I waited for her to complete her shower. It wasn’t long, but it seemed like it took forever. While she did, I looked through more of the case files. Among pictures of victims, there were many printouts of maps of Tokyo’s metro systems. There were even copies of blueprints of the tunnel system. I found myself reviewing the reports on the victims further. More than a few reports included testimony given by friends or family members. They were asked for their viewpoints on their slain children, brothers, sisters, even grandparents.

He was a good son, even if he used to be a delinquent.

She was a diligent and dutiful daughter.

She was my beloved wife. Life without her is empty. I’ll never marry again...

None of the statements were particularly helpful for finding the noh-face.

He liked baseball. He was a great shortstop.

She loved to go bowling. Whenever she’d get a strike she’d jump up and down all excited!

Hikari was probably a huge pervert. It’s just as well.

I miss her.

I miss my child. She never had a chance to really live. I wish I’d made her favorite food last night before she...

For the most part, the reports more or less were affecting. Some were amusing, others were gut-wrenchingly sad. Reading them made me feel sad, but I came to see something. I wasn’t alone in my own loss. There were others out there suffering just as much or more.

What I could do for their sakes and mine was solving this case.

I shrieked when I felt a hand on my shoulder. “Auuuuuuughhh!” I yelled and then noticed the hand was Rui’s. I wasn’t sure what to call her. Oni was still my first choice. Looking into her face, I noted that she understood what I was doing. Her face conveyed determination and compassion. “Good job, Susumu. I can’t really tell what you’re thinking, but I think I can safely assume that you’re ready to fight.”

I gulped and nodded. “Yes. Didn’t you say it got Reiko-chan too? The paper said she threw herself from a building, though...”

Rui looked to the side with a sigh. “The city’s populace would panic if they knew the true details surrounding Reiko-chan’s death. Everyone knows about yokai, legends, secrets, spirits, etcetera. But, the fact is, no one is actually prepared to accept the fact that yokai are still amongst us. They’re all over the place, actually. My family has always specialized in spiritual cases. The problem is, I’m a poor successor to the family name. I have their knowledge, but I have none of their spiritual abilities. Nevertheless, I’m determined to carry it on, their legacy.”

“W-What?” I blinked. “So you’re telling me that you’re not qualified to do this for a living? Knowing that doesn’t inspire much confidence.” I laughed nervously.

“Yes.” She shrugged. “But even without spiritual powers, I have the connections to get the job done. I just cash in some of those many favours my father and grandfather did not collect on. Yokai are a long-lived sort. Most are immortal, or nearly so. They tend to keep to themselves, but if they lose their minds, then they can go on a rampage like noh-face. I’ve already solved several cases of my own, and it’s been going well so far.”

“Are you alone?” I asked Rui, wondering.