Why does this castle exist, if no one lives here? Kokoro wondered.

All the usual pots and pans were visible, but there was no gas or water. There were fancy bathtubs in the bathrooms, but no toilets. She wondered where the electricity came from to power their video games.

As she turned to continue her stroll through the castle, she thought how awkward it would be if she bumped into someone. Like a while ago, when she’d encountered Fuka near the mirrors.

Lost in thought, she gazed through the doorway at the brick fireplace in the dining room.

Suddenly she recalled the Wishing Room key.

Had someone already checked the inside of the fireplace? It must open up into a chimney. Or maybe, like the bathrooms and kitchen, the fireplace wasn’t actually functional.

She peered into the fireplace, and let out a cry.

It wasn’t the key. But she did find a faint X, about the size of her palm. It seemed to have been there for a while, since there was a light film of dust over it. Maybe it was just a flaw in the bricks? But no. On closer inspection, someone had clearly marked an X.

Just as she was about to stand up again, she heard a loud ‘Whoa!’ from behind her. Kokoro yelped, and spun around.

A face with a wolf mask. The Wolf Queen herself, whom she hadn’t seen for quite some time.

‘Wolf Queen!’

‘Are you looking for the key all by yourself? Impressive.’

‘Don’t frighten me like that.’

Kokoro’s heart was pounding. She noticed the Wolf Queen was wearing a different outfit; a green dress, embroidered at the hem.

‘Did you find the key?’ asked the Wolf Queen, to which Kokoro replied, ‘Nope.’

Announcing that she was going to join the others, she set off towards the Game Room before the Wolf Queen could comment.

Halfway down the hallway, she spotted someone coming towards her. Kokoro slowed down her steps until she could see who it was.

It was Rion – the dish, in Masamune’s words. ‘Hey,’ he called.

He wasn’t wearing a sweat suit today, just tracksuit bottoms and a T-shirt. The trousers, though, weren’t the baggy style required by schools, but the smarter black Adidas version. On his T-shirt was a Star Wars villain. Kokoro had never seen any of the films, but she recognized the character.

Kokoro wondered whether she should try to explain why she had not visited earlier, but Rion beat her to it. ‘Long time no see,’ he said casually.

‘Ah, I’m – Kokoro,’ she said.

Rion laughed. ‘Come on, I know that already.’ So he knows my name. The thought made her happy. Rion was wearing a watch, which he didn’t seem to have when they’d met previously. She spotted the Nike swoosh mark on it.

‘What?’ Rion asked, when he saw how she was staring at his watch.