"No, no, don't worry about it.

You see, when you order the oden here...

for some reason, it ends up on the annual invoice for our gas contracts.

So don't be shy and have another drink."

The man, red-faced, waved his hand to say that he'd had enough, and disappeared into the brilliant neon lights in front of the station.

"...Kuma-chan, you should be taking notes.

The most modest people are the ones who live the longest. Nfu-fu-fu-fu!"

"Was all that... true?"

"Well, I don't know about that.

Whether or not it's true, I think there's meaning in hearing something that sounds so plausible."

"...Would something like that be a motive to go for the mayor...?"

"Kuma-chan, here's what I always say.

The motive only has to be enough for the person in question.

You need to think about how different people value different things.

...Hey, bartender,

give me another mug."

Though we have been suppressing the information, Tomitake and Takano's deaths were already known throughout Hinamizawa.

All of the rumors pointed to them having incurred the wrath of Oyashiro-sama for setting foot in the forbidden temple—the storehouse for ritual implements.

According to the rumors, there were two other people who went in there with them.

...Shion Sonozaki...

and Keiichi Maebara.

People were whispering in the shadows that those two would be cursed by Oyashiro-sama as well.

Apparently, however, the responsibility didn't fall solely on the four trespassers' shoulders.

Until last year, it was locked up tight, but this year it had been changed to a simpler lock—hadn't that been what allowed thieves to enter so easily?

...Those were the rumors going around.

"Have you ever seen it, Kuma-chan?

I remember it well—I had to go there for something quite a while back."

"Sorry, I don't really remember."

"It was locked up so tight it was scary.

There were these real heavy bars holding it shut.

It was sealed up as good as a bank vault."

This year, it was a very simple and cheap padlock.

......The lone girl protecting the shrine, Rika Furude, disliked the heavy locks, and consulted with the mayor...

who had replaced it with a simpler padlock.

"...So then the mayor and Rika Furude share the crime...?

So... then, after the mayor, wouldn't Rika Furude be in danger next?!"

"There's a decent possibility.

...Kuma-chan.

I want you to contact all the cars we have in Hinamizawa.

Tell them to stick near the Furude Shrine."

"G-Got it!!!"