Reiji Hotei

Shadow Priestess Character Reiji Hotei "We gotta prove that we're not just a burden, right?" Kanji/Kana 布袋 齢児 Alias — Occupation Urban explorer Status Alive Cause of Death — First Appearance Chapter 9

Reiji Hotei is a character in Fatal Frame: Shadow Priestess. He is one of four members of the urban exploration group Moebius. They visit the abandoned Karasawa Elementary and run into the modern architecture class from Fujisawa University. Reiji has a close encounter with the spirits haunting the building when he approaches the pool, looking for Mikiko Hashiki, and several ghostly hands grab him from behind. Sara fends them off with her Camera Obscura, but everyone scatters as more ghosts crawl out of the pool. Reiji, Takeru and Maya end up with Sara, Beniko and Tousei, separated from Professor Koutari and the rest of the architecture group, but in time they are reunited in Classrom 3-2.

As Reiji and the others search for the Photography Club Room, they become trapped in an illusory forest that appears inside the school. They are menaced by ghosts, and Reiji is targeted by Mikiko's spirit. Soon afterwards, Maya becomes overwhelmed by all that has happened; after an illusion nearly causes her to peel off her own skin, she passes out, and Reiji and the others reluctantly leave her behind and run through the school.

Eventually they manage to evade the ghosts and find a safe place to regroup. Reiji admits that he, too, has a previous connection to the village: his grandfather was a priest at Karasawa Shrine.

When the solution to a puzzle indicates a hint concealed under a statue, Beniko suggests checking the art room for sculptures, although Professor Koutari considers it more likely that the puzzle is referring to a statue of a historical educator at the front of the school. Reiji suggests splitting up in the hope of escaping the school faster. He is angry and frightened over the deaths of his friends, and believes the architecture class will protect each other before fighting for a stranger. Just as an argument is about to break out, Beniko steps in and offers to go with him to the art room, since it was her suggestion to start with. Almost as soon as they set off by themselves, they are attacked by a manifestation of ghostly hands, and Reiji abandons Beniko.

As he wanders alone, berating himself for leaving her, the ghosts of Takeru and Mikiko approach him, apparently alive. They tell Reiji he must have been having a nightmare, and Reiji gladly grasps at the illusion, but it is short-lived; he turns to see the ghosts creeping up on him from behind in their true forms. Finally they corner him, and he looks up to shadowy figure of Beniko emerging from the darkness. Reiji believes she is a ghost and begs her forgiveness, but she has somehow managed to survive, and slaps him for leaving her behind. They evade Takeru and Mikiko and run away, calling for Sara to save them.