Episode 3

‘If you’re interested in the occult, go and ask Kodama-san from Biology.
As for the missing indoor shoes, I’ll think of a plan for that too.’

After hearing that, Hyōri and I left the Student Guidance Office and headed for the Second Science Laboratory.
When I thought of Kodama-san from Biology, I had the impression that she was always in the laboratory, holed up there. I was so certain that if we went to the laboratory, we would definitely find her there.

　There were about twenty-five minutes left until the end of lunch break.
As neither of us had eaten anything yet, it was inevitable that we would end up eating the two packed lunches we were holding in the Second Science Laboratory.

We arrived at our destination and knocked on the door. There was no reply, but we heard a faint sound from behind the door; just as we thought it was getting closer, the person we were looking for opened the door for us.

‘Oh, what a rare visitor.’

　It was Kodama-san, our Biology teacher. She was a mature female teacher in her early fifties.
She looked mainly at me as she remarked on how unusual it was to see me.

‘I’m Komamori Yuu from Class 3, Year 2. And this is—’
‘This is Gunjō Hyōri, also from Class 3.’
‘We’ve come today because we have something we’d like to ask you, Kodama-san.’
“My, my, Gunjō-san, have you changed? You seem much more lively than before. I suppose you’ve come into your own. You’re so young, aren’t you?”

It seemed Kodama-san had noticed the difference in Hyori’s demeanour at a glance, yet she merely placed a hand to her mouth and gazed at the change with a fond smile.
The teacher looked at me again.
With a gentle smile still playing on her lips, she narrowed her eyes affectionately.

‘Komamori-san, isn’t this the first time you’ve ever come to ask a question, given how well you do in your studies? You’re the only student in my class who’s never dozed off and has always listened attentively. I suppose I just can’t help but take a liking to pupils like that. That’s why I’ve always thought to myself, “If there’s anything you don’t understand, you’re welcome to come and ask me anything.” But because you’re so brilliant, I never imagined we’d actually have a conversation before you graduated.’

Kodama-sensei spoke with unending gentleness.
　Her smile deepens the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. She looks so delighted that I find it hard to admit I haven’t actually come to ask a question about biology…

“Um, I’m sorry. I don’t actually have a question about the lesson content.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“…Yes. I’m sorry.”

I apologise. Seeing me like this, the teacher smiles at me again with a soft ‘hehe’.

‘There’s no need to apologise, Komamori-san. It’s not that I’m particularly pleased you’ve come to ask me a question about biology. I’m just happy to have this chance to chat with you like this. And with Gunjō-san, of course. So honestly, it doesn’t matter what we talk about.’

A calm, warm, soft voice.
She looks at the two of us in turn and asks, ‘So?’

“What is it you want to ask me? Please sit down and tell me whilst we have some lunch.”

　We entered the laboratory and, at the teacher’s urging, sat down on chairs. Then I placed one of the packed lunches I’d brought on the table in front of Hyōri.
The packed lunches, one for me and one for Hyōri, were both made by my mother; even for a mother, she’s still a brilliant cook. Hyōri loves my mother’s cooking too; whenever I take leftovers from our family dinners to the house where Hyōri lives, her cheeks soften just a little.

　Just as we began to eat our packed lunches, Kodama-san sat down in the chair opposite us across the table.

Hyōri immediately asked her a question.

‘Sensei, what are the Seven Mysteries of the school, and what exactly are “supernatural phenomena”?’
‘Oh my!’

At the mention of those words, Kodama-san’s voice rose a notch.
In a lively tone, she began to speak.

‘Are you curious? Well, that’s something only the teachers who’ve been at this girls’ school for ages know about. It’s one of our school’s Seven Mysteries. By “supernatural phenomena”, I mean the so-called ghosts that appear in the Seven Mysteries.’
‘So it’s that sort of thing, spirits and horror, then…’

I couldn’t quite hide the slight indifference in my tone.
　I startled and hurriedly looked into the teacher’s eyes. Kodama-san was smiling ‘heh heh’ again and didn’t seem to mind in the slightest.

Hyōri, sitting next to me, started poking me in the side.
Hey, don’t poke my side. Oh, if I brush her hand away, she’ll just pinch me instead!
As we were fiddling about under the table, Hyōri whispered a question to me.

‘Does Komamori-san not like scary things?’

I replied in a whisper too.

‘Not at all. Or rather, I don’t believe in spirits or invisible things like that. I’ve been taught since I was a child that humans are the scariest of all. Besides, haven’t we watched horror films together late at night countless times? You know exactly how I react then.’
‘……… You’re right, that’s true. But it’s a bit of a shame. I’d have loved to see a dignified Komamori-san letting out a pathetic scream.”
“Don’t you dare think such horrible things!?”

“Hehehe. You two are quite close, aren’t you? I’ve only ever seen you in biology class, so I had no idea you were that close.”

　Gah!

　Oh no. I’d come here to hear her story, yet I’d ended up chatting away with Hyōri, completely ignoring Kodama-san.
　But she was just watching us with a beaming smile. Is she some sort of saint?

“I’m, I’m sorry. …Please, could you continue your story?”

　No matter how uninteresting the topic, I made a point of listening to Kodama-san.
　What she told us were the four paranormal phenomena that have long been passed down at our school.

‘First, the “Ghost of the Art Club”, who carries a red-painted canvas.’
‘Second, the “Binder”, a mass of hair writhing in the drains of the old school building.’
‘Third, the school newspaper that appears on its own on the noticeboards, “Don’t Forget the Tree”.’
‘And finally, the fourth: the falling shadow reflected in the classroom window, the “Falling Woman”.’

　Kodama-san let out a sigh.
Perhaps sensing that the explanation had come to a natural pause, Hyōri asked the question that was bound to come up.

“There are only four, so why are they called the ‘Seven Mysteries of the School’?”
“Well, yes, that’s just it. It was easier to spark people’s interest by framing them as the ‘Seven Mysteries of the School’. Back in the day.”
“Is that how it is?”
“I suppose you’ve guessed most of it, but shall I explain the ‘mysteries’ as well?”

Hyōri declined. Well, I suppose it’s hardly necessary at this stage, I thought to myself.

“In short, the ‘mysteries’ are just a collective term for the supernatural phenomena that cause those four mysteries, aren’t they?”
“Exactly! A while back, I used to get all worked up investigating all sorts of things with the students, trying to figure out whether the ‘mysteries’ were real or just the work of mice.”
“Haha, that sounds like great fun.”

I chimed in with a nod.
It was true that I thought it sounded fun, but at the same time, there was a part of me that still couldn’t quite believe it and was left feeling a bit dumbfounded.
However, Hyōri, sitting next to me, let her eyes sparkle for just a moment at my comment that it ‘sounded fun’. It was so fleeting that I wondered if I’d imagined it.

Well, if we’re just sticking to the main points, the teacher’s explanation must be over by now.
We’d finished our packed lunches too.

‘Thank you for the meal.’

We clasped our hands together, then stood up.

‘Do come and visit again anytime.’

Kodama-san was kind right to the very end.
With a gentle smile still on her face, she saw us off.

I walked back to the classroom alongside Hyōri.
　On the way, she looked at me with a pleased expression, her white hair swaying, and asked:

‘Komamori-san, what shall we investigate first?’

Her eyes sparkling like a small child faced with a toy, she asked me that. The decision to investigate had been made; the question was simply where to start. It seemed the discussion had already reached that stage.
I asked her about the fundamental issue beforehand.

‘Shouldn’t we prioritise finding the indoor shoes?’
‘The teachers said they’d come up with a plan for that, so I’m sure it’ll be fine, won’t it?’
‘………You sound as if it’s none of your business.’
‘To be honest, my interest in it has dwindled considerably.’
‘I see. So, what are you interested in right now?’

Even though I knew what Hyōri’s answer would be, I asked anyway.

‘That would, of course, be the Four Mysteries surrounding this school.’

Her voice, too, was full of excitement as she said this.

It was remarkably timely, but it happened to be that very afternoon after school.

Hyōri and I encountered a strange phenomenon on the campus, which had been completely painted red.