Chapter 4: Killed by a Videotape (2):

Hiroshi's POV:

I arrived at the Juvie. I found his cell. "Come in," says Ryūji. I then entered his cell.

"I'm Hiroshi," I said, "we're in the same science class."

"You want to know if I killed Nonomura-Sensei," asks Ryūji.

"You said the curse exists," I said, "there's a rumor that says anyone who's heard Nao Matsuzaki will die. What's your view?"

"Do you smoke, Hiroshi," asks Ryūji, "let's play a game." He then gets out a piece of paper. "Hold this." I then grabbed it. He then puts three cigarettes down. "There are 3 cigarettes on the table. Pick one. It doesn't matter which you pick." I then took the middle one. "Two left. Take another one away." I then took the one on the right. "#3 is left. Look at that slip of paper." I then took a look at the first one. It's the number 3. "I know very clearly what you wish to do. You wish to know what is hiding behind it. It's only a matter of time."

"I have a video tape of Nao Matsuzaki," I said, "whoever watches it will die in 13 days. Strangely, all the victims die of myocardial infraction. I think you wrote something about myocardial infraction."

"Very interesting," says Ryūji.

"You think it's interesting," I asked.

"Have you watched the tape," asks Ryūji.

"No," I lied.

"Good," says Ryūji, "I'll watch it in a month. I'm sure you've watched the tape. You believe you'll die in 13 days. That's why you're here. You've even seen her, haven't you?" I said nothing. "I'll watch the tape within 13 days. If you wish to take the videotape back, it's fine with me. Everyone has to die."

"You sure you want to watch it," I asked, "you might die."

"Isn't this your purpose here," asks Ryūji, "you brought the tape here for me to watch it. Whether you live or die isn't my affair. Am I right?" I said nothing. "All right, I'll call if there's anything." He then held out his hand and I shook it. "I hope you get past these 3 days safely."

Dr. Domyoji's POV:

"Thank you," I said.

"You're welcome." They took everything away. "It'll take some time to get the report out."

"If I'm infected, I'll be reporting to the Devil," I said."

"Rubbish! You might not have been infected. Even if you're infected, your body has its own immune system. Don't worry." He then leaves.

A phone started ringing and I answered. "Who is it," I asked.

"Hiroshi."

"Oh, Hiroshi," I said, "sorry, something else came up and I haven't had time to investigate."

"I'd like to ask you... Do you believe in curses?"

"Curses? I don't believe in such things. You think those deaths are related to the curse?"

"If you are under a curse, what will you do?" I was confused. "Tell me how you'd feel."

"How I'd feel... I should be scared. Maybe I'd be too scared to sleep. But I'd try my best to break the curse. Everyone knows I like to probe and get to the bottom of things. Man has the ability to live by his wits to survive. No matter how incredible things are, a solution can be found. Don't laugh at me. This is what I really think. Once we accept the curse, we lose."

"You're right," says Hiroshi.

"What's the matter," I asked.

"When I compare myself to you, I've realized how immature my thinking is."

"What are you talking about," I asked.

"It's great to hear your voice."

"Pardon," I asked.

"I'm just talking nonsense. Bye." He then hung up.

Hiroshi's POV:

I saw Chisuzu with her best friend, Tokimune Akagawa. They were playing together.

...

I was home. We were all having spaghetti together. I then saw Chisuzu was about to put the tape in the VCR. "No, Chisuzu," I said. I then took the tape.

"What was that about," asks Dad.

I then looked at the tape. "Sorry," I said, "my mistake." Turns out, it wasn't the tape.

"You're so strange," says Chisuzu.

I then walked away as Chisuzu puts the tape in. The doorbell rang and I answered, and it was Mayako. "Oh, hey," I said.

"Hey," says Mayako.

...

Mayako's joining us for dinner. "This is so good," says Mayako.

"Thank you, Mayako," says Mom.

"Hey, how did it go with Takayama," asks Mayako.

"He said if he gets paid a fee, he might consider," I lied, "so, Dad, about Nao Matsuzaki?"

"Got told off," says Dad "the record company is really angry as you expected. They said the media shouldn't spread rumors to gain readership. By the way, where did you hear about that curse again?"

"I told him," says Mayako, "my bad."

"I thought you didn't believe in curses," says Rosanjin.

"That's... why I told Dad about that rumor," I said, "to show people it's not real!"

"Well, because of this, Matsuzaki's too depressed to promote her song," says Dad, "the company insists there's not a shred of truth in the rumor. They want to find out who started the story. To protect Matsuzaki's reputation, they'll pursue the matter. They'll sue and seek listeners' views through radio shows."

"Through the radio shows," I asked, "that's interesting. Mayako, do you think anyone can read your mind?"

"If they could, they wouldn't like what I sometimes think," says Mayako.

"Does this have anything to do with that Takayaka boy," asks Mom.

"When I saw him today," I said, "he put three cigarettes on the table and asked me to pick two. After I took my pick, he gave me a slip of paper with the number 3 written on it. He didn't know beforehand which cigarette I'd pick. If I'd pick #3, this cigarette..."

"Then he'd say the slip of paper has the same number," says Mayako.

"If it wasn't #3, he'd tell me to throw away the cigarette and ask me to pick up another cigarette between the two. If I'd pick #3, he'd tell me to look at the slip of paper. If I didn't pick #3..."

"He'd put it aside," says Mayako.

"And the one left would be #3," I said, "it'd always be #3."

"I think it's just something that would've happened no matter what number he wrote down," says Dad, "it doesn't mean he can read minds."

I hope Dad's right.

...

After Mayako leaves, there's a phone call. I then answered.

"This is Ryūji! I watched the tape and discovered something interesting. Come to my cell at the juvie."

"You're a cheat," I said, "what have you discovered?"

"There is a curse in the tape," says Ryūji, "if this goes on, you will die in 13 days. I won't insist that you come. Only I can save you. You decide this for yourself."

"I don't wish to see you again," I said.

"Is that so," asks Ryūji, "that's too bad."

I then hung up on me, so I put the phone down.

...

I'm watching that video again. I wonder if I die sooner when the song's stuck in my head. "There is a curse in the tape! If this goes on, you will die in 13 days."

Dr. Domyoji's POV:

A phone rings. "Yes, who is this," I asked.

"Kenkō."

"Oh, Professor."

"The report is out," says the Professor, "everything's fine. Don't worry."

Ryūji's POV:

I looked out the window and saw everyone. I knew he was coming.

Hiroshi's POV:

I met with Ryūji again. "You don't read minds," I said, "you merely say is appropriate according to circumstances."

"You've grown wiser in only a few short hours," says Ryūji, "I'm right about you. You're suited to be my partner."

"Partner," I asked.

"Without me, your chances of surviving are nil," says Ryūji, "in 13 days, you'll die."

"I don't believe you have the ability," I said, "you're not sure if I'd come after you received my call. You could only sit there and wait. Why? It's simple- because I'm important to you too. Without me, you won't survive either. We're the weights on the scales, am I right?"

"You're only half right," says Ryūji.

"What," I asked.

"At first, I thought it was a mystery, and that I should help you out of the dangerous situation," says Ryūji, "you probably won't believe it. I don't fear death one bit. This is different from your worries. That cute voice I heard over the phone, that was your sister talking, wasn't it?"

"There's something I wish to ask you," I said, "did you use the curse to kill Nonomura-Sensei?"

"Right," says Ryūji, "the night before he died, I called to test him. I didn't have to look at him. Whether the table is in front or behind the sofa... depends on where you look at it. Even if what I said was on the right, the listener would unconsciously agree. Sensei loved to drink. He could finish a bottle every 3 days. But he didn't mention the bottle of whisky. What did Sensei do? He signed the agreement with the real estate company. Everyone thinks the computer system and the curse are two conflicting things. I secretly entered the computer system and pulled the switch on the circuit breaker." The lights then went off. "Suddenly, it was dark. Sensei's eyes closed forever. That was the curse I put on Sensei. No matter what curse it is, careful calculations have to be made. The same goes for any prophecy. This is all that I do. The rest will depend on the power of the curse. Please come over here." I then walked over to him. "I used the computer to analyze the tape. It'll be easier for you to understand. Watch this part carefully." The tape plays. "I've watched the tape several times... and discovered strange images in the background. Why are there hidden messages in the background... which you will not normally see? This happens not just once. The computer can analyze it." The computer begins analyzing.

I take a close look. "It's a baby," I said.

"Possible," says Ryūji, "the same image appears here too. And there's this sound. I attempted to display it."

I then saw. "Human eyes," I said.

"Continuous sound waves and human eyes," says Ryūji.

The full image is played. "A human woman looking in the mirror," I said.

"This image too," says Ryūji. We then see this one. "It's not a message. These are sounds. I noticed some strange patterns. After the analysis, I heard strange sounds." He then plays the sounds.

"This..." He plays the sounds again. "Can this tape really kill people?"

"What comes later is a little more frightening," says Ryūji, "I discovered some words in the background." He then shows me where they are. "I'll make it more distinct."

He then showed me. "Under a curse," I said, "you'll die at this time in 13 days. There's only one way to save yourself. That is... Carry on playing!" Now there's static. "What happened?"

"The tape ends here," says Ryūji, "the rest isn't recorded."

"What about that girl," I asked.

"That's a mystery, isn't it?"

To Be Continued

In the next chapter, Hiroshi continues to worry.