Fujioka
What should we do?
It's such an ill-fated thing.
Shouldn't we just get rid of it?
Maybe it is cursed, after all.
The Fourth Bone The Cursed Man, Part 1
A Story Dedicated to Those Trapped by the Past
It's not even winter yet. Why are we stocking up?
No harm can come of helping your parents once in a while, right?
My blood pressure's been higher than normal. Maybe because the summer's been cold.
Huh?
You have high blood pressure?
Everyone's health starts to decline with age.
Well, you can be more careful, if you're already aware of it.
Hmm...
What?
I didn't expect you to say something like that.
It's like you're a doctor or something.
What's wrong with a son being worried about his mother?
Of course I want you to live a long life.
Don't you worry about me.
I'll live long enough to give New Year's money to my grandkids.
Darn, I thought it might rain!
Let's hurry.
A long life, huh?
Hurry up, Shoutarou!
Maybe because I lost my dad early,
I can't help but feel a bit nervous about this sort of thing.
Huh?
Officer Utsumi
Utsumi-san?
Sorry to bug you like this!
I just felt that if I asked her directly,
she'd just say, "That's absurd," and turn me down.
So what did you want to ask Sakurako-san?
My friend started saying he's going to die soon.
I thought maybe he was sick or something, but that wasn't the case.
Is he in some kind of trouble?
Well, actually...
I hesitate to say it,
but he says it's a curse.
A curse?
My friend's name is Fujioka.
Apparently, all the men in his family have died prematurely.
Prematurely?
His dad died in his thirties,
and his uncle suddenly passed away right before he reached fifty.
So he's terrified that he'll be next.
A curse, huh?
That's absurd.
I thought you might say that.
When coincidences overlap more than once,
people start talking about fate and other such nonsense.
But as long as the probability isn't zero,
by necessity, anything can happen.
Fate, as a concept, is the epitome of stupidity.
But, Sakurako-san, I'm not sure you should be so quick to dismiss it.
No, I agree.
Huh?
To be honest, I'm not a complete skeptic,
but I don't want to believe it.
I don't want him to think he'll die because of that.
That's why I want you to tell him, like you just told us!
Tell him curses aren't real, and he's reading too much into things.
Fujioka has a family. A newborn baby, too.
A father shouldn't be saying things like that.
He just shouldn't!
I'm asking you to do this, too!
Please do Utsumi-san this favor!
Please!
I'm really sorry for making such a strange request!
Today isn't the first time you've shown up out of the blue
and thrown off my schedule.
That's true.
I'm sorry.
When we talked about it before, he was so serious.
I mean, Kujou-san, you're beautiful and smart.
You'd make even a good detective tremble.
Remember that case—
I'll persuade him for you,
but as soon as I'm done, I'm going home.
Oh, one more thing.
Huh?
There's something more?
Well, it's even stranger...
Or should I say even more unrealistic?
So...
Must you always beat around the bush?
Keep it to the important facts!
Well, so... There's this dog.
Huh?
Like I said, a dog.
A cursed dog.
A dog?
The dog my friend, Fujioka, took in
is apparently cursed.
He's been passed around among the relatives.
But, well...
All of his owners die.
Th-That's got to be a coincidence.
He even looks like Hell's watchdog, all big and scary...
Hell's watchdog?
What's wrong?
We won't be able to get around that.
Why is it parked here?
We'll lose a bit of time,
but I think there was a detour a while back.
So about that dog...
The relatives are thinking about having him euthanized at an animal control center,
since he's not very friendly and they find him creepy.
That's horrible!
That's what he thought, too. That's why he took the dog.
Huh?
If it was his choice to take the dog, why would he talk about a curse?
Well, you see...
The supposedly unfriendly dog suddenly warmed up to Fujioka.
Shouldn't he be happy about that?
Well, the previous owner, his uncle,
also said the dog suddenly warmed up to him.
Right before he passed away.
That does sound grim, but...
Oh, I think that's their house up ahead.
You think?
Is this your first time here?
Yes...
The other day was the first time I've seen him since middle school.
Oh, that's it.
It's a big house... And new, too.
Fujioka's from a pretty well-off family in Kanto.
When he was in middle school,
he was here for a time because of his dad's work and for his asthma treatment.
So that's why you hadn't seen him since then.
Even after they left, they couldn't forget Hokkaido,
so they closed their company in Tokyo to come back.
They closed their company?
They seem to be doing well enough with stock trades now.
Some people just excel at everything they do...
A custom-built home, huh?
What?
It might be because of all the talk of curses,
but it seems a little gloomy.
Did they really have to choose a home like this?
No, that isn't the case, boy.
Huh?
Hey.
Fujioka!
Thanks for coming all this way in the rain.
Wow, you've got a huge house!
Is the day trading business that lucrative?
Well, we've just been lucky.
And who'd you bring along?
My friends, Kujou-san and Shoutarou-kun.
It may sound odd, but they're kind of in the detective business.
Detective?
Welcome.
Sakurako-san!
Hector!
Hey, cut it out, Hector!
I'm sorry.
He isn't normally like this.
He really seems to like you.
I'm sorry.
I guess things other than bones can like you, too.
Quiet!
He's a cute doggy.
Hector, huh?
He has the same name as Souseki's pet dog.
You know of him?
The dog was named after Prince Hector of Troy, from The Iliad.
He's considered one of the Nine Worthies, and is a celebrated hero to this day.
The diamond on his collar must symbolize that.
He loved Natsume Souseki... My uncle, his previous owner, that is.
His owner?
W-Wait, you mean this is the dog that's...
The cursed dog?
He doesn't look like Hell's watchdog at all.
He's more than scary enough!
How can you not like dogs, when you're a cop?
Even cops hate some things!
I don't want to believe it, either,
but it's an undeniable fact that all of Hector's owners have died.
Oh, that painting was a gift from the appraiser who evaluated
an old painting of Dad's that I inherited.
I don't really get art...
Actually, when we were torn over whether to move to Hokkaido,
the same man referred us to this property, which we secured for very good terms.
It's a Lethe diana.
Butterflies are, by and large, thought to subsist on nectar.
But that isn't necessarily the case.
This butterfly likes corpses.
Corpses...
Hey, a fireplace!
Is that real?
Yeah, I've always wanted one.
I decided that if I ever moved to Hokkaido, I'd get one.
Do you still use it?
It's been cold and rainy this year.
So we do use it occasionally.
Thank you.
Does your husband chop firewood?
Yes, we have a rule that he must chop five logs
for every cigarette he smokes.
Ever since I failed at quitting,
I smoke in the garden once in a while.
Smoking isn't allowed in the house.
If I don't do at least that,
I get a bit despondent.
I must say,
he really likes you.
He doesn't act this way even around us.
But I heard he recently warmed up to you.
Well, it's more like he's watching me.
I suddenly find him behind me,
as though he's been staring at me for some time.
That's scary, for sure.
Do you take milk and sugar?
Milk for me, please.
I don't need any.
I'm fine with water.
Oh? But, um...
Sakurako-san doesn't like coffee.
Shall I make some tea, then?
No, she won't have tea, either, unless it's with something sweet.
She has a child's tastes.
Right?
Yes.
Oh, we have some apples we received as gifts.
Shall I make apple juice?
No, that's not necessary.
We have a great juicer that my husband bought,
saying it was for our child.
It'd be a waste not to use it.
Then I'll help you.
Oh, I can't ask that of a guest.
I'm used to helping out in other people's homes.
Oh?
Is it a girl?
Yes.
She was born right after we moved here.
Thank you. That went very quickly.
I'm actually really into home appliances.
I wanted to see this great juicer of yours.
They say you're detectives of some kind.
Are you the assistant?
U-Um, yeah, something like that.
To tell you the truth,
I don't really believe in the curse, either.
But only Utsumi-san and you two were worried enough about him
to come here like this...
We'll do our best to help reassure him.
Oh, so you're the one who decorated in here?
Well, the house is black and gloomy, right?
Yeah...
Er, no, I didn't mean...
It's all right.
I decided we should at least have a colorful interior.
It's my little rebellion.
But that's what I believe!
C-Calm down!
It's not that we don't believe you.
But public opinion would say...
C'mon, okay?
Today is my thirty-sixth birthday.
That's the age my dad was when he died, too.
But there's nothing physically wrong with you, right?
That's right.
He had a complete physical two months ago,
but they only said his liver's under a bit of stress.
The same can be said for me.
You just have to cut back on alcohol.
This isn't a joke!
R-Right...
Dad was the type that never got sick, but he suddenly died!
My uncle, who owned Hector before me, was also healthy.
But his health suddenly plummeted, and he died!
Anyway, I've made preparations for that eventuality.
I appreciate your concern, Utsumi, but...
This is simply absurd.
Sakurako-san!
Your speculations have no basis.
They do.
Oh?
This is a list of family members who died young.
It only goes back for three generations,
but I've looked into everything. Age at the time of death,
illnesses, and any preexisting conditions.
They suffered from a wide range of maladies.
I can't speak for deaths far in the past,
but there were many who died young,
even in my father's and grandfather's generations.
Can you still say I'm reading too much into it?
If this is an unavoidable fate, I'll go out gracefully.
I'll just make arrangements to ensure that my wife and daughter can live comfortably.
Fujioka...
Utsumi, do you remember when we saw each other again?
Huh? Yeah.
Fujioka!
You're Fujioka, right?
Utsumi?
Yeah! Long time, no see!
When did you move here?
You became a cop?
That was only two months ago.
Of course I remember.
I laughed at first when I learned that you'd become a cop,
but now, I know it's the perfect job for you.
You're a guy people can rely on in times of need.
Where's this coming from?
So when the time comes, I want you to help my wife and daughter.
Please protect them for me.
I may talk big, but I'm not that reliable.
You shouldn't count on me—
I'm being serious, Utsumi!
S-Sure, I'll try to help, if it comes to that.
I came here today because you called me.
But protecting them is your responsibility, you know?
And I'm asking you because I won't be able to do that!
I'm stepping out for a bit.
Huh?
Where are you going?
I'm just going to pick up a cake we ordered.
I'll be right back.
Cake?
Oh, for your birthday!
Not that I feel like celebrating...
But she wouldn't hear otherwise.
Of course not.
Sorry, Utsumi.
Anyway, let's celebrate your birthday, okay?
Let's have a blast!
Sure.
He really seems to like you.
I don't believe in any curse,
but there is something that scares me...
Scares you?
The uncle who passed away was a loner.
When his body was found,
at least one week had already passed.
Maybe it's because he stayed by his body the whole time,
but now, he seems to like dead animals.
H-He eats them?
No, not that.
But he'll run off during his walks,
and we'll find him with a dead bird.
Oh, now I understand...
I heard another of his owners also died.
Yes, just after he was born,
there was a fire in the household his mother belonged to.
He happened to be at the vet due to enteritis, and was the sole survivor.
Maybe because of that,
I can't help but think that he can smell death.
Then you should just find a different owner.
The dog was one thing, but...
There's something else?
I don't think he had to take the cursed painting on top of that.
Cursed painting?
He didn't tell you about it?
W-We'd heard that he inherited a painting, but...
That's it.
It's just a landscape painting, though.
What kind of painting is it?
It's your typical forest painting.
But I still find it a bit creepy,
so I asked my husband to keep it in storage.
Oops, it's time to feed the baby.
I'll take care of the rest.
Thank you.
I'm used to it.
There, there.
Don't cry.
I'll feed you now.
Come on...
First a cursed dog, and now a cursed painting?
He can smell death, huh?
I thought that was you.
Yes.
Of course.
I'll follow your advice to the letter.
So, of nine total siblings on Fujioka's father's side, seven were men,
and all seven died before they reached fifty.
Hector's previous owner had cirrhosis.
There really are too many who died prematurely.
Hmm...
Is something wrong?
No, I was merely thinking his research really digs deep.
Some of the deaths have unknown causes.
Some had a skin disease and congenital respiratory illness.
Though rare, it's possible to die from allergic skin reactions.
But if he also had a congenital respiratory illness,
I'd say that's more likely the underlying cause.
Skin disease and respiratory illness...
Something like atopic asthma?
Huh?
Fujioka was here previously for asthma treatment,
so it's possible that it's genetic.
Come to think of it, he clears his throat often.
Maybe he should focus on quitting smoking, not the curse.
You're right there.
His direct line, huh?
Oh, he's back.
Ah, sorry to have kept you all waiting.
That took a while.
I ran into someone I know.
Anyway, let's prepare this right away—
Wh-What are you doing?
Where's the painting?
The painting?
The cursed painting.
You have it up somewhere, don't you?
And very nearby, too.
Sakurako-san!
How did you know that?
What's the meaning of this, dear?
You said you put that painting in storage!
W-Wait...
Just who are you?
Let me solve your curse.