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Hello, madam. I don't think I've seen you in Kajimachi before. What's your name?

Do you need something? Some stranger ransacked my house. I need to go clean up.

You haven't heard the news? It seems that someone snuck across the northern border, into Mitsukue.

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.

Tetsuya? Could it be...?

No. No way.

I'm going home, Tetsuya.

Home? Don't be ridiculous. Do you even know the story behind this haunted house?

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.

After he passed away, the house went to his daughter.

Are you claiming to be his daughter?

Hold on... you're pretty tall, you have a single horn, and look at your hair... is that really you, Hoshiguma-aneki?

<i>Aneki?</i> Tetsuya, you—

—The Haunted House kaidan is about <i>you?</i>

I never died. I never disappeared. I never became a kaidan. I just went to Lungmen; that is all.

Who can verify the truth of what you're saying?

Go ask Uncle Tessai.

I have nothing to say to that man.

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.

Come talk to Mifune-san with me. You can return home after we've sorted this out.

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.

Have we met?

Never.

Do you really think you can beat me with a bokutou?

I've heard the story of the 'Ao-Oni of Kinsekikai' before.

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?

This is none of your business, Kichisei. Mifune told me to watch out for strangers. I need to take this woman to see him.

She doesn't look like an easy mark to me. Why are you——

Why are you picking fights with ghosts?!

You know her?

She popped up yesterday onstage during the concert and nearly scared Momoka half to death.

She's really a ghost?

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?

They let me go, thank you very much.

Hmph. Boring.

Calm down, Tetsuya. Don't always take Mifune as the supreme authority.

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.

Kichisei!

So Uncle Tessai... remarried? And he gave you the same name as his first son?

He... treats you and your mother poorly?

Before, when we used to fight, I would ask him why he married my mother.

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...

*Sigh*

What are you sighing about?

Nothing. I'm just tired.

Don't lie to me!

The young man adopts a fighting stance and attempts to close in on Hoshiguma at a tricky angle.

Hey!

What kind of... empty-hand disarm technique is this?!

You read too many mangas. This is the most basic of basic grappling techniques.

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.

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.

Who says I'm giving up? How... how can you tell that I'm...?

Forget it.

So what really happened between you and Uncle Tessai?

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.

Ahem, Ghost-san?

My name is Hoshiguma.

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.

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.

This morning, Kinbee killed one of his minions here in Kajimachi, for the crime of trespassing.

Tetsuya is Uncle Tessai's son. I hope Kinbee doesn't go lop his head off too.

You look awfully young, Kichisei. What brings you to Kajimachi?

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.

You can handle two jobs at the same time like that?

*Shrugs* Ever since that bastard Mifune announced he was redeveloping Kajimachi, no one really comes by anymore. So I have plenty of free time.

What do the residents think of the redevelopment plan?

Huh? Mifune doesn't give two shits what the locals think.

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.

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.

Thanks for sharing all that.

No need to thank me. If you do end up moving back here, we'll be neighbors. Good neighbors help each other.

By the way, what were you calling Mifune... Kinbee?

That was his name before he hit it big.

Oh. Okay. Then that's what I'll call him from now on.

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?

Sorry, I don't have time to talk about that right now. I got a lot to do.

Sure, whatever. You go do your thing. I'll be right there in the pachinko parlor. Come find me if you have time.

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!

Fireworks festival?

I guess... it <i>is</i> fireworks season.

Momoka sits in a cramped little room, in front of a plant that doesn't look particularly healthy.

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.

There's not enough sunlight in this room. Your stem keeps bending towards the window... ugh.

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.

Mio-san...?

Is this Momoka?

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...?