Hello, madam. I don't think I've seen you in Kajimachi before. What's your name?
Hoshiguma
Do you need something? Some stranger ransacked my house. I need to go clean up.
Well-Dressed Young Man
You haven't heard the news? It seems that someone snuck across the northern border, into Mitsukue.
Well-Dressed Young Man
My name is Tetsuya Sorimachi. I'm a member of the Kinsekikai. Please tell me who you are. I know everyone here in Kajimachi, and I've never seen you here before.
Hoshiguma
Tetsuya? Could it be...?
Hoshiguma
No. No way.
Hoshiguma
......
Hoshiguma
I'm going home, Tetsuya.
Tetsuya
Home? Don't be ridiculous. Do you even know the story behind this haunted house?
Hoshiguma
This was the home of the First Chairman of the Kinsekikai, and his clinic too. He was the best doctor we ever had. He saved countless lives.
Hoshiguma
After he passed away, the house went to his daughter.
Tetsuya
Are you claiming to be his daughter?
Tetsuya
Hold on... you're pretty tall, you have a single horn, and look at your hair... is that really you, Hoshiguma-aneki?
Hoshiguma
Aneki? Tetsuya, you—
Tetsuya
—The Haunted House kaidan is about you?
Hoshiguma
I never died. I never disappeared. I never became a kaidan. I just went to Lungmen; that is all.
Tetsuya
Who can verify the truth of what you're saying?
Hoshiguma
Go ask Uncle Tessai.
Tetsuya
I have nothing to say to that man.
Hoshiguma
Oh? You're with Kinbee? Then go ask him about it. Don't bother me. I'm going to pay my respects to my father.
Tetsuya
Come talk to Mifune-san with me. You can return home after we've sorted this out.
Hoshiguma
I politely refuse.
The young man takes out the wooden bokutou hanging from his waist and points it at Hoshiguma.
Upon seeing that his weapon is a blade made of wood, Hoshiguma lets out a sigh of relief. She sets down Hannya and faces Tetsuya, bare-handed.
Hoshiguma
Have we met?
Tetsuya
Never.
Hoshiguma
Do you really think you can beat me with a bokutou?
Tetsuya
I've heard the story of the 'Ao-Oni of Kinsekikai' before.
Hoshiguma
So you...
???
Tetsuya? You're picking another fight? Last time you provoked someone, it almost became an actual sword fight. Haven't you learned your lesson?
Tetsuya
This is none of your business, Kichisei. Mifune told me to watch out for strangers. I need to take this woman to see him.
Kichisei
She doesn't look like an easy mark to me. Why are you——
Kichisei
Why are you picking fights with ghosts?!
Tetsuya
......
Hoshiguma
......
Tetsuya
You know her?
Kichisei
She popped up yesterday onstage during the concert and nearly scared Momoka half to death.
Tetsuya
She's really a ghost?
Kichisei
No. What kind of ghost runs from, and then gets caught by, the cops? Did you somehow break out of jail, or were the cops unable to hold you?
Hoshiguma
They let me go, thank you very much.
Kichisei
Hmph. Boring.
Kichisei
Calm down, Tetsuya. Don't always take Mifune as the supreme authority.
Kichisei
I know you hate your father and don't wanna go home. But at least try to carry yourself with a little decency. Or else all Kajimachi is gonna treat you like the plague.
Tetsuya
Kichisei!
Kichisei
......
Hoshiguma
So Uncle Tessai... remarried? And he gave you the same name as his first son?
Hoshiguma
He... treats you and your mother poorly?
Tetsuya
Before, when we used to fight, I would ask him why he married my mother.
Tetsuya
His first wife and son were killed, along with your father. Then the girl he had raised like his own daughter suddenly went missing. He was supposed to die alone, so why did he have to drag my mom into it? Why did he have to ruin our lives too?
Hoshiguma stares at the young man, who is staring back at her through his mask. She realizes he is not looking at her like an enemy...
Hoshiguma
*Sigh*
Tetsuya
What are you sighing about?
Hoshiguma
Nothing. I'm just tired.
Tetsuya
Don't lie to me!
The young man adopts a fighting stance and attempts to close in on Hoshiguma at a tricky angle.
Tetsuya
Hey!
Tetsuya
What kind of... empty-hand disarm technique is this?!
Hoshiguma
You read too many mangas. This is the most basic of basic grappling techniques.
Hoshiguma
Did you settle down yet?
The young man doesn't answer. Even though she's peering through a mask, Hoshiguma can clearly see that the young man looks a bit depressed.
Hoshiguma
You were all fired up just a moment ago. No need to give up so quickly. If your skills aren't up to par, just train harder.
Tetsuya
Who says I'm giving up? How... how can you tell that I'm...?
Tetsuya
Forget it.
Hoshiguma
So what really happened between you and Uncle Tessai?
Tetsuya
You can't ask me that question, Hoshiguma-aneki.
The young man hooks the bokutou back at his waist. He wants to wave goodbye, but can't bring himself to do so.
After standing there for a moment, he gives Hoshiguma a stiff nod and limps off towards the outskirts of town.
Kichisei
Ahem, Ghost-san?
Hoshiguma
My name is Hoshiguma.
Kichisei
Hoshiguma, Tetsuya may be stupid, but he's not evil. He only started working for Mifune because he had a falling out with Old Man Tessai.
Kichisei
Lately, rumors have been flying about someone from the Northern Court sneaking into Mitsukue. Mifune probably decided he was too annoying and sent him to wander the city, telling him to go catch the northern spy, and he actually took it seriously.
Hoshiguma
This morning, Kinbee killed one of his minions here in Kajimachi, for the crime of trespassing.
Hoshiguma
Tetsuya is Uncle Tessai's son. I hope Kinbee doesn't go lop his head off too.
Kichisei
......
Hoshiguma
You look awfully young, Kichisei. What brings you to Kajimachi?
Kichisei
I inherited my grandmother's shop, the Lucky Star. Old Man Tessai's pachinko parlor is under it, so I help him mind his shop too.
Hoshiguma
You can handle two jobs at the same time like that?
Kichisei
*Shrugs* Ever since that bastard Mifune announced he was redeveloping Kajimachi, no one really comes by anymore. So I have plenty of free time.
Hoshiguma
What do the residents think of the redevelopment plan?
Kichisei
Huh? Mifune doesn't give two shits what the locals think.
Kichisei
His people don't usually mind 'trespassing into Kajimachi.' Some people come to stir up trouble, while others come to drive people out. We're powerless to stop them. Even Old Man Tessai can't keep them in check.
Kichisei
The Old Man's only been able to hold them off because he's got the deed to Kajimachi and is still the titular head of the Kinsekikai. Otherwise, Mifune would've taken it long ago.
Hoshiguma
Thanks for sharing all that.
Kichisei
No need to thank me. If you do end up moving back here, we'll be neighbors. Good neighbors help each other.
Kichisei
By the way, what were you calling Mifune... Kinbee?
Hoshiguma
That was his name before he hit it big.
Kichisei
Oh. Okay. Then that's what I'll call him from now on.
Kichisei
Oh, but, Ghost-sa——err... Hoshiguma-san, I really want to know more about you. Is the kaidan legend true? Did you really hunt and kill on a mission of vengeance twenty years ago?
Hoshiguma
Sorry, I don't have time to talk about that right now. I got a lot to do.
Kichisei
Sure, whatever. You go do your thing. I'll be right there in the pachinko parlor. Come find me if you have time.
Kichisei
Oh, by the way. I'm heading to the shrine to pray for Momoka tomorrow, and then there's the fireworks festival the day after that. So don't come either of those two days, since I'll be out!
Momoka sits in a cramped little room, in front of a plant that doesn't look particularly healthy.
Momoka
It looks like a few more of your leaves have gone yellow. Well, at least you have a few new leaves to balance those out.
Momoka
There's not enough sunlight in this room. Your stem keeps bending towards the window... ugh.
Momoka
Please don't die, Hasuke.
Next to the plant, there is a whole row of baffling objects, arranged from right to left.
An empty water tank, a few flower pots filled with soil but no plants, a climbing frame for cloudbeasts, and in the middle—a tiny electronic terminal, so small that its purpose is indiscernible.
And on the far left, there is a tightly sealed gym bag. There's no way to tell what's inside.
As Momoka reaches for the watering can, the phone rings.
Momoka
Mio-san...?
Producer
Is this Momoka?
Momoka
Producer?!
Producer
Momoka, the TV station's ratings are through the roof, all thanks to your visit to that haunted house. Why aren't you the least bit excited? Have you not watched it yet, or...?
Momoka
I was scared of that ghost thing before I ever agreed to do it. I hope I never see it again. That ghost...
Producer
The ghost didn't touch you!
Producer
Every major station is broadcasting your new show right now, and the forums are full of discussion about the Oni—some have even created dedicated threads to revisit your past episodes!
Producer
I was actually worried about your career trajectory for a while, but now I can finally relax. You're practically guaranteed to become the Southern Court's Kaidan Queen.
Momoka
But...
Producer
Alright, well. The advertisers are blowing up my phone with endorsement offers for you. I'd better take some calls!
Momoka, dejected, looks back at the room. She fixes her gaze on the television.
Voice on TV
Kajimachi is haunted! There are narrow old alleys, rundown shopping streets, and streetlights no one's even bothered to repair...
Momoka
Oh no, no...
Momoka
(Presses channel button to change the channel)
Voice on TV
The vicious Oni has returned, all because of the countless wrongful deaths in Kajimachi!
Voice on TV
With no one daring to even set foot in Kajimachi, what future lies ahead for the neighborhood?
Momoka
(Mashes channel button)
Voice on TV
Popular entertainer Momoka faces life-threatening danger in Kajimachi. Local businessman Mifune-san speaks out——
Voice on TV
'On behalf of the Kinseki Group, I vow that we will fix Kajimachi's problems at their core.'
Momoka
Why did it blow up like this? Usually people watch the show, laugh a little, and move on.
Momoka
Why did this episode provoke such a reaction? I promised Kichisei I'd do my part for Kajimachi, but if things keep going like this…
Momoka
What do I do now...?
Momoka takes a look at the forums. She doesn't even need to scroll to see her name. Every thread is about her.
Momoka
No. I'm the cause of all this. I need to respond positively...
Momoka
Will you support me, Hasuke?
Hasuke says nothing.
Hello everyone. I am Momoka Hanyuu.
I have an announcement to make... regarding that TV show I did in Kajimachi.
You all know that I filmed my first movie in Kajimachi.
There was a time when lot of the people who lived there... walked the path of the yakuza... so disputes break out from time to time.
Now there are fewer and fewer people there. There's just a few quiet old streets. It's not a scary place at all...
......
Momoka
...and... post!
Momoka
(Deep breath)
Momoka
Interacting with fans is usually so easy. Why am I so nervous this time...?
Momoka
I hope I can help Kichisei and Kajimachi... hehe.
Momoka
Let's just put the Kaidan Queen stuff aside for now.
Momoka
Look at how many likes it's getting. Hehe...
Momoka
Huh? What happened? Why did it get grayed out?
The phone rings again.
Momoka
Who could it be...?
She runs to the phone and picks up the receiver.
Mio
Hello? Momoka?
It's clearly Mio's voice on the other end. Mio, who is usually cold, sounds like she's struggling to keep her emotions in check.
Before Momoka can even respond, someone else comes on the line.
Producer
Aho ka! Stupid girl, have you lost your mind? What are you doing posting like that?
Producer
We've already locked the post. It looks bad for us to delete it here from the system. You have to delete it yourself, now!
If I'd shown up a little earlier and filmed you cleaning out the Haunted House and posted it to the intercity net… who knows, maybe it would've gone viral. Could've made us a bit of cash.
Worried Recycler
Now? My shift's almost over, and you bring a heaping pile of garbage over... *sigh*
Hoshiguma
This is just the trash from the first floor and the courtyard. There's more on the second floor and in the basement.
Worried Recycler
Uh oh.
Hoshiguma
Anyway, please take my money. Otsukaresama desu.
Worried Recycler
Alright, fine... Wait. A koban coin?
Hoshiguma
You don't use kobans anymore? Or you can't make change?
Worried Recycler
How long have you been away? We switched to paper currency ages ago. Actually, I've heard that Mitsukue and Kusarikawa want to eliminate cash all together.
Worried Recycler
That koban must be worth around four thousand mon. I can't make change for it, and even if I could, I wouldn't dare accept it as payment. Who knows if it's even real?
Hoshiguma
Uh...
Tessai
Here's your money.
Worried Recycler
Woah, Tessai Oyabun!
Worried Recycler
Arigatou gozaimasu. I'll have someone haul this away then.
The recycler pulls out his terminal and begins dispatching vehicles and personnel, while Tessai and Hoshiguma remain standing by the trash heap. Neither of them appears ready to leave.
The evening air is thick and humid. As Hoshiguma looks at the trash heap, her thoughts return to Lungmen.
If it was Missy standing here with me, she would've already dragged me back to her place by now, she thinks.
And if it was Ch'en Hui-chieh, she would've rolled up her sleeves, without saying a word, and started hauling trash from the basement and second floor.
If it was 'Lin Gray' or his daughter... I mean, they would never have even let the house become haunted in the first place.
The old man beside her remains silent. The garbage truck arrives, gets loaded up with trash, and then rumbles away.
Tessai
Did you find any of your father's things while cleaning out the house?
Hoshiguma
I searched the whole first floor but didn't find anything.
Hoshiguma
Uncle Tessai, I just ran into a young man named Tetsuya—
Tessai
Come stay with me. This place is too messy. It'll take you days to clean it up.
Hoshiguma
......
Hoshiguma
That's okay, I'd rather stay here in my own home.
Tessai
Fair enough. I'll go and get you some clean sheets.
Hoshiguma
Otsukare, Uncle Tessai.
As Tessai slowly walks away, Hoshiguma turns her gaze to the empty backyard.
When her father died, Mitsukue still hadn't completely recovered from the chaos of the Bloodpeak Campaign.
In accordance with the old customs, she had her father cremated. She buried his ashes in the backyard. Also, she erected a marker, made of the finest wood, and implored Tessai to carve the inscription.
When she came to clean out the backyard, all these years later, she found the wooden marker was still standing firm, even amidst all the garbage. She's been so busy cleaning up that she hasn't had time to tend to the grave yet.
Slick Reporter
Ao-Oni-san? You're Ao-Oni-san, aren't you?!
Slick Reporter
Hey, everybody! Come over here! We have to get footage of this! It's a huge discovery! The Ao-Oni from the kaidan is here in Kajimachi!
Hoshiguma
......?
Slick Reporter
We come to you this evening from Kajimachi, Mitsukue with an amazing discovery——the Ao-Oni!
Slick Reporter
After twenty years, the legendary Ao-Oni of Kinsekikai, has returned! We caught a glimpse of her yesterday at the concert on Nita Street, and now she stands here before us!
Slick Reporter
Is she a master mimic? A ghost wandering this mortal coil? A cold-blooded killer who's been silently stalking Mitsukue for twenty years, leaving a trail of bodies in her wake?
Slick Reporter
She doesn't look like a ghost... Ghosts don't usually have physical bodies... or cast shadows! Look. The Ao-Oni standing before us is casting a shadow! Hello! I'm Komatsu, from Kinseki Channel.
Hoshiguma
Hmph.
Slick Reporter
Where's your unicycle?
Hoshiguma
My what?
Slick Reporter
Many people think the Ao-Oni is somehow related to the Wanyuudou! A bunch of the Oni's victims met... considerable misfortune right after spotting that fiery wheel—I think...
Before the reporter finishes speaking, Hoshiguma turns around and begins walking toward the house, only to bump into another hurried reporter.
More and more reporters gather round, like Originium slugs that have smelled leftover food in the sewer.
Pretentious Reporter
She's here! Finally! It's the Ao-Oni! It's really her!
Hypocritical Reporter
Ao-Oni-san! My name is Urakami! May I ask why you've chosen to reveal yourself again after twenty years? Is it because all your grudges have finally been settled?
Hypocritical Reporter
Did you have anything to do with Momoka's show going viral?
Hoshiguma
Get out of my way!
Slick Reporter
Ao-Oni-san! I just want to ask you a few questions—
Slick Reporter
Gugh—
Slick Reporter
You're actually striking people?
Tessai
Kajimachi is still my private domain. You have trespassed. Have you thought about how you might make amends to the Kinsekikai?
Hypocritical Reporter
Tessai?!
Hypocritical Reporter
This old man is stubborn and mean—and he'll really throw hands… Let's get out of here! No need to go head-to-head with him!
What was a gaggle of reporters quickly scatters.
Tessai
These vultures catch a whiff of 'news' and they come swarming in the blink of an eye. Kaidan? What kaidan?
Tessai
The people living in this house had a run of bad luck, and somehow that got tied to you—and then that evolved into a kaidan… ridiculous.
Tessai
I've got your sheets here, and your drink.
Hoshiguma
Drink?
Tessai
It's so late that even the street peddlers have left for the night. You're going to pay your respects to your father... how can you do that without any sake for him?
Hoshiguma
Arigato. Will you come with me, Uncle Tessai?
Tessai
No. You go by yourself. You're his only daughter. I haven't taken good enough care of you. I can't show my face to him.
Tessai
If I can reforge Hannya, that will be how I make it up to him.
