Edogawa Nishiguchi Ayakashi Clinic - Chapter 24
The Ayakashi Clinic is closed on Wednesdays.
And on the second floor of that clinic is a dorm where my things are currently being moved into.
Since we didn’t know when that tea-guzzling old geezer who’s strutting around as a fake English gentleman would come back, I was told to move out of my apartment as soon as I could.
Still, I didn’t expect to move out within 3 days.
I wonder if the ayakashi don’t believe in mental preparation or sentiment when it comes to things like this?
“Nanakida, what shall we place inside first?”
“I’ll leave it to you.”
“Alright.”
“Umm… are you sure we don’t need to call any helpers for this?”
I didn’t have any friends that could help me with moving out, so I suggested we hire someone from Akabou or use the DIY moving services available, but Dr. Tengo refused for some reason. [1]
And before I knew it, they had already rented a mini truck and a rental car for me.
Maybe they just didn’t want an ordinary person to enter the residential part of the clinic.
“Then, Mr. Miyoshi, please start from the closest item in front of you.”
“Sure thing!”
And so, the person helping us right now is Mr. Miyoshi who is a muscular man with an out-of-season tan, cropped hair, a deep cleft jaw, and a blindingly white smile.
“…Who is he?”
“He’s Mr. Miyoshi.”
“Yes, I heard his name earlier.”
Right now, he was easily carrying 4 boxes which I stuffed with books and later on regretted because it was so heavy I thought the bottoms might give out.
“I see, so that’s what you meant.”
“What exactly?”
He stared at me.
If you understand, could you say what I’m thinking right now?
“Of course not.”
“You’ve just been reading my mind, haven’t you?”
Ah, he looked away.
“In other words, you don’t know.”
“Yes, I don’t know anything at all.”
“That person is a quarter sankichi oni.” [2]
As a human, it’s still hard to get used to these things.
But I’m amazed that I don’t think it matters even if my life wasn’t in danger.
“So he’s a demon, huh.”
“No, he’s a mover.”
“I wasn’t talking about his job.”
“Interested?”
I wonder if he’s like this because he’s a man of few words, or if it’s because he’s an amanojaku?
Then, in the middle of our conversation,
“Mr. Tengooo. This refrigerator is the last one.”
“Thank you. See you later.”
“Eh? Already!?”
Smiling brightly, Mr. Miyoshi wraps his arms around my small fridge and carries it inside.
The mini truck which was full of my belongings earlier was now empty.
When I looked at my wristwatch, I found that it had only been 15 minutes since we arrived. My sense of time is really weird whenever I’m in this clinic.
“That person is very strong, after all.”
“That’s besides the point. Can ayakashi do everything?”
“Of course not.”
He answered with a straight face.
“Anyway, is it a good idea to have a fridge inside my room?”
“Why not, it is convenient.”
“There is that, but is the room big enough?”
“You’ll know when you see.”
He beckoned me to go inside from the back of the clinic before I could even respond.
I wonder if this was the original entrance before it became a clinic.
I wouldn’t say it was new exactly, but it didn’t have that distinct “lived in” smell.
“I’m staying on the 1st floor.”
“Eh? Ah, yes.”
“Curious?”
“About what?”
“…No, it’s nothing.”
With a defeated look on his face, Dr. Tengo led me to the stairs going to the 2nd floor.
The second floor had a straight hallway with three doors lining the left side. Meanwhile, huge windows lined up the right side of the hall which let in the natural light from the outside.
It sort of reminds me of school hallways.
“Aren’t you bothered by it?”
“Eh? I mean, isn’t it pretty rare for houses to be arranged like this?
Ah, he looks defeated again.
I wonder what he’s worried about?
“The farthest room is Takeru’s, the middle one is Haruji’s, and your room is right here.
“Got it.”
Dr. Tengo peered at me.
“Takeru doesn’t come home much, so his room has become some sort of dressing room.”
“I see.”
“And Haruji’s a zashiki-warashi.”
“Now that you mention it, Chairman Takeru handed me a DS and a game.”
He looked at me again.
Too close, your face is too close!
“You’re pretty carefree, aren’t you?”
“Care… free?”
Then, I finally noticed.
Translator’s Notes:
[1] Akabou, DIY Movers
Are moving services available in Japan. Some delivery or furniture shops will offer DIY Moving services where you will be the one to pack your belongings in cardboard boxes provided by them and they will move them for you. Source1 Source2
[2] Sankichi Oni
is a yokai from folktales in Akita Prefecture. This oni loves drinking and leaves without paying, but will come back later at night and leave logs for the owner that are 10x more valuable than the cost of their drink. On a different note, the kanji for sankichi (三吉) can also be read as Miyoshi. Source
