In/Spectre (2020) s01e08 Episode Script
She Who Spins Fiction
1
The first time I met her, I knew instantly
She must've been Kuro-kun's first love.
She seems nice, Kuro.
This is my girlfriend and my senpai
in college, Yumihara Saki-san.
I-It's nice to meet you!
Well, I'll be at the café downstairs.
Huh?
I'd just be in the way here.
I just wanted to say hello.
So you can take your time, okay?
If you'll excuse me.
So she's Kuro-kun's
But it seemed like she was
silently
silently corrupting those around her.
That's how she seemed.
I heard Sakuragawa-san was taken to
the operating room again yesterday.
Really? She tried to kill herself again?
Maybe the rumor that she's tried to
kill herself multiple times is true.
I heard she doesn't have long to live.
She was tying you down.
But if going out with Iwanaga-san
will help you break free of that
I think it's a good thing,
despite feeling conflicted.
Saki-san, I do love Rikka-san,
and I might be tied down,
but I do sometimes wish she wasn't around.
That she wasn't around?
Didn't Rikka-san pass away?
Rikka-san hasn't passed away.
That's not possible.
Saki-san, Rikka-san is my cousin.
Don't tell me she's also a Sakuragawa.
I screwed up I screwed up so bad.
How could I create time for Kuro-senpai
and Saki-san to be alone together?!
What in the world happened?
Why are things so awkward now?!
Iwanaga.
This would be a good time
to replenish some nutrients.
It's about time for
Steel Lady Nanase to appear.
If I'm here,
the ayakashi that come to tell you about
Steel Lady Nanase might get scared.
Saki-san, I'll be waiting by the exit.
All right. Then I'll be in
the car with Iwanaga-san.
Saki-san just had someone
close to her get murdered,
and now she and Kuro-san,
who's such a kind person
They are a man and woman who
planned to get married at one point.
I was asleep for about an hour and a half.
You could do a lot in an hour and a half
And I mean a lot!
Iwanaga-san.
Have you ever met Rikka-san?
Yes, I have, but
The hospital where Rikka-san was admitted
was also where I was staying.
I see. So you know that she also ate
the flesh of a kudan and a mermaid.
Senpai mentioned that he
hadn't told Saki-san about
Rikka-san's condition
Is she trying to get me to spill something?
Oh, very well.
I do, because Rikka-san was
also feared by the monsters.
Though she and Kuro-senpai
haven't told me the details,
she was apparently hospitalized
long-term so that her body and
abilities could be examined.
Is that what it was?
How is she lately?
She was living in my mansion
up until a month ago.
What?
She was suddenly discharged
at the beginning of the year.
But why would she go to your house?
As his girlfriend, how could I possibly
let her and Kuro-senpai live together?
Rikka-san was discharged
due to the appointment of
a new hospital director and the
resulting change in political climate.
Because the hospital really didn't
know what to do with her, either.
I'm sure there were many who
were happy to see her go.
Sakuragawa Rikka-sama
And because of that, there were rumors
that Rikka-san didn't have long to live.
So what do you say? How do you feel
about leaving the hospital soon?
Do you really have to say it like that?
What if she resists?
Then she'll leave us no choice.
All right. I understand.
Thank you for all you've done for me.
I need to get my things together,
so could you call my cousin Kuro?
Rikka-san.
Given your rather sudden discharge,
do you have a place to stay?
Not yet.
What?
Let me stay at your place for a while.
You can't! My place is really small!
I can't?
I'll do the housework for you.
House work?
Welcome home, Kuro.
Your bath is ready.
Goodnight.
Did I say something strange?
No! But, I mean I only have one bed
Well, you do live on your own.
Wh-Which is exactly why
I know! I'll talk to Iwanaga about it.
Iwanaga's parents know a lot of people,
so they might be able to think of something.
You don't have to go through all that.
If I can't stay at your place,
I could always stay in a park
Iwanaga? There's something
I want to talk to you about.
Kuro-san! What is it? It's unusual
for you to turn to me for help.
You see—
Wait.
Allow me to charge you a consultation fee.
Really? The Goddess of Wisdom is
going to charge a consultation fee?
Indeed. Depending on the client,
I'd prefer favors or offerings over cash.
I won't be asking for much.
But this discussion might involve you, too
Kuro-san, where are you right now?
The special lecture you wanted to attend
at the university is happening right now.
Yet you're contacting me and
asking me for something.
This is no ordinary matter.
It is now 5:00 PM.
And that very familiar recording
I hear over the phone
You're at the hospital right now.
Which means that this has to do
with Rikka-san.
So I should be allowed to be
a bit forceful about this.
Fear not. I wouldn't ask
for anything too difficult.
Let's hear the conditions.
Let me have the spare key to your apartment.
Don't be ridiculous.
What's ridiculous about your
girlfriend asking for the spare key
to your apartment?!
It's not like I plan to do anything bad.
Wouldn't it be lovely to have your
girlfriend do your housework
and welcome you home?
House work?
Welcome home!
I didn't cut any corners preparing
your meals or your bed!
Bathing together! Bathing together!
Sleeping together! Sleeping together!
Kuro! I found a nice place to stay.
Huh?!
Steamy
Napping rooms available!!
Health Land
~The biggest bathhouse in the world~
Here it is.
Okay. I'll give you my key, so help me out.
This makes me so happy.
At last, I'm your common-law wife!
Yeah, no.
And so I went to pick them up immediately,
and Rikka-san left the hospital behind.
So, yes
We had plenty of vacant rooms
at my house, so I welcomed her.
I mean, she was a mysterious
patient who had been
in the hospital for five years.
So after she left, rumors spread
that she had passed away.
And those rumors somehow reached me?
In reality, she was doing rather well.
Rikka-san is quite beautiful
and very well-mannered,
so my aunt welcomed her with open arms.
So Rikka-san didn't hate you?
Why do you just assume she hated me?
When I first met Rikka-san
Kuro, I don't think she's
a good match for you.
I completely agree!
Huh?
That's cringe-worthy.
Yes. We all cringed.
Rikka-san even tried to remedy the situation.
I mean, she's not good for you,
but she might not be the
worst for you, either.
You actually made Rikka-san feel bad?
You bet I did.
After that, we made up, and occasionally
went out together without Kuro-senpai.
We would even throw birthday parties
for each other—with cake, of course!
Just the two of you?!
Happy birthday!
Thank you!
Yay!
Then what's she up to now?
You said she was at your place
until a month ago, right?
We don't know where she is right now.
Huh?
A month ago, she told my parents
that she had officially found
a job and a place to stay, and she left.
We couldn't contact her on her cell,
and the new address and workplace
she'd given us were fake.
What did Kuro-kun do after he heard that?
Senpai went berserk and pushed me down
Then, as if to vent his
frustrations, he forcefully
Answer the question seriously.
Nothing, at first. He just said that
Rikka-san probably had something in mind.
But two weeks later, he started trying
to get a hold of her repeatedly,
then he sent me a single
message and disappeared.
Kuro-senpai
no subject
Something came up. Don't look for me.
So, Saki-san, what's bothering you?
What did you and Senpai talk
about while I was asleep?
I guess it didn't take you long to realize that
Rikka-san was behind Steel Lady Nanase.
Kuro-kun didn't come here
because you called him.
He was looking for Rikka-san.
Something must've gotten them
to talk about Rikka-san.
Not that I really care that she found out.
So nothing happened between them.
I can relax, then.
Why did you hide it from me?
Because I didn't have any proof.
Even when she was at my place,
Rikka-san would mess with the computer,
but I never actually looked
at what she was doing.
I never would've thought that she was
creating a wiki page and bringing
Steel Lady Nanase to life.
And I didn't really know
about Steel Lady Nanase
until the monsters came to talk to me.
I only realized that Rikka-san
was involved when I saw
the picture on the wiki page I'd
found when doing some research.
Picture? You mean the picture
that's on the main page?
Yes, precisely.
It was painted in Rikka-san's style.
She Who Spins Fiction
I believe it was about a year ago
She suddenly became very
serious about painting.
Looking back on it now,
I believe Rikka-san intended to create
a monster of the
imagination even back then.
In order to consolidate
hundreds of thousands
of fantasies and give them a shared vision
of a monster, name and shape are key.
The most effective way would be to
illustrate the story with a picture.
When shown it, everyone would
have the same image in mind.
I'm sure Nanase Karin's accident
gave her the perfect material.
Though only known to some,
she was still an idol in the public eye.
Nanase Karin's True Form
She was involved in a dark scandal
and died a very dramatic death.
Add a ghost to the mix,
and it has ample opportunity to
evolve into a yokai or urban legend.
There might've already been rumors
of the ghost of Nanase Karin
appearing in Makurazaka City,
but the one who amplified them was Rikka-san.
I'm assuming the one who gave her
the name "Steel Lady Nanase"
and made up the accompanying
stories was also Rikka-san.
Kuro-senpai realized this, too.
While he was looking for Rikka-san,
he heard rumors about Steel Lady Nanase
and sensed something.
And after he saw the picture on
the Steel Lady Nanase wiki page,
he knew for sure, and so he came here.
Saki-san,
you're someone who decided to live
your life seeing only the real world.
What will you do now that you
know what lies in the shadows?
Kuro-senpai probably
didn't tell you because he didn't
want to further involve you in this.
I see.
Because Rikka-san, who has the
same kudan ability to control
the future that Kuro-kun does,
was pulling the strings,
Steel Lady Nanase was able
to mature this quickly.
That's very likely.
Rikka-san probably died over
and over to get the future where
people on the Internet wouldn't stop
talking about Steel Lady Nanase,
and came back to life.
But why would she do that?
What good comes out of creating a
monster that will kill indiscriminately?
She has the power to determine the future,
but it's actually not all that impressive.
Kuro-senpai says that, too.
He can only choose a future that's
within the scope of his own talents,
potential, and effort.
Meaning he's not that different
from a normal person.
But she successfully created a monster.
She's probably trying to find out
how far she can go with her
ability to decide the future.
She stacks possibility upon possibility
and chosen future upon chosen future.
If you take a phenomenon that has
a fifty-fifty chance of happening
and make it happen ten times in a row,
you get a phenomenon that only has
a 1 in 1,024 chance of happening.
You can toss a coin and have it come
up heads 10,000 times in a row.
Normally, Steel Lady Nanase would
have little chance of coming to life,
but she's one of those possible variations.
It's not like you can get
anywhere by creating a monster.
My lady.
That infernal Steel Lady has appeared.
Please come with us.
It's just a goblin cat.
There's no reason to be scared.
It's time to go, Saki-san.
Honestly
We'll put Rikka-san's goals aside for now
and concentrate on defeating
Steel Lady Nanase.
Whatever Rikka-san's goal may be,
it doesn't change anything.
This world is not uncertain.
It may be full of yokai,
monsters, spectres, and demons,
but there is reason that
cannot be overturned.
And it's my duty to protect that.
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:05
Steel Lady Nanase should appear at any moment
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:07
Any sightings yet?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:07
Any sightings yet?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:07
I wonder if someone else is going to die tonight
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:07 ID.aiupri
Any sightings yet?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:07 ID.xethk
I wonder if someone else is going to die tonight
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:08 ID.abyuuc87
I live in Makurazaka City. I want to go to the convenience store, but I'm scared to walk outside
Tonight
Yes. I need more.
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:07 ID.aiupri
Any sightings yet?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:07 ID.xethk
I wonder if someone else is going to die tonight
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:08 ID.abyuuc87
I live in Makurazaka City. I want to go to the convenience store, but I'm scared to walk outside
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:07 ID.aiupri
Any sightings yet?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:07 ID.xethk
I wonder if someone else is going to die tonight
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:08 ID.abyuuc87
I live in Makurazaka City. I want to go to the convenience store, but I'm scared to walk outside
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.ttw34
Steel Lady Nanase appeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:07 ID.xethk
I wonder if someone else is going to die tonight
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:08 ID.abyuuc87
I live in Makurazaka City. I want to go to the convenience store, but I'm scared to walk outside
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.ttw34
Steel Lady Nanase appeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:07 ID.xethk
I wonder if someone else is going to die tonight
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:08 ID.abyuuc87
I live in Makurazaka City. I want to go to the convenience store, but I'm scared to walk outside
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.ttw34
Steel Lady Nanase appeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.nhnpla
Where?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:08 ID.abyuuc87
I live in Makurazaka City. I want to go to the convenience store, but I'm scared to walk outside
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.ttw34
Steel Lady Nanase appeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.nhnpla
Where?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:08 ID.abyuuc87
I live in Makurazaka City. I want to go to the convenience store, but I'm scared to walk outside
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.ttw34
Steel Lady Nanase appeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.nhnpla
Where?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.32sfget
Hm? Nanase's here?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.ttw34
Steel Lady Nanase appeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.nhnpla
Where?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.32sfget
Hm? Nanase's here?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.ttw34
Steel Lady Nanase appeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.nhnpla
Where?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.32sfget
Hm? Nanase's here?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.nhnpla
Where?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.32sfget
Hm? Nanase's here?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.nhnpla
Where?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.32sfget
Hm? Nanase's here?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.nhnpla
Where?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.32sfget
Hm? Nanase's here?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.32sfget
Hm? Nanase's here?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.32sfget
Hm? Nanase's here?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.dwd34
Don't blame me if you get killed
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.32sfget
Hm? Nanase's here?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.32sfget
Hm? Nanase's here?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.32sfget
Hm? Nanase's here?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.32sfget
Hm? Nanase's here?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.ahedly65
Steel Lady Nanase, hurry up and appear
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.nhr5a
Like hell that's going to happen
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zerog7
Keep saying that and you'll get cursed to death
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.odwer
Pretty sure you'll get beat with a steel beam before getting cursed
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.tersq
I wonder if I'll end up faceless like that one detective if I get killed
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.jduyd
Yup, just like Nanase Karin
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.ejhghukuy
Anyone going to upload the footage of when Nanase Karin died?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.kecbhu
You really want to see that?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.etclq
Now if footage like that existed, that would curse you to death
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.fkowag54
Nanase Karin Nanase Karin
All right, Kuro-senpai.
I'm counting on you.
I'm counting on you, too, Iwanaga.
Here, we won't be bothered by anyone,
and he'll probably be able to
fight Steel Lady Nanase all night.
Just because he can come back to life,
it's not like I want to watch my boyfriend
get killed over and over all night.
I've connected to the wiki page.
F o r u m
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.dwd34
Don't blame me if you get killed
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.ahedly65
Steel Lady Nanase, hurry up and appear
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.ahedly65
Steel Lady Nanase, hurry up and appear
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.nhr5a
Like hell that's going to happen
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zerog7
Keep saying that and you'll get cursed to death
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.odwer
Pretty sure you'll get beat with a steel beam before getting cursed
The posts that had settled down for a
while are starting to pick up again.
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.nhr5a
Like hell that's going to happen
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zerog7
Keep saying that and you'll get cursed to death
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.odwer
Pretty sure you'll get beat with a steel beam before getting cursed
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.tersq
I wonder if I'll end up faceless like that one detective if I get killed
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.tersq
I wonder if I'll end up faceless like that one detective if I get killed
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.jduyd
Yup, just like Nanase Karin
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.ejhghukuy
Anyone going to upload the footage of when Nanase Karin died?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.kecbhu
You really want to see that?
Because of the incident with Detective Terada,
I'm sure people want more information
and want to say things.
If the one managing the site is Rikka-san,
couldn't she censor or
even delete your posts?
Rikka-san wouldn't do that.
If she censors or deletes any posts
concerning doubts about ghosts,
that'll give the impression that
the admin has some kind of
problem with those posts.
That'll get users to believe that these
posts are being censored or deleted
because the ghost doesn't actually exist.
That would be disadvantageous for someone
who wants Steel Lady Nanase to exist.
So she has no choice but to
leave all the posts alone.
I see. You mentioned that you
came up with four solutions.
But does it really just come down to numbers?
Sometimes, numbers are all you need
for lies to break through the truth
and create a new truth all together.
What's about to take place on
the Steel Lady Nanase wiki page
may resemble a committee to discuss
a proposed bill in a parliament,
board of directors, or board of trustees.
The matter up for discussion
is if there really is a ghost
named Steel Lady Nanase or not.
Rikka-san has already gained majority support,
and she has plenty of data
and a well-grounded argument
to support her existence.
So will I be able to somehow overturn
the majority opinion and win the vote?
This is where my true skills come in.
If she's already won the majority,
won't it be near impossible
to reverse the situation?
Yes.
If this was a normal parliament
or board of directors,
those with voting rights
would have formed alliances.
And there are too many risks in declaring
the opposite opinion at the last minute.
But the ones who have the voting
rights in this committee
Anon
are everyone viewing the site.
Anon
Tens of thousands of people who have
almost no relation to each other.
Nameless
Anonymous
Their opinions are everything.
So irresponsible judges who
have no idea they're involved.
That's scary in and of itself.
Correct.
But if you look at it another way,
it's because this assembly
bears no responsibility
that nothing will hold them back.
Not the law, justice, or even the truth.
Even if the solution is unjust or untrue,
as long as the majority
of the tens of thousands
of the site viewers support it, we win.
Nameless
Anon
If we present a plausible story
that fits with enough of the
facts and is interesting enough,
the masses will irresponsibly
support it and vote in our favor.
Which means anything goes
with this committee.
We can obscure and hide the
real data, call black "white,"
and present several contradicting answers.
As long as they seem reasonable at a
glance and are entertaining enough
Then we can turn fiction into fact.
We can actually get away with that here.
I will stop at nothing to win.
I will put everything I have into these lies.
The committee to conquer
Steel Lady Nanase is now in session!
To Be Continued
Preview
Does Steel Lady Nanase actually exist?
Or is she nothing more than an
urban legend that someone made up?
A battle of truth and lies is
about to begin over her existence.
Next time, "The Committee to
Conquer Steel Lady Nanase."
The first time I met her, I knew instantly
She must've been Kuro-kun's first love.
She seems nice, Kuro.
This is my girlfriend and my senpai
in college, Yumihara Saki-san.
I-It's nice to meet you!
Well, I'll be at the café downstairs.
Huh?
I'd just be in the way here.
I just wanted to say hello.
So you can take your time, okay?
If you'll excuse me.
So she's Kuro-kun's
But it seemed like she was
silently
silently corrupting those around her.
That's how she seemed.
I heard Sakuragawa-san was taken to
the operating room again yesterday.
Really? She tried to kill herself again?
Maybe the rumor that she's tried to
kill herself multiple times is true.
I heard she doesn't have long to live.
She was tying you down.
But if going out with Iwanaga-san
will help you break free of that
I think it's a good thing,
despite feeling conflicted.
Saki-san, I do love Rikka-san,
and I might be tied down,
but I do sometimes wish she wasn't around.
That she wasn't around?
Didn't Rikka-san pass away?
Rikka-san hasn't passed away.
That's not possible.
Saki-san, Rikka-san is my cousin.
Don't tell me she's also a Sakuragawa.
I screwed up I screwed up so bad.
How could I create time for Kuro-senpai
and Saki-san to be alone together?!
What in the world happened?
Why are things so awkward now?!
Iwanaga.
This would be a good time
to replenish some nutrients.
It's about time for
Steel Lady Nanase to appear.
If I'm here,
the ayakashi that come to tell you about
Steel Lady Nanase might get scared.
Saki-san, I'll be waiting by the exit.
All right. Then I'll be in
the car with Iwanaga-san.
Saki-san just had someone
close to her get murdered,
and now she and Kuro-san,
who's such a kind person
They are a man and woman who
planned to get married at one point.
I was asleep for about an hour and a half.
You could do a lot in an hour and a half
And I mean a lot!
Iwanaga-san.
Have you ever met Rikka-san?
Yes, I have, but
The hospital where Rikka-san was admitted
was also where I was staying.
I see. So you know that she also ate
the flesh of a kudan and a mermaid.
Senpai mentioned that he
hadn't told Saki-san about
Rikka-san's condition
Is she trying to get me to spill something?
Oh, very well.
I do, because Rikka-san was
also feared by the monsters.
Though she and Kuro-senpai
haven't told me the details,
she was apparently hospitalized
long-term so that her body and
abilities could be examined.
Is that what it was?
How is she lately?
She was living in my mansion
up until a month ago.
What?
She was suddenly discharged
at the beginning of the year.
But why would she go to your house?
As his girlfriend, how could I possibly
let her and Kuro-senpai live together?
Rikka-san was discharged
due to the appointment of
a new hospital director and the
resulting change in political climate.
Because the hospital really didn't
know what to do with her, either.
I'm sure there were many who
were happy to see her go.
Sakuragawa Rikka-sama
And because of that, there were rumors
that Rikka-san didn't have long to live.
So what do you say? How do you feel
about leaving the hospital soon?
Do you really have to say it like that?
What if she resists?
Then she'll leave us no choice.
All right. I understand.
Thank you for all you've done for me.
I need to get my things together,
so could you call my cousin Kuro?
Rikka-san.
Given your rather sudden discharge,
do you have a place to stay?
Not yet.
What?
Let me stay at your place for a while.
You can't! My place is really small!
I can't?
I'll do the housework for you.
House work?
Welcome home, Kuro.
Your bath is ready.
Goodnight.
Did I say something strange?
No! But, I mean I only have one bed
Well, you do live on your own.
Wh-Which is exactly why
I know! I'll talk to Iwanaga about it.
Iwanaga's parents know a lot of people,
so they might be able to think of something.
You don't have to go through all that.
If I can't stay at your place,
I could always stay in a park
Iwanaga? There's something
I want to talk to you about.
Kuro-san! What is it? It's unusual
for you to turn to me for help.
You see—
Wait.
Allow me to charge you a consultation fee.
Really? The Goddess of Wisdom is
going to charge a consultation fee?
Indeed. Depending on the client,
I'd prefer favors or offerings over cash.
I won't be asking for much.
But this discussion might involve you, too
Kuro-san, where are you right now?
The special lecture you wanted to attend
at the university is happening right now.
Yet you're contacting me and
asking me for something.
This is no ordinary matter.
It is now 5:00 PM.
And that very familiar recording
I hear over the phone
You're at the hospital right now.
Which means that this has to do
with Rikka-san.
So I should be allowed to be
a bit forceful about this.
Fear not. I wouldn't ask
for anything too difficult.
Let's hear the conditions.
Let me have the spare key to your apartment.
Don't be ridiculous.
What's ridiculous about your
girlfriend asking for the spare key
to your apartment?!
It's not like I plan to do anything bad.
Wouldn't it be lovely to have your
girlfriend do your housework
and welcome you home?
House work?
Welcome home!
I didn't cut any corners preparing
your meals or your bed!
Bathing together! Bathing together!
Sleeping together! Sleeping together!
Kuro! I found a nice place to stay.
Huh?!
Steamy
Napping rooms available!!
Health Land
~The biggest bathhouse in the world~
Here it is.
Okay. I'll give you my key, so help me out.
This makes me so happy.
At last, I'm your common-law wife!
Yeah, no.
And so I went to pick them up immediately,
and Rikka-san left the hospital behind.
So, yes
We had plenty of vacant rooms
at my house, so I welcomed her.
I mean, she was a mysterious
patient who had been
in the hospital for five years.
So after she left, rumors spread
that she had passed away.
And those rumors somehow reached me?
In reality, she was doing rather well.
Rikka-san is quite beautiful
and very well-mannered,
so my aunt welcomed her with open arms.
So Rikka-san didn't hate you?
Why do you just assume she hated me?
When I first met Rikka-san
Kuro, I don't think she's
a good match for you.
I completely agree!
Huh?
That's cringe-worthy.
Yes. We all cringed.
Rikka-san even tried to remedy the situation.
I mean, she's not good for you,
but she might not be the
worst for you, either.
You actually made Rikka-san feel bad?
You bet I did.
After that, we made up, and occasionally
went out together without Kuro-senpai.
We would even throw birthday parties
for each other—with cake, of course!
Just the two of you?!
Happy birthday!
Thank you!
Yay!
Then what's she up to now?
You said she was at your place
until a month ago, right?
We don't know where she is right now.
Huh?
A month ago, she told my parents
that she had officially found
a job and a place to stay, and she left.
We couldn't contact her on her cell,
and the new address and workplace
she'd given us were fake.
What did Kuro-kun do after he heard that?
Senpai went berserk and pushed me down
Then, as if to vent his
frustrations, he forcefully
Answer the question seriously.
Nothing, at first. He just said that
Rikka-san probably had something in mind.
But two weeks later, he started trying
to get a hold of her repeatedly,
then he sent me a single
message and disappeared.
Kuro-senpai
no subject
Something came up. Don't look for me.
So, Saki-san, what's bothering you?
What did you and Senpai talk
about while I was asleep?
I guess it didn't take you long to realize that
Rikka-san was behind Steel Lady Nanase.
Kuro-kun didn't come here
because you called him.
He was looking for Rikka-san.
Something must've gotten them
to talk about Rikka-san.
Not that I really care that she found out.
So nothing happened between them.
I can relax, then.
Why did you hide it from me?
Because I didn't have any proof.
Even when she was at my place,
Rikka-san would mess with the computer,
but I never actually looked
at what she was doing.
I never would've thought that she was
creating a wiki page and bringing
Steel Lady Nanase to life.
And I didn't really know
about Steel Lady Nanase
until the monsters came to talk to me.
I only realized that Rikka-san
was involved when I saw
the picture on the wiki page I'd
found when doing some research.
Picture? You mean the picture
that's on the main page?
Yes, precisely.
It was painted in Rikka-san's style.
She Who Spins Fiction
I believe it was about a year ago
She suddenly became very
serious about painting.
Looking back on it now,
I believe Rikka-san intended to create
a monster of the
imagination even back then.
In order to consolidate
hundreds of thousands
of fantasies and give them a shared vision
of a monster, name and shape are key.
The most effective way would be to
illustrate the story with a picture.
When shown it, everyone would
have the same image in mind.
I'm sure Nanase Karin's accident
gave her the perfect material.
Though only known to some,
she was still an idol in the public eye.
Nanase Karin's True Form
She was involved in a dark scandal
and died a very dramatic death.
Add a ghost to the mix,
and it has ample opportunity to
evolve into a yokai or urban legend.
There might've already been rumors
of the ghost of Nanase Karin
appearing in Makurazaka City,
but the one who amplified them was Rikka-san.
I'm assuming the one who gave her
the name "Steel Lady Nanase"
and made up the accompanying
stories was also Rikka-san.
Kuro-senpai realized this, too.
While he was looking for Rikka-san,
he heard rumors about Steel Lady Nanase
and sensed something.
And after he saw the picture on
the Steel Lady Nanase wiki page,
he knew for sure, and so he came here.
Saki-san,
you're someone who decided to live
your life seeing only the real world.
What will you do now that you
know what lies in the shadows?
Kuro-senpai probably
didn't tell you because he didn't
want to further involve you in this.
I see.
Because Rikka-san, who has the
same kudan ability to control
the future that Kuro-kun does,
was pulling the strings,
Steel Lady Nanase was able
to mature this quickly.
That's very likely.
Rikka-san probably died over
and over to get the future where
people on the Internet wouldn't stop
talking about Steel Lady Nanase,
and came back to life.
But why would she do that?
What good comes out of creating a
monster that will kill indiscriminately?
She has the power to determine the future,
but it's actually not all that impressive.
Kuro-senpai says that, too.
He can only choose a future that's
within the scope of his own talents,
potential, and effort.
Meaning he's not that different
from a normal person.
But she successfully created a monster.
She's probably trying to find out
how far she can go with her
ability to decide the future.
She stacks possibility upon possibility
and chosen future upon chosen future.
If you take a phenomenon that has
a fifty-fifty chance of happening
and make it happen ten times in a row,
you get a phenomenon that only has
a 1 in 1,024 chance of happening.
You can toss a coin and have it come
up heads 10,000 times in a row.
Normally, Steel Lady Nanase would
have little chance of coming to life,
but she's one of those possible variations.
It's not like you can get
anywhere by creating a monster.
My lady.
That infernal Steel Lady has appeared.
Please come with us.
It's just a goblin cat.
There's no reason to be scared.
It's time to go, Saki-san.
Honestly
We'll put Rikka-san's goals aside for now
and concentrate on defeating
Steel Lady Nanase.
Whatever Rikka-san's goal may be,
it doesn't change anything.
This world is not uncertain.
It may be full of yokai,
monsters, spectres, and demons,
but there is reason that
cannot be overturned.
And it's my duty to protect that.
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:05
Steel Lady Nanase should appear at any moment
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:07
Any sightings yet?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:07
Any sightings yet?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:07
I wonder if someone else is going to die tonight
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:07 ID.aiupri
Any sightings yet?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:07 ID.xethk
I wonder if someone else is going to die tonight
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:08 ID.abyuuc87
I live in Makurazaka City. I want to go to the convenience store, but I'm scared to walk outside
Tonight
Yes. I need more.
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:07 ID.aiupri
Any sightings yet?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:07 ID.xethk
I wonder if someone else is going to die tonight
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:08 ID.abyuuc87
I live in Makurazaka City. I want to go to the convenience store, but I'm scared to walk outside
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:07 ID.aiupri
Any sightings yet?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:07 ID.xethk
I wonder if someone else is going to die tonight
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:08 ID.abyuuc87
I live in Makurazaka City. I want to go to the convenience store, but I'm scared to walk outside
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.ttw34
Steel Lady Nanase appeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:07 ID.xethk
I wonder if someone else is going to die tonight
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:08 ID.abyuuc87
I live in Makurazaka City. I want to go to the convenience store, but I'm scared to walk outside
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.ttw34
Steel Lady Nanase appeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:07 ID.xethk
I wonder if someone else is going to die tonight
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:08 ID.abyuuc87
I live in Makurazaka City. I want to go to the convenience store, but I'm scared to walk outside
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.ttw34
Steel Lady Nanase appeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.nhnpla
Where?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:08 ID.abyuuc87
I live in Makurazaka City. I want to go to the convenience store, but I'm scared to walk outside
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.ttw34
Steel Lady Nanase appeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.nhnpla
Where?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:08 ID.abyuuc87
I live in Makurazaka City. I want to go to the convenience store, but I'm scared to walk outside
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.ttw34
Steel Lady Nanase appeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.nhnpla
Where?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.32sfget
Hm? Nanase's here?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.ttw34
Steel Lady Nanase appeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.nhnpla
Where?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.32sfget
Hm? Nanase's here?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.ttw34
Steel Lady Nanase appeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.nhnpla
Where?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.32sfget
Hm? Nanase's here?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.nhnpla
Where?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.32sfget
Hm? Nanase's here?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.nhnpla
Where?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.32sfget
Hm? Nanase's here?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.nhnpla
Where?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.32sfget
Hm? Nanase's here?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.32sfget
Hm? Nanase's here?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.32sfget
Hm? Nanase's here?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.dwd34
Don't blame me if you get killed
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.32sfget
Hm? Nanase's here?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.32sfget
Hm? Nanase's here?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.32sfget
Hm? Nanase's here?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.32sfget
Hm? Nanase's here?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.ahedly65
Steel Lady Nanase, hurry up and appear
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zsanrt
She was under the bridge. I was debating if I should get closer or not, and then she disappeared
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.nhr5a
Like hell that's going to happen
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zerog7
Keep saying that and you'll get cursed to death
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.odwer
Pretty sure you'll get beat with a steel beam before getting cursed
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.tersq
I wonder if I'll end up faceless like that one detective if I get killed
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.jduyd
Yup, just like Nanase Karin
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.ejhghukuy
Anyone going to upload the footage of when Nanase Karin died?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.kecbhu
You really want to see that?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.etclq
Now if footage like that existed, that would curse you to death
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.fkowag54
Nanase Karin Nanase Karin
All right, Kuro-senpai.
I'm counting on you.
I'm counting on you, too, Iwanaga.
Here, we won't be bothered by anyone,
and he'll probably be able to
fight Steel Lady Nanase all night.
Just because he can come back to life,
it's not like I want to watch my boyfriend
get killed over and over all night.
I've connected to the wiki page.
F o r u m
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.yj0712q
What the hell? At least catch her
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.dwd34
Don't blame me if you get killed
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.ahedly65
Steel Lady Nanase, hurry up and appear
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.ahedly65
Steel Lady Nanase, hurry up and appear
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.nhr5a
Like hell that's going to happen
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zerog7
Keep saying that and you'll get cursed to death
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.odwer
Pretty sure you'll get beat with a steel beam before getting cursed
The posts that had settled down for a
while are starting to pick up again.
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.nhr5a
Like hell that's going to happen
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:09 ID.zerog7
Keep saying that and you'll get cursed to death
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.odwer
Pretty sure you'll get beat with a steel beam before getting cursed
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.tersq
I wonder if I'll end up faceless like that one detective if I get killed
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.tersq
I wonder if I'll end up faceless like that one detective if I get killed
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.jduyd
Yup, just like Nanase Karin
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.ejhghukuy
Anyone going to upload the footage of when Nanase Karin died?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 22:10 ID.kecbhu
You really want to see that?
Because of the incident with Detective Terada,
I'm sure people want more information
and want to say things.
If the one managing the site is Rikka-san,
couldn't she censor or
even delete your posts?
Rikka-san wouldn't do that.
If she censors or deletes any posts
concerning doubts about ghosts,
that'll give the impression that
the admin has some kind of
problem with those posts.
That'll get users to believe that these
posts are being censored or deleted
because the ghost doesn't actually exist.
That would be disadvantageous for someone
who wants Steel Lady Nanase to exist.
So she has no choice but to
leave all the posts alone.
I see. You mentioned that you
came up with four solutions.
But does it really just come down to numbers?
Sometimes, numbers are all you need
for lies to break through the truth
and create a new truth all together.
What's about to take place on
the Steel Lady Nanase wiki page
may resemble a committee to discuss
a proposed bill in a parliament,
board of directors, or board of trustees.
The matter up for discussion
is if there really is a ghost
named Steel Lady Nanase or not.
Rikka-san has already gained majority support,
and she has plenty of data
and a well-grounded argument
to support her existence.
So will I be able to somehow overturn
the majority opinion and win the vote?
This is where my true skills come in.
If she's already won the majority,
won't it be near impossible
to reverse the situation?
Yes.
If this was a normal parliament
or board of directors,
those with voting rights
would have formed alliances.
And there are too many risks in declaring
the opposite opinion at the last minute.
But the ones who have the voting
rights in this committee
Anon
are everyone viewing the site.
Anon
Tens of thousands of people who have
almost no relation to each other.
Nameless
Anonymous
Their opinions are everything.
So irresponsible judges who
have no idea they're involved.
That's scary in and of itself.
Correct.
But if you look at it another way,
it's because this assembly
bears no responsibility
that nothing will hold them back.
Not the law, justice, or even the truth.
Even if the solution is unjust or untrue,
as long as the majority
of the tens of thousands
of the site viewers support it, we win.
Nameless
Anon
If we present a plausible story
that fits with enough of the
facts and is interesting enough,
the masses will irresponsibly
support it and vote in our favor.
Which means anything goes
with this committee.
We can obscure and hide the
real data, call black "white,"
and present several contradicting answers.
As long as they seem reasonable at a
glance and are entertaining enough
Then we can turn fiction into fact.
We can actually get away with that here.
I will stop at nothing to win.
I will put everything I have into these lies.
The committee to conquer
Steel Lady Nanase is now in session!
To Be Continued
Preview
Does Steel Lady Nanase actually exist?
Or is she nothing more than an
urban legend that someone made up?
A battle of truth and lies is
about to begin over her existence.
Next time, "The Committee to
Conquer Steel Lady Nanase."