２．Ｔｈｕｒｓｄａｙ　Ｍａｒｃｈ　２１，　２０１９

A simple wooden house appeared on the screen. It must have been what Maruta had seen in photographs beforehand, and also much clearer.
〈Silva〉 and 〈Tokyo Spread〉 are chatting as they wander around the front yard. The sight of 〈Silva〉's tousled blond hair and tanned skin brought familiarity with a sense of nostalgia to Maruta's heart.

"Is this around the time you arrived at the crime scene house?", asked Maruta.
"Yes. As I recall, it was just before 5:00 in the evening. Just after we arrived by driving."
"Are you the one filming, Number 4-san?"
"Yes. I was in charge of most of the videography that day."

For a while, the participants were in a relaxed atmosphere. 〈Silva〉, 〈Captain〉, and 〈Shaggy〉 are standing around talking, while 〈Kirvy〉 was having a merry time trying to steal 〈Mont Blanc〉's cap.
Maruta pulled out that familiar 'Ground Plan' from a plastic file folder in his bag and placed it next to the PC. "You are all in this area of the house right now."
〈Number 4〉 looked at the spot on the paper where Maruta was pointed to, which was in front of the entrance. "Yes, we are. It's the garden in front of the house. We just left our cars on the side of the driveway and then walked down the winding path."

"Let's take an opening video once here." After 〈Silva〉 said this, the five people, except for the cameraman, began to line up side by side in front of the house. All of them were dressed in short-sleeved T-shirts and half pants, which is very typical of young people. In particular, 〈Captain〉's white shirt is printed with the words 'Ghosts are welcome,' a statement that reflects a will that is the opposite of seriousness.

While their figures were in close-up, for a moment, something previously unnoticed appeared at the top of the screen.
"Now, didn't you see something square on the roof of the house?" asked Maruta.
"Which one?" Pulling the video back a bit, 〈Number 4〉 stopped it when the corresponding objects were shown.

"It is. On this roof."
"Ah, a skylight."
"Did that house have a skylight?" Maruta shifted his gaze to the owner of the PC, looking very surprised.
"Yes, there was the 'middle room' where we were waiting, wasn't there? It was installed so that the sun would shine on there."

Maruta looked again at the 'Ground Plan'. Surely there is no window in the 'middle room'[Fig.4]. Should have the skylight in the ceiling to let in daylight. Maruta alternated between the drawing and the PC, trying to capture the house in question in three dimensions as well.

"Hey. What's up guys," 〈Silva〉's voice, which began to act as a performer, brought the three's attention back to the screen. "I am Silva, who they say will eventually be a star."
After 〈Silva〉's half-joking greeting, the members of 〈Tokyo Spread〉 introduced themselves in turn. Of course, their characteristic laxity has not been discarded here either.

"Look, everyone." Twisting backward, 〈Silva〉 indicated the house with one hand. The four people in the frame turned around in response, each expressing similar impressions: "This looks scary at night," "Isn't this a real haunted house?" "There are no other houses nearby at all."
Above the house is a disgustingly clear blue. The sky, which could only be balanced by a cheerful picnic, highlights the deplorable nature of the house, which contributes to the gloom.

"As you can see, today's project is a search for the haunted place." 〈Silva〉 is the only one who remains particularly calm.
"Are you really staying here overnight?" Fear was clearly evident on 〈Captain〉's face. However, it is impossible to determine from the image alone whether these are genuine emotions or mere theatrics.

"Have you ever heard of the phrase, 'Home is where you make it'?" 〈Silva〉 is ostensibly joking.
"That would be a comfortable home for ghosts." 〈Shaggy〉 scratched his bare shin with his hand.
"Shaggy," 〈Silva〉 looks at him. "What did you just say?"
"Hmm? I said it's comfortable for ghosts."
"That's right," 〈Silva〉 took a breath and then whispered. "Actually, this area is a suicide spot."
"Everyone disperse!" As 〈Captain〉 said this, 〈Tokyo Spread〉 ran and scattered out of the frame.

Essentially, the cut would change here. The four of them sloppily walked back around 〈Silva〉 and began chatting, seemingly oblivious to the camera.
"Is this OKay for the opening video?" 〈Captain〉 asked 〈Silva〉.
"Yeah, now everybody get your stuff out of your car."
The camera began to shake erratically, showing the ground.

"Here," 〈Number 4〉 reached for the keyboard. "All of us, including me, are going to move our stuff into the house. It's a long story, so I'll skip ahead a bit."
"Excuse me," Maruta stopped him. "But could you stop again at the part where we can see the exterior of the house?"
"Right here," 〈Number 4〉 stopped the video just before the performers lined up.

"Yes, thank you." Saying, Maruta continued to stare at the screen for a minute. An employee brought over a platter of tempura, but he didn't even glance at it.
"Number 4-san," Maruta raised his head. "Is it safe to assume that the house was one solid structure?"
"What do you mean?" 〈Number 4〉 asked back, seemingly unable to swallow the question.

"For example, were there any walls anywhere that could be removed?"
"That is impossible. As you can see, the house was one solid building. It looks simple, but I don't think there was any part that could be moved slightly by human hands to make a hole."
"That appears to be the case. I don't see any kind of breach on the outside of the house either."
"Can we go now?"
"Ah, please continue."

〈Number 4〉 in the video opened the front door and put his foot on the floor. Then, after taking off his shoes, he entered the middle room, a few steps down a damp, boarded-up hallway. Like the hallway, the floors and walls are made of old timbers, with no furniture or other furnishings in sight. Naturally, there was no sign of the landlord welcoming them.

"At this time, it's already past 5:00 p.m." Maruta said in a hushed tone.
"Yes," said 〈Number 4〉. "It was already getting dark outside."

The room is lit by light coming through the skylight they just checked. However, as 〈Number 4〉 said, the light was supplemented by the camping lanterns that had been brought in, probably because the sun was about to set.

"It's hot, let's open the window." At the sound of 〈Mont Blanc〉's voice, 〈Number 4〉's camera passed through the door of the room to the right, which was left open.
"Hey Mont Blanc," 〈Silva〉 says, as if advising. "Don't open the window. Mosquitoes will get in."

"This is that room on the right." Maruta, as a reminder, also points to the drawing.
Number 4 responded, "Yes. This is the room where Silva-san will be staying later."

In the corner of the room is a lantern of the same type as the one in the middle room. At the front of the room, there is a frosted-glass window, as 〈Shaggy〉 wrote week before last. Due to the prominent brown rust on the window frame, it is unlikely to open smoothly even with a light pull on it.
〈Silva〉 approached the window that 〈Mont Blanc〉 was trying to open and closed the lock. It was a common crescent lock fixed to the inside of the window. The corrosion on this one was so severe that it seemed impossible to turn it quickly, even if he put all his strength into his fingertips.

"Seems like a lot of work to open the window." said Maruta.
"Still, it doesn't seem that the windows never opened. We didn't have any problem with it being hard to open, though, because mosquitoes would come in even if we opened it." 〈Number 4〉 said, trying to recall each one.

Then the camera tried to go back to the middle room. Again, Maruta had the video stopped, saying, "May I have a word?"
"There are several cardboard boxes in the room to the right. What's in these?"
〈Number 4〉 coughed once. "These include sleeping mats for the number of people, fans, and other items that could not be carried in one transport. Silva-san and I brought these items in beforehand."
"Did you visit this house beforehand?"
"Yes. Silva-san told me to go with him, so we packed these cardboard boxes in his car with him and went here. By his driving."
"When was that?"
"Let me see." 〈Number 4〉 crossed his arms and thought for a moment. "I think it was three days before the incident."
"What exactly did he say to you to get you out of there?"
"He simply said, 'We're going to do a new project, so we need your help carrying our stuff.'"
"Have you checked the contents of the boxes?"
"Yes. It wasn't closed with duct tape or anything, so I checked inside. There were mats for six people, a rechargeable fan, pillows, rope, batteries, garbage bags, and other small items. And sorry, I don't remember what else was in them."
"Okay, I see."