Chapter 56, videotape.
So what if it's a midnight horror movie? It still has the waiting time of "dying in seven days".
Based on the intensity of the illusions they saw, Tsukino and Chiya believed that although time was of the essence, they were not likely to die tonight... but tomorrow night was another story.
In short, it's all or nothing. If they can't solve this anomaly, tomorrow—no, the day after tomorrow—when dawn breaks will likely be their death day. There's no time to wait seven days like in The Ring.
Therefore, when Tsukino and Chiya received the videotape, which they knew might be strange, their attitude was simply to watch it and leave it at that.
Wang Ma Xiaoji didn't seem scared at all. He took another videotape from Qianye and then started fiddling with the recording.
...I always felt that Wang Ma Xiaoji was the kind of person who would deliberately scare people in haunted houses or when people take turns telling ghost stories.
While Tsukino and Chiya were grumbling to themselves, they moved a chair that was originally placed in front of the dressing table in the bedroom and put it directly in front of the TV when Ouma Kokichi was about to play the video.
The first thing Wang Ma Xiaoji put in was a videotape that the two of them found under the bed in the child's bedroom.
The black and white noise that would have been annoying and unsettling to watch on the TV screen in this situation disappeared, replaced by a black and white image.
After a few screen flickers, the scene on the TV screen gradually stabilized. Once he was done, Wang Ma Xiaoji sat directly on the bed. Seeing this, Yueye and Qianye also sat down on the chairs he had simply dusted off.
The first thing that appeared clearly on the screen was a child's face.
"It's Yu Chishima."
Tsukino and Chiya, who had seen Chishima Yu's photo during the investigation, recognized the child almost immediately.
"He looks no different from his recent photos."
"Including age?"
"Including age."
"Eh..."
In other words, the Chishima Yu in the video is probably around the age of a first-grade elementary school student.
Sure enough, as the camera zoomed out, the place where the child was standing on the screen looked familiar to Tsukino and Chiya.
The black-haired boy explained considerately, "This is where the Chishima family currently lives."
So this video is indeed about what happened before the Chishima family moved to this Sarayashiki, which means that it may have happened or is about to happen in their current time.
"That's amazing!"
As Wang Ma Xiaoji spoke, he reached out his hand towards Yueye and Qianye. Qianye understood and handed over the bag she was carrying.
"Kozuki's investigation was really thorough."
"This is information I obtained from an investigation I commissioned." Tsukino and Chiya didn't respond to what was probably a compliment, "That person is exceptionally capable."
"It's terrifying that they were able to find out this much in just one night."
Wang Ma Xiaoji successfully pulled a bag of potato chips out of Qianye's bag.
"Do people in modern society really have any privacy? In the face of those who truly possess power, so-called privacy and security seem to be of little value."
Tsukino and Chiya ignored Ohma Kokichi's behavior of watching TV and eating snacks as if he were on a leisurely vacation rather than exploring a haunted house. He took the bag back from the purple-haired boy and said.
"Everyone can have a knife, which is why rules and morality are necessary. However, going outside the rules doesn't mean it's all bad."
The "evil secret society" that Ouma Shokichi often mentions might just be such an existence.
Tsukino and Chiya had some suspicions about the evil forces he often mentioned. However, now was not the time to consider those things.
On the screen, a hint of unease crossed the child's innocent face. He stood behind the wall, cautiously peering towards the direction of the living room.
The video camera focused on the child, making the scene in the living room, which was a little further away, appear somewhat blurry. But even so, it was clear that there were two people there.
They are the parents of Hikari and Rumi Chishima—who will most likely become the ghost of Sarayashiki in the future.
The television was a bit noisy, and because of the distance, Tsukino and Chiya couldn't quite make out what the couple was saying. However, judging from the occasional laughter, the atmosphere between them was very harmonious and pleasant.
Then, the woman in the picture seemed to realize something and looked over towards where the child was.
The child, who had been peeking out, was caught by his mother before he could hide.
The woman seemed to say something and waved to the child.
The child hesitated for only a second or two, then took a step forward, ran over, and sat down on the soft sofa as well.
"What's wrong, Xiaoyou?" This time, the woman's gentle voice finally became clear. "Is there something you can't do? Is there a homework problem you can't solve?"
The man didn't speak, but he looked over with concern.
"This...that..."
The child was clearly holding something behind his back, but neither the man nor the woman pointed it out; instead, they waited patiently.
Finally, the child unfolded the drawing he was holding and handed it over: "This is what I just drew."
"Let me take a look." The man reached out and took the painting. "Hmm...it's very beautiful."
"Look, especially here, this bird is round and cute."
"Really? You're amazing—"
The woman reached out and ruffled the child's hair, feigning a complaint: "Honestly, if you have another masterpiece like this next time, remember to release it sooner! As Xiaoyou's most loyal fan, I want to be the first to see it!"
"Is that so?" The man pinched the bridge of his nose, seemingly helpless. "I can't agree with that statement, because I'm the number one fan."
"Oh? Are you going to argue with me about this? I'm getting angry."
"This is the only point on which we cannot back down."
"..."
The two pretended to be angry and started arguing about this. The child watching from the side blinked, listened quietly for a while, then reached out and pinched the hem of his clothes. After pinching the hem until it was wrinkled, he finally couldn't help but speak up.
"but……"
His voice was very soft, but you could hear it if you listened carefully. And clearly, his parents were paying close attention to what he wanted to say.
"...However, I didn't get a very high ranking in the last competition."
"It's okay, because no matter whether it wins an award or what ranking it gets, this is a work full of Xiaoyou's love."
"Yes. And you have a long life ahead of you." The man reached out and gently pinched the child's nose. "One day, you'll be able to create works that everyone will love. When that time comes, remember that your number one fan will still be me."
“…Let go.” The child struggled symbolically for a moment. After the man, who hadn’t been using much force to begin with, withdrew his hand, the child cautiously covered his nose. “I know. You are all my number one fans, tied for first place.”
"Wow, that's amazing! He can carry water at such a young age. Honey, this child will be incredible when he grows up."
"Well..."
"Um, can I go out in a bit?"
"Hmm? Is there something you need?"
"I made plans with my classmates to play hide-and-seek together..."
"Okay, that's fine. Remember to come back before dark. By the way, Xiaoyou, we're moving away soon, have you said goodbye to your friends?"
"...I did say that."
"Don't be too sad. Separation is an inevitable part of life. It's okay, Xiaoyou will make new friends when we get to our new home. There's a yard there, and Mom and Dad will play with you in the yard."
"Hide and seek?"
"That works too."
That concludes the contents of the first videotape.
No matter how you look at it, this is a heartwarming and ordinary family scene. There seems to be nothing wrong with it.
However, after seeing that scene, Tsukino and Chiya's feelings did not change.
I imagine it's the same for Oma Shokichi.
Because they all knew very well that the existence of the Sarayashiki ghost, in a sense, already indicated the ending of the story.
Therefore... they had already made some guesses about what would happen next.
However, it may not be too late to know these things now.
Because although the anomaly has appeared in the present, the catalyst for its creation lies in the future. At least at this moment, the event that would cause Chishima Yu to die and become an anomaly in the future has not yet occurred.
In other words... just as Officer Matsuda and his team, who were involved in the Ghost Painter case, successfully facilitated the arrest of Eiichiro Saiyama, perhaps after the current Sarayashiki case is resolved, they can... change the fate of Yu Chishima, who has not yet met a tragic end.
Such a thought flashed through Tsukino and Chiya's minds. At the same time, Ohma Kokichi, who was unexpectedly enthusiastic about watching videotapes in the haunted house, had taken out the previous videotape and put in another one they had found in the pocket of the hanging doll's clothes.
As Wang Ma Xiaoji put on the videotape, he said, "What a happy and fulfilling family. Perhaps, to become an eccentric, past happiness is sometimes a necessary condition."
Tsukino and Chiya agreed, "Because we've experienced that kind of happiness before, everything seems even more...is that it?"
"So."
Having finished dealing with the situation, the purple-haired boy quickly returned to the bedside and sat down leisurely.
"The next act—"
The second recording begins with the child's hesitant face again.
Chishima Yu looks older than she did in the previous videotape, but she's still a child.
Tsukino, Chiya, and Ouma Kokichi all recognized the spot where the child was standing in the video.
That's the entrance to this Saraya-shiki.
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