Chapter 22
Perhaps because we had stayed up late talking, the sun was already well down by the time I woke up. It was past 1:00 p.m. when I checked the time, and Shinji was still snoring peacefully beside me.
It was a blissful morning.
If only the robbery hadn’t happened.
I quickly got dressed and stepped outside the school building. The only sounds I could hear were the chirping of birds and the rustling of the trees.
In the end, there’s no real answer. Even if I managed to convince Yasuhara to believe in the time loop, what would that accomplish? Even if Yasuhara had refrained from touching Shinji, I don’t think that would really solve everything.
How can I make the right choice every single time?
Or, rather than worrying about Shinji’s safety, is there something I need to do?
I took a deep breath as I reflected.
If I’m going to do something, what can I do besides connect with Shinji on a deeper level?
To begin with, there are still plenty of options I haven’t tried yet. Like fleeing overseas, or just running away as far as possible. Would it be enough if Shinji could survive for a week? Or a year? Or maybe if Yasuhara were to die in an accident or something……?
No.
Something feels fundamentally different.
“So you were here?”
I was startled when I heard a voice behind me and turned around. Shinji was standing there with his arms outstretched.
“Good morning.”
“It’s pretty late to say ‘good morning’, though. But anyway, good morning. What have you been up to?”
“Ah, yeah. I had a lot on my mind.”
Seeing me blush, Shinji gave me a concerned look.
“I’ll help you figure it out, so don’t worry about it all by yourself.”
「…… Hehe, thank you.”
I hugged Shinji tightly. I pressed my ear against his chest and listened to his heartbeat. He’s alive.
“Alright.”
I pulled away from Shinji and lightly slapped both my cheeks. I gathered my resolve, steadying my heart, which felt like it might break.
“Let’s get pumped up and give it a shot — let’s storm in!”
It sounded harsh, but I decided to go for it. Time passes regardless of what I do. I’m happy with the time I spend with Shinji, and I want to stay like this forever, but……
I tend to only think about immediate concerns.
‘What do I want to become from here on out?’
I want to move forward towards my goals.
“What about me?”
“Shinji-kun, please hide here for a while. I will definitely come back for you, so please wait for me.”
He should turn himself in.
Unless he atones for his crimes, we can’t move forward. In that case, I’ll persuade Yasuhara to keep him away from Shinji. This time, for sure. Then I’ll get Shinji to turn himself in and properly atone for his crimes. From now on, I will continue to support Shinji. I want to live by his side, watching his smile.
“I’m worried…”
Shinji looked at me anxiously. I took his hand and encouraged him as best I could.
“It’s okay. I believe it will work out this time. I’ll bring you some sweet tamagoyaki and karaage when I visit you!”
“It hasn’t been decided yet that I’m going to be imprisoned!”
“Ahaha.”
Let’s laugh a lot, Shinji. From now on, forever….
◇
We crossed the mountain pass.
Leaving Shinji at the campsite, I headed toward the city.
By the time I arrived at the police station, evening was approaching.
I inquired about Yasuhara at the reception desk, but was told he was out. Without revealing my identity, I left a message and walked out of the station. On the note for Yasuhara, I wrote:
[Did you kill Anna]
That’s what I wrote.
I hope he gets it.
After leaving the police station, I decided to head home. I was really missing a bath. I should have enough time for that.
Hurrying back home, I was overcome with a sense of nostalgia.
“Even though I was only away for one day.”
I muttered to myself.
Then I took off my clothes and quickly hopped in the shower. I spotted a hickey on the nape of my neck, and a smile slipped out before I knew it. I wanted to see Shinji.
Wrapping a towel around myself, I stepped out of the bathroom just as the phone rang. It must be Yasuhara. I quickly picked up the receiver. I had given him my home number, not my cell phone number, so there was no doubt it was him.
“Hello?”
[This is Yasuhara from the Prefectural Police Headquarters……]
Ah, that cautious tone.
“Greetings.”
I deliberately kept my answer brief.
[What exactly did that mean?]
“Did you kill Anna?”
[……]
Yasuhara does not answer my question.
“I’d like to speak with you. Would you mind coming over with Atsuko Kamiya?”
[…… Kamiya?]
It seems as though he was surprised to hear his partner’s full name called out.
[Who on earth are you—]
“I’ll be waiting.”
With that, I hung up the phone.
It wouldn’t be difficult at all to track down my address from my phone number. I need to get changed quickly. Oh, maybe I should offer them some tea? I set out a teapot and teacups and waited for them to arrive.
About thirty minutes later, two police officers pressed the intercom button at my apartment.
◇
I opened the door.
I looked at their faces and immediately said,
“What happened to Kamiya-san? I called for both Yasuhara-san and Kamiya-san, didn’t I?”
The female detective who came with Yasuhara was not Kamiya.
Upon hearing my words, Yasuhara blinked once.
“So, you do know about both me and Kamiya, then.”
Oh, what? Was I being tested?
“Of course I know you both. Is Kamiya-san here too?”
When I asked, Yasuhara exchanged glances with the woman who had come with him. She went straight down the apartment stairs. She must have gone to fetch the person in question.
“Please, come in. It’s a bit cramped, though.”
When I prompted him, Yasuhara took his police badge out of his pocket.
“Ah, that’s fine. I know who you are. Mamoru Yasuhara.”
When called by his full name, he frowned, his hands still in his pockets,
“Have we met somewhere before?”
He asked.
“Yasuhara-san, you never forget anyone involved in a case, do you? So that means you don’t know me, right? After all, this is our first meeting. But you must have realised who I am just by looking at my face, haven’t you?”
He must have watched the security camera footage countless times. In other words, he must know that I’m involved in the case… that I’m a hostage.
“What do you mean by that……”
“Yasuhara-san.”
Kamiya’s voice came from beyond the open door. She was also looking at me with a stern expression.
“Welcome, Atsuko Kamiya. Please, come inside. I’ll serve some tea right away.”
With that, I turned off the stove’s burner. It was getting dark and a little chilly outside. A warm cup of tea would certainly be welcome.
“Please make yourselves comfortable.”
I called out as I brewed the tea.
“What’s your purpose here?”
Yasuhara said this in a rather menacing voice. As I set the freshly brewed tea on the table, I replied,
“Please don’t speak in such a scary voice, Demon Yasuhara-san. Today, I’d like to talk to Buddha Yasuhara-san.”
I could see them both gasp.
“I absolutely need you both to believe what I’m about to tell you. So please, don’t panic, don’t make a fuss—just start by listening to me. This is a very important matter with a human life at stake, so I’m counting on you.”
I said this and bowed deeply. I wasn’t trying to intimidate them; I intended to convey my feelings with sincerity and honesty. Otherwise, I’m sure these two would never believe me.
“A human life……?”
Kamiya spoke.
“I want to save the life of the perpetrator of the attempted bank robbery.”
I looked at them in turn.
Getting them to understand everything I’m about to say will surely be incredibly difficult. I know that.
I wonder how Shinji is doing.
He’s waiting for my return at that abandoned school.
I have to go pick him up soon. And I’ll give him a new tomorrow… a tomorrow that will lead to a brighter future.
“What I’m about to say may sound far-fetched and hard to believe. But please, I beg you, listen to me until the very end. I want you to listen to me until the very end. I’ll tell you the truth.”
The moment I said that, the home phone rang.
Sads Translates 