"Ah…’ replied Ishii, though h was confused, and Miyagawa quickly gave him the address.
Ishii hurriedly wrote it on a memo.
Miyagawa said just that and hung up.
Ishii couldn’t explain it, but an unpleasant feeling was growing within Ishii’s chest.
"Who was that?’ asked Gotou, startling Ishii into a jump.
"Ah, er, it was Chief Miyagawa. He told us to investigate this place.’
Gotou friend and clicked his tongue.
"That guy’s definitely just pushing trouble he doesn’t want to deal with towards us.’
"I wonder about that.’
Gotou and Miyagawa had known each other for a long time and both casually spoke ill of the other, but Ishii had nothing he could say from his position.
"Well, we’ve got the free time anyway. Let’s deal with it,’ Gotou said carelessly. He grabbed the jacket hung on the back of his chair and strode out of the room.
Ishii hurriedly chased after him.
He fell –
4
Hijikata Makoto sat at a table in the lounge of Meisei University.
It was just past the front entrance of Building A.
It was an atrium with a ceiling that went up three storeys and a large window that let in the light – it felt very open.
When she looked out the window, she could see an old brick clock tower. Even though the sun was so bright, it felt a bit creepy.
The pa.s.sing students were energetic, with an innocent and refreshing air to them.
Watching them made Makoto feel like she had returned to her school days.
Though they hadn’t all been good memories, it was still moving.
"What sort of person are they?’ asked Makoto to Iwata Kunihiro, who sat next to her.
Iwata was a senior from when Makoto was in university. He had soft features and sometimes seemed a bit absentminded, but he was quite a shrewd man.
"Hm… They look like a regular university student, but they can be a bit strange… Well, I think it’d be better for you just to meet them rather than to listen to my explanation,’ Iwata said so quickly it was hard to hear.
"You’re making quite a big thing out of this,’ said Makoto, which made Iwata laugh dryly.
Well, Iwata’s words made sense. If she was going to interview him afterwards, it would be better to listen to him with a blank slate rather than any preconceptions from information she had heard beforehand.
Iwata, who worked a publishing company, had contacted her a week ago for the first time in a while.
He had asked her to interview an author.
Makoto worked at the culture department of a newspaper company. Though she was in charge of a culture column, she would publish an interview with an author about once a week. Iwata wanted her to put an interview with this author there.
Makoto had thought the work that Iwata sent was rather interesting and decided to interview the author.
The author was a university student – that was one of the points that had caught her interest.
Iwata had arranged things and chosen the interview location, which was why they were in the lounge of Meisei University.
"h.e.l.lo.’
Makoto turned around and saw a young man there.
Because of his small fame and round, childish face, he could have been mistaken for a middle schooler, but his black eyes alone had a strong volition within them.
"Hi, Sakurai-san.’
Iwata stood up with a smile.
It seemed that the young man in front of Makoto was the author Sakurai Itsuki.
"It’s nice to meet you. I’m Hijikata from Hokutou Newspaper.’
Makoto stood up and held out her business card.
"Sorry, I don’t have a business card…’
Itsuki replied in a clear voice that contrasted with his appearance.
"Please don’t be concerned about that. I look forward to our interview today.’
"As do I – ’
With simple greetings finished, they all sat down. Makoto and Iwata sat next to each other with Sakurai opposite them.
"Makocchan, you thought that the person who wrote this was female, didn’t you?’ said Iwata smugly as he tapped Sakurai’s book, The Ghost of the Clock Tower, which was on the table.
"I did,’ Makoto replied honestly, now understanding why Iwata hadn’t wanted to talk about the author.
He had probably wanted to surprise her.
Just as he had planned, she was surprised. The Ghost of the Clock Tower had a female protagonist who used the p.r.o.noun "watashi’[2].
The story was written as the diary of the protagonist, who had accidentally killed someone and was tormented by that guilt, falling apart psychologically.
The story described the woman’s mental state with such expression, so it had to be written by a woman – so Makoto had thought.
It hadn’t helped that the name Sakurai Itsuki could have been that of a man or a woman.
"I thought that he was a woman at first too, so I was shocked when we met,’ Iwata said with an amused smile.
"Yes, you were.’
"And on top of that…’
"Since we’re all here, would it be all right if we started the interview?’ interrupted Makoto before Iwata got started.
Once he began to speak, he never stopped – that was something troublesome about Iwata.
Iwata frowned, looking like he still wanted to talk, but in contrast to that, Sakurai smiled and responded, "Yes, of course.’
He seemed like a pleasant young man, unlike his writing style.
Makoto got Sakurai’s permission to use a voice recorder, pressed the record b.u.t.ton and began after preparing herself.
"The Ghost of the Clock Tower was very interesting.’
"Thank you very much.’
Sakurai looked rather nervous, perhaps because he was feeling conscious of being recorded.
First, Makoto would need to make him relax.
"I read it all in one go. It was thrilling experiencing the everyday slowly go out of control.’
"I’m glad to hear it.’
"The setting is novel too.’
"Is it?’
"Yes. I’ve never read anything like this before – ’
As Makoto said that, even Sakurai looked a bit embarra.s.sed. His expression was a bit more relaxed now.
Makoto wasn’t just giving him lip service though.
Sakurai’s work, The Ghost of the Clock Tower, really contained a unique world.
The protagonist opened her eyes and realised that she had killed someone the night before – that was where the story began.
It was never explained why the protagonist had killed someone or how she had done it – none of the concrete questions.
Readers were drawn in by how the collapse of her everyday was expressed.
"I feel a bit embarra.s.sed,’ said Sakurai, closing his eyes.
"The descriptions are fantastic as well. Is this your first work?’
After getting Sakurai to go at her pace, Makoto asked him a question.
"No, I’m part of the literature circle.’
"The literature circle? What sort of activities do you do?’
"Normally, we just get excited talking about authors we like, like Akutagawa or Dazai, but we regularly publish something like a fiction magazine.’
"A magazine? That’s rather full-scale.’
"Calling it a magazine would be a bit much. It’s more like a booklet – ’
Makoto thought it was quite something already for the circle to create something that had actual form, when many circles just played around.
"Are your works published there as well, Sakurai-san?’
"Yes…’
"I’d love to read them.’
After Makoto said that, Sakurai shook his head.
"No, they really aren’t anything that I could show anyone.’
"You don’t have to be humble.’
"No, they really are awful.’
"But you’ve written such a wonderful book…’
Makoto looked at The Ghost of the Clock Tower on the table.
"I didn’t write that – ’ said Sakurai, looking troubled.
"Eh?’
Makoto looked at Iwata in shock.
Iwata seemed to already have known that, as his expression was just as cool as before.
"What on earth did you mean by those words?’ asked Makoto, choosing her words carefully.
"Exactly what I said,’ Sakurai said matter-of-factly.
Makoto was even more confused.
"Sakurai-san, you didn’t write this work – is that what you’re saying?’
"Yes, that is what I’m saying.’
– A ghost writer?
Makoto shook away the suspicion that came to her.
Celebrities might use ghost writers, but that was only after they had built up popularity with their own name.
It would be strange if that were the case here.
"Are you saying that this was plagiarised or that there was a ghost writer?’
"Yes,’ said Sakurai with a nod.
This would completely change the direction of the interview.
Makoto looked beside her again. Iwata looked as cool as always. He even looked like he was enjoying the situation.
If what Sakurai said was true and there really was another author, the editor wouldn’t be able to stay calm like this.
"Who wrote it?’ asked Makoto after taking a deep breath to calm down.
Sakurai looked at the clock tower outside the window. The smile left his face.
After a silence, Sakurai said just this.
"A ghost.’
"By ghost, do you mean the spirit of somebody who died?’ repeated Makoto.
Sakurai responded with another nod. "Yes.’
– Is he one of those?
Makoto understood now, though she lamented it.
Though it was the first she had heard of a ghost writing something, she had often heard things like "I saw the words in a dream’ or "I felt like somebody else was in my head when I was writing’.
It was impossible from a normal point of view, and it was never actually like that. It was just that the writer fell in a sort of trance when they started writing.
"A ghost? That’s an interesting feeling,’ said Makoto, but Sakurai shook her head.
"No, it wasn’t just a feeling. A ghost really did write this.’
"But…’
"Look, you can see that clock tower, right?’
Sakurai pointed at the clock tower outside the window.
"Yes.’
"The ghost living in that clock tower made me write that work – ’
Sakurai’s trancelike expression made a chill run down Makoto’s spine.
5
Haruka sat next to Yak.u.mo at a table by the window in the canteen.
It was already past lunchtime, so there were few people and the kitchen was closed.
"Why do I have to come all the way out here?’ grumbled Yak.u.mo as he propped his chin up with his hand, looking bored.
"It’s nice sometimes as a change of pace, isn’t it?’ said Haruka with a shrug.
She had thought about meeting in the Movie Research Circle room, but Yak.u.mo had complained when they had done that during the "tree of deceit’ case.
In the end, Yak.u.mo complained no matter what she did.
Just as Yak.u.mo was about to complain again, a female student entered the canteen.
She was the person they were waiting for – Koike Kanae.
"Kanae – ’
Haruka raised her hand and Kanae’s expression brightened immediately when she noticed. She ran over.
Though she had beautiful futures, her shoulder-length hair was ink-black and she had little makeup on, so she left a plain impression.
She had a reserved personality as well, so she didn’t stand out much.
However, that was just her being considerate of others. She was a woman with incredibly firm beliefs.
Haruka liked that part of Kanae.
"This is Koike Kanae-san, who is in the same lecture as me. This is Saitou Yak.u.mo-kun – ’
Haruka introduced the two to each other.
"h.e.l.lo,’ said Kanae, but Yak.u.mo gave no response at all.
Kanae looked troubled, so Haruka said, "This is how he always is,’ urging her to sit down.
Yak.u.mo still looked displeased, chin in his hand.
Perhaps because of his att.i.tude, Kanae was nervous. That said, if Haruka pointed that out, it would only make the mood worse.
"So, we’d like to hear your story in detail,’ said Haruka.
Kanae nodded and started speaking, though she looked concerned about Yak.u.mo.
"Have you heard the rumour about that clock tower?’ Kanae looked outside the window.
From where Haruka was sitting, the other school buildings got in the way so she could only see the very top of the tower.
"Rumour?’
Haruka c.o.c.ked her head.
She had been at this university for almost three years, but she couldn’t remember hearing any rumours about the clock tower.
"Yes. People say there’s a big mirror in the room at the top of the tower, and that it’s connected to the underworld…’
"The underworld?’ asked Haruka, which made Yak.u.mo snort derisively.
"The underworld is believed to be the place where the dead live.’
Yak.u.mo’s explanation brought a memory back to Haruka.
Even in the Izanagi and Izanami legend, the underworld was where the dead Izanami was said to live.
"So it’s connected to the world of the dead?’ asked Haruka, to which Kanae nodded.
"Can you really have something like that?’ said Haruka in her shock, at which point Yak.u.mo’s cold gaze turned her way.
"Are you serious?’
"What?’
"Not even elementary school kids would believe that now.’
It was exactly as Yak.u.mo said, but there had to have been a nicer way of putting it. However, it was pointless to expect that from Yak.u.mo.
That said, after Yak.u.mo said that, Kanae had gone silent and was looking down. They would get nowhere like this.
"Putting aside whether the rumour is true or not, could you tell me the rest?’ urged Haruka.
Kanae nodded and continued, "There’s more to the rumour surrounding the clock tower – ’
Haruka felt like a shadow covered Kanae’s eyes as she said that.
"More?’
"Yes. If you stand in front of that mirror at eleven fifty five, you can see somebody who’s died once more…. but….’
Kanae dropped her gaze to the table.
"But what?’ asked Haruka, but Kanae said nothing. She just kept looking down.
How much time pa.s.sed? After a long silence, Kanae looked up suddenly.
"You get taken to the underworld too – ’
Kanae’s eyes were strangely bright now, as if something had possessed them.
Haruka glanced at Yak.u.mo.
She was sure that he would be smirking as if to say it were all a joke, but unexpectedly, he was listening carefully as well.
Putting aside whether Kanae’s rumour was true or not, she wouldn’t have come for advice just after hearing a rumour.
"Could it be that you went to that clock tower, Kanae?’ asked Haruka.
Kanae nodded. "About two weeks ago, I ended up going to check whether the rumour was true…’
Kanae’s voice grew quieter.
"How pointless – you got wrapped up in trouble because you went to a place like that just to amuse yourself.’
Yak.u.mo’s words dripped with disgust.
From Yak.u.mo’s perspective, since he could see the spirits of the dead, going to spiritual spots for fun was unforgiveable.
Kanae looked down, perhaps sensing the unpleasant mood.
At this rate, the conversation would stop. "So did you go yourself?’ asked Haruka, forcing the conversation to go forward.
"I went with a senior from my circle…’ replied Kanae in a quiet voice.
"And you saw something on top of the clock tower then?’ asked Haruka
Kanae shook her head, still looking down. "I didn’t see anything. At first, I was too afraid to go inside… but Nishizawa-san, who was with me, went to the very top.’
"Is Nishizawa-san the senior you went with?’
"Yes.’
"And Nishizawa-san saw a ghost there?’
"I was waiting outside the tower when I heard a scream…’
"A scream?’
"Yes. I was afraid, but I thought that something might have happened to Nishizawa-san so I went inside the clock tower. I went up the stairs to the very top room, and then…’
Kanae bit her lip, looking pained. After a silence, she said, "Nishizawa-san was collapsed there…’
"How was Nishizawa-san?’ asked Haruka as she held her breath.
"It looked like he had just fainted, so I kept asking him if he was OK, but at first there was no response at all. After a while though, he woke up.’
"And that senior said he saw a ghost then?’ asked Haruka.
Kanae nodded. Her lips were trembling slightly. Haruka placed a hand on Kanae’s shoulder.
Kanae had experienced something so frightening two weeks ago, but Haruka hadn’t noticed at all until Kanae had told her. She felt pathetic.
"There’s still more to the story, right?’ asked Yak.u.mo with a yawn, sounding bored.
Kanae looked up slightly.
"What do you mean?’ asked Haruka. Yak.u.mo sighed.
"I mean what I said. If that were the end of the story, we wouldn’t need to be here.’
That was true. Right now, the story was just about a ghost sighting. Though that was frightening, that would also be the end of the story.
"Ever since then, Nishizawa-san has been strange.’ Kanae’s eyes were slightly wet with tears.
"What do you mean by strange?’ asked Haruka.
Kanae bit her lip before continuing. "No matter what anyone asks him, it’s like he’s somewhere else, and he doesn’t eat at all. Though he’s always been thin, he keeps getting thinner… At this rate, Nishizawa-san might…’
Kanae clutched her hand to her chest, as if to stop her trembling.
According to the rumour whispered about the clock tower, those who reunited with the dead were taken to the underworld themselves – in short, they died.
Kanae was probably worried about that.
"Hey, Yak.u.mo-kun, let’s do something for her,’ said Haruka, which just made Yak.u.mo let out a dramatic sigh –
6
"Man, what a pain,’ grumbled Gotou as he lit his cigarette from the pa.s.senger seat.
In the driver’s seat, Ishii just gave a vague "Mm’ in reply.
"Who just tells somebody to go to a case without explaining anything?’
’S-sorry.’
"And you should’ve asked about the details.’
"Even if you tell me that, I was told to ask at the scene…’
"You were told to? Think for yourself sometimes!’
Gotou hit Ishii’s head.
"Sorry,’ repeated Ishii.
Though he had a slender face and wore silver-framed gla.s.ses that made him look intelligent, Ishii was incredibly timid.
Even though everything would be fine if he could just be confident and say what was on his mind, he always backed down, too concerned about what others were thinking.
Gotou always felt somewhat irritated when he saw Ishii like that. If only Gotou could teach him – but no, Gotou, clumsy himself, just ended up reprimanding him.
Sometimes he thought that it would be better for Ishii if he were paired with somebody else.
"This appears to be the place.’
While Gotou was thinking thoughts that were unlike him, they had reached the location. Ishii parked the car by the road.
Gotou got off the car and saw that they were at an intersection at the foot of a slope –
If they kept going up, they would reach Meisei University, the school Yak.u.mo and Haruka went to.
He saw two men in suits at the traffic light. One was tall with a firm body and chiselled features – Shinoda Hisao.
Shinoda had been with Gotou when he was in investigations. They were about the same age.
Though he looked like a nice middle-aged man on the outside, on the inside he was arrogant, delighted in others failures and sucked up to his boss. Gotou couldn’t get along with men like him.
Gotou had never talked to the other man, but if he remembered correctly, his name was Onodera. He was a pale, small-framed and slender man in his late twenties.
Gotou walked towards them.
"Oh, it’s you, Gotou? Looks like you’re doing well,’ Shinoda said, noticing Gotou.
It was a sticky and disagreeable voice. He was probably mocking Gotou, who had been thrown into the Unsolved Cases Special Investigations department after causing a number of problems.
However, Gotou didn’t care at all.
"That’s the only good point.’
"I’m glad. I wish I could transfer over – I’m so busy I can’t even sleep.’
Shinoda’s smile was mocking as well. It looked like he really wanted to make fun of Gotou.
"I’m glad you’re busy, though I heard that your solve rate is rather low… Slacking off?’ said Gotou, which made Shinoda’s face twitch.
Though the Unsolved Cases department was a plum job, they had solved quite a few cases.
Of course, it wasn’t just Gotou. It was because they had had Yak.u.mo’s cooperation and his power to see the spirits of the dead. It was still true that he had results though.
"It’s because you go over people’s boundaries like that that you get demoted.’
Shinoda’s tone was much rougher now, probably because Gotou had really got on his nerves.
– What a simple guy.
"It’s no help if you worry about boundaries and just increase the number of unsolved cases.’
"What?’
"What? Wanna go?’
Ishii interrupted just before it became a fight.
"Detective Gotou, let’s calm down.’
"Shut up. He’s the one who tried to start a fight.’
"But fighting here will solve nothing.’
"I know that.’
It was just as Ishii said though.
They’d get nowhere fighting with a detective whose only skill was his pride. Gotou’s fist had nowhere to go though.
There was no helping it – he dropped it on Ishii’s head.
"Why me…’ said Ishii, looking like he might cry at any moment.
Why? Because Gotou was in a bad mood, that was all. Gotou snorted and looked the other way.
"What happened?’ asked Ishii, bringing up the matter at hand.
Shinoda had his arms crossed and looked displeased, perhaps still holding the earlier altercation in his mind. He made no move to speak.
Onodera smiled wryly at Shinoda and then said, "Rather than explaining, it would be better if you took a look – ’
Onodera pointed at the traffic light.
"What’s that?’ asked Gotou without thinking.
He hadn’t noticed because of his argument with Shinoda, but the area around the light was on was in a terrible state.
It was dyed red, as if – it had been dyed with blood.
"Eek!’ shrieked Ishii as he leapt back.
"Don’t make a fuss!’ Gotou hit Ishii’s head and bent down to look.
"This blood?’ asked Gotou.
Onodera shook his head. "Forensics sent a report earlier. It appears to be oil-based paint.’
"I see,’ said Gotou. When this was discovered, people had probably thought it was blood. There was no sign of an accident, so there was a possibility that there was a case somewhere.
But this wasn’t blood – it was just paint. This was just an ill-natured prank then.
And the Unsolved Cases Special Investigation department had been dragged into this.
– Don’t screw with me!
Just as Gotou was about to complain, Shinoda and Onodera left the scene.
7
Haruka, who had stopped in front of the clock tower, looked up at it towering over her.
It was made of brick. The square tower had a red triangular roof. The clock on top was stopped at eleven fifty-five.
Perhaps it looked more unsettling than usual because of Kanae’s story.
"What are you s.p.a.cing out for?’
Yak.u.mo didn’t seem anxious at all even though they were about to go towards a clock tower rumoured to have ghosts.
However, now that Haruka thought about it, Yak.u.mo saw ghosts every day. This was probably nothing to him.
At the same time, a question came to Haruka.
"Hey, Yak.u.mo-kun, have you ever seen a ghost in the clock tower before?’
If the rumour was true, it wouldn’t be strange if Yak.u.mo had seen a ghost there in the past.
"Never.’
An immediate reply.
"So the ghost thing must be just a rumour?’
"You really are hasty.’
Yak.u.mo shook his head in exasperation.
"Hasty… You’ve never seen a ghost there, so there aren’t any there, right?’
"Sorry, but I’ve never gone up the clock tower.’
The university campus was fairly large. There were many places you would never go if you had no need to. The top of the clock tower wasn’t a place you would just pa.s.s by.
But –
"There’s a window.’
Haruka pointed at the window at the top of the clock tower.
It wouldn’t be strange if you saw somebody’s figure from there.
"I can’t see anything with the window low that,’ said Yak.u.mo, still exasperated.
It was true that the window Haruka had pointed at was cloudy with dirt.
"You’re right…’
Yak.u.mo had already started walking towards the clock tower while Haruka was still talking. Haruka ran after him as if she were being dragged along.
In front of the clock tower, there was a large wooden gate. The double doors had rusty handles.
Yak.u.mo reached towards one of them.
Haruka felt nervous, hands sweaty with the prospect of entering the tower imminent.
"What are you doing?’
Haruka leapt at the sudden voice.
She turned around and saw a uniformed university security guard.
He was probably in his mid-twenties, young for a guard. He had hollow cheeks and was very thin.
"We just thought we’d take a look inside,’ Yak.u.mo said calmly, in contrast to Haruka who was at a loss for words.
"Entry is prohibited because an accident occurred there previously,’ declared the guard in a very businesslike voice.
"An accident?’
"I only came recently so I don’t know the details either, but it seems a female student fell to her death – ’
Haruka felt a jolt upon hearing the guard’s words.
Perhaps the ghost of the tower was the women who had fallen.
"That’s too bad. I just wanted to explore a bit…’ said Yak.u.mo with a smile.
"In any case, the gate is locked, so you can’t go in.’
The guard said just that and turned on his heels to leave.
A woman had fallen to her death here – they had received this new information, but they couldn’t go in if it was locked.
"What are we going to do?’ Haruka asked Yak.u.mo.
"Go in, of course.’
"But it’s locked…’
"Did you forget? Your friend still went inside despite that.’
That was right. Kanae had gone inside the clock tower. But from where?
Before Haruka could ask, Yak.u.mo began to walk around the tower.
Though Haruka didn’t understand, she followed Yak.u.mo anyway.
Haruka hadn’t noticed at a distance, but up close, she could see that the walls of the clock tower had an emergency ladder built in.
"Are you going to climb this?’
Yak.u.mo sighed.
"I wouldn’t do something so troublesome.’
"Then what are you going to do?’
They had reached the back of the tower. There was a small steel door there.
A chain and padlock were at the foot of the door.
Somebody might have forced it open. Kanae had probably gone in this way.
"Let’s go.’
Yak.u.mo said just that and slowly opened the door.
There was the unpleasant sound of rusted metal grating.
"Are you really going to go?’
Yak.u.mo ignored Haruka’s question and went inside.
Haruka hesitantly followed.
She felt the urge to cough immediately.
The air was stagnant. It was like they had stepped into a different world.
She could barely see anything with just the faint light from the door.
"It’s pitch black.’
"I know that without your saying it.’
Yak.u.mo took a pen light out of his pocket and turned it on.
Though it wasn’t much help, it was better than nothing.
Haruka could see stairs in the gloom.
"Be careful,’ said Yak.u.mo, turning around.
Haruka felt happy that Yak.u.mo, who was always so brusque, was being considerate.
"Ah, OK.’
After Haruka replied, Yak.u.mo started climbing the stairs. Haruka followed him.
There were no windows to light the way. Even though it was day, Haruka wouldn’t have been able to see her feet without the pen light.
Step by step, it grew harder to breathe.
"Why did they build a clock tower anyway?’ asked Haruka as she paused for breath.
"To see the time, of course,’ Yak.u.mo replied flatly.
Though Haruka could only see his back, she was sure that his expression was mocking.
"I know that, but you don’t need to go and make a tower, do you?’
"Do you know how many years ago this tower was made?’
Even though Haruka was the one who’d asked a question, a question came right back to her.
"I heard it was when the university was founded…’
"Correct. This university was founded about eighty years ago. Do you understand what I’m saying?’
"No.’
"Eighty years ago, people didn’t have a way to tell the time easily – ’
"Oh!’
Finally, Haruka understood what Yak.u.mo was saying.
Now, everyone had a wrist.w.a.tch or mobile phone to check the time, but that hadn’t been the case in the past.
That was why they needed a tall clock tower that people could see from a distance.
"Without anyone noticing, we’ve stopped looking far away… It’s kind of sad.’
Yak.u.mo stopped in his tracks.
"That’s unusually philosophical for you.’
When Yak.u.mo turned around, his expression was blatantly scornful.
"That’s not what I…’
Haruka felt embarra.s.sed, as if she had said something cheesy, and looked down.
Yak.u.mo went back to climbing the stairs.
"Honestly,’ muttered Haruka with a sigh before she went after Yak.u.mo.
Finally, they reached the end of the stairs and arrived at the room at the top.
There were windows on three of the four walls, so it was fairly bright. When Haruka looked up, she saw a ceiling with naked beams and a hanging light bulb.
There were desks and chairs in the corner of the room with other mysterious clutter.
"It’s a bit of a letdown,’ said Haruka.
Yak.u.mo looked disgruntled.
"Letdown?’
"I mean… I thought it would be more frightening since a ghost was supposed to be here…’
"What is your standard for frightening?’
"Standard? Well, dark and gloomy… anyway, that sort of atmosphere.’
Yak.u.mo glared at her.
"What do you think ghosts are?’
"Dead people…’
"Yes. The spirits of people who’ve died. In short, ghosts aren’t monsters.’
Haruka could understand what Yak.u.mo was displeased by now.
Thinking that ghosts came out in dark and gloomy places was the same as treating them like monsters.
Yak.u.mo, who could see the spirits of the dead, didn’t treat them that way.
Though the living and the dead were different, they were both human – that was what Yak.u.mo thought. Haruka felt ashamed of what she had said, which had been close to prejudice.
"Sorry…’
Though Haruka gave an honest apology, Yak.u.mo didn’t reply. He just looked at the mirror against the wall with no windows.
It was an old mirror, with an ivy decoration entwining the frame.
It was dirty and dusty, so their reflection looked like it was in fog.
"This is the mirror connected to the underworld then,’ said Haruka, which made Yak.u.mo sigh dramatically.
"You still believe that joke?’
"That’s not it. It’s just kind of creepy…’
Though Haruka didn’t believe the door, in an unsettling atmosphere like this, she could understand why a rumour about the underworld would come about.
"In the past, people thought that mirrors didn’t reflect but rather showed another world.’
"Really?’
"That was why they would be put on altars or used in rites. Rumours like this one about a connection to the underworld have been around for millennia.’
"Oh?’
Haruka looked at the mirror again.
It was strange how the mirror looked almost divine after hearing what Yak.u.mo said.
"So could you see anything?’ asked Haruka as she stared at the mirror.
"No, nothing…’
"Then there’s no ghost here?’
"Why do you rush to conclusions?’
"But…’
"I just don’t see any now. It might be different at a different time.’
"That’s true.’
It was just as Yak.u.mo said.
Ghosts didn’t always stay in the same place.
"Furthermore – the ghost may have possessed a student that has been acting strange.’
Haruka felt a chill run down her spine.
If that was the case, they had to hurry or that student would be in trouble, just as Kanae feared.
When Haruka told Yak.u.mo that, he ran a hand through his hair in irritation.
"First, we need to go meet that man – ’
"Right.’
"Bring him to my room.’
After Yak.u.mo said that, he started walking towards the stairs.
Haruka could probably bring the student if she talked to Kanae again, but –
"Yak.u.mo-kun, what are you going to do?’
Yak.u.mo could just go with her to make this less complicated.
"I’m going to investigate from a different angle.’
"Different angle?’
"Yeah. If there really was a ghost here, then perhaps…’
Yak.u.mo turned around and looked at the mirror again.
Though it was just for a moment, Haruka thought that she saw a dark shadow move inside the mirror.
8
"Who on earth did this…’ murmured Ishii as he looked at the splattered red paint.
The traffic light covered in red paint looked unsettling, aided perhaps by the sunset.
The cars on the road continued, either unconscious of the paint or ignoring it.
"Some random guy,’ Gotou said carelessly. It looked like he had lost his interest in the case.
He took a cigarette case out of his jacket pocket and took out just one cigarette.
"It’s illegal to smoke on the road,’ said Ishii.
"I know that,’ Gotou replied with a click of his tongue. He just held the unlit cigarette in his mouth.
"I wonder why they did this.’
Ishii looked at the red paint on the traffic light pole.
Though he often heard of people drawing or writing with spray paint, what was the meaning of just splashing paint like this?
Ishii just couldn’t think of a reason.
"Is this…’
Gotou’s mobile phone rang, interrupting Ishii.
"Who is it?’
Gotou answered the phone without checking the display.
It wasn’t that he was in a bad mood – this was how he always answered the phone.
"What? Shut up! You can’t say anything about other people either!’
From the tone of Gotou’s voice, he was probably talking to Saitou Yak.u.mo.
Even though they argued like that, they still relied on each other. It was strange.
Ishii’s eyes wandered to the intersection.
There was a woman standing there.
As she was turned away from him, he couldn’t see her face, but she was slender and tall.
She didn’t cross the intersection. She just stood there.
– What is she doing?
While Ishii was pondering this, the light turned from green to yellow.
Still, the woman didn’t move. If she didn’t hurry, the light would change.
"It’s dangerous!’ Ishii called out.
The woman didn’t move at all, as if she hadn’t heard Ishii’s voice.
The light turned red.
Soon, the lights for the road in the other direction would turn green.
Though there were no cars waiting there, it wouldn’t be strange if she got hit standing in a place like that.
"Please cross already!’ shouted Ishii.
Still, the woman didn’t move.
– Why?
Ishii anxiously looked left and right.
He saw a large truck coming.
The truck didn’t slow down, as if the driver hadn’t noticed the woman standing there.
– This is bad!
Ishii reflexively ran towards the woman.
He tried to grab the woman’s arm and pull her back to the side of the road, but –
Ishii’s hand went straight through the woman.
"Eh?’
The woman had disappeared.
– What on earth just happened?
Ishii heard a horn going off in his confusion.
When he looked up, he saw the truck coming near him.
"Eek!’
Ishii ran back. In his rush, he lost his footing and tumbled on the asphalt.
He heard the sound of screeching brakes and tires.
– I’m going to die!
Ishii was sure of it.
He didn’t know what happened, but he found himself curled up on the side of the road.
"Idiot! What are you doing!?’ yelled the truck driver, before driving away.
Ishii was still in shock as he watched the truck go.
What on earth had just happened? There had definitely been a woman in the intersection, but she had disappeared. Had it been an illusion?
As if to respond to Ishii’s question, he suddenly felt a warm breath on his ear.
A chill ran down his spine. He turned around.
Standing there –
The woman from earlier.
"Ah…’
Ishii was so frightened he couldn’t breathe.
He hadn’t seen it when she was turned around, but –
The woman’s face was half crushed, with an incredible amount of blood pouring out.
Drip, drip, drip –
Dark red blood fell from her chin.
The woman said something in a thick voice.
It was like a damaged CD, choppy and impossible to make out.
Still, Ishii could understand the feeling behind it.
"Aaaahhh!’
Ishii covered his ears and shut his eyes as he screamed as loud as he could.
He felt like the woman in front of him would draw him into a deep and growing darkness if he didn’t do that.
Thump –
Suddenly, a dull pain ran through Ishii’s head.
"Ow!’
He opened his eyes. Gotou was standing right in front of him.
"Eh? Detective Gotou…’
"Don’t just say “Eh”!’
Gotou hit Ishii’s head again.
"Er, um…’
"What are you doing? You suddenly ran into the middle of the rood. You were about to be run over.’
"No, that’s not it. Just earlier, a woman was…’
"There’s n.o.body there!’
Another fist came down.
Ishii hurriedly looked around. Just as Gotou said, there was n.o.body there.
"But I’m sure…’
"Stop babbling nonsense!’ said Gotou with a click of his tongue.
This made no sense. Ishii had seen her. Perhaps she had been –
"Let’s get going already.’
Gotou said just that and started walking.
"Going? Where to?’
Ishii hurried after Gotou.
"Request from Yak.u.mo.’
"From Yak.u.mo-shi?’
If Yak.u.mo was asking, it was probably something to do with spiritual phenomena.
"His usual “Check if anybody died here” thing.’
"That’s fine, but what about this case?’
"After, after – ’
Gotou waved a hand as if brushing away a fly and walked off.
"But…’ Ishii was hesitant and stopped walking, but then the woman from earlier came across his mind.
He definitely didn’t want to stay here alone.
"Please wait!’
Ishii hurriedly ran after Gotou.
– He fell.
9
"h.e.l.lo – ’
Makoto visited the Movie Research Circle room.
She had made an appointment beforehand, so the person she was looking for was in his usual seat.
"Come in,’ Yak.u.mo said casually.
Though he had beautiful features, he always looked like he had just woken up. With his distant att.i.tude, it was hard to guess what he was thinking.
Makoto usually came to this room when Haruka or Gotou and Ishii were here.
Being here one on one with Yak.u.mo made her feel strangely nervous.
"Sorry for coming so suddenly…’ said Makoto.
She had met Yak.u.mo because of a certain case.
During that case. Makoto had the unusual experience of being possessed by a ghost. She could have died then, but Yak.u.mo had saved her.
Ever since then, she often met up with Yak.u.mo, helping out with cases Yak.u.mo was investigating or discussing spiritual phenomena.
"Please sit down,’ urged Yak.u.mo, so Makoto sat opposite him.
"I wanted to ask your opinion about something.’
"It is a request from none other than you, Makoto-san. If my opinions are acceptable, I will listen to anything you have to ask,’ Yak.u.mo replied politely.
Since he said it so flatly, Makoto couldn’t tell if he meant it or not, but she would just feel awkward if she left without saying anything now.
"Actually,’ Makoto began, "this just happened earlier, but I was interviewing an author.’
"Is that so?’
"The author is still new with only one book, so you might not recognise the name. Sakurai Itsuki.’
After Makoto said that, Yak.u.mo slowly stood up and moved to the corner of the room to take a book from the top of the refrigerator.
"This is the book in question then – ’
Yak.u.mo placed Sakurai Itsuki’s The Ghost of the Clock Tower on the table.
Things would go quickly if he had already read the book.
"What did you think of the book?’ asked Makoto, which made a difficult expression appear on Yak.u.mo’s face.
"Do my feelings have something to do with the matter?’
Though they weren’t directly related, Makoto wanted to discuss the work’s author today. She wanted to know what Yak.u.mo felt before she gave him any preconceptions.
After Makoto told Yak.u.mo that, Yak.u.mo thought for a moment before saying, "This is just my opinion, but – it is a very interesting idea. Though it’s rough, the prose is detailed and sucks you in. However…’
"What is it?’
Makoto leant forward slightly.
"Something bothers me.’
What is it?’
"I’m rereading the book because I can’t explain it well,’ said Yak.u.mo with a shake of his head.
To be honest, that was how Makoto felt as well. Something bothered her – she had thought that the interview would explain it, but now she had a new question.
"So what is it about this novel that brought you here?’ asked Yak.u.mo.
She didn’t come to review the book. Makoto opened her mouth once more.
"The author of this book is a university student. A fourth-year in the literature circle.’
"Is that so…’
Yak.u.mo opened the book to the back of the cover with the author profile.
"Are there no rumours on campus?’
"There are very few people now that are interested in books. There wouldn’t be a rumour unless the author went around declaring it.’
"That’s true…’
Just as Yak.u.mo commented, it was a simple fact that nowadays many young people were not interested in books.
Furthermore, though there were many students at university, if y