Chapter 13 Section 1

After leaving Kogenji Station, Akiko Hatayama noticed it not far away. here we go again-- There was a shudder all over her.There were no pedestrians around, there were few street lights on this road, and there were no residents nearby to ask for help, so she couldn't help speeding up her pace.She wanted to run, but she was afraid of leading to an irreparable situation. The sound of his leather shoes hitting the asphalt road was extremely harsh.In the interval of that sound, a low voice could be felt.If her footsteps quicken, the voice will also speed up; if she slows down, the other party's rhythm will also slow down.

First noticed being stalked two weeks ago.Like today, it was a cloudy night with no moon or stars.At first she thought it was the echo of her own footsteps, but when she stopped in front of the vending machine to buy a can of drink, the sound she thought was the echo was unnaturally slowed down by several beats.She looked back, and a black figure quickly hid behind the parked car. She was shocked: she was being followed. She didn't buy a drink and walked quickly.The sound of footsteps behind him also followed.This time, she didn't have the courage to look back. The fear and anxiety almost broke her heart.Finally arrived at the apartment, and after getting into the glass door of the building, she dared to look behind her.There was no one on the dark road.

But shortly after returning to the room, the phone rang.The voice from the microphone stunned her. "Got home." After saying this sentence, the phone was hung up.I only knew it was a man, but I couldn't tell who it was.The voice was low and indistinct. Then all sorts of strange things happened with the connection.One night, Zhang Zi came home and found a paper bag hanging on the doorknob, which contained a bento from a famous Japanese restaurant and a note saying "Welcome Home". Of course, she didn't eat the bento, and the note Throw it away together.Sometimes letters arrive via the post office with pictures of her on the way to work or with customers.She also threw away the photo.

Three days ago, a typewritten sheet of paper appeared in the mailbox.At first Zhang Zi thought it was a notice of apartment property, because the beginning was very similar.But as he read it, Zhang Zi's face turned pale.The above is written like this: "...Recently, the number of people who don't sort garbage thoroughly has increased. In this regard, Ms. Akiko Hatayama from Room 503 is doing a great job, even sorting dry batteries. I just like places like you." Who did it?Can't guess at all.The next day, she went to a nearby police station to explain the situation, but the policeman in charge of reception was hardly enthusiastic.

"I understand that this must scare you, but we can't do anything about it alone." The policeman's expression seemed to indicate that he would soon yawn. "But that man followed me, secretly took pictures and sent them to me. Also, he also checked the garbage I threw. Aren't these acts a crime?" "It can't be counted, otherwise all the actions of the private investigator are crimes. The most important thing is whether there is any loss. If it is a crime, you must submit the damage information." "I've been mentally tortured. Recently, I've been very nervous even on the way to work. I always feel like I'm being watched when I go to work, and I can't concentrate on my work at all. Isn't this called a loss?"

The policeman still smiled impatiently: "Can spiritual matters be called losses? Well, everyone feels things differently." "But in a divorce case, if you suffer from mental pain, can't you get compensation?" "That's a civil matter. It's too embarrassing for you to talk to the police about this." The policeman's tone became more and more rude, "In short, if you are physically tortured or in danger, come to us again. In this case, no matter what How can the case not be filed." "I feel that my life is in danger, so the police don't take measures?"

"Didn't I say that?" the policeman said impatiently. "Whether they feel life-threatening or not depends on the individual. Many people have come to the police to talk about such things, but nothing happened. What are you doing? Where is the evidence that the people who pestered you wanted to harm you?" Seeing that Zhangzi was speechless, the policeman added with a smile, "Oh, there's no need to be so worried. I'm afraid it's the man who is interested in you and trying to get your attention. It depends on how you think about it. It's actually a serious matter. It’s a happy thing, because you are very beautiful, can you just treat it as a beauty tax? That’s right, it’s a beauty tax, a beauty tax.”

The police seemed very satisfied with the term "beauty tax" and repeated it several times. He couldn't count on the police, so he could only rely on self-protection, but he couldn't figure out the real identity of the other party, and he couldn't think of any good way.At present, the only countermeasure is not to stimulate the other party indiscriminately, and try not to care about his existence. This is actually no countermeasure at all.The opponent's actions are escalating day by day.Tonight's stalking is bolder than ever, and it seems that it is safe to be found, even if it is discovered.What would happen if Zhangzi suddenly turned around and ran towards him?I wanted to question the other party, but maybe I would only fall into the other party's trap.

Nothing happened, what do you want us police to do? The irresponsible words of the police echoed in Changzi's ears.If something happens, isn't it too late?If things continue in this state, something will happen, and something irreparable will happen. But Zhang Zi couldn't think of a countermeasure.The footsteps of an invisible enemy made her tremble.Zhangzi desperately suppressed the urge to run, and walked towards home. "What's wrong? You seem to be out of spirit." Hearing someone talking, Zhang Zi came back to his senses.I was distracted again just now, and of course I was thinking about the person who never showed up.

Shinkai Mifuyu tilted her head worriedly.At the same age as Zhang Zi, she sometimes looks very mature, and sometimes she looks innocent like a girl.Now she looks a bit like the latter. "Ah, sorry, I was thinking about something just now." "Recently, your face doesn't seem to be very good. You don't feel well. Are there any troubles?" "It's... annoyance." Zhang Zi forced a smile.For work reasons, putting on a smiling face is her forte, but her cheeks still feel a little stiff.It seems to have reached the limit. "If you don't mind, you can talk to me at any time. Of course, apart from listening to you, maybe I can't help you." Meidong smiled and returned to the creative ring counter.That's the counter she's in charge of.Akiko was at the engagement ring counter, at the back of the store.

"Kaya" is a long-established jewelry store in Ginza.The three floors are full of shops, the first floor sells miscellaneous goods and clothing items, the second floor sells high-end daily utensils, and the third floor is the main position of Huawu, dealing in expensive gems and precious metals. In the past month, the store's turnover has been declining, obviously because of the subway poison gas incident.Without knowing when they will fall victim to a terrorist attack, it is natural for people to consider avoiding the city center unless there is a particularly urgent matter.After the incident that caused a large number of casualties, the atmosphere of self-restraint increased, and the extremely luxurious gem jewelry industry was the first to be impacted.The same was true when the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake first occurred. By the way, she seems to be the victim of the disaster——Looking at Xin Haimeifuyu's back, Zhang Zi remembered. Not long after the earthquake happened, Meidong entered Huawu through midway recruitment.Zhang Zi didn't know the details.Mifutsu was initially at the counter on the first floor, and moved to the third floor after about two weeks.Such transfers are so rare that everyone was taken by surprise at first.But now, more than two months later, as far as Zhang Zi knows, no one has raised any objections to her working on the third floor.Meidong knows gemstone jewelry very well, and is also very good at receiving customers. She is good at foreign languages, and everyone relies on her when they come to foreign customers.No wonder, everyone thought, she was hired halfway through such a downturn. It is said that she lost her parents in the earthquake disaster, but there is no trace of melancholy in her, and she never talked about the earthquake.Zhangzi felt that she was very strong inside, so he couldn't help but look at her with admiration. When he learned that she was the same age as him, he even felt a little inferior. She might be able to help herself come up with good ideas.Akiko suddenly felt this way. Huawu's business hours are until 8:00 p.m., and there will be a half-hour meeting after that, and the shop assistants will be free.After changing clothes in the locker room, Akiko greeted Xin Haimei: "Hey, do you have time after get off work? Let's have a cup of tea together?" "Okay." Meidong nodded with a smile. The cafe is located on the second floor of the bakery facing Central Avenue.The table by the window happened to be empty, and the two sat down facing each other.Zhang Zi ordered coffee, and Meifu ordered royal milk tea. "Today is also very bad. There was a poison gas incident, and I know that the number of people will decrease, but why are there fewer people looking at wedding rings?" Zhang Zi first talked about irrelevant topics. "This year is unlucky. Many people postpone their wedding until next year. It's said on TV." "Oh, that might be the reason." Zhang Zi just wanted to say something about the earthquake, but quickly swallowed it back. After the drink was served, Akiko started talking about it.Meifuyu had been listening attentively, and after a while, the corners of her mouth twisted as if in pain, maybe just listening made her feel very unhappy. "Any clues?" Meifuyu asked after listening. "It's just because I don't have a headache. If I know who it is, maybe I can figure out a way to deal with it." She took a sip of coffee, which tasted terrible. Mifuyu rested her fingers on the teacup, and looked down obliquely as if in thought.Lowering her head accentuates her long lashes, which go perfectly with her almond eyes, like a fashion magazine model.Why did she choose her current job?A question that has nothing to do with his troubles unexpectedly popped up in Zhang Zi's mind. Meifuyu raised her head: "It really surprised me." "Yeah. It's unbelievable that someone would do something like that." "That's not what I meant." Meidong looked around, then moved her face closer, "I also encountered a similar thing recently." "What?" Hearing the unexpected news, Zhang Zi couldn't help asking, "Really?" Mifuyu blinked slowly. "About a week ago, when I got home, I found a piece of paper stuck on the door. I thought it was another business card of an insurance company salesman, but I picked it up and saw that there was writing on it." "What did you write?" "Welcome home. I heard that you sold many gems as beautiful as yours today." "Hey..." Zhang Zi's arm was covered with goose bumps, she stroked it with her hand, and said, "What does this mean? Is there anything else?" "There were a couple of silent phone calls. I don't know if the trash bags were checked." "What's going on? Is it the same person who pestered me?" "Why did you target me and you?" Meifuyu said. "I don't understand either." Zhang Zi wrapped his hands around the coffee cup, "Do you think this kind of thing happens by chance? Two people actually encountered the same creepy thing at the same time?" "Yes." Meidong was also puzzled. Although he didn't understand it, Zhang Zi felt a lot relieved when he learned that he was not the only one who had this kind of experience. "If it's really the same person, are we the only ones who suffer?" Zhangzi immediately understood what Meifuyu meant. "Are you saying that other colleagues may have similar experiences?" "Well. It's hard to tell others about this kind of thing. I guess everyone is secretly distressed." Maybe so.Zhangzi himself is like this, so he understands it very well. "Ask everyone tomorrow." She said and nodded. In addition to Zhang Zi and Mifuyu, there are three female staff members on the third floor of Huawu.The next day, Zhang Zi chatted with them when there were few customers, and asked if they had been entangled by strange men recently. Surprisingly, three people encountered strange things in different ways.One person received a photo of himself on his way to work, another person received a silent phone call, and another person, like Meidong, had a note clipped on the door. Everyone agrees that it must be the same person.Who exactly?The five people, including Meidong, discussed for a long time and still couldn't figure it out. Finding a partner made Zhangzi more at ease, but there were also factors that made her more uneasy.Compared with myself, the other four were significantly less harassed.This is by no means psychological. Zhang Zi bought men's underwear, small things and consumables after get off work.When throwing out the trash that night, mix those things into the trash bag, hoping that when the other party checks the trash, he mistakenly thinks that a man has been in this room.