The Black Breaks

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Prologue: Female Cats

There’s nothing special about this building except that the walls, floors and ceilings are a little better soundproofed.

A certain room on the seventh floor, a living room fifteen tatami meters large, and two rooms. The room on the right was still in the same shape as it had been moved in two weeks ago, with a few cardboard boxes stacked in a loose pile. The bedroom was black, from the curtains to the desk and sofa bed. The lightweight suits hanging in the closet were also all in black.

“Ahhhh, that’s great…”

Between the cracks in the luggage, there was the sound of a female cat purring. Keeping pets in the building, that stubborn superintendent probably wouldn’t allow it…. The female cat was huge, with mysterious and seductive eyes and long, smooth, silky hair.

“Haa… Satoshi… I’m losing…”

The she-cat took a standing position, her red lips half-open and her back bent into an arch. The buttons of her blouse were open to the third, and her plump breasts broke out.

The owner of this room – Satoshi Ryazaki. Wearing a white shirt, while the sunglasses, tie, and socks he wears are all of a darker color range. His head was buried between the female cat’s breasts. The zipper of his suit pants was open, and his body and the female cat were synthesized as one. The two seemed to reach an orgasm. He kissed her neck and ears furiously, his loins moving fiercely up and down.

“Ahh… ah… No, not so fast… Ahhhhhh!”

The she-cat let out a plea for mercy, and without a word, Ryazaki slowed his breathing and sped up his movements.

“Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh…” The she-cat let out another steady stream of indistinct moans, saliva dripping from the corners of her mouth and running down into the hollows of her collarbones.

Ryouzaki licked off the saliva and kissed her lips hard upwards.

“Goo-woo… Goo-woo…”

Shoo, shoo. Pfft. – Pfft. – Pfft. The sound of the sticky, obscene sounds echoed in the confined space. The obscene, sticky sounds echoed in the confined space.

“… Going, going, going!”

Ryouzaki whispered in her ear and ejaculated after several spasms. The she-cat also slumped over Ryouzaki in exhaustion.

A while later, Ryouzaki was sitting on the sofa, smoking a Lucky Strike, and the female cat beside him was already fully dressed in a brand-name outfit. The female cat beside her was already fully dressed in designer clothes. She was in her twenties and was engaged in intelligence trafficking.

Pistil Mene. Whether this is her real name or an alias, no one knows. Other personal information, such as age, residence, career, etc., is also unknown. There are also rumors that she secretly maintains a close relationship with a financial magnate…. There are also rumors that she maintains a secret relationship with a financial magnate.

There’s only one thing for sure: Mimina has a highly credible intelligence network. But, not an indispensable presence to private investigator Ryazaki. The fees she demanded, though incredibly high, were never paid to her during the long period of their dealings.

‘Provide one piece of information and SEX with her once’

Mione demanded this of Ryouzaki. Therefore, it became extremely natural for this to be the case.

“It was a close call… It was a close call for me today!” Mione smiled proudly.

Two men often make bets: on who will be the first to give up their armor and surrender.

“The… It’s been more intolerable lately.” Ryouzaki muttered, not looking at Mione.

“But there’s a lot of it, yo?”

At Mione’s mischievous tone, Ryouzaki looked up as she shook the condom, which had just been used and had been tied in a knot. Just as Mione said: there was indeed a large amount of white cloudy liquid.

“Stupid, stupid! Throw it in the trash!”

“Hee hee, if you put it on your face… It’s still warm.”

“Get it off me! Pervert!”

“I won ah! You’ve got no use for milk, I’m free to do what I like!”

Mione carefully wrapped the condom in tissue paper and placed it in her purse.

“If that perverted woman stays any longer… Your lovely sister will be angry!”

Mione laughed a few times and left the room.

“What a… A woman who can’t be careless.” Ryouzaki titled his cigarette and stood up to walk out onto the balcony.

The outdoors had been shrouded in darkness, and the spring breeze was warm on his face. Looking down from the seventh floor, I could see that the ground was bustling with people and cars, like wandering insects looking for a place to stay. The ground is bustling with people and cars, like wandering insects looking for a place to stay.

Ryouzaki smiled. “I’m one of them…”

Ryouzaki felt a keen sight behind him and looked back.

“Did something happen while I was away? –Director?”

A young girl carrying a convenience store bag stands in the doorway. A large crystal necklace pendant sparkled on her chest. Her hazel eyes showed that she was of mixed race. Chestnut-colored hair, not dyed like normal young people, but born that way.

Kashiwagi Akane. A beautiful girl with one-eighth Canadian blood, but she is a bit stubborn. She is currently an assistant at the ‘Ryozaki Detective Agency’ and also handles family matters.

Akira has just turned twenty years old. In the six years of her life, the former Ryouzaki took on the responsibility of caring for her like a father and an older brother, and the two of them lived together. When she was fourteen, her parents were involved in a certain incident and were brutally murdered. However, she was never let in on the details.

“You’re here?” Ryouzaki said excitedly.

“You haven’t answered my question! Did that woman come while I was gone, didn’t she?” Akane hated Mione even more than before.

“My obligation to support you ended when I moved here. You’re an adult. I’ve been an adult for a long time. Leave each other’s privacy alone!”

Akane lives a free and solitary life at Ryouzaki’s former office and home. The crystal pendant hanging on her chest is a birthday gift from Ryouzaki.

Kusanagi, who had gone with her to get a snack, interjected, “Ryazaki, that’s a pathetic thing to say about Akane!”

Kusanagi is Ryazaki’s former psychiatrist and now his partner and roommate.

“Thank you, Mr. Kusanagi. I’ll be fine. It’s okay! If you want to get back at the Director, just give him the super spicy ‘Akane’s Special Curry Rice’…” The originally upset Akane had lost her temper and was banging away in the kitchen for a midnight snack.

“What to do?” Ryazaki asked Kusanagi for help.

Kusanagi saw lipstick marks on the collar of Ryouzaki’s shirt, left by Meena’s prank. But Ryazaki doesn’t notice. He desperately winks at Ryouzaki, who doesn’t know what he means.

“What? Even you have a problem with me?”

“To, to my room!” Kusanagi forced the surprised Ryazaki into the room.

“See for yourself!”

“–! Damn woman!”

“It’ll be bad if Akane sees it….. Hurry up and change into my shirt!” Kusanagi pulled the clean white shirt from the drawer.

“No way… Our tastes are a million miles apart!”

“What’s the point of babbling? Get dressed!” Kusanagi urged Ryosaki.

“Hey… I’ve called you several times. Eat it while it’s hot! What are you two big men doing locked up in your room?”

Akane peeked through the doorway of Kusanagi’s room and saw Kusanagi helping Ryouzaki undress, and her eyes widened.

“Yeah, sorry!”

“Ah, Akane! It’s…”

“Looks like I’m interrupting you guys… I’ll go back.” Akane turned around.

“Wait, wait a minute! You’ve got it all wrong!”

“Akane! Don’t be so quick to judge, will you?”

As Ryouzaki and Kusanagi chased after each other, they both tripped over chairs at the same time, and then hugged each other….

That’s when the sound of a police car came through the window.

“Huh? It seems to be in this building…” Ryouzaki cleared his throat and stood up to walk towards the balcony. Akane followed after him curiously.

“Yes, there are several police cars parked in front of the building.” Kusanagi said as he looked downstairs.

“–I’ll go down and take a look.” Ryazaki buttoned up his shirt and said to Kusanagi, “Kusanagi… Akane is too inexperienced in life, so if you have time, teach her the basic concepts and methods of handling a case, okay?”

“I know…”

Ryouzaki silently lowered his head and walked out.

Chapter One: The Monster

The incident took place in this building. 40D-room door plate reads ‘Kazuyuki Sato, Michiko’.

When taking the elevator down to the fourth floor. The door to the room at the scene of the incident was closed, and a young police officer stood guard at the door. Ryouzaki inwardly sneered a little. With a bit of finesse, this kid could be taken care of.

“Yo, thanks for the hard work…. I wasn’t on duty today because I heard something and came over!”

The officer stood at attention and saluted Ryosaki.

“What’s the situation? Robbery? Or theft?” Ryouzaki asked the officer.

“It’s… it’s a homicide…” He mistook Ryouzaki for a criminal from the police department.

“What about passage and condition?”

“Yes, the whole circumstances of the murder are…” The officer licked his lips and reported the following–

The … About thirty minutes ago, on April 23rd, at about 6:30 PM. A notification was received from the superintendent that ‘the occupant of room 40D was found dead’.

The Yua Police Station, the closest to the scene, reported the incident to the Police Department.

The Criminal of the Police Department, has been conducting a search of the scene for evidence.

“Orders from above: no one is allowed to enter the scene.”

The officer proudly said, Criminal will arrive on the scene in about a couple of minutes.

(Before that, I have to search first…) Ryouzaki asked that officer to: go back to the police station he belongs to immediately to report the scene and ask for assistance in setting up a search headquarters–.

“Yes, got it!!!” The officer saluted again once more and left by elevator with a full sense of mission.

Ryouzaki was about to open the door when, suddenly, it opened from the inside and out rushed a short man, while one hand covered his mouth and he ran desperately downstairs.

(Huh? That’s the superintendent.)

The door opened again and out stepped two criminals. Ryouzaki was taken aback.

“Gen, Uncle Gen! Why are you here?”

One looked like a young man new to criminalization, and the other, a seemingly mild-mannered man in his fifties, wearing an old khaki jacket and a hunting cap worn low, said, with a serious expression and tone of voice, “I’m the one who has to ask: what are you doing here?”

Genichiro Fukutani, nicknamed ‘Uncle Gen’. He is the deputy chief of the Police Department’s Search Division 1, but, his ability to handle cases is not weak. Ryouzaki had met him before at the scene of another case, but due to their identities, they couldn’t talk further. However, he has seen Gen’s excellent side. He likes to go to the scene of an incident to investigate, and has no time to take the promotion examination, so he has no connection with promotion. However, he is highly respected in the police force.

“What a coincidence…. I happen to live on the seventh floor of this apartment building, and I didn’t expect to run into Uncle Gen!”

“Gen, Uncle Gen. Who is this suspicious fellow?” Terada, the young criminal, pointed at Ryouzaki in disgust.

Terada is a beautiful man. His front hair is dyed light brown, he wears a grass-green suit that looks like a foreign designer label, and his eyes are quite sharp.

This was the era when civil servants who spent taxpayers’ hard-earned money were pursuing fads, wasn’t it? Ryouzaki saw the police manual showing in his pocket.

“The… The way young people dress these days, are they cops or dancers? It’s really kind of hard to tell!”

“Mai, maiko, you’re calling me a maiko!?” Terada said harshly. Gen patted him on the shoulder.

“Ryouzaki, you have an unforgiving mouth.”

“Can’t help it, I just am.”

“Forget it, don’t get in the way of our case. Since you live in this apartment, we’ll have to ask you. If you’re related to the victim, you’re a suspect!” After saying that, he asked in surprise, “Huh? This place should be guarded…”

It was useless to hide it from Gen, and Ryouzaki told him the details.

“It’s a murder, isn’t it? I’m going to assist in the investigation, so let me see the scene! Uncle Gen.”

“No way. What if you’re the killer and want to eliminate the evidence?”

“The… You can’t help it if you don’t believe it.”

“Of course! Detectives like you don’t come in handy, get outta here!!!” Terada growled.

Ryouzaki ignored it and said to Gen, “Uncle Gen, a group with a kid like this who only barks is a disaster. Where’s your former partner…”

“Who are you calling a kid who only barks!?”

“Idiot! Calm down a bit! Terada.” Gen drank down the fuming Terada, rubbing his nose in the air as he said, “Letting you search the scene is only going to make a mess. Tell you one thing!”

“Uncle Gen, to tell him the case-!?”

“If this guy’s a criminal, I’ll get him…. One more thing.” Gen stared into Ryouzaki’s eyes and said, “If you have gotten hold of some clues, you must also tell me. It’s a quid pro quo, how’s that?”

“Sure! What’s the status of the scene?”

Terada frowned and Gen shrugged. “The scene of the murder was really strange…. All four victims were sitting at the table with knives and forks in their hands and empty dishes on the table…”

“And…” Terada continued, “The man’s eyes were gouged out… The eyes were placed on a plate.”

“What about the cause of death?”

“It hasn’t been examined yet. It appears to be a sharp blade stabbed into the carotid artery from behind the ear, killing him instantly. There was no sign of resistance, and the culprit left nothing behind. What I don’t understand is… It seems to be a message left by the culprit.”

“Message?” Ryouzaki’s lower eyelids spasmed.

“Well, there’s writing in blood on the wall across from the living room.”

“A message of death…. What about the content?”

“This can’t be told, it’s an extremely confidential clue. The rest can’t be revealed until it’s been examined and dissected by experts.”

“No, that’s enough. There’s one more thing… The name on the doorplate says two people, but how could there be four people murdered?”

Gen nodded and said, “The administrators have determined it: the murdered were the Sato family of four. A couple and two children, a tragic bloodbath of extermination.”

“So…”

“That’s all I know at the moment. If you have any information… Let me know no matter what, okay?” Gen urged Ryouzaki once more as he walked towards the elevator.

“I’m leaving too! Terada… Work hard for the meager taxes we pay!” Ryouzaki patted Terada on the shoulder and jerked away his police manual when he wasn’t looking.

After they left, Ryouzaki was about to go up to the seventh floor when…

“Beg, nasty! Let go of me!!!”

A woman’s scream came from behind her. When Ryouzaki turned around, across from room 40C, two middle-aged men surrounded a young girl.

“What the hell! Don’t…”

“Hey! Let’s have a drink in my room…” An obese man’s mouth floated out of the corner of the evil smile, from the back to embrace the slender beauty.

The other one, a man with glasses, was advising, “Mr. Hirata, don’t act like this!” But the man with the skinny figure couldn’t stop the fat man at all.

Ryouzaki hesitated. His rule was to adopt a wait-and-see approach to things he wasn’t interested in. But there were exceptions, especially when a beautiful woman was involved.

“Please! Help me!” The girl cried, looking over at Ryouzaki.

“Hey, go away!” Ryouzaki grabbed the fat man by the collar and gently slapped his cheek.

The man had a large head and unusually short arms and legs. Moreover, his lower abdomen was extremely prominent. We can describe him as “two-headed”.

(This face, it’s not human…) It’s like a monster!)

“What are you, what are you doing hitting me?”

“Look at yourself stalking a woman! Monster!”

“Oh… Oh….” The monster let out a muffled moan.

“You… you remember that! Miura! Come have a drink with me. This guy’s ruining my mood…”

“Yes… Right away.”

“Damn! Living on an even-numbered floor, nothing goes right…” The creature said strange things and entered room 40C. The man named Miura bowed to Ryosaki and entered the room as well.

“Thank you. I live on the sixth floor, and I got tangled up in the elevator with this guy… Luckily you saved me.”

The girl wiped her tears and curtsied with a smile. Introducing herself, “Ryumiko Kakiguchi from room 60D, second year university student.”

The permed curls of her hair, her pale neck, and the roots of her hair hanging at the back of her head stirred Ryouzaki’s lust slightly.

“Do you recognize that man from earlier?”

“Who knows him!!!” Ryumiko frowned and spat in disgust.

“I just recently moved here. You’re the first one to talk to the residents here!”

Ryumiko sent an autumnal wave, and when she found out about Ryouzaki’s profession, she screamed, “Wow, a real detective!”

She grabbed Ryouzaki’s wrist enthusiastically, her ample breasts resting against his elbow, and said, “As a thank you, why don’t you have a cup of tea in my room?”

A delightful invitation. But, Ryouzaki thought ‘Don’t go to the room of a girl you’re meeting for the first time.’ So he walked her to the door of her room.

“Thanks for inviting me. Next time… I’ll try your cooking.”

After breaking up with Ryumiko, Ryazaki returns to the fourth floor. Hirata is harassing another girl and Miura is stopping him. Repeating the same drama. This time the one being pestered is – Akane.

“The, the director!?”

Akane gives a saved look when she sees Ryouzaki.

“I was going home when this man…” Akane cried.

“It’s you again! How’d it go with that girl just now? Did you do something good? Pretending to be righteous…” Hiruta, though scared, was nastily sarcastic.

“You monster! Do that again and I’ll make you disappear from the face of the earth!”

Ryazaki closes in on Hirata, who is so scared that he lets go of Akira. Hiruta was hit hard in the face.

“Woah woah woah!!!” The monster’s face was swollen, spewing nosebleeds as it fell to its knees.

“Next time… I’ll let you come in straight and go out sideways! Do you hear me?” Ryouzaki warned coldly.

“What floor do you… What floor do you live on?” Hirata asked Ryosaki under his breath.

“Room 70C. If you’re not satisfied, feel free to come in for a lesson!”

“Uh… Seventh floor? I’ll get my revenge! You remember that!” Hirata muttered a complaint and climbed inside the door of the room.

Miura apologized and said, “I’ll go guard him… Won’t let him mess around again.” He laughed to himself as he entered Hirata’s room, his eyes harboring an unmistakable bitterness.

(I’ve seen that look before. The look of realization of death. But, why would this man…)

Akane didn’t notice Ryouzaki’s surprise and flung herself into his arms. Taking her back to her room, Akane was still sobbing.

“The self-defense you’ve learned can deal with humans, but not that monster?”

“Shame on you. I thought I was good.. I didn’t realize I was so useless…”

Akane’s adorable appearance was still as endearing as it had been six years ago. Ryouzaki suppressed the emotions stirring within him.

“Hm… You’re already an adult and you’re still so troublesome.”

“I’m sorry, brother… No, sir…” Akane scrunched her head.

“The… You stay here tonight.”

“Really?”

“Hmm. I’m not one to sympathize with others – but you’re special.”

“Wow! That’s great. Tonight… I’m afraid to walk alone at night.”

“It’s not always safe here! I hear there are two big males that hang out all the time!”

“It’s okay, I’m not afraid!” Akane, who had regained her cheerfulness, made a face at Ryouzaki.

Chapter 2: The Maiden

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock. Tick-tock. Total darkness, bone-chilling cold. Is it a dungeon, or a cave? Water drips down from the very top.

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock. Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock. The monotonous rhythm, the chilling echo, stabbed at Ryouzaki’s every nerve. (Where am I? Am I lost here?) Ryouzaki ran and wandered along the winding passageway. A feeling of unease tightly filled his chest.

“Tell me! Where is this place?”

There was only the echo of nothingness. Heavy breathing, heartbeats, and water drops formed an eerie ensemble.

“No, don’t! Show up quickly if you want to deal with me!”

At that moment, a point of light appeared diagonally ahead. Red, yellow, green, and purple changed instantly…. Wow! The point of light suddenly brightened and turned into a spinning wheel of light that came at Ryazaki.

“Waaaah, help me~!”

–Ryouzaki jumped up from the couch. It was a dream–. It was an extremely horrible nightmare. Unable to remember how many times it was, Ryouzaki wiped his sweat-slick forehead and neck.

“The darkness… The cave… What the hell…”

Ryouzaki muttered and lit a GAULOISE. inhaled deeply. Strong nicotine, slamming into stagnant thoughts. Even a little slight dizziness. Slowly waking up, there came the ear-piercing doorbell. Looked at the watch, is about eleven ten.

“Hm… It’s early in the morning and you’re making a lot of noise!”

Ryouzaki grunted and took another drag on his cigarette, stretching considerably as his spirits picked up. He didn’t see visitors until noon, even if he woke up earlier than scheduled. But, the electric bell kept ringing like it was working against him. Kusanagi seemed to be just waking up as Ryazaki walked to the living room.

“Are you having trouble sleeping again?”

“Yeah… It’s too annoying to sleep.”

Kusanagi was in poor spirits when he didn’t get enough sleep, and Ryouzaki had been plagued by nightmares lately, and his sleep was extremely restless. The electric bell was still ringing as the two spoke.

“… What a pain in the ass!”

“Why don’t you open the door? Maybe it’s your old lady!”

Kusanagi hemmed and hawed as Ryazaki rudely opened the door to the two men, Gen and Terada.

“Uncle Gen!?”

“You sure are home, why don’t you open the door?” Terada was yelling again and Ryazaki ignored him.

“There was another murder while you were sleeping!”

“What!?”

Gen nodded silently, and Ryouzaki tensed.

“Who was the victim?”

“Hirata Shigehito, a forty-eight year old male who works for a pharmaceutical company.”

“Hirata, Hirata!?”

“You recognize?”

“Met yesterday, yesterday.”

Gen’s eyes flashed sharply.

“Ryazaki… What did you do to him? The victim’s real cause of death was strangulation, but he was beaten six hours before he died!”

“–And?” Ryouzaki asked, internally agitated.

According to the source: the scene of Hirata’s murder was in the living room, and the presumed time of death was around 3:00 am. Although the cause of death was strangulation, the autopsy results: the body contained an anti-alcohol agent. This is a drug designed to treat alcoholics, which dramatically reduces the body’s ability to break down acetaldehyde. Therefore even consuming a very small amount of alcohol can cause great pain.

“But, the anti-alcohol agent doesn’t kill you. It’s presumed to be taken by the victim after…”

“Strangling him while he’s in pain, is that it?”

“Nine times out of ten.”

“So…”

“Uncle Gen, I thought you said you had something to ask Ryouzaki?” Terada said wistfully.

“Last night, I was the one who beat up that monster, no, Hirata.”

“Fruit, it’s really you–“

“Take it easy! I hit him in self-defense. There are three people who can testify on my behalf that I’m not a murderer!”

“The… Well, just to be sure, tell me the name of the witness.”

“Kashiwagi Akane.”

“Aww, is Akane-san still as cute as ever?”

“Let’s go find her later. She was haunted by that monster last night, so she stayed here… She’s back at the office now. There’s another one, Miura, who looks like one of Hirata’s men. The other is a college student named Ryumiko Kakiguchi in room 60D.”

“Terada, write it down!”

Terada’s face turned pale and he whispered in Gen’s ear, “Uncle Gen… I…”

“What? Lost the police manual!?” Gen yelled angrily at Terada.

“… Yeah, sorry.”

“Even a criminal from the Search Division, who is active on the front line, can lose the police manual? Times have really changed, Uncle Gen.” Ryouzaki said sarcastically.

“Nosy! It’s not your maggot-like detective’s turn to talk here!!!”

“Like maggots!?” Green veins emerged from Ryouzaki’s temples.

“Terada… Criticizing Ryouzaki, you’re not qualified!” Gen said smoothly, and Terada dared not speak again.

“I’m sorry, Ryazaki. This guy is young and unintelligent.”

“Forget it… I’m interested in the case and want to be involved in the investigation.”

“Hey, what about yesterday’s deal?”

“An exchange of information, you say? I’ll comply, don’t worry!”

Gen sighed.

“While we exchange information, I will absolutely catch the culprit first. Maggot’s intelligence network is not to be underestimated!” After saying that, he glared at Terada, who was too intimidated by his aura to retort.

“Let me remind you: no going into Hirata’s room.”

“I know, I won’t violate Uncle Gen’s order!”

Gen smiled without answering and waved at Ryosaki, leaving with Terada.

“How was it?” Kusanagi asked, and Ryouzaki ignored him, muttering under his breath.

Flipping through Terada’s police manual, the names of the building’s occupants are noted in clumsy script.

This is a newly built building with four buildings from A to D. However, for some reason, no one lives in buildings A and B. The building is not inhabited. However, for some reason, no one lived in buildings A and B. Ryouzaki memorizes the occupants of each floor in his head. He calls Akane and asks her to collect the personal information of the Satou family and Hirata.

“By the way, contact the woman.”

“–Mina-sama? Akane knows I don’t like her.” Akane’s voice sank when she heard Mione’s name.

“Please. I don’t want to find her either.”

“Liar! You love it so much…”

“The… These are the Director’s orders. Also, Gen will ask you about your actions last night, deal with it!”

“Got it! Director!”

Ryouzaki hung up the phone and sighed thinking about Akane’s angry face.

Ryouzaki launches an investigation. 20C Juniper, an antique dealer and grocery importer, has a room full of high-priced decorations and a collection of foreign books. His room is full of high-priced decorative items, and he has a large collection of books, including many spiritual books in foreign languages. On the fourth floor, he saw the police officer who was cheated yesterday.

“I’m sorry I lied to you yesterday…” Ryouzaki apologized.

The officer’s attitude was unusually kind. “This office’s criminal instructions: I’m to help you as much as I can.”

After saying that, he reveals to Ryouzaki that the writing in blood on the wall in the Satou family murder case was “Evil! Not human.”

In the Toukawa house in 50C, there are two girls living there, Toukawa Hoshi and Speedwater Yao. Toukawa Hoshi, a high school student, was not feeling well and did not come out. She is greeted by an older girl, Speedwell, who is rather cold.

By the time they reached the sixth floor, Ryumiko Kakiguchi happened to open the door and greeted Ryouzaki, “Good morning! Detective-san.”

“Isn’t it too late to say good morning?”

“The rules of show business: whether it’s morning or midnight, you have to say good morning when you meet. I want to be in show business!”

“It’s good that you don’t get mistaken for a hotel lady.”

“That’s right, that line too. Bugger~ Why am I saying such things…” Ryumiko laughed, and Ryouzaki laughed as well.

“Ah, and this is?”

“This is my partner: Kusanagi.”

“Huh? It’s not like on TV!”

“What?”

“In dramas, the detectives are surrounded by beautiful young women as their assistants ooh!” Ryumiko confused fiction with reality.

“My assistant is a girl named Akane, but when something happens, she always gets more and more helpful.”

“She must be sneezing right now.”

Kusanagi poked Ryouzaki in the back, and Ryumiko tilted her head, “By the way… The police came by just now, and that guy was strangled to death yesterday!”

“Be careful, we’re all suspects.”

“Suspect… I’m the victim!”

“Don’t say it.”

“Mr. Detective… What can I do for you?” And sheepishly, “Do you want to go on a date with me?”

“Happy to oblige. What I want to ask is: didn’t pay attention to what happened yesterday?”

Ryumiko thought for a moment and shook her head.

“I can’t think of anything… You’re asking about my alibi?”

“Don’t worry, I’m not a cop. Just investigating.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t come in handy.”

“It’s okay. Real detectives often don’t find clues, it’s not like on TV!”

“You’re working so hard. Let’s have dinner together tonight… Just the two of us.”

Ryumiko glanced at Kusanagi, who had the sense to walk away.

“It’s my treat tonight, come at eight o’clock, yo!”

“Okay…” Ryouzaki agreed.

“I have to go to class, see you tonight!” Ryumi closed the door.

Later, Kazuki Ando, who went to visit Room 80D, showed him Terada’s police manual.

“Instead of asking me, the unemployed, why don’t you hurry up and catch the murderer! What the hell! You think you’re a good cop. My wife ran off with someone, and my daughter is out all the time…”

The whites of Ando’s eyes were covered in blood, and his mouth roared with effusion as he drove the two men out of the room in a fit of rage. Ando’s mental condition seems to be abnormal, suspected to be schizophrenia. The results of the inquiry were almost entirely unproductive.

“Let’s go back first!” Ryouzaki said.

Kusanagi walked to the right of the elevator and glanced up the stairwell.

“Does this building have a roof?”

“Not really yeah.”

Ryouzaki walked up the stairs to the top floor, where the iron door was labeled “No Entry”.

“Hmph, what a secret base, a hairpin can open it.”

“Ryazaki, we’re thinking the same thing!”

Kusanagi crouched down and picked up a hairpin on the ground.

“No, there’s no need for that.”

Ryouzaki slowly turned the handle, the door was not locked. There was someone on the top floor, a young girl wearing only a thin nightgown, staring blankly at the sky. Kusanagi couldn’t make a sound in time before the young girl had reached the railing on the roof and bent her upper body. Ryazaki darted over and grabbed the young girl’s wrist.

“Uh… Uh…” She made a muffled sound and passed out.

“Hoshi!!!”

At that moment, the entrance door was opened, and it was the scream of Speedwater Yao.

After bringing Hoshi back to her room, Kusanagi gave her first aid.

Ryouzaki asked, “Any idea why she did it?”

Yao’s body trembled slightly and said, “No… I…”

Though she denied it, her reaction indicated knowing something.

“This… Can we not call the police?” Yao pleaded in a small voice.

“We’ll keep it a secret for now, and let us know if you have any leads.”

“Ryazaki, the deal with Gen…”

“Kusanagi, a pact is a pact, I’m not a cop, I just need to find the real culprit.”

“The… Okay.”

“You’re a psychiatrist, do you know why she can’t make a sound?”

“She didn’t say a word this morning. Ran off when I wasn’t looking…”

Yao cries as Ryouzaki explains the events to her. When she calmed down, she said that Hoshi’s parents had been traveling abroad for many years and had not seen each other for several years. She receives money from them on time, and is responsible for taking care of Hoshi. She attends an all-girls high school, and her life and friendships are normal.

“I don’t know why she’s like this…”

“Must have seen something terrible yesterday. I can’t say for sure… But it may have something to do with those two murders.”

At that moment, Hoshi peered out of the doorway of her room.

“Is the lady awake?” Ryouzaki whispered.

Hoshi muttered under her breath and threw everything around her at Ryosaki, and from this reaction it seemed that the murderer should be male. Hoshi hugged Yao and cried bitterly, and after she calmed down, Kusanagi persuaded her in a gentle tone. For some reason, Hoshi is slowly losing her wariness of Kusanagi.

Kusanagi diagnosed that Hoshi was suffering from a momentary mild case of ‘motor aphasia’ that could be cured once the uneasiness was eliminated, and only then did Yao let his heart drop. Hoshi replied to Kusanagi’s inquiry by shaking and nodding her head.

“–Did you see anything terrible last night?”

Hoshi nodded.

“And then you couldn’t make a sound and ran to the roof without realizing it, right?”

She nodded again.

“Can you tell me what it’s about?”

“The…” She wore a shocked expression, it must have been an extremely frightening experience.

Not being able to ask any more questions, Kusanagi said to Hoshi as he left, “It would have helped me a lot if you would have spoken up earlier, ooh!”

Hoshi gazed into his face and nodded with a smile.

Walking to the elevator, Ryazaki whispered to Kusanagi, “They’re both lying…”

“Lying? How do you know?”

“They’re hiding something important from us. It doesn’t seem to be an ordinary murder case.”

Kusanagi, already attracted to Hoshi, was a bit unpleasant to hear Ryouzaki’s words.

“But Hoshi…”

Hearing footsteps descending the stairs, an old man burrowed out of the stairway.

“Who’s there?”

It’s Yasuyuki Shibusawa, the administrator who is not very friendly with Ryouzaki and Kusanagi.

“Don’t you two get in the way of the police!” Shibusawa glared at them both.

“The elevator is due for its regular inspection in two days. Something happened at the busiest time!”

“So… Only the left elevator works at night?”

“To save electricity! You’d better stay in your rooms. The murderer is a resident here!”

“….! What do you see?”

“I stayed in the keeper’s room last night and didn’t see anyone come in or out, especially outsiders.”

“That’s funny…”

“Interesting or not… Don’t get in the way of my patrol! Get out!” Shibusawa, broom in hand, gestured to chase off Ryosaki and Kusanagi.

Chapter 3: Temptation

“Hoo-hoo… The way events are unfolding, it’s getting more and more interesting!” Ryouzaki mused from the couch.

“Hmph, I don’t have a clue.” Kusanagi was a bit upset.

“Being as clear-headed as you are, I didn’t realize you could whine like a child sometimes.”

“I’m not!”

“Angry? You’re trying to contradict me about Toukawashi, aren’t you?”

“．．．”

“Trying to ask me: why she had to lie…. Didn’t she?”

“What is the ‘important secret’ that has to be kept from us? What is the secret of the intimacy between the two of them?”

“Do you think – to Speedwater Yao – that Hoshi’s suicide would be unknown to her?”

“You mean…”

“AKA: Yao hid something for Hoshi to lie about.”

“Huh?”

“Hoshi lied for someone.”

“! It’s… Yao? How did Hoshi lie for her?” Kusanagi asked rhetorically.

“Don’t act like you know.”

“Okay. Here’s my take: something terrible happened to Hoshi, last night.”

“Witnessed a murder, huh?”

Ryouzaki smiled.

“This murder, it’s related to Speedwater Yao!?” Kusanagi’s lips twitched slightly.

“That’s right. And… Yao also found out about Hoshi’s actions, so both of them lied to us.”

Then, the two of them began to study the whole incident, and it was already dusk. Ryouzaki concluded that the bloody writing at the scene was a staged attempt by the culprit, and was not to be taken seriously. As Shibusawa, the janitor, describes it: the murderer was a resident of the building, and he wasn’t kidding either. On the night of Hirata’s murder, Shibusawa says, “There were no outsiders in or out all night.” However, it cannot be concluded that the suspect is one of the residents, and it is possible that the murderer entered and exited the building through the balcony.

“The possibility that the murderer is a resident of the building is still high.” At those words, a chill ran down Ryouzaki’s back.

“The tenants are all recent arrivals.. The one who was most closely associated with the victim was… Hirata’s subordinate, Miura.”

Ryouzaki’s despairing eyes flashed through Miura’s mind as he fell into thought.

Kusanagi wondered what had happened to Yao and Hoshi last night. (Hoshi… Hurry up and explain this incident to me!) Closing her eyes, Kusanagi imagined Toukawa Hoshi’s lovely appearance.

“Is there no one there? There’s no answer after calling…” Akane yelled as she walked in.

“Oh…” Ryouzaki chimed in in response.

“Here’s the information you wanted me to look into…”

The Sato family, who were the first to be killed–

Kazuyuki Sato: Head of the Sales Division of a pharmaceutical company, forty years old. Wife: Michiko, age 36. Eldest son, Nagayuki, twelve years old, second son, Kouji, ten years old. There’s also no sign of relatives who would do it for the sake of the insurance money.

The Shigehito Hirata, forty-eight years old –

Director of the second development office at the same pharmaceutical company as Sato. Currently in divorce proceedings with his wife, who has a clear alibi. More than twenty years ago, an accident at the pharmaceutical company resulted in the deaths of several people, and the cause was related to Hirata. He has many enemies.

The Other matters –

A part of the building is rented to four employees of a pharmaceutical company. In addition to Sato, Hirata, and Miura, there is also a 20-year-old woman: Naomi Seto. Coincidentally, this woman seems to be Akane’s high school classmate.

“If it was my classmate Naomi, I’d be happy to help with the investigation!”

“Let’s go look for her together later! Miura and Setsuo weren’t there during the day… Did you get in touch with that woman?” Ryouzaki asked.

“Who does she think she is? She’s so arrogant! And said, ‘I’ll go when I’m free, tonight or tomorrow!'” Akane said unhappily, going into the kitchen.

Kusanagi thought about the ambiguous yet subtle triangle between Ryouzaki, Akane, and Miona….

He was Ryouzaki’s attending physician six years ago, when Ryouzaki was in a state of memory loss. He went to the United States on a mission, but was caught up in an incident where three of his companions were killed. One of them was Ryouzaki’s lover. He lost all memory of the incident and was arrested on suspicion of being a suspect. He was also released by the police due to his loss of mind. He was treated for two years at a local mental health center.

After returning to Japan, it was Kusanagi who served as Ryouzaki’s attending physician. Although, Ryouzaki is currently like back to normal in terms of his body and life. However, sometimes he still falls into a state of frenzy. Recently, this state has become more frequent. What exactly was the incident that happened then? Kusanagi also had absolutely no way of knowing.

Naomi Seto in room 30C is really Akane’s classmate. She’s a girl who inspires male protectiveness and gives off the impression that she’s soft. But her eyes are dull, as if she’s troubled. (Such bright eyes…) What’s wrong with them?) She’s not an employee. She only moved into the apartment a few weeks ago. She has an alibi for the day of the incident.

Then I went to Miura’s house. Miura is drunk and complains, “When I joined the company, Hirata had a strong desire to lead…”. Hirata had a strong desire to lead. At that time, we were just junior staff, working on drug development. After that incident… It’s been a nightmare for twenty years.”

“Hirata has an unusual habit of getting into trouble…”

Miura said with a bitter smile. However, he was reluctant to explain the incident on the grounds that it was “not good for the company”. Hirata had a penchant for taking photos of perverts. Of course, Miura was the one who took care of all the disputes with the people who were photographed. He is also obsessed with magic and psychics. He has a superstitious belief in ‘numerology’, hates even numbers, and avoids using 7 and 13.

“Pharmaceuticals are nothing more than an extension of medieval European alchemy…” Miura said mockingly.

“Twenty years ago, Hirata and I were single-minded about the development of new drugs…. I’ve said too much. Hirata is just a special member of our company.”

A little after eight in the evening, Ryouzaki arrived at the door of Ryumiko Kakiguchi’s room. She put the finished dishes in a food container and placed it in the entrance hall.

“Excuse me, can you get the top floor for me? We’ll eat on the top floor!” Ryumiko squeezed her eyes at Ryazaki. She was wearing a light green thin cotton cedar, revealing her shoulders in a sexy pose.

The two took the food to the top floor, and Ryumiko opened the metal door. The hairpin Kusanagi had picked up on the floor last time should have been dropped by her.

“Not bad for a first date with Mr. Detective, huh? It must be a long time since you’ve enjoyed Tokyo’s night sky…”

Looking up at the sky, it was full of clouds and lights from the buildings. However, after gazing for a while, one could see the shining stars clearly. Ryazaki sat on the plastic sheet that covered the floor and admired the night sky.

“Stop staring all the time and enjoy your food!” Ryumiko urged Ryouzaki and took a seat beside him.

“My cooking is guaranteed to be delicious! And I want to get a chef’s license.”

Ryumiko wasn’t bragging, the cooking was indeed of professional standard. The two of them enjoyed the food and wine.

“Hey… What do you think about that incident?” Ryumiko suddenly asked.

“The… Why do you ask?”

“I don’t know, I… It’s just a feeling: it’s not going to end that way.”

“Weird! I thought so.”

“There’s a serial killer and the police have no leads… Why don’t people move out? Is it possible that there won’t be any more murders? No, people think: even if someone else dies, it has nothing to do with them.”

“So… Why did you stay?”

“Watch and see mentality, I guess.”

“Watching the fun?”

Ryumiko stuck her tongue out.

“This thing… It doesn’t matter either way. My main concern is you. When you saved me.. I fell in love with you!” Ryumiko sent her fall waves.

“You’re kidding.”

“Ryuk… Mi-chan. “Ryuko.”

“Huh?”

“Just call me ‘Ryumiko’. Can I entrust you to be my bodyguard…” She buried her head in Ryazaki’s chest and wrapped her arms around him.

“I can’t do that…”

Thinking of Akane’s angry appearance, Ryazaki pushed Ryumiko’s body away. Ryumiko, however, grabbed Ryazaki’s right hand and placed it on her bouncy breasts. She wasn’t wearing a bra, and when Ryōzaki tried to break free, Ryūmiko grabbed his hand hard.

“Mr. Detective, use your fingers… Stroke it…”

Ryazaki’s fingers clamped down on Ryumiko’s nipples. Ryumiko’s nipples had hardened. Ryumiko threw her back back as Ryouzaki caressed it. Ryazaki’s parting also swelled up rapidly.

(What’s going to happen is going to happen.) What’s meant to be, is meant to be.) Ryazaki quickly takes off Ryumiko’s blouse and caresses her breasts with his hands.

“Ha… Ahhh… Mr. Detective. Yes… So good!” Ryumiko pulled down Ryouzaki’s pants and placed her hand on the bulging panties.

“Kiss me!”

Ryouzaki kissed her lips hard, the two lips joining as tightly as a mollusk.

“Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh…” Ryumiko made muffled noises and sucked on Ryazaki’s lips.

Coochie, poochie. Thick sticky sounds drifted through the warm night air. Ryouzaki caressed her breasts with his left hand, while his right hand reached inside his short skirt and touched her private parts through her black lace panties, rubbing the stamen along the slit. It was already moist.

“The… So awesome. So wet already.” Ryazaki stopped kissing and said to Ryumiko.

“Ahh… yuck… I want more…”

Ryumiko raised her waist as Ryazaki removed her panties and stroked the secret bud of her erection.

“Haa, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah… It’s so good…”

She took a prone position, and Ryouzaki grasped her hips with both hands, slowly spreading them apart.

The wet bud opened, and Ryouzaki stroked the lips of the center part of the flower, sucking the nectar nastily. The sweet and sour smelling liquid slid down his throat.

“Ahhhh… Mr. Detective! HERE!!!” Ryumiko moaned. The nectar between her thighs continued to flow out.

“Come on… Ahhhh… Come on…　Come on!”

“The… Good.”

Ryouzaki pulled out his dick, spewing juices that glistened on Ryumiko’s torso, and began the thrusting motion.

“Ahhhh…”

Ryuzaki knelt on his knees and moved his waist gradually. Ryumiko bent her upper body, her secret part clenching.

“Oooh, oooh!” The split was violently contracted and squeezed, causing Ryouzaki to let out a roar of forgetfulness.

Ryumiko rubbed her breasts and let out “Hahhhh, ahhhh, ahhhh, ahhhh…” Her whole body was writhing with pleasure.

“Ah… Ahhh…” Ryumiko’s whole body spasmed, and her mucous membranes clung to Ryouzaki’s doppelganger.

“Ahhhhh… It’s going, it’s going!!!”

The honey pot twisted and turned, and Ryazaki accelerated his pumping motion. Pfft, pfft, pfft…. With the spraying of white liquid, Ryumiko slumped to the ground in exhaustion.

“Mr. Detective… Don’t look so distressed!”

Ten minutes later, the two sat down on the plastic sheet and stared blankly at the sky. Ryouzaki didn’t answer, only smoked his cigarette silently.

“I’m the one who took the initiative to seduce you, don’t worry about it!”

“I didn’t!”

“Liar! He’s got that ‘how do I explain this to my girlfriend’ look on his face…”

“No such thing.”

Ryumiko’s eyes lit up.

“Really? Well, I don’t want you to be my bodyguard… Let me be your girlfriend?”

“Why?”

“Idiot! I want to know more about you…! I like you.” She looked away sheepishly.

“Thank you for your kind words…. But I don’t want a regular relationship.”

Ryumiko fell silent and said with a forced smile! We… Can we meet for dinner once in a while, like this?”

“Good. I’m not going to turn down this kind of ‘good’ cooking.”

“I… I ate too much!” Ryumiko replied with a smile.

Chapter IV. Loss

Kusanagi, who was accustomed to going to bed early, had long since gone to sleep by the time he returned to his house. Ryouzaki was alone in the living room, sipping his brandy coffee.

(Laughs) He’s angry, isn’t he?) He peered into Kusanagi’s room, then dozed off on the couch. At that moment, the doorbell rang, and Ryouzaki’s natural reflex was to glance at the time. The doorbell rang, and Ryouzaki’s natural reflex action was to glance at the time, which was one o’clock in the middle of the night.

“The… Who is it?” Ryouzaki asked warily.

The visitor was actually – Speedwater Yao.

“I’m sorry to bother you so late. Can I talk to you…” Yao’s voice trembled with nervousness.

She stared blankly at the cup in front of her and lifted her head with determination.

“You may have realized – it was the murdered Hirata.”

Ryouzaki’s sleepiness is swept away. But Yao’s next confession was unexpected.

“Hoshi… She can’t talk now because of me. I’m… I’m actually gay. I was supposed to take care of Hoshi, but I fell in love with her. She’s a very fragile girl.. I didn’t dare tell her about it…”

Ryouzaki didn’t show any expression of surprise, since he had been a detective, he had seen so many strange and bizarre things that it wasn’t worth being surprised at all.

“Hirata came to me one day. He was spying on me and Hoshi, and when I wasn’t looking, he filmed me imagining Hoshi while…”

“Masturbation photos?” Ryouzaki said speculatively.

There was a silence in the room. Yao blushed, her voice so small it was barely audible.

“Well… I wouldn’t be ashamed to kill myself if those kinds of pictures were publicized. But I don’t want Hoshi to see that kind of picture of me…” Yao shed a tear.

“Hoshi must have gotten a big shock when she saw it. –I’m taking care of Hoshi in place of her parents abroad, she’s very important to me.”

“How did Hirata threaten you?”

“Yesterday at this time, he called me and asked me to sleep with him…”

Ryouzaki almost screamed. (If it’s true, did Yao kill Hiruta!)

“He was very drunk when he called me. I brought the anti-alcohol that I had taken before and would feel pain…”

“It went down well with Hirata. I was going to pretend to take a shower first and steal the negatives while he was in pain…”

“Wait!” Ryouzaki interrupted her.

“You mean: haven’t taken the negatives?”

“The… Hmmm.” She shook her head and continued, “Waited in the bathroom for a long time and nothing happened. When I thought it was a failure, I looked out… Hirata was dead on the floor. Hoshi collapsed next to him…” Yao seemed to shiver as she remembered the scene.

“I don’t know why she was in Hirata’s room, maybe she followed me there. Maybe Hirata wanted to violate Hoshi and Hoshi resisted him…” She said excitedly.

Ryouzaki hammered out a breath. “Never mind, that’s not what happened.”

“Really?” Yao asked, wide-eyed.

Ryouzaki smiled and explained, “Hiruta was strangled to death, there’s no way Hoshi could have been that strong. The anti-alcohol reaction in Hiruta’s body… …someone strangled him while he was in pain. Hoshi probably saw the murder scene and fainted from fear.”

“So… Why didn’t the killer kill Hoshi, who witnessed it?”

“I can’t figure it out either.”

“I don’t have a clue. I just want the negatives back. Hirata said: put them in a safe deposit box. Mr. Ryazaki, please accept my request and help me get the negatives back!”

Yao placed an envelope on the table, forty or fifty ten thousand dollar bills.

“That’s all I have right now. If it’s not enough, we can get it from the bank. If the police find the photos, both Hsi and I will be suspected. Please send me the negatives… If possible, please find the real culprit.”

Ryouzaki slowly stood up and slipped the envelope back into her hand.

“You don’t accept?” Yao asked in disappointment.

Ryazaki drew ten bills from the envelope.

“The base cost is fifty thousand dollars. Plus staffing costs, days and hazards, and the actual cost in hourly rates. I’ll take those first.”

“Thank you… Mr. Ryazaki.” Yao thanked gratefully.

“The rest of the charges will be collected after the incident is resolved, do you understand? Now, go back to your rooms!”

Ryosaki and Kusanagi came to Yao’s room. Kusanagi was pulled out of his sleep with a displeased look on his face. The reason for his displeasure: besides the lack of sleep, he knew about Yao and Hoshi.

Ryouzaki’s plan: sneak from this room into the Hirata room directly below. He hadn’t heard about the negatives from the source, so it was assumed that the police hadn’t found out about them yet. After preparing simple props: a headlamp and plastic gloves, and tying a climbing rope underneath his body, Ryouzaki began to move. Kusanagi stayed behind to treat Hoshi if she woke up.

Ryazaki managed to sneak into Hirata’s room. The room was extremely clean, with bookshelves filled with fantasy novels as well as books specializing in science, and under the bed were a number of submission magazines featuring adult photographs.

Ryouzaki puts the negatives and photos into his backpack and goes out by the foyer. On his way back to Yao’s room, he realized something surprising.

Kusanagi was treating Hoshi in her room. She was still unable to speak, communicating with Kusanagi by nodding and shaking her head, but she was able to smile….

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you talking to a girl so happily!” Ryouzaki joked.

Kusanagi scratched his head in embarrassment, “Any luck?”

“Searching for the scene of a monster’s murder in the middle of the night isn’t as much fun as it is for you guys!”

Both Hoshi and Kusanagi lowered their heads in embarrassment.

Reporting the results of the investigation in general to Yao, she wore a happy expression as she learned that she had gotten the negatives back.

“I’m sorry, I have to investigate the other people in the negatives, I’ll keep them for now…”

Yao looked a little agitated, but was able to understand Ryouzaki.

Ryazaki said lightly, “You may be attacked…”

Yao was startled.

Ryouzaki explained, “First: the culprit saw your shoes and knew that a visitor was going to kill Hiruta… Even if it was a fortuitous decision, it was too rash. Second: Isn’t it true that… Hoshi saw the murder…? It must be: someone told her to go to the scene.”

“Wh, what!?” Kusanagi couldn’t help but exclaim.

Yao hugged Hoshi’s shoulder and asked, “Hoshi, is it true?”

Hoshi’s body trembled slightly and she nodded vigorously.

“This makes it clear. The actions of the culprit cannot be judged by common sense, and the bloody text at the initial scene is a testament to that. The fact that he followed Yao and called Hoshi to the scene so that she could witness the murder is nothing short of diabolical!”

Hoshi sniffed and her body shivered violently, like she was under a major stimulus. After letting her into the room, Ryouzaki and Kusanagi headed back.

“You said you were going to be attacked… Is that true?” Yao asked uneasily.

“You should have said, ‘Open for fun, right?’ If they were going to kill you, it would have been better if the murderer had taken care of it all together when he killed Hirata. The problem is: I don’t know what the culprit is up to. Anyway, you lock the doors and windows and don’t worry…. Don’t go out tonight either.”

“I know. But… Why?”

“We’ll find out tomorrow, good night!”

Closing the door, Ryazaki patted Kusanagi’s shoulder.

“Kusanagi, I want to show you something…”

Ryouzaki gave Kusanagi a “quiet” sign and pulled him to the stairwell.

“The… You see?”

“! This, this is management…”

“Shhhh, keep it down!!!”

The body of the janitor lay across the stairs. A long-handled broom had been inserted through the mouth, piercing the abdomen, and internal organs had flowed out. Ryozaki found the body when he returned from his investigation, and there was nothing unusual when he first visited Yao’s room. It was presumed to be within two hours. It was presumed that the murderer was a resident of the building, and that the victim knew him in order to attack from the front. If you call the police, you’re bound to be suspected, so it’s best to ignore it for now.

“The… Maybe it was the killer who laid down the challenge.”

“A challenge? To whom?”

“Of course we are. But he’s gone too far… It’s not just Yao and Hoshi, he’s playing us too…”

Ryouzaki pressed the elevator lift button uneasily, and at this moment in time the only elevator that worked was the one on the left.

Upon returning to his house, he found the door to the entranceway open.

(Could it be – a murderer!) Ryouzaki walked alertly to the living room, where Mimina was leisurely leaning back against the couch, sipping a brandy from the liquor cabinet.

“You’re… You’re so relaxed!” Ryouzaki was taken aback by her unassuming attitude.

“You came back too late, so I had to enjoy it first.”

“You often sneak in when I’m not around?”

“A lock like this can be opened by an expert in twenty seconds, I can open it in a minute.” Mione winks in a high pitched voice.

“Akane said you wanted to see me… There’s been a serial killer in your building? How come the outside world doesn’t know about it?”

“I want some information. The culprits seem to have our every move…”

Handed her the negatives that Hirata had taken.

“I want information on the person in the negative. It may not be relevant to the case, but for the sake of carefulness it’s still important to investigate. The deadline is one week.”

“Three days is enough.”

Mirai blinked meaningfully, and Ryouzaki was struck by her gaze. She was an incredible woman, and despite her appearance, she seemed to be her age, but…

“This time the way of payment… It’s still the same as before!” Mignonette said demurely.

　　　　＊　　　　　　　　　　　　＊　　　　　　　　　　　＊

Ryouzaki’s room…. Mirai had quickly stripped off her clothes.

“Today… How about something special?”

“What?”

Ryouzaki stripped down to just a pair of underwear, having learned his lesson last time, he’d long since removed his white t-shirt.

“Whether you win or I lose, I’ll give you the information… If I win, promise me one thing, okay?”

“I know, okay!”

“Hee hee, go for it!” Mione’s sexy body pressed against Ryouzaki.

“The… Preemptive strike?”

Her silky palms caressed Ryosaki’s neck, shoulders, chest and back. Lips caressed his nipples.

“Oh, uh-uh-uh-uh…” A moan escaped Ryouzaki’s throat.

“This is your weakness…”

Ryouzaki lay on his back as Mimina licked his flanks and belly button, gradually moving her tongue down to his lower abdomen. She cupped Ryouzaki’s already puffed up dick and rubbed it against her cheek.

“Hey… Are you trying to make the lovely Akane-san happy with this thing?”

“Don’t talk nonsense…”

“Hee hee, softened right away? You were really thinking about her. But… I’m the only one you can think about now!”

She started the blowjob action through Ryosaki’s panties, moistening them with saliva and caressing them with the belly of her tongue… Gradually the power increased.

“Uh, uh…” Ryouzaki frowned and held back.

“Ready to go?”

She smiled and pulled out Ryouzaki’s already hardened dick, took it in her mouth in one gulp, and began to lick it.

“Ah… Uh-huh.”

Ryouzaki desperately tried to hold back, but, as a burst of pleasure assaulted the pith of his brain, he let out a mindless moan.

“How was it? Was it good? Hee hee, the look on your face is turning me on even more!”

Mignonette loosened her grip and looked demonically at Ryouzaki .

“There’s more of this.”

After squatting down between Ryouzaki’s strands, Mimina clamped her swollen doppelganger, between her own bouncy breasts.

“So… It’s passionate, isn’t it?” She raised her eyes and looked mesmerized at Ryouzaki.

“Let’s get you… Let’s get you to the top!”

After lubricating them with saliva, she began rubbing her breasts while licking the front ends with the tip of her tongue. The heavy panting of the two filled the room.

“Ah, here…” Ryouzaki’s voice rose in pitch.

“It’s okay if it squirts… I’ll drink it.”

Ryouzaki used his remaining strength to pick up Mione.

“Going to start fighting back?”

Letting Mione sit on her body, bracing her legs.

“Ah, ah… Don’t do that…”

Mione twisted her head and bent her body. The rod plunged into the sizzling honey pot, and Ryouzaki rammed it hard.

“Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh. Uh-uh-uh-uh.”

Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp. Chirp… A lewd sound came out from the joint. Mirai had almost reached the limit, not to be outdone, she used her right hand to stroke Ryouzaki’s pouch, and her vagina was sucking on Ryouzaki’s part, the double stimulation caused him to reach the state of bursting.

When Ryouzaki tried to pull out, Mimina stopped it, “…. Cum inside!!!”

“Ummm, coo…!!!” Ryouzaki complied and shot a large amount of white fluid into Mimina’s secret place.

The… The two showered and then dressed.

“I won again. Remember… Our deal?”

“Hm. I’m just a little detective anyway.”

“My request is…” With a lonely smile she’d never seen before, Minae glanced at Ryouzaki.

“Forget it. We’ll talk about it another time! I’m going home. Bye.”

“Uh-huh.”

After Mirai left, Ryazaki laid down on the couch where he had just been passionate with her.

At ten o’clock in the morning, Ryouzaki and Kusanagi were awakened by a shrill doorbell. Ryouzaki had guessed: who would be making a surprise visit at this hour: Gen and Terada.

“Did something happen?”

“The superintendent of this building was killed and his stomach split open!”

Ryouzaki put on a surprised expression.

“The location of the bodies was the stairwells on the fourth and fifth floors. Time of death was approximately 11 p.m. to 4 a.m.”

Terada, the police department’s newest recruit, couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to his clothes after a busy day, and his hair was a mess.

The police believe that Shibusawa, the janitor, was killed because he was on patrol and got in the way of the murderer. In the first and second murders, the victims were from the same company, but Shibusawa had nothing to do with the case, so it is assumed that ‘the murderer was not from the building’.

“This case, even if it’s the same person, is incredible.”

Gen showed a rare bitter expression.

“I don’t know what the purpose of the murder was. Is the murderer a psychopath, as if he only kills for fun? What a pain in the ass!” Terada pounded on the door angrily.

“Terada, stop!” Gen drank Terada off.

“There were other incidents…”

“What, and?”

“Ando, in room 80D, is a little unhinged. He disappeared last night. Someone said he’s been yelling from the balcony a lot lately and disappeared at this hour…”

Ando’s frozen face floated in his mind.

“Not only that, but Ryumiko Kakiguchi from room 60D was also killed last night.”

Ryouzaki sniffed and grabbed Terada excitedly.

“When did you die? What about the condition? Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Terada was startled by his excitement and stared blankly at Gen.

“Ryouzaki calm down, what is your relationship with the victim?”

Ryouzaki restrained his emotions and said calmly, “She said: she quit her part-time job, can she come to my office to help out?”

Inquiring about the status of Ryumiko’s murder-.

He was electrocuted in the bathroom of his house by wrapping an electric wire around his neck. The presumed time of death was almost at the same time as Shibusawa. The result of the forensic examination: there was sexual intercourse before the death, ‘we cannot exclude the possibility that the murderer raped and then killed her or killed her during sexual intercourse’. The blood type is to be detected from the residual semen.

(If you don’t have sex with anyone else after me, you’ll be tested for type AB…) Ryouzaki thought back to watching the stars with Ryumiko, a fragmented memory of spending time with her. Ryazaki couldn’t help but shed tears.

“There was one thing that the coroner couldn’t figure out…. Although this was an electrocution, there was no water in the bathtub, which means that the victim was directly entangled in wet wires. The murderer must have been wearing insulated clothing and gloves… If that’s true, it’s a planned crime!”

He added, “I’ve seen so many murder scenes, and this is the first time I’ve seen the technique of strangling a defenseless girl and shocking her heart with a strong electric current… It’s so cruel!”

Gen sighed heavily. The police seem to think that the killers of the Sato family and Hirata are the work of different murderers than the two murders last night. The missing Ando is heavily implicated.

Ryouzaki believed Shibusawa’s statement: ‘The murderer is an occupant’, so that narrowed down the suspects. Besides himself and Kusanagi, there were only five others. Ryouzaki believed that Ando could not be the murderer, and that his disappearance had nothing to do with the case. However, it was not revealed to Gen.

One more thing: if the possibility of a murderer is limited to the occupants, ‘whether there is some kind of mystery hidden between Yao and Hoshi and the culprit, then these assumptions can also be valid.’

(I can’t let Ryumiko die in vain…) The fury of revenge welled up in Ryouzaki’s heart.

A chain of events, judged by the modus operandi: the murderer should be male. Among the five men: there are Miura and Juniper. If the real culprit is also a resident, perhaps, Motomatsu, who has no interest in the victim, is the suspect. (But, could this steady man be the murderer?)

Ryouzaki and Kusanagi arrived at Juniper’s place. Juniper’s career was centered in the United States. He traveled a lot around the world in search of antique treasures. This time, he came back to Japan in order to bring his family to the United States.

“I just got back to Japan and this happened, it makes me want to move…” Juniper said with a smile, seeming quite distressed inside.

“Do you still have a place to stay in Japan?” Kusanagi asked.

“Nope. That’s why reuniting with my family has been a dream of mine for a long time.”

“Congratulations. You’re going back soon? Going back?”

“Well, I’m going back to Maine.”

Ryouzaki’s expression changed slightly as he sniffed. Kusanagi was also taken aback. (The place where Ryouzaki’s accident happened in the United States… Wasn’t it Maine?)

Juniper didn’t seem to notice the difference, explaining, “Maine, country place in the northeastern United States…”

Ryouzaki placed his left hand over his ear, his middle finger caressing the socket. He used to show this kind of action when his spirit couldn’t be loaded. (Could it be, that it’s related to that incident!) Kusanagi thought in surprise, his heart beating extremely fast.

–I’m sure it has something to do with that. What is it?

“—- Wow.”

“Huh?”

Ryouzaki yelled, not hearing Juniper’s words.

“What happened to you?” Juniper asked in surprise.

“Ah… I thought of something.”

“Haha, you’re really a detective, you always think of things, right?”

“No. Maine… It’s got amazing nature!” Ryouzaki said with sweat seeping from his forehead.

Juniper nodded, “Yeah… I want to pick up my family soon.” Juniper raised her eyes to the ceiling.

Could this man be a murderer? Ryouzaki and Kusanagi were skeptical.

On Juniper’s bookshelf, there is a “Codex of the Secret Laws” in Latin, the author of which is unknown. The gilded cover is quite noteworthy.

“This book documents methods of performing occult rituals. Read it and be disgusted with modern medicine.”

When Ryouzaki heard “secret codex”, his uneasy reaction became even more obvious.

“The Secret Method… The Codex… The book…” Ryouzaki muttered.

“Ryazaki… Are you okay?”

“Nothing…”

Kusanagi noticed that Juniper’s left and right fingers had corpse-like black spots.

Asked about Juniper, he said, “It’s the sensitivity of the skin…. I believe in folk remedies, that is, psychic surgery and magic…”. It works wonders! My hands are nothing to worry about.”

(This man believes in folk remedies so much…) Kusanagi was getting more and more confused.

“What do you think… What do you think of that man?” Kusanagi asked as she walked out of Juniper’s room.

Ryazaki pressed the elevator button in silence.

“What’s wrong with you? Lack of sleep?”

“．．．”

“Hey!”

“I heard Maine…. It seems to come to mind.”

“Don’t worry… You’re too tired.” Kusanagi chuckled, her expression a little unnatural.

Is the part of Ryouzaki’s memory finally going to be unlocked?

Chapter 5 – Grudges

I don’t know if it was the lack of sleep or something else, but Ryouzaki’s head ached violently.

“We’ll investigate later, go rest first!”

Kusanagi suggested, but Ryouzaki went on his way to Naomi Seto’s room in 30C. Akane was playing at her house last night, and Ryouzaki said hello.

Naomi said, “Akane and the police who came this morning… Told me all about the incident.” She still smiled without energy.

“What did they say?” Kusanagi asked hurriedly.

“He said… ‘Be careful of this Ryouzaki man’.”

“Hahaha, that’s a quote.”

“Kusanagi, don’t laugh, okay?” Ryouzaki laughed bitterly inwardly.

“Gen… Did you ask for your alibi?”

“I said: I talked to Akira late yesterday. He said: if I’m with Akane, I believe it.”

“Gen used to love Akane!”

“After she went back last night at eleven o’clock, I gradually lost consciousness and didn’t wake up until this morning… It was awful! I didn’t tell the police.” Naomi lowered her head in embarrassment.

“Emotionally unstable relationship, right? Go see a doctor, or just meet me in room 70C.” Kusanagi said with concern.

“He’s a psychiatrist, don’t be afraid!” Ryouzaki said with a smile.

“I’m not a bad person either.”

Naomi’s expression softened a little, but she said somberly, “Seven people have been killed in this building, including children…”. It’s horrible! Last night, after Akane went home, I was scared alone. When I was closing the door, I suddenly heard a noise outside the window…”

A chill ran down Ryouzaki’s back. It was from his own intrusion into Hirata’s room, wasn’t it?

“I didn’t dare open the window to check, but only looked out through it. Then there was a ‘click’ from the stairs above.”

“Did you tell the police?” Ryouzaki asked uneasily.

“Uh-huh. After I said that, the policeman ran out with a big blush… Does it matter?”

“Right… We have things to do, time to go!” Ryazaki pulled Kusanagi away.

“What’s all the panic?”

“Idiot! Think about it: who will be suspected first when Gen learns about last night’s action?”

“???? Speedwater Yao?”

“Move!”

When they get to Yao and Hoshi’s room, Gen and Terada and several police officers are there.

“Uncle Gen, what are you doing?”

“We’re going to take Speedwater Yao, as an important relation.”

“What! Do you have proof?” Ryouzaki pressed Gen.

“Remember the anti-drinking agent, right? Speedwell Yao had purchased it at the pharmacy. Also: her hair was found on Hirata’s bathroom floor and blouse. Also, she had contact with the victim. Lastly, there is the testimony of Naomi Seto: it seems that someone invaded Hirata’s room last night. As a result of the investigation, the secret safe that was opened was found to have no traces of destruction, so it was deduced that the murderer forced Hiruta to reveal the combination. Any more questions?”

“．．．”

To say: did you sneak in yourself?

“The possibility that the culprit is male has not been ruled out. You’re also a suspect, and you seem to frequent Speedwater Yao?”

“She’s my client…”

“Commissioned you to kill someone?” Gen said as he glared at Ryosaki.

“I think it was you who broke into Hirata’s room, that’s my personal opinion.”

“Uncle Gen, I…”

He interrupted Ryouzaki, “We’ll know all about it when we question Speedwell Yao. If she is not suspected, she will be allowed to return.”

“It won’t interfere with your investigation. She’s my client and I need to see her.”

“Mr. Ryazaki, Mr. Kusanagi…” Yao said in a shaky voice. Hoshi hid behind her.

“Don’t worry about me. In the meantime, please… Take care of Hoshi, okay? In her condition, I don’t feel comfortable leaving her home alone…”

Ryouzaki nodded and bent down to inquire about Hoshi, “Come stay at our house?”

Hoshi sheepishly averted her eyes and nodded in agreement.

Ryouzaki and Kusanagi, both of them, were busy trying to organize the room.

Hsi wrote on the white chalkboard, ‘Sorry for the trouble.’

Ryazaki said, “You’re welcome, make yourself at home here!”

As soon as Akane learned of the incident, she arrived.

“Hoshi, why don’t you come and stay at my house? It’s going to be scary living with these two men, isn’t it?” She said mischievously.

Hoshi tilted her head and wrote, ”Akane-san, would you please stay here?”

“Well… If that’s what you want.”

Ryouzaki said to Akane, “At least keep Hoshi safe. I think… Juniper who lives on the second floor is very suspicious.”

“Huh, why?”

“These events seem to concern me.”

“How is that possible?”

“Akane… Ryouzaki was right.” Kusanagi sighed.

“Ryouzaki seems to be gradually remembering things from his past, albeit in fragments, and he knows it himself.”

“Juniper seems to know something… I think: he has something to do with my past.”

Akane said excitedly, “So what if I remember before? Brother is still brother. Why are you looking for past memories?”

She only calls Ryouzaki “brother” when she’s excited.” She doesn’t know about the events of six years ago – Ryouzaki’s past, and why both her parents were killed.

“Why are you ignoring me?” Ryouzaki and Kusanagi fell silent, and she almost cried out.

“Idiot, I’m not ignoring you?”

“Huh!?”

“You go back to the office immediately and investigate whether Juniper’s registry, passport, international driver’s license, etc., have been faked.”

Ryouzaki instructed in a low voice, “It’s against the law, but you can find out by using the computer to access the retrieval system ooh.”

“The Director really! Want me to do something illegal?”

“If you don’t want to, I’ll find Mione.”

“Alright! I’ll just go.” Akane seemed to have recovered her mood and waved her hand away.

”Mr. Ryazaki, Mr. Kusanagi, don’t worry about me. Go investigate!’ Hoshi wrote.

Ryouzaki and Kusanagi went out with confidence.

Juniper receives Ryouzaki and the others in the living room.

“How did the incident go?”

“Not much progress, but a lot of things have gone wrong yet.”

Du Song laughed and said, “You guys who are detectives are trying to find out the truth. There will be a lot of agonizing in this process, right? It’s the middle of the month… Mr. Ryazaki, do you know about the ‘Final Day Sacrifice’?”

Ryouzaki’s consciousness suddenly began to slur when he was halfway through hearing it.

“－－－－！？　！？　！？”

“What’s wrong with you?” Juniper tapped Ryouzaki on the shoulder.

“Ah… Sorry.” Sweat oozed from Ryouzaki’s forehead.

“Is it… That again?”

Kusanagi wondered uneasily why Ryouzaki was like this when he came to Juniper’s house.

Ryazaki asked, “Mr. Juniper, what is this ‘final day’ you speak of?”

“It means ‘last day of April’, nothing special.”

“Yeah?” A little skeptical, Ryouzaki asked again, “Why did you choose to live in Maine?”

“It’s close to Brown University, the University of Micarta…. The latter has a lot of rare literature.”

“Micturition University…” Ryouzaki seemed to have a memory.

“You know that pheasant college too?”

“I was shocked… It’s a prestigious university for a guy in my line of work!”

“Yeah… I’ve been investigating, the murderer in this building!” Ryouzaki approached Juniper.

“Ryazaki… What did you say…” Kusanagi pulled Ryouzaki back.

“The… What if I said: you’re the most suspicious?”

Juniper laughed out loud and Ryazaki was taken aback.

“Hahaha… Sorry.”

He laughed so hard tears came out of his eyes and said, “Suspect me? What’s the proof?”

“There’s no proof, it’s my instinct. After all these events, your calmness is suspicious… And you deliberately said something to refresh my memory…”

“It’s just chance, how do I know about your past? Besides, I have no motive to kill.”

He didn’t care and said, “Say no more. I’m tired, so both of you please go back!”

As the two were about to leave, Juniper asked, “… If I were the murderer, who would have been killed tonight?”

“I can confirm that it’s definitely not you.”

“That’s funny, Mr. Ryazaki.” Juniper silently watched the two leave.

Ryouzaki continued to go scouting as Kusanagi returned to his house. Ringing the electric bell, Hoshi appeared at the door.

“I’m back!”

Hoshi nodded and smiled as she opened the door, and Kusanagi treated her. Talking to her about something lighthearted first, after a while the two had been able to talk with pen and body language.

Hee wrote, ‘Can I talk again? I want to go back to school. What if I can’t talk?’

“Don’t worry, it will be cured.”

Hoshi nodded happily.

“By the way, you were unable to speak because you saw Hirata being killed. Can you tell me what happened then?”

The treatment will fail if the patient and the doctor don’t have absolute trust. Kusanagi wanted to make sure it would work.

Hsi wrote uneasily, ‘It’s horrible! No one will believe it.’

“It’s okay, you can tell me…”

‘I woke up suddenly that night and saw a letter by my pillow. It reads (Your sister, Ayao, had an accident in room 40C)…”

“So you went to Hirata’s room…”

She nodded in reply.

‘His neck was strangled…’ Her hand suddenly shook as she held the pen, and her handwriting was messy: ‘Like a monster…’ Strangled…’ Hoshi shuddered and continued to write.

Kusanagi said with reluctance, “Forget it, Hoshi, I shouldn’t force you, go back to your room?”

Kusanagi hugged Hoshi. Laying her down on her bed, she whispered soothingly in her ear, “It’s all right now…”

Hoshi’s arms suddenly wrapped around Kusanagi’s neck.

“Hoshi…?!”

Kusanagi thought emotionally: (Could it be that I’ve developed strong feelings for her…) I have already developed strong feelings for Hoshi, myself.

He couldn’t help but say, “Hoshi… I love you!!!” Hugging her slender body tightly, he kissed her lips.

Kusanagi moved his lips away in panic to look at Hoshi, whose face swelled red.

Hoshi pointed to his lips, and read from his mouth: ‘I also like Kusaka! “I like Kusaka, too.

Kusanagi kissed her again with joy.

“Uh-huh. Uh-huh…” Hoshi let out a tiny moan.

Moving his lips to her slightly sweaty neck, he smelled the scent of a young girl’s body. Kusanagi pulled her pajama pants down to her ankles.

“Uh…” Hoshi panicked, pulling the hem of her blouse down to cover her midriff, making Kusanagi feel even more aroused.

Kusanagi flipped open her blouse and removed the white bra. The young breasts were soft and supple. Kusanagi slowly caressed the light red nipples with the tip of his tongue.

“Uh…!!!”

Kusanagi gently, caressing the warm breasts with her palms as Hoshi arched her body.

“Hoshi…”

Kusanagi cupped her tiny face in his hands as she opened her mouth in the shape of an open mouth and uttered, ‘Hoshi’.

“Why don’t you take off your pajamas?” Kusanagi said softly.

With one hand, Hitch pointed to the fluorescent lights, stating, “The lights are too bright.”

“I want to see you clearly…”

Hoshi stopped resisting as she unbuttoned her all the way down.

“It’s beautiful…”

Kusanagi stroked her back and waist, a hot, wet touch as she caressed her pubic mound through her panties. Kissing Hoshi’s neck and collarbone fiercely, her hand slipped into her panties and her honey pot was fully moist. Gently stroking the gaping slit with her fingers, she made a lewd sound. Hoshi ran her hands over Kusanagi’s back and sat up.

“May I?” Kusanagi asked.

She nodded and hugged Kusanagi tighter. A fierce gasp escaped Kusanagi’s ear as she nibbled lightly on her earlobe and removed her panties.

“Don’t be afraid…”

At that moment, Kusanagi received a violent blow to the back of his head. Before he fainted, he saw the figure of a thin man who took the crying Hoshi away.

First look for Miura, but no one answers the door. Go for Naomi! After ringing the electric bell, Naomi opened the door tiredly.

“I was so scared to be alone… It’s a good thing Mr. Ryazaki came.”

Naomi smiled and ushered Ryosaki into the living room. She seemed to be in very poor spirits, with dark circles under her eye frames.

Before telling her about the incident, Ryouzaki said, “This is just my guess, you can make your own judgment.” And says: the most suspicious person is Juniper.

“Do you know anything about him?”

“The… I… I don’t know.”

Naomi’s face still looked bad, and her eyes were even more vacant.

“Be careful with that man. Never open the door if he comes to you!”

“．．．”

“I’m going back.”

Naomi suddenly fell into a state of disorientation.

“Are you okay? Ms. Seto?”

Ryouzaki hastily shook Naomi’s shoulders as she regained consciousness.

“I’m sorry… I lost my concentration again.”

“Probably too tired to rest early!”

“Uh-huh.” Naomi staggered to her feet.

“Why don’t I help you into your room?”

After sitting her on the bed, she seemed to recover her spirits.

“Better, huh? I’m going back!”

“Don’t go!!!” Naomi screamed out, grabbing Ryouzaki’s arm.

“Can you… Can you stay here? Please…”

Naomi began to undress, sultrily stripping off her blouse, skirt, and petticoat one by one like a striptease. She took off her blouse, skirt, petticoat and petticoat one by one. Plump breasts were on display, and underneath the stockings were tight green panties. Ryouzaki swallowed his saliva, gradually aroused.

“Mr. Ryou, Mr. Ryouzaki… Sit here…”

He sat down on the edge of the bed.

“It’s so hot! Now… Do you want to do it?”

Naomi’s moist eyes gazed at Ryouzaki, and after removing her stockings and panties, she knelt in front of Ryouzaki.

“I… I want you…”

She spread Ryouzaki’s legs apart, unbuckled her belt, and pulled down her pants reflexes. She took hold of Ryouzaki’s erected member and took it in her mouth.

“Ahhhh, coo…”

The front teeth gently stroked the apex and the warm belly of the tongue caressed it. There was a cooing, cooing, cooing, cooing, cooing, cooing, cooing, cooing. Her head bobbed slowly up and down, saliva dripping from the corners of her mouth.

“Uh… Ahhhh…”

Ryosaki narrowed his eyes slightly, holding back the pleasure. Naomi was lost in the pleasure of the blowjob, and her right hand plunged into her secret place to stroke it. The sound of stroking her secret place and tongue play made Naomi frown even more passionately.

“The… “Ahh.. Uh-huh. Ahhhh…”

Naomi was relieved and would cup the root of the rod and lick the folds with the tip of her tongue. With her right hand still stroking the secret flesh, she oozed love juice. Taking a mouthful of meat into her throat, a paralyzing pleasure spread to Ryouzaki’s waist.

“Come do it…” Ryouzaki gasped as Naomi lifted her waist and sat on top of Ryouzaki.

“Ohhhh, so good…” Naomi’s tight secret part, Ryazaki felt a strong contraction.

“Ah, here…”

“Hurry… Faster!”

“Uh… Gotta go!!!”

“Ah, ah, all… Cum in me! Mmm…”

Ryouzaki ejaculated inside Naomi in one breath and felt a soothing sense of liberation. The two bodies did not separate as Naomi lay on her back weakly. Slowly, she took the pill next to the bed and took it in her mouth and kissed Ryouzaki.

“Uh, uh uh uh…” The pill went down Ryazaki’s throat.

“Ah, coo!?” Realizing something was wrong, he had swallowed the pill.

Ryouzaki’s vision became blurry and it didn’t take long for him to lose consciousness completely.

–Woke up in complete darkness. Ryouzaki got up and looked at his watch; it was the evening of the twenty-second day, and he didn’t realize that a whole day had passed.

“Damn it!”

Turning on the light, Naomi beside him was dead, with a letter beside her. Surprised, Ryouzaki examined Naomi’s stiff arm and sighed. (It was so soft yesterday…) Looking at the time, Naomi died after giving herself an eye-restorative drug, and there is no suspicious spot of death. There was blood in her mouth, like she died from poison.

If it was a homicide, after the autopsy, Ryouzaki would be the first to be suspected because semen would be detected in her body. At this time, Ryumiko Kakiguchi’s semen identification report will also be sent to the source.

If this letter was Naomi’s suicide note, could he get himself off the hook? Judging by the chain of events, he thought the chances of that were almost zero. Ryouzaki opens the letter, it is not Naomi’s suicide note, the recipient is himself.

You became a suspect in the murder of Naomi Seto. A chain of events I’ve been noticing. Remember the secret codex? That book records: the ancient method of mental manipulation. Modern applied psychology is nothing compared to it. There was also ‘forced magic’ in the Middle Ages, all ancient knowledge.

I used a spell to manipulate Naomi Seto into sleeping with you and then killing herself. Isn’t that great? You’re getting more and more suspicious. Come to me if you want your memory back. Aren’t you tracking me?

PS: Say hi to your partner for me. I protected Toukawashi’s chastity just in time when he was about to lay his hands on her, and I’ve taken Toukawashi with me.

After reading, the letter paper turned yellow and then turned to ashes.

“．．．”

Unbelievable. Tricked by Juniper. He really was the enigmatic figure who had caused the strange events related to his past. Ryouzaki’s thoughts were so confused that even breathing was difficult.

After his thoughts cleared a bit, he covered Naomi’s body with a plain white sheet.

When he returns to the room, he finds Kusanagi knocked out and no trace of Hoshi.

“A letter from Juniper, no joke…” Ryouzaki muttered.

After synthesizing the evidence, it is deduced that the murderer of the building’s serial killers is Juniper, but what is the motive for kidnapping Hee?

“Hey, Kusanagi… What’s that?”

I found a note on the wall that simply said “Penthouse”.

“What? Is that what’s on the top floor?”

“It could be…” Ryouzaki mused.

The paper in Kusanagi’s hand suddenly turned to ashes.

“Sure enough…”

“I can’t believe this is happening?”

Kusanagi squeezed the white ash in his hand, looking extremely puzzled, and said, “Calling us to the top floor… It’s a trap, isn’t it?”

“Even if it’s a trap, it can’t be helped, we have to save Hoshi.”

“Right! Hoshi’s gone!”

“The guy said, “When you’re going to do it to Hoshi.””

“That’s…”

Ryazaki looked at the embarrassed Kusanagi and said with a bitter smile, “It’s nothing, but you learned your lesson, didn’t you? If you’re not careful, you’ll even give your life away.”

“The prisoner could have killed us at any time, but didn’t. He took Hoshi specifically, so he shouldn’t kill her now… We don’t have any other choice now.” Ryouzaki said.

“That’s right…”

“Let’s go!”

Taking the elevator to the eighth floor and walking up the gloomy stairs, the two men stopped in their tracks.

“What’s that smell?”

“That’s nasty… does it stink of corpses?”

“Get to the top floor!” Kusanagi closed his mouth before he could finish.

“This, this!?” Ryouzaki looked up, unable to speak.

Miura’s corpse hangs from the door on the top floor. It was nailed at both wrists and hung high in a V-shape. The head hangs low, a pool of blood at his feet.

“Judging by the coagulated state of the blood, it should have been killed this morning. It’s strange that Gen and the others didn’t notice, what’s going on?”

“Akane isn’t coming either, still gathering information?”

“The killer’s sick mind is beyond comprehension…”

The two men stifled a wave of gagging as they unloaded Miura’s body.

Ryouzaki and Kusanagi arrived at the appointed place as promised.

“Although I don’t know your purpose, but, release Toukawashi quickly!”

Ryouzaki shouted… At that moment, two figures appeared by the dimly lit water tower. The two men were holding Akane at gunpoint. It was Mina holding Akane at gunpoint.

“You… You’re Juniper’s accomplice!?”

Mignonne smiled silently and said, “I just happened to be aligned with Juniper’s interests. Only helped him this time, the rest was done by Juniper himself.”

“Where is he now?”

“It’s too late. Probably already left Japan?”

“What!?”

As she approached Mignonette, she threatened, “Don’t come any closer! Listen to me before I tell you where Juniper went.”

Menehune narrated calmly:

Twenty-one years ago, Mirai worked for the same pharmaceutical company as Hirata and Miura. Her husband, who was newly married at the time, was the director of the drug development department, and was also Hirata’s and Miura’s boss. At that time, the ‘growth agent’ developed was a drug that could rapidly slow down the evolution of organisms. This drug was much more effective than those developed in Europe and the United States at the same time. Hirata and his team were confident that they would be able to enter the international market with this drug.

Mirai’s husband believes that the development of the new drug should be stopped and disagrees with Hirata. As a result, the couple is forced to become human subjects for the new drug. Her husband died immediately due to the strong side effects. Miraculously, however, Mirai survived, but her appearance remained the same as it was at the time, and she never aged.

“Can’t believe I’m forty-five, can you? I’m a demon who doesn’t age, only with loneliness and despair. I can’t die even after slitting my wrists many times…”

Mene said: she was pregnant at the time and the baby could never be born.

“The fetus has been inside me for twenty-one years and I have not had a miscarriage or abortion. The poor child was thus deprived of its right to be born….. I still have to avenge my husband who died on the operating table!”

Menehune’s hatred is the trigger for a string of murders.

“I worked on intelligence searches and finally found my husband’s murderers and killed them… In the end, only Hirata and Miura were left. Two weeks ago, Juniper showed up and made a deal with me: he would help me kill Hiruta and Miura, and I would provide him with information on Yoru Speedwell, Hoshi Toukawa, and Satoshi Ryouzaki.

“You accept his offer?”

“As long as I kill Hirata and the others and avenge my husband and child. I don’t even care about the unrelated Satou family and the murder of Miko Kakiguchi…”

“Why did you kill the Sato family?”

“That was an after-party played by Juniper to challenge you.”

“An aftershow?” Ryouzaki couldn’t believe it.

“He made a game out of killing people, and killing the administrator as well. He killed Ando too, to disrupt the police case, and the body was in the other elevator.”

“Ryumiko… She was killed too? She had nothing to do with it!”

“Not unrelated. You… You did it with her, didn’t you? Juniper was going to kill Akane, too, but I stopped him…”

Akane blushed profusely.

“I should thank you for that…”

“No, you must think: I’m as inhuman as Juniper, right?” Mione said bitterly.

“That guy’s got superpowers… He can make paper turn to dust, and he’s a hypnotist…”

“Why did he deal with me?”

“I don’t know, he said: after he kills Miura, he’ll go to Maine.”

“Miura’s body, on that side of the door.” Ryouzaki pointed to the door.

“Yeah… It’s all over…”

Mirai sighed deeply and said to Akane, “Go back to Satoshi.”

Akira darted over to Ryosaki.

“Brother…”

“Are you okay…?”

At this point–

“Hoshi! Where’s Hoshi!!!” Yao yelled as he rushed open the door.

Mione replied calmly, “She’s not here, she was taken away by Juniper.”

“Why did he kidnap Hoshi!?”

“I don’t know. All he said was, ‘It’s necessary,’ and, ‘When Ryouzaki regains his memory, he’ll track me down, maybe not in time for the ‘Final Day Sacrifice’.”

“Final Day Sacrifice? What’s that?” Yao glared at Ryouzaki.

“I’m sorry, I… Lost my memory.”

“Ahhhh… What should I do!?”

Ryouzaki told her, “I’m also responsible for this, I’ll definitely help save Hi-chan… Will the police let you back in?”

“Received a call that the culprit had turned himself in, so acquitted Ms. Speedwater.”

“Pistil Mene, put the gun down!”

It’s the duo of Gen and Terada.

“Thank you for writing down the details of the incident and telling the police…. Also, you provided the information about yesterday’s gun smuggling, didn’t you?”

“Yes. To keep the police from coming to this apartment to investigate…”

Terada aimed his gun at Mione, and she aimed it back at Terada, edging backward.

“Uncle Gen, please!” Ryouzaki gave Gen a wink.

Gen said, “Terada… It’s not a good idea to start a gunfight here.”

Terada lowered his gun helplessly.

Mione murmured with relief, “Juniper said: the key to everything is in the ‘Black Breaks’.”

“The Black… Broken Badge!?”

“Chung, remember our agreement?”

“The… You’re going to ask me?”

Mignon put the gun to his temple.

“Cong… I love you. Please don’t look at me when I’m dead.” Gently pulling the trigger.

“I’m tired! Bye… Satoshi.”

Menehune’s body crashed down the stairs with a loud thud.

“Terada, call an ambulance!!!”

Gen and Terada ran toward the stairs. Ryouzaki and his party, stood frozen and speechless.

Then, Ryougasaki is trying to unlock the secret of the ‘Black Sequence’ and recover his lost memories. While Ryouzaki is trying to unlock the secret of the ‘Black Sequence’ and recover his lost memories, Kusanagi and Yoru are also desperate to rescue Hoshi, and Akane, who is an assistant in the famous Ryouzaki Detective Agency, so….

A group of four, embarked on a journey to Maine.

Chapter 6: Going to the United States

April 27 evening. Ryouzaki and the others traveled to Liffa Banks in southern Maine. A small town with a rural atmosphere and a cold climate. Ryouzaki drove his car through the desolate land.

“It’s kind of scary in here yeah!” Yao said quietly.

“This is where the British first came. In addition to the European-style buildings, the remains of the Aborigines, and the mysterious ring of stones. It’s a mysterious place.”

“Brother… You used to live here?” Akane had changed her name to Ryouzaki ‘brother’.

“Never lived there. It’s… Investigating cases…”

Ryouzaki had been reminiscing about the events of six years ago for the past few days. Akane was silent, she already knew about her parents being killed here.

“Here it is! This is ‘Hell’s Half Acre’!!!” Ryouzaki yelled.

Nestled on a small hill was a beautiful house. The other three were relieved and tried to get out of the car when Ryouzaki stopped them, “Until six years ago, this place was known as the ‘Mad Weist Institute’. It’s a scary place that people are afraid to approach, so be careful!”

“… Weist?”

“I can’t think of anything else. It’s amazing how it turned out… I was shocked too!”

Shiny sign, a few lights inside, looks like someone is inside.

“Maybe Hoshi is being held here, hurry up and get in!”

“No. Maybe it’s a trap.” Ryouzaki said uneasily.

Yao urged, “….. Go inside! Mr. Ryazaki.”

It’s an American-style bar where an old man drinks alone. No sign of Hee or Juniper.

“Huh? Who are you guys? Bill!!! There’s four strange guests oooh!!!” The old man shouted as he glanced at Ryosaki and the others.

“Dad, stop yelling! I’m busy in the kitchen…”

The tall, burly man who ran out stopped in surprise at the sight of Ryouzaki. “Satoshi… Is it really you?”

Ryouzaki was equally surprised. “Bill?… You’re Bill?”

The man smiled wryly. He was a news reporter here six years ago, providing information and acting together with Ryouzaki. But, for some reason, he had lost his memories of that time just like Ryouzaki.

“Bill asked uneasily, “You… You didn’t come here for me, did you?”

“Ah, the truth is…” The events of the incident were explained to him.

He was silent for a moment and smiled, “I’ve lived here for over five years! Quit my job as a journalist, bought the land here with my pension and turned this room into a restaurant. Never even saw the juniper you speak of…”

“Why are you setting up store here?”

“I don’t know… In fact, I can’t believe you killed your favorite Lola.”

Hearing the name of Ryouzaki’s former lover, Akane showed a confused expression.

“Because of that incident, the price of land here plummeted… I was able to realize my dream of opening a store. The first floor is a bar, and the second floor is a room where you can stay.”

“Thank you…”

Ryouzaki and Kusanagi, Akane and Yao, men and women were each given a room. The next morning, Kusanagi awoke from a light sleep and stared out the window. Kusanagi woke up from a light sleep and stared out the window.

Ryouzaki asked, “You’re worried about Hoshi, aren’t you?”

“Ryazaki, hurry up and do something!”

“If Juniper’s aim is me, he must be hiding in the shadows watching us. Before the ‘Final Day Sacrifice’, Hoshi should still be safe…”

Kusanagi isn’t so optimistic, believing Juniper to be a brutal murderer.

“Why would Juniper want to deal with you?”

“I don’t know… yet… I can only remember a little bit! Six years ago… My girlfriend Lola and Akane’s parents were killed here. We have to find out the truth today, don’t we?”

“What about Hoshi…”

“I know you’re worried. But this whole thing has to be done step by step…”

“Okay.”

“Discuss it with Akane and Bill! You need to eat more so you can keep your battle strength up!”

After the four of them had finished breakfast, they consulted with Bill, who had no recollection of the key to the events of six years ago.

“I don’t remember where in the house that incident occurred? Maybe remembering it is too much to live in? By the way, I have a slight memory: you and I woke up in an abandoned church in the suburbs.”

“Abandoned… Church?”

“It was a ruin, but there is a new priest. When the residents tried to tear down the house, it was a good thing they had his help to keep it from being torn down. You can go meet him and check out the library if you want to investigate this incident.”

“I know.”

“Perkins, the security officer who arrested you then, is still in office. He knows you’re here, and he’s bound to come looking for trouble. You have to be careful!”

“I will.”

Ryazaki goes to the library with Kusanagi and Akane, leaving Yao to stay at the hotel and rest.

The library’s special reading room displays a collection of books on magic, spells and folk beliefs, and spirituality.

Ms. Cindy, the curator, explains, “There are more psychic books here than in Mickataw and Harvard!”

Finding information about the ‘Final Day Sacrifice’ means that ‘the eve of May 1 is the most plus time to perform spiritual rituals.’

Today is April 28th, only two days left before May 1st.

(Damn it, there’s not enough time…!!!) Ryouzaki’s headache was caused by anxiety, and his mind was burning like a flame. Closing his eyes, he vividly visualized: the scene at that time.

Six years ago, he was commissioned by a university to find the whereabouts of Akira’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Kashiwagi. The result of the investigation: they had disappeared from the Half Acre Pavilion (then the ‘Mad Weist Institute’). Then, Ryouzaki and Lola and Bill infiltrated the house….

The night of April 30th was also the ‘Final Day Sacrifice’ six years ago. The bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Kashiwagi and Lola were found, while Ryazaki and Bill were in a state of extreme shock. Both lost their memories. Ryouzaki, who was in a more severe state of shock, was taken into custody by the local police as a suspect.

It’s a case of biracial discrimination, isn’t it? Without a detailed investigation, Ryazaki was prosecuted and convicted. He was found not guilty because he was in a state of psychosis, and was sent to a psychiatric hospital. In the hospital, where he was treated in a harsh manner, Ryazaki survived. Although he never regained his memory, he was still living in a state of doubt that he was a psychopath. However, he lived in fear of being suspected of being a murderer.

Ryouzaki fell into painful memories as Kusanagi and Akane silently walked over to him.

Ryouzaki mused, “It doesn’t come back to me completely, but I did see it: the scene where Juniper laughed maniacally in front of the girl’s corpse…”

“．．．！？”

“I’m sure it has something to do with what happened six years ago…”

“Niinii…” Akane said sadly.

Ryouzaki muttered to himself, “No matter what… I’m going to stop him this time!”

　　　　＊　　　　　　　　　　　＊　　　　　　　　　　　＊

The sky suddenly dimmed as we approached the church.

Father Michael, a young black priest, was in an outdoor pulpit, addressing the faithful with a hearty speech, “Praise God! Go preach the truth of God. Souls will come again! The kingdom of God will be yours…”

Not like a worship service, but like a black mass-like frenzied spectacle.

“That’s scary…” Akane was a little scared.

Talking to Michael, he smiled and said, “The end of the century is approaching and hearts are decadent. That’s why the gods who can re-establish order are needed.”

Doubts welled up in Ryouzaki’s mind: Christianity was a monotheistic religion, so how could it say ‘gods’? But, he did not pursue the question.

At the restaurant where information was exchanged in the evening, a pair of handsome men and women were walking down and winked at Ryouzaki. The woman had a hot body and wiggled her hips sensuously.

Ryouzaki looked at her, and Akane said unhappily, “Horny bastard! I don’t care what happens if you get hooked up with that sultry woman!”

“Hahaha… Akane was right. That girl’s name is Amy, she’s a college student from Seattle. She lives here now, and has a complicated heterosexual relationship…”

Ryouzaki averted his eyes and asked Bill about the other travelers. Besides Emmy and the handsome Clark, there was the old man Bojack, whom he had met on his first day.

“And Karl, the German archaeologist, came two months ago.”

All four are lodged here.

“Bill, do you remember a skinny man?”

“Uh~… I’m sorry, I don’t remember. But… I remember the glow.”

“Radiance…?!” Ryouzaki’s eyes lit up as Bill’s body suddenly shook unsteadily.

“Bill, are you okay?” Ryouzaki and Kusanagi yelled.

He shook his head and smiled, “I get a headache every time I think of something. Satoshi… Do you get them too?”

“Me too…”

Kusanagi thought: It’s very suspicious that both of them would lose their memories of the same event….

Back in her room, Kusanagi said anxiously, “There’s no time! Hoshi’s about to become a sacrificial offering… If we don’t save her soon, it’ll be too late!”

“Calm down! Panicking is not the way to go.”

Ryouzaki said persuasively, “Kusanagi, can you wait a little longer? I’m about to remember what happened six years ago… Give me a little more time.”

“Okay… Another question: what exactly is the ‘Black Breaks’ that Mione is referring to?”

Ryouzaki was silent for two minutes before speaking, “Mikatsu University has entrusted me with a mission: to find the whereabouts of Mr. and Mrs. Kashiwagi. Ostensibly, but actually to find out something more important.”

“The Black Breaks?”

“Right… Mr. and Mrs. Kashiwagi lost the message after the message was sent from this house residence: ‘Black’s Broken Seal’ was found.”

Ryouzaki said slowly, “In the world of spells, there is a book of magic written by Arzad: ‘The Secret Laws of the Necromancer’. It’s a huge book with more than thirty chapters. It was banned in all eras, so there is no complete copy. The translators then organized the chapters into ‘Broken Chapters’ for the parts they needed…the ‘Broken Chapters of Black’.”

Kusanagi listened incredulously.

“The ‘Fourteenth Book’ of the ‘Secret Laws of the Dead’ is a dangerous document that is forbidden to be read even at the University of Mickataw. Juniper must be… He must be using it for some kind of conspiracy.”

“There’s this… Horrible literature…” Kusanagi’s voice trembled.

“I just remembered that too.” Ryouzaki sighed.

“Come back to the library tomorrow and ask Ms. Cindy!”

“I’m sorry. You’ve gone to a lot of trouble to remember the past…”

“It’s okay, you’re doing it for your beloved.”

Kusanagi blushed at that and averted her eyes.

Chapter 7: The Demon Woman

Coming to the room of the archaeologist Carl, Carl says: “This is a place of mystery. The ancient ruins of the ring of stones on the outskirts of the city have been dated to 22,000 years ago… If it’s true, it’s the oldest building in the world.”

Kusanagi asked in disbelief, “Excuse me: what is the purpose of the ancient ruins?”

“It is said: monks used to perform rituals at the Ringed Listed Stones for the resurrection of the flesh, and I do not believe in such legends.”

Go to old man Boje, who is slightly red in the cheeks from drinking. Boje is of French descent and recognizes himself as being discriminated against for living here. But, unwilling to leave this place.

“You love this town, don’t you?”

“Yes, this is the land where I grew up. The quiet countryside has its share of scary mysteries!”

Ryouzaki and Kusanagi looked at each other.

“What mystery?”

Bojack explains that a reanimated zombie was once seen to appear, and the police shot it into a beehive before it collapsed to the ground. Ergo, he drones on and on, before walking out of the room after a while.

When Ryazaki arrived at the restaurant, he looked at the bustling scene and said to Bill, “Bill, you seem to be having a lot of fun being a barkeep!”

“Yeah. But when I think of the past…. If you’re going to ask me: why are we still in this place?”

“Don’t be paranoid. Has there been another killing here?”

Ryazaki pulls out a LUCKY STRIKE.

“Want a match?”

“Exempt!”

Ryazaki pulled out his Zippo lighter and lit it.

“Nice lighter ahoy!” Bill muttered as Kusanagi snickered.

“Mr. Kusanagi, what are you laughing at?”

“This lighter, it was a birthday gift from Akira two years ago. He’s been keeping it very carefully!”

“Did you say the girl?… Looks like you’ve gotten over your grief over losing Lola.”

Ryazaki put away the lighter and said, “She’s… to me… Just a troublesome little girl.”

“Don’t say that! Satoshi, young people have to capitalize on their youth!” Bill shook with laughter.

“With this trouble, a little rest is not in order! Kusanagi, let’s go.” Ryouzaki hurriedly stood up while Kusanagi and Bill let out a loud laugh.

“If you want to talk to this old man, stay here!” Ryouzaki angrily walked towards the stairs.

“Hey, wait a minute! I haven’t finished my drink yet…” Kusanagi chased after him in a panic.

Ryouzaki knocked on the door of Akane and Yao’s room. To tell Yao about: the ‘Black Break’ related to the events of six years ago, the ‘Final Day Sacrifice’ in two days, and the Kashiwagi couple and Hoshi.

Yao came to answer the door listlessly.

“Akane and Kusanagi, please step outside for a moment.”

“Why? Can’t I be here?” Akane asked.

“Right. I need to talk to Yao alone.”

Akane wore a displeased expression and left the room with Kusanagi.

Ryouzaki and Yao finished the story, mentioning Juniper, “He took Hoshi for some purpose, if… something happens to her, I’ll be sorry! If anything happens to her, I’ll have a bad conscience!”

Yoru suddenly burst into shaky tears, and Ryouzaki stroked her shoulder and said, “Don’t be too upset… It’s not good for your health…”

Yao silently leaned against Ryouzaki’s chest and whispered, “Ryouzaki-san, are you blaming yourself for Hoshi’s capture because you think it’s your responsibility? And agonizing over the memories and Akane…. I would have thought that I, who lost Hoshi, would be the most deserving of sympathy, I was just too selfish.”

“We all have bad hearts, but we shouldn’t give up hope, okay?”

“Uh…”

“I’m going back!”

Instead, Yao hugged Ryosaki tighter.

“Mr. Ryazaki… Will you please comfort me?”

“No, I can’t…”

“Lesbians aren’t only allowed to have sex with women! I’m sorry to do this to Akane, but all I can ask is that you…”

The passionate breath that Yao exhaled aroused Ryouzaki’s arousal. However, at that moment, the image of Akane’s loving expression floated in his mind. Akane’s pitiful expression.

“I’m sorry, I… I’m in no position to do that.”

“Please, just once.”

“I can understand you wanting to forget everything, but, it takes courage to face reality.”

“．．．”

Ryouzaki hugged Yao’s shoulders and smiled, “If you don’t cheer up, you’ll be laughed at by Hoshi!”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Hoshi is suffering and I’m…. Mr. Ryazaki, thank you, I feel much better.”

“The… Close your eyes.”

“Huh?”

After Yao closed her eyes, Ryazaki kissed her lightly on the lips.

“Ryou, Ryouzaki-san!?”

As Yao looked surprised, Ryouzaki stood up in embarrassment, “I’m in a better mood, don’t tell anyone about this!”

“No way…” Yao wiped her face sheepishly.

“Ah, Akane’s parents, she’s still…”

“She doesn’t know yet, does she? Mr. Ryouzaki, you should tell her.”

“The… I think so.”

Ryazaki went back to his room to look out over the night, and a drunken Kusanagi crawled back in.

“Hey, why are you drinking like that?”

Kusanagi sat down and sighed as Akane ran off to drink in jealousy after being kicked out of her room by General Ryouzaki.

“Poor Akane. She’s still drinking with Bill and the others! And trying to get me drunk…”

“That, hard work!”

“Why don’t you explain? What was done to Yao?”

“You think I’d go after her?”

“That’s good. I’m a little worried about Akane…. I’m sleepy, I’m going to bed!”

Kusanagi collapsed on the bed, and Ryouzaki laughed bitterly at his drunken state as he lay down beside him. However, it had been impossible to fall asleep. When he closed his eyes, the scene of Yao’s sorrowful confession came to mind. After a while, there was a knock on the door. Ryouzaki jumped up, it was two in the morning.

“Who is it? The door is unlocked!” Ryouzaki shouted to the door, which opened, and the visitor turned out to be Emmy.

“He’s not my boyfriend, but he keeps pestering me, it’s annoying! Mr. Chung… Can I sit next to you?”

The man Amy was referring to was Clark, right? She didn’t wait for Ryouzaki to answer, and entered the room with a loud voice, sitting down next to Ryouzaki.

“The… Why don’t you take me to my room? It’ll help me when I run into that Clark guy!” She whispered in her ear. A strong mixture of perfume and body odor stung her nose. Her blue eyes and shiny blonde hair were a great way to arouse male desire.

“Alright, I’ll go as soon as I’m ready!” Ryouzaki replied, but inwardly he couldn’t help but curse himself.

When we got to Amy’s room, she asked, “What’ll it be? Coffee, beer, or bourbon?”

She sat Ryouzaki on the edge of the bed and said, “Tell me something about Japan?”

Amy took two cans of beer out of the refrigerator and opened one and handed it to Ryouzaki.

“What do you want to know?”

“Oh, it’s that… The Japanese one. The Japanese one. Yeah!”

Amy put her hands on Ryouzaki’s shoulders and stroked his chest… And then slowly from the side of his stomach to the center of his femur.

“You… Want to talk to my dick?”

“No? I… I want to know what it’s like to have sex with a Japanese man, just once!”

Without waiting for him to answer, she pulled down Ryazaki’s pants girdle and pulled her already hardened member out by the panties, caressing it up and down. Amy was really a slutty girl, as Bill had said. Her wet, soft tongue licked the sensitive part of the burning flesh, and her skillful blowjob filled Ryouzaki’s medulla with paralyzing pleasure.

“Hey… Wait!” Ryouzaki pushed her away slightly.

“Amy… How old are you?”

“Eighteen, why do you ask?”

“Ten… Eighteen years old…?” Two years younger than Akane, but already a seasoned veteran.

“Chung… Take it all off!”

Amy removed Ryouzaki’s shirt and pants one by one.

“Tonight… Let me do whatever I want!”

She pressed her plump breasts against Ryazaki, her right hand caressing the lewd rod and her left arm around his neck.

“The Japanese guy’s… It’s so hard!”

She kept licking at Ryosaki’s neck and chest. When she licked up to the belly button

“Ah, uh…” Ryazaki swung his hips to hold back.

“So big… It doesn’t lose a beat!”

Compared to who? Before Ryazaki could ask, Amy’s lips had already wrapped around her part by the root, and her hands were rubbing the pouch hard… As if he was being raped by her, Ryazaki gasped fiercely. Her lips and tongue stimulated the folds, making sticky noises.

Undeterred, Ryouzaki formed a 69 position with Emmy and licked her secret spot. As the sticky love juice flowed out, Ryazaki licked it clean.

“Wow… So good!”

Amy spread her legs wide and matched Ryouzaki’s movements. She was getting great pleasure and the movement of her tongue slowed down.

“You can’t stop in the middle!” Ryouzaki reminded her as Emmy’s lips took in the puffy apex, her former teeth nipping gently.

“Ahhhh… Haaah, I can’t!!!” Emmy’s consciousness drifted away, unable to continue blowing her horn.

“Satoshi, that feels good! Ahhhh… if you don’t mind… Come from behind!!!” She gasped and demanded Ryouzaki.

Amy lies prone as Ryouzaki inserts the gooey juice and saliva stained hunk of meat into the wet secret pussy. Ryouzaki makes lewd noises as he continues his pistoning motion.

“Ahhhhhhhh~! So good~!” She screamed fiercely and wildly, her shining blonde hair flying in the air as she twisted her waist greatly. With Ryouzaki’s thrusts, and Emmy’s wildly petulant cries, her fruity nectar dripped down in an unending stream, staining Ryouzaki’s lower abdomen and thighs.

“Yelp… I’m going… Uh, I’m gonna have an orgasm! Satoshi, come on… Cum in there!!!”

The contractions in her vagina became so intense that Ryazaki felt a tingling even in the back of her waist that traveled straight to her spinal cord and the back of her head.

“May… May I?” Ryouzaki mumbled a question.

“It’s okay!!!”

“Uh-huh…” Matching the rhythm of the drumming, Ryouzaki’s doppelganger instantly exploded.

“Ah, ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah~!!!” Emmy bent her back backwards and let out a passionate cry.

–The foreign girl, though active and enthusiastic, ended up being quite dry.

With a tired expression, she showed a contented look, “That’s great! Satoshi. But… Hehehe, I’m exhausted!”

Amy didn’t seem to want to go to the shower and lay across the bed.

“Me too…. I don’t want to lose to the foreign devils!”

“You’re so strong…. More powerful than Europeans and Americans. Hoo… Shall we sleep together?”

“I’m going back.”

“Yeah?” Emmy didn’t Royally show her displeasure, covering her body with a towel and falling asleep a little while later.

“The… Good night.” Ryouzaki said bitterly, glancing at his watch, only two hours left until dawn.

(Another busy day tomorrow!) He said darkly to himself.

Woken up in the morning by intense rapping on the door. Here it comes: the Perkins security officer he never wanted to see again in his life. Turns out that old man Bojack is in another bar in town, dying of heart paralysis.

The old man is usually drunk, but last night he was drunk…. His companions tried to bring him back, but he drove them away, like he was afraid to come back. I thought there must be something here. I didn’t realize it was you.”

Thinking that Bojack’s death had something to do with him, Ryazaki asked, “What did the old man say?”

“It’s just drunken nonsense about ‘Don’t go near hell!'”

Ryouzaki scrunched his face slightly, remembering what Bojack had said: ‘The story of the zombies’.

“Do you have a clue?”

“We don’t know Elder Boje well. But, did ask him something last night.”

“What is it?”

“Sorry, no offense.”

Perkins said without moving, “It’s okay if you don’t say anything. But I don’t welcome you here…. It seems like something will happen again, and I hope I’m being paranoid.”

After Perkins leaves, Ryazaki eats a full meal to store up his strength for the next move. The four left the bar and went to find Michael for the old man Bojack’s funeral. As they approach the church, the clear skies gray out again. Maiko readily agrees to the funeral service.

“Tomorrow night is special for us, there is a rally, are you guys coming?”

There was no time for any kind of gathering at this point. But his words about a ‘special night’ caught Ryouzaki’s attention.

“Anything special?”

“We’ll find out tomorrow… Bye.” Michael said with a fake smile.

“Strange… The weather’s gotten better again.” After leaving the church, Akane mumbled.

Entering the library and asking Ms. Cindy about Half Acre Pavilion, she pulled out the paperwork. According to the records, Weist, the last owner of Half Acre Pavilion, graduated with honors in medicine from the University of Massachusetts, Middlesex. In 1915, he served in World War I as a military doctor. Despite his excellence during his college years, he was ostracized by his professors. The reason: Weist’s passion for researching the ‘reanimation of corpses’, which is against human decency.

He continued to adhere to his ideas even though he was ordered by the university to stop his research. At that time, there were a number of incidents where bodies were lost. Weist returned to the area again in nineteen thirty-nine, during the Second World War. He bought the ‘haunted house’ and lived in it with an assistant. The legend of the haunted house, combined with the strange scientists, led to the house becoming known as the ‘Mad Weist Institute’.

In 1950, the Weist house was broken into and Weist’s body was found, but his assistant was missing. A graduation group photo from the University of Middletown includes a picture of Dr. Weist.

As Ryouzaki looked at it, he said, “There doesn’t seem to be a relationship between him, us, and Juniper.”

“Wait, look closely!!!” Yao yelled.

The crowd looked at the figure she was pointing at and screamed together, “It’s Juniper!?”

The person in the photo is extremely similar to Juniper.

“It’s a 1904 photo, it’s not Juniper… It’s his grandfather or great-grandfather, right?” Kusanagi explained.

“Kusanagi…” Ryouzaki’s expression was dark, Kusanagi instantly understood what he meant, and Akane and Yao nodded. Corpses come back to life – undead life. But, no one could say it.

Another question to Cindy: “The book ‘The Secret Law of Necromancy’.

“It’s a document that guards your will, what do you want to know? If you don’t get it right you could even lose your life!” Cindy laughed. And Turbulence: the archaeologist, Carl, had asked the same question.

“Why is that archaeologist…?” Kusanagi cocked her head in confusion.

Ryouzaki muttered, “Could it be, that guy is related to Juniper?”

“We don’t know anything! What does Juniper have to do with the Necromancy…? What does it have to do with anything?” Akane said anxiously.

“What did he kidnap Hoshi for…? What is it?” Yao muttered to himself as well.

At this point, Cindy suddenly said, “The Black… The Black Breaks… It’s the ‘Fourteenth Book’!?”

“Yeah, you know what?”

She said indifferently, “Regeneration, soul-returning spells, reanimation of the dead, and fusion with the living, are all spells in the ‘Necromancy Mysteries’…. The ‘Fourteenth Book’, on the other hand, records the highest level of human secret techniques. It is extremely terrifying literature.”

“Another corpse coming back to life!!!”

Ryouzaki thought: why do we need Hoshi’s flesh? Perhaps in Western magic, some sort of catalyst is needed, the most powerful of which is ‘virgin’s blood’…. On the way back, Ryouzaki gripped the steering wheel tightly.

“Damn, seems to be a bit of a clue.” He bit his lip in indignation.

Kusanagi asked, “Let’s go back to the bar first and organize the information…”

“I… I can’t believe it. The ritual requires virgin blood… But other than that, there’s no reason for Hoshi to be kidnapped.” Yao’s voice almost cried out.

“There should have been a clearer reason for Juniper to kidnap Hoshi. I… I’m trying to think.”

“Niinii, I can’t understand it more and more…” Akane said, shaking her head.

By this time ‘Hell’s Half Acre’ was close at hand.

“There must be some secret here…”

“Ryazaki, why don’t we go search the house residence?”

“Yes!”

Go to the far right side of the third floor, to the door of Elder Bojack’s room.

“Waaaah!!!” The door opened and Kusanagi, who was standing in front of it, was bounced a few feet away.

“What… What happened?” Kusanagi fell on all fours and frowned.

“Oh, Kusanagi, I’m sorry…” Bill, the giant man who ran out of the room, apologized in an exaggerated manner.

“You’re back! Satoshi… I remembered something big!” Bill Strong pushed the four into the old man’s room.

“I was going through Bojack’s belongings, and when I entered the room, I had a sudden headache…. Come to think of it: this is the room where the incident began six years ago.” He lifted the bedpan in the corner of one wall, and steps to the ground floor appeared.

“Satoshi, you remember, right? These stairs lead down to the basement…”

(LAUGHS) That’s right! The vision that often occurs when you walk down the stairs!) Ryouzaki’s eyes opened wide, his mind finally clearing up.

“Six years ago, you and I and Lola, we snuck into the basement and saw something horrible. Poor Lola, trying to get us to escape…” As Bill spoke, Ryazaki’s consciousness was gradually awakened. –Satoshi. I love you. –I love you too! –Run away! Satoshi! Bill! –Bill!

“Ryazaki!?”

“Satoshi!?”

“Mr. Ryouzaki!?”

“Brother! What’s wrong with you!?”

Kusanagi, Bill, Yao, and Akane yelled as Ryazaki fainted.

Ryouzaki woke up at ten o’clock on the night of April 29th. Three hours after passing out in Elder Bojack’s room. Before his eyes was Akane’s reassuring expression.

“… Uh, is that you?”

“Who do you think it is? Everyone’s worried about you.”

After Ryouzaki passes out, Kusanagi and Bill move him back to his room to discuss sneaking into the basement tomorrow.

“Mr. Kusanagi and Ms. Yao wanted to go to the basement right away. Bill says it’s too dangerous to go now…. Mr. Kusanagi has gone to bed, and he asked me to take care of you tonight.” Akane’s face flushed.

“Yes… Thank you all.”

“Brother, I forgot to tell you: the other lodgers are missing!”

“What?”

“And: Mr. Carr, the archaeologist, Bill inquired at his school: there is no such person!”

“Really?”

“The situation is too complicated. And… I don’t understand what’s going on in my brother’s mind.”

“What don’t you know?”

“Forget it! Mr. Kusanagi says: He wants you to meet him in the dining room at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow, then head down to the basement to rescue Hoshi. But he won’t let me go with Ms. Yao… I don’t care! I have to go with you!”

“I can’t! You…”

“Because I’m a girl? I came here because I wanted to help! When you were in Japan, you were alone and in pain, and I knew all about it.”

“．．．”

“Would I get in your way? Can’t help at all?” Akane cried out.

“No… The basement is too dangerous, and that guy Juniper…”

“Even if it’s dangerous, I’m staying with you! No matter what…” Akane screamed stubbornly as she stuck her hands on her hips.

Ryouzaki understood completely. Akane was no longer the child she was six years ago, but a woman with a mature mind. (It’s time to explain it to her…) Ryouzaki got up and sat side by side with Akane on the edge of the bed.

“Your parents died in that basement. I don’t want you anywhere near it. And I’m in no position to ask for forgiveness for the irreparable sins I’ve committed against you. If I put you in danger again, I…”

Akane cried loudly with excitement. Ryouzaki looked at her silently. It was an undeniable fact that Ryouzaki had been there when both of her parents had been killed.

“Brother… You’re not the one who killed my parents!”

“But…”

“The police didn’t know about Juniper at the time. Maybe he controlled you to kill my parents like he controlled Naomi…. That’s different!”

Ryouzaki was taken aback.

“Akane…”

Akane’s bloodshot eyes looked at the wretched Ryouzaki and smiled sadly. Without thinking, Ryouzaki wrapped Akane in his arms. Her body stiffened slightly, and she breathed heavily…. After a moment, she relaxed and leaned meekly into Ryazaki’s arms. The passion in Ryouzaki’s chest turned into impulsive instinct.

As she was about to speak, Akane whispered, “I must go with you tomorrow.”

“But…”

“It’s dangerous, isn’t it? You said, ‘Because I love you, I can’t let you take the risk’… I’ll consider not going!”

“What… what…”

Akane lifted her face, no longer crying, and said with a firm expression to Ryouzaki, “I… I love you so much, brother! At that time, when I learned of the death of my parents, who I had been estranged from since I was a child, and became an orphan, I was worried about my future…”. Then you came along, wearing sunglasses and being kind of cool… I was scared, but then you said you’d adopt me. It was like a movie, wasn’t it?” She laughed bitterly and spat out her tongue.

“I know you’re not good at expressing your feelings, but you’re a good person…. You took care of me like a brother, and slowly I… I fell in love with you. I was so happy when I found out that when I turned 20, my child support obligation would be lifted! I wanted to be your assistant! It’s true!”

“But…”

“I have decided. I was indeed shocked when I realized: my parents were killed here. I can never forgive Juniper! That’s why I’m going with you as soon as tomorrow.”

Ryouzaki was moved to hug Akane tightly again.

“Do you hate me, brother?” She didn’t have to look at Ryouzaki.

(Actually…) I’m not sure what I’m talking about. But what would it do to Akane’s happiness if I said it out loud…?)

“I… I…”

“Honestly, brother!”

Ryouzaki looked at her sincere expression and resolved to spit out his true feelings by hiding his true feelings.

“I admit defeat! My heart is with you.”

Akane shed a tear.

“Don’t cry, silly!”

“But, this is my happiest day!”

“Take out the word ‘most’ and we’ll be happier! We’ll be happier!”

Akane wiped away her tears with Ryouzaki’s shirt. The two of them leaned in extremely close, her eyes flashing and her cheeks flushed as she said enthusiastically, “Brother… Hug me!”

“Hey…”

“I don’t know about your old girlfriend. But, I would love you more than her…”

Ryouzaki couldn’t help the tears that welled up in his eyes as he removed his sunglasses, no longer having to hide his expression.

“I’ll put the past behind me, and Lola, in heaven, hopes so, doesn’t she?”

“The… Hmm.” Akane nodded, lying flat on her back.

Ryouzaki stroked her long hair as she looked straight at him and said, “I… I’ve been waiting for this day, and I don’t regret doing it.”

“I know your heart!” Ryouzaki kissed Akane’s slightly parted lips.

“Uh…”

The two kissed deeply and long as Ryazaki unbuttoned her blouse and Akane obediently closed her eyes.

Ryouzaki looked at her and suddenly asked, “Don’t… You don’t have any experience?”

“Of course! I’ve been around you the whole time, don’t you know? Retard!” Akane whipped her head around.

“No, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize! It’s so annoying…”

“．．．”

“Ah~, the atmosphere was so good just now.”

“Go on?”

“Idiot, I’m really angry!” After saying that, she glared at Ryouzaki again, “I’m telling you: women are… What you decide doesn’t change!”

Akane wrapped her arms around Ryouzaki’s neck and kissed him on the lips again.

Chapter 8: The Madman

April 30th…. The day of the ‘Final Day Sacrifice’. Early in the morning, a group of people would dive into the complete darkness of the underground. After a simple breakfast, they went to Old Man Bojack’s room. At this moment, there was no clue as to how to act.

“Akane and Yao… You guys don’t want to bring too much heavy gear.”

Small backpack packed with dry food, various ropes and small props. Holding an ultra-compact flashlight. Bill and Kusanagi carried a dozen dry batteries, and Ryazaki held a portable oil lamp.

“Brother, is there only one entrance to the basement? Did Juniper and Hoshi enter the basement from here?” Akane asked.

“I remember that underneath this basement is an extremely large cavern with an altar at the innermost part. That’s where the incident happened six years ago.” Ryouzaki said with a sigh.

“Is it okay to go unarmed?” Yao asked in a small voice.

“Don’t need it, just have Giant Bill.”

“Haha, leave it to me!”

Ryouzaki was in front, Kusanagi and Bill at the end, and the two girls in the center, walking towards the basement. The putrid smell and dampness was sickening, moldy newspapers in one corner, and large swarms of rats squeaking.

“It’s like a horror movie ooh!” Akane said.

Dozens of meters into the cave is a brick-lined underground passageway that was originally a natural cave? After that, we walked into a narrow passage that only allowed Bill to go in and out. It was completely dark. A large flashlight only shines a meter or two ahead.

“What a big cave!” Akane marveled.

“It is indeed a long distance, as if it were hours of walking.”

“… Hurry up and go!” Kusanagi urged Ryosaki.

The group advanced in silence. Along the way, only rocks were seen, and it was extremely unbelievable that such a huge cave was unknown.

“Really… Getting close to Hoshi?” Yao said uneasily.

Kusanagi snarled at Ryazaki, “Ryazaki, what the hell was going on six years ago…”

“Calm down, Kusanagi. If you’re not calm, you’ve fallen for that guy’s plan, now you can only advance quietly.” Ryouzaki said coldly.

At that moment, Yao “Ah!” He jumped up.

“What… what… what… what… what… what… what… what… what… what… what?” She pointed shakily at her feet.

“Wow, that’s scary!” It’s the statue of a baby entangled in an octopus.

“What’s with the…” Bill turned his back in disgust.

Kusanagi comes to mind: when Ryouzaki first returned to Japan, he used to have nightmares about ‘babies entangled in octopuses’. In psychology, the octopus symbolizes the inescapable nature of motherhood. Kusanagi believes that Ryouzaki’s loss of Lola was the result of her intense grief and emptiness.

But, this octopus only has seven feet. (Seven-legged octopuses have only appeared in horror novels, creating them in reality…) It’s related to the ‘Secret Method of Necromancy’) Kusanagi thought.

“Hey, everyone, come on!” Ryouzaki shouted a hundred meters ahead, and the four of them ran forward.

“Ryou, Ryouzaki…” Kusanagi was speechless.

In front of the small door in the wall ahead were, after all, the bodies of Amy and Clark.

“Waaaaaaaahhhh~!!!” Akane and Yao screamed out miserably.

The corpse’s brains were oozing out, its arms and legs were torn apart, and its internal organs were exposed. The wounds all over the body don’t look like they were done by a human, there must be some kind of beast nearby.

“Cong, that door…” Bill’s voice was tinged with fear.

“Well, this is it…”

“Let’s go inside…”

Akane mused, and said remotely, “Well, Hoshi must be in there.”

“Stand down, you guys!”

A male voice came from the rock crevice behind them, and the five men turned around to see Carl, the archaeologist, holding a gun.

“How did you… Are you here?”

Carl shrugged and sneered, “I’ve been following you guys.”

“Ms. Emmy and the others… Did you kill them?” Akane asked.

“It has nothing to do with me, it’s their carelessness…. Luckily they were victimized, so I’ll be careful to watch out for them.”

“What do you mean?”

“Look up at the door!”

Ryouzaki hastened to look at the shadowy doorway.

“What, what is that!?”

Extreme fear prevented the five from speaking. A rough, hard rattling sound came from the head. Goosebumps rose all over the body, causing one to involuntarily step back.

Carl said mockingly, “It’s the gatekeeper! Trying to enter that door will surely result in an attack by it, but alas, I will not be able to witness it.”

A huge beast, never seen in reality, looked downward out of the corner of his eye.

“If I get a way to manipulate this monster…. I can take another step forward in my plan!”

“What’s the plan?” Kusanagi asked.

“Use psychic science to increase military power. Create undead legions and you’ll realize your desire to conquer the world!” Carl sputtered.

“This arrogant plan will not see the light of day!” Ryouzaki sneered.

“We don’t need the world’s foolishness.” Carl smiled proudly.

Ryouzaki said, “Not the time to discuss that, what should we do about this door?”

“Wouldn’t it be OK to shoot that monster with a gun?” Bill yelled at Carl.

Carl shook his head and pointed his gun at the empty magazines on the floor.

“It’s no use unless someone is sacrificed…”

“You mean… Letting one person be the bait to lure away the monsters?” Akane asked through clenched teeth.

“That’s right, or it’s just a matter of hitting the road.” Carl replied coldly, and Akane fell silent.

It’s four in the afternoon and there’s no time to waste.

“It’s the only way to find out… Why don’t you let me go?”

Bill proposed with determination, and the entire group silently accepted the bet. Ryouzaki, Akane, Kusanagi, Yao, and Carl…. Standing on the rock formation with their lamps, they shone them at the beast to avoid being attacked by it.

“Go!” Ryazaki fought to kick the door open and slid inside.

“Everyone, keep up!”

As Akane ran forward… She was a step too late, and the beast lunged at her with lightning speed. Kusanagi and Ryazaki were about to move forward when Bill stepped in front of Akane.

“Mr. Bill…”

“Get outta here!”

“But you…”

“I’m okay… “I don’t care… I don’t care… I don’t care… I don’t care…”

Bill let out a groan of pain, followed by the rough roar of the monster, and the smell of blood.

“What are you guys gawking at!!!”

Carl screamed, pushing a stunned Akane, Yao and Kusanagi through the door. Bill followed helplessly, flopping to the ground. Only half of his body was inside the door, his legs outside.

“Mr. Bill… Get in here!” Akane cried out Bill’s name as Ryouzaki and Kusanagi desperately pulled at his body.

But, it was already too late. There was a biting sound from outside the door, and although it was impossible to see, it seemed to be a monster tearing into Bill’s body. Was it the back, or the buttocks, or the legs? Legs?

Bill, however, laughed out loud, “Cong, Cong… I remember. Six years ago… You and Lola saved me… I owe you guys… I owe you my life…”

“Bill… Bill…”

Ryouzaki shed tears, tears of anger at the brutalized Juniper, and he clenched his fists tightly.

“Akane… Satoshi is all yours. Ms. Yao… I’d love to see Hoshi!”

“… Mr. Bill…” Yao cried, stroking Bill’s fading warmth on his cheek.

“Kusanagi… You risked your life to save the one you love. That’s great… Good luck…” Bill’s fading voice was a saddening sound.

“Thank you…” Kusanagi murmured, holding back tears.

That’s when it came–

“You’re here earlier than I thought, welcome!”

The six turned back in unison to a vast underground church. At the altar, a thin white man laughed maniacally.

“The whole crew is here!”

An untamed laugh. –It was Juniper himself. Behind him, on the wall, Hoshi is hanging completely naked.

“Hoshi, Hoshi!!!”

“I’m coming to save you!” Yao and Kusanagi said.

Hoshi nodded slightly, she didn’t appear to be hurt, but her wrists were bound very hard.

“Juniper… I don’t know who you want to resurrect, but your ambition can end now!” As Ryouzaki finished speaking, Juniper let out a loud laugh.

“You finally remembered. Six years ago, you and Mr. and Mrs. Kashiwagi came here in search of the ‘Black Breaks’.”

Juniper was holding a thick book.

“Here you are – killing the woman you loved the most, and the Kashiwagi’s. Bill witnessed the tragedy and lost his memory. You also…. Kusanagi, and Ryazaki forgot what they did because of the crimes they committed.”

Kusanagi couldn’t refute it.

“I easily manipulated Ryouzaki with the ‘Secret Scribe’ mind control technique.”

Kusanagi retorted, “But, people have the instinct to protect themselves. Even in a hypnotized state, would it be easy to kill someone?”

Juniper grinned abhorrently. “You don’t even know this kind of common sense, thanks to you being a psychiatrist. You know about the Suggestion Technique, right? Remember Naomi Seto’s suicide? She fell in love with Ryouzaki at first sight, but didn’t dare to show him her love. I hinted to her: ‘You and Ryouzaki can’t love each other in this world, so you’ll have to die together…'”

“What!?”

“Ryazaki, don’t move if you don’t want Hoshi to get hurt! Maybe I should have killed you in the first place…”

“Damn… Why did you kill so many people? And Hoshi…” Ryouzaki roared, and Juniper frowned.

“I’m not killing her, I’m creating new life.” He opened his hands wide.

“A family that is forever one… With Hee’s flesh, and the black broken seal, my dream will come true. Two years ago, a couple disappeared here. The husband was a physiologist… Masashi Toukawa.”

Yao was taken aback that it was none other than Hoshi’s father.

“Toukawa went back from Mickataw University and went to Half Acre Pavilion, where he was captured by Dr. Weist, who had acquired Juniper’s body, and became an experiment.”

–What! — Ryazaki and Kusanagi looked at each other. (Acquiring Juniper’s body… Then who is that in front of you?) Akane and Yao also looked at Juniper in surprise.

“Weist did not die; he entered a state of false death using his assistant, Juniper, as an experiment. When death was near, it was transferred to other flesh. That is… Since 1950, I am no longer Juniper, but Weist!”

“What… what…?”

“Hey… I just lied to you, I’m the one who killed Mr. and Mrs. Kashiwagi and Lola, Weist.”

Juniper – also known as Dr. Weist. It wasn’t too easy to believe, but it cleared up the doubts from six years ago, and Ryouzaki’s guilt was completely cleared. Akane, Kusanagi, and Yao, looked at Ryouzaki reassuringly.

Weist, who was resurrected in the body of a Japanese man named Juniper, cannot be resurrected again without the use of a Japanese body….. He explains. In order to maintain his immortality, he kidnapped Mr. and Mrs. Kashiwagi six years ago, but due to the obstruction of Ryozaki and others, his resurrection plan failed and his body was injured by Lola.

Two years ago–

After Weist repaired his body, he kidnapped Mr. and Mrs. Toshikawa. At that time, Juniper’s body was about to decay, and Weist wanted to transplant all of his own memories and personality, into Toukawa’s body. However, a major blunder personality occurred, not only transplanting the personality, but even exchanging the physical body failed. Weist and Toukawa’s consciousness, both moved to the body of Du Song.

“What, what? If it’s true… Who are you?” Ryouzaki asked incredulously.

“I’m both Weist and Toukawa Masashi at the same time, but, on the outside, I’m Juniper.”

At that moment, a figure appeared within the altar.

“Mom…”

Hoshi’s mouth opened wide in surprise. It was Ashiko Toukawa, who had been killed two years ago but whose body had turned into a zombie. The tissues of the left half of her body were completely exposed, and muscle fibers and yellow subcutaneous fat could be seen, slowly writhing between Juniper and Ryouzaki. Unconsciously shaking her body, her face looked towards this side.

“Ms. Akiko… How did this happen…” Yao hid her face and sobbed.

“Mom… Mom…” Hoshi desperately tried to call out.

“I don’t believe it…?”

“Is it a nightmare…!?”

Juniper said, “I accidentally killed Yahiko when Weist’s personality and Masashi Toukawa combined. And Weist and Toukawa’s personality didn’t have a repulsive reaction, and both wished to bring Yahiko back to life.”

“Awesome! Dr. Weist… Or Professor Toukawa?” Carl said suddenly, clapping his hands.

“Better call Juniper, who are you?”

Karl salutes and explains: he is a member of the Nazi party and wants to ask Weist to bring Hitler back to life.

Juniper glanced coldly at Carl, “After the First World War, your people kept coming after me. But, I have no interest in such things.”

“That’s not up to you!” Carl’s gun was aimed at Juniper.

Juniper said calmly, “I am now going to completely merge my physical body and spirit…. Yahiko, Hoshi, and I, the family is united forever! The ‘Final Day Sacrifice’ ceremony is not to be disturbed by anyone!”

Juniper strides towards the altar. That’s when Yahiko actually lunged quickly at Carl, who was pushed backward several feet as the zombie proceeded to attack Ryazaki.

“Waaaah…” Ryouzaki bounced off, the lighter falling at Kusanagi’s feet as the zombie attacked again.

“No!!!” Akane suddenly stepped in front of Ryazaki, the crystal stone in her chest glowing brightly.

“Mom…” Hoshi finally yelled out. The zombie stopped moving and ducked away as if running away.

Ryouzaki said to Juniper, “I remember, Juniper…. Lola saved me six years ago, and she gave me this crystal stone with a strong spell. You’re not exactly a resurrectionist, just a zombie awakened by magic!”

Juniper was about to walk off the altar when Ryouzaki said, “Akane, point the crystal stone at that guy.”

“Yes!” Akane raised the crystal stone and the flash of light shot at Juniper.

“Whoa, no…!!!” Juniper crouched on the ground in agony.

Ryouzaki said to Kusanagi, “Kusanagi, check the lighter! That guy is extremely afraid of heat.”

Kusanagi picked up his lighter, lit it and threw it at Juniper’s eyes.

“… Ahhhhhhh~!!!” Juniper’s body burned up and let out a miserable scream.

“You, who have been resurrected several times, are finally going to perish. Even this ‘Black Breaks’ book…” Ryouzaki said as he looked at the charred corpse of Juniper.

Kusanagi and Yao saved Hoshi and wrapped her in her blouse. The church was surprisingly connected to Rev. Michael’s church, and the entire staff fled there. The old church, too, burned down, extending all the way to the Half Acre Pavilion. Ryouzaki embraced Akane, Kusanagi and Yao tended to Hoshi tenderly, and the four of them looked at the flames in the air. Carl escaped and was lost.

The only regret: not being able to get Bill’s remains out. Was it a miracle? Or was it a dream? I actually saw Ashiko holding Bill’s remains in the flames.

“Mom!”

“Ms. Yahiko!” Hikari and Yao called out, and Ashiko walked over with her face turned away, putting Bill’s body down before slowly walking back to her original spot.

Kusanagi grabbed Hoshi, who was about to run over to him, and Hoshi looked at Ashiko’s fading back with tears in her eyes and said, “I… It’s okay. I’ve got my sister, and you… You’re with me…” She wiped away her tears and smiled sheepishly at Kusanagi.

“Hoshi…”

Kusanagi wrapped his arms tightly around Hoshi. But when he thought of Yao, he had rather mixed feelings. He stole a glance at Yao and their eyes met.

After a slight pause, Yao smiled and said, “I… I’m leaving Hoshi in your hands, take good care of her!”

Final Chapter Regeneration

It’s all over, and Ryazaki is back to his normal life. Unlike before: he has been cleansed of the murderer’s stigma. But, the events of six years ago cannot be easily erased. Even after crushing Dr. Weist’s ambitions, he could not bring Ryumiko and Naomi back to life. These regrets can only be allowed to be slowly forgotten by time.

Anyway – Ryazaki started a new life. Not just him, but Kusanagi, Akane,… As well as Hoshi and Yao. At this moment, Akane and Ryazaki were having another passionate ‘love ceremony’.

“Hey… Let me rest, I don’t like this position!” Ryouzaki yelled as he lay on the bed, and Akane showed no mercy.

“Ah, just one more time… I’m down here. You don’t have to do anything…” She demanded capriciously, probing between the half-asleep Ryouzaki’s thighs.

While in America, the two had slept together. After experiencing the pleasures of sex, Akane frequently asked Ryouzaki to do so. Her bewitching expression excited Ryazaki, but he was no longer a teenager of 17 or 18 years old. But he was no longer a 17 or 18 year old boy, although he was proud of his physical strength, but he could not resist her continuous demand. He had to continue to fight hard.

When she woke up, Akane was stroking her somewhat softened root and licking the shiny black surface.

“Hey, don’t do it…” Said a little regret, I actually showed weakness to her, the heart cursed:

（Damn it, you’re my assistant. I’m the director! I’m the director! Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh!)

Ryouzaki’s complaints were of course unknown to Akane. She licked the most sensitive part of the folds to her heart’s content, making obscene noises.

“Look… It’s already like this! You’re such a pervert, Niinii!” She looked up at Ryazaki and started stroking her foreskin again.

“Uh… This… this thing is okay…” Ryazaki moaned as he pushed his waist up.

Akane happily sank down and inserted the lewd rod into the secret place.

“Ha, ah, ah, ah, ah! Oh, brother… It feels so good!!!” Akane shook her waist fiercely and frowned. The fruit nectar from the mucous membrane mixed with the white fluid from Ryousaki’s lower body.

“Aah! Ahhhh! A little deeper… A little bit more…”

Her lips covered Ryouzaki’s, her tongues intertwined in a passionate kiss, caressing each other’s bodies as they both reached orgasm. The lustful noises and cooing that came out reached the ears of Kusanagi, who had gotten up early in the morning to use the restroom.

Kusanagi’s arousal was aroused, and he returned to his room to fetch the photo on the bookcase of Hoshi hugging a teddy bear, smiling innocently. If it was herself she was hugging, with her lips on a hardening parting….

At that moment, there was a clang in the living room, and the hot show in the room seemed to have come to an end. Kusanagi returned from his delusion to reality. (No, no, no… What am I doing?) Scrambling to set the picture back up, he thought bitterly, (Akane is Akane, and Hoshi is Hoshi!) He muttered to himself.

Then, a few months later, one day. Kusanagi was alone in a café, staring out the window, when he suddenly saw a beautiful woman with long hair, walking quickly by.

“The… Hardly, could it be!?”

That woman… was it a pistil mikina? As Kusanagi ran out in a panic, the woman had already walked into the crowd and was nowhere to be seen.