Nemurenu Yoru wo Daite

manatsu no santa kuro-su

~ Midsummer Santa Claus ~

    Outside the Yamaji home, the reporters are frantically gathering what information they have. As journalist Ishiguro Keiichiro gets into position, Kimie's former colleague fills him in on the details.

    "...together with Satoru-kun, a family of three. Yamaji Kimie-san is a former journalist, she used to work with me over 10 years ago."

    "Get me pictures of her then and now."

    "Got it."

    "And who was the first to discover this?"

    "Nakagawa Yuko, her again. Right now she's with the police..."

    "Another disappearance...." Ishiguro starts reporting.

    Yuko looks apprehensively around the living room, Atsuta and Honda follow closely on her heels.

    "The door was opened?" Atsuta queries.

    "Yes," replies Yuko.

    "The phone kept on ringing, catching your attention so you came in."

    "That's correct."

    "You've been in this house many times before?"

    "I've been here two or three times for tea."

    "Is there anything different or anything that bothers you?"

    Yuko glances briefly at Atsuta before looking away, nodding. "Before everyone arrived, I took the liberty of looking around the kitchen. It's easy to find out about the daily life just by looking at the refuse. The area by the sink is clean. There's a trash bin in the cabinet but that is also empty. The trash collection was yesterday so if there isn't any refuse, it would imply that until yesterday morning, everything was as per normal."

    "I see." Atsuta replies without expression.

    "It's empty," reports Honma coming in from another room.

    "So the Yamaji's normal lives stopped somewhere between the trash collection yesterday morning and the afternoon when Yamaji Kohei didn't show up for work." Remembering something, Atsuta turns to Yuko. "Ah, Satoru-kun goes to the same school as your daughter doesn't he?"

    "He went to school yesterday." Yuko confirms.

    "And did he come back home as usual?"

    "My daughter had a piano lesson yesterday. She said that they were together until they parted, going in different directions."



    At the junction on the way home from school, Satoru waves to Mina, "See ya," and heads off in one direction.

    Watching him walk down the road, Mina waves back, looking on "Bye bye."

    Glancing at a family photo of the Yamaji's, Atsuta continues "So that's to say, until past three yesterday, there was no change in Satoru's actions."

    "So for the family to disappear, it would have been after that, wouldn't it," adds Honma.

    Feeling uneasy, Yuko suddenly says "It's hard to breathe, would you mind if I stepped outside for a bit?"

    "You may leave. If there's anything that we need to find out we'll get in touch with you."

    Yuko gives a quick bow and heads for the door without another word. However Atsuta's next question stops her in her tracks.

    "Have you spoken to your husband about this?"

    "I called him just now and told him what happened."

    "And what was his reaction?"

    Defiance returns. "Of course he was shocked, absolutely stunned."

    "Please tell your husband that we'd like to have his statement tomorrow. At this moment, the only connection between the disappearances of both families are the Motosumi Resort Homes that he's sold to them and they moved into together."

    There is another connection...

    Yuko doesn't reply, looking away recalling the day on the plains during the hunt. Kimie confides "The dead girlfriend of Moe's husband Shindo-san.....my husband might have known her....."

    Back in the present, Yuko merely replies meekly, "I'll tell him." With a nod, Yuko turns and leaves. Atsuta's countenance as expressionless as ever.

    "She's out!" The reporters notice Yuko's emergence from the Shindo home and quickly swarm forward. "She's just been questioned by the police....we'll try and get an interview."

    Pausing, Yuko takes a breath and ventures forward. As she walks down the steps onto the road, Ishiguro pushes a microphone in her face. "You're the first to discover the disappearance?"

    "Yes," replies Yuko without pausing.

    "And what sort of relationship do you have with the Shindo family?"

    "We are friends."

    "Do you have any idea where they are?"

    "I don't know."

    "As the wife of the developer of this resort, what do you intend to do with regards to this disappearance?"

    At his words, Yuko stops and faces the reporters squarely. Determination in her eyes, she says "I'll get everyone to come back....to this hometown."

    The media has a field day reporting the event.

    "I am now in front of the Motosumi Resort Home gates in Nagano prefecture where two families have disappeared..."

    "In order to stem further incidences, the police have put together a special investigations unit...."

    "Did you think that another disappearance would happen again?" A reporter pursues the Yanagibas.

    "No, I have nothing to say," replies the elderly professor.

    "Leave us alone!" Nonomura brushes the reporter aside irritably.

    "The residents of the resort home have to grapple with another similar incident...."

    "Do you know how many people disappear in the whole of Japan in a year? Over 80,000 people. Among those disappearances, crime related disappearances total 15,000 people. However, there has never been a case in the past of six people having disappeared from within the same newly built residential area within ten days. Both families...." Ishiguro Keiichiro reports.

    "The land where the resort homes were to be developed during the bubble economy was abandoned midway..." an old man gives his opinion.

    "When the real estate developers came at the time, it was said that there were differences of opinions with the local residents, but to be honest, they were really vicious," another man gives his view.

    "In any case they ruthlessly developed the area with the intention of making quick buck," a lady barely contains her detest for the developers.

    "To be labeled as a city of disappearances is a menace! It's slanderous!"

    At the River Runs Management Office, Ohta faces a barrage of angry accusations from the remaining residents. The elderly Yanagiba speaks up first. "Nakagawa-san, truth be told, we would like to sell our homes and leave this place right away!"

    "Even if it's just been lived in for a short period, or a newly built home, you can't find any buyers for a home where it's being called a 'residential area where families disappear'!"

    "The remaining twelve households that were suppose to move in are backing out of their contracts, aren't they?!"

    Ohta nods and tells them squarely "Yes."

    Nonomura gets to his feet. "Right now all you're thinking about is how to repay the down payment that they have paid, aren't you?!"

    Yuzui holds up a magazine. "Is what's written in this article true? Motosumi Resort Home developer River Runs received financing from national banks during its establishment, and is now subcontracted to handle the disposal of mortgaged properties. Problems with illegal tenants plagued the company and recently, even one of its employees suffered from broken ribs when he was even beaten up with metal pipes by some of those illegal tenants on drugs."

    "That's your employee called Kuzui, isn't it?!"

    "To be honest, you guys are really terrifying."

    Ohta valiantly faces the riled residents with calm. "It is true that those incidences happened. However, that has nothing to do with the disappearances of Shindo-san and Yamaji-san."

    "And what about the fact that your company's being a dummy company for the banks and dealing behind the scenes in the real estate world?"

     "My company is not a dummy company for any bank!" Ohta stresses vehemently.

    "In this world the underhanded are in cahoots!"

    "A family of three vanishes one after another, for sure the only connection is that you must have links with those kinds of people!"

    "It's scary...." mutters one of the women, turning around to look at Mina and Yuko sitting at the back of the room. At the accusing look, Yuko puts her arms protectively around Mina.

    "I wonder which family will be the next to disappear," Yanagiba's wife voice trembles with fear and silence descends in the room.

    "I will be going to the prefecture police station and providing my statement. I intend to cooperate with the investigation to the best of my ability." Ohta gets to his feet. "So in the meantime, could I get everyone to wait and see how the situation develops? Please." Ohta bows to everyone in his request.

    In support, Mina and Yuko quickly get onto their feet and bow in unison.

    At the supermarket pushing a trolley around, Mina looks up at Yuko. "I wonder if Papa's going to be late again tonight..."

    "He said that he had to work overnight with Kuzui-san." Yuko replies and reaches for a packet in the freezer. "Shall we have hamburgers?"

    Dolefully, Mina mutters "I wonder if Satoru-kun and Takuya-kun are having proper meals."

    "It's all right. I'm sure that wherever they are....." Yuko starts to assure Mina but suddenly pauses mid-sentence. Looking around, she notices the strange stares from the other shoppers. Brushing it off with a smile, Yuko adds "Well then, meat and what else?"

    "Onions!" chirp Mina.

    "Right, onions! And what else?"



    Reporters hover outside the prefecture police station. Noticing Ohta's appearance, they swarm around him in a second. "Nakagawa-san! Please!"

    Ohta strides purposefully ahead brushing them aside. "Excuse me. I have nothing to say."

    The door into the interrogation room opens and Atsuta limps into the room, his prosthesis squeaking with every step. Seeing Ohta already seated at the table, Atsuta greets him with a sardonic smile. "Oh, thank you for taking the trouble to come in here."

    Honma strides in behind Atsuta and says "We'd like to have this recorded if we may."

    "Go ahead." Ohta nods and a tape recorder is plonked onto the table and activated. Honma steps aside and sits at a little table, leaving Atsuta to begin.

    Propping himself with his cane, Atsuta looks down at the seated Ohta. "Well then, first, with regards to Shindo Yoji-san's dead lover that Moe-san spoke to Kimie-san about. Do you know anything about that?"

    "As I said before, Shindo-san and I are merely acquaintances from his handling our insurance business. Even after Shindo-san had decided on his purchase of the resort home, we hardly ever had any personal dealings with one another, so I don't know anything about Shindo's past with any women. Even if that woman had anything to do with the disappearances, why would Yamaji-san's entire family vanish as well?"

    "I don't know. Right now everything's unknown." Atsuta takes a step forward, his squeaking in the process. "Did Shindo-san and Yamaji-san really not know each other from before?"

    "Well, I think they didn't know each other. They met for the first time at the barbeque by the river."

    "Nakagawa-san, I've made enquiries about resort home development projects and not just Motosumi Resort. These incidents will cause problems for you going forward, won't it?"

    "Yes," Ohta replies curtly with a brief nod.

    "Oh yes, I asked your wife details about your courtship the other day," Atsuta appears to take joy in needling his prey.

    With a wry grin, Ohta replies, "Yes, it appeared you did."

    "She's like a Goddess."

    Taken aback, Ohta looks up at Atsuta. "Goddess?"

    "Protector of the home. A woman's that the paragon of the perfect wife." Atsuta's respect for Yoko is evident.

    "Thank you, I'll tell her," Ohta replies with an embarrassed laugh.

    "Don't tell her, I'll feel awkward." Atsuta grins. With a swing of his cane, Atsuta sweeps the chair from across Ohta against the table with a bang. The tape recorder falls to its side with a thud. Squeaking, Atsuta limps around the table, leaning heavily on his cane. "I'm sure she knows you well enough, doesn't she, the work that a resort home developer like yourself have done to fulfill your dreams, the kind of underhanded things that you've done in the past."

    Ohta pauses before conceding. "It's not what it appears on the surface."

    "It's a world that doesn't proceed smoothly with fair and just means alone. The land that you needed for building resort developments, especially those where farmers had been cheated off the land by gangsters and were now rotting away, those that were being illegally occupied. You couldn't develop any resort homes as they were, somehow or another you had to purchase those properties. So you went into negotiations with those gangsters in order to inflate the price of the land. In some cases you would take the lead and build relationships with the other party, whatever it took to get the development going."

    Ohta looks at Atsuta "You know it well."

    Atsuta grins "Well, I did do some investigating you know. So, are you still in touch with those people?"

    Almost petulantly, Ohta says "In this times of recession?"

    Honma suddenly bursts out "During the bubble economy you earn big bucks, and when the bubble's burst you carry on your life hiding that?!"

    Ohta looks at him. "Detective, you keep saying 'bubble, bubble', do you really know what it means?" Ohta sighs. "The land prices that soared to those high levels that had to eventually fall catastrophically was caused by the excess cash of the eighties where financial institutions approved mortgages for properties which they didn't even bother to assess. Even if by chance, the debtor had to default on his financial obligations, as long as the Japanese economy was peaceful and secure, the moneylenders underestimated the possibility that they wouldn't be able to get their money back. The officials and banks that shouldn't have been gambling in the economy were the ones who became the father of gamblers. Citizens allowed fellow citizens to exacerbate the problem. Businesses were in cahoots with chains and subsidiaries, taking full advantage. They all realized by splitting up the market there would be big profits for all. Then those behind the scenes would make up for any losses. The country, the society, its people lived on without any fears, the explosion that would come from that state of euphoria, that was the bubble economy."

    "And you were right in the thick of it." Atsuta's eyes remain hidden behind sunglasses. "Weren't you?"

    "Yes, I certainly was." Ohta replies.

    Atsuta turns and steps away. "Nakagawa-san, I wonder how great you really were......I would have liked to have met the Nakagawa of those times." Atsuta stares at Ohta's reflection in the mirror on the wall.

    At Atsuta's words, Ohta suddenly turns away, the look on his face unreadable.

(-=CJ=- The way the music suddenly stops sure enhances those looks and Ohta's looking more an more ayashii (suspicious) as the series progresses....)

    On television, a special is being aired - "Probing into the riddle of disappearances." Doctor Takizawa Shougo from the Touwa Sougo Hospital psychiatric department speaks to Ishiguro Keiichiro. "Disappearing may be one of the ways that people today deal with stress."

    "What do you mean?" Ishiguro questions.

    In their living room seated together on the couch, Mina and Yuko watch as the doctor replies. "That's to say, to physically get far away from the the humdrum of everyday life. In doing so, they are compelled to look at who they really are, their connections with their workplace, their relationships with other people, they get a bird's eye view of everything..."

    Mina turns to Yuko. "What is that man saying?"

    "Mm? It doesn't matter, go to bed." Yuko pats Mina on the back and is drawn back to the program.

    "One can start live all over many times. It is hard for man to peel off the labels that have been stuck onto him. However if one is to disappear, one can press the reset button and stick a new label on."

    The phone rings and Yuko gets up to answer it while Ishiguro continues    "Is it possible to reset and start life all over?"

    "For example, to go study abroad or to use ones savings and....."

    Yuko picks up the phone "Hello?"

    "It's me, how are things at your end?" Ohta replies.

    Yuko sighs with relief. "The reporters are still outside broadcasting."

    "I wonder if it's being shown on TV right now."

    Yuko reaches for the remote control and changes the channel. Immediately a live broadcast from the front of Yuko's house comes appears on screen with a reporter saying "....the characters who are primarily looked upon suspiciously at the moment, A-san's home, the developer of Motosumi Resort Home. A-san is....."

    Yuko glances at Mina and quickly switches the channel back to the interview with the doctor. ".....disappearing doesn't mean that it's all bad."

    In his office, Ohta picks up the remote and the doctor's voice continues. "Do you understand? It's ok to play act a role someplace where no one knows where you are. When you act out a role of someone else, you can discover your real self eventually."

    Yuko sighs. "The doctor is recommending that everyone disappears."

    "Everyone that appears on TV is just talking irresponsibly. Lock up and go to bed."

    "Mm. I'll let Mina speak to you." Yuko hands the phone to Mina.

    "You're not coming back tonight? I wanted you to help me with my homework."

    "How's school? Is everything all right?" Ohta asks with a smile.

    "Mm," replies Mina dolefully. After a slight pause, Mina says more cheerfully "Everything's fine. I'm making lots of friends, and I play with them all the time."

    Ohta remains silent.

    "Goodnight. I'll pass you back to Mama," adds Mina and hands the phone back to Yuko. Mina quietly walks out and goes to bed.

    Ohta asks worriedly "I wonder if Mina is really all right."

    "I'll check with the school teacher," assures Yuko.

    "I think I'll be back tomorrow."

    "Mm. Take care."

    "Mm." Ohta nods and hangs up. Tiredly, Ohta sinks into his chair and closes his eyes. Opening his eyes suddenly looking far away, Ohta mutters to himself. "It'll be over soon. It'll definitely be over soon....."

(-=CJ=- What's going to be over soon? Somehow I don't get the feeling he's talking about his business going under, nor the disappearances blowing over any time soon......hmmmmm........)

    In the dark lying alone in bed, Yuko ponders.

What can I do for my husband that's pushed into a corner?

There's only one thing.....

    Yuko recalls the day up on the plains during the search for the Shindo family where Kimie confides in her.

    Her forehead creased in worry, Kimie says "I would like you to keep what I am about to say, to yourself, even from your husband. Promise?"

    Yuko nods wordlessly, anxious to hear what Kimie has to say.

    "The dead girlfriend of Moe's husband Shindo-san.....my husband might have known her....."

    Surprise registers on Yuko's face as Kimie continues. "That night I spoke to my husband about what we heard from Moe that morning. I wanted to ask another man's opinion if a man would be foolish enough to risk the happiness he has now for the sake of a lover who's dead but he can't forget. Then without looking up from his newspaper, he answered. I knew. It's that look on his face when he lies. It's that look on his face when he's got something to hide."

    Yuko presses "What did your husband say?"

    Kimie stares at her. "When a man's lover is killed in an unfortunate accident, that's what happens."

    "An unfortunate accident?!"

    Kimie nods. "That's what he said. I didn't mention a word about her having died in any accident. He knows! He knows how she died!"

    "And what did he say?"

    "I didn't dare press on. Looking at him staring at the newspaper I suddenly became afraid."

    "Shouldn't you tell this to the police?"

    Kimie shakes her head. "I want to get to the bottom of this myself. This could bring unexpected trouble on my family! So please, promise me!"

Wives protect their home with their own hands

Kimie telling me all that was a sign of her resolve to do so

    Kimie adds "That's why I would like you to keep this to yourself."

    After a moment's pause, Yuko finally nods and Kimie breathes a sigh of relief.

    Back in the present, Yuko continues to ponder in the dark.

    Right now the likely reason for Kimie-san

concealing her whereabouts

would be to protect her family

and searching on her own.

If that's the case, then why would it

involve her entire family disappearing as well?



Yuko gets out of bed and walks to the window.

If Kimie's suspicions are true,

then it would mean that there's a connection

between Shindo-san and Yamaji-san

with that woman from the past.

If that's the case then that time.....

    Yuko recalls the day of the barbeque by the river during the introductions all round.

    "Pleased to meet you." Yoji bows in greeting to Yuko.

    "Pleased to meet you too." Yuko answers cheerfully.

    Ohta looks around. "And who else is meeting for the first time....ah, you haven't met Kimie's husband yet have you?"

    The smile on Yoji's face vanishes to replaced by an expression of bewilderment. Both men exchange enigmatic looks. Eventually, Yoji nods "Pleased to meet you. I'm Shindo."

    Kohei stares. "I'm Yamaji."

    Awkwardness vastly apparent between both men.

....that would have been just an act.

The two of them that day were frightfully aloof

If the two of them knew each other before

I certainly wasn't aware of it

    At the table, Yoji asks "Are you a translator for the J League or something?"

    "Yes," nods Kohei modestly adding, "but it's not like I'm that strong in English or anything."

    A thought crosses her mind and Yuko goes into the living room, flips through a magazine. Finding the article on the disappearances, she reads aloud. "Shindo Yoji-san was born in Tokyo's Ota district. His father was a former member of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations. He graduated at age 24 from a private university and joined Rose Life Insurance. Yamaji Kohei-san was born in Gifu Prefecture. After a three year hiatus after dropping out of a local university, he entered a sports university in Tokyo. When he was in college, he worked part time as an interpreter."

What is the connection between the both of them?

Their hometowns are different

and so were their universities.

There isn't any link through their work either.

Rather far fetched but they both are skilled in English.

If the connection between them comes to light....

Whatever the case may be,

the time when I'll have to break my promise to Kimie-san

is approaching.....

    A black car roars into Motosumi Resort and pulls up in front of Yuko's home. The door opens and a cane emerges, followed by the rest of Atsuta. His prosthesis squeaks as he plants his feet on the pavement. Staring up at the home, something catches his eye and looking down the road, spots the whispering Yanagibas peering from a distance. They quickly turn and walk away.

    Yuko brings tea into the living room where Atsuta's sitting on the sofa. "My apologies, I should have gone to see you instead of getting you coming here."

    "It's all right. I was touched to get a call from you. I thought you abhorred me." Atsuta's tone as sardonic as ever.

    "Ah, looking at the time, let me make some sandwiches or something."

    "It's ok, don't worry. I've got a dinner appointment after this." Atsuta quickly turns down Yuko's offer as he reaches for the tea cup.

    "I see."

    "So, what did you want to talk to me about?"

    A moment's hesitation passes. Yuko takes a seat and asks "Did you find out anything about Shindo Yoji's dead lover?"

    "We've asked a number of his classmates and colleagues but none of them have any recollection of his ever having a relationship with any woman who later died."

    "I see....well it was also written in the magazine but the police have found out more about Shindo-san's history, right?"

    "That's part of our job."

    "Before Shindo-san entered Rose Life Insurance, before Yamaji-san worked as an interpreter, where and what were the both of them doing? Where did the both of them learn English? Did either of them happen to study abroad?" Yuko fires questions at Atsuta in ernest.

    "Ma'am..." A wry smile appears on Atsuta's lips. "...when did you turn into a detective?"

    Yuko turns away. "I'm not a detective. I'm just offering information out of good will."

    "Offering information?"

    "Please tell me Shindo Yoji-san's and Yamaji Kohei-san's past records. In return, I'll tell you everything I know."

    "Ma'am, that can't be classified as offering information out of good will. Can you first tell me what you know? After all, you're 'good will' personified, aren't you?"

    After a pause, Yuko gives in to Atsuta's overpowering strength. With a sigh, Yuko relents. "Shindo Yoji's ex-lover....died in an accident."

    With a finger on lips tinged with amusement, Atsuta drawls "Oh....and what is the source of that information?"

    "Yamaji-san's wife. She said that it was possible that her husband knew how that woman died. Perhaps Shindo-Yoji-san and Yamaji Kohei-san knew each other in the past through that woman."

    "So that wasn't the first time they met at the barbeque by the river?"

    "All of us thought it was, but it seems that we were wrong. Is there any connection between them in their pasts?"

    Atsuta is surprisingly forthcoming in reply. "It's just like you said, they both have studied overseas before. Shindo Yoji-san dropped out of the University of Japan when he was 20 and spent a year and a half in Australia. We found out from records at the Immigration Department that he was there illegally on a tourist visa. Well, it's common among the young, leading a life wandering about."

    "And what about Yamaji Kohei-san?"

    "About the same time, he dropped out of the local university in Gifu and went to study in Miami, America. After that he returned, got back into college and graduated."

    "Australia and Miami....they're far apart...." Yuko sounds disappointed.

    "Yes. And get this, we also found this out from Immigration Department. For half a year from June to December 1990, Yamaji Kohei-san was in Australia where Shindo Yoji-san was. Then again, Australia's a big country. Whether the both of them actually met each other there or not....."

    Yuko is stunned. "1990....Australia...."

    "It was a time when there were many Japanese honeymooners in the Gold Coast area."

    Images of a sunny beach front, hotels, sunbathers and tourist come to mind, and a Santa Claus on a surfboard riding the waves. A tune suddenly brings Yuko out of her reverie as she looks to the source of intrusion. Atsuta digs into his pocket. "Ah, excuse me." Looking at his cell phone, Atsuta momentarily hesitates before answering the call. "Hello, Mei-Lin? Ah, then could you come to Motosumi Resort? You've seen it on TV haven't you? That house...ah, I'll be done soon. What?" Atsuta looks at Yuko before turning away and saying "I love you" in Chinese. "Bye bye." Done, Atsuta turns back to Yuko. "Ma'am?"

    "Yes?"

    "Could you promise me something? That you won't hide anything else from the police."

    "I can't promise you that." Yuko's defiance is apparent.

    "To have you playing amateur detective would pose a bit of a problem for us."

    "When I need help from the police, there's a chance that I might call on you again. But next time, I'll be the one to pay you a visit."

    Atsuta remains silent, a hint of a smile appearing on his face.

    As Yuko shows Atsuta to the door, he says "Speaking of 1990, that's when the bubble burst and one started to see clouds in the real estate world. What was your husband doing at the time?"

    "He was in the development department at his previous company."

    "So that's when you both started seeing each other?"

    "That was about a year after. What about it?"

    "Nothing. Ah!" Atsuta's attention is suddenly caught by the sound of a car horn. A red car pulls up in front of the Nakagawa home and Mei-Lin steps out all dressed in red.

    "Thanks for the coffee." Atsuta limps towards Mei-Lin.

    Mei-Lin sees Yuko at the door and nods in greeting with a big smile.

    As Mei-Lin approaches Atsuta to give him a hand, he says "Sorry, let's go out for ramen."

    "I'll make some at home, not the instant kind but made with real soup."

    "Ehh, can you do it?"

    Stopping beside the car and looking at Yuko, Mei-Lin ponders out loud. "What ingredients do I have to add when I'm making torigara soup?"

    Yuko looks at her in surprise. "Eh?"

    Atsuta looks at Mei-Lin. "What are you talking about?"

    Mei-Lin trys to recall the recipe. "Torigara, konbu and green onions."

    Yuko grins. "Garlic and ginger."

    Mei-Lin smiles. "And just a dash of kukonomi."

    With a bright smile, Yuko adds "Then let it simmer for two hours without the lid on."

    Mei-Lin looks at Atsuta cheerfully. "And the result is super delicious soup."

    Atsuta grins wryly and gets into the car. "And while it's simmering for two hours what shall we do I wonder?"

    Mei-Lin exchanges bows with Yuko and gets in the car. Reversing instead of heading forward, Atsuta growls "Hey go back! Are you sure you know how to drive?"

    Yuko grins.

    "That was the detective, wasn't it?"

    Yuko turns and sees a couple of the neighbors approaching. "Oh, hello."

    "Here to take your statement again?"

    "No. What's wrong? Everyone's here together..." Yuko asks politely, walking over to them.

    "We found this in the local archives." Nonomura holds out a rolled up piece of paper. "Since we couldn't locate your husband, we thought we'd ask you about it."

    Yuko looks at the piece of paper. It turns out to be a copy of the "Shimin Times". The main article is titled "Remains from the Yayoi period discovered."

    "It appears that 10 years ago, ruins from the Yayoji period was discovered here in Motosumi." The elderly Yanagiba ventures.

    "Wasn't that the main reason that the resort couldn't be developed back then?" Nonomoru presses.

    "I've heard about this from my husband. The remains were moved to another location by an archeological research group, that's why this resort home could be developed." Yuko tries her best to explain.

    "I wonder if this is the revenge of the Gods of this land, that's why one family after the other is spirited away....." The elderly Yanagiba's wife voice trembles with fear.

    "That can't be..." Yuko starts to deny but Nonomura counters.

    "Even knowing that this land has a long history, your husband started the development didn't he!"

    "Discovering ruins here on this land is proof beyond doubt that this land is safe. It's my husband's dream to build the best homes in a place where people could realize their dreams. Please don't think the worst of this. I understand your fears completely....." Yuko pleads with the neighbors, only to lose to the hostility they harbor.

    "This is the wrath of the Gods of this land! It's the wrath of the Gods! It's the wrath of the Gods!" Yanagiba's wife starts to get emotionally hysterical and is led away by her husband. "Let's go, come on, let's go."

    As the frightened neighbors walks away one after another, Yuko stares at them in worry.

    Everyone's falling apart.



    At the River Runs office, Ohta is feeling the effects of the disappearances. Sitting across the table, his lawyer explains "Even if the clients wish to back out of their contracts, there is no legal obligation for you to return their down payment. However With the situation the way it is now, it would be wise to prepare for the worst of their demands."

    Ohta puts down some papers on the table. "They've found allies in the media I see. So the 'dishonest developer is unable to take a highhanded approach' now."

    "Sir, don't take it so hard. Anyway, from the legal point of view, let's prepare for the worst case scenario."

    With a resigned nod, Ohta sighs. "All right."

    Late at night and the winds are blowing up a storm. The police tape surrounding the Yamaji home flutters in the wind, the trees sway ominously. Yuko walks to the curtains and draws them shut.

It feels like a demon is outside shaking the house,

intent on scaring the families

    Yuko goes upstairs to check on Mina when she hears her daughter crying inside her room. Slowly, Yuko enters to see Mina sitting up in bed, sobbing.

    "Mina? What's wrong? Are you feeling lonely since Papa's not home again tonight?" Yuko gently sits on the bed next to Mina. "All of a sudden you've lost two of your new friends. Papa's worried about you. He said that because of him all your friends have left you. I'm sure Takuya-kun and Satoru-kun will both come back. And then everyone will say it wasn't Papa's fault."

    Sniffing back tears, Mina finally looks up at Yuko. "If I tell a lie, Papa and Mama will hate me, right?"

    Surprised, Yuko stares at Mina. "Mm? You lied to me?"

    "Is having to keep a secret the same as lying?"

    "Mm, it also depends on what sort of a secret it is."

    Mina hangs her head and starts to cry again. Yuko puts her arms around her "Don't cry, don't cry. All right. I won't get mad. Tell me?"

    "He said I couldn't tell a soul."

    "Who said?"

    "......Satoru-kun."

    "What do you mean? Tell me." Yuko presses Mina anxiously.

    "That day, on the way home from school..."

    "The last time you met?"

    Mina nods. "Mm. All the way from school to where we parted, Satoru-kun seemed kind of down hearted. I was thinking that it was strange."

    Mina recalls the moment where she and Satoru goes separate ways. Waving to Satoru, Mina says "Well, I've got a piano lesson to go to, I'll see you tomorrow. Bye bye."

    A despondent Satoru waves back "Bye bye." Suddenly, he calls out "Mina!"

    Mina turns back "Mm?"

    Satoru comes running up. "There's something I want you to keep for me." Shrugging of his backpack, Satoru takes a case out and hands it to Mina. "You have to keep this a secret from everyone. Promise? If you tell any grown up, it'll be taken away for sure."

    Mina stares at Satoru before nodding. "All right."

    Satoru takes the case from Mina, takes off the rubber band and opening it, holds it out to Mina.

    Yuko opens the wallet to find it containing coins. "I wonder it Satoru-kun collected coins for a hobby."

    Mina explains "He said that whenever his father goes overseas on business trips, he would buy them back for him."

    "Mm, but why would he give this to you?"

    "It felt like Satoru-kun was going away on a long trip and wanted to say not to forget him. That's what I was thinking."

    Thinking, Yuko says "Can I keep this with me?"

    "Yes. But I'll have to return it to Satoru-kun someday."

    "I know. I'll take good care if it."

    Mina nods.

    "Well then, get to bed."

    Returning to her own bedroom, sits on the bed to take a closer look at the coins.

A young boy secretly hands over his treasure to a young girl

just before going away on a long trip

    Yuko flips the sleeves of the case. "Hong Kong five dollars, Thai one baht, Singapore fifty cents..." A medal suddenly grabs her attention and slipping it out of its sleeve, takes a closer look. "1990, Christmas Gold Coast.....1990 Australia!"

    Yuko suddenly recalls what Atsuta said earlier. "For half a year from June to December 1990, Yamaji Kohei-san was in Australia where Shindo Yoji-san was."

With seasons opposite to Japan's,

it is often known as Midsummer Christmas in Australia

    Yamaji Kohei-san was a student at the time

Unknowingly, this commemorative medal

became part of Satoru's coin collection



    "Midsummer Santa Claus...." Yuko mutters to herself, thinking. Suddenly getting up, she wanders downstairs and turns on the computer.

If Shindo Yoji-san met his lover at that time,

a woman that died sometime between

June and December 1990 in the Gold Coast,

then it might have appeared in the

local Gold Coast newspapers then

    Yuko does a search on the internet and reads the results returned on the screen. "Female police officer shot and killed by woman while...a female officer killed......that's not the right one...." Armed with dictionary in hand, Yuko translates as she goes along.



    The death of a one woman and

the presence of either a young

Shindo Yoji or Yamaji Kohei nearby.

Haven't seen any article that would

fit this yet.



    Tired but not giving up, Yuko searches methodically through the articles, going through October and November. "Female surfer....attacked by a shark....missing....this is not the right one either." Searching December's articles, Yuko comes across the article she's looking for. "Bank robbery victim, Japanese woman.....a Japanese woman?!' Yuko suddenly sits up and clicks the link. A window pops up and Yuko reads it aloud "On December 24, 1990, the Gold Coast Branch of the Metro Bank was robbed by a group of three people in broad daylight."

If this is the case, then I remember it

    Yuko suddenly searches the Japanese pages keying in 'December 1990, Gold Coast bank robbery' in the search fields. Immediately the search returns an article on the bank robbery with Oide Ruiko's picture, aged 26, on the screen. "Born in Shuzuoka Prefecture, Shimizu City. Oide Ruiko was an employee that dispatched along with Japanese investment overseas, a career woman. At the time of the robbery, she was in the president's office attending to some customers...."

To be killed during a bank robbery surely is unlucky

but can it really be called an accident?



In any case I want to make sure of this

this is the woman.

If this is the woman who's death is the start of everything......



    The next morning, Yuko comes out of the house with Mina on her heels.

"I'm sorry, having to call you all of a sudden." Yuko's brother Tohru has come by.

    "Mom said to give this to you. Cookies." Tohru holds out a box to Yuko.

    "Handmade by gradma?" Mina asks.

    Yuko laughs and takes the box, giving it to Mina. "It's delicious."

    Tohru tells his sister "Give them a call sometime."

    Yuko's face darkens momentarily before nodding with a smile. "Mm. I think I might be late. Thanks for doing this."

    "Ok."

    Leaving Mina with Tohru, Yuko gets into her car. Mina comes running after her. "What are you bring along?"

    Surprised, Yuko looks at her. "Eh?"

    "Your friend from college is in the hospital right?"

    Without looking, Yuko lies. "Oh yes, I wonder if flowers would be good, or would fruits be better? Well, I'm off!"

    Mina waves "Bye! Be careful!"

    Yuko starts the car and drives away.



    It was an unexpected trip that I kept a secret

even from my husband

I don't think it's time to tell him yet





    In his office, Ohta tries his best to persuade a couple of clients seated across from him. "Both families will definitely be found. And that will prove that the disappearances had nothing to do with the resort homes." However the clients are not convinced and leave.

I didn't want to add to the troubles

that my husband already faced daily.

No, that wasn't the only thought I had.

I wanted to solve this with my own hands.

I wanted to bring about warmth to my husband in his difficulties,

I wanted to bring peace back to a family who's been slandered.

   The navigator in the car says "Turn left at Akioi."

    "So I've still got to go straight," mutters Yuko to herself.

That would be the proof of the existence of a housewife

that's been married for 10 years,

living in peace,

and being there for my husband....

    Yuko heads off for Shimizu City in Shizuoka Prefecture, determination written on her face.

~ CJ's comments ~

Nagging thought....just how did Yuko come to the conclusion that Shindo Yoji spoke English as well? It hasn't been obvious thus far so she assumed from his job? Mmmm. So it does appear that Shindo Yoji and Yamaji Kohei have something to do with that bank robbery all those years ago. And Oide Ruiko. How is she and the two men related to Nakagawa Ohta? Although all the events have put Ohta in a difficult position, he 's looking mecha mecha ayashii as time goes by. Mmmmm....puzzling......one dead woman and three men....