Tokyo Medical University Hospital.
"Speaking of which, this is where Rikuo and I had our first formal interaction. It's quite memorable."
Sakiko arrived at the entrance of Tokyo Medical University Hospital, deciding to walk from the hospital to Rikuo's apartment.
"At that time, Rikuo first left the hospital, probably in this direction. Then he met my father, and if my guess is correct, also the first Anomaly."
Sakiko slowly walked along the road leading to the old apartment, paying close attention to the surrounding details.
"Speaking of which, Rikuo has never revealed the scene of his first encounter with an Anomaly. So I can only consider information from my father."
"The incorrect information provided by my father that can be excluded first is the part where he was attacked by thugs. That day, my father went out specifically to buy alcohol, so he wouldn't have passed the old apartment. So the farthest he could have gone was only to the nearby shops."
Sakiko observed the shops along the way, but because the old apartment was in a remote area, most of the nearby shops were closed.
However, Sakiko noticed a vending machine. It contained her father's favorite Asahi beer.
"This vending machine is the only place to buy things, so the place where my father and Rikuo met could only be here. Because the old apartment is in a different direction from the hospital and the train station."
Sakiko looked around, found no abnormalities, and recalled the cards Rikuo had acquired that she saw at the hospital the next day.
"2 of Hearts, Jack of Spades, and King of Spades. I remember now, Rikuo said that Anomalies activated by advanced Undead Cards would have an alternate dimension. So, no news reports and no signs of destruction make sense. However, because there are no traces, the only information this place can provide is this. Let's continue to the apartment!"
...
Sakiko walked to the ruins of Rikuo's old apartment, where a cordon had already been set up. But because the landlord wanted to preserve the traces of destruction, he did not hire anyone to clean it up.
Sakiko entered the apartment ruins, trying to match the layout of the apartment she once lived in from her memory to restore what Rikuo's apartment should have looked like.
"No! The traces of the explosion are wrong! If it was a gas leak, then the center of the explosion should be the kitchen! But the widespread traces on the ground are clearly centered in the bedroom."
Sakiko thought of the doll her mother left behind, which she also kept near where she rested.
"So, the source of the explosion was very likely the Joker's relic! It should be said, it was Rikuo's father's relic."
"Hey, little girl over there! What are you doing! The ruins of that apartment are private property!"
The patrolling Officer saw Sakiko lingering on the ruins and shouted as he ran over. Sakiko did not panic, but merely bowed slightly.
"Officer, hello, I am Togawa Sakiko, a former resident here."
"A former resident here? You look like a rich young lady, not like a resident of such a cheap apartment."
The Officer looked at Sakiko suspiciously. Sakiko simply took out her student ID and the key to the old apartment. Since the apartment was abandoned, the landlord, of course, would not take back the useless key, but the key had the corresponding apartment number.
The Officer looked at a piece of debris scattered nearby, which had a doorplate-like design (in Japan, every household has a doorplate with their surname written on it) with the surname Togawa written on it. He glanced at Sakiko's student ID and key.
"Well, I can confirm you are a resident, but if you need to investigate lost items. We have already sorted them into the consultation room next door, you can come here to retrieve them and any other items you need."
"Okay, thank you, Officer, I will go to the consultation room to look for them now."
"However, at this time, shouldn't you be attending Haneoka Academy? Why are you here to look for items at this hour?"
"Because it's related to a relative's relic, after I found it missing, I was afraid of losing it, so I immediately took leave and came over."
Sakiko didn't say whose relative it was, so it was fine.
"Is that so? Then you must have had a tough time."
The Officer's expression turned to one of concern, and he was about to continue comforting her. But looking at Sakiko's expression, it seemed she had already moved on from the death of her relative, so he decided not to bring up her sadness again.
...
Consultation room.
Sakiko's gaze scanned the lost items separated by frames drawn with a marker. There weren't many things among them. A shattered locker, a disintegrated refrigerator, and the only complete item among them: a fireproof safe.
'This safe, clearly, was something Rikuo didn't know existed. To be preserved completely, yet unknown to Rikuo, it can only have been left by his father.'
"Officer, may I open it?"
Sakiko pointed to the safe and asked the Officer beside her.
"This, ah, we can't open it either. It's unusually sturdy. Because we were afraid of damaging the items inside, we didn't use specialized tools, but ordinary tools couldn't even leave a mark on it. However, it has a password. If you are a resident, you should know the password, right? Did your relative not have time to leave it?"
Sakiko listened to the Officer's reply, knowing that this safe was very likely related to the Joker.
"Let me think."
Sakiko first responded to the Officer's question, then began to ponder the password-related issue.
'If it's a relic left for the only relative, then the password should be simple.'
Sakiko sent a message to Rikuo.
"Rikuo, can I ask what your birthday is? Don't ask me why I'm asking this question!"
...
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Rikuo was having lunch with Tomori in the Astronomy Club. Seeing the message from Sakiko, he put down his bread and immediately picked up his phone to reply.
Tomori looked at Rikuo curiously.
"Is that a message from Saki-chan?"
"Why does Tomori know?"
Tomori put her left index finger to her lips, looking at the ceiling and thinking before replying.
"Because if it were Anon-chan, Rikuo-kun wouldn't be so agitated, and with Anon-chan's personality, she would just run over. Soyo-chan has to eat with friends at Tsukinomori during lunch, so she wouldn't have time to send a message. Mutsumi-chan usually doesn't send messages proactively. As for Taki-chan, Rikuo-kun hasn't added her as a friend yet, right?"
Rikuo's mouth dropped open, showing an OoO expression.
"I thought it was psychic! This proves BanG Dream! really has a fantasy worldview. So, Tomori can actually deduce things?"
"Hmm, I've been reading some mystery books lately, because there have been a lot of Anomalies in the news recently, haven't there?"
"Yes, and only Anon and Nyamu seem to be completely unaware of anything at first."
"So, I want to strengthen my thinking ability, hoping to avoid some trouble. I also think that while I can't help with combat-related things, I still want to be able to help Rikuo-kun."
"Tomori, being so cute, has already helped a lot."
Tomori tilted her head, looking at Rikuo, unable to understand how being cute could help. Rikuo also replied to Sakiko's message first.
"My birthday is June 10. The one I like is Sakiko. Sakiko, just give yourself to me on my birthday."
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