"What I want to tell is related to a macabre story about a female college student who died in a drain well at my old university some time ago."

They were sitting by the window, and because it was a hot pot buffet, the heat was hot with oil and water, and there was always grease everywhere. Sagen Takei looked down from the windowsill and could see crowds of people going in and out in front of the various stalls and eateries. A few days ago, Sagen Takei and Amao Shingu agreed to meet and talk when they have more time, and they chose the hot pot restaurant in Amao Shingu's hometown. For Amao Shingu, eating hot pot can give him courage:

“I only know that girl's name is Yamaoka. Yamaoka is not a pretty girl, her appearance is often ridiculed by others. Maybe that's why her personality is somewhat introverted and self-deprecating. Moreover, she is not a city dweller, her family originally lived in a rural area located off the island, but for some reason about seven years ago moved to this town and lived. Town and village, although the gap is not large, it cannot be said to be small. In addition to her personality and looks, she hasn't had any friends since she moved here. Of course, what I've said just now is just a combination of listening to other people's stories, because I also graduated from university a few years ago. But I believe that the truth is not far from what I know. You know, Yamaoka's high school story isn't a big secret either."

“Okay, go ahead and talk about the main story.” Sagen Takei urged Amao Shingu to continue because he was afraid that he would continue to circle.

“Yamaoka's academic record was originally not good, but for some reason at the end of her high school year, her grades in all subjects became outstanding in the class, and so she got into the best university located near this town, the same university from which I graduated. Perhaps because of the second change of environment, this time Yamaoka has learned to adapt better, and her personality has been modified, becoming sociable and funny, and she has made more friends than before. And in the minds of many, she will return to the life of an ordinary person, and in the future may or may not achieve success. Anyway, that's not important. But by the end of her freshman year, her relationship with a roommate in the dorm was surprisingly close, the two of them didn't like each other very much at first, and maybe later they talked about it and become a close friend. This makes a change in Yamaoka's life, as her new best friend is a very beautiful girl. Many boys are chasing her best friend, they give gifts or papers with their personal information and ask Yamaoka to pass them on to her best friend for them. Maybe that's why Yamaoka felt jealous, and the friction between the two of them grew bigger and bigger. But some people think that the person Yamaoka likes is pursuing her best friend, so she becomes irritable.” Amao Shingu felt his throat was dry, so he paused and took a sip of water.

“So this is just a love triangle story?” Sagen Takei made a disappointed expression.

"Nah." Amao Shingu shook his head, “The two of them had a cold war for a while and then made up. Only then did they tell others that it was just a conflict between the two of them, not related to love at all. Don't know if that's the case or not. Anyway, less than a month has passed, yet another thing happened: Yamaoka pushed her best friend from the second floor of the university building in the middle of the night. Fortunately, that close friend did not die but was taken to the emergency room in time. Only after being hospitalized for half a year can she continue to go to school.”

"The middle of the night?" Sagen Takei repeated.

Amao Shingu nodded, “That's right. When asked why the two of them were at the school in the middle of the night, Yamaoka said that they wanted to see what the school looked like at that time, and the fact that her best friend fell from the second floor was just careless. Of course, the reason why those two showed up at school and why that best friend fell from the second floor sounds unbelievable and not convincing at all. About the first one can be reluctantly believed, but about the second: how could anyone carelessly fall from the second floor? The railing of the school was very high, even a two-meter tall man could hardly fall carelessly. But the surprising thing is that when the police checked the camera, they saw that her best friend was indeed "careless" falling from the second floor, and Yamaoka was not involved, she even stood away from her friend for about three meters. People began to speculate, that the building they were in at that time was haunted. But some people do not believe what Yamaoka said, they think that it was Yamaoka who was jealous of her best friend and pushed her down. And most people, to be more precise, are curious about the real reason they showed up at that time. However, Yamaoka did not utter a word about it. And because of that, Yamaoka went back to being friendless, because no one dared to play with her, they thought she was cursed.”

"Curse? Why do they think so?” Sagen Takei raised his eyebrows, looking interested in the topic.

"Well, this happened about thirty years ago. There was a girl studying law that day, and three of her best friends fell from the second or third floor, one of which died. This is considered a rare occurrence. But if three people have fallen, and now one more has fallen, then that is the curse. After all, Yamaoka is also studying law.”

Sagen Takei nodded, showing that he was listening attentively.

Amao Shingu continued, “Yamaoka's best friend recovered and was discharged from the hospital, back to the university. People thought that the relationship between the two of them would become more conflicted and bitter than before, but once again, the two miraculously reconciled. Everyone thought it would end there, but at the end of their third year, the school organized a trip to Mount Uyeno."

“Over there, you can see it.” Amao Shingu points to a mountain located outside the window, from a distance, you can see the fog on the top of the mountain.

Sagen Takei quietly looked towards that mountain, his eyes thoughtful, and then said, “I have also heard about this mountain. The second highest mountain in our country, and there are several famous temples at the top of the mountain. Almost everyone knows about your town because of it.”

Amao Shingu nodded, “There's no other scenic place as outstanding as it. There are a lot of tourists every year. But the locals of course have no interest in that mountain, normally the school shouldn't hold the trip to Uyeno mountain, but since the epidemic has just ended, the principal decided to hold it on that mountain. He thinks organizing a trip close to the school will reduce the risk of infection. Honestly, I also disagree with the decision of the principal. Every student has probably been to that mountain at least once, let alone a third-year student. So it's not surprising that the number of students who registered to participate was very small, but among them were Yamaoka and her best friend."

"What's Yamaoka's best friend's name?" Sagen Takei suddenly interrupted Amao Shingu, "You've been using the phrase 'Yamaoka's best friend' and not using her name ever since. May I know the reason why?”

Amao Shingu froze, seemingly not realizing this himself, “I don't know either. Maybe because it's more convenient? Thanks to your reminded me that I realize that even my friends or others when talking about this story, they used the words "her best friend" or "Yamaoka's best friend", but no one said her name directly."

After saying that, Amao Shingu leaned back on the back of his chair, his hand resting on his chin, thinking, "Perhaps because her best friend's name is quite long. I don't remember her name either, but just remember her last name, I don't know if it's true or not, it's probably Amaterasu. Ah yes, her name is Matsumura Amaterasu. Because she is the beauty in the school, almost everyone knows this name."

Sagen Takei nodded and said, "And so Yamaoka and Matsumura went to Mount Uyeno?"

Amao Shingu nodded and returned to the previous topic, “There are also a few people who know them, including some friends and boys, mainly boys chasing Yamaoka's best friend, the boys who went on the trip were just to get close to that girl. This is also easy to understand, right? Only at the end of the tour, that is, when going down the mountain, the group discovered that Yamaoka was missing.”

Sagen Takei noticed that Amao Shingu didn't say Matsumura's name unconsciously. He silently put it in his heart. On the surface, he didn't show any interest and asked:

"How many people were there that day?"

"If you don't count the teachers, it's about seven or eight people, if you include the teachers, it probably won't be more than ten."

"So among them, no one noticed Yamaoka's disappearance from the top mountain or halfway down the mountain?"

"Right. This is quite a strange thing.” Amao Shingu nodded, “It took a few months when a construction crew found Yamaoka's body in the well. Decomposed and rotting corpses. Her irises were sticking out, looking very creepy. In general, no one knows why she was at the well, but one thing is speculated that this must have something to do with Yamaoka's best friend. As you know, those two had a lot going on, and this time everyone guessed that it was no exception, there must be some connection. So they came up with a rumored version, the boys were after Yamaoka's best friend, maybe because they didn't like Yamaoka, they abandoned her in the mountains."

"Why do you say that? Didn't those two make up already? If they leave the girl in the mountains, aren't they afraid that Matsumura will hate them too?"

Sagen Takei noticed that Amao Shingu's face flickered with embarrassment as if it took him a few seconds to remember who Matsumura was. But then very quickly, Amao Shingu regained his focus, “While on the mountain, the two had a conflict. Yamaoka slapped Matsumura in the face.”

"What contradiction is that?"

"I don't know. No one but the two of them knew about it. Since that incident happened, Mount Uyeno has become more and more popular, and more tourists come to visit, mostly out of curiosity.”

"Aren't they scared?"

"No. Because they believe that the temple on the mountain will exorcise them if they are sincere. It's ridiculous, isn't it?"

“Human trust is a very unpredictable thing.” Sagen Takei commented.

“I also went up that mountain to look for documents. And I stayed in a guest house up there. The information I found was very limited, but you know what I saw? I saw Yamaoka!”

"Or are you looking at someone wrong?"

"Impossible! How could anyone hang upside down from a tree and stare at me for a minute? At that moment, I got chills on the back of my neck! I had to rub my eyes several times! And then she disappeared, but I'm sure it wasn't an illusion! I've seen her in the pictures on the wall that inform she is missing!"

Sagen Takei asked, "What documents did you go to the mountain to find?"

Amao Shingu said, “The documents concern a few flowers that happened to be abundant on that mountain. Our company is preparing to launch a new perfume product. And on the way to find the flowers, I once again saw her standing in front of me, about twenty meters away from me. There was no one in the lane but me. It's a pity that I can't confirm it is exactly, but maybe if I wasn't alone, she wouldn't show up. And then, that very night, I dreamed of her. It's not a terrible dream. She appeared in my dream, didn't say anything, and just had her back to me. I got the feeling she wanted to say something but maybe because she couldn't open her mouth. And not just once, since that day, I've dreamed of her four times, and it's always the same. It's strange, isn't it? I don't know her at all, why is she clinging to me like that?”

“It's strange indeed. A dead girl you didn't know appeared in your dream. Honestly, it was not a good omen.” Sagen Takei nodded.

“This is why I want to tell you. Because no one believes this story of mine. They think that I made up stories to heat a topic that has been talked about in the whole city for a while. Somehow my intuition told me that I should share this story with you.”

Sagen Takei responded to the compliment with a meaningful smile, then he continued to ask:

“Until now you don't know what message she wants to send to you? And you don't know her at all?"

"Right." Amao Shingu replied, then his expression was a bit hesitant, "Even though I was a fourth-year student when she first entered the university, it is difficult to get to know each other. Maybe she just wanted to haunt anyone who happened to be in the mountains at some point. I'm just an unlucky person."

Sagen Takei doesn't think Amao Shingu is just an unlucky person. Things are not that simple.