We are the chick. The world is our egg. Let's play Kara no Shoujo.

That's a really good point. (Also, I really like your new icon.)

(So, if we choose not to chase after Toko...)



(... we STILL switch viewpoints!)



(same as before)



(... but this is new. Logic? Um... maybe last time she saw Reiji behind her and that made her flee home instead of wandering randomly?)







(fade to black)

(Back to Reiji, who without being distracted by Toko2 is off investigating something.)

Reiji: "So this is where Toko..."

It really was right in front of the academy. They've already cleaned up the scene, but the tire marks remain on the road's surface.

I suppose they've sprayed down the pavement to wash away the bloodstains. Despite their efforts, I can still make out a few darker patches.

Reiji: "Vice-Principal Saeki -- Shall we go?"



Reiji: "There's a possibility that Kuchiki-san's medicine has been hidden somewhere. Since school ended yesterday, has there been anything out-of-place anywhere on campus?"

Saeki: "No... Not to my knowledge."

Reiji: "I see. Then ----"



Here goes... I'm sure that Toko's medicine is here somewhere, but where should I start searching?



(Of course, we saw Toko2 throw it out, so...)

I use break time to go to the classroom.



Yukari is there, and comes over when I arrive.

Reiji: "Just looking for something. Hey Yukari, have you seen a syringe-looking thing around here?"

Yukari: "A syringe? No, I haven't."

Reiji: "I see. ... Let me look around a bit, then."

I go to Toko's seat and take a peek inside her desk. It's empty. There's no medicine in here.

... Well, if it were here, Toko probably would have noticed. How about another place...

Looking around, I see a wastebasket in the corner. What about here?

(Aha! That's - )

There's nothing inside but a few scraps of paper.

( - wait, what?)

Looks like I picked the wrong place... I've no choice but to search elsewhere.

(And we get the choices again. However:)



(If you go here first, she won't have taken out the trash yet. This is just to make you experience Reiji running around cluelessly, I guess.)



Reiji: "Hey... What're you up to?"

Ayumu: "I'm going to throw out the trash."

Ayumu holds up the wastebasket.



Reiji: "Yesterday ---? It gets thrown out daily, then?"

Ayumu: "Yeah, but why do you ask?"

Ayumu tilts her head in puzzlement.

Reiji: "Where's the trash that got thrown out yesterday?"

Ayumu: "Inside the incinerator, just ahead."

Reiji: "Could you take me over there?"

Ayumu: "I don't mind, but..."

Together, we head to the incinerator.



Reiji: "Thanks."

I open the lid to the incinerator and take a peek inside. There's trash piled up.

I pick up a nearby shovel, push it inside, and scrape out the garbage.

Ayumu: "Sensei...?"

Ayumu's watching with a perplexed look on her face.

Reiji: "I'm looking for something... Wait, what the heck are these?"

I have a momentary shock when I glimpse something white, stained with crimson, but it's only sanitary pads.



Ayumu looks at me, aghast.

Reiji: "...Look, these aren't what I'm after, okay?"

Ayumu: "...I'll just have to take you at your word."

I continue rummaging, paying no heed to her cold glance. At last, deep within, I find a cylindrical object.

Reiji: "So this is where you've been hiding..."

It's quite grimy by this point, but this is probably the syringe that Toko used to inject her medicine. I also find the ampoule with her medicine inside it.



Ayumu: "Did you find it?"

Reiji: "Yeah, thanks. Sorry for making you keep me company."

Ayumu: "It's fine."

As she says that, Ayumu dumps the contents of her wastebasket into the incinerator.

Ayumu: "I was just waiting so I could throw away the trash."

Reiji: "Err... Sorry about that."

Ayumu: "Hehe... Give it your best, Tokisaka-sensei."

Ayumu encourages me with a smile.

...And now the logic is lost on me again. So chasing after her stops her from going on a random bus to a random stop?

Like I said, the best I can come up with is that she saw Reiji following her and it altered her trajectory, but otherwise, nope, I got nothing.

Um... the same sort of psychic powers that causes dating sim characters to know that you chose to think about them when they weren't there could also have affected her?

I wonder if Natsume-san's in----



Reiji: "Natsume-san, could I have you take a look at this?"

I take the syringe out of my pocket.

Natsume: "Wow, it's pretty filthy. What do you want with it?"

Reiji: "I'd like you to please check the fingerprints on the syringe, and also the ingredients of the medicine, if possible."



Reiji: "Apparently, it's for anemia."

Natsume: "Anemia, huh... It'll probably be iron and vitamins. It's better to get red blood cells and the like from transfusion."

She continues muttering, holding the ampoule up to the light.



Reiji: "There's no need to rush... But can you get it done by tomorrow?"

Natsume: "Wouldn't you call that rushing?"

Reiji: "Not at all... Please, I'm counting on you."

Natsume: "Ahh, fine. I'll do it."

///



Yukari: "Welcome back, Nii-san."

Reiji: "Thanks... It's good to be back."



Reiji: "...You can say that again."

I slump into one of the chairs. Once I'm seated, I don't feel like moving anymore. I close my eyes and press my fingers against my eyelids.

Reiji: "Phew..."

Toko ----

Why did this have to happen to her?

All I can do now is pray for her recovery.



(where are we this time?)



(Probably not Toko2)



Dr. K: "... It's unavoidable. Murase-kun, prepare for surgery immediately."

Murase: "Understood."

Dr. K: "..I am a physician. A doctor must do everything in his power to save the life of his patient..."

(fade to black)



(... uh-oh.)

oh joy

I can't tell if this is going to be Kuchiki's surgery or Mizuhara getting murdered or something else entirely.

I lay her down on the bed and strip off her white uniform. Her slender, white limbs lay exposed.

She looks a bit too thin without her clothes on.


But on second thought, this may be just what I need.





Blood spurts forth in greater quantities.



She's opened her eyes.


They're focused right on me.


She probably has no idea what's going on.

And that seems like a good spot to leave it for the night.

No matter which way you go, Mizuhara does not come to a good end.

But who killed her?

And of course Toko2 would just so happen to get off the bus at the killer's house.

so i was rereading the thread

and then i saw this

i see what you did there

you are evil

Toko 2 was a creepy yandere psycho, but she didn't deserve that. Sheesh.

Really, yeah. ;

It just occurred to me, but maybe Mizuhara knew the killer too/was familiar with them in some way? Got to say that if I was somewhere I didn't know and someone appeared out of nowhere and invited me into their house (as much as she said that it didn't look like a normal home), I'd be tempted to run away rather than take them up on their offer. :'D Maybe that's just me, though.

EDIT: And it sounds like Toko isn't doing too well, either. Why do things keep getting worse.

EDIT2: Also, Shimo-Ochiai is in... Shinjuku ward, near Mejiro? So around the red blot, I think. (I can't read maps. At all).

(back to Reiji)



It feels like every time I get up, I learn that another of my acquaintances has died.

(And it's not going to get any better today, kid.)

I want to put an end to this mad cycle.

For today, I'll go check on Toko's condition, then go over to Natsume-san's to get her report on the stuff I entrusted to her yesterday...



Even though it's early in the morning, the front door is open.



Fumiya is sitting down on one of the benches. He looks exhausted.

Reiji: "Did you stay here overnight?"



Reiji: "How's her status? What exactly happened?"

Fumiya: "I wasn't even told the details."

Fumiya hangs his head.



Chizuru emerges from a hospital room nearby. She was probably resting inside. She doesn't look like she's fared any better than her brother.

Chizuru: "...Thank you for taking the time to come all the way over here."

Reiji: "Not at all. I was worried about her as well."

Chizuru: "I see..."

Chizuru takes a seat. Even that small action looks like it's all she can manage.



Reiji: "...There aren't any parents around that completely understand their children."

Chizuru: "---No, that's not what I mean. I... I didn't know anything about her sickness."

(The relationship between Chizuru and Toko is extremely confusing, especially given different cultural contexts. From what I know, my best understanding is that Chizuru feels at heart that Toko is a guest in her home. This means she has a host's obligation to take care of Toko, but she also, like a good host, does not pry into her affairs. So she can't talk to Toko about her problems, either emotional or physical. It would feel horribly rude to her.)

Reiji: "Sickness... You mean the anemia?"

I look at Fumiya.



(Wikipedia link )

Reiji: "That's different from normal anemia?"

Fumiya; "Yeah... Her bone marrow produces a smaller number of blood cells."



(Wikipedia link - real blood type, ridiculously rare.)

Reiji: "...So that means... She didn't get a blood transfusion during her surgery after the accident...?"

Fumiya; "We have blood stored up from when she was healthy... However, that only began after we learned of her blood type."

Fumiya shakes his head.

Fumiya: "...Only four years have passed since the Bombay type was discovered."

Reiji: "That's..."



Reiji: "... I see. But... Why didn't you tell Chizuru-san something so important?"

This has me curious.



(This, on the other hand, doesn't entirely make sense, given that Toko only recently found out she was adopted, and she's known she was ill for a lot longer. I stand by my earlier description - Chizuru has put distance between herself and Toko by treating her as an honored guest rather than a daughter. Toko recognises that distance and doesn't try to cross it. So Chizuru never asked and Toko never told her.)

Reiji: "...I don't know whether that's a good thing or not, but you've overcome that. I think you can call yourself a family in truth."

Fumiya: "...I suppose you're right."

Fumiya lets his head hang low. Chizuru also looks downward, saying nothing.

Reiji: "...If you'll excuse me, I'll be going now. Both of you should make sure to get some proper rest."

I exit the hospital, leaving them with those final words.

(Man, Reiji, don't say 'final words' in a game like this, it'll make people nervous!)

When I head outside, I stumble across Dr. Saito as he's getting out of his car.

Reiji: "----Nice wheels you've got there, Dr. Saito."



Doctors. It figures. He drives a car that would be impossible for me to even make the down payment on.

Saito: "But enough about that... Things have gotten rather serious, yes?"

Reiji: "Yeah... I won't have time to rest for the next few days."


Reiji: "If it's methamphetamines you're talking about, then I'll pass."



Reiji: "Well, if you've got sleeping pills, I'd say the Kuchiki family is in greater need than me right now."

They probably can't sleep at all.



Saito starts walking toward the entryway.

Saito: "---Of course, we'll be needing your assistance as well when the time comes, so we'd be grateful if you gave it your best."

Reiji: "Okay -- I got it."

Saito: "Then I'll see you later."

Saito goes inside the hospital.

My assistance, huh? I'm just doing whatever I can at the moment.

Roughly correct, yeah. The updated in-game map shows the weird house actually on the blue line going up (above Takashiro hospital) but close enough.

Ah, okay! Thanks for the clarification. (Again, my ability to read maps- particularly Google maps- is terrible, haha).

As I'm walking before the station, a Crown Victoria patrol car pulls up right in front of me.

Uozumi: "Reiji!!"

Reiji: "What's wrong, Uozumi?"

Uozumi has a grim look on his face as he gets out of the car.



Reiji: "Again...?"

And then I realize what he's saying. Another murder.

Reiji: "Is it the same as before --- Like Tsuzuriko's?"

Uozumi: "...Yeah, about the same as Yosomiya Tsuzuriko."

Reiji: 'About' the same? What do you mean?"

People are staring, so we're both being deliberately vague.



Reiji: "----Yeah."

Giving him a nod, I get into the back seat. The car takes off in a westerly direction.



(and for helpful reference, here's where we now are on the map)



The streets are narrow around here; it's hard to pass other vehicles. Uozumi parks in a vacant lot, and we set off down the road.



Reiji: "...Four separate parts?"

Uozumi: "Yeah. Each one was stuck in a black bag. There's no doubt that they threw them out of the window of a car."

Reiji: "So our killer has a car, eh..."

This supports my theory regarding Tsuzuriko's murder.



Reiji: "Yeah... Who's the victim?"

Uozumi: "We don't know yet. They were delivered to Takadanobaba right before I picked you up."

Natsume-san's place, eh?

I crouch down and take a long, hard look at the road. The surface is bathed in sunlight.

The crime scene analysis is probably already finished. I don't even need to ask - they've turned up nothing. If they had, then Uozumi would have said so. If they were thrown from a moving automobile, eyewitness testimony is probably all we'll have to go on ----

Reiji: "Last night... Were there reports of any cars parked around where the parts were tossed?"

Uozumi: "Apparently not. The roads are narrow in this area, so people drive slowly. If someone had stopped, it would have stood out, right?"

Reiji: "...So that means they were dumped while the car was still moving... Hey Uozumi, where were the pieces found?"

I point to the sides of the road.



Uozumi indicates the right side.

Uozumi: "Why do you ask?"

Reiji: "We probably don't know which way they fled... But if the killer was working alone, he'd have to toss the limbs while driving."

Uozumi: "Yeah, assuming he didn't stop."

Reiji: "If that's the case, would he be able to toss them out the passenger window?"



Reiji: "Yeah, you're right. If the road were wide, then dropping something out the driver's side would cause it to land in the center of the road. But with a road this narrow, they could fall on the right side of the road in the direction they were headed."

Uozumi: "So in essence, you're saying that they were driving toward Shinjuku?"

Uozumi points to the road ahead.

Reiji: "...Well, not necessarily."

Uozumi: "Hmm? What else?"

I continue my explanation with a wry smile.

Reiji: "Right now we're assuming there is only one killer. If there's an accomplice riding in the passenger seat, then that changes the story completely."

Uozumi: "I get it. If a passenger tossed them, then it'd be easy to throw them over to the shoulder..."

Reiji: "And then their direction of travel would be to the left ---- Which means they were driving toward Shakujii."



Reiji: "Well, we can't change the facts."

I stand up.

Reiji: "I'm heading over to Ouba Girls Academy for a moment. I want to deliver a report about Toko's condition, so give me a lift."

Uozumi: "Why do I have to ----"

Reiji: "Natsume-san will need time for her analysis, right? It's not like I'm asking you to just wait there for me or anything."

Uozumi: "...I'm a public servant, not a goddamn taxi service!"

Reiji: "Thanks for the ride, Uozumi."

Uozumi: "Just shut up and go inside already!"

Uozumi growls at me and zooms off.

Reiji: "Sheesh ----"

I have a feeling that if we don't screw around with each other like this once in a while, the mental fatigue will start to overwhelm us.

///

Reiji: "Vice-Principal Saeki ---"

I greet Saeki upon entering the faculty room.



Reiji: "I just went to check up on Kuchiki-san's condition. It seems that she was deteriorating, so they had to perform a second surgery."

Saeki: "I see... I hope she gets better..."

Reiji: "... Also, this hasn't been publicized yet, but another corpse was just discovered. THey think it's related to Tsuzuriko---- to Yosomiya-san's case."



Saeki bows his head, making the sign of the cross.

Reiji: "It may be a while before I can come back here."

Saeki: "...Yes, I fully understand. Do all you can to bring an end to this."

He bows deeply to me.

After leaving the faculty room, I bump into Yukari in the hallway.

Reiji: "What's up, Yukari?"



Reiji: "Nah, I just had Uozumi bring me over here."

I decide to keep the latest victim a secret. She has enough on her mind.



Reiji: "Eh---?"

Mizuhara Toko hasn't come to school?

Reiji: "They haven't called her home?"

Yukari: "...I don't believe so, no."

My sister shakes her head.

Reiji: "...I see."

The Mizuhara residence is in Shakujii. It's also close to the crime scene.

Could she have ----



Reiji: "Yukari... Could you get me one of her personal belongings?"

Yukari: "Nii-san... Don't tell me --"

Yukari gasps.

Reiji: "... We found another one this morning. They still don't know her identity."

Yukari: "Oh my God..."

Reiji: "...We still don't know anything."

Yukari: "..If we go over to the club room, we can probably find some of Mizuhara-san's art supplies."

Yukari takes my hand in hers and starts walking.

We enter the art room, and Yukari brings over some of the supplies.



Reiji: "Okay ---- "



Yukari: "Nii-san..."

Reiji: "...I wish I could put an end to your worries, but..."

I need to go over to Natsume-san's place and check.

Reiji: "Yukari, you should get back to class."

Yukari: "Okay..."

Yukari leaves the art room with her eyes downcast.

All right... The first order of business is getting these fingerprints analyzed at Natsume-san's. After that, I'll probably have to head over to the Mizuhara residence ----

(pausing for now)

so i did some more rereading

you really are evil

Reiji: "Natsume-san----"



Natsume-san is using the examination room table for lunch, slurping up some Chinese noodles.

(how can she eat off that ew)

Reiji: "...Are you already done?"

Natsume: "Yep, all finished. It was just two arms and two legs, so it didn't take that long."

Reiji: "And the result is...?"



Natsume-san flips through her report.

Natsume: "The estimated time of death is last night, midnight of April 11th. Just like the previous victim, they were severed using a serrated implement while she was still alive."

Reiji: "Did you figure out her identity?"

Natsume: "I've got fingerprints, but they haven't turned up on the list of missing persons yet."

Reiji: "Then... Please compare them with the prints on this."

I hold out the pencil I collected from Mizuhara's supplies.



Reiji: "...It belongs to a student from Ouba Academy. She lives near the crime scene, and they still haven't confirmed her whereabouts as of today."

Natsume: "I see. ...I guess I'd better have a look."

Natsume-san gulps down the last of her broth and stands.



Reiji: "Sure."

She moves to her work desk.

Natsume: "If there're enough prints on here, then using powder should be fine, right..."

Muttering under her breath to nobody in particular, she gets right to work.

Reiji: "Natsume-san, I'm borrowing your telephone."

Natsume: "Sure thing."

I should do whatever I can while we're waiting. I pick up the receiver and call Ouba Girls Academy.

Saeki: "Hello, you've reached Ouba Girls Academy---"

Reiji: "Vice-Principal Saeki? It's Tokisaka."

Saeki: "Is something the matter?"

Reiji: "I'd like you to tell me Mizuhara Toko-san's home phone number."

Saeki: "Mizuhara-san... Now that you mention it, I got a report that she was absent today."

Reiji: "Have you called her to check?"

Saeki: "No, as far as I know, nobody has, but... Please hold on a moment."

I hear the sound of shuffling papers on the other end of the line.

Saeki: "Thanks for waiting. Her number is - "

I write down the number Saeki tells me.

Saeki: "According to her homeroom teacher, we haven't contacted her yet."

Reiji: "I see. ... Then I'll give them a call. I'm sorry for troubling you. Bye."

I put down the receiver, and then immediately pick it up again and dial the number I was just given.

The phone rings...

... And rings, and rings some more. It doesn't look like anyone's going to pick up.

Are they out ---?

Finally giving up and putting the phone back in the cradle, I look up to see Natsume-san watching me.



Reiji: "...I see."

Looking at her expression, I can already guess the result.

Reiji: "...Is it a match?"

Natsume: "Yeah. They're a perfect match with the fingerprint off the index finger on the right hand."

Reiji: "...The corpse belongs to Mizuhara Toko, a student of Ouba Girls Academy. Please write that in your report. Contact the police while you're at it."



Reiji: "...I'm going to go to Mizuhara-san's house and tell them the news."

Natsume: "I see. I don't envy you one bit..."

Reiji: "...Somebody's gotta do it."

There was no answer when I called, but...

I knock on the door.

Reiji: "Mizuhara-san, it's Tokisaka, from Ouba Girls Academy."

I raise my voice to be heard inside.

I wait a little while before hearing a noise from within. The door opens a crack.



Reiji: "Mizuhara-san, I've come to talk about Toko-san."

Mio: "Toko...?"

Reiji: "...I'm sorry, but could we talk inside?"

Mio: "S-sure..."

I slip through the open door.



Reiji: "Don't mention it... I called earlier - were you out then?"

Mio: "Well, umm---"

Mio doesn't meet my gaze. I guess she was just pretending to be out. But I'm not here to chew her out about that.



Reiji: "...What has Toko-san been up to today?"

Mio: "Eh--?"

Mio looks behind her. That's probably Toko's room.



Reiji: "...So you don't know?"

Mio: "Y-yeah... I haven't seen her today..."

Reiji: "When did you last see her?"

Mio: "...Yesterday, I think... That's right, she said that she was going to visit Kuchiki-san."

Reiji: "And you haven't seen her since...?"

Mio: "No... I was out myself, so..."

Reiji: "...I see."

This isn't the time to comment on her parenting skills.

Mio: "Uh, umm... Has Toko done something...?"

Reiji: "...This morning, four human limbs were discovered on the side of Waseda Road, near Shimo-Igusa; it's not far from here. The fingerprints were a perfect match with your daughter's."

(He's great at breaking news like this, isn't he?)



She looks right at me, caught off-guard.

Mio: "Umm... What are you trying to say---"

(music cuts off)

Reiji: "...I regret to say that Toko-san has most likely been murdered, and that her limbs were the ones found by the road."



Mio collapses on top of the table.

Mio: "Th... That can't be... That's not..."

Reiji: "Mizuhara-san... I'm sorry, but could I take a look at Toko-san's room? I might be able to... Find some clues."

Mio: (crying) "... ye... yes..."

Mio nods, moaning piteously. I don't know if she's fully aware of what I asked her, but we're running out of time.

I have to find something. Anything.



Well... I wonder if I'll find anything...



(Investigation time - Warning. This scene is a TRAP. There is a lot of interesting information about Toko available in here, including several items that will, if selected, automatically end the search. Naturally, that can be fatal.

If you know exactly what you're looking for, this is not difficult. If you're not paying attention, you will slip up here.

This is slightly difficult to get across via Let's Play unless I want to have you vote on every individual location to click on in turn (and that would be dull) so we'll try it like this: What item, items, or information do you think Reiji should be trying to discover here?

Argue amongst yourselves until tomorrow and I'll distill your eventual result into a course of action. Otherwise we're DOOMED.)

She kept a stolen magazine behind her bookcase, IIRC.

Ah damnit. Now I'm going to have to rewatch all the Mizuhara scenes, aren't I...

Yeah, I agree, let's try to find the stolen magazine. I really want to know who the person in the photo in that magazine is. The game hinted at the possibility of an accomplice, which I strongly think is Toko2's mom, and that would naturally make the man Toko2's mom has been meeting up with the killer, and Toko2 tentatively identified that guy as the person her mom was meeting up with.

So mainly, I want to look at her bookshelf and her desk-bookshelf.

Ohh, smart, Tsukasa Buddha! Yeah, she had that magazine her mother was reading with "The Shell of Sheol" and a man's photograph in it. He could be a lead.

In general, I'd like to know about people who might have been familiar to her (and maybe Tsukiko as well), but I'm not sure of the best way to go about it. Any chance the photos on top of the bookshelf could be useful?

I agree with Haniel- I'd like to try to find the stolen magazine and the photo, as it's seeming increasingly likely that Mizuhara's mother is the accomplice in all this. So finding the magazine/photo will probably provide some clues there. The bookshelf and the desk-bookshelf seem like they'd be good places to search for those, yeah: as Tsukasa Buddha said, the last we saw of the magazine was that she stuffed it behind her bookshelf.

royalmilktea also brings up a good point about the photos maybe offering clues as to who she might have been familiar with, as I'm still wondering about that.

I honestly cannot tell what the photos are besides the left (which has three people, but who the hell are they?) so I'm curious as to that as well. I'd also like to check the wastebasket, her uniform, the book on her desk (the purple one that isn't on her shelf) and the stuff on the walls, but I'm worried those might prematurely end the scene.

(Okay, we have a request to look for photographs. The ones lined up on the top of the bookshelf are not clickable, however:)


I take a look at the books lined up on her desk. There are diaries here. What's inside?

When I open one to take a look, a bunch of photographs fall out.



There're also several sheets of stationery. They appear to be letters from Toko.

I'll hang on to these for the time being ----

(There were also requests to look behind the bookshelf for the magazine. So, clicking on the bookshelf...)

Her bookcase is jammed with paperbacks. "The Wizard of Oz"... "Alice in Wonderland"... The majority are children's literature from overseas. Judging by the creased covers and dogeared pages, she's read them all many times.

(Well, that got us nowhere... but we KNOW the magazine was back there, so let's click on the bookcase AGAIN.)

Reiji: "Hmm---?"

Upon taking a closer look, I see a scuff mark on the tatami below the bookshelf. This is the only spot where the straw is perfectly clean.

Has she moved it?

I take a peek behind the shelf and spot another book, wedged far in the back. I reach in and pull it out.



May 1956. It's new.

It looks to be an art and literature magazine; I recognize a number of the authors listed.

Among the assorted names is Katsuragi Shin. It looks like it contains his short story, "The Shell of Sheol."

Him again?

The story's even been bookmarked. Did Toko read it? What could this mean...

I should hold onto this magazine for the time being.

(So far so good - we've found two clue items and we haven't aborted the search yet... which of course means there's more still to find. We have searched the bookshelf on top of the desk and the main bookshelf (twice). Where else should we look? Order is important so if you list more than one place RANK THEM!)

Hmm... wasn't the photo in the magazine (Reiji didn't seem to comment on it)? Is it possible to look behind the bookshelf again for it, assuming that it fell out or something?

Other than that, think I'd agree with Haniel that the wastebasket, book on her desk, and the stuff on her walls might be interesting (in that order), but I'm most interested in finding out where that photograph is (in case any of those other three end the search).

I agree, we should check the bookshelf again, since the photo should have been where Shell of Sheol was bookmarked but it wasn't.

This.

I take another peek behind the bookshelf.

Reiji: "Hmm...?"

There's a small scrap of paper fallen behind there. What could it be?

I strain to reach it, but it's just barely out of my grasp. I have to shift the bookshelf a little bit before I can pinch the scrap between my fingers.



It's a black and white photograph. But why does she have something like this...?

I doubt it's a supplement to the magazine. I don't see anything written on the cover or inside about it.

Besides, judging by the material, it's an ordinary photograph, not newsprint. When and where was it taken? And furthermore, why is it here?

I'll go ask the man himself...



I didn't find any decisive clues.

(And that automatically ends the search.)

Reiji: "...I guess that's about it."

The magazine with Katsuragi Shin's story, and also his photograph. Why were they hidden there?

When I look over at the living room, Mio's still collapsed upon the table. It doesn't look like I'll be able to question her about her daughter's activities...

Reiji: "Mizuhara-san, these are some of Toko-san's belongings... Would it be okay if I borrowed them for a short period of time?"



Mio doesn't bother to look up.

Reiji: "...I promise I'll return them. Then... If you'll excuse me."



For the time being, I should go have a talk with Katsuragi... I might be able to find something out.

His office was in Nakano, right? I guess I'll take the bus.



After walking a short distance from the station, I arrive at Katsuragi Shin's office. After last month, it's easy enough for me to find, but...

Reiji: "Katsuragi-san, are you there?"

I call out and wait, but nobody answers. I press my ear to the door, but I can't hear anyone inside. Is he out?

If I can't talk to Katsuragi... Now what do I do?

Reiji: "...I'll have Uozumi take a crack at it."

I had Uozumi look into Katsuragi's whereabouts before. Maybe he dug up something else in the process.

Where's the nearest public phone ---- never mind, I'll go directly to the investigative division.



I run into Uozumi just as I'm about to enter the MPD.

Uozumi: "---Reiji? What're you doing over here?"

He gets out of a patrol car parked in front of the building.

Reiji: "I was looking for you."

Uozumi: "Really... Well, let's not stand around and talk. In we go."



Uozumi grouses at me, grinding his cigarette between his teeth.

Reiji: "Yeah... Sorry about that."

Uozumi: "Find anything?"

Reiji: "I don't know if it's relevant, but it looks like Toko was a reader of Katsuragi Shin's stories."



Reiji: "I know. Was there anything that stood out to you when you investigated him last time?"



Reiji: "Real name---!? He was using an alias!?"

(I've got to pause it here, it's too delicious not to. So: Who do you think 'Katsuragi Shin' REALLY is?)

I'm tempted to say he's Toko2's dad, but then again there's the whole possibly-the-killer thing going on.

He seems a bit young to be Toko2's dad, though, doesn't he...? (Then again, maybe he's older than he looks. Toko2's mum certainly might be younger than she looks). Come to think, how old are Toko and Toko2, again?

If he is the killer, then he might have something to do with Shinzo, as the killer may be trying to replicate Kara no Shoujo; then again, there's still a fairly large possibility that Shinzo's the killer, as he's the guy who actually painted it. Then again, the Egg of Neanis does have an egg theme going on (as does the Shell of Sheol, judging by its title), so maybe Katsuragi's still linked to the painting in some way? ;

Toko2's dad? Toko1's dad? Though I'm under the impression Toko1's mom is the model that Mamiya Shinzo married and drew into Kara no Shoujo.

EDIT: Regardless of who he is, I have a feeling that the mystery segment of an unknown boy at the beginning of this act was from his perspective.

You have a point about the age. Shinzo's son, maybe?

The game is intentionally unclear as to the ages of many of the characters, because of the sexual content. Officially anyone you can sleep with is over 18, and 18 seems like a reasonable age for the Tokos based on behavior and what little information you can glean from the official timelines. You could assume they're 'really' 16-17, but any younger than that just wouldn't work. They're starting their last year at the academy now.

Ah, okay- thanks for the clarification. ... I guess he'd have to be in his thirties at least for him to be either Toko's father, huh. (Probably).

Also, good point about the mystery segment at the start of this act! I'd forgotten about that. So, someone with an eccentric father and a beautiful mother? ... I guess if Toko's mother was the model that Mamiya Shinzo married, he could be related to both Toko and Mamiya Shinzo. Somehow.

OMFG.

HE'S TOTALLY TOKO'S LONG LOST BROTHER, BORN OF MAMIYA SHINZO AND THE KARA NO SHOUJO MODEL.

(Now watch as I turn out to be completely wrong orz)

And then Toko was born from parthenogenesis! ... Which I still don't really understand, so her father being Mamiya Shinzo and her brother being Katsuragi sounds fine to me. |D Come to think, didn't Nene mention something about an inheritance when talking about Toko's bloodline? Still wonder what that was about.

(I really wouldn't be surprised if this was the case, though. Would certainly link Katsuragi to both Toko and Shinzo quite nicely, even though I don't think there's been evidence of any link with Toko yet and the possible link with Shinzo is based on his being the killer and/or the egg theme).

You're close. He's actually Toko's long lost sister. :D