Scavenger Hunt

The final bell rang, signaling the end of classes for the day. I gathered my things, shoving my books and notes into my bag as quickly as I could. My mind kept drifting back to the note my father had left about the Tomodachi, and the cryptic instructions it contained. Today was the day I planned to start figuring out what this scavenger hunt was really about, and I was itching to get back to Kojima Town.

As I made my way down the halls and out of the club building, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Everything about the Tomodachi had been shrouded in mystery since I first stumbled upon it, and now I was finally about to start uncovering whatever secrets my father had hidden. I wasn't sure if I was excited or terrified.

I reached the main entrance of the school, where a familiar sight greeted me—Aisha, Emma, Rebecca, Naomi, and Otsuki were already gathered, waiting for me. They were chatting and laughing, their conversation carrying an easy, carefree energy. I took a deep breath, letting myself relax for a moment, and approached them.

"There he is!" Emma exclaimed, waving me over with a grin. "Took you long enough, Motosaki. We thought you'd gotten lost or something."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm here," I said, trying to sound casual as I joined the group. "Didn't mean to keep you waiting."

Aisha smiled warmly, her eyes bright. "No worries, Saki. We're just glad you could make it. We were talking about heading into Tokyo to hang out for a bit. You in?"

I hesitated, glancing away for a moment. "Ah, I'd love to, but… I actually have something I need to take care of back in Kojima Town."

There was a brief pause, and I could feel the weight of their eyes on me. I knew I wasn't exactly being convincing, but I couldn't tell them the real reason. Not yet.

Rebecca tilted her head, giving me a curious look. "Something in Kojima Town? Like what?"

"Just some… family stuff," I said quickly, hoping that would be enough to end the questioning. "My dad left me a few things to take care of, and I figured I should get started on them sooner rather than later."

Emma crossed her arms, a teasing smile on her lips. "Oh, come on, Saki. That all can wait can't it? It's not like Kojima Town is gonna randomly disappear if you don't finish your task. We really want you to join us."

I glanced at her, then at the rest of the girls, feeling a pang of guilt. It wasn't like I didn't want to spend time with them—I really did. But whatever my father had left behind about the Tomodachi was important. Maybe even dangerous. I didn't want to drag them into something they didn't know anything about, not until I had a better understanding of what I was dealing with.

"I know, I know," I said, forcing a small smile. "But I really have to take care of this. Rain check?"

Otsuki, who had been quiet up until now, stepped forward, her gaze searching my face. "It must be pretty important if you're passing up a trip into Tokyo. Are you sure you don't need any help?"

For a moment, I felt my resolve waver. Otsuki had a way of looking at me that made it seem like she could see right through me, and I almost wanted to tell her everything. But I couldn't—at least, not yet. I couldn't risk involving them in something that could turn out to be dangerous.

"No, it's fine," I said, shaking my head. "It's just some errands. I'll be back in no time. You guys go have fun, and I'll catch up with you later."

Aisha's expression softened, and she gave me a reassuring smile. "Alright, if you're sure. But don't work too hard, okay?"

"I won't," I promised, giving her a thumbs-up.

Emma pouted, but there was a glint of playfulness in her eyes. "Fine, fine. We'll go have fun without you. But you'd better join us next time, or I'm dragging you out myself."

I chuckled, relieved that they were letting it go. "Deal."

The girls began to turn away, their conversation picking up again as they headed toward the school gate. I watched them for a moment, feeling a strange mix of relief and loneliness. I was glad they were giving me the space I needed, but I couldn't help but feel like I was missing out.

As they started walking off, Rebecca glanced back over her shoulder, her eyes meeting mine. "Take care, Motosaki. We'll see you later."

"Yeah… see you," I said, giving her a small wave.

Once they were out of sight, I let out a long breath, my shoulders relaxing. I adjusted the strap of my bag and began making my way toward the train station, my thoughts turning back to the note.

'Kojima Town… the place where it all began,' I thought, pulling out the crumpled piece of paper from my pocket and unfolding it. The note was still as cryptic as ever, the messy scrawl of my father's handwriting barely legible.

"Two statues are looking directly at each other," I read to myself quietly, my mind working to piece together what that could mean.

Kojima Town was my starting point, but where exactly was I supposed to go? There were no clear directions, just vague hints.

I boarded the train, settling into a seat by the window. As the train began to move, I stared out at the passing scenery, my mind racing. Whatever this scavenger hunt was, it felt like it was leading me down a path I couldn't turn back from. But if it would give me answers about the Tomodachi, then I had to see it through, no matter where it led.

The train ride was quiet, giving me plenty of time to think. I couldn't help but wonder if my father had gone through this same journey before me, following the same trail of clues. Why had he kept this from me? What was the Tomodachi, really?

As the train pulled into the Kojima Town station, I felt a sense of determination settle over me. I stepped off the train and took a deep breath, the familiar scent of the sea filling my lungs. I had no idea what I was about to find, but I was ready to take the first step.

With the note clutched tightly in my hand, I began walking, ready to uncover whatever secrets my father had left behind.

{Chapter 13: Scavenger Hunt}

I made it to Kojima Town, stepping off the train and looking around the peaceful town. Now that I am aware of the Tomodachi's presence, I know this peaceful town held a lot more secrets than I could imagine.

I looked at the note in my hand, travelling down the sidewalk along the town. I racked my brain to try and figure out what this first cryptic clue was, needing to figure it out fast before I had to go home for the evening before Aisha began to worry.

'Two statues looking at each other..? What could this even mean?' I thought, having to enter my Detective Mode for this clue.

I'll admit, due to me not being in Japan for 10 years essentially, I'll lost my touch a bit with my heritage and needed to regain my knowledge about Japanese landmarks. This first clue was my first step in doing so.

As I searched around more, I began to scan my surroundings and decided to not look within the town for the first clue and in more the country areas of Kojima Town. I called a cab over to me, giving him the instructions to take me out to the countryside as I got inside his car.

The cab driver nodded, beginning to make his way out the town and toward the country roads. "So, you're not here with your friend this time?"

I glanced up from my phone, realizing that my cab driver was the same man who took me to my mom's old home yesterday. "Oh, no. No, she's with her friends today. I'm just here against to finish a few errands."

"Yeah, I get that. If you don't mind, where are you headed?" He asked, glancing at me from his rearview mirror then back at the road.

I didn't know if I should tell him or not, but I at least knew that the Tomodachi wasn't anywhere nearby to hear me or even cared for anyone else other than Aisha and the others at the moment.

"I'm working on this scavenger hunt...and my first clue is 'two statues looking at each other'. Might know what this means?" I asked, my gaze meeting his on his rearview mirror.

He took a moment to think about the clue, a few seconds of silence filling the car. With a quiet hum, he nodded, looking at me again. "That's Kojima Shrine. The only shrine in this town actually, there is actually a Shrine Maiden and a spirit medium that lives there. Maybe they can help you."

With this information, the clue suddenly became more clear to me. The simple answer caused me to mentally facepalm and I shook my head with a chuckle. "How did I not find that out sooner?"

The cab driver chuckled softly, making a turn to get on route to the shrine. "Sometimes the simplest of answers is the last on the mind for some folks. The more you overanalyze, the more complicated the simple answer can be."

I looked at the cab driver, his wisdom slightly speaking to me. I let out a soft hum as I looked out the window and watched the scenery pass by. I knew I was overanalyzing, and it was a habit that was hard to break but his words helped me understand that thinking in simple terms can help in the long run.

Soon, we reached Kojima Shrine, the cab driver stopping his car in front of it. Before I got out, he turned toward me and handed me a card with his number. "If you ever need a ride while you're in town, just give me a call."

I took his card and looked at it, reading over the contents. I noticed his name, "Hanma" and his number, keeping those two in mind for the future. I looked back up at him, a grateful smile playing on my face. "Thank you, Hanma. I really appreciate this."

He nodded and watched as I got out his car then drove off, leaving me to walk into the unknown. I looked at the shrine, noticing two fox statues facing each other and looked at my father's note, checking it off. With the first landmark found, all I had to do was find whatever my dad needed for me to look for and be one step closer to opening the box in the attic.

Nestled amidst the serene embrace of towering cedar trees, Kojima Shrine stood as a tranquil sanctuary, its presence both commanding and inviting. The pathway leading to the shrine was lined with smooth, weathered stones, each step echoing the whispers of history. As I approached, the air was thick with the scent of damp earth and the sweet fragrance of blooming cherry blossoms in the spring, their delicate petals dancing in the breeze.

The shrine itself was a harmonious blend of traditional Japanese architecture and the natural landscape. Its torii gate, painted a vibrant vermilion, rose majestically against a backdrop of lush greenery, symbolizing the transition from the mundane to the sacred. Intricate carvings of mythical creatures adorn the wooden beams, telling tales of protection and blessings to those who seek them.

As I continued forward, I noticed a shrine maiden sweeping leaves off of the stone path, her movements graceful and elegant, similar to Otsuki's movements. "Uhm...excuse me!"

The shrine maiden stopped her task, looking up at me with a smile. "Ahh, another visitor. Hello, have you come to pay your respects to the gods or maybe make a confession?"

I gave her a small smile then shook my head, looking back at the note in my hands. "I actually stopped by because...uhm..."

The shrine maiden smiled at me, waiting for me to tell her the reason I was here. I didn't know exactly how much to tell her, but since I was here I decided to reveal my intentions for intruding this sanctuary.

"I'm actually here for answers," I began, gazing at the maiden then bowed toward her. "My name is Motosaki Izuna and I was brought here to seek answers about something dealing with my parents."

"Izuna?" A voice called out, catching my attention as well as the shrine maiden's.

An older woman walked out of the shrine, her hands behind her back and she opened her eyes to look at me, her eyes slightly widening. "Oh~ It is you, Motosaki. It is very good to see you again."

I scratched the side of my head, raising an eyebrow as I tried to remember who she was. I couldn't remember her, but I politely bowed toward her. "I'm sorry, but I don't quite remember you."

"Oh, it's quite alright dearie. You were just a wee little boy when I first met you when your father and mother came by to bless you. My name is Hisu Fugigami, and it seems that you've met my granddaughter, Lotus Fugigami," Hisu smiled at me then walked over toward me, her steps slow yet strong.

"I'm sorry to intrude on your home, but I need some help. I was told to come here from my father's scavenge hunt that he left me, and the first clue led me here. Do you know what happened to my father and mother?" I asked, glancing at Hisu and lowering the paper in my hand.

"I do...and it is a rather tragic tale. Follow me in and we can talk over a cup of herbal tea. I can tell your spirit is troubled," Hisu said, making her way back to the shrine.

I watched as she made her way toward the shrine and followed behind her. Lotus decided to follow, a bit curious about me as well since her grandmother had history with my family. The three of us made our way into the shrine, out steps echoing on the wooden floors.

Inside, the main hall exuded an atmosphere of reverence and peace. Sunlight filtered through the shoji screens, casting gentle patterns on the polished wooden floor. The soft rustle of leaves outside added a soothing melody, while the faint sound of a nearby stream enhanced the sense of isolation from the outside world. An altar, adorned with offerings of rice and sake, invited worshippers to pause, reflect, and connect with the divine.

We all sat in a cozy room, the afternoon sun peering through the shoji screens and illuminating the room with a warm golden glow. The sounds of cups clinking and the preparation of tea filled the room along with the scent of fresh honey and herbs.

"So you know what happened to my parents? What really happened to them?" I asked, seeking answers from Hisu.

Hisu sat quietly at the table for a moment then let out a soft exhale. "Tell me what all you know already and I'll try to add on."

I nodded then began to try to recount the memories in my mind. As I tried to remember, it felt like I had lost my voice, that faithful day I saw them burned into my memory. Hisu noticed my silence, watching as I hesitated to speak. She didn't say a word, allowing me to find the words on my own.

"I was only 16 at the time..." I began, those haunting memories flashing into my head. I could hear the sound of my heartbeating against my chest. "And they were in two separate rooms...my father on the floor with so many stab wounds and my mom...found hanging from the ceiling fan.."

I held my head as I felt my heart rate increasing, the sound of my heartbeat increasing and I could hear the screams of my younger self in my head. I let out a soft exhale, breaking into a cold sweat as I recounted the events.

"And afterwards...I uh...moved here and I came to this town with some of my friends, Aisha included. We went to my mom's old house and opened the attic and that's when I found out...that I was cursed," I said, trying to explain the events as best as I could.

"The police deemed it the case a double homicide didn't they?" Hisu asked.

I nodded, looking down at the table and closed my eyes. "Yeah, it was counted as a double homicide..."

Hisu looked at me, her expression serious for a moment. "Since you mentioned you were cursed...I am sure you're already aware of the presence of the Tomodachi right?"

I nodded once again. "Yeah, I'm aware now but I don't know much about her.."

"Well, allow me to tell you that your parents death...was not a double homicide. It was a Murder-Suicide, also known as, the Lover's Suicide," Hisu explained, taking out an envelope and setting it on the table in front of me.

"Listen to me when I say this, after your move, your father and mother's relationship began to grow rocky because of the fact that she began isolating him from everything and everyone. He was forced to quit the military and one of the last letters he wrote was to me. He wanted you to read this as one of his final wishes," Hisu continued, watching as Lotus brought over some tea for us.

I looked at the envelope and opened it slowly, taking the letter out and opened the paper.

"August 3, 2X19

Dear Hisu,

I want to start by thanking you for everything you've done for me and my family. If it were not for you and your skills as a medium and maiden, I would have never been able to live as long as I did. As for what happens to me after this letter, I don't know..."

"I want you to know that after everything is said and done, I still love Mikoto but after getting her other friends killed due to picking in correctly, I was truly stuck with the Tomodachi. I am sending this last message to tell you that if Motosaki shows up at Japan, give him the letter. I want him to know the truth about his mother,

Sincerely, Erik Izuna. (8)"

As I read the letter, I felt my entire heart stop for a moment. My own mother....was the Tomodachi the entire time. My mother...killed my father in a murder suicide. Most of all...the Tomodachi took away my parents.

At this very moment, I didn't even realize the number on the letter, but just the words on the page. I didn't know what to do from this point with this information. I just sat in silence, my head held low.

Hisu stared at me for a moment, understanding the mental state I was currently in. "I know this is a lot to take in, so I'll allow you a few moments to gather your thoughts. Whenever you're ready, I'm here to speak with you."

With that, Hisu allowed me the moment I needed to be alone and process everything. All I could do was sit in silence and let everything process. I now knew how dangerous the Tomodachi could really be if left unchecked, but now with more questions than answers, I still didn't know how to deal with the Tomodachi.