Scariest Face in the World 1

Section

Side quests

Quest

Scariest Face in the World

Lines

126

Hiroko SagisakaThe client is a grade-schooler named Kurumi. She contacted me via e-mail.

Hiroko SagisakaI've only read the subject. You're here just in time to look at the rest with me.

Hiroko SagisakaSo the subject is... "Instructor Miura from school has disappeared."

PlayerSo her teacher went missing.

PlayerYou mean THAT Mr. Miura?!

PlayerI need to take care of something else first.

Hiroko SagisakaJudging from that opening, yeah, I'd assume so. But it sounds like there's more to it.

Hiroko SagisakaOh, shut up. Like you even know! This is serious, so no more jokes.

Hiroko SagisakaThis case sounds like a long one, so if you've got something to do, do it now.

Hiroko SagisakaFinished your business? Can we read that e-mail from Kurumi now?

PlayerOkay.

PlayerNot yet.

Hiroko SagisakaWell, come back when you've got time. I'd like to help out Kurumi sooner than later.

Hiroko SagisakaOkay, I'll read the e-mail then. There's some important stuff in here, so pay attention.

Hiroko SagisakaLet's see... "Hello. I go to an elementary school in the city."

Hiroko Sagisaka"At my school, there's a famous ghost story that everyone knows."

Hiroko Sagisaka"The story is called 'The Scariest Face in the World.'"

Hiroko Sagisaka"There's a book in the library that we're not supposed to read."
"The book is all red, so it's creepy and hard to miss."

Hiroko Sagisaka"They say if you read even one page... you won't be able to stop reading the book."

Hiroko Sagisaka"As soon as you read to the end... you feel something tap your back from behind..."

Hiroko Sagisaka"And then when you turn around, you see the scariest face in the world."

PlayerSomeone was just trying to get their attention.

PlayerSo it's a monster?

PlayerProbably just library closing time.

Hiroko SagisakaSo you'd think... but there's more.

Hiroko SagisakaCan't say for sure just yet. Let's read a bit more.

Hiroko SagisakaThe librarian?! Yeah, right! Stop interrupting and just listen to the rest!

Hiroko Sagisaka"This story made lots of kids too scared to go near the library. I was scared, too."

Hiroko Sagisaka"One day, our teacher Saburo Miura heard the story and got mad."
"He said, 'Don't stop reading because of a stupid rumor!'"

Hiroko Sagisaka"He said he'd prove it was just talk and started reading the book in front of us."

PlayerI'm with the teacher.

PlayerDid he read the book out loud?

PlayerThere's something suspicious going on...

Hiroko SagisakaYeah, kids should use the library... Anyway, it seems the teacher read the book aloud.

Hiroko SagisakaSeems that way. He started reading it in a big, loud voice.

Hiroko Sagisaka...Yeah, I kinda thought that, too. But I also get how the teacher felt.

Hiroko Sagisaka"...So Mr. Miura started to read the book." "'My name is Saburo. I'm an only child, but Saburo means third-born.'"

Hiroko Sagisaka"As soon as he read that line, Mr. Miura's face changed." "But he quickly got it under control and started reading again."

Hiroko Sagisaka"'I was sent to live with my grandmother, and I couldn't really make any friends...'"

Hiroko Sagisaka"'Wh-When I was seven, my grandmother bought me a soccer ball. It b-became my friend.'"

Hiroko Sagisaka"Mr. Miura went quiet after reading up to that point. Then he left the room."

Hiroko Sagisaka"He didn't come back, so as class rep I went to find him in the faculty room."

Hiroko Sagisaka"Mr. Miura was reading the red book intently." "When another teacher tried to talk to him, this is what he said:"

Hiroko Sagisaka"'Class doesn't matter. I h-have to read this book. I must!'"

Hiroko Sagisaka"'The main character Saburo went to live with his grandmother and didn't have friends...'" "'...so he played soccer alone.'"

Hiroko Sagisaka"'He played soccer like it was all that mattered.'" "'But at his final high school tournament, he missed a penalty kick and quit.'"

Hiroko Sagisaka"'Then I focused on my studies. I got my teaching certification...'"
"'...and I, no, Saburo, became a teacher.'"

Hiroko Sagisaka"It all matches, you see. This is about me! And if I don't read to the end, I... I...!"

Hiroko Sagisaka"Mr. Miura then ran out of the school with the book. He never came back after that."

Hiroko SagisakaKurumi says there have been sightings of Mr. Miura at Shinjuku Park.

Hiroko SagisakaThe witnesses say he was reading a book on a bench like a man possessed. That's the last anybody's seen of him.

PlayerLet's go check Shinjuku Park.

PlayerWanna ask around?

PlayerIt's a made-up story, isn't it?

Hiroko SagisakaHmm... Can we hold off on that for a bit? I have an idea.

Hiroko SagisakaNo need. Kurumi already poked around a bunch and put everything she found in the e-mail.

Hiroko Sagisaka...The Twilight Zo— Hey, now isn't the time! I believe Kurumi, so I'll go and investigate!

Hiroko SagisakaThere's something I wanna look into, so you just hang tight here for a bit.

Hiroko SagisakaI'll be back in touch if I find out anything. Take a load off while you wait.

Hiroko SagisakaOkay, I'm stepping out for a while. See ya later!

Hiroko SagisakaLooks like this is the bench from the report. There's a red book on it...

Hiroko SagisakaI think... I have to read it. If my hunch is correct, I should be fine...

Hiroko Sagisaka"My name is Hiroko Sagisaka. I'm trying to become a top-level streamer."

Hiroko SagisakaThis... isn't about Mr. Miura. Am I the main character...?

Hiroko Sagisaka...Whoa! How many hours have passed? I have to get back... I must get back, but...

Hiroko SagisakaI can't tear my eyes away from this book... I have to read more... to the very end...

Hiroko SagisakaJ-Just one more page... "I headed to Shinjuku Park for a case..."

Hiroko Sagisaka"...then started reading a red book I found on a bench..."

Hiroko Sagisaka...!

OperatorSeems like break time is over. I tracked Hiroko's movements just in case, but something's off.

OperatorShe spent some time in Shinjuku Park, then went into the sewers and vanished. I recommend going to help her immediately.

OperatorThis is around the spot where Hiroko's signal vanished.

OperatorI imagine Hiroko entered the In-Between here. You should investigate when you're ready.

OperatorAs suspected, I'm picking Hiroko's signal up further in. Continue on this course.

WendigomonKehehe... Be afraid! Be more afraid. More, more!

PlayerSo you're the one behind all of this.

PlayerWhy a red book?

PlayerYour face is scary.

WendigomonI made the red book. If that's what you mean, then, yeah, I'm behind it all.

WendigomonKehehe... Seems you've figured out that I'm the one who made the book.

WendigomonAs if that would bother me. In fact, I take it as a compliment.

WendigomonAll the humans who read the red book got scared, just as I planned.

WendigomonSeeing their faces twist in terror when they read about themselves was most excellent.

WendigomonAnd... once their fear was at its peak, I showed them the scariest face ever.

PlayerYes, that might be scary.

PlayerWhy are you doing this?

PlayerI-I'm not afraid...

WendigomonOf course it is. You seem to be worth scaring, too.

WendigomonTo scare people. Why else?

WendigomonKehehe. Your voice is trembling. I know you're actually afraid.

WendigomonI can harvest superior energy from humans who are at the utmost limits of terror.

WendigomonAll my victims have offered up their fear readily. Things couldn't be going smoother.

WendigomonSo... don't get in my way. Begone, pest!

Hiroko SagisakaNgh... Ouch. Probably hit my head when I fell...

Hiroko SagisakaOh, you must've saved me! But you could've gotten here a little sooner, you know.

PlayerSorry to have kept you waiting.

PlayerDid you let yourself get caught?

PlayerI've got a scary face to show you.

Hiroko SagisakaHehe. Well, awesome work. You must've picked up on my idea.

Hiroko SagisakaHehe. Bingo. I figured that would be the quickest solution.

Hiroko SagisakaWhat's with the weird face? You look ridiculous.

Hiroko SagisakaI realized that simply finding the missing teacher wouldn't get to the bottom of things.

Hiroko SagisakaWe were going to need another viewpoint to learn the truth.

Hiroko SagisakaThat's why I decided to read the book myself. Because I was sure you'd come looking for me.

PlayerWish you would've told me first.

PlayerBut you were curious, too, right?

PlayerI had no idea...

Hiroko SagisakaYeah, I know. Sorry 'bout that. I didn't expect to find the book just laying there.

Hiroko SagisakaWell, yeah. I mean, if the mysterious book is right there, you're gonna read it, right?

Hiroko SagisakaWhat? You didn't catch on? You came here purely by coincidence? Guess I lucked out...

Hiroko SagisakaOh, there are several unconscious people trapped here, the others who read the book.

Hiroko SagisakaI'm sure Kurumi's teacher, Mr. Miura, must be one of them.

Hiroko SagisakaWe don't want them waking up here, so let's get them outside.

KurumiAre you okay, Mr. Miura?

Instructor MiuraYes. Sorry for worrying you. I'm still a little dizzy, but I'll be fine.

Instructor MiuraI didn't think I was so unwell that I'd pass out. Thank you for your assistance.

Hiroko SagisakaWe just happened to be passing by and heard this little girl calling for help.

Hiroko SagisakaWe didn't really do anything, so don't worry. More importantly, you should go get rest.

Instructor MiuraI suppose I'll be on my way. For some reason, it feels like I haven't been home in a while.

KurumiThank you so much for saving Mr. Miura!

Hiroko SagisakaNo problem. Actually, thank YOU for the amazing material.

Hiroko SagisakaBe careful on your way home. Don't go reading any strange books!

KurumiOkay! Bye-bye!

Hiroko SagisakaLooks like Mr. Miura and all the other victims have headed home safely.

Hiroko SagisakaWhew, I'm kinda beat... Think I'll call it a day.

Hiroko SagisakaOh, here. I found this when I was trapped. I'm sure you'll be able to put it to use.