They realized that this was the old district of Misaki City, a graveyard of unfinished buildings left over from the tail end of the 1980s bubble economy. Consequently, it had become a haunt for punks and the city's largest slum. Given Touko Aozaki's modest finances, it made sense for her to live in such an area. It saved money, after all.
"Haruka Kasugano, this way." Sola followed the trail of magical energy, leading the way deep into the narrow alleys. Haruka Kasugano followed behind, hands in his pockets.
Soon, they arrived in front of a derelict building. It was dilapidated, yet clearly inhabited. A simple signboard hung over the cramped entrance.
Garan no Dou (The Hollow Shrine)
Professional Puppet Maker!
It seemed this was indeed Touko Aozaki's residence. In Kara no Kyoukai, this was exactly the name of her workshop. Sola stood elegantly at the entrance, refusing to step inside. Apparently, she wasn't accustomed to entering such cramped, dim tenements. Left with no choice, Haruka Kasugano took her hand and led the way in.
After winding through the small building for a while, Haruka Kasugano finally stood before the door of Touko's workshop.
Knock, knock, knock...
Haruka Kasugano knocked, but there was no response.
"Is she out?" Haruka Kasugano scratched his head, feeling a bit annoyed.
Sola used one hand to cast a simple magecraft—a notification spell used by magi to signal a request for a visit to another magus. Ten minutes passed after the spell was cast, but the workshop door remained shut.
"Haruka Kasugano, it seems she really isn't here," Sola said with certainty.
"Where could she have gone..." Haruka Kasugano couldn't figure it out.
As the two stood dazed in front of Garan no Dou, a young man dressed in all black and wearing black-rimmed glasses walked up the stairs.
"Excuse me, is this Garan no Dou? I saw the puppets at an exhibition and thought they were amazing, so I wanted to apply for a job here..."
Haruka Kasugano froze for a second, rubbing his eyes. Good grief... this mild-mannered youth... isn't this Mikiya Kokutou?
---------------
After recognizing Mikiya Kokutou, the corners of Haruka Kasugano's mouth curled up into an indescribable smirk. He had been so preoccupied with the Holy Grail War that he had completely forgotten about Shiki Ryougi, who existed in this same era.
Thank you, Comrade Mikiya, for showing up and reminding me of the beautiful Shiki Ryougi!
However... as enticing as Shiki was, she would be a difficult target to conquer. It would have been easier to intervene before she met Mikiya, but now... he had to plan carefully. After all, he enjoyed a challenge!
Sola glanced at Mikiya and, with a slight curl of her lip, instinctively fell back into her domineering attitude.
"Hey kid, can't you see we're busy? Why don't you be smart and come back later?"
She folded her single arm across her chest, her chin tilted up like a high-and-mighty queen. Despite her arrogance, she still radiated an irresistible charm. In a London social circle, she would have captivated countless aristocrats. Yet, the man standing before her seemed to be a dense, oblivious youth.
"I'm terribly sorry, but I really am here for a job. I didn't mean to disturb you," Mikiya said, his face full of apology.
"Go, go!" Sola waved her slender hand impatiently, shooing him away.
Haruka Kasugano frowned slightly and asked, "Kid, when did you see the Garan no Dou puppets at an exhibition?"
Mikiya thought back and replied, "About a month ago, but that exhibition was scheduled for a long time—almost half a year. I think it's still going on now."
Haruka Kasugano fell into thought. Could Touko be away because she's busy handling the puppet exhibition? In this era, mobile phones were a luxury; most people used landlines. The number Sola had was for a landline, making it more likely that Touko was busy away from the workshop.
Haruka Kasugano pressed further, "Then why didn't you just ask the boss for a job at the exhibition?"
Mikiya shook his head helplessly. "I went three times and never ran into the owner. The staff said the boss only stops by occasionally, which is why I looked up this address."
So that's it... that lazy bum Touko isn't at either place.
"She hasn't returned; we've been waiting for a while too." Haruka Kasugano feigned a sigh and waved his hand with a hint of helplessness.
"I see..." A look of disappointment flashed across Mikiya's face, and he turned to leave, his footsteps heavy.
Sola pursed her red lips. "Why bother talking to him so much?"
Haruka Kasugano gently pulled her close and laughed. "From what he said, I realized that even if we went to that exhibition, we might not meet Touko. His information was useful!"
Sola frowned slightly at the closed door and asked, "So, what now?"
"Leave a magical mark here. When she returns and sees it, she'll get in touch with us," Haruka Kasugano smiled.
Though somewhat reluctant, Sola complied and traced a mark by the door. Like an invisible messenger, it would wait for its master's return, remaining effective for a full week. Afterward, the two left and headed back to the hotel to enjoy their leisure time.
Despite not finding Touko, finding the workshop was progress enough. Their spirits were high—Haruka Kasugano's especially, now that he had found his next "target." He grabbed Sola's exquisitely delicate feet, pulling them together and arching them.
Then, Haruka Kasugano began to enjoy the "pleasures of the jailer." It was the "jailers'" first time experiencing such things, and they were filled with both shame and joy. Sola, being teased this way for the first time, couldn't help but writhe like a graceful water snake from the sensations.
"Ah! You're so gross... even though I take care of my feet every day, they're even softer than my hands!" Sola giggled. Indeed, they were pink, tender, and as translucent as a divine peach.
Squelch—
Sola's body jolted, her figure trembling. She sank deeper into the sensation, her very toes unable to pull away from Haruka Kasugano.
...
Night fell, and starlight dotted the quiet sky while Sola drifted into a sweet slumber. Haruka Kasugano moved quietly, leaving the hotel and heading toward the Misaki City General Hospital.
Hehe, time to go find Shiki Ryougi!
According to the plot of Kara no Kyoukai, if Mikiya was looking for a job with Touko... it meant this was after Shiki's car accident. She had to be lying in a hospital bed right now.
Using his [Presence Concealment] skill, Haruka Kasugano moved through the hospital like a ghost. With his B-rank Agility, scaling walls and slipping through windows was as easy as breathing. He searched every corner of the inpatient building, hoping to find his "Sleeping Beauty."
However, after a thorough search, he found nothing. Haruka Kasugano frowned, filled with confusion. He stubbornly checked every room again, but there was no sign of her. Had the plot changed? Or had he missed a crucial detail?
Impossible... did I get the timing wrong? Or did Mikiya look for Touko before the accident?
Just then, an ambulance sped into the hospital gates, its tires screeching against the pavement and piercing the midnight silence. A team of doctors and nurses rushed out like disciplined soldiers.
"Quick, to the emergency room!" one doctor commanded.
"Understood!" The nurses nodded, expertly lifting a large man off the stretcher.
"Are there any beds left in the ICU?" another doctor asked tensely.
"Yes, there's currently only one girl in the ICU," the responding doctor said, sounding slightly relieved.
"Good, send him there."
Haruka Kasugano, watching from behind some nearby bushes, saw the team disappear into the ER. He stepped out of the shadows with a faint smile.
The ICU... why didn't I think of that? It's possible Shiki only recently had her accident, so she's still in the ICU and hasn't been moved to a regular ward yet!
--------------
Haruka Kasugano raced to the ICU floor. He moved like a phantom through the silent corridors. The ICU wasn't crowded, and his eyes swept through the rooms.
In the second room, his gaze locked. There lay Shiki Ryougi. She was covered in IV tubes and bandages, but even so, Haruka Kasugano recognized her slender silhouette immediately.
The atmosphere in the ICU felt like it was on pause—everything was quiet and orderly. The faint hum of machines, the occasional footsteps of a nurse, and hushed whispers were crisp in the solemn space.
Shiki lay peacefully. Her face was pale, but she didn't seem to be in immediate life-threatening danger. Her short hair was tied back, with a few stray strands falling over her forehead, adding a touch of softness to her. Though bound by tubes and bandages, they couldn't hide her delicate frame.