Page 16 (1/2)
VOLUME 4 - FEELINGS TO PROTECT file 01: ignition ()
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1
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When Yokouchi Kazuhito came out of the staff entrance in the back of the school building, it was already past ten
He looked up at a beautiful moon
A full moon –
It took more ti he wasn’t accusto up at the end of the day was the caretaker’s job, but the caretaker was off due to a cold
Of course, the troublesome work fell to the rookie teacher
Perhaps it was different for private schools, but the world of public school teachers was still firmly rooted in the old seniority system Even if he was dissatisfied with it, he wasn’t in a situation where he could say it aloud
‘This is really annoying…’
Yokouchi walked the path between the school building and the pool while gruates
He wanted to go home as quickly as possible That impulse quickened Yokouchi’s pace
Plop –
There was the sound of so into the water
When he turned his eyes to the pool, there were ripples in theboard in the third lane
’A person…’ murmured Yokouchi as he stared
He couldn’t see the face well, but it appeared to be ainto the school pool at this time – and it was autumn now, on top of that
There had been a number of incidents within the school recently If he left it like this, it’d become a problem of responsibility
’Er, excuse e and called out to the man
The man made no response Had his voice not reached hi?’
Yokouchi put his hand by his mouth and raised his voice
It looked like he heard him this time
The man slowly turned his neck to look towards Yokouchi However, he immediately turned back
Honestly, as it?
’Excuse me! Please leave!’ said Yokouchi as he walked towards the pool fence
However, the man still did not move
’I will call the police!’
Yokouchi took the mobile phone out of the pocket of his slacks
The man would definitely run now that Yokouchi had played that card That hat Yokouchi thought, but it was no good
Now there was nothing to do but actually call
’I really will call’
Yokouchiand then pressed the buttons 1, 1 and 0
Eh? It won’t go through –
Was the connection bad? He took a look at his e
There was nothing he could do Maybe he’d go back to the staffroom and call
Yokouchi was just about to turn his heels around when sorabbed his jacket heotten next to him at some point in time He didn’t remember the face Was he from a kid from one of the classes?
At any rate, it was a proble at school at this hour
Indifferent to Yokouchi’s thoughts, the boy slowly pointed at the diving board where the ain
The
What?
While Yokouchi was being bewildered, a bright red pillar of flame rose from the man’s stoon cli to the heavens and sed the h the man ed up by the fla a sheet of spray
Why? How?
Yokouchi was so shocked by what happened that these natural suspicions didn’t even cross his mind
Horror just crept up from his feet and stole the freedos and he sank down to the floor right there
The boy from earlier peered worriedly at Yokouchi
Why is this kid so calm? Somebody burned up in front of your eyes –
While Yokouchi was seized with fear, the boy’s face started glowing
It can’t be –
His bad feeling struck hoht a small blaze was in the boy’s cheek, his entire face started burning with the intensity of a paper being eaten away by fla blaze sed the boy whole in no time at all
Just like theto save him
He just heard a voice in his ear as he tried to scuttle away in his fear –
It’s hot… Help…
’Aaahh!’
Yokouchi’s screaht
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2
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Ozawa Haruka stood in front of the lavatory sink and looked at her reflection in the ly pale –
Noshe acted, her body showed her nervousness honestly
With today, it had been a week since she started her training as a teacher at this elementary school
She had matched the names with the faces of all the children in the class she was in charge of and was used to that atmosphere as well
No matter how used to it she was, today was different
It would be stranger not to be nervous, though it was true that she also felt exhilarated
It was similar to how she felt before a perforo soon’
The person who peeked in froe of Haruka, Komai Hiromi
’Ah, please excuse me I’ll be out soon’
’I’ll wait outside then’
Ko now I have to do it I’ll be fine
Haruka told herthe corners of her lips up in a so?’
’Yes’
After Haruka replied, she started walking down the corridor beside Koh she had readied herself, when she approached the classroom, her heartbeat was so loud it hurt her ears
’Are you nervous?’ asked Ko to look at Haruka
’Yes Only a little,’ Haruka replied honestly
For a hed happily
It ht have been rude for her to put it this way, but that expression was cute Though the teacher was in her mid-thirties, it didn’t look like that at all to Haruka
When she actually spoke to her, the contents and method of her speech e at all to say she looked to be the sae as Haruka just froetting ht have been the cause of it
There was a ser of the hand that coh’
Koed
’Is that so? I feel like my heart will leap out of my mouth’
’If you can say that, you’re fine’
After nodding a few times, Komai clapped a hand on Haruka’s shoulders
Recently, it felt like the way people evaluated her had changed
Though she wouldn’t be able to reply with a fired, when compared to before, she wasn’t as timid, or perhaps she could say she felt like she had her own opinions
It had been that way for her choice of the elementary school she would train at
There were oing training However, Haruka didn’t dare to do that
Her reason was that she didn’t want to depend on the kindness of a school that she was familiar with
This elementary had thirty students per class and five classes per year
There were nine hundred children It was smack in the middle of a residential area, so the scale and environment were completely different froraduated from
Since she had entered the education department, she aspired to become a teacher
However, she’d wanted to see how serious she was in this completely different environht of placing herself in adversity
It s me back For my first class, I couldn’t do it until the end because I was nervous,’ said Ko
’You couldn’t, Komai-sensei?’
Komai narrowed her eyes at Haruka’s surprised expression
She looked like a prankster as sche
’Is that unexpected?’
’Yes’
’Why?’
’Sensei, your classes are really easy to understand and fair I can’t iine that at all’
’Everyone fails at first’
’Yes’
Haruka stopped walking to reply
She felt like some of the tension had left her shoulders
Just as Koinning People grew as they et here’
’Ten years…’
There was still a long path ahead She’d have to work hard
When Haruka raised her head, she saw a plate that said <Class 5-4>
This was the class Haruka was in charge of during training
She could tell that the classroom was unusually noisy even from the corridor
The children also knew that today was Haruka’s first class Perhaps the children felt anxious like she did
’Are you prepared?’
’Yes’
Haruka took in a deep breath before replying to Komai
’Now, do your best’
Koripped a necklace with a red stone tightly in her left hand It was the necklace Yakuth –
After praying silently in her heart, she opened the door
Suddenly, the children gave a thunderous cheer There were so
Haruka went blank at the unexpected reception
’Look at the blackboard,’ said Komai
She was still astonished as she looked over and saw the words ’Haruka-sensei, do your best!’ written in chalk across the chalkboard
It was decorated with paper flowers and ribbons
The corners of Haruka’s eyes felt warm, her chest full of surprise and joy
’Everyone, thank you I’ll be in your care today’
When Haruka bowed, the children cheered again
Haruka straightened her back and stood at the platform
When she had been in ele at the platform had looked very tall to her She wondered what the children thought of her now
As Haruka looked around the children in the classrooain, Haruka’s eyes stopped at one of the boys
Oo into the desk with the needle of a compass, as if Haruka’s existence was completely irrelevant to him
It looked like he was the only one as cut off
He was always like this Not just in class – even during break and after school, he would be outside of the circle of the class
Should I keep an eye on him –
’Now, start the class’
While Haruka was troubled about what to do, Ko the words on the blackboard
That was right She should concentrate on class now
’OK, let’s start’
Haruka put that behind her and opened the textbook
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3
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Ishii Yuutarou was running at full speed down a pitch-black road
It’s hard to breathe –
Ishii didn’t knohy or to where he was running hi the back of the senior detective running in front of hi?’
Gotou didn’t even turn around at Ishii’s voice
How far had they run? Gotou suddenly came to a stop
’Excuse me… Detective Gotou’
Just as Ishii spoke up, Gotou’s bearlike figure fell backwards
’Detective Gotou, what has happened?’
Ishii approached because he orried, but he was startled when he saw Gotou’s face
His eyes ide and his face was a pale as a dead man’s And – his white shirt was dyed red at the chest
– It’s blood
’Detective Gotou, please hold on’
Ishii put up with his treorously
However, there was no response at all
He’s dead – as if to deny that thought, Ishii shook his head
’Detective Gotou! Please wake up!’
Ishii gathered strength in the bottom of his stomach and raised his voice
’Shut up, you fool!’
So hit Ishii’s head and he jumped up to his feet
What he saw before him was completely different from what he had seen earlier
Eh, this is ht –
’Wake up already!’
Another fist came down on Ishii’s head
When he looked up, he saw Gotou standing there, though he had been dead earlier
There was no blood on the white shirt so shabby it would ly in front of Ishii with that demonic stature
Oh, that was a dreaht yesterday and thought he’d take a nap at dawn and rested his head on the desk
Maybe that hy he’d seen such a drea to doze off for!?’
As Gotou yelled, he raised his fist again
’Eek S-s-sorry’
Ishii instinctively covered his head and let out a voice close to a shriek
’It see yourselves considerably’
There was a voice from the doorway The characteristic thick voice of so
When he looked over, he saw Miyagawa, the chief, standing there
He had taken over for the previous chief, Ideuchi, who had quit because of the incident three ed ive the i frail He had the face of a Buddhist priest and thick eyebrows Underneath that were a pair of piercing eyes
He could be ht kill a bear with his bare hands Ishii really thought that
’Of course we’re not enjoying ourselves We didn’t sleep last night’
Gotou looked incredibly listless
’You’re paying the tab for slacking off up ’til now’
There was reason behind Miyagawa’s coations Room that had only Gotou and Ishii stationed there was, unlike its grand name, used for odd jobs Half the ti members for other departments
That had been fine with the previous chief, but after Miyagawa came in, the situation had made a complete about-face
They had been ordered to look into unsolved cases, which was the actual work of this departht sound like it wasn’t that much work
However, the police arrest rate was steadily declining every year and was now hanging around twenty per cent
Currently, six million cases occurred in Japan annually Of course, the responsibility was split up by jurisdiction, but it was still an a amount
’So, what did you come here to do? Please leave if you’re just here to jeer’
Gotou had his finger in his ear as he said that unpleasantly
’I don’t have so aith a snort
Their exchange sounded rude, but there was no ill will there To Ishii, it seeawa had been partnered with Gotou back when they were rookie detectives
They were probably very familiar with each other
’If you’re not here to jeer, what is it?’
Gotou took a cigarette frolared at Gotou
’You lighting up knowing that I quit s?’
’Why not just sarette out towards Miyagawa, but he looked away like he was trying to run away froarettes’
’People can change, graawa
’Shut up!’
Miyagawa poked Gotou’s chest with his finger as he yelled in his irritation Ishii’s legs shook under the pressure
’So what did you really coawa to talk as he put out the cigarette in the ashtray
’There’s actually so the docuet the detective departuys are part of the detective departht’
Gotou sulked like a child Then, he spread out the docuo case?’
Gotou stopped flipping through the documents and muttered
Ishii knew that case too
The man who had beat his own father to death with a hao –
After the crime, he had been arrested at once still at the scene At the questioning afterwards, he displayed signs of insanity and had been taken from the prosecution to athat exae at the time had been assaulted, but she resisted and stabbed Tobe with the scissors that had been nearby
There had been a lot of blood left at the scene, which was thefor him since he could not have run far with his injuries, and there had been a large search, but they had gotten no news of hiuys to help out with the investigation too’
’Are you seriously asking that? It’s not soyou to help with the physical investigation’
Miyagawa rejecting Gotou’s displeasure
’If it’s not legwork, should we be putting up flyers?’ said Gotou, poking fun
’Are you an idiot?’
Just as Miyagawa said that, he sainst the back of Gotou’s head
’Aaah!’
Ishii couldn’t help but shout at the unbelievable sight
For him to raise a hand towards Detective Gotou – what a terrifying person
’The gutsy female doctor who slashed Tobe asked the police for help’
’Questioning?’
’No Pro… fi… fi, fi…’
’Profiling’
Ishii supplied the word Miyagaas trying to say
’Oh, that’s it Profiling She said the culprit o with her, are you?’
Gotou’s discoations by police overseas
However, Japanese police were considerably slower in con countries
As per Gotou’s response right now, profiling was still firnised as an unknown
’Her contact info’s written in those docu in!’
Gotou hit the desk in his irritation
’No Don’t say that Anyway, I’awa pat Gotou’s shoulders like he was appeasing him and then left the room briskly
A person just like a stor work tothe documents on the desk as he complained
However, Ishii felt that Gotou’s eawa had come, the content of their work had become incomparably harder, and while Gotou expressed his discontent, it was a fact that his eyes were brighter now Gotou was probably the type of person who had to be busy
’Oi! Ishii! We’re going!’
At some point Gotou had moved to the door
’Ah, yes sir’
Ishii hurriedly rushed over
He fell –
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4
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The chi –
’I’ll stop here then’
At the sa, the tension left her shoulders like the air fro class, but unfortunately, she couldn’t say it had gone well
At points, her head went coave her advice quietly from the side
If she hadn’t, the class would have beco you trouble’
’It was a good perforet used to it sooner or later’
Ko down
’Really?’
Haruka felt there were people ere suitable and unsuitable for working in front of people, let alone children
I wonder if I’ a teacher –
She quickly ended up thinking that way
While Haruka was buried in thought, the children put their desks together, carried the trays with side dishes on them and tableware and prepared for their school lunches
’Haruka-sensei, coirls pulled at her hand Maiko and Eri
They were always together and looked like twins
’Ah, OK’
’Coed by Maiko and Eri and sat down in the low chair that had been prepared for her
’Hey, sensei, do you have a boyfriend?’
The one who asked was Maiko She suddenly asked such an aht now’
For a moment, somebody crossed Haruka’s mind, but she shook that away and answered
’Hey, what sort of person’s your type?’
This tirade, she’d had a boy she liked, but she hadn’t had the concept of boyfriend or girlfriend
’Hm A kind person would be nice?’
If she were to say more, somebody as a bit contrary but dependable when it was important
There was a parade of questions that made her falter after that, like ’When was your first date?’ and ’When did you kiss?’
It was honestly difficult to reply to questions like this Even though they were children, they probably wouldn’t accept vague answers or lies
While Haruka was being attacked with tough questions, the children who had finished setting the table had all sat down
’Everyone’s together then’
At Koether: ’Yes!’
’Sensei, Masato-kun isn’t here’
A little later, Maiko spoke up froonal from Haruka was eone by the tiain?’
’Who cares? Let’s eat’
’He’s creepy’
’Yeah He said he can see ghosts’
’Eh! No way!’
Voices called out frohed like she was tired of it
Fro like this had happened numerous times in the past
Haruka stood up, walked over to Komai and said, ’I’ll look for him’ Komai appeared to think it over for a while, but then she replied, ’Please do’
’I understand’
After replying, she tried to leave but then heard unhappy cries of ’Ehh’ fro with
’You can just ignore so She couldn’t stay silent after hearing that Just when Haruka thought that, Kos like that, right? Everyone in this class is friends Wouldn’t it be sad if so to anybody in particular, Komai spoke to the whole class
That was Koht There were some children who looked displeased, but the classroom was so quiet the fuss earlier seeo ahead’
’Yes,’ replied Haruka, and then she left the classrooo –
Oomori Masato’s face came up in Haruka’s mind
She had not spoken to him even once
However, she was concerned about him He felt obviously different fro out by hiroup
He had cold eyes, unlike those of an ele problem
She was also concerned about what the other children had said earlier
– He can see ghosts
Was that true?
If it were, Haruka uy
In any case, she had to hurry Haruka put those thoughts aside and quickened her pace
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5
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After Gotou sat down in the passenger seat of the white Crown, an unarette
Dae fuss about psychological analysis and profiling because of the influence of television dramas
It wasn’t a problem of numbers – he wouldn’t have to work so hard if they could knoho the perps were just by using a calculator
The basis of investigation was straightforwardly getting info
Well, it riled hiation He’d been stuck organising files up until now, and he’d gotten out of shape This was a good opportunity
’I wonder what sort of person she is’
From the driver’s seat, Ishii spoke with a lazy expression
’Who?’
’Sasaki-sensei, the psychiatrist, of course’
’You’re very curious’
’There’s nothing I can do about it I looked at her personal history earlier – it seey in America’
’So what?’
’Eh?’
Ishii looked blank
’Just because she can study for tests doesn’t et about that and drive!’
At Gotou’s yell, Ishii’s shoulders shivered in fear and he hurriedly started the car
Honestly Gotou wished this fool would grow up a bit He just kept on cowering and wasn’t useful at all
Ishii ht have to find some time to talk to hi, Gotou spread out the docuo Thirty-eight Uneed in his childhood by fire so the skin was scarred and reddish purple in colour
The eyes underneath that were so expressionless it was uncanny It was like they were fake
’I wonder why Tobe killed his father,’ said Ishii to hi his cigarette out in the ashtray
’But that’s so extreme Would he kill the father he had lived with for sosie we don’t know about because they lived together for so long? It’s not like it’s uncommon’
Children kill their parents On the other hand, parents kill their children Nowadays, he often heard about bloody cases like that
So was off He felt that way e,’ said Ishii He shifted about, like his seat wasn’t co?’
’Tobe’s father had terminal cancer’
When Ishii said that, Gotou looked at the docuo’s father, Masashi, had had terminal cancer
Even if he hadn’t acted on his own, the one out of his way to knock his dad’s brains out
It really was unnatural But –
’Maybe he just wanted to do it himself,’ said Gotou as he looked at the photo taken of the seen
It was a disastrous scene that made you want to turn his head away
Tobe Masashi had been hit dozens of time with a hammer His mouth and nose were completely crushed and his face was sunken in
If he’d just wanted to kill hio this far He’d cleared years of hatred with his own hand The ill intent cah the photo
’Is that how it is?’
Ishii cocked his head, see him the photo of the scene, but he decided not to If he showed Ishii this now, he’d be startled and would definitely cause an accident
’That’s how it is’
Gotou threw the documents towards the backseat and reclined in his seat, exhausted
There was so Gotou was more interested in than the motive for the crime
How could Tobe escape –
He’d been cuffed and police had been there to guard hiht about it normally, there was no way he could have escaped
He’d looked through the documents, but there were many parts he wasn’t satisfied with Plus, Gotou only believed in the things he saw and heard hi when he met up with the psychiatrist, decided Gotou
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6
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Haruka searched in every nook and cranny of the school building, from the fourth floor with Class 5-4’s classroom to the first floor
Of course, she checked the lavatory, library and school infirmary – everywhere that wasn’t locked
However, she couldn’t find Masato
The teachers in charge would have noticed if he had sneaked into another class Where on earth had he gone?
The only places she hadn’t looked at yet were the schoolyard and the PE storeroom
Haruka took her pumps from the staff shoe cupboard and went out into the schoolyard