Shinrei Tantei Yakumo

Page 23

VOLUME 5 – CONNECTED FEELINGS file 03: yearning ()

We found Takeda Shunsuke –

Miyagawa received that news at about noon. He moved to the wireless to give instructions immediately.

‘Report the situation!’

He yelled at the wireless. The other investigation team members who were still in the room gathered round as well.

The nerves in the detective room had peaked.

The one who answered was the detective in command at the scene, Shimizu.

Shimizu and the team had received information from an eyewitness who had sighted Takeda and had been questioning civilians near the abandoned building. They had spotted him coincidentally.

'Were you able to confirm it was Takeda?’

<No, it isn’t clear…>

Miyagawa felt irritated by the vague response.

'Was there anyone else who saw him?’

'Weren’t any other investigation members nearby?’

Shimizu was being completely unclear. Well, fine. They’d give their undivided attention to catching Takeda now.

Miyagawa cleared his mind of his irritation.

'Where are you stationed?’

Miyagawa followed the location with his finger on the enlarged map on his desk.

He was spotted near this building, went onto the prefectural road and headed north – if it went well, they might catch up.

'I’ll send reinforcements.’

When Miyagawa pointed at the map, the four investigation members by his desk ran out of the room.

If they went ahead and blockaded the escape routes, they would definitely be able to stop him.

'I won’t let him get away.’

Miyagawa gritted his teeth.

A message came from Shimizu over the wireless.

– I’ll finally be able to catch Takeda.

The event that took fifteen years would come to an end. When Miyagawa thought that, he felt exhilarated.

There was silence –

They might be able to secure Takeda before reinforcements arrived.

Sweat rolled down Miyagawa’s back in his nervous state.

The hesitant voice made Miyagawa’s heart beat more quickly.

'What happened?’

<Er… That is…>

'What!? Say it clearly!’ yelled Miyagawa.

'Lost?’

'You bastard! Do you know what you’re saying? You’re not playing tag!’

It felt like his head would pop like a balloon from his anger.

'Explain what you mean!’

Those words added oil to the fire that was Miyagawa’s anger.

Making such stupid excuses at a time like this!

'Come back here right now!’

Even after the transmission ended, Miyagawa’s anger did not abate.

He picked up a nearby chair and threw it with all his strength out the window.

After leaving Hata’s hospital, Ishii turned his car into the parking lot at the precinct.

He shut off the engine and leant back in his seat.

He had been working with no sleep or rest since last night. His joints were stiff. His body was heavy, as if he had become an old man. He felt like he would be drawn into sleep.

But he didn’t have the time to rest. Just by delaying the investigation, Gotou’s survival chances dropped. There was still a mountain of things to do.

Ishii forced his body up and got off the car.

What he’d heard from Hata was extremely interesting. The problem was how to use that as a foothold to level the case.

Investigating around with no purpose would just waste time.

It would be quickest to make a hypothesis like Yakumo and prove it.

However, he hadn’t constructed that crucial hypothesis.

A feeling of helplessness ate away at his body.

'Think, Ishii Yuutarou.’

Just as Ishii was encouraging himself, his mobile phone rang.

'Ishii speaking.’

<U-um, it’s Makoto.>

It sounded like Makoto was walking somewhere. Ishii could hear the rhythm of her footsteps.

'Makoto-san, what is it?’

<Ishii-san, you seem a bit different.>

Makoto laughed as she said that.

Even if she said that, Ishii didn’t feel like anything was different.

'Is that so?’

<Yes. It’s like you’re a different person from the one you were yesterday.>

The only thing that had changed was that he was determined now. More importantly –

'What is it?’

<Ah, that’s right. Actually, I was investigating the case and found something very interesting.>

'What is it?’

There was the chance that it would be timely help for Ishii, who had reached a standstill.

<It’s about the testimony of A-ko-san, the person who reported the incident.>

'Was anything suspicious about it?’

<Yes. Rather than suspicious, I can’t explain it very well. Ishii-san, where are you currently?>

'I’ve just returned to the precinct.’

<That’s great. Actually, I’ve just arrived at the precinct as well. Shall we speak in person?>

– Arrived at the precinct?

Ishii turned around and looked at the front entrance.

He spotted Makoto there with mobile in hand.

'Ah, I see you.’

Ishii hung up and waved at Makoto.

Makoto noticed Ishii too and walked toward him with a smile.

Crack!

There was the sound of breaking glass from up in the sky.

What is it – Ishii looked up.

A chair was falling. Why was a chair –

The chair smashed right into Ishii’s confused face.

Blood spurted out of his nose into the air.

Haruka got off the Shinkansen at Nagano Station.

She passed through the gate. The moment she went out to the station traffic circle, she heard the short honk of a horn. Haruka spotted Keiko leaning out of the window of a white minivan and waving her hand.

Even though Haruka hadn’t given a proper explanation, Keiko had gone along with her daughter’s whim and even come to pick her up. Keiko’s kindness made Haruka lower her head.

She ran up to the car and sat in the passenger’s seat.

'Welcome back,’ said Keiko kindly.

Haruka couldn’t look at Keiko’s face properly.

'I’m home.’

Keiko gave Haruka’s face a pinch when she replied without looking up.

'Ey, tha hurs, Mum.’

Keiko ignored Haruka’s resistance and pinched her daughter’s cheek even harder, looking like she was having fun.

– It hurts, it hurts.

Haruka flapped about to resist and somehow escaped Keiko’s hand.

'Honestly, what are you doing all of a sudden?’

Keiko laughed as she looked at Haruka with a hand against her cheek in her protest.

'OK, OK. If you’re that energetic, you’re fine.’

Keiko patted Haruka’s shoulder, put the car out of park and started the engine.

She must have been worried. When Haruka was troubled, it showed in her attitude. Haruka’s chest suddenly hurt the way it did when she told a lie.

'So why are you looking for Azusa-san all of a sudden?’

Keiko looked at Haruka while driving.

Haruka didn’t know how to answer the question, but she had to.

'I said that I go to the same university as Azusa-san’s son, Yakumo-kun, right?’

'Yup, you told me. What sort of child is Yakumo-kun?’ said Keiko with excited eyes.

Since he was the child of a friend who she hadn’t heard from in fifteen years, it was natural for her to be interested.

'Even if you ask me what sort of child he is…’

Haruka was lost for words. It was difficult to explain Yakumo in one word.

'Is he cool?’

Even though her mother was going to be fifty soon, she was acting rather like an idol-obsessed girl.

'Well, in a way.’

'I’ve only seen photos of him as a child, but I thought he’d definitely grow up to be cool. Which Johnny’s[1] member is he like?’

'Why would you use Johnny’s as an example?’

'If you’re talking about cool, it’s Johnny’s, right? Korean groups are no good. I can’t bring myself to like them because they feel too perfect.’

Haruka was the one who felt embarrassed when she looked at Keiko, who was as excited as a teenage girl.

She would have preferred it if her mother liked something more tasteful such as Ishihara Gundan[2].

'He doesn’t look like anybody in Johnny’s.’

Keiko covered her mouth and smiled when she heard Haruka’s refusal.

'Hey, can I say what I think?’

'What?’

'The reason you’re looking for Azusa-san.’

Haruka didn’t know what Keiko was thinking, but she seemed to be having fun.

Before Haruka responded, Keiko started talking on her own.

'Haruka, you and Yakumo-kun truly love each other and vowed to marry.’

'What are you saying?’

Haruka objected loudly, but Keiko wasn’t listening.

'Well, just listen. You’re looking for Yakumo-kun’s mother, Azusa-san, so you can tell her about your marriage. Right?’

There was a limit even to delusions.

Haruka was so astonished by her own mother that she couldn’t say anything. Her head hurt.

'Of course not!’

Haruka said that angrily, but Keiko was nonchalant.

It was like Haruka was talking with Yakumo.

'But you like him, right?’

'Who?’

'Yakumo-kun.’

Keiko smiled knowingly.

'I hate him. He’s a really unpleasant guy.’

Haruka hadn’t been planning on responding, but it just came out of her mouth.

'Oh, is that so?’

'It is. He’s contrary and he’s always making fun of me. He says things like “Do you want to be clumsy or stupid? Make up your mind.” He was really awful the other day too. He threw me into a pool.’

Haruka objectively listened to the words that kept coming out of her mouth.

The more she said, the more hollow she felt. Like she was talking about somebody who was already gone –

She had been holding it back until now, but the feeling that she might never meet him again was spreading.

'What? So you really do like him, don’t you?’ said Keiko, sounding exasperated.

'I said I hated him, didn’t I!?’ said Haruka, in a voice so loud it even surprised herself.

– Why am I getting so worked up?

Haruka couldn’t find the answer to that question.

'I see…’

After Keiko murmured that, she parked the car by the sidewalk and turned off the engine.

The cars passing them sounded extremely loud.

Haruka had her hands in fists on her lap. Keiko laid a hand on top of them. It was warm.

Her mother accepted her. When Haruka felt that, she relaxed from the sense of relief and the check she had put on her feelings stopped working.

'I really hate that guy. He disappeared without saying anything. Don’t you think that’s horrible? Even though I believe in Yakumo-kun, he’s always alone. He’d be fine even if I weren’t there…’

Tears started falling from her closed eyes.

– I’m frustrated.

Haruka realised that. She was frustrated that Yakumo had disappeared without saying anything.

The distance between Yakumo and her had been much, much farther than she had thought. She had been forced to feel that anew.

'Did Yakumo-kun go to search for his mother?’

Keiko pulled Haruka closer to her by the shoulder and hugged her.

Haruka’s body relaxed and she nodded, resting against Keiko’s chest.

'And you’re searching for Azusa-san to find Yakumo-kun then?’

Haruka nodded again.

'Yakumo-kun might be dead.’

Haruka gripped Keiko’s hand tightly.

'What are you saying? You’re searching for him because you haven’t given up, right?’

As Keiko rubbed Haruka’s back, Haruka could smell her mother’s scent.

It’s warm –

The anxiety she had held by herself until she had felt like she was going to burst was softening.

– I haven’t given up. I will definitely find Yakumo and give him a good punch.

Haruka decided that again while in Keiko’s arms.

Ishii sat at his desk and looked at the mirror he had borrowed from Makoto.

His glasses were cracked. There was gauze on his nose. A piercing pain in his nose made him wrinkle his brow. Even he thought he looked terrible.

'Are you really all right? You should go to the hospital…’ said Makoto, looking troubled.

'I’m fine.’

Ishii returned the mirror to Makoto. He didn’t care about his appearance at all right now.

'Why did a chair fall?’

Ishii didn’t know either. It was an interesting mystery, but he didn’t have the time to concern himself with that.

'More importantly, could you tell me what you were talking about, Makoto-san?’

Ishii changed the topic while bearing his pain.

Makoto still looked worried, but she reluctantly opened her notebook.

'Actually, today, I met with A-ko-san, who was the one who reported the crime. She lives near the precinct.’

I see, so that was why she called from in front of the precinct. But –

'Why did you meet with A-ko-san?’

For a moment, Makoto looked troubled by Ishii’s question, but she started speaking after licking her lips.

'Actually, there was a small contradiction in her testimony.’

'Contradiction?’

'Yes. According to her testimony, on the day of the crime at nine PM, she heard a scream from next door while she was watching a television drama.’

'If I remember correctly, the dossier said that the report came in at twelve AM…’

Ishii’s lips narrowed into a thin line.

'That’s right. She claimed it was at nine PM, but actually, the report came in at twelve AM…’

'If what she said is correct, that would mean she reported the incident three hours after she heard the scream.’

A distortion of time –

Ishii flipped through the files he had received from Miyagawa, found the page had A-ko-san’s testimony and followed it with his finger.

It really did read 12:07 AM.

– No, that’s wrong.

It had been written over, stamped with a thumbprint and changed. Before the change, the time had been written as 9:10 PM.

'The police pointed out that contradiction to her and in the end, she said that her memory might have been playing tricks on her and that it might have been at twelve AM, changing her testimony.’

'She changed it…’

'But from how it felt when I was talking to her today, she appears to still doubt that.’

'I see! So that’s how it is!’

Ishii stood up in his agitation. In A-ko-san’s testimony, there was the same distortion of time that had resulted from Hata’s autopsy.

'Ishii-san, what is it?’

Makoto’s mouth was agape as she looked at Ishii.

'Actually, I just heard something similar this morning.’

'Something similar?’

'That’s right. The coroner, Hata-san, was told that the time of death he gave, seven to nine PM, contradicted with the scene of the crime and had had to change it to about twelve AM using a broad interpretation of the facts.’

Makoto appeared to have understood the situation and put a hand over her mouth in her surprise.

Ishii could have jumped in his agitation.

'Now there’s no more doubt about it. The actual time of death was much earlier than twelve AM.’

It was probably past nine PM –

'But how about the time of the report and the detective’s testimony? And even if the time of the murder was different, what would change?’

Just as Makoto said, even if the time of the murder changed, the situation wouldn’t change much.

– No, wait a second.

Ishii started diligently following the investigation materials with his finger again.

He found the passage he was looking for immediately. It was a log of Takeda’s actions from the day of the crime.

They hadn’t been able to get Takeda’s testimony, but the testimony of those around him had been collection.

'This!’

Ishii hit the desk in his delight.

'What is it?’

Makoto looked at Ishii’s face in concern.

He wasn’t insane.

'Please look at this.’

Ishii pointed at the passage as he showed Makoto the document.

As Makoto looked at the paper, her expression hardened before Ishii’s eyes. Then, her eyes went wide and looked up at Ishii’s face.

'I see. In this testimony, Takeda’s ex-colleague, C-san, was together with Takeda until about nine. Then, Takeda revealed that he was going to talk things out with Katsuaki.’

'Which means…’

'That’s right. If A-ko-san did hear a scream past nine, like she said in her testimony, then Takeda has an alibi.’

Even though Ishii had meant to express his reasoning confidently, Makoto looked depressed. She had a complex expression on her face, like the food she had eaten wasn’t as delicious as it looked.

'But why is there a difference in time? Why did A-ko-san report the incident to the police three hours after hearing the scream?’

It was just as Makoto said.

Nine PM and twelve AM. No matter which time they chose, it wasn’t consistent.

It would make more sense if A-ko-san had mistaken the time and they looked at the autopsy results with a broad interpretation, as the police ended up doing.

But there was another way of looking at it.

'What if somebody faked the time of death to pin the crime on Takeda?’

'Would that mean A-ko-san was an accomplice?’

'Yes. She gave a false testimony in order to cover for her accomplice.’

– That was the only way this would make sense.

'But isn’t that strange?’

Makoto immediately denied Ishii’s suggestion.

'Strange?’

'A-ko-san testified that it was nine PM. The police were the ones who changed that to twelve AM.’

That was certainly true. Whichever time it was, it would be difficult to think of A-ko-san as an accomplice.

'Also, the detective met the culprit at the scene. It would make the idea that the time of the crime was faked suspicious.’

It was just as Makoto said.

There was no point in faking the time of the crime if the culprit stayed at the scene.

Ishii’s theory went back to the drawing board. Dispirited, he organised the documents. His head felt heavy. He felt somewhat irritated. He wanted to have a smoke.

'I also thought A-ko-san’s testimony was unnatural, but I can’t think of anything beyond that.’

'Right.’

'If A-ko-san’s testimony is true, that would mean she heard the scream past nine PM, lost consciousness for about three hours and then called the police without noticing that.

Lost consciousness – ?

Something clicked in Ishii’s head, and the gears started turning.

The various information he had gathered up until now started coming together, leading him to one theory.

– What on earth? Is that how it is?

'Makoto-san! You’re a genius!’

In his agitation, Ishii leant forward, grabbed Makoto’s shoulders and shook her.

If the theory he had just constructed now was true, this was very serious.

'E-er. Ishii-san, what’s wrong?’

Makoto looked at Ishii like she was looking at something unpleasant.

Please don’t look like that. I mean, I –

'I’ve figured it out! The puzzle of this case!’

Ishii yelled that in a ringing voice.

Togakushi Soba <Ozawa> - that was Haruka’s home.

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 seemed he sensed something 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 home.’

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 seemed 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 same wavelength as Azusa-san,’ said Keiko earnestly.

Haruka felt like she understood. If they had only met because of the case, the relationship wouldn’t have continued for so long.

Haruka and Yakumo were the same. Regardless of how they met, in the end, they seemed to be on the same wavelength.

'So I feel like I understand why you’d be charmed 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 somebody 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 time 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 came 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 somebody like me 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 something strange. Sorry.’

'Don’t worry about it. Plus, Yakumo-kun went somewhere to chase his mother, right?’

'Probably.’

'Which means that if we chase Yakumo-kun, I might also be able to meet Azusa-san, right?’

Keiko laughed pleasantly.

– Azusa-san might already be dead.

Haruka didn’t have the courage to tell Keiko that.

However, Keiko seemed 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 time like this. Somehow, it was strange to imagine it.

She took a look at the letter too.

It’s different – Haruka felt that immediately.

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 came 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 same for Yakumo too.

His own mother put her hands around his neck – wouldn’t that vivid memory 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 somewhere 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 some shadows, but it felt like that doubled her charm.

Yakumo resembled his mother.

On the other side was the person who would have become 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.

After Ishii parted from Makoto, he called Miyagawa through the internal line.

Even though they could have met in person, Ishii had experienced the attitude the detectives had towards him yesterday. He didn’t want to encourage that.

<It’s Miyagawa.>

He heard Miyagawa’s clearly displeased voice.

'This is Ishii.’

<It’s you…?>

'I apologise for calling when you are busy. I would like to ask you something regarding the matter we discussed before.’

Miyagawa’s tone suddenly lowered. He was probably concerned about the investigation members around him.

'Nothing is certain yet.’

Then don’t call. That feeling came 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 something I would like to confirm.’

<What?>

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 documents 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 time 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 me.’

Ishii bowed his head to pray.

<I’ll go over there once I’ve finished up, so wait there.>

'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 name.

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-san, there’s something I would like you to look into.>

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.

'Something you would like me to look into?’

<Yes. I will send you a photo of a person afterwards. I would like you to search for him.>

Haruka was speaking quickly.

– Searching for someone.

It was probably somebody related to the case, but it would be difficult to look for somebody with only a photo.

Putting aside whether he even had the time 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 somehow.

There was a good chance that her lover might have some 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 me as much information about that person as you can.’

After that, Ishii checked his email address while reading it to Haruka over the phone.

<I’ll message you right away.>

'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.

<I’m sorry too. I said something awful to you, Ishii-san.>

What Haruka said was very far from what Ishii had expected.

– She’s going to forgive me?

'Something was wrong with me then. Let’s save Yakumo-shi and Detective Gotou with our own hands no matter what!’

<Yes.>

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 time to space out. Ishii came 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 seemed Haruka had sent it from her mobile phone. The email had already arrived.

The subject was <This is the person>. The mail said <Yesterday, I met this person. I don’t know his name.>

There was too little information. He didn’t know how to search from just this. It wasn’t impossible, but it would take some time.

He opened the attached image.

The photo had probably been taken with a mobile phone camera. 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 immediately took out his mobile phone and called Haruka’s number.

Makoto met with the hypnotherapist named 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 demeanour and seemed like a good listener.

He even listened seriously to Makoto’s crazy story.

That said, it wasn’t actually something 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 method 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 means?’

'Those actions come from that person’s own intentions, so it is impossible to make somebody 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 method was possible. Isn’t it impossible to control people?’

'It is a little bit different. Even if you were hypnotised somebody and told to kill somebody 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 mean their personality would disappear. Accordingly, somebody 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 meaning, the trick in the method this time hadn’t required anybody to directly kill somebody, so it could be said to be within the range allowed by one’s morals. However –

'Wouldn’t that mean 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 somebody 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 mean somebody was there giving hypnotic suggestion.’

'That wouldn’t be necessary,’ said Hayashi firmly.

'Is it possible to put somebody under hypnotic suggestion from a distance?’

'This is a little different. The method of hypnotic suggestion is done so that the suggestion is triggered by something.’

'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 somebody was under hypnotic suggestion, they were still conscious when hypnotised.

That would mean that they remembered being put under hypnotic suggestion.

'Wouldn’t there be no point if the person under hypnotic suggestion could remember what happened?’

Makoto voiced the question as it came 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 same time. It is called hypnotic amnesia.’

'Hypnotic amnesia?’

'Yes. In short, people are conscious when hypnotised. They remember what they do even when guided. There would be no meaning 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 comes 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 crime.

'It’s the same for surgeons, isn’t it? It is their job to cure people’s bodies with their scalpels. However, it would be incorrect to blame their scalpels because they could be used for crime. Everything depends on how something 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 medicine from hospitals would become poison if used incorrectly.

Furthermore, what happened this time had occurred from a number of coincidences and wasn’t something that somebody 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 somebody different.

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 crime that occurred where the video was taken was the man who was supposed to become his father –

The place Haruka had finally arrived at had just been the starting line for Yakumo.

Disappointment welled up within Haruka. At this pace, it didn’t seem like she would ever catch up to Yakumo.

'What’s wrong?’

Haruka came back to her senses when Keiko called out to her.

'This man’s name. 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 times. But the truth was mercilessly there.

A cruel truth that was everywhere –

If Haruka had been in the same 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 same 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 met?’

'I do. When I got the letter about her marriage, I was so happy I called her.’

Keiko smiled. Her eyes seemed to be looking far away.

She was probably recalling how she felt then. Being able to share one’s feelings with somebody 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 met.’

'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 meeting.’

'A month!?’

Haruka’s voice jumped an octave.

That was a huge difference from somebody 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 time period probably hid their relationship.

That was why Isshin and the police hadn’t found out.

That meant 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 something was off.

After Miyagawa left the room, he went down the corridor to the door to the <Unsolved Cases Special Investigation Room> 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 something 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 name, so he just let the conversation flow.

Ishii looked at Miyagawa like he wanted something.

It was like Ishii was telling him to take the documents out already. But Miyagawa couldn’t just hand them over without knowing what was going on.

'Why do you need documents 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 something 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 something there if this coward was going to say this much. Miyagawa faltered.

'Try telling me.’

'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 me laugh. You’re not saying that somebody was hypnotised to kill somebody, right?’

Miyagawa had sad that coldly, but Ishii still did not flinch. Where did this confidence come from?

'It is impossible to make somebody kill someone else with hypnotism.’

'Doesn’t that not match up with what you’re saying?’

'The point is that case comes 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 mean that she heard the scream at nine and called the police right away at twelve AM. Did she use a carrier pigeon or something?’

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, somebody guided her into a deep hypnotic state.’

– Was he serious?

Miyagawa glared at Ishii, but Ishii continued speaking, paying him no heed.

'Then, at some sort of signal, she woke up after three hours and reported the incident to the police. A-ko-san lost the memory of the three hours she was hypnotised for, so she thought that she had called immediately 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 confirmed 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 time 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 somebody faints, what was just a moment to them could actually have been many hours. It is the same 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 moment for him, but it had actually been six hours.

'But how about the autopsy? The time of death was said to be around twelve AM.’

'I checked with Hata-san. The final time of death was decided based on the scene of the crime. 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 time of death for the corpses from seven to nine PM.’

Miyagawa stood up unconsciously in his agitation.

'Why would anybody need to do something so troublesome?’

'In order to change the time of the crime and give the culprit an alibi.’

If the method Ishii discussed was possible and actually happened, it would be a great way to make an alibi.

However, there was something 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 remember 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 me to see the documents?’

Miyagawa handed the documents over to Ishii before replying.

The documents had the details for two names that had come up as suspects before the police had decided that Takeda was the culprit.

Ishii immediately started looking through the documents.

A number of things happened during that case and the police got the time of the crime 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 mean 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 –

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 meet 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 something she’d missed. Something very important –

'Haruka. You said you met 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 come to see Haruka.

'Yeah.’

'What did he say?’

'He wanted me to save Yakumo-kun. And that Yakumo-kun was in Nagano.’

'Why did he ask that of you? Hasn’t Takeda-san met Yakumo-kun?’

Haruka had the same doubts as Keiko.

And how did he know I was searching for Yakumo? Why didn’t he meet Yakumo directly?

The questions in Haruka’s head suddenly brought up a memory.

The day she went to the <Movie Research Circle> to search for Yakumo, she’d felt somebody’s gaze. That hadn’t been her imagination.

– Takeda was watching me.

Takeda must have gone to meet 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 mean Azusa-san is also in Nagano?’

Keiko proposed another question while Haruka was pondering.

The moment she heard that, the image from the video came 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 something was strange when she saw that video.

The moment the video became completely dark, she’d heard the faint sound of something 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 meant 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 me there,’ begged Haruka as she gripped Keiko’s two hands.

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 crime of the two suspects had been in the documents Miyagawa showed him.

Ishii had realised immediately 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 come along.

The moment 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 me 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 moment 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 something 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 some reason, I feel like something’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