"I said I'm sorry, okay?! I just want to find my body!" the ghost man pleaded, trembling as he hid behind Ryo. The problem was, Ryo himself was just as terrified—not of the ghost, but of Ayame.
"Move on already! Your body has long since rotted away. For all we know, the fish have eaten it by now! Just go to the afterlife!" Ayame snapped, hands on her hips. Her violet aura flared wildly around her, radiating pure frustration.
Ryo couldn't help but be puzzled. Most spirits weakened when near running water—like the river flowing beside them now. That was precisely why he had set his tent under the bridge, where the spirits' energy would be at its weakest. And yet, Ayame was burning brighter with rage. Maybe it was because she wasn't actually dead?
"I can't just cross over! I've been dead for too long—I'm a wandering spirit now! What am I supposed to do?!" The ghost ran a hand through his disheveled hair in frustration.
"Do you want to move on?" Ryo asked, desperate to end this mess before Ayame completely lost it. "There's always a way. What do you need to fulfill?"
"I need to find my body! How else will I get a proper burial? My own family hasn't even looked for me!" the ghost complained.
Ryo clenched his jaw, gripping Ryota's toy truck tightly. He couldn't let restless spirits like this one bring harm to his siblings.
"Why did you hurt my brother?" His voice was firm, laced with quiet anger.
The ghost flinched, lowering his head as he clutched at his temples. "I... I heard a voice," he muttered.
"A voice?" Ryo frowned. This was the first time he had encountered a case where a ghost was ordered to harm a living person.
"Yeah, a man's voice... I can't remember exactly, but he taught me how to curse your brother. After that, it was like I lost control of myself. I didn't even want to come back to this place—I'm terrified of water! But somehow, I ended up here. I only snapped out of it when that crazy woman punched me," the ghost explained, pointing at Ayame. He was still cowering behind Ryo, clearly traumatized.
"I just... I just wanted someone to talk to. I'm sorry." His shoulders slumped, and he sank back into a sulking state.
Ryo sighed. "Look, if you want us to pray for you or fulfill your last wish so you can ascend to heaven, I can do that. But it won't be free. You have to pay me." He adjusted his glasses with his middle finger, his tone completely businesslike.
"How am I supposed to pay you? I'm dead. I don't have money or a job!" the ghost grumbled.
Ryo let out another deep sigh. "You must have something valuable—gold, jewelry, anything I can sell for cash."
The ghost fell silent, deep in thought. "Hmmm... I think I was wearing a gold necklace when I died. If you find my body, it's yours." He smiles sheepishly and acts cute.
Ryo rolled up the sleeves of his uniform, ready to throw a punch at the ghost, but this time, Ayame was the one who held him back.
"Are you out of your mind?! I already told you this is going to be a hassle! Do you want me to drown you again?!" Ryo snapped, fully taking over Ayame's role as the angry one.
"Okay, okay! Forget about finding my body!" the ghost quickly conceded. "How about you just track down my family instead? I still remember their address, names, and even their contact numbers, so it should be easy for you guys."
Ayame and Ryo exchanged skeptical glances.
"And what's in it for me?" Ryo asked, arms crossed. There was no way he was doing this for free. The word FREE did not exist in his vocabulary.
"Just tell my son to give you money on my behalf. That should work, right?" the ghost offered, looking hopeful.
Ryo narrowed his eyes. He was tired of getting paid in promises. He still hadn't gotten back his piggy bank from Akito!
"I swear! I have a lot of money! I was a soldier—can't you tell from my uniform? I was part of the Japanese army!"
Ryo and Ayame stared at him, unimpressed. His clothes were covered in so much mud that it was impossible to make out any details.
"Fine, fine. But you have to promise me you won't mess with my brother or anyone in my family again. No sneaking into my house. And you will pay me. I'm writing this down as a debt." Ryo stated firmly.
The ghost nodded eagerly.
Ryo pulled out his phone—a battered old flip phone. "Name?" he asked, slipping back into business mode as if nothing had happened.
"Mitsuhito Takahashi," the ghost replied.
Ryo jotted down all the details: address, contact number, and other identifying information.
"Alright, I'll handle this tomorrow. I don't have school, so I have time. But please, let me sleep tonight. If you don't, I swear I'm not doing anything for you."
Mitsuhito nodded. "Thank you. I promise this won't happen again."
Ryo believed him—at least for now. But one thing kept nagging at his mind.
What if that voice whispered to Mitsuhito again?
Where did it come from? And who—or what—was behind it?
"Okay, Mitsuhito-san. I'll come back tomorrow. I need to check on Ryota," Ryo said before heading home with Ayame, leaving the ghost behind.
When he arrived, he found Ryota sitting on Rin's lap, sipping water. He looked much better—his face no longer pale, his breathing calm.
"Oniisan!" Rin called, and all eyes turned to Ryo—who was covered in mud, clutching a toy truck.
"Where have you been? And why do you look like that?" Rin asked, her gaze is full of concern. Ryo also noticed his brother, Ryosuke, had made it home.
"I went looking for help, but there was no one around. I did find Ryota's favorite toy by the river, though," he replied before walking over and wrapping his little brother in a tight hug.
"I'm just glad you're okay," he murmured.
Now that the tension had finally eased, exhaustion hit him like a truck. Ryo collapsed onto the floor without another word, instantly knocked out by sleep.
"Oniisan! Ryo-nii!" They shout in panic.
Today had been the most exhausting day of his life.
And to top it all off, he barely made a single cent.
Damn business. No profit, no ROI!