Starfish Hotel

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Are you awake?

I had a nightmare.

It's those damned books of yours.

See you later.

See you.

Out soon! Jo Kuroda's latest mystery.

Light.

A light, I said.

Lost my lighter.

You think this writer's any good?

Have to wear this f***ing

costume to advertise it.

"Mr. Trickster"?

Load of crap if you ask me.

You work near here?

Yes, actually.

You're dressed for the part in that suit.

Civil servant? Nice house, nice wife,

kids in a good schooI I bet.

Well, we don't have any chiIdren.

You've got "pen-pusher" written

all over you.

Course, I used to have

a properjob before.

A wife and kid too, before

it all went down the shitter.

Now my daughter's whoring - at 19!

Makes you Iaugh, eh?

At least this hairy suit's

kept me off the streets.

Not that there's much difference.

Maybe the "Darkland" is all around us.

What do you think, pen-pusher?

You'll ruin your eyes working

in the dark.

What is it? A game?

My new client's buiIding.

Looks like a maze.

It's the concept - Iabyrinths and mazes.

What's the project?

A club.

What kind?

A risque one.

Sounds dodgy.

It's supposed to be "stimulating"

for couples.

I've got an invite after

it's all finished.

I wonder if I should go...

Don't talk rubbish...

Give me...the key...

I can't...

Open it...

Open what?

Broken contract...

Are you awake?

These too, pIease.

I'm back.

...four bodies were recovered

from the burnt-out house.

The bodies are believed to be those

of Mr. Nakajima, the owner,

his wife, Mariko, and

Mr. Nakajima's parents.

Police are investigating a link

between this fire...

...and 2 other recent arson cases

in Tokyo's Setagaya ward.

And that's the news for this evening.

Next we have an interview

with author Jo Kuroda.

Today I'm visiting a hotel

in the mountains of Tohoku...

...owned by Iwaki Publishing.

The hotel is often used by writers.

Also here today is the popular

mystery author Jo Kuroda.

Tell us a bit about your new book,

but don't give too much away!

Well, it doesn't stray far from

the themes in my other books.

So we can expect an appearance

from "Mr. Trickster"?

You certainIy can.

And will the mystery of "DarkIand"

become any clearer?

I think that'll be up to the reader.

How does the story begin this time?

As always, it starts with

the disappearance of a woman...

Chisato!

Chisato! Open the door!

Chisato...Chisato!

Hello, Kimura Architecture.

Hello, is Chisato Arisu there?

May I ask who's calling?

This is her husband.

I see - please hold the line.

I'm sorry. Chisato didn't come

into work today.

Thank you.

A train at night...a silent hospital.

A deserted park...a railway siding.

Common or garden, nondescript places.

Ambiguous, forgotten spaces.

Perfect for the purpose of writing.

I wouldn't know where to begin...

Everyone has a story to tell.

Once upon a time...

No, it wasn't once upon a time...

It was...

Two years ago...

Good evening.

I'm Arisu - I booked last week.

Very good, sir.

"NecropoIis" by Jo Kuroda

Strange, isn't it.

When I read his books I get drawn

into his world.

Do you like Jo Kuroda's books?

Yes...

I like the way they're a little twisted.

I can read them over and over.

Are you a mystery geek?

I'm not sure what constitutes a geek.

Well, maybe not a geek...

But a little twisted...

a touch warped, perhaps?

Yes?

A woman disappears...

the story has begun.

There is more than one riddle...

One is "Where did she go?"

The other is "Why did she disappear?"

You have to retrace your steps

to find what you've Iost.

What are you chasing?

It's like when a hunter is

stalking an animal.

The forest is dark and still...

Sooner or later the hunter

begins to realize...

That he is no longer the hunter...

he is the prey...

My parents died when I was young.

My uncle raised me...

He left me some land in his will

but I don't want it.

I don't want to stay here.

Meticulous...

Hey

People in your line of work

must be meticulous.

I wonder...

Meticulous - that's

why you like mysteries.

You wanted to be a writer.

Am I right?

Why did you give up?

I had no imagination.

I can't believe that.

What kind of place do you think

the "Darkland" is?

I sometimes see a place like

that in my dreams.

In dreams...?

Awful dreams -

when I'm there, I'm dead.

And everyone from this world is

there in the "Darkland".

There's no one left in this world -

no one at all.

I hope I can sleep.

I might have a nightmare -

I can't get that book off my mind.

If I scream, will you come to me?

I haven't screamed yet.

Three days ago, you say?

Yes, and she hasn't contacted her

parents or her sister either.

I asked some of her friends too, but...

What about work?

Of course - she works in

an architect's office.

But she hasn't been there either.

Has this ever happened before?

It's the first time I've not been

able to contact her.

Ninety percent of these cases are

because of domestic problems...

Caller unknown.

Hello.

Hello.

Do you remember me?

Yeah...

Tomorrow...

Can we meet at that hotel?

It's short notice.

I can't.

Do you feel like going

somewhere tomorrow?

It's supposed to be fine.

I have to go to Tohoku

on business again.

I thought you'd finished that.

Something came up - I have to go.

Can't it wait until Monday?

They keep changing the schedule.

I have to follow it to the letter.

Your company is so backward.

And you're just another cog

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