Chapter 3: The Symbol
Mitsui Residence. He went up to his room. After taking a shower, he checked to see if his mother was already asleep. He wants to see the folder given by the lawyer. It was well hidden from him. Everything inside was definitely about his grandfather. Even if he doesn't remember, he wants to know who he is, what he is, and why his mother took him away. He went to his room. He opened the window opposite his bed. He wondered why there were so many reflected candle lights below. All the windows in their neighbor's were closed; the light only penetrated through the reflected window. He noticed the old man again. Two hours passed. He didn't leave his place.
He just left the window closed, covered by a floor-length curtain. Only the lampshade was open. He lay on the bed. He sends a condolence message to Miyagi. He took the phone from the side table. His body almost jumped on the bed because of what he saw. The curtain, with a human figure behind it, stands upright. He stood up, took the baseball bat from under his bed, and was ready to attack.
Mitsui: Who are you? Show yourself!
He hit the curtain with all his might with the bat. He didn't hit anything; it vanished. His window was broken. Every piece of glass in his window splashed noisily. He spread the curtain on the porch. The other house caught his attention again. There were people, all facing the window, looking at him. They are all dressed in black clothes and veils. He moved slowly, turned back, and when he turned around, an old man was standing upright. Their faces were only a few inches apart.
Mom: Son! Wake up! Calm down. It's just a nightmare.
Mitsui was almost sweating in fear. It was hard for him to breathe after the real horror he experienced. His mother patted his back and shoulders. He sat down, wiping his face.
Mitsui: I'm fine, mom. Take a rest.
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Sakuragi Residence. His phone kept ringing, from their group chat. Miyagi said goodbye to his team. He will not attend their practice tomorrow, Saturday. He was about to press the call button to call Miyagi. He was startled when he heard someone knocking. Sakuragi irritably walked towards the door. He pulled the doorknob, frowning. Doctor Azuma was standing in the doorway.
Sakuragi: What are you doing here?
Dr. Azuma: I know your father.
Sakuragi: He is resting in heaven. Let us not disturb his soul.
Dr. Azuma: Your father is one of the greatest people I have ever met.
Sakuragi: How did you meet?
Dr. Azuma: He has been my friend for a long time. Do you know who killed him?
Sakuragi felt sick, a weak feeling in the pit of his stomach. His heart was starting to pound.
Sakuragi: What's the catch? Why are you wasting your time on someone like me?
Dr. Azuma: You have an excessive heartbeat per minute, which releases a large amount of adrenaline into your bloodstream. You have the ability to see and react faster, just like your father.
Sakuragi: I don't want to be rude, but stay away from me.
Dr. Azuma: You both have the blood of a killer in your veins. You have to bring that out of yourself.
Sakuragi: What are you talking about? My father is a good man! He's a police officer!
Dr. Azuma: Shigure, your father, he's one of us.
He handed Sakuragi a Taurus 327-barrel firearm with a lion print on the handle. He slowly brought his hand closer to the gun. He took it.
Sakuragi: What do you want?
Dr. Azuma: I came here to let you know who you are. You know where to find me. Do you want to know all the answers to your questions? Join our organization. You will need me. Hanamichi Sakuragi.
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Ayako Residence. Basketball practice ended early. Miyagi's grandmother's funeral; Rukawa informed them that he had something important to do, while Sakuragi didn't say he couldn't attend today. Her father is not at home. She was happy that his father came home more often. He planned to cook his father's favorite meal after cleaning.
Saturday is general cleaning day for Ayako. She was not allowed to enter her father's office without his permission, but she opened it because she wanted it to be clean before her father arrived. A crumpled piece of paper in the trash bin caught her eyes. She saw Miyagi's picture on the right side of the paper and opened it quickly, wondering why her father had information about Miyagi.
She saw his personal information, with a big stamp on top of the form, saying NOT QUALIFIED. There were many keys on the keychain. She tried everything to open the cabinet. Click. She briskly put a folder on top, black in color. Many profiles of different people are bound. Reaching the middle, she saw three forms, named Sakuragi, Mitsui, and Rukawa. She was shocked to discover: why was her father studying her friends? What is his purpose with them? In their records, there is one with the QUALIFIED Stamp. Hanamichi Sakuragi.
Ayako sat in her father's ergonomic chair. Her eyes returned to her friend's profile. She opened another page. She saw a lot of profiles of people of different ages. She wondered if there were only two stamps on top of the forms: qualified and deceased. She looked at the time, 6:00 in the evening. She put the folder back and locked it, tossing Miyagi's crumpled form back into the trash. Everything was put back in order. She was walking towards the door when she heard her father's voice.
Dr. Azuma: We don't have time. We have to get the heir.
Ayako didn't know where to go. She looked at the closed-door closet. She quickly went inside. She wrapped her arms around herself and covered her mouth with her palm. Her father entered, went straight to his chair, leaning back with the full weight of his body.
Dr. Azuma: Ever since he disappeared, we've been dealing with nothing but disappointment.
She heard his footsteps, the sound of the door, as if her father had come out. Her shoulders slumped, she breathed easily. She slowly went out. Before she closed the door, she saw the wall. Something was shining behind it. She touched it, tried to push it, a door. She shakes her head. She had to go to the kitchen so that her father wouldn't know that she had entered his office.
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Sakuragi wants to deal with the fear in his head. He felt like his feet were pulling him towards the slaughter house. He had seen this place many times since he was young. His father works here after being fired as a police officer. He grabbed the doorknob. Before he could open it, he heard a violent cry accompanied by bouts of yelling and shrieking. Their cries are like asking for help and begging for their lives.
He was horrified by what he heard but still dared to open the door to see the noise he was hearing. His eyes wandered as he couldn't see anyone except the one standing on the right side of the corner. He saw his father. His face was blank and staring at him. He wanted to talk to him, but he woke up from his nap.
Slaughter house. Dr. Azuma opened a hidden door in the left corner of the area. He saw a staircase going down. The light clicked on. He was stunned by the room's many racks and cabinets. Only a few weapons could be seen; his father's personal wondered how many other men had been killed by the clean, neatly aligned weapons in that hidden armory. Obviously, he has a lot of questions, as evidenced by the expression on his face.
Sakuragi: Why are we here?
Dr. Azuma: This was your father's place. Everything in this room belongs to him.
Sakuragi: Where are his things?
Dr. Azuma: After he died, all of your father's weapons and various firearms disappeared.
Sakuragi: What kind of group do you have? Who killed him?
Dr. Azuma: We have no information about his killer. You will also know the group we belong to in due time.
Sakuragi: I'll think about it, Dr. Azuma.
Dr. Azuma: I have to leave. I still have something to do. I will wait for your decision.
He accepted the key the doctor gave him. He looked around. He saw the black cloth hanging on the wall. He picked it up, too dusty and rough with dirt, until he noticed the carving on the wall. He was sure he had seen something like that mark somewhere. He thought carefully. All of a sudden, the most complicated event in his life collided with his memory.
Sakuragi is running fast towards their house. The heavy rain was just like wind at the speed of his steps. He suddenly stopped; two men blocked him. He took a step back. He looked out of the corner of his eye at another four men standing to his right and left.
Man 1: What's so threatening about you?
Sakuragi: Not now! I'm in a hurry!
Man 2: How about we break your neck so you don't feel a thing?
Sakuragi: Just come back another day! Let me pass!
Man 1: We're in a hurry too.
Sakuragi: You take one step and you're dead.
Man 2: Are you threatening us?
Man 3: The boss was right; this one is arrogant. Let's show him what happens when they mess with us.
After five minutes, the six men were lying down and curled up. He remained standing, whilst the group who tried to take him down were lying down. He walked past the lying bodies to go home. He turned around when he noticed the same mark on their arm. He didn't look at the writing but the design inside the circular tattoo was noticeable. He continued running. He kicked the door, his knees falling to the floor. He couldn't stop shaking the lifeless body of his father in front of him.
Sakuragi: It means, you are in the same group. But why doesn't Dad have a tattoo? What do they have to do with his death?
He leaned his palm against the carving on the wall. Inside the circle, an infinity symbol is in the middle with an upside-down star behind. His hands slowly closed and punched it, causing a loud shaking sound.
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Sendoh's Apartment. Strange things have been happening in the apartment since Rukawa got back from Interhigh. He stayed at Sendoh's apartment for a few days. He thought he could escape the manifestation, only to discover that the apartment was not the problem. Moments later, shocking events begin to happen.
His body was lying on the bed. He couldn't move, he couldn't speak, only his eyes could move. He turned his eyes right and left; a group of wolves surrounded him. Their eyes were like the wolves' he had seen the other day. After a while, numerous gold coins fell from his body. He looked straight ahead. He can't see where the coin is coming from. Eventually, the amount that falls is reduced. He was shocked to see a wolf's head with no visible lips but visible fierce dagger sharp teeth. Innumerable golden coins came out of his mouth. A millimeter away from him, face-to-face, he shouted, "I want you!"
Sendoh: Kaede! Please wake up!
He opened his eyes. He slowly sat up. He saw Sendoh, his face serious, horrified. He was worried that he might have been followed, or worse, that the strange things that followed him would also show up at Sendoh.
Rukawa: We're going somewhere. Get dressed.
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Church. They asked the priest for help to bless his apartment. They sat temporarily in the chair in front of the altar while waiting for the priest. He held Sendoh's hand, watching his fingers. Sendoh's face lit up when he saw Rukawa touch his left finger.
Sendoh: My ring finger is size 12-14.
Rukawa: What are you talking about?
Sendoh: You don't have to measure my finger while I'm sleeping or when I'm not looking, so you can buy it now.
Rukawa: Moronic freak.
Sendoh: Don't be like that. We are inside the church. But it's okay, you're still cute. You know, there is a saying that when your hands and feet are big, it means your...
Rukawa quickly covered his mouth, already guessing the next silly words he was going to say.
Rukawa: We're inside the church.
Sendoh: I just wanted to say that my hands and feet are big and my heart is also big.
Rukawa: Who are you fooling, bubblehead?!
Sendoh: Listen to what I have to say first. I have a big heart, that's why I have a big and long... patience.
Rukawa: Stop talking nonsense! dirty-minded twit!
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Sakuragi's Residence: Mitsui hurriedly walked towards Sakuragi's house. He noticed the door was open and was shocked at what he saw. His house is a shithole: spattered clothes, bottles everywhere, curtains not blocking the windows, plates piled up in the kitchen, totally messy.
Sakuragi: What's up? Do you need anything?
Mitsui: You don't need alcohol to self-medicate; it will only make you worse.
Sakuragi: Hahaha! Why don't you just join me for a drink? Hehehe! What are you going to prescribe for me, Michi?
Mitsui: Good night's sleep, healthy food, and take a walk with us.
Sakuragi: Thanks, but I'm not in the mood right now.
Mitsui: Well, I'll see you tomorrow at practice.
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Rukawa's Apartment. The next day, they went to Rukawa's apartment. In the priest's car, they sat in the back. A sacristan sat with the priest at the front. They looked around at the entrance. Many crows landed. As the seconds passed, they increased even more. The priest and his companion made the sign of the cross. Sendoh and Rukawa were horrified by what they saw. The apartment seemed to have become a crow sanctuary.
Sendoh: This is the first time I've seen something this bad. I have a bad feeling about this. They don't want to let us in.
Priest: I feel like they're welcoming us.
Sendoh: Father, maybe this is not a good time. I'm sorry for the trouble. Don't come in, Kaede. Let's just have the truck rental take all your stuff. It's not safe to go inside.
The Priest: We have to try so that he will not disturb you no matter where you go.
Sendoh stood next to Rukawa, looking at the priest out of the corner of his eye. The priest is smirking at the increasing number of crows in front of them. He grabbed Rukawa's elbow. He spoke to him in a low voice.
Sendoh: I am also afraid of the priest. Why does he still seem excited?
Rukawa: You better not come inside.
Sendoh: Why?
Rukawa: You're already agitated about a priest; what about a real ghost?!
Sendoh: I'm not afraid. I will come with you. What if something happens to you there? Just by the look of the priest, it looks like he's going to play mahjong with a ghost.
Rukawa: Just wait for me here. I don't want you to get involved with them. Please stay outside.
Rukawa rapidly covered Sendoh's mouth before he complained again. He's ready to face the trouble on his own. He will never forgive himself if Sendoh gets into this mess. They entered the apartment without hesitation. Sendoh agreed to stay outside. Rukawa tells the priest about his last experience in the room and his dream.
Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Rukawa and the sacristan make the sign of the Cross. "Amen." Before the blessing began, a crow crashed into the two-lite slider window, as if wanting to enter. The priest was stunned. He started citing the Sacred Scripture.
Priest: Peace be with this house and with all who live here.
"And with your spirit." As the priest continued to speak, the crows continued to collide as if on purpose and seemingly unharmed.
Sendoh rushed up the stairs, stepping on every two steps to get to Rukawa's room faster. The priest stopped reciting several times, and the crows stopped crashing into the glass window. Rukawa was stupefied. He could hear the boy whispering again. "Get out of here!" He seemed to return to his body when he felt Sendoh holding him by the shoulders, shaking him to wake him up.
Sendoh: Are you okay? What's happening?!
Rukawa looked into Sendoh's eyes, surprised and confused. He grabbed the arms that were placed on his shoulders. He bent down and took a deep breath.
Rukawa: I heard him. He said, get out.
Sendoh: Father, maybe we should do it the next day. I'm afraid something else will happen to Kaede.
Priest: Call us right away and visit our church when you are ready. It is not just blessings that are needed. I gave you our contact number. Son, it looks like ghosts aren't the only problem you have in this room.
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Mitsui Residence. Mitsui hurried home. After locking the door, he ran to his mother's room. He opened the closet one by one, each compartment, all the documents. He saw nothing. He sighed. He returned the unfolded documents to their original place. He didn't give up. He looked under the bed, at the shoe rack, behind the television, and still nothing. He sat on the bed. He fell down to rest. He had no other idea where he could see it until he noticed something peeking out from under the pillow. He found what he was looking for. It's heavy, obviously not just documents. He opened his grandfather's Last Will and Testament. He saw the following: the History of Marriage and Children; Debts and Taxes; Disposition of Assets; Care; Executor and Trustee; Powers of Executor and Trustee; No Contest Provision; and General Provisions.
Mitsui: This one hurts my nose. Why did I even bother looking for it? Maybe that's why Mom didn't keep it locked; she knows I hate it.
He put the document back. Next, he pulled out an album. Most of them were group photos, and he didn't know which one was his grandfather. Most of the photos show them wearing black suits. He almost jumped when the car honked in the garage; his mother had arrived. He rushed to insert the album even though he hadn't seen everything yet. His eyes widened when he saw a familiar face: Ayako's father. He took the picture at once and hurried into his room.
He stared at each face in the group photo, one by one, and it looked like it had been taken for several years. He immediately noticed a man who resembled his mother, standing in the middle with straight midnight black hair, blue eyes, and a sly smile. He had a strong feeling that this was his grandfather. He looked at the back of the picture. A message was written on it.
"Tasa Mammon on Ca Lirach. Hail the Prince".
Mitsui: What the hell is this about? Who's the prince?
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