Edogawa Nishiguchi Ayakashi Clinic - Chapter 18
I don’t remember how I flagged a taxi and went home.
But by the time I noticed it, I was already in front of my apartment.
It’s a good thing I remembered to bring some money.
“What are you saying at this time, Azuki…”
Exasperated with the common sense that had been ingrained in me, I got out of the cab and the familiar scenery of downtown Edogawa-cho entered my vision.
The familiar sight somehow calmed down the furious beating of my heart.
In front of me was the apartment building where I rented my 1K apartment for the past 4 years. [1] It wasn’t the hard-to-reach, exclusive club where the ayakashi gathered at all.
It felt like I had finally returned to my daily life before I came to know about their world.
However, the Ayakashi Clinic which started all of this was also in the same vicinity.
“What should I do…”
Should I start looking for a job again?
But I don’t have much time.
Then should I just continue living here until then?
But that clinic is just around the corner.
Should I just move?
But I don’t have that much money on me either.
I climbed up the steel steps feeling helpless about my living condition.
It’s not like I couldn’t do anything about it, but I just wanted to jump into my bed and forget everything that happened today.
“Huh?”
As I reached the 2nd floor and inserted my key to unlock the door, an intense uneasiness washed over me.
It’s unlocked.
Then if I just turn the knob it should open, right?
Did I forget to lock it earlier?
My heart began to beat fast again.
Could there be a thief waiting inside?
Then is it even safe to open this door right now?
Should I call the cops first?
Oh, but I might have just forgotten to lock my door earlier.
“But if someone’s inside…”
I wanted to call someone and ask them to come in with me.
The first person that came to mind was Riho who was on a faraway island.
Next was my family who lived 2 ½ hours away from me.
Then, the person who could help me right away was…
“… I wonder if Akatsu-kun is available.”
I was a bit suspicious of him, but I had no other options.
If he’s around, then he would be able to respond through L*NE in less than a minute.
[Sorry Akatsu-kun, but where are you right now?]
!!
Before I could receive a response, I was surprised when I heard a phone chime… from inside my room.
[I’m inside your room.]
“Huh!?”
When I hurriedly opened the door, the interior of my 1K apartment came into full view.
“Wh– eh!? Was the door unlocked!?”
Akatsu-kun casually drank some black tea as he sat on the cushion by my low table.
“Welcome back, Azuki. Did you have fun at your welcome party?”
As usual, this gentleman was clad in his usual suit.
Wait.
Do you usually just enter someone else’s house if their front door was unlocked?
I closed the door behind me and noticed that I almost forgot to leave my shoes by the entrance.
“What’s wrong? I brought scones with me.”
“No, it’s not the scones…”
“Oh, sorry, I’ll bring macarons next time.”
No, it’s not the scones you should be apologizing about.
“Hey, did I leave my door unlocked?”
Smiling, Akatsu-kun began to pour some tea into the mug he prepared for me.
How did he know where I kept my mugs?
Did he look for them?
Or did he come with someone else?
I unconsciously looked around my room, but it didn’t seem like there was someone else.
“Freshly opened tea really tastes different, you know?”
“Hey, was my door unlocked?
“What’s for dinner, Azuki?”
“Wh– should you be asking me that?”
I felt incredibly uncomfortable with his gentlemanly smile.
He’s not even my boyfriend, so what the heck is he even asking me?
“Oh by the way, where did they hold your welcome party?”
Nine-tailed fox, amanojaku, god of poverty, zashiki-warashi….
The reality I couldn’t accept flashed through my mind.
“Sorry, but I’m a little tired today.”
“Say, about that new workplace you mentioned the other day…”
“Hey, are you listening?”
“You said there was something strange about it.”
“Akatsu-kun…”
“Were you perhaps referring to that Ayakashi Clinic?”
At the mention of that name, everything clicked into place.
Translator’s Notes:
[1] 1K apartment – is an abbreviation where K stands for “Kitchen”. A 1K apartment is basically a one room studio apartment with a kitchen that is usually separated by a wall. Source
