6 Six

After the questioning was over, several police officers left. Su Yeming didn’t know how the case would conclude, but he felt fortunate to have narrowly escaped disaster.

Having taken the previous night off and now faced with this incident, Su Yeming had no mood to go out. He made a simple meal and then lay back down to rest.

Takigawa Makoto and Kobayashi had sent messages to check on him, and Su Yeming replied, offering them some comfort.

He slept until evening. When he awoke, rain was pouring heavily outside, accompanied by thunder and lightning that roared like a wild beast, as if proclaiming something ominous.

Glancing at his phone, he saw only two reminders about overdue utility bills. Stretching leisurely, Su Yeming relaxed considerably—catching up on sleep was indeed a blissful pleasure.

He fetched a bottle of milk from the refrigerator when a knock came at the door.

It should be the delivery, he thought. Judging by the time, it was about right. Holding the milk, he opened the door, but the bottle slipped from his grasp, spilling its contents on the floor. Yet Su Yeming paid no mind to the mess.

Standing there, drenched by the rain, was someone he should never have expected to see—Tsuji Sen Tomie.

The boy’s slender figure was soaked through—the school uniform clinging to his frame, the white shirt revealing the delicate contours beneath.

Raindrops traced down his refined, exquisite face, black hair plastered against his skin. His faintly pink lips curved into a slight smile, while his mesmerizing eyes, shrouded as if in mist, held an inscrutable mystery.

His exposed skin was pale and smooth, water droplets sliding slowly down the flawless surface.

Had this been anyone else, seeing such a drenched and alluring young boy at the door might have stirred improper thoughts. But inside stood Su Yeming, and outside stood Tsuji Sen Tomie.

Tsuji Sen Tomie—a victim who had been killed and dismembered, someone who should have been dead!

“What’s wrong, Teacher Su? Aren’t you going to invite me in? I’m soaked through, it’s freezing,” Tsuji said plaintively. Su Yeming wanted to refuse, but the eerie, chilling aura emanating from the thin boy silenced him.

With a faint chuckle, the boy pushed past Su Yeming and strode inside as if he belonged there, showing no sense of intrusion.

Su Yeming pressed his lips tightly and slowly closed the door. “I thought something had happened to you.”

The police wouldn’t joke about such matters. So what exactly was going on with the Tsuji before him? Was he a ghost?

***

Tsuji sneered, casting a disdainful glance at Su Yeming. “Just a fraud. Better off dead. Teacher Su, don’t waste your concern on those who don’t matter.”

The handsome boy waved a hand dismissively, glancing at his soaked clothes with some distaste. “I want a hot shower. Prepare a change of clothes for me.”

Without waiting for a response, he casually entered the bathroom, as if he were truly a member of the household.

Listening to the sound of running water, Su Yeming took a deep breath to steady himself. What was happening? Someone who was supposed to be dead suddenly appeared—and spoke strangely. What did he mean by “fraud”?

He dialed the number left by the police officer earlier that day, cautiously glancing toward the still running shower. “Officer Gōda, I’d like to ask about the case from today. Tsuji, he…”

“Oh, that case? It’s closed. It was mass hallucination caused by poisoning of their drinking water—likely the work of that underground organization. It’s a pity about Tsuji. Don’t worry, trust in our capability,” the officer replied before hanging up.

Su Yeming clenched his phone tightly. Hallucinogenic poison? In the water? But he had also drunk that water. And the officer’s words confirmed Tsuji was indeed dead.

A bitter smile tugged at Su Yeming’s lips. Then who was the one showering in the bathroom? Had he unknowingly stepped into a horror film rather than a spirited anime?

“Teacher Su, haven’t found clothes for me yet?” The water stopped running, and the boy’s cold, clear voice startled Su Yeming.

“Right away.” Su Yeming hurriedly fetched a fresh set of pajamas. Whether Tsuji was human or ghost, he showed no intention of harming him—for now.

He resolved to take things one step at a time.

Standing by the bathroom door, Su Yeming knocked gently. “I’ve left your clothes by the door.”

“No need. Just bring them in, Teacher Su. I didn’t lock the door.” The boy’s voice came from the bathroom, accompanied by the sound of water being stirred—he seemed to be soaking in the tub.

Su Yeming fell silent, unsure of what to say. Suddenly, he realized the situation with Tsuji was uncomfortably ambiguous.

Setting aside his own sexual orientation, a drenched, exquisitely beautiful boy, somewhat androgynous in appearance, arriving late at night and asking to come inside was already beyond normal social boundaries. Now, inviting him to bring clothes into the bathroom?

They were strangers who had met only twice. Such a lack of guard was hard for Su Yeming to accept.

***

In neon-lit Tokyo, many perversions lurked—not just among girls, but also among effeminate boys. And someone as beautiful and refined as Tsuji was no stranger to unwanted attention. Didn’t the people at the restaurant eye him with ill intent?

Yet Tsuji showed no awareness of danger, completely unaware of how to protect himself.

“No, you come get it yourself. I left it by the door,” Su Yeming said, placing the pajamas on a stool before stepping away. As an adult, he refused to shamelessly take advantage of a boy.

After Su Yeming left, the bathroom door slid open. Steam billowed out, enveloping the boy’s naked form. Water droplets traced down his pale skin—perfect, ambiguous, alluring, yet imbued with an indescribable eerie chill.

Tsuji’s eyes lingered on the neatly folded pajamas. A drop of water slipped from the tear mole at the corner of his eye. He chuckled and leisurely began to dress.

Su Yeming cleaned up the spilled milk before heading to the kitchen to prepare something to eat.

Dressed in Su Yeming’s oversized pajamas, Tsuji entered the kitchen. The sleeves and pant legs were rolled up several times to fit his slender frame.

Standing at the doorway, Tsuji appraised the kitchen with a discerning gaze. “I want caviar.”

Su Yeming looked at him. The homey, loose pajamas softened the boy’s eerie aura. Compared to the ghostly presence earlier, this was far more comforting.

“I don’t have any. Only omelet rice,” Su Yeming replied, taking out two eggs. Since Tsuji was asking for food, he must be hungry.

Tsuji pouted. “Poor Teacher Su, no caviar at all.” Su Yeming said nothing, pretending not to hear.

He had firsthand experience with Tsuji’s sharp tongue. At the restaurant, the boy’s words could be infuriating.

When Su Yeming ignored him, Tsuji fell silent. After scrutinizing the kitchen for a moment longer, he left. Su Yeming breathed a slight sigh of relief. Having Tsuji around was truly nerve-wracking.