Page 13 (1/2)
VOLUME 3 - THE LIGHT BEYOND THE DARKNESS
file 03: grudge ()
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1
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In theplace
She earing the necklace she had received from Yakumo yesterday, of course She wanted to see hoould react
That said, the fixture that connected the chain of the necklace she had brought home had broken, so she couldn’t wear it as it was
She just went and switched it with a leather cord froht itin the chair he always did with his bedhead and sleepy eyes as usual, and he said, sounding like a fizzy drink that had gone flat, ‘You again?’
It wasn’t just his words – not even his expression changed He didn’t notice even when she tried
’You look sleepy as usual’
Though she felt disappointed, Haruka sat down across from Yakumo
’I’m busy’
’I can’t tell’
’There’s soh I thought I’d keep you company since you were free’
’It’s the opposite,’ said Yakumo in the same tone of voice, and then he slowly stood up
So he really was heading out Haruka was going to give up when Yakuo too?’
’Go where?’
She asked that, but the truth was it didn’t one out of his way to invite her, of course she would go
’The continuation of the case There’s soate’
Ah, so that’s what it was –
That case wasn’t finished yet Since she had been entrusted with the diary, she had a duty to see the case to the end
’Of course I’ll go’
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They walked from the university to the station, took a cab and walked another fifteenfor, Haruka was covered in enough sweat to warrant a change of clothes
Yaku them the key to the roof of the apartment Then, they took the elevator up to the seventh floor and took the stairs up fro or fence – the edge was just a little bit taller, like it had been folded back
Haruka stood in front of that edge and narrowed her eyes
She had an unbroken view of the town, cutting through the arden
When she looked at it like this, it didn’t feel like anybody lived there
A scene with only buildings lined up inhuularly However, uchi Rika-san jumped from this rooftop, what did she feel –
With his hands in his pockets, Yakue It scared Haruka to look at him
’Why do you think she jumped from here?’
Yakumo spoke to the air
’Because she had decided to die…’
’Correct That was not an i intent’
’Why do you think that?’
’Her family lived on the fifth floor of this apartment If it had been an impulsive decision, she would have jumped from there’
’I see…’
’However, she didn’t do that She purposefully went up the stairs, somehow opened the locked door to the rooftop and stood here’
It was just as Yakumo said In order to coer That would take a lot of effort It didn’t feel impulsive – it felt planned
Yakumo looked up at the sky
Haruka looked at the sky in the same way A clear blue sky, discrepant with the situation, spread out above them
The clouds carried by the wind looked like waves
’Is there so up at the sky
’Maybe it has soht have come here in her pain to be soothed rather than to die’
Yakuaze to the town that spread out below them His eyes sees honestly into words, so his eyes did a surprising a for him
’So you really were still here,’ said Yaku directly behind Haruka Was someone there?
Haruka turned around, but she couldn’t see anything She turned back to look at Yakuuchi Rika-san, yes?’ said Yakumo
Oh, so she came here?
That hat Yakue and slowly started walking
He passed by Haruka and proceeded straight forward, towards where Haruka thought Rika was
The photo of Rika she had seen at the altar came up in Haruka’s mind
When she was in the photo, she had been about the sa her teeth
Haruka couldn’t feel any shadow of death from it
What sort of expression did she have here now?
Haruka followed Yakuh she couldn’t see her, Rika was in front of that gaze
’Let’s put an end to this already’
Yaku to a child
’Death won’t bring release,’ Yakuhtfully loud
Because of the heat which scorched her skin, sweat came down from her forehead and dripped from her chin to the concrete
’Stop already!’
Yakumo’s voice drowned out the cry of the cicadas
For a while, Yakuave up and shook his head while looking down
’It’s no use As I thought, my voice won’t reach her’
’What do you mean?’ asked Haruka, who couldn’t understand what he’d said
’It looks like I really will have to have hi that, Yakumo took out his mobile phone
By him, does he mean that that exorcist we met before –
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Gotou visited Hata’s hospital He was sipping tea in his usual heedless manner
’You look really tired’
’I don’t enjoy my work as much as you enjoy yours, old man,’ said Gotou as he handed Hata a memo
It was the one Yakumo handed to Ishii yesterday This should have been Ishii’s job, but he couldn’t co the face of the chief’s daughter – there was a li wrongfully doubted and was probably strictly restrained right now, even though he had gone to help Makoto
’What is this?’ asked Hata, looking at the memo with a complex expression on his face
’I want you to collect the ite to do once you’ve got them?’
’I want to ask that myself’
Gotou crossed his arht his face closer to Gotou’s and looked at hi him It was creepy Did Hata want to autopsy him?
’You should take soo slack He spoke gently, like he was looking out for his kid
’What are you saying all of a sudden?’
’I’d thought of saying it before, but you’re not suited to being a detective Why not take some ti a detective, he says –
Nobody had ever told hiht had never crossed his ainst the police, an organisation you can’t win against, and you eer just explodes It’s like you’re hurting yourself’
’I’ yourself? You’ll just be worn out if you keep putting the burden for everything on your shoulders even when you could just let it go’
’Mind your own business’
’Why are you still a detective after all that?’
Da as Yaku I’ainst the organisation because I find it frustrating You say I empathise with the victier to look at theitation
He wasn’t trying to look good or anything – that was how he really felt
Hata sighed like he was tired of Gotou What’s with that look of pity? Gotou didn’t have the right to have people look at hiry at their assailants, but they couldn’t let it out Sawaguchi Rika was a good example
She had even taken her life because of all that she suffered
Gotou couldn’t silently watch that That was all
He didn’t knohy That was just the sort of person he was
’Well, fine All I have to do is prepare the items written on here, correct?’
’Does it look like it’ll work out?’
’I won’t be able to do it by oose chase
’I’ll co that, Gotou left the roouchi Rika There had so ht, which was unlike hieezer orrying about hi on it He just had to work now
Gotou left the hospital and got into the car he had parked in the parking lot when his
It was fros he had to tell hi was perfect
<How is the situation?>
Yaku hi about how Gotou didn’t have good phone reeted hihtly Makoto was assaulted last night,’ said Gotou
<I wasn’t treating this lightly That hy I warned you>
’Shut up!’
It was just as Yakuhtly
He regretted not sending her all the way hoht?>
’She’s in hospital It appears that her head was hit, but she’ll be fine Seee which said, "Don’t stick your neck in any more than this"’
He left out how Ishii had kicked Makoto’s face If he told Yakuuy was as depressed as if he had seen the end of the world
<A police warning?>
’Yeah And Makoto didn’t see the guy’s face, but she re that tattoo on his arht’
Makoto had just started looking into the assault case fro, Oori Kazushi was probably the one who had assaulted her
It’d be great if he could just stop his roundabout investigation and arrest Oori
<And how is the investigation I asked you to conduct?>
’Ah, I looked into the bartender called Yagi’
Gotou took a ate with the incident last night, so he asked Eriko to She’d replied first thing in the i Keita is the son of Yagi Yasushi, the former Diet member’
’And?’ Yakuo for the e’
<Ah, that case>
Yakumo sounded like he knew about it
Gotou hadn’t, but it seeotten the results of the investigation so quickly because she re, he ate hio due to cancer That bar was left behind as his son’s only inheritance’
<Is that so? And how about Oori-san’s work?>
’I’m just about to head there’
So slow – Gotou readied himself for that complaint, but Yakumo responded differently than what he had expected
<I understand Gotou-san, could you put off the matter with Oori-san and meet with Makoto-san?’
She’d just needed three stitches for her head injury She was just in the hospital for a check-up now, soher should be possible
’OK’
<I see Please come pick me up I am at the apartment Rika-san used to live in>
’A like it, aren’t you?>
This guy How much more am I supposed to take –
The call ended before Gotou could let out his anger
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When Gotou’s car reached the front of the apartot into the back seat She shouldn’t have had anything to do with the case, but –
’You on a date?’
Gotou made fun of Yaku to et off the car i? Like Gotou would let hie his , but –
’Yaku in particular that I want to ask’
Yakumo yawned in boredom at Gotou’s question
’You’re the one who said you wanted to see her’
’That’s why I’ to see her’
’What for?’
’Because she’s in hospital’
Gotou started grinding his teeth loudly in his irritation
Sorry, Makoto, but Yakumo should’ve known better than anyone that they didn’t have the time to take it easy with a visit to the hospital
’Tell me the truth’
’Gotou-san, it’s useless I asked hi’
Haruka replied in Yakuotten wrapped up in this too, Haruka-chan?’
’That’s right He asked ation’
Haruka said that with a sour look, but Gotou felt like she probably didn’t really feel that way on the inside
She was probably happy that she’d been promoted from the usual troublemaker to the assistant
’Yakuht – why don’t you just tell us?’
Haruka agreed with Gotou, ouldn’t stop pressing the issue
’You tays coht away That’s why you always call me in for your troubles’
’Shut up!’ said Gotou and Haruka at the sah the hospital entrance to see Ishii sitting on the sofa while cradling his head
’What are you doing?’
’Ah, yes, er, apologising to Makoto-san…’
Ishii leapt up His gaze darted everywhere – it seemed like he couldn’t relax
’Did you?’
’That’s… er…’
Ishii looked at his feet and stopped talking
Honestly What a pathetic guy
’Hurry up and go!’
Ishii’s shoulders shook at Gotou’s yell
’Gotou-san, don’t yell at him – he looks so pitiful,’ Haruka interrupted
Ishii’s forehead was covered in sweat, and he kept on fixing the position of his glasses with his finger He really was a pathetic guy – a girl younger than hiether We are heading to see her as well,’ said Yakumo
’Y-yes’
Ishii finally raised his head and replied
Honestly It was the end for him if he needed to be saved by a university student In any case, Gotou hit the back of Ishii’s head
They asked the employee at the reception desk where Makoto’s rooether
’We’re co into the room
Yakumo followed him The private room was about four tatami in size When your dad ell-known, there really were differences in how you were treated for things like this
’Ah, Detective Gotou’
Makoto sat up on the bed
Her head was bandaged, but she looked ined she would
’Hey We’re just here to check up on you’
Gotou raised his hand, pulled out a round chair from below the bed and sat down Yaku
’Oh, you didn’t have to –I’ve only been hospitalised for a check-up, so I’ll be let out this evening’
Gotou was glad it wasn’t a big deal
’Sorry about my partner – Ishii’
Gotou called for him, so Ishii finally came in with a completely red face Haruka followed after him
Gotou couldn’t tell who had been the one as hospitalised
’Coered towards Makoto’s bed and bowed deeply
’I a like he would start crying at any moment
’No, please don’t worry about it soawful…’ said Ishii, his head still bowed
Was he reflecting on his actions, or was he unable to look at Makoto’s face… Gotou couldn’t suppress the feeling that it was the latter
’I’ll apologise too Sorry about that’
Gotou bowed his head as well
’It isn’t as if Ishii-san had any ill will Please raise your heads’
Makoto, see flustered, placed a hand on Ishii’s shoulder
’I’ood as a detective I planned to save you, but…’
’That’s not true at all’
Makoto co to cry
What a pathetic scene
’Excuse me, but since there isn’t much time, could I advance the conversation?’
Yakuh his hair
’Oh, that’s right,’ Gotou said while pushing Ishii aside
Yakumo walked forward into the now e I would like to ask you, Makoto-san’
’Ah, yes If I could be of any help’
Makoto corrected her posture on the bed Her expression was stiff, like she was going to undergo an interrogation
’I want to ask about Asami-san, who has disappeared’
’About Asami?’
’She was in the same year as you when you were in university, yes?’
’Yes, she was’
’Sickness or injury, any reason is fine Did she ever take an extended break from school?’
’She did,’ replied Makoto with a surprised expression on her face
’When was that?’
’During our fourth year of university Because of an illness, I couldn’t contact her for about a month’
’So that was the case then’
Yakumo nodded in satisfaction, but Gotou didn’t understand
’Oi Yaku him off ’Hoas she after that?’
’That’s… Asami returned hoh email and New Year’s cards after that and didn’t ain at the bar’
’Was Asami-san the one who said to meet at the bar?’
’Yes She had been relocated to Tokyo for work’
’I see,’to do with this case?’
Makoto urged Yakumo for an answer, but he didn’t reply
’May I ask you one ?’
’Yes…’
’The tattoo with that pattern was on the arm of the person who assaulted you, yes?’
Makoto nodded to answer Yakumo’s question
’Yakuo and –’
’I did say to please be quiet’
Yakumo looked at Gotou, who had interrupted, with an incredibly annoyed expression
He was unusually irritated Gotou had thought Yaku
’The tattoo was there,’ said Makoto firht arm or the left arm?’
’Left… I think’
’I see’
’Now that youabout the tattoo just earlier’
The moment Yakumo heard that, his cheek twitched and he looked unusually suspicious
Why did Kamiyama come here –
’Does Kamiyama-shi know about this incident as well?’
’Yes He kept on apologising, saying "I’ain’
After Yaku troubled
That exorcist apologised to Makoto Why? Does he have a reason to apologise –
’Gotou-san, a change of plans Preparations are not in order yet, but let us go to the exorcism’
’Exorcism?’
Gotou’s voice cracked because what Yakuht he’d hear the word exorcishosts were clusters of the emotions of the dead
’As well, Makoto-san, I have a request’
’A request…?’
Makoto cocked her head
Yakumo didn’t pay any attention to her response and whispered so into Makoto’s ear
’Would that be possible?’
’I think it would be fine’
Makoto replied firmly to Yakumo’s request
For some reason, it seemed like they were in a rush all of a sudden
’Ishii-san, please help Makoto-san’
’Eh, ah, yes’
Ishii gave a flustered reply
’Now, Gotou-san, we’re going’
We’re going, he says –
’Where to?’
’Please, there is no time to lose’
Yakumo briskly headed for the hospital room door
It annoyed him to be ordered around by a university student, but there was no helping it this time Gotou responded with a ’Got it’ and followed Yakumo
’Wait, Yakumo-kun How about rabbed onto the ar to leave hurriedly
’You can go honored Haruka and left the rooru on the inside, but he left the hospital room after Yakumo
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Before he took off in the car, Gotou contacted Hata through his mobile phone
Of course, at Yakuot the stuff on the memo?’ said Gotou once Hata picked up
<Don’t ot one The others will have to wait until tomorrow>
’Can’t you hurry it up?’
<I have other work too Don’t be so selfish And this is all out of ht
Since Gotou had just , there was no way Hata would be done preparing in only a few hours
’Says he’s only got one What’re you going to do?’
Gotou covered the receiver and asked Yakumo beside him this question
’What does he have prepared?’
’Old man, what do you have prepared?’
Gotou repeated Yakuht>
It sounded like a baseball position[1]
’Says he’s got the light’
’That’s sufficient The rest ork out so
’Then what are you going to do?’
’Please tell Hata-san to bring that to Inoue Asao there now?
Gotou didn’t knohat Yaku this far He’d go with hi that where I tell you to’
<I refuse I said this earlier – I’o pull his head off his shoulders
While Gotou was seething with rage, Yakumo took the mobile phone from beside him
’Hata-san, this is Yaku to perform an exorcism now… Yes The solution to the locked room case’
Yakumo smirked as he talked
’Thank you very much’
After he said that, he threw theto interrupt, he should just talk himself in the first place, honestly
’Gotou-san, please tell Hata-san the address’
Yes, yes, he would be delighted to
When Gotou arrived in front of the apart in front of the entrance
He had a paper bag in his right hand
’Hey, Yakumo-kun It’s been a while’
Hata looked over Yakumo with eyes full of curiosity
It really was creepy, so Gotou wished he would stop If he took his eyes off this old ht then
’Hata-san, the thing weGotou had given theits contents, so he didn’t knohat had been written
He’d said ’light’ earlier, but if it were just a noro out of his way to ask for it
’This is fine, yes?’
’Yes, thank you very oing’
Honestly, using a detective like a gopher Gotou would definitely take a swing at him once this case was over Gotou vowed that in his heart, opened the door with the key he had borrowed and went through the entrance with Yakumo and Hata
When he pressed the elevator, the lift was fortunately on the first floor so the door opened right away
Yakuot into the elevator andthe ’Open’ button
’Please keep it like this for a bit’
Yakumo addressed the person on the other side of the phone
Gotou heard the person on the other end say <What on earth is it?> She was probably Haruka
’Gotou-san, could you watch the time?’
After Yakumo said that, Gotou turned his eyes to the second hand of his atch
’OK’
At the same time as Gotou replied, Yakumo pressed the ’9’ and then the ’Close’ buttons
There was the sound of the winch winding up as the elevator started
’The call ended How many seconds was it?’
Yakumo spoke at around the same time as the display showed that they were on the third floor
’Eleven seconds’
The elevator continued going up
They arrived at the ninth floor Yakumo ran out the moment the door opened
Gotou followed after hiht Another right It wasn’t so noticeable alking, but it was a narrow path
’HowAsami’s room door, Yakumo spoke Gotou turned his eyes to his atch immediately
’Forty-five seconds’
’Thirty-four seconds since the call cut off then? It isn’t an i?’
Hata had leisurely walked up to theaze to Yakumo
’This is an experiment related to the locked room disappearance phenomenon,’ said Yakumo with narrowed eyes
’Yakumo-kun, is that really possible?’
Yakumo shook his head at Hata’s question
’Hata-san, if you are asking whether it was a spiritual pheno whether a person could have done it, the answer is yes I proved it just now’
’Y-you proved it?’
’Like I’ve said before, please do not speak so loudly next to my ear’