a sign that the bond of our blood is getting stronger!"
'We did it--,' Nanako absent-mindedly yells 'banzai.'
"The bond of our blood, what is that?"
"Hm--, to put it simply, it's a sort of partitioning of spiritual energy. That's why Arihiko-san can now hit me with both hands."
"With both hands......?"
It was only after I heard it that I realized.
I was grabbing Nanako with my left hand and hitting her head with my right.
"Oo, waaaaaaah......!"
It made me angry, so I let go.
"Ah, you hurt me here."
Nanako coolly inspects my panicking form.
"What, whatwhat, what are you! So what you're saying is that you'll eventually become concrete!?"
"Yes, but only to Arihiko-san."
"--Don't lie to me, you idiot! I always knew you weren't normal, but what exactly are you!?"
"Uhuhu, maybe I'm a vengeful spirit haunting Arihiko-san."
This damn ghost looks at me with gloomy eyes.
Goosebumps start forming up my back.
"Ah, but I'm not at a level where I'm able to do something to Arihiko-san's life. Since the previous master tied me to a person, I don't need to take any energy from Arihiko-san.
So if you value your life, please buy lots of delicious carrots for me."
Huhuhu, Nanako laughs darkly.
"--------"
But, wait.
I had an idea from before, but she......
"Nanako. You know what you are, right?"
See, her sincere face has come back.
"As I thought. When you come to your senses, even though it's true that you were in my room, you still know what you are. ...... You aren't some vengeful spirit that is haunting me. Now how about you tell me what you really are?"
"Regrettably, that's a secret. I'm sorry, but since Arihiko-san is not an official master, I can't tell you."
"Alright, that's good then. Then, get out of here. As long as you're not an evil spirit, I don't have to worry about retribution. More importantly, you have a master other than me, right?"
"Hau!? H, how do you know that, Arihiko-san......!"
".................."
Actually, it was just a guess, but I didn't realize that she'd respond in such an obvious way.
"Then it's decided. Hey, if you have an owner, just go back to that person. If you tell me the location, I'll even carry that damned heavy mass of scrap metal."
"A, Arihiko-san, you knew......!"
"It's obvious. When a ghost suddenly appears, what reason other than that could there be?"
"...... I see, I was underestimating Arihiko-san's intelligence......"
'Hah,' Nanako says and slumps her shoulders in resignation.
...... Was she really planning on staying at my house by threatening me?
"It's decided. Now, just tell me where this master of yours is. You as well, you'll be more comfortable there than being with a normal person like me."
I grab her hand.
----Then.
"Ooaang, I don't want to----! I don't want to go back to someone so terrifying---!"
With that, she started to throw a tantrum like a little child.
"I'm begging you, please let me stay with Arihiko-san--! If I go back to my master, I can't even guess how I'll be remodeled!"
Nanako flails around.
Seeing her tail move about wildly, it looks like she's really panicked.
...... That's that and...
Remodeled, I don't understand what that means.
"Wait. What do you mean, you'll be remodeled?"
"Yes, my new master is a terrifying person. With the attitude of a starving wolf, she forcibly tears away my skin and dips it in blood, and saying 'I'll make you cool later.' she even did this."
Nanako points at her forehead with her finger.
There was something that had caught my attention before, a part that was dug up like a tattoo.
"Hoh. I was wondering what that was."
"That's right......! My master even forcibly pressed this branding on my forehead on me, saying that it felt more industrial! To add hand protectors onto a book filled with history, what was that person thinking? I've formed contracts with many masters, but that was the first time I saw someone so outrageously brutal and with such an unbalanced diet. So please, let me stay at Arihiko-san's house!"
Wah, wah, Nanako falls down and cries.
As if somewhat mortified, she is hitting the ground.
Because of the horseshoes, the sound was very pleasant.
"I see. You must have gone through a lot of trouble."
"Isn't that right? Wow--, you're so sweet, Arihiko-san. Now I'm free from those days when I could be remodelled at any moment--!"
"Oh. So, where does that person live?"
"---Uh? I don't want to tell. What would Arihikio-san do with that kind of knowledge anyway?"
"What do you mean, what? I have to know the address to deliver the goods."
"..............."
"..............."
We stare at each other for a moment.
Ah, it's crying.
"...... I see. That's how it is, I'm too much of a mystery to Arihiko-san, and my existence isn't beyond that of a dignitary. Yes, it was foolish of me to expect recognition from a human. It's alright - instead, please send me back down the river. ...... Ah, then, I was impressed, thinking what a kind person this is."
Nanako mutters.
It seems that when her emotions pass a certain threshold, her personality becomes limitless.
"You sure are a gloomy one. As a ghost, don't begrudge me."
"Yes, because I'm a ghost it's obvious I would hold a grudge."
"Oh. That's a good point."
Saying that, I turn my back to it.
"Well, then it can't be helped. I don't know how long it will last, but this is a battle of patience."
"?"
"I'm going to take a walk, so keep watch of the house. Our house is always empty, so if we have a guard dog, it might be helpful."
'Alright,' I say and exit the back alley.
Behind my back is the joyful sound of 'banzai--.'
"-------Hah."
I don't know how many times I've sighed.
...... Still, I don't think it will be too long.
If her story is true, that master of hers will be looking for her as well, so when the day comes, I can just return her.
If I try to get rid of her now, she might get angry, which makes me scared.
Plus, whatever.
If I brought it home, I have to take responsibility for it, that's my belief.
Stop music