4. And Then There Were None

Wait, Aoko's brown bread again? LMAO RIP.

Dammit, not just twice, but thrice? This might be the first time I've seen someone actually clear their own name.

？！

Yeah, it's Aozaki all right. Well, the third one, anyway.

It looks like she's been shot in the head with what appears to be a bullet...

And the hot water is preventing the blood from clotting, so she's still bleeding...

I can't be certain about her time of death, but I would guess it happened when we heard that gunshot.

It's usually a mistake to equate gunfire with time of death, but in this case, that's probably right.

There was still gunpowder smoke in the air when we got here through the changing room.

So it's been less than ten minutes since she died. Her killer must still be nearby.

If we can catch them and confirm that they have a gun that was recently fired, then

There's no need for that. I did it. I killed her.

I won't make any excuses. Go ahead. Arrest me, kill me in revenge... Do with me what you will.

Right. Yours looks to be the only gun here, so it's safe to say it's the murder weapon.

But first, can you tell us what's going on? What kind of disaster happened here?

What kind of...? There's no way you'd believe me even ifNo, wait. The fact that you're here at all... Maybe you would.

All right. I woke up early today, and decided to take advantage of it to go in the secret spring.

I didn't see anyone else's clothes in the changing room, so I thought I'd beat everyone else to the punch, but

But Aozaki turned out to already be here, right?

No. I was.

Huh?

There was another me here, along with the dead woman.

The woman was standing over there with her back towards me, facing down the other me.

I opened the glass door and stopped in my tracks 'cause I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

Then the other me made the first move. She aimed her gun and pulled the trigger with incredible speed; way faster than anyone should be able to.

And that was when she shot Aozaki? ...No, wait. We heard two gunshots, so... I see now.

This other Sugitani wasn't aiming for Aozaki. She was aiming for you, wasn't she?

That's right. The other me tried to shoot me as soon as she saw my face.

I wouldn't be alive now if it wasn't for that woman.

She jumped in front of me without a moment's hesitation and took the bullet meant for me clean through her head.

I was still reeling, but at the end of the day, I'm an exorcist. And luckily, I hadn't gotten undressed yet.

So I put a bullet through the other me's head before she could reload.

Then the other me disappeared without leaving a body behind. That's everything that happened.

That woman would still be alive if it wasn't for me. I may as well have killed her myself.

You said her name's Aozaki? She must've been the sister of the woman who got killed on the first day then.

She was a good person. I've never killed anyone willing to stick their neck out for someone else like that before.

That must've been hard, Reiinbou. But don't take it too hard.

Aozaki wouldn't have done that if she hadn't decided it was better for her to take the bullet than you.

She was only thinking about herself. You didn't kill her at all.

Exactly. Aozaki would never lay down her life for anyone else. She only ever acts on her own principles.

It just so happens that whatever she does also ends up helping other people out. It's always been like that for her.

？！

You guys seem surprisingly upbeat... Am I the only one taking this seriously?

Oh. There she is.

There she is.

So this is where my vital signs died out!

？！

Huh? Two people I don't recognize greeting me with a smile, and two others I know all too well wordlessly pressuring me?

Oh, Robin, you're here too. What's going on? Is this some kind of prank?

Okay, I get what's going on here now. Sorry you had to explain all this to me three separate times now.

And Sugitani, don't worry about what happened here. You didn't do anything wrong.

You're forgiving me for killing you? I mean, I guess I'm not the one who shot you, but

Exactly. You didn't shoot me, so this case is closed.

Yeah. Honestly, I'm grateful to you.

You saved us a lot of time with our investigation by opening up to us so quickly.

Exactly. If anyone's to blame here, it's Aozaki for being so careless. That goes for her safety and for those of us who have to worry about her.

Hey, I said I was sorry. Believe me, I feel really silly, letting my guard down this badly three times in one case.

I guess that's the downside of not really having to worry about Singularities until they're resolved. Plus, it also feels like my base output is lower than usual.

It is? The other Aokos never mentioned anything about that.

Oh, really? I'm sure it was the same for the other three, too.

They probably just didn't mention it because it would put them at a disadvantage.

How can I explain this... It kind of feels like I've been weighed down with a heavy backpack since I got here.

Or like, I left with a full tank of gas, but lost almost half the moment I arrived.

I guess that kind of thing's not uncommon when you travel, but still... Anyway, where's Alice?

？！

So she's not with you guys? Then, this mist... I knew it!

Huh? She might still be in her room. Let's go back to the top floor and

Stop! We need to stay put! The mist's sure to be in the hallway by now, too!

Looks like you're right. I'm already seeing mist in the hallway to the new building.

What's with this mist, anyway? Is it bad?

It's way worse than just bad. You'll instantly be lost forever if you so much as touch it.

This mist chews up anyone who wanders into it. Friend or foe, it doesn't know, and it doesn't care.

It's called the Wandersnatch, the Rose Hound. It's a Ploy Kickshaw that no one's ever managed to defeat.

A terrible, murderous Bounded Field that Kuonji Alice only deploys whenever she means business.

Eeeeeeeee!

？！

What are you all doing here!? Wait. I don't see that mist!

Does that mean this place is safe? Oh, thank goodness for you psychics!

What a relief!

I know this world could end at any moment, but that doesn't mean I want to be one of the very first people to die!

Please calm down, Mr. Kumanoin. Can you tell us what happened?

What happened? I'll tell you what happened! Someone disappeared right before my eyes!

I was just over by the souvenir corner when

There we go. Now, I'd better go check on the secret spring.

There you are, Yoshisuke. Did you grill saury for breakfast this morning?

I don't mind grilled food for breakfast, but couldn't you have opened a window first? All this smoke is really hurting my eyes.

I was just brushing my hair out, too. It feels like half the world has disappeared all of a sudden.

It wasn't me, Lady Kashin. This is mist, not smoke.

Someone must have left a door open. Although, it's rare to get this much fog out on this mou

Huh!? L-Lady Kashin, your face... It's

Ahh. My eye, it hurts. It's so bright. I can hear you, but I can't see you.

Where are you, Yoshisuke? Oh no. Now it's affecting my right eye, too...

Ah... A-aah...

I'm scared, Yoshisuke. My whole body is scared. I can't feel anything. Anything!

Help me, Yoshisuke. It feels like the ox god is about to eat me ali

Ah... A-aaah! Aaaaaahhh!?

？！

You mean that shitty sorcereI mean, puppeteer, is dead!?

L-L-L-Lady Kashin would neverbut then again, she really did disappear as though she'd been eaten...

Never mind that now! Close the door now, before the mist gets in here!

What about the other guests!? Can you use the indoor phone line to contact them!?

Oh! Right! I-I'll do that right now!

Yes, yes, that's right! Whatever you do, do NOT leave your room! And keep all the windows closed, too!

Huh? You want to take a morning bath in the hot springs? Don't be ridiculous! No bath is worth risking your life!

I'll let you know the moment anything has changed! For now, just stay put and wait until you hear from me again!

He's more responsible than he looks. I think we can let him handle the other guests.

The problem is, what do we do about the mist outside? If Aozaki is right, it'll bite us as soon as we touch it.

What kind of mist is this, anyway? Wouldn't it go away once the sun comes out?

Not this one. It doesn't matter how sunny it is, or how strong the wind is blowing. It'll never go away until it's made all of us disappear.

That's what fairy tales are like. Don't lump them together with the haunting in this inn.

Phew. Thank goodness the other guests were still in their rooms.

Psychics typically run away at the first sign of trouble, so I wasn't worried about them, but a guest with a family is a whole other matter.

Y-you think so? Well, things like this happen all the time around this inn, so... Hehe.

(I agree, Senpai. I had the same feeling. He was genuinely concerned about his guests' well-being.)

？！

Wh-why are you smiling at me so creepily? I'll have you know I wasn't scared in the slightest!

I have every faith this is all just Wanwan's power at work! Although, this one is a bit of a hassle... I don't suppose there's anything you can do about it?

What do you think, Aozaki? Anything we can do about it?

Well, luckily, it's not just me this time.

Between you, me, Fujimaru, and Mash, I think we can figure something out.

Huh? Aozaki? Isn't that the name of the woman who passed away two days ago?

？！

Huh!? Daughter!? How is that possible!? For that matter, what happened here in the first place!?

What do you think? You wanna tell him what you just told me?

No, I don't think so. It's hard enough to believe under normal circumstances, and this is far from normal.

Proprietor. This mist is something you weren't expecting either, right? Then you stay here and hide under the reception desk.

We'll find a way to get rid of this mist. You just make sure you've got a suitable reward ready to go.

Hah, that's some big talk from a spoiled rich kid playing detective. Just do your best not to make Wanwan angry.

That guy's got a lot more backbone than you'd think. Don't know why he has to run his mouth like that, though.

Maybe he just dislikes detectives for some reason.

Anyway, nice job getting him to promise us a reward, Tobimaru. Now I'm that much more motivated to solve this.

So, how ARE you gonna get rid of this mist? It's not just gonna go away on its own, right?

Usually, we'd ask Robin Hood, Jack, or Nursery Rhyme for their help with something like this.

But I don't think we'll be able to summon anyone else in this Singularity.

？！

What do you mean, Fujimaru?

？！

Hey, yeah, good point. Kumanoin was freaking out so much I didn't realize it sooner, but you're right.

What's going on, Aozaki? This doesn't match what you told us about the mist at all.

Huh? You mean you guys came here from your rooms? You weren't here to begin with?

I've dealt with this mist before, so I got through it by keeping my coordinates fuzzy, but, does this mean I didn't have to?

Maybe not. I was laying low in the hallway after I killed that other me...

...and these other guys didn't see me at all thanks to the mist.

I was touching it the whole time, too. Must have been around ten minutes at least.

I see. Alice's mist usually works instantly, the moment you touch it...

...but it looks like it's not as strong this time.

This must mean there's a delay between touching the mist and the Wandersnatch's mouth showing up.

All right. If it's safe to touch the mist for a little bit, then let's split up and look for Alice.

Even she wouldn't use her precious Ploy Kickshaws in front of other people if she could help it.

We should assume this Wanwan thing has possessed her, and caused her to lose her mind.

So don't even think about trying to reason with her or save her.

The moment you find her, you should just contact everyone else, and we'll meet back up here.

Because the only way we're going to stop her is if we gather our forces and hit her with a surprise no-holds-barred attack.

Fine. I'll stay here and coordinate communications. As for security...

Okay, it's time we got all our intel in order. Soujyuro, I'd like you to stay here and take notes for me.

The other teams will be Fujimaru and Mash, and Aozaki and Sugitani.

If you find Kuonji, or anything else suspicious, come back and let me know right away.

And while you're out there, it'd be a big help if you could check on the other guest rooms, too.

All right, let's get to work. Don't leave any corner of this inn unturned.

We've been in the mist for nine minutes now, Master. I think we should go inside a room and get away from it for a while.

？！

That's the Indigo Room where Shirou is staying. I hope he doesn't mind us dropping by.

？！

？！

He's not here. Even though Mr. Kumanoin told him not to leave his room.

？！

Let's go check the other guest rooms. I have a feeling something terrible might be happening.

She's not here, either. Dammit, Alice, where are you hiding?

I can't even sense her magical energy. Is she not in the building? Or maybe she's dead?

You shouldn't say things like that. This girl's your partner, right?

Unless you have some reason to believe she's dead?

No, just wishful thinking. It would be better for her to be dead than possessed.

Yeah? Why's that?

There's no way she'd be using magecraft to attack people indiscriminately while she was still alive. It'd be real bad for all sorts of reasons if she was.

But since that's what seems to be happening right now, then I'd rather she was dead, and that her magical energy was leaking from her body or something.

I know she'd prefer that to her body being taken over.

And here I thought you sounded heartless, when it was coming from a deep understanding. You don't want her to suffer.

But I think you might be a little late.

Like you said, there's a real good chance a spirit's controlling her. There's no telling what might happen at this inn.

Whatever you people are, you could easily get possessed yourselves if you're not careful.

...

You seem to know a lot about this inn, Sugitani. What exactly is this place?

I hear it was once the domain of an ancient lord of this mountain. They only started running a hot spring inn here in the last hundred years or so.

It was a pretty normal inn, too. At least until four years ago.

And I think it all started with Kashin.

Kashin... That's the exorcist girl who lives in this inn, right? Do you know her, Sugitani?

Yeah. She pretends to be a girl, but there's no telling what she really is.

About two years ago, during spring, I messed up a job and almost lost my leg and stomach. Some kind of evil spirit made them rot from the inside.

Kashin said Kumano's hot springs could heal me, so I gave them a shot, and this is the result.

Hm? What do you mean? You look perfectly healthy now.

The thing is, I used to be a guy.

Whoa...

Kashin said my old body was beyond repair, so she made a new one to replace it.

I-I see. So, did you come back here to get revenge or something?

Nah, I wouldn't do that. She did save my life. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't still pissed.

So I came here to ask if there's a way to get my old body back. Don't tell Fujimaru's group, 'kay?

(So it's a matter of pride, huh. I don't get it, but it's probably not my place to say anything.)

But now, Kashin's been lost to this mist. Part of me'd rather just make a run for it and get off this damn mountain...

...but now that I owe you a debt, I'm gonna stick around until you find your partner.

No, there isn't. This is the Chimera Room, where Ryougi is staying with her family.

I see three people's worth of luggage, but no actual people...

Neither Shirou nor Ryougi seemed like careless people to me. I can't imagine they'd be so quick to ignore Mr. Kumanoin's instruction to stay in their rooms.

？！

Since I don't think we'll find any answers in here, we should focus on finding Alice and having her undo this Bounded Field as soon as possible.

Let's go back to the Sky Room, Senpai. Maybe there'll be a clue as to where Alice is in there.

This is the Raven-Haired Room...where Fujinon is staying.

I'll check the living room area. You look for anything else that might be out of place.

So this is where Fujinon is staying, huh.

Her name didn't come up much when Fujimaru and Mash filled me in on the past few days.

Do you know anything about her, Sugitani?

Bwa?

What was that? You sound like I suddenly grew horns or something.

Sorry. It's just, I can't believe you're an exorcist and you've never heard of the Twister before.

She's the founder of Senrinen Douju Satsuryu, the Thousand Leagues Telekinetic Kill school, and she's one person here you don't want to mess with.

She can curse people at a distance, or even on the other side of a wall, and twist them like an old dishcloth.

That's how she got her nickname: the Twister.

Seriously? So she doesn't even have to be in the same room as someone to kill them? Why didn't her name come up as a suspect in my murder then?

Probably 'cause you always died from head trauma. Everyone knows that's not the Twister's style.

That said...you make a good point. What IS someone that dangerous doing here?

It can't be just to banish spirits. If anything, she's the kind of person you'd want banished herself. She wouldn't have any reason to come here.

Let's see... I think Fujimaru theorized that all the guests have their own, secret reasons for being here.

Yours was... Oh, right. That must be why you went to the secret spring this morning.

...Huh?

Hey, don't just blurt it out. It's embarrassing. What about you people? Why'd you come all the way out here?

You don't seem like the type to depend on secret springs. Maybe the ones with the biggest secret here are actually

Aozaki? Where'd you go?

Let's see... Nothing unusual in the washroom. All I found was a little water bowl for Robin.

But more importantly, now that it's just the two of us, Senpai, can I talk to you about something a little...complicated for a moment?

？！

It's about, um, Tsukiji.

Specifically, something that happened when I was guarding him over the past two days.

Even though he isn't involved in the world of Mystics, he had no problem accepting supernatural phenomena like magecraft, Singularities, and Rayshifts.

I'm guessing that probably just has to do with the kind of person he is.

However, during our investigations, he's been going off on his own at six in the evening on "personal business."

I got curious and decided to follow him yesterday...

...and saw him quietly going into the old building as if to avoid drawing attention.

？！

I then heard him talking to someone around the corner, though I couldn't tell who it was since I had to stay out of sight.

But I heard him saying things in a very serious tone like:

"This is definitely the place," "I'm going to keep my promise," and "This will all be over in two more days"Huh?

？！

？！

So what do you think of today's issue of Daily Aoko Murders, Tobimaru?

Aozaki said she's here to save the world.

Does this mean whoever's been killing her wants to destroy it?

Yeah. That much is clear. Along with Aozaki's accomplishments.

She may be ending up dead every day, but her plan is still succeeding.

She's both the victim and the perpetrator. In fact, I'd bet her killer feels like they're the real victim here.

So you think her killer is gnashing their teeth in frustration? Why?

Why do you think Aozaki keeps ending up dead? It's because whoever's killing her isn't achieving their goal.

I don't know what it is they're trying to do, but the end result is that Aozaki's stopping it every day.

I see. So if this were, say, football, it'd be like Aozaki's running interference.

Exactly. But this mist has nothing to do with our poor killer's thwarted plans.

I don't know where Kuonji went, or why she's creating this mist...

...but I'm sure Fujimaru and Mash will find her and resolve this soon enough.

In the meantime, you and I should focus on getting to the bottom of what's going on with Aozaki.

For one thing, do you really think she was telling the truth when she said the world could end?

It sure doesn't seem that way to me. That being said, it also didn't seem like she was making it up.

And then there's the omnipotent secret spring, and the...Holy Grail, was it?

They said they can grant any wish you might have, but I can't believe any one person's wish could really destroy the world.

What do you think, Sono-G? You can tell when she's being serious or not. I mean, you two are a thing, right?

...

Which question are you trying not to answer now!?

Ah, whatever. I'm gonna go wash my face and freshen up.

Tobimaru. Going back to Alice

...Tobimaru?

Sorry, it's just me. Tobimaru and Mr. Kumanoin are both gone. They vanished when I wasn't looking.

I'm guessing the same thing happened with Mash. Here. Have some tea and try to calm down.

？！

You too. I wasn't too worried, though. Since you're my Master now, I figured if I was okay, you must be, too.

That said, the situation is dire. Sugitani and Aozaki might be gone now, too.

I'm okay, but yeah, Aozaki's gone. Oh, right. Forgot my manners again.

Sugitani Reiinbou, reporting back. What'd you guys find out?

？！

All the guests who were staying in the new building are gone. Tobimaru vanished when I was looking away from him.

It sounds like the same thing happened with Aozaki and Mash. You turned around, and they were gone.

It can't be 'cause we spent too much time in the mist, either.

Fujimaru and I've been walking around just as much, so if that was all it took, we'd be gone, too.

And the other guests who up and vanished didn't touch the mist at all.

So that must mean

？！

...Yeah, that's what it looks like. Aozaki must've got it wrong. I'm sorry.

She's had some nasty experiences with Alice's mist before, so I don't blame her for being wary of it...

...but it definitely seems like it's not the mist disappearing people, but some other kind of rule.

Some other kind of rule... So what kind of rule could kick in even when you're cooped up in your own room?

Oh!

If that was all it took, I'd be gone, too. 'Sides, you're supposed to go to the lavatory alone.

I do think the "alone" part is key, though. No one has disappeared when someone else was with them or looking at them.

So then, maybe...it has to do with the bathroom mirror?

？！

So you finally figured it out? Took you lot long enough.

Robin! The same one who's been flying around all morning acting like he knows something!

So you DID notice I was here. Well, Robin Hood. I thought you guys were leaving me on hold or something.

That's right. This time, the culprit isn't mist, but mirrors!

It traps you in its mirror world if you look into one by yourself! It's Wandersnatch Alter!

Did that bird just talk? Has the whole world finally lost its damn mind?

Yeah, it talks. But don't bother listening to it. It usually just runs its beak without thinking.

？！

That's right. I've been your enemy all along. I've been watching over you city boys like a hawk. A robin hawk.

What do you think I am? A bird? Well yeah, I am.

But I'm also Miss Alice's friend through thick and thin, even if I don't get much screen time. I'll never testify against her, no matter what!

I see. So where is she right now?

The Inverse Reflection Room, duh. You know, the one in the attic.

She secretly woke up early to check it out, but she totally underestimated the mirror and got possessed lololol.

So this is where all that commotion was coming from. Where is that useless, good-for-nothing birdbrain?

Good day, my fair survivors. How fortunate that there are still three of you left. You must be very lucky indeed.

But of course, luck is exactly what a good horror protagonist needs, isn't it?

Tell you what. I'll make a two-hour movie out of each of you. That means six whole hours of fun in total. This really is your lucky day.

？！

That's gotta be an imposter, right, Soujyuro!? There's no way the real Kuonji could be that wicked!

...

What's that face supposed to mean!? Say something, dammit!

Of course that's an imposter! But don't shoot her yet! There's still a chance it could actually be her!

The real Alice's jokes are so sophisticated that they're impossible to tell from tragedies!

...

I may be an imposter, but I have to say, you really are as blunt as the real Alice remembers.

Anyway, I'm the spirit that haunts the Inverse Reflection Room. I'm a projection of the shadows from the deepest recesses of Kuonji Alice's mind.

I'm not trapping you for my own amusement. ...I think.

I'm just fulfilling my role as a twisted reflection of my victim.

I just wanted to say that in the real Alice's defense...although I can't deny she has questionable tastes.

There, see? Even she admits that Alice has more than her share of dark power.

You said it. All right, so what's an inverse imposter like you doing here?

？！

I came here to see your faces become twisted with terror, of course.

Since you already figured out my mirror rule, I'll switch over to the mist one right away.

The real Wandersnatch is usually too vicious for my tastes, but a little splatter now and then can certainly mix things up.

If you want to survive, you'll have to make your way to the Inverse Reflection Room before I change the rules again.

I'm going to play my very best game with you, as a sign of respect for having made it this far.

Dammit. So she thinks she can kill us whenever she wants, huh?

But too bad for her, we've got you and Soujyuro, and he knows the real Kuonji.

Knowing where she is now, we just have to get there and punch this spirit's lights out directly. Right, Soujyuro?

？！

You made it. Come on in. I'm in the back.

We can't dance by the stairs. If you want to exorcise me, you'll need to be brave and keep moving.

？！

I might be willing to go charging in, but the Inverse Reflection Room is covered in mirrors.

We'll never be able to get close to that Alice imposter in the back of the room without those surrounding us.

But the mirrors won't be able to trap us as long as we stick together, right?

All we gotta do is keep an eye on each other and make sure we're not separated.

I'm not so sure. If that was her goal, she'd try to lure us in one by one.

There must be a reason she told us to all come together. Maybe she has some secret cheating rule that only applies to her or something.

Good point. That does seem like something she'd pull.

Any ideas, Fujimaru?

Okay, let's go with that. Reiinbou, you bring up the rear. Fujimaru and I will take the front.

You forget I was a sniper!? Long as the storm shutters are open, this is like shooting fish in a barrel!

No fair breaking my mirrors from the outside! Now you've ruined the special rule I went through the trouble of making!

Let's get her, Master! Do your thing!

？！

And so Miss Alice personally apologized to all the other guests. If that isn't a not-Christmas miracle, I don't know what is.

Honestly, getting to see something that rare makes this a net positive in my book.

I have no recollection of these events whatsoever, but I'm still very sorry for all the trouble I caused you.

I'll make sure I remember this for the rest of my life so that this kind of thing never happens again.

？！

Exactly. The important thing is that everyone who disappeared made it back safely.

I wouldn't go as far as Robin, but I would say we came out even. Well, except for all the time we wasted.

Was that last part really necessary? I'm sure Alice went off on her own for a reason.

Right, Alice? There's no way you went to check out the haunted room as part of your morning walk.

I'm...not sure I did have a reason. Is that so wrong?

Huh? What do you mean? Don't tell me you're still haunted?

...

I'm sorry. It's my fault Alice went off on her own.

I should have been more precise when we were talking last night.

Is that true, Alice?

...It's fine. This was my decision.

So, now that we're all caught up, I have some evidence I'd like to present. Robin!

That black box you found in the attic, right? On it!

？！

Yes. Sizuki, remember how you were acting strange in front of the inn yesterday?

That made me curious enough to go check out the attic, where I found this briefcase hidden in a floor hatch behind a mirror.

Does this help?

Definitely. Thanks, Alice.

Fujimaru, you said the passcode you got from Bazett was "20051028," right? Okay, let's try opening it.

It's a bunch of documents... Reports, I think? Oh, wait. This is Clock Tower cipher.

Let's see...

"We have determined that observation records from May 1st, 1999, to May 6th, 1999, for XX, Japan no longer exist."

"We believe this to be the result of tampering with history, or a branching point for the Pruning Theoretical Phenomenon."

"The Association has sent a local Seal Designation Enforcer to investigate the anomaly."

"The Church will assign a local substitute priest to supervise."

"Signed, Lord Brishsan of the Folklore Department."

(Brishsan? As in, one of the deans of the whole Clock Tower!? I had no idea Bazett was so elite!)

So the Mage's Association was aware of the anomaly at the Kumano Hot Springs, too.

Or at least, they were two years ago, since this report is from 1999 and it's 2001 now.

？！

Right. The Mage's Association didn't know the details, either. How could they, since they couldn't observe this place?

Do you think Aoko One was somehow involved with this anomaly from two years ago?

I'm sure she was. Or rather, I'm still tangled up in it as we speak.

So, Aoko One was first sent here in 1999, then she jumped here two years later due to some kind of trouble...

...and got killed while she was trying to get back. She must have been exhausted.

？！

So it would seem. This one has Mr. Kumanoin's picture and background.

Let's see...

"Kumanoin Yoshisuke. Former entertainer. Retired in 1997 to begin working at the Kumano Inn."

"Age: 28. 'Kumanoin' used to only be his stage name, but he had his name legally changed when the Kumano Inn's proprietor adopted him."

"Birth Name: Kinomi Housuke."

...What did you just say?

？！

You're kidding me. That was Kinomi!? No wonder I found him so aggravating! Aozaki!

I know! Let's go collar him and make him cough up everything he knows right now!

Huh? Um, do you know this Kinomi person?

Kinomi Housuke is Tsukiji and Sizuki's old classmate. Even Aoko found herself at her wits' end with him.

Come now, we should go as well. If they accidentally strangle him to death, then we'll have lost a crucial lead.

Well now, you two look a fright. What is it this time? A walking skeleton or some such?

You could say that. We were just about to rip off your mask and see who we're really dealing with.

We know it's you, Kinomi. Give it up.

Oh, so you figured it out. Welp, no need to bother with this disguise anymore then. Hup.

Hey guys! It's me, your cure for a humdrum life, the one and only Kinomi Housuke☆

I'll be damned. It really is you, Kinomi. How the hell did you change your bone structure?

Pretty cool, right? It's all thanks to Kashin's meticulously made prosthetics.

Anyway, life comes at you fast. Here I was, living a quiet life in the mountains...

Then the next thing I know, His Highness Tobimaru shows up, Sizuki's suddenly ten years younger...

...Alice is as stone-cold beautiful as ever, and Prez keeps dying and coming back to life.

Did you guys plan a class reunion or something? 'Cause I sure never got an invitation!

How could we send you one when we don't know your address? You didn't even tell your parents where you live now.

Oh, right. I remember now. You know how I got to be a fairly famous comedian, right?

That's why I started keeping my address under wraps. Man, it's rough being popular!

？！

Oh, right. Guess I ought to properly introduce myself, huh?

I'm Kinomi Housuke. I knew the detective and his trusty assistant there back when we were all in high school.

By Prez, I mean Aozaki, 'cause she used to be our student council president.

Oh yes. She ran such a tight ship not even Kinomi here could stand up to her.

That aside, Kinomi, I'm surprised you didn't freak out more after seeing Aozaki getting killed every day.

Didn't you worry what might happen when the Aozaki family found out you let their daughter die at your inn?

Well, yeah, sure. Deep down, I was freaking the hell out.

Back when you said the first dead woman's name was Aozaki, I thought I was a goner for sure.

Then when she died again, I thought "Aha, I knew she was still alive. Buuut now she's dead. Again."

I felt a little better after that, but this morning's death shook me so bad I thought I might get a heart attack.

Oh, right. That's when we had Aozaki's corpse and Aozaki herself. Come to think of it, you were pretty taken aback by that.

Huh? Aozaki? Isn't that the name of the woman who passed away two days ago?

Huh!? Daughter!? How is that possible!? For that matter, what happened here in the first place!?

Well, of course I was! I mean, the Prez, getting married? That's way scarier than any ghost story!

Let me go, Soujyuro. I can't kill him if you keep holding me back.

I'm sorry, this is all happening so fast that I'm having trouble following along.

Am I right in assuming from your reactions that Kinomi here isn't a bad person?

You absolutely are, miss. Ehehe. Man, who is this girl, guys? She's so nice. Which makes her cute.

And the other girl next to her is full of spirit. It's so heartwarming. Did I mention she's cute, too?

Yes, that's right, Mash. Kinomi might be a scoundrel, but he'd never do anything truly evil.

The scoundrel part is arguable, but he's always been pretty upbeat. Haven't you ever had a friend in school you were never sure why you got along with? He's like that.

？！

Hmph. I don't care if your name is Yoshisuke or Housuke. My question's still the same.

What is the omnipotent secret spring? What're you up to, gathering all these psychics in one place?

Just tell us the truth. I won't be mad. If you come clean, I'll even spare your life.

Really? I dunno, Prez, you're pretty much always mad. I think I'm gonna have to call a lawyer first, for my protection.

Oh, so those are your last words? That's pretty gracious coming from you.

It's a joke, a joke! I'll talk. You want to know why I've been gathering psychics here, right?

I just wanted them to get rid of all the spirits haunting the inn, that's all.

Yeah, I might've tempted them with the wish-granting springs, but really, that's my only goal here.

It was all just a...marketing campaign to drum up business for the inn. The way things were going, I'd have had to shut the place down for good.

So why the disguise?

Oh, that. That's because the first psychic I called was just the worst.

He had like, five apprentices, and they all spent their whole three-night stay doing nothing but partying.

Granted, that's probably 'cause he was a fake I knew from my TV days, but still.

So I asked Lady Kashin for help, and she said:

"NoboDY will tAke you seriousLY like that. WhY not disGUIse yourself as SOMEone scariER?"

(Nodding to concede the point)

Oh, I guess there was one more reason I had to pretend to be someone else.

After business started booming thanks to word of mouth about the wish-granting springs, I went around and got a bunch of funding to build the new building.

But then, when business dried up, I had to start worrying more about debt collectors than ghosts, you know?

So you had no new customers, and no way to pay off your debts... Talk about a rock and a hard place.

Just to be sure, let me ask you this: Have you ever wished the whole world would end?

Huh? Where'd that come from, Your Highness? You're not getting fed up with life, are you?

Sure, I'd like to wipe my slate clean, but I'm not looking for a total reset.

Things might be hard right now, but the Kumano Inn's still my pride and joy. And hey, as long as you're alive, there's always a chance things can turn around, right?

Yeah, that's Kinomi all right. It's almost refreshing how self-servingly optimistic he is.

Well, at least this definitely eliminates him as a suspect. I guess we'll just have to be happy with that.

That being said, he's still this inn's proprietor. All right, Kinomi, what's in the Room of No Opening?

I told you, I don't know! I can't get it open!

If I could, I would've been the first in the door!

What about the legend of Wanwan, then?

Oh, I made that up.

There was a legend about a monster in Kumano who could see the future, but that wasn't enough to draw in the crowds, you know?

You ever hear of the Holy Grail? A chalice that can grant any wish? Eh, guess you wouldn't. It's pretty deep lore, after all.

Anyway, I heard there was a crazy four-dimensional treasure back there, so I decided to dress it up in a more traditional Japanese style.

A chalice is just a fancy cup, right? Well, "wan" can mean "cup" in Japanese, so that's where I got Wanwan from.

？！

Hmm. Who was it that told me about it again...?

It was probably one of the guests I had two years ago, around the time I started spreading the Wanwan rumors.

Man, I still can't believe that Yoshisuke was actually Kinomi all along.

Though come to think of it, I think I did hear he went into comedy after he graduated.

Did you know who he was, Alice?

...

？！

Wait. You knew!?

Quiet. I don't want Tsukiji to hear us in the men's bath.

And no, strictly speaking, I didn't know that was him.

I'd been to this inn before, but he was just a regular employee back then.

I didn't see him this time, so I didn't say anything because I thought he must have quit.

I see. So you didn't think he'd disguised himself.

Hm? You said you've been here before? So you actually left your house voluntarily? How'd that happen?

It just worked out that way. I thought I could relax at this inn, since it was far up in the mountains away from civilization and crowds.

Besides, it's been ten years since you left on your journey, so I thought I could stand to go on at least one trip per year, too.

Remember? The last thing you said to me before we parted ways was, "The only thing you lack is social skills."

Oh man, you're still hung up on that? Oh Alice. Talk about sour grapes.

I still can't forgive Kinomi for not telling us the truth, but I do still appreciate him letting us reserve this outdoor bath.

Maybe the reason he was only nice to you as Yoshisuke was because he still has something resembling a conscience.

That aside, I wonder why he made his stage name "Kumanoin." Wouldn't it make more sense to keep it close to his real one?

What do you mean? That name sounds just like something Kinomi would use. It's got "Kuma" in it and everything.

Remember that Chinese restaurant Kumari's dad owned? The one we pretty much owe our lives to?

Pfft! So you mean the "kuma" part is a pun on Mad Bear!?

？！

Mad Bear was the name of the Chinese restaurant where Kinomi and I worked part-time back in high school. Kumari was the owner's surname.

He had lots of sons, and one daughter, Kojika.

She was in our grade, and she and Aozaki were really good friends.

...

？！

A mad bear!? There's a bear in the men's bath!?

Oh, no, they don't mean a real bear. "Mad Bear" is the name of a Chinese restaurant in our hometown.

There was a girl in our grade called Kumari Kojika. Her father owned the place.

I'm proud to say she was just adorauh, beautiful. Almost like a living doll.

I heard she even got randomly scouted to be an idol when she went to Tokyo for her college entrance exams.

Man, I haven't thought about Kuma in forever. I wonder what she's up to now.

You know, I just realized today is the fourth. I didn't think we'd be staying this long when we got here.

Still, our job's basically ninety percent done now. We could leave if we wanted to...

What do you mean your job's done now, Tobimaru? I thought you came here on a company retreat.

What, you can hear us? Why didn't you say so sooner?

Anyway, the vacation was just a pretext. We were actually here to find a missing person.

A certain idiot prodigal son whose parents were sick with worry after he disappeared without any word.

They thought we might have more luck finding him, since we used to be friends in high school, and so, here we are.

？！

Really? This is the first I'm hearing about it.

Hm? Oh right, you're the younger Soujyuro. Sorry, I should've let you know sooner.

Actually, the other you suggested he might be here at the Kumano Inn.

Huh, I had no idea. I'm glad to know my older self is being useful, at least.

By the way, there's something that's been on my mind since this morning...

...

...

？！

Because anything that's been on this guy's mind is usually a ticking time bomb.

Well, Fujimaru...

Historically, every time Sizuki reveals that he's been wondering about something has been a traumatic experience for Aoko.

No, really, it's just a general question. Why would there be a secret spring for transforming into men?

？！

I believe it has to do with Buddhism.

Some Buddhist practitioners have traditionally believed that women are incapable of becoming a Buddha, no matter how hard they train.

Shakyamuni Buddha himself is said to have taken pity on them, and created a means that would let women be reborn as men...

...thereby enabling anyone to reach Buddhahood. It'll take a while to explain the intricacies of what a Buddha is, but...

To put it simply, those who reach that status are said to have attained enlightenment, or sainthood.

Wow, you're so smart, Mash☆ I don't know the first thing about Buddhism myself, but from what you said...

...it sounds like whether it acknowledges women's rights could be a hot topic in a few years.

But even putting all the Buddhism stuff aside, I'd kind of like to try being a boy for a while.

A whole different kind of body could change the way you view the world. Doesn't that sound interesting?

You want to be even more aware of what's going on in the world? Knock it off. That's the sort of thing that's gotten you killed every morning.

Yeah, no more going to the hot springs, Aozaki. It's tiring, carrying your dead body to that cave every day.

You don't have to tell me twice! I'm never taking a morning bath again if I can help it!

I just wanna sit down in the morning and have a yummy breakfast all together already!

And so, Aozaki Aoko's whiny declaration melted into the night sky, surrounded by her friends' good-natured laughter.

Yes, this is what a hot spring trip is supposed to look like. I might just have to go on one myself next Golden Week.

And with that, the night of the fourth day came to an end, passion still burning bright in everyone's hearts.

？！

Yes. Aoko and Alice are visiting from the next room.

Tobimaru's probably still sleeping. He seemed pretty relieved now that we found Kinomi.

I hope we didn't wake him. Morning, Fujimaru.

I told Aoko it was too early for this, but she wouldn't take no for an answer.

Well yeah, we don't want to waste any time. Early morning walks are one of the best parts of staying at hot spring inns.

Speaking of which, good morning, you two.

It looks like it's going to be pretty hot today, so we changed into our summer clothes.

Let's head down to the old building when you're ready.

I don't trust Kinomi to do a good job with the cooking, so I thought we'd commandeer the kitchen ourselves.

？！

Depends on the menu. If it merely involves cutting ingredients and throwing them in a pot, like stew or pot-au-feu, then yes.

And I can cook pretty much anything under the sun. I can't wait to start chopping up all those high-quality hotel ingredients.

Aozaki and Alice's cooking is tasty when their hands aren't tied by poverty. It's kind of miraculous how it manages to be both sloppy and elegant all at once.

Oh man, not again! Not agaaain!

Did you hear that? It's coming from the hallway. It sounds like...Kinomi?

Sorry to disturb you all so early!

Fujimaru! Mash! Soujyuro! Are you here!?

I've got some terrible news!

There's been a fourth murder at the hot springs! Aozaki's dead again!

Huh?

Again?

Uh...

Huh?

？！