The cherry trees lined the stream, their fallen petals drifting across the water.
Oddly, the pond itself was pristine, untouched by any blossoms.
Though the waterfall was only ten meters high, the surrounding cliffs were steep. Climbing up from below would require a long detour around the mountain.
At the cliff's base stood a grave, the tombstone inscribed with "Togo Taku"—likely Madame Togo's late husband.
Hayashi Shuichi glanced at the pond before heading back to the cherry blossom grove to search.
The group soon found Yuta Moriyama, but Yukiko Mizuno remained missing.
Moriyama insisted on continuing the search for his girlfriend. Unable to dissuade him, Hayashi Shuichi and the others joined in.
Half an hour later, the rain intensified, pounding their umbrellas with a steady patter.
Hayashi Shuichi glanced at the three girls. Despite their umbrellas, their clothes were starting to get wet.
"Let's head back."
"But we haven't found Yukiko-san," Fujimine Yukiko said. "With this rain, what if something happens to her…"
"Only Madame Togo claimed she saw someone enter the grove," Fei Yingli mused. "It's not a big area. If Yukiko-san was here, we'd have found her by now."
"Are you saying Madame Togo lied?" Fujimine Yukiko frowned. "Why would she do that?"
"Shuichi said Mio-san, Saho-san, and Yukiko-san are likely the same person," Fei Yingli snapped. "Otomo-san and the others might not recognize her, but Madame Togo? A missing person shows up at her lodge again, and she notices nothing?"
"Well… maybe the lodge had too many guests, and she…" Fujimine Yukiko trailed off, realizing her argument fell flat.
The Togo Lodge, old and rundown, hardly looked like a bustling hub.
"If they're in cahoots, maybe Madame Togo suggested we search the grove to give Yukiko-san a chance to escape," Reiko speculated. "If we don't catch her, we can't prove the Togos are involved."
"Even the kid's using her brain," Fei Yingli said with a smirk. "Some people look like foxes but don't have a fox's cunning."
"Reiko's just guessing. Who knows if it's true?" Fujimine Yukiko huffed, indignant.
"Let's go back to the lodge," Hayashi Shuichi said. "It's pouring, and we're in the middle of the mountains. If Yukiko-san's trying to escape, it won't be easy."
The four turned back and soon spotted Madame Togo persuading Moriyama to return to the lodge.
"It's pouring. Yukiko-san might already be back at the lodge. Let's check there first."
Moriyama nodded dejectedly.
Suddenly, Reiko pointed to the mountain path. "Onii-chan, isn't that Togo-san?"
Hayashi Shuichi and the others looked where she pointed, spotting a figure heading up the mountain. The rain was heavy, and the distance made it hard to see clearly, but the person was wearing Togo Ryu's clothes.
"What's he doing up there?" Fujimine Yukiko asked.
"Ryu's probably looking for Yukiko-san," Madame Togo said, frowning. "He grew up here and knows the mountain well. No need to worry about him. Let's head back."
The figure soon vanished from sight. Not long after, Otomo emerged from the grove.
"It's raining too hard. Let's go back."
…
Back at the lodge, Yukiko Mizuno was nowhere to be found. Only Akita Keito was there, still scrubbing paint off in the bathroom.
Moriyama, soaked to the bone without an umbrella, looked crestfallen.
Otomo was in a similar state, drenched and mud-splattered. "Took a fall earlier. Today's just rotten luck."
"You two should clean up in the bathroom," Madame Togo suggested. "Don't catch a cold."
Moriyama shook his head, taking a towel to quietly wipe his hair.
Otomo nodded and headed upstairs. Moments later, he returned.
"Need something?" Madame Togo asked.
"Grabbing clothes from my car. This jacket's filthy, but I've got another," Otomo said, stepping outside.
Minutes later, he returned with a clean jacket and went back to the second-floor bathroom.
"Have some hot tea," Madame Togo said, pouring cups for Hayashi Shuichi, the three girls, and Moriyama. "Warm yourselves up."
The girls, convinced she was the scammer's accomplice, feared the tea might be poisoned and held onto their cups without drinking.
Hayashi Shuichi wasn't worried. Even if Madame Togo meant to silence them, she'd wait until everyone was together. With Otomo and Akita in the upstairs bathroom, poisoning those downstairs now would leave the others to deal with.
Taking a sip, Hayashi Shuichi heard Moriyama's low, grim voice. "Madame Togo, is Yukiko really a scammer?"
"How would I know?" The owner gave a dry laugh. "I…"
Smash!
Moriyama hurled his teacup to the floor. "You think I'm an idiot?"
The three girls beside Hayashi Shuichi flinched, inching closer to him.
Seeing him still sipping tea, Fei Yingli snatched his cup away.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Madame Togo asked, feigning surprise.
"What's it mean?" Moriyama scoffed. "If Yukiko's a scammer who's 'disappeared' here twice under different names, you're telling me you didn't recognize her? You're all in on it!"
"Moriyama-san, whether Yukiko-san's a scammer is just your theory," Madame Togo said, dropping her kindly facade for a cold smirk. "You say we're accomplices? Show me proof."
"You!" Moriyama gritted his teeth in fury.
Madame Togo leisurely sipped her tea. "The phone's right there. If you're so sure I'm a scammer, Moriyama-san, go ahead and call the police."
"You think I won't?" Moriyama stormed to the phone and dialed 110.
Otomo happened to come downstairs. "If the police were any use, I wouldn't have been searching for Mio for six months."
Moriyama ignored him, continuing to report the situation.
Otomo shook his head and sat on the sofa. "Never thought this was the truth. Madame Togo, I don't mean anything by it—I just want to see Mio one more time. Can you…"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Madame Togo said, her face expressionless. "If you're here to stay at the lodge, you're welcome anytime."
"But if you keep spouting this nonsense, leave once the rain stops."
(End of Chapter)
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