Chapter 5: The Boy’s Family

Now that he had passed on, there was nothing Sayuri—herself a floating ghost—could do.
She could only stare blankly at the boy’s body.

Her emotions couldn’t keep up with reality.

The festival the boy had been looking forward to.
Once she had seen that through, she would leave this place without delay.
It was just a coincidence—strange events piling up one after another.
That was the only way she could convince herself.

—Clank, clank.

From far away, a dry sound like metal striking metal drifted over.
It sounded like a bell, yet also like something being dragged along.
In the darkness, the sound slowly drew closer.

—Clank, clank.

Two black-clad “somethings” were pulling a narrow cart with slender wheels—a funeral bier cart—making a creaking sound as they went.
Their clothing was loose overall, hiding both their hands and their feet. Cloth covered their faces as well, leaving their expressions unseen.
With both arms spread wide to either side, almost like birds, each time they swung their arms, the bells in their hands rang.

—Clank, clank.

Each time the bell rang, a half turn, then a full turn.
There was no pattern to be found.

It was a strange movement, as if they were trying not to let anyone tell whether they were facing forward or backward.

Before long, the two stopped right in front of Sayuri.
They roughly placed the boy’s body onto the cart, then, ringing the sound once more, started walking off toward somewhere.

Feeling something cold brush along her spine, Sayuri followed after them in silence.

Even while carrying the body, their movements did not change.
Each time the bell rang, they turned.
Combined with their clothing, the movement of their joints could not be seen at all.

The place they arrived at was the boy’s home.
Without ringing the doorbell, they carried the boy inside through the open front entrance.
Sayuri followed after them as well.

At the sight of the boy, his parents couldn’t even scream, collapsing where they stood.
The mother’s shoulders trembled, while the father lowered his face, biting his lip.

That was when it happened.
One of the black-clad figures stood with their back against the wall and removed the cloth from their face.

Sayuri’s eyes widened.
It was the man—the one who had shot the boy.

The man glared at the parents with eyes filled with hatred, then shouted in a voice that forced his rage down.

“—What kind of upbringing did you give that child?!”

The air froze.
The father let out a strained sound from his throat and opened his mouth, as if squeezing the words out.

“...We’re deeply sorry. Our child has done something terribly rude...”

The two bowed deeply.
As if that were only natural.

Sayuri was left speechless.

What are they saying…? He killed the boy…

The man’s mouth was still twisted with anger.
After killing someone for such a selfish reason, how could he still lash out with so much rage?

No… I don’t understand at all…

Sayuri couldn’t stay there any longer.
It felt like her mind was about to break—and before she realized it, she was drifting softly through the ceiling and the roof, floating in midair.

Thinking that everything was wrong.