act44side

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...?

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.