Yeah. I think all the funny stuff going on around Mitsukue has been tricks played by these kami-sama. And I'm looking for one of the many out there.
Hoshiguma
......
Moriuchi
You don't believe me?
Hoshiguma
Oni are more familiar into monastery-type stuff.
Hoshiguma
Besides, I'm finding it hard to guess what sort of kami-sama would be so bored as to hop on a unicycle and curse my house.
Moriuchi
Haha, sounds like most other Oni I know.
Hoshiguma
Why are you looking for this 'kami-sama'? Do you think one of them's cursed you?
Moriuchi
The opposite, actually. Did me a solid once.
Moriuchi
But one day, It just vanished.
Hoshiguma
Could it be the Wanyuudou?
Moriuchi
Maybe? Can't say for sure. After all, I can't tell what the unicycling kami-sama looks like.
Moriuchi
So, mind doing me a favor?
Moriuchi
If you see the Wanyuudou, or are even... lucky enough to see Its actual form, help me check if It looks like this.
Moriuchi pulls out a ring of keys from his pocket, with a tiny keychain attached.
Hoshiguma
A maneki-neko? Isn't that a mascot Higashinese Felines created based on Feline Beast Stewards?
Moriuchi
The kami-sama I met practically looks the same, apart from the size difference.
Moriuchi
Hoshiguma-san, since you're no ghost, then I wager you're after this Wanyuudou to figure out what's up with your house, yeah?
Hoshiguma
......
Hoshiguma
Taishou, I never introduced myself to you.
Hoshiguma
Are you one of the Kinsekikai?
Moriuchi
(Shakes head) Naw. Why would anyone from the Kinsekikai set up a yatai here?
Hoshiguma
An informant for the cops, then?
Moriuchi
(Shakes head) Rather throw my life away.
Hoshiguma
An information broker.
Moriuchi
(Does not nod or shake head)
Hoshiguma
Ha, I mean, what kind of intel guy would admit he's in the business?
Hoshiguma
But if you're in the business, then I don't think it's fair for you to ask me for help without offering anything in return.
Moriuchi
Hah. What sort of reward would you like, Hoshiguma-san? If it's information, I can tell you all I know.
Hoshiguma
Don't worry about it. We can come back to that once I figure out what kind of information I'm after.
Hoshiguma
Anything that would cost you your life if you talked about it? Best to let me know beforehand. Last minute confessions won't get you any help from me.
Moriuchi
......
Moriuchi
No, if you really manage to find me a useful clue or two, nothing's off the table.
Hoshiguma
Deal?
Moriuchi
Deal.
Hoshiguma
Alright. So, where should I go looking for that Wanyuudou? A shrine?
Hoshiguma
Don't forget, the city under us isn't called 'Nan'in Anzai Mitsukueooyashiro' for nothing. This is the Southern Court's De-Facto Capital Mitsukue Grand Shrine. You can't possibly want me to go on a whole pilgrimage route?
Moriuchi
Of course not. Do you know where's the place locals call Kizuna Jinja, the shrine of bonds?
Hoshiguma
Heard a bit about that one.
Hoshiguma
Though, if you know exactly which one to go to, why haven't you gone yourself?
Moriuchi
Kamigami are fickle beings. They'll willingly appear before some, but won't grace others, no matter what.
Hoshiguma
And you're part of that 'other' group?
Moriuchi
Seems so, ever since that kami left me.
Momoka
Taishou! My scooter's all busted! Help me fix it before the guys chasing me catch up!
Momoka
EEK! WHY ARE YOU HERE?!
Hoshiguma
Still think I'm a ghost, huh?
Momoka
Wait, so, you're not?
Hoshiguma
*Sigh*
Moriuchi
Momoka? What's with the panic?
Momoka
I'm being chased! I rode my scooter here and shook them off, but it broke down. Could you get it running again?
Moriuchi
Who's after you?
Momoka
It's... It's Mio-san...
Moriuchi
Mio? Then you best be good and follow her home. Overstep your calorie count again?
Momoka
No, she wants to... get rid of me!
Momoka
My TV suddenly freaked out and started broadcasting scary stuff!
Momoka
She was talking to Mifune-san! They said—Death or Oripathy! Tasukete!
Momoka starts to babble incoherently.
Moriuchi has no time to react before Hoshiguma walks over to the scooter.
Hoshiguma
Death? Oripathy? Momoka-san, did you offend them somehow?
Momoka
All I did was to post one message, I wasn't planning anything or scheming with Tessai, nuh-uh!
Hoshiguma
Scheming with Tessai?
Hoshiguma
......
Hoshiguma
Let's see if this ride's fixable.
Moriuchi
Why don't you go after the Wanyuudou first?
Hoshiguma
Playing dumb, information broker-san?
Hoshiguma
This is my second time scaring Momoka-san here. She's in a pinch now, so I should do what I can to even the score.
Hoshiguma
Momoka-san, I promise you as long as I'm here, nothing will happen to you.
Momoka
Sankyuu...
Momoka
—Someone's coming from Nita Street! Are they after me?
Moriuchi
Kinsekikai outfits... seems to be the case.
Momoka
Taishou! Ghost-san! Save me!
Hoshiguma
Ghost-san? Me?
Momoka
Sorry, I still don't know your name...
Hoshiguma
That aside, your ride's back in action.
Hoshiguma
Hop on, and leave the rest to me.
Momoka
Ghost-san!
Fierce Yakuza
Oh, so here you are, Momo-cchi.
Fierce Yakuza
Be a good girl and come on home with us, yeah? Play nice and we won't hurt you.
Momoka
Wh-Where's Mio-san? I want to talk to her!
Fierce Yakuza
What'cha trying to do, huh? Negotiate with us?
Fierce Yakuza
For real, just be good and come on back with us. Then we'll forget everything that happened today. Keep running, and I can't say for sure that your pretty face won't have some new scars by the time we're done playing hide-and-seek.
Hoshiguma
Better worry about yourselves first.
Fierce Yakuza
And just who d'you think you are?
Hoshiguma
Go, Momoka. I'll handle them.
Momoka
I can't leave you here all by yourself!
Hoshiguma
Then keep the back seat empty for me.
Fierce Yakuza
*Indecipherable tongue-click* I don't care who you are, or the bluff you're trying to pull, usero!
Momoka revs the engine, and the one-horned Oni jumps onto the scooter's back seat as the yakuza's weapon swings through the air.
Fierce Yakuza
Chikushou! Fire! FIRE! Fill that pesky Oni and her ride with holes!
Momoka
What do we do?!
Hoshiguma
Just keep riding as fast as you can. Leave everything else to me.
Momoka is unable to take in her words. She was already hyperventilating before, and her fear turns her into a sobbing mess.
But through her tears, she realizes the lack of crossbow bolts flying past her. She hears only the sound of metal crashing into metal behind her, and the dull thump of bodies hitting something.
She does not know what's going on behind, and can't let go of her worries, so she can only cry as she turns her head around—
Bolts, daggers, and desperate punks, all slamming into Ghost-san's shield.
The shield stands only half a person's height, but in the single-horned Oni's hands it is practically a wall behind her scooter.
Momoka
I'm gonna turn!
Hoshiguma
Don't worry about me. You'd ridden this fast before?
Just doing a bit of work... brought something back here.
Tessai
Did Kinbee ask you to send me something again? I won't be able to use it, so go back and leave me to my work.
Tetsuya
Hoshiguma's shield. 'Hannya', right?
Tessai
You met her?
Tetsuya
Even if I didn't, I've heard enough of her from you over the past few years.
Tessai
Take that strange mask off your face.
Tetsuya
Why do you care what I wear?
Tessai
Didn't Kinbee tell you to put that on when you went over to his place?
Tessai
I said you were too honest with your emotions, and lack the composure of a leader. All you did was throwing tantrums at home and scratching the shoji screen doors with your worthless bokutou.
Tessai
He tells you to hide your emotions, and you put this on like a good boy? Do you even know what could be hiding inside that mask?
Tetsuya
I don't care if it's rigged with bombs and blows up my face one day, it's none of your business.
Tessai
Omae!
Tessai
Leave. I want you and your lousy mask out of my sight.
Tetsuya
Leave? Me? What about my mother?
Tessai
What about her?
Tetsuya
Today is the day she died, Chairman Tessai!
Tessai
Today?!
Tetsuya
You forgot everything. All you think about is your reopened forge.
Tessai
That's no excuse for you to hang around with that viper Kinbee.
Tetsuya
Viper? And how did Kaa-san die again? What did he do when she died? What did you do? If he's a viper, what does that make you?
Tessai
Shut up—
Tetsuya
What are Kaa-san and I to your Kinsekikai?!
Tessai
......
Tetsuya
......
Tetsuya
Forget it, there's nothing for us to discuss.
Tetsuya
I'm going in to pay my respects to her. Don't get in my way.
Tetsuya
What—
Tessai
What is it?
Tetsuya
Mifune-san... showing up on TV after all these years?
From terminal placements to signal hijacking and the aftermath... the whole process took about... two hours?
???
Everything that had to be verified's done. The broadcast, linking to live monitors, and live subtitles. All okay.
???
There were minor glitches from signal fluctuations, but they weren't anything unmanageable. A little workaround here and there and it should be all good to go next time. Kanpeki!
???
......
???
I'm so tired. I wanna sleep.
???
Locking in for two hours straight is my limit. I'm so sleepy.
???
No, I can't sleep here. Even a Kinseki Channel employee taking a nap in here would be pretty suspicious.
???
I have to go back to that cramped and lousy office—
???
Huh? An interim broadcast?
???
Uh oh! I gotta hide!
Tired Staff
Yes, I'm here. Let me test the machine...
Tired Staff
What? No, I'm the only one in here.
Tired Staff
Right, yes.
Tired Staff
All's set in place. The broadcast can start at any time.
I recommend the chikuwa, but the burdenbeast tendons and fowlbeast eggs are must-tries too. If you fancy something lighter, may I suggest our daikon or konbu knots—
Mio
Don't play dumb, Moriuchi. Where's Momoka and the Ao-Oni?
Moriuchi
How would I know?
Mio
Just give me a number. The Kinsekikai can afford it.
Moriuchi
I only sell oden here. How could I possibly know where my customers go after filling their bellies?
Mio
An appropriate pushback is understandable, but an excessive defiance means refusal to cooperate.
Moriuchi
No, no, I would never.
Moriuchi
I don't get it, s'all. She's just a showgirl at your mercy, without any kin in the city. Where could she possibly run off to? What harm could she do to your Kinsekikai?
Mio
Are you trying to pull information out of me?
Moriuchi
I wouldn't dare.
Moriuchi
Mio-san, I'm sure you've known her for a long time, even longer than I've known her.
Moriuchi
She got to know me because my oden's yummy, and I know all about the kaidan in the city. I only offered a few comforting words and to be honest, we're not that close at all.
Moriuchi
But I can tell she's just a lost little lass being pushed around with no bad intentions. I'm sure you've spent way more time with her, so what say you?
Mio
I see you're insisting on your silence.
Moriuchi
C'mon, let's not put it that way.
Moriuchi
How about, helping me leave a good review for this spot? Something about this place being a rare gem, and a great bang for your buck.
Moriuchi
Why not have some oden to appease your hunger and mood?
Mio
Chikuwa, tendon, egg, daikon, and konbu knot. One of each.
Moriuchi
Mio-san, you...?
Mio
So you had no intention of giving me a free meal? I see how it is. Fine for Momoka, but not for me.
Moriuchi
What? No! I just thought you'd never allow me the honor of serving you my humble cooking.
Moriuchi
Here you go.
Mio
Itadakimasu.
She claps her hands and dips her head before her meal, then takes the chikuwa from the paper cup for a nibble.
Mio
It's hot—
The noise echoing down Nita Street suddenly dips in volume.
Pedestrians fall silent at the exact same moment, like fowlbeasts on a single tree suddenly stopping their chirping.
But the silence only lasts a few seconds before a uniform voice booms from every television screen on the street.
I'm terribly sorry for taking up your time. I, Kouhei Mifune, have news to break to you all.
Moriuchi
When's the last time your boss showed his face on a program?
Mio
More than a decade ago.
Mifune
...The singer and actress Momoka Hanyuu, is currently missing.
Mifune
I repeat, the whereabouts of popular singer and actress Momoka Hanyuu, who has a long-term contract with our company, are currently unknown.
Mifune
According to reliable sources, Momoka-san's disappearance is closely linked to the kaidan tales circulating in the city.
Mifune
We are still verifying how they are related to the situation, but we are certain of one thing, at the core of this strange incident is...
Mifune
The 'Ao-Oni of Kinsekikai', the 'Single-horned Oni', among many more nicknames.
Mifune
A female Oni with one horn, long green hair, of tall and sturdy build. Said to carry a large triangular shield.
Mifune
She vanished two decades ago, spawning the myth that she was haunting the city as a vengeful spirit late at night, killing anyone who'd been connected with her.
Mifune
Many attendees report seeing this individual at Momoka-san's concert.
Mifune
As for whether she is truly a living being, a pretender, or a genuine ghost—we are as yet uncertain.
Mifune
As the man responsible for the company Momoka-san is contracted to, I make a sincere appeal for the general public to contact us with any clues. You will be rewarded handsomely.
Mifune
I'm sure Momoka-san also harbors hope that you will help her out of her plight...
