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VOLUME 1 – THE RED EYE KNOWS file 02: the dark tunnel

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That tunnel was the shortest path fro district, but nearly no locals used it

It was a fah accident rate

There was a death every year

Inside the tunnel, there were no lights, and it was di the day

There was a sharp curve right outside the tunnel, and unlucky cars got into accidents there so often it was aluaranteed

However, the reason for the accidents appeared to be more than just bad visibility

There had long been endless ru mysterious appeared in the tunnel –

Some drivers said they’d seen human heads fly by their

When they tried to escape in their fear, then their brakes stopped working – they would barely avoid hitting the guard rail

Others said they’d seen countless human faces in the tunnel walls

Some cab drivers said they’d taken on a drenched woman in front of the tunnel, but when they looked in the rear-view one –

Nobody knew the truth

All that was certain was that many people had died at that tunnel’s exit –

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1

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It was a quiet night –

‘It’s cold’

Haruka tried her best not to be hit by the wind, putting up the collar of her beige coat and hunching over as she walked

It was late at night on Sunday, so even though she was in front of the station, there was practically nobody there

She just heard the echo of her boots hitting the ground

She had gone to a party because Miki had forced her to, but when she went in, it had turned out to be a mixer

Perhaps she was outdated, but she didn’t really like parties of that sort

Miki would die from loneliness without a boyfriend She was like a rabbit But Haruka wasn’t desperate to find someone

’Haruka, you’ve never really fallen in love’

Miki often said that to her

It was true

Even when she thought back, she felt like she’d never had a roo date someone’

Miki said that too

However, Haruka didn’t feel like trying desperately to ht that love would co to be decided, like with shopping when deciding on goods and checking a wallet’s contents

’I really ah that ca the roundabout in front of the station, she heard a car horn

A white car slowed down and rolled up to her, stopping in front of her

It was a bit suspicious Haruka was on guard as she stepped back

Then, the passenger seatopened and the car’s lights turned on

’Haruka-chan, I’ll give you a ride’

Why do they know my naotten already, right? We were just together earlier’

Haruka recalled upon hearing the man’s quick speech

’Ah!’

It was one of the people from the party earlier If she re like Nakahara Tatsuya

He had a medium build and a rather plain face, but his hair was like a famous soccer player’s That said, it seemed like he didn’t actually like soccer that much

’Get on already’

Tatsuya ser seat

’It’s fine – the trains are still running’

Haruka refused with a bow of her head and started walking again

’Hey, wait a sec’

Tatsuya quickly got off the car and ran up to stand in front of Haruka, grinning as he pointed at his left wrist

’What time is it now?’

What’s this all of a sudden?

Haruka didn’t understand, but she checked the time on the atch

’11:50’

’Sorry, but the last train’s already left’

’Eh? The last train is at 12:06’

’Ah, that’s on weekdays This is Sunday – a holiday Trains stop earlier The last train on holidays is 11:48 You just h for me, I just made it’

Haruka hadn’t known She was really out of it today

’That’s why I said I’d drive you You live in the same direction as I do, Haruka-chan’

As Tatsuya said that, he opened the door on the passenger side

"But…’

’Please I’ether as if praying and bowed his head

Frightened, he says –

She didn’tin the car, but…

’Nakahara-san, you weren’t drinking?’

’Ah, I’ tea the whole tie, Haruka lost and sat in the car

Tatsuya started talking about the car they were riding in the etically about hoas a faot cheap from an acquaintance as a car mechanic, but since Haruka had no interest in cars, she didn’t really understand

Though she didn’t knohat sort of car this was, Tatsuya had turned the heat on higher than necessary, and the air freshener made her want to lean away

Not just that – the rap roup was so loud it echoed in her belly

Being shut in this place would make her feel uncomfortable in just five minutes

She felt bad and kept quiet since he had offered her a ride, but she was at her limits –

’Sorry, could you turn down the volume a bit?’

Haruka spoke to Tatsuya in the driver seat

’Right? This song is the best’

What was the best? He wasn’t listening to her at all

Haira rather seedy suit What on earth were his interests?

It felt like a co that was popular

Haruka used the panel to turn down the volunored Tatsuya’s gaze and opened theslightly, breathing the outside air, unpolluted by the air freshener

’Ah, it’s a left at the next road,’ Haruka told Tatsuya when they reached the corner with the police precinct

’Left Got it’

Though Tatsuya said that, he turned the wheel right without even putting on the turn signal

Haruka lost her balance at the sharp curve

What dangerous driving –

’It isn’t right It’s left Please turn around’

’There’s a place with a beautiful night view ahead Did you know?’

’I didn’t’

’Let’s go take a look’

’It’s fine’

’It’s really beautiful You’ll definitely like it Just at the top of that hill’

It was no use He wasn’t listening at all

It was like he thought everybody in the world had the same perspective as he did

It was useless no ht view, hopefully that’d satisfy hiave up and looked out the

Come to think of it, she knew another man who did whatever he wanted, no matter what anybody else said

He was stubborn and contrary Even though he hated things that were crooked, he was slightly crooked hih he also did whatever he wanted, Haruka felt like there was so him to Tatsuya

It had been a ht about that sleepy-looking face and ended up shtly

’Just ahead of this tunnel’

Tatsuya’s voice brought Haruka back to reality She looked forward

Just as he said, there was a tunnel in front of theh Accident Area Watch Your Speed!’

It looked like there were no lights in the tunnel – an ink-black darkness opened up in front of them

The moment the car went into the tunnel, the air suddenly felt heavier

The sound of the engine echoed against the tunnel walls

Ooooooooh It sounded just like a person

The tunnel was really eerie

Just as they were approaching the exit, Haruka suddenly felt like so had passed the the brakes

The tires screeched

Haruka was forced forward and hit her head against the

Tears welled up in her eyes froht outside the tunnel

They’d aluard rail

The car was filled with the smell of the burnt tires

Haruka looked at Tatsuya in the driver’s seat

Tatsuya was clinging to the wheel, looking dohile shivering

Sas rushing down his forehead and his jaas chattering

’Hey, what’s wrong?’

Tatsuya didn’t look normal

Tatsuya tried to respond, but his mouth just moved – no words came out

’Say it clearly What happened?’

Haruka shook Tatsuya’s shoulders

Then, Tatsuya lifted his head for the first time His face was completely white Even a mannequin would have more colour in its face

’…A k-kid…’

’Eh? What about a kid?’

’…Again… I er pointed out the front

’Hit… You can’t mean…’

A kid? Haruka didn’t think there was any impact after the sudden brakes

However, she couldn’t be optio check

Haruka opened the door and tried to leave, but Tatsuya grabbed her aro’

’Why? I need to check’

’It wasn’t my fault the kid – the kid… suddenly jurabbed Haruka’s arm

There were tears in his eyes

’It’s not a problem of as at fault We need to call an ambulance’

’You can’t… If you hit… a person, you can’t drive anya job… And your parents won’t keep quiet… My life is a mess… Please, Haruka-chan, if you keep quiet…’

’I can’t believe you’

What a ht have taken somebody’s life, all he could think about was how to protect hi with soo ofoff the car

The intense difference in teh it was dark outside, with the car’s lights, she could see

Haruka timidly walked to the front of the car

She felt like they were driving pretty quickly

If sos shook when she iined a child, collapsed and covered in blood

However, there was nothing there

She just saw black lines on the asphalt from the burnt tires She checked the car’s bumper, but there wasn’t even a dent

Haruka checked the side and rear as well

However, she couldn’t find anything Was Tatsuya just seeing things? That would be fine They could laugh it off –

Step step step

There was the sound of soht be Tatsuya, but he was still in the car with his head down

Step step step

Again

She heard it from the opposite side, beneath the car

Haruka crouched and peered under the car She saw a foot that could be a child’s

It can’t be! Haruka hurriedly stood up and went around

However, nobody was there She ined it since Tatsuya had said he’d hit a child

If that was all, it’d be OK

Haruka was about to go back in the car, when she felt a piercing gaze on her back and stopped

When she turned around, she saw the large half-circle hole into the dark tunnel

There was a woh nobody had been there earlier –

Haruka couldn’t be sure from her back, but the woht that because the woer

She wasn’t doing anything – just standing there

Her brown hair shook in the wind

What was she doing here at a time like this?

’Excuse me…’

When Haruka spoke up to her, the woht stop froe injury on the wo

The chest portion of her white shirt was dyed coht arht have been broken

It was mysterious how she could stand at all

’This is terrible…’

Tatsuya hadn’t hit a child He’d hit this woht?’

The woman didn’t respond at all to Haruka’s question That wasn’t all – her expression was blank, like she didn’t feel the pain at all

She was probably nuht away Please sit down for now’

The moment Haruka tried to touch the woman –

The wo when she vomited blood fro and leapt back

Then, as if she had been absorbed by the scenery, the woman disappeared

Why –

Haruka was disoriented All she could hear was the wind going through the tunnel –

-

2

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The next day, Haruka ith Tatsuya to Yakumo’s secret hideaway, the Movie Research Circle clubroom

Yesterday’s experience had to have been a spiritual phenomenon

If that were the case, it would be best to consult him

However, while Haruka explained what had happened yesterday to Yakui by himself, as if to say he was bored

’So it’s co as he moved the pieces on both sides by hii alone? Haruka couldn’t understand at all

’Are you listening?’ asked Haruka, displeased

’Yeah, at any rate’

’What do you mean, at any rate? Can’t you listen more seriously?’

’You should beabout how I’d feel about that and suddenly started telling a ghost story’

Haruka couldn’t think of a coitated and hadn’t thought about hiist of it Business is business, so shall I take it up?’ said Yaku his arms

’Really?’

’I just have to save your boyfriend, right?’

’I’ll say this again, but he’s not h he’s right there’

Haruka let out an exasperated sigh and looked down

Then, Tatsuya started sh Haruka didn’t knoas so funny

When she caught his eye, he brought his face close to her ear and whispered

’We look like a couple’

’No, you don’t’

The one who denied that was Yakumo

’We don’t, you say… Weren’t you the one who said we did earlier?’

’I don’t recall that’

Did too, did not – it was just like a kid’s fight

Haruka didn’t feel like talking For a while, Tatsuya looked at Yakumo’s expression, but then he suddenly see

’Oh, I see You like Haruka-chan too That’s why you don’t like ht?’ said Tatsuya boastfully

’Hey, what are you saying?’ objected Haruka

Tatsuya ignored her and continued

’Unfortunately, an oaf like you doesn’t match Haruka-chan at all’

’That’s true I don’t like stubborn woet emotionally easily anyway I couldn’t care less if you simmered her or boiled her,’ said Yaku even in the least

’Is it really OK for you to say that? I’ll really eat Haruka-chan up’

’Do what you want If you plan on eating her, you should watch out for food poisoning’

’Hey, what do youtoothe table

’I mean exactly what I said,’ replied Yaku his head

Haruka’s face flushed in anger and she bit her lip

Really – this enius at ry

’Then I’ll do what I want’

Tatsuya was still s triui board and moved it to another square

’Checkmate’

Yakumo had been expressionless, but now there was a deep wrinkle between his brows

His thin lips were a straight line, and his al’

Yakuinal spot and pointed at Tatsuya

’Warning?’

’Yes A warning’

’Oh? What is it?’

’You should use contraception and properly hold memorial services for aborted foetuses’

’W-what are you suddenly saying?’

Tatsuya pushed Yakuer away and stood up

He looked terribly shaken He was showing his true cowardly nature, that had been hidden behind his exaggerated confidence

He was disturbed because it had hit home Haruka looked at Tatsuya coldly

’Haruka-chan, don’t get the wrong idea This guy’s nuts Oi, don’t just say whatever you want If you don’t stop fooling around, I won’t keep quiet’

’I’ around Would it be easier to understand if I said her name?’

’Who’d you hear it froht into the trap What he’d said just now proved everything Tatsuya’s head eaty as Yakumo continued to pursue him

’Not just one person either Two You didn’t learn your lesson, it seenant It’s not rave And it was pretty deep

There was no doubt about it now

Tatsuya’s careless words nant? What are you talking about? That nancy, but aren’t pregnancies only possible with a partner?’

’That’s…’

’Though small, it was a new life born into this world Did you say that they just selfishly got pregnant, like some awful joke, and cruelly kill that life? I rue the fact that Japan’s laws don’t consider people like you murderers’

Tatsuya’s mouth opened and shut as he frantically tried to think of so

Tatsuya had been foolish for getting ahead of hiument

Tatsuya’s self-respect was probably in shreds

Tatsuya stood up in a rage, slammed the door open and left That was probably all he could do to protest

’Is it all right for you not to go with hiain

’That person is the worst, but you don’t lose to him either’

’Thank you for the praise’

That sounded pointed

’Are you angry?’ asked Haruka

Yakuht like him, but I hate that sort of person He thinks he’s the most i else’

’So that’s why you lied?’

’Lied?’

’About whether there was an aborted baby or not’

’Decide that on your own It’s coht It was irrelevant I apologise for causing you trouble,’ said Haruka, standing up She tried to leave the rooht?’

Yakumo finally lifted his head

-

In the end, she decided that her eyestricks on her and went hoed the day after Tatsuya’s front buht red handprint the size of a child’s

Like a bloody hand had touched it

Tatsuya had been frightened of it and tried to wash it off, but even after using cleansing liquid and a brush, it wouldn’t cohtened to drive it since

Haruka gave a short explanation Yaku Haruka couldn’t tell if he was listening or not

’Hey, are you listening?’

’I am It’s just that the story seems a bit convoluted’

’Convoluted?’

’Yes, convoluted For exa, but then he ran a hand through his hair in irritation, like so?’

’No, it’s nothing Speculation will start nothing At tio’

Haruka finished Yakumo’s sentence

’Exactly’

’Don’t leave me behind this ti about the last incident, you were the one anted toidea’

One sentence too lared at Yaku distance, right?’

Even though Haruka kept glaring, Yakumo asked a question, as if he didn’t care at all

’Eh?’

’The tunnel where the incident occurred’

’Ah I knohere it is, but it’d be difficult to walk there’

’Do you have a car?’

’I don’t even have a licence’

’Don’t act proud of it’

’I’m not…’

’DO you have the address?’

’Should I ask Tatsuya-kun?’

’I’d rather walk’

Yakuer It looked like he was thinking, but in the end, he slowly stood up and put on a black hooded coat that was in the corner of the roo dressed

’Do you have the address?’

’I have an idea’

Yakuerator and took a key out Why was there a key in the refrigerator?

’Proo’

As he said that, Yakuer at Haruka’s nose

’What?’

’For the next little while, don’t ask any questions’

’What do you mean?’

’To put it simply, shut that chattyit

Haruka wanted to object, but Yakumo had already left the room

’Hey, wait a second’

Haruka ran after Yaku at Haruka It was so sudden that Haruka alht it with both hands

’It’s cold – ’

It was the key froerator

’Shut the door properly’

’Wait…’

’Don’t forget to shut your irl like this –

He was really insensitive, selfish and unpleasant

’Idiot!’

Haruka couldn’t stop herself fro

However, Yakumo seemed to have mistaken what she said, as he just raised his hand and continued walking away briskly

Haruka locked the door and ended up having to run after Yakuain

-

3

-

Haruka walked behind Yaku after he’d told her to shut his mouth She had been silent for fifteen minutes

They soon reached a steep slope

On both sides of the road, there were gingko trees with yellow leaves

It was a beautiful little road that made you want to stop and enjoy it

However, Yakumo didn’t seem to want to enjoy it, as he briskly cliates to a temple Yakumo stopped in front of them

It looked like a fairly old temple, but it ell kept and didn’t seem wild

Why did they coet? No questions’

The lared at her coldly

Ah she couldn’t be called quiet in comparison to her friends, she didn’t think she was particularly chatty

Of course she would have questions without any explanations, and it was human to want to ask about that

I’e

’Don’t o?’

’No questions’

Yakumo refused her flat with an expressionless face

Even a wooden Buddha statue would haveanything Haruka gave up and went to the pillar by the gates and put her hands behind her back

Yaku briskly

He went on the path to the teravel on both sides, and went inside a separate building that was probably the priests’ quarters

He hadn’t pressed the intercoreeted anybody

Did Yakumo have some sort of connection to this temple? Perhaps that hy he didn’t want to talk about it

It’s cold though –

She hadn’t noticed while walking, but the as biting when she stood here alone like this

Why did she have to wait here by herself?

Anger rose within her as she waited

’Hurry back!’

Unable to keep in her anger, Haruka picked up a rock at her feet and threw it towards the direction Yakumo had walked

’Ouch!’

She was surprised by the sudden voice

Soates

’I-I-I’h there shouldn’t have been anybody in the direction she threw the rock, she’d actually hit so a rock at a temple’

’I’m really sorry’

Haruka shrunk further

’No, no, don’t look so worried It didn’t actually hit Now, lift your head’

Urged by the low and gentle voice, Haruka ti there in navy working robes and straw sandals

He had an egg-shaped face and eyes thin like string He had a warm impression to him, like Maitreya

’Ah’

Haruka let out a voice of surprise upon seeing the ’

She recalled that Yaku Perhaps this hy

The lowed red like Yaku here?’

’E-er, I’h it wasn’t like she was doing anything suspicious or like she was lying, she was fuirlfriend? Quite the curio’

’C-curio?’

’Ah, sorry It’s the first tiot excited’

Could this person be Yakumo’s father?

’U-um, do you know Yakumo-kun?’

Yakumo had said not to ask him questions, but he hadn’t said not to ask anybody else questions

Haruka changed the interpretation the way she liked and tried asking