Supernatural Investigation 101: Chronicles Of Nakashima Wakana

The driver glances at the rearview mirror. The woman is staring out of the window, looking lost. She hasn't said a word. 

"Where do you want to go, Miss?" 

Where should she go? She doesn't want to go back to the hotel. Getting kicked out after two days is just… Wakana sighs, watching the lively city passing by her with an unfocused gaze. It's not the first time when someone told her that she didn't have what it takes to do the job. Her family told her the same. Her colleagues in the violent crime division also doubted her. Sei wasn't any different. 

She just didn't expect him to say that. She was excited that he was here. He was finally in front of her. Even if he didn't want to admit that it was him, she was looking forward to working with him. For the first time, she accepted herself. She wanted to make use of her ability.

Her heart becomes heavy. She turns on her phone, wondering if she should call Sei.

"Miss, you have to tell me where I should take you." The driver frowns at the rearview. "Do you want me to drive you around the city like this?"

Where to? Wakana closes her eyes. She can't let this go like this. That man thinks that she's not qualified. She will prove it to him that she's more than qualified. Doesn't he think that she's not mentally strong enough? 

"Okuyama Mansion on BM street."

***

Outside the hotel, Choi Minho lets out an exasperated sigh. He didn't expect her to care about his opinions so much. She must be depressed right now. Though she doesn't show it, he knows about her self-conscious and insecure thoughts about herself. Being the middle child, she is pitted between an overachiever older sister and a highly creative younger sister. She even blames herself for being odd.

"I am sorry." Choi Minho squeezes his eyes shut, feeling tired and regretful, "Forgive me for hurting you, Wakana. I don't want to see you turn into a monster."

Feeling something stir in his pocket. Furrowing his brows, Choi Minho creases his forehead as he takes out the tarot card from his coat pocket. 

Ten of swords again? Why now? He touches his left temple and closes his eyes, reaching out for her. He flinches when countless voices penetrate his mind. Looking around, he tries to find her voice. "Wakana."

Her presence is gone. Just vanished. She's not at the hotel. His heart is pounding against his c.h.e.s.t. Did she not come back here? Could she have already left the city? Choi Minho dials her number and listens to the ringing, folding and unfolding his fingers anxiously. The phone keeps ringing. 

She won't pick up his call. He takes a deep breath to calm himself. First of all, he must find her. Where could she have gone? Minami Sei would know. 

***

As he walks toward the doctor's room, Minami Sei observes the nurses in pink uniforms and some patients in blue robes passing by him. 

What was that call about? Something must have happened between Wakana and Choi Minho. He hasn't been able to talk to Choi Minho yet. 

He stops in front of the gastroenterologist's room. Nishimura Soichiro isn't here yet. It's not like he needs that lazy man to be with him. He can handle this alone. After knocking once, he pushes the door open. Inside the room, the gastroenterologist is sitting on the other side of the table and reading some papers. The doctor looks at Minami Sei, puzzled by the sudden arrival. The patients shouldn't be visiting right now.

"Doctor, I am sorry about coming to meet you without any notice." Minami Sei gives him a slight bow. "I am investigating the deaths in Okuyama family. Can I come in?"

"Yes, please," The doctor smiles at Minami Sei, "Come in."

He steps into the office, scanning the room for a few seconds out of habit. Minami Sei takes a seat in front of the doctor and returns his welcoming smile. "I won't take much of your time."

"It's alright." The doctor waves his hand. "I was quite surprised when I heard about the tragedy of the Okuyama family. I want to help the police as much as I can."

Minami Sei purses his lips and gives him a nod. The doctor seems friendly, but it is often a mask. "What was Okuyama Shun suffering from?"

"Ah…" The doctor frowns. He didn't expect that his first question would be about Okuyama Shun. "He had chronic pancreatitis. He used to come for treatment regularly. Suddenly, he stopped coming at all. After a few months, his brother came with the same symptoms. We ran the tests on him; however, there was nothing wrong with him. We recommended him to have a psychiatric check-up."

"A psychiatric check-up?" Minami Sei raises his brow. "Why is that?"

"There are instances when people suffer from phantom pain. I think that he was affected by his brother's death," The doctor explains to him. "I don't know why Okuyama Shun stopped his treatment suddenly. I am sure that he wanted to live a lot. He was a good man. But his father…"

"What about his father?" Minami Sei leans forward. 

"I was surprised when his father also came to the hospital." The doctor sighs. "It was the same with him though. But I didn't expect him to show phantom pain. I don't know much about the Okuyama family, but I think that he didn't have a good relationship with his sons."

Not a good relationship with sons? Okuyama Mikio shouldn't be an exception.  "Why do you think that, Doctor?"

"I saw him arguing with his second son when Shun was admitted to the hospital once," The doctor says to him with a quiet tone. "I didn't hear much, but they seemed to be arguing about money for Shun's treatment."

"Was there a financial issue?" Minami Sei ponders. The Okuyama family is one of the prominent families of this city. 

"As much as I know, Okuyama Shun used to work as a driver," The doctor reveals to him in a low voice. "There were times when he couldn't pay the dues. He was saving up for the surgery. I was surprised when I heard about his death." 

What could have happened? Minami Sei wrinkles his brows. Is this why Nishimura Soichiro asked him to look into Okuyama Shun's death? It's strange. Does Nishimura Soichiro and Choi Minho already know what's going on?

"I heard that Ms Okuyama was coming here with her son," He inquires. Nishimura Soichiro told him in the call earlier this morning. "Is Okuyama Mikio also showing the same symptoms?"

"Okuyama Mikio?" The doctor squints his eyes. "Is he also showing the same symptoms?"

So, they have never come here. Minami Sei stands up. The perpetrator is most likely from the Okuyama family. "Thank you for your cooperation, Doctor. I will take my leave."

As he is walking out of the office, his phone begins to vibrate. He sees Nishimura Soichiro chatting with a nurse. He clicks his tongue and takes the call. 

"This is Minami Sei. Who is this?"

[Is Nakashima Wakana with you?] Minami Sei hears Choi Minho's anxious voice. 

"No." Why is he… isn't she supposed to be with him? "Choi-san, she must be in the hotel."

[She's not at the hotel. You should call her. Inform me if you hear anything.]

The call disconnects right away. Minami Sei inhales the cold air. He taps on Wakana's contact. Rubbing the back of his neck, he paces around in the corridor. Why is she not picking up? He calls her again and again. "Damn it! Where are you, Wakana?"

Seeing Minami Sei in distress, Nishimura Soichiro walks to him. "What happened?"

"Wakana isn't picking up the call." He replies to him with a rushed tone, "Nishimura-sama, Choi-san also doesn't know where she is. I think that something happened to her."

"She must be at the hotel or somewhere else," Nishimura Soichiro says to him. Choi Minho must have informed her about her suspension. She could be sulking somewhere. "Don't worry about her. She is a grown woman. Let's go to Okuyama Mansion. We need to question the servants."

She's a little careless. But where she could have gone? She could have had another attack like last night. Minami Sei takes a breath. That idiot might have put her phone on silent mode and forgot about it. 

If there's a small chance that she is in danger, he can't stay still. "Nishimura-sama, I can't come with you right now. I will come to the Okuyama mansion with Wakana."

"Wait, where are you going?" Nishimura Soichiro yells after him. But Minami doesn't stop. He puts his hands on his h.i.p.s, watching the boy run away. "That's why dating should be prohibited."

In front of the Okuyama mansion, Nakashima Wakana takes off her gloves. She's going to prove to him that she is not a weak person.