Was it a mere coincidence that they had the same name, or was it...
Uesugi Tetsu slowly peeled the transparent tape from the iron box.
Yet a name like "Yako" was nowhere near as common as surnames like "Tanaka" or "Aoyama." In fact, it was exceedingly rare.
The real Gotō Yoko had been tricked into the mountains and buried alive by Nishiyama Ryota long before she met him. Her resentment had even accumulated and transformed her into a Bone Woman to seek revenge.
If the two were truly the same person, then what exactly was the "Yako" he had encountered before?
Uesugi Tetsu turned around and saw another, slightly shorter building behind the bathhouse.
Whether Gotō Yoko was the same Yako he had seen while slaying the Princess Doll—he would surely find the answer inside.
But there was no need to rush.
Uesugi Tetsu completely tore away the layers of tape wrapped around the pink iron box. He carefully opened the lid and saw stacks of small notes inside, their edges yellowed with age.
The handwriting was still somewhat crooked. It was clear that the writer had been quite young.
He looked at the first note on top.
[Today, I decided to go to school in Yokohama. That way, I can still go home to see Mom and Dad every week... But before I start school, I should bury the wish box first. I wonder what wishes I'll be able to fulfill when I dig it up after graduation.]
Uesugi Tetsu fell silent for a moment, then took out the entire stack of notes with different-colored paper.
He intended to read them all.
This was also how he would determine whether the two Gotō Yokos were the same person.
The second note.
[Middle school graduation is almost here! Mom asked