Episode 10 Possession

My search had come to a dead end. My mind was not clear as I worked at the Cafe from morning. Hana would casting an amorous glance at me, when she saw that there were few customers. It wasn't that I wasn't happy about it, but I just couldn't get over it. It was the voice of my instincts, so to speak. While I was in such a state of agony, Taizo came to see me in the afternoon.

"I'm having wiener coffee"

he said.He ordered a wiener coffee as usual and seemed to be watching Hana for a while. When the coffee arrived and he took a sip, Taizo gave me a look. He seemed to be telling me to come over here. I moved to Taizo's seat.

"That's the girl, though."

Taizo looked at Hana.

"She's been acting strange for a while now. Don't you think so?"

Taizo said in a whisper. I'm sure he can see the change in his eyes as well.

"Yes, that's what I'm talking about. Actually..."

I confided in Taizo about what I had been doing.

"Oh. So that's what it was. That's right, it's called possession."

"Possession?"

"Hmm. Hana's body becomes a object representative of a spirit, and Kyoko's spirit takes over."

"representative?"

"You young people probably don't know this, but it's been happening for a long time. Well, Kyoko died young, so she must have had a lot of things she wanted to do with the same looking Hana."

I stared at Taizo, dumbfounded. I'm sure maybe so, but is that even possible today?　But...But...

"Hoho. Don't you believe it?　　But that's all I can think of. No matter how much time has passed, there is no substitute for the fact that humans and animals are spirits. That's why even today, when people die, we hold funerals to pray for their souls, don't we?"

Taizo said and smiled calmly.

That's true. But now that I know that, what should I do?

"Taizo-san, how do I get rid of this Kyoko spirit?"

"Yes. Yes, you need to perform an exorcism. I know a priest who is a very good homa (vajra burning) priest. He usually exorcises evil spirits that possess people. I'm sure he can do it."

"Where should I go?"

"Fukagawa Fudo. It's in Monzennakacho. I'll let him know you're coming."

"So we'll close up tomorrow and go there?"

"Yes. And don't tell her about the exorcism, because you never know what she'll do when she finds out."

"That's right. ......"

That night, Hana and I returned to the apartment and ate a late dinner in silence.

"What's wrong with you today?"

Yeah, ...... No, it's nothing. I was just thinking about running the restaurant."

"Don't worry!　　I'm here, and I'm sure you have a lot of customers who come to see me."

Hana - or should I say Kyoko - smiled and sipped her miso soup. Today was the end of the events that had made us feel like newlyweds. I felt a little sad when I thought about it. Ever since Hana had changed, I had felt as if I were making love to a real young girl, albeit for a short time. However, it was not good to continue like this. The girl who was eating in front of me was not the real Hana.

After dinner, as I was soaking in the bath and looking at the ceiling, I suddenly felt a tear roll down my cheek. That's when I knew. I knew then how much I had loved my small but happy days with Kyoko. Once the tears started, I couldn't stop them. I cried aloud. Was it Hana or Kyoko that I loved?　　I didn't know for sure now. After I stopped crying for a while, I got out of the bath.

Wiping my hair with a bath towel, I sat down on the sofa in the living room. That was it. I remember the first time I brought Hana home, we were sitting on the sofa in silence like this. My eyes caught a glimpse of the houseplant in the corner of the room. I remembered the first time I had met Hana, a girl as pure and transparent as a plant: ....... After all, that's what Hana deserved. If Hana doesn't fall in love with me, there's no point. Not Kyoko.

My mind was made up. Tomorrow, I'll take Hana to Fukagawa Fudo. We can call it sightseeing. I don't know what an exorcism is, but I guess I'll find out.