Occultic;Nine > 05.SHE'S LOST CONTROL

Sarai:
About Kiri Kiri Basara.

Yuta:
This guy's heard about my site before?

Sarai:
Miyu Aikawa brought you to my attention. And, I know you're at Seimei the evening my father died.

Yuta:
Ah...! It wasn't me, okay?! Please, believe me! I never do something like that! ...I swear, alright?! Never...

Sarai:
I don't think you took my father's life.

Yuta:
H-honestly?

Sarai:
Hm.

Yuta:
Ah...

Sarai:
You need to tell me everything.

--- <OP> ---

Sarai:
So, regarding that website I mentioned, you are its owner, aren't you?

Yuta:
Yeah. And, y-you must be the professor's son, am I right?

Sarai:
Yes. I'm Sarai. Actually, I've posted on your site a few times.

Yuta:
Huh? Oh, cool...Wait! Is that you, SARAI?!

Sarai:
Right. Now, so I'm clear about this. You were there at the crime scene where my father was murdered?

Yuta:
Well, I er...

Sarai:
As I said before, I think you're innocent.

Yuta:
Um...

Sarai:
There's some evidence indicating my father was locked up and tortured inside that room. And after considering the facts, I've concluded that you couldn't have been involved.

Yuta:
Y-yeah! There's no way!

Sarai:
Miyu told me you most likely arrived at the University and entered his office sometime around 7 p.m. on February the 22nd. But if you saw his body, ran away and never stopped at once to alert the police. That seems incomprehensible to be quite honest. Was there anything at all that stood out in your mind?

Yuta:
Wh-what do you mean?

Sarai:
Anything. The police have given me very few details. I'm his flesh and blood yet they insist on keeping me in the dark. What did you see that night? Surely, there must be something you can remember.

Yuta:
Um...A word...

Sarai:
A what? Please, explain.

Yuta:
Written on the ground. Spelled out with his own blood. He wrote out "CODE", C-O-D-E.

Sarai:
Are you saying he left a dying message?!

Yuta:
Y-you haven't even heard that?

Sarai:
As I said, I cannot get anything out of them.

Yuta:
But, why?

Sarai:
That word, C-O-D-E...Yes, I remember seen it before, but where...? In a home, in a file? I don't know...

Yuta:
We should go and figure out what you saw!

Sarai:
Well, that's not--

Yuta:
Come on! Don't you wanna find out who did this?!

Sarai:
Of course, I want anything! What kind of a question is that? But it's useless...On the day he died, somebody broke in and then ransacked his study.

Yuta:
Huh?

Sarai:
Apparently, the culprit sneaked into our home and began rummaging through my father's things, somewhere between 4:15 and 5:30 p.m., which coincides with approximate time of his death. This crime was completely premeditated. So, I'm certain any remaining evidence was taken.

Yuta:
They planned it?

---

Ryoka:
How are you so sure that none of those twisted stories are really true?

Radio:
If not like you to stumbled into this, it's more like you're here because you wanted to be!

---

Yuta:
Um...! Look! Just because they turned out the room upside down doesn't mean they took off with everything! Now, come on! I think the place is still worth to tracking out! Let's go!

Sarai:
Haa...Don't say I didn't warn you. This isn't anime or some kind of game.

---

Sarai:
This way.

Yuta:
Man, this guy's wound up tight. He definitely has it infamy, but sure hate to see him when he really gets upset. I can tell we'll probably never get along anyway. These days, Ryo-tas is the only real friend I've got...

Sarai:
I bet you're thinking about just how much dislike me, aren't you?

Yuta:
Huh? Me? No! I er--

Sarai:
You know, when one lies, certain patterns emerge. First, there's a lack of eye contact. As an example, you've been staring down in to the right for the quite sometime.

Yuta:
Ug...

Sarai:
Second, the number of blinks decrease, since I began talking about this, roughly eighteen seconds have past, and I noticed you haven't blinked once. Thir--

Yuta:
Okay! I get it! ...Mm? Ah?! ...Haa?

Sarai:
I'll be waiting out here. You have to go look by yourself.

Yuta:
Huh?! W-why?

Sarai:
I still have [one result?] feelings toward my father. My emotions will just get in the way.

Yuta:
Um, oh...My dad past away, too.

Sarai:
What was that?

Yuta:
Yeah, I mean, er...So, it's not like you're the only one...you know?

Sarai:
Hmm...(Harrumph)

Yuta:
Great. Way to go, Yuta...

---

Yuta:
...It's all cleaned up...Finding clues in this room would be impossible...Um...A lock? ...Nn...Don't know who said truth is stranger than fiction, but that's a lie. Because here in the real world, it seems like miracles are pretty hard to come by...Hmm...I'm too late.
Face it, you're just an ordinary guy, another high school kid. Sure, you might be a NEET God, but you'll never be one of those cool crime novel's detective who can crack a case...
That's fine...Nothing matters to me anymore...Maybe I should count backwards from ten to clear my head...Yeah, alright...Did the roof start leaking? What's with those plugs...? Doesn't make much sense...Haa...Hey, what's up, ceiling? You're here all this time and watch some bad guy tear this entire place apart, didn't you? ...Think you could tell me what he was looking for?

Radio:
Ah! Give me a break!

Yuta:
Waah?!

Radio:
The answer is right in front of you!

Yuta:
Zonko?!

Radio:
Can't believe you can't notice, dummy!

Yuta:
Why so much static coming through...? And, what made you pick right now to start talking to me?

Radio:
We don't have time to neat explain.

Yuta:
Not that again...

Radio:
Soon, the ghost of old lady will coming to this this room.

Yuta:
A ghost?!

Radio:
Just kidding. She's not a ghost.

Yuta:
She's not? Oh, good...But, statistic's bad.

Radio:
Listen up, the old lady is the mother of that guy in the glasses.

Yuta:
His mother? What do you know--

Radio:
They say, stress can really age a person. She's not too trusting.

Yuta:
Sarai said I could be here, so--

Radio:
Yeah, yeah. I know you've down to ground for crying because you're not some kind of super detective. That's not gonna get you close to finding anything.

Yuta:
Wait a minute, you already know what I'm looking for in here, don't you?

Radio:
Well, either way, you're indeed. There's no going back now.

Yuta:
All right, enough riddles! Instead of hints, how about give me that answer for once?!

Radio:
I already did. The answer is on the ceiling you were just staring at.

Yuta:
Uh...? ...How am I supposed to figure this out...? ...Hold on. Could those holes in the ceiling be a...? Zonko! It's been part of some kind of pattern! Is this a message the professor left behind?

Radio:
[Cledy swift?]. It's the "CODE."

Yuta:
This is what that word in his lab all about? All of those little dots in the ceiling?

Radio:
You can figure out the rest, right? Don't just stand there.

Yuta:
Hey, you can't--

Radio:
Bzaap.

Yuta:
...I suck at this, remember? So, first, the professor writes out the word CODE, Then I go into his office, look around a little and find some plugged up ceiling holes...Um? Wait, maybe all of those dots he filled in...spell or...letters of the alphabet?

Radio:
Hey! You gotta head of this!

Yuta:
Y-you're still there?

Radio:
Bzaap.

---

Sagami:
I made a mistake. It wasn't her after all.

Ririka:
I see.

Sagami:
Why didn't you tell me before?

Ririka:
Cause you didn't ask. ...No, it was jealousy.

Sagami:
Really?

Ririka:
The witch was happy to see the princess suffer. For she and these the one of everyone else seems to admire.

Sagami:
So, your last name's Nishizono?

Ririka:
Huh?

Sagami:
It was on the news. I saw your name.

Ririka:
...That's what my vision meant.

Sagami:
Guess I never imagine that you'd be one of them.

Ririka:
Hm...I have no idea I was actually drawing a picture of myself. But, in any case, this must be the new world, isn't it?

Sagami:
Eh-hee-hee-hee...

---

Moritsuka:
Molars, dojin manga, a fortune teller, black magic...Kichijoji's been keeping me on my toes these days. But, if I wanna tie 'em together and win this game, the best card to draw...is Kiri Kiri Basara.
Huh, lunch date for two on the cozy café...
Or, is there a particular reason they chose to go in this place...?
Ah, nah! Ha ha ha...(Ring) Hey, Eiji Moritsuka here.

Man:
What about the two-hundred and fifty-six people?

Moritsuka:
You're saying I should start chasing the ghost of Nicola Tesla? Look, I'm sure the list will connect us to all of them eventually.

Man:
So the key was Isayuki Hashigami?

Moritsuka:
It's gonna bring us one step closer to solving this thing. Although bodies that were floating in that lake meant something. And there's no question in my mind that the professor understood what it was. (Beep)

---

Ryoka:
Looks like Sarai's running late.

Yuta:
I know. He figures out what those dots on the ceiling mean, and now he makes me wait around. Eh?

Ryoka:
Hm?

Moritsuka:
Gotta any drinks you could recommend?

Izumi:
Yes!

Yuta:
Um...

Izumi:
Inspired by the sassy Miyu Aikawa, this should bring good luck!

Moritsuka:
Wow, this thing looks incredible! I've never seen anything like it!

Ryoka:
Oh~...

Yuta:
Ugh...He's drinking it?!

Moritsuka:
Bwa-ha!

Yuta:
Or not.

Moritsuka:
It's so disgusting! Man! What's in this stuff, tastes like cold vomit!

Yuta:
(Giggle)

Moritsuka:
Here! Have a sip and tell me what you think! It taste like someone barfed in the grass!

Yuta:
Nah, I'm good. All I have to do is take one look at that nasty stuff and now what's up.

Ryoka:
Is it okay if I have a teeny sip?

Yuta:
Well, you'd be warned. It's awful!

Izumi:
Honestly! I put everything I had in that gark, and then you're making fun of it?! How rude!

Moritsuka:
Okay, listen, I don't know what kind of nightmare ingredients you put in there, but it's the worst drink I've ever had! In fact, I think I name it...The Horrible Puke! Or maybe I go with some even more I like it, like the Pukelama! Nah, I should stay with the lucky thing...

Ryoka:
Lucky Puke!

Moritsuka:
Heh heh! I still like that horrible one! Pint a Puke!

Ryoka:
Pukey Puke!

Izumi:
What is the matter with you three?! Now, Gamo-tan, I'm leaving as punishment! Watch over this place!

Ryoka:
Oh! I wanna go with you! Hmm~Hmm~

Yuta:
You know, the way you are dressed, it's kind of look like Zenigata. Pukey cosplayer got there.

Moritsuka:
Think so, huh? I am a pukey cosplay fun.

Yuta:
And those comvention web sites have some pretty pukey adorable girls on or two.

Moritsuka:
I've even been in the Comiket few times and picked up some pukey dojinshi!

Yuta:
Pukey ones, huh? You mean the erotic stuff?

Moritsuka:
Hey, hold on, it's pukey warm. Aren't you hot in here?

Yuta:
It seems pukey okay to me.

Moritsuka:
Putting out a molar is gotta be pukey painful.

Yuta:
Pukey...eh?

Moritsuka:
And actually, I'm not cosplaying. I wear these clothes while I'm on the job.

Yuta:
Eh...?!

Moritsuka:
Must thing this is pukey weird, huh? But, seriously, ever pulled out a tooth before?

Yuta:
...How I ever...

Moritsuka:
Come on! Does this mean the pukey game's already over, Yuta Gamon? Seimei High School student, class 2-B?

Yuta:
It's not...me!

Moritsuka:
What's that?

Yuta:
It's not me!

Moritsuka:
This conversation is pukey impossible. I only want to know that something you've ever had to do. That's all. See, the thing is, I have an appointment to get my wisdom teeth pulled out pretty soon. And I really hope it doesn't hurt! Being scared to the dentist since I was a little kid.

Yuta:
You--

Moritsuka:
So, if you've already gone through it, you figured what I was finding out exactly what I meant for, you know? I mean, we are, brothers of the pukey horrible, right? Hee hee...

Ryoka:
An that's now Gamo-tan!

Yuta:
Ah!

Moritsuka:
Okay guys. I guess I'd better get going now.

Yuta:
...

Moritsuka:
Glad the two of us were able to have a pukey talk.

Izumi:
What's the matter, Gamo-tan? You covered in perspiration.

Ryoka:
Ha-ha! Don't you sweat! Don't you sweat! Gamo-tan now don't you sweat!

Moritsuka:
Well, cheer.

Yuta:
That's it? I'm safe...? Why did he just let me off the hook? Wow...

Ryoka:
Poya-ya?

Yuta:
Ryo-tas...!

Ryoka:
Hm?

---

Aria:
...Tell me, have you found any clue so far?

Kiryu:
Yeah. Think I've got a lead. Do you remember that guy in the trench coat who is staking out this place the other day?

Aria:
Hmm?

Kiryu:
Tch, being off guard like that is what get you in trouble.

Aria:
I usually block things out of my mind that I don't have an interest in.

Kiryu:
He's a guy who looks like a kid, wears a [ten?] trench coat with a fedora. I saw him snooping around in front of this place at least twice already.

Aria:
I wonder who he could be.

Kiryu:
No clue. But that one's definitely at the something. I was keeping an eye on him earlier, and then he met up some people I wasn't expected.

Aria:
What do you mean?

Kiryu:
Not too long ago, some school girls came in here, wanted to get back their boyfriend. Well, I was following the guy in the hat, and one of the two girl showed up, it was that little bitch who's got that huge knockers.

Aria:
What a crass, don't you think?

Kiryu:
But, there's more to it than that. The kid who supposedly two time them both with there, walking around with her. In other word, a client of ours, the one she wanted to curse, and some suspicious looking guy were all hanging out in the same place, called Café Bloomoon.

Aria:
Coincidence?

Kiryu:
Ug...This is why people think you are an idiot. There weren't any customers in the café. There is just a three of them, talking with some serious looks on their faces. And I'll bet they were getting together to find out what we've been up to.

Aria:
If they want to know of the Devil really exists, we should make sure they don't find what they're looking for.

Kiryu:
Seems like they are out to get us. So, we gotta try and beat them to the punch.

Aria:
...For some reason, I can hear your voice more clearly than usual today.

Kiryu:
Oh? That's no surprise...Now the things have changed.

Moritsuka:
Oh, hey there. Do you mind if I just have a quick word with you?

Aria:
And you are?

Moritsuka:
I'm infamous detective. And I've got some questions about Hashigami...eh?

---

Ryoka:
Sarai's pitiful, Sarai's pitiful, Sarai's pitiful, he's very lame~♪ Ha-ha-ha!

Yuta:
You're late. Now, hurry and tell me what's going on with that CODE.

Izumi:
You know, before of you sitting there, you could at least order of little something, right?

Yuta:
Come on! What did you find out?!

Sarai:
...Each ceiling plug forms characters and being encrypted using a format called the Baudot Code. Almost every tile was covered with them.

Yuta:
Oh yeah! I figured those things spelled out different characters! Even Zonko seemed impressed with me.

Miyu:
Wow, that's pretty amazing, Gamou-senpai...

Sarai:
Zonko?

Yuta:
That's the name of my radio.

Sarai:
...Seriously?

Yuta:
Sure. And she talks to me all the time.

Miyu:
You're not going about that again, are you...?

Yuta:
(Grin)

Miyu:
So, um...Were you able to figure out what the letters represent?

Sarai:
They're people's names.

Yuta:
Did you see the name, "Ririka?!"

Sarai:
Who is that be?

Yuta:
Guess, you didn't then...

Sarai:
I haven't got into all of them yet. --There are two-hundred and fifty-six...in total.

Yuta:
...

Miyu:
...

Izumi:
Hmm?

Yuta:
...So all those people written up there. Do you think they're from...that you know what...?

Sarai:
Yes. They're most likely the victims discovered in Inokashira Park.

Miyu:
Ah! Sorry. Did you happen to notice the name Chizu Kawabata by any chance?

Sarai:
Friend of yours?

Miyu:
Y-yes. And she's been missing.

Sarai:
No, I haven't come across that one. It's going to take me quite a while to decrypt all of them. My first priority is to decode uniquely perplexing string of characters.

Miyu:
Really? What kind?

Sarai:
Well, there's a rather cryptic ten character grouping attached at the end of every person represented. As if it were part of some kind of set. And I still don't understand their significance...

Miyu:
Will you able to tell of those clusters followed type of pattern at all?

Sarai:
Actually, the last seven digits of the ten are each standardized. They spell "E-E-Q-T-U-W-I." But the three digits preceding them are different.

Yuta:
Oh, that reminds me! Have you checked to see if the ones you've already figured out to match of the list of names that the press released?

Sarai:
No, not yet. At this point, I've selected ten random names. But they haven't been cross referenced.

Yuta:
Do you think you can help this out Ryo-tas?

Ryoka:
Okay! I don't really know what's going on and I can be kind of airhead sometimes, but just leave it to me, guys!

Yuta:
Y-yeah...

Sarai:
Mm...So, you were wondering if I've noticed the name "Ririka" a little earlier, who is that?

Yuta:
Eh...Actually, I think she might be the one responsible for your father's murder.

Sarai:
Is that so. And what did she do.

Yuta:
Well, she's a dojin artist.

Sarai:
What is that?

Yuta:
I-I have a work right here.

Sarai:
...I see. Can I go home now?

Yuta:
W-wait a minute! Let me explain! Professor Hashigami's death was predicted in that book! Here, there's a guy murdered on the floor with his tooth gouged out!

Sarai:
You're serious about this, aren't you? You're suggesting that his death was foretold with this level of congruence?

Yuta:
No! There's more to it! Just look right over here! Do you see that word the dead guy's pointing to?

Sarai:
"CODE"...?

Yuta:
Right. Like I told you, that's the exact same word your dad left at the crime scene. And there aren't a lot of people who know about it either. But, this dojin-shi was published for release at the last winter Comiket! Understand where I'm going with this?

Miyu:
Gamou-senpai, I know your role here, but couldn't this just be some kind of coincidence?

Yuta:
Huh?

Sarai:
I agree. "CODE" is a fairly common word, so that alone is rather weak evidence. There must be at least three distinct points of concurrence for a fluke to be anything more.

Yuta:
Ugh...Are you kidding me...?! ...I-I'd still like it if you read through everything at least one time. Okay?

Sarai:
...Haa...You're suggesting a kind of synchronicity? Afraid, these things happen all the time. And by trying to give meaning to any and everything, conspiracy theories are born.

Izumi:
Is that so?

Yuta:
Er?

Izumi:
I'm sure some conspiracies are true. It certainly makes things more fun anyway.

Sarai:
But, those who believe in such things, show impossible leaps in logic when tying all their points together. It's also common for them to put aside facts they feel they're inconvenient. Er...Hold on, right here...This number...?

Yuta:
3-3-1-5-7-2-8? I don't get it.

Sarai:
Yes...It finally makes sense to me now...!

Yuta:
What? What makes sense?

Sarai:
The "E-E-Q-T-U-W-I."

Yuta:
Huh?

Sarai:
This is the set of letters I wasn't able to decipher before. In the Baudot Code, you can encrypt numbers as well as letters of the alphabet. Based on the character conversion table, "E" becomes "3", "Q" becomes "1".

Yuta:
You mean...

Sarai:
"3-3-1-5-7-2-8," it's the same as this license plate.

Yuta:
Which matches the message the professor left behind! That means, Ririka Nishizono's the real culprit here, right?!

Sarai:
Sorry, Gamon...But I need to look into this case further on my own. Is there anything at all you haven't told me about that night?

Yuta:
Huh? ...Mmm, er, let's see...

Sarai:
What are you hiding from me?

Yuta:
Wh-what?

Sarai:
You haven't made eye contact with me for sometime now. And, you haven't given direct answers. That's proof you're pretending you don't know anything, while understanding exactly what I'm asking. Can I assume there's something you feel ashamed of?

Yuta:
Eww...

Miyu:
Wait, this is...?

Yuta:
S-something wrong?

Miyu:
Little...a birds cage...? No, it's..."Kororibako."

Yuta:
?!

Sarai:
...

---

Ririka:
Ever hear this story of Frankenstein? ...A doctor stitches cadavers together to create a perfect human life. But the creature lacked of soul, and turned into a monster. --Wonder if you can stitch a soul together as well? And if so, what will you have brought to life then?

Sagami:
...Heh.

--- <ED> ---