This is the story of a little boy who believed in ghosts and even could see them! The sad part is... he suffered from a mental disease and was sent to a strange place against his will....

"Ghosts are not real, Aru!" His mother slapped him so hard he fell on his bed. In surprise, he widened his eyes, sat up and held his cheek. "But... I can see them! If they are not real, why can I see them?!", "You've become insane!" his mother yelled. Aru stared at her. "H-huh? Insane...?", "You completely snapped! You're hopeless!" His mother turned around and slammed the door so hard the bang sound echoed in little Aru's ears very loudly. He stared at the door as if he couldn't understand what she just said. "I... why is she that way? I don't get it..." He pushed himself against the wall, bend his legs and wrapped his arms around them. "She never was violent like this before..." He buried his face in his knees.

A few moments later, he heard his mother phoning someone downstairs. He was curious and so he sneaked down the stairs. The door of the living room was slightly open. He peeked through the door split into the room. "No. I told you! He just keeps telling me he's seeing ghosts, this cannot be normal! Yeah, just like I said! What? Schizophrenia? Is it really that bad? What does it mean 'you don't know'?! He's a child of ten! Huh... but do you think it's a good idea to take him to a place like that, isolated from his family? So... you believe it's the only possible thing? I am not sure... Well, okay, I want him to get better, at least. Yeah... thank you..." She put the phone away. Aru was quite uncertain of what he just heard. She was talking about him, he already got that, but to who and out of what reason? "Mommy?" He carefully pushed the door open. "Who did you talk to?" His mother looked at him. "...People who can help you, honey." She went towards him but Aru shrank back. "I don't want to hurt you, sweetie." His mother said. Aru looked at her. "Mommy... am I ill?" he asked. His mother hesitated. "No, honey. You're not. It's just a phase, you'll be okay... Still, we should take the help we can get.", "But if I'm not ill, what do I need help for?", "That what you're going through is heavier than normal. To make sure it goes right, I'd appreciate to have experts who know exactly what to do.", "Okay...", "They'll come and pick you up tomorrow.", "What?", "They'll take you somewhere they have enough time and equipment to help you.", "But I don't wanna go away.", "Aru, we don't have a choice.", "I wanna stay with you! I wanna stay home!", "Honey, you can't.", "I DON'T WANNA LEAVE!!!" He turned around and ran up the stairs. He tripped and fell down. Tears appeared in his eyes, from pain and from despair. He got up again and ran further into his room, closed the door and hid under his blanket. He cried unrestrained before he fell asleep.

In the early morning on the next day, he bolted awake because he heard a creak sound. It was his mother who entered the room. "It's me, honey. Don't panic." she said. "Sorry to have frightened you.", "Mom...", "You need to get up now.", "Why?", "Because it's time. Get up, we'll have breakfast together. Okay?", "It's still dark outside..." Aru said. "I know, honey. Be downstairs in five minutes, okay?" She closed the door again. Aru looked at his alarm clock. It was a few minutes before six o'clock. "Why is Mommy up so early?" Aru wondered, but he got up. He was still wearing his clothing from yesterday. He didn't change them. But he did not care at all, this black hoodie was very comfortable anyway. So, he just combed his red hair and went down. His mother was already sitting at the table, the smell of fresh buns was in the air. His mother wasn't reading a newspaper like she normally used to do... Maybe it had not been delivered yet? It still was very early. Aru sat down on a chair. His mother seemed very strained. "Mommy, is something wrong?" Aru asked and yawned. "No... No, I'm fine." She peeked on her watch. "Eat as much as you like.", "Okay, but why did I need to get up this early? It's weekend, I don't need to go to school.", "I know.", "Is someone picking me up?" Aru started becoming nervous about what his mother said yesterday. She didn't answer. "Mom? Will someone be taking me away?", "It will all come good, Aru, don't worry. Eat." He looked on his empty plate. "Mom, I am scared. Can't you tell me what's going on?", "Just trust me, Aru. Okay?" She tousled his hair with a faint smile. "Okay..." He reached for a bun, cut it open and buttered some marmalade on it. He started eating. His mother sipped coffee.

After a while, the door bell rang. "Who's there, Mom?", "I... don't know, maybe the postman?" She stood up and went towards the door. She opened it. "Yeah?", "Hello, Mrs. Kanzaki." Two men were standing in front of the door, greeting her with lowered voices. "We're from Oakmoore Psychiatry.", "Oh. Yeah.", "We're here to pick your son up.", "I am aware... Wait here for a moment." She turned around. "Aru? You got visitors.", "Really? Is Kayne here?", "No, he isn't. Come and say hello, Aru." Aru got up from his chair and came to the door. When he saw the two guys, he stopped and stared at them. "Huh?", "Hello, Aru." One of them said. "I'm Ryouta Aoyama. Don't be terrified by us.", "I don't... know you.", "I know. We're here to help you.", "So you're really trying to pick me up...", "We will take you to a save place with a lot of other children. You won't be lonely.", "I don't wanna leave!" Aru turned around to his mother. "I told you that I don't want to go, Mom!", "That's not yours to decide, Aru." She replied. "You will go with them, no matter whether you want or not.", "That's not fair!!" He yelled. "Do you want to get better or not?" His mother asked. "You told me I am not ill!" He replied. "I know. You aren't, but your behavior is strange. Aru, they will help you to get back to normal. Okay?", "But why do they need to take me with them? Can't they just do that at home?", "No. I already told you that, Aru.", "THAT'S MEAN!!!" He turned around again and tried to run away, but one of the man was able to capture him. "Aru, you don't need to be scared of us. You will be fine in no time and can go back home and you won't be alone.", "I don't wanna leave!", "Aru, go with them!" his mother ordered him. "NO!", "Take him into the car, Ryouta." The other man said. "Okay. Come, Aru.", "NO!" Aru lashed out, but he stood no chance against the muscular guy. "Mom, help me!!!" He desperately screamed. But his mother just remained at the entrance of the house, motionless, looking at Aru in silence. "Mom!!!" His mother looked at the men. "Take good care of my son." she said. "We will." the other guy said. "He'll be save." His mother turned around and went inside. "MOMMY!!!" Aru started crying. Ryouta put him in the car. "Shhhht... It's alright." He patted Aru's hair, just like his mother used to do when he was sad. He stopped fighting and looked at the man. "Where... are you taking me?", "To Oakmoore Psychiatry. It's not far from here. Keep calm, okay?" Aru's heart was racing. "No one will hurt you. Here." He took a chocolate bar out of his pocket. "This is for you." Aru looked at the chocolate. "For... me?", "Yeah.", "Thank you..." Aru took the chocolate. Ryouta smiled at him. "Good boy." He closed the door and sat down in the car on the front seat. The other guy joined him and they drove off. Aru looked back at the familiar house; his home. It moved steadily in farther distance until it disappeared out of his sight.