NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5
1.
This week, Genji had no interest in completing the reading task assigned by Mikagawa.
Regretting his impulsive actions and failing to consider reporting his father’s disappearance earlier, Genji took the opportunity when Mikagawa was out to call the police discreetly. However, the system identified his phone’s location and automatically redirected the call to the Cicada Hidden Town police station.
“Hello, is your emergency related to an incident or an accident?” The woman on the line sounded tired yet tried to maintain a professional tone.
“It’s a bit complicated… I suspect my father is missing. He was working abroad and promised to visit me in Yokohama in March, but he never showed up.”
The operator was surprised: “Oh, you’re from off the island? Did you try to seek help from local authorities?”
“I didn’t notice anything amiss at first and only started worrying yesterday.”
“When was your last contact with your father?”
Genji quickly sorted out the timeline in his mind: “His last social media update was on March 1st, attending a conference in Tokyo. I sent him a message on March 10th about my university acceptance, but there’s been no response till now.”
“So, there has been no contact from March 2nd to April 21st, correct?”
“Yes. I’m participating in a program at Ye Island Institute and can’t return to the main island. My phone can’t make calls off the island. Can you help transfer the case to the relevant jurisdiction?”
“Sure, I’ll make a record for you. If there’s any update, we’ll contact you immediately. May I have your and your father’s names, ages, and occupations?”
Genji provided all the necessary information and the circumstances of his father’s disappearance. After hanging up, he felt a bit relieved.
Now, all he could do was wait for news.
2.
A week later, the day to review the key points of the book arrived. However, Mikagawa didn’t wake Genji until noon, inviting him to dine in town.
Confused, Genji felt Mikagawa had skipped a crucial step.
Mikagawa sighed and explained, “I’ve noticed you’ve been out of sorts lately, so let’s skip the quiz today and relax. By the way, have you been vaccinated? There’s an endemic disease in Cicada Hidden Town, and you can’t enter without getting a shot.”
Genji was perplexed. He had been vaccinated when the semester started but had never heard of any local diseases.
“You really don’t know anything. You came here cluelessly and got vaccinated without understanding. What if you get tricked by someone bad later…” Mikagawa massaged his temples in frustration.
“I only heard Professor Kanazawa mention something about a curse of ghosts and gods in Cicada Hidden Town, but that seemed less scary than poverty, so I came here for free education.”
“Genji, you’re so naïve… Professor Kanazawa told me this,” Mikagawa said.
He shared a different story. A deadly virus in Cicada Hidden Town initially causes fever, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and subcutaneous bleeding. Without timely intervention, the condition rapidly worsens, leading to internal organ dissolution, skin peeling, and bleeding from all orifices, ultimately resulting in death.
The virus’s genes can integrate into the host’s genome, affecting future generations.
“It sounds like Ebola hemorrhagic fever, caused by a retrovirus. But I don’t understand why it’s endemic to Cicada Hidden Town,” Genji said, confused.
Mikagawa negated Genji’s guess: “No, this disease broke out in the 1940s, predating Ebola. It was suddenly and mysteriously controlled. Once the virus embeds in the genes, it can be inherited. Infected individuals must take immediate measures to prevent genetic contamination. The institute believes that people carrying the virus genes might fall ill under certain conditions. Isn’t it twisted?”
As Mikagawa spoke, Genji’s expression grew more worried. This place seemed frightening!
Mikagawa, amused by Genji’s reaction, reassured him: “Relax, the institute can handle this odd disease, mainly through vaccination. If infected without vaccination, there are drugs to block the virus. Although still in clinical trials, they’re reportedly effective. I enrolled here after hearing this from Professor Kanazawa.”
“So, senior, you came to Ye Island with a noble intention to cure and save lives? That’s impressive.”
Genji finally got a chance to tease Mikagawa, who had just mocked him for being ‘naïve.’
Mikagawa, unfazed by the joke, replied: “Not exactly noble, I came because my younger brother is seriously ill. If I work well here, Japan’s top hospitals will provide him free treatment. He’s about your age, very smart. If he wasn’t ill, he might have…”
Mikagawa stopped mid-s
entence and fell silent. After a moment, he spoke again: “Ah, why am I complaining like an old woman? Never mind, don’t worry about it…” He looked at his watch and suddenly exclaimed, “Hey! It’s getting late. We’ll miss our reservation if we don’t hurry!”
After Genji freshened up, they rushed to the guard post to register their information and obtain exit permits before leaving.
3.
Ye Island, located in the southwestern part of Hokkaido, experiences spring later than many parts of Japan.
In late April, while cherry blossoms elsewhere had already fallen, those on the island were just beginning to bloom, unable to block the chilly spring wind.
Walking along the cherry blossom path, Genji held a map, listening to Mikagawa’s explanations while trying to understand the island’s layout.
Ye Island is divided into three parts.
The southeastern part, “South Ye,” built on reclaimed land over existing hills, houses the Ye Island Industrial Technology Comprehensive Research Institute and associated buildings, including lecture halls, laboratories, hospitals, dormitories, exhibition halls, factories, transport ports, and helipads.
The central part is Cicada Hidden Plain, the most populated area of Ye Island, with residential areas, commercial districts, administrative institutions, and cultural and educational organizations. The most bustling areas are the trade port and nearby market. The Rinchu River nourishes the plain before flowing into the bay.
The northwestern part, “North Ye,” is mostly mountainous and hilly. Above the Hidden Mountains lies the shrine territory of the Kamibe Clan, considered a forbidden area by many.
“A shrine that doesn’t welcome worshippers? That’s different from what I know.” Genji couldn’t help asking.
“It used to welcome visitors, but at some point, the shrine became heavily guarded, and even large festivals had to be held outside the shrine in the community town.”
The Kamibe Clan, descendants of Kunitsukami, are revered by Cicada Hidden Town residents. According to local records, they were lords of Ye Island in ancient times, managing local farmlands and fishing ports while serving as priests and heads of the shrine.
Though the term “lord” is now historical, and much land once belonging to the shrine has been sold, the Kamibe Clan remains wealthy, holding significant shares in companies affiliated with the institute. Even the police yield to them.
“Apparently, someone who trespassed was dismembered by the guards. But the police can only turn a blind eye. We must stay away from them, or we might suffer.”
Genji frowned: “How can this be… How is the Kamibe Clan different from a gang? Weren’t their ancestors benevolent gods?”
Ancient shrines and temples were not always benign, wielding armies and challenging the imperial court. Genji learned this from Mikagawa’s e-reader.
Perhaps Kunitsukami was a benevolent god, but his descendants fell from grace. Or maybe he was a tyrant, and his descendants fabricated myths to glorify themselves – a common occurrence throughout history.
“What is the current head of the clan like?” Genji inquired.
Mikagawa scoffed: “Who knows? He’s underage and hasn’t officially taken over as priest, nor can he appear in public. But there are rumors about his violent and bloodthirsty nature. And that girl who often brings flowers to the Wall of Sages works for him; they’re said to have ‘that kind’ of relationship.”
“What kind of relationship?”
“They’ve been childhood sweethearts. The previous head of the clan had betrothed her to his only son.”
Genji was stunned, speechless.
“Look at you, all heartbroken,” Mikagawa teased, punching Genji playfully. “I told you to stay away from that family.”
Genji blushed and denied: “Stop it! I have no such intentions. I’m just shocked that arranged child marriages still exist in the 21st century!”
They chatted idly until Mikagawa gestured for silence upon reaching the town’s stone gate, whispering a warning: “Let’s keep what we discussed between us. The townspeople believe talking about it offends the gods and are reluctant to discuss the Kamibe Clan. I only learned bits and pieces after getting close to them.”
“Got it, senior. Why are you more nagging than an old lady?”
Genji waved his hand and walked ahead, glancing at the stone monument by the town entrance.
The unpolished bluestone monument, rough and weathered with moss, bore the characters “Cicada Hidden Town” in clerical script, tinged with dark brown and hints of somber red, adding a sense of restraint and melancholy.