Translator: raggykoshka
Editor: Vie
Illuminated by the light from Mutsu’s flashlight, Sousuke grabbed a nearby branch, and started to climb up higher onto the roof. The tall and well-built Sousuke checked for holes in the roof as he climbed and when he found none, he signaled to Mutsu and Hiroto that everything was okay.
“Sou-san, I’m going to throw you the flashlight.”
“Got it.”
The flashlight smoothly landed into Sousuke’s hands without even rotating in the air.
“Hiro-chan, are you going next? Or do you want to be the last?”
“Will your paper doll be able to help me?”
“It can’t do anything that I wouldn’t be able to do. Are you okay with waiting alone? I’m planning to make Shiki, the paper doll, wait below while we climb.”
Hiroto decided that he wanted to climb first and apprehensively handed over his flashlight. He then put his feet up onto the handrail, just as Sousuke had done minutes ago. But after that, things became more difficult. Hiroto was a little shorter than the average adult male, and despite jumping, he could not reach the edge of the roof. He was not a sports person, and his actions proved that.
And thus, Mutsu also handed over her flashlight to the paper doll and started to climb while Hiroto was still fumbling about. She was of a similar build as Hiroto but fairly athletic, so she was able to easily climb up.
“Eh?! No way!!”
Almost as if it pitied Hiroto, the paper figure quickly reached his side.
“Don’t put your foot on the Shiki’s shoulder!”, Mutsu shouted from above.
“I can’t hear anyth-”
Mutsu elbowed Hiroto’s waist and he hurriedly stopped speaking. He tried to focus the best he could, but he was unable to hear anything in particular. The only audible thing was the rustling of leaves in the wind and the sound of scraping branches.
“Let’s go down, the footing is bad.”
Following Sousuke’s proposal they started to descend. When they reached the edge of the roof, Mutsu and Sousuke jumped down. Hiroto nervously approached the edge but lost his footing, slipped on some dry leaves, and fell down with a shout.
His feet got stuck in the handrail and he seemed to hit his butt and back pretty hard. But he stood up, despite groaning in pain and went towards Mutsu and Sousuke as he rubbed his butt.
They started to walk, but when they reached the middle of the road that approached the shrine, Mutsu suddenly stopped.
She put her finger to her lips and closed her eyes.
“At our feet....?”
Mutsu’s faint voice made Sousuke and Hiroto point their flashlights downwards but the only things they were able to see were the cobble paving and the dry leaves.
How long did they stand there? It seemed like a long time, but in reality it wasn’t even for five minutes.
“Let’s go back.”
“Isn’t it cold?”
The tension was already gone from Mutsu’s voice.
[!