Chapter 214: Miyako
He Jia’an wiped his mouth, temporarily ignoring the other’s invitation, and instead said: “Can you chat with me about Miyako?”
As soon as Miyako was mentioned, Misaki Naomi’s facial expression immediately became unnatural, as if she had lost her appetite for eating, and she put down the half-eaten chicken wrap.
He Jia’an was not in a hurry, patiently waiting for the other to speak first.
Misaki Naomi did some mental preparation in her heart, then slowly opened up: “Miyako is the ‘master’ of that eerie video call urban legend that’s been going around lately. Everyone calls her that.”
“Everyone?” He Jia’an was a bit suspicious. The convenience store shop assistant from yesterday seemed unaware of the monster woman’s name mentioned in that urban legend.
“Yeah, most of the classmates at school probably know about it.” Misaki Naomi nodded affirmatively. “After all, Miyako’s legend probably originated from our Kisaragi High School. There are rumors that she was a senior from one of our school’s classes.”
The prototype of the monster in the urban legend turned out to be a real-life student from Kisaragi High School.
“So, do you know about Miyako’s origins?” He Jia’an asked curiously, temporarily suppressing his inner guesses.
Misaki Naomi took a sip of iced cola, feeling chilled to the bone, nodded, and said with wide eyes: “The rumor is that Miyako was a beautiful girl whose beauty captivated everyone… But one day, whether by accident or deliberate persecution, during a chemistry experiment class, the experimental equipment suddenly exploded, and the chemical gases and medicine destroyed her appearance.
From then on, Kisaragi High School lost a lofty flower and gained an existence ugly as an evil spirit. Everyone—those teachers, classmates, friends, and even lovers who once revolved around her—shunned Miyako, and some even began to tease and mock her relentlessly.
Miyako felt her dignity was completely lost and that the world had abandoned her. Finally, one day, she made a decision. During a class, in front of everyone, she said, ‘She wants to commit suicide, tonight at nine o’clock.’
Everyone was shocked, but whether out of guilt or indifference, no one responded to her. Even the teacher teaching at the time privately criticized her playing to the crowd behavior after class.
That night, after returning home, Miyako locked herself in her room, holding a knife in one hand and her mobile phone in the other. She called video call invitations one by one to her former friends in her contacts, but… no one answered her phone call.
In this way, Miyako’s corpse was discovered by her parents after they returned home from overtime. Her death was gruesome because she had painfully carved off her ugly face with the knife, ultimately dying from blood loss.
From then on, every once in a while, students on campus would receive a phone call from Miyako, seeing her appearance before death, and she would say she would come for them in seven days. The person who answered the call would be taken to hell by Miyako at the exact time the call was connected seven days later…”
Misaki Naomi took a deep breath, trying to calm her heartbeat: “That’s roughly the story.”
Listening to Misaki Naomi’s breathing, He Jia’an was silent for a long time before giving his opinion: “It’s a very clichéd story.”
“But it’s terrifying!” Misaki Naomi glared, very dissatisfied with He Jia’an’s suppressed laughing expression. “You’re the one who wanted to hear it, and why does Uncle want to know about this stuff so much? Everyone actually fears and avoids it.”
“To be honest, I am an investigator, though I’m on vacation.” He Jia’an said half-true, half-false words seriously.
Misaki Naomi was surprised and looked him up and down: “Who would’ve thought, Uncle, you’re actually that impressive?”
“So-so.” He Jia’an smiled. “So, if you have any troubles in these areas, I’ll try to help you.”
“So you’ve agreed to stay at my home?” Misaki Naomi said delightedly.
He Jia’an was stunned, feeling the shocking and unconventional gazes gradually focusing on him from the surroundings, and helplessly whispered: “…I mean, as a girl, are you really this unreserved?”
“Because I’m scared…” Misaki Naomi pouted, saying pitifully.
He Jia’an immediately narrowed his eyes. He didn’t expect this female high school student’s true nature to be the little demon type?
……
“Is it really okay?” He Jia’an was still hesitant. Although he had already prepared to abandon his face, honestly, moving so openly into a female high school student’s home made him feel his bottom line was being trampled, and he couldn’t help but want to back out.
“No problem, no problem, as long as you don’t do anything weird.” Misaki Naomi grinned generously, opened the door, turned on the light in the entrance hall, and invited He Jia’an in.
He Jia’an took a deep breath, knowing that if he didn’t man up and kept hesitating in front of a lone female high school student’s home, he would likely be seen by the neighbors, which would be even worse for the girl.
“Sorry to disturb.” He Jia’an entered Misaki Naomi’s home heavily.
Misaki Naomi gave He Jia’an a pair of slippers. While changing into slippers, He Jia’an looked around her home from the entrance hall: “Are you home alone today?”
“Not just today, but until the end of the month, it’s just me.” Misaki Naomi replied. She led He Jia’an to the living room, invited him to sit on the sofa in front of the television, and went to the refrigerator in the kitchen, asking, “Uncle, what would you like to drink? Juice okay?”
“Juice then, thanks.” He Jia’an said. Sitting on the sofa and looking around, he suddenly noticed the posthumous portrait on the shrine in the corner and walked over.
The posthumous portrait was of a beautiful woman whose eyebrows and eyes somewhat resembled Misaki Naomi’s, but her face shape and temperament were very different.
“This is my grandmother’s posthumous portrait. She didn’t like her aged appearance, so she specifically instructed us to use her best-looking photo from her youth for the memorial service after she died.” Misaki Naomi’s voice came from behind him. Misaki Naomi held a glass of juice in each hand and handed one to He Jia’an.
He Jia’an thanked her and took the juice. “Your grandmother was quite thoughtful.”
“I think so too.” Misaki Naomi understood what He Jia’an meant and smiled. “I’m thinking that after I die, I’ll instruct my descendants to use my most satisfactory photo from my youth for my memorial service.”
He Jia’an’s gaze glanced downward, noticing the female high school student’s constantly tense, floor-scratching toes, and he inadvertently stepped to the side away from her. “I’ll sleep in the living room tonight. Sorry to disturb.”
“Okay, I’ll go prepare for you.” Misaki Naomi nodded, placed the water cup on the coffee table, and hurriedly left.
Watching Misaki Naomi’s departing back, He Jia’an’s expression gradually became solemn. He seemed to see a pale hand growing from the back of her head, where her hair was black and thick.
