"Ohhhhh, Akasaka-saaaaan!!!
Long time no see!!!"
"Ooishi-san!
You haven't changed a bit!"
"Nfu fu fu!
What are you saying?
I've been on an apple diet lately, and I've lost a few pounds.
Can't you tell?
But just look at you!! You look great!!!"
"Well, I have to stay in shape for my job."
"Hey, Kura-chan.
Is this the guy?
The one who came here a few years ago from Tokyo?"
"Nice to see you again too, Hondaya-san.
It has been a while."
"My my, look at you!
Must be nice to be so young!!"
"Well, since you came such a long way,
let's just head to a restaurant!
I'm a regular there, so I'm sure we can get in before it opens.
Come on."
"Ooishi-san, are you sure?
Don't you still have some work to do?"
"What? Not at all!
I'm on special training with a mission investigator from Tokyo headquarters!
Come on, let's get going!!
Oh wait, I've got to make a phone call first.
They're greenhorns compared to someone like you,
but I've put some help together for us.
Ah, there you are!!
Kuma-chaaan!!
Do you want to come play with us tonight?"
"Ooishi-san, you really haven't changed a bit... hahahahaha."
Akasaka used to think Ooishi wasn't serious enough about work,
but after experiencing many different things in the real world, that preconception had completely disappeared.
Ooishi is that way because of his experience.
It's not always best to take things seriously.
In this world, sometimes being that frank can help.
In Akasaka's case, people often tell him to relax more.
But in Ooishi's case, maybe he should straighten out a little.
"Come on!!
Akasaka-san, let's go!!"
"Yes, at once!"
"Yeah, good answer.
You sound like a veteran police officer now.
Glad to hear it!"
The old Akasaka would have thought Ooishi was making fun of him, but by now he could take it as an honest assessment.
"Boy, you sure can drink now, Akasaka-san.
I don't think I can keep up with you.
Must be true that when one gets old, he can't drink as much as before."
"You're too modest.
I'm just better because an intelligence officer has to be able to hold his liquor.
I have a budget set aside at all times for training with my young colleagues.
Japanese sake, western liquor, Chinese liquor, whatever!!
Sometimes I drink at little bars and sometimes at expensive clubs."
"Na ha ha ha ha!!
That sounds pretty good!
I'll have to join you to coach them sometime!"
"Yes, please come teach us your tricks.
Young guys nowadays often talk about how they can't drink.
I couldn't drink at all at first, you know.
The more you drink, the better your body adjusts to alcohol, and the more you enjoy drinking!"
"That's right!!!
Are you listening, Kuma-chan?"
"Yeah, I heard...
I can down quite a few now!"
"Wa ha ha ha!!
No really, you're right.
When you first teamed up with Ooishi, you were already drinking oolong tea with the toast!"
"That's no good!
A toast has a very important meaning.
If you don't drink any alcohol, you're saying you're not satisfied with the party.
So when I see young people like that, I tell them,
'I'm not saying that you have to drink up in one gulp!
But your first round has to at least be a medium mug!!'"
When Akasaka first came to Okinomiya, he was very nervous.
But there was no trace of that tension left in him.
...Seeing that, Ooishi realized
just how much Akasaka had learned in the past few years.
"Na ha ha ha ha!!
There you go, Akasaka-san!!!
Man, you've really grown a lot more dependable!
During the years I've been waiting to retire, you've grown so much.
It might be time for the younger generation to take over, huh?"
"That's not true!
If there's one thing I've learned, it's that the only thing that matters is experience.
Leave the hard labor and the crime scenes to us young officers, while you veterans take pride at your desks and work us to the bone!"
"Did you hear that, Kuma-chaaan? Did you, did yoooouuu?"
"Okay, okayyyy! I heard him!!
I'll give it everything I've got!!"
"Waaahahahahaha!
Ooishi, Kumagai-kun is already giving it everything he's got.
He's diligent about his patrols to make up for your distaste for them!"
"You know how Ooishi-san is, right?
I've only worked with him for a few days, but I understand what you're going through.
Even so, he'll make you into a good cop.
Just believe in him!"
"Y-Yes sir!
I'll do my best!!
But even if I learn how to drink, I can't learn how to be good at mahjong!!
Ooishi-san takes all of my pay before I can give it to my wife!!"
"Mahjong is intellectual baggage you need!!
The more you play, the more confident you get.
Let's play together later. I'll teach you how not to lose."
"Ooishi, he's a good guy, huh?
He kind of reminds me of how you were when you were young!"
"That can't be!
I wasn't nearly as handsome!
Nfu fu fu!"
It was unusual for Ooishi to enjoy anyone's company this much.
Akasaka and Ooishi only worked together for a few days.
They had exchanged some holiday cards since, but that was about it.
Ooishi had no idea how happy it would make him to see such a greenhorn grow into a dependable cop.
Ooishi always thought he wanted to be active until the day he retired,
but after seeing such a dependable colleague, he began to think that maybe it was time for him to step down.
Ooishi and Akasaka enjoyed their reunion more than they thought they would.
The owner of the place was bringing the electric sign inside.
All the chairs were up on the tables, and the owner's wife was cleaning the floor.
There was nobody else around.
Judging by the clock, it was almost three AM.
"This is a reunion, right, Kura-chan?
Take your time, okay?
Just wake me up when you leave so I can lock the door."
"Sorry about this. Thank you!"
There wouldn't be anything else open at such a late hour.
Ooishi and his colleagues still wanted to talk, so they decided to stay.
Kumagai couldn't fight his sleepiness and was nodding off.
They were talking about Akasaka's job.
Akasaka works at a department specializing in Public Safety.
Ooishi and the others were interested in all his stories of danger and bravery.
"Anyway, I want to meet with Rika Furude."
"By Rika Furude, you mean the orphaned daughter of the Furude family?"
"Orphaned...?
......What happened to her parents?"
Rika Furude had predicted that there would be an incident in Hinamizawa every year for the following five years.
Her parents, according to her, were supposed to be killed on the third year running.
"Yeah, it was the third year of the curse of Oyashiro-sama.
Hmmm,
1981, must have been.
The Furude couple died rather suspiciously.
It was three years after you came to Hinamizawa, Akasaka-san."
"Three years?
Did it happen in June, three years after I visited?"
"Yeah, that's about right.
...Why?
Is there something about it that bothers you?"
Akasaka shut his eyes tightly to chase away the alcohol in his brain and tried to remember the girl's prediction.
...He had, after all, come here to confirm it.
"I came here in 1978.
And what about the dam construction site manager?
Oh, that's the guy I played mahjong with.
How has he been doing?"
"It was in the newspaper, I think... maybe it was just in the local ones.
Well, he was killed in a fight with the other workers that year."
...Rika Furude had predicted that he'd be killed in a gruesome way, that his body would be dismembered.
"Was he mutilated...?"
"See, you know about it already.
...That's exactly it.
His right arm is still missing, too.
It's so unfortunate..."
...The following year, on the same day, in June, 1980.
......Satoko's parents will be pushed to their deaths.
...Maybe it should be called an accident.
...A lamentable accident.
"I'll continue.
The following year,
the year after the manager's death......
I think...
let's see...
I know.
Satoko-san, it was. I think she's a little girl.
Did her parents die in an accident?"
"Oh, how much do you already know?
That's right.
The dam supporters, the Houjou couple, fell off a cliff while on vacation.
Though it still hasn't been confirmed if it was an accident or an incident."
And the following year, on the same day, in June, 1981.
My parents will be killed.
"And the following year..."
"Yes.
Rika Furude's parents died.
...But none of those incidents make sense."
"You sure know a lot about the curse of Oyashiro-sama.
None of those incidents were made public because of pressure from the locals, so I'm surprised at how much you know about them."
"............I can't... believe this..."
"But even you can't know about the following year.
Because starting with the fourth year in a row, we decided to investigate secretly."
"...I......
think I know about it anyway."
And the following year, on the same day, in June, 1982.
Satoko's mean aunt will die. Her head will be smashed in.
"The following year, so that was last year.
Satoko-san from earlier, wasn't her aunt beaten to death?"
"Sh-
Shit, you're right.
Akasaka-san, how do you know so much?"
"......I think... I know who will be killed the year after that."
"Wh-What
are you saying?
Besides, the year after last year means... it's this year..."
...I'll be killed.
"It will be in June of 1983.
In other words, this month.
...Rika Furude
will be killed."
Ooishi and the others were at a loss for words.
Akasaka had talked about the four mysterious incidents.
Although he had been far away, he belonged to a very special unit of Public Safety.
It could have been possible for him to find out about their secret investigations.
That was why it wasn't that odd for Akasaka to mention the series of mysterious deaths, even though he had been far away from Hinamizawa.
However, not only did he know about them, but he also named the next victim.
Ooishi and his coworkers had sobered up entirely.
"Akasaka-san...... it's getting late.
We're all exhausted, so let me get to the bottom of this.
What is it that you're trying to say?"
"Okay.
All of this is what she told me when I was in Hinamizawa in June of 1978."
".........What...?"
Ooishi couldn't believe what he was hearing.
He was left speechless.
"I know it's hard to believe.
When she told me back then, I thought she was just being a mischievous little girl.
But she told me she was going to be killed in the fifth year running.
In other words, she asked me to help her, I think.
The main purpose of my visit to Hinamizawa this time is to find her and ask her if she still needs my help."
"...Akasaka-san,
I'm retiring this year.
I want to take revenge on the people who killed the manager on the first year.
I'll jump on any lead I can find.
So let me just confirm this with you.
What you just said isn't a joke, is it?
If it is, you had better tell me right now..."
"I'm telling you the truth.
Rika Furude told me this in June 1978.
But at the time, I didn't think anything of it, so I didn't tell you about it.
I'm very sorry."
"N-No, you didn't know.
Even if you had told me, I don't think I would have believed you.
Only because it happened four years in a row do we believe you now."
Ooishi must have been thinking that if only Akasaka had told him that back then, he could have saved his friend.
But what the old man from Forensics just said was right too.
Ooishi wouldn't have believed him back then.
And his friend would have died anyway, and Ooishi would have been left with regret at not being able to do anything.
"...That's true.
I should be the one apologizing.
......Still.
...Rika Furude.
...Why Rika Furude?
.........Hmmmmmm..."
"I don't know exactly what's going on in Hinamizawa right now.
I read in the papers that the dam construction plan was halted indefinitely.
That's why I assumed Hinamizawa was peaceful now."
"Hmm.
The dam conflict is over, yeah.
But starting the following year, these mysterious deaths, known locally as the curse of Oyashiro-sama, started to occur annually.
And it played out just like you said."
"......I think she's entrusted me with something extremely important.
...Ooishi-san, let me ask you...
Do you think it's possible for Rika Furude to be killed this year?"
"...They say that the Furude couple was held in low regard for being so passive during the dam conflict.
That might be the reason why the curse fell upon them in the third year.
...So I do think...
......that Rika Furude's death........."
"It's possible, isn't it?"
Ooishi nodded slowly.
"I'm going to try to get in touch with Rika Furude tomorrow.
I think the best thing to do is to talk to her directly."
"Can I come with you, Akasaka-san?
...This story about Rika Furude sounds like something very important for me, too."
"...My my...
...you've come bearing quite the incredible gift.
I'm getting a bit intrigued myself.
I never thought I'd see the day when all the mysteries were solved."
"Well, I have some questions too.
For instance, why did she tell me something that important?
If she wanted help, why didn't she ask the local police? Why me, a guy on a business trip from Tokyo?"
".........Hmm.
I bet she doesn't have faith in the local police.
I'm a little unrefined.
Rika-san probably doesn't trust me.
Besides, there are people with connections to the Sonozaki family at the Okinomiya PD."
"In other words, she trusted me, the guy who came from Tokyo, more than anybody."
"Yeah, I guess."
"...If that's the case, Ooishi-san.
Please don't tell anybody else about this."
"Of course I won't.
Anyway, let's head directly to Hinamizawa tomorrow and have a talk with Rika-san.
We can start from there."
"...It's hard to believe.
......But...
it's the truth, isn't it?"
It was in the middle of the night. Only the sounds of insects and Satoko snoring could be heard.
Rika was sitting by her favorite window.
"Yes.
Takano is the one who killed you, Rika.
You and I both saw it.
You tried so hard to remember Takano's face...
Even as she cut your stomach open, you burnt her face into your memory while enduring all that pain..."
"............That's a horrible way to die.
...I'm glad I don't remember...
...but I can see it.
That's the kind of death Takano would prefer."
"...Au au au au..."
"Still, I don't get it.
Why would Takano kill me?
I'm the queen carrier, and if I die, a disaster will occur, right?
Isn't that why the Irie Institute and the Mountain Dogs are protecting me?
Then why would Takano, their leader, have me killed?"
"...Au... au..."
"Sorry, that was a useless question.
Takano killed me.
That's the truth, and her motive doesn't matter, does it?
...But... still...
Why Takano?"
Although she just said that the motive didn't matter, Rika went back to the same question.
The reason why Takano was protecting the queen carrier wasn't because she wanted to prevent the rest of Hinamizawa from developing the syndrome.
It was because the queen carrier was an extremely valuable subject of her research.
Then, considering that value, why did she kill the queen carrier with her own two hands?
"Is Takano my only enemy?"
"...Au au...
The Mountain Dogs are after you too.
I don't know if Irie is your enemy or not...
But I don't think he is."
"Takano and the Mountain Dogs are my enemies...?
......You've got to be kidding me. How can we possibly win?
There's no way.
Unless there's a miracle of some kind, we can't fight against people like them.
Besides, Watanagashi is this Sunday.
I'll be killed on the 22nd.
It's in about a week or so, right?
How can we beat them in such a short amount of time?
Should we try going after Takano with a metal bat?
That won't work. She's only one of them.
Even if we take her out, the Mountain Dogs will still get us!
What do we do? What should we do?!"
"I... I don't know either...!
But,
but...
but...
...we didn't even know our enemy before now.
This time... we do.
There must be... something that we can do...!"
This was the first time in a long time that Hanyuu had spoken so positively.
Rika was startled for a moment
and realized that she was losing her cool. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down.
...She was still confused that Takano was the culprit.
Rika had always thought of Takano as her ally.
There were, after all, many reasons why Takano should treat her well.
Rika couldn't even think of one reason why Takano would want to kill her.
Still, Takano was always thinking about bizarre things.
......There was no guarantee that a crazy idea of hers couldn't become a motive.
"...So that means,
if Tomitake is killed...
then is he...
an ally?"
"I... I think he is.
...That's an idea, Rika.
You should talk to Tomitake!"
Takano was accompanied by the Mountain Dogs because of an organization named "Tokyo".
So could Rika ask for help only from someone affiliated with that organization?
In that case, Tomitake was the only one she could talk to about the issue.
Although, Irie might also be worth having a talk with.
But then......
that was why she needed to know.
She needed to know why Takano wanted to kill her.
Unless she could explain that, they probably wouldn't even believe her.
Besides, Tomitake was in love with Takano.
He wouldn't doubt her so easily.
Irie seemed to be keeping a little distance from Takano.
He might be a little more inclined to believe.
But as someone who was simply a doctor, he knew little about Tokyo.
He might end up being useless to Rika.
Then, should she call the police?
No way, definitely no way!!
There was no way they would believe her.
If she were to make a call and say that a strange organization named "Tokyo" was trying to kill her, they would think she was crazy.
Then what could she do? How could she save herself?
The scariest people in Hinamizawa were coming to kill her.
How could she run from them?
How could she fight them?
How? How...?!
If she had remembered the scene of Takano killing her, then she wouldn't have been so confused.
Because seeing is believing.
But she didn't remember.
This was just what Hanyuu was telling her. She didn't want Takano to be her enemy.
This was a truth she didn't want to accept. So she was tempted to just say that this was all simply Hanyuu's delusion.
"...C... Calm down, Rika.
We learned in our past life.
Don't you remember the previous world?"
"...The previous world... do you mean... The one where Rena spread gasoline all over the school and locked everyone inside..."
"No, no...!
The world after that...!
Don't you remember...?!
In that world, he came back.
Teppei Houjou did!"
"......That's the worst possible world.
No matter what we do, the counselors won't do anything. Satoko goes insane within a few days.
Someone from our circle of friends developed the syndrome and attacked Teppei, right?"
"No, no, no!!
In the previous world, we all went to the child consultation center and saved Satoko!
In that world, Keiichi taught you so much.
He taught you that you have to believe, otherwise a miracle won't occur.
And he also said that if everyone believes, our wishes will definitely come true!!"
"...That sure is something Keiichi would say.
But that's great.
To defeat the world where Teppei returns... We couldn't do anything about that world even once before..."
"Do you know how Keiichi and the others in that world made a miracle happen?
They talked to everyone!
They didn't convince themselves it was useless or agonize over it by themselves, they asked everyone for help...!!
That's how they brought about a miracle!!"
"Everyone?
...So you want me to talk to Keiichi and the others about Takano?
Do you really think they would believe me if I told them an organization like Tokyo is after me?"
"Yes, they will!!
They did in the previous world!!!
Why won't you believe me, Rika?"
"...Sorry.
It's not that I don't believe you.
You saw it, so it's the truth, isn't it?
............I had no idea how frustrating it would be
not to remember it myself."
"Anyway, you and me going on and on about this won't solve anything.
We don't have enough power on our own...!
But we have our weapon.
That weapon is the truth!
We don't know her motive... but we know that the culprit is Takano!!
So this is a very good start, compared to all the other worlds.
...But why... why can't you remember it... at the very end?"
Hanyuu ground her teeth remorsefully.
She saw the truth just a short time ago, so she couldn't believe that Rika didn't remember anything.
If it was something she had seen herself, then she wouldn't even need a motive.
But she hadn't, and that was why she couldn't understand...
Why was her memory missing even when Hanyuu's memory was still intact?
Did that mean their long journey was about to end?
Perhaps her infinitely repeating journey was already over... and this was the last world of all...?
"...............Wheeeeeew...
I thought this world was odd, since everyone could see you, and you even transferred to our school...
but now I can really see how strange of a world this is."
"...There's nothing strange about it.
...This is just the final world, that's all."
"............"
"I came to this final world so we can gather all our powers.
I'm not a bystander here.
I'm your ally."
".........I see...
You're no longer
a bystander, huh?"
"I've decided not to be afraid anymore.
I'm not afraid, and I'm going to believe with all of you.
And a miracle will happen!
This is a world we can bet on, this June of 1983.
Rika and Takano are fighting.
If Rika doesn't defeat her enemy in time, she will lose.
Takano has many powerful pieces, like the Mountain Dogs.
Rika will need a lot more pieces to be able to defeat her.
So unless Rika asks for help from many people and gathers an equal number of pieces, the game won't even begin...!!
We've learned the rules of this game board by playing the game repeatedly.
It's like a game without a manual.
But we've learned the rules, and now we know how to fight.
We're ahead in the game because we already know what pieces our enemy has.
Rika, you have to get busy!!
We only have one week before Watanagashi!
We had two weeks in the previous world, but we only have one week in this one!
In other words, this is our final chance!!!"
"...Okay.
..Rather than grieving over what I don't remember, I should be grateful that you do.
Because if you didn't, this final world would end while we ran about in confusion.
Also, if I talk to Keiichi and the others in the right way, maybe they'll come up with some good ideas.
Because he was the one who fought with Rena in that previous world, and when the school was about to explode, he brought her back."
"Exactly!
Anyway, let's go talk to anyone we can find.
We are too weak by ourselves.
Let's gather people and think about what to do.
We have to take our first steps towards the miracle!!"
"And we have to do that within a week."
Hanyuu had never encouraged her like this before.
She had always pretended to be a bystander.
She never wanted to go through the pain of failure. So she never had expectations for anything.
But now she was trying to intervene in this world so passionately and proactively.
......According to Hanyuu, there had been another world after the one in which Rena occupied the school.
...Apparently... Keiichi really inspired her in that world.
...Rika had nothing to lose.
...She had to talk to whoever she thought she could trust.
And whether she tried or not, she had only a very short time left.
She decided to do whatever she possibly could until that time arrived.
She would never again act like it was cool to sip wine pretending to be a witch as the end closed upon her.
"Hello.
It has been awhile.
This is Nomura.
......Yes, thank you for the detailed documents from the other day.
Thanks to that data, men from the Ministry of Health and Welfare now understand how dangerous Hinamizawa Syndrome is.
......Hee hee hee, that's the accomplishment of you and the late Dr. Takano.
I've only made sure that you receive your fair assessment, is all.
...Anyway,
I'll make sure the Prime Minister reads your documents.
He's our leader, after all.
I'll have the most important person in this country read your article
and make sure he understands what important research this is and why Hinamizawa Syndrome is an issue that needs his attention.
Also, I'll make sure the present board of directors realize how stupid they were to ignore your research and ridicule your grandfather's thesis.
.........Indeed.
Hee hee hee, I have great news for you.
We've decided that after the operation is completed, the actual location will be isolated and shut down and another department of the SDF will take over the research.
You'll be welcome there, and you'll be able to continue your research for as long as you want without worrying about political factions or funding.
......Hee hee hee, that's all thanks to your generous client who wants to reward you for your hard work.
You'll be given the position of director, so you can devote yourself to your research.
Hee hee hee, isn't that wonderful?
Finally, you'll be able to accomplish something that overturns common knowledge by researching Hinamizawa Syndrome and the existence of parasites that influence human thought.
......No, I'm not just saying that to flatter you.
That's what we really think.
.........I see.
Sorry to take up your time.
I'll be going now.
I'll get in touch with you again."
The woman put down the handset of her car phone. Then she picked it up again and made another call.
"Please transfer me to extension 1001.
......Yes, this is Watanabe.
.........Watanabe.
Yes, the issue from the other day has been taken care of.
......Yes.
Major Takano's documents are wonderful.
I made some people from the national research center go along, so the men believed it without questioning.
.........Hee hee hee, yes.
That's no problem either.
Most of the cabinet ministers from enemy factions will be either leaving the country or going on vacation, so they'll be out of Tokyo after the 20th.
......Yes.
There are still some unsettled issues, but everything will be set by June 23rd.
......Yes.
Therefore, the on-site operation will take place at midnight on June 22nd, and the Prime Minister will be asked for emergency sanctions on the 23rd.
......Yes, everyone aiding the Prime Minister on that day will be our people.
He won't even question a thing.
.........Yes.
I'm certain.
...The Prime Minister will definitely sign Emergency Manual 34.
...Afterward, an investigation into Alphabet's duties will be taken up, and the Okuno, Chiba, and old Koizumi factions will lose a great deal of sway.
......Yes.
That's right.
It's only a matter of time before we succeed with the Asian Amity and Reconstruction Summit.
......That's true.
If there's money to spend on developing domestic nuclear arms or the Japanese-American alliance spanning the Pacific, then it would be more profitable for our nation to spend it on ODA toward China.
The 21st century will be the era of China, with their nation claiming a good portion of the world's population.
Japan gets nothing out of wagging its tail for the US anymore.
......Yes, I know.
The 21st century is almost here, yet we're still saying that communism is the greatest evil. Maybe we've been watching too many bad American propaganda movies.
Hee hee hee hee hee.
......Yes, I understand.
...Okay, then I'll see you in Macau next week.
......Hee hee hee, yes, I love to gamble.
......Yes, it was nice talking to you.
I'll get in touch with you soon."
The woman put down the handset of her car phone and took a breath.
She smiled in satisfaction, then picked up the handset again.
"Give me the Chief Cabinet Secretary, please.
...Yes, this is Maizawa.
...........
......Yes, it's me.
Chief Okuno."