VOLU 5 – CONNECTED FEELINGS file 03: yearning ()
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1
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We found Takeda Shunsuke –
Miyagawa received that news at about noon. He moved to the wireless to give instructions imdiately.
‘Report the situation!’
He yelled at the wireless. The other investigation team mbers who were still in the room gathered round as well.
The nerves in the detective room had peaked.
- that was Haruka’s ho.
Her father Kazuhiro was waiting in the garden when they parked the car in the parking lot behind the shop.
He wore an apron and had his neck out like an ostrich as he looked about. It seed he sensed sothing from his daughter’s sudden return.
However, he didn’t approach Haruka even after she got off the car with her luggage. Even though he had many things he wanted to ask, he didn’t put them into words. He was that sort of person.
’I’m ho.’
Haruka called out to Kazuhiro.
’Oh, you’re back?’ said Kazuhiro curtly. Then, he went back into the shop.
Fathers really were afraid of their daughters –
’Honestly. Why is he running away?’ said Keiko exasperatedly before entering the house through the backdoor.
Haruka followed after her.
She took the stairs by the front entrance, opened the sliding door and went into the room.
It was six tatami in size – a dreary room with only a desk and a dresser.
Still, being in her own house really did calm her down. The fatigue and anxiety that Haruka had had for so long seed to dissipate slightly.
She put down her bag, hung up her coat and sat on the tatami.
’Sorry for the wait.’
Keiko entered the room.
She had a bundle of envelopes held together with a rubber band. Those were the letters that Yakumo’s mother had sent Keiko.
Keiko sat across from Haruka and held out the bundle.
’There are a lot of letters.’
’There are. I didn’t pity her because of what happened – I was just on the sa wavelength as Azusa-san,’ said Keiko earnestly.
Haruka felt like she understood. If they had only t because of the case, the relationship wouldn’t have continued for so long.
Haruka and Yakumo were the sa. Regardless of how they t, in the end, they seed to be on the sa wavelength.
’So I feel like I understand why you’d be chard by Yakumo-kun,’ said Keiko. When she said it like that, Haruka didn’t want to admit it.
’Like I said, it isn’t like that.’
’Big words for sobody who was crying like a baby earlier.’
Keiko laughed as she elbowed Haruka’s arm.
When Keiko said that, unfortunately, Haruka could make no reply.
’Now, now, don’t be angry. You have to look for Yakumo-kun, right?’
’Right.’
Haruka cleared her mind.
Just as Keiko said, she didn’t have the ti to get angry.
’Azusa-san said that she had a lover,’ said Keiko.
Haruka also felt that that was a good thread to start from.
If Azusa had a lover, there was a good chance that that person might know where Azusa was if they could find him.
’Er, which was it...’ murmured Keiko as she checked the envelopes.
A question suddenly ca to Haruka.
’Mum.’
’What is it?’
’Why didn’t you look for Azusa-san?’
– Oh no.
After Haruka said it, she thought what she said had been careless. That was because Keiko suddenly looked regretful when she heard Haruka’s words.
’I didn’t think that Azusa-san was so cornered that she would lay a hand on her son,’ replied Keiko with sad eyes.
’That makes sense.’
’She said that she was getting married, so I thought that sobody like who knew her past would get in the way, so I gave up. That’s why I didn’t even think of looking for her. I was a bit lonely, but I thought there was nothing to be done...’
Haruka could understand why Keiko felt that way.
If Azusa hadn’t talked to the person she was going to marry about her past, it wouldn’t be unnatural for her to think of keeping a distance from the friends who knew her past.
’I asked sothing strange. Sorry.’
’Don’t worry about it. Plus, Yakumo-kun went sowhere to chase his mother, right?’
’Probably.’
’Which ans that if we chase Yakumo-kun, I might also be able to et Azusa-san, right?’
Keiko laughed pleasantly.
– Azusa-san might already be dead.
Haruka didn’t have the courage to tell Keiko that.
However, Keiko seed to understand everything from looking at Haruka, who had kept silent, and she bit her lower lip as if vexed.
’I want to know too.’
’Want to know?’
’Yes. Why did Azusa-san try to kill Yakumo-kun? A parent wouldn’t normally be able to think of killing their own child. There must have been a great reason for things to end up that way.’
As Keiko said that, she looked troubled. Like Isshin, her emotions were probably divided.
Perhaps what Yakumo was looking for wasn’t his mother but the reason why his mother had tried to kill him.
Haruka suddenly felt that might have been the case.
’Oh, my hands have stopped. It’s a bad habit. I have to look through these quickly.’
Keiko sniffled and went back to checking what was inside the envelopes. The ability to clear her mind so quickly was one of Keiko’s amazing talents.
When Haruka’s older twin sister had died, the first to smile again had also been Keiko.
It wasn’t that the sadness had left her. She had been thinking of Haruka.
Even under normal circumstances, Haruka had had a complex about her older sister Ayaka. And Haruka had been the cause of Ayaka’s death –
The sadder Keiko acted, the more it would make Haruka suffer. Keiko had known that.
’Haruka! Look at this!’
Keiko took a letter and a photo out excitedly.
Haruka took the photo and looked at it.
A child who looked to be one year old was sleeping on top of a cushion. He was sucking on his right thumb and looked happy.
His skin was pale like a girl’s.
’Could this be – ’
’Yup, it’s Yakumo-kun. He’s cute, right?’
Haruka unconsciously grinned.
She hadn’t ever thought that she’d get to see a photo of Yakumo like this. His cheeks were as puffy as marshmallows, and his expression wasn’t as harsh as it was now.
Even Yakumo had had a ti like this. Sohow, it was strange to imagine it.
She took a look at the letter too.
It’s different – Haruka felt that imdiately.
The contents of the letter were incredibly different from the image Haruka had had of Azusa. Even in the short passage, her love for her child ca through.
However, the only image Haruka had had of Azusa in the first place was the fact that she had failed in trying to kill Yakumo and had gone missing after that.
That had been such a strong episode that it decided the image.
Perhaps it was the sa for Yakumo too.
His own mother put her hands around his neck – wouldn’t that vivid mory have erased all the other ones?
’Found it. This one. The three of them are in it.’
While Haruka was thinking about the photo and letter from the past, Keiko found the photo she was looking for.
Keiko held the photo and was looking at it nostalgically.
– I want to see it right away.
Led by that impulse, Haruka moved to Keiko’s side and peered at the photo.
The photo was taken sowhere like a lake.
Yakumo was probably the one standing in the centre. If the photo was taken fifteen years ago, he was about six years old. Yakumo had been short then. His eyes were narrowed from how bright it was.
Azusa was on the left. She had almond eyes and well-defined features – she was a very beautiful person.
She did look like she was carrying so shadows, but it felt like that doubled her charm.
Yakumo resembled his mother.
On the other side was the person who would have beco Yakumo’s father –
’Ah!’
Haruka thought she would stop breathing from the shock.
’What is it?’
’I know this person.’
– He is probably in Nagano.
It was the man who had shown up in Haruka’s room the morning before.
Haruka took out her mobile phone.
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6
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After Ishii parted from Makoto, he called Miyagawa through the internal line.
Even though they could have t in person, Ishii had experienced the attitude the detectives had towards him yesterday. He didn’t want to encourage that.
He heard Miyagawa’s clearly displeased voice.
’This is Ishii.’
’I apologise for calling when you are busy. I would like to ask you sothing regarding the matter we discussed before.’
Miyagawa’s tone suddenly lowered. He was probably concerned about the investigation mbers around him.
’Nothing is certain yet.’
Then don’t call. That feeling ca right through the receiver.
Usually, Ishii would have been swallowed up by that feeling and hung up after apologising, but he was different now.
’However, I have grasped an important clue. In order to advance in the investigation, there is sothing I would like to confirm.’
Miyagawa spoke after a silence.
’Were there any suspects besides Takeda in the case fifteen years ago? If there were, I would like to see the docunts regarding that.’
Miyagawa let out a loud voice all at once from the bottom of his belly.
’It is absolutely necessary.’
Miyagawa lowered his voice again.
He had probably gathered attention because of his loud voice earlier.
’Even if you say that... it would take a long ti to explain. However, it is definitely related to the search for Detective Gotou.’
Miyagawa didn’t reply.
All Ishii heard was the quiet sound of Miyagawa’s breathing.
’Please. Please believe in .’
Ishii bowed his head to pray.
’Thank you very much!’
Before Ishii finished saying that, Miyagawa hung up. The strength suddenly left Ishii’s shoulders and he leant against the back of the chair.
He’d told Miyagawa to believe in him, but was his theory really correct?
To be honest, Ishii was unsure. If what he was thinking was wrong, he wouldn’t be able to find Gotou.
However, still, all he could do was believe and follow that faint possibility.
The mobile phone in his suit’s inner pocket rang. When he looked at the display, he saw Haruka’s na.
The events of yesterday passed through Ishii’s head and he hesitated before answering.
– This is no good. If I stop here, it’ll end up like before again.
He gathered his emotions and answered the phone.
’I apologise for the wait. Ishii speaking.’
Ishii had been about to apologise, but Haruka had started speaking before he even had a chance to take a breath. He completely lost his chance.
Furthermore, it felt like Haruka had completely forgotten what had happened at Isshin’s house.
’Sothing you would like to look into?’
Haruka was speaking quickly.
– Searching for soone.
It was probably sobody related to the case, but it would be difficult to look for sobody with only a photo.
Putting aside whether he even had the ti to search, he would at least take a look.
It depended on how much information there was besides the photo, but it could possibly work out if he asked Makoto to help too.
’What sort of person am I looking for?’
Yakumo’s mother had been in that video as a ghost. He didn’t know what role she played, but it was certain that she was involved in this case sohow.
There was a good chance that her lover might have so new information.
’Understood. I will do as much as I can. I’ll say my email address now, so please send it there. Also, please give as much information about that person as you can.’
After that, Ishii checked his email address while reading it to Haruka over the phone.
’Er...’
Ishii stopped Haruka, who had been about to hang up.
’I am truly sorry for yesterday.’
Ishii held his breath as he bowed his head deeply.
There was a long silence –
Ishii silently waited for Haruka to reply. He wouldn’t mind even if she jeered –he was prepared for it.
What Haruka said was very far from what Ishii had expected.
– She’s going to forgive ?
’Sothing was wrong with then. Let’s save Yakumo-shi and Detective Gotou with our own hands no matter what!’
Haruka gave a firm reply.
Ishii closed his eyes in his happiness and grinned unconsciously as he imagined Haruka’s smiling figure.
Oops, he didn’t have the ti to space out. Ishii ca to his senses and started his laptop.
Since it was an old model, it took a full minute to load up.
He connected to the internet and opened the mail software to check for new mail.
It seed Haruka had sent it from her mobile phone. The email had already arrived.
The subject was . The mail said
There was too little information. He didn’t know how to search from just this. It wasn’t impossible, but it would take so ti.
He opened the attached image.
The photo had probably been taken with a mobile phone cara. The image was small on the screen and difficult to make out. Ishii maximised it to fill the monitor.
’T-this man is...’
Ishii thought his chin would fall off from his surprise.
This man is Takeda Shunsuke –
Ishii imdiately took out his mobile phone and called Haruka’s number.
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7
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Makoto t with the hypnotherapist nad Hayashi in the booth that was sectioned off as a reception space.
He was wearing a casual suit with no tie. He was tall and solidly built, but he didn’t seem intimidating.
He had a gentle deanour and seed like a good listener.
He even listened seriously to Makoto’s crazy story.
That said, it wasn’t actually sothing Makoto had thought up. The crazy story was all Ishii’s theory.
Even Makoto had been surprised when she had heard Ishii’s reasoning. She had thought it was very removed from reality.
’I see. I understand what you’re saying.’
After Makoto finished talking, Hayashi thought silently for a while, but then he rubbed his two hands together and spoke.
’First, regarding whether what you discussed is possible or impossible, it is possible under several conditions.’
’Eh? It’s possible?’
Unconsciously, Makoto half-rose from her seat.
Since she had doubted Ishii’s theory, she was even more surprised.
’Well, please calm down.’
After Hayashi pacified Makoto, she sat back on the chair with a red face. Hayashi waited for her to finish before speaking again.
’The person who thought of this thod is very intelligent. They understand the characteristics of hypnotic suggestion and are using it effectively.’
As Hayashi said that, he smiled bitterly.
’Characteristics?’
’Yes. Many people misunderstand this, but hypnotic suggestion cannot be used to control people freely.’
’Which ans?’
’Those actions co from that person’s own intentions, so it is impossible to make sobody act in a way they do not want to.’
Makoto also knew that hypnotic suggestion couldn’t control people freely.
On television, she often saw hypnotists making people fall asleep with a snap of their fingers and telling those people what to do, but those were just shows.
However, then there was a contradiction in what they had said so far.
’But earlier, you said that the thod was possible. Isn’t it impossible to control people?’
’It is a little bit different. Even if you were hypnotised sobody and told to kill sobody once you opened your eyes, that would be absolutely impossible.’
’Why is that?’
’Because their morals wouldn’t allow it. Actions that go against one’s morals will not stick.’
Makoto nodded. She understood that much.
Even though they would be hypnotised, that didn’t an their personality would disappear. Accordingly, sobody wouldn’t act if they didn’t want to, even if forced.
’Hypnotic suggestion must stay within the range allowed by one’s morals.’
Under that aning, the trick in the thod this ti hadn’t required anybody to directly kill sobody, so it could be said to be within the range allowed by one’s morals. However –
’Wouldn’t that an anything was possible if it was morally acceptable?’
Hayashi crossed his arms at Makoto’s words.
’That isn’t exactly right. Being put under hypnotic suggestion is like being guided by one’s intentions.’
’Yes.’
’Rather than an order, it’s guidance. This is important. For example, what do you think one should say to tell sobody they could no longer lift their arm?’
Hayashi was good at explaining. Makoto was engrossed.
’Your arm will not go up. Saying that would be no good. There is a weight on your arm now. A very large and heavy weight. A weight that nobody would be able to lift, no matter how strong they were. That is the sort of image you would give.’
By giving the brain a reason and making that an image, you could guide the actions.
’Then that would an sobody was there giving hypnotic suggestion.’
’That wouldn’t be necessary,’ said Hayashi firmly.
’Is it possible to put sobody under hypnotic suggestion from a distance?’
’This is a little different. The thod of hypnotic suggestion is done so that the suggestion is triggered by sothing.’
’Huh...’
Makoto didn’t understand yet.
’For example, spin at the sound of a bell. If that were the hypnotic suggestion, the person who was hypnotised would spin at the sound of a bell even if the hypnotist was not there.’
But Hayashi himself had said that even if sobody was under hypnotic suggestion, they were still conscious when hypnotised.
That would an that they rembered being put under hypnotic suggestion.
’Wouldn’t there be no point if the person under hypnotic suggestion could rember what happened?’
Makoto voiced the question as it ca to her.
’It is just as you say. Another point is necessary for hypnotic suggestion.’
Hayashi held up his index finger.
’What is it?’
’That is to tell the person going under hypnotic suggestion to forget that they were under at the sa ti. It is called hypnotic amnesia.’
’Hypnotic amnesia?’
’Yes. In short, people are conscious when hypnotised. They rember what they do even when guided. There would be no aning to it then. That is why it is necessary to also give the suggestion to forget what happened under hypnosis afterwards.’
Makoto could feel her heart racing as she listened to Hayashi’s explanation.
’Is that possible?’
’Yes, it is.’
This was proof. Makoto had a real response.
Putting aside whether this actually happened or not, Ishii’s theory was possible.
However, if it was possible, did it really –
’That’s frightening.’
Makoto said that unconsciously.
Hayashi’s expression had been gentle up until now, but it turned grim.
’I apologise.’
Makoto gave an honest apology for her careless words.
’No, it’s fine. But I would like for you not to misunderstand – hypnotic suggestion cos down to how it is used.’
’How it is used...’
’Yes. We hypnotherapists use hypnotic suggestion to treat the mind. We heal traumas that people do not know they have and relieve people of their psychological stress. Please don’t treat us all as criminals.’
It was just as Hayashi said.
They studied hypnotic suggestion to heal people’s hearts. They weren’t using it for cri.
’It’s the sa for surgeons, isn’t it? It is their job to cure people’s bodies with their scalpels. However, it would be incorrect to bla their scalpels because they could be used for cri. Everything depends on how sothing is used.’
Makoto regretted her foolish remark and bowed her head deeply again.
It was wrong to reject everything because of one example of misuse. Even the dicine from hospitals would beco poison if used incorrectly.
Furthermore, what happened this ti had occurred from a number of coincidences and wasn’t sothing that sobody could do that easily.
Makoto had been doubtful at first, but now she agreed with Ishii’s theory and was certain that the true culprit of the case fifteen years ago was sobody different.
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8
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When Haruka heard the information about the man in the photo from Ishii, she was stunned.
Yakumo had probably realised everything from the very start.
That the woman in the video was his own mother, and the suspect for the cri that occurred where the video was taken was the man who was supposed to beco his father –
The place Haruka had finally arrived at had just been the starting line for Yakumo.
Disappointnt welled up within Haruka. At this pace, it didn’t seem like she would ever catch up to Yakumo.
’What’s wrong?’
Haruka ca back to her senses when Keiko called out to her.
’This man’s na. It’s Takeda Shunsuke-san,’ said Haruka, pointing at the photo.
Keiko didn’t appear to understand the significance of that and replied shortly, ’I see.’
’Takeda Shunsuke-san was the suspect for a murder case fifteen years ago and is on the run now...’
’Eh?’
Keiko finally understood the situation and snatched the photo back from Haruka, putting it so close to her face that her nose almost touched it.
Even though the truth wouldn’t change even if she looked at it from close up or far away, Haruka understood why Keiko would do that.
She couldn’t believe it, nor did she want to.
If this is true, then what sort of fate did Azusa bear on her shoulders –
One day, she was suddenly abducted and confined, and she was assaulted physically and psychologically. She ended up bearing a child that she did not want.
Still, she forced herself to stand up again and live her life.
Then, just when she finally found a partner to support her and was about to embark on her new life, that person ended up being chased by the police as the culprit to a murder case.
She must have wanted everything to be a dream. She must have wished for that countless tis. But the truth was rcilessly there.
A cruel truth that was everywhere –
If Haruka had been in the sa position, she might have even given up on living.
’I can’t believe that this person...’
Keiko shook her head like she didn’t understand.
He didn’t look like the sort of person who would do such a thing. Haruka had the sa impression. And there were other things she didn’t understand.
If Takeda was the suspect for a murder case and the police were after him, why didn’t the investigation go to Azusa –
She must have noticed.
’Mum, do you know how Takeda-san and Azusa-san t?’
’I do. When I got the letter about her marriage, I was so happy I called her.’
Keiko smiled. Her eyes seed to be looking far away.
She was probably recalling how she felt then. Being able to share one’s feelings with sobody was really amazing.
’This person was a newspaper reporter and called out to Azusa-san and Yakumo-kun when they were at the park. Asked them to let him take a photo. That was how they t.’
’I see...’
Haruka imagined Azusa and Yakumo playing at a park.
What sort of expressions did they have on their faces then –
Takeda had chosen them for a photo, so they must have been smiling.
’They probably had a lot in common. They decided to marry a month after eting.’
’A month!?’
Haruka’s voice jumped an octave.
That was a huge difference from sobody who hadn’t been able to express her feelings for over a year.
Even though she did think that was fast, it wasn’t like it was impossible, and there really were people like that. Dating for months and years wasn’t proof of the bond between two people.
The short ti period probably hid their relationship.
That was why Isshin and the police hadn’t found out.
That ant that Azusa had told Keiko about her marriage before her own brother, Isshin.
It showed how much she’d trusted her.
Haruka was even more confused now though. Why hadn’t Azusa consulted Keiko even once before she was so cornered she would lay a hand on her own son?
If she had, she might not have thought of trying to kill Yakumo.
Had she been unable to talk about it because she trusted Keiko?
– No. That isn’t it.
Haruka felt that sothing was off.
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9
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After Miyagawa left the room, he went down the corridor to the door to the at the very end, opposite the toilet.
When he went inside, Ishii was on his mobile. He said, ’I will call again later,’ hung up, and stood straight.
’Just sit down.’
After Miyagawa said that, he sat at Gotou’s seat opposite Ishii.
’I apologise for asking for sothing unreasonable.’
Ishii bowed his head, and he was sitting frankly for once.
– He’s had a good look these past couple of days.
When Miyagawa looked at Ishii’s face directly, he thought that keenly.
Up until yesterday, Miyagawa had just thought of him as a beansprout that only knew how to wail, but this case might have drawn out his sleeping ability.
Still, what was with the gauze covering his nose?
’What happened to your nose?’
’Ah, er, you might not believe this, but a chair fell down from the sky.’
– Crap. It’s my fault.
’How unlucky.’
Miyagawa didn’t think it was necessary to give his na, so he just let the conversation flow.
Ishii looked at Miyagawa like he wanted sothing.
It was like Ishii was telling him to take the docunts out already. But Miyagawa couldn’t just hand them over without knowing what was going on.
’Why do you need docunts about suspects for a case that’s already had a culprit determined?’
Miyagawa fixed Ishii with a strong gaze.
’Because there is the possibility that he isn’t the true culprit.’
Miyagawa was so shocked he couldn’t even be angry.
’Don’t say sothing stupid with no basis for it.’
’I do have a basis for it.’
Miyagawa had planned on cutting Ishii down, but Ishii leant forward with a challenging gaze.
There might actually be sothing there if this coward was going to say this much. Miyagawa faltered.
’Try telling .’
’Yes. Just earlier, I received a report of confirmation from an expert over the phone,’ said Ishii, looking pleased. He was like a child who’d received a toy.
’Expert? In what?’
’Hypnotism.’
This guy really did have a habit of deluding himself.
’Don’t make laugh. You’re not saying that sobody was hypnotised to kill sobody, right?’
Miyagawa had sad that coldly, but Ishii still did not flinch. Where did this confidence co from?
’It is impossible to make sobody kill soone else with hypnotism.’
’Doesn’t that not match up with what you’re saying?’
’The point is that case cos from the testimony fifteen years ago.’
Ishii adjusted his glasses with his finger and declared that in a ringing voice before starting his explanation.
’A-ko-san reported the incident at twelve AM. There is no doubt about it. However, A-ko-san actually heard the scream three hours earlier at nine PM.’
’The dossier says it was twelve AM, right?’ interrupted Miyagawa.
’That’s correct. However, A-ko-san first testified that it was at nine PM.’
Ishii laid out the copy of the files that Miyagawa had handed over to him earlier and pointed at a passage.
Just as Ishii said, it had read nine PM, but it had been changed to twelve AM.
’Isn’t that strange? That’d an that she heard the scream at nine and called the police right away at twelve AM. Did she use a carrier pigeon or sothing?’
Ishii laughed while clutching his stomach at Miyagawa’s light sarcasm.
It irritated Miyagawa since he felt like he was being made fun of, but he bore with it.
’Carrier pigeon? How amusing. However, that is unfortunately not the case.’
’What is it then?’
’In short, this. A-ko-san heard the scream at nine PM. After that, sobody guided her into a deep hypnotic state.’
– Was he serious?
Miyagawa glared at Ishii, but Ishii continued speaking, paying him no heed.
’Then, at so sort of signal, she woke up after three hours and reported the incident to the police. A-ko-san lost the mory of the three hours she was hypnotised for, so she thought that she had called imdiately after she heard the scream.’
’Isn’t that just your delusion?’
’It isn’t a delusion. I said this earlier as well, but I have confird this with an expert. The trick I just discussed is actually possible.’
– Really?
If what Ishii said was true, that would get rid of the bumbling ti difference they’d had up until now all at once. But –
’Is it really possible?’
’It is. It is called hypnotic amnesia. One is put into a deep hypnotic state and made to forget that one was hypnotised using a suggestion.’
It wasn’t coming together for Miyagawa.
’I don’t get it.’
’For example, when sobody faints, what was just a mont to them could actually have been many hours. It is the sa sort of thing.’
Miyagawa had experienced that himself.
Fifteen years ago, Miyagawa woke up in the hospital after having his head hit. It had been just a mont for him, but it had actually been six hours.
’But how about the autopsy? The ti of death was said to be around twelve AM.’
’I checked with Hata-san. The final ti of death was decided based on the scene of the cri. He had taken a look at the situation and used a broad interpretation of the autopsy results.’
’What did you say...’
’In short, Hata-san’s analysis put the ti of death for the corpses from seven to nine PM.’
Miyagawa stood up unconsciously in his agitation.
’Why would anybody need to do sothing so troubleso?’
’In order to change the ti of the cri and give the culprit an alibi.’
If the thod Ishii discussed was possible and actually happened, it would be a great way to make an alibi.
However, there was sothing Miyagawa just couldn’t accept.
’I was the first at the scene then. I saw the guy who did it there. If he was trying to give himself an alibi, why’d the culprit be there? Isn’t that strange?’
Ishii’s eyes narrowed behind his glasses.
’Perhaps – this is just a possibility, but, what if he wasn’t the culprit?’
Miyagawa wanted to rebut Ishii’s words, but he couldn’t speak.
His forehead was drenched in sweat. How many years had it been since he’d sweated as unpleasantly as this?
Miyagawa had been hit in the head then and he’d fainted.
Because of that, he couldn’t rember the culprit’s face clearly, but the fear he’d felt then had filled his body.
He’d felt instinctively that that man wasn’t Takeda.
The reason was that Takeda was human. He might have had hatred and anger, but those were peanuts compared to what Miyagawa had seen there.
An oppressive evil. He didn’t believe in a god, but if he had to give an example, that had been the devil.
’Chief Miyagawa. Would you allow to see the docunts?’
Miyagawa handed the docunts over to Ishii before replying.
The docunts had the details for two nas that had co up as suspects before the police had decided that Takeda was the culprit.
Ishii imdiately started looking through the docunts.
A number of things happened during that case and the police got the ti of the cri wrong.
Was my testimony one of the reasons for that –
Miyagawa felt like his legs would collapse underneath him.
If what Ishii said was true, that would an they’d been chasing an innocent for fifteen years.
But he didn’t understand. Why didn’t Takeda agree to be taken in for questioning?
He’d run off without agreeing, which had been one of the reasons the police had decided Takeda was the culprit.
’I’ve got it! I’ve got it!’
Ishii suddenly shouted and jumped up.
’Calm down!’
Ishii smiled even more at Miyagawa’s yell.
’I can’t be calm. I’ve finally found the true culprit.’
’What did you say!?’
He determined the culprit from the two suspects? But on what basis?
Miyagawa wanted to ask these questions, but before he could, Ishii ran out.
’Where are you going!?’
’To investigate, of course,’ said Ishii, turning around as he did so.
He fell –
-
10
-
Haruka looked at the photo again.
– I can’t think of anything no matter how hard I try.
She hadn’t been able to question Yakumo when she’d noticed he sounded strange when he called her. It might have already been too late then.
The corners of her eyes felt warm. Tears were welling up. This was no good. She felt like she wouldn’t be able to et Yakumo again if these tears fell.
Haruka bit her lip and gripped the red stone on her necklace with both hands.
– I can’t give up.
She spurred on her crumbling heart.
There had to be sothing she’d missed. Sothing very important –
’Haruka. You said you t Takeda-san, right?’ said Keiko, putting a hand on Haruka’s lap.
Haruka knew who he was now, but it was still a puzzle as to why he’d co to see Haruka.
’Yeah.’
’What did he say?’
’He wanted to save Yakumo-kun. And that Yakumo-kun was in Nagano.’
’Why did he ask that of you? Hasn’t Takeda-san t Yakumo-kun?’
Haruka had the sa doubts as Keiko.
And how did he know I was searching for Yakumo? Why didn’t he et Yakumo directly?
The questions in Haruka’s head suddenly brought up a mory.
The day she went to the to search for Yakumo, she’d felt sobody’s gaze. That hadn’t been her imagination.
– Takeda was watching .
Takeda must have gone to et Yakumo as well. There, he saw Haruka.
However, that didn’t explain why Takeda hadn’t gone to save Yakumo himself.
’If what Takeda-san said is true and Yakumo-kun is in Nagano, doesn’t that an Azusa-san is also in Nagano?’
Keiko proposed another question while Haruka was pondering.
The mont she heard that, the image from the video ca back to her.
She felt like her head was being squeezed.
And then – she was led to a conclusion.
’That’s right, Mum!’
Haruka’s voice was close to a yell.
Keiko was taken aback by the suddenness of it.
Haruka had thought sothing was strange when she saw that video.
The mont the video beca completely dark, she’d heard the faint sound of sothing like footsteps.
Isn’t that from two videos being edited together –
In short, the first half and second half of that video had been taken at different places and put together.
Which ant that the second half with Azusa – she didn’t know where it was taken.
No, that was wrong. She had to calm down and think.
Supposing that Yakumo realised that too, Yakumo searched for that place. Then, he arrived in Nagano –
She didn’t have any basis for it, but those two lines of thought led her to one place.
’Hey, Mum, Do you know where the incident with Azusa-san occurred?’
’Ah, er... I know the area,’ replied Keiko, a bit lost for words.
Keiko didn’t understand what Haruka was thinking and looked like she had been caught by a fox.
’Please, Mum. Take there,’ begged Haruka as she gripped Keiko’s two hands.
-
11
-
Ishii drove his car quickly.
Urgency and exhilaration were mixed together, making his blood run wild.
There was no margin for doubt any more. The background and actions on the day of the cri of the two suspects had been in the docunts Miyagawa showed him.
Ishii had realised imdiately when he saw them. If his theory was correct, that narrowed the suspects down to one.
’Oi, you’re driving too fast!’
Miyagawa gripped Ishii’s shoulder from the passenger seat.
Ishii didn’t understand why Miyagawa had co along.
The mont Ishii started the car, Miyagawa had stopped him, standing in front of the car with his two arms spread wide. Ishii had thought Miyagawa would try to hold him back, but he’d sat in the passenger seat without a word.
The statute of limitations was almost up for Takeda, so who was going to direct the investigation of the scene? Ishii had that question, but he didn’t dare to ask.
’Even if you tell that I am driving too quickly, I am in a hurry...’
’Stop whining! You don’t have the police siren on so obey the speed limit!’ said Miyagawa indignantly.
’Um, could I turn it on?’
’What?’
’The siren.’
The mont Ishii said that, Miyagawa raised his hand. However, he didn’t hit Ishii.
Ishii thought that Gotou and Miyagawa were very similar. There was just one thing decisively different about them. It was power. It was partly physical, but Gotou’s power to rush at sothing overwhelmingly exceeded Miyagawa’s.
This was one of those instances. If it were Gotou, he would have hit Ishii’s head without any hesitation.
For so reason, I feel like sothing’s lacking –
’And where are you heading in the first place?’
Miyagawa finally asked that question.
Ishii had been sure that Miyagawa had stepped into the car knowing that, so he let out a surprised ’Eh?’
’Isn’t it obvious that I&r
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