Don't forget to read the first or the previous part if you haven't!
In the last part, we searched the Fox Mound and discovered an ancient scroll, equally as incomprehensible to Junya as it is to us. Following that, Kirisaki participated in the blood ritual, without actually having to give blood, at which point he surprisingly denied Mr. Kokkuri's supernatural aspects, or at least that's how it looked. Now, let's begin, shall we?
We decided to attach an escort to Kamiyama, Horikawa, and Yamano.
Not with detectives from the MPD's First Investigative Division, though. Mr. Kogure arranged for detectives from the local precinct to be assigned to the case.
As a precaution, we also asked the family of Shouta Nozawa, who has close ties to Misa Sakita, to allow us to escort him home.
Perhaps the perpetrator's planning a third crime as well. And these women are the most likely candidates for the victim.
In fact, I wanted to send priests or mediums to watch over their houses instead of detectives, but I didn't dare to do so.
We then decided to stake out the house of the prime suspect, Yuka Kamiyama.
"Sir, has Kamiyama made a move?"
"...I don't know."
If possible, I'd rather she not move at all. I had no idea how to stop Kamiyama if she went berserk again.
[Car door opens]
"Yo, Junya. Nice job with the stakeout."
"Brother!?"
"I thought it must be lonely to be alone with such a sordid man." He says, sending a wink to Mr. Kogure.
"I apologize for my sordidness! But a stakeout is a detective's job. Please leave it to us, sir."
"Ooh, you're a really good person, aren't you? It seems I had a little misunderstanding. Sorry, sir."
Mr. Kogure, with his eye on the food, was easily bought off with my brother's bribe.
"Brother, you didn't come here to just drop off food, did you?"
"Oh, well. This case will be difficult to solve with your knowledge alone. I thought we could go over the past events together."
"......"
"What? Are you saying this is none of my business?"
"No, it's not that, it's just... I'm frustrated that my efforts alone are insufficient..."
"Don't be like that. You've done a good job."
"However unrealistic the event in front of you, you still confront it and try to figure it out. Thickheaded people couldn't possibly do that. I'd love to have you as my assistant, you know?"
"...Thanks, Brother."
"Mr. Kirisaki. Do you still think Kamiyama is the culprit?"
After devouring his hamburger, Mr. Kogure entered the conversation, wiping his hands with an ill-fitting pink handkerchief.
"You said the killer was a 'fox-possessed', but is there really such an unrealistic thing?"
"Fox possession is unrealistic? That's incorrect. "Possessors" are all around us, and you are affected by them without even knowing it."
"I think I get it. Like some expressions we use, for example, "Today's my lucky day" or "Luck has given up on me"?"
"The word 'luck' is often overlooked because of its everyday use, but when you think about it, it's an unscientific word."
"People often call upon "luck" to try and obtain a resolution, even if false, so they can accept unexplainable circumstances or situations."
"The concept of "lucky" or "unlucky" is an expression of the belief in possessors, and we Japanese have been dealing with possessors since ancient times."
Mr. Kogure revealed how impressed he was with a "Hoh~". Now that he mentioned it, "luck" is something we routinely use in our daily lives, even though we have no evidence to support it.
As expected, my brother's knowledge is of great value. Maybe he can find the clue that will solve this mysterious case.
I should put aside my stubbornness and pride and honestly ask for his opinions.
I ask him about---
>Kamiyama's beastly transformation.
>The true reason for the suicides.
The suicides are weird, but the transformation's weirder.
>Kamiyama's beastly transformation.
"Brother, do you remember how I told you yesterday that Kamiyama suddenly transformed into a beast?"
"I know it's strange to say this about something I saw in reality, but for a human being to turn into that state..."
"You're correct. That normally wouldn't be possible. In the occult world, the temporary unconsciousness caused by possession is called a trance."
"It's commonly believed that when a person in a trance recovers consciousness, they cannot remember what they did, said, saw or heard during the time they were possessed."
"Speaking of that, Kamiyama didn't seem to remember what happened yesterday, did she?"
"However, Mr. Kirisaki, is there absolutely no medical explanation for Kamiyama's abnormal change?"
Mr. Kogure seems to want to, in some way, wipe off the occult tinge of this case. If I could, I would too, but...
"There might be. That's why I never said it couldn't be completely explained. Had I said so, that'd be like proclaiming it's 100% occultic."
"But it similarly can't be completely verified medically too. To give an example, there's a type of metamorphic delusion called "Lycanthropy"."
"It's translated as "roujinshou" [Lit. werewolf disorder] in Japanese. It could also be called a beastification delusion, a disorder where a person becomes obsessed with the idea of becoming a wild animal."
"However, it is mainly about the fear and anxiety of being transformed, as opposed to actually becoming violent or thinking you've turned into a wolf."
"Of course, this disorder can't be considered a beastly transformation, such as in Western lycanthropes or werewolves.
"Ngh... Even medicine can't explain it...?" Mr. Kogure's anxiety seems to have increased even more.
After that, the folklorist Suimei Kirisaki's lecture continued for a while.
[Short cut to black]
"...So, who do you think is the culprit, Mr. Kirisaki?" Mr. Kogure, annoyed, launched a direct challenge.
"That's for you guys to figure out. It's outside my area of expertise." It's as my brother said. We're asking too much to have him tell us who the culprit is.
"What I'm more concerned about is the identity of what's possessing the killer..."
"Dakini is an Indian female demon exiled to the Mandala of the Womb Realm's outer cloister, said to predict a person's death six months in advance to consume that person's heart, however, in Japan, Dakini is considered to be a fox nymph."
"But well, there are too many evil youkai related to foxes in Japan like her. It's probably impossible to identify which one we're dealing with based only on the information we have now."
"By the way, Junya. I have here a copy of the talisman you gave me the other day..."
"Do you remember? This is a fox possession purification talisman. It was made to exorcise the fox-possessed."
"You should try to remember where you found it."
"Eh? Uhm, that was definitely..."
"...Two days ago, in the empty car that caused an accident while we were on our way to your office. It was taped to the unoccupied driver's seat."
"Were you guys the only ones at the scene? There was no one else, was there?"
I replied, tugging at the threads of my memory---
>Nobody was supposed to be there, but...
>Mari Horikawa!
>Yuka Kamiyama!
I'll just go with the correct answer.
>Yuka Kamiyama!
"Yuka Kamiyama!" I answered my brother's query, which sounded like a leading question, with astonishment.
"Brother, are you saying that she has been fox possessed?"
My brother didn't answer that question. But he looked convinced about that.
Simultaneously, that implied whoever used the fox possession purification talisman had already sensed Kamiyama's abnormality back then.
"Who in the world could they be...?" I couldn't help but ponder the question, even though there was no chance I could come up with an answer.
"Listen, Junya. Please remember this much."
"It's always the living who bring forth grudges, evil spirits, and many other apparitions. It's those who carry burdens in their hearts that bring the dead back to life and summon demons."
"{Guilt} creates darkness in our hearts, and we call upon spirits to punish us."
Guilt... Certainly, those burdened with sin, who incur others' enmity, could mistake a willow for a haunting.
Ms. Hitomi said so too. The power of human beliefs is stronger than we can imagine.
If guilt can indeed call upon spiritual powers, how grave is the sin concealed in this case's shadows be...?"
[Wideshot from the ground to the moon]
The stakeout continued until morning. Mr. Kogure and I took turns taking naps throughout the night, but a white haze hung over my head.
"Oy, Junya. You okay?"
"Y...yeah. I'm fine. I'm still awake."
"I'm going home, I've got a lecture coming. The rest's in your hands. ...Hang in there."
"Thanks, brother..." He still came along with us despite having a lecture in the morning. I'm grateful to my brother from the bottom of my heart.
"Shall I escort you home, Mr. Kirisaki?"
"It's fine. I'm going to walk to wake up. ...Kogure-kun, please take care of my little brother."
After we saw him off, we lethargically called the detectives who were staking out Horikawa's and Yamano's houses...
No abnormalities in either. Thank goodness. For the time being, we were able to prevent the situation from getting any worse.
[Ring, ring]
My cell phone rings, disturbing my peace of mind.
"Yes, hello?"
"It's me, Sasaki."
"G-good morning, Chief."
"We have no time for salutations. Come to Hanamine High right away."
"Is there a problem?"
"...Yeah. Another student died."
Wednesday 8:13 AM
Hanamine Private High School
The scene was the classroom where Kamiyama and the others played Mr. Kokkuri yesterday.
And there lay the lifeless body of Keiko Yamano...
The members of the First Investigative Section who rushed to the scene could not hide their surprise. The Chief is also looking more cautious than ever.
The detective from the Inui Police Station who was keeping an eye on Keiko Yamano testified that he had been on the lookout all night and had seen no one coming in or out of her house, nor any suspicious activity.
Yamano's body was found by students who arrived at school for an early morning practice of club activities. Even her family was unaware of this strange incident until they were notified by the school.
I reported everything that had happened so far to the Chief. Of course, with the occult part being skillfully run around.
"...Got it. You can continue your investigation the way you want. I'll leave it to you to some extent. Do as you please."
The Chief finally realized that this wasn't a simple suicide case. He began to listen to what I had to say.
No, if anything, he gave me permission to investigate freely. Could it be that he has recognized me, even if only a little? ...I wish.
Having said that, maybe it's a petty-minded interpretation to think that he pushed a difficult case onto me to protect his own interests.
Anyway, let's examine the body before the Chief changes his mind.
It is never pleasant to come into contact with death. It is even more so if you had seen them alive just yesterday.
Keiko Yamano, who had been trembling in fear of Mr. Kokkuri's shadow, in exchange for her life, was freed from her fears. Permanently.
However, her death was not a peaceful one. This was evident in her cruel condition.
Her hair is disheveled and her clothes are torn to shreds, revealing graphic scars. It looks as if she was cut by a sharp blade. Her eyes are staring into the void in horror.
"This time, it's a murder, huh..."
"B-but, sir, please look at her right hand." Mr. Kogure, suppressing his nausea, points to her body.
Upon closer inspection, her right hand was covered in blood.
According to forensics, the angle and depth of the wounds indicate a very high probability that she clawed herself to death..."
I was absolutely mortified. How is it possible for someone to die by clawing at their own body?
Mr. Kokkuri's curse--- Again, that unrealistic thought flashed through my mind.
The detectives guarding her were completely unaware of her disappearance. No matter how I look at it, this is an impossible situation.
How did Keiko Yamano come to school? Why did she come to school? Why did she mutilate herself?
Questions keep popping up one after another. Is there still no way other than to attribute Keiko Yamano's cause of death to Mr. Kokkuri's curse...?
After examining the body, we left the classroom with major doubts and decided to move on to the next part of the investigation.
But we have no inkling of where to even begin with our investigation.
We stayed up all night keeping an eye on Kamiyama. There was no suspicious activity at all.
And yet Keiko Yamano died. Could it be that Kamiyama isn't the culprit...?
My cell phone rang like it was trying to wake me up. ...Who is it, at a time like this?
The LCD of the cell phone displayed the two words, "Not Available". It's not every day you get a call with a "Not Available" message.
"Hello...?"
"Lieutenant Kazami, did yesterday's assistance help you in your investigation?"
It was that man's voice. Was it, after all, this man who asked my brother to cooperate with the investigation and even arranged that warrant...?
"Who the hell are you?"
"It's not necessary for you to know. It's not related to the case."
"What's your goal? Why are you helping us?"
"Fufu, you're nothing but questions, aren't you." The man said mockingly. No, maybe it only sounded that way.
"Good. I'll give you a hint." The man said unexpectedly.
"A hint?"
"...Please go to the Police History Archival Office..."
An empty mechanical sound rings out from the other end of the phone. Again, I was one-sidedly hung up on.
"Police History... Archival Office...?"
Private Hanamine High School has been closed; a third victim has been reported. We may be at the end of our ability to keep the media at bay.
Yuka Kamiyama, Mari Horikawa, and Shouta Nozawa were assigned to be guarded by several detectives, however, we decided to go to the Police History Archival Office anyway.
Waiting and watching like this won't stop the next crime. In the spirit of "it can't hurt to try", we'll try and trust the man on the phone.
To tell the truth, this is the first time I have heard of a department such as the "Police History Archival Office".
Apparently, there does exist a department that compiles the history of the police, but I don't think it's called the Police History Archival Office.
I tried asking every policeman I passed where the Archival Office was...
"What're you talking about?"
"Sorry, I've never heard of it."
"There's a department for that?"
...They gave us no answer that could have been a clue.
However, after patiently asking around, we finally found someone who knew of the Archival Office.
"The Police History Archival Office? Yeah, I've heard of it."
"But, well, I've never been there. My peers told me a story they heard from their seniors..."
"The Police History Archival Office was located on the fifth basement floor of the Metropolitan Police Department. As you know, the MPD has only four floors below ground, but a long time ago, it used to have five basement floors."
"The detective who worked there was on a special assignment. Only the top brass knew what that assignment was."
"One day, that detective's body was found in the Police History Archival Office. His death was so horrific that even a veteran detective had to cover his eyes."
"After that incident, the fifth basement floor was condemned and sealed, and the Police History archival Office was closed..."
"But there is more to this story. Strange rumors have begun to pop up about the Archival Office."
"Sometimes, you can hear people talking and phones ringing from the fifth basement floor, even though it's supposed to be filled in."
"Maybe it's the detective who died that horrible death in the line of duty, still investigating, even in death..."
It was a silly rumor. It's as trivial a rumor as the one I had heard about a small nuclear reactor being installed in the basement of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
But for now, we had no choice but to hang on to this idle gossip. We decided to head towards the fifth basement floor of the MPD.
We boarded the elevator, but as expected, the buttons only went down to the fourth basement floor.
We had no choice but to get off at B4 and find a way to a lower floor.
"Sir, there is an emergency exit here."
[Door creek]
When we opened the emergency exit, we found not only a staircase leading to the upper floors but also stairs leading further down. The fifth basement floor did exist.
Rusted railings against the dim light. It seems like this is the only place in the MPD left behind and forgotten by the times.
A sooty passageway that has never bathed in sunlight. Fluorescent lights that are about to burn out.
Is this really inside the MPD? It's like an abandoned building. No wonder there are rumors of ghosts.
At the end of the corridor is the only door on this floor. On the dirty iron door, which had probably not been opened for many years, the words "Police History Archival Office" were barely legible.
...There it is. At least it proved that the man on the phone was not lying about the existence of the Archival Office.
I decided to take the plunge and open the door.
[Cut to black]
The rusty door makes a grating sound. The smell of mold is intoxicating. In the darkness, I search for the switch of the interior light.
Cobwebs and dust cling to my hands as I probe the walls.
As I let out a sigh and thought, "Why am I doing this...", my finger caught something and the light went on.
"What on Earth is this?"
Kogure's impressions were concise and to the point. This room is dreadful. Far too dreadful.
On the desk, years of dust had accumulated, and a dried-up cockroach lay on its back on the floor.
Cigarette butts also littered the area. The word "Shien" (Lit. Purple smoke) is on the filter. That must be the brand of these cigarettes.
And to top it all off, there were piles and piles and piles of documents. There is no other way to describe this place other than, "What on Earth is this?"
The sound of a retro telephone rings to answer that question.
Fishing through a pile of papers scattered on the floor, I manage to locate the source of the sound.
It's a black dial phone. Apparently, time stands still in this space.
Pick up the receiver and...
"Welcome, to the Police History Archival Office." Sure enough, I heard that same man's voice.
"Who are you? How did you know about this place? Do you work for the Metropolitan Police Department?"
Without stopping to think about it, I asked several questions into the receiver. "You really are filled to the brim with questions, Lieutenant Kazami."
"I want to say in advance that I am not a member of the Metropolitan Police Department, but our organization has a strong influence not only on the police force, but also on political and economic circles."
Organization...? What kind of organization can influence not only the police but also the political and economic world...?
"Have you ever heard of F.O.A.F.?"
"Eh?"
"...No, if you don't know, that's fine. Better yet, look at the file near your right hand."
The man said this as if he could see all the way into this room. I checked around the room to see if there were any surveillance cameras, but I couldn't find any.
"In that file, you will find a hint to your search for the root of the curse..."
I glanced at my right hand. Sure enough, there was a file. It was the only file in the room that was not covered with dust. It seems to have been placed on the desk only recently.
However, when I entered the room, it was covered with dust and there must have been no signs of anyone coming in or out.
"Lieutenant Kazami. If you want to solve a case, you musn't lie to yourself. No matter how unrealistic it may be, trust in the answer you arrive at."
"We have great expectations for you two..."
[Call is cut]
Then he hung up on me suddenly again. I wonder what is he trying to make us do...?
But there is no time to be lost. Having come this far, I had no choice but to move forward. I decided to follow the man's advice and look through the file.
It was a document that was a collection of detached notes. The neat, legible letters, which appeared to have been written with a ballpoint pen, were lined up in a row.
[Don't worry, I won't bloat the post like last time]
4/14
I made a friend for the first time after entering high school. She invited me to lunch while I was alone in the classroom.
Her name is Yuka Kamiyama. Ms. Kamiyama is kind and very beautiful.
5/22
Lately, I have been spending a lot of time with Ms. Kamiyama and her friends, and I don't get to talk to Shouta-kun as much as I used to.
Ms. Kamiyama is a very important friend, but Shouta-kun is also an important childhood friend. If Ms. Kamiyama and Shouta-kun became friends, we could all be together.
6/8
Today, while I was talking with Ms. Kamiyama in the hallway, Shouta-kun walked by and I decided to be bold and introduce her to Shouta-kun.
Ms. Kamiyama didn't say anything and kept looking at Shouta-kun...
6/15
Ms. Kamiyama invited me to play Mr. Kokkuri.
It's a psychic fortune-telling game that has recently become popular at school.
I don't believe in Mr. Kokkuri, but since Ms. Kamiyama invited me, I couldn't refuse.
6/18
Ms. Kamiyama invites me to play Mr. Kokkuri every day after school.
Her questions to Mr. Kokkuri are escalating. She persistently asks about my relationship with Shouta-kun.
6/24
Ms. Kamiyama, who had been so kind and beautiful, started to lose her smile.
In proportion to that, her aggression towards me became stronger and stronger. I should stop playing Mr. Kokkuri already.
6/27
No matter how much I refused, Ms. Kamiyama and the others wouldn't let me go.
This is {bullying}. Somebody help me!
6/30
I can't stand it anymore.
I feel like I'm losing my mind.
Help me, Shouta-kun! Help me!
And that's where the diary ends.
"Sir...! This diary is...!" Needless to say, this is important evidence.
"Mr. Kogure, how can we unravel this case by using this diary as our lead? That is the key. Let's go over the whole case again."
"Yes, sir. In this case, Narumi Hasebe, Kaori Itou, and Keiko Yamano killed themselves one after another."
"The autopsies confirmed that they were suicides, but there are many suspicious aspects to their deaths."
"What was the true reason for those girls' deaths?"
That would be, naturally---
>Suicide by self-suggestion
>Mr. Kokkuri's curse.
We're going full ghost mode here.
>Mr. Kokkuri's curse.
I broke through the obstacle of reason and clearly replied. "Mr. Kokkuri's curse..."
"The girls who died were under psychological pressure that Mr. Kokkuri might kill them."
"Narumi Hasebe, Kaori Ito, and Keiko Yamano. All of them refused to participate in the blood ritual. These women incurred the wrath of Mr. Kokkuri."
I recognize that this is an unrealistic theory.
I gradually rearrange my mind, persistently telling myself that this is just a hypothetical story.
"...Sir. I don't understand it very well, but why did they start performing the blood ritual?"
"They said it was to get their wishes granted, but I don't think that's the only reason."
"Could there have been another purpose for the blood ritual?"
It's as Mr. Kogure says. That other reason is---
>Guilt
>Sacrifice
Let's go in the opposite direction as last time.
>Sacrifice
Like Mr. Kogure said, there must be another reason for offering their blood to Mr. Kokkuri, and I have a theory on what that is.
Since ancient times, people have made offerings to deities and evil gods to ask for divine favor or to appease their anger.
In some cases, grain and livestock were given, but in other instances, human lives were offered.
Scapegoats, human pillars, human sacrifices... In folk tales, young girls were typically offered.
"Perhaps, in order to avoid Mr. Kokkuri's curse... to appease its wrath, they began performing the blood ritual."
"I see... Then, sir, what is Mr. Kokkuri's true identity...?"
That's, most likely---
>A fox spirit
>Misa Sakita
This is a new question, so I'll choose the correct answer.
>Misa Sakita
"Misa Sakita... Mr. Kokkuri's true identity is Misa Sakita."
"...Sir, just to confirm it, Misa Sakita died in an accident two years ago, didn't she?"
"Yeah... I know it sounds crazy, but..."
Misa Sakita's hatred---
Mr. Kogure must have understood what I was trying to say. Even so, he felt compelled to confirm it.
"It's fine. I'm a man too. I, Souichirou Kogure, have made up my mind. I will follow Sir to the end."
Mr. Kogure did not turn pale. He may not have overcome his fear, but he seems to have steeled his resolve in the face of this incident.
"Now, sir, if Misa Sakita is the culprit, her next target is..."
That goes without saying, they're---
>Shouta Nozawa
>Yuka Kamiyama
Right choice again.
>Yuka Kamiyama
"Her next target is Yuka Kamiyama."
Misa Sakita was betrayed by Kamiyama, whom she thought was her best friend and who drove her to her death. The person Sakita wants to kill the most must be Kamiyama.
"B-but, at that time, Kamiyama..."
That's right. Indeed, Kamiyama's transformation remains a mystery. If we are to continue with the Misa Sakita grudge theory, how can we explain Kamiyama's transfiguration?
Did Sakita's spirit manipulate Kamiyama to kill the other students...? Or did the dead girls also suffer the same transformation as Kamiyama, to make them wound themselves...?
Unrealistic thoughts come to mind one after another. Once affirmed, they won't be easily corrected.
Had I not been in the situation I am in now, I would have laughed them off.
But whether or not there is a curse, it's an indisputable fact that Kamiyama will transform again at some point...
As long as the possibility of another victim exists, it's my duty as a detective to do everything in my power to stop it.
"Either way, let's protect Kamiyama, Mr. Kogure."
"Y-yes, sir!!"
I'll end it here. In the next post, which will also be in the next year, we'll reach the other ending of this episode, then I'll add in one or two extra posts for completion's sake. There are still quite a few FOAF entries and the guide I'm using to keep track of them all has begun to show some mistakes, so I don't actually know if I'll be able to compress them all to a single post.
But, no matter what, I'll see you guys next year!
