Zero ~Zero~ The Official Novel Translation Chapter 2-1

The Himuro family, which for centuries has been believed as the descendants of the gods, are said to have done various bloody ceremonies which killed countless victims.

But, there’s almost no official records or documents about their rituals. It’s just rumors which are spread from mouth to mouth.

The matter becomes more complicated by the refusal of the people related with the family, and the people involved in the rituals themselves, to talk.

There are lots of secrets regarding the rituals there, especially the one ritual held on every December 23rd. It was said

that the villagers aren’t allowed to come out of their houses on that day. Even the windows have to be closed. The rumors are that it’s because of the cruel ritual held in Himuro Mansion, but there is no record that can explain it clearly.

From the existing records, the information that’s mentioned the most often is about [Nawa no Miko] (Rope Shrine Maiden).

It’s said that the chosen person has to live with ropes around their feet, hands and neck. But, what their role or function on the ritual is, the rest is unknown. One of the sources claimed that these people are sacrifices for the rituals, but I find it hard to believe that there’s still ceremonies with these kind of customs.

A long time ago, it’s rumored that there was a disaster befell this area. By the people, the disaster is called The Calamity.

Unfortunately, there are no records that describe what exactly happened.

One of the documents that I was able to find mentioned ‘When the mirrors at the five shrines break, the dead will walk again’. Is there really a disaster as bad as that? …

We went to Tohoku in a 2-hours Shinkansen train ride through the Ueno Station. And then we board a regular train and, after one hour, get off on a station called ‘M River’. After another hour of shaky bus ride, we arrive at our destination village.

The village where the house based as the Himuro Mansion is.

There are three of us, myself, Mr. Ioka and Mr. Shibaguchi. During the long hours on the road, I spent my time asking about various things to Mr. Shibaguchi. He told me some strange stories during the making of Zero.

“I don’t believe in ghosts, but when I was writing the script, there were several strange events. In the middle of the night, and I was writing, the air con suddenly died. It’s still brand new, so it’s weird if it was broken. The next day, I called the maintenance, and when he checked it, the air con worked well. It can be called a coincidence, I think. But the next day,

Mr. Kitaike told me that the he experienced the same thing. His air con suddenly died, but when it was checked, there was nothing wrong with it.”

Mr. Shibaguchi then continue,

“Then there’s this. I was spending the night at the office to finish the script. The room next door was slightly opened, and suddenly, through the opened door, there was a peeking face, but it instantly disappeared when I looked up to get a better look. My eyes aren’t that well either, so I thought it was just a prank by another staff. But after more than an hour, it just happened over and over again. Finally, I peeked into the other room. There was no one there.”

“You didn’t have an exorcism or something like that done?” Mr. Ioka asked.

“Well, as I said earlier, I don’t believe in ghosts. Besides, Mr. Kitaike said it’s not necessary.”

“After that, did the strange events continue?”

“Yes. There’s a sound of a scream inside the game, which we hadn’t recorded before, and some footprints appeared on some places in the game, which we hadn’t programmed before.”

“It’s a curse!! Right, Hinasaki-san?” Mr. Ioka wraps his arms around his own body. He seems to be shivering.

I want to avoid this subject, so I talk about another topic hurriedly.

“Is the house we’re going to visit very similar with Himuro Mansion?” I ask.

“The structure of the house and the atmosphere are alike, but the details of the rooms and some other things are purely our creation.”

“Then, what about the contents? You know, the Himuro family that for years have acted as the guardians of the Yomi gate, and the Strangling Ritual, and the failed ritual and the murders done by the Nawa no Miko, are all those things the truth?” Mr. Ioka asks.

Mr. Shibaguchi’s face looks a little confused listening to the questions, but he hides it immediately, and laughingly, answers,

“Of course it’s also our creation.”

“I’m glad. It will be horrible if those things actually exist,” Mr. Ioka laughs.

But I’m curious about the confusion on Mr. Shibaguchi’s face earlier.

Unfortunately, there is no chance for me to ask the reason. But, even if there were, what should I ask? Finally, I can only stay silent and pretend I don’t know anything.

The rest of our travel is spent with listening to Mr. Shibaguchi’s stories about his family which… let’s just say they’ve been very prosperous ever since Edo era.

If only the stories were true…
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Zero ~Zero~ The Official Novel Translation Chapter 1-7

Once the game begins, I feel the fine hairs on my nape standing.

The polygonic figure on the screen really resembles me.

I’m standing in front of large house in ancient Japanese style. Himuro Mansion.

My acquintance, and also the person who can be said as someone who often helps me, Takamine Junsei and his group are said to be missing while they were investigating this house.

I know it’s strange, but, because our relationship is described very similar with the reality, I even think that, if this all is true, I would look for Takamine-sensei too.

I start to wander around the inside of the mansion. It looks like that the house had been empty for quite a long time.

At that moment, I suddenly see a figure of a person passing through the darkness of the hall in front of me.

Takamine-sensei!!

Sensei! I call him. But, it’s as if he can’t hear me and disappears around the hall.

I run after him immediately. The sound of my steps make the wooden floor creak ominously.

I try so hard to chase him. Passing through a room with a fireplace in it, then I run up the stairs. On the first landing I come across, I find a notepad lying on the floor.

Without any reason, I pick the notepad up.

Once I touch it, the screen turns monochromatic, and in my mind, flashes something like a movie playing.

It’s the event when Takamine-sensei and his group were in the mansion. It looks like that the ‘memory’ of the event is ‘recorded’ on the notepad, and flow into me when I touch it.

At that moment, I see the face of the editor who came with Takamine-sensei to the mansion. I swallow the lump in my throat when I see his face. The thin figure, and the brown-highlit hair… It’s Mr. Ioka!

I open the document that I got from the game maker’s office to make sure the name of the man.

According to the document, his name is ‘Ogata Kouji’. But I’m really sure that he’s Mr. Ioka.

Apparently this video game ‘Zero’ is really the key to all this problem. My instinct, or rather, my spiritual power, whatever it’s called… tells me that.

But I don’t have the time to be surprised, because when the flashback scenes disappear, in front of me, appears a spirit that attacks me!

Inside the game, I only have a camera, which is called Camera Obscura, as my weapon (if indeed it can be called a weapon).

Camera Obscura is said to be able to seal evil spirits on the pictures if we use it to take their photographs.

It’s not a problem if I succeed. But if I fail, it will be Game Over instantly. And for me, who’s not a gamer, it’s a struggle to even fight one spirit. Plus, for me this is more than just a duel with spirits on a video game.

The person on the screen in front of me is ‘myself’, and I have to try really hard to not just die.

I aim through the finder and take pictures like crazy. One moment of carelessness, and the spirit will attack me. My heart bets louder and louder when the vibration joystick in my hand activates and shakes everytime I’m attacked.

Finally I can keep my distance with the spirit, and press the shutter again.

I did it!

The spirit looks pained, then, she opens her mouth which is torn to her cheeks, and howls loudly before she finally is sealed in the camera.

I sigh in relief.

But it’s too soon to be relieved.

My controller suddenly malfunctions. I feel wary instantly. I turn around slowly, and face a large old mirror hanging on the wall.

A figure comes out of the mirror and attacks me.

I feel my body is drenched with my sweat. So are my hands, holding the joystick tightly.

But the surprise doesn’t end there.

Miku!

The first stage, titled ‘1st Night: Strangling Ritual’ has started.

The figure in front of me is polygonic, but it’s true, it’s my sister, Miku.

“Two weeks have passed since the last time I heard from my brother. Reading the notes he left, I came to this house… I don’t know why… I feel like someone is calling me here… Brother…”

The monologue that faintly comes out of the game is too voiced by Miku’s voice.

To look for me, Miku went to the mansion in the middle of the mountain.

She was worried about me and, abandoning her fears… came to the mansion… for me…

I can’t deal with all of this reasonably even though this is just a game.

This is not an ordinary game!

It’s like… the concept of the Camera Obscura which can seal spirits inside the camera. It’s just, what’s sealed by this game ‘Zero’ is my own sister.

“Miku!! Can you hear me?! Mikuuuu!!!!” I call out to her.

I know it’s crazy. But, for me, the Miku in front of me isn’t just polygons, but really my sister, Miku.

Miku’s movements on the screen suddenly stop. And then, without the controller moving her, she turns to face me from behind the screen.

“Brother…,” she says faintly.

“Miku! You’re really Miku, aren’t you!?”

Instead of answering, she nods. Tears start to run down her face. And with a weak voice she says,

“After you left… I became even more worried so I ran after you. I saw you at the train station, but you’ve entered the train already. Then… I was guided here by an unseen force…”

So that’s what I felt.

The strange feeling that came to me when I entered the train station. So something did happen then.

Maybe it’s somekind of a time or dimensional slip.

I remember, when I was a child, I was with Mother, she chose to avoid a road with nothing on it, and preferred another road.

But, when I try to remember again, on that place which looked there was nothing on it, I felt something strange.

It was just an instant, but I felt that I saw a blurry figure, a strange smell, and distorted shadows.

When I told Mother about it, she just looked at me sadly and then said,

“Don’t ever tell it to anyone else. When someday you feel something like that again, go away from that place immediately. If not, people who have spiritual power like us are easy to be possessed, or caught. Do you understand? Promise me this.”

When I remember, the strange feeling that I felt at the train station was the same with the feeling I had when I was a child. Mother called it time slip.

The thing that I forgot has caught and locked my sister away somewhere… because of my mistake, Miku…

“Brother… please get me out of here…,” Miku says.

The face which looks at me pitifully with tears running down her cheeks is no longer polygonic, but has changed into Miku’s real face!

And she’s asking for my help…

Her face looks like a frightened child, but tries really hard to hold it back, and ask for help to her only blood relative… me…

I reach out slowly.

But, when I almost touch her cheek, instead, I touch the screen of my 14 inches TV.
The next second, the screen turns dark.

When I pull my hand back, the TV is switched on again like before.

But Miku’s figure is no longer there.

Replacing her, there’s a polygonic figure of a girl carrying a flashlight walking to the mansion in front of her. I look at my fingers still pressing the keypad on the joystick.

Once I lift my fingers, the girl’s movements on the screen stop.

I reset my PlayStation and try over and over again to reply the scenes where Miku ‘appeared’. But no matter how many times I try, the result is always the same. The scenes never appear anymore.

I move to my work desk. There’s a computer with an internet access there. I sit down and type a short mail to Mr. Ioka.

‘I’d like to do a survey to the location of the game ‘Zero’s setting. I’m waiting for your reply as soon as possible.’
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Zero ~Zero~ The Official Novel Translation Chapter 1-6

I come home with my heart beating erratically.

Once I arrive in front of my apartment, I take a deep breath.

But there, I instantly realize something is not right.

Hanging on the door, there’s supposed to be hung a name board, written by Miku with a pen, with our names, ‘Hinasaki Mafuyu Miku’, on it.

But, what I’m facing right now, is a name board, written in my handwriting, with just ‘Hinasaki’ on it.

My chest feels really tight. I’m feeling faint. With unsteady steps, I enter my apartment.

The room that’s usually clean, cleaned by Miku, now is full with garbage and leftovers of food. Truly a stereotypical room of a bachelor.

There is absolutely no sign that Miku has ever lived here.

Miku’s favorite Mug Cup, her toothbrush, her clothes, her desk… Everything’s disappeared. No… It’s more that her things had never existed here. Only my stuffs have been here in this room.

I have to talk about this with someone.

But then I realize that it’s useless, because I don’t have anyone that I can talk to calmly. Especially on something like this.

We, brother and sister, have always tried to keep our distance from other people. We share the same slightly introverted trait, but there’s something else that’s caused us to act like that.

Our power.

We don’t want our spiritual power to cause misunderstandings and problems. I do have that power, but it seems like that Miku inherits a stronger power than mine.

This power is an ‘inheritance’ from our mother, who has passed away.

Passed away…

No…

She committed suicide…

Mother was tired with the power that she had. Her sufferings piled up when she found out that Miku and I also have her power. She chose to kill herself in a slightly unbalanced mental state.

I never hate her for abandoning us like that.

I feel, there’s nothing we can do. Maybe that was the best for her. That Mother could survive that long, it was a miracle in itself.

I never made sure of it, but I’m positive that Miku feels the same way.

Even more, we fully realize that the biggest reason behind Mother’s suicide was our existence.

Of course, we never talked about it with other people.

For teenagers around Miku’s age, to have a powerful spiritual power maybe can be said as a dream. But that’s because they don’t know the weight that has to be bore because of that power.

They don’t know how frightening and choking it is to see or to feel something that can’t be seen or felt by ordinary people.

What more painful is, no one is able to understand or even imagine what the person who has that kind of power feels.

Cynical stares from other people, the looks that seem want to say that we’re not humans, and then finally their refusal to even look at us… that’s the kind of world that we have to face.

Fortunately, Miku and I never reached that phase.
I know all of this from Mother, who never stopped telling these kind of things.

Yes…

Everything that she went through during her youth…

To this moment, I can still remember clearly Miku’s face, with tears running on her face everytime she listened to Mother’s stories.

Maybe that’s why, when Mother died, we both felt relieved behind our sadness.

Because this way, Mother can finally rest in peace…

That’s also the reason why we always keep our distance from other people.

And also the reason why Miku trusts me more than anyone else…

Then what did I do?

Instead, I avoided her.

I’m scared.

Miku suffers because of her power. While I… I suffer because I don’t know what I can do for her…

She needs me, but I can’t help her, and end up keeping my distance from her… While… she’s just as suffering and lonely as I am…

Suddenly what happened this afternoon flashes on my mind.

Miku told me not to go to the meeting place.

She must have felt that something like this will happen.

If only I did what she’d told me to do… this thing wouldn’t happen…

But I brush the thought off immediately.

Even if I hadn’t gone, somehow, I feel, that eventually this will happen.

Because even if I hadn’t gone, the video game titled ‘Zero’, where there are characters similar with me and Miku, still exists. And it will still be launched to general public without our knowing of it.

And sooner or later, the news of it will reach our ears, making us involved in it. It’s for sure.

And, the characters on that game aren’t just the two of us. There are Takamine-sensei and Hirasaka-san too.

Takamine-sensei?

Once I remember his name, I check my book shelves immediately. I’m very sure that there are several of his books there.

But, when I look, where the books are supposed to be, there are books by other authors. Of course, the books belong to me too, but they’re not supposed to be placed there.

Even though I know it’s useless, I search through the shelves and look for Takamine-sensei’s books.

This all doesn’t make sense.

I mean, how is it possible that a famous best-selling author just disappears without a trace?

But, the thought doesn’t stay long.

My reacting spiritual power is the absolute proof. I laugh bitterly and start to replace the books I’ve messed up to where they belong. When I’m about to put the last book back to its place, I realize that the book is the list of the names and addresses of famous authors that’s published by the authors’ association.

Common people like me aren’t supposed to have the book, but thanks to Takamine-sensei, who asked for it secretly to an official of the association, I got this book at one of the parties that he held.

I look through the book, and with disappointment, realize that the name of Takamine Junsei, that’s supposed to be there as one of the famous novelist, has disappeared. Just like on my address book. It’s gone, as if it’s never been there in the first place.

I drop down weakly.

What is actually going on?

Losing all hope, I’m beginning to feel a very choking loneliness.
Up to this moment, I always have Miku by my side.

I knew she’s lonely, but instead of accompanying and curing her loneliness, I thought of her as something else, thinking that ‘I’m glad I’m not like her.’

My tears start to run, thinking about it.

For the very first time, I can feel the loneliness that Miku feels all this time.

She suffers because of the power. The only person that’s supposed to understand it is me, but instead, I avoided her.

How lonely she’s been all this time…

How painful it’s been for her to hold back all her sufferings…

I feel a tightness in my chest thinking about what Miku feels all this time.

For the very first time I understand what she feels… when she’s disappeared from my life…

“No! Miku can’t disappear just like that!” I shout suddenly.

Miku isn’t gone! I will find her and bring her back.

If I continue like this, to let Miku go away just like that and do nothing at all, I will regret it all my life.

I will save her!

Only I, her older brother, can do that.

I grit my teeth and start to think very hard of a way to rescue her.

An idea flashes on my mind instantly.

The video game ‘Zero’.

The game is the cause of all these strange events.

I stand up and immediately grab my bag that I threw in front of the door carelessly before, then I took the game DVD out.

I turn my 14 inches TV on, and activate the PlayStation 2 that’s connected to the TV.

With my heart beating loudly, I begin to play.
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Zero ~Zero~ The Official Novel Translation Chapter 1-5

What the hell is going on? If Takamine-sensei doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that I got the job, then fine. But looking at Mr. Ioka, one would think that Takamine Junsei never existed.

I’m confused. Very confused. Mr. Ioka seems to notice that and he instantly asks the other three people present.

“Is this Takamine Junsei based on a real person model?” he looks at Tsukihara-san, Mr. Kitaike and Mr. Shibaguchi in turn.

The three fall silent for a while, then Mr. Shibaguchi breaks the oppressing silence,

“It’s impossible. I’ve told you before, haven’t I? All the characters here are purely based on my imagination.”

“It’s… it’s impossible that you don’t know who Takamine-sensei is. Takamine Junsei, the famous novelist with works on the best-selling list. If not that, then how could I be… this detailed character on this video game?”

“I’m very surprised myself. If I’d known you before, I wouldn’t have copied everything like this. At least, I’d have changed the character’s face and background,” Mr. Shibaguchi says.

Mr. Kitaike then continues, “It’s the truth. We didn’t know anything about you before this. Beside that, Takamine Junsei is also just a fictional character. We didn’t use any model for him.”

I don’t know why, he looked very calm when he said it. Different with Mr. Shibaguchi, it’s as if he’s prepared himself for this kind of situation. Are all game producers like this?

“So, you said that all these things are just fictional. Is that so?”
My voice is shaking with my anger, I realize that. I can’t help it. I can no longer play nice and hold it back.

“Hinasaki-san, please calm down. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence. What else? If we’d known that this game character would resemble you this much, we’d have told you first when we contacted you to offer this job.”

“Then, what about Takamine-sensei?”

“That’s exactly it. I don’t even know that there’s an actual novelist named Takamine,” Mr. Ioka says seriously.

Strange!

It’s as if my anger is swallowed by something murky, and changes into a worried feeling. Even if all this is just a trick on me, what is it for?

“Excuse me… is there any computer with internet access?” I finally ask.

“What are you going to do?” Mr. Ioka looks worried.

“Look for informations about Takamine-sensei. Then everything will be clear.”

“But… even so…,” before Mr. Ioka can finish his words, Mr. Kitaike cuts in,

“It’s all right, isn’t it? Please do so.”

Tsukihara-san immediately goes and takes a mobile persocon. After it’s connected to the internet, I access the websearch engine, type [Takamine Junsei] and hit enter. Takamine-sensei is a famous figure, so there must be a lot of websites mentioning his name.

I’m very shocked when the result reveals the exact opposite.

The screen instead displays the words ‘Data Match Found Zero’. No result.

I refuse to give up and try to enter the name [Hirasaka Tomoe]. Because her name is more common, this time there are some results. But, all of them are not about the Hirasaka-san I know. I try once again, after making sure that the name I enter is correct, but the result stays the same.

I try to access other websearch engines, but still there’s no result. Even when I try to access the webstore, there aren’t any Takamine Junsei’s works there at all.

“Impossible…”

I check the list of published books, the newest and the older ones. Takamine-sensei’s works all disappear as if swallowed by something.

It’s like… the person named Takamine Junsei never existed in this world.

“It’s impossible… Mr. Ioka… There’s no way you don’t know who Takamine-sensei is. He introduced you to me, didn’t he?” I stare at Mr. Ioka almost desperately. But Mr. Ioka doesn’t change his expression, a clueless expression.

I feel my sight going dark.

“I met him on train this afternoon. Hirasaka-san was with him too. It’s the truth!”

I’m not lying… trust me…

I stare at the game makers while keep praying like that inwardly.

“Hinasaki-san, do you have an address or phone number of that Takamine-sensei you mentioned?” Mr. Kitaike asks, still very collected.

Oh, right! That’s a way!

I grab my cell phone from inside my bag and check the phone book. I have Takamine-sensei’s home and office numbers there. And also Hirasaka-san’s home number.

I’m sure that I’ve saved the numbers, but no matter how I look for them, the numbers aren’t on my phone book.

I rummage through the contents of my bag and take the address book that I always carry. But, it still results in the same thing.

Everything I wrote on my address book, I wrote with pencil, so I’d be able to easily erase it if I want to change something. But, the two people’s addresses and phone numbers are missing from their usual positions, without any trace of being erased.

As if they were never there from the beginning.

“Hinasaki-san, why don’t you try calling your sister and ask her?” Mr. Ioka suggests.

Hurriedly, I re-check my cell phone and look for Miku’s cell phone number. But, the number is missing too.

Thinking that maybe I accidentally erased the number myself, I try to remember Miku’s number and call it. But, after numerous tries, it’s always answered by a computer voice which says ‘The number you’re calling isn’t connected.’

“Impossible… Miku disappears too…?”

It’s a very hard shock for me.

I rest my head on the table weakly.

My head feels like exploding.

I don’t understand at all. This condition makes me as if I’m the only side misunderstanding the situation.

“Is everything on this game ‘Zero’ just fictional?” Mr. Ioka’s voice asks to no one in particular.

No one answers, and a very heavy silence fall upon the room again. Then, suddenly:

“Actually…,” Mr. Shibaguchi speaks up. I instantly raise my head and look at him.

“No… Just like what I said before, all characters there are purely fictional…”

“Then, I…”

Mr. Shibaguchi raises both of his hands, stopping my protests, “Wa… Wait a minute! Yes, with you right here in front of us, it’s hard to believe it. But actually, the house which is the setting of this game does exist. Why don’t you open the third page?”

I quickly flip the pages of the documents before me, and face the synopsis of ‘Zero’.

Himuro Mansion
This place has all kinds of ugly legends and rumors. It’s said as a place with bad luck. The last head of Himuro family was rumored to be insane and murder all inhabitants of this house. The next family living in this house experienced ‘Kamikakushi’. After, mutilated corpses have often been found around the house for the last couple of years. It’s suspected to have something to do with the house. Takamine Junsei, the novelist, was interested in the legend, and decided to use it as the idea for his next novel. Accompanied by his assistant, Hirasaka Tomoe, and his editor, Ogata Kouji, Takamine visited Himuro Mansion. But ever since, they haven’t been heard or seen by anyone.

“This Himuro Mansion place really exists?” I ask Mr. Shibaguchi.

“Where I was born, there’s a place really similar with it. When I was a child, I was forbidden to come near the house. We used to call it the haunted mansion. When I asked about it to my mother through the phone recently, she said it’s still standing there. It’s been 20 years. That’s why I decided to use it as the idea of this game.”

“The place is indeed something special. You can say that it’s my Master Piece,” Mr. Kitaike says, smiling slightly.

Master Piece?

Did I hear him wrong just now?

I want to ask to make sure, but can’t find the right words and excuse to ask, so I just choose to shut my mouth.

“When I was a child, the house was taken care by an old woman. But she died 10 years ago, so the house is completely empty now. Then, when I did the survey to look for that house’s data, I contacted the real estate developer around it. But…”

“Did something happen?”

“Well… it’s not really important… But…,” Mr. Shibaguchi seems reluctant to continue his words.

Tsukihara-san then continues, “Then when you did the survey, you got the inspirations for these game characters. Right?”

“Yes.”

“Then when you were inside the house, you got the inspiration and created Miku, the main character, Mafuyu, the older brother who shares the same name with Hinasaki-san, and also Takamine the novelist?” Mr. Ioka concludes.

Mr. Shibaguchi nods.

“It’s hard to believe, I know, but I don’t know why, when I was walking inside the house, suddenly I got the idea, and the names of the main characters just flashed inside my head. At that time, I hurriedly jotted them down so I wouldn’t forget it. Right, Mr. Kitaike?”

“Yes. At that time, I, Mr. Shibaguchi and an illustrator wandered around the house with a flashlight, because although it was still broad daylight, the inside of the house was very dark. Mr. Shibaguchi suddenly crouched down and started to write something on his notepad. When I peeked, he was writing several names. Those names then are used on the game. The names are a bit uncommon, so I never thought that there are real people with the same names… Beside that…”

“Anything else?” Mr. Ioka asks. This time, Mr. Shibaguchi answers him,

“I got the inspirations for the names there. But that’s not all. The illustrator who saw the names I wrote suddenly got an idea and instantly made the sketches of the characters’ faces. The sketches then were used as the base for the polygonic faces.”

“In other words, the name and face for the Hinasaki Mafuyu character, which are exactly the same with Hinasaki-san, were created at the same time, in the place which becomes the setting of this game, is that so?”

When they hear Mr. Ioka’s question, Mr. Shibaguchi and Mr. Kitaike look at each other and shake their heads. They seem at a loss of words.

“It looks like we have to go there ourselves, doesn’t it…,” Mr. Ioka mutters.

“Go… where?” Tsukihara-san asks.

“Of course to the house in question. It’s so weird, isn’t it? Upon entering the house, suddenly Mr. Shibaguchi and his illustrator got an idea, which is exactly like the real people’s conditions. If you ask me, this is no longer a coincidence.”

“Er, I didn’t mean to spread tales. That’s the real event,” Mr. Kitaike says.

“No… Pardon me. Too many strange things are happening here. Look, in my opinion, all of this mystery may be solved if we go there. Right, Hinasaki-san?” Mr. Ioka gives me a look. I don’t answer, but nod doubtfully.

There’s something wrong with the house, in my mind.

But it’s not just a matter of jobs.

Takamine-sensei, Hirasaka-san, and even my younger sister, Miku, they all disappear just like that, as if they’re just imaginations.

I feel that I’m left behind in the real world, while they all enter to a game world called ‘Zero’.

I want to go home immediately and see Miku’s face. I also want to make sure of Takamine-sensei and Hirasaka-san’s existences. I can’t think of anything else before I check and make sure of that.

“I’m sorry, I’m not feeling well. Is it okay if I leave first?” I whisper to Mr. Ioka. Mr. Ioka, who seems to know my feelings, looks at me worriedly.

“Of course, I understand. Just take the documents and read them at home.”

“Ah, then, just take this beta version with you. This is the version which is close to perfect,” Tsukihara-san hands a DVD to me.

I accept the documents and DVD, then hurriedly exit the Game Maker’s office as if something were after me. Mr. Ioka also goes with me.

Once we arrive at Ichigaya, I leave Mr. Ioka at once and descend the stairs to the station.

“Tomorrow I’ll call you again. Think about the plan to go to that house, okay?” behind me, I faintly hear Mr. Ioka’s voice.
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