Tokyo Exorcism Diary

“Let me think… Net Phantom… Hmm, ever since we first observed her existence three years ago, by rough estimates, she’s been responsible for the deaths of over 800 people across the country. Because she can freely traverse the networked world, she’s extremely hard to catch, and it’s difficult to restrict her. Frankly, we’re fortunate you managed to imprison her. Otherwise, who knows how many more people would have died… But why are you asking? Are you investigating Hamada-san’s life story?”

“Something like that. I read the data you sent over. I feel a bit sorry for that girl,” Hoshino Gen replied lightly, his tone carrying a sense of cheer. The information he’d just received set his mind racing with ideas once more.

A girl driven to suicide by cyberbullying, transforming into a vengeful spirit and gaining the ability to traverse the network through sheer willpower—wasn’t this the real-life equivalent of “I’ll kill you through the internet”?

Forget the saying “an eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.” Human nature, and especially the instincts of a vengeful ghost, demanded justice: debts repaid, revenge exacted.

Thinking it through carefully, the fact that Chi-chan had been so free lately that she had time to play “dating simulation games” with him… coupled with Asakura Meika’s mention of “over 800 people”… likely meant her revenge against the cyberbullies was complete. If that were the case, and given Chi-chan’s current aura of residual hatred, the only explanation could be—

The real culprit was still alive and well.

Hoshino Gen surmised that the scumbag teacher who had assaulted Michiko must still be stuck in a prison without internet access. That would explain why a ghost capable of navigating the digital world hadn’t yet avenged herself on the mastermind.

Hoshino’s lips curled into a smile. If his theory was correct, all the better.

After a bit more idle chatter with Asakura Meika, Hoshino Gen ended the call. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to ask for the culprit’s address—after all, he couldn’t very well call the authorities for the information and then have the man die right afterward. That would be handing them evidence of his misdeeds on a silver platter.

The contract he’d signed just two days ago specifically emphasized adherence to laws and regulations and prohibited misuse of supernatural abilities. So, he figured he’d play it safe and gather the intel himself.

Putting away his phone, Hoshino Gen suddenly noticed Shimizu Yuu staring at him intently, her eyes practically sparkling.

“What are you looking at? Let’s go.” Hoshino chuckled, clearly in a good mood.

He ignored the mess scattered across the room’s floor and got up to leave.

“Who were you just calling?” Shimizu Yuu quickly caught up, her voice brimming with curiosity. She was always nosy, and the mention of ghosts and files convinced her that Hoshin Geno was secretly in touch with the government’s “supernatural organization.” After all, she’d been there that day when Hoshino had interrogated that pretty government official!

The discovery of such an organization had left Shimizu Yuu buzzing with excitement for days.

Hoshino Gen ignored her nosy questions and instead teased, “Shimizu-san, you’re awfully interested in other people’s private matters. Planning to become a cop or detective after graduation?”

Caught off guard by the sudden change of topic, Shimizu Yuu blinked and instinctively replied, “I’m not sure yet, but I’ll probably go into the police force…”

Mid-sentence, she realized what he was doing and snapped, “Don’t change the subject! Who were you calling? Have you already been in contact with the official supernatural organization?”

As they walked under the warm golden glow of the midday sun, Hoshino Gen looked at the puffed-up Shimizu Yuu and stifled a laugh. This idiot really was something else—too dense to catch even obvious sarcasm. Was she naïve or just overly simple-minded?

With a quiet chuckle, Hoshino Gen chose not to answer, leaving Shimizu Yuu fuming.

…

At lunchtime, Shimizu Yuu didn’t go home but instead called to say she was hanging out with friends.

Hoshino Gen treated her to ramen before the two boarded a train bound for Chiyoda.

The search for the “mastermind” went smoothly. Michiko’s case had been a sensational scandal back in the day. Starting from the Hamada family’s neighborhood, Hoshino Gen and Shimizu Yuu methodically investigated nearby schools and quickly got the information they needed from a school gatekeeper.

The culprit’s name was Takatsu Yu. He had been a P.E. teacher at the school. After the scandal broke, he was sentenced to eight years in prison for SA. Currently, he was serving his sentence at “Karasu Prison” in the suburbs of Higashi-Ikebukuro.

Armed with this information, Hoshino Gen and Shimizu Yuu headed straight to Higashi-Ikebukuro by train.

Visiting a prison wasn’t an easy task for ordinary people, especially if they weren’t direct relatives of the inmate.

But this was Japan, and as the saying goes, “Japan’s zaibatsu(conglomerates), zaibatsu’s Japan.” Hoshino Gen’s “Hoshino” is none other than the Hoshino of the Hoshino Zaibatsu… For ordinary people, tasks that seem difficult—perhaps even impossible—are quite simple when it comes to him.

…

“Takatsu, you have a visitor!”

During post-lunch yard time, Takatsu Yu, squatting in a corner of the open field, heard the shout from a prison guard.

Looking up, he saw the guard nod at him, confirming it was indeed him being called. Takatsu Yu couldn’t hide his surprise. He didn’t have many family members—only his father and an older brother. His brother had severed ties with him out of shame years ago, and his father had just visited three days ago, saying he was scraping together money for bail.

Could it be that the money was ready?

Takatsu Yu’s heart leaped with joy. After five years in prison, even though Japanese prisons weren’t the worst, his status as a r*pist placed him at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Life had been rough.

Initially, he hadn’t felt any remorse—after all, that girl was so adorable, prettier than many idols on TV. The memory of her crying face was so precious he thought it had been worth the prison sentence.

But as time passed and the thrill faded, combined with the daily torment in prison, he began to regret.

He regretted not being bolder. He should have killed the girl afterward; that way, she wouldn’t have ruined his life. It was all her fault—she was the one who had ruined him! If only he had killed her then, he could have had so much more fun.

Following the guard, Takatsu Yu lamented his missed opportunity.

But it didn’t matter. His father had mentioned that the “bad girl” had committed suicide. What a shame—if she were still alive, he could make up for lost time once he got out.