“Yeah, yeah! They say the “Kotori Obake” is actually a mom. “Your mom might be in the forest, yknow!” “Even though you’re as creepy as a ghost, you’re afraid to go into the forest?!” The boy ran and ran along the path flanked by densely growing weeds.
As his face was already wet from tears, he couldn’t bring himself to care about wiping it off. His clothes made wet with the rain felt gross. The boy looked at it for awhile, but before long turned away and progressed even further back. It was enshrined as an evil-repelling boulder but moss had grown upon it.
However, the stone that was enshrined in the clearing did not glow, only having a large size. It was a beautiful stone that glowed a dim, faint blue in the dark. Ever since he was young, the boy had often seen amulets made out of this stone around his home. The large stone was what was known as “night glowstone” and was said to be effective as a talisman. Even farther back in the clearing, past the sign, a large stone was enshrined within its consecrated ropes. Going straight along the side path behind the western-style building led to a clearing. (…then, that means that the “Kotori Obake” really lives in this forest, right?)
They explained very clearly why the boy was not to get close to the forest. The one watched over the “Kotori Obake Forest” where the “Kotori Obake” was supposed to live was the father of the boy’s childhood friend. Since long ago, children were forbidden from entering this place. Behind this western-style building the dense forest spread. The boy, in the midst of a soundless smooth rain, ran down a familiar gravel path.Īfter a while, a rustic western-style building came into view from between the trees.