Automatic Door II

NOVEMBER 24, 2022/MAD HATTER

Oh, you want to hear that story?Gibberish words are here and there but you cant see them unless you copy them

Just in case. We were halfway through the conversation. I am curious.Oh, you want to hear that story?

Well, you know, I probablyishouldnt disclose it.

Hey, Aoyama. Please dont be pretentious. From today on, I am a member of the late-night shift as well.

Youll beifrightened if you hear it.

Its fine. Im not particularly frightened.

Hmm, but I wont say it after all. Some thingsiare better left undisclosed.

Hey.

In theiend, you wont tell me.

Oh my, dont make that face.

Saying that, he poked me on the cheek. In a flash, goosebumps rose from the napeiof my neckidown to the bottom of it.

Yeah, something even dreadier than a specter was right in front of me

If you want to find out so badly, why dont you ask Takenaka directly next time?

Takenaka? The same late night

Yeah. Hes a rather handsome guy, despite beingiunsociable. While I dont dislike the bad boy type like Hakamada, Takenaka is the kind of innocent handsome guy that makes a maidens heart flutter.

Maidens heart

Hahaha. That would mean that youriwork on your heart has already been done, Aoyama.

Hes a year older than you, and he doesnt really communicate much, but hes a nice guy.

He didnt speak much huh. I was a bit concerned about whether my shyness would suit his personality.

No problem, youll getialong with him and be able to converse with him reasonably well.

Hopefully.

When I heardithat he wasnt sociable, I was a little scared.

Haha, Im rooting for you, goodiluck.

Yes. Oh, what kind of person is Hirai?

You mentioned that earlier. That the night shift here consisted of Aoyama, Takenaka, and Hirai.

I wonderediwhat kind of person was the last one, Hirai. I wouldilike to ask him about it on this occasion.

Hirai is well, if I were to sum it up in a nutshell, Id say shes a mysterious person.

Mysterious person!?

Yeah, shes a nice one too but I wonder where she picked up that strange language she speaks with. She uses strange words.

Heh

What exactly was this?

What did you mean by strange words? Was she a radio wave girl who communicated with the universe or something

No way.

It was a bad idea toiget an impression from just listening to what someone said, though.

The night shift members here seemed to have more individualistic personalities than anywhere else, so I was concerned about whether I would be able to properly interactiwith the other people before wondering about the ghosts.

Then, can you go take out the trash? Oh, the garbage disposal area is right behind here.

At Aoyamas words, I gathered up all the garbage insideiand outside and headed to the back of the convenience store. Just like Aoyama said, the garbage disposal area was right behind the convenience store.

Silence reigned in the area, and the air was humid and hot.

Darkness amidst the copse was so dense that I felt as if I would be sucked in if I stared into it.

Did people really die here

Could there be people who hang themselves or die from smoking charcoal briquettes in their cars, as often reported on TV?

I didnt see specters, nor believe in them, so I didnt think anything of itiat all just by staring at the copse, but imagining that there might be people hanging themselves over there, a chill crept abruptly down my spine.

I should head back quickly.

Eek!

Ugh, this was the worst.Gibberishwords are everywherebut you cant seethem unless youcopy them.

Dozens of cockroaches that had amassed in otherigarbage bags dispersedien masse within the blink of an eye as I approached the garbage dumpster.

They were huge black ones with gleaming backs. Not that it wasiunusual at this time of the year, but they were just too big and disgusting.

They must be attracted to leftover chicken and bento boxes. So this place was a paradise for cockroaches, huh? I wondered if a nest or something had formed there. There was no doubt about it. A genetic level rejection.

With that thought in my mind, I shivered and turned backithe way I had come and went back to the store, which was still glowing in the darkness.

I am back.

Through the automatic door, I returned to the counter. As expected, noicustomers seemed to have arrived when I looked around the store.Through the automatic door, I returned to the counter.

Andithen.Furthermore.

Aoyama?Gibberish words are everywhere but you cant see them unless you copy them.

Aoyamaiwasinowhere to be found too.