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Then, as an addendum, Keiko-san bashfully held up one finger.
"However, I have just one request of my own."
"Yes?"
"Would you please join us for dinner tonight? My daughters, my son, and Kouzou too will surely welcome you."
"Kouzou... you mean?"
"He's my husband."
With a hint of shyness, the bizarre wife introduced her husband. Though his face hardly seemed suited to the Japanese term "omuko-san."
"Ah, and also, you're basically free to go anywhere in the house, but if you can't get permission from my daughters or son themselves, please refrain from entering their rooms, sorry."
"Yes, of course. Understood." *Tch... Just kidding, though.*

Well now, I've been invited to the family dinner party. First, I glance at Fushimi. Her apple-sick cheeks had deflated, and her eyes were darting about.
"Fushimi, what do you want to do?"
As for me, since dinner is essentially the demanded price for my search, my compliance is pretty much decided. But Fushimi has a peculiar shyness around strangers, so maybe it's better if she went home. Still, I wonder if this kid can even cook.
On that point, my Maa-chan is a master of all housework except cleaning and laundry.
Ah, come to think of it, it's been three days since Mayu's home cooking entered my stomach. I've still got enough "Mayu component" stored up to last a few more days, but it's not a situation where I can be optimistic. I made a solemn vow to redouble my efforts and strive diligently to resolve this matter. There might even be parts of that which aren't lies.
But, no wonder I'm hungry. I don't remember consuming anything these past two days... ...Well, I guess that makes sense, since I haven't eaten anything.
Fushimi brought up the consultation *basabasa*, like the flapping of wings sound effect, via her notebook.
『Go home』 「Also」 『No food』 『Trouble』
"Hmm, you don't have family around... Well then, want to eat here?"
Fushimi reluctantly managed a nod.
"...So, with that decided, we'll gratefully accept your hospitality."
As if waiting only for that answer, she responded with pleasing promptness and a cheerful smile.
"Well then, I shall demonstrate my culinary skills!"
True to her declaration, Keiko-san swung her arms horizontally as if rolling up her sleeves. Then, she issued an order to Natane-san, who was standing there vacantly, spacing out.
"Natane, I'm going to use the kitchen, so help me out."
`Haeh?` Having just realized she'd been left out of the conversation, and now suddenly finding it was her turn, a bewildered Natane-san shifted her gaze from the large pendulum clock on the wall back to the Mistress.
"The Mistress needing the kitchen... does that mean snac—"
"Yes, I'm making my specialty dish."
No sooner had she declared this than Keiko-san trotted off towards the passage Natane-san had emerged from. Just before disappearing down the corridor, she turned back, gave a nod, and didn't forget a considerate word: "I won't be able to oversee your search, but our home is open freely to you, so please take your time."

"I wonder if we have the ingredients...なぁ..."
Still tilting her head, Natane pattered off *batabata* after the Mistress and disappeared.

"...Just arriving at the entrance hall has worn me out."
It wasn't quite a storm, but it's the kind of exhaustion you'd feel after being cornered by a bear in the woods and only escaping thanks to hibernating partway through.
Ooe Keiko. Did she pester her husband into living on this land? Or are they a couple with equally bad taste, like they wear matching outfits?
Either way, there's no doubt she's a type of woman I'm unlikely to ever encounter again in my life.
I resolved to interact with her with the utmost care, so as not to vaguely pass by this precious experience and let it come to nothing. That's a lie, though.

"Freely open, huh... Well then, shall we go?"
Prompting Fushimi, who still seemed hesitant, I decided to start by heading into the right-hand passage.
"Um, excuse meee..."
Natane-san, who should have walked off in the opposite direction, came pattering back *patapata*. Running slightly pigeon-toed, she reached us, straightened the folds of her clothes at the shoulder, and then broke into a smile.
"Yes?"
"I apologize for the delayyy, but my name is Saka Natane."
She bowed *peko*, bending at the waist to forty-five degrees.
"...My, my, how very polite."
Along with Fushimi, I lowered my head, my expression holding a bitterness veiled in fog.
As I thought, I'm not good with people like this. It's hard for lies to get through to them.

Just after entering the right passage, three rooms lined the left side. It was built just like a hotel.
First, I knocked on the leftmost room to check if anyone was inside. After waiting three seconds and judging it to be empty, I opened the door. The inside wasn't separate, but rather quite continuous in style.
『Hotel』 「Style」
Entering the room, Fushimi stated her impression while stepping onto the indigo carpet with her shoes. While I could agree, I stopped myself at merely muttering a lie of denial in my heart. Even I find scattered moments where I don't fully understand what I'm saying point-by-point; is this a hint that my personality is splitting?
I deliberately touched the white wall, which looked like it might suck the color from my fingers. I pushed against the hard, cold enclosure with my palm, then pulled away—my hand didn't even lose its outline... Judging by Fushimi's lack of screaming, it seemed that development hadn't occurred. Only the ephemeral chill you feel when touching metal left in the shade during summer clung to my palm. I clenched my fist once, made it disappear, and cut off my interest in the wall.
There was hardly any furniture to be seen in the room. Perhaps it was a spare room; chests of drawers, drawers, and desks were omitted. However, a bed was furnished in the corner, complete with sheets. Was this consideration made so one could sleep anywhere, anytime, if they got drunk in the mansion? At least, back when it was my house, futons were folded and placed everywhere, and sometimes used.

"Back then..."
`Eh?` Fushimi reacted so suddenly she didn't have time to pull out her notebook.
`Mm, it's nothing,` I replied, moving from the entrance to the center of the room.
I'd only stopped myself from mentioning something only family would understand – that my brother's room and the library should have been around here back then – so I wish Fushimi wouldn't look at me with such a puzzled expression.
Standing in the center, I spun my head and body around *guru-guru*. Even so, within ten seconds, I'd exhausted all discovery of anything new. Since it seemed to be an unused room, like what I'd seen from outside, there was nothing much to look at besides the cross-shaped iron bars on the window. Even those only sparked thoughts like, 'Escaping from here would require a higher difficulty level than dislocating my bones; I'd probably have to eject all the bones from my body,' and my interest fizzled out.
`Hey.` From the side, a hand, a notebook, and Fushimi reached out. Not to be outdone, I didn't feel the need to draw out my response like 'Whaaaaaaaat?' `Hm?`
In the direction Fushimi was pointing, there was a passage continuing from the room.
Wondering if it connected to another room, we both entered it. Ahead, a toilet and a bathroom lay in wait, splitting into two paths. Toilet to the right, bath to the left, wall in front, Fushimi behind. Surrounded on all four sides, how unreliable. Would I be frightened by the danger? I fell into worry. Just kidding, though.
I 'unsealed' the bathroom, and Fushimi the toilet, simultaneously. The bathroom, attached to a washstand area, was Western-style, harmonizing with the mansion, and well-cleaned. If only there were bath towels, it looked like Fushimi and I could take a mixed bath right now. Well, that's a complete lie, though.
Turning around, Fushimi, having already finished her inspection of the toilet, was peering into the bathroom from beside me.
"Could it be that each room is equipped with a toilet and bathroom?"
When I muttered it within the scope of talking to myself, Fushimi's faint reply, `Maybe so,` reached me.
When I lived here, the rooms didn't have things like this. Seeing how well-equipped it is now, perhaps there really was a plan to market it as a ryokan inn. If you overlook the fact that the business failed from the point of choosing the wrong location, it seems like it could have been an effective use of the land, I praised irresponsibly in my head.
Having killed some time, we left the room.

While walking to the next room, I told Fushimi something I'd just noticed.
"These doors are like prison cells, aren't they?"
`Question mark.` Fushimi's husky voice, like a megaphone whispering.
"Because it looks like the locks can only be engaged from the outside."
Fushimi tilted her head. `'It was like that?' 'Question mark.'` Fushimi tilted her head again. Her attention to detail is lacking. Good.
It's not like you should keenly point out every little thing. Always saying the right thing just gets you disliked, that's the way of the world. Well, telling nothing but lies gets you treated as separate from the world and makes you untrustworthy, though.
As if to ask the door about the truth of my report, Fushimi trotted over to the next room.
Fushimi stared intently at the doorknob. After checking the keyhole, she opened it. She went around and checked the inside.
"...It's true."
Satisfied, she smiled cheerfully.
A mischievous delight, like a child who's just been let into a group sharing secret information.
Since she seemed to be enjoying herself unexpectedly, even though it wasn't an outing, I became convinced with a clenched fist that this plan would succeed. Obviously, that's a lie, though.

The remaining two rooms had contents that were copy-pasted from the first room, so the search ended without anything special to note. At present, the items within my broadly defined target have not been discovered.
And so, the expedition team was forced to proceed deeper inside. Going straight, we reached a corner dedicated to left turns only. At the right edge stood a fire extinguisher. Even for the likes of me, it would be reckless to elevate a fire extinguisher to the status of a memento just because it's 'convenient for various things.'
Also, the door ahead... leads to the basement. There used to be one. I don't know about now. Feeling murderous intent towards the bitter taste in the back of my mouth, I opened the ill-fitting wooden door.
A vast expanse of time, and a short, winding staircase, spread out below.
Déjà vu made the undersides of my eyelids twitch.
Looks like they're reusing the basement as is.
『What wrong』 「Question mark」
Seeing me in a hard-to-describe state of near paralysis, Fushimi showed concern.
"No, well... This place is for later."
It didn't stink, but I decided to put a lid on it and leave it alone for now. For my current self, whose MP has swung deep into the negative, stepping in here of my own free will is tantamount to suicide. The image of holing up in the basement, pitting my head against the stone wall, and meeting a forced defeat appeared vividly in my mind's eye. Or maybe just dropping dead.
To continue living for now, I turned left. This time, two rooms were clustered together on the right side of the passage.

On the door of the nearer room, a plaque with "Keiko" written in brush strokes hung from the doorknob by a string. Judging from the name's reading, it seemed to be the private room of the Mistress from earlier.
And I have a few memories associated with this location. Well, since it's my former family home, that's true of most places here.
`We basically have permission for this one,` I mentioned vaguely to Fushimi, turning her into an accomplice.
Fushimi was silent anyway, and if we were later accused of trespassing, we could just apologize together. It's like running a red light.
Still, entering someone else's private room... Generating a fragment of hesitation, I twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open.
This time, the room's interior approached a new world. The quality of the furnishings had jumped significantly.
『Ooh』 「Ooooh」
Not content with merely letting her notebook express surprise, Fushimi shuddered enough to place an additional order with her own mouth. A glittering chandelier, a gleaming glass table, a huge double-sized bed, a sparkling painting, a carpet deeper and glossier than the runner in the passage. Also, a mirror reflecting one's entire body without omission—that part was normal, actually—but it was a high-class assortment. However, electronic devices like TVs or music equipment were nowhere to be seen.

"...Hm?"
The large window spreading out at the back was different from the others; it didn't have iron bars running horizontally. They were properly embedded vertically, but the number of bars was somewhat modest. Maybe this symbolizes Keiko-san's will, declaring 'Among the family, only I am not wicked'? Joking aside, there were several flowerpots on a shelf between the windows, with purple flowers stuck in them, so perhaps it was to improve sun exposure. While feeling it's none of my business but they shouldn't have added extra features to the windows in the first place, the search begins.
I checked if maybe an elementary school textbook was tucked away on the bookshelf, while Fushimi left fingerprints *betapeta* all over the table. While I searched under the bed, Fushimi tried stretching or jumping to touch the chandelier. Furthermore, since Fushimi was enjoying the smooth texture of the bedsheets with her palm, I pinched her cheek and pulled. This was because both my hands wanted to ask, philosophically yet violently, "Why are *you* here?"
"Abyabyabya!"
She struggled and fought back, hitting my arm with her notebook.
"I'll make you join the ranks of those skilled at irritating people. If you're bored, help me out."
『But, what should I look for?』
She asked with a complete sentence, rather than stringing words together. I wonder what kind of situation other than this she'd saved it up assuming she would use it? Is this girl using some kind of precognitive ability?
As I was unfolding these skeptical considerations about the ecology of high school girls, Fushimi's gaze started to ignore me. Her eyeballs fixed as if capturing something behind me, and she even refrained from blinking.
Turning around, I saw a painting hanging on the wall depicting a golden egg resting on a great mass of sleeping needles. Fushimi seemed to be focused on that painting.
`Fuhhhihhina eh` (A weird painting). Since her cheek was still being held, even her impression of the strange painting came out strangely.
"...Ah, that's one that used to be displayed in the old house."
It was displayed in the Japanese-style room with tatami mats and shoji screens where we ate meals. It seems my old man had that kind of hobby until he sold the terminals in his head to the devil's scrap metal craftsman; I remember seeing several other collected items too.
`Hyotto, hohii` (Maybe, want it). Fushimi declared she wanted it a little, exhaling air *hehoheho*.
`Don't ask me, try asking Keiko-san or her husband,` I said, still kneading her cheek.
Keiko-san gave off the scent of a dilettante, so there's a chance she might give it to Fushimi as an viewing fee if Fushimi's eyes pop out upon hearing the price. If she fails to win a laugh, though, it'll result in a deficit more serious than mere wasted effort.
"However, I see..."
A painting, huh. So that's another possibility.
My tasks and troubles increase simultaneously, and all I can do is lament how busy my view ahead is, constantly switching between light and dark.

After that, we quickly searched the remaining empty rooms, the dead end of the passage, returned to the main hall, and headed towards the kitchen, covering the first floor. However, neither valuables nor anything noteworthy were discovered, so we decided to go up to the second floor.
Incidentally, in the kitchen, the Mistress was crudely chopping carrots with a kitchen knife, a scene Natane-san watched nervously *oro oro*. It felt like I was being shown a simulation of what things might have been like ten years later if Nagase Tooru and I hadn't had our troubles, and I almost started acting suspiciously myself. That's way too big a lie.
"Who's there?"
`Ah, are you relaxing?` Keiko-san asked, turning around and assessing her guests' mood while sending carrot scraps flying from the tip of her knife.
"Yes, I'm letting myself get moisturized enough to achieve beautiful skin."
"Well then, please rest until your bones turn to jelly."
We exchanged such careless, superficial pleasantries.
Then, after Natane-san bowed and said, `We will call you when it is time for dinnerrr,` we finished playing the part of passersby in the kitchen and returned to being petty thieves.

We went up to the second floor using the stairs located near the passage facing the entrance hall, at the far end of the main hall. The steps of the stairs were steep, with height differences as clearly defined as the seniority system in a sports club. If Mayu had been with me, this is where I'd carry her on my back. Fushimi nearly missed her step on the last stair, so I lent her a hand and some 'fight', and she made it up safely.
Arriving on the second floor, the floor spread out surrounding the stairs, and passages branched off in four directions. We first headed towards the right. Perhaps based on a hotel design, the passage had two consecutive rooms on both the left and right. One of these, the nearer door, was a private room with "Touka" written directly on it. From the sound of the name, I guessed it might be a daughter.
Hoping that despite the nameplate, she had actually moved to a different room, leaving this one unoccupied and thus wouldn't answer, I knocked.
Then, as if responding, footsteps advanced straight from the back of the room towards the door without hesitation.
The force of opening the door was strong enough that the doorknob caught halfway, making a dull metallic collision sound.
A girl with sharp eyes appeared, staring intently at us. She looked about fifteen, no, maybe a bit older? While her overall features emphasized curves, giving an impression of affability, her tone of voice was harsh.
"We're, uh, yeah, guests of Keiko-san. We have some business in the mansion and are being shown the rooms."
I explained in a casual tone, mixing in some embellishment, feigning friendliness. Also, I shifted my gaze away from the girl towards another person.
Through the gap between the door and the girl, I saw another person inside the room.
A girl, clutching a handheld game console, staring at the entrance with large eyes. Quite thin. She had a body that looked like it could be folded up neatly and stored in a dresser.
Are these two sisters, maybe? If so, the girl further inside has the air of the younger sister.
"Are you stupid? There's no way guests would come to this house."

She spat that out and cut off the connection. The door once again became a wall, but it wasn't a particularly effective barrier.
Like the doors on the first floor, it didn't lock, so the right to open and close it was still permitted from the outside. However, I don't live solely to get on people's nerves.
『Curt refusal』
Fushimi smoothed down her bangs, ruffled by the wind pressure from the closing door, while concisely expressing the attitude taken towards us. Not getting upset over simple insults like 'stupid' is one of Fushimi's virtues, I added in the margin of my mental report card. Though maybe she just figures *I* was the one called stupid, and it has nothing to do with her.
Still, that girl. If she thinks strangers aren't guests, I think she should be taught that a more polite response would lead to greater personal safety. The world has all sorts of other people, like criminals, sinners, and thieves. I wish Keiko-san had at least mentioned us before taking care of her carrots.
But why are the locks installed only on the outside? Maybe it's the result of Keiko-san racking her brains for a way to prevent her son or daughters from becoming shut-ins.
The next room also had an 'in use' sign, reading "Akane", so we reversed course down the passage and ended up back near the stairs.

"...Hoh."
I stopped short there unintentionally. Since I hadn't given a signal, Fushimi bumped her not particularly prominent nose into my back. But responding to her protest would have to wait.
A woman in a yukata walked towards us from the opposite passage, her footsteps seemingly absorbed by it.
It was as if a swarm of ants was marching beneath her feet, yet their sound couldn't be heard.
And, a uniquely distinctive expression.
A smile that made you want to file an 'unidentified foreign object' report, like an insect mimicking a human smile just to mock them.
Somehow, I get the first impression of an insect-type human. Just like me.
Well, if that's what I am, then considering she's a woman, maybe she's a cricket?
...Just kidding about the comparison, though.
We came face-to-face. The moment I saw her, a question sprang up.
Simultaneously, we both blinked. Simultaneously, our lips moved.
"`Excuse me, but what's your name?`"
"...They overlapped." Fushimi muttered.
Even without Fushimi murmuring it, the woman and I both went— `Guh.` Why did we both choke up at the same time?
Pulling ourselves together: `No, you first...` Our voices trailed off *shirisubomi*, and the taste of bewilderment spread in my mouth.
What is she? No matter what little tricks I try, I don't feel like I can outwit her.
Probably, she felt the same dread, and we fell into a stalemate.
Aargh, I absolutely refuse such an un-fateful encounter! We should part ways quickly here, and later try again, coordinating beforehand to stage it properly. That's a lie, though.
Mutually, our eyes resumed activity, accompanied by consciousness. Stirring up a bad feeling,
"`Well then—`" ...Why did we even raise our right hands simultaneously?!
"—" Lowering our hands, only the woman turned around.
By taking the option of parting ways in silence, I finally succeeded in getting away from the mystery woman.
As the woman speed-walked back the way she came, I recognized a similarity, yet felt absolutely no sense of kinship.
"What was that?" Fushimi asked.
"`Who knows. Maybe a UMA?` Just kidding, though. I wanted to use that line of astonishment myself."
"An acquaintance?"
"No... I haven't met her before, but..."
I replied to Fushimi's question without completely dispelling the suspicion.
Well, she's probably something like a doppelgänger of mutual relation. If so, I should cherish the fact that we're not previously acquainted. It would be troubling if my remaining lifespan ran out the moment we had our fateful meeting. And just now, we even performed a perfectly synchronized symmetrical play.
However, the Ooe family. To think they have personnel of that lineage... should I say they won't be easy to deal with, or that overstaying is pointless, or maybe 'let sleeping dogs lie'?
The problem with insect-leaning humans is that they treat not only themselves but even others as insects. What such people might do to achieve their goals...
"...They're too easy to understand. That's the problem."
There are even guys where it's obvious at a glance that they're lying.

It was impossible to finish searching all the rooms before the Ooe family's dinner time arrived. And in the end, nothing had been found.
Around the time we'd finished looking through about half of the second floor, a man whose facial features were mostly configured to look timid was dispatched with the role of guiding us to the dining room. `Ah, so here you were,` he said, adopting a polite yet servile attitude.
`I am Saka Kiyoshi. In the Ooe household, I am tasked with gardening and general chores. Yes. Well then, preparations for the meal are complete, so please follow me.`
He greeted us *heko heko*, lowering only his head while keeping his shoulders still. Judging by his surname, he must be Natane-san's partner, unless they're siblings or parent/child. His physique was excellent both vertically and horizontally; he looked like he could carry the well-built Natane-san on his shoulder.
Still, I wonder what kind of meal they prepared in such a short time. It was past four when I passed through this mansion's gate, and not much time has passed since the hour hand pointed to five.
"Ah, you would be Fushimi's young lady, yes, if I recall correctly?"
Kiyoshi-san cautiously descended the stairs, identifying Fushimi's background in a tone like it was merely incidental to checking his memory. Fushimi started to say `Question mark` but stopped herself for some reason, merely letting her eyes move erratically.
"When the Master and Mistress moved here, yes, I came to pay my respects just once, and I remembered your face from that time."
Kiyoshi-san stared at Fushimi with a greasy smile somewhere between lewd and servile.
The shy Fushimi hid behind her unreliable big brother figure, me. Kiyoshi-san offered a meaningless and valueless apology, `Hah, excuse me,` and turned back to face forward.