Ogawa-san...
You really won't let me make a copy?
No.
It's not like copying it will cost you anything.
Even if it doesn't affect the record,
I just get the feeling that copying it will take away some of the music's magic.
Let me borrow it, then.
I absolutely will not do that.
Why don't you go to the store and buy it yourself?
How am I supposed to do that when there's no title or credits on the jacket?
Where did you buy it?
I'm not saying.
That record is more precious to me than my life.
Huh?
The record's gone!
You thief!
Stop right there!
Ow...
I was just borrowing it.
And you threw a rock at me? You're horrible.
Enough lies.
Hand it over, thief!
That record is my life!
I'm not letting you have—
Kobayashi Instruments
I'm sorry. We don't carry analog players anymore.
I see...
I want to listen to the bittersweet music on this record right now.
I've finally got it to myself, but I don't have anything to play it with!
New and Imported Records
Maybe here...
You want to play a record?
Please!
Just once is fine!
Where'd you get that record?!
That jacket...
That record was part of the permanent collection here!
So you're the one who stole it?!
No!
Then why do you have it?!
That's the only copy of it in Japan!
That record is more important to me than my life!
Give it back, now!
Let go of me!
What would you like?
An orange juice.
Excuse me...
Yes?
Is that music from the radio?
No, it's a record player.
Well, in that case...
Sure, that's fine.
I appreciate it.
I'm positive...
This is "Paula Bell's Scat!"
This is really it, isn't it, miss?
You know, this record...
It was recorded right after she died.
Do you understand?
It was recorded after she was already dead!
There's nothing written on the jacket...
Then, suddenly, the music starts,
and you hear bizarre intonation and disinterested singing...
I heard rumors of its existence, but this...
This is a song from beyond the grave!
He's after the record!
Stop!
This is...
Give that record back!
Do you think you're really hidden?
Wh-What the hell?
It's a dead body!
You dropped it...
So you don't need it, right?
Then I'll take it.
Used Record
Collection No. 022
Aristotle.
Because of his theories, some say that
whispering in someone's ears while they sleep
will make the whisperer appear in those dreams,
where they can influence the dreamer.
Saiko-san.
I have a present for you today.
I don't want it.
Why?
Kishimoto-kun,
you know about the Aristotle method, right?
Yeah...
I can't believe you'd try it.
Why didn't you just ask me in person?
Sorry.
I just wasn't feeling confident.
But I really do like you.
Then...
tell me in person at school tomorrow.
Okay.
I promise I will.
So, for now, please take this.
Look at you two, showing off.
I was already feeling pretty pissed off...
Who are you?
Let's say I'm...
Jack the Ripper.
And I need you to die!
Don't!
What a terrible dream...
The same box from my dream?
But the ring is gone.
Later that day,
Kishimoto-kun was found slashed to death in the street.
No one knows who the killer was.
Kishimoto-kun was killed...
But where did that ring go?
Is the man from my dreams the killer?
After that Aristotle incident,
I had more unpleasant experiences waiting.
Collection No. 038
Town of No Roads
Saiko, just what is your problem?!
You know exactly what!
I want you to stop this freaky behavior!
What exactly have we done that's so freaky?
You need to stop peeping into my room!
Why would any of us do that?!
Seriously, stop it!
There are new peepholes...
I can't relax for a second around them.
Enough already!
Mom, Dad, come on!
You're not even trying to hide it anymore!
Seriously, what are they thinking?
Well, they can't spy on me now.
Climbing up to the roof, huh?
Well, I'm not gonna just lie down and take it!
Ow!
Dad...
Is your eye okay?
I've just got a bit of a sty, that's all.
Is your finger okay, Onii-chan?
Sorry I got so mad last night.
I just jammed it during P.E yesterday.
It's not your fault.
No more. I can't take this any longer.
I'm running away for real this time.
I know.
I'll go to my aunt's house.
Aunt Tamae's place...
Weird...
There's no bus going to Kosato.
Oh, well. I'll just walk.
Huh?
A dead end...
I'm pretty sure this is the right street, too.
Another one?
More dead ends.
How am I supposed to get there?
Maybe I'll try the main street...
The main street's blocked off by some kind of building?
And...
everyone's wearing masks.
What's the matter, miss?
Are you lost?
Yes...
I was trying to get to 3-Chome, Oonishi, in Kosato.
I'm headed that way myself. Let me show you the way.
That'd be a big help.
Excuse me... How far do these buildings go?
All the way.
Your destination, 3-Chome in Oonishi,
is also surrounded by them.
It's near the center, actually.
Open up, damn it!
What's wrong?
The people who live here
have closed their front door and won't open it.
Hey, open up!
I said open that door!
Just smash it down!
No! Help!
Help!
Selfish people like you just cause chaos in this town!
Now you'll pay!
What's going on with this town?
I'll untie you in a second!
Thank you so much.
You must be from the outside.
Does this happen a lot?
It's been worse than usual lately.
Everyone's on edge...
I'd say the lack of privacy is the main problem.
Lack of privacy?
All houses in this town are opened up to public traffic.
So people's homes aren't private anymore,
and it's agony.
Anyway, what brings you here, miss?
I wanted to visit my aunt.
She lives at 3-Chome in Oonishi.
How can I get there?
If you keep going down the street, you'll see a river.
Cross the bridge there, and you'll see it.
But it's dangerous.
That's in the town's heart,
and rumor has it some strange folks live there.
Strange?
There's also a lot of crime, and a serial killer on the loose.
A serial killer!
But that's all the more reason to go and help her.
In that case, I'd recommend wearing a mask.
Thanks. I appreciate it.
This is the river...
I should be close to her house.
This place is so creepy...
This is her house!
Aunt Tamae!
Open the door!
It's me, Saiko!
Aunt Tamae?
Oh, Saiko-chan? It's been so long!
The door's open. Come on in.
Aunt Tamae...
Oh, Saiko-chan.
I've missed you!
Wh-Where are your clothes?
What can I say? I've still got it!
I'm amazed you came here alone.
It took me a long time to get used to how things are now.
It wasn't easy for me, either.
But I was worried about you, so I had to find you!
Worried? Why?
How could I not be worried about you living in a place like this by yourself?
What's so funny?
And why are you naked?
Put something on!
I'm sorry.
But hear me out, okay?
I wasn't sure about it at first, either.
I even tried to fight it.
I'd close the doors, hide on the second floor...
But they just smashed the door in,
and people would actually come in from the roof to the second floor.
And just look around.
There are holes all over, from the ceiling to the walls.
People keep poking peepholes!
Even now they're probably watching through them!
Trying to maintain my privacy amid all this was just crazy.
So I gave up on privacy altogether.
You can do the same.
It's not too late.
Come on, Saiko-chan.
Throw away that mask, and take your clothes off.
It's like shedding your skin!
You don't seem like the same person.
Like I said...
I've shed my skin.
It's weird.
You're the weird one.
Hi, how's it going?
Hi.
Oh, never mind. Let's peel an apple.
They shed their skin, too, you know.
Aunt Tamae, you're really acting weird.
I think living here might've driven you crazy.
And they say there's a serial killer around here...
You might say you don't need your privacy,
but I think you've lost your mind without it!
You don't understand anything!
You're just a child, so stop yapping and take your clothes off!
If you won't do it, I'll take them off you!
I'll cut you apart!
Aunt Tamae, stop!
Hold it!
Somebody catch that little bitch!
What the...
Oh?
It's the young lady from before!
I was worried about where you ran off to.
Please, tell me how to get out of here!
I want to leave as soon as possible!
Very well. Follow me.
This is the river.
Look there.
Those illegal constructions even cover the river.
Isn't it remarkable?
That ring...
Is there something about it that interests you?
I know.
I'll give it to you as a gift.
It's so strange...
The ring fits you perfectly.
And I feel like I've met you before somewhere.
Do you happen to remember me?
Jack the Ripper!
You're the one who killed Kishimoto-kun, aren't you?
Yeah, that's right.
Why did you kill him?!
You should be grateful to your boyfriend.
If he wasn't there,
I would've sliced you up instead!
And now, it's your turn!
Aunt Tamae...
Follow the river upstream.
You'll be out of here soon.
Aunt Tamae! Let's leave together!
Aunt Tamae!
Collection