[Novel] Hell in Gateau Chocolat: Shuji Chapter 4

After the spider wave incident, the police came to investigate. Saying they "came" isn't quite accurate. In reality, there was already someone here who, albeit a former one, was a police officer. The large, blond man I made eye contact with when boarding the bus. He was a former police officer.

He used his intimidating presence and a low voice to calm the panicking attendees, as if pinning them down, saying, "Everyone, stay calm! I have just called the police!"

"I'm Ashida, formerly of the Ibaraki Prefectural Police. Everyone, please wait at the inn as persons of interest. There is a possibility that someone here is involved in this incident. My reliable police acquaintances will take over from here. Mr. Jiroda, please accompany me."
"Y-yes..."

In stark contrast to Ashida, who continued expressionlessly and calmly, Mizunosuke's face was deathly pale, and his back was hunched over powerlessly. He looked like he would collapse if the wind blew. Shuji watched his pale face as he left with Ashida. He seemed to be in deep shock from the sudden turn of events.

The subsequent proceedings were mainly handled by the village adults, and since it would be difficult for the people of this village, who were mostly elderly, to do it alone, Touya also ended up helping. Shuji called out to Touya, who was coordinating with the villagers in the lobby.

"Touya, I'll help with something too. Just give me instructions and I'll get right on it."
"That's right. Then, please help get the others onto the bus and keep watch to make sure no one leaves once we arrive at the inn. If we let the culprit of this prank get away, I'm sure we'll get a huge scolding from that scary blond cop."
"Is that all you need?"
"Yeah. That's important, isn't it?"

Touya's voice was unusually flat. The air between the two of them vibrated with a tension like a taut string. Ever since the spider incident, Touya had been acting strange. He lacked his usual frivolous atmosphere, which was typically devoid of tension. Shuji wondered for a moment if he was acting this way because of the accident, feeling that he had to support the ceremony himself. However, when he looked into his pupils, which were dilated and deep enough to be swallowed by, a sense of unease began to well up from deep within his body.

He wanted to talk to Akari about Touya as well, but Akari was just sitting on the lobby sofa, looking down, hugging her own shoulders and trembling.

Eventually, the bus arrived. Supporting Akari's back as she trembled, he boarded the bus. Outside the window, the sky was already completely overcast.

Did Belle really want us to come to this village? Did she want to say goodbye to the people here, including Shuji, at the very end?

Like a rotted old tree, the roots were swaying unsteadily. In this unstable space where he didn't know when it might collapse, Shuji clung to the memory of Belle's voice from his dream. At the same time, he prayed.

＿＿＿＿Please, I beg of you, let nothing else happen here, in this place where we are mourning Belle.

＊

The time was 3:20 PM. It is rare to hold a post-funeral meal, a shojin-otoshi, at such an awkward time. As originally planned, the attendees were gathered at the best inn in this Ooya village. The air was filled with a strange stagnation, to the point where the word "as planned" sounded ironic.

Immediately upon arriving at the inn, female employees in their 40s to 60s guided them to the large hall. Because of the unexpected situation, some people pressed them, saying, "I want to go home" or "What is going on?" But in the end, because the women meekly said, "These are the police's instructions. We will be scolded by the police if we don't...", everyone reluctantly decided to have the shojin-otoshi, which was already past its scheduled time, in the large hall.

『＿＿＿＿Now then, let us offer a toast.』

There was no voice for the toast, and everyone remained quiet. He took a sip of the oolong tea for the toast. Even though he didn't have a cavity, the coldness stung his teeth strangely.

Before long, as people began to eat here and there, a buzz of conversation gradually began to emerge in the room. Perhaps because the food was luxurious, the participants gradually relaxed their tension and began to enjoy the meal.

Akari, sitting next to him, was also picking at the glossy simmered beans and putting them into her mouth.

"Akari. Here, have some of your favorite yuba."
"...Hehe, sorry, I'm making you worry."
"It's fine. Don't look so gloomy. We were able to meet after such a long time, so please smile beautifully like you always do."
"Beautiful, huh. Thanks, Shu-kun. I think I feel a little better after eating."
"I'm glad. I'm a kind guy, so if you'll just go out for a drink with me sometime to pay me back, we'll call it even."
"Oh, really? Then I'll treat you to dinner at an exceptionally nice hotel."

It was the first time in several hours that I had seen Akari smile.

Still, looking at it again, all the food was delicious. Soba, sashimi, roast beef, simmered local chicken, tempura, and chawanmushi, which was Shuji's favorite. The soba, beef, and local chicken were likely made from famous brands in this Ibaraki region.

“Ah, I wish I could have let Toya eat this too.”
“Let's come back and eat again. Maybe on a trip or something next time.”
“Yeah, let's.”

I almost said that I actually wanted to let Belle eat it too, but I stopped myself just in time. Akari had finally shown a smile, and I didn't want to do anything that would make her remember again.

In the end, Belle's body could not be found anywhere in the ceremony hall. There was no cremation, not even a funeral procession, and the coffin remained in that hall even now.

Shuji had things he wanted to tell Toya, Mizunosuke, and especially Ashida once they met up.

Inside the coffin, which I had seen at that time. There, for a moment, I saw threads buried among the beautiful flowers—pure white threads. The threads moved smoothly like a living thing, drawing a circle. When I thought, 'Huh?' and reached out my finger, Ashida shouted at me, 'Don't touch it! It's dangerous!'

That thread—it felt strange somehow. More than anything, it was Ashida's word 'dangerous.' If he had said not to touch the coffin because it was sacrilegious, I would understand. But what on earth was dangerous about it? Could it be that Ashida knows something about those threads?

Shuji was dense, but he wasn't stupid. He was vaguely realizing it. In this village, in this funeral, something unpleasant was being hidden. And even if I didn't want to believe it, there must be some secret regarding Belle as well.

I picked up a piece of translucent sea bream with my chopsticks. Unconsciously, I had been putting strength into my fingers.

The place was becoming lively with noise. Everyone had left their seats and was chatting. With the alcohol flowing, the tense atmosphere from earlier had vanished, and the liveliness surged even more.

Amidst the noise, there was a sound like wood snapping—*crack!* It came from Akari, who was sitting next to me. I started to ask what was wrong, but my body froze.

The chopsticks in Akari's hand were snapped in two. It was hard to believe that she had gripped them and broken them, but it looked like nothing else. Although Shuji didn't want to believe it, he swallowed hard at the sight of the shattered red wood fragments, which were clear evidence that she had crushed them with her grip.

“What's wrong? Your hand is bleeding. Oh, were the chopsticks defective or something?”

Even though I tried to say it jokingly, Akari said nothing. Instead, she pointed her finger straight ahead. At the tip of her finger were the four former juniors who had been badmouthing Belle, the girls who had been talking happily with Akari before going to the ceremony hall.

Moving her slender, beautifully extended finger, she then pointed to where a man in his fifties and a man in his sixties were pouring drinks for each other. If I recall correctly, they said they were Belle's former homeroom teacher and the grade head when she was in junior high school.

“Those... people.”
“Those people? What about them?”
“I thought I would keep their bodies. I wanted to drink the blood of someone around that age. But I can't listen to this anymore.”
“...Akari?”

Akari stood up vigorously. A cold flame crawled up Shuji's back. An eerie, boiling, cold-blooded flame. A flame that further stirred up his already anxious feelings.

Her eyes were red. Something was clearly wrong. A sinister presence that made her look like a non-human, grotesque creature pierced his skin. That couldn't be. That shouldn't be possible.

Even though I wanted to believe that was the case.

“...Ah, I hate them, I hate them more than anything. Just because they had some alcohol, they wouldn't stop blathering. Those people who speak ill of 'Bel-chan,' they are no longer needed by 'us.'”

She tilted her head slightly, having suddenly become talkative. Before Shuji could reach out, Akari had dashed off with speed too fast for the eye to follow.

Crash! The tray fell with a deafening sound. Akari was strangling one of Bel's former juniors with her white hands spread as wide as they could go. She was gripping with such force that it seemed she might snap the girl's neck just as easily as she had the chopsticks earlier.

“Aaaaaah!”
“Gack, stop, it, g-g-g-g-g-g-gh!”
“Kasumi-chan! Kasumi-chan!”
“Mikado-san!? Wait, what are you doing!?”

Akari straddled the woman called Kasumi and continued to strangle her. Akari was grinding her teeth tightly, and a streak of dark red blood spilled from her glossy, lipstick-painted lips.

Shuji rushed over, grabbing Akari's shoulders to try and pull her off.

“Akari! Stop it already! What has gotten into you!?”
“These people insulted Bel-chan. Over and over and over again. That’s why I’m killing them.”
“Akari! Calm down!”
“Shut up, don't touch me! You're just bait, you're annoying! Hey! You lot watching too! I'll kill you one by one, so get in line!”

Her arm was shaken off with a sound like a child screaming. Shuji staggered and landed on his backside. The pain in the arm that had been shaken off throbbed throughout his body. Her strength was unnatural.

He didn't want to believe it, he didn't want to believe it, but... this Akari was no longer Akari.

Akari finally let go of the woman and stood up straight, swaying slightly. The woman was coughing, “Cough!”, so it seemed she was still breathing.

Akari's back was straight, and she stood there silently like a guardian statue.

“Why... hey, answer me.”

Akari tilted her head, looking down at him. With vivid red eyes. A chill ran through his entire body. He remembered this sensation. The sleep paralysis on the bus that morning, the time he tried to take a photo of this village. There was no mistake. It was the presence of that red-eyed woman.

Shuji told himself not to look away. He dug his nails into the tatami mat. He must not run, he must not look away. He would not let any more trouble arise at Bel's funeral.

The people around them were all frozen, unable to move. In the silence, Shuji continued to glare at Akari—at the thing wearing Akari's form.

“Hehe, ahahahahahahahahahaha!”

A sinister, jarring laughter echoed. The voice that tore through the silence was Akari's familiar voice, yet it wasn't Akari. It was a strange voice, as if a great deal of madness had been swirled and boiled down into her own.

The thing walked away, swaying unsteadily. Everyone present could do nothing but watch its back as it left.

“Ah, I got hungry after working so hard. This body is heavy and dull, and it makes me tired. I have to get Bel-chan to praise me. Bel-chan, Bel-chan, Bel-chan...”

Muttering deliriously, the thing walked away. Shuji braced his body and took off running. He moved before he could even think, knowing he could not leave this Akari alone.

"Rasa, you did your best..."

That was the last thing she said. Her body slumped and fell to the floor. Her profile, collapsed on the dark brown flooring, was deathly pale. Shuji shook Akari's body with trepidation.

"Akari, hey, Akari? Akari, it's you, right?"

Please, let her be the original Akari—selfish, bright, and flamboyant. He shook her unconscious body while wishing for it.

"I want only you, Shu-kun, to be happy. That's why I'm telling you. This funeral... it doesn't feel right at all."

Even though she, the very person in front of him, had warned him of that, the prediction in Shuji's mind turned into a certainty.

There is something in this village. Something ominous and unfathomable.

*

Only after turning on his smartphone did he realize it was already 8:30 PM. He had been under interrogation by Ashida the whole time, so he hadn't had a moment to touch his phone, and since he wasn't wearing a watch, he hadn't known the time.

Shuji was walking down the hallway of the inn. He was heading to the first floor, to the highest-ranked Japanese-style room in the inn.

"Anyway, get some rest today. I know it's hard for you with your friend in that state, but your priority right now is to rest your body and mind. The rest is our job as the police."

Although he said he was a former police officer, from what he heard, Ashida was also from this village, and he was practically in charge of the scene. Seeing the arriving police officers follow his instructions obediently, he seemed to be quite a veteran.

Akari still hadn't woken up. Mizunosuke and Touya were keeping an eye on her for now. Shuji was worried sick that she might start rampaging again. However, Mizunosuke had said straight to him, "This may have something to do with our village. We will take responsibility for nursing her." So, even though his worries remained, he decided to trust him. Mizunosuke also seemed to still be shaken, but it seemed he had his own thoughts on the matter.

"Tomorrow morning, we will tell you everything. I am well aware that this is not a situation where you can sleep with peace of mind. We villagers will be taking turns staying awake, so please do not hesitate to ask if you need anything."

There was a powerful spirit in Mizunosuke's eyes. If one were to name it, it would perhaps be resolve.

It was when he reached the front of the smoking area where he had talked to Akari during the day. An orange light was glowing dimly in the outdoor smoking space.

"Touya, smoking again?"
"Oh, hey. You can't get through life without smoking, right?"
"Is it really that grand of a topic?"
"Want one, Shuji-san?"
"Sure, for the first time in a while."

He lit it with a lighter. The Mevius he hadn't smoked in a while tasted strangely like paper.

"Did you eat dinner, Touya? The food here is good."
"Ah, I haven't been hungry lately."
"Oh, seriously? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine. If anything, I had a belly from drinking for a while, and I gain weight easily. So, it's kind of lucky, right?"
"Don't push yourself."
"Thanks."

The spring night breeze was still cold, giving him goosebumps. Pushed by the darkness of the night sky that looked like it might rain at any moment, Shuji opened his mouth.

"...Touya, did you know?"
"Know what?"
"That there's something in this village, or rather, something is here, that kind of thing."

Toya let out a soft, scoffing laugh.

Even if you knew, you wouldn't say, would you? Because if you had known it would turn out like this, would you have come? Here.
I would have come.

Shuji and Toya's eyes met. Shuji's gaze was painfully intense as he stared at Toya.

If it were for Belle, I would come. Even now, she is the only girl I love most.

Back in college, words he was too embarrassed to say to her face drifted into the darkness. Even though the person he wanted to tell those words to most was no longer in this world.

Shuji crushed his cigarette, which still had plenty left, into the silver ashtray with a squelch.

Tell me first. What is in this village?
Shuji-san, you're tired.

It was a flimsy, superficial attempt at a cover-up. For once, Toya was bad at lying tonight. Shuji clenched his fist and furrowed his brow.

Answer me seriously. When Akari was rampaging earlier, she said, 'Lasa, you did your best.'

Toya's fingers, gripping his cigarette, stiffened so hard that even Shuji could tell.

In Shuji's memory, the word 'Lasa' had a faint ring to it. Back in his junior year of college, tarot and palm reading were popular, and he had heard about it from a friend who was into that sort of thing.

......They say there's a shrine to a god named 'Lasa-sama' that wipes away bad connections and bad luck.

Lasa is the name of the god at that shrine that used to be in the alley in Mito, right? I remember Belle saying she had been there too. Could it be that this god has something to do with this village and Belle?

This time, it was Toya who put his shortened cigarette into the ashtray and crushed it. With a cigarette-scented sigh, Toya looked down.

I told you before. Even if I knew, I wouldn't say. I won't say anything, and I can't. Please ask Jirouta-san and the others tomorrow.
I'm being serious.
Haha, please stop. This has nothing to do with you, Shuji-san.
You've been acting strange since that spider incident. I want to help, not just for Belle's sake, but for Akari's and yours too.

Toya remained looking down, saying nothing. His pink hair swayed listlessly in the wind.

I'm with you too, so...
...Shut up.

It was a low voice that seemed to crawl along the ground. Toya slowly raised his head. He raked his hair back messily and laughed mockingly.

Oh, man! I had decided not to say a word until I died!

Toya took a step forward. With veins bulging in his arms, he grabbed Shuji by the collar.

I really hate that about you. You think that if you want to know something, you'll be told, and you think that because you like someone, they must like you back. You're not just dense, you're selfish.

Toya's grip on his arm tightened.

“Let me ask you this instead: what if Lord Rasa is involved? Or rather, why are you so obsessed with Belle—I mean, Belle-chan? Don't you think it's strange? If you really loved each other, why didn't you have a single word of contact before she died? In this age of smartphones, no less?”
“That is...”
“Do you really think the only reason she disappeared without a word was to take care of her mother? Where does your confidence come from that you were Belle-chan's number one, and she was yours?”

He couldn't say anything. It felt as if his deepest, most unconscious secrets were being punched with bare fists.

Toya gently released his collar. Then, he grabbed the front of his own shirt, clutching it as if he were crushing his own heart.

“If it were me, this wouldn't have happened. If I were you. If I were Belle-chan's boyfriend. I can't count how many times I've thought about how things would be different if I had entered university a year earlier, or if I had confessed to Belle-chan first.”

Shuji let out a surprised, “No way.” After all, Toya had always supported them as a couple.

“You said Belle was just a childhood friend, like an older sister.”
“Ugh, so annoying. I really hate that about you. You have no idea how blessed you are. Being Belle-chan's number one, even for a moment, was a happiness you didn't deserve.”

Shuji couldn't respond to the barrage of words flowing out.

Toya scratched his head and glared at Shuji. It was a gaze filled with pure hatred.

“After she disappeared, why didn't you search for Belle-chan like your life depended on it?”
“Toya, you heard it too. The message from the university office saying she didn't want to be looked for.”
“I searched for her. Literally, like my life depended on it.”

Shuji bit his lip.

Shuji had wanted to search for her too, in truth. Regardless of what the university said. But he couldn't. He didn't want to think that her disappearance might actually be his fault.

“...We were in the middle of a fight. It was my fault, one-sidedly.”

The real reason he had locked away in the depths of his heart. He spoke it as if squeezing it out. He hadn't been able to tell anyone. He felt that if he said it, he would be blamed for her dropping out and losing contact.

A light, out-of-place sound echoed in the space. It seemed to have started raining, as large drops began to pour onto the roof.

Silence followed. In the quiet, it gradually turned into a downpour.

“Chocolate.”

Shuji gasped sharply. Sweat beaded on his forehead at the mention of a snack word even a child would understand.

“You threw away Belle-chan's homemade chocolate and bad-mouthed her at university, didn't you? Didn't you?”

Toya poked his index finger into Shuji's chest. Precisely where his heart was.

No. No, no, no. That's not it. Voiceless excuses keep ringing in my head.

"Without even knowing that was the trigger. You traitor."

Continued

Episode 5