Fun and Games (self-insert #4)

Chapter 4

Ayako grinned as I strode into base, fresh and well-stuffed with Nutella sandwiches. Whoever magically rigged my backpack really knew how to cheer me up after a long chilly night in a closet that smelled like Lysol. "How was your night, Your Majesty?"

Pretty terrible despite my noble attempt to give the girls some room, but I wasn't about to tell her that. "Wonderful. The down feather pillows, the velvet lined futon, the salt lamp..."

Her expression soured. "What's wrong with you?"

"Lord knows."

Masako arrived by the time everyone had fully woke up and Lin had last night's recordings playing and her announcement crushed Bou-san's hopes. "You don't see any spirits here?!" He demanded. Very inconspicuously, Lin's fingers moved to turn up the volume. "What do you mean, Masako-chan?"

"It's not that I don't see any spirits at all." She said, as composed as ever in a bright flowery kimono. "I do feel their presence."

Mai looked worried despite her statement. "But Masako is the only one of us with the ability to spirits, right? So that means..."

"We're in trouble." Bou-san finished.

Masako turned away from them, her entire body rigid with indignation. John had arrived with her as well and now tried to play the pacifist. "Ah...well...maybe she's not at her best right now?" He suggested.

"But you can feel if they exist?" Naru pressed.

She seized this chance to improve her standing in his eyes. She nodded firmly. "Yes. I know that there are many spirits and I know where they are. But I don't know what types of spirits are here." She explained. "Usually I can see spirits more clearly, but...it's a similar feeling to when you're watching TV with bad reception, if you know what I mean. I've never been good with spirits that float around. I'm better with spirits that have strong grudges to specific locations or people."

Bou-san heaved a sigh, shaking his head. "Well, since these spirits were summoned by Kokkuri-san, they may not hold any particular grudge. You're letting us down again, Masako." He remarked, missing the glare she sent him.

"Last time was a special case! And in this case it's not like I can't see or feel any spirits!"

"But we still can't depend on you regardless, right?" Ayako sniggered.

If Bou-san hadn't annoyed her, there was a slight chance she might've ignored the comment. Instead she sniffed daintily. "You have no right to tell me that, Matsuzaki-san!"

Ayako exploded. "AAARGH! YOU REALLY KNOW HOW TO PUSH MY BUTTONS, DON'T YOU? WHY DON'T YOU GROW UP, QUEENIE?"

I did my best to bite back my smile. "I don't see why she's so upset. Masako isn't wrong..." I remarked, careful to keep my voice down. Bou-san nodded in agreement, enjoying the show.

"But..." Masako was saying now that she'd successfully fended off a now-sulking Ayako. "There's only one spirit that I feel very strongly."

"What type of spirit is that?" Naru inquired.

"The spirit of a boy. He's about the same age as me." Mai's eyes widened.

"That means he's about sixteen years old." Bou-san stated.

"Yes. I can see his spirit clearly. I feel strong feelings from his spirits. He must have experienced hardships at school. His spirit is trapped here." She said softly. "Even though his spirit is not right here, I feel it strongly. I think he committed suicide and I believe it was fairly recently."