Marron Veterinary Clinic was located at the edge of the shopping district just outside Aoba Station. It wasn’t the busiest area, but the stores there were crucial to the neighborhood and supported the lives of its residents: supermarkets, drugstores, bakeries, restaurants, general stores, flower shops…
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There was also a small store called Sakura Jewelry, which had been closed for a time after the heist a few months ago. But now it was open again and had a beautiful selection of accessories on display.
Going left from the clinic would take you to Aoba Station. To the right, the street intersected in a T shape with a large road. On the other side was the local police station. Chris immediately turned to the right and marched off.
Of course, Chris was properly trained and knew to wait at the light before crossing. When it turned green, the Shiba Inu put his snout to the ground and began pacing across the crosswalk.
“I wonder if Mr. Iwata’s there,” Mayuka said, rushing ahead to peer inside the building. “Good afternoooon, Officer Iwataaa!”
“Oh, it’s you, Mayuka,” said the young patrolman, popping his head out the window. “Out walking Chris?” Iwata loved dogs and had joined the force hoping to become a police-dog trainer. He was on patrol duty now, but one day, he hoped to make that dream come true.
“No, we’re not walking; we’re working.”
“Working?” Iwata said with surprise, pressing down on the top of his police cap to hold it in place.
“We’re trying to find someone who dropped their handkerchief at the vet clinic. It’s an investigation,” she explained.
Chris had crossed the street, still sniffing the ground, and proceeded to the right, past the police station. Hinata turned just long enough to wave at Mr. Iwata before Chris pulled him away.
“I see. So you are on an investigation… You said you were looking for the owner of a handkerchief, right? Not chasing any thieves, I hope,” he added, just in case. Last time they went investigating, he’d had to run all over the place looking for the three of them.
“Don’t worry, we’re not after a bad guy. We’re searching for a pretty girl with a pet hamster. See you later!”
Mayuka waved good-bye and trotted after Hinata and Chris.
Iwata seemed confused, but he called out after her anyway.
“Well, have a good time, and be safe!”
Chris continued straight down the main road. They passed the fork that split off toward Tenso Shrine, then turned left. It seemed the trail was still strong.
Hinata and Mayuka followed in silence, careful not to distract Chris from the task at hand.
“You know…,” Mayuka murmured at last.
Hinata hissed back at her. “Hey, don’t make it harder for Chris to concentrate.”
“I know. But we seem to be heading there anyway…”
Heading where? He looked at her, confused.
“You know… There.”
Mayuka pointed, and Hinata gasped.
Through a thick clump of trees, he could make out a tower with a weather vane on top.
Hinata couldn’t believe it… It was the haunted mansion!