Do I really have to play along?
He fell silent for a long while, then finally sighed and prepared to head out to "catch a ghost."
The courtyard was large, with covered walkways on either side leading to the inner courtyard. The front gate seemed untouched, and Tetsu no Sosuke had heard no sound of anyone opening it to leave. He could pretty much conclude that the young man was still somewhere in the house.
He turned and headed toward the rear courtyard, which was even more dilapidated.
There were almost no signs of human activity.
Tetsu no Sosuke searched all around, but somehow failed to find the young man.
His brow furrowed slightly, only for footsteps to suddenly sound behind him.
He spun around. The young man from earlier stood behind him.
The young man looked at him with a trace of bewilderment on his face, along with intense wariness and caution.
"Who are you?" the young man asked. "Why are you in my house?"
"..."
Tetsu no Sosuke felt that he should have been the one asking that question.
First he was the son, then the mother. Had he switched roles again?
He frowned at the young man, hesitated, then said, "I'm a friend of the child who lives here."
"A child?" The young man looked him over, then shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I don't know who you are. There are no children here... This courtyard has been neglected for a long time. I'm the only one living here. My health is poor, and I rarely socialize, so I don't know you. Please leave, or I'll call the police."
"..."
Even someone pretending not to know you wouldn't turn on you this quickly, would they?
Or... was this actually the young man's most normal state?
These