Epi.4-3: Is It Okay to Live in the Abandoned House?

The morning after Misaki began living in the abandoned house.
She was standing in front of an old sake shop built beside the entrance to the forest.
It was a building where the home and the shop were joined as one, carrying a faint sense of nostalgia.
This was the home of the person who managed the abandoned house.

“Excuse me.”
Calling out as she peeked inside, she sensed someone in the back after a short while.

“Welcome.”
The one who appeared was an elderly man.
His back was straight, but his hair was completely white, and even his voice carried the weight of his years.

“Um… my name is Ichinose Misaki.”
The moment she gave her name, the man narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Actually… about the abandoned house in the forest—”

“Do as you like. But I won’t take responsibility.”
Cutting her off, he said that and turned his back.

“Um, I’m living there… and I was wondering about rent…”

At those words, the man’s footsteps came to a halt.

“…What did you just say?”

When he turned back, his face showed confusion rather than anger.

“…I’m living in the abandoned house. And, if it’s needed, the rent…”

“I don’t need any rent. If you want to live there, do as you like.
I told you already—I won’t take responsibility.”

After saying that, he let out a sigh.
He paused for a moment, then muttered softly,

“…Are you in your right mind?”

“It’s still a little scary, but… I’m managing, more or less.”

The man stayed silent for a while, staring steadily at Misaki.

“…That place, you know—people use it for test-your-courage things or whatever they like.
You never know what might show up, and there are some that cause trouble.
If something happens to you, I won’t know anything about it. Even so, you’re still going to live there?”

In every part of his voice, the intention of “Don’t do it” was seeping through.

However—

“Yes. They’re ghosts, but… some of them are kind enough to get along with me…”

Silence fell again.
After a while, the man spoke as if his shoulders had dropped.

“…Do as you like.”

Misaki gave a small nod.

“And also… could you sell me some sake?”

“It’s business, after all. I don’t mind that.”

“Thank you very much.”
As she gave her thanks, Misaki’s eyes were already fixed on the bottles of sake lined up on the shelves.

Placing a basket on the cart she had borrowed, Misaki quietly began lining up bottles of sake.
One bottle, then another. Her movements were careful and without waste.
Seeing the sheer amount, the man couldn’t help but ask,

“…Are you having some kind of party?”

“…No, it’s just me,”
she answered with a straight face, taking yet another bottle in her hand.

“Isn’t that a bit too much?”

“…It’s hard for me to go outside, so I thought I’d buy a lot at once…”

Her tone was flat, but her eyes wandered slightly.

“…I see…”
The man snorted through his nose and folded his arms.

“…So, how are you planning to carry all that?”

At that question, Misaki looked down at the cart, stayed silent for a moment, then quietly turned back toward the man.

“…I… didn’t really think about that.”

“Good grief… I’ll bring out the car. Wait here.”

Inside the car on the way to the abandoned house.
With Misaki sitting in the passenger seat beside him, the man gripped the steering wheel in silence.
After a while, he suddenly murmured,

“Ghosts, huh… They really existed.”

“Yes. They’re cute, you know. Would you like to meet them?”

It wasn’t a joke—she genuinely meant it.

“…No, I’ll pass.”
Still looking away, the man pressed down on the accelerator.

The car came to a stop in front of the abandoned house.
The man took a dolly down from the loading area and placed on it a case packed tightly with isshōbin of sake.

“This is as far as I go. Carry the rest yourself. You can use the dolly.
Well—be careful.”

Without turning around, he raised one hand and went back to the car.

“Thank you very much.”
Misaki bowed deeply and stood in front of the dolly.

On top of it was a bundle of bottles, heavy enough to feel solid.
She opened the door and stopped in front of the stairs.

A step rising slightly ahead of her when she looked up.
When she brought her gaze back down, the case packed full of bottles was silently waiting.

“…So this is my first trial, I guess.”

She lifted one four-bottle case, checking its weight.
Then, without a word, Misaki began to climb the stairs.