Epi.3-2: The One Who Can't

Sayuri flashed a quick grin and vanished, gliding right over Hirai’s head.
She floated back into view high behind him.

From behind Hirai, who went on with his explanation, she waved toward Shinobu on the second floor.
Shinobu gave a small, troubled smile and waved back.

Sayuri took a light breath.

“Baa!!”

At that moment—
Sayuri’s upside-down face suddenly popped in between Hirai’s face and his digital camera.

But—

“You know, people who can’t see it won’t get this, but for the ones who can feel it, the pressure hits you hard.”

He didn’t react at all.

“…Huh?”

Sayuri floated there for a moment, eyes wide, as if left hanging in midair.
She drifted lightly around to the front of Hirai—waving, crouching, turning upside down—trying everything she could to make herself noticed.

“Heeey! I’m right heeere! Don’t ignore meee!”

Hirai frowned, puckering his lips as he muttered,

“…This feeling… it hits deep in the temples. Yeah, this has to be a grudge-type.”

“I don’t hold a grudge!”
Sayuri shot back.

Hirai glanced left and right ahead of him, then suddenly jabbed a finger forward.

“Right there!”

Sayuri looked in the direction he pointed, but nothing was there.
“You seriously can’t see anything…”

“Hah-haah! Creature of darkness! I’ll vanquish you! Hah!”

Shouting that, Hirai thrust out his hand.

Sayuri watched the scene in stunned silence.

(…Okay. I’ll make him notice with sound!)

She floated back up to the second floor and perched on the railing.
Right beside her, Shinobu spoke to her in a worried tone.

“Don’t worry,”
Sayuri replied lightly—

“—Here I go!!”

She leapt. Her target was a spot several meters in front of Hirai—a bold, feet-first landing.

Thud!!

A heavy sound echoed through the entrance hall.
Dust scattered, and the floor creaked.

“…Whoa!?”

Hirai finally let out a shout.
Sayuri struck a pose like a gymnast finishing her routine.

“A death cry, huh…! I see. That must have been the feel of purification… Hmph—congratulations on passing on.”
Hand pressed to his chest, Hirai looked quite satisfied.

“No, that’s not it at all!!”

But of course, her voice didn’t reach him.

“Saved another soul today as well. This abandoned house must be a little lighter now. All right—onward!”

Looking perfectly satisfied, he headed down the hallway with his camera.
Left behind, Sayuri floated there for a while, her face blank with disbelief.

Shinobu came down from the second floor and approached Sayuri.
“…Was he… ignoring you? It was like he couldn’t see you at all.”
“…Yeah. I know. Really.”
The two of them kept their eyes on the darkness into which Hirai had disappeared.

After a moment, Sayuri murmured quietly,
“…Maybe he was just… winging it.”

Shinobu let out a small, wry smile beside her.
“…Maybe… yeah.”

Silence settled over the entrance hall once more.