SECRET FILES – KIZUNA
each wish: epilogue
Tears fell on her clenched fists.
After hearing the end of the story, Haruka started sobbing, without thinking about how the others might look at her.
She couldn’t restrain her wave of emotions.
A heart-wrenching feeling that cut into her –
Akemi had not been hoping for much. Each was a little wish towards living a peaceful life.
However, none of those was granted. Those wishes had been popped like bubbles.
Haruka imagined what Akemi might look like, though she had never met the woman once, and started crying again.
How long did she continue?
When she finally wiped her eyes, she lifted her head and saw Isshin’s smiling face.
‘Are you all right?’
Though Haruka nodded silently, it was a weak nod – she felt like she might collapse if she didn’t focus her energy on avoiding that.
"That’s why that guy never abandons hope, no matter what happens,’ said Gotou, awkwardly scratching his head.
Words that Yak.u.mo had said to Haruka before came up in her head.
The kindness she sometimes saw beneath his contrary exterior.
The strength he had to find hope and believe in people, even after his mother tried to kill him.
Yak.u.mo was probably that way because of Isshin and Akemi.
After thinking that, Haruka almost started crying again.
"Do you have any photos of Akemi-san?’ asked Haruka. She wanted to see the woman named Akemi who had changed Yak.u.mo, even if it were only once.
"Photos… I’ll go look,’ murmured Isshin. he stood up and left the living room.
"I’ll say this because Isshin isn’t here, but…’
Gotou started talking.
"What is it?’
"There was more to that incident. Isshin asked me to do something.’
"Asked you to do something?’
Haruka thought about it, but she couldn’t imagine what it was at all.
"Yeah. A falsification of the teacher’s death certificate.’
"Falsification?’
As a rule, Isshin and the word falsification didn’t connect.
Why would he need to do that? And what was falsified?
There must have been a meaningful reason, but Haruka had no way of knowing.
Gotou looked around the room cautiously and then started speaking after clearing his throat.
"I made it one day later.’
"One day later?’
– What for?
"He wanted to send in the marriage certificate first,’ answered Gotou.
That was enough to explain.
Haruka could understood Isshin’s thought.
He had probably wanted to accept her into his family. However, the biggest reason was probably to take in Nao.
To take in the child of somebody you weren’t married to, there were a number of difficulties, but there wouldn’t be any problem with a stepfather.
When Haruka thought about Isshin coming to that decision, her chest hurt again and her eyes grew wet.
"You don’t have to talk about unnecessary things.’
Isshin had returned to the living room at some point.
Gotou hurriedly looked away and pretended not to have heard.
"Well, it’s fine,’ said Isshin in resignation as he sat down. Then, he placed a photo on the table.
It had been taken at school with the schoolyard in the background and the whole cla.s.s in the photo.
She was at the very front in the first row.
The photo was so small that Haruka couldn’t see the face clearly, but she could tell that Akemi was a gentle and beautiful woman.
"This is the only photo I have of Akemi-chan,’ Isshin said sadly.
"Is that so…’
"If things had to happen this way, I wish I had taken more photos, but… it’s too late to say this sort of thing now.’
Though perhaps there were no photos, Akemi was in Isshin’s and Yak.u.mo’s hearts.
Haruka hadn’t met Akemi directly, but she still hoped to keep her in her heart.
As Haruka looked at the photo, she suddenly spotted somebody who caught her eye.
The person on the very right of the first row was the only person looking down, seeming displeased.
He was short and had a different hairstyle, but the contours of his face hadn’t changed at all.
"Could this be Yak.u.mo-kun?’
"Yes. He seems quite different, doesn’t he?’
Isshin nodded.
Now that Isshin said that, Yak.u.mo did have a different atmosphere to him. He seemed hard to approach.
"Yak.u.mo hasn’t changed at all since then. He’s just as contrary as before.’
Gotou crossed his arms in discontent.
"Who did you say was contrary?’
Haruka hurriedly looked towards the source of the familiar voice.
Yak.u.mo’s eyes were as sleepy as usual as he stood in the living room entrance. Nao was with him too.
Yak.u.mo yawned, seeming bored, and ran a hand through his messy hair.
"Hide the photo. Quickly.’
Haruka grabbed the photo reflexively and put her hands behind her.
Then, Yak.u.mo’s eyes met hers.
"What did you hide just now?’
"Nothing, really… I’m not hiding anything. Aren’t you thinking too much?’
Haruka tried playing bun.
However, Yak.u.mo had to be able to tell.
"Why are you here anyway?’
Yak.u.mo frowned, seeming exasperated.
Haruka had no way to answer that.
She was trying to think of an excuse when Nao jumped towards her.
Theorising from the story earlier, for Yak.u.mo, Nao was a sister from another mother.
Perhaps Yak.u.mo was kind to Nao because she was the existence closest to him.
– Your mother was a really wonderful person.
Haruka patted Nao’s head as she spoke in her heart.
It seemed to reach Nao, as she looked up at Haruka’s face and nodded.
"Answer my question.’
Yak.u.mo crossed his arms and pressed Haruka for an answer.
Haruka had thought that Nao’s appearance had changed the topic, but Yak.u.mo wasn’t that naive.
"Well, isn’t it fine?’
Isshin smiled as he sipped his tea.
"It isn’t fine. And Gotou-san, what are you doing here too? Please leave me out of your cases already.’
"It’s not like I chase cases because I want to.’
Gotou gave an incomprehensible retort.
"Honestly, all of you.’
Yak.u.mo spoke in an irritated tone, but he seemed to have given up as he sat down cross-legged.
When Haruka saw these faces surrounding the table, they seemed like a real family.
The people who thought of, respected and used Yak.u.mo –
Each of them had their own feelings, but everyone was linked with a strong bond.
"Shall we get sushi today?’ suggested Isshin, clapping his hands together.
"I only eat the best.’
"I don’t remember inviting you, Gotou-kun.’
Isshin glanced at Gotou.
Gotou was about to say something, but then he snorted and turned around, like he knew he had no way of winning in an argument.
"Sushi? Then I’ll make something,’ suggested Haruka.
Yak.u.mo snorted.
"I’ll pa.s.s. I don’t want to destroy my stomach.’
Yak.u.mo stood up and made an X with his arms.
"I’m just going to say this, but I’m pretty confident in my cooking,’ interrupted Haruka, flaring up. However, Yak.u.mo just yawned, seeming bored.
Gotou laughed aloud, cooling the tension.
Isshin had a gentle smile on his face.
– Akemi-san. Though your wish wasn’t granted, we’re heading forward like this now. Please watch over us.
So that these days can always continue –
Will my little wish be granted?
That thought suddenly came to Haruka.