The Gifted Vol. 6-10 (Bind Up)

By Ryosuke Akizuki

In City, those who have strange gifts frequently cause incomprehensible incidents. Five 'gifted' ones stand up to the challenges of the cases that cannot be solved by the police.

At the mysterious hotel, people disappear one by one from a locked room. ("The Spirited Away Hotel")
The ghost airplane continues to fly through the sky with broken engines. ("City Air Flight 513")
The human face tumor haunts people and torments the mind of its host. ("The Demonic Face")
The Ouija board summons spirits with certainty at a séance. ("Into the Godless World")
E-mails from the deceased, killed by the most powerful gifted. ("In the World of God")

The mysteries crafted by Ryosuke Akizuki not only revolve around classic detective novels but also encompass the allure of refined gourmet descriptions and a grand spiritual hypothesis that explores the workings of the world within the format of a novel.

As mystery, gourmet, and spirituality weave a miraculous harmony, the astonishing story culminates in a brilliant conclusion.
Ryosuke Akizuki, the gifted storyteller, who spent a decade, proudly concludes the first period of "The Gifted" series!!

This bind-up edition includes:
"Vol. 6 - The Spirited Away Hotel"
"Vol. 7 - City Air Flight 513"
"Vol. 8 - The Demonic Face"
"Vol. 9 - Into the Godless World"
"Vol. 10 - In the World of God"

This work was exclusively written for The BBB: Breakthrough Bandwagon Books.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Sep 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9781312097315

Book preview

The Gifted Vol. 6-10 (Bind Up)

Originally written in Japanese by Ryosuke Akizuki

Translated by Ryusui Seiryoin

Cover illustration by Makoto Sakuma

Cover design by Makoto Sakuma

Copyright © 2023 Ryosuke Akizuki / The BBB: Breakthrough Bandwagon Books

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 9781312097315

  Chapter 1: The Gifted Vol. 6 – The Spirited Away Hotel

テキスト, 本, 記号, 食品 が含まれている画像 自動的に生成された説明

    Prologue

It’s so crowded here.

While getting irritated, Tobia Fazio was waiting before the front desk to check in. Florita Soldano, the daughter of this hotel’s owner, was letting her well-shaped body sink in a sofa behind him with the similarly displeased look in her face. Although they had made a reservation for a royal suite, it would not be a good idea to break into the line during the rush hour because it would make the situation get out of control. He learned that from the last year’s experience. Especially in these days, customers would never hesitate to write complaints on the Internet, so no one should take a rash action even though the one was the daughter of the owner. Rather, it would be correct to say that she could not take a selfish action just because she was the daughter of the owner.

After waiting for nearly 10 minutes, Tobia finally faced a receptionist.

Sir, we apologize for keeping you waiting for so long. Welcome to Dragon Eyes Hotel.

The woman, the receptionist, greeted him politely with a cheerful smile. Her face was well-defined. She had her dark-brown hair tied at the back of her head. She was looking straight at Tobia with her blue eyes.

I made a reservation under the name of Soldano.

As Tobia said so plainly, the receptionist’s face stiffened. She seemed to be noticing that Tobia had a relationship with the owner.

Yes, sir. Under the name of Miss Soldano, we have the reservation. Could you please have your signature here?

Saying so, she showed a guest registration card. Tobia looked back at Florita, sitting a little far from him, and noticed she gave him tacit permission. Then, he picked up a pen from the desk and signed his name without reading the card in detail.

Thank you, sir. So, may I have and process your credit card?

Tobia opened a brand purse, which Florita had handed to him in advance, took a credit card from it, and gave it to the woman. After confirming the card, she smiled and returned it to Tobia.

Here is the room key. It is the first room on the highest floor. You have two pieces of luggage, correct? That porter over there will later bring them to your room. Breakfast is served at a café on your left, starting from 06:30 a.m. ...

Oh, I know that already. Whose hotel do you think this is?

Tobia grumbled and glanced at the porter, standing at the far end to his left. He left two suitcases at the front desk and gestured for Florita to move toward the elevator.

I apologize, sir. Then, please make yourself comfortable.

Tobia showed his back to the nervously polite receptionist, and started walking to catch up on Florita.

As they were getting into the elevator, Florita sighed and stared at Tobia.

It’s an annual event. City Beer Festival is getting lively and revved up.

Definitely.

Tobia nodded, and pushed the button for the 9th floor. He looked at the poster attached to the inside wall of the elevator. From the end of September to the beginning of October every year, a beer festival is conventionally held in City on a large scale. Almost all the hotels in City are fully reserved at this time of the year. From other regions, from abroad, tourists visit City and they have parties of revelry. Tobia and Florita had their lives based in another city, so they stayed at the hotel in City, which the Soldanos ran, to enjoy the two-week-long festival only during the period of City Beer Festival.

Well, it is the busiest time for your hotel, isn’t it? It is a good time to appreciate it. Moreover, because of you, we can stay at such a luxurious hotel for almost free of charge every year, right?

Tobia said so gently, while stroking Florita’s blonde hair.

Well, yes. I would like you to appreciate this privilege.

Florita curled her lips to make a smile, and entered the corridor just after the elevator door opened. The floor of the corridor was covered with a reddish purple carpet. Fascinating oil paintings, which created a gorgeous atmosphere, were displayed on the wall. Still, it was a familiar scene for Tobia. From the viewpoint of the elevator hall, Room 901 was on the left and Room 902 was on the right. The 9th floor was occupied only by the two royal suites. There was a solid door at the right end of the hall, and a stairway was beyond the door. Guests could climb down the stairway to the first floor in case something happened. It also functioned as the only passage to the rooftop of the building.

Florita got to the entrance of Room 901, received a card key from Tobia, and opened the door with it.

What’s this?

Once she got inside, Florita gave off a funny gasp.

What’s wrong?

Tobia followed Florita, and entered the room. They saw a refurbished interior design that was quite different from the royal suite that they were familiar with. The living room in front was not spacious. Even with the inclusion of the adjacent bedroom, it was too small to be called ‘royal’.

Hey, what’s happening here? Who converted the design to such an outdated version like this?

Florita’s expression was looking grim. Tobia tried to soothe her in a flurry.

Well, it surely looks a little outdated, but we can enjoy this taste. I mean, it looks like a royal suite of the Belle Époque. That desk looks like a genuine antique, I assume.

You have to be kidding me. Such an antiquated room like this does not fit into my taste. I will make the receptionist allocate us to another room. Not only that. What is the porter doing? Why is it that our belongings have yet to be delivered here? What are they going to do about this, if the reputation of this hotel goes down because of such a subpar service? I have a few things to tell to the general manager about this matter.

Hey, wait a minute. First, let me check our belongings. Calm down and have a seat, please.

Tobia soothed Florita, who was showing a demonic look and was about to snap at him. After secretly making a slight sigh, he received the key and got out of the room. Then, he saw a profile of the porter in front of him. He seemed to be waiting for the elevator to come.

Hey. Where have you brought our belongings to?

Tobia pressed the porter, who was showing a perplexed look and leaned his head a little sideways.

Sir, since you were not in the room, I put the belongings inside.

Inside? Which part, specifically?

Right beside the door, sir.

I saw no luggage there.

Tobia said so with the tone of irritation, which made the porter feel uneasy obviously.

Sir, I certainly put it in your room. Would it be all right for you if we go to the room and confirm the luggage together?

Well, yes, I suppose ...

While feeling bewildered, Tobia opened the door of the room. Two suitcases were placed beside the door, as the porter said.

Sir, here they are.

The porter smiled with relief. But the sight in front of them stunned Tobia.

Wha ... What is this? Where is this?

The familiar-looking interior design of the royal suite was there. The old-fashioned interior design of the art nouveau, which he had seen earlier a moment ago, vanished with no trace. The most shocking thing was that Florira was not inside the room. It was as if she vanished into thin air, along with that antiquated room.

Hey, Florita. Where are you?

Tobia raised his voice and called out her name. But, there was no response, not even from the adjacent room. The porter showed a frightened look probably because he noticed something strange was happening. Tobia took out his smartphone and called Florita’s number. But, there was no response, perhaps because her smartphone was turned off.

What is happening, and how?

While being perplexed, Tobia grabbed the porter by the lapels and interrogated rapidly.

Hey, this room is supposed to be decorated with light green wallpapers. What’s going on?

Sir, the color of wallpapers in this room has not been changed at all since the foundation of the hotel. When I put your belongings here, the wallpapers were certainly ivory-colored, sir.

Tobia shoved the porter aside, and moved to the elevator. He went down to the first floor, and stormed to the front desk to make complaints.

Hey! My companion vanished in Room 901. I don’t know what happened there. Just check the room, now.

A male receptionist with short black hair and good posture, showed a suspicious look.

Sir, is it Room 901? Could you please wait for a minute?

The man operated a computer to check the guest information. The female receptionist, whom Tobia talked to earlier, seemed to be now tending another guest.

Sir, I’m so sorry, but it seems that we have the reservation of Room 901 for only one guest.

That makes no sense! Hey, call that woman. She has to know the fact.

Tobia’s confusion was reaching the limit. He had a feeling as if his brain were being occupied by something unacceptable. The male receptionist in front of him called the female coworker taking care of the guest next to him.

Sir, I remember well that you were alone.

The woman smoothly replied with a refreshing smile.

Hey, what are you talking about? You have to remember definitely that you were seeing me with a woman!

While feeling he was about to be driven insane, Tobia yelled at the woman before him. The woman was looking surprised, stepped back, and looked at the male coworker next to her with a confused look in her face.

What have you done? The vanishing woman is the daughter of the owner! It’s a big problem!

Tobia slapped the desk with both hands and yelled at the two receptionists.

S ... Sir, please calm down. We know nothing about what you are talking about.

Don’t tell a lie! Give Florita back to me immediately! If not, I’ll sue you!

Tobia grabbed the male receptionist by the lapels across the receptionist counter, drew the target close to him, and hit the victim on his left cheek with his right fist. The man was knocked down backward and fell down on the floor.

Everyone, seize this man! I’ll call the police!

The female receptionist issued the command to the porters and the concierge nearby. Tobia was subdued by several men gathering from all directions, and was pinned down on the floor.

L ... Let me go! What have you done? Where is Florita? Where have you hidden her?

Tobia’s angry shouts and screams echoed in the lobby. But, Florita did not appear after that.

    -1-

Saya Touma was sitting on a counter seat at a ramen restaurant named Miroku, located in an amusement area in the southern part of City. Next to her, Milo Baltsa was gazing at a menu with a serious look. According to Milo, Miroku was a Japanese-style ramen restaurant, which was said to be the first ever in City to serve ramen dishes with tori-baitang (white milky chicken broth).

I see. They serve shio (salt) and shoyu (soy sauce) flavors for both tori-baitang and tori-qingtang (clear chicken broth).

Milo murmured while turning over the menu book. To Saya, it sounded like some kind of spell. More than that, she felt somewhat uneasy because they were sitting side-by-side, not facing each other.

I’ll take shio of tori-baitang. How about you, Saya?

With a mild smile, Milo was looking at Saya.

What? Err, let’s see ...

Even though she was browsing the menu, she could not decide what to order. She once went to a tonkotsu (pork bone soup) ramen restaurant named Byakuya, located in the east part of City. At the time, she was perplexed even back then because she could not imagine the flavors just by reading the explanations written on the menu.

I think I should choose the same one as you.

You mean, shio of tori-baitang, right? Then, let me make the order.

Milo ordered the two ramen dishes across the counter.

About half a month had already passed since the new semester started in September. Now she was a junior in high school. Since the case of The Death In the North Ward, she had not been able to get the presence of Yoma Fialka off her mind. She had not appeared in front of Saya since then. Because she lived in another city located northwest of City, she might not make her visit to City all that frequently. Or, Yoma might be making occasional visits to meet Milo, without letting Saya know.

Are you okay?

Suddenly spoken to by Milo, Saya was startled. It seemed that she was looking at Milo absent-mindedly.

Oh? Umm, I’m okay. I am looking forward to enjoying the ramen.

Same here. It’s the first tori-baitang for us. You know, I cannot help but anticipate it.

Milo looked over the counter as if he could not wait. Inside the counter, a cook just started boiling noodles.

What? From whom?

Abruptly, Milo uttered, and took a smartphone from the holder on his waist. He seemed to be getting a call.

Hey, Riccardo. What’s up?

Saya could guess that the person who was calling was Riccardo Albani, a friend of theirs.

Umm, we’re in a restaurant now. After being done with eating, I will come over with Saya. Would that be okay? Ah, yes, you can imagine anything that you want to. Then, later.

Milo hung up the phone and turned to Saya.

It seems that a strange thing is happening again.

Is it related to the higher spirits again?

I’m not sure yet. Chloe seems to be coming, too. So, let’s go to Riccardo’s apartment after finishing the ramen.

Okay ... But, in the first place, I wonder why the higher spirits give us, human beings, special gifts.

Saya found herself asking the vague question.

I think we are tested.

Milo looked at Saya, and replied immediately.

We are tested?

Saya repeated the words. Milo showed a more serious look and opened his mouth.

When someone is given a special gift, he or she is forced to make the choices. That is, you use it for others, for yourself, ... or you do not use it. In case you use it for others, I call it ‘blessing’. And if you use it for yourself, I call it ‘curse’. Most people use it as a curse.

Milo’s statement started weighing heavily on Saya’s mind. To be sure, at first, she used her gift as a curse in the past.

Everyone is born into this world after forgetting the memory of the time when he or she was in the fifth dimension. This three-dimensional world is laden with traps, with which people can feel happy just by fulfilling their self-interests. So, everyone wants to use the gift as curses. In fact, this world works under the system in which the happiness you give to others will return to you. Therefore, using your gift for blessing is the shortcut to your happiness. However, since most people do not know the order of the divine providence, they use the gifts for the curses and hurt others. All of the unhappiness will come back to you. Which means that you will fall straight down to the bottom of the misfortune directly.

Milo elaborated his theory eloquently.

In short, do you mean that we are being tested, based on whether we use it for others or not?

Saya stared at Milo and asked.

Probably so. Although I have conversed with my guardian spirits several times, it does not mean that I have been taught everything. If we learn and know matters that are beyond what we should know, then that is no longer the lessons of our lives that we learn in the current incarnation. But I can say one thing. The gift is the same as a lottery. We are tested whether or not we use it only for ourselves when we are bestowed with it by chance, I think.

I see. Surely, even if someone wins a lottery, he or she won’t just easily use the money for others.

Right. Then, if they use the money which they are bestowed with as curses, then they will later be hit with the payback and often go bankrupt. It seems that people are only being put to the test for their ways of using whatever they have not earned with their own abilities. So, if they fail to utilize whatever they have been given, they will be punished for the failures accordingly. This world is amazingly well-made. ... Oh, our ramen dishes are here.

After Milo said so, two bowls were placed on the counter. Milo took one and put it in front of Saya.

Oh, thank you, Milo.

Saya showed the appreciation and looked at the ramen. The steam with good aroma was rising from the bowl. The name ‘baitang’ seemed to indicate ‘white soup’, but its appearance was light yellow. The color was similar to that of vanilla ice, with the tint that was a little bit deeper. The yellowish thin noodles were in the soup, on which two slices of roasted chicken, one-half of a half-boiled egg, green onions, bamboo shoots were placed as toppings.

Saya took a renge spoon, ladled up the thick soup, and brought it her mouth.

Oh, it’s more delicious than expected.

The thick soup, with which sweet and rich chicken soup dashi were fused, glided on her tongue and flowed down her throat. The noodles were thin, but the texture was elastic in her mouth and the subtle sweetness could be felt. Containing in the oral cavity the noodles that was soaking up the soup made her happy. Round-shaped white roast meat had the moist and soft texture of chicken. The soft-boiled egg seemed to be seasoned with soy sauce because the color of the yolk was deep like that of amber. The taste was delicately balanced salty-sweet.

Yes. This restaurant is a hit. Next time, I will try tori-qingtang, shio flavor.

Milo said so pleasantly in a good mood, although more than half of Milo’s ramen still remained in the bowl.

Oh, will you invite me then? Please.

Yes. Of course.

Milo smiled and replied immediately. It made Saya feel excited with joy. Saya finished the ramen while fully feeling the happiness, and then headed for Riccardo’s apartment with Milo.

    * * *

As soon as Saya and Milo arrived at the first floor of the apartment building at a little past 07:00 p.m., Riccardo appeared in a minute. They got into the elevator and went to Room 999. When they entered the room, a notebook computer and a projector had already been prepared.

Somehow, a miracle might be happening here.

Milo smiled wryly, and looked at Riccardo.

Chloe Dyrek spoke, "That’s right. I’m surprised, too. Once I connected my gift, The Alien Elevator, to Riccardo’s apartment, he came here at once."

She seemed to have already drunk up several glasses of beer, for her neck looked a little pinkish. Milo sat down on a white chair, and Saya followed suit. Four big pretzels and cream cheese dip of various colors in multiple containers were on the table, which Chloe had probably prepared. Their colors were ivory, light yellow, light orange, and light green. They were probably plain cream cheese, one with chive, one with paprika, and one with green onion, respectively. Additionally, lettuce and tomato salad was served on a large plate.

Hey, I am getting tired of waiting for you.

Riccardo said, and activated his notebook computer to return it to the operation mode from the sleep mode.

As for us, we are always dumbfounded rather than tired of waiting ... By the way, would all of you like to eat pretzels?

Chloe asked, while smiling. Pretzels were very popular as snacks every year at City Beer Festival, which was being held at the time. It was likely to be the reason why Chloe bought them because she loved drinking beer.

Ah, umm, I’ll take ... a half of it ... No, a quarter of it.

Saya could not resist the temptation to eat a pretzel and cream cheese, but she could not possibly eat the whole pretzel after she finished eating ramen.

Then, shall we share it? I do not think I can eat the whole pretzel, either.

Milo took a pretzel, plucked about one-fourth of it, and handed the piece to Saya.

Oh, thank you.

Saya expressed her thanks to Milo, took orange juice from the fridge, and poured it into two glasses.

Then, let me start now. First, take a look at it.

Riccardo operated the mouse to start the projection of the news image on a white wall. In the footage, a newscaster was reporting the outline about the ongoing kidnapping incident in City. Riccardo summarized it to the further extent.

The person who was kidnapped was Florita Soldano. She is a young lady of the Soldano Group, a middle-sized hotel chain. At a little past 03:00 p.m. on September 16th, three days ago, she went missing in Dragon Eyes Hotel, which the group manages.

So, the culprit has demanded Nastagio Soldano, the president, to do something, I suppose.

Milo murmured, while looking at the footage.

According to the news, the request from the culprit was to halt the redevelopment of the residential area in City East District and to give the eight residences and their land rights, including the estates under disputes, back to the original owners. The area, which was close to City East Station and convenient in terms of public transportation, was a scheduled place for the Soldano Group to build the next new hotel on. But, some of the residents who had their houses in the area refused to be evicted. As the results of violent threats and purchasing like those done by land sharks spanning many years, more than half of the land had already been taken away by the Soldano Group. Police was investigating the case by focusing on the potential grudge against the current land owner, the Soldano Group. However, it seemed that all the potential suspects involved, including the original land owners, denied the allegation related to the vanishing.

This seems to be a seriously major incident ... But, why is it a strange case?

After being finished with watching the news footage, Saya asked Riccardo.

At a glance, it looks like a mere kidnapping. But something strange happened when the young lady vanished. According to Tobia Fazio, the fiancé of the lady, they had made the reservation for two persons and entered the hotel together on that day. After checking in and entering their room, they saw a light-green wallpaper of the room. Only Tobia got out of the room and went back one minute or two after that. Then, he realized that the color of the wallpapers was shifted to ivory, and the furniture and even the size of the room were changed. According to him, the old-fashioned ambience was converted into the modern, familiar one that he had been accustomed to, in a moment. In addition, at the time, the lady vanished from the room. Moreover, the receptionist told him that the guest was Tobia alone and with nobody else from the beginning.

While occasionally looking down at the screen of his smartphone in his hand, he explained fluently.

Somehow, the story reminds me of ‘The Vanishing Hotel Room’.

Milo was looking at Riccardo with a troubled look.

The Vanishing Hotel Room was a world-famous urban legend, and Saya knew it well. It was the story when a mother and daughter were visiting the Paris Exposition. After they checked into a hotel, the mother fell sick, and the daughter spent several hours on searching for the doctor. When the daughter returned to the room, she realized that her mother had vanished from the room. The wallpapers and the furniture were completely different from what they first saw when they checked into the room. A hotel staff told her that no such woman had even stayed in the first place. None of the hotel staffs remembered any notion of her mother. The daughter was so frenzied from the experience that she was admitted to a mental hospital.

To be sure, it is just like ‘The Vanishing Hotel Room’. But there was only less than two minutes of time, during which the lady supposedly vanished. Ordinary humans cannot just change the wallpapers and the size of the room in such a short span of time, don’t you think?

While listening to Riccardo’s words, Saya thought it would have been impossible even if a large-scale rigging was set.

Could it be that it was a one-man stage play of that Tobia guy?

Chloe asked, and gulped down the glass of white beer.

Surely, we cannot deny the possibility. I mean, Tobia is the only witness of the change of the room. It was such an unusual condition that Tobia was perplexed for a while. It seems that he has been investigated as a victim at a police station. However, when the culprit issued the statement, the situation changed drastically. Tobia is now suspected of being involved in the kidnapping. But, of course, naturally, he denies the accusation of being involved in the case. Rather, he seems to be aggressive about suing the hotel staffs.

Has no one in the hotel witnessed the young lady?

Milo asked Riccardo suspiciously.

Actually. Although the memory may be a bit vague, one woman, who checked in before 03:00 p.m., seemed to have seen a female who apparently looked like the missing young lady, sitting in a sofa in the lobby. Beside that, something was wrong with the recorded footage of the surveillance cameras in the corridors and in the elevators. The very footage at the exact time when the two persons went up from the 1st floor to the 9th floor was cut off for two minutes or so.

I am sensing that it is some sort of an intended foul play. Then, the young lady vanished somewhere in the hotel.

Milo tore a piece from a pretzel, spread cream cheese on it with a butter knife, and put it in his mouth.

According to Tobia, she had vanished along with the room.

As if he was following Milo’s action, Riccardo put his pretzel piece into his mouth.

But, we cannot just conclude that a Gifted one is involved in the case only from that reason, can we?

Chloe reached for the lettuce and tomato salad.

Well, I agree. But what do you think if another one has vanished in the hotel?

After washing the pretzel down the throat with white wine, Riccardo said so as if he was provoking Chloe.

Was another victim also related to the Soldanos?

Saya was getting her mouth around the pretzel, on which she pasted paprika cream. The ideal amount of salt in the bread and the sweetness of the cream complemented each other in her mouth.

No, the vanished one is a lieutenant of CPD (City Police Department). His name is Waleron Borowski. He went missing in the hotel during the investigation.

Do you understand the details of the situation in which he vanished?

Milo immediately asked Riccardo.

Yeah, we know it clearly. According to the testimony of Ursula Polt, a female investigator, the situation was fairly similar to that in the young lady’s case. On September 17th, the day before yesterday, only Waleron and Ursula were temporarily left alone in Room 901 after investigating the scene. Since Waleron appeared to be contemplating something, Ursula left him and got out of the room. But, she felt something strange when he didn’t appear from the room after five minutes had passed. She entered the room again and found out that Waleron was no longer there. Since then, Waleron has been missing for two days. They say they cannot contact him by radio or cell phone.

Riccardo explained it without stopping, and Milo opened his mouth with a troubled look on his face.

Did the culprit issue a statement, regarding the lieutenant?

No, he or she didn’t. The hotel guests seem to be terribly concerned about the possibility that they might be the next ones to be kidnapped. Not a few of them have decided to cancel the stays and to leave the vicinity, despite during City Beer Festival. The police seems to keep their contact information under control, though.

Considering the fact that even the investigator has vanished, the chance that Tobia has been playacting diminishes. Of course, the lieutenant might be the partner in crime with the accomplice.

Chloe, who was already looking fairly drunk, was staring at Riccardo with her drowsy eyes.

Indeed, it is the case which worries me ... Shall we start the investigation?

Milo sipped orange juice and looked at Chloe.

Chloe, can you make a reservation for a room of Dragon Eyes Hotel through the travel agency that you work for?

    -2-

The next day, Saya came straight back to the girls’ dormitory after school, prepared herself for staying at another place, and got out of the room while carrying a small suitcase with one hand. She took the subway at the nearest station. She had the appointment to meet Milo in front of the hotel at 05:00 p.m. Saya smiled wryly while feeling as if they were about to elope together.

At the last night’s meeting in Room 999, they had concluded that they would stay at Dragon Eyes Hotel for two nights from tonight to investigate whether a gifted one was having something to do with the case involving the vanishings. At first, Milo said he would stay alone. But drunken Chloe said she would stay with him as an adult because it was not good if a high school boy student stayed at a hotel by himself. Saya instinctively thought she had to prevent Milo and Chloe from sharing the room alone at the hotel, and insisted she would stay with them together. Milo was somewhat reluctant about being accompanied by her, but Saya told him that her gift might turn out to be useful. For example, she could save the abducted ones if they were injured. Or, if there was a secret room in the hotel, she could sense the presences of persons inside it. As a result, Saya managed to be permitted to accompany Milo. While Saya felt relieved, she could not help but blush after recalling later that she was a little too desperate for trying to stay close to Milo. Still ... She was really happy because she could stay overnight with Milo.

When the subway reached Central Station, Saya pulled the suitcase and got off the train hastily. She went through the ticket gate of the south exit, got out of the station, crossed the main street, and headed toward the right side. Various shops were standing side by side in the arcade. It was not a familiar place for her. But, there was one restaurant featuring doner kebab, which had been attracting Saya’s attention. She had set up the schedule to go to the restaurant for dinner that night with Milo and Chloe.

Saya looked at her wristwatch. It was 05:07 p.m. It was because she took more time on preparing for the stay at the hotel than she wanted, and missed the subway she wanted to ride. She passed a café at the corner of the street, turned to the left at the corner into a little narrower alley, and found a familiar figure ahead of her. Milo was reading a book while sitting on a white suitcase. Saya was approaching the fine profile at a quick pace and spoke to him.

Sorry, Milo. Did I keep you waiting for so long?

Her breathing was a bit disrupted than normal.

Well, about eight minutes.

Milo looked at the screen of his smartphone, and smiled.

Umm, I’m sorry. For some reason, I ended up being late to leave home.

Not a big problem, compared to Riccardo’s. More than that, I heard Chloe would be late because she had to work overtime. So, let us, just you and I, go to dinner together.

Milo put the book in the shoulder bag and stood up.

Then, shall we check in?

While pulling his suitcase, Milo stately entered the hotel. Saya followed him in haste.

Welcome to Dragon Eyes Hotel.

A female receptionist greeted with a profuse smile, when Saya accompanied Milo and stood in front of the receptionist counter. She was beautiful with blue eyes. Her face was clear-cut, and her dark-brown hair was tied at the back of her head, not unlike Chloe. Next to her, a male receptionist with black short hair was tending other customers.

Good evening. Well, we have made a reservation through a travel agency.

Milo took out a sheet of paper, on which their accommodation information was printed, from his bag and handed it to the female receptionist.

Ms. Chloe Dyrek, Mr. Milo Baltsa, and Ms. Saya Touma. Certainly, we have got the information for your reservation.

The woman made the confirmation on the monitor of the computer and showed her smile again.

Chloe will be late a little. We would like to check in without her. Is that okay?

Milo asked so in a relatively polite manner.

Yes, we received the information from Ms. Dyrek herself.

After saying so, the woman had a brief conversation with Milo and promptly finished the procedure for checking in. Then, she offered him the card key of Room 309.

So, please make yourselves comfortable.

Milo thanked her and left the receptionist counter. Saya followed him right after that.

The two receptionists were showing the unexplainably complex expressions of some sort.

Milo whispered to Saya in a low voice, on the way to the elevator hall.

Oh, were they?

Saya asked with a surprised tone, which made Milo smile wryly.

Both of them seemed to be feeling suspicious about the fact that a boy and a girl going to high school are staying at the hotel together alone. At least, we do not look like siblings to each other. If Chloe had not contacted them, we would have been asked many questions about this and that.

For Saya, the female receptionist seemed to have smiled from the beginning to the end. But, was Milo capable of reading the subtle changes on her expressions? If so ... he might have already noticed that Saya is now looking restless. Thinking about it made Saya blush even more. She could not look straight at Milo. However, unlike Riccardo, Milo would not tease Saya for such matters. Was Milo like that because he was not interested in Saya? Or, was he being what he was for other reasons ...?

Saya got on the elevator with Milo and got off on the 3rd floor. Thin navy carpets were on the corridor, both sides of which were lined up with doors to the rooms. Room 309 was on the lowest of the floors that were designated as floors for guest rooms. Their room was located at the corner, the sunlight to which was blocked by the adjacent building. Chloe said she could make the reservation at a very reasonable price, due to the rumor of the abduction in the hotel. Saya was thinking about what type of room it was. Saya was thrilled, while walking in the corridor and following Milo’s back. When they reached in front of the room, Milo took out the card key and held it close to the doorknob. After a subtle electronic sound, the door was unlocked. Milo opened the door, held it, and looked back at Saya.

Come in.

As she was prompted by Milo, Saya pulled her suitcase and entered the room. Despite the fact that the room was quite a bargain deal, they felt that it was spacious because, after all, it was a room for four persons.