Chapter Text
They were all in the base, watching over Makoto from what they could see of him in the front yard.
"I think we should persuade him to take the lead," Masako said.
"He has never done a cleansing," Naru pointed out.
"Then I'll go with him to guide him," Masako pressed.
"She has a point. Kota won't listen to us and it'll become worst case scenario," Zoe said.
"It's a risk we're going to need to take," Lin agreed.
Naru looked around before relenting. "John, go in with them. I don't want him getting hurt. I trust the rest of you can defend yourselves."
As if on cue, Makoto knocked on the open door. He fidgeted with his hands and looked at the floor.
"I want to help him," he said simply.
Naru stood from where he was leaning against the table.
"What do you want me to do?" Makoto continued.
"All you will need to do is talk to him. Hara-san and John will be with you," Naru said.
Masako gestured for Makoto to sit with her. "The most common way to help a spirit is to try to help them rationalize what is happening. Presenting the reality that they have passed."
Makoto nodded. "I think he already knows that."
"You will probably have to assure him that you'll be okay with him gone," Masako continued.
"And you will be. We'll make sure of that," Zoe said adamantly.
"After that, the most common method we use is to tell him to search for the light to cross over," Masako continued.
"What if he doesn't want to?" Makoto asked.
"You need to stress to him that this isn't the place for him anymore. That the longer he stays, the more chance he'll have of not passing on," Masako said seriously.
Makoto took a minute to process everything she had said. He took a deep breath and nodded.
"Do you want some time before we go in?" Masako asked.
"No, if I wait, I don't know if I'll go through with it," Makoto said.
"Let me get ready. I'll only be a few minutes," John said. He got up and left the room.
Makoto looked like he wanted to say something, but he couldn't quite find the words.
John was back quickly, as promised. He put his bottle of holy water in a pocket of his robes. Masako got up and gently ushered Makoto down the hall.
The rest of them gathered around the monitors. John stayed off to the side. Masako sat next to Makoto on the sofa in the study.
"Take your time," Masako advised. "You can start whenever you're ready."
Makoto took a few more deep breaths.
"Kota?" he called into the room. Masako seemed to focus in front of them. Makoto looked to be listening to something, but nothing came through the microphones.
"Kota, please. They're friends. It's okay."
Makoto frowned at what he heard.
"I know you're worried. They're here to help both of us. They're gonna help me with the ability that let's us talk. But they need to help you move on," Makoto said.
Makoto sighed. "I know you don't want to go, but this place isn't for you anymore."
"No, no," he almost laughed. He relaxed a little. "It'll always be your room. There are better things for you though. You need to look for the light. Can you do that, Kota?"
"Yeah, the light that has always been there. It's safe." Makoto looked to Masako and John for assurance. They both nodded.
"I know it's scary. But I know you can do it," Makoto continued. "You did so much already that was scary. And then...you can show me around when it's my turn."
Makoto's eyes widened after that. Masako put a comforting hand on his shoulder. Nothing showed up on the monitors, but they could guess that Kota had successfully moved on.
Masako and John came back to the base a minute later.
"He asked for some time alone," Masako said.
"He lost a friend. It's understandable," Yasu said.
"It's hard to lose a friend, but I think he already knew how it was going to end. But it doesn't make it any easier," Zoe said.
"Naru, what are we gonna do for him?" Mai asked.
"All we can do is make sure his parents know. It's not our place to interfere," Naru stated. "However, we can offer help to him in regards to his telepathy."
Mai was woken up to the quiet sound of someone sobbing. She first wondered if Kota had stuck around. She got up to investigate anyway.
She walked towards the stairs. The sobbing got louder. It was coming from Makoto's room.
Mai knocked on the door. The sobbing stopped.
"Makoto, it's just me, Mai. Can I come in?" she asked hesitantly.
She couldn't hear anything. She was about to leave when the door opened. She immediately noticed how red and puffy his eyes were. He walked back to his futon.
"What's wrong?" she asked, following him into the room.
"Does it always hurt to help someone pass on?" he asked.
She sat on the floor with him. "I'm not sure I'm the best to answer that. I haven't had to do what you did. The spirits I've helped have all been people I hardly knew. It's okay to grieve for Kota."
"I feel so selfish and I wonder if I made the right choice."
Mai gave him a small smile. "It's okay to feel a little selfish. He was someone important to you. But you did the right thing."
"But how do you know?" Makoto asked.
Mai took a deep breath and crossed her legs to face him fully. "I've been to a lot of places and seen a lot of different spirits. Kota has easily been the nicest one. But I've also seen what happens when they stay too long. Our theory is that they absorb so much negative energy that they lose their good qualities over time. And then it's harder to help them move on," Mai explained.
Makoto looked at the floor between them.
"This way, you can remember Kota how he was. A sweet kid who only wanted friends and the best for others."
Makoto nodded. "Thank you."
"Will you be able to sleep alright now?"
"Yeah, I'll be okay."
Mai got up and left the room. She jumped when she found Naru leaning against the wall just outside.
"Naru! You scared me!" she hissed. "What are you doing up?"
"I wanted to make sure you weren't getting into trouble. You're not as quiet as you think you are." he said.
Mai rolled her eyes. "What trouble could I get into right now?"
"You always find something."
She bumped his shoulder as she walked by to head back to their room. She could have sworn she heard a quiet chuckle from him.
"You often remind me why I'm glad I gave you this job years ago," he said.
She turned around. "Are you getting sentimental on me?"
He quirked an eyebrow. "I don't have to compliment you."
Mai pouted and crossed her arms.
"I'm serious though. The way you connect to people isn't something easy to come by."
Mai turned away again, hiding her face. "I need to go back to sleep."
She was sure she hears a short laugh this time from him.
"Yes, you should."