Chapter 3: Tsukinashi Forest
Tsukinashi Forest, located on the outskirts of Tsukinashi Town, is a dense and dark forest. The unspoken agreement among the residents is “Do not interfere with Tsukinashi Forest.”
No one enters, no one tries to explore it; they merely observe it from a distance. Once, a fearless elementary school student tried to investigate the forest but ended up so terrified by the experience that their personality completely changed.
However, for Houzuki, who routinely sees ghosts, there isn’t much that can scare her.
“Coming here by bicycle is quite a distance…”
Tsukinashi Forest is about a thirty-minute bike ride from Houzuki’s home.
Since Tsukinashi Town itself is a small rural town, it generally takes about an hour to travel from one end to the other. A better bicycle might shorten the travel time.
Houzuki’s bicycle, an old rusted mamachari, explains why it takes her thirty minutes. Perhaps it’s time to consider buying a new bike.
“Wow, it really has an atmosphere at night!!”
Looking up at the dense and dark Tsukinashi Forest, the silver-haired, red-eyed male student—Yuiru Enen—spoke with evident pleasure.
The prospect of investigating the evil god known as “Oshira-sama” residing in this forest clearly thrilled him.
The tales of Oshira-sama had existed even when Yuiru was still alive, suggesting that they are likely very old rumors. Even Houzuki, despite her familiarity with the supernatural, had never ventured to test these stories herself.
After parking her old bicycle near a hearth, Houzuki noticed a wagon parked at the entrance to the forest.
“Yuiru, that.”
“Oh, isn’t that a car?”
“So you know about cars.”
“Of course I do. Who do you think I am?”
“An evil spirit whose knowledge only goes back to the Showa Era.”
When Houzuki honestly answered, Yuiru yelled, “What did you say!?”
“Hey, Houzuki-chan.”
“What’s wrong, Towako?”
As Aoyagi Towako, Houzuki’s best friend, stepped down from the rusty bicycle’s carrier, she pointed at a car that was stopped at the entrance to the forest.
“That person’s in a panic.”
“Huh?”
“Maybe the engine won’t start.”
Indeed, that could definitely be a reason for panic. Houzuki hesitated, wondering if they should offer some help, when Yuiru immediately volunteered, “I’ll go.”
Driven by his curiosity, he probably intended to tease the flustered driver a bit. In this situation, it might be safer for Yuiru, the ghost, to approach the car than Houzuki, the high school girl; at least he wouldn’t be at risk of being attacked.
After all, the world is full of dangerous people. Caution is necessary.
“Then please, go ahead.”
“Understood, leave it to me.”
Yuiru, skipping merrily, approached the wagon. He first tapped on the window, announcing “Excuse me,” before slipping through the door—something only a ghost could manage.
Although it was understandable given his nature, it was still terrifying. Even Houzuki would scream if that were done to her.
And, as expected, just a few seconds later, a loud scream pierced the air.
“Oh dear.”
“Ah…”
Towako laughed as if it were someone else’s problem, while Houzuki held her head in her hand.
After a while, Yuiru emerged from the wagon, looking bored. It seemed the person in the car had fainted too easily.
Peering through the window into the car, they saw a young man foaming at the mouth and with eyes rolled back, slumped over in his seat. They were uncertain whether they should call an ambulance.
“Let’s just leave him be.”
“Yeah, let’s leave it. We don’t want their problems dumped on us.”
With a dismissive snort, Yuiru strode confidently into Tsukinashi Forest.
Houzuki followed him, stepping into the dense forest.
The forest was eerily quiet, as if water had been poured over any sound, and only Houzuki’s footsteps seemed to echo loudly. Since Yuiru and Towako were ghosts, they made no sound as they moved.
Pakipaki, paki.
Pakipaki, paki.
The sound of branches breaking underfoot was sharp in the silence.
“It’s dark.”
Houzuki murmured, using the light from her cellphone to navigate through Tsukinashi Forest.
Yuiru and Towako, perhaps able to see in the dark, moved through the forest without the need for light, complaining to each other about the abundance of branches and the difficult terrain. It was surprising they still found room to complain.
Pakipaki, paki.
Pakipaki, paki.
The sound of one person’s footsteps and the voices of three filled the forest, but suddenly, everything stopped.
Yuiru and Towako halted, and Houzuki stopped in sync with them.
Someone’s flashlight was found lying on the ground, evidently recently used, and beside it, a smartphone was tossed aside, still recording a video.
Houzuki picked it up and stopped the recording, which emitted a silly “pop” sound as it ceased.
“Were they filming a video?”
Towako peered into the smartphone’s screen.
“Probably. Recently, a lot of people have been filming videos at haunted spots.”
“Hmm, I wouldn’t mind appearing in one.”
Yuiru muttered as he began fussing with his hair, prompting Houzuki to respond, “I already stopped it.”
Really, they do reckless things. It likely belonged to someone from the wagon parked at the forest’s entrance. She’d return it later.
Houzuki, just to be safe, slipped the smartphone into her pocket and looked up.
“Oh.”
Before them lay a swamp, filled with deep green water.
