第１１３１堀：月下に映る (Part2)
"In that case, Yuki—no, shouldn't we contact the surveillance team?"
"Ah, you're right. Contact them immediately. They say phenomena like this tend to vanish the moment you look away, so I’ll keep my eyes fixed on this."
"Understood. Hello? Yes, this is Lara from the Principal's Office. Zargis, thank goodness. Are you seeing anything on Monitor 5?"
It seemed Zargis had picked up. Lara immediately asked him to check the status of the fifth monitor, but...
"Nothing out of the ordinary, you say? But the Principal insists there is a female student visible on Monitor 5... Yes. Yes, I understand. We’ll be waiting. Principal, the surveillance team says they are sending someone over. And Taizo would like to speak with you."
"Understood. Put him through."
"Very well. I’m switching to the speaker. There, it’s done. Taizo, you’re on."
"Hello, Principal Popuri. Can you hear me?"
"Yes, I can hear you clearly."
I kept my gaze locked on the female student on the screen as I began the call with Taizo.
"Good. Let’s get right to it. Is it true that you can see a female student on Monitor 5?"
"Yes, it is. Does that mean she isn't appearing on your end?"
"Unfortunately, no. We are currently using remote access to record the feed from your tablet, but she isn't visible on our end either."
"I see. Could this be a trick of the mind, then?"
"That possibility is never zero. However, it is extremely rare for 'tricks of the mind' to persist for this long. Furthermore, it’s strange for a ghost to remain visible for such a duration. Can you still see her?"
"Yes. I can. She has finally made it two-thirds of the way down the hallway."
My eyes remained fixed on the back of the female student as she walked, step by agonizingly slow step, down the corridor.
"Can you make out her face?"
"No. Unfortunately, I can only see her back. But judging by the objects around her, her stature seems quite small—perhaps under 150cm. Her hair is cut to shoulder length. The color is... it’s hard to tell in the dim light... wait, the moonlight just hit her. It’s... white? Or perhaps silver?"
Bathed in the moonlight, her hair was a beautiful white or silver, reflecting the lunar glow with crystalline clarity.
"I see, I see. For now, please continue your observation. But if you feel any sense of danger, stop immediately."
"Understood. But why is it that only I can see her?"
Since I hadn't felt any particular danger yet, I asked for the reason behind why I was the only one who could perceive her, but...
"That, I cannot say. I am not an expert in paranormal phenomena. We will have to consult Sota-san about that tomorrow."
"I see..."
Indeed, Taizo was a child of science. His expertise lay in scientifically unraveling such mysteries, whereas Sota was the true specialist in the supernatural.
"However, the fact that only you can see her suggests a high probability that there is some connection between you and the entity."
"A connection?"
"Yes. Things that only appear to specific individuals often do so because of a special bond. Since Lara-san, who works in the same academy, cannot see her, it is reasonable to infer that your ties to this student are stronger. It isn't absolute, of course, but does anything come to mind?"
"Anything... you say?"
Prompted by his words, I took a closer look at the back of the student walking slowly ahead. From every angle, it was a student uniform from a bygone era... wait, that’s it.
"...This uniform isn't from our time. It’s from the past. I’m not sure how far back, but I will investigate and report back tomorrow."
"I would appreciate that. Is there anything else you can tell?"
"Let's see..."
I looked again, hoping to glean more information, but in the brief moment I accidentally shifted my gaze, the figure of the student vanished into thin air.
"She’s gone. It seems looking away, even for a moment to think, was a mistake."
"That happens often enough. Let’s discuss it in detail tomorrow. Also, just to be safe, have Lara-san stay with you tonight. Kirika and the others will secure the perimeter."
"Understood. I leave the Principal in your hands."
"I accept the logic, but I can't help but feel like I'm being treated like a child."
Well, should I be happy that my workday has been forced to an end, or should I be concerned? Regardless, I wonder why that ghost—if that’s what it was—appeared in the first place?
Lately, games like *Phasmophobia*, where you play as a ghost investigator, have become quite popular. I don't have the courage to play them myself, but I do enjoy watching.
It seems I’ve gathered the first set of evidence, much like in those games.
Evidence 1: Visible only to Popuri.
Evidence 2: Wearing an old-fashioned student uniform.
Evidence 3: Silver hair, short stature, female.
In other words...?