3:00 P.M.

3:00 P.M.

 

The cold winter rain just would not stop falling.

“Touka…!”

I stood among the craters, staring up at the Moon Temple, unable to bear the tension.

The Moon Temple staff had fled in the chaos, and the only one left nearby was me, Takeda Keiji.

I was absolutely sure Touka was inside the Moon Temple now. She’d turned into him, and was fighting something. There was no doubt in my mind. I wasn’t sure if Boogiepop was just delusional or actually going up against things that threatened the world, but based on the conversations we’d had on the school roof, he certainly believed the latter.

The earthquakes had subsided. No more sinkholes appeared. Whatever had caused them, it seemed like it was safe now.

But…

But that uneasy feeling in my stomach wouldn’t go away.

I felt like the real danger was only just beginning.

“Shit…!”

I noticed movement behind me. People coming back now that the quakes were over?

“You there! It’s dangerous here, move back!” a cop called. I ignored him.

Then…

The spheres that covered the outside of the Moon Temple, bringing light to the inside of it, began to flash.

And a moment later, some speakers somewhere started blaring a strong, stuttering beat, a weird song even by Led Zeppelin standards.

“Wh-what the…?”

I wasn’t the only one confused. The song was out of place, yet it seemed totally appropriate for a street that looked like a monster had just rampaged through it.

Then we heard a voice.

“Gentleman, have you found the cause? No, as long as this music continues, you haven’t yet reached me.”

I didn’t know what to make of this, but one of the Moon Temple staff behind me whispered, “B-boss?”

His boss…?

Then this voice was…