Psychic Detective Yakumo / Shinrei Tantei Yakumo

Volume 9 - The Spirit of Salvation

File 01: Encounter

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That forest summons the spirits of the dead -

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'You can see them too, right?'

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When Aoi Hideaki called out, he slowly turned around.

It was a corner of a graveyard, twilight imminent.

His narrowed eyes were facing Hideaki directly. His eyes were dark and appeared to be filled with sadness.

They became classmates in the third year of high school. They had been in the same classroom for nearly a year, but this was the first time he had called out to him.

Hideaki had thought about doing it numerous times up until now. However, he hadn't been able to. It was because he had had an atmosphere that made it feel like others couldn't approach.

He put a wall up between himself and others and did not let anyone in. However, that didn't mean he wasn't interested in other people. He observed from a height. A superior existence -

'What is it?'

His voice was unexpectedly calm.

'Spirits of the dead... That is, ghosts.'

'Idiotic.'

He laughed quietly.

He had probably meant to feign innocence, but Hideaki wouldn't let him.

Hideaki hadn't noticed that they had the same ability at first, but because of an incident, he realised that he was the same.

He saved Hideaki's younger sister's life, but he wouldn't have been able to do so if he couldn't see.

'Don't try to hide it.'

When Hideaki glared, he grew silent.

His gaze shook slightly. It appeared to be a sign of his shaken heart.

'I don't know what you're talking about.'

'Don't play dumb. You're the same kind as me.'

'Don't put me together with you.'

He immediately denied Hideaki's words.

'Why?'

'You show off your ability to see.'

Just as he said, Hideaki didn't hide the fact that he could see. Rather, he declared it.

He definitely wasn't showing off though. There was a reason he did it.

Also, the reply just now was obviously admitting that he could see.

'Want to talk for a bit?'

'I refuse.'

'Why?'

'I have no reason to. You and I are conclusively different.'

'What's different? We're both the same in that we can see, right?'

'It's different,' he declared. Then, he tried to walk away.

Hideaki might never have a chance to talk with him again if he left now, even though Hideaki had gathered the courage to call out to him.

'Wait.'

When Hideaki called out, his feet stopped. He didn't turn around.

Hideaki continued to talk regardless.