"You knew Sayoko Mizuhara?" Kōki asked, his voice carrying both curiosity and a subtle unease.
"Yes… somewhat. But we weren't all that close," said the young officer across from him. Her uniform fit neatly, her short frame stiff with discipline. Then she blinked, as if suddenly remembering something important. "Ah, I almost forgot. I should introduce myself—my name is Natsumi Hoshino. Around here, they call me Officer Natsu."
Takuto chuckled from where he floated lazily near the ceiling. "So they cut her name in half to match her height. Not bad. Still, a shorty like her being a cop? That's practically a joke."
"You're not helping," Sayoko snapped, smacking him in the head with a ghostly hand. The sound rang faintly, like a breeze against paper, though Takuto still flinched dramatically.
"My name is Kōki Takeda. I'm a second-year at Yomigaoka High," Kōki said, shifting his weight on his feet. He kept his gaze steady, though his palms were damp with sweat.
Natsumi tilted her head slightly. "I used to go there too. Graduated three years ago, actually."
"I see…" Kōki exhaled, then spoke more carefully. "So… do you know what happened five years ago? To Sayoko Mizuhara?"
He leaned forward slightly, his tone softening. "I need answers about the whole incident." His voice wavered at the end, quieter and more resolute, but there was a faint tremor that betrayed the nerves running through him.
Natsumi studied him in silence. Her green eyes didn't move, fixed on his face, measuring his intent. The room was still except for the muffled chatter of radios in the corridor outside. Finally, she gestured toward a pair of worn leather chairs across from her desk. "Alright… then let's sit down."
The faint creak of the chair followed as Kōki lowered himself, his body tense. Sayoko hovered just over his shoulder, silent, while Takuto drifted closer, crossing his arms as though he were ready for a show. The tiny office seemed to grow heavier with each breath. Every sound—the shuffling of files on Natsumi's desk, the buzz of fluorescent lights overhead—echoed louder than normal.
Natsumi hesitated before speaking, her voice lower than before. "I don't know much about how it happened. Honestly… it's a day I've tried hard to forget."
Her gaze shifted away, landing somewhere distant as she continued. "I was in my first year of high school when I first met Sayoko. My cousin Takumi introduced us. He said they were friends. I never really got to know her well, but whenever I saw her, she greeted me with a smile… sometimes even a hug. She had that kind of warmth. On campus she was well-known—beautiful, polite, and one of the top students. Everyone admired her. A lot of guys had crushes on her. Maybe even Takumi did… though I can't say for sure."
Natsumi's brows knitted. "But later that year, Sayoko started acting strangely around Takumi. She'd watch him from a distance, then avoid him whenever he got close. At first, I thought it was just some fight between them, so I asked him. He brushed it off and said it was nothing. But it became clear later… they must have had feelings for each other. Her avoiding him drove him crazy, and when he started ignoring her in return… something about her seemed to change."
Her hands tightened in her lap. "The day Sayoko died… it was sudden. Horrifying. Her body was never found. But her uniform, her undergarments… and her blood… they were all at the scene. Alongside the body of a young man."
Sayoko's voice cracked behind Kōki, trembling. "No way… I was stripped… and my body was taken away…?" She covered her mouth, tears pooling in her eyes, her body shaking where she floated. Kōki glanced at her, his stomach tightening, but kept his focus on the officer.
"So wait," Kōki said, turning back to Natsumi, his tone sharper now. "That young man who died… what was his name?"
Natsumi shook her head. "I never found out. But I can look into the case files back at the main office. I'll get back to you when I have something."
"Please do," Kōki said firmly. He paused, then pressed further, his voice more serious. "What about your cousin Takumi? How did he react to all this? To Sayoko's disappearance?"
Her expression darkened. "Shockingly… he didn't. He never brought it up. Never cried. Never even mentioned her again."
"...Okay," Kōki muttered flatly. His jaw clenched, and his fingers curled against the armrest.
Takuto floated closer, scratching his head. "You sure were clingy to guys who turned out to be jerks, huh?" His words were teasing, but his voice lacked its usual playfulness.
Sayoko didn't respond. She just stayed close to Kōki, her wide eyes brimming with tears, her lips trembling.
Kōki reached into his pocket, pulling out a folded piece of paper. "Here's my number," he said, offering it across the desk. "Call me if you find anything—about Sayoko, or about the boy who died."
Natsumi took it slowly, blinking. "Yeah… I will." Then she suddenly froze, her expression changing. "Wait. What am I doing?! Why did I just give so much information to a high schooler? Am I stupid?" She slapped her forehead and muttered under her breath.
"Hey, Takeda," she called out as he stood. "What does this case have to do with you? And why do you want to contact my cousin?"
Kōki stopped in the doorway, shoulders tense. He didn't look back right away. "Honestly… I didn't want to get involved. But I didn't have a choice."
He turned slightly, his eyes half-shadowed under the office light. "Say, Natsumi… do you believe in ghosts?"
She scoffed instantly. "Of course not. Ghosts are made-up stories. People only think they see them because they're paranoid or superstitious."
Kōki's voice dropped lower. "I wish I was just superstitious."
His fists tightened at his sides. "If I told you the real reason I'm here—what I know about Sayoko—you wouldn't believe me. And as for your cousin… I have a strong feeling he's connected to this. I just don't have proof yet."
"You think Takumi was involved in Sayoko's death?" Natsumi asked, shocked, her voice a bit louder than intended.
"Yes," Kōki answered plainly. His tone carried no hesitation. "We'll talk more later. I'll come back another day to speak with him. Please let him know I'm coming." His thoughts flickered inward, but he kept them buried. I won't tell her about the letter yet. Not until I'm sure.
Without waiting for her reply, he turned and walked away. His footsteps echoed down the hallway.
"Let's go, Sayoko," he said softly, glancing at the ghost hovering close to him.
Sayoko's lips quivered. She didn't speak, but followed him, silent tears slipping down her face. Takuto drifted after them both, for once without a grin, his usual jokes gone.
Back inside the office, Natsumi slumped into her chair, ruffling her hair in frustration. "Wait. Did I really just give out confidential information to some high schooler? If anyone finds out, I'll be in so much trouble…" She exhaled sharply, tapping her desk with her fingertips as though to steady herself. The radio crackled faintly in the background, but her mind was already tangled with doubts.