Act Two: The Silenced Whispers

Shiori’s Diary

I’m still Shiori Amiga, but I’ll never be the same again.

After the Hannya-masked man abducted me, I found myself in a lab with cables and hoses attached to my body all over. A terrible pain came into my head, my whole body was like being ripped apart.

When the pain was gone, I tried to reach out to Shingo with my telepathy. It was in vain. How could I forget? My big brother was gone.

Again, I fell unconscious.

The next time I regained consciousness, I found myself on a bed in a decent apartment.

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Shiori slowly opened her eyes, the light filtering through the window blinding her momentarily. She groaned and tried to move, but something was holding her down.

She looked around and saw that she was in an unfamiliar room, lying on a comfortable bed with a white duvet. Confused and disoriented, she tried to sit up, but her head throbbed with pain, forcing her to lie back down.

Suddenly, a voice interrupted her thoughts. “Oh, you’re coming round, Shiori. Welcome to my apartment.”

Shiori looked up to see a young girl with spiky hair standing next to her bed, smiling down at her.

“What’s going on here? Who are you? How come I’m in your apartment?” Shiori asked, her voice trembling with fear and confusion.

The girl chuckled. “Whoa, one at a time, Sister! First off, I’m Junishi Abe, you can call me Nishi.” She gestured towards a picture on the wall. “And that’s my family.”

Shiori looked at the picture, then back at Nishi. “Nice to know you, Nishi, but how come you know my name?”

“My father, Yasuaki Abe ‘saved’ you from a secret laboratory and put you under my care. So, here you are,” Nishi explained.

Shiori’s eyes widened in shock. “How long since I have been unconscious?”

“I don’t know, but it’s been two days since you were carried all the way here,” Nishi replied. “My father took great risks to prevent you from getting imprisoned there for who knows how long. So, you better respect him by not asking questions. I don’t like him because of his top-secret work, but I respect his reasons. His work is top-secret, so he keeps it secret, even from me, his daughter.”

Shiori sighed. “Well, I’m still too weak to ask anything and analyze any answer. However, when I’m fully recovered, I’d like to meet your father and thank him personally.”

Nishi shrugged. “That will be a very hard favor to ask. You see, the last time I met my father before he brought you here was about seven months ago.”

Shiori felt frustrated. “Uh, my headache’s coming again. Maybe I will need more rest.”

“You do that,” Nishi said, patting her hand. “By the way, since the people from your school and neighborhood think you’re dead, why don’t you come over to my office?”

Shiori furrowed her brow. “What office? What’s your job?”

Nishi grinned. “Let’s say that my job is dangerous, exciting, and intriguing at the same time. Now, just try to sleep. You don’t have to guess now. Just wait and see, the answers will come straight to you.”

Shiori sighed and closed her eyes, her mind racing with questions and possibilities. She had no idea what was going on, but she knew one thing for sure - she was in for one hell of a ride.

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==oOo==

Arriving in front of the Goemon Investigations Agency building in downtown Daitoshi, Shiori felt a surge of greatness inside her.

The towering fifteen-story building was designed in such a way, that anyone looking at it would think it was the blade of a katana pointing upward to scrape the sky.

It was a design worthy of a prestigious agency, and also a way to honor one of the greatest heroes of Shima, Mizutani Goemon.

Stepping inside the building from the main entrance to the second floor, Shiori felt the atmosphere inside was solemn, yet eerie. The air was thick with the lingering scent of tension as if everyone in it were waiting for something significant to happen.

Shiori Amiga couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by the intense energy of the room.

As Nishi escorted her in, she took in her surroundings. The walls were adorned with charts and maps, and in the corner was a table stacked with top-secret files.

“I work here. Judging from the company name, can you figure out what my job is?” Nishi asked, gesturing towards the room.

Shiori’s eyes widened as she realized the gravity of her friend’s occupation. “Investigations… Are you with the Police Force?” she asked.

Nishi chuckled. “That’s close. We investigate crimes, but we’re not exactly police. We’re more of a secret service specializing in extraordinary, unusual cases. Some cases are so bizarre and highly supernatural, ordinary police can’t handle them. That’s where we come in, agents with special powers and skills. We train hard to overcome overwhelming forces, even at an infinite level.”

Shiori was impressed, but also nervous. “Sounds like a very dangerous job indeed. But… how old are you, Nishi?” she asked, trying to change the topic.

“Oh, I’m eighteen. I attend an online university, so I have enough time to do a full-time job like this,” Nishi replied.

“You mean, if I attend an online high school, I can work here too?” Shiori asked, half-jokingly.

“It ain’t that simple, sister. You have to undergo lots of tests of every essential aspect to be a GI agent. The tests include intelligence, knowledge, psychology, physics, chemistry, as well as physical and supernatural power and skill,” Nishi explained.

Shiori gulped, feeling intimidated. “I think I’ll be more content in school studying than applying for a job here, thank you very much,” she said with a nervous laugh.

Nishi suggested that Shiori talk to his superior officer, which made her feel relieved.

However, Shiori’s relief was short-lived as a handsome man suddenly appeared before them, interrupting their conversation.

“Agent Abe! Looks like you brought a friend into the office so that you didn’t notice me coming,” Keiji said with a smirk.

Nishi apologized and introduced Shiori to Keiji. Shiori felt a bit starstruck, as she took in the man’s chiseled features and piercing gaze. “Nice to meet you, sir,” she said, trying to maintain her composure.

“The feeling’s mutual. My name is Keiji Yorinaga, a team leader in Goemon Investigations. You can call me Special Agent Keiji. Are you here for sightseeing, or are you looking for a job?” Keiji asked with a smirk.

Shiori explained her situation and how she was considering applying for a side job at Uncle Kotatsu’s Diner instead. Keiji raised an eyebrow at this, clearly not impressed.

“Nishi, have you told Shiori that even high school students are admitted here?” Keiji asked, turning to Nishi.

“I have. But I also told her the true nature of our job, the dangers and all,” Nishi replied.

Keiji facepalmed at this, clearly frustrated. “No wonder there were very few rookies lately. They must’ve freaked out when they heard the risks of this job,” he muttered.

Shiori felt a bit deflated, thinking that it was time for her to leave and find some vacancies elsewhere. However, Shiori’s facial expression turned to shocked but also intrigued.

Keiji invited Shiori to his office for a private conversation, and Nishi stepped aside, looking slightly disappointed.

Once they were alone in Keiji’s office, he got straight to the point. “I know Nishi told you about the risks of our job, but there’s something you should know,” he said, his voice low and serious.

“We’re facing a dangerous situation right now, and we need all the help we can get. If you’re interested, we’re willing to take you on as a part-time assistant.”

Shiori was taken aback but also flattered. She asked what kind of help they needed, and Keiji explained that they were investigating a series of mysterious disappearances in the city. They had some leads but needed someone to do some legwork and gather more information.

Shiori thought about it for a moment, then agreed to help. She knew it was a risky job, but she also felt a sense of excitement and adventure. “I’ll do it,” she said, her voice determined. “I want to help in any way I can.”

Keiji nodded a small smile on his face. “Welcome to Goemon Investigations, Shiori. I think you’re going to be a great addition to our team.”