Geister-Hutong

Kapitel 5

"Isn't that a perfect condition? After killing the one he loves, unable to bear the pangs of conscience, his depraved actions implicate his three innocent daughters as well."

2005-3-14 14:11:00

Should we inquire about these things? How should we do that?

"Well, there's no other way but to work at the same company."

"You mean going to work at the company?"

"Yes. I think during lunch break conversations, they'll definitely talk about Junko Mizuguchi. That way we can find out."

"That's a good idea, but..."

"Any different opinions?"

"Sister Yuriko, can you work? You're only seventeen."

"Who said I was going to work?"

Zhu Mei blinked her big eyes in surprise and said, "I'm still in compulsory education."

"I know. It's the older sister who went to work."

Ayako was stunned... It took her a while to come to her senses and say, "This! This is impossible!"

"Only my eldest sister is at the right age to become an office worker."

"But……"

"No buts! Don't you want to clear your father's name?"

“This… because of me…” Ayako’s expression was already on the verge of tears, “But… even if I apply for the job in such a hurry, I’m unlikely to be hired.”

"You don't need to worry about that. This company is currently hiring. I've already called them, and you can start work tomorrow."

Ayako sighed, thinking, "Is it possible that only ghosts are left in this world?"

“By the way, big sister. Do you have any money? You’re in a real bind if you don’t have any funds at all. I have 20,000 yen here.” As she spoke, Yuriko took out 20,000 yen from the 30,000 yen she had borrowed from Nakaoka indefinitely, interest-free, and without collateral.

"Wow! Sister, you're so cunning! You have a secret stash of money!" Zhu Mei's eyes even changed color.

"What are you saying? If it's all burned, how are we going to save up some money on the side?"

"Then, how did you get here?" Zhu Mei leaned forward and asked urgently in a low voice, "Was it through prostitution?"

Yuriko clenched her fist and slammed it down on Tamami's head. "You borrowed it from the teacher!"

"It hurts so much... You should have said so earlier."

"We must use this with caution. We should try to save money as much as possible."

"Ah, in that case, I'll be the cashier!" Tamami quickly grabbed two 10,000 yen bills. "I'll just take them from here whenever I need them. That way, there won't be any problems."

"OK. You're the perfect fit, you stingy little devil."

"You have to be stingy. After all, they're orphans."

“Oh, Yuriko,” Ayako said embarrassedly, “is it really necessary to do this no matter what?”

"Doesn't my sister want to prove Dad—"

"Understood! I'll do it, I'll do it," Ayako said hurriedly.

"You need to start work at nine tomorrow."

"So early? I'm not used to waking up early."

"It's okay, I'll wake you up," Zhu Mei said.

"I'll take you to the company entrance, don't worry," Yuriko said with a smile.

Ayako felt as if she were trapped in a desperate situation, unable to move forward or backward...

Chapter Three: The Elegant Life of White-Collar Lady Ayako

"Sister, have a safe journey." Yuriko bowed respectfully as she saw Ayako out the door. No, she saw her inside.

Junko Mizuguchi works at a company called "Tokyo Secretarial Services." Yuriko practically dragged Ayako to the company building. She intended to part ways at the building entrance, but unable to rest easy, she escorted her to the elevator. Still worried, she took her all the way to the fifth floor, finally patiently escorting her to the company's open glass doors. "Now you should be at ease, right?" Yuriko glanced at her watch; it was only two minutes to nine o'clock—she'd just arrived.

"We made it! That's great!"

"I should go back now," Yuriko thought, finally managing to get on the elevator, which stopped at every floor since the first one. Then, just as the elevator doors opened, a young man rushed out and slammed into Yuriko with a thud. Caught off guard, Yuriko was knocked to the ground.

"Watch out!" the man roared as he stormed into the Tokyo secretarial service company.

"Oh, that scared me..." Yuriko blinked, still shaken. "Be careful..." Office workers are really something.

Meanwhile, Ayako, who had been forcibly taken inside, stood silently in front of the counter with the "Reception" sign, wondering, "Why is no one talking to me?" Suddenly, a young man rushed in, inserted his work card into the timer, and jumped up, shouting, "Great!" Ayako thought, "That's probably the work timer. Is it really worth being so happy just because I made it to nine o'clock?"

The bell rang, signaling the start of work.

The office wasn't very large—about twenty people, mostly women, it seemed. Ayako's mood calmed down a little. But—what bothered her was that after waiting for a long time, no one came to ask, "How can I help you?" This was understandable, since she was standing about three meters away from the reception desk. The receptionist probably assumed Ayako was an employee sent by some company and was waiting for some documents to be prepared. After nearly ten minutes, Ayako finally cautiously approached the reception desk, taking only a meter's distance.

The receptionist finally noticed, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

“This…” Ayako was about to answer when a man’s voice suddenly interrupted.

"So? Was it safe to sneak in?" The young man who had just rushed in was wearing a shirt and tie, shuffling along in his slippers, and lighting a cigarette as he spoke. "What a disorganized company," Ayako thought, frowning.

"You just barely made it," said the girl who was greeting you.

"There was a girl standing there in front of the elevator just now. I was in a hurry and bumped into her. She rolled on the ground because of the impact."

"Oh dear, how pitiful."

"She was stunned and sat there blankly after being hit. When her skirt fluttered, I even saw her snow-white legs."

"You're disgusting!" The two of them laughed together.

Ayako was certain they were talking about Yuriko. Though timid by nature, the thought of her sister ignited a fire within her. She glared fiercely at them, her voice trembling as she said, "That's my sister! Don't you feel ashamed for peeping under girls' skirts?!"

The two men stared at Ayako in disbelief.

"Who is this?" the man asked.

"I don't know either……"

"I'm a part-time worker," Ayako introduced herself with neither humility nor arrogance.

On the other hand, Yuriko didn't go out to play either. She made a phone call near the "K Construction" office building where her father worked.

"Hello! Is Mr. Nishikawa from Sales Section 2 here?"

"Xi Chuan? May I ask who you are?"

"Um... I work at the 'Three-Cat Cat' bar."

"Please wait a moment."

Yuriko's voice sounded somewhat like an adult's. Because Nishikawa was a close colleague of her father and had visited their home many times, Yuriko knew him very well.

"—Hey, what's wrong? Calling the company is embarrassing for me." Nishikawa's voice sounded like he was covering the receiver with his hand, as if afraid that people around him would hear. Yuriko suppressed a laugh as she listened to him continue, "I will definitely pay this month's amount, just wait a few more days."

"Hello, Mr. Nishikawa."

"—Who is it?"

"I am Yuriko Sasamoto."

"Huh? What? You startled me." Nishikawa's long sigh of relief came through the phone.

“I have something I’d like to discuss with you,” Yuriko said.

"—It's about your father, isn't it? That's really bad." Nishikawa said in a small coffee shop across from the "K Construction" office building. He was a chubby man with a childlike face who joined the company at the same time as Yuriko's father.

"Is there any gossip about my father in the company?"

"Ah, not many people mention it...you understand. Even if they do..."

“I understand. Mr. Nishikawa, you are a close friend of my father. Do you know anything about this?”

"What is it... no, I wish I knew."

Did you know that my father has a lover?

"No, I have no idea. He kept it a secret so well that it surprised me. But it wouldn't be strange if he told me. Your father is a handsome man."

"Didn't you hear my father say anything? When you were drinking together, did you ever talk about what kind of women you liked?"

"The police asked me about that too. But I have absolutely no memory of it. Besides, when I was drunk, I was just passing around messages, so I don't know which sentence was spoken by which person."

"I heard that a woman named Junko Mizuguchi is pregnant. But, my father is a bachelor. Even if he has a child with another woman, there is no need for him to kill her to cover it up, right? Of course, it would be a different story if someone like Mr. Nishikawa has a wife."

"Hey, Yuriko, don't say such scary things." Nishikawa widened his eyes and looked around. "If my wife hears this, it'll be terrible."

"But isn't that what you think?"

"Basically...that's true."

"I believe my father didn't kill that woman."

"So, you mean there are other murderers?"

"Yes, of course."

"But if that's the case, why doesn't Sasakimoto come out?"

"Perhaps they were trapped and unable to get out, or perhaps they were killed."

"Your words are truly astonishing." Nishikawa was completely overwhelmed by Yuriko's strong presence.

"Did you know that my father was granted leave starting Thursday?"

"Um."

"But he told us he was going to Sapporo on a business trip. Mr. Nishikawa, didn't you hear anything about that?"

"No, I haven't heard of it. It's just—"

"What?"

"I didn't know about the vacation. Usually, there are all sorts of work handovers before a vacation. Since sales work involves dealing with customers, I always call my regular clients no matter what. If I don't notify them, it would be terrible, and I might lose a customer."

"Didn't you say anything at that time?"

"Yeah, I think it's strange too."

After a moment's thought, Yuriko said, "Please let me see the section chief."