Murder At The Rainy Mansion ~The Never Ending 100 Tales~

Chapter 44: She is a missing person

It was already dark outside. Shimizu wanted to have a smoke by the hydrangea in the courtyard when he saw the female ghost who was always there. He turned around and was about to move to another spot when he noticed Ayano was standing behind him.

Shimizu: “Why did you follow me? Isn’t it the same as me smoking inside just now?”

Ayano: “Nothing. I was thinking about something while looking at your face earlier so I just want to maintain the condition while thinking. Otherwise, it might interrupt my train of thought.”

The sky above the Rainy Mansion today was slightly cloudy too. Not a single star could be seen overhead.

Ayano: “Shimizu-san, you are such a gentleman. You restrain from smoking here because of a ghost that almost disappear.”

Shimizu: “It is not really convincing when you praise someone with an expressionless face, you know.”

Ayano maintained her poker face and said, “If only you are my father, how great that would be.”

Shimizu: “Stop saying things that would drag me into trouble.”

Ayano: “But you have been in and out of this place since Matsuko-san’s incident, right?”

Shimizu: “Not really. The only time I entered the mansion was when Matsuko died. You see, I don’t really know anything about your mother. Where did she go?”

Ayano: “I don’t know. She is missing. That is why Grandpa Sokichi feels sorry for me and let me stay here.”

Shimizu: “Hmm…  Your Grandpa Sokichi has a gentle face but he is actually a sly old man.”

Ayano: “Maybe you are right. It seems he is the mastermind behind the murder cases that happened lately. It is all because of his will.”

Shimizu: “But he didn’t directly carry the crime himself. It is not like we can stop everything by saying that he is the criminal. Besides, he is already dead. Argh, he is indeed a very scary old man. Even after his death he can still manipulate others just by using a will.”

Ayano dropped her gaze down. “Earlier during Uncle Jiro’s case, I have mentioned that there are not many people left in this mansion who can see ghost even though the number of ghosts doesn’t decrease. Nowadays, I have to relay the message from Grandpa Sokichi to others. That is why the people who can’t see ghost think that I might be manipulating them.”

“Now that you mentioned it, Sudo Hisami did say something similar.” Shimizu shoved the cigarette box into his pocket. In the end, he didn’t have a smoke. “During her estimated time of death, everyone was asleep so nobody has an alibi. Oh, except for Sudo Takato.”

Ayano: “Takato has an alibi? Isn’t it suspicious to have an alibi during that time period? Maybe he is the murderer.”

Shimizu: “You are such a cold-hearted girlfriend.”

“Takato and I are not a couple…” Ayano said while staring at the hydrangea under the cloudy sky.

Shimizu: “Yeah, right. It might seem so to an outsider. Well, it is useless for you to continue having feelings for him when he is about to marry other woman for the sake of business profit.”

After thinking for a while, Ayano replied, “I will leave first and go take a look. Shimizu-san, you should stay here and smoke as much as you wish.”

Ayano left the courtyard. From behind her, she could hear Shimizu mumbling, “I don’t know if you are a thoughtful person or not. What a strange young lady.”

When she turned around, she saw a cigarette fire lit by Shimizu floating like a firefly nearby the hydrangea.