CHAPTER 18

The next morning Ikuro was biding his time by the statue of Bo Sawai, which was now made up to look like Hisoka from Hunter x Hunter.

"Good morning, milady!" he called out to Hana, who was marching up the steps alone. "Where's our esteemed colleague?"

"Uchi-kun wanted some fresh coffee, so he ran off to the Stirbucks," Hana replied. "Can I talk to you about something?"

"Certainly! Were you seeking advice? Perhaps for a special occasion? Some... romance brewing, so to speak?"

Hana rolled her eyes. "More like a journalistic opportunity. I don't know if my... demise was a major news story, but I'd like to get some more details on the incident, and what happened after that. Especially what happened to my sister Yuri."

"Hmmm. Yes. I could go for a nice field trip right about now."

A few minutes later Uchiro, coffee cup in hand, joined them.

"Did you tell Ikuro about your situation?" he asked Hana.

"I have been fully informed about this," Ikuro interjected, "and I believe this warrants a special meetup at once in the computer lab. I shall alert the other two."

"Our Journalism Club meeting, special morning edition, shall now come to order!" Ikuro bellowed. "It turns out our newest members, Hana and Uchiro, have given us a golden opportunity for a true journalistic fact-finding mission! Hana, the floor is yours."

Hana stood up. "So a few days ago I had a dream that my sister Yuri was in a stressful situation. Then I found out that my sister and brother had the very same dream. We went to one of the Mystics at the Eternal Festival, explained everything to her, and she said if we're having the same dreams or visions of a loved one, it may be because they're in another afterlife world, and thinking of us while they're going through their situation that we're witnessing."

"That sounds plausible," Natsuo remarked. "So Yuri isn't here in this world?"

"No, she was apparently too old. And we don't know if she actually passed into another BLW or is still alive."

"So here's our objective," Ikuro stated. "We just need a confirmation that our target subject has actually passed from the living world to a BLW. And that's where our journalistic skills come in. I say we leave now and take the train to the Central Hub, and scope out the Welcome Center. Find some new arrivals willing to talk to us about the Nakamura kids. If we meet our objective early, we can go hang out at the amusement park as a bonus. Sound like a plan?"

The unanimous "Yes!" replies were almost in unison.

"Perfect!" Ikuro turned to the advisor, who was busy on his computer with a Minesweeper game. "I'd like for you to come with us as well, we need an authority figure who can smooth things over with the media workers."

"I'm not sure about that," the man stoically replied. "I'd miss all the classes I'm scheduled to teach today."

"Then get someone to designate a substitute NPC teacher! Come on, live a little!"

"Well, let me stop by the front office on the way out."

"Our fearless 'official' leader," Ikuro quietly remarked to Hana and Uchiro. "I like to call him Mister Babbage. It's a nice historical reference, plus he seems to put the 'anal' in analytical engine."

The club members and their advisor made their way to the school entrance.

In the dark recesses of the computer lab, the conversation was heard. An internet search was made. The search results popped up.

Nothing of relevance, eh?... I guess I'll wait until the Journalism Club reports back.

Hiro closed out of the browser.

"Welcome back to the Welcome Center!" Ikuro exclaimed as the group stepped out of the Central Hub Station. "Does this bring back fond memories for you?"

"Actually," Hana replied, "We were here just last week at the amusement park."

Uchiro stifled a laugh as Ikuro smirked. "You just can't let someone make a dramatic entrance, can you..."

"Light turnout among the official reporters, at least," remarked Natsuo as he scanned the courtyard and unfolded the club's table and chairs.

"Let's get to work, then!" said Ikuro. "Keira, you'll go to the Welcome Center courtyard with me and try to get some information from the new arrivals. Ask about the Nakamura murders, or Nakamura tragedy. There will be other reporters conducting their own surveys and interviews, so please stay out of their way. Uchiro, you have the same assignment, but in the hotel lobby. Natsuo, keep watch over our table with Babbage-sensei."

"Did you want me to ask the new arrivals as well?" Hana queried.

"Not about the murders," Ikuro said. "You're actually part of that subject, so people might get a little intimidated if they found that out. For you it would be best if you asked random people if there were any other major events that happened just before they passed. Other side of the courtyard by the lake, if you don't mind."

"I understand. I'll do that."

Ikuro surveyed the corridor leading into the Welcome Center. It was only a few minutes before he spotted a young woman with black hair walking into the courtyard. I'm almost certain she's from Japan, he thought as he approached her.

"Could you do me a favor? Is there anything you can tell me about the Nakamura tragedy in Osaka?"

"Nakamura... tragedy?"

"Like a series of murders?"

"I'm sorry... I never heard of it."

"No problem, thanks anyway."

Several minutes passed. Ikuro saw many more wander out, but none fit his criteria. Others were a good fit, but the professional reporters got to them first.

Another minute passed before he spotted a teenage girl with pink hair. She looks to be high school age, so there's a slight chance.

Ikuro approached the girl. "Hi... if I could just pick your brain for a minute... is there anything you can tell me about the Nakamura murders in Osaka?"

"Nakamura... Oh, yes. That was so terrible what happened to those kids."

"Care to elaborate on that, if you can? If not, that's fine."

"Oh, no problem, I was a fan of all those true-crime shows and magazines since I was ten or so. Anyway, there were some gang members that broke into a house and held four kids hostage, and ordered the oldest one to find some valuables for them or the others would be shot dead one by one. And by the time the police got there, the oldest was the only survivor."

Ikuro tapped away at his tablet. "Wow... sounds horrible. Were the killers apprehended?"

"If I remember correctly, two of the gang members were shot dead on sight after a manhunt, and the other one was eventually killed in prison."

"Wow... Well, I have heard that most prisoners don't take too kindly to fellow inmates that harmed children. If it's any consolation, I do know that the three younger kids are here now and doing fine."

"Oh! That's good to know. What about the oldest one?"

"Not sure what became of her. Did she die too?"

"I read not too long ago that she was killed in a car accident while waiting at a bus stop. This would be a few months after the murders. I felt really bad for her... trying to move past losing her siblings only for that to happen."

"Yeah, sounds like a streak of bad luck."

"I should know... I was taking the subway to school, I was gonna answer some boy's confession to me when I got there, then I guess an earthquake happened and the train crashed... and here I am."

Ikuro stared at her for a second, as if to evaluate something on her head. "I see. Thank you for your time."

"Hey... can we use cell phones here? I... would like to see you again."

"You can get them at a shop in the hotel. Here..." Ikuro took out a pen and wrote on the back of the girl's hand. "My number. I'd like to assist you but I'm busy with my mission. Hopefully I'll see you later!"

The girl smiled at him and walked to the hotel.

Ikuro walked back to the club table. A few minutes later, Keira joined him.

"I was able to extract some details from a couple of people. How about you?" Keira asked.

"I found one person that read some news articles. I sensed she was being honest about everything. Wanna compare notes?"