The Story Continued (Ghost Hunt)

Chapter 10

The owner took the empty seat beside Madoka who, together with Gene and Yasu, was sitting on the sofa. The three were already digging into a more detailed story of the building. Mai already prepared a notebook ready to write down every single word.

Naru turned his chair around away from the monitors and the interview began. First, they decided to inform Mr. Suzuki of the incident the day before, particularly the ghost they met.

"He introduced himself as Suzuki Hiro, you see." Naru said.

"That's the name of my father. This hotel was given to me by him." The man informed.

"Can you tell us some more about your father?" Naru asked and a whole lot of questions followed.

"My mother left us not long after my birth. He tried to raise me alone but it wasn't going well so instead he sent me to his older brother. He then focused on a business." The man then stopped for a moment. "Back then I hated him for leaving me but when I heard his will I realized he was doing it so that I could live in peace."

"And how did he die?"

"He committed suicide 2 years ago. Since then I have been the one managing the hotel."

"Did he die here?"

"Yes, in room 001. That was the room he lived in. Every other room was for the guests."

"Do you live here?"

"At the beginning, yes. But my fiancée does not like this place, she was here only twice and was pushed down the stairs the second time. I rent an apartment not far away from here."

"And that fiancée? Can we talk to her?"

"I'll give her a call. Maybe in the afternoon."

"Well, thank you for-" Naru was about to send the owner away when Mai cut in. "And how was his relationship with his parents?" She asked suddenly. Mr. Suzuki was surprised at the question but answered. "From my uncle, I heard that it wasn't great. Toxic, in fact. His mother always wanted a girl but after giving birth to my father the doctor told her she could no longer have children."

"She could have just adopted a girl." Mai murmured under her breath then thanked the man for his answer. He was then sent away by Naru.

Mai then remembered her dreams and decided to make a possible theory out of everything she knew. Her idea was that the ghost was obviously Mr. Suzuki's father who was:

abused in childhood (source: dream one and the owner)

possibly once attacked by a woman (source: dream two)

left by his wife to raise a child (source: dream three and the owner)

Then he worked his whole life to create a successful business after which he committed suicide for some unknown reason. In his will, he gave everything to his son and is now haunting the place he gave him.

'That last part makes no sense' Mai thought. Well, she did understand that he had something against women but why would he hunt the hotel he worked so hard for and left for his son?

"Mai, what are you thinking about?" Suddenly a voice asked. "It's nothing Naru. I'm just tired."

"How come you are always tired?" Another voice asked. The girl turned her head to face Madoka. "I don't know. I just am." She answered sliding a little into the sofa. "And? Anything about the building?"

"It was once a mansion...but"

"It seems like the history is not important." Yasu cut in. "It most likely has to do with the current owner."

"Could you not cut me off mid-sentence?" Madoka asked but the boy just smiled. "Mai do you want to hear about the other teams? It seems like you are bored." He asked. He then proceeded to introduce them to her even tho Mai wasn't really listening but instead sinking deeper into the sofa. Gene did however listen very closely. Yasu sometimes couldn't help but find it funny how a person with the exactly same face as the big boss behaved so differently.

While the base was getting louder as Lin, Ayako and Takigawa each returned to the base Mai was somewhere completely different. In a much much quieter place. It wasn't even a place to be honest, just darkness surrounding her. "Who are you?" A voice behind her asked. She turned around to see the exact same man from the day before. But this time he was nervous. "Mr. Suzuki, right? I'm Mai. I'm here to help you I guess." She said. "What happened?" She noticed his nervousness.

"Oh my. It looks like I made a mess. I apologize for being rude last time. I thought you were acquaintances of that woman." He explained calmly.

"What woman?" Mai asked.

"I just can't help but hate her. Veronica, that woman. She doesn't love my son. She's just here for the money. This hotel might look like that but it's worth quite the money. I can't move one so I've been always protecting my son and I know it I heard her say it herself. But I need to go now. She is here. See you later, Mai."

With this, the ghost disappeared and Mai was again alone in the darkness. 'I guess it's time to go back.' The girl then woke up, now lying on the sofa. When she got up she noticed Masako and John at the door. "And?" Asked a voice on the other side of the room. She turned her head to see her boss still in the same spot as before. Now, it was only them in the room. "Nothing. He wasn't even near that room." Masako said. "Ok, you can go take a break now." With this, she and John left the room.

"Mai, were you dreaming?" Her boss asked. The girl nodded. "I guess I got to talk with this ghost of ours. He doesn't seem dangerous." Naru raised an eyebrow. "You want to tell me that the ghost who attacked several women and with whom you just decided to have a little chat is not dangerous?"

"I guess?"

Naru sighed. "Can you tell me what you talked about?"

"Nothing much. He just seems to not like the current fiancée of his son. He said she was just using him."

"Well, that fiancée arrived not so long ago so we will have a chance to talk to her."

"Wasn't she supposed to arrive in the afternoon?"

"She apparently got so excited we were going to get rid of the ghost that she decided to come immediately."

Just then, a knock was heard at the door. Mr. Suzuki entered with who Mai assumed was his fiancée. The woman had long platin blond hair (visibly dyed), very long bright pink nails, a mini, a very strong tan and way too much makeup on as for anyone's taste.

She truly looked like a very unpleasant person.