Code L?: Renko's Walk
Renko's Walk 1
You
Two reports are lying on my desk.
You
The one on the left is just a stack of paper stapled together, but it's durable enough.
You
The person who wrote it obviously cared more about its contents than its presentation.
You
I leaf through the report. It seems she's revisited the Last Tokyo Ward multiple times after the whole angel ordeal.
You
The Last Ward is a repository of the massive city that used to be our nation's capital.
You
Renko of the Secret Sealing Club has family in Tokyo. Perhaps that's why she's taken such a keen interest in the Last Ward.
You
Though, it probably has more to do with how going there rekindled memories of her childhood...
You
...and reunited her with old friends.
You
She had heard about the Last Ward before, but she hadn't seriously considered going there until now.
You
It's almost scary how perfectly everything played out.
You
Most people would get creeped out by such an odd string of coincidences, but not the Secret Sealing Club.
You
To them, it was a mystery ripe for investigating.
You
They suspect the key to uncovering the secrets of the Lost Barriers must lie somewhere in the Last Ward.
You
Now, I better read this report...
You
...and transcribe it word-for-word into my journal.
Have you ever heard of the Bottomless Tunnel? It's one of your stereotypical urban legends.
Normally, tunnels have an entrance and an exit. Though, some tunnels are incomplete and stop mid-way.
What makes the Bottomless Tunnel unique is that it has an entrance but no exit or dead end.
No matter how far you walk, it just keeps going. It's pitch-black inside, so you can't see anything.
"Bottomless" might not be the best way to describe it, but children named it, so I think they deserve some slack.
Now, since it's an urban legend, you may assume that those who enter the Bottomless Tunnel are never seen again...
But that's not the case. The entrance is still there, so you can just turn around and walk out the way you came in.
It's obvious when you stop to think about it. Perhaps because of this, there haven't been any stories of people disappearing.
Then again, that might just be because people are too scared to go near it.
Renko
I'm gonna wait outside, Miss Kanako!
Kanako
Sorry. I won't be long.
There's hardly any room, so we'd trip over each other if we tried to put on our shoes and leave the apartment together.
Remembering the urban legend about the Bottomless Tunnel got me thinking... Maybe it's here in the Last Ward.
That jump in logic surprised me.
This might still be Tokyo, but it's not where I grew up. The people born here have long since left this world.
This place is a shadow of its former self, preserved as a physical archive. My Tokyo is quite a few layers higher up.
It seems like a mistake to search the Last Ward for an urban legend I heard about when I was little.
Then again, if this place truly used to be the bustling Tokyo city of its time, there's a chance my Tokyo copied parts of it.
The higher layers are more recent than the lower layers. Going down is like stepping back into the past.
So, tunnels that have been blocked off in my Tokyo might still be accessible here.
Anyway, that's why I'm here in the Last Ward bright and early. I wanted to say hello to Sanae, but she'd already left.
Miss Kanako and Miss Suwako also had things to do today, so after drinking some tea, I decided to leave with Miss Kanako.
...And that brings me to the present.
Oops.
I was so caught up in my own thoughts that I didn't notice the girl standing before me.
Judging by the look on her face, I'm guessing she's been waiting for me to get out of the way so she can pass.
???
...
Her silent stare is really intense. It's like she can see right through me.
Her frown might give others the impression that she's always grumpy, but for some reason... I don't think that's the case.
Wait...
She seems oddly familiar.
Renko's Walk 2
I feel like I've seen her before somewhere.
She keeps staring at me. I wouldn't go so far as to say she has an icy demeanor, but I wouldn't call it warm, either.
Even though her eyes don't reveal anything about what she might be thinking, I feel like I'm an open book to her.
???
...
Is she... reading my mind?
That's what it feels like.
???
...
???
What are you doing?
Renko
S-Sorry?!
???
I noticed you examining the layout of the first floor of this apartment block, staring at each of the rooms in order.
Renko
Huh?!
???
I understand you might be curious, but it's rude to stare, so please stop.
Renko
*panicked confusion*
It's true that I was slow to notice her...
And while I may have been looking at other people's homes. I wasn't overtly staring.
I'm an experienced investigator. I'm a pro at subtly examining things.
In this line of work, I have to carefully note everything I see, especially what people are holding and wearing.
Making covert observations is practically second nature to me now. Though, I also take care not to abuse this skill.
???
Well?
There's no way someone would notice me doing this. Well, apart from Merry. But she's the exception.
???
What do you have to say for yourself?
This can't be real.
Is she seriously reading my mind?!
Renko
Umm...!
???
Oh, now I get it.
???
You don't live here. I would know if you did. But for some reason, you descended from the second floor.
???
You're standing at the base of the stairs, facing away from them, so there's no doubt about that.
???
My guess is that you're on your way back from visiting someone living in one of the upper-floor apartments.
???
You examined the first floor because you hadn't really seen it before. It's hidden if you come in from the back entrance.
???
Does that sound about right?
Renko
P-Pretty much...
???
But that's not all.
???
The person you visited was either Kanako Yasaka, Suwako Moriya, or Sanae Kochiya... Or perhaps all three.
Renko
No way... How could you possibly know that?!
???
It's elementary.
???
My apartment is directly under theirs.
Renko
Oh.
???
These apartments are old, with thin walls and equally thin floors. Sound travels right through them.
???
I heard you shouting just before I stepped outside.
???
Now do you understand?
Renko
R-Right. That makes sense...
???
Goodbye.
Renko
W-wait, hold up!
Renko
Oh...
Renko
She's gone.
You
What's going on? It's like I've woken up inside the report...!
You
But I'm not experiencing the events through Renko's eyes. I have my own perspective. It's like I'm truly here.
You
This is just like what happened during that angel ordeal.
You
Or in those mysterious dreams I've been having lately.
Renko's Walk 3
Kanako
The person living below us? Oh, you mean Miss Komeiji.
Kanako Yasaka is one of my childhood friends. She's always been kind of like a big sister to Sanae.
But nowadays, it feels like she's been promoted to something more akin to a parent.
She's a university student, but apparently, she's also an entrepreneur.
It seems she doesn't really attend many lectures and spends most of her time leading her entrepreneurial club.
That's how she earns a living for Sanae, Miss Suwako, and herself. She's a successful businessperson.
I guess that'd make Miss Suwako more of the stay-at-home mom of the family, though she's mostly out exploring.
Kanako
Wait, don't tell me you've forgotten, Renko.
Kanako
Don't you remember Miss Komeiji? We were all friends when we were little.
Renko
Huh?
I felt a chill run down my spine.
It's like my body reacted to the word "friends."
This isn't the first time this has happened.
Memories are flooding back to me.
Suddenly. Like a dam had burst.
Renko
Urgh...
Kanako
Whoa! Are you OK?!
Renko
I-I'm fine... Don't mind me!
Renko
It's probably 'cause I skipped breakfast. I should really stop doing that.
Kanako
You don't need to go out if you're feeling unwell. You can rest up at my place.
Renko
N-No, I'm fine. It's not that bad.
Kanako
All right. If you say so.
Renko
Hahaha...
I desperately try to stem the cascading torrent of memories. It feels like they're trying to burst out of my skull.
If I played it tough and tried to process them all at once...
No, I don't even want to think what would happen then.
I need to reduce the memories to a trickle and process them one at a time.
Renko
Komeiji... Her first name is Satori, isn't it?
Kanako
So you do remember.
Renko
And doesn't she have a little sister? Koishi?
Kanako
That's right. They live together in the apartment below us.
Kanako
Do you also remember Orin and Okuu?
Renko
Are they living with them as well?
Kanako
Yeah.
Something's off.
My instincts are screaming at me that this couldn't possibly be a coincidence.
This isn't where I grew up, so why are so many of my childhood friends living here? Did they all move here together?
Oh, I know. Maybe it's 'cause my hometown and this Last Ward both used to be Tokyo.
That's the same reason why I'm trying to find the Bottomless Tunnel here...
Renko
...
I feel like I'm one step away from understanding everything.
Perhaps I could suddenly resolve all these apparent inconsistencies and contradictions...
...if I could somehow process the flood of memories I'm still just barely keeping at bay.
So why don't I try? Is it because I'm scared? Am I not brave enough?
Renko
No, that's not it.
Renko
I wouldn't be a member of the Secret Sealing Club if I didn't love a good mystery.
Kanako
Hm? Did you say something?
Renko
No, umm, it's nothing.
Just because you CAN check the answers at the back of the book doesn't mean you should. That ruins all the fun.
I'm sure that's what Merry would say, too.
Kanako
...All right. I'm heading this way. You'll be wanting to go that way.
Kanako
Stay safe.
Kanako
You sure are determined to find it, huh?
Kanako
The Bottomless Tunnel.
You
It happened again!
You
There must be something up with this report.
???
You've got good instincts, PLAYER.
You
Wh-Who said that...?
???
This isn't really the best time to stop and chat. Bullets are actually pretty dangerous, you know?
???
It won't be long until we meet.
???
So try to stay focused until then.
Renko's Walk 4
Instinctively, I started walking along the riverbank, perhaps because I knew this would help me organize my thoughts.
Or maybe it was 'cause of all the negative ions.
If my childhood memories are to be trusted, the Bottomless Tunnel should still be a fair distance away.
But I know I'm heading in the right direction. So, it's not like I'm taking a pointless detour or anything.
Of course, that hinges on the Bottomless Tunnel actually existing here.
I've seen plenty of familiar locations on my walk so far. Too many to be a coincidence.
No, calling the locations familiar might be a bit of a stretch, since I didn't notice them the last time I was here.
It's more that the impression given off by the landscape is familiar.
The land changes over time because it's mostly made up of natural elements, like rivers and trees, that affect each other.
And the placement of buildings and other artificial structures drastically alters the overall look.
But some things, like the shape of the land, shift so slowly that it's almost impossible to notice any differences.
It takes a lot of effort to flatten a hill, and lakes generally stay in the same place unless some kind of disaster occurs.
That's why the land more-or-less retains the same impression despite the surface-level changes in buildings and plant life.
It's like how, generally speaking, a person's face changes as they age but still retains the same overall impression.
The same goes for personalities. However, that doesn't necessarily mean you'll recognize them immediately.
You might have to chat a bit first.
Anyway, to make a long story short, this Last Ward gives off the same impression as the Tokyo I grew up in.
Perhaps I should've expected this since the Last Ward is a living archive of the old Tokyo.
But knowing something in principle isn't the same as understanding it through first-hand experience.
It's like the difference between knowing of the color red and actually seeing it for yourself.
Then again, the Last Ward feels MORE familiar than it should be.
It's still crazy to think that the government decided to preserve an entire city.
Is preserving such a thing even possible? And besides, what would be the point? It just sounds like a big money sink.
If they wanted to preserve the culture, compiling historical documents and building a diorama would be more efficient.
They could even make a movie if they wanted. That would cost a whole lot less.
However, preserving it as digital data would be better. That'd make searching easier. Analog is so behind the times.
I assume the Last Ward was created to preserve the old Tokyo as accurately as possible.
But I can't for the life of me understand why.
That's why I have to check for myself.
I think the best way to do that is to confirm whether the Bottomless Tunnel exists here or not.
I'm sure you get where I'm coming from, Merry.
You
This section of the report ends here. So, what I should really be doing now is flipping over to the next page.
You
But my eyes drift down to the blank margin below the last paragraph.
You
And then down further still, beyond the bounds of the page, causing me to stare into empty space.
You
Why would I search for more words to read here?
You
It's illogical.
You
This is the riverbank in Renko's report.
You
But she has already left it in search of the Bottomless Tunnel.
You
There shouldn't be any scenes in her report where she isn't present... but that's what I'm reading right now.
You
It's as if it has hidden pages numbered with fractions in between the pages numbered with standard integers.
You
Or minus numbered pages that appear before the title page. Or imaginary numbered pages that extend out toward me.
???
...
You
Huh?
You
Who are you?
???
...I could ask you the same question.
???
No, that would be a waste of time. There's a much more reliable method. I know this is sudden, but...
???
Please battle me.
???
Use whatever bullets you have available.
???
Don't worry. I cannot be injured. So go all out and hit me.
???
If you don't, this battle of bullets will lose all meaning.
Renko's Walk 5
You
I love dinosaurs. They're cool.
You
But I've got no idea what's going on right now.
You
At least I'm not alone in that.
You
She seems just as confused as me.
???
I would like to introduce myself...
???
But when I say my name, it comes out like this... ■■■■■.
You
What about me? My name is PLAYER. Did you hear that?
???
I did indeed. Nice to meet you, Miss PLAYER.
You
Good... That's something, at least.
???
Yes.
You
She's really cool.
You
At first, I thought she was scary, but her genuine and honest smile put me at ease. I think that's the true her.
You
We've only just met, so I still don't really know anything about her, but that's what my instincts tell me.
You
I get the vague impression that she might also resemble one of the people who appeared in my dreams.
You
I say "might" because, as everybody knows, it's not easy to identify people in dreams.
You
You could say they were whoever after the fact, and you'd believe it.
You
Dreams become memories, and as they fade, they distort. When you think back on them, you second-guess yourself.
You
If only I could experience my own dreams with a top-down perspective, then I could write an accurate record of them.
You
It's such a shame that I can't.
You
Anyway, enough about that.
You
She's riding a dinosaur!
You
A living dinosaur.
You
If nothing else, this is clear proof that she's not from this world.
You
I've seen plenty of fantastical things in my dreams and visions...
You
But this is different. It feels more, I dunno... More real. More visceral.
???
This girl's name is Silver Blade. She's my trusty steed. Though maybe "steed" isn't the right word.
You
Is there a separate name for dinosaur mounts? A "steedosaur"? Maybe "dinosteed" could work.
You
Anyway... I've got so many questions that I don't know where to begin.
You
Why am I here? Why are you here? And how come we're here together? And why now?
You
I don't think these questions ever occurred to me in my other dreams. That's something else that makes this feel more real.
You
It feels like I'm actually here, talking to her.
You
It doesn't feel any different from real life.
???
I have no idea. In fact, I was hoping you'd be able to tell me.
You
Right. It seems we're in the same boat.
???
This would be so much easier if I could retain more than a slight portion of my memories when traveling through time.
You
Yeah, that would help...
You
Wait, what?!
You
We're not in the same boat at all! If I'm in a boat, she's in a spaceship!
You
But seriously... Time travel? Has that finally been made possible?!
You
Is that why you just appeared out of nowhere? To avoid time paradoxes or something?
???
Hm?
???
Oh, yeah. Something like that.
You
Is she just saying whatever?
???
I can't seem to find an answer to that in the few memories left to me.
???
Sorry.
You
Oh! No, um, don't apologize. It's not your fault.
You
I know what it's like to suffer from memory loss.
???
On the plus side, it seems I managed to save a few specific memories to guide me. They're like sticky notes on my brain.
???
Apparently, I should get someone to give me a nickname.
Renko's Walk 6
Yes, this is definitely familiar. This scene before me makes me feel all nostalgic.
I used to play in a river just like this. If an adult saw me, they'd give me a telling-off, saying it was dangerous.
Though my river was more engineered than this one.
You wouldn't be able to tell at a glance, but a lot of work went into improving the flow and protecting against floods.
It looked natural, but it wasn't. And that was its undoing. In the end, it was declared too dangerous and got covered up.
It became an underground river as part of the drainage network.
This river, on the other hand, is still in its natural state. That makes it resonate with humans on a more primal level.
Our society prioritizes the preservation of nature at every opportunity. Nature is respected as if it has rights of its own.
Humanity will do whatever it takes not to suffer environmental problems again. The old days must've been really traumatic.
But, in concert with this, every effort has also been made to isolate humans from the natural world.
We humans cannot live without our civilization.
Cities are designed so you'll never see a bug or a fallen leaf. Food is synthesized to be full of nutrients and free of allergens.
And the existence of rivers that could pose any sort of danger cannot be tolerated.
Those who agree with these practices are called "adults."
It's not as if Merry and I had a falling out.
We're not having a fight.
The Secret Sealing Club belongs to us both, in equal measure. We make all the decisions together.
But, even so...
We're still different people.
You
This section of Renko's report ends here.
You
But before I could continue, sentences appeared in the blank space between this section and the next.
You
Letters quickly appeared one after the other to form long chains of text, similar to how microbes grow into colonies.
You
Yes, that analogy seems even more apt if you look at the text from afar.
You
It's like an illusion.
You
But...
You
As soon as I began to read the words―
Sakuya
Sakuya?
You
It's the name of a character in a book or something I read a long time ago. You remind me of her... Do you like it?
Sakuya
It's a wonderful nickname. Thank you.
Sakuya
Perhaps my original name was something similar.
Sakuya
Now, can you please give a nickname to Silver Blade, too?
You
Um... what? Doesn't she already have a name? You just called her Silver Blade.
Sakuya
Oh, right.
You
How can she remember her pet dinosaur's name but not her own?
Sakuya
I know what you're thinking. "This weirdo forgot her own name but remembers the name of some random creature."
You
Well, yes! But I wasn't so blunt in my head!
Sakuya
Haha, so you do think I'm weird. That's me―Sakuya, the weird amnesiac.
You
There's gotta be a better way to phrase that!
You
Also, I feel that name could apply to me as well.
Sakuya
A sticky note in my head says I should find fragments of my lost memory here, but I haven't had any luck so far.
You
That's probably because all we've done is chat! Maybe we should try a bit harder before giving up!
Sakuya
Point taken.
You
Haha, I think I've finally started to get a handle on what kind of person she is.
You
She's a jokester through and through.
Sakuya
Pfft.
Sakuya
Hahaha!
Sakuya
You're a true jokester, aren't you, Miss PLAYER?
You
Aww, you beat me to it.
You
She said it first, so I guess I've gotta accept that title. I'm now PLAYER the jokester.
Sakuya
I don't need any memories to know that you're a good person.
Sakuya
I'm lucky that I met you.
You
Haha, thanks.
You
It makes me really happy to hear her say that.
You
...
You
I felt lost and confused when I woke up with no memory, but my benefactor was there for me.
You
So, it's nice to be able to do the same for somebody else.
Sakuya
All right, let's go, shall we?
Sakuya
I still have much to learn. Each new piece of knowledge I find should help fill the gaps in my mind.
Sakuya
Haha, and there are a lot of gaps to fill. I still can't even remember why I'm here.
Renko's Walk 7
Merry
The Bottomless Tunnel?
Merry
It does sound mysterious...
Merry
But it's not a shrine or a temple, so there probably won't be any Izanagi Objects.
Merry
I doubt there'd be anything I could do to help.
Merry
...Oh, right. Without me, you wouldn't be able to tell if Phantasmal Sight is possible or not.
Merry
But unless we find an Izanagi Object, we won't be able to confirm if a barrier still exists...
Merry
...No, that's not what I said.
Merry
I know you're not just using me for my ability.
Merry
Stop twisting my words.
Merry
Why...? Why don't you get it?
Merry
Stupid Renko...
Merry
...I thought you'd understand.
Renko
If only it was raining. That would give me an excuse.
Renko
Unfortunately, there's not a cloud in the sky.
Renko
I'm starting to hope...
Renko
...that there isn't any Bottomless Tunnel.
???
Ayayaya, it's not easy proving that something doesn't exist. It's like asking if all ravens are black.
???
Hello!
Aya
It's me, Aya! The reporter!
Aya
I gave you my business card, didn't I? Why haven't you called?
Renko
M-Miss Aya?! What are you doing here?!
Aya
I heard you were investigating the Bottomless Tunnel, and it sounded fun―I mean, I was worried about you!
Aya
Didn't I ask you to call if something came up? I'm sure I did... Or did I forget?
Aya
Huh? I was absolutely sure a moment ago, but now I've lost confidence.
Renko
No, you did ask us to call you. It's just I didn't think this was worth bothering you about.
Aya
Hmmm... I don't like the way you phrased that. Getting the biggest scoops is all about timing!
Aya
I can't write an article about the latest news if I only find out about it after the fact.
Aya
Let this serve as a warning. From now on, please call me as soon as you notice something out of the ordinary. OK?
Renko
Sure. But... aren't you kind of enjoying this?
Aya
Of course―No, I'm all business!
Renko
(She basically just admitted it.)
Aya
On a more serious note... You won't find what you're looking for up ahead.
Aya
Though, you are going the right way.
Renko
Ah, I see. You're on your way back from there.
Renko
But what exactly do you mean? Is the tunnel up ahead, or isn't it?
Aya
You'll see when you get there. You'll also figure out what you're truly looking for.
Renko
Wow, are you being overly cryptic on purpose?
Aya
What's life without mysteries? Besides, you're not going to come all this way without checking for yourself, are you?
Renko
...!
Aya
That's the kind of person you are, isn't it, Renko? The kind of person you've always been.
Aya
On your way to inevitably uncover the truth behind the Lost Barriers, you'll face countless other mysteries.
Aya
And given the choice between ignoring and investigating them, you'll choose the latter. Please keep doing that.
Aya
That benefits me as well.
Renko
...The only thing I really gathered from all that is that you know an awful lot about me.
Aya
Then you've pretty much understood everything I meant to say. But, just to be nice, I'll give you one final clue.
Aya
Before, I told you that Aya Shameimaru was my pen name, but that was a lie. It's my actual name.
Renko
...Ah!
Aya
I was waiting for you to realize.
Aya
See you. We should catch up again sometime.
Aya
Sometime soon. When you're more composed.
Aya
Oh, by the way... You know about that strange phenomenon where memories start flooding back to you all of a sudden?
Aya
We should give it a name. How about Memory Flood?
Aya
My bet is that it has something to do with the Lost Barriers. Though I still haven't found any evidence to back this up.
Aya
At the moment, it's nothing more than conjecture. Or maybe it's just what I want to believe.
Aya
Either way, I only managed to discover this phenomenon after many hours of work comparing different sources.
Aya
And you, Renko, discovered the same thing in a much shorter time.
Aya
That's why I believe Memory Flood is worth investigating.
Aya
Let me tell you everything I know so far.
Aya
While I haven't collected much data outside the Last Ward, there's a connection between this place and Memory Flood.
Aya
As far as I know, only residents of the Last Ward have ever experienced it. It might be a kind of endemic disease.
Aya
Most people aren't even aware they experience Memory Flood. Apparently, it's almost impossible to notice when it happens.
Aya
How I discovered it is a long story, so I'll tell you about it some other time.
Aya
Just know that almost everyone living here, including Sanae, unknowingly experiences Memory Flood.
Aya
Also, there's no guarantee that those memories are truly memories from your past.
Aya
But doubting your memories is only the beginning. You have to check each one.
Aya
That's what I do. And that's what you're doing.
Aya
Furthermore...
Aya
There's a syndrome that causes effects eerily similar to Memory Flood.
Aya
It's called Violet's Boundary Syndrome.
Aya
Though it's more commonly known as...
Aya
...dreaming disease.
Aya
Hm? Why'd I have to say something even more cryptic as I'm leaving? Haha, well, you know me.
Aya
Don't you, Renko?
Aya
It's good to see you again.
Renko's Walk 8
Sakuya
Thanks to your help, I've managed to explore most of the world within this data source. I can't thank you enough.
You
Does she have an instinctual need to gather data or something? She's kinda like a data bookworm.
You
Though, I don't think literal bookworms actually absorb the information in books.
You
They aren't even really worms. They're insects.
You
Like the deathwatch beetle... Hm, she's got the watch part down.
Sakuya
I plan to scout out similar data sources to try and fill in the gaps in my knowledge, so I'm sure we'll meet again.
Sakuya
But just say the word, and I'll be with you in an instant―no matter the time or place.
You
O-OK!
You
I didn't expect to make any new friends today, especially not like this.
You
Not that I'm complaining, though. Life would be boring if nothing unexpected happened.
Sakuya
All right then...
Sakuya
See you.
You
...
You
I took a moment to stop and think.
You
When I first saw that mysterious silver-haired girl riding a dinosaur, the name "Sakuya Izayoi" popped in my head.
You
I hesitate to say I gave her that name. It didn't feel like that.
You
I think the name originally belonged to a character in a story I heard or a book I read...
You
But it could've also come from one of the people who appeared in my dreams.
You
Based on what happened with Sanae...
You
I suspect there's a Sakuya who looks similar to that silver-haired girl among Renko's group of childhood friends.
You
The more you rely on memories and impressions, the harder it is to distinguish between one person and another.
You
But that isn't what I'm most hung up over.
You
Perhaps it was because of her silver hair...
You
...but to me, she felt like a mirror.
You
Like how the Moon is a mirror reflecting the light of the Sun.
You
Now then...
You
I better finish reading Renko's report.
I really hoped the Bottomless Tunnel didn't exist.
It would've been better if I didn't find it.
That way, I could simply turn around and go back.
I could go back to Merry and say...
"It wasn't there. So, let's investigate the next mystery together."
Unfortunately...
The mouth of the Bottomless Tunnel is right here in front of me.
It's like it was sitting here, waiting for me to arrive.
Like a massive snake with its mouth wide open, yawning after waiting so long.
It's there. Plain as day.
Renko
...
Renko
I better check inside.
It's pitch-black. I won't be able to see anything.
Renko
...
Renko
But it should be fine as long as I keep one hand on the wall as I go...
I would be lying if I said I'm no longer afraid of the dark.
I'm a human―and humans live in the light―so there's no conquering that fear.
But I don't want to turn back just because of the darkness.
Renko
I'm afraid because I'm alone...
Typically, this is the part when the disappointing truth is revealed.
Illusions fall apart under close examination.
No matter how much you hope for something special or how scared you are, that doesn't change what isn't there.
Sometimes, truth isn't stranger than fiction.
Renko
...
I came out at the same place I entered.
It seemed fairly long, but maybe that was just because I was walking slowly in the dark.
There were quite a few turns, and some sections sloped upward, some downward.
This, combined with the darkness, quickly made me lose all sense of direction.
Once, my hand brushed across a door. But it was locked.
Perhaps it opened to a maintenance room for the lights that were no longer in use.
There's nothing unusual about that...
Especially compared to what I'm seeing right now.
Renko
...
Renko
I should try again with my hand on the opposite wall, just to make sure.
Renko
Which, I guess, would be the wall I'm touching right now since I came out on the opposite side of the tunnel.
Everything's the same so far...
Renko
...
Renko
Yeah, it was exactly the same. It was still dark, but I was able to walk at a more normal pace the second time.
Renko
It really isn't that long. In fact, I'd say it's shorter than most tunnels.
Renko
For some reason, it loops back on itself inside.
Renko
Just a single loop, and then you come back out.
Renko
The kid who named it the Bottomless Tunnel probably chose that name because they kept wandering about in circles.
Renko
But then they must've realized you can easily find the entrance again by walking with one hand on the wall.
Renko
...
Mystery solved.
Before I got the chance to say that out loud...
I heard a voice.
From behind me.
From inside the tunnel.
Out of the darkness.
???
Renko.
Renko
Wh-Who's there?!
???
Sorry I'm late. Did you wait long?
You
Huh?! An angel?!
Gengetsu
Oh, I'm Gengetsu. I'm super despicable and super disastrous.
Gengetsu
But why, after everything you've seen, are you so surprised to see an angel? Though just to be clear, I'm actually a devil.
Gengetsu
I called out to you not that long ago. Have you already forgotten?
You
(Oh, so that wasn't Miss Sakuya...)
Gengetsu
It seems Mima and Shinki started without me while I was busy doing something else.
Gengetsu
But I don't really mind. It's much more dramatic to save the day after arriving late.
You
So does that mean you're friends with those two?
Gengetsu
Hmm, it's more like we graduated from the same school. Oops. There's no time to chitchat.
Gengetsu
Would you understand if I said this is just like what happened back then?
You
Are you talking about the thing with Sanae and the angel?
Gengetsu
Exactly. But this time, another girl is in danger. If we don't do something, she'll get hurt.
You
You mean Renko?!
Gengetsu
Of course.
Gengetsu
Think about it. There's no way she heard a voice behind her.
Gengetsu
She would've heard footsteps or breathing if someone was following right behind her.
Gengetsu
Sounds echo in a tunnel, and her senses were heightened by nerves and the fact she couldn't see.
Gengetsu
And if someone was following her at a distance, she would've run into them at the entrance of the tunnel.
Gengetsu
Now, you may be thinking someone could've kept a fair distance inside the tunnel if the loop was long enough.
Gengetsu
But it isn't. It's only a short tunnel.
Gengetsu
So, she couldn't have heard a voice behind her.
Gengetsu
Not even if that voice...
Gengetsu
...belonged to someone dear to her.
You
(Miss Gengetsu is right.)
You
(There's no logical explanation.)
You
(Which means... this can't be a natural phenomenon.)
You
(But wait...)
You
(Isn't that a good thing?)
You
(If there's a supernatural being or someone with the ability to cause unnatural phenomena...)
You
(...there's a good chance they know something about the Lost Barriers. We need to investigate this.)
You
(But that's not what Renko is doing. I never thought I'd say this, but she's paralyzed with fear.)
You
(I can only think of one possible reason for that...)
You
(The voice she heard must've been Merry's.)
You
(If she concluded that Merry could call out to her from behind even though it should be impossible...)
You
(...that would imply that Merry is no longer human.)
You
(And that's what Renko truly fears―more than anything else.)
You
(But how can I fix this?)
You
I don't have all the pieces to the puzzle. There are some things I have no way of knowing.
Gengetsu
Oh, like what?
You
No matter how well I get along with Renko and Merry, there are things about their relationship I can't know about.
You
Their relationship is between them and them alone.
You
So, I don't have the solution to this problem.
You
And it wouldn't be right if I did.
Gengetsu
Huh?
Gengetsu
Does that mean you're giving up? That's fine with me. I don't really care what happens to her.
You
No. That's not what I said.
You
If I can't fix this, then I just have to get Renko to fix it herself.
Gengetsu
Interesting. How are you gonna do that?
You
I know a simple method that opens locked doors and releases pent-up emotions...
You
It cuts free all restraints and forces people to listen.
You
And it also exposes secrets.
You
All we have to do is...
You
...have a battle of bullets!
You
Miss Gengetsu! Please act in Renko's stead... and shoot bullets at Merry!
Gengetsu
Haha!
Gengetsu
Nice. I like it. Good thing I sent my sister to watch over the other girl.
Gengetsu
All right. Let's do this your way.
Gengetsu
But I have one condition. I feel bad for being late, you see...
Gengetsu
So, I want you to give me enough time to make amends properly the next time we meet.
You
...Sure! Whatever! Please hurry!
Gengetsu
Those who have been found have regained what was once lost.
Gengetsu
Come forth, my avatar. Fulfill the prayer instilled in you.
Gengetsu
...You have now prayed to a devil. Never forget that.
Renko's Walk 9
Renko
...I'm sorry.
Renko
I'm really sorry, Merry!
Merry
Whoa, calm down.
Merry
There's no need to make such a big deal out of this.
Renko
I'm really sorry.
Renko
I stupidly assumed that we were just voicing our opinions like we usually do...
Renko
But when I actually stopped and thought about it, I realized I made you feel uncomfortable...
Merry
Wow, it seems you've acquired a new skill: being considerate.
Merry
I never thought I'd see the day.
Renko
I said I was sorry...
Merry
I forgive you, Renko.
Renko
Thanks, Merry!
Merry
Besides, it's really not that big a deal. And I guess I'm also partly to blame.
Merry
So, I'm sorry too, Renko.
Renko
Huh? What are you apologizing for?
Merry
Hmm, that's kinda hard to explain. But I'll try if you're willing to listen.
Renko
Umm...
Renko
Honestly, I think I need to take some time to prepare myself mentally first...
Merry
Why would you need to prepare yourself just to listen? I'm the one trying to apologize.
Renko
Umm, well, it's hard to explain...
Merry
Don't give me that.
You
All right. That safely concludes one side of the story.
You
Supposedly, the Last Ward exists to facilitate urban renewal, but that explanation leaves too many questions unanswered.
You
Like the Memory Flood experienced by Renko and her childhood friends. Are those memories truly theirs?
You
And we still haven't uncovered the truth behind the Lost Barriers.
You
I should ask them to investigate this letter as well. They might be able to figure out where it came from.
You
I met someone who claimed to have sent it in a dream, but that doesn't add up.
You
It doesn't explain why the letter activated the subway connected to the Last Tokyo Ward.
You
This letter must be from someone who actually exists in the real world. And I bet they're somewhere in the Last Ward.
You
We might learn something...
You
...if they show it to the people living there.
You
But before that, I need to read the other report.
You
I need to know what happened.
You
Who called out to Renko from behind?
You
How was it possible?
You
Or is there truly no logical explanation?
You
I have to determine the outcome...
You
...that brings Renko and Merry back here safely.
