By the time the four of them had gathered themselves and left the hotel, the entire city had sunk completely into night.
Streetlights flickered on one after another, spilling dim yellow halos over the empty streets and alleys. The evening breeze was slightly cool, and the silence around them was almost eerie.
Following their predictions, they headed straight for a deserted old alley in the district where the rumors were most frequent. The entrance was narrow and deep, with weathered old buildings lining both sides. Layers of shadows overlapped, and an oppressive feeling washed over them.
They stood at the entrance and observed for a moment. Nothing stirred around them; only faint cursed energy steeped in resentment drifted on the wind.
"The Slit-Mouthed Woman only fully manifests and attacks the instant someone speaks to her and interacts with her. Just sitting around waiting is too passive."
Satoru Gojo stood with both hands in his pockets, his sunglasses resting firmly on the bridge of his nose. His tone was confident as he stepped forward to volunteer. "I'll be the bait."
He turned sideways to look back, his grin unabashed, not taking the cursed spirit seriously at all. "None of you three can match my speed. Even if something goes wrong, I can get away. It's a sure thing."
Suguru Geto nodded slightly, calmly weighing the pros and cons. "True. Your mobility makes you the best choice for bait, with the lowest risk. The three of us will lie in ambush on the perimeter, ready to back you up."
Though Utahime Iori was still wary of the Slit-Mouthed Woman's eerie legend, she did not shrink back in the slightest. She nodded solemnly in agreement:
"All right. We'll be on standby. Watch yourself, and put your safety first."
Shoko quietly agreed as well.