Izuru was dead.

There was no need to discuss it. No need for in-depth investigation. No need for elaborate timelines or alibis. No locked rooms. No blood.

Only the man.

And the rope around his neck.

“Cut him down.” Tsujiko whispered, her voice cracking. “For crying out loud, SOMEONE CUT HIM DOWN!”

Left to right, his body swayed.

His soul had gone off untamed.

The note on the table said very little.

Except for the part in the middle:

‘I wish I could tell her how sorry I was.’

‘But this is all a man like I does.’

< Section is missing. >

“I’m going out alone.” Shiro said, in spite of their protests. “If we all leave, we leave the coma guy behind in the hands of a possible intruder. And even if it’s not an intruder, all we’re doing is leaving ourselves easy pickings in the storm, right? I’m going alone.” he repeated. “I’ll go, see if I can get to the boat. If it works, great. None of us know how to use it, and we might freeze on it, but it’s sure as hell better than saying in this hellhole.”

Makoto shook his head. “This is crazy. Look, it’s over. It was butler and maid combo.”

“He was with me when Kotone was killed.” Shiro pointed out.

The other man rolled his eyes. “It was a trick! I’m telling you. He couldn’t take the pressure, so he ended it.”

“Why wasn’t it in the note?” Kaede asked.

“I don’t know. He was embarrassed?”

“Enough.” Shiro said. “I’m going.”

His eyes met Tsujiko’s.

“Just be careful.” she told him.

“Yeah. ‘Course.”

< You’ve fallen deep. Deeper than you ever have. And on the deepest part is the frozen lake, and on the frozen lake is the Devil. I’ve led you to him. Why not? My kittens would love a good show. Face up to it. Don’t look away. Sooner or later, you’ll run out of these little skips. This can only distract for so long. We both know why you’re doing it, anyway. You’re bored. You want to get to the good parts. Like me. Like all of us. But you are not us. That is the main difference. You are only human. Only human. >

Tsujiko rubbed her eyes. The stress of everything was starting to get to her. “I’m sorry.” she said. “I’ve thought about it, I really have – but I think I’ll have to decline your offer.”

Makoto smiled. “You could’ve taken more than a day for it, you know.”

She shook her head. “I’m sorry.”

“What’s the problem, again?”

“I don’t understand your intentions.” she said simply. “Why would you marry someone like me? There doesn’t seem to be much in it for you?”

He laughed. “THAT’S what’s been giving you trouble? Come on, if nothing else, that’s the obvious part! Sure, you’re not a superstar, but that’s the point! Use that lil’ noggin’ of yours! A rich man who chooses to marry a maid? People would eat that shit up for years! They’ll see it as true love! They’ll see me as a man willing to look past class, and you as Cinderella!”

“I—”

“Frankly, when you think about it, I’m the one getting the worse end of a deal here! I’m getting some extra publicity, while you’re out there getting everything you ever wanted! What’s there to reject? If you want to be with other dudes, be with them, just be discreet about it!” He chuckled. “Oh, man, you’re pouting. You’re so damn cute when you pout.”

“I’ve… made up my mind.”

“Come on. Let’s make out. I bet you’ll like it.”

“No. No! Please. Just. Leave me alone.”

“Tch. What? You’re too good for me?”

“I’m not comfortable.” She looked away. “With kissing.”

He raised his brow. “What? What kind of a woman are you?” He shook his head. “Whatever. You know, years from now, you’ll back on this while eating pudding in a little shithole apartment of yours, wondering where your life went wrong. Well, let me tell you sugar. It went wrong here. Right here. Alright?”

She said nothing.

He slammed the door behind him.

< How does that song go? ‘Ashes, ashes, we all fall down?’ My, my. I’m afraid I really am being a bit on the nose here. But you don’t seem to be understanding. Are you even listening to me? >

Makoto swallowed the vodka in one gulp.

It burned.

“What’s that?” he asked Kaede.

She was staring at a cover of a book. The book itself having all its pages torn out. ‘The Strange Tale of Beatnik Island.’

“I’m not sure.” she said. “I found it on the nightstand over there, next to Izuru’s… Well. You know.”

“It’s just a book.” he stared at the ceiling, absent-mindedly.

“Maybe. It could just be my brain. Island. Strange things. Making connections that may or may not be there.” she admitted.

“Hey. Lemme ask you a question.” His head was still pointed firmly upwards. “Why’d you come here?”

“I was looking for inspiration.” she admitted.

He chuckled. “Find any?”

“Depends.”

“On?”

“On whether or not I make it out of here alive.”

< You will lose this battle. As you were always meant to. >

The stranger rolled in his sleep.