We finally pulled into the old bus stop, the tires hissing against the gravel as the driver called out, "We have reached our destination."
I stepped off the bus last, slinging my black-and-white cardigan tighter around me even though Kinugawa's early afternoon wasn't cold. Zhong bounced out ahead, grinning like a kid on a school trip. "Wow, the air smells new!" he said, spinning in place as he took in the surroundings.
Kinugawa spread out before us — a small, rustic town with low traditional inns, narrow streets, and distant mountains cradling it on all sides. There was a thin mist hanging above the rooftops, and beyond, the trees were dense with late summer green.
"Calm down," I muttered, stepping beside him. "It's just a place."
"Just a place?" Shizu cut in, her short golden hair with its streaks of purple catching the sunlight as she puffed out her cheeks dramatically. "Just a place?! This is hot spring heaven!" She raised her arms high as if calling on the spirits of the baths themselves.
A few locals at the bus stop turned to stare. Some whispered, their gazes flicking mostly to me and Shizu. I could hear faint murmurs — "Are they celebrities?" "Look at her hair…" The boys' and girls' eyes sparkled like they'd spotted idols.
Zhong noticed too. "Aren't those guys staring at us too much?"
"Forget them," I said, gripping his arm before he could wave back. "We should focus on finding the chief. The sooner we meet him, the sooner we can start." I swept my eyes over the area — small shops, an old vending machine buzzing softly, a narrow road winding up toward the hills.
"Already on it!" Shizu declared, pulling out her phone and scrolling through her contacts.
"So… she knows the chief?" Zhong asked, watching her curiously.
I shrugged, slipping my hands into the pockets of my cardigan. "Yeah, I guess. She's been part of the Company her whole life."
Zhong gave me a side glance, puffing his cheeks a little. "And you guys just didn't think to tell me anything about your past, huh?"
I sighed, raking a hand through my hair. "Didn't I tell you my story back at home?"
"You did… I guess," he muttered, looking away. "Maybe I forgot."
"Nothing to be embarrassed about," I said, chuckling faintly. "It's not like I care."
We both turned to check on Shizu. She had just slipped her phone back into her pocket and was striding toward us.
"What were you guys talking about?" she asked suspiciously, narrowing her eyes. "Don't tell me you were fantasizing about me. Noooo, perverts!" She waved her hands dramatically, the kind of over-the-top gesture only she could pull off.
Zhong and I both gave her a blank look.
"You sure you're not sick from the bus ride?" Zhong asked, placing a hand on her shoulder with genuine concern.
That made me snort, and soon we were both laughing, much to Shizu's frustration.
"Shut up! I was just joking!" she snapped, face turning bright red as she clenched her fists.
"Alright, alright," I said, wiping a tear from my eye. "What did the chief say?"
"He'll be here soon," she said. She lifted her head just as an old black Benz pulled up beside the bus stop. The paint gleamed like it had just been waxed, despite its age.
"Perfect timing!" Shizu beamed, grabbing her luggage. "Our ride's here."
Zhong and I exchanged a glance before hauling our bags over.
The driver was a man in his early sixties, hair more salt than pepper, dressed in simple blue shirt and brown slacks. As soon as he stepped out, he scooped Shizu up in a warm, fatherly hug.
"This is Benimaru Toka," Shizu introduced him with a smile. "But I call him Benny. He's like an uncle to me. He used to take care of me whenever my parents were away on missions or when the Tokyo mansion was too empty."
We greeted him respectfully before piling into the car. As we drove through the winding streets, I watched the town pass by — small shops selling souvenirs, families strolling near the river, the faint outline of mountains against the cloudy sky.
"Here are the pictures from the police," Benny said, handing a thick envelope to Shizu in the front seat. "They scanned the area after the last incident."
Shizu flipped through them, her smile vanishing. "Damn…" she muttered, pressing a hand to her mouth.
She passed the photos back to me.
I studied each image carefully. Women. Children. Even some men. Pale faces, frozen expressions, limbs twisted unnaturally. All drained of blood. Some missing organs.
"This is definitely the work of a heretic," Shizu said softly.
Zhong leaned over, face darkening as he looked at the photos in my lap. "Why would anyone do this to their own people…?" His voice trembled slightly.
Benny gripped the steering wheel tighter, eyes glistening. "Hinako, who just gave birth not too long ago, was one of the victims. Her and her baby… both gone." His head dropped, shoulders shaking. "I should've called you sooner, Shizu. I thought it was just some normal killer who slipped into town. I didn't want to trouble you — especially after what happened to the Izana…" His voice broke, but he quickly wiped his eyes and forced himself to focus on the road.
"Let's go to the hot spring first!" Shizu suddenly chirped, trying to lighten the air. "Now that we're here, that killer's days are numbered. Right, Benny?"
He managed a small smile.
"Of course," Zhong agreed, his earlier sadness melting into determination.
"We'll do our best," I added, feeling the weight of the photos in my lap.
"Alright then," Benny said, his voice steadier now. "We'll head to the bathhouse first. It's a family business, not far from my place."
We passed under a large wooden sign that read Kinugawa Bathhouse, its old lettering freshly painted. But as soon as we approached, the road became choked with people.
A sea of worried faces filled the entrance. Police had set up barriers, pushing back the curious crowd. Bright yellow tape blocked the doors. Red and blue lights from an ambulance spun relentlessly, casting long streaks across the stone walls.
Shizu, Zhong, and I exchanged a grim look.
Without a word, we knew — another victim.
The hot spring steam curling gently into the afternoon sky was no longer comforting. It was a warning.
And we were already too late.