Gotou hung up.
For a while, Ishii just sat there in shock, head in his hands.
He felt like he might cry.
Though part of it was fear from Gotou’s terrible rebuking, there was also frustrating, misery, sadness – a mixture of emotions.
His heart was over capacity, and felt like it was just under breaking point –
5
"Ishii-san – ’
Makoto spotted Ishii from behind and called out to him. He was walking down the precinct corridor with shoulders slumped.
She had actually just come to meet Ishii and Gotou in the Unsolved Cases Special Investigations room.
"Ah, Makoto-san…’
Ishii slowly turned around and replied in a hoa.r.s.e voice.
His face was as lifeless as a corpse’s.
‘Are you all right?’ asked Makoto, but Ishii just let out a weak "Ah…’ and smiled awkwardly.
"What are you here for today?’ asked Ishii, c.o.c.king his head in confusion.
It was like his heart was elsewhere. He had to be very troubled.
"About Haruka-chan – I hear she was arrested as the perpetrator in a murder case.’
When Makoto said that, Ishii let out another weak "Ah…’
It wasn’t something to discuss in the corridor, so Makoto suggested, "Shall we move elsewhere?’
Makoto led them to the Unsolved Cases Special Investigations room.
Ishii walked like he was drunk and then slumped into a chair.
He was in a worse condition that Makoto had imagined.
"Has Haruka-chan really been arrested?’ asked Makoto.
Ishii looked pained. "She hasn’t been officially arrested yet, but I think it’s just a matter of time.’
"I can’t believe it. Isn’t it some kind of mistake?’
"I want to think that too, but there’s a witness – ’
"Couldn’t it be some sort of mistake there?’
The incident had happened at night. An eyewitness might have mistaken something in the dark.
"That isn’t all.’
Ishii’s voice went slightly higher.
"Meaning?’
"Earlier, Haruka-chan confessed to the crime – ’
Ishii’s words were so unexpected that Makoto needed some time to understand.
"But – that makes no…’
"I can’t believe it, but that’s the information I received.’
Ishii’s shoulders slumped.
His hands were gripped into tight fists and were shaking. He probably couldn’t keep the emotions raging within him in order.
"And you accepted that, Ishii-san?’
"I can’t accept it…’
The moment Ishii said that, he dropped his head to the desk.
It felt like he was berating his own powerlessness. Makoto understood that feeling so well it hurt, but wallowing here would solve nothing.
"Then let’s investigate.’
Makoto walked up to Ishii.
"Investigate what? She’s confessed. I can’t believe it, but it’s a fact,’ replied Ishii in a thick voice, his head still on the table.
The incident was so unexpected that he couldn’t deal with it and was holing up within himself. When Makoto looked at Ishii, pathetic – was not the word that came to mind.
Ishii was too sensitive and kind to be a detective.
At the same time, Makoto knew that Ishii would not crumble here. Ishii had the strength to keep standing up. So –
"It doesn’t matter whether she confessed or not,’ said Makoto, placing a hand on Ishii’s shoulder.
Ishii’s body jolted in surprise and he lifted his head.
"Doesn’t matter?’
"It doesn’t. Ishii-san, you believe that Haruka-chan wouldn’t ever hurt anybody, right?’
"Of course I do…’
"Then I think you should continue to believe her. Or are your feelings towards Haruka-chan so weak that they can be shaken by somebody else’s words?’
Even as Makoto said that, she felt a p.r.i.c.kling pain in her chest.
She had noticed a while back that Ishii had feelings for Haruka. At the same time, Makoto also felt –
This wasn’t the time to think about that. Makoto shook away those thoughts and smiled at Ishii.
"I…’
"It’s OK. Ishii-san, you aren’t alone. There’s Gotou-san, and I’ll help as well, though there isn’t much I can do.’
Perhaps Makoto’s words reached Ishii, as the light in his eyes behind his gla.s.ses seemed to have returned.
"But we’ve been left out of the investigation.’
"Eh? Ishii-san, you worry about that sort of thing?’
Makoto spoke with exaggerated surprise, which made Ishii’s brows furrow in confusion.
"What do you mean?’
"Haven’t you ignored that sort of thing up until now?’
The Unsolved Cases Special Investigations Department only had Gotou and Ishii, but they had solved many cases up until now, and they had done it without caring at all about the other investigation units.
"That’s right, you’re completely right – ’
Finally, a smile appeared on Ishii’s face.
Makoto sighed in relief. Even though it put her in an unfavourable position, she didn’t care if she could help Ishii.
"But what on earth should we do?’
That was the problem. Even if they said things like the other investigations didn’t matter, if they stepped over too many lines, they might run into unexpected obstacles.
Makoto wasn’t sure where they should start.
"Wasn’t there anything that bothered you about this case?’ asked Makoto.
For a while, Ishii let his gaze wander as he thought, but then he said, "Ah!’
"What is it?’
"No, I just thought that I wouldn’t be able to think of anything on my own, but if it’s him…’
Ishii’s eyes seemed to glitter behind his gla.s.ses –
6
Gotou was headed for the prefabricated building behind Building B at the university.
He was here to tell Yak.u.mo that Haruka had confessed.
"Yak.u.mo! You here?’ yelled Gotou as he swung open the door to the Movie Research Circle.
Yak.u.mo was sitting in his usual chair.
He looked sleepy as usual with his messy hair as he read a thick book.
Even though he had to have noticed that Gotou had come in, he didn’t even look up, let alone respond.
Though he was acting the same as usual, that was strange in this situation.
"Yak.u.mo. You…’
"Please leave if you don’t have anything to say. I’m busy,’ interrupted Yak.u.mo.
Though they always had this conversation, it felt incredibly unnatural.
"I do have something to say. It’s about Haruka-chan,’ said Gotou, feeling irritated.
Yak.u.mo lifted his head slightly.
"Ah, that…’
His uninterested expression made Gotou lean forward without thinking.
Up until now, even when Yak.u.mo’s eyes were sleepy, they had always had a sharp glint to them, but Gotou couldn’t see that in Yak.u.mo today.
– Is this really Yak.u.mo?
It was strange enough that Gotou wanted to ask.
"Don’t just say “Ah, that”! We have to hurry and do something for Haruka-chan.’
"Why?’
Yak.u.mo c.o.c.ked his head like he was confused.
"What are you saying?’
"That’s what I want to ask you, Gotou-san.’
"What?’
"She’s a suspect in a murder case. The police determined that, so it isn’t my place to say anything. I’ll leave the investigation to the police,’ Yak.u.mo said flatly. He clapped the book shut.
"You… Are you serious?’ asked Gotou, his voice shaking.
Maybe Gotou was afraid of hearing Yak.u.mo’s answer. Depending on what Yak.u.mo said, Gotou’s emotions could explode at once.
"Of course I’m serious,’ Yak.u.mo said casually.
"What’s wrong with you?’
"Nothing. I’m the same as usual.’
"No. This isn’t like you.’
"Gotou-san, what do you know about me?’
Yak.u.mo narrowed his eyes at Gotou. They were cold, emotionless eyes.
"I know tons. How many cases do you think we’ve solved together?
"That doesn’t count as knowing a person.’
Yak.u.mo let out a yawn, as if bored.
"Don’t say that. Apparently Haruka-chan confessed earlier. If we don’t hurry and do something – ’
"If she confessed, she’s the perpetrator, isn’t she? There’s nothing for me to do now,’ Yak.u.mo said flatly. He opened the book again.
– What’s with his att.i.tude?
"Do you think Haruka-chan’s the culprit?’
"She confessed, so wouldn’t she be?’ Yak.u.mo replied quietly, eyes on his book.
"Of course she isn’t!’
Gotou lost the fight against his anger. He grabbed Yak.u.mo’s book and threw it at the wall.
The book made a loud thump and fell.
Still, Yak.u.mo didn’t move from his chair.
"People are foolish – ’ said Yak.u.mo with a slight sigh.
"What?’
"Even though they don’t know someone, they get trapped by their own illusions, thinking that the other person is a certain way, no doubt about it.’
"What are you trying to say?’
"That you are doing exactly that right now, Gotou-san.’
"Me?’
"Yes. Why are you making such a fuss about how she would never commit a crime?’
"Obviously because I believe in her,’ declared Gotou, which made Yak.u.mo laugh.
"That isn’t belief. You’ve just gone and created a version of her that you like inside of you. What you really believe isn’t her but the image you have of her.’
– What the h.e.l.l is he saying?
Disappointment was growing rapidly within Gotou.
– Since when did Yak.u.mo start being like this?
No, Yak.u.mo would just say that that was Gotou’s image of him too. When that thought came to Gotou’s mind, he shook his head.
"No!’
He had already yelled before he’d noticed.
"What are you objecting to?’
"It’s not just an image inside me. I believe in Haruka-chan.’
"Idiotic…’
Yak.u.mo snorted aloud.
The anger that had been welling up inside Gotou exploded.
"You b.a.s.t.a.r.d… Get a grip already! You should know best that Haruka-chan would never do something like that!’ shouted Gotou, grabbing Yak.u.mo’s lapels over the table.
Even though Gotou was glaring at Yak.u.mo with all his anger, Yak.u.mo just looked at him coldly.
"Please don’t be so loud…’
"You’re the one who made me!’
"Why do you believe in her so much?’ Yak.u.mo asked coldly.
"Why?’
"I don’t know anything about her…’
Yak.u.mo’s sentence felt somewhat sad.
"Of course you do!’
"I don’t. I don’t know what seminar she’s in. What friends she has. What she wants to do in the future – and that’s not all. Her likes. Her dislikes. How she was raised. I don’t know anything about her.’
After saying all that, Yak.u.mo’s eyes were unsettled. Sad eyes that seemed to swallow all of Gotou’s anger.
"You…’
"Isn’t it the same for you, Gotou-san? How much do you know about her?’
"I…’
– I know nothing.
He had been on several cases with Haruka, and through them, at some point, he had thought that he had grown to know her.
Just as Yak.u.mo said though, he knew frighteningly little about Haruka’s personal life.
Even though they had talked so much, why hadn’t he ever asked – it was almost strange.
That was probably because they had always had a case on.
Yak.u.mo had probably reached the same conclusion with this case and lost his understanding of the person called Haruka.
"You understand now, don’t you? We don’t know her well enough to declare that she isn’t the culprit – ’
As if that was conclusive, Yak.u.mo shook off Gotou’s hand. Gotou staggered backwards and stared at Yak.u.mo in shock.
It was faint, but Yak.u.mo’s eyes were wet.
Maybe Yak.u.mo regretted it. Regretted that he hadn’t got to know Haruka better –
Gotou felt the same way. They had always had a case on, so he’d never really talked about normal things with Haruka.
He knew nothing about Haruka, and that had ended up being normal.
He felt incredibly pathetic now.
This was probably how Yak.u.mo felt too.
It was quiet, as if everything had been drowned by water –
Just as Yak.u.mo said, maybe they didn’t know anything about Haruka. But did that mean Gotou couldn’t believe in her?
"No!’ shouted Gotou.
Yak.u.mo had a red left eye which could see the ghosts of the dead.
Because of that, he had experienced heartbreaking pain countless times and carried more sadness than other people could even imagine.
He had hated himself and grown afraid of rejection from others, so he had shut himself in his own sh.e.l.l.
The person who had opened Yak.u.mo’s heart was none other than Haruka.
She had called the red eye that Yak.u.mo had hated so much beautiful.
How much that one word had saved Yak.u.mo – Yak.u.mo himself had to know better than Gotou.
"What do you mean, no!?’
Yak.u.mo’s voice was loud as well.
"Maybe we don’t know anything about Haruka-chan!’
"That’s what I said!’
"But! Those are just facts that you can write down!’
"Facts that you can write down are what make up a person!’
"Don’t be an idiot! Like you can know what makes a person from stupid stuff like that!’
Gotou grabbed Yak.u.mo’s lapels again.
Yak.u.mo glared at him fiercely, but Gotou wasn’t afraid at all.
"OK, listen up! You and me, we don’t know anything about Haruka! But we know her heart better than anyone else!’
Gotou had only met Haruka through cases, but – because of that, there was something he knew.
What Haruka would think and do in situations when her life was in danger – Gotou had seen that up close.
That was the person Haruka was.
Gotou and Yak.u.mo had both seen Haruka’s pure heart, which held no lies.
"You’re just lining up nice words…’
Yak.u.mo’s words fired up Gotou’s anger again.
Before he’d notice it, he had shoved Yak.u.mo.
Yak.u.mo’s back hit the wall, and he sat down right there.
"Lining up nice words!? Open your eyes already! Haruka-chan believes in you right now! But what are you doing!?’
Gotou went up to Yak.u.mo and yelled with all his strength.
Yak.u.mo glared up at him, still sitting.
It wasn’t the same cold gaze as earlier. His eyes were fiery and sharp.
"Talking like you know everything…’
"You fool! Do you still not get it!?’
Gotou lost himself to his anger and raised his fist to punch Yak.u.mo –
7
Ishii was brought to his senses by the sudden yell he heard.
He and Makoto had just reached Meisei University’s Movie Research Circle room.
That had probably been Gotou’s voice.
Ishii and Makoto exchanged a glance and then opened the door to run in.
Ishii was stunned by what he saw.
Gotou had his fist raised to punch Yak.u.mo, he was slumped against the wall.
"Detective Gotou! Please calm down!’
Ishii clung to Gotou and frantically tried to stop him.
"Shut up! Let me go! I need to punch him!’
"You can’t!’
"I said, let go!’
Ishii tried to stop Gotou, but he had no way to beat Gotou in strength. Ishii was thrust away and rolled across the floor.
His head slammed into the wall, and stars blinked in front of him.
"Ishii-san, are you all right?’
Makoto rushed towards him.
Though it hurt, Ishii couldn’t just sit here. He got up immediately to step between Gotou and Yak.u.mo.
"Move!’
Gotou glared at Ishii.
It was a gaze so frightening it made him shudder, but he couldn’t back down. Gotou’s eyes were clearly different from usual.
He could have actually killed Yak.u.mo with those eyes.
"I-I can’t do that. What on earth happened anyway?’ asked Ishii, even though his voice was shaking.
"I’m going to fix this guy!’
Gotou tried to punch Yak.u.mo again.
Ishii frantically pushed Gotou back, but Gotou didn’t move at all. This would just be a repeat of earlier at this rate.
Just as he thought that, Makoto stepped between Gotou and Yak.u.mo as well.
"Gotou-san, please calm down first.’
Even Gotou couldn’t just push Makoto away, so he finally backed down, though not without a click of his tongue.
Ishii sighed in relief.
He had really been nervous there for a moment.
"What happened?’ Makoto asked Gotou.
"This idiot…’
Gotou started to speak, but Yak.u.mo stood up, interrupting him.
"Nothing happened,’ said Yak.u.mo, with his usual expressionless face and flat tone.
He was so calm that it was like the earlier commotion had never happened.
"Of course something happened,’ said Makoto, sounding half-exasperated.
Yak.u.mo ran a hand through his messy hair and then righted the chair to sit in it.
"While I was thinking about how to solve this case, that bear suddenly a.s.saulted me,’ said Yak.u.mo, pointing at Gotou.
"That wasn’t what you said earlier!’ shouted Gotou, but Ishii hurriedly stepped in between them.
If this continued, Ishii would need doubles of himself to fix this.
"Gotou-san, I understand how you feel, but let’s calm down and talk first,’ urged Makoto.
Gotou looked displeased, but he sat down.
Really, thank goodness for Makoto. If Ishii had been alone, he didn’t know what would have happened.
"So what really happened?’ asked Makoto with a sigh.
"I said, nothing happened – ’
Yak.u.mo was nonchalant, like nothing really had happened.
Gotou tried to interrupt, but just as he had half-got up to say something, Yak.u.mo stopped him.
"I know, I know. Please be quiet,’ Yak.u.mo said curtly.
For a while, Gotou just glared at Yak.u.mo, but then he smiled and sat down.
"Yeah, it was nothing really. Just the usual lovers’ quarrel.’
"Please don’t say something so disgusting,’ reb.u.t.ted Yak.u.mo immediately.
"What?’
"A lovers’ quarrel refers to a quibbling fight that occurs due to some romantic entanglement. I would be very troubled if anybody mistakenly thought that I had anything like that with you, Gotou-san.’
"I would be too!’
"You’re the one who said it, Gotou-san.’
"Just shut up!’ shouted Gotou. He crossed his arms and looked away.
Ishii didn’t know what had happened between the two, but it looked like they were finally back to normal.
Ishii and Makoto looked at each other and sighed in relief.
"Ishii-san, Makoto-san, I apologise for asking this so soon after your arrival, but could you tell me all that you know?’
Yak.u.mo tapped his brow with his finger. His eyes had a glint in them.
Though Ishii was frightened by that glint, he spoke.
That said, all Ishii knew was that Haruka had confessed, so Gotou started speaking halfway through.
Gotou shared the information he had got from Miyagawa, like how Haruka’s fingerprints had been on the weapon and that the eyewitness, the guard, had seen her hit the victim with a metal pipe.
The victim was a woman named Koike Kanae, who was a student in the same seminar as Haruka.
The cause of death was a cerebral contusion with no other injuries that stood out.
"How about you, Makoto-san?’
After Gotou finished, Yak.u.mo turned to Makoto.
"Me…?’
"Yes, regarding that author.’
– What on earth does he mean by author?
Ishii was confused, but he didn’t say anything. It was Yak.u.mo. He would never talk about something if it wasn’t related.
"So it’s related somehow?’ asked Makoto, looking troubled.
Yak.u.mo nodded.
"Wait. What are you talking about?’ interrupted Gotou, unable to stop himself.
Yak.u.mo looked incredibly annoyed as he ran a hand through his hair and said, "Makoto-san is investigating an author who says he was made to write a novel by the ghost in the clock tower.’
"W-what!?’ shouted Gotou, standing up from his chair.
Ishii didn’t express his feelings aloud, but he felt the same surprise.
"The trouble she brought me had something to do with the clock tower – ’
Yak.u.mo had said that last night.
That was why he and Ishii had been investigating if anybody had died on campus.
"Furthermore, the victim of this case is the person who asked for her advice about the spiritual phenomenon – ’
"What!?’
Gotou reacted strongly to the words Yak.u.mo had spoken so casually.
"Please don’t speak so loudly.’
Yak.u.mo frowned, looking fed up.
"Anybody would want to after hearing that news. Why didn’t you say that earlier?’
"You didn’t ask.’
"You…’
Gotou lifted a fist, but Ishii hurriedly pacified him.
As a result, Ishii received a fist to the head.
"This case is centred on the clock tower. The key to solving this case must be there – ’
Yak.u.mo put his finger on his brow and narrowed his eyes.
Though I was a frightening expression, Ishii saw hope there.
"Right! Let’s prove Haruka-chan’s innocence!’ shouted Gotou, raising his fist.
Yak.u.mo sighed in mock disappointment.
"Please don’t say such stupid things. It’s possible that she did it,’ Yak.u.mo said coldly.
"Are you going to start saying that again!?’ said Gotou angrily.
Ishii felt the same way.
– Didn’t Yak.u.mo believe in Haruka?
They were together so often.. He had to know that Haruka wouldn’t hurt anybody.
"Please cool off your head. You won’t be able to see the truth if you look at the case with preconceptions.’
"I know that, but…’
Yak.u.mo raised a hand to stop Gotou’s objections.
"No, you don’t know anything. Sometimes people behave in ways you don’t expect.’
"Impossible.’
"How can you say that for sure? There’s been a case like that before, right? A sad incident in which somebody killed somebody without wanting to…’
After Yak.u.mo said that, everyone present said, "Ah!’
"The tree of deceit – ’ said Ishii.
Yak.u.mo nodded.
A sad incident in which the players’ emotions had entangled in a terrible way –
Somebody had been possessed by a ghost and killed somebody despite their own intentions.
"Are you saying that that’s what happened this time?’ asked Gotou in a hoa.r.s.e voice.
"I’m just saying that it’s a possibility – ’
After saying that, Yak.u.mo’s gaze fell to his feet.
"But if that’s the case…’ said Makoto, but Yak.u.mo interrupted her.
"Let us think about that later. First, we find the truth behind the case – ’
Ishii agreed to Yak.u.mo’s suggestion.
But if Haruka had really committed the crime while being possessed, there would be no way to save her –
That thought seemed to be pulling Ishii’s heart into a deep darkness.
8
Haruka was in a small room with no windows.
There was a steel desk in the middle of the room, and Haruka sat on a folding chair in front of it.
Two men sat opposite her.
They were detectives. One was Sonoda. The other was Onodera.
– Why am I here?
Haruka didn’t understand.
At some point, she had found herself sitting here. She couldn’t believe it, but her hands were cuffed.
The cold metal felt terribly heavy.
"So what was your motive?’ asked Sonoda brusquely, his legs stuck out in front of him.
"Eh?’ said Haruka, not understanding.
"I said motive. Why did you kill your friend?’
The continuous stream of unexpected questions put Haruka at a loss for words.
Killed a friend? Haruka had no idea what he was talking about.
She had never even been violent towards anyone, and yet –
"Tell us the reason!’ said Sonoda, sounding impatience. He hit the table with his fist. Even if he acted intimidating, Haruka couldn’t reply to something she didn’t know.
"There must be some mistake,’ said Haruka desperately.
"What?’ Sonoda looked at her suspiciously.
"I don’t understand what you’re talking about at all.’
"Of course you understand! Don’t think I’ll play nice just because you’re a woman if you keep saying whatever you want!’ threatened Sonoda.
"Now, now…’ said Onodera sitting next to him.
Sonoda made a click with his tongue, seeming incredibly displeased, but he didn’t say anything else.
"You must be a bit confused,’ Onodera said gently.
"Um… What’s happened? This is an interrogation room, right? Why am I here?’
After Haruka let out a list of questions, the detectives looked at each other, seeming troubled.
Even if they looked like that, Haruka didn’t think she’d asked anything strange.
"Please tell me,’ Haruka pleaded, leaning forward.
"You hit your friend Koike Kanae-san with a metal pipe. You remember that, right?’
"I did that to Kanae?’
"Yes.’
Onodera nodded.
Haruka wanted to ask why they believed that, but more importantly, she wanted to know about Kanae.
"What about Kanae? How’s Kanae doing?’
"She pa.s.sed away…’
"No…’
Haruka started shaking.
She had met Kanae after they were in the same seminar, but at first, they hadn’t talked about anything in particular.
Kanae wasn’t the type to talk on her own to people around her, and Haruka was the same way.
They had become friends about three months in –
Though Haruka usually walked home, it had been raining that day, so she had gone to the bus stop at the front gate.
At that time, Kanae had been sitting on the bench under the shelter while reading a book.
– She’s in the same seminar as me.
That was all Haruka had felt, but she had seen the book she was reading before.
"The Count of Monte Cristo – ’
When Haruka said the name aloud, Kanae looked up.
"I’m surprised you know,’ said Kanae, smiling despite looking puzzled.
"Eh? Ah, actually I’ve never read it…’ Haruka said hurriedly.
Then, she explained how she had had to look for a paperback copy of the book with Yak.u.mo because of a certain spiritual phenomena-related event.
Kanae had seriously listened to a story that hadn’t been that interesting at all.
Ever since then, they began to talk about various things whenever they meant.
Haruka really liked Kanae’s soft and gentle mood. She was one of the few people that Haruka could be herself around without worrying.
And yet –
"You did it, correct?’
Onodera’s voice interrupted Haruka’s thoughts.
"Me?’
"Yes. You’re the one who killed Koike Kanae-san, right?’
"That’s… I would never do that…’
"But you said you did earlier.’
"What did I say?’
"That it was all your fault.’
Haruka felt her consciousness slipping away from her upon hearing Onodera’s unexpected words.
She couldn’t remember saying anything like that. She didn’t even remember doing anything. She had actually just found out that Kanae had died now.
– What’s happening?
Haruka frantically went through her memories.
When did she last meet with Kanae?
Right. She had listened to her worries and gone to the clock tower with Yak.u.mo. Then, she had met Kanae once more at the cafeteria.
She had met with Nishizawa, who had experienced the spiritual phenomenon with Kanae. After that, they had eaten sandwiches and parted ways –
Then, she had had to hand something in and went to her circle, and she’d thought she would go to Yak.u.mo’s room afterwards to report on what had happened.
She had spotted Kanae in front of the clock tower on the way to Yak.u.mo’s room. After that – it was no good. She couldn’t remember.
The more she tried to think, the more it felt like her mind was being split apart.
No. Her consciousness was definitely being swallowed up by the darkness now –
– Yak.u.mo-kun! Help me!
Haruka screamed desperately in her heart, but her scream didn’t reach anyone –
9
Gotou looked up once more at the tall clock tower.
He had come to Meisei University countless times. The clock tower had always stood there as a symbol, but he had never cared much about it until this case.
But maybe that was just how people’s impressions were.
They only noticed something after something happened. That was probably exactly how Yak.u.mo felt now.
He looked beside him and saw Yak.u.mo looked up at the clock tower.
"Are you OK?’ asked Gotou.
Yak.u.mo narrowed his eyes slightly.
"What do you mean?’ he said, playing dumb.
"What? I’m worried about you.’
Yak.u.mo had been obviously off when they had been talking earlier.
Though it had looked like things had calmed down when Ishii and Makoto came, that didn’t mean Gotou’s anxiety had left him.
He didn’t know if Yak.u.mo had really dealt with his feelings to look at the case clearly.
"I haven’t fallen so far that I need a single-celled bear’s concern.’
Though Yak.u.mo was saying that aloud, he had to be exhausted inside.
"Don’t put up a strong front.’
"I’m not. From my perspective, I’m more concerned about you, Gotou-san.’
"What?’
"Since when have you been so violent?’
"You’re the one who made me!’
"Putting the blame on others? How childish.’
Yak.u.mo shrugged for effect.
Gotou thought about hitting him, but he decided against it. He didn’t want to think about what Yak.u.mo would say if he did.
"More importantly, let’s go.’
After declaring that, Yak.u.mo started walking straight towards the clock tower.
The tower still had No Trespa.s.sing yellow tape all around it, but there were no guards.
Yak.u.mo and Gotou went under the tape to the clock tower.
The events of last night suddenly flashed back in Gotou’s mind.
Yak.u.mo had fought with a guard in front of the tape. It was incredibly rare for Yak.u.mo to lose his cool like that.
Perhaps he had sensed something.
If Gotou had known this was going to happen, maybe he should’ve dragged Yak.u.mo along even if he had to force the guard away.
"Was the gate locked at the time of the incident?’
Yak.u.mo’s question interrupted Gotou’s thoughts.
He looked forward and saw Yak.u.mo standing in front of the gate.
"Probably.’
"Please don’t be so vague,’ Yak.u.mo said curtly.
"Is it important?’
"In order to determine whether it is important or not, we need accurate information.’
When Yak.u.mo was like this, he seemed more like a detective than Gotou.
"Got it,’ Gotou said with a nod.
Yak.u.mo briskly walked towards the back. Gotou followed him immediately.
When they got to the back, Gotou saw a metal door. It was rusty and looked very old.
Yak.u.mo slowly opened the door.
Even though it was daytime, it was dark inside –
Yak.u.mo took a pen light out from his pocket and illuminated the interior.
It wasn’t a very big door Gotou couldn’t see much past Yak.u.mo.
Yak.u.mo seemed to be thinking for a while, but then he went inside.
Gotou followed him.
Yak.u.mo silently began to climb the stars up the clock tower.
The interior of the clock tower, about fifteen metres tall, had a staircase inside that went along the walls. By the time they reached the top room, Gotou was out of breath.
"Are you already worn out?’ asked Yak.u.mo, voice full of malice.
"Shut up. This is nothing,’ spat out Gotou, wiping the sweat on his forehead.
The top room was much smaller than Gotou had expected. Desks and chairs. Some old machine things. That was all.
Yak.u.mo slowly looked around. His eyes stopped beside the stairs.
There were significant bloodstains there. You could tell a lot of blood had been spilled.
Yak.u.mo crouched there to look at it carefully.
"Find out anything?’
"Nothing…’ Yak.u.mo replied curtly. Then, he walked up to the mirror and looked at that carefully.
This looked fairly old and was covered in dust.
Yak.u.mo stared in the mirror for a while, but then he went to the window on the wall, perhaps having lost interest.
The gla.s.s was as dirty as the mirror so you couldn’t see outside clearly.
Yak.u.mo unlocked it and pushed open the cas.e.m.e.nt window.
Cold air from outside rushed in, mixing with the mouldy air within.
"This is probably the window – ’ murmured Yak.u.mo.
"What?’
"I had you investigate this, right, Gotou-san? The woman who committed suicide by jumping from the clock tower – ’
Right. Haruka’s case had been so shocking that Gotou had forgotten, but Gotou had gone to see Yak.u.mo to talk about that. But –
"How do you know it’s that window?’
"It was written in the doc.u.ments. Please read them properly.’
Though it was Gotou’s fault for missing it, he didn’t like Yak.u.mo’s tone. He thought about complaining but decided against it.
He had no way of beating Yak.u.mo in an argument.
"Could I ask one thing?
After looking out the window for a while, Yak.u.mo asked him that.
"What?’
"How can you believe in someone without proof, Gotou-san?’
Gotou couldn’t reply to Yak.u.mo’s question immediately.
Part of it was that he didn’t understand why Yak.u.mo cared, but mostly it was that he didn’t know how to answer.
"I don’t know.’
"That’s not an answer,’ interjected Yak.u.mo immediately.
That was true, but –
"I don’t know why I believe people either. Do you need proof to believe in people? Believing or not believing – it’s a matter of feeling.’
That was Gotou’s straight response.
He had never thought about a reason to believe in somebody. Rather than thinking about it, he decided with his heart.
"It must be nice to be so simple…’ said Yak.u.mo, and then he turned around to face Gotou, sitting on the windowsill with a smile.
It was a sad smile, as if a hole had been left in his heart.
"Do you still not believe?’
"In what?’
"In Haruka-chan – ’
The moment Gotou said that name, Yak.u.mo stopped smiling and looked down slightly. His shadowed face looked troubled.
Just as Gotou thought, Yak.u.mo probably hadn’t dealt with his feelings yet.
"To be honest, I don’t know. I know too little about her – ’
Yak.u.mo’s voice was unusually weak.
Though earlier, Gotou had gone on a rampage because of his own emotions, he could accept Yak.u.mo’s pains now.
Yak.u.mo had to be feeling terrible regret about this case.
– Why hadn’t he talked to Haruka more?
He had thought that Haruka would always be there and had never tried to get to know her. He was blaming himself for that now.
"You know more than enough about her.’
"No, I know nothing… That’s why I don’t know…’
Yak.u.mo bit his lower lip.
"Then you can get to know her better from now on.’
"It’s too late…’
Yak.u.mo’s face twisted like he had eaten something bitter. The incident has already happened – is probably what he wanted to say.
"It’s not too late. And getting to know someone is different from believing in someone.’
"It’s the same. If you know more about somebody, you can use that to understand their thought pattern.’
Gotou couldn’t help but laugh at Yak.u.mo’s words.
"What’s so funny?’ asked Yak.u.mo, looking a bit sulky.
"Thought pattern? Don’t talk about people like data. You can’t use that to understand people’s feelings, right? You said yourself that people sometimes do things you don’t expect – ’
"What are you trying to say?’
Yak.u.mo stood up from the sill.
"I’m saying that you’re thinking too much. Doesn’t matter what people are doing where – their core doesn’t change.’
"What a stupid answer.’
Yak.u.mo gave him a mocking glance.
Strangely, that att.i.tude didn’t annoy Gotou now. He even thought it cute.
"Yeah, but that’s why I&r