“Huh, finally the mission was successful, that one was really intense”

While still laying down, Ken took out the book he was carrying, from under his shirt. Ken looks at this old book carefully and flips it back and forth

“Come to think of it, if it's hard to find what's inside, it shouldn't be just the honorary officials who know what's inside the Shrine. I mean, there must have been a time when the shrine had to be cleaned up or, as the book's title suggests, restored. Because the old shrine definitely needs it”

Ken was tired of how he felt about his previous actions, but Ken's curiosity overcame him. Ken took a seat, opened the pages of this book, and read the contents:

 

“January 22, 1996

I was one of the members of the group of workers that the Takeru family hired to carry out the restoration of the old shrine behind their house. As with our previous work, we prepared everything, including long discussions with the families concerned. It was all pretty clear what they wanted us to do, except for one thing that I found odd, they asked me and the other workers to keep the secret of what was inside the Shrine. We can only understand and accept it. Unlike our previous work, this restoration log will also only be held by the Takeru family”

 

Ken said

           “This log is from a decades ago…”

Ken turned back page – after page of this book to read it

 

“January 23, 1996

Regarding our work this first day we entered the shrine, Unlike what I thought, the contents were normal, containing statues of Shinto gods, except for “one thing”. On top of that, I don't know why they wanted us to keep it a secret. That one thing… somehow… how should I explain it… weird?”

 

Reading this part gave Ken goosebumps

“As expected, they have something to hide. But, what exactly? If it's kept a secret, it means something unusual. Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps”

Ken continued reading, there was nothing suspicious in this log, only records of building materials used, construction time, number of employees, costs, and so on. No one discussed the one thing in question earlier. Ken arrived at the last log in this book

 

“March 3, 1996

The restoration work is done, but we are left with a question mark. We can't talk about it, for Mr. Makoto, we thank you, it's a pleasure to work with you.

 

Notes on this log end. Ken closed this book, and put it beside him, he then lay back down. Ken thought to himself

“There are many secrets in this family that I don't know. Should I go to the library again? There's a lot of stuff I haven't read yet. But, if I examine from my experience, of course, things that are secret have been moved elsewhere, deleted, or even destroyed. If that's the case, the way to look for clues now is to look for these workers who have experienced it firsthand, but I don't think it's possible, their names alone I don't know, figuring it out could take too much time. There is no other way to find out other than to become the caretaker of the shrine, or by obtaining the key” Ken got the idea to ask his father again.

The current time is 4:40 pm. Ken and his father, are now on one of the balconies on the 2nd floor of this house, his father appears to be resting one hand on the handle of this balcony. Ken said

“Does dad know where is the key to open the shrine?”

Ken's father looked surprised

"Ken, don't tell me you're planning on entering it"

Ken became awkward

“Whe, when it comes to that…”

Kawago took a deep breath

"I don't know where the key is, even if I know, I won't tell you"

Ken's father looked at his watch

"Then I’ll go first, I have a business to finish"

Kawago walked away from here, leaving Ken who looked surprised.

Ken returned to his bedroom, he then walked to his bed and lay down while half sitting with his feet on the floor. Ken said

“That library is the only possible source of information, though I'm not sure if the information I want is there”

Ken took a sitting position

"But there's no harm in trying. Tonight, I will retrieve the keys in Grandpa's office, and return to the library"

Ken said with a confident expression on his face.

The current time is 10:00 pm. Ken now is reading a book while sitting on a single-seater sofa with a standing lamp next to it, in his room. He wore long black pants and a gray hooded jacket. Before long Ken realize something, and he then closed his book. Ken checked his watch

"Okay, it's time"

Ken got up from his chair, he didn't forget to bring the log book he borrowed, he then walked to the door of his room. Ken carefully stepped out of his room, while looking at the situation, so that no one caught him. Ken thought to himself

"Should be safe, because it's already this hour"

Ken closed the door to his room and then walked away from here.

Ken walked down the corridor of this house which was lit by wall lamps. Ken several times passed the common room on the 2nd floor, whose door was slightly ajar. From the gap at the door, Ken saw inside that there were still adults chatting with each other. Ken closed the gap at this door carefully and walked through it.

Ken came back to where he was hiding behind the wall in the T-junction corridor. Ken watched his grandfather's office door, with a doubtful expression on his face. Ken thought to himself

"Is Grandpa still in his office?"

Ken looked doubtful, he watched closely. Not long after, a familiar voice called out to him from behind

"Big brother, what are you doing?"

Ken was suddenly surprised, he immediately turned to face his Younger brother

"Shitara? What are you doing here?"

Shitara's expression turned astonished

"Why ask back? Big brother is really suspicious, what are you doing?"

Shitara looked at his brother suspiciously, making Ken look awkward. Ken answered

"I'm just walking around, you know, new places make it hard for me to sleep"

Shitara's expression showed that he couldn't believe it

"Okay, it's up to you Big brother, I go first"

Shitara then steps away from here. Seeing his brother leave, Ken said

"Yes, be careful on the way, whether these words are necessary or not..."

Shitara waved his hand, while still walking away. After Shitara was out of sight, Ken breathed a sigh of relief. Ken watched his grandfather's office door again.

Sometime later, his grandfather walked out of his office. Makoto closed the door to his office, and there was no movement to lock it. Makoto then walked away from here. Seeing this, Ken smiled happily. Ken thought to himself

"Yes, it's not in vain I waited"

Ken ran to his grandfather's office, and immediately entered the office, then closed the door carefully. The state of the office is quite dim, with only the reading lamp on his grandfather's desk lit. Ken then ran over to his grandfather's work desk and was about to take the library room key. As before, the key was hanging in its original place, Ken then took this key, and didn't forget to hang his room key in the place where the library key was hung. Ken then immediately walked away.

Just a few more steps toward the exit, Ken was surprised by the room entrance door which then opened. The person who opened this door was none other than Makoto, Ken's Grandfather. Seeing his grandfather, Ken looks shocked. Makoto said

“You must be Kenshubo right?”

Ken answered with a nod

"Right Grandpa"

Makoto smiled

"Can you explain what you're doing here Ken?"

Ken looked awkward

"I was looking for a toilet, and accidentally strayed here"

Makoto replied

"Are you sure it wasn't because of the library key?"

Ken looked surprised and became more and more nervous

“A, actually, I just wanted to, Borrowing, uhm… borrowing a pen, I mean”

Makoto replied

"You don't have to be so nervous"

Makoto reached out his hand to Ken

"May I have the key back?"

Ken shyly handed back the library key he took. Makoto said

"And the book you picked up at the library?"

Ken took out a logbook from under his jacket and handed it to Makoto. Ken looks curious

"Before grandpa scolds me, may I know when grandpa noticed it?"

Makoto answered

“From the first time you took the key. Do you really think I won't notice? At first, I'd let it, but after that, I won't”

Ken replied

"I, I'm really sorry grandpa"

Makoto replied

"No need to apologize, But I wonder who told you"

Ken became shocked, of course, he knew who told him, his own father. Makoto smiled

"You don't have to say it"

Makoto said as if he already knew who told Ken. Makoto continued talking

"Okay, let's just finish up here. Can you come out first Ken? There's still something Grandpa wants to do"

Ken gave a respectful bow, and he then walked out of the room.