Chapter 8 Chapter Eight: The Fourth Companion

That night, after returning to the hotel room, Shicun was so excited that he couldn't sleep. Thanks to coming to Cape Irako, I was able to meet Sundaibashi Yuko.This is not because any important clues can be obtained from her. Lying on the bed, he asked himself what the hell he was doing now.After the affair partner was killed, the extramarital affair was exposed, and she lost her job and family.However, for those who have had affairs, the results so far are probably not very special. Indulging in adult love games, hoping to greedily drink the honey of sex, and now is the time to be collected.

But when it comes to taking the initiative to track down the criminal who killed his sexual partner, isn't this kind of behavior a little abnormal? Doing so would neither pay for his affair nor bring her back to life. What on earth is this for?This self-righteous stupidity comes only from a sense of redemption.Semura thought to himself with some self-deprecation. Although her death made him realize how important she was in his heart, it was not to the extent that he couldn't live without filling this part with the same volume. Just as the beginning of the affair was very random, so is my motivation for being here now.After losing everything, all that can be lost is life.This awareness is quite self-defeating.Semura was surprised at how casual he was.

But on the other hand, this kind of casualness is probably the way of life of ordinary people.Of course, it doesn't mean that ordinary people will have an affair, the partner of the affair will be killed, and then lose everything.It's just that as an ordinary person, as long as there is an opportunity, probably no one will think so much, and just focus on absorbing the sweet honey of the affair. Regardless of moral right and wrong, in the hidden affairs of daily life, almost all people just greedily suck honey, and they still act as if nothing happened in front of others.It can only be said that they played very well.

Shicun lost his footing, or in other words, he got a lottery.Because of this lottery, I can't help being involved in the tide of fate.And the chance of being involved is quite random, or the so-called life is like this. If life goes exactly according to a pre-determined and detailed timetable, then it is just the completion of the digestion of the schedule, not life.If you don't follow the blueprint, no, in fact there is no such blueprint at all, that's what is called life. There is no such thing as self-defeating, and there is no such thing as randomness, just go with the flow and let nature take its course.

Thinking about it this way, Shicun couldn't sleep more and more.Before I knew it, I seemed to be confused for a while.When I woke up from a dream or reality, the sky was bright and the sun had risen very high. I hurriedly got up to tidy up, and when I opened the door to eat, I found a piece of white paper under the door, which was an envelope from the restaurant.Picking it up and opening it, there was a line of beautiful and slender handwriting written on the letter paper. "I'm going to Kanzanji Onsen. Please come if you're interested. Yuko." Secun took the note in his hand and hurried to the front desk of the hotel and asked, "The guest left an hour ago." The receptionist replied Secun.I'm afraid I won't be able to catch up now.

Shi Cun thought to fill his stomach first before talking.He considered the meaning of the note while eating. Kanzanji Onsen is a hot spring facing Lake Hamana.What does it mean to invite you if you are interested?What is there in Guanshan Temple? They just met yesterday, and the relationship between them can hardly be called acquaintance.But the woman left this ambiguous note. If she wanted to ask, why didn't she say so last night?It doesn't look like it's difficult to talk about it because of embarrassment, and there is no such atmosphere between the two of them at all. She even suspected that Shi Cun was the murderer of her brother-in-law at first.So, after the two went back to their rooms last night, she decided to go to Guanshan Temple?

How has her mood changed since then?What is the reason for the change? Shicun decided to go after Yuko after breakfast.After asking for directions, he asked the front desk to call a car for him.It is about 60 kilometers from Cape Irago to Kanzan Temple, and it is said that taking a taxi is the fastest. Soon the car came.Shicun who passed through the lobby inadvertently glanced at the tourist posters pasted on the wall, and couldn't help but let out a cry. The background of that poster is the clear water of the lake and the modern hotel standing on the shore of the lake. Above the screen is a cable car, and below it is written "Welcome to Kanzanji Onsen".

Secun was not surprised that the place on the poster happened to be his destination.It was because the composition of the poster seemed familiar.And the memory of it is not so long, it seems to be very recent.Shicun asked the car to wait, and recalled to the poster.At this moment, a group of two men and two women walked through the lobby and exited the gate.When their figures passed in front of the poster, Secun's memory revived. correct.That was the composition of the photo Yuko showed him yesterday.The three men and women with the lake and the hotel's cable car as the background, as long as these three people are removed, isn't it the poster that is pasted in front of you?

When Yuko set off (leaving Semura behind), it was probably because of this poster that she decided to go to Kanzanji Temple.I don't know what will be in the place where the three people took pictures, but Yuko's interest was aroused, and she left a note to Semura who wanted to abandon it.Is it because one is afraid?Or think that Semura would also be interested in the place where the three of them were photographed?I'm afraid it's both. Anyway, there was another connection with Yuko who was going to leave without saying goodbye.I didn't say where in Guanshan Temple, but as long as you find the photo location of the poster, you can see her if you want to come.

Although he didn't dare to have the extravagant expectations of a man, Shicun couldn't help but feel a little inexplicably excited when he thought of seeing that smart female college student again. From Cape Irago, drive on the prefectural road along Enshu Nada.The cliffs eroded by the raging waves of Enshu Beach are connected in a straight line, and the sandy beach is below the cliffs.On the way, I saw the straight coast piercing into the sea, and the scenery is bold and magnificent. The car passed through the villages under the cliff and headed east.On the left and right of the car window are plastic greenhouses and flower fields, where chrysanthemums, carnations and other flowers are in full bloom.Beyond the flower fields is the sea, and the horizon dissolves into the blue sky.The road is built on the back of the mountain full of flowers.The skeleton of the peninsula is the paleostratigraphic massif of the arch extension of the Southern Alps (Chishi Mountains).

After walking about 50 kilometers from Cape Irago, we finally reached the root of the peninsula, where we joined National Highway No. 1.The car running all the way slowed down here. Cross Hamana Lake, from Benten Island to Kanzanji Toll National Highway, it is close to the destination.Looking at Lake Hamana with eyes accustomed to the majestic Pacific Ocean all the way, I suddenly feel that it is gentle and amiable.After climbing to the northern end of the Murakushi peninsula protruding into Hamana Lake, you can see the hotel group standing in the middle of the peninsula protruding into the lake. Yuko probably went to the top of the cable car to find the location where the photo was taken.If she had been on a bus or train, Secun might have arrived before her. Letting the car stop at an amusement park with a cable car station, Secun boarded the cable car.Because it was an ordinary day after the Golden Week, and there was no time limit, so there were only Sechon and an old couple in the cable car.The cable car crossed Uchiura in three or four minutes, transporting the three to the summit station.On the cable car, the old couple asked Shicun to help take pictures.The two of them came here as if they were revisiting their old places and traveling for their golden wedding.You can feel their long history as a couple and the mature relationship they have with each other.Even just by looking at their appearance, it can be seen that they have no chance of having affairs and cheating. When we reached the Dacao Mountain on the top of the mountain, our eyes suddenly opened up.Although the altitude is only 120 meters, the panorama of Lake Hamana can be seen here.Standing high, the colors are as gorgeous as a color photo.The lake is blue, the mountains are green, and the scenery is very moving. The weather is sunny and the breeze is gentle.The red bridge of Hamana Lake Bridge on the Tomei Expressway across the lake is reflected in the lake water, adding beautiful artificial scenery to nature.Whether it is harmonious or not depends on the state of mind of the viewer. There is a viewing platform and a lounge on the top of the mountain.Standing on the viewing platform, Shicun was so relaxed and happy that he almost forgot the purpose of coming here, when he suddenly heard someone behind him saying: "You are still here." Looking back, it was Yuko Sundaihashi, wearing a dress, her skirt fluttering in the smoky wind of May, smiling like a flower. "Great. I was thinking what to do if I can't see you." Shi Cun said happily.If you chase here but you can't see Yuko, it's meaningless. "I think you will come here." "You came here after seeing the posters, right?" "Yes. I think you will see that painting too. And when you see it, you will definitely come after it." "What if you don't come?" "That means our fate ends here." Although the words were a little cold, but because Shicun came, it can be understood that the two still have a lot of fate. In Uchiura without a boat, a motorboat plowed a white wave.The wind blows, blowing Yuko's long hair and stroking her delicate face, bringing out a mysterious and sexy look. "The photo of the three of them was taken here." Yuko took out the photo and compared it with the real scene.From time to time a cable car goes up and cuts the background apart. "Why do you place such importance on the location of the photoshoot?" Secun asked.He felt that where it was shot was actually irrelevant. "It's about paying attention to the person who takes the photo." "Who took the picture?" "That is to say, who took the pictures for them?" "You can take a selfie, or you can ask passers-by for help." Shi Cun remembered the old couple asking him to help take a photo. "I'm also interested in the number of people in the photo." "Number of people?" "Two women and one man. Don't you think it's a very unstable combination if you go on a trip?" "Well, two women and one man." "If it's the opposite, it seems to be okay, so-called a little red." "Isn't there a saying that it's a little bit dark?" Saying so, Shimura thought of the group of people who passed him by when he came out of the hotel in Cape Irako.That is also two men and two women. "I always feel that there is another man. This photo should be taken by that man." "It makes sense. But even if you come here, you can't figure out who the photographer is?" "Look, this unidentified woman is carrying a travel bag. I guess they didn't come by car. If there is a car, they should put the bag in the car. Since there is no car, it is unlikely that they will return that day." "Oh, that means we go to the hotel to check?" "Correct. There will probably be a record of the fourth companion, the second man, in the hotel." "It's an interesting idea, but do hotels keep records like this from who knows how many years ago? And we don't know which hotel." There are many hotels that come into view.It would be a lot of work to ask them all.On the one hand, Shicun admires Yuko's deduction ability, but on the other hand, he is a little afraid that she will ask him to help. "Aren't there two women? You can only go to hotels that will please young women." "It's better to ask each family." Shicun said helplessly. "Oh, I didn't say I wanted you to help." "Already here anyway. Let me help. But what does this second man have to do with the whole thing?" "I don't know either. But he is the one who took this photo that my sister asked me to keep. I want to know what relationship my sister has with these people. These relationships may be related to the incident." Yuko's eyes seemed to be inviting .These are the eyes of a perfectly mature woman.Perhaps this is also a "beautiful trap", Seimura thought so, and decided to help him with the work that caused him a headache. According to the travel guide, there are 25 hotels (including restaurants) and two national dormitories in Guanshan Temple.The latter is on top of Big Grass Hill.Yuko's opinion is that young girls prefer places like youth homes and hotel-style private houses to national dormitories.Because the name of the national dormitory is too old-fashioned. Find the restaurant on the background of the photo, the third one they asked.The hotel has no impression of the people in the photo at all, but said that the time of taking the photo should have been from the end of January to the beginning of June eight years ago. When asked why, the elderly front desk clerk said: "We remodeled a part of the hotel in the first half of that year. You can see that there is scaffolding on the side wall of the hotel. Except for that year, we couldn't see it. Scaffolded." In this way, the range of time for taking pictures is narrowed down a lot.Judging from the clothes of the characters in the photos, it is not winter, but the clothes that feel like early summer, so it can be inferred that it is from April to early June. "Not long ago, there was a guest with the same photo who asked the same question as you." After the front desk explained, he added this sentence, and the two of them almost jumped up. "Ah! Really? Do you know the name of that guest?" The words contained the meaning of why they didn't say it earlier. "I can't say the name of the guest, but it is indeed the same photo." "Is that guest named Kiyohara Kazuki?" "Has he ever stayed in this hotel?" They both asked at the same time. "It's not clear if you don't check the records, but the accommodation records cannot be shown to outsiders." "That guest was my brother-in-law. He was killed and his body floated to Cape Irako. By the way, he might have been killed near here and thrown into the lake. It is likely that he flowed to Cape Irago from here. Yes. Why didn't I think of it before?" "Is it your brother-in-law? That's another matter." The front desk took out the records that are generally not borrowed.Mr. Kazuyuki Kiyohara did stay here on April 15th.Take out the accommodation card holder from the office inside, which records Kiyohara Kazuyuki's address, name, work unit, etc. If it was April 15th, it would be one month before the estimated time of death. "It's indeed brother-in-law's handwriting." Yuko nodded.Kiyohara's footprints have been found.The fact that Qingyuan had lived in this hotel showed that he must have discovered something here. Was it for this discovery that he was killed? "Does that mean that the person in this photo has also stayed in this hotel?" Shicun speculated from Qingyuan's accommodation records. "That's not certain. We don't keep records from three years ago." "Then why does brother-in-law live here?" "It's hard to say. Maybe our hotel is what he likes." The front desk seemed to be trying to persuade them to live here as well. "Did brother-in-law go to other restaurants to ask?" "That's not clear. Maybe I asked." The front desk wasn't confident about that. Qingyuan must have his reasons for living here, but they decided to go to other places to ask. However, the investigation encountered difficulties. No hotel kept records from that long ago, three years at most. "It seems that the idea of ​​an amateur detective is not good." After asking a few, Yuko first expressed the intention of giving up.Just to be on the safe side, they also asked the hotel association, and the association said that probably no hotel would keep records from eight years ago. The conspicuous hotels of Kanzanji are lined up on both sides of the small cape protruding from Lake Hamana.Others are scattered around the amusement park and the area facing Uchiura.I don't have the energy and time to ask all the questions. The footsteps are heavy, and the stomach is also hungry.It’s not impossible to go back to Tokyo like this, but the thought of going to Hamamatsu first, and then taking the Shinkansen to wander home is really uncomfortable.And when I got home, there was only an unmade bed and a messy room waiting for me. In order to find out why Yuan chose this one among the twenty-five restaurants and hotels, the two tacitly went back to the hotel where Qing Yuan had lived. The building of this hotel is the most modern, facing the clear lake, the scenery is also very good.The receptionist I met at the beginning gave a very good impression. The two looked at each other in front of the hotel. "I'm hungry." By coincidence, they walked into the gate of the hotel together, and the front desk clerk who had just met greeted them with a smile. "I don't have an appointment, so I don't know if there are any vacancies?" Shicun asked. "There are both Japanese and Western rooms." "Then let's ask for a western room." "Do you want a suite or a double room?" The self-righteousness of the front desk made Shicun hurriedly say: "No, no, two single rooms." "If it is a single room, there is no lake view." "that's OK……" I want to add that I didn't come here for sightseeing, and I don't think it's necessary. Although the introduced room does not have a view of the lake, it is small and tidy, making you feel very comfortable.Although it is a single room, the bed is very large.Shicun feels the loneliness of sleeping alone in front of the big bed. Going to a hotel with such an outstanding woman as Yuko, but having to sleep alone, is really extravagant and wasteful. "What the hell am I thinking?" Shi Cun smiled wryly at his fantasy.Then the phone rang. "Let's have a meal together if it's convenient." Yuko issued an invitation.If the bed is empty, let it be empty, eating with Yuko has enriched the hard-to-pass time. Hastily agreed, the two met in the lobby.As expected of a tourist scenic spot, the hotel is full of couples and groups of tourists.No wonder Yuko and the others were mistaken for a couple by the front desk. It's amazing to think about it.I just met yesterday at the shore of love, and now it's the second night I stayed at the same hotel. The purpose of finding out the cause of Yuan Hezhi's death has created a wonderful sense of connection between the two.If this is not the case, how can a young woman live in a hotel in a tourist attraction with a man she met by chance? —Although it is a different room. Even so, Semura was shocked by what he had just thought.For the girl I just met yesterday, I actually had malicious delusions inflated by the spaciousness of the bed. "What are you thinking?" Hearing Yuko's moving voice, Shicun looked back.Yuko changed into a white silk skirt again, looking slim and graceful.The well-tailored clothes matched her very well, and they were more mature and gorgeous than in the daytime. "It's almost unrecognizable." "Can I take this as a compliment to me?" Yuko seemed a little embarrassed. "Of course. Very beautiful." "I'm glad. But I'm starving to death now. I can eat anything." Yuko's expression suddenly changed from a mature woman to a healthy and lively female college student.Because of the geographical relationship, seafood and lake products are very rich here.But it is a pity that in the current season, the famous local specialty crabs and oysters cannot be tasted. But Yuko didn't mind that, showing a healthy appetite for youth.And Shicun also has a great appetite because of the company of beautiful women. After dinner, the two sat in the lobby and chatted.If I go back to Tokyo tomorrow, I probably won't have the chance to meet again.Thinking of this, Shicun couldn't help feeling a little bit reluctant. On Yuko's side, he probably felt that it was a leisure time during the trip anyway, so he might as well pass the time by chatting. "Your brother-in-law once said that behind this series of events, there is a mysterious existence manipulating it. Do you have this feeling?" While drinking the fragrant coffee, such delicious coffee is rarely seen in restaurants. asked the village side. "After seeing you, I have this feeling." "what do you mean……" "Before I met you, I didn't connect the death of my brother-in-law with the death of the Takasaka couple. But now I think that the three of them might have been killed by the same person, and I can't help but feel horrified. Maybe my brother-in-law also felt this way. If We pursue it too closely, maybe we will be the same as brother-in-law, thinking of this, I want to leave here quickly." "When you said us just now, did you mean you and me?" "Otherwise who are you referring to?" "I'm so glad you said that. Immediately refreshed." "Are you still going to chase after it?" "Go and inquire about the rest of the hotels tomorrow." "It may be futile again." "How will you know if you don't do it?" "That's right. I thought I was going to make a trip for nothing, but went to the shore of love, but ended up here all the way." "I don't know if your brother-in-law also came here to find someone to take pictures." "I think so. Didn't you say that you asked the same question at the hotel? Even if it wasn't, there must be something that is not good for the prisoner. That's why I killed my brother-in-law." "Your brother-in-law was killed a month later." "That is, something against the prisoner has been found in or near this restaurant." "Then the prisoner knew that your brother-in-law had caught his evidence." "It was the brother-in-law who discovered the criminal evidence and uncovered the criminal. It took a month." "Where did your brother-in-law get the same photo as the one you keep?" "It's easy to handle. It may have been found from my sister, or it may have been washed secretly. The front desk said it was the same. Maybe I just looked at the photos and found out where the photos were taken. I felt that the person who took the photos was the fourth traveler. The existence of it. Or, like us, we saw the posters of Kanzan Temple there.” "According to your reasoning, the prisoner may know that we are here and is watching us." "I hate it, don't scare me." Yuko tightened her body and cast her eyes on the dark lake.In the darkness, the scattered light spots on the opposite bank are like prying eyes, making people shudder. "If you still have to ask around tomorrow, go to bed early today." Shi Cun said, looking at his watch. "I, I'm afraid." Yuko shook her head reluctantly. "It's a room in a hotel. Just keep the door shut. If anything happens, I'm next door." "Will you come as soon as I call?" Yuko looked scared. "Just rest assured and sleep well." Shi Cun forced himself to suppress the idea of ​​using the other party's anxiety to break into the other party's room.The man's ambition is getting bigger and bigger, which makes him feel afraid.But it is not ethical and moral self-control that restrains him. It was because he knew that he was strongly attracted to her, so he was afraid that if he was too hasty, he would lose her completely.