Chapter 3: Killed by a Videotape (1):

Hiroshi's POV:

So, before I was watching an unmarked video because my friend doesn't get the point in daring, but it turned out to be a music video of a famous pop idol. Oh yeah, and before that, I was obsessed with trying to find out how some of my classmates died! I never believed in curses, but I think I'm starting to become a believer. I found Mr. Yamamura and he was dead while watching TV! I called the police. I then hung up on them. I then picked up the tape and left.

Prof. Nonomura's POV:

"Is there really such thing as being under a curse? The exciting moment is approaching." The light then shined on me, real bright. Then it got dark.

"It's a power failure. Stay calm..."

Ryūji's POV:

The Professor is now dead.

Mayako's POV:

Norihiko and I were watching it. "Before we go into the details, let's recap on Takayama's prediction."

"Do you think it could be that disease," asks Norihiko.

Hiroshi enters. "Hey, Hiroshi, did you watch that tape," asks Norihiko.

There was a pause. "Yes and it was a waste of time," says Hiroshi, "anyway, we need to go, now!"

Hiroshi's POV:

I couldn't tell either of them what happened. How do you tell someone a video tape is cursed? Anyway, I kissed Mayako and dropped her off at her house, then I dropped off Norihiko.

...

"How was that inn," asks my Mom. She's a housewife.

"It was fine," I said.

"Hey, I'm doing a story on those mysterious deaths," says my Dad. He's a journalist.

"Cool," I said.

"So, did you and Mayako..." asks my older brother. His name's Rosanjin.

"Ooh," says my younger sister. Her name's Chisuzu.

"I gotta get to bed," I said.

...

I was in my room and I took a look at the tape. I then put it back in my bag. It can't be real, can it? A cursed video tape? There was a knock. I opened. "Hiroshi, did you hear," asks Chisuzu, "Ryūji's prophecy came true! Something really bad happened to Nonomura-Sensei! Do you think there is a curse?"

"No," I said, "there is no curse! You shouldn't talk about those things!" I then closed the door. Did Ryūji do any of this? Could it be possible? I then took the tape out of my bag again and looked at it.

...

I was on my way to school. I couldn't help but think about what I'm going through! I was nervous.

"Hey there, Hiroshi." It was Kunihiko Yasuoka.

"Oh, hey, Kunihiko," I said.

"So, what happened at that inn," asks Kunihiko.

"We just stayed at the inn and..." I then thought about the tape. "I watched... a video."

"I don't know what she sees in you, but one day, I'm going to show her she made a mistake," says Kunihiko. I just walked away. "Uh... Hiroshi... where are you going? School's the other way!" I then stopped and went the right way. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," I said.

"Well, I'm still gonna win over Mayako... but I'm also concerned about you!"

...

I was at school. "Alright, what happened at that inn," asks Mayako.

"Nothing," I said.

"Then why did we leave in the middle of the night," asks Mayako.

"Why were you and Norihiko watching TV in the middle of the night," I asked.

"Because we couldn't sleep because of that song you were playing," says Mayako.

"It was just a music video," I said, "and nothing more!" I then looked and saw a girl with ridiculously long hair. "Who's that?"

Mayako looks. "Who?"

The girl disappeared.

"Mr. Tôyama, please come to the Principal's office!"

...

I was talking with Det. Harashima. "So, you just happen to find the body," asks Det. Harashima, "why did you run away?"

"Wrong use of words," I said.

"It happened at midnight," says Det. Harashima, "I don't understand why you must go home."

"I didn't kill him," I said.

"You called us," says Det. Harashima.

"Yes," I said, "I was frightened, and I didn't know what to do, so I ran home."

"You said he died of myocardial infraction," says Det. Harashima, "it's in the phone recording. There's no denying it. A doctor wasn't there. Why did you think it was myocardial infraction?"

"Shouldn't you guys know how he died," I asked, "don't you do an autopsy?"

"Cause of death was myocardial infraction," says Det. Harashima, "there are no external injuries. It's quite a problem. He was a healthy man. Why did he die of myocardial infraction all of a sudden? We hope to get some clues from you." I saw that girl again. She disappeared.

"Was there anything about seeing a girl with really long black hair that covers her face while wearing a white dress at that inn," I asked.

"Interesting... you just described Mr. Yamamura's niece," says Det. Harashima, "but she died years ago!"

I had a horrible realization!

Ryūji's POV:

I was looking out the window. "Excuse me. Are you Ryūji Takayama?"

"Yes, I am," I said.

"I'm Shūichirō Harashima. I just spoke with a young man and now I would like to talk to you."

"About what," I asked.

"Your little prophecy," I said, "you can use a curse to cause someone's death. I'm sure you heard about Nonomura-Sensei's death. He died at midnight, where were you then?"

"I was at home," I said.

"The police called your home, and no one was there," says Det. Harashima, "in fact, do you even live with anyone?"

"I only cursed him that he'd die," I said, "it came true, but that's not enough to charge me with murder. You can't arrest me based on that."

"You're arrogant," says Det. Harashima, "I don't believe in curses. The victim has strangulation marks on his neck. This shows someone did it. Mr. Takayama, you didn't use a curse to kill. You strangled him with your hands."

"I wasn't at the scene," I said, "those who saw the report know it."

"I saw the report," says Det. Harashima, "power was cut off for a short while."

"There was enough time to kill someone in the dark," I said.

"You can say you're not involved," says Det. Harashima, "but the murderer isn't experienced. There will be loopholes."

Mai's POV:

I'm watching TV.

"I'm at Akewa University. It's been 10 hours since the death occurred. Reporters have gathered here hoping to speak to Mr. Takayama and find out more about the curse that killed Nonomura-Sensei. Mr. Takayama has yet to make an appearance. The case is shrouded in mystery. The police are questioning Nonomura-Sensei's friends." I then touched the screen.

Tsubaki Domyoji's POV:

I was taking a look at the rats and reported that they were all dead!

"Could it be a leak of infected genes," asks Director Inawashiro.

"It's possible," I said, "for safety's sake, seal off the lab. I'm probably the only one infected."

"I'll have you tested," says Director Inawashiro, "don't tell anyone about it."

"I understand," I said.

"The election for dean will begin soon," says Director Inawashiro, "you have to keep it secret. I don't wish to hear any rumors."

Hiroshi's POV:

I was watching the video again. I can't believe a pop star music video can actually kill someone! I then paused it and took a closer look.

"Hiroshi," says Mom, "you're starting to scare the rest of us!"

"I... I'm just really into this video," I said.

"Okay, so why won't you let anyone else watch it," asks Mom, "I can be into the new stuff."

"NO! I mean... it's my video!"

"Okay... I may need to get you to a therapist," says Mom, "why did you run from the police? What happened at that inn?"

"I... I saw a dead body," I said, "and I was scared!"

"Oh, Sweety..."

"Mom, this is going to sound strange," I said, "but I think Ryūji Takayama was involved somehow..."

"You think he cursed someone at that inn," asks Mom, "like you say, he's just a nut who thinks he can curse people!"

"Actually, I always said he was a scammer and a murderer," I said.

"Well, I doubt he killed anyone," says Mom, "if curses were real, my sister-in-law would visit us all the time!"

We then both laughed. Mom then left the room.

I looked at the tape.

...

I was at that diner with Mayako. "You're hiding something," says Mayako, "what is it?"

"It's nothing," I said, "everything's perfectly normal!" I looked around. Trying to make sure I don't see the girl with the hair again.

"What are you looking for," asks Mayako, "is it another girl?"

There is no easy way to answer that question. "I'm just looking," I said, "so, have you ever listened to Nao Matsuzaki?"

"No," says Mayako, "oh, hey, there's a rumor that if you listen to her song, you'll get an urge to kill yourself!"

I was scared. "You don't say," I said. Great, that creepy girl might kill me... or Ryūji might kill me... either way, people will think I did it to myself! "Hey, do you believe in Ryūji's curse?"

"Do you," asks Mayako.

"What," I asked, "no! You know I don't believe in that stuff!" I hope she doesn't realize I'm sweating!

"I hear the police say he used that curse as a cover to kill Nonomura-Sensei," says Mayako, "but they're gathering evidence before arresting him!"

The waitress came and took our orders. I then looked in the mirror and saw that girl. "I gotta go!" I then ran.

"Wait..."

She might be mad that I left her to pay for everything, but I have other concerns.

Shūichirō Harashima's POV:

"Where were you standing," I asked.

"I think... over there. When the lights went off, I went to the door where the circuit breaker is."

"Why did you go there," I asked.

"Unconscious reaction. Everyone does that when the power supply is cut off. No... let me think. I think someone shouted from the circuit breaker box, and everyone ran to the door. The crew left the room to restore power in the shortest time."

"Whose voice was it," I asked, "who shouted from the circuit breaker box?"

"Is this related to the case?"

"If everyone charged out on the hearing shout, it'd give the murderer the chance to slip in," I said.

"Are you saying the murderer is one of our colleagues?"

"It's just a possibility," I said, "if this is really what happened, the curse doesn't exist."

"I remember now. Sensei some strange things on the phone. He said Ryūji Takayama had been watching him."

"Watching him," I asked.

"Yes."

"Nonomura-Sensei signed an agreement with the real estate company before his death. Perhaps he was troubled about something."

"Takayama is the prime suspect," I said.

Hiroshi's POV:

"13 days... Can it be in time?"

...

I was on my way to talk to Ryūji. I have to know the truth!

...

On my way to Ryūji, I found a paper. It says he may have committed the murder! They have no idea! I'm going to see the Devil himself!

To Be Continued

In the next chapter, Hiroshi talks with Ryūji.