Chapter 10
By the time I left the police station, the sun had already begun to set. I headed home, feeling a little annoyed that while they’d given me a ride to the station, they wouldn’t give me one back.
I got hungry on the way, so I stopped at a chain restaurant in front of the station to get some ramen.
The TV in the restaurant was playing the news, but there was no mention of the bank robbery.
I gulped down the ramen that was served. Ah, it’s been a long time since I’d had a proper meal like this.
Actually, I had taken the day off today. I was planning to spend the day doing whatever I wanted and refreshing myself, but I got stuck at the fundraising stage, so in the end, I didn’t get anything done. It’s my own fault for sleeping in until almost noon, though……
I’m starting to feel like I should at least go see a movie. There’s still time for a late show, right? It’s the weekend, so I’m off work tomorrow too. I feel like I’d just brood if I stayed home alone.
“Let’s go~”
I finish about half the ramen broth and say, “Thanks for the meal”. I leave the shop and check the movie listings on my phone. Unfortunately, the lineup was terrible. Oh well, it looks like I have no choice but to go home. I looked up suddenly and caught sight of a storefront window. My eyes were drawn to the figure reflected in the glass.
“Why……”
Although he was wearing a jumper and a baseball cap, that stocky build and those piercing eyes… it’s Yasuhara.
Luckily, Yasuhara didn’t seem to have noticed that I’d spotted him. It was then that I realized I had been followed. I guess the lie I told during that interrogation was just too clumsy. Still, I actually do know Shinji—even though I’m not supposed to—but even if I told him that, there’s no way he’d believe me. Ugh, this is such a mess.
I let out a small sigh and quietly headed home. As expected of a veteran detective, Yasuhara was very skilled at tailing people. If I hadn’t happened to spot him through the window at that moment, I probably wouldn’t have realized I was being followed. In fact, I didn’t even sense his presence at all on the way home; it wasn’t until I got home and closed the curtains that I finally spotted Yasuhara.
“Anpan…… I wonder if I have any.”
I couldn’t help but mutter something completely trivial.
I changed my clothes and turned on the TV. I glanced at a variety show that wasn’t particularly interesting and reflected on the long day.
…… Hmm? One day? How many days was it really? The first three loops were probably only a few hours each. The day we spent the night together felt long, but in the end, “crossing into the next day” wasn’t the right answer. This time, we went our separate ways. If “not being together” was the correct answer, then starting tomorrow, everything should go back to normal.
I suddenly felt curious and peeked outside. But Yasuhara was already gone. I don’t know if he moved to a different spot or just gave up.
Piroriroreen Piroriroreen
A shrill sound. It was a breaking news report on TV.
I pressed a button on the remote control and switched to the news. On the screen, I see the newscaster, who had just been handed a script by a staff member, tightening his lips.
[We have a breaking news report. This is a follow-up on the incident that occurred around noon today, in which a young man armed with a knife-like weapon broke into a bank at the Mitsuashi intersection, injured a security guard, and then fled. The police were tracking the perpetrator as a robbery and injury case, but it seems he has just been apprehended.]
I hurriedly inched closer to the screen.
Shinji, he got caught……?
[To reiterate, it appears that the suspect in today’s robbery and assault case has been apprehended. We’re now live from the scene.]
As the newscaster said this, the screen switched. Numerous reporters were standing in front of the police station, cameras at the ready.
[Yes, this is the scene. It appears the vehicle carrying the suspect, who was arrested a short while ago, has arrived at the police station. A large number of reporters have gathered here.]
“Ah!”
I spot a familiar face on the screen. It’s Yasuhara. So, Yasuhara, who was tailing me and had been here, must have heard the news of the arrest and come back. But… if that’s the case……
On the screen, a man is getting out of the car. Although a jacket is pulled completely over his head, I can tell it’s Shinji. And as he enters the police station, Yasuhara takes charge of him.
[Oh, is there some kind of incident? Police officers are gathered… Hmm? I can see the suspect being carried in.]
Ah……
Sure enough, Yasuhara touching Shinji is a no-go. No matter what, Yasuhara and Shinji must not be allowed to get close. But Yasuhara is the detective in charge of this case. I was at a loss as to what to do.
◇
“I guess I’ll just have to find a new route.”
When I opened my eyes, I found myself muttering that while Shinji held me in a headlock.
“Hey, shut up!”
Yeah, yeah, I know.
The usual bank.
The usual scene of a robber and a hostage.
Shinji is full of energy. Suppressing the urge to tear up at the sight of him, I obey Shinji. However, the choice of whether or not to get in the car begins from that point.
“Let’s go.”
Shinji dragged me outside, still holding me tightly. The bank’s security alarm blared. Inside the chaotic building, I could see civilians lying on the floor and an injured security guard crouched down, watching my fate with anxiety—yet also a hint of amusement.
Okay. The car.
I made up my mind and got in. Oh, I got in before he even told me to!
“W, wait, why did you get in on your own?”
Shinji, who got into the driver’s seat after, said with a surprised face.
“Uh, well, I figured you meant ‘get in’, so…”
“Hehe”, I chuckled as I fastened my seatbelt. There’s definitely no hostage like me.
The car pulled away smoothly. And then I spoke up.
“Hey, I’d like to change the destination.”
“Huh?”
Shinji, who was driving, looked completely taken aback. Yeah, I guess that makes sense. That’s exactly the kind of face you’d make.
“I was thinking there are a lot of security cameras in the city, so we’d probably get followed right away. If it turned into a car chase, we might get into an accident—that’d be dangerous, right? So, I think we should head out to the countryside as soon as possible.”
Shinji is taken aback by this new approach—the hostage taking the initiative to act as the navigator. Yeah, at this point, I have no choice but to talk, right?
“My name is Natsumi. It’s written as ‘summer sea’, Natsumi. And you’re Furuya Shinji… right?”
To help Shinji understand the situation, I reveal something “only Shinji would know”, just like I did on the bus. The story of a cat named Kinako.
At first, Shinji was making a big fuss, but now he’s grown quiet, and I can tell he’s starting to waver. Even though the story is hard to believe, there’s a part of him that thinks, “I guess I have no choice but to accept this as the truth”, and another part that wants to insist, “There’s no way that’s true”. They’re probably battling it out in his head.
“I know it’s hard to believe a story like this out of the blue. But I heard this—something only you could know—from you. And I promised I’d definitely help you. So please. I want you to believe me.”
As I said this, almost as if it were a catchphrase, Shinji muttered quietly,
“I guess all I can say is ‘Okay’….”
He muttered.
It’s dangerous to take the highway, so we’ll use the back roads. That said, there’s no guarantee there are any roads down there without security cameras these days, so it’s going to be a race against time.
“Ah.”
My eyes were glued to something I saw out the window. That thing I haven’t tried yet. Maybe I should give it a go… but.
“Shinji-kun, you know….”
Shinji shot me a quick sideways glance as I spoke to him. It felt like his whole body was screaming, “I don’t trust you yet”. The vibe was similar to a cat bristling its fur to intimidate someone.
“It’s just… I’m a little uncomfortable being called by my first name. You act like we’ve known each other forever. I mean, you’ve met me a bunch of times, so it makes sense you’d be so casual, but I just met you a moment ago.”
“Oh, yes…… you’re right. Then, Furuya-kun, let’s go with that.”
“Well, then …….”
Shinji replied reluctantly. I wonder what kind of face he’d make if I told him about the kiss? …… Not that I’m going to.
“Furuya-kun, have you ever ridden that before?”
“Huh? That thing?”
When Shinji saw what I was pointing to, he widened his eyes in a slightly surprised expression.
“Yes, but… what are you going to do with it?”
“I have a plan. But I won’t know if it will actually work until I go and check it out.”
I led Shinji to a certain place.
Sads Translates 