"Judging from the sputum and blood test results, the pneumonia most likely didn't result from an infection."
That was what the doctor had told Kamo after a brief visit with Rena, who was still asleep as she lay connected to her ventilator by a tube, surrounded by monitors and machines.
"So is it interstitial pneumonia, then?"
The doctor answered with a grave nod.
"Based on the results of the CT scan and the rapid progression of the symptoms, I'd say it's an idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, most likely acute interstitial pneumonia."
Interstitial pneumonia... he'd never even heard of the disease before Rena's hospitalization. When he though of "pneumonia", Kamo imagined a bacterial or viral infection that could easily be cured with medicine.
But what Rena had was a special kind of pneumonia that caused inflammation in a different part of the body than the normal disease. The doctor had explained that her immune system was malfunctioning and attacking the interstitium of her own lungs. However, he had no idea what had triggered the onset of the disease.
The disease had eaten away at her body with astonishing speed.
It had begun with ordinary cold symptoms. After a few days, her cough had grown worse. After a week, she was struggling to breathe and lost the ability to walk. That was when he'd taken her to the hospital, where an x-ray showed the lower portion of both her lungs as pure white.
That day she'd been admitted to the hospital, but only five days later, May 19th, her condition had worsened to the point where she needed a ventilator.
"Your wife's symptoms haven't improved even with steroid pulses. We're going to start pulse therapy with immunosuppressants next, but if the disease's progression isn't stopped soon, her life will be in danger. ...I'm afraid it would be for the better if you start preparing now."
As he listened to the doctor's painful warning, Kamo felt dizzy.
He'd done some research on the internet, and he knew that acute interstitial pneumonia's fatality rate was over 60%, that that number was even worse in steroid-refractory cases, and that there was no guarantee that even the final resort of immune suppressants would be effective.
After receiving an explanation of the next treatment plan and signing a form consenting to Rena's confinement in the ICU, Kamo left the doctor and went out to the parking lot.
The parking lot of H. Medical Center, located in the mountains of Kanagawa Prefecture, was large, but it was deserted, as it was a Saturday and the outpatient clinic was closed. Kamo found the birds singing in the trees on the far side of the stone wall annoying.
The ICU had limited visiting hours. He planned to buy everything he needed and be back by the beginning of the next visiting hour, 2:30 P.M. According to his smartphone, the current time was 10:50 A.M., so he had almost four hours.
Even as he planned in his head, Kamo didn't have the energy to move, merely sitting in the driver's seat of his car. He glanced absentmindedly at a document peeking from a bag on the passenger seat.
It was a project for a magazine he'd been working on just before Rena was hospitalized, titled "The Urban Legend That Brings Happiness: The Hourglass of Miracles".
"...Hourglass of Miracles, huh."
It had become a hot topic on social media starting about two years ago. The story went that there was a pendant with an hourglass, and if you picked it up, it would grant you one wish.
If an hourglass like that really existed, could it cure Rena's disease? Kamo looked through the car's window, up at the second floor of the ICU ward, and dreamed of escaping reality.
Rena was the only family he had left. His mother died when he was young and he was estranged from his father. She was the same, but the reason Rena had been left alone in the world was special...
"No. There's no such thing as a curse."
Kamo muttered this to nobody and reached for his car keys.
He was startled by a sudden ring from his smartphone. He thought it was the hospital, calling about a sudden change in Rena's condition. However, the smartphone displayed "Anonymous Caller". Kamo breathed a sigh of relief. It was probably spam or a prank call, but, just in case it was work related, he pressed the button.
"Yes, there is."
An emotionless masculine voice reached his ear. The nonsensical declaration disgusted Kamo more than it surprised him.
"If this is a prank call, do us both a favor and hang up now."
"I apologize, I should have explained myself better. ...The curse of the Ryuuzen clan most certainly does exist."
Kamo gulped. Well, the voice had proved it wasn't a prank call.
"What are you saying?"
"I'm not trying to speak in riddles. As your wife, Rena, the former Ryuuzen Rena, feared, those who carry the blood of the Ryuuzen family are cursed."
Kamo chuckled deep in his throat.
"Well, this is a unique way to do an interview. What magazine are you from?"
"I'm afraid I don't understand."
"A reporter from some third-rate occult rag is trying to make a fun story out of someone else's misfortune, right? Did you figure I'd shoot you down if you called me normally?"
"Pardon me, but isn't that exactly what you once did?"
Kamo furrowed his brows.
"So you even looked that up? You have a lot of free time on your hands."
"...Five years ago, you were a writer for a rather disreputable occult magazine. Who was it who forced you to interview Ryuuzen Rena for the article 'The Cursed Ryuuzen Family' and got you reported to the police?"
"Are you trying to find that out? I admit, that's one of the worst things I've ever done."
"You say that, and yet now the two of you are a couple. Truly, it is impossible to predict the path one's life will take."
"I don't wanna hear that from you."
Having said his peace, Kamo went to hang up the phone.
"The Ryuuzen clan was a famous and wealthy family in the pharmaceutical industry before the war, and after the war, they forged connections with GHQ and expanded into food manufacturing. However, their first great misfortune befell them in August of 1960."
Of course, Kamo wasn't obediently sitting and listening to the stranger. He tried to end the call several times, but his phone appeared to have frozen and wouldn't let him.
"There is a place in N. Prefecture by the name of Shino. At that time, ten people, members of the Ryuuzen clan and associates thereof, were gathered at a villa in Shino. They had come to celebrate the birthday of the family's patriarch, Ryuuzen Taiga. However... they were trapped in that isolated island, and a figure with murderous intent stole away their lives."
Kamo looked at the screen of his frozen smartphone with disgust.
"I know this story better than you do. Is it your fault my phone's malfunctioning?"
The voice didn't answer, but continued with its one-sided speech.
"Some of them were able to escape from those who wanted them dead. But fate is a cruel and ruthless mistress. ...The official story is that they were wiped out in a landslide. Because of this unfortunate event, the local newspapers began to use the old name for the area, written with the characters for 'death field', rather than the modern name, which means 'poetry'."
"Is this the part where you tell me that this series of events came to be known as 'The Deadly Tragedy of Shino'?" Kamo interrupted, still trying to end the call.
"It is. The Ryuuzen clan was believed entirely wiped out, but the family lawyer's investigation uncovered the existence of Taiga's great-granddaughter Fumino, who had secretly been placed in the care of an acquaintance of Taiga's. At the young age of 13, she inherited the entire estate. However, it seems that alongside it, she also inherited the bad luck that haunted the Ryuuzen clan... Within ten years, she had been swindled out of her entire fortune."
"I know all this already. Fumino is my wife's grandmother."
"In 1977, Fumino and her husband were killed by a gang of robbers. As though it were a trigger, those who'd inherited the blood of the Ryuuzen clan began to rapidly pass away one after the other. Their causes of death range from murder, accidents, suicide... and now, your wife is all that's left."
By now, Kamo was staring at the phone. The other person's emotionless, matter of fact tone made him even more nervous.
"Are you going to tell me that all that was due to the curse of the Ryuuzen clan?"
"Fumino, her husband, their descendants, and their descendants' spouses total 16 people. For twelve of them to die before the age of 35 is a statistical anomaly."
Fearing that he'd be taken advantage of if the speaker thought he was upset, Kamo forced himself to sound calm as he retorted.
"You're wrong. It was only ten people."
"I can't be wrong. My accuracy is unrivaled."
"What are you talking about?"
"First, Fumino and her husband were killed by robbers. Then, your wife's parents were killed in a traffic accident. Of your wife's aunt and uncle, one committed suicide and the other passed in a skiing accident. Of her four cousins, one fell to their death, two more were claimed by another car accident, and the remaining one was killed in a riot."
"I knew it, there were ten... No... You aren't saying...?"
Kamo's face fell. He thought he heard the other person stifle a laugh.
"Yes, I am also counting the most recent victims: your child, who was miscarried four months ago, and your wife, Kamo Rena, who is destined to join her family soon."
"Shut the hell up!"
He threw his phone into the windshield as hard as he could. Then he clutched his head in his hands and let out a groan from deep within.
"Why is this happening...?"
Kamo had met Rena in the summer of 2013.
Although their initial encounter had gone... poorly (Kamo was dragged off by the police on suspicion of trespassing), the encounter had changed both their lives.
At the time, Rena had not left her house in six months. It had all started when her two cousins had died in a car accident. Unable to recover from the trauma, she had developed a severe panic disorder from her fear of the curse of the Ryuuzen clan.
Kamo, on the other hand, had been the sort of person who would go to the most horrifying haunted spots for a scoop without hesitation. There was no way such a bold man would ever believe in a curse.
After many twists and turns, they had started dating, and eventually, years later, they were married.
Kamo believed a man like him being able to marry Rena was nothing short of a miracle. Not only was Rena beautiful, she was also the kindest person he'd ever met.
He, in contrast, was made entirely out of flaws. When he acted, he was more careless than bold. In high school, he had gotten in plenty of fights and been in trouble with the law more times than he could count. He was bad with authority and couldn't follow any rule... to be frank, he'd been insane. But Rena had accepted every part of him. She'd even told him that was what she liked about him.
Their marriage was a happy one.
Maybe it was good that their personalities contrasted so heavily. Being with Kamo had cured her panic disorder. He, too, had become a better, more well-rounded person, to the point where even he was surprised by how much he'd changed. He was like a completely different person.
In September of 2017, they had learned that Rena was pregnant. If all had gone well, she would have been due this week. But fate was cruel. When she was at 21 weeks, Rena complained of severe pain in her abdomen. It was a miscarriage.
The unfortunate event had aggravated Rena's mental state and reminded her of the curse. It was understandable. Even Kamo, a born skeptic, felt a fear his rational mind couldn't suppress.
Afterwards, the two of them had tried to overcome their grief and look to the future. But just as they were beginning to get their feelings back in order, Rena developed pneumonia.
...Kamo thought he heard a voice in the distance and looked up.
The phone, which had fallen at his feet, had a crack in the corner of the screen, but it wasn't broken. When he picked it up, he heard a voice through terrible static.
"As long as the curse of the Ryuuzen clan... exist, your misfortune will n... end."
It sounded like it was about to break down, and the sound was cutting out. Kamo removed his black-rimmed glasses and rubbed his eyes with the palm of his right hand before looking up. Then, he tried to put the call on speaker phone.
"I know the future."
Fortunately or not, the speaker seemed to be intact, and the other person's voice became much clearer. Kamo put his glasses back on and squinted.
"Did you poison Rena?"
"I did not. Even if I were going to kill her, that wouldn't let me see what the future holds. I have special powers."
"Well, the fact that you secretly looked me up and hacked my phone proves you aren't exactly an upstanding citizen."
An emotionless laugh came from the speaker, then the voice continued.
"Would you like to break the curse of the Ryuuzen clan? If you do, I can help."
"What can you do? Rena's illness is..."
"The one who will break the curse is not I, Kamo. It is you. If you are determined to try, nothing is impossible."
"...Just who are you?"
"My name is Meister Hora."
Kamo was puzzled by the unexpected answer, but he retorted quickly.
"That's the name of a character from Michael Ende's Momo, isn't it? He was the keeper of time, if I recall."
"Yes, that is me."
Hearing the other party declare that so calmly, Kamo gave up on further questioning. He figured he wouldn't get any answers either way.
"I don't think my determination actually matters all that much, but if it's for Rena's sake, I'll try anything. Is that good enough for you?"
Those were his true feelings. At the same time, he also wanted to know how "Meister Hora" would react if he responded like that.
"In that case, I need you to do exactly as I say. Get out of the car."
Kamo hesitated for a moment, but, making up his mind, opened the door and stepped out. Meister Hora, perhaps watching from somewhere, gave his next order without a moment's pause.
"Could you please pick up the item under the car?"
Kamo did as he was told, taking a deep breath as he knelt down on the asphalt.
Lying next to the front wheel of his car was an hourglass. It was made of very thin glass and filled with sparkling, pure white sand. It was less than a centimeter in diameter and about three centimeters long. It had a long silver chain that could be used to wear it around the neck.
All of these features were consistent with the urban legend of the Hourglass of Miracles.
"I've heard rumors about an hourglass just like this one."
"Well, I shall leave that to your imagination... Hang the hourglass around your neck and find an empty spot with a radius of at least one and a half meters."
With a shrug of his shoulders, Kamo hung the pendant from his neck. The chain was so long that the hourglass wound up hanging over his solar plexus.
Kamo locked the car with the remote on his key and started walking. His wallet was still in his bag in the car, but he figured he could go back and get it soon. He put the key in his pants pocket.
The further from the ward he got, the fewer parked cars he saw, and within a few dozen meters he found a spot that met the requirements. It was next to a mossy stone wall, with the branches of a magnificent weeping cherry tree extending overhead. Its fresh green leaves were beautiful.
He stopped a little over one and a half meters from the wall and looked around.
"Where's that bastard watching me from?" he muttered to himself.
He could have been in another parked car, or he could be watching him through a hidden camera.
"Well then, let's get moving."
"Moving? You didn't say anything about that."
"There's no point refusing now. We have to go back to where it all began."
Not sure what he meant, Kamo looked down at his phone in confusion. All of as sudden, the call with Hora had ended.
"...What, so it was all an elaborate prank after all?"
He'd known there was no such thing as an Hourglass of Miracles. Despite that, he'd been full of hope that this hourglass would actually bring about a miracle. He felt like an idiot, getting caught up in such a cruel joke.
The moment Kamo was about to head back to his car, he felt something strange. When he looked down, he saw the white sand inside the hourglass starting to move.
"What on Earth... What's happening?"
The hourglass, made of clear glass, didn't appear to have any electronic components or mechanics inside. Despite that, it was giving off a light as bright as the sun, and the grains of sand inside were beginning to rise up against the pull of gravity.
Diary of Ryuuzen Ayaka
August 21st, 1960
I can hardly wait for Grandfather's birthday celebration tomorrow.
The thing that's so wonderful about Grandfather is that he never gives up. Even after spending so long in the hospital and being confined to a wheelchair when he was released, he never showed us a single sign of distress. Although his legs have not returned to normal, he still manages to do almost everything on his own.
This morning, however, he wasn't wearing his pearl tie clip, which he always wears when he wears a tie. I asked what had a happened to it, and he told me that he hasn't been able to find it since last night.
In the morning, I read the novel given to me by Uncle Genji.
It's called "The Stars My Destination" by Alfred Bester. I like the stories that my uncle gives me because they're all interesting. But Mr. Koki is cynical and a bit mean, so whenever he sees me reading science fiction, he tells me "Girls aren't supposed to read that."
Even though they're cousins, Mr. Koki doesn't resemble Father or Uncle. No, that isn't true. Father and Mr. Koki are quite similar in appearance. But their personalities are perfect opposites. I am very glad that I am the child of Father who is always so kind to me and not Mr. Koki.
After I finished the book, I went to visit Ms. Tonegawa. She was just preparing sandwiches for lunch.
Ms. Tonegawa is a culinary genius. She makes food that tastes as good as any restaurant's. Secretly, I really admire her.
Great-Uncle Soujirou's family arrived at noon. But this year, Great-Aunt Ikeuchi didn't come. Great-Aunt is an opera singer, and she's in Rome performing Carmen right now. I was looking forward to seeing her perform wonderful songs in the garden, so I was very disappointed.
Great-Uncle Soujirou is a thin man. It's been 13 years since he divorced my great-aunt. I wonder if he misses her. On the other hand, Tsukihiko said he was happy his mother didn't come. (This section is stained with mud). In the afternoon, I pretended to be a detective and searched for Grandfather's missing tie clip, but I couldn't find it. I wonder where it went.
That's all for my diary today. I'm going to bed early.
August 22nd, 1960
I don't want to write a diary. But when I lie in bed and close my eyes, all I can think of are horrid things. I never imagined doing nothing could be so painful.
So, I've decided to write down what's happened so far.
I was awake at 6:00, but my head felt heavy. Trying to go back to sleep was impossible, so at 6:30 I went to the dining room. Even though it was sunny outside, my head was foggy.
When I went downstairs, I was surprised. There were voices coming from the recreation room, even though it was so early in the morning. I looked into the room and saw Great-Uncle Soujirou, Uncle Genji, and Mr. Amamiya.
Their faces didn't look good... they must have been up all night. At dinner last night, Great-Uncle and Tsukihiko had talked about playing chess, and when I asked about it later, I was told that Great-Uncle spent the rest of the night playing billiards with my uncles.
Ms. Tonegawa's eggs and toast were delicious today.
As I was enjoying my cocoa and assorted fruits, Grandfather came into the dining room. Since today was a day of celebration, it was only natural that Grandfather and I decided to talk.
When I finished my meal and left the dining room, a commotion arose in the entrance hall.
I decided to be a bit mischievous and eavesdrop. ...They don't always involve me in important conversations because I'm still a child.
My great-uncles had disappeared from the recreation room next to the front door. Taking advantage of the lack of anyone else there, I put my ear to the door to the entrance hall.
"I understand that you can't believe it. But... Kyuichi really was murdered."
Father was murdered? As soon as I heard, my mind went blank.
I could tell from the voice that it was Tsukihiko who was reporting the incident. He was breathing heavily.
"I wasn't the only one who saw it. Tsukie and Amamiya were with me, they saw it too. That is, we saw... Kyuichi's head."
I think I screamed. Next thing I knew, the door to the entrance hall was open and Uncle Genji and Mr. Amamiya were looking at me.
I told myself it was all a nightmare, that everything would be okay as soon as I woke up. But as I looked at Uncle's bloodless face, I knew it was real.
I woke up in my room.
I was out of breath after sprinting upstairs in a frenzy. With trembling hands, I locked the door from the inside.
Uncle came up to the hallway and asked if I was okay, but I just wanted him leave me alone. I ran into the bathroom and cried. Uncle told me not to unlock the door and left.
I think he was afraid that the person who took Father's life was still nearby. (The following is stained with mud.)
I didn't want to believe that Father had passed away.
I couldn't talk with Father much yesterday. There were so many things I wanted to tell him, like about the deer I saw while I was walking in the Netherwood, or the book Uncle gave me. ...I want to hear Father's voice again. I want to tell him how grateful I am for all he's done. I want to tell him how much I love him.
So many thoughts welled up in my chest that I couldn't breathe.
I wonder how long I stayed there. Uncle Genji came back and asked me if I was ready to come out. I didn't want to.
He said "I want you to listen calmly to what I'm about to say. It wasn't just my brother who died. ...Koki was also killed."
I was so scared I threw open the door and jumped into Uncle's arms, sobbing. Uncle hugged me tenderly.
Ayaka, you're only thirteen. Grandfather also said it would be better not to tell you anything. But I thought that would be too cruel."
I nodded my head, shoulders shaking.
"I want to know everything."
Uncle Genji told me that while I was locked in my room, Great-Uncle Soujirou went to the Netherwood to confirm Father's death. He found a torso by the river.
At the time, Great-Uncle thought it was Father's. ...At the same time, Uncle Genji checked Father's room and found a headless body.
The torso that had been found in the Netherwood belonged to Mr. Koki. The rest of Mr. Koki's body, including his head, arms, and legs, were apparently found in the bathhouse in the basement of the villa.
Someone has done something to Father and Mr. Koki that's too horrible to even describe.
"Someone is targeting us. The phone line connecting us to the outside world was cut. That's proof."
I was horrified down to the bottom of my heart. Uncle gave me a reassuring smile.
"But it's okay. Soujirou and I are going to go call the police. Once they arrive, I'm sure they'll catch the culprit right away."
I went back to my room and locked the door. Tears welled up in my eyes again, so I went back to the bathroom. No matter how many tears I shed there, no one would know. It was the easiest place for me to cry.
Less than an hour later, Uncle and Great-Uncle returned to the villa. I think it was just around noon. I was still in my room at the time, but when I heard what had happened, I shuddered.
Someone had sabotaged the suspension bridge, and when the car approached the bridge, it fell. My uncles were able to escape, but the car is gone. ...This was done by the same person who took Father's life. I'm certain. By destroying the bridge, they've trapped us all here.
The culprit is still unknown, and no one has found a single clue. Grandfather told me "Stay in your room tonight, lock the door, and spend the night there." I was afraid to be alone, but Ms. Tonegawa encouraged me and gave me courage.
As I write this diary, I feel my mind beginning to settle. I couldn't do anything today but cry, but I need to find out who stole the lives of Father and Mr. Koki.
Tomorrow, I won't cry. I must become strong, for Father's sake.