Let's Dance with Ghost Stories, and You Dance on the Stairs Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Let's Dance With Miyoko Tanashi

TLed by: TanoshiKara

After the ever-changing reaction to the contents of my report card, it is time to forget about my academic troubles and think about summer break. ...That said, a third year's summer break is not one of relaxation.

Among the students leaving the school, only I went in the opposite direction, to the back of the school building.

The prefab school building has not been torn down yet. It had been used as a storage room for used signs, made during the cultural festival and the like, but all of them had been disposed of, so all of the rooms were empty. It will most likely be demolished when summer break starts.

......Even though I was involved in the 'Curse of The Bone' to that extent and was sympathetic to Tanashi's incident, I hardly ever came here.

I had actually thought about never coming here ever again. ...However, learning the truth about the entire incident, and the sentimentality from the fact that it would probably be gone when summer break is over, guided my legs here for some reason.

As usual, the external stairway had been blocked by a fence, preventing everyone from climbing it.

.........At that moment, I was startled. There was a student, who had their back turned, on the second floor of the external stairway landing. I circled to the gardening club's field, stepped into it, and looked up at that student.

.........I knew it, I knew it in my head, I already knew who it was.

"...............Tanashi-san............"

"............Hello."

"H-.........Hello."

I have never interacted with Tanashi before this. That is why this was the first time we exchanged words.

"I am sorry. I do not remember your name.  Are you from another class, perhaps?"

"...Yes. I'm Miyajima from class A. This is probably the first time I introduced myself to you."

"I see. I'm sorry. I've never introduced myself even though we have been commuting to the same school for three years." Tanashi said as she flipped her hair, which was as long and beautiful as Satou's.

......The sunlight pierced through the foliage and shined on her back, making her seem oddly divine.

Even though she was a mysterious beauty with a kind smile on her face.........she seemed somewhat cold. Those chilling eyes of hers were looking downward, staring at me.

It was not only due to the difference in elevation. .........I would surely have felt the difference in height even if we were standing on the same floor.

"............I see you know my name even though it's your first time greeting me. Miyajima-kun......? Is it because.........I'm famous? Kekekekek."

"That might be why. I'd think that there's no one in our year that doesn't know you, the reincarnation of 'The Bone'."

"............I see, I know that people call me that, but it's a first that someone said it to me in person. ...Miyajima-kun sure is an interesting person. Kekekek."

Indeed, that laugh of hers brings out her coldness and distance. It was as if she was looking at me through an insect cage. That was the feeling she made me feel.

"Aren't you afraid of me? ......There were people who got the 'Curse' just because they talked to me, you know? You'd also hate it if you had some connection with me and met the same fate, right...?"

"..........................................Tanashi-san"

"What is it?"

"..................Aren't you enjoying that you can now control the curse?"

"Kekekekek......well, I won't deny it. It's really fun. What record would be left of you normal students as proof that you were in this school? There'd only be your tiny names in a graduation album, stored deep in the document room to get all dusty. ......But I'm different. I'll become a curse; Become a supernatural curse. Even if everyone were to forget my name, the story of my existence being cursed, to then wander the border between life and death, and be reincarnated together with the curse, will remain part of this school for all eternity. That means I'll be a part of its records forever. I'm not like all of you, mere names on a dusty name list. I'll be passed down from one freshman year to the next, a curse, a supernatural curse, a ghost story that will remain forever. .........I'll live for all eternity in the space known as this school."

It was as if the second-floor landing was an opera stage to her. With the heavenly scenery, created by the beautiful sunlight, shining through the foliage, acting as her background, she twirled round and round as she smiled.

".........Up until a moment ago, I had been thinking of apologizing to you. However, I now know, from what you just told me, that it is not needed."

"...........................Apologize? Why...? ......................................."

It was as Aunt Yuka said, her mind was just too sharp. ......Just by hearing some of my words, she figured out who I was, why I came here, and why I knew her name...

"I see. ...........................So you were the one who created me."

"...........................I have no memory of ever creating someone like you."

"Kekekekek. They say that children grow up even without their parents. ......It's nice to meet you, dearest father? Miyoko has grown to be this splendid because you created me."

"............That's true, you have grown to be too splendid. You are not an existence that should be here for any moment longer."

"Oh my, dearest father, aren't those words too cruel for the person who created me? Even though I just wanted you to praise me, your daughter, for my splendid growth. Kekek. Even though I am thankful that you created me."

"I don't need your thanks. So, return to where you belong."

"Kekekekek...! Should you wish for it, I shall curse every single person you hate. Your enemy is my enemy. Allow me to expel all you find unwanted from your world. That is the duty of a daughter to her father after all. Now, praise me; Acknowledge me; Accept me. I am the law of the underworld that has descended upon this land. I am the rule that lives forever, the existence you created, the materialization of the curse, and your daughter! Kekekek, ahahahah, ahhhahahahahaha!!"

"......................................."

"It's a shame dearest father. I guess not receiving the blessings of one's parents is also the reason why curses are what they are. Kekekek! In that case, allow me to put an end to this act. May we meet again somewhere. Kekekek!!"

Tanashi......no, someone who is Tanashi, but not her mentally, leaned on the landing's railing as if it was a horizontal bar, resting the weight of her entire body on it, she jerked herself forward. Like a flash of lightning, an ominous epiphany of what she was trying to do flashed across my mind.

"............S......Stop...!!!"

"I bid you farewell, dearest father. Kekekek."

I did not think she was joking. ......That was why I rushed to the bottom of the landing.

It was like she was using the horizontal bar to do a somersault. ...Tanashi's body was graceful as it glided in midair, like it was dancing in the air as it fell. ...That was definitely the very same fall on that day, at that time, during that lunch break. 

When someone falls from a high place, they will surely be influenced by many forces.

I might fracture my arms......was a thought that did not cross my mind as it all happened so suddenly.

The one thing I could say was that......it was like catching a feather, swaying as it fell from the sky, with my hands; She was unbelievably light for someone in this world.

......I caught her body with my arms...and could do nothing but stand there, stupefied. Tanashi's face was near mine. After Tanashi stared at my face, she broke into a small smile once again, the very same she had on her face earlier.

I could not tell whether it was one out of gratefulness or belittlement.

I set Tanashi down. It seems like she lacked the self-awareness that she would have gotten seriously injured if I had not caught her...

"You have my thanks, dearest father. You saved me."

"..................It was not to save you."

"Oh my............Kekekekek, what sad word to hear."

My legs bumped into something. Chills ran down my spine when I looked down to see what it was. That was because......it was the buried shovel, its blade visible, its tip sharp.

If I had not caught her, it might have been a reenactment of that very day. .........No......I don't know whether she would also end up in a coma... This might have been the time when she did not get the ending she was hoping for......!

"What a shame. ..................Miyoko has failed to become eternal, huh. Kekekekek, ahahahahahaha!"

"You're not eternal. You're just a ghost story. ......Ghost stories are merely a summer illusion!"

The school will enter summer break starting today, so there will be no one in school. Ghost stories, curses, and supernatural curses have to latch onto people who spread them or they will not live on.

That is why a makeshift ghost story like the 'Curse of The Bone' is supposed to die out today......!

"That is true. The people will not be here for over tens of days. ......If I disappear because of that, I am but an existence of that level. But, dearest father? If I live past the summer......then even you, dearest father, cannot do anything about my existence, you know.........?"

"......I don't even think I can do anything at this point though."

"My, oh my, how honest. Kekek. ......In that case, will you acknowledge that I am your daughter if I live past the summer, dearest father...?"

Both of us are such weird existences. Even as the existence in front of me is my peer, Miyoko Tanashi, in appearance.........I see her as an existence that should not be allowed to exist in this world.

This is a world that humans live in. Every phenomenon is caused by humans, every phenomenon can be explained by humans, and every phenomenon can be resolved by humans. That is the kind of world this is. The laws of another world should not be allowed to mix in with this world's...!

The angle of the sun changed slightly; With the beautiful sunlight, shining through the foliage, slowly fading away, I turned my back against her.

"Goodbye then, dearest father. Shall we meet again after summer break ends?"

"Goodbye then, Miyoko Tanashi-san, I look forward to meeting you for the first time after summer break ends. Allow me to apologize at that time."

"Kekekek, ahahahahahaha, hah, hahahahahaha...!"

The curse that only had a name, took on a physical form; It walked and laughed as it disappeared with the sunlight.

Indeed, this is an early summer's daydream happening in broad daylight. A mere 'handmade', cheap, side act of a ghost story made by a group of three rejects to kill time.

Half of this world is made up of curses; Half of this world yearns for curses; Half of this world is ruled by curses.

In that case, this strange meeting was merely the meeting of the right half of this world with the left.

When viewed at night, it is a jet-black nightmare; When viewed in the day, it is a sweet daydream.

Indeed, this is an early summer's daydream happening in broad daylight. A mere 'handmade', cheap, side act of a ghost story made by a group of three rejects to kill time. We, who were suffocating in our water tank of boredom, needed this level of entertainment after all.

Let's dance with ghost stories; Let's dance with me; But you dance on the stairs, alright...?

<Fine>

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Note that the copyright of the image in the chapter belongs to its respective owners and was uploaded to ensure that readers experience the translation as they would if they were reading the chapter in the book itself.

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Feel free to comment/pm me if you find any mistakes. Thank you very much for reading, This marks the end of the series, I had fun translating a genre I have never translated before and enjoyed the story. I hope you enjoyed it as well!