Chapter 16 – Start with What I Can Do

I return to my room and collapse onto the bed.

『What is wrong?』

I turn my face sideways and look at Yuu.

「I am reflecting because I forgot to mention something important」

『Important? What else was necessary besides that?』

「I forgot to say that it might take some time before she can meet the children」

『It should be fine. She can meet them if she goes to school』

「What if they are not at school?」

『Since their house seems close, she can go there』

Yes, I thought so too.

「Yuu. How old am I right now?」

I thought I knew, but I did not really understand.

『How old? Five years old, right?』

「Yes, five years old. Do you think a five-year-old can walk around freely as she pleases?」

I thought, 「If I take a detour, I should be able to go to Philia’s house」, but I am five years old now? Can I do such a thing easily? I searched my memories, but I was always with onii-chan or mother. In other words, I have never walked around freely alone!

『Ah, I see. That is impossible』

Yuu also realized it and looked at me with a troubled expression.

『But even if meeting them is delayed a little, I do not think it will be a big problem, since you are not saying you will not let them meet』

「Normally, that would be true」

『Normally?』

「I told you, right? When you become a ghost, restrictions disappear」

『Ah, right. Could it be that she will rampage around demanding to meet them immediately?』

She might rampage. But since Philia is at spiritual power level one, it will not be that severe. However, she might become incredibly noisy.

「Since her power is weak, I do not think she will cause physical damage. But I think she will keep expressing her thoughts to me and Yuu, who can see her. Let me tell you, ghosts have no consideration for time or place」

『Consideration?』

「In other words, they stop caring about things like ‘sleeping when it gets night’ or ‘school is a place for studying’. They cease to care about such things entirely」

Understanding my explanation, Yuu makes a slightly displeased face.

『I cannot sleep, so I can listen forever, but I hate hearing the same thing repeated』

I look at Yuu.

When you become a ghost, your consideration for others fades. I thought this was the same for all ghosts, but Yuu is different. He still retains it firmly.

It is strange. He has aspects of a ghost, but also aspects that are not like a ghost. What exactly is Yuu?

『What is wrong?』

Noticing my gaze, Yuu tilts his head.

「It is nothing. For now, I will try to ask Father if I can go to school starting tomorrow」

『If Rina can go to school, the problem is solved, right?』

「As long as Carius and the others are at school. If they are not, I might ask onii-chan for help」

That is right!

I sit up on the bed.

I will ask onii-chan if Carius and the others came to school.

Knock knock knock.

「Rina? Are you there?」

「Mother, what is wrong?」

When I open the door, Mother looks anxious.

Could it be that she found out I left the house?

「Thank goodness」

「Eh?」

「I woke up and felt a bit anxious」

「I am fine」

For Mother’s sake too, I want to resolve this quickly.

「That is true. Shall we have lunch soon?」

「Yes. I will help」

I leave the room and go to the kitchen with Mother. While helping prepare lunch, I peek at her condition, and she seems worried about the outside.

『Rina. Do not move far from me』

Yuu moves away from my side and disappears from sight. I am surprised by this.

Since when has Yuu been able to move away from me?

「Rina, it is ready」

「Yes. It looks delicious」

Mother, Suna, and I eat lunch. I glance out the window.

Where did Yuu go?

『I am back～』

Seeing Yuu pass through the front door, I feel relieved.

『Rina, the man who looked at us with disgust when those trash people came, and his friend, are watching this house. Moreover, they were drinking alcohol and saying things like they would set this house on fire』

Eh? Fire?

「You are joking, right?」

「Rina, what is wrong?」

「It is nothing. By the way, Mother. Do you have any recommended books other than those related to the Church? I have time, so I would like to read」

「Wait a moment」

Mother goes to the bookshelf and takes several books. After checking their content, she returns with two in her hands.

「These two require a bit of effort, but I recommend them for Rina」

Requiring effort means they use difficult phrasing and words for the current Rina. But that is perfect.

「Thank you. I will try hard to read them」

I take the books and return to my room. When I glance at Yuu, I see him following me.

I sit on the bed and look at Yuu.

「Yuu. Did the guys watching us look like they were about to set fire immediately?」

『No, I think it was just the ramblings of drunkards. But since they might act on impulse while drunk, I think we should be careful』

「Understood. Thank you」

『Yes』

Yuu shows a satisfied expression at my thanks.

「Hey, Yuu. You were able to move away from me」

『I noticed that just now. However, it seems the limit is about seven or eight meters centered on Rina』

So he cannot go further than that. But at first, it was completely impossible, and now he can move that far. This means he might be able to move even further in the future.

「Sigh, Yuu, what exactly are you?」

The common sense about ghosts that I was taught does not apply here.

『Huh?』

Yuu looks puzzled at my mutter.

「It is nothing. I am going to read, so please be quiet」

When I open the book, Yuu comes behind me.

「Why are you coming behind me?」

『I thought we could read together』

「Yuu, you do not understand the characters of this world, do you?」

『I do not, but I memorized a little from the previous book. I want to memorize more, so let me read with you. Also, Rina, please read aloud again. Please』

「Do you like books, Yuu?」

『Yes, I like them. Anime and manga are good, but novels are good too. When I was little, I often read adventure stories. When I entered middle school, I borrowed romance novels from classmates. At first, I was a bit embarrassed, but they made me cry and moved me. I got quite hooked』

Yuu looks at the book with an excited expression. I cannot help but smile at his expression, which clearly shows he really likes books.

『What?』

「It is nothing. I will read」

After reading for a while, I hear the voices of onii-chan and father.

『It seems the two of them have returned. Huh? Rigus should be later than this. Did something happen?』

Hearing Yuu’s words, I immediately head to the entrance.

「Rina, I am home」

Relieved to see onii-chan safe, I smile.

「Welcome back, onii-chan」

I look at Father, who was behind onii-chan.

「Father, welcome back too」

「I am home. Were you able to rest well today?」

「Yes. I am fine now」

To get permission to go to school tomorrow, I need to appeal that I am energetic.

「I see. That is good」

Father pats my head and then goes to Mother.

「Onii-chan. Father is early today, isn’t he?」

「Yes」

Onii-chan looks at Father with a slightly sad expression.

As expected, something happened. Should I ask onii-chan? But even if I ask, I cannot do anything about it. So, I should prioritize what I can do.

「Onii-chan」

I should ask about Carius and Taguas. Ah, but if I ask suddenly, will it seem strange?

「What is wrong?」

Onii-chan looks at me with concern.

I do not want to worry him, but for the sake of Father and Mother, I want to act quickly.

「About Carius and Taguas, whom you introduced me to before, are they coming to school?」

「Eh, Carius and Taguas?」

Onii-chan tilts his head and looks at me.

That is natural. Although he introduced them, we did not become close friends afterward.

「Um, are they coming to school?」

Sorry for not explaining properly.

When I was Rin, I was bad at socializing, just like with ghosts. I was also bad at talking…

I wonder. I feel like I am going to cause onii-chan a lot of trouble from now on.