Chapter 25
“The son of some big shot… huh?”
“That’s right. Right now, they’re scrambling to cover it up.”
“Is that even possible?”
I can’t help but be somewhat surprised that such favoritism still exists in this day and age. True to his nature as a man of justice, Yasuhara looks genuinely frustrated.
“There’s probably footage of the accident on social media and such, so they can’t just pretend the accident itself never happened. They’ll probably just try to erase the fact that he was drinking.”
I see—so they’ll just claim it was an unfortunate accident.
“…… I see. That accident hasn’t been made public yet. So, the fact that I know about it, even though I wasn’t there … that doesn’t exactly prove that I’m in a time loop…or does it?”
I slumped my shoulders,
“No, there’s absolutely no reason for you to go to such elaborate lengths just to bring up this so-called ‘time loop’. I don’t know how I was last time, but I believe you. I really do.”
Yasuhara said with a gentle expression. I decided to believe that this was the face of Buddha Yasuhara.
“Well then, let’s continue.”
From that point on, I proceeded to explain everything in order, detailing my actions and motives. I told him about the kiss at the shrine, and how my feelings for him had gradually grown stronger. I didn’t hide anything.
“Do you think this is Stockholm syndrome?”
I asked honestly. But contrary to my expectations, Yasuhara immediately shook his head.
“This doesn’t fit the definition of Stockholm syndrome. After all, the circumstances are far too unusual, and you’ve actually spent a long time together.”
“Right? If we’re just talking about you, Hirose-san, you’ve been with the suspect for several days now, haven’t you?”
Ah, the suspect…… I see. Well, that’s what he is, but that term stings a little.
“In the last loop, we took the bus from the bank, experienced the accident so he believed my story wasn’t a lie, then rode the motorcycle to the abandoned school. Shinji is currently at the abandoned school. But I don’t want you to come, Yasuhara-san.”
“Not me!”
Suddenly, Kamiya leaned forward. The fact that I’d mentioned Yasuhara died after coming into contact with Shinji must have come as a shock to her.
“Yasuhara-san, why don’t you step away from this case! Cut off all ties with the suspect and take on a different case. I’ll handle the rest.”
Yasuhara’s eyes widened as Kamiya spoke gleefully, slapping her chest with a thud.
“Well, I don’t know about that…”
Since I know how Kamiya feels, I couldn’t help but smile as I watched the two of them together.
“You two make a great team, don’t you?”
When I complimented them, Kamiya suddenly looked startled and her cheeks flushed red. Yasuhara scratched his head awkwardly.
“But realistically, is it even possible for Yasuhara-san to step away from this case?”
I don’t know the internal police regulations, but can an officer really just casually drop a case they’re assigned to?
“Well, normally you wouldn’t do that. But if he suddenly became ill and had to go to the hospital for tests, then I suppose it can’t be helped. In the meantime, I’ll apprehend the suspect and arrest him. I’ll handle all the paperwork myself. Wouldn’t that be alright?”
Listening from the sidelines, it sounded like Kamiya was planning to take all the credit for herself.
“Hospital, huh…… what’s that about?”
Yasuhara looked surprised by the unexpected suggestion.
“Yasuhara-san, you got a ‘D’ rating on your last physical, right? I’ve been bothered by it for a while. I don’t think you should just ignore it. I know you’re busy—I do the same job, after all. But I’ve heard from everyone at the station that you’ve been using that as an excuse to put off dealing with that ‘D’ rating for years now. I think this is a great opportunity. I’ll handle everything from here on out. Why don’t you go to the hospital for a thorough checkup? Okay?”
Aww, Kamiya-san is just too cute. The way she’s being so nosy like this—it’s just making my heart flutter.
“But…… well…”
Yasuhara crossed his arms and thought it over. I guess I’ll have to step in and help out.
“Yasuhara-san, could you please do that? Kamiya-san and I will bring Shinji-kun. We’ll have him arrested properly and make him pay for his crime. It’s just that having you there is the problem! You could take this opportunity to get checked out too—if everything’s fine, then great, but let’s just get it settled once and for all! Kamiya-san has gone out of her way to say all this, you know? Surely you wouldn’t just ignore her feelings, would you?”
My persuasion left Yasuhara looking genuinely troubled. Was it because of his responsibility as a superior? Or was he simply averse to hospitals?
“Let’s do that, Yasuhara-san.”
Kamiya frowned sadly and stared intently at Yasuhara. Unable to bear her gaze any longer, Yasuhara let out a deep sigh.
“Well, Kamiya’s going to go that far, I guess I have no choice. I’ll leave everything else to you. Are you really sure you’ll be okay?”
“Yes, of course!”
Kamiya replied with such enthusiasm that it looked as if she were about to salute.
“Alright then, I’ll pretend to suddenly feel unwell and go get checked out. You two head out to apprehend the suspect.”
“Understood!”
“Thank you!”
Kamiya and I exchanged glances and nodded.
Soon after, Kamiya and I got into the car and headed towards the abandoned school. Alone in the car, I couldn’t help but blurt out.
“Kamiya-san, how old are you?”
“Huh? Me? I’ll be twenty-seven this year.”
“Ah, so you’re one year older than Shinji-kun!”
She’s so young. But why Yasuhara-san…… though I suppose that’s a bit rude to say.
“Have you been working with Yasuhara-san for a long time?”
“We’ve been working together for a year and a half now…”
“Yasuhara-san seems like a veteran. There’s quite an age gap between you two—isn’t that difficult to work with?”
I tried to probe a little. And it seemed as if Kamiya’s eyes lit up, as if to say, “I’m glad you asked”.
“I thought that at first, too. I worried about being forced to follow old-fashioned customs, sexual harassment, power harassment, and so on. After all, the police force is a male-dominated world. But…”
She let out a sigh,
“It’s not like that at all. Yasuhara-san is such a gentleman— wonderful, kind, and considerate of his subordinates. He doesn’t treat me any differently just because I’m a woman, and he teaches me everything he knows without holding anything back. He’s strong, but not just strict— he also has a great sense of humor. He’s just the best!”
Wow…… this is something else. Her praise was gushing out like a spring.
“You like Yasuhara-san, don’t you?”
I couldn’t hold back my laughter anymore and blurted that out with a chuckle. Kamiya snapped back to her senses, tightened her lips, and,
“I’m just saying that I respect him, strictly as my superior, that’s all.”
she began to say.
.
I didn’t press further, simply nodded and looked out the window.
It was the middle of the night.
Not a single car was on the mountain pass. The car proceeded cautiously along the narrow road, which had no streetlights.
Yasuhara decided to wait until we secured Shinji and came back. Come to think of it, I was surprised to hear that he had been divorced twice despite his appearance. Maybe it’s just that he’s too absorbed in work to have time with his family.
“Ah, take the next right onto the side road.”
It was finally time. The car slowly turned right and wound its way up the hill.
“We’re here.”
With that, Kamiya took two flashlights out of the glove box and handed one to me. I took it, opened the door, and stepped outside. It was a moonless night. It was dark.
Click, I flipped the switch and headed to the entrance.
“Huh?”
I realized something was missing that should have been there. That’s strange. Why?
“Is something wrong?”
Kamiya caught up to me.
“No…… Um, the motorcycle……”
“Huh?”
“The motorcycle that was parked here is gone. I wonder if I parked it somewhere else?”
My heart began to pound faster.
“I’ll go get Shinji-kun!”
With that, we rushed into the school building.
“Shinji-kun, where are you?”
The first place I went was the nurse’s office. Maybe he had fallen asleep. I opened the door and shone my flashlight on the bed, but there was no one there.
I dashed down the hallway, searching every classroom. The music room, the science room, the home economics room, the staff room—beyond the corridor was the gymnasium.
But Shinji was nowhere to be found.
“…… What’s going on here?”
Before I knew it, Kamiya was standing behind me. She was giving me a suspicious look. I suppose that’s understandable. I suppose that makes sense. After all, she’d agreed to my request on the premise that Shinji was here.
“Where’s the suspect?”
Kamiya’s voice grew even sharper.
I slowly shook my head and answered honestly.
“…… I don’t know. I told him to wait here before we parted ways. I told him to stay here because I’d definitely come back for him.”
“But, he’s not here, is he?”
It was as if all the strength had drained from my body; I collapsed and fell to my knees right there on the spot.
