Not a detective

Page 54

"No, that's not it. I'm just worried that the Seven Mysteries of the Campus are the work of monsters... after all, they are supernatural tales."

Asakawa Riku was silent for a moment. He recalled the events of this summer. He had the ability to save others, but he was trapped because he couldn't deal with the monsters. It was really unpleasant.

Although it was just a dream, the sense of powerlessness was real, so he brought in Chizuko-senpai to prevent this from happening.

"You're an expert at dealing with monsters, so I'm asking you to step in."

To everyone's surprise, Chizuko immediately shook her head:

"How could that be... The Seven Mysteries of the Campus, or more accurately, the Six Mysteries, were not caused by monsters."

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Aoandon's Autumn: Chapter Nine - Hanako in the Toilet

"Huh?" Asakawa Riku, who was walking ahead, turned around in surprise.

He had assumed that Chizuko-senpai was the type of person who would bring up yokai in everything she said, just like in the "Tsuchigumo" case.

Although it was eventually proven that Chizuko was lying, he still thought she would say that this ghost story incident was also committed by a yokai.

"Because I know all the monsters in this school."

Chizuko shrugged, as if it were no big deal: "I've already asked, and it has nothing to do with them, otherwise the matter would have been resolved long ago."

"I see..." It was for such a simple reason, but it was undeniably convincing.

　However, to ensure the credibility of this testimony, he asked one more question:

"Is it possible that monsters do exist, but you haven't observed them yet, like in 'Proof of the Demon,' where you can't prove it doesn't exist?"

This was a secret code they both knew.

"Impossible." These words enraged Chizuko. She put her hands on her hips and said confidently, "I am the child with the strongest inspiration in the Kazematsu family in the past hundred years, the Onmyoji chosen by the gods, and the only shrine inheritor. My talent is even greater than my father's. How could there be unknown monsters hiding in this school that I didn't know about?"

"I understand." Since the other party had said so, Asakawa Riku couldn't argue any further, and thus fell into deep thought again:

"So, could it be like the previous two incidents, where someone with superpowers is actually behind it all?"

That's possible. In fact, due to the inertia of his previous thinking, Asakawa Riku felt that this was most likely the reason.

Unexpectedly, Chizuko changed her tune herself. She hesitated and said, "Well... if it's a [yokai], it's not impossible... but it's rather special... no, the probability is too small, it's practically impossible... I believe the explanation from a superpowered person more than that possibility."

"Well, what is it?"

"I'll tell you next time." Chizuko stopped and tugged at Asakawa Riku's sleeve, preventing him from going any further. "We're here."

The end of the corridor.

There are two staircases in front of them, one going up and one going down. This is the third floor of the school building, the floor where their club activities usually take place, so the first destination is the closest one.

Turn your gaze to the left, and you'll see the men's restroom on this floor; turn it to the right, and you'll see the women's restroom on either side of the staircase.

Asakawa Riku fixed his gaze on the right:

"Hmm... that's why I had to ask you for help, senior."

"One of the Seven Mysteries: [Hanako-san in the Toilet]."

Chizuko took out her notebook, which she carried with her. They didn't have a flashlight, so they had to use their phone's flashlight to read it.

"At the end of the corridor on the second floor of the school building, in the girls' restroom, there exists the ghost of a girl named 'Hanako.' She was a student at this school many years ago. She was abused by her father before her death and was murdered in the school restroom. In the end, she failed to attain enlightenment and became a vengeful spirit, staying in the restroom to find a substitute for her. Hanako wears a white shirt and a red sundress, and has a hairstyle like a kappa."

"A kappa-like hairstyle?" Asakawa Riku was taken aback.

"like this."

Chizuko pressed her hand to the top of her head, indicating, "Short hair like mine, but bald in the middle."

She must have actually seen a kappa.

—If it were in China, it would probably be called "Mediterranean".

Asakawa Riku nodded, understanding: "Not as cute as I imagined... all of a sudden."

"After all, it's a ghost."

Chizuko gave a "there's nothing I can do about it" look: "You already know that yokai are the embodiment of people's thoughts, legends, and consciousness, so the appearance of yokai will also change based on this. Miss Kiku was a beautiful woman in life, but she became a terrible vengeful spirit after death because people always think of yokai as ugly."

Fear breeds aversion, and aversion leads to ugliness.

"By the way, Kiku is a ghost too, right?"

As the topic came up, Asakawa Riku remembered this person. It wasn't accurate to say that there were only the two of them in the school building, because Kiku should have been following behind Chizuko-senpai the whole time.

It is a yokai that takes the form of a "ghost" and evolved from the ancient story of Okiku's severed finger. It has the ability to "break the finger of anyone who hears the count from one to nine".

Now, Kiku is Chizuko's shikigami, or you could say her personal bodyguard.

"So, Kiku and Hanako are the same kind?"

“You’re looking in the wrong direction, she’s over here.” Chizuko pointed to her left.

"Oh, sorry."

Asakawa Riku felt a little embarrassed. He turned his head and was surprised to find that Kiku was on the other side, which was quite far away from him.

Because he had zero inspiration, he couldn't see the monsters. He later learned that he had seen Mr. Baku on the mountain, and it seemed that the monster had possessed him.

Even now, Riku Asakawa still can't see anything in that open space.

"That statement is inaccurate, because I know that Kiku is a ghost."

Chizuko paused for a moment, looking at the women's restroom shrouded in darkness: "But I didn't detect any ghostly presence inside, nor could I sense 'Hanako's' presence."

Beyond the deep, silent threshold lies what feels like another world.

She said, "In my opinion, there's nothing in there."

Hanako doesn't exist? And she's not a ghost either?

Could the ghost story be fake? Did they just find nothing?

Asakawa Riku thought for a moment and said, "But this is fine too. If it's just a rumor, it will save us a lot of trouble. We can just write 'After investigation, this phenomenon does not exist' in the investigation report. Just think of it as a rumor terminator, dispelling some unsettling strange tales in the academy. It's a good deed."

He smiled and gestured "please": "Then, senior, please bring us this good news."

“Ha…” Chizuko expressed her resistance, frowning as she said, “Aren’t you supposed to be in charge of going? I’ve already done more than enough by accompanying you here.”

"What are you saying? This is the women's restroom. I can't go in there."

Asakawa Lu was surprised.

"Why are you still pretending to be a well-behaved student now? There's no one watching here, so get inside now."

Chizuko couldn't hold back any longer. She grinned, revealing her little tiger teeth, and pushed him forward with both hands.

If Asakawa Riku insisted on standing still, his legs would be rooted to the ground and he would not be able to move. Although he could sense that the opponent was using the power of the [Yamawara], it was not something he could not resist.

He sighed. In fact, he was a very rule-abiding person, but not by external rules, but by rules he set for himself.

I've never been to a women's restroom in either of my two lifetimes, and I really don't want to make an exception today.

"Well then, excuse me." As he finally stepped over the threshold, he said this in a low voice to someone else.

The door behind him was slammed shut by a strange, eerie wind, which rang loudly behind him, instantly isolating Asakawa Riku in this narrow, claustrophobic, and unknown space.

Aoandon's Autumn: Chapter Ten, After School, in the Girls' Restroom

The women's restroom wasn't as mysterious as Asakawa Riku had imagined.

If I had to say something, it would be that the row of standing toilets is gone, replaced by eight cubicles on opposite sides, three on each side.

The other washbasins, mirrors, and even the ventilation fan and window in the corner are all designed to be completely mirrored, just like the men's restroom, so it doesn't feel unfamiliar.

However, because it was so dark, it still brought a strange feeling that was not present during the day.

Asakawa Riku didn't need a cell phone flashlight; his eyesight was good enough to see the surrounding structure even in complete darkness, so he didn't fumble for a light switch.

"Call my name if you're in danger—" Chizuko-senpai's voice came from outside the door.

"not needed for now."

Asakawa Riku answered calmly; he could tell at a glance that there was no one else in the restroom.

Subtle sensations like heartbeat and breathing can only be keenly perceived by those with professional training, and they cannot be completely erased.

Unless it's a monster...

He recalled the contents of Chizuko's notebook, which contained detailed information about all the Seven Mysteries.

To summon "Hanako in the Toilet," one needs to come to the girls' toilet on the third floor of the school building late at night, and also meet three prerequisites.

1. Look in the mirror while washing your hands;

2. Look at the ceiling while using the toilet;

3. When you hear someone calling you from behind, turn around to look.

Putting aside how to achieve the rare feat of "using the toilet in the women's restroom," at least the first preparatory work is relatively easy to complete.

Asakawa Riku walked to the sink. The mirror was gray and blurry, as if it had been frosted, making it difficult to see his reflection.

The edges and corners of the mirror were marked with several symbols, some vicious insults and curses, others auspicious umbrellas. In this respect, it seems that high school students all over the world are the same.

This school is said to have a long history. Even if you replace a single pane of glass, it will probably look like this again in less than two months. There's nothing you can do about it.

He turned on the tap and began to wash his hands with the cool water.

Just like a doctor before surgery, they carefully wipe every corner, repeatedly bending and scrubbing.

This is also his "tool," his "warm-up exercise."

...Then, I looked up.

Red paint stained the gray glass, still dripping wet paint, as if the brush had been abruptly interrupted before it could be put down.

【1】

An Arabic numeral "1" was drawn on Asakawa Riku's face in the mirror, from his forehead to his neck, as if a knife had been used to cut off his skull.

It was almost like magic; he was certain that no one approached the mirror during the two seconds he was washing his hands.

With his fingers still wet from the faucet, Asakawa Riku gently wiped away a corner of the "1," which was genuine blood, not paint, and smeared it on the outside of the mirror.

He knows the smell of blood very well... he can't mistake it.

"Oh?"

The boy in the mirror smiled; I wonder what Asakawa Riku thought.

He started to get excited, thinking that now that he knew everything about monsters and superpowers, the world had lost its appeal.

Now, he seems to have returned to the time when he had nothing, frantically exploring and yearning for the unknown.

Asakawa Riku was initially reluctant to urinate in the women's restroom, but since there was no one there, he simply put down his burden and casually opened a nearby stall to go in.

So, it seems that Chizuko-senpai's reluctance to come in was also due to her unwillingness to undertake this second preparatory step.

Although the toilet was old, it still had a toilet seat. He relieved himself as usual, when suddenly he looked up—

【2】

It was written on the ceiling, directly above him, in red lettering, as if it had just been written, and he dodged the dripping liquid.

When it landed on the ground, the extreme silence was so profound that an echo could be heard.

Without changing his expression, he pulled up his pants and, not forgetting to rinse his face, stepped out of the stall. The moment he peeked out, he heard a soft call from behind.

"that……"

Suddenly, a voice came from behind.

Asakawa Riku was facing the direction of the toilet door, so it couldn't be Chizuko's voice.

The two voices are very different; Chizuko's voice is soft, but her words are usually firm and sometimes forceful.

But that voice just now was as thin as a silkworm's wing, elusive and hard to decipher, as if I had just hallucinated, drifting by so gently.

It felt as if fingernails were slowly tracing across the back of my neck.