This Japanese Monogatari Isn't Lame
Chapter 64 - s. Puppets are moving——

Beichuan Si didn’t touch the body.

If he were to inadvertently leave any traces on the body, it would lead to a whole host of complications later.

He walked lightly back and forth, scanning the condition of the body.

There was a gash in the throat which appeared to be a fatal wound inflicted in one blow; then the killer probably covered Sato Ryosuke’s mouth while he was still gasping for breath, restraining his movements and preventing any noise.

The bloodied handprints on the tatami were scattered, and it seemed like there were bits of tatami straw under the victim’s fingernails, suggesting a brief struggle before death, but to little avail.

Beichuan Si brushed the hair from his forehead, his thoughts colliding in his mind.

The murderer must have been the woman that Sato Ryosuke had brought home last night.

But why could a woman easily overpower Sato Ryosuke? And even prevent him from making any noise at all, without even the neighbors noticing?

"Was it someone he knew?" Beichuan Si concluded, his gaze deep.

Only someone familiar could make Sato Ryosuke expose his back unsuspectingly to the perpetrator.

And the perpetrator was also a woman...

Beichuan Si secretly took it to heart.

Sakura Yuki was also a woman. Perhaps she was related to this case too?

If it was Sakura Yuki...

Beichuan Si put on his shoes and walked outside, asking the middle-aged man trembling by the side and staring at him as if seeing a ghost:

"Did you hear any sound coming from Room 265 last night?"

"I didn’t hear anything! I know nothing!"

The middle-aged man, obviously terrified, shook his head frantically as soon as Beichuan Si spoke.

"..." Beichuan Si.

Without any expression, Beichuan Si raised his hand and slapped him, asking coldly:

"Are you more clear-headed now?"

Uh—

The middle-aged man gasped sharply from the slap by Beichuan Si and finally snapped to his senses.

He looked at Beichuan Si timidly and then nodded slightly.

"Did you hear anything coming from Room 265 last night?" Beichuan Si asked again.

"...I... I really didn’t hear anything... But there was a sound of a door opening in the middle of it," the middle-aged man, covering his face, only then realized the strength behind Beichuan Si’s earlier slap.

But he didn’t know why he couldn’t resist the young man in front of him, and could only manage to lower his head and respond reluctantly.

"There was a noise in the middle?"

"Yes... because the security door always makes a loud noise, I even went out onto the balcony and cursed that guy Sato. Then I fell asleep, and today, I came out... and complained to you a couple of times, that’s all," the tall middle-aged man said resentfully.

The tall middle-aged man probably wasn’t lying.

His timid and weak personality likely wouldn’t dare to murder Sato Ryosuke.

While Beichuan Si was contemplating, the tall middle-aged man tried to look up to say something but then happened to see the small stuffed toy lying on Beichuan Si’s shoulder.

The toy’s mouth was clumsily sewn with red X-shaped stitches and its body was covered with fierce patches, giving off a disconcerting and uncomfortable feeling from his angle.

He wasn’t sure if it was an illusion, but the middle-aged man felt like the little stuffed toy was watching him...

Under the middle-aged man’s gaze, the small stuffed toy which had been quietly lying there suddenly... its eyes moved, and those seemingly alive eyes turned to look directly at him!

"It’s moving!!!" A middle-aged man, already frightened at heart, screamed, his hand shaking violently like epilepsy as he pointed at Beichuan Si. He was also sputtering saliva, nearly wetting himself with fear.

Moved?

Beichuan Si, looking thoughtful, glanced at Nishijou Kurenai as she poked her head out from the scarf, and after emotionlessly pushing her back in, calmly said,

"You’re seeing things."

After saying this, Beichuan Si ignored the middle-aged man who was still mumbling crazily about ’the doll moved, the doll moved’ and looked at the balding, glass-wearing landlord behind him.

"Little... young man, you called the police, didn’t you?" the landlord managed to ask after just finishing throwing up and struggling up from the ground.

"They should be arriving soon."

Beichuan Si nodded.

The police should be arriving soon, and he estimated that he would have to spend the entire day at the police station, going through the process of recording statements and interrogation.

At the thought of this, Beichuan Si couldn’t help but shake his head.

Hopefully, it wouldn’t drag on too long.

He really didn’t have much time to waste.

...

The following process was quite simple.

Beichuan Si followed the police officers who arrived at the scene back to the station, and naturally, all the tenants of the dilapidated apartment were also taken.

Probably because Gangye Yoshiko had given them a heads up, Beichuan Si only went through an interrogation and recording once, then was pulled aside to answer a few private questions before being allowed to leave the police station.

Their questions weren’t complicated; they mainly asked why Beichuan Si was looking for Sato Ryosuke today, and why he had gone to find him.

Beichuan Si, well-prepared, answered smoothly.

After all, he wasn’t the criminal; he had nothing to hide, so what was there to fear?

"But time has indeed been wasted."

Beichuan Si thought expressionlessly.

Now the sky was clear with stars scattered, and night had fallen once again.

He had just looked at his watch and realized it was already past eight o’clock.

Even with Gangye Yoshiko’s help, it had still taken quite a bit of time because the case involved a human life.

Beichuan Si sat on a nearby bench, facing a heated up ready-made meal, yet his heart remained completely unswayed.

The delicious meal prepared at the inn was probably going to be missed...

Thinking of how he had spent a decent amount of money for three meals at the bed and breakfast, only to have eaten one since yesterday, Beichuan Si couldn’t help but frown and wolfed down the ready-made meal in no time before standing up.

His heart remained unmoved; the only thing causing his eyebrows to furrow now was pondering how to infiltrate Xucha High School.

The YouTube channel that Beichuan Si followed seemed to have some activity; those two hosts from the supernatural forums appeared to be heading towards Xucha High School.

With that thought, Beichuan Si was naturally preparing to make a move.

"Kurenai, are you confident?" he asked Nishijou Kurenai, who had unknowingly poked her head out from the scarf.

This little guy, especially active at night, just couldn’t stay still in the scarf.

Under Beichuan Si’s gaze, Nishijou Kurenai’s plump hands stretched out, forming a big ’O’ to signal no problem.

"Then, I’ll count on you later. But remember, don’t force yourself if it’s not possible." Beichuan Si extended a finger and poked at Nishijou Kurenai’s little head.

Nishijou Kurenai hugged Beichuan Si’s finger, the doll’s small head bobbing up and down in agreement.

Seeing her like this, Beichuan Si no longer lingered at the spot, tucked her back into the scarf, and headed towards Xucha High School.