Whoa. Hanashiro, making a joke? Never thought I’d see the day.
“Obviously, I’d never suggest something that reckless,” she clarified. “I mean, what if it caved in and we got trapped inside? Not that I wouldn’t consider it as a last resort if the investigation proves too difficult down the line, I guess—but for now, trying to find the other exit is our best bet from the standpoint of both time and effort.”
“How would we even do that, anyway? Rent an excavator or something?”
“Potentially. How much do you think that would run us?”
“I genuinely could not tell you.”
Even if we did manage to rent one out, how the hell would we transport it all the way out to the tunnel? Maybe we should nip this idea in the bud and get down to business.
“So how are we doing this, then?” I asked.
“I think for starters, we should do a full loop around the circumference of the mountain. I think you’re probably a more seasoned hiker than I am, so why don’t you take the lead, big guy?”
“Sure thing, city slicker. I’d be happy to show you the ropes. C’mon.”
With that, we made our way to the unmarked trailhead.
We called off the investigation after a mere two short hours. Reason being: we’d underestimated the mountain. Underestimated its might. We had figured that since it wasn’t particularly densely wooded, we’d be able to tackle it without too much trouble, but that had been a major miscalculation on our part.
However, the biggest reason for our ultimate failure was that we didn’t have a clear-cut destination in mind. If we were just going from point A to point B, that would be one thing, but since we were looking for something in particular with no clue as to where it might be, it meant we had to go over every patch of the hillside with a fine-toothed comb to make sure we didn’t accidentally overlook it, which was straight-up exhausting.
At first, it felt like a fun challenge, like we were hiking to a pleasant picnic at a scenic viewpoint. However, after one too many spiderwebs to the face, and one too many close calls tripping over giant roots, the conversations died off, and in the end, we got stranded; we even lost track of the way from which we’d come. By the time we finally made it back to the entrance of the Urashima Tunnel, we both looked like we’d just crawled out of a horror movie.
“Well, so much for that idea. Sorry,” Anzu apologized as she peeled yet another spiderweb from her hair.
“Nah, I should’ve known better too… Honestly, I feel like we should call it a day after this, even if it is only three in the afternoon.”
“Yeah, agreed. I need a shower, ASAP…”
Thus we made our way back up the stairs to the railroad tracks, both of us more than ready to head home. Just then, I had a horrifying realization. I reached down and patted the pocket of my jeans, but I felt nothing. I frantically reached my hand inside, but alas, it was completely empty.
“What’s wrong?” asked Anzu.
“I think I must’ve dropped my house key somewhere…”
“Uh-oh. Are you gonna be all right without it?”
“Yeah, I’ve got a spare back at the house. But I’ll be locked out until my dad gets home, so I guess now I’ve gotta find a way to kill a few hours…”
Thankfully, he usually didn’t come home nearly as late when he went in to work on his day off, so I’d hopefully only have to wait until about 8 p.m. or so to be let back in the house. Not that there were any guarantees.
“Well, in that case…!” Anzu blurted out, her voice squeaking anxiously. Her face was bright red, and something told me it wasn’t from all the sun we’d gotten today. Then, after an excruciating pause, she offered her suggestion in a softer, more timid voice:
“Do you…wanna come over to my place?”
The condominium where Anzu lived was relatively close to downtown. After passing through the auto-locking entry door, we made our way to the impeccably sanitized inner hallway. While I’d never mention this aloud, it was clearly several tiers more luxurious than Koharu’s housing complex. Eventually we came to a stop outside a door, which I assumed to be Anzu’s unit—but then I noticed that the name on the door wasn’t Hanashiro. Then I recalled what she’d told me the day she beat up that senior punk: Anzu had no parents. I was very glad to have remembered this minor detail before I asked about it.
She unlocked the door, and I followed her into the entryway, where we bumped into an older woman, probably in her early fifties. Her pepper-gray hair was tied in a bun, and a couple of reusable shopping bags hung from her arm. It seemed we’d barged in just as she was getting ready to go shopping. Anzu stopped to greet her, albeit in a rather formal way for someone she was supposedly living with. I kept that thought to myself and simply bowed my head along with her.
“Is this a friend of yours, Anzu?” the older woman asked, looking at me with what appeared to be genuine surprise on her face. Then, as if remembering a prior commitment, she gasped, bringing one hand up to cover her mouth. “Oh, goodness! Where are my manners? Let me pour you two some tea before I go…”
“Don’t mind us,” said Anzu, shaking her head. “By all means, go run your errands.”
“Are you sure…? Well, all right, then.” The woman squeezed past us and headed out the door.
“This way,” said Anzu, beckoning me farther in. She stepped up into the hallway, and I followed after her.
“That was my aunt, by the way,” she explained before I had the chance to ask. “Her husband passed away two years ago, and her daughter’s living on her own now too. Hence why it’s just me and her at present. Though if you’re wondering why I was being so formal with her, it’s because we don’t talk an awful lot. We’re less like family and more like roommates.”
“Huh. Interesting living situation, I guess…”
“You go on in.” Anzu opened the door at the end of the hall and gestured me inside. “I’ll be right back.”
She trotted off into another room, her footsteps beating in a pleasant rhythm against the hardwood flooring. A few moments later, she returned with a rolled-up washcloth and a drinking glass.
“Okay, here’s some iced tea and a wet towel.”
“Hey, thanks.”
“I’m gonna take a quick shower. Feel free to wipe yourself down with that in the meantime.”