Translation by Emi (http://ribon.toxikon.org)
47 Pages
Uchiki na Ghost [translated:Bashful Ghost]
by Yuuki Akira
Source : Ribon September 1998 issue
(Supplementary issue)

Text in [] are actions
Each scene is in paragraphs ^^

---

Seira : It's soo hot---! *sigh* Having to have to stay after school to help make guide books for the summer holidays has to be a disadvantage of being a class rep. ---- Hm?
[Yoshida is watering flowers]
Seira : [thinks] He's....
Seira monologue : Come to think of it, this flower bed was supposed to have been left and abandoned but since when were flowers growing....? Don't tell me he looked after them by himself..... He's....
Seira : [thinks] Er... what was his name? [sweatdrop]

Seira & girls : Wow, one more week until the summer holidays! I can't wait!
[Seira notices something]
[Sees Yoshida]
Seira monologue : He was our class mate and he was always by himself...
Girl 1 : Seira! Seira! Seira!
Seira : Oh, what?
Girl 1 : It isn't like you to just zone out
Seira : Sorry
Girl 2 : What were you thinking about?
Seira : Well.. not much.. just that Yoshida is always by himself...
Girls : Yoshida? Ohh yeah now that you mention it...
But even if you say his name, you can't really put a face to it can you? He's always been sort of non-existent --
Yeah, even if he was here or even if he wasn't it wouldn't make much of a difference
[Seira frowns]
Seira : Isn't that saying a little too much?
Girl 1 : What, Seira? Why are you getting so worked up about it?
Seira : And if he really did leave....
Girls : What?
Seira : The flowers will die
[the bell rings]
Girl 2 & 4 : Hey, class is starting. Let's go.
Seira : Are you listening to me....?

Seira monologue : And it was only a couple of days after, that it happened. Yoshida died in a car accident.
[scene of Yoshida getting hit by a car]
But no one in class cried for him.....
Voices : See you next semester! Bye!
Girl 1 : Hey Seira, do you want to do a ouija board with us?
Seira : [about to leave] Ouija board?
Girl 2 : Yeah, seeing as it's holidays from tomorrow, we wanted to call Yoshida's spirit---
Doesn't it sound a little interesting?
Seira : ....You shouldn't do stuff like that you know? Isn't it just half-playing?
Girl 1 : Why are you getting so serious about it?
It doesn't matter. Do you really think we can call a spirit with this?
It's just that there's never been such a death so close to home... we were just thinking maybe...
Seira : And what are you going to do after you call him? You're going to make him answer stupid questions aren't you?
Girls : What's wrong? You sound so defensive!
Ooooh, did you like Yoshida or something?
Seira : No, but... I don't think that using a class mate who died, for a game, is such a good idea. I'll see you next term
[closes door behind her abruptly]
Girl 1 : Wha-- What's up with her?
Girl 3 : She's no fun.
Girl 2 : It doesn't matter, let's do it with the four of us.
[four fingers are on the coin on a ouija board]
Spirit of the dead.... can you hear us?
Girl 2 : Yeah, right... didn't think anything will happen....
[The coin suddenly moves and all four girls scream]

[Seira is walking home talking to herself]
Seira : *sigh* Maybe I was too harsh... [thinks] But even if no one had ever spoken to him, he's still our class mate and using him for games is bad! [convinces herself] Yoshida huh...
Seira monologue : He watered that abandoned flower bed.... he was probably really kind...
[aloud] It is a little sad that someone I know died..... *sigh*
Voice : Thanks! I'm so happy you said that!
Seira : Hm? [looks around] Am I hearing things....?
[Yoshida's ghost appears]
Yoshida : I'm here
[Seira's face turns pale..]
[She screams and runs off]
Yoshida : ....eh?

Seira : I'm home!!
Mother : Seira, what's the matter?
[slams the door to her room]
Seira : [thinks] What....what..what..what...what was that~~~!? *That* was Yoshida, I'm sure... Why is Yoshida's ghost talking to me!? I didn't do anything for him to have a grudge on me....
[Seira's heart is thumping like mad]
Yoshida : Hehehehe it's no use running into your room!
[Seira screams, throwing her school bad at him]
[The schoolbag, of course, just goes through him and hits the wall]
Yoshida : Hehehe... attacking me even though you're scared. That's very like you. But rest assured, I'm not here because I have a grudge on you or anything.
Seira : ....what? Then why...
Yoshida : I just want to show my gratitude....
Seira : Gratitude?
Yoshida : When those girls were doing the ouija board thing today, you told them off didn't you? That made me really happy...
Seira : We-well... if it's something that small, you don't have to appear! It's scary!!
Yoshida : Scary? Oh... yeah, it would be. I'm a ghost and on top of that, some loner in class. I guess I'm being a nuisance. I'll go now.... bye...
[Yoshida disappears]
Seira : Oh, hey....
Seira monologue : That wasn't too nice... Yeah, Yoshida didn't die willingly. He came specifically to thank me....
[Her room is silent]
Seira : Sorry Yoshida [thinks] I hope you rest in peace...
[Yoshida appears on her bed in a relaxed position]
Yoshida : Well, I'm not that bothered by it so it's okay
Seira : What? You're still here!? What.. what is it? Do you have something else to do here?
Yoshida : Well no, not really. Just that I would hardly ever get a chance to be in a girl's room so ...
Seira : Hasn't your personality changed somehow?
Yoshida : What was I like before then?
Seira : What?
Yoshida : Always sitting in the darkest corner of the room, growing fungi and it didn't matter whether I was there or not. No, wait.... would it have been even better if I wasn't there altogether? Was that me? You haven't even spoken to me at all so how can you say you even know what I was like!?
Seira : Th-that's right... sorry I said it in a light manner... sorry
Yoshida : If it's understood, that's fine
[relaxing in a chair]
Seira : ..ug.. [holding a fist] [thinks] What a conceited attitude!!

Seira monologue : And just like that, with no particular reason, he decided to stay in my room.
(In the bathroom)
Seira : Can you puhleease disappear?
Yoshida : What if I said no?
Seira : Hm! What are you thinking!? Idiot! I can't have my bath!!
Yoshida : Why don't you have your bath? Don't worry about me.
Seira : I do worry!!
Mother : Seira!? What are you shouting by yourself in the bathroom!? You're a little strange today!
Seira : Nothing mum! Don't worry!
Seira : *sigh* Just spending one day with you, I know what kind of person you are
Yoshida : Really? Wow, I'm glad! If I hadn't died, probably no one would have known my personality. It seems like because I'm dead and my body feels lighter, I'm not scared of anything at all.
Seira : You sound like you're having fun.... it sounds funny, but you are much more lively than you did when you were alive.
Yoshida : [laughs] That might be true!
Seira : Oh whatever! Just disappear will you? I can't have my bath!!
Yoshida : Oh all right, all right. You're so stingy!

[Seira is sitting in the bath tub]
Seira : [thinking] ... It's turned out to be really weird....
[aloud] If it was going to turn out like this, I would have let them do the ouija board...
[blood is dripping from above]
Seira : Hm? [thinks] What is this.. blood!? Where's it coming from!?
[Yoshida hanging upside down]
Yoshida : Oops... I'm getting a nose bleed
[Seira screams]
Mother : Seira!? What's the matter!?
Mother : Dear, she's been acting strange all day....
Father : She's reaching that age...

[Seira is under her bed covers]
Yoshida : Look I'm sorry.... don't be so angry
Seira : Shut up you idiot!! I don't believe you!! Hurry up and go away!!
[thinks] I was stupid to even think for a moment that he was a kind person!! I should have left them to do the ouija board or whatever!!
Yoshida : I'm really sorry.. I'll disappear now so don't be angry....
[Yoshida disappears]
Seira : Yoshida? [gets out from her covers]
[thinks] He'll probably turn up soon anyway
Mother : Seira! A phone call from your friend!
Seira : Okay!
[takes phone]
Seira : Hello?
Girl 1 : Seira? Come to school quickly!
Seira : What? What do you mean?
Girl 1 : Just come quickly!
Seira : Well... what!? Has something happened!?
[the phone hangs up]
Seira : She hung up..... What are they doing at this time of the night?
[thinks] They... they couldn't have been doing that ouija board thing...? I guess I'd better go!
[Seira looks around and all is quiet]
Seira : Yoshida really did disappear....

Seira : Oh my gosh... The school looks so creepy at night! The front entrance is open... Huh!? Oh!! Sir!?
[A teacher is sprawled on the floor]
Girl 1 : Seira!! Thanks for coming!
Seira : What is all this!? What's happened to the teacher and what about you guys?
Girl 1 : Well... the three of them got possessed while we were doing the ouija board... And the teacher who came around to see... well... they...
Seira : What!? Possessed? Are you sure?
Girl 1 : Yes! I don't know what to do! The three of them, they're in the class room...!
Seira : [thinks as she is running] I've heard of these types of things in TV or manga where people get possessed while they're half playing, but I never imagined it would happen so close to home........
You guys!!
You guys..?
Girl 4 : Kon kon (the sound a fox makes)
Girl 3 : Meow..
Girl 2 : ......
Seira : Kon kon.... Meow!?
[thinks] Are they possibly possessed by the fox spirit and the cat spirit!? I don't know whether I'm feeling scared of I think it's stupid.....
[aloud] Thank God that you were safe... !?
Girl 1 : Ponpokori--n (the sound a raccon makes)
Seira : [thinks] Ponpoko...!? Oh no! It's not the raccon spirit.....!?
[aloud] What...what am I meant to do by myself?
[the girls attack her]
[Seira screams]
[Yoshida comes and creates a barrier, protecting Seira]
Yoshida : It's because things like these that happen that you shouldn't half-play with a ouija board
Seira : Yoshida....
Yoshida : Sorry. I told you I was going to go away and now I'm back.
Seira : What? You don't need to apologize! You rescued me! Thank you so much...
Yoshida : Minamoto san...
Seira : What? What's the matter?
Yoshida : No, it's just that no one's ever thanked me before....
Seira : Hmmm..?
[thinks] What's the matter with me... I wanted him to go away ASAP, but now I was a little relieved to see Yoshida...
[Girl 1 sneaks up behind Seira]
Girl 1 : Ponpokori--n [attacks Seira] Poko----!!
Yoshida : Are you all right Minamoto san?
Seira : I'm fine, but we have to do something about them....
Yoshida : They've been possessed by minor animal spirits...
Seira : Oh!! I just realised something major.... Spirit of a racoon, spirit of a fox, spirit of a cat....It's in a word chain!!

Note : The word chain doesn't make sense in english, but in Japanese, fox is kitsune, cat is neko and racoon is tanuki. So it goes tanuki, kitsune, neko. Koala is koala and grasshopper is koorogi. So it would go, neko and either koala or koorogi. ^^

Yoshida : ....Minamoto san.... What are you saying in this situation....
Seira : That means the other one left is....
Yoshida : Is it....
Seira : Spirt of a koala!!
Yoshida : Spirit of a grasshopper!!
[They are both silent for a while]
Seira : I wonder which one?
Yoshida : ....Does it really matter?

Note : And also, when they add meow or pokorin is because that's how they talk, adding the animal sounds when they talked.

Girl 3 : Meow, what are you arguing about, meow? Seira.... you're saying "We have to do something" aren't you? What are you saying, meow?
Girl 1 : You're acting like a super hero, pokorin
Girl 4 : Everybody hates you, kon
Girl 2 : You're always acting like you're important and being such a goody-goody.
Seira : You guys....!? What are you saying.....
Girl 3 : This is our true feelings, meow
Seira : [thinks] I... was that what everybody thought of me....?
Yoshida : Don't listen to them! After all, it's only just animal spirits talking nonsense!! If you lose your courage, you'll be possessed too!!
Seira : But I...
Yoshida : Are you going to listen to what those spirits say? They aren't their true feelings. No one would ring up and ask help to a person they hated. Everybody trusts you. So be confident!!
Seira : Yoshida....
Yoshida : The battle against those spirits is a battle with your heart. Minamoto san, you stay behind me and pray!!
Seira : Okay!!
Girls : [leaping at them] You conceited little...!!
Seira : [praying] Please, please, make the spirites possessing them....make them....
Yoshida : Disappear!!
[The spirits disappear]
Seira : Did they go?
Yoshida : They sure did... we beat them...
[Three girls fainted on the floor]
Girl 1 : Hey.. what are we doing...?
Seira : (in small print) Hmm.... wasn't there one more? Oh well..

Seira monologue : And that was how the ouija board incident was resolved. But for some reason, Yoshida's spirit was still staying at my house...
Seira : Yoshida kun~~~!
Yoshida : What?
Seira : Are you good at Maths? Do you think you could help me a little with my homework?
Yoshida : I guess...
Seira monologue : And this and that happened and the end of the holidays were nearing
Seira : Wow!! Great!! You're so smart!! I never knew!!
Yoshida : Well... you wouldn't know... I don't think anyone ever knew me...
Seira : Didn't you like talking to people?
Yoshida : It wasn't that... I just... I just didn't want to be disliked by others, I was scared.. I wasn't too good at talking.... It just seemed much easier not to say anything. That's why I've been envious of you Minamoto san. You can say whatever you are thinking. If you can't say what you're thinking, friendship or anything won't begin... I wanted to be born strong like you Minamoto san...
Seira : I'm scared too you know? I don't want to be disliked by others either. Being able to express your thoughts and feelings is just that little bit of courage. I'm not the strong person you think I am.
Yoshida : Courage? I'll take back that comment I said before the holidays, "I'm not scared of anything at all".
Seira : What?
Yoshida : I'm scared of you the most.
Seira : [angrily] Hey! What are you saying!?
Yoshida : You're the person I don't want to be disliked by the most!
Seira : What...!? What.. what does that mean...?
Yoshida : [blushing] Well... uhhh.... that I like you...
[Seira is stunned]
Yoshida : When I died... there wasn't much to regret... but I would have liked to say this when I was alive....
Seira : Yosh...ida..?
[Yoshida disappears]
Seira : [a little teary] ... You still need more courage if you disappear and rest in peace without hearing a reply....
Seira monologue : And with that, our holidays ended. In the new semester, I learnt for the first time how lonely it was in the class room without Yoshida.
[School desk with a vase of flowers in the middle of flashbacks, holiday memories]

Girl 1 : You're always putting flowers on Yoshida's desk aren't you?
Girl 4 : You were interested in him weren't you?
Seira : ... well, maybe
Girls : What!? Are you serious!? You must be kidding!!
Seira monologue : During the summer holidays, the flower bed had wilted. But this time, I'll water them. And then, when it flowers, I was thinking of decorating them on his desk.

Postscript to Yoshida : I discovered a female high-school student in a eucalyptus tree on the school grounds. I think that spirit was a koala's spirit. (added in small print) But why a koala's spirit in Japan...?

THE END