43: Chapter 43: That's the Look of Someone About to Die

"Hey Sonoko,"

Ran asked worriedly as soon as they entered the villa, remembering the figure on the bridge,

"is anyone visiting today... who might be wearing bandages on their face?"

"Bandages?"

Sonoko looked surprised. She thought for a moment.

"No one who came today is injured. Why do you ask, Ran?"

"Because I just saw someone wrapped in bandages run across the suspension bridge and behind the villa."

"You must have seen wrong,"

Sonoko waved dismissively, slightly impatient.

"Probably just a cat or a dog. There are plenty of wild animals in these woods."

"I'm sure I didn't see wrong!"

Ran insisted, frowning. She turned to Fujino for confirmation.

"Fujino-senpai, you saw that weird person in the black cloak too, right?"

Fujino nodded.

"Yes, on the bridge just now. We both ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠saw a strange figure run behind this villa."

"That is weird... Unless...?!"

Sonoko's expression suddenly shifted dramatically.

"Ran! The person you saw... could it be the Black Cloaked Reaper?!"

"Black Cloaked Reaper?!"

"Yes!"

Sonoko's face turned serious as she launched into a spooky tale.

"Legend says a person wearing a black cloak died in these woods long ago. Whenever a beautiful young maiden comes here, he..."

"He what...?"

Ran swallowed hard, leaning in expectantly.

"He jumps out, snatches the girl, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠drags her back to his cabin in the woods, and EATS HER!"

"Ahh!!"

"Hahaha!"

Seeing Ran's terrified expression, Sonoko burst out laughing.

Realizing she'd been tricked, Ran glared playfully at Sonoko.

"Seriously, Sonoko! How could you scare me like that right now?!"

"Sorry, sorry! I just wanted to see the 'fearless' Ran Mouri actually look scared for once,"

Sonoko chuckled, waving her hand apologetically. Her smile faded slightly as she considered Ran's words.

"But that bandaged person you mentioned... that is pretty strange."

"Ah, whatever. We're here to have fun! Let's not dwell on it."

Sonoko couldn't figure out the bandaged man mystery, so she decided to ignore it.

She gestured towards the stairs.

"Your rooms and Fujino-senpai's are on the second floor. Go put your luggage away... everyone else has been relaxing for ages."

"But there are so many rooms... which ones are ours?"

The three went upstairs. Ran looked down the long hallway lined with doors, confused.

Fujino, however, frowned, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.

If I remember correctly, the bandaged man is hiding in one of these rooms.

In the original story, Ran accidentally opened his door and got attacked.

Maybe... I can use this opportunity to fish him out.

Putting his thoughts aside, Fujino walked down the hall, casually opening doors left and right.

The first room revealed a guy with a center-part hairstyle, looking like he'd spent the last two and a half years practicing K-pop poses. Fujino glanced inside, then shut the door.

The second room housed a chubby guy who looked harmlessly honest, but his build was surprisingly muscular – a stark contrast to his face. Fujino gave him a knowing look before closing the door.

The last occupied room contained a guy who looked like a delinquent, smoking a cigarette and holding a pair of... briefs? Fujino stared at the scantily clad young man, momentarily speechless, then quickly shut the door.

Finally finding two empty rooms, Fujino called out to Ran.

"Ran, these two ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠empty ones must be the guest rooms Sonoko prepared for us."

Conan, standing beside Ran, watched Fujino's door-opening spree with a look of utter disbelief.

"Doesn't this guy know how to knock first?"

Fujino noticed Conan's glare and smirked. As Ran started to lead Conan towards one of the guest rooms, Fujino spoke up.

"Hey Ran, how about Conan stays in my room tonight?"

He gave Ran a subtle, meaningful look.

Ran immediately understood, recalling their earlier conversation about Conan being a 'problem child'. She smiled knowingly.

"Alright then! Conan-kun, I'll leave you in Fujino-senpai's care!"

"Huh?"

Conan looked utterly bewildered by their silent agreement. Before he could protest, Fujino had already grabbed him.

Fujino ruffled his hair again with that unnerving smile.

"Conan, don't you just love spending time with me?"

"Looks like we'll be having lots of fun tonight!"

"Ah... hahaha..."

This guy! He's definitely doing this on purpose! Absolutely!

As evening approached, the sky grew overcast, and a strong wind began to howl, whipping through the trees – a storm was brewing.

After settling in, everyone gathered in the downstairs living room.

Seated around the dining table, Sonoko introduced the other guests to Ran and Fujino.

Just as Fujino remembered, they were all members of Ayako's old college film club.

The guy with the center-part, sitting opposite them, was Kadotani Hiroki, now a film magazine editor who apparently practiced constantly.

The chubby guy diagonally across was Takahashi Ryoichi, currently working at a food company, his gentle face belying his sturdy frame.

And the last guy, the delinquent-looking one, was Ohta Masaru, a car salesman. He looked like trouble.

"And next is my older sister, Ayako," Sonoko gestured to the woman sitting beside her, smiling gently. "She was in charge of costumes back in college." Sonoko added with a mischievous grin, "And F.Y.I., she's currently husband hunting!"

"Honestly, Sonoko," Ayako sighed, though she smiled slightly. "Don't say things like that."

"Hehe!" Sonoko giggled, then pointed to the short-haired woman sitting diagonally from Fujino. "And finally, this is Ms. Ikeda Chikako! She was the director and screenwriter for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the film club, and even served as president!"

"A pleasure to meet you," Chikako said politely.

"Wait! Are you the Ikeda Chikako? The writer of 'The Blue Kingdom'?!"

Ran looked at the woman with wide, curious eyes.

"The Blue Kingdom" was a recently released film that had garnered critical acclaim and numerous awards, making Ikeda Chikako a rising star in the literary and film worlds. Even Ran had heard of her.

"That's right!" Suzuki Ayako confirmed with a smile. "That was Chikako's work from college, her debut piece, actually!"

"Alright, alright, let's not dwell on the past," Ikeda Chikako waved dismissively, looking slightly uncomfortable.

The old classmates began reminiscing and catching up.

The mood was pleasant until Ayako's gentle expression turned somber as she mentioned a former club member named Atsuko.

At the mention of the name, Ikeda Chikako suddenly slammed her hand on the table, startling everyone.

"Don't talk about Atsuko!" she snapped.

Everyone stared at Chikako, shocked by her outburst.

Fujino, who had been mentally plotting how to subtly knock out the bandaged man later, was jolted back to the present. He looked closely at Chikako.

Hmm.

Yep. That's the look.

The look of someone who's about to die.