Chapter 8 – What Should I Say?

『Can you not sleep?』

Yuu’s voice reaches me as I lie in bed and stare fixedly at the ceiling.

「I am thinking about tomorrow」

How should I respond to them?

『You can think about tomorrow, tomorrow. I think it is useless to worry about it now』

When I look at Yuu, he shrugs.

『If you do not sleep, your fever might come back』

I smile seeing Yuu’s expression change to one of concern.

『Even though I am worried…』

Ah, I did not laugh at his concern, but rather felt relieved by Yuu’s presence. But saying this might be a bit embarrassing.

「Thank you for worrying about me」

I return my gaze from Yuu to the ceiling.

「What should I say to them?」

『That the girl named Rina died due to a curse. And that a girl named Rin… possessed her body』

Girl?

「I was thirty-one years old」

I think it is a stretch to call me a girl.

『It is better not to mention your age』

「Why?」

Yuu is saying strange things.

『Because there is a possibility that you are older than Rina’s parents, right?』

「Eh? Is that possible?」

But certainly, they looked young despite having three children.

『Probably. In that case, they would have a daughter older than themselves. It would be awkward』

「In the first place, can I even stay here?」

『Why?』

Yuu looks at me with a surprised expression.

「Because although this is Rina’s body, the inside is different」

The body is Rina’s, but the inside is a different existence named Yamamori Rin. In other words, to them, I am a complete stranger.

『I think it will be fine』

「Why do you think so?」

『Because they care for Rina very much』

「So, they might not accept my existence, right?」

After all, I am an existence that took over their daughter’s body.

『Do they really think you ‘took it over’?』

I look at Yuu. Seeing my expression, he lightly taps my head.

『You did not take it over. Rin just ended up entering Rina’s body after she was gone. And you did not even know it』

「That is true, but will they understand if I explain it?」

Rina’s family might not even understand that this is the truth.

『We will not know what attitude Rina’s family will take until tomorrow. In other words, thinking about it now will not give you an answer』

That is true, but…

『It is useless to keep thinking about things you will not know until tomorrow. If you do that, you will ruin your health. So, I think what Rin should do now is rest for Rina’s sake』

「Yes. You might be right」

Since this is Rina’s body, I must treat it with care.

「This might be the first time I have found Yuu reliable」

『First time? I was popular as a capable senior colleague at work, you know』

「Really?」

『Yeah, they said I was thorough and fast at my job』

「That is impressive」

『If I did not leave on time, I would cause trouble for my guild mates. And I would not be able to enjoy other games』

「…I see」

Yuu’s motivation is definitely games.

Were games really that fun? I have played them before. Puzzle games to kill time. But I never touched anything else.

『By the way, Rina. No, should I call you Rin?』

「Rina is fine」

When Rina’s family rejects me, I will live as Rin. Until then, I will remain as Rina.

『Why not say that you can see spirits?』

「Eh?」

Why lie about that part?

『If you say you can see ghosts, they will ask you about Rina』

I am startled by Yuu’s words and look around.

『What is wrong?』

「Why did I not realize this? Where is the deceased Rina?」

Since I possessed her, Rina’s soul was not in this body. That means Rina’s soul must have left this body.

「Yuu. Since you were always by my side, you know what happened to Rina’s soul, right?」

『I only became fully conscious when I heard Rina’s pained voice』

Was Rina’s soul still inside her body at that time?

「And then?」

『I called out to Rina, but she did not notice me at all. After a while, she went limp and stopped moving』

Could it be that Rina died at that moment?

『But immediately after, Rina started suffering again. Ah, could it be that Rin possessed Rina at that time?』

「Probably. And then? What happened to Rina’s soul?」

『I did not see it』

「Eh?」

『Rina’s soul did not leave her body』

Ghosts can see souls. Does that mean Rina’s soul is still inside her body?

I place my hand on my chest. Well, doing something like this will not tell me if Rina’s soul is here, but…

『Hey』

When I look at Yuu, he has a complicated expression.

「What is wrong?」

『Rina died from a curse, right?』

「Yes」

『In anime and novels, there are cases where curses absorb souls. Does that happen here?』

Curses absorb souls?

「I have never heard of it, but curses are not my area of expertise… I wonder?」

I heard that a curse strong enough to kill requires a beating heart. But a curse absorbing a soul?

『Not your area of expertise?』

「Yes. So I am not knowledgeable about curses」

『Were there experts on curses? Ah, researchers?』

I shake my head at Yuu’s words.

「There were curses in the world we came from too. There were Jujushi who cast curses, and Kaajushi who removed them」

『Jujutsushi?』

「No. Jujushi. Ju-ju-shi. They are people who curse others with malice」

『Jujushi and Kaajushi. Did such people really exist?』

He looks surprised, but also a bit happy.

「Yes. Well, most Jujushi could only handle weak curses」

『Weak curses?』

「Let’s see. Like hitting your little toe once a day. Or having a bird drop droppings on you when you go outside」

『Huh?』

Ah, he gave me a very disappointed look.

「It may seem trivial, but since these misfortunes happen every day, they take a toll gradually」

『Hmm. Is that so?』

「Yes」

If it continues for several years, anyone would start to worry.

『Were there strong Jujushi too?』

「There were. I know of three famous Jujushi. They had the power to kill people with curses. Ah, I have gone off-topic too much」

『That is true. Sorry』

What were we talking about?

「Right, we were saying that Rina’s soul did not leave her body」

『Yes. Can possession only happen to a body that has no soul?』

「Yes. That is what my grandmother taught me」

That is why I asked where Rina’s soul went. I thought if I could talk to her, I would understand her feelings.

「I need to investigate the curse」

To find out what happened to Rina’s soul.

『Hey, is there a possibility that it was extinguished by the curse?』

「That is…」

When I learned about curses, I did not hear such a story. But,

「This place is different from the world I came from」

The curses here might have different powers than the ones I know.

「I do not know. Maybe extinction… or even absorption as you mentioned, is possible」

I do not want to think that a curse could absorb or extinguish a soul.

『I see』

Sigh, maybe because I thought about so many things? My head is starting to hurt.

『A headache? That is why I told you to sleep』

I cannot believe he noticed so quickly.

『Your fever will come back. Sleep』

Yes. Yuu might be right.

「Yes. Good night」

『Good night』

-0-

I take a deep breath slowly in front of Rina’s parents.

Pull yourself together! I can do this.

「You are not Rina, are you?」

When I nod at Rina’s father, he looks down with a sad expression.

「I will tell you what happened that day」

I thought about how much to say ever since I woke up. And I decided to tell the truth as much as possible.

I explain that Rina died from a curse, that I entered her body, that I do not know the cause, and that I have inherited Rina’s memories, trying to make it as easy to understand as possible.

「I see. So that is how it was」

At Mother’s mutter, I clench my hands tightly.

「Rina… passed away」

At Father’s mutter, I look down and close my eyes.