第６０５堀：トイレの調査 (Part1)
Chapter 605: Investigation of the Restroom
Investigation of the Restroom
Side: Kagura
“““……”””
We all stepped into the rumored East Girls’ Restroom in silence.
However, it wasn’t because we were scared.
The reason was simple...
“Hold on, stop. Let’s head back outside for a moment.”
At Ria’s suggestion, we obediently filed out of the restroom.
It was only natural; our current investigation team consisted of thirteen people in total.
There were five stalls and one cleaning supply closet.
In other words, at most, only five people could use the facilities at once. The size and space were limited accordingly.
If thirteen people crammed in there... it was cramped.
It was like the morning rush at the dormitory restrooms.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say there was no room for a ghost to appear, but I couldn’t imagine one showing up under these circumstances.
“There are just too many of us. An apparition wouldn’t even have the space to manifest. Let’s split into two teams: one to wait at the entrance and one to go inside and investigate.”
Ria seemed to have reached the same conclusion. When she proposed it, everyone else nodded in agreement, likely feeling just as stifled.
“Thirteen is a lot, so let’s split it into roughly six per team. Also, since Autumn and Rurua are the experts, we can’t put them together, or the other team would be left without one. And it’s a given that Kirue and Cleena should stay with Autumn...”
After carefully arranging the teams so that the necessary personnel weren’t clustered in one place...
“Alright, First Squad, let’s head in and verify the situation!”
The First Squad, led by Ria, consisted of Ria, Cleena, Kirue, Autumn, myself, and Dressa.
Unfortunately, since Micos and I were the only two students from the academy in this group, we couldn’t be on the same team.
To be honest, I had been scared at first, but with so many people around and the sheer absurdity of the crowd in the restroom, my fear had completely evaporated.
“There’s nothing particularly strange here, is there?”
“Hmm. Or rather, it’s covered in dust, as if it hasn’t been used at all.”
“...I find the lack of proper cleaning concerning. Are you alright, Lady Autumn?”
“I’m fine. But, as I thought, I don’t feel anything.”
“Autumn doesn’t feel anything? Then maybe there’s nothing here? Kagura, is there some specific action that makes it appear?”
“Hmm. I’ve heard sad crying sounds from inside the restroom before, but...”
I struggled to answer Dressa’s question. I had never heard of any specific ritual to trigger a haunting...
“Hmm. Then the fact that it’s inside the restroom is what’s suspicious. Ria, why don’t we check the inside of the stalls for now?”
“Good idea. There’s nothing at the sinks, and there are no mirrors, so the ‘something reflected in the mirror’ trope is impossible.”
Following Dressa’s suggestion, we decided to open the doors one by one, but...
“Nothing special here.”
“Agreed.”
There was nothing.
Just a row of standard toilets. The cleaning closet was empty, too.
Or so we thought, but Kirue-san had a different reaction.
“Hm? What is this...”
“Kirue, is something wrong?”
“Yes. This stall... it’s too clean.”
“““Eh?”””
At her words, we all gathered around the third stall from the entrance.
Indeed, unlike the others, this stall was completely free of dust.
“...Does that mean a ghost is using this?”
When Ria said that, I felt the temperature in the room drop instantly.
“No, that is not necessarily the case. Well, I cannot rule out that possibility, but... Lady Autumn, do you feel anything?”
“No. I don’t feel anything at all.”
“I see. In that case... everyone, let’s step outside. I have something I need to report to Yuki-sama and the others.”
“““Eh?”””
“I cannot say for certain as it is not yet confirmed, but based on this, I believe someone is actually using this restroom.”
“Wait, Kirue-san. Isn’t that what a ghost would be doing...”
When I said that, she shook her head, denying my assumption.
“That is not it. If Lady Autumn feels nothing, it is not a ghost. That leaves only one conclusion...”
“Ah, you mean a living person is using it, right?”
Dressa clapped her hands in realization. Hearing that, I understood too.
If it wasn’t a ghost, it had to be a living person. It was that simple.
“Hmm. So, Kirue, are you saying someone is using this restroom?”
“That is correct, Lady Cleena. However, I do not know who or for what purpose. If we interfere clumsily, they might stop, so I thought it best to leave immediately.”
“I see. Then, as Kirue says, we should head out. Everyone, let’s go.”
Convinced by Kirue’s explanation, we restored the restroom to its original state as much as possible and stepped out.
“Welcome back. Did you find anything?”
Rurua-san and the others were waiting for us outside.
“Yes. We’re fine. But we have something to report, so we’re going back to Yuki-san and the others.”
“It seems there was nothing, but you did find something, didn’t you? Understood. What shall we do about the surveillance?”
“In that case, Micos and I will stay behind.”
“Eh!?”
Micos let out a strange noise because she didn’t know the full context, but I explained that as students of this academy, we were the least likely to look suspicious if we were discovered.
“That’s right. As Kagura said, it’s easier to make excuses if students are the ones watching. Please do.”
“Yeah. Leave it to us.”
“Well, if that’s the reason, I don’t mind, Micos-chan.”
“For now, we’ll go relay the story to Yuki-san and the others. Whether we continue the surveillance as is or change the strategy, we need to report back once.”
With that, Ria and the others left, leaving Micos and me alone in front of the restroom.
Since it was a deserted corner of the school, the silence felt heavy.
“For now, let’s go into the classroom diagonally across the hall.”
“Agreed.”
Inside the classroom, there were no desks or chairs, just a layer of dust on the floor.
“It’s such a waste to leave these classrooms unused when there are so many.”
“But we don’t have enough people to fill them. We’re short on dorms, and if we increase the number of classes, we’d have to hire more teachers, which costs money...”
“I understand what you’re saying, Micos, but it’s a bit much to build all this without anticipating those issues.”
“Well, yeah. But when you actually do things, you often realize things after the fact. It’s surprisingly common to look back and wonder why you did things a certain way. Even you, Kagura, didn’t realize that summoning would lead to kidnapping and international issues until after it happened, right?”
“...That’s true. Back then, my head was full of being a savior, the Princess’s orders, and how to survive the battle.”
“See? That’s why places like this...”
As Micos started to say more, I held a finger to my lips.
“...I hear footsteps.”
“Eh? Did Ria and the others come back?”
“Listen carefully. The sound is coming from the opposite direction.”
“Hmm? Oh, you’re right.”
Yuki-san and the others were waiting in the classroom at the end of the hall, past the East Restroom. We couldn’t go any further than that.
The footsteps were coming from the opposite side—the corridor we had walked down to get to the East Girls’ Restroom.
The sound was definitely getting closer.
“There’s only one person walking.”
“Yeah. That’s what I hear, too.”
It seemed someone was coming to this place all by themselves.
“Could it be... a ghost?”
“No way. Ghosts don’t make footsteps. For now, let’s peek.”
“Eh?”