Chapter 15: Souta Shibuya worries for his Friend
It was the afternoon after school.
I had promised Akane that we would study together, so I was heading to our meeting place.
Yes, a meeting place.
Since we’re both in the same class, I thought it would be easier to leave together.
ーー[If we leave together, everyone will make a fuss again! So see you later!]
I got a message like that.
And Akane already left the classroom.
I put my things in my bag, and I was just about to leave when I saw my friend with his head down on his desk.
Souta: “Touru, class is already over.”
I tap the shoulders of my friend who was sleeping in the desk next to meーーTouru Itabashi.
Touru: “........mmmm～?”
Touru gets up and stretches tiredly.
It’s rare to see him like this.
Normally, he would be half-listening to class and as soon as the bell rang, he would immediately run off or invite me to join him.
Souta: “What’s wrong? Stay out late?” I doubt that he stayed up all night studying.
The truth is, he doesn’t need to.
Apparently, he’s already earned a full scholarship to a University related to his True Sun Church.
He’s going to be taking over his father’s church, so his career path is already determined.
Well, it’s rumored to be a military-like disciplinary establishment so I didn’t envy his position.
[My youthful days will end after high school! That’s why I’m going to make the most of it with girls right now!]
That was what Touru said all the time.
Touru: “Ohhhh….hey Souta. These last few days, I’ve been helping out my dad at night and….I haven’t gotten any sleep lately.”
Souta: “Whoa, that’s intense. What kind of help are you doing?”
Touru’s father is the Pastor of this city’s Church.
So I figured that it had something to do with the Church. But Touru’s expression on his face was much more strained and bitter than I expected.
Touru: “Well…….a lot of stuff. I can’t talk about it in the classroom, so let’s talk while we walk.”
Souta: “Oh, uh….sure.”
Was it something that serious? He spoke so solemnly, it was unlike him.
I left the school gates with Touru and walked outside into the streets.
I’m supposed to meet with Akane at a café near the outside of town.
It would take longer on this route, but I have a little bit of time, so it should be okay.
Souta: “So, Touru. What kind of work?” I asked my friend nicely.
Touru: “Yeah…..so, you remember the stalker you dealt with last time? He was actually an addict of an illicit drug, and we found out that the distribution source was the [Green Robes Cult]..... So we’ve been working with the local police to investigate suspicious locations.”
Souta: “.................”
That was about 10 times more serious than I could ever imagine….
A cult and illicit drugs?
Is this an appropriate topic for high schoolers to talk casually on their way back from school?
Touru: “And that drug is……[snow].”
Souta: “?!”
Hearing the word made my body shiver.
I felt my heart sink to the floor.
ーー[snow]
That was the drug the driver was taking when he ran over <YUKINA> and killed her.
Though he was also drunk, it was later found that there were other drugs in his system.
The same driver actually struck and killed several other pedestrians and in the end, hit a telephone pole and died on impact.
I’m not too keen on the details, but apparently, it’s a highly addictive drug.
Souta: “.......so that drug [Snow] is going around town?”
Touru: “Yeah. And what’s worse is that it’s not just a regular drug. You saw the side effects yourself. You become extremely violent, and you can become unbelievably strong.”
I can’t believe it…..
The same drug….the same source of what killed Yukina is now spreading out throughout town…..
Souta: “Isn’t that too dangerous for you, Touru? You’re going around places where there’s people like that gathered together……..”
I know Touru isn’t the violent type, so I can’t help but worry for his safety.
Touru: “Haha. Don’t worry about that. I’m with the police, so there’s zero danger.”
Well, I guess that has to be true.
Why would they expose a high school student to such dangers?
Souta: “Well, be careful regardless.”
Touru: “Yeah, thanks. You want to go to Starbucks? They got a new Frappuccino flavor that looks amazing.” OH! I remembered as soon as I heard Starbucks.
I need to get to the meeting location with Akane!
Souta: “Sorry, Touru! I made a promise with another friend already! Maybe next time!”
Touru: “Oh～ got it. Maybe next time～”
I apologized to Touru and started running to the meeting location.
Akane should be there soon.
From here, I should be able to make it there in about 5 to 6 minutes.
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CHONKY Notes LiT (Lost in Translation)
Sutaba (スタバ) - Short for Starbucks.
Sumaho (スマホ) - Short for smartphone. I think I used the word "cell" previously and maybe kids today just call'em phones? I feel old.... In the future, when I'm dropping off my son at high school, I'm gonna yell, "Son! Do you have your ringa-dinga-ling gizmo with you?!"
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CREDITS
Spirit Girlfriend ~ Seems Like I Am the Only One Who Doesn’t Realize That I Have Been Possessed by My Dead Girlfriend~
Written by: Isle Osaki (Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isle_Osaki)
Translated by: ChonkyTranslator
Japanese Title:
ユーレイな彼女 ～どうやら死んだ恋人が取り憑いてることに、俺だけ気付いてないらしい～
作者: 大崎 アイル (オオサキ アイル)
Original Source Link: