Miyashita bangs on the door trying to open it. The nameplate on the door states "Ogaki". Hidden around the corner, a man watches before heading towards Miyashita. Miyashita turns around startled, then says with relief "sensei!" Nagao asks "What's wrong?" Miyashita shows him the luminous chemical glowing in the dark "That!! Ogaki's got the virus that we created with the trace in it." Nagao takes a look through the glass panel of the locked door "Ogaki?!"

 

Asakawa returns home, thinking to himself as he walks up the flight of stairs to his apartment.....

 

 

there is someone else besides us looking for Sadako,

someone who knows every move that we're going to make...

 

 

Takayama walks along the streets at night..... 

 

it could be Yoshino-san, Miyashita-sensei

or perhaps even your son....

 

 

Entering his apartment, Asakawa takes a look at the message Yoichi's scribbled on the "Yoichi & Dad's message board" - "Papa, welcome home. You're busy with work but can you play tomorrow?"

 

 

I've got four days left,

Yoichi & Yoshino have six & a half...

& I'm no closer to solving the message in the video...

the Miharayama Range,

Sadako's mother Yamamura Shizuko,

you'll give birth to a baby next year,

that's the baby Sadako,

what's left is this man with a wound on his shoulder,

just who on earth is he?!

 

 

Asakawa sits back & stares at the images on screen, deep in thought......

 

At the grounds outside Musashino Medical University, Yoshino's cell phone rings & she answers "Yes, this is Yoshino......ah, Kawamura-kun?" Yoshino's colleague informs her "It appears that the police suspect Takayama killed Kashiwada. Do you know anything regarding Takayama?" "Takayama? Ah, I don't know, sorry, I've got to go," Yoshino quickly hangs up on Kawamura. Yoshino mutters "senpai," & runs off, not noticing two men observing her....

 

Ogaki lights a cigarette for his superior "From all the news I've gathered, it appears that we've got 70% of the votes. With only a week to the college Presidential Election, it's not likely that Nagao's side will win." His boss replies "With all that money we've spent, there's no way we can lose now." Both men start laughing arrogantly when the door suddenly opens & three officials stride in. Ogaki demands "What are you doing barging in?! Can't you knock?!" A man from the general affairs office, Asou, grabs Ogaki who protests "What the hell are you doing?!" 

 

Ogaki's superior, Nagao's rival candidate for the college Presidential Election, asks "You're saying that you want me to pull out from the election?" Asou replies "Yes. Ogaki has been found guilty of (politically) obstructing Nagao's right to run in the election. Ogaki is your subordinate, isn't he?" "I've never heard of any maneuvering before!" "The other party have said that they will file a complaint with the police. They will not do so on one condition; that you pull out from the election."

 

Looking at a soundly sleeping Mai, Asakawa says "So she's Takayama's younger sister." Miyashita assures him "I think with a bit more time we'll be able to find out what's troubling her. Just be patient. Ah, yes, we've found out who stole the cell cultures. As soon as we find the cell cultures, we'll be able to find the real cause of those heart failures. So, four days left. I don't really believe it but I'll do everything I can to help." Standing behind them, Yoshino listens in silence. Asakawa says "Rieko, can I speak with you privately?"

 

Walking outside, Asakawa says "Did you show anyone the reports I gave you?" Miyashita looks at Asakawa, surprised "No. Eh? Why?" Asakawa explains "There is someone who knows every move that we make. One of us." Miyashita points to herself "I'm a suspect?" "I just need to make sure." "Well, I guess this is a time when you can't trust anyone. I understand the position you're in for doubting me." 

 

Yoshino looks at Mai sleeping & turns away. In the next instant, Mai's eyes are open, staring intently at Yoshino.

 

As Asakawa approaches the glass doors to enter into a building, he pauses when he sees the reflection of two men observing him. Noticing that they been spotted, the men quickly disappear into another building. Asakawa whips around & starts running after them but sees no sign of either men. At this moment, Nagao walks pass as other colleagues congratulate him "We look forward to you being the next president of the university." "Yes, without a doubt you are the next president." Nagao reaches out for his right shoulder with his left hand "It's still too early to tell." Asakawa observes the men without a word.

 

At a cafeteria, Yoshino brings some coffee for Asakawa "senpai, are you really suspecting that it's someone among us?" "It's not that." "Even if you do, it doesn't bother me. No matter what you think, I'm on your side." Yoshino suddenly notices someone approaching "senpai, that's the detective we met yesterday." Asakawa, turning to look, sees the detective giving his men instructions "Let me know as soon as you find anything." Walking in towards them, the detective recognizes Asakawa & Yoshino, greeting them "Hi. Thank you for your help yesterday." Asakawa asks "Have you found any leads as to who killed Kashiwada?" "Well, from what Yoshino has told us, Takayama is a suspect. However at this moment, he's neither at home nor at the university. There's a possibility that Takayama could be here so we're here to investigate. If you find out anything, please inform us right away."

 

Walking down the corridor, Miyashita greets the guard standing outside Mai's room "Good afternoon," & enters. Seeing Mai standing by the window looking out, Miyashita quickly tells her "What's wrong? You can't move around yet." Mai turns around with a cheery smile "sensei! I'm fine. Thanks to you. I'm physically alright too so can I go home now?" Miyashita takes her by the shoulders & sits her back down on the bad "Not yet." Mai protests "But I want to go back to school! & I haven't seen any of my friends at all." "Well, then will you take a simple test? Just to make sure if you're fully recovered or not." "I'm fine. I know myself if I'm alright." "Well, I'd just like to make sure." "Why?" "Mai-san..." "Surely it's ok for me to go home? I want to see my brother. Please let me go to him. Please?" Miyashita takes Mai's hands "Right now, please listen to the doctor, ok? So you can see your brother sooner." Mai suddenly squeezes Miyashita's hands "It's no use even if you keep me here." Miyashita pulls her hands away in pain & Mai stares at her "My brother will definitely come for me." 

 

Miyashita comes out of Mai's room, taking a deep breath. Entering her lab, she suddenly stops in her tracks, startled to see Takayama standing in the room "Takayama-san, you....." Without turning around, Takayama asks "Where is my sister?" "I can't let you see her just yet." Suddenly, Miyashita finds a scalpel in her face as Takayama glares at her "Where is she?! Answer me!!" As Takayama advances, Miyashita backtracks, throwing whatever she can grab at him. Driven into a corner, Miyashita slides against the wall, Takayama holding the scalpel next to her cheek. Again he questions her threateningly "Where is she?! Answer me!" Miyashita suddenly reaches for an emergency bell & pressing it, catches Takayama off guard. Shoving him out of the way, Miyashita runs out of the lab, making her escape. Takayama, as if coming out of a trance, reaches for the scalpel & slices the palm of his hand. Blood drips as he squeezes his fist. Tears flow down his face as if caught between a battle only he can fight......

 

Detectives race down the corridor. Yoshino & Asakawa look around spot Miyashita running out "Miyashita-sensei!" Trying to catch her breath, Miyashita gasps "Takayama...in my lab!"

 

Hearing the emergency bell ringing, the guard standing outside Mai's room suddenly runs off. The door opens & Mai appears. Turning, she slowly heads down the corridor........

 

Asakawa runs into Miyashita's lab but sees no one there save for the mess created in the scuffle......

 

Barefoot, Mai runs down a stairwell into a parking lot. Suddenly an arm reaches for her & pulls her down in between a couple of parked cards. Mai grabs Takayama "onichan! Why didn't you come for me earlier?! That doctor tried to make be talk & I was afraid! I kept waiting for you! I wanted to see you!!" Takayama suddenly reaches & touches her face, calming her down. Moving closer towards Mai, Takayama looks like he's about to kiss her when he throws his arms around her, hugging her. Mai says "You won't leave me alone anymore, will you." Takayama grimaces painfully, not replying. "What's wrong onichan? You came to take me with you, didn't you?" "I can't, right now. You've got to wait a while more." Mai pulls away "Why?! Why do you say that?! Why?!" "Someday, I will." "onichan!" Suddenly from a distance, Asakawa yells "Takayama!" Takayama gets to his feet, not running away & stares at Asakawa who starts heading towards him. At that moment, detectives approach from around another building, yelling "Takayama! Takayama!" Quickly, Takayama writes something on the pillar next to him, giving quick glances in the directions of Asakawa & the police. Without a word & a last glance at Mai, Takayama flees, Mai calling after him "onichan!" The police continue running after Takayama but Asakawa stops at the pillar & stares at the word written in blood - (steel) Tower. Looking around, Asakawa spots a steel electric tower in the distance. 

 

Takayama runs, Mai after him, the detectives a few paces behind, splitting up. Suddenly the detective still finds Mai attacking him, holding him back, yelling "Takayama!" Takayama turns around, gasping as he sees his sister struggling, trying to stop the detective. With a turn, he continues running, making his escape. Yoshino arrives & stares at Takayama running away.

 

Asakawa heads for the steel tower & looks about, not seeing anyone. Suddenly he hears Takayama's voice "I'm here. Don't look! The police will notice!" Asakawa asks "You were running away, why did you come?" "I had to see my sister one last time.....before I transform....." "What do you mean 'transform'?" "Soon, I will become your enemy. I will bring with me disaster. I will turn into the devil." "Devil?" "But there is only one thing I want you to know. No matter what I do, no matter what I turn into, it has nothing to do with my sister. My sister knows nothing." Hearing a rustle in the foliage, Asakawa calls out "Hey!" but Takayama's disappeared completely. The cell phone in his pocket rings.....

 

Asakawa's mother says "Kazuyuki? There's a letter for you from Sada Chuou Hospital in Aoume. It came via express so I was wondering if it was something serious." Asakawa frowns "Sada Chuou Hospital?" Images of Moriyama flash through his mind.

 

Mai lies despondently in bed. Yoshino says "Mai-san. My name is Yoshino. I was with you earlier, do you remember?" After a silent pause, Mai answers "Why does everyone think that my brother's a murderer? My brother hasn't done anything bad." Mai suddenly sits up & slides off the bed, walking towards Yoshino "Do you also think that my brother's a murderer?" Yoshino looks away uneasily, unable to reply. Mai turns & walks away "I lost my parents when I was very young. I was left with my aunts & uncles. To them I was just a tiresome burden. But sometimes, my brother would secretly come visit me. 

 

Flashback to when Mai was a little girl, out feeding the chickens in a yard. "Mai! Mai!" "onichan!" Mai runs up to the wooden gate. Takayama puts his finger to his lips "Shhhh! Did you get scolded again?" "onichan, come stay here too." "I can't, Mai." "onichan!" "Mai?" "Hm?" "Close your eyes. Hold out your hands." Mai does as she's told & Takayama places a music box in her hands "I'm not going anywhere. I'll be right next to you." Takayama opens the lid & a tune plays. When Mai opens her eyes, Takayama's disappeared "Onichan!" 

 

Back in the present, Mai tells Yoshino "We made a promise that when we grew up, we'd live together. Does that sound strange?" Yoshino shakes her head "No it doesn't. I understand how you feel." 

 

Yoichi yells "Papa! Welcome home!" leaping into Asakawa's arms. Asakawa grins "Hey Yoichi!" His mother greets him "Welcome back." "Thanks." "Here it is," holding out the letter to him. "Papa let's play!" "Alright, you get everything ready!" "Hurray!" Grandma calls out "You haven't had dinner yet I gather." Asakawa, taking off his jacket in his room, replies "You're right." "That's great isn't it Yo-chan, you can have dinner with Papa tonight!" "Yes!" Asakawa rips open the envelope to find two letters, one addressed to "Ikuma Sadako" & the other to "Asakawa Kazuyuki." Asakawa opens the letter addressed to him "Asakawa-sama, If you happen to meet Ikuma Sadako, please give this letter to her. Moriyama Shuhei." Asakawa opens the other letter addressed to Sadako & reads it "Ikuma Sadako-sama, I am hoping that this letter will find you through someone I met who's searching for you. I know that lately, the state of my mind is slowly deteriorating. 22 years ago, you & a doctor from the sanitarium disappeared. I don't harbor any ill-will towards the man you chose back then. Even now, I still love you very much." Asakawa ponders "A doctor from the sanitarium?"  

 

Grabbing his jacket, Asakawa walks out of his room. Yoichi, having put the train set together, calls out "Papa! It's done!" With a heavy sigh, Asakawa says "Yoichi, I'm sorry. I've got to go out again. I'm sorry." Grandma adds "Yo-chan, I'll play with you instead?" However Yoichi starts throwing a tantrum "I don't want to! I want to play with Papa! Papa said that we'd play together!" "Don't say that," smiles Grandma but Yoichi yells "I hate it! I hate it when Papa lies!" Asakawa heads for the door without a word. Yoichi yells "Papa you're a liar! Papa you're a liar!" Asakawa, unable to deny his son's words, walks out the door.

 

Walking down the stairwell, Asakawa hears the sound of a toy horn going "parp, parp-parp-parp, parp" Looking up, he sees Yoichi with Grandma looking down at him. Yoichi stares at him & then suddenly waves, wishing his father "Take care!" Quietly, Asakawa replies "I'm off," heading for his car.......

 

 

so it was a doctor from the sanitarium...

& I am left with three days....

 

 

Stumbling along in the dark of the night, Takayama touches his head with his hand. Falling against a concrete pile, Takayama starts to cry, unable to fight what's happening to him. Above, the trains trundle past.....

 

Mai sits on her bed, her face wet with tears.......

 

Walking by a pitch where people are playing football, Yoshino asks "Mai hasn't really recovered?" Miyashita replies "I wanted to do some more tests on her. The only thought she has is of Takayama. She loves her brother & because she loves him, she wants to be together with him." "What's wrong with that? I think it's admirable, such a pure innocent love." Miyashita takes a seat on a bench, lighting up a cigarette "Is that what you really think? When you fall in love, what sort of love is it? For example, if you really love someone deeply, wouldn't a part of you have doubts, hatred & questions? & even so, you're attracted to him. You'd waver between those feelings, wouldn't you? But it's completely different in Mai's case. For her, there's only good thoughts about Takayama, & because of that, she wants to see him. If she's not with him, it's painful. That's all. That's not true love." Yoshino mutters "Not true love?" "Maybe, it's a love that's been created. Someone's programmed that thought into her, that she loves her brother." "Is that possible to do? Can someone really force that on another person?" Miyashita gets to her feet "To a certain extent. If that person has the skill & the time to do so. It's not difficult to do even for on a basic level. You've heard of brain washing & mind control, haven't you? Whatever it is, there is something more vital that's hidden inside her." 

 

Along a bridge, Asakawa gets out of his car & calls out to a man "Good day! I'm sorry to bother you when you're so busy but I need to check something with you."

 

At the man's house, he takes out some documents "You're looking for this?" Asakawa takes it from him "Thanks, I'll take a look." The man explains "I worked as a security guard at the sanitarium two years prior to the incident & its close. It might be possible that the list of people on this list & the actual people working at the time of the incident might be different...." Asakawa's eyes widen as he goes down the list & sports the name "Nagao Joutaro", Miyashita's superior! Asakawa recalls seeing Nagao's colleagues wishing him "Congratulations, Professor Nagao!" & Nagao reaching out for his right shoulder with his left hand, as it easing an ache.

 

As he drives off, Asakawa makes a call to Miyashita "The professor at your lab, Professor Nagao. He used to work at the sanitarium in Hachioji. Have you ever heard him mention it before?" "No, we don't really talk much about what we did in the past." "I've learnt that he was going out together with Ikuma Sadako." "Then you're saying that Professor Nagao's......" "It's possible......" "Eh? In any case I'll check up on it." 

 

Miyashita heads for the general office & uses the computer to search the employee database. Walking to Nagao's office, she knocks on the door. Not getting any reply, she enters when she finds it unlocked. Looking around, something catches her eye & she pulls out some documents addressed to her out of a file. Taking a closer look, she discovers that they are copies of the e-mail Asakawa sent her while he was in Oshima, using Yoshino's e-mail address.

 

Back in her lab, Miyashita tells Asakawa "There is nothing recorded for the years Showa 42 to Showa 52. Also, that report you sent me, I found a copy in his office." Miyashita teases "So does take me of the list of suspects?" Asakawa smiles & Miyashita adds "It seems that he's read it too." A thought dawns on Asakawa "What if he's the one that's looking for Sadako?" 

 

Outside on the campus, Nagao's walking along, rubbing the ache on his right shoulder. Miyashita calls out "sensei! Do you have some time?" "What is it?" "I'd like a word with you." "Alright."

 

Asakawa sits alone in the lab. The door opens & Miyashita walks in with Nagao. Asakawa gets to his feet & Miyashita introduces him "This is a friend of mine, Asakawa-san." Asakawa says politely "We've actually met before but...." "Ah, I remember. Please sit." "There is something I'd like to ask." "Yes?" "Do you know a woman by the name of Ikuma Sadako?" Nagao ponders "Ikuma Sadako...." "Yes." "I don't." "You worked at a sanitarium for tuberculosis before, right? She was the girlfriend of a patient." "No, I've never worked before at any sanitarium for tuberculosis. It's not my specialty." Asakawa looks shocked at the obvious lie & turns to Miyashita who asks "I don't mean to be rude but where were you between the years Showa 42 & Showa 52?" "Showa 42.....I was studying at the Horudo Medical University in New York at the time." Before anything else can be said, Nagao quickly adds "I'm sorry but I've got an appointment. Excuse me. I'm sorry not to be of any help." As Nagao gets up to leave, Miyashita says "Excuse me sensei,  I found a report that was personally addressed to me in your office. Did you by any chance read it?" "Really? I didn't notice. Did someone make a mistake & sent it over to me? I'm sorry." Miyashita & Asakawa exchange questioning glances.

 

In the gents, a man says "Congratulations on your promotion to president of the university. Now as agreed, all that's left is are the matters of the influenza vaccine & the virus containing the small pox virus." Another adds "As you know, the virus that we supplied are harmless. According to the pathological tests we've conducted, it will not cause death." "Even then, it will cause a panic around the world. Unknown to others, we are the only ones that have the vaccines." Nagao replies "However, at this point in time I can't do anything. It's unthinkable. A virus containing small pox reappears, completely killing all the mice in the lab." "We have taken care of the incident with the mice. They all died of heart failure. Other then that, no other traces was found." Nagao adds "Since then a number of people were found to have died of heart failure. One of the female doctors in my lab thinks that there is some connection between those deaths & the deaths of the mice!" As Nagao tries to leave, one of the men warns "sensei! Detective Kashiwada, Moriyama, have you forgotten what we have done in order to cover up your past?" Nagao turns around "I haven't."

 

Leaving for the night, Nagao comes out of his office, locking the door behind him. Rubbing his shoulder, he enters the elevator. As soon as the elevator doors shut, the door from the stairs open & Miyashita appears, followed by Asakawa & Yoshino. With flashlights in hand, Miyashita opens the door to Nagao's office & all of them enter, searching for clues.

 

Arriving at his car, Nagao opens the door & happens to glance up into the building. Horror appears as he sees moving spots of light shining through the windows of his office. Slamming the door shut, Nagao heads back into the building.

 

The three continue their search. Yoshino accidentally pushes a stack of magazines onto the floor "I'm sorry!"

 

Nagao gets into the elevator, his shoulder obviously bothering him more intensely as time passes.

 

Miyashita helps Yoshino replace the magazines. Yoshino mutters "Thanks!" Suddenly Miyashita cries out "Ah! Asakawa-san!" Pulling a container out from behind the plants near where Yoshino dropped the magazines, Miyashita tells them "It's the stolen virus! The one who stole the virus wasn't Ogaki-sensei! It was Nagao-sensei!"

 

The elevator arrives & Nagao emerges, breathing heavily. Just as he reaches for the door to his office, Nagao grimaces in pain, taking off his coat. Stumbling to the toilet, Nagao takes off jacket, rips of his tie & unbuttons his shirt. Staring at his shoulder in the mirror, he sees red angry welts on his skin. Turning, he sees the welts in the shape of the word Sada on the back of his shoulder. In a panic, he tries to turn on the tap but no water comes out. Instead, from the hole, long strands of hair emerge. Nagao gasps in horror. Suddenly through the corner of his eye, he sees an image of a woman. Nagao whispers "Sadako!" With a scream, Nagao crashes out of the bathroom & suddenly finds himself transported back in time. Looking around, Nagao finds himself back at the sanitarium. Along one end of the corridor, a wheelchair starts to move by itself. It comes directly for him, gathering speed. Scrambling away, Nagao manages to open the door open at the very last moment & the wheelchair crashes into it instead. Suddenly, Nagao sees a nurse enter another room & relieved, he makes for the door. Suddenly, someone comes crashing out through the glass panel into the hallway. The limp body suddenly floats up & turning around, stares Nagao right in the eye! With a scream of terror, Nagao turns around & running down the corridor, heads straight for Miyashita, Yoshino & Asakawa "Help me! Help me!" Miyashita tries to help him up "sensei!" In a state of hysteria, Nagao points down the corridor "It's Sadako!" Asakawa grabs a hold of Nagao "What's with Sadako?" Nagao stares down the corridor "Sadako's over there! Go away! You're dead!" "What did you do to her?!" Nagao, however still looks down the corridor "You were definitely dead!" Asakawa yells at Nagao, grabbing him on the shoulder "What did you do to Sadako?!" Nagao gasps "Save me!" Asakawa, feeling something beneath Nagao's shirt, peels it off to see the red welts underneath. He stares at Nagao in disbelief "You didn't...."

 

Calm makes a return as Asakawa, Yoshino & Miyashita find themselves in the lab, listening to Nagao's story "I met Ikuma Sadako 30 years ago. At the time I was working at the sanitarium for tuberculosis in Hachioji as a doctor. Sadako was working in town & would visit her boyfriend every day. She was so beautiful I was attracted to her at first sight."

 

Nagao recalls asking Moriyama "How are you feeling?" Moriyama replies "About the same." "Take care." "Thanks." Sadako, hovering over Moriyama's bedside, bows politely to Nagao "Thank you for everything." Turning to Moriyama, Sadako sweetly asks "Is there anything you'd like?"

 

Nagao continues "But Sadako never even took notice of me. She never ever asked me if there was anything I wanted! Compared to her boyfriend, I thought there was no reason why she would reject me. Coming up with some pretext & partly because I felt sorry for her, I asked her out. But she spurned my advances! I couldn't understand why! I told her that without my help, her lover would slowly get worse. I threatened her so I could get intimate with her. In the end, she accepted. No one knew about what had happened." Sadako comes out of the room in a daze, falling to her knees. "After some time, Sadako appeared at the sanitarium again. I will never forget that summer's day in the year Showa 52. It was so hot, insects were buzzing around my ears."

 

Flashback in time. By the well, Nagao rapes Sadako & struggling, Sadako reaches out with her mind & marks Nagao on his right shoulder. A gleam appears in her eyes & she starts laughing eerily. Nagao growls at her "What are you laughing at?" Sadako replies "I've already left something precious behind." "Something precious?"

 

Asakawa purses his lips, staring at Nagao in disgust. Nagao says "I heard her voice clearly in my head." In his mind, he sees Sadako staring back at him without moving her lips "You've been cursed! Everyone who's brought me misery! You've been cursed!" Nagao trembles as he continues with his story "I was terrified! & then....."

 

Putting his hands around Sadako's neck, Nagao squeezes her, strangling her. The weight of Nagao pressing down on Sadako lying on top of the wooden cover over the well starts to give way. With a crunch, the wood breaks apart & Sadako falls straight into the well far below. Staring from above, Nagao sees Sadako's long strands of hair floating on the surface of the water.

 

Asakawa, Yoshino & Miyashita listen in horror as Nagao adds "I fled as if I was in a trance. I lost everything! Yes! & now I've got everything back! Soon, I will become the president of the university." Nagao starts laughing hysterically & Yoshino bites out "You're cruel!" Nagao growls "Cruel?! Cruel?! Only the powerful survive in this world! Yes! Sadako is dead. What I saw just now was just an illusion." Nagao starts to leave but Asakawa shouts at him "Do you know what has happened because of you?!" Out of his mind, Nagao grabs Asakawa by the collar "I've lived for this long! I've lived for this long with only one more week to go!" Nagao's laughter suddenly turns to gasps of pain. Miyashita calls out anxiously "sensei? sensei!" With a last gasp, Nagao draws a last breath, his eyes open in the moment of death.

 

Waiting outside in the lobby of the building, Yoshino mutters "Sadako died 20 years ago. This clears Takayama of everything. What do we do now?" Asakawa remains silent. The door opens & Yoshino looks up "Miyashita-sense!" Tiredly, Miyashita walks up to them "Nagao-sensei also died of heart failure, just like all the others. We found a tumor in the arteries. Why I don't know." Yoshino adds "Thinking about it, it's really sad, only bad things happening to her & then dying like that." Asakawa finally speaks "If that's really the truth behind Sadako's message, it's possible that Sadako made us her tools in order to take her revenge on Nagao." Before anyone can add anything further, someone calls out "Miyashita-sensei! Could you come for a moment please?!"

 

In a room staring at slides of the virus in the shape of a circle, the doctor says "Take a look. This are the cultured cells of the virus that Professor Nagao stole & kept hidden." Miyashita mutters thoughtfully "The shape changes as it proliferates." "Yes. We've never seen anything like it before." Staring at the circular shapes projected onto the screen, Miyashita mutters "Ring." "Professor Nagao was infected by this virus. It then became a tumor in the heart arteries."

 

Walking out of the building trailing a few paces behind Asakawa, Yoshino mutters "So the cause of the heart failure is a virus. So are we wrong about Sadako after all?" "I still can't find the connection between the video & the virus." Getting into the car, Asakawa adds "Can you figure out how the people who watch the video get the virus? There is no doubt that there is a link between Sadako & the video. The place where Sadako died is now a school. & from that school a video is 'born'." "What if there was something of revenge that was in the well with her? Perhaps Sadako's remains are still in the well? If we manage to find her remains & hold a ceremony for her, the curse might be broken!" "No, I still can't get over the feeling that Sadako's right by our side. Just what is that something precious that Sadako left behind?" 

 

Driving along, Yoshino says "With this the message of the video is solved, isn't it. The man with the wound on the shoulder was Nagao. Sadako must have done that with her mind when she was about to be raped. It's everything Sadako saw." Asakawa hits the brakes at a red light "Everything that Sadako saw? Wait a minute!! We might have just made a wrong assumption!" Yoshino looks puzzled "Eh?" 

 

Sitting on the edge of the bed in total darkness, Mai stares out unseeingly in front of her, an eerie smile on her face.

 

The door opens into a room where a body is lying. Takayama reaches out & pulls the sheet of the body to reveal Nagao lying beneath. With a knife, he slices into the red welt on Nagao's shoulder.

 

Seated in front of the computer in Asakawa's home, Yoshino asks "What mistaken assumption have we made?" Asakawa clicks the mouse & the image of the baby appears on screen.

 

Takayama stares at the scab at the end of the knife.....

 

 

 

 

2 days left.....