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Chapter 15 Fives

When I woke up, I looked at the clock, it was eight o'clock.It seems that I have slept for more than twelve hours, and my head still has some pain.Having said that, it's not a hangover from the bath, it's just sleeping through. When I came back to my senses, I found Satoshi asleep next to him.In order not to wake him up, I got up carefully, then knocked my unconscious head and went down to the first floor. In the living room, sisters Rie and Kayo were already there.There was no breakfast on the little table.Just as he was about to ask where Chitanda and Ibara were, the two came in together.

However, Ihara's appearance was a bit strange.She seemed to be tugging on the sleeve of Chitanda's dress when she came in, right?Just as he was thinking, Ibara said to us: "I-appeared..." I watched the scene coldly.Appeared?What happened? Yi Yuan leaned close to Li E, and said like a cannonball: "I was woken up by a gust of warm wind last night, and when I turned over to go back to sleep, I saw a figure with a hanging head floating in the opposite room! That's it, Shaky!" Haha, how long are you going to be nostalgic... Ibara who is so embarrassed is really rare in the world, and Satoshi who missed this moment is really unfortunate.

Kayo poured hot tea for everyone.When I was about to take it, I found Rika's name written on the tea cup, so I chose another cup.I wondered if there was a teacup with Kayo's name on it, but I didn't find it. Lie smiled and listened to Ihara's words: "Miss Maya, are you afraid of that kind of story? I don't even know." "I'm not afraid of ghosts at all, and I don't have any resentment from them. But I can see that kind of thing with my own eyes. It's not fun to scare people!" Kayo, who was holding the teapot, suddenly froze: "Sister Maya, did you see...?"

"I saw it, I definitely saw it. I really saw it!" "Sister, did you tell that story? Didn't Dad say no to tell it?" "It's long-winded, what's the matter, anyway, it's Sister Maya." Ibara and the others chatted about ghost anecdotes.Chitanda was sitting not far away, and I accidentally met her eyes. Chitanda seemed to have something on her mind, with a perplexed expression on her face.Judging from the situation with him so far, this guy must have something to say.So I whispered, "What's wrong?" The other party replied: "That... What do you think of what student Mayaka said?"

"Is it a figure with a hanging head?" I laughed. "Well, corny stories or repertoire are always necessary, so that kind of rumors survive. Before..." "Before?" "Ah, it's all right." I swallowed the words that slipped to my lips.It was so risky that I almost said the words "Didn't Satoshi say the seven incredible things before?"It is indeed a clichéd story, a repertoire, and it is indeed very nostalgic, so I naturally think of it... However, I don't want to go back to that topic, especially when I am facing Chitanda, I will definitely be questioned.

Chitanda looked at me who was suddenly confused.Just as he was thinking that things were going to get worse, fortunately there was a figure with a hanging head hanging on Chitanda's appetite. "...Then, Oreki-san, do you think Mayaka-san is telling the truth?" "No, I don't think so." I sighed and replied.Hearing this, Chitanda seemed to be getting more and more confused, she tilted her head: "So, is it really a mistake?" "Huh? How do you say that?" For some reason, Chitanda lowered her voice, leaned closer to my ear and said, "Actually, I saw it too. It's the figure with hanging head that Mayaka-san mentioned..."

The time seems unclear.It is said that Ibara got up suddenly, and then Chitanda also woke up.After she opened her sleepy eyes, she vaguely saw a shadow with her head hanging floating in the darkness. "However, when I first woke up, my mind was a little dizzy, so I felt that I had made a mistake. I didn't expect Mayaka to see the same thing..." "Well……" If Ibara or Chitanda were the only witnesses, I could still use the phrase "I'm sleepy" to fool me.However, both of them said they saw it, and at the same time, maybe they also saw the same thing. In this way, it may be difficult to just say "no".I adjusted my erroneous thinking a little bit, and said, "Maybe I admitted my mistake. Didn't I say yesterday that you can see through ghosts—"

"There's nothing better than Kumang, isn't it?" But Chitanda was not deceived by this.She cast her eyes diagonally upwards for a moment of contemplation, and then looked straight into my eyes.The fire burning in those pupils was showing the young lady's strong curiosity about this matter. "So, what did you admit wrong?" I don't know when, Yi Yuan also came over: "That's right. If you say it's a mistake, why don't you tell me what we made a mistake? Deny what Xiaoqian and I have seen with the reason of 'I didn't see it' , isn't that too despicable?"

... Where did I become despicable? Both Ibara and Chitanda stared at me intently.Judging from my experience, the matter has come to this point, and it is too late to say anything. "Of course, we won't leave all the problems to Oreki-san alone. Let's investigate together." Chitanda, who made a firm conclusion, did not intend to divert her gaze at all. I didn't talk back because I don't like doing unnecessary things.But not talking back means not talking back, of course I still have the right to sigh, right?Then, Chitanda added as if chasing after the victory: "Because I'm curious!"

After a simple breakfast of bacon omelette, instant soup and vegetable consommé, we headed back to the second floor.On the stairs, he happened to pass by Satoshi who was going downstairs. He probably didn't even know about the "incident".Well, it doesn't matter.Although Satoshi is familiar with useless knowledge of ancient and modern China and foreign countries, there should be no use for him this time. Yi Yuan said that he and Li E made an appointment to help her with the summer homework. "I'm really sorry for not being able to help, please come on!" "Leave it to us. We will definitely find out the truth and show it to you. Don't you think so, Oreki-san?"

What's the use of asking me... In short, keep things simple.I took Chitanda to my room, intending to find out what happened in detail.There happened to be two chairs and a small table by the window, so we took our seats.it is good-- "Did you see that shadow or something from the opposite side of your room?" I opened the window and looked at the main building and asked. "um, yes." "What about size and shape?" "...The shadow was blurry at the time, so I couldn't see it clearly. If you compare it with a human body shape, it should be just right. The shape...sorry, I don't remember much. But listen Mayaka-san said it was the 'shadow of a hanging head', and I think it is indeed that shape." When it came to memory, Chitanda's voice sank.It is not incomprehensible.It was her outstanding memory and observation that sparked Chitanda's curiosity, but this time her memory was blurred, and she was probably frustrated by it.But I haven't seen any shadow in person, so even if it's vague, Chitanda's memory is the only clue.So I then asked, "What's the color like?" "I don't know. No, it's not that I forgot. Because it's a shadow, I can't see it." What exactly did Chitanda and the others see?I tried to think about it, but couldn't imagine it.Because I don't understand what the so-called "shadow" is. "Shadow...? Let's put it this way: because there was a light source at the time, and you were in a place against the light, people looked like shadows—do you mean that?" "If what we're seeing isn't paranormal, then we should be right." "Light source..." I set my sights on the main building again. "If you want to talk about the light source at night... Well, logically speaking, it should be the moon..." My voice was full of my own doubts. "I think so too. I remember the moon was very round last night. What's wrong with that...ah!" Chitanda, who followed my gaze towards the main building, suddenly called out.Yes, no matter whether it is the moon or the searchlight, it is supposed that there should be no shadows—because all the windows of the rooms in the main building are closed with wooden rainproof windows. "Chitanda, what time do you go to sleep?" "Well... ten o'clock. We were a little tired, and Mayaka and I made an appointment to go to the hot spring in the morning, so we went to bed as soon as possible." "What about the rainproof windows back then?" Chitanda thought for a moment, and replied, "I think it's closed. Because the main building was pitch-black at that time, and there were hardly any rain windows." "Well……" As long as the rain window is closed, the shadow will not appear, which is a tricky situation.I scratched my head.Although it is very troublesome, but now I have to go to the shadowed room No. 7 to take a look. "There are so many mysteries, it's really interesting. It's really worthwhile to meet such interesting things." You are quite happy. Originally, it was easy to enter the main building from the corridor, but now one end of the corridor is blocked by a rope, and there is a sign saying "Under construction, no entry for idlers" hanging on it.Chitanda still couldn't make up her mind to sneak in there.Indeed, it would be bad if you want to get into any trouble later on, it's better to get the consent of the hostel first. However, if you tell the homestay owner and his wife that we are investigating the hanging head shadow, and remind us not to spread the word, Li Hui will be in trouble.Therefore, to ask for consent, you still have to find one of the Shanming sisters. It happened that Jiadai was passing by at this time, so we stopped her.Kayo tensed up when she heard the greeting, and after recognizing Chitanda next to me, she leaned over reassuringly. "Yes, what's the matter?" I winked at Chitanda. "Eh?" "You come and tell her." I can't do anything with such an innocent child. "Ah, okay. Sister Kayo, can we go into the main building?" "The main building? Why?" "Sister Kayo heard it during breakfast, right? It's Mayaka and I seeing the shadow of the hanging head. We are investigating and hope to take a look at Room 7." Although being straight to the point is a virtue, and attacking directly is also very enjoyable, but Chitanda, you are too tactful.Sure enough, Kayo shook his head: "I'm sorry, I can't do it now. Otherwise I will... be scolded by my sister." Well, maybe there's something really wrong with it.In retrospect, it is debatable whether it is appropriate to break into someone's house just out of interest.So I immediately gave up the idea of ​​entering Room No. 7, and asked instead: "Then, tell me one thing. Is that room, that is, Room No. 7, still used as a guest room?" While there was no malice, the way I spoke seemed a little too condescending.Kayo stepped back a bit, frowning.Even so, she answered my question: "No. Only the bathrooms and the cafeteria are available to guests in the main building." "That……" "The second floor is all used as a storage room...is it already okay?" "Thank you. It was a great help." But before I finished speaking, Kayo turned around and ran to nowhere.I crossed my arms, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness in my heart: "I'm hated." Chitanda, who had been observing our interaction, smiled, "It's okay, maybe I'm afraid of older men. It's so cute... Ah, it's nice to have a younger sister." Chitanda looked self-absorbed.Um, cute... huh? As the sun rises, so does the temperature.I wiped my sweaty brow with the back of my hand.On the other hand, Chitanda, whose heat resistance was almost inhuman, still had a calm expression. "If you can't enter Room No. 7, will there be any problems?" "Rather than saying that there is a problem, it is better to say that it will be more troublesome." I lead Chitanda towards the gate.Since you can't enter the scene, at least you have to observe from the outside.When we came to the entrance shared by the host and guest, and squatted down to put on our shoes, Chitanda suddenly said, "Oh, there is something very nostalgic." Chitanda looked to the side of the shoe cabinet, and there were two attendance cards for radio gymnastics.Rie wrote her name in large letters with a marker on her own card, while the other card, which probably belonged to Kayo, was unsigned.If you look closely, there are only a few chapters that were clicked intermittently during the first few days of the summer vacation on the card of Li Hui, and the back is completely blank, while the card that seems to belong to Kayo has no vacant chapters. Chitanda picked up two cards, stroked them and said, "Broadcast gymnastics, I was still doing it until the year before last." The year before last, that is, the second year of junior high school... Really? On the other hand, I haven't done it since I was a little sensible.I don't know when I started to aspire to save energy. Walking into the courtyard, one is immediately surrounded by strong moisture and the smell of green grass. I looked up to Room 7 in the main building, the rain window was still closed.Chitanda said that she wanted to go to the back of the building, so I raised my head and started walking, but I didn't expect the water to splash around my feet. "Well." The muddy water splashed around Chitanda's feet, staining her shoes. "Feel sorry." "It doesn't matter." The splash of mud and water is because the surroundings are full of mud - the land is blocked behind the wing building, and the morning sunshine is very poor.I thought the mud was caused by someone watering the trees, but that didn't seem to be the case.The leaves under the sun are almost dry, so it seems that the ground has been wet for a while. "Chitanda, did it rain last night?" "Yes. Although I don't know when it was, it did fall for a while." I went around to the back of the main building.Although I could see the back of Room No. 7, the rain window on this side was also closed.For the floating shadows to appear, the rain windows on the east and west sides had to be opened. I folded my arms, and Chitanda beside me thoughtfully imitated me and folded her arms.Just when she was about to ask what she was doing, Kayo opened the window in front of us and said, "Well...it's lunch time." I glanced at my watch.Indeed, it was almost noon.Then take a break. Lunch is cold noodles.According to my taste, I have to say that it is still a bit sour, but overall it is still delicious.Although the heat is not unbearable on the highlands, the cold food still has its own flavor.Six people gathered around the dining table, and Yi Yuan asked while eating noodles: "In the end, did you find anything?" "No, not yet..." After Chitanda finished speaking, I continued, "It's still in the preliminary investigation stage, so let's assume I have it." "Eh? Let's hear it, what's the hypothesis?" This gives me a headache, and the assumption is just a vague idea at the moment.When I didn't know how to answer, Satoshi said a little unhappy: "What are you three talking about on your own, are you trying to exclude me from the same pot of food? It's too much." Sure enough, it was Satoshi, what a petty protest.I didn't want to bother to explain, so I took advantage of the situation and asked: "Don't say whether to exclude or not to exclude, where have you been all this time? I can't even see you." "In places like hot springs, whenever you want to take a dip, you should go there." Isn't it.Because of yesterday's hot spring experience, I don't want to go anymore. Before I had eaten half, two people clasped their hands together to show that they were full. "I'm done eating." "I'm done eating." They are sisters Rie and Kayo.Li Hui took her tableware and walked towards the main building. After a while, Kayo also chased after her.Seeing this scene, Chitanda must have enjoyed it. "Sisters are really great, I feel envious just looking at them." "Hey, is Chitanda-san looking forward to a life with brothers and sisters?" "Hmm...you can't even call it longing. Fukube-san, do you have brothers and sisters?" Then Satoshi started talking about his sister.I've met his sister, and she's a more self-centered, self-contained weirdo than Satoshi himself.It is estimated that the guy has a better vote than my sister. Chatting about these things, we finally finished our lunch.At this moment, Rika who had just returned to the main building also came back. Rika, who comes with the sound effect of "Qiang Qiang~", is wearing a yukata.It's not the simple style after getting out of the bath, but the beautiful clothes that are common in fireworks festivals everywhere.Pear E showed off very happily: "How about my yukata?" "Wow!" Chitanda also yelled out, "It's really beautiful!" "Well, it fits well. It looks very mature." Hearing these compliments, Li Hui burst into a smile on her face: "I finally bought it for me during the summer vacation. At that time, we agreed that we would buy it if our grades improved... Let's set off fireworks tonight! The fireworks are ready Already!" While the three of them were discussing the topic of yukata enthusiastically, Satoshi said in a voice that only I could hear: "The taste is good." Satoshi usually talks around the bush - knowing this, what he wants to say next is very obvious.I responded in a low voice, "What's the problem?" "Obi. The obi is the life of the Japanese kimono, but isn't that an imitation?" Speaking of which, the belt knots of this yukata did protrude slightly—as Satoshi said, it was added later. "Why did it suddenly mutate?" "It's not a mutation, it's an imitation... It's easy to hang the already made belt knots on it, but according to my philosophy, that thing can't be regarded as a yukata." Satoshi's philosophical ghosts would care.Although it does look a little awkward, but that's all.Satoshi's entanglement is really stupid.While thinking, I yawned. at this moment. "……Ok?" There is a strange feeling.I turned my head toward the open tent door. But there was no one in front of him.Strange, I seem to have caught a glimpse of someone just now.Could it be that I was also cursed by the shadow of the hanging head? "What's wrong?" It was Satoshi who asked the question, but I didn't answer. Is it a figure? I walk out of the living room.I wanted to find a place where I could think quietly, but I knew that Chitanda was following.Just as he was thinking whether to tell her not to follow, a thought suddenly popped into his mind.Let's go to the hot spring yesterday—I turned around and suggested to Chitanda, who nodded with a smile. On the way to the hot spring, I silently sorted out my thoughts.I don't know if she saw me like this, but Chitanda just followed silently. The so-called shadow of the hanging head is actually just a product of Ibara and Chitanda's illusion, which is the so-called "dry glow"-although there are still some problems, but I can basically say so... But, it's still a little bit short of the last. When we arrived at the open-air bath and were about to say goodbye, Chitanda said, "Let's come out together." I was unable to answer. As soon as I walked through the counter and entered the dressing room, I felt a sense of déjà vu.The reason soon became clear: the arrangement of items was exactly the same as yesterday.There is a bunch of familiar clothes in the bamboo basket at the feet.It's Satoshi.This guy is more of an enigma than yesterday's hanging shadow.Wasn't Satoshi still at the dinner table just now?Could it be that the portal was used? Sure enough, as soon as I entered the large public bath, I saw Satoshi soaking in the bath.I didn't follow him in, but kept staring at him.Although he couldn't see my side clearly, Satoshi seemed to be vaguely aware of it.He leaned over to this side, and before I could ask a question, he did it himself: "Oh, sliding down the cliff behind Xishanzhuang, it happens to be the back side of here." Even hearing this, I wasn't surprised.Sliding down the cliff just to copy the path is the most typical portrayal of Satoshi. So I also entered the bath.I wiped my face with a towel first, sobering up my unturned mind.In order to solve the troubles encountered by the Ancient Books Research Society—or the problems that Chitanda was interested in—there was no other way than to satisfy Chitanda.But this time, I racked my brains and couldn't come up with any explanation that would satisfy Chitanda about the hanging shadow incident. To put it bluntly, what is missing now is a "reason".It's actually not hard to say what the shadow's body is, but if I can't explain the reason, I can't give Chitanda a satisfactory explanation.That being said, clues are not entirely absent. Wordlessly, I recalled my memory.Seeing me motionless, Satoshi might be worried about the repeat of yesterday's tragedy, and asked aloud, "Houtaro, aren't you going to faint again?" Satoshi?Maybe this guy just happened to know something, so I asked, "Hey, was there anything going on last night?" Satoshi was a little overwhelmed by the sudden question, but he soon showed his original smile again: "If you want to talk about the highlight of yesterday, it really has to be Houtarou's gaffe." "I'll remember that kindness, just thank you. What else?" "And then, as you know, ghost stories are told at night. There is still a flower left in two hands." Flowers... In short, if Chitanda is like Bailian, Ibara is probably thistle, right? "No, not that kind of private event, you know what kind of public event?" "Huh? I don't know about public events. I'm not a resident of this village... Wait, I seem to have heard some summer festivals and the sound of taiko drums." Summer Festival. So that's the case, and this time... No, it's not right.It should be "it really is like this". A normal Satoshi would definitely have sensed what I was thinking of, and perhaps would have said something sarcastic.However, right now, half of Satoshi's face is soaked in the hot spring, and he is lazy, so he must not have noticed anything.If he wants to ask a question, it's okay for me to tell the whole story. If he doesn't ask, I don't have to take the initiative to say it.So I walked out of the hot spring. After changing into the yukata and leaving the hot spring, Chitanda still didn't come out.Taking advantage of the waiting time, I can just sort out my thoughts and cool down my steaming mind.After Chitanda came out, I simply said "Let's go". On the way back, I said to Chitanda, "The shadow of that hanging head, actually... it should be the yukata hanging on the hanger." "Eh?" Hearing the sudden answer, Chitanda widened her eyes.As soon as Chitanda came back to his senses, I went on to say: "Even if you are not sleepy, people may see the outline of the yukata as a human figure. In short, if it is not a real ghost, it looks like a hanging figure. clothes." Although Chitanda still didn't speak, she tilted her head as if she didn't understand something: "But, why are there yukatas there? Besides, the rain window was opened to let us see the shadow of yukatas, which is very strange." "It was not meant for you to see." I glanced at the sky. "That's for drying the clothes, drying the wet bathrobes. Opening the rain windows is to improve the ventilation and make the clothes dry faster." "why?" "Because it has rained, the yukata will be wet." "Not this one, why is it in Room 7 of the main building?" "In order not to let others see the drying bathrobe." "But we saw it." "It's not you, it's hiding it from the family." Chitanda still didn't understand.I scratched my head. After a pause, I decided to explain my hypothesis again from the beginning: "It was Kayo who dried the yukata. "It is estimated that Kayo is very envious of Rie's yukata, so he wants to wear it himself. But no matter how similar the physique is, the yukata belongs to Rie. And Rie probably won't lend it to Kayo. Didn't you notice? Whether it's a water glass or radio gymnastics card, Rie will clearly mark everything that belongs to her. She is such a child. And Kayo is very afraid of Rie, and I'm afraid she can't even say something like borrowing a yukata. Can't say it. "But Kayo still wanted to wear it, so she secretly took the yukata out. Fortunately, the yukata's straps are plug-in, so it can be worn by one person, and the finishing work after wearing it must be the same for the daughter of the homestay. Come here. She was dressed like that for the summer festival yesterday, and it was about eight o'clock. Well, she must be very happy." "Kiayo... went to the summer festival? Why do you know this?" "Just now I heard from Satoshi that there was a summer festival held yesterday. Why did I know that Kayo went... because I saw it. Around eight o'clock last night, I saw a figure walking out of the house. And yesterday you told ghost stories Wasn't Kayo here at the time?" In the morning, Kayo reprimands Rika for revealing the story of the hanging head shadow.Had she attended a ghost story convention, she would not have said what she said.Moreover, Satoshi also said that there were only three women yesterday, and to use his roundabout way of saying, it is "a flower with two hands and a rich one". "The focus is on the back. Misfortune happened to Jiadai when Xia Jile was among them." Chitanda swallowed, "It's starting to rain." "Yes, although the rain didn't last long from the wetness of the soil, the yukata was wet. At this time, Kayo may have remembered the schedule for the fireworks the next day. There is no doubt that Rie will definitely wear this at that time Yukata. In this case, Kayo must dry the yukata before the next day. Thinking of this, she may be so scared that her face is blue. "However, if you hang your yukata on the first floor of the main building where your family lives, you might be discovered at any time. It's even more impossible in the annex building. Even if there is something like a dryer, you can't use it at night. So, Kayo After everyone fell asleep, I hung the bathrobes to the second floor of the main building, and it was the innermost room. "However, Kayo's misfortune continues - the moonlight shining in from the window allows you to see the shadow with your head hanging. Because the moonlight shines in from the west, the time is after zero o'clock, about three or four o'clock Bar. "And Kayo's last misfortune was our investigation of the shadow of the hanging head. At noon, the two sisters left the room immediately after eating. Rie painted to show off her yukata, and Kayo... I'm afraid it's like sitting on pins and needles." .” After I said this in one breath, I took another step.Speaking of it, Kayo saw me showing disgust at the time, maybe it was because of this incident.Of course, it may be that I am really afraid. "The yukata was put back in the morning. It's early in the morning... You can see the broadcast announcement for the specific time. Kayo has been participating in radio gymnastics seriously, so let's put it back before then." "..." "Let's keep this matter a secret from Ibara. If it is leaked to Rie, Kayo will be embarrassed, after all, every family has scriptures that are difficult to recite." Chitanda didn't say anything, just silently followed me with her head down. Walking on the gentle slope, Chitanda finally lowered her head and said in a low voice, "If this is the case... then the relationship between sisters will be bad." This sentence completely exceeded my expectations.Chitanda didn't seem to care about my confusion: "The two of you who can't even borrow yukatas can't be said to be in a 'confidential' relationship." After saying that, Chitanda smiled at me.It's obviously a smiling face, but I don't know why, but I always feel that this expression is a little sad.Moreover, this is not the first time Chitanda has given me this impression. After thinking for a long time, I finally said, "Isn't that what brothers and sisters are like. My sister also..." "I--" Chitanda didn't seem to listen to me, and what followed was her monologue: "I still want brothers and sisters. Whether it's a respectable older sister or a cute younger brother." We continued walking in our yukatas.Summer is not over yet, looking at the billowing thunderclouds in the blue sky in front of me, suddenly my mood seems to be ruined. When Xishanzhuang came into view, Chitanda finally picked up the previous conversation: "However, I think I have always understood. The shadow of the hanging head has never been a ghost. Brothers and sisters in the world are not always aware of it. Happily getting along with each other..." I didn't want to hear what she said next, but fortunately Chitanda didn't continue. We walked slowly among the greenery and climbed the gentle slope leisurely.From the very beginning, I knew that the brothers Chitanda was talking about were the same kind of ghosts, and if I looked closely, they would turn into dry lights. Immersed in this ubiquitous heat, the body that just came out of the hot spring also leaked sweat from time to time.There was a figure on the slope——Rika saw us approaching, and was waving vigorously on the hillside.
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