Chapter 17 Seventeen Ghosts Behind the Scenes

Toru Amuro's original purpose of going downstairs was to take a look around, so after saying goodbye to Tatsuya Fujimiya and the others, he left the hotel with a camera around his neck.

After walking along the cobblestone road for a while, they were finally sure that they were the only ones around. The mask-like fake smile on Amuro Toru's face finally faded. He couldn't help but frowned, looking very serious.

Amuro Toru was thinking about the purpose of Tsuda Atsushi's actions - why did he spend eight years gradually turning himself into a dead person? If Tsuda Atsushi was just using this to remember the moon in Akae eight years ago, then this memory was too deep, even obsessive to the point of being a little scary.

Although Toru Amuro believes that he is not as proficient as his own ghost in observing micro-expressions, he still has good insight, coupled with the keen sense of smell developed from years of undercover work... He knows very well that the expression that Tsuda Atsushi showed when others mentioned Akae Nazuki was definitely not one of missing or sadness.

Tsuda Atsushi feels guilty.

"It's really interesting, isn't it?" The boy next to him was clearly in the center of the vortex, but he didn't seem nervous at all. While speaking, he still hung on Amuro Toru's shoulders, his arms hanging loosely around his neck, and said lightly, "This hot spring trip is really a good deal."

Toru Amuro has gradually gotten used to the state of walking with Akae Nazuki 'on his back'. He hypnotizes himself that it's like he's carrying a talking air conditioner. And to be honest, Akae Nazuki still can't touch any person or thing, so theoretically speaking, the other person hanging on him is just an illusion.

——The moon over Chijiang has always been floating on its own.

However, Amuro Toru's heart has become stronger in the past few days. He did not complain like he did at the beginning, but continued the conversation and asked casually: "Speaking of this, did you see any information on Fujimiya's phone just now?"

His ex-fiancee, high school junior, and best friend were quarreling around a former classmate. Tatsuya Fujimiya, who was also involved in the quarrel, had been looking down at his phone since he entered the door, except for a few words trying to mediate. This made Toru Amuro suspicious.

Chijiang Nayue hummed lazily, her posture unchanged, her virtual toes dragging on the ground: "He is looking at a photo."

Thinking of this, Chijiang Nayue's expression also became strange.

He had originally gone over because he was curious about what Fujimiya was looking at, but what he saw was completely beyond his expectations.

It was a simple photo of four people. In the photo, the red-haired girl was sitting on a chair hugging a cello, the black-haired girl was holding a flute, the brown-haired boy was sitting in front of the piano with his head held high, and Tsuda Atsushi, who had not yet put on his glasses, was standing in the center of the picture with a beautiful violin tucked on his shoulder.

Obviously, all four people in this photo are here now.

Akae Nazuki briefly explained the incident, and when Amuro looked thoughtful, she slowly continued, "...In fact, there were more than four people present."

Amuro Toru was stunned for a moment, then immediately responded: "Is there another person taking pictures?"

"Bingo, it's a pity there's no reward for guessing the riddle." The boy said with a smile, and then said in a more serious tone, "I was the one who took this photo."

After seeing this group photo, Akajinazuki's memories of these four people were retrieved from the depths of his mind based on the keyword "group photo".

"At that time, for some reasons, I had to join a club, but to be honest, I wasn't interested in most clubs." Chijiang Nayue explained calmly, "It just so happened that they were in the same class as me and invited me earlier than others, so I went over to sign up and helped take a photo in exchange."

The reason is actually very simple.

In the past, Akae Nazuki was always under the control of Karasuma Renya, and often had to disguise herself and secretly team up with Vermouth to go on missions. However, because they did not want their parents to know about this, they found various excuses to go out on missions.

Club activities are a good excuse. Akae Nazuki has been doing this since elementary school. With the cooperation of Vermouth, he was not involved in any club until his senior year of high school, when he was almost discovered by Akae Yu.

In order to cover it up, Akajiang Nayue needed to put his name in the instrumental club, that's it.

What he didn't say was that Tsuda Atsushi and his team wanted him to join them in the shoot, but he usually would instinctively control himself and not leave too much visual footage, so he refused. I guess he thought the same in this world.

Speaking of this, Akajinazuki became even more curious. Where did Tsuda Atsushi get so many of his videotapes?

Toru Amuro may not know this, but Akae Nazuki himself knows it very well. No matter which world it is, as long as he has been in the organization, he would not be so careless as to be recorded in so many videos.

The Savior shook his head and decided not to think about it for the time being.

The question now is why Fujimiya Tatsuya kept looking at the photo at that time. Amuro Toru carefully observed the surrounding environment and wondered: What was he missing at that time, or what was he hesitating about?

The four young people who were full of youth and hope for the future in that photo, now have their own agenda when they get together again. The emotions expressed by each of them are different from their true thoughts, which makes it hard not to be alert.

It's really sad.

—

When they returned to the hotel with their soul, it was almost time for dinner. Hanada Minoru offered to deliver the meal to Amuro Toru's room later. The latter did not refuse and agreed with a bright and generous smile.

After they entered the room, Toru Amuro went to the table and opened his laptop, writing down all the information and doubts he had collected so far.

This time, Chijiang Nayue did not continue to stick close to him to annoy him, but floated leisurely towards the balcony.

Tsuruga River Ryokan is in a great location. Although it is in the mountains, you can directly overlook the entire Toya Lake and the small island in the center of the lake from the balcony of the residential area.

After the evening breeze, the rustling sound of leaves rubbing against each other can be heard. The sky is filled with pink and purple sunset glow, which is reflected on the lake. Chijiang Nayue leans against the bamboo balcony railing and hums the song that appeared during the escape in Manhattan.

"What song is this?" Toru Amuro pushed up the glasses on his nose to block blue light, looked over and finally couldn't help but ask.

He felt that the melody was familiar from the first time he heard it, but he hadn't been able to remember what it was for so many days.

Chi Jiang Na Yue felt like playing a prank again, so he deliberately smiled with his eyebrows crooked, but his voice was very low.

This time, he sang the lyrics as well.

"Why are crows crying?" This nursery rhyme, which was very cheerful in Toru Amuro's memory, was sung with a gloomy feeling. The black-haired boy stood there, humming, "Why are crows crying? Because there are seven cute little crows on the top of the mountain.*"

Seven Children

As if seeing Amuro Toru's surprise, Akae Natsuki acted as if she had suddenly realized something: "I almost forgot that when you joined the organization, the old man had already died."

He kindly explained: "When this nursery rhyme is typed out on the keypad phone, it will become the email address of 'that gentleman'."

Toru Amuro felt a chill all over his body, then he remembered that the gentleman they were talking about had passed away eight years ago. He relaxed a little and glanced helplessly at the boy who was laughing so hard after his prank was successful.

There was a knock on the door. Amuro went over to open the door and brought in the food. When he looked at the balcony again, he found that Akajiang Nayue was no longer there.

His brow furrowed as he realized something was wrong.

I don’t know if it was the effect of the binding or something else, but during the week they were together, except for sleeping, Chi Jiang Na Yue would hardly stray too far away from his side.

Toru Amuro had a bad feeling in his heart.

Then, his premonition came true - he heard a shrill sound of something hitting the piano keys, followed by a female scream.

Toru Amuro stood up calmly and met the eyes of Akae Nazuki who came from behind the wall with a sullen expression.

The spirit behind the young man remained calm and said simply, "He Lailing has disappeared from the piano room. There were signs of a fight in the room."

He Lai Ling?

Doubt suddenly appeared in Toru Amuro's eyes.

They all guessed that those people had more than simple motives and that something big might happen.

However, the one who went missing was actually the black-haired schoolgirl who had been calm the entire time and who seemed to be planning something?