I used my hands as I climbed the rain-slick steps in darkness. Once I had managed to make my way up to the top of the retaining wall without slipping and falling, I walked across a footpath in the undergrowth and immediately came to a brick wall with a small, straight path along the outside of it. The phosphorescent tape I had left as a marker previously shone yellow in the light of my flashlight.
The Mayoiga was on the other side of the wall, but I’d need to go all the way around it to get inside. I began following the wall. I walked quickly at first, but soon broke into a run. The leaves of the trees surrounding the mansion kept rustling as they were pelted with rain, and I got more and more scared with each noise I heard.
The path bent to the left, and then left once again, following the wall. A large, cast-iron gate door stood open, facing onto an empty lot that was paved with gravel. I knew that strangely frightening hill ought to be on the opposite side of the empty lot, but I sure didn’t feel like going out of my way to look at it in this situation.
Rushing through the gate, I saw the mansion, its design a compromise between Western and Eastern influences, through the silhouettes of the garden trees planted in the front yard. I could see that the entranceway faintly lit up on the other side of the old sliding door.
Though that was a relief, I didn’t head in that direction, instead following the inside of the wall towards the right-hand side. As I walked across the large gravel, I came to a circular driveway that was paved. This was the other entrance to the Mayoiga. Last time we came, I got the sense that Todate and Hana mostly lived on this side of the house.
Crossing the circular driveway, I arrived in front of the Western-style entrance. I pounded the knocker and then pushed open the door without waiting for a response. It opened easily because it wasn’t locked. A soft light leaked out from the doorway.
“Excuse me! Hello!”
My voice echoed against the high ceiling of the entrance hall.
“Todate-san, are you in? It’s Kamikoshi, the one who visited before!”
There was no response.
I entered the hall, and closed the door. It suddenly became very quiet as the sound of rain was blocked out.
“I’m coming in...”
I walked towards another door on my left. My wet shoes left their mark on the sparkling marble floor and the spotless dark red rug. A wide, open room with a fireplace was on the other side of the open door. The room had a number of round tables with chairs around them, like a café. Last time we came, we had mugwort mochi here.
There was a log quietly burning in the fireplace. I pulled up a chair and sat down next to the fire, its warmth spreading through my cold body. That long dog, Hana, had been lying here before, but it was just me now.
I’d settled down a bit, having fled into a safe place. There was no sound coming from anywhere in the mansion. Were they out...? On this rainy night?
I stood up, meaning to take a look around. It was a big place, and it was raining outside, so maybe they hadn’t noticed my arrival.
This was technically their home, so I felt bad wandering around without permission, but we were both armed, so acting all sneaky could actually prove more dangerous. I let my footsteps be heard, occasionally calling the owner’s name as I headed deeper into the house.
“Todate-san, are you there? I’m coming in.”
“Hana. Hanaaa. Aren’t you there?”
“Isn’t...anyone there?”
I wandered around who knows how many rooms I’d been to before, as well as places I hadn’t. I looked around for about an hour before returning from the second floor to the hall I’d started in.
No one was around.
This went beyond them just being out; there was no trace of anyone living here at all. No trash lying around, everything polished until it sparkled. Even the sinks were all clean and dry. With such a big dog, you’d expect to see a bowl for food, or a bed for her to sleep in, but I didn’t find those either. Even if the Mayoiga had a self-cleaning feature, if it cleaned up after people in the brief time they were out of the house, then Todate wouldn’t have been able to live here like she had been.
Did that mean Todate and Hana hadn’t lived here in a while?
Or maybe...they never did at all?
No, no, that couldn’t be right. We ate the deer meat that we took back as a souvenir that time, and it was just as delicious as it should have been.
Did something happen to the two of them? They were experienced hunters, but anything could happen when they were walking around the Otherside. Much as I didn’t want to imagine it, the odds weren’t all that low.
I’m tired...
Whatever the case, there was nothing I could do about it now. It was night in the Otherside, and Todate and Hana weren’t around, and it was raining outside. If I was going to do anything, it would have to wait until morning.
I climbed the stairs again, returning to the second floor. I came all this way, so I was going to wash myself off here at least.
I was able to use the shower in the bathroom, and the stylish tub was already full of hot water. There was body soap, shampoo, and conditioner, all with brand names I couldn’t read. I decided to just go with it and try using them. The fragrance wasn’t one I had smelled all that often.
Staring up at the ceiling as I soaked in the tub, I thought, If this were one of those old fairy tales, I’d find out a tanuki tricked me into bathing in a dung heap, with a bit of a laugh. As far as monsters go, the mujina is like a relative of the tanuki, so it might be possible. When I was looking around earlier, I saw there was food laid out in the kitchen. Maybe that was all horse dung too?
I got out of the bath, wiped myself down with a fluffy towel, and then headed to the bedroom. Not that I was trying to be wary of dung, but I pulled one of the Calorie Mate bars that I carried for emergencies out of my bag and had a simple meal consisting of that and some instant coffee.
I washed my mouth out at the sink, then crawled into bed. I’d put my clothes back on so I was ready if anything happened, but it was still far more comfy than the worn-out futon I had at home.
Living in a place like this...yeah, of course Todate wouldn’t want to go home anymore...
I was so exhausted I would have thought I could doze off immediately, but now that I was actually in the bed I couldn’t get to sleep. It felt awfully big. Sure, it was a large bed. No doubt about that. But that wasn’t it.
Oh, I realized. It’s because Toriko’s not here.
Whenever I’ve spent the night in the Otherside before, Toriko was always here with me. Now she isn’t. There’s no Toriko anywhere in this big bed, in the Mayoiga, or anywhere in the Otherside.
It felt so very unnatural to me.
There was a tightening sensation in my chest.
“It feels so lonely...”
The words slipped out of my mouth. Once I’d spoken them, I couldn’t help but be aware of it.
I’m lonely.
I feel so forlorn without Toriko... I really hate it.
Where did the me of so long ago, the one who wanted to have the vastness of the Otherside all to herself, go?
Curling up into a ball in the bed that was too big for one person, I fled into the land of sleep.