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I was scared of that ghost thing before I ever agreed to do it. I hope I never see it again. That ghost...

The ghost didn't touch you!

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!

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 <i>Kaidan Queen.</i>

But...

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.

Kajimachi is haunted! There are narrow old alleys, rundown shopping streets, and streetlights no one's even bothered to repair...

Oh no, no...

(Presses channel button to change the channel)

The vicious Oni has returned, all because of the countless wrongful deaths in Kajimachi!

With no one daring to even set foot in Kajimachi, what future lies ahead for the neighborhood?

(Mashes channel button)

Popular entertainer Momoka faces life-threatening danger in Kajimachi. Local businessman Mifune-san speaks out——

'On behalf of the Kinseki Group, I vow that we will fix Kajimachi's problems at their core.'

Why did it blow up like this? Usually people watch the show, laugh a little, and move on.

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…

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.

No. I'm the cause of all this. I need to respond positively...

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...

...and... post!

(Deep breath)

Interacting with fans is usually so easy. Why am I so nervous this time...?

I hope I can help Kichisei and Kajimachi... hehe.

Let's just put the Kaidan Queen stuff aside for now.

Look at how many likes it's getting. Hehe...

Huh? What happened? Why did it get grayed out?

The phone rings again.

Who could it be...?

She runs to the phone and picks up the receiver.

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.

<i>Aho ka!</i> Stupid girl, have you lost your mind? What are you doing posting like that?

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!

*Huff* That's... all I have for now.

'All you have'? It's a giant mountain!

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.

Now? My shift's almost over, and you bring a heaping pile of garbage over... *sigh*

This is just the trash from the first floor and the courtyard. There's more on the second floor and in the basement.

Uh oh.

Anyway, please take my money. <i>Otsukaresama desu.</i>

Alright, fine... Wait. A koban coin?

You don't use kobans anymore? Or you can't make change?

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.

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?

Uh...

Here's your money.

Woah, Tessai Oyabun!

<i>Arigatou gozaimasu.</i> 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.

Did you find any of your father's things while cleaning out the house?

I searched the whole first floor but didn't find anything.

Uncle Tessai, I just ran into a young man named Tetsuya—

Come stay with me. This place is too messy. It'll take you days to clean it up.

That's okay, I'd rather stay here in my own home.

Fair enough. I'll go and get you some clean sheets.

<i>Otsukare,</i> 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.

Ao-Oni-san? You're Ao-Oni-san, aren't you?!

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!

We come to you this evening from Kajimachi, Mitsukue with an amazing discovery——the Ao-Oni!

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!

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?

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.

Hmph.

Where's your unicycle?

My what?

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.

She's here! Finally! It's the Ao-Oni! It's really her!

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?

Did you have anything to do with Momoka's show going viral?

Get out of my way!

Ao-Oni-san! I just want to ask you a few questions—

Gugh—

You're actually striking people?

Kajimachi is still my private domain. You have trespassed. Have you thought about how you might make amends to the Kinsekikai?

Tessai?!

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.

These vultures catch a whiff of 'news' and they come swarming in the blink of an eye. Kaidan? What kaidan?

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.

I've got your sheets here, and your drink.