After listening to Indou Ranko's proposal, Amamiya Rin's expression was one of dumbfounded bewilderment.
He knew this world was very idealistic, operating on mind-over-matter principles, but he hadn't expected that one could act like a coward—shrinking one's head like a turtle—even when facing a vengeful spirit, and that this would actually be a valid strategy.
It was a bit like Mieruko-chan, but even more demanding.
Mieruko-chan only required pretending not to see. This, however, required starting from the psychological level, even involving causality.
One had to sever the connection at the level of mind and memory to have any possibility of escape.
"Apart from this, there is no other way. The Saeki family's Ju-on is the most unique category among the Ju-on I know, so don't count on me to exterminate her."
Indou Ranko's answer was extremely firm, negating any plan other than evasion.
Two words—No solution!
"I understand."
Amamiya Rin nodded slightly.
He wasn't some reckless fool who would provoke Kayako out of a moment of hot-headed bravery.
After expressing his thanks and hanging up the phone, Amamiya Rin realized something.
The Police History Compilation Office seemed to be truly useless.
Indou Ranko, who could exterminate a Split Spirit of Tamamo-no-Mae, would be considered a tough character in any worldview.
But this happened to be a world where humanity faced extinction at the drop of a hat, so Indou Ranko and the Police History Compilation Office could only serve the role of a clean-up crew.
"Rin-kun? Is it very serious?"
Fujino Terumi nervously observed the changes in Amamiya Rin's expression, her fingers unconsciously clasping together, her eyes filled with unease.
She had originally thought this was just an ordinary supernatural incident, but the words Amamiya Rin spoke and his expressions while on the phone with Kazumi Junya all proved the severity of the situation.
Amamiya Rin set his mobile phone aside. He didn't answer directly; instead, he fished a silver pocket watch out of his hospital gown's pocket.
This was a gift Professor Matsuura had once given him, used for learning and performing Hypnosis.
"It's more complex than I imagined, but it's not hopeless."
Amamiya Rin held the chain, lifting the pocket watch.
The pocket watch swung slowly in mid-air, its silver case glinting with a cold light under the Hospital Ward's illumination.
"Look at this. Relax. Focus your gaze here. I need to help you build some psychological defenses; this can reduce the risk."
Although Fujino Terumi was puzzled, her trust in Amamiya Rin made her comply, focusing her gaze on the gently swaying pocket watch.
"Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale... follow my lead..."
As the watch swayed, Fujino Terumi's gaze moved left and right with it. Simultaneously, she subconsciously followed Amamiya Rin's prompts, causing a subtle change in the rhythm of her breathing.
Slowly, her breathing, which had been slightly rapid due to nervousness, stabilized without her realizing it.
"Very good. Now, take a slow deep breath... feel your body gradually relaxing..."
Amamiya Rin's voice gradually became distant, like ethereal clouds on the horizon, or like a stream flowing in a mountain ravine.
Fujino Terumi's chest rose and fell slightly with Amamiya Rin's commands, the rhythm of her breathing slowing down unwittingly.
For a moment, the Hospital Ward was unusually quiet, save for the even sounds of their breathing and the almost inaudible mechanical ticking of the swinging watch.
The night outside the window seemed to become even more still, the distant city noise appearing as if isolated in another world.
Amamiya Rin carefully observed Fujino Terumi's reaction. Seeing her eyes gradually lose focus and become somewhat dazed, and her body posture visibly relaxing, he continued the Hypnosis.
"Regarding that house in Nerima Ward, regarding the Saeki family, regarding the so-called curse... these are all just distant urban legends, completely unrelated to your daily life. They are not in your world, they are very far away from you. Just a story you heard by chance, not worth mentioning, something you will forget as soon as you turn your head..."
Amamiya Rin's tone was level. Utilizing the Hypnosis techniques learned from Professor Matsuura, he step-by-step guided Fujino Terumi's consciousness.
"Harase Kyoko is just one of your many peers. Her work, her life, do not intersect much with yours. You are just ordinary acquaintances who meet occasionally..."
As the Hypnosis proceeded, the sky outside darkened completely, the ink-black night curtain swallowing the last trace of twilight.
The light in the Hospital Ward seemed to dim inexplicably for a split second; the bulb flickered as if from unstable voltage, then returned to normal.
Amamiya Rin's speaking speed didn't change in the slightest, but the fingers gripping the watch chain tightened imperceptibly.
A wave of causeless chill silently climbed up his spine.
The air seemed to become damp and heavy, raising a layer of fine goosebumps on his arms exposed outside the hospital gown.
The sound of traffic on the distant street outside the window, originally faintly audible, now became exceptionally distant, as if cut off by something.
"You will not go out of your way to ask about her current situation, nor will you take the initiative to contact her..."
Amamiya Rin's voice echoed in the quiet Hospital Ward, yet it seemed to be partially absorbed by the invisible air, appearing somewhat hollow.
Wrong! Something was wrong!
Amamiya Rin's breathing rhythm didn't falter, and his tone maintained the Hypnosis technique, but all his senses were now highly concentrated.
The clarity brought by Dhyana allowed him to perceive changes in the atmosphere better than ordinary people.
He felt a gaze.
Right behind him.
The sensation of being watched came from behind.
The hairs on the back of Amamiya Rin's neck stood on end, but he controlled himself and did not look back.
Because he knew that behind him, apart from the wall, there was nothing.
However, that sensation of being watched was terrifyingly real.
It was as if there really was an extra person behind him, standing right there.
Perhaps sitting by the bed.
Perhaps leaning against the headboard.
Perhaps pressed right against his back.
Every breath hit his neck, close at hand, making the hairs on his neck stand up.
Meanwhile, Fujino Terumi in front of him was completely immersed in the guided state of relaxation, oblivious to the changes around them.
Fujino Terumi, close at hand, didn't feel whether there was an extra person in the room that should only have two.
Amamiya Rin wanted to turn his head.
But he didn't.
He knew he couldn't turn his head.
Amamiya Rin only shifted his eyeballs slightly, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the wall beside the hospital bed.
The wall was empty, save for the elongated, slightly swaying shadows of him and Fujino Terumi cast by the light.
But, it felt very unfamiliar.
Inexplicably, the shadows on the wall gave Amamiya Rin a sense of unfamiliarity, as if those two shadows didn't belong to him and Fujino Terumi.
Moreover, that sensation of being stared at intently didn't weaken in the slightest.
Instead, it became clearer, more oppressive, as if that thing had moved closer again, close enough that he could almost feel the tactile sensation brought by the outline of its existence.
Close enough that it seemed the owner of the gaze was already pressed against him, its shadow already overlapping with his.
That was why he could only see his own shadow on the wall.
That was why he felt his own shadow was so unfamiliar.
____
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