The breeze of the seaside is a lot different compared to the city, that is for sure. Though for Akemi who stood gazing at it, gaped in awe as she saw everything differently. "This place..."
'—You're perfect...'
"My name is Yae Yoshimi, ordinarily I would not make a request like this but I'm acting on behalf of my grand-niece. We greatly appreciate this." The wife of the late owner sickly sat on her mat, a blanket on her lap with a pillow right beside if ever she needed rest. She looked to have already experienced a lot of her time, as well as went through a lot of tragedies basing on how her eyes held a deep knowledge of sadness in them.
Akemi's lips turned somber, caressing Oliver's fur in hopes to comfort her. This place felt like a lot of people have died, remnants of its purity and blessed soil still remains but the stench of death simmers along with it. 'This land holds historical tragedies, only I don't know if it became cursed due to it or the curse was the one doing it.'
Knock Knock—!
"Pardon me."
Swoosh—
The door to the room slid open, revealing Akifumi with an elder woman and man beside him. Both elegantly wearing traditional clothing. "We are honored with your presence, this is my father Taizou and my mother, Hiroe."
"Please have some" Akifumi's mother, Hiroe hands out a cup of tea— one by one giving the guests. Akemi said her thanks as she calmly sipped her cup while Mai hesitantly reaches out, second guessing her movements inside a traditional manor.
"Uh, thank you." Hiroe giving the girl a pleasant smile when she noticed Mai's constant fumbling. 'Eek, I'm getting nervous... This is the first time I've received tea like this.'
"So..." Akifumi didn't know where to start, good thing Naru was there to keep things ahead.
"We humbly wish to heal the details of the case again from your grandmother."
"All right."
"If I were to speak freely and openly about it, you'd probably think I'm a fool but... this house is cursed." Yae Yoshimi began, each of the SPR members present kept their attention: Ayako, Bou-san, Lin, Naru, Akemi and Mai— present. "There are horrible legends concerning the Yoshimi house. Great misfortune would occur whenever the house would change hands— Actually when the last owner— my father passed, people began dying in alarming numbers and when my grandparents died and passed down the house to my father, the same thing happened. I don't remember much firsthand because at that time I was very young however-"
"Among my six siblings I was the only one who survived." That gave the others pause, to have such an activity where it led to easy killings of many people— one can easily conclude that this was high activity.
"Several days ago, my husband passed away and soon after, those rashes began appearing on Hazuki, not even one week had passed. The rashes appeared as Kaimyou on her back and around her neck like a cut."
Naru remained his posture, "I wish to hear about when your father passed away, when was it?"
"It's been 32 years now."
"Do you remember how many people died in total?"
Yae nods, "Yes, there were eight from this house."
Yae Yoshima was then detailed to explain how the youngest five among seven children soon passed along with the oldest grandchild, cousin and uncle, those half that survived accidents then passed away due to un-explainable illnesses. The next one, Akemi spoke her question:
"You said from this house— were there also others outside the family who died?" Yae Yoshimi was in no hurry to keep secrets, without any delay she nods and said:
"Yes, customers of our restaurant..."
"Mother-"
Yae looked at her son, a sad smile on her lips as acceptance was already filled. "You should tell them everything."
Naru's interest was piqued, 'What did she mean by the customers of the restaurant? Should he be worried?' "What?"
"My mother is worried that some of you might not leave here alive..."
Naru frowned at the wording. "Why do you say that?"
"Three mediums have also died." They were quiet. The whole family present waiting for their reactions on leaving to happen in just a second while the other members already knew first hand that Naru was the one to wait— he was their measurement of their confidence to this case, if Naru deems it dangerous then they'll go— due to when Naru himself is already concerned to the safety of his own (and others) only then they'll be worried.
"...I see," was all Naru said.
"We very much want you to help us... But we realize the risks—"
"If it sounds dangerous, we'll refuse and leave. We understand what's involved." Naru cut them off their worries. "It would be cowardly to leave without seeing what we're up against."
Naru then asked about the risks of putting customers in danger and so asked if there are any staying at this very building or anywhere else the activity is residing.
"Not right now. Since father passed away, we've closed it. We even let the employees and even funeral workers take a vacation— only our family is in this building now."
"I think that was a prudent step. By the way, did you feel anything abnormal, or perhaps see anything strange?"
"Oh, yes..." Akifumi nods, speaking up he started listing all he saw strange. "First, the myna bird that my grandmother raised, died on the day of my grandfather's funeral. Maybe three days later, two more birds and three dogs that she raised, also died."
Akemi worriedly petted Oliver, planning on sending him home for the mean time after hearing those events. Poor creatures. "The birds died in their cages, but we found the dogs all washed ashore."
'Ugh...' Mai couldn't help grimace in disgust.
"Anything else?"
"Some of the workers at the restaurant said they saw ghosts, peeking into a room from a window."
"Do you know where that was?"
"No, but it was probably the room overlooking the cove. That's the only place where people outside can look in."
"I see." Naru finding no more questions to ask, if he ever had any— Naru opted to just ask later on. "In any case, we brought our equipment. Did you prepare a room for us?"
"I'll lead you there." Akifumi stands up, leading them to their temporary base.
"Ooh— wow!" A wide smile plasters itself on Mai's face as she ran around the temporary base like a small child, her eyes big and bright with her energy to match. "This is amazing! It's humungous! I've never seen a Japanese-style room this big! It seems sacrilegious to use it as our base of operations!"
"Wow, and the next room's even bigger!"
"We set this up and the room next door for you, please take advantage of them while the restaurant is closed. " Akemi thanked Akifumi, having Oliver show her around to count her steps though she hasn't gotten to the middle part of the room yet when the heiress felt a hand grab her arm, pulling her to the side.
"Whoa!"
"This is the room that overlooks the cove."
"It must be!"
"Hm?" Akemi's head tilted in confusion, turning to face the one who held her hostage while the continuous sounds of Mai and Bou-san gushed over the room,
"Are you staying?" Hearing the smooth deep voice of Naru never stopped to serve her chills, at most times she would blush, but his question made her dismiss it for this time.
"Do you want me to stay?" She counters with mirth present in her very being, but Naru remained silent, and Akemi's lips twitched when she took a second look.
"There's a cave in here? Can I see it?"
Akifumi gently smiles towards Mai, the others completely unaware of Naru and Akemi. Or they are just used to the two always together that they didn't bother focusing. "Yeah, if you like. I'll even be your guide. Our house is a little different from a typical business, have you heard of a members-only organization?"
'It's not that he wants me to stay— does he want me to leave?' Shaking off her expression to replace an elegant smile that matched the interior design of the house, Akemi places both her hands to her stomach like a polite young lady. "I shall be staying— though I am worried about Oliver, so he'll have to go home..."
Akemi saw the aura around Naru changing constantly or mixing in that she couldn't even tell what was going on— the different auras surging around even made the heiress dizzy. 'Just what is he thinking for him to be unable to feel clearly⁈"
Akemi wanted to ask, she really did and was about to but all Naru said was "Hn." and left to speak to Lin. The heiress sighed to herself, feeling her shoulders slump just a bit in disappointment. 'He never knows when to lighten up...'
Ayako brightened at the mention, "Really?" before moving her gaze, close to mocking towards Bou-san and Mai. "Isn't this great, you two? If it weren't for this case, you wouldn't be allowed to come here."
'Wha—' Bou-san didn't even know if he should be offended but Mai certainly did as a vein started to throb on her head. "Ho ho ho, what are you implying, Ayako-sama?"
"I have to seize this opportunity; I could marry into this rich family as a mere child like you couldn't appreciate this kind of glamour."
Mai gave out a smirk, her eyes narrowed at the Miko. "Hmm, but shouldn't you hurry and make your move? Aren't you already 30?"
"Who's 30! I'm only 23!"
"Do I detect a touch of hoarseness in your voice~? fufufu"
Ayako glared at the high school student, "Mouh! There's nothing cute about you!"
A noise behind them made the two girls paused, looking back they saw Bou-san and Akifumi both turning red in the face for different reasons while Akemi remained smiling at the two with Naru looking gloomy on the side speaking with Lin. Bou-san was more embarrassed for the two, while Akifumi was more of shy as they talk about a possible marriage from him.
"Hey... hey now..." Even Mai too was becoming embarrassed while Ayako removed any shame she had and took the opportunity head on.
"So, Yoshimi-san, how old are you?"
"Um, please I don't mind going by Akifumi — and yes, I'll be 20 soon, but..." Ayako slumped, "I'm sorry..." Her knees wobbled in disappointment while Mai behind her smirked. 'So, he's still underage...'
Bou-san, "Still, is it okay to call you by your given name after being acquainted with us in such a short time...?"
"Please don't worry about it. Because even without a large number of family members, it's still confusing."
Mai "Then Akifumi-san, are you a college student like Akemi-sempai?"
Akifumi turns to Akemi, who now gained their attention as she got included. "Well, yes. I go to the University of Tokyo." The other locals whistled at the mention of the university, even Akmie let out a hum.
"Oh, so that means you don't usually live here?" Akemi walks closer to the circle group of gossip.
Akifumi turns to her, "That's right. But I try to come back to visit as much as possible during the holidays."
Akemi tilts her head in question, a soft smile on her lips. "Do you help in the shop still?"
Akifumi returns the smile, he cannot help but reciprocate the gesture and shook his head. "My grandmother gets lonely since the family members are too busy with the shop."
Mai blinks, "Eeeeh? Do all the people of the house work in the shop?"
"That's right. But my youngest elder brother is a government worker."
"Youngest elder brother— does that mean you have two or more brothers?" Ayako this time asks, her arms crossed and here she was wishing there was somebody older than the young master in front of her.
"Two brothers and two sisters. I'm the youngest of five siblings."
Bou-san lets out a hum, nodding. "Five... that's a lot of people."
Akifumi gave a somewhat mixed smile. "If you die a lot, you have to have a lot of people or your house will become extinct."
When none of the members spoke, not really knowing how to reply— Akifumi let out an embarrassed smile. He couldn't help but apologize for making the atmosphere so awkward. "I'm sorry, that was... it's a dark conversation..."
"No, it's- it's we who should say so."
Trying to move past the sudden tension— Ayako asks on how many they are in the area, "Hmm, and along with your parents and grandmother?"
Akifumi nods, listing the other members of the house. "Plus, my older brother and sister have children with their spouses. Three children in all. My brother has two children and my sister has one child. Hazuki is the youngest child of my brother. Originally, we also have my parent's cousin stay here but he left before I was born."
"That— that many people all live here?"
Akifumi nods, a fond smile plastered on his lips. "Except me."
Mai scratched the back of her head, and started counting with her fingers. When she came to the final count, she let out a stunned expression. "Thirteen people in all? That's impressive."
Akemi let put a wry smile om how Mai came up with such a reaction, when the high school girl also met her abundant family tree. "Don't be so surprised Mai, you've also seen my family."
At the mention of her family, Akifumi turns to Akemi in genuine curiosity. "What about your family, Maruyama-san?"
Akemi thought, clasping her hands fondly beside her cheek as she recounted all the residing on the Maruyama household. "My grandmother and grandfather had 4 children, 1 twins and triplets. Although the twins are... No longer with us," Akemi starts, and the others except for Ayako blanched at the number of second generation already. "The eldest has 3 sons and 1 girl, the second didn't want any children, the next is my aunt who has 2 children, a girl and a boy, and my uncle has a son. As for the triplets, one has a girl, the middle triplet has a boy and a girl, and the youngest triplet is currently pregnant and is bound to give birth atleast 2 months from now. 22 and a half people with me excluded— but most of the time, half are not around the compound due to their own personal lives."
The people listening gawked at the sunny aura around the heiress. Her soft smile widening with every mention of her family, they were curious as to how they could manage to live with so many people but they guess it comes along the quirkiness of the Maruyama family.
"Umm, this is strange but—" Mai asks to the two with huge families. "How do you guys eat your meals?"
Akemi without hesitation answers, Akifumi joining along the mention. Both families having the belief of close nit relationships, "Well, we usually eat together."
"That's right, any family member in the house is required to eat with the family."
Seeing their bright auras, Akifumi frowned in confusion when none of the others reciprocated the idea except for one. "Is that... unusual?"
"Well, I wanted to see where thirteen people sit in a row..." More so, with the 22 which Mai had already seen on Akemi's grandfather's party dinner. Though it seemed to be more on a socialite party instead of an actual dinner but on the last bit, where it was actually only relatives left, they did have dinner and Mai became enamored at the thougth of a huge family.
When Mai said this, Akifumi made a slightly mystified expression and Mai frowns at his reaction. "What's wrong, Akifumi-san?"
"My mother had said you would eat with all of us tonight..."
"Woah, I wonder how we're going to eat." Mai drifted in thought.
yet beside her, Akemi tilts her head in thought. A hand placing itself under her chin while Mai went off unaware of the confusing conversation earlier. Usually at these types of gathering, especially with a family that follows tradition— an invitation is certainly necessary when a large group is going to dinner, isn't it? Yet here they were oblivious to dining with thirteen people when the host themseleves was assured they were going to dine with them at that night.
"Mai, how long are you going to play around?" Naru turns to place his temper on Mai, Akemi's thoughts getting cut off at the slice of Naru's voice. The heiress lets out a small smile, quietly apologizing to Mai as Naru directs his annoyance to her.
"Stopping right now, sir!" Akifumi took his leave when he saw the SPR group one by one took their place in helping out with the equipment, the boy being needed to help with later's dinner one of which Akemi would not be attending— if they were to need Akemi's Itoka abilities, it is better for her to remain in a fasted state for better performance especially since they do not yet know of what is going on in this place. Keeping all her trump cards, should be good enough.
'—You're perfect...'
'Perfect...'
"It seems that you are missing one person, Shibuya-san?" Yae Yoshimi asks when she saw her daughters and daughter-in-law serving the SPR group. The room they were gathered on was the official fining room for the Yoshimi family, photos of their restaurant and customers were plastered and hanging proudly on their walls, every famous and influential person they've served as well as those close people that regularly visited the place. It was a homey traditional design, yet the atmosphere around them was solemn and close to unwanted.
Naru lightly nods, answering before Mai could cut in. "She apologizes for not being able to join, I hope you understand— she insists to be in a fasted state to be able to perform her shamanism."
"And you both can only eat vegetables? My, a medium's life is a harsh one." Hiroe comments beside them, placing their own platter.
'Isn't it, indeed?' Ayako and Bou-san looked shamedly away. Avoiding eyes of others.
'Eh?' Mai stupidly blinked, 'Lin-san and Naru are vegetarians?'
"That girl seems familiar though," Yae Yoshimi states, her brows furrowed in concentration before shaking her head and directing it to her sons who were quiet by her side. "Does Maruyama-san look familiar to you all?"
"Maruyama?" one of the men muttered under their breath. 'Perfect...'
Mai and the others squirmed, thinking they meant for Akemi's fame but their reaction to first meeting her made it non likely to be the reason.
"Now that you mention it," Teruka-san, the oldest daughter and wife of Eijirou thought out loud. "She looks close to one of the mediums that visited us before..."
"Ah, I think I know who you mean! Her appearance was unique, even I was enamored!" Another family member states,
The SPR group froze, 'Mediums? One of the mediums that died?'
Naru cleared his throat, "May we know the name of this medium?" and the women of the family nodded while the men remained gloomy in their state.
Swoosh—!
The door to their temporary base opened, Akemi looking up from her lap and fiddled with her bracelet to clasp them back on her wrist. In front of her was an unfinished red string she was tring to mend herself— having forgotten as she got lost on remiscing memories. But the sound of the doors sliding open took her out of that trance and she was quick to plaster an angelic smile, welcoming their presence. "So, how was early dinner?"
Mai was the first to get inside, "It was delicious! You should have tried it Akemi-sempai!"
Akemi chuckles, eyes filled with mirth. "Maybe next time."
"They mentioned you though," Bou-san came in next. His hands intertwined behind his head. "They were looking for you there." Particularly the male members after their talk about her.
"They said you resembled one of the mediums that visited the place." Naru stepped in, cutting off their small talk as he strides over to Akemi's position and stood over her. "Her name was Chieko. Maruyama Chieko."
They were silent, the room to the temporary base turning cold. Akemi's mirth lessened to a more saddened smile of acceptance.
"You knew." Naru states, no questions being asked and all the heiress could do was nod.
"I knew."
"She was my mentor, after all."
Everything will finally be explained! Mwuahahah~! Hint: Akemi wasn't supposed to be blind y'all!