Nakahama

Yakura was sitting on the deck of her ship, sniggering to herself. Really, that was what was burned into the wall in the hotel? She let out a giggle.

"Kami, I love this place."

The first to arrive of the guests was the smallest of all of them. Thankful for the calm enough weather but still made sure to dress comfy Sumiko approached and crossed over, making a small knocking sound as she did.

"Yoritomo-sama?" she called out, not wanting to cross the full way without permission.

"Susumu-san, come on, come on." She gestured to the tiny spooder. "Did you see the broadcast this morning about the Forever Night? Hilarious, isn't it?" She gestured towards the tray on the table, which had some snacks, coffee and tea.

Sumiko crossed the rest of the way then bowed deeply.

"Good morning Yoritomo-sama. Hai I did see it, quite amusing! Did you consider adding some burned letters to your walls also? It seems to be in style this season" the girl laughed before moving and sitting by the table.

"Good morning, mina-sama!" Kyoshi called out from the dock.. The Detective, ever curious, scampered up onto the yacht.

"More 'Forever Night' nonsense," says Bayushi Kazushi as he and his entourage board the Dragon, "both broadcast this morning and at Ochiba-san's party last night - the governor was not impressed with that. So they're some insane terrorist cell, it seems?"

"Nono, fire and boats do not mix Susumi-san. Do not think about this."

She waved at the others. "It's...a rolepaying game Baiybsi-sama." She stated simply. Gesturimg at the table of goods, she offered evrrything to everyone.


Yes, even the monkey.

Yes, even the Fox.

"Would have made a fun episode, nek, Kitsune-san?"

"Yes." he laughed. "We didn't have anything like that come up. The closest, I think was a cosplay focused episode released last year."

Sumiko reached over to pick up her tea as the others talked about the game.

"So the magistrate offered nothing of use Kitsune-sama?"

"No." He chuckled. "The yoriki I spoke with was more upset about my trespassing than whomever may have done it before me. She assumed it was some edgy youth. I guess that's not entirely wrong."

"Well...it might be extremely wrong" Sumiko sipped her tea "Endless Night has a little more history on this planet than simply the LARP game Edge of Darkness. There was a very small and odd religion called Lavoie that also celebrate the Endless Night which has a history of operation on this planet."

"Well now, you're going to have to tell us more."

There was a nod.

"The religion, or well I guess a cult really as they're too small to really be a religion, believe that the Forever Night is the end of everything. The Sun no longer shines, the Heavens no longer looks over us. The seas are all dried up, and all living beings are gone. Close of the curtain, end of everything. The Forever Night."

There was another long sip of her tea.

"A bit extreme but as far as weird cults go it's about right. They're rumoured to have a presence here on this planet. So now we have to consider whether someone burned Forever Night into the wall of an abandoned hotel which has no part of this LARP having today or a tagging of cultists who are waiting for everything to end or perhaps trying to do something to accelerate said end."

Yakura pouted. "Susumu-san, you're ruining the morning." She sighed. "There's an old temple in...TEnjintown, I think. Might be worth checking out at some point, I guess."

She plucked some snacks from the table. "Anyone up for a road trip at some point?" It seemed like a good group.

Even the monkey.

Even the Fox.

Sumiko lowered head.

"My apologoy Yoritomo-sama, as a scholar I couldn't leave any stone unturned and just accept the first answer. I wasn't aware they still had a temple though, it's an odd thing to allow a temple to be built for as it would be giving the religion acknowledgement. I'd be interested in taking a look at it."

"Things could be tied together." He shrugged. "At the very least, one could have inspired the other. I'm certainly not opposed to investigating suspicious locations without permission or authority."

Yakura smirked. "One could say you made a career out of it Kitsune-san." She took another bite of a snack. Then fell silent. She thought about what Umiko said... "I would definitely check it out if we can. It's...weird, honestly. I never visited that place before, I mean, why is it even there?" She turned up her nose at it. "It's just not proper, is it? I know, this is coming from me, and I'm not always proper, but still...you know."

Kazushi shakes his head, having listened to the explanation and ensuing discussion.

"So...all of this...is over some kind of game?" he asks, incredulously. "That's...incredibly disappointing. Here I'd thought we'd found some grand conspiracy..."

"Might be some game" Sumiko corrected "I still can't understand why they would burn the words into a wall into a restricted run down hotel for a LARP, I don't believe the hotel was anything to do with the LARP. I'm not convinced there isn't something else yet."

There was a look at Yakura as she sipped her tea.

"The world is full of surprises if you're willing to look where you wouldn't normally go before, Yoritomo-sama."

"We may be able to find out tonight." he suggested. "See if the players of the game are aware of it."