Kouichi Sakakibara, who had just arrived in Yomiyama, spent time talking with Sanae Mizuno.
They mainly talked about books, especially horror movies - Kouichi's favorite genre.
Suddenly their conversation was interrupted by the sound of gunshots in the far distance.
Sanae: Oh my god!
Kouichi: What the hell was that?!
Sanae: I think the Clans have started fighting each other again...
Kouichi: The Clans?
Sanae: Yes, we have four here, in fact three major clans that once ruled the area in the distant past.
Kouichi: The descendants of the feudals don't seem to have gotten used to modernity yet.
Sanae: Come on, no exaggeration,
Many actually contributed to the development of the city after the war, especially the Anju clan - the richest of the three.
Also they hold respected positions, even in this hospital.
Kouichi: Even in this hospital?
Sanae: Although feudal times are long gone and the nobility is no longer present, these clans still have great influence on local events.
Some say they rule Yomiyama and the surrounding area from the shadows.
In the 1970s it was said to be Japan's murder capital.
Kouichi: Feudals formed yakuza in a small town?
Sanae: You know, if I came from such a clan.
Then I wouldn't be happy about the loss of privileges, and other such things...
Kouichi: No one ever told me about it.
Sanae: These are just conspiracy theories although...
Kouichi: Altough?
Sanae: And have you even heard about the murder at the "Messina" restaurant?
Kouichi: Messina? I think I heard something once...
Was it in Yomiyama?
Sanae: Yes, this was probably one of the most mysterious cases in Japan.
Kouichi: Could you tell me more Sanae-san?
Sanae: I was a small child at the time.
I think there were two businessmen who were from the Clans...
I think Anju and Minamiyashiki? I could be wrong.
They were shot in the evening sometime in the late 1970s in the evening in a restaurant full of people.
A day later the owner of the restaurant, Massini I think or something like that.
He was also found dead in his home.
Rumors began to circulate about the restaurant owner's connection to the Elizabethburg Mafia.
And also about contacts between the Klan and the American Mafia.
Kouichi: Elizabethburg Mafia in Yomiyama?
Is this some kind of absurdity?
Elizabethburg is, after all, on the Atlantic coast.
It would be more believable if this mob was from California or Oregon.
Sanae: If I can find it, I can let you read some old newspapers as no one has thrown them away.
There is probably more information there than from my memories.
Kouichi: Thank you Sanae-san
Kouichi and Sanae chatted for a while until arrival of the ambulance disturbed them.
The ambulances arrived, and paramedics disembarked with stretchers, Mizuno joined them as well as Dr. Kaito Muneyoshi - a surgeon at Yomiyama Hospital and also the last living member of the Muneyoshi clan.
Along with the rescuers and the two girls, Naoki Misaki also entered on a stretcher, and he was the luckiest of the three - he was only shot in the shoulder.
Kouichi spotted the Yomiyama North uniform the boy was wearing.
Yomiyama North? - he thought.
When an x-ray was taken of both girls, it turned out that the fate of one of the girls had already been decided - her midbrain had been shot through, she no longer had a chance to survive.
The other girl, on the other hand, was more fortunate, as she was hit not in the head, but in the liver and surrounding areas, bypassing important organs such as the lungs and heart.
Her condition, however, was severe.
After the police arrived to take down Naoki's statement, Kouichi came across a strange signet ring in the restroom.
Kouichi picked up the signet ring and looked it over carefully.
There was a Kamon on the signet ring, this could mean that it belonged to someone from a rich family, or it could be an old family signet ring.
I guess Dr. Muneyoshi must have dropped it
But first, maybe I'll consult with Mizuno-san
The next day, as usual, Kouichi talked with Sanae, finally Sakakibara decided to ask about yesterday's events.
Kouichi: Hey, Sanae-san.
Can you tell me what exactly happened yesterday.
Sanae: Oh, It was a dire situation.
Two girls and a boy were shot.
They were about your age.
One of the girls was killed.
And the other is barely alive.
Kouichi was geniuenly shocked, How could his peers have been shot by an unknown perpetrator?
Were they in the wrong place at the wrong time?
Or were they on someone else's target?
Sakakibara gulped.
Kouichi: That's… terrible.
After all, it could have been me...
Sanae: Yomiyama is generally a quiet and peaceful city, however, there are occasional incidents.
Especially in the 1970s they occurred.
Kouichi: Well, I found it in the toilet, do you know what it could be?
Sakakibara showed Mizuno the signet ring.
Sanae: I think it's the symbol of the Muneyoshi clan.
So it must belong to Muneyoshi-sensei.
Although as far as I know the doctor does not wear jewelry.
Kouichi: In that case, how can you be so sure?
After all, there are probably other members of the Muneyoshi clan right?
Sanae: Unfortunately, except for Muneyoshi-sensei, there is no one left from this clan.
Kouichi: Oh I see.
Sanae wondered whether to tell Sakakibara about the reasons for the Muneyoshi clan's annihilation.
Sanae :You know what, I'll pass it on to the doctor.
But on the other hand, I have a lot of work ahead of me.
Kouichi: It's okay, I'll take it to him
Sanae: Thanks Kouichi-kun
Kouichi: That's okay.
NOTE: Elizabethburg is a fictional city on the east coast of the U.S. There will be more fictional cities such as Santiago del California and Zijdenwendt in this fanfic