"Excuse us, please," Shizu called out as she pushed through the gathering crowd. Benimaru-san moved beside her, calm but visibly tense. Zhong and I followed a few steps behind, weaving through the bystanders pressed tightly against the police tape. Curious faces. Uneasy murmurs. A low buzz of worry hung in the air like humidity before a storm.
The smell of sulfur from the hot springs mingled with the distant tang of antiseptic, probably from the ambulance still parked at the curb. Uniformed officers stood between the people and the bathhouse, holding the crowd at bay.
"Hey, stay back," one of the officers stepped forward, holding out an arm as Benimaru-san and Shizu approached the barricade.
"I'm the owner of this place," Benimaru-san said, voice tight but composed.
The officer blinked, then stepped aside. "Good. My superior will want to speak with you immediately." He lifted the tape and allowed him through.
Benimaru-san turned to Shizu. "You remember the way to my house?"
"Yeah," she nodded.
"Take your friends there. Let them rest. I'll come once I've handled things with the police." He didn't wait for her answer before disappearing into the crowd.
Shizu sighed and spun on her heel. "Come on."
Zhong hesitated. "So, we're just going to walk away from all this?"
I glanced back at the building, half-hidden by police tape and shadows. "Let's do what Benimaru-san asked. We'll get more answers once he's done. We'll plan tomorrow."
"Tsk..." Shizu grumbled. She folded her arms and dragged her feet as she walked. "There goes my hot spring soak."
"You're really still thinking about that?" Zhong asked, his face somewhere between shock and disapproval.
The path to Benimaru-san's house wound through narrow streets lined with low wooden buildings. The sun had dipped just enough to cast a golden hue on the rooftops. It wasn't far. We arrived at a large traditional Minka — wide, wooden walls, sloped roof, and sliding doors that creaked with age. The front yard had gravel paths and a stone lantern, and the scent of tatami mats hit us the moment we stepped inside.
Shizu threw her bag onto the floor and immediately made herself comfortable, stretching out like she owned the place. Zhong and I paused to look around. The house breathed with age — from the paper screen doors to the dark beams overhead. A scroll hung on the wall. A small shrine sat silently in the corner. It was the kind of house I'd only ever seen in old films.
"Wow," I muttered, slowly taking it in.
"What's got you looking so dumb?" Shizu teased from the living room. She was sitting at a low wooden table draped with a thick blue blanket.
Zhong pointed at it. "What is that thing?"
"This?" She grinned, sliding her legs under the blanket. "It's a kotatsu. A table with a heater underneath. Heaven during winter." She stretched and sighed. "Been ages since I relaxed like this."
"I think I need one of these at home," I said, rubbing my chin. I slid into the kotatsu, enjoying the warmth against my legs. Zhong followed quickly.
"This is actually nice," I said, resting my head on the table's surface.
"For someone rich, you act like a total country bumpkin," Shizu mocked, clearly enjoying herself.
"You just enjoy annoying me, don't you?"
"I really do."
She sat up. "We should eat. I've been hungry for a while."
"Why are you looking at me?" I asked, watching her expectantly stare.
"You know I can't cook."
"That's not my problem."
"Hey, Shizu," Zhong said, glancing around. "Does Benimaru-san live alone? No wife?"
Shizu's smile faded. "She passed away a long time ago. Way before the Izana incident. It wasn't related." She glared at me
I raised my hands. "Didn't say it was."
Zhong leaned forward. "The Izana incident... You always dodge that. When are you going to tell me?"
"You're a good kid, so I'll tell you soon," she said. "Unlike this rebellious brat over here." She gave me a sidelong glare.
I ignored her and grabbed my phone. "Let's just order food."
"Yeah, let's," Zhong agreed.
We ate once the delivery arrived — simple rice dishes and soup. We cleaned up afterward, trying not to disturb the quiet of the house. As the hours slipped by, we talked about the murders — the patterns, the methods, the signs — but we had few answers.
Then the front door slid open.
Shizu rushed over. "You're back!"
Benimaru-san stepped in, looking tired. He rubbed the back of his neck as he took off his shoes. "Sorry I took so long."
"What did the police say?" Shizu asked.
"Nothing unusual. Standard procedure. But the bathhouse is closed for now," he said, entering the living room where Zhong and I still sat around the kotatsu.
"Nooooo!" Shizu cried dramatically, collapsing beside me. "My hot spring…"
"Not this again," I muttered.
"Don't worry," Benimaru-san chuckled. "I'll take you to another one tomorrow. It's owned by Mrs. Yozora."
I nodded. "Did you know the victim?"
"No. This one was a visitor. A man who came for the springs."
Zhong sat forward. "A man this time?"
"Yes."
I stood up. "We need to examine the body. We might find some spiritual trace."
Shizu shook her head. "If the killer isn't awakened, there won't be much left to detect."
"He could be using a spiritual weapon."
"Those are expensive," she countered. "Not something just anyone can get."
Zhong raised his hand. "What if I track by scent? I can still tell subtle differences."
"That's a good idea," I said, arms crossed. "But you can't track people like a bloodhound, can you?"
"I can try."
"Then we bring the people to you," I suggested. "Gather everyone in one place. If Zhong gets close enough, he might pick up the killer's scent."
"It won't be that easy," Benimaru-san said. "The town's on lockdown. No one's moving around. No visitors are coming, either."
"Then we break that pattern," I said, stepping in front of everyone. "Look at the time stamps on the photos. The victims weren't killed on a fixed schedule. Day or night, it didn't matter. That means he kills when opportunity strikes. If we bring people out into the open, he might act again — and Zhong can catch his scent."
"He won't notice us either," Zhong added. "We're not like everyone else."
"There's a flaw," Shizu pointed out. "We don't have access to the victim's body right now. Isn't that right, Benimaru-san?"
He nodded. "The police already moved it."
"Then we'll sneak into the hospital," I said without hesitation. "Zhong can get close and catch the scent there."
"Infiltration?" Zhong lit up. "I'm in."
Shizu raised an eyebrow. "And how do we get everyone to come out into the open?"
"I'll talk to the town elders," Benimaru-san said. "They'll listen."
"Do they know about us?" I asked.
"They do," he replied. "You'll meet them tomorrow."
I stretched and stood. "Alright. Let's get some rest and prepare."
As I made for the door to grab my bag from the car, Shizu's voice cut in.
"Hey! I'm the leader here, so why are you acting like one?" she grumbled, following behind with Zhong.