Shinrei Tantei Yakumo – ANOTHER FILES - Volume 1 - Chapter 3

ANOTHER FILES – THE TREE OF DECEIT
file 03: the tree of deceit

-

1

-

Haruka stood with Yakumo in front of Mai’s hospital room.

– Let’s go see her again.

After receiving Makoto’s report, Yakumo made that suggestion, but Haruka didn’t understand why.

‘What are we going to do when we see her?’

'There’s something I want to confirm,’ replied Yakumo, running a hand through his messy hair.

'What do you plan on confirming?’

'You’ll know when you see it,’ said Yakumo expressionlessly. He probably wouldn’t say anything even if Haruka pressed further.

Haruka gave up and knocked on the door.

There was no response. When she opened the door, she saw Mai lying on the bed.

Though her eyes were open, they weren’t focussed.

She looked a bit more tired than she had yesterday. Haruka wanted to save her somehow, but she had no way to do that.

Yakumo slowly walked up to the bed and sat on the round chair beside it.

Haruka watched while holding her breath.

'Kosaka… Yukari-san, yes…?’

In response to Yakumo’s murmur, Mai turned to look at Yakumo.

'A… h…’

It sounded like it hurt Mai to speak.

'You know the man named Mochizuki Toshiki-san, don’t you.’

The moment Yakumo said that name, Mai’s eyes flew open. She pulled her body up and reached out towards Yakumo.

Her hands gripped Yakumo’s neck.

'Yakumo-kun!’

Haruka tried to run out to him, but Yakumo stopped her.

Mai’s hands dug into Yakumo’s neck. Even in that situation, Yakumo just looked at Mai without faltering.

'I’m not Mochizuki Toshiki-san,’ said Yakumo, though his breath sounded constricted.

'Ur… gh…’

Mai sounded like she was suffering.

'You understand this as well, don’t you? Killing me won’t dispel your grudge,’ Yakumo said quietly.

Mai let go of his neck.

'Are you OK?’ asked Haruka.

'Don’t worry about it,’ Yakumo replied, but the hands’ imprints remained on his neck.

Haruka felt anew the resolve Yakumo had upon facing this case.

After a silence, Yakumo brought his face close to Mai’s eyes and murmured, 'I want to ask you something. What happened that day?’

Mai’s dry lips moved slightly.

'I… was betrayed…’ replied Mai. No, to be correct, it was Yukari, the spirit possessing Mai.

'Who were you betrayed by?’ asked Yakumo.

'That… man…’

'Mochizuki-san?’

Mai’s breathing was ragged.

'I… was always… waiting… For that man… that… but…’

'He didn’t come.’

'I… loved… but… that man…’

'Somebody else came to the shrine that day, correct?’ said Yakumo. Like he had known from the start.

'That… monkey…’

'What did you do afterwards?’

'From behind… Agh…’

'Somebody pushed you from behind so that you fell down the stone stairs.’

'Aaaaahh!’

Mai let out a beastly howl.

Her hair flung about as she flailed her arms and legs wildly.

’M-Mai.’

Haruka couldn’t stop herself from approaching to try to calm Mai down, but Yakumo stopped her.

'Stop.’

'Why? Mai is…’

'She’ll possess you,’ Yakumo said in a harsh tone, pushing Haruka aside.

Haruka couldn’t do anything even though she was watching her friend suffer. She was mortified by her powerlessness.

Yakumo turned towards Mai again and asked, 'Who pushed you?’

Mai suddenly stopped moving.

A groan came out of her throat as she glared at Yakumo.

A chill ran down Haruka’s spine.

It felt like a strong hatred was spilling out from Mai’s bloodshot eyes.

'I’ll… kill you…’

After saying that, Mai lost her strength and collapsed.

'Mai.’

'It’s fine. She just fainted,’ said Yakumo.

When Haruka looked at Yakumo, she saw that his forehead was covered in sweat. His brow was furrowed like he was in pain.

'A-are you OK?’ asked Haruka.

Yakumo leant against the wall, brushed back his fringe and looked up at the ceiling.

'Yeah. It was a bit intense.’

'Intense?’

'Her emotions.’

'By her, do you mean Yukari-san?’

'Yeah. She has an incredibly strong hatred.’

Haruka could tell that too.

'Why is she so full of hatred?’

Yakumo left the hospital room, escaping Haruka’s questioning.

'W-wait.’

Haruka hurriedly ran after Yakumo.

Yakumo stood with his back against the wall in the corridor in front of the hospital room.

He had his arms crossed with a difficult expression on his face.

'As I thought, she… Kosaka Yukari-san didn’t die in an accident…’

'Eh? Really?’ said Haruka in surprise.

'Yeah. This is a fully-fledged murder case.’

'Which is why she hates the person who killed her…’

'Well, that’s how it is.’

'Who on earth is it?’ asked Haruka.

Yakumo’s expression twisted, like he was withstanding pain.

'It’d be easy if I knew.’

Yakumo started walking.

'Wait.’

Haruka went right after him.

She could tell from looking at Yakumo’s back.

Yakumo probably knew who killed Yukari, but he didn’t want to say it right now.

– Who on earth could it be?

While Haruka was thinking, the words Yakumo said earlier came up in her head.

– Because Ishii-san is a main player.

'There’s no way.’

Haruka hurriedly wiped that unfortunate thought out of her head.

-

2

-

Ishii and Gotou sat at a table in a cafe.

They were waiting for Yuuko.

Gotou blew out smoke in irritation. Ishii had nothing to do so he just looked at the clock on the wall.

When he stared at it, it felt like time had turned back.

That day – Ishii had been in this cafe with Mochizuki.

Mochizuki had handed Ishii something and asked him to deliver it to somebody at the shrine with the tree of deceit.

No, Mochizuki hadn’t asked. He had ordered.

Ishii hadn’t been able to refuse.

The relationship between Ishii and Mochizuki had been an absolute one, of master and servant.

Of course Mochizuki had been the master. Ishii had to do what he said. If he didn’t, he didn’t even want to think about how he’d be treated.

Ishii had gone to the shrine as he was told –

The events that came afterwards flashed through his head like a revolving lantern.

– No. I don’t want to remember.

He frantically tried to push the memories away, but it was no use. They were his own memories. No matter how he tried to refuse them, he couldn’t erase them.

'I…’

'Shut up!’

Gotou’s fist came down on him.

The impact brought Ishii back to his senses.

His palms were clammy with sweat.

'I-I’m sorry.’

After Ishii apologised, the cafe door opened and Yuuko showed up.

She arrived twenty minutes later than the appointed time.

'I sincerely apologise for the wait.’

Yuuko greeted them. There were shadows under her eyes. She looked a step more tired than she had yesterday.

'No, not at all. Please sit down.’

Ishii urged her to sit opposite them. Yuuko sat down.

Ishii called the waiter and ordered coffee for three.

'Today, we called you out because we want to check something with you,’ said Gotou after the waiter brought them coffee.

'What is it?’ asked Yuuko in a faint voice.

'You said you didn’t know the suspect, Matsuda, right?’

Gotou pressed his cigarette out in the ashtray and looked at Yuuko.

Under that intimidating gaze, Yuuko’s expression stiffened.

'I did say that. I’d never seen him before that day.’

'That’s strange. His daughter’s at your hospital.’

'Eh?’

'Matsuda Misaki… You know her, right?’

'That person’s Misaki-chan’s…’

Yuuko looked genuinely surprised.

'Yeah. He’s Matsuda Misaki’s father.’

'That’s…’

Yuuko had a complex expression on her face.

'You said a man you didn’t know suddenly assaulted your fiancé, but that’s a lie, right?’

'It isn’t. I’ve never met Misaki-chan’s father.’

'Don’t play dumb! You knew Matsuda, right?’ Gotou said threateningly.

Yuuko’s shoulders jolted up.

Ishii knew that Gotou was irritated, but if he intimidated Yuuko this way, she wouldn’t be able to say the things she wanted to.

After Ishii calmed Gotou slightly, he turned towards Yuuko.

'I’m sorry. Are you all right?’ asked Ishii.

Yuuko nodded.

'You talked to Matsuda-san using the hospital phone, yes?’

'I did?’

Yuuko’s eyes were wide open.

'During your work hours, somebody called Matsuda-san from the hospital.’

Ishii placed the piece of paper with the call log on the table.

Yuuko took it and looked at it carefully.

'I don’t know. Anybody can use the phone at the nurse station. It doesn’t have to be me.’

'But you’re the only person who was working during all these times.’

'That’s not definite. Somebody might have worked on their day off and used it.’

'Don’t try to fool me. It’ll be obvious who used the phone if we check the security camera footage for the nurse station,’ Gotou cut in.

'I really don’t know,’ said Yuuko, sounding like she would cry.

'Matsuda said he fell for you. Weren’t you in a relationship? And then Mochizuki got in the way,’ said Gotou as a final blow.

'Please don’t just say whatever you want!’

Yuuko hit the table, making her emotions apparent.

'Tell the truth.’

Gotou still didn’t back down.

'What are you saying? I loved Toshiki-san. No – I still love him now.’

'I can’t believe that. We’ve got proof. What sort of relationship did you have with Matsuda?’

'Stop already!’ Yuuko shouted again, with tears in her eyes.

It was probably not from sadness but from anger and mortification.

'Then talk honestly.’

'The person I loved was killed, but I’m even being treated like I was complicit… I…’

She didn’t say anything else.

Yuuko covered her face with her hands and went silent.

He sniffling echoed through the cafe.

Even Gotou looked away awkwardly.

She isn’t lying – Ishii didn’t have proof, but he felt that.

In any case, asking her anything else about the matter probably wouldn’t get them any information.

'Are you all right?’

Ishii held a handkerchief out towards Yuuko.

However, Yuuko didn’t take it. She took a handkerchief out of her own bag and wiped her tears.

She didn’t want sympathy from the police. It was like she was saying that.

Ishii waited for Yuuko to stop crying before speaking. 'Yuuko-san, we understand that you loved Mochizuki-san. Er… Would it be all right to ask you another question?’

After wiping her tears with a handkerchief, Yuuko looked up. She didn’t respond, but Ishii took that as a yes.

'I want to ask about your older sister.’

When Ishii asked that, Yuuko’s eyes went wide open in surprise.

'My sister?’

'Yes. Your sister was dating Mochizuki-san before she passed away, correct?’

Yuuko didn’t respond.

Ishii continued.

'Did you know that?’

Ishii saw Yuuko’s hands tighten into fists as she looked down.

This wasn’t a question from Ishii and Gotou.

Yakumo had told Gotou to ask it. He had said that the situation would change depending on the response.

Ishii knew the answer without hearing it.

Of course Ishii knew about Mochizuki and Yukari’s relationship, but all the people in the grade did too. Even some of the teachers knew.

They’d gone to each other’s houses, so Yuuko, Yukari’s little sister, must have known.

'Did you know?’ asked Gotou in irritation, perhaps annoyed by Yuuko’s silence.

Yuuko lifted her head just slightly.

Her eyes were filled with a darkness like hatred.

’… with that.’

Yuuko’s faint voice didn’t reach Ishii’s ears.

'What did you say?’

'This incident has nothing to do with that,’ spat out Yuuko.

Her forceful tone made Ishii falter for a moment.

'No, well, yes, but…’

'Then why are you asking?’

'No, that’s…’

'I’m sick of this already. Please allow me to head home.’

Yuuko stood up and tried to leave the cafe.

However, Gotou stood in front of her to stop her.

'We’re not done asking questions yet.’

Gotou grabbed Yuuko’s wrist.

'Please let go of me,’ Yuuko protested.

The waiter looked at them suspiciously.

Unlike Ishii, who was worried that the waiter might report them to the police, Gotou continued talking without a care.

'I won’t let go tell you answer.’

'My sister’s unrelated to this, isn’t she?’

'Then you can respond, right?’

Yuuko’s emotions reached their boiling point as she shouted, 'Yes, I knew!’

’…’

Ishii gulped under that pressure.

'I knew. My sister brought Toshiki-san home a number of times. So…’

'So you approached him while knowing?’ asked Gotou, glaring at Yuuko sharply.

'Is there a problem with that?’

'That’s…’

'That person placed flowers at the shrine every year on my sister’s death anniversary. I always watched him. Even though it wasn’t his fault that my sister died, he continued placing flowers for ten years.’

'So you fell for him because of that kindness of his,’ said Gotou sarcastically.

'That’s enough, right? I’m going home.’

Yuuko pushed Gotou away and left the shop.

Ishii didn’t feel like going after her. It looked like Gotou felt the same way, as he sat down with a click of his tongue.

'Damn. What was that…’ grumbled Gotou.

'Ah…’

All Ishii could do was give that listless reply.

After a while, Gotou said, 'Hey, Ishii.’

'Yes?’

'What sort of woman was that Yukari, who died ten years ago?’

'I don’t really know,’ Ishii replied vaguely.

'You were in the same class, right?’

'Yes, but… we weren’t very close…’

'Useless.’

Gotou smacked Ishii’s head.

'I-I apologise.’

Ishii smiled bitterly.

– It was a lie.

He knew Yukari well.

With a gorgeous appearance, the male students had all yearned for her.

For Yukari to date the class leader, Mochizuki, had been a natural development.

A god couple that anybody would envy – but it had been different for Ishii.

Mochizuki and Yukari had been the worst couple. The two of them hadn’t treated Ishii like he was human.

Once, he had picked up a pen Yukari dropped.

Normally, people would have said thank you, but she hadn’t responded that way. Instead, she had falsely accused him of stealing her pen.

After that, Mochizuki had punched him countless times.

Yukari had laughed while watching Ishii in pain.

It had been a daily cycle.

Ishii had hated the two of them.

– I want to kill them.

It was inevitable that Ishii felt that way.

It had been the same on that day too.

When Yukari looked at him scornfully, a black emotion had exploded in the bottom of Ishii’s heart.

– I.

Interrupting Ishii’s thoughts, Gotou’s mobile rang.

It was probably Yakumo.

'We’re going.’

After Gotou’s call ended, he stood up.

'Eh? Where to?’

'You’ll know if you come.’

Gotou left the cafe briskly.

Ishii hurriedly tried to go after him, but then he remembered that they hadn’t paid and went to the register.

After Ishii finished paying, the waiter said to him quietly, 'What an unpleasant woman.’

'Yes?’

'Getting angry when she was the one two-timing – she’s not a good woman. It’d be better if you quickly forgot about her.’

It seemed like the waiter had completely misunderstood.

Ishii was about to deny it when Gotou yelled, 'Hurry up!’ Ishii left the shop with a vague smile.

-

3

-

Haruka and Yakumo went to the shrine where the incident had occurred.

From the elevated ground, they could see the whole town.

The sun was low in the sky, dying the town a vivid orange. It was a beautiful place. When they looked out like this, it didn’t seem like a murder scene at all.

'Hey, what are you going to do here?’ Haruka asked Yakumo.

After leaving the hospital where Mai was, they had come here, but Haruka hadn’t been able to get the reason why out of Yakumo.

Yakumo put a hand on the cedar tree that was cordoned off with a Shinto enclosing rope and closed his eyes.

It was he was feeling its pulse.

Only this cedar tree, called the tree of deceit, knew what had happened here.

It seemed mysterious when Haruka thought that.

'I want to ask something,’ said Yakumo, turning around.

'Whom do you want to ask?’

'The victim, of course.’

'Eh?’

Haruka was surprised, but Yakumo was calm.

With a blank expression, he walked straight towards the shrine.

'So you were here.’

Yakumo stopped right in front of the shrine.

Haruka couldn’t see anything, but Yakumo could probably see him. The spirit of the man named Mochizuki, who had been killed her - a ghost – was probably –

Haruka held her breath and watched.

'I have something I want to ask,’ said Yakumo. There was no response, but it was just that Haruka couldn’t hear it. Yakumo’s ear probably heard somebody’s voice.

'What happened ten years ago?’

Haruka had been sure Yakumo would ask about the current case.

If Yakumo was going out of his way to talk about the incident ten years ago, it probably had a great deal to do with the case.

The wind blew –

The tree of deceit rustled, like it was pleading something.

'So Ishii-san really…’

When Yakumo said that, his shoulders slumping, Haruka reacted sensitively.

'What do you mean?’

'Keep quiet for now,’ Yakumo said, cutting her down.

Haruka couldn’t do anything but keep her mouth shut.

However, she couldn’t erase her questions. From Yakumo’s tone, Ishii was very involved with the current case.

There was no way that he was the culprit. Haruka wanted to think that, but part of her couldn’t declare it.

He had clearly been strange ever since the incident occurred.

Haruka didn’t have any evidence, but it felt like he was hiding something important.

'I finally see it…’ said Yakumo, interrupting Haruka’s thoughts.

Haruka looked at Yakumo, who turned around and slowly started walking towards her.

'What did you see?’

'who’s lying and who’s telling the truth – I see it now.’

Yakumo looked at the tree of deceit.

'Who’s lying?’ asked Haruka.

Yakumo’s eyes narrowed as he smirked.

'People’s memories are vague.’

'Vague?’

'Yes. Perhaps it would be better to call them subjective.’

Haruka didn’t understand what Yakumo wanted to say at all.

'What do you mean?’

'For example, if you were talking about a memory with a friend.’

'OK.’

'At times like that, don’t the experiences you talk about differ sometimes?’

'Come to think of it…’

Haruka had experienced that a number of times.

When she talked with a friend about a day they went out together, she’d say it’d been sunny when her friend would say it’d been cloudy.

Haruka would think they’d gone with five people, but her friend would say there’d been four.

Even though they’d experienced the same event, the colours of clothes, hairstyles – small details like that would change.

'That occurs because people’s memories are subjective.’

'That so?’

'Though it seems like you remember everything, you only cut and paste the things you want. With the passing of time, those memories warp further.’

'Why?’

'Every time you remember a memory, you add emotion to it.’

'Emotion?’

'Correct. You could call it a wish. People forget the unpleasant and only accept the things they want.’

'But then the memory wouldn’t make sense.’

'Exactly. That’s why people unconsciously alter their memories.’

'But…’

'You’ve altered your memories too, with your sister.’

'Urgh.’

Haruka couldn’t breathe for a moment when Yakumo suddenly brought up her sister.

'Because of your feeling of guilt, you decided that your sister hated you. As a result, even though it was an accident, you even thought you had killed her, right?’

'That’s…’

Haruka couldn’t deny it. She had done so.

That had shut away the enjoyable memories she’d had with her sister.

Haruka got the gist of what Yakumo was trying to say, but there was another problem with the current case.

'Then who’s lying?’ asked Haruka.

Yakumo sighed in exasperation.

'Probably only this tree knows.’

Yakumo looked at the tree of deceit.

At some point, it had grown dark, and the tree of deceit also had a different appearance than it had had at noon.

'What do you mean?’

Evading Haruka’s question, Yakumo briskly started walking away.

– Honestly.

Haruka pouted, but she went after Yakumo.

-

4

-

'Sorry to bother.’

Gotou opened the door to Meisei University’s Movie Research Circle, which Yakumo used as his secret hideaway.

'It looks like nobody’s here,’ said Ishii as he peered inside.

Even though Gotou had come all the way here, they couldn’t do anything if he wasn’t here.

'Where’s he loitering?’ said Gotou with a sigh.

– Maybe I’ll come back later.

Gotou had just thought that and turned around when he saw Yakumo. Haruka was next to him.

'If you stand there with your large body, you’ll get in the way.’

Yakumo looked at Gotou coldly.

'What? Were you following us?’

'Please let off with the idiocy. What good would doing that do me?’

'What did you say!?’

'Calm down. Your body won’t be able to bear it if you take everything Yakumo-kun says seriously.’

Haruka was the one who cut in.

'Right.’

It was true that responding properly to this quibbling man would be stupid.

'Anyway, please decide whether you want to go in or leave.’

Yakumo ran a hand through his messy hair.

'I’m obviously going in,’ declared Gotou, stepping into the room.

He sat with Ishii and Yakumo and Haruka sat opposite them.

'So how was it?’ said Yakumo the moment they’d settled down.

Even though he was the one who asked, he yawned, seeming bored. Gotou didn’t like his attitude, but he could tell that complaining would just get him a painful retort.

'About Yuuko…’

Gotou cleared his throat and started explaining.

Her response when he’d pressed her about contacting Matsuda, and when he’d asked about her sister Kosaka Yukari and Mochizuki Toshiki. He spoke in as much detail as possible.

After Gotou finished explaining, for a while, Yakumo put his index finger to his brow and seemed to be thinking.

'So she isn’t conscious of it…’ said Yakumo after a long silence.

'What do you mean?’ Gotou asked immediately.

'I can’t answer right now.’

'What?’

'You don’t have to understand. Since I do,’ said Yakumo calmly.

However, Gotou couldn’t keep calm.

'You do? So you know the culprit?’

'Well, so far as it goes,’ said Yakumo quietly, scratching the tip of his nose.

'Who’s the culprit? Tell me!’

'I don’t want to,’ Yakumo replied immediately.

'What?’

'Did you not hear me? I said I didn’t want to.’

'You screwing with me?’

'No. I am completely serious.’

'Then why won’t you tell me!?’

Gotou grabbed Yakumo by the collar in his agitation.

However, Yakumo still looked unaffected.

'Detective Gotou, please calm down.’

Ishii was the one who interrupted, looking like he might cry at any moment.

'Like I could keep calm.’

'I understand how you feel, but…’

'Shut up!’

Gotou hit Ishii’s head.

Gotou felt bad about Ishii, but turning his temper towards him seemed to have helped Gotou calm down.

'Why won’t you tell me who the culprit is even though you know?’ asked Gotou again, sitting back down on the chair.

'In this case, breaking through to the truth isn’t enough.’

'What?’

Revealing the truth was the end of a case, not just with this one.

'The order in which the mysteries are solved is important.’

'Order? What are you talking about?’

Haruka spoke before Gotou could.

'Is our goal to find out who killed Mochizuki-san?’

Haruka said, 'Ah!’ It seemed like she understood everything from that sentence.

'We need to save Mai, who’s been possessed by a ghost,’ said Haruka to confirm.

'Exactly.’

'So you don’t care about our case?’

Gotou frowned.

For Yakumo and Haruka, maybe it was more important to save the girl who was possessed by a ghost. But for Gotou, it was crucial that he find out the culprit.

'I didn’t say that.’

Yakumo shook his head in exasperation.

'What?’

'In order to save the woman who has been possessed by a ghost, it is necessary to solve the case you’re chasing, Gotou-san. It’s just that giving up the culprit reckless won’t work.’

'It won’t work?’

'It won’t. I said this earlier, but to solve both of these problems, the order that we solve the mysteries is important.’

'The order, eh…’ muttered Gotou, putting his chin in his hand.

'If we get the order wrong, we won’t be able to bring out the truth.’

After saying that, Yakumo smirked.

He was the only one who understood. It was always that way for Yakumo. The attitude annoyed Gotou, but he couldn’t go back after coming this far.

'So what order would be good?’

'Before that, there is something I want to confirm.’

'What?’ asked Gotou.

Yakumo slowly stood up.

'Ishii-san, would you come with me?’

’M-me…?’

Ishii’s eyes went wide at Yakumo’s words.

-

5

-

Ishii took the stone steps to the shrine.

He couldn’t see his feet because it was so dark. His feet felt as heavy as weights as he took one step at a time.

He stopped and looked up at Yakumo’s back, a little ahead of him.

Gotou had said he’d come too, but Yakumo stopped him.

Ishii didn’t know what he was thinking. No, that wasn’t true. He really did know. That was why his feet felt heavy.

'What is it?’ said Yakumo.

Ishii came back to his senses.

'No, it’s nothing.’

Ishii smiled wryly and started climbing the steps again.

When he reached the shrine, he was a bit out of breath.

The shrine was creepy at night.

The town that spread before his eyes was lit up beautifully, but the shrine was enveloped in darkness, like it had fallen into a hole.

Yakumo went up to the large cedar tree called the tree of deceit and placed a hand on the trunk.

He looked somewhat like a loving Virgin Mary.

'Er… Why did you bring me here?’ asked Ishii towards Yakumo’s back.

Yakumo slowly turned around and looked at Ishii.

He had his black contact lens hiding it now, but for a moment, it looked to Ishii like Yakumo’s left eye had flashed red.

Ishii couldn’t bear that pressure and looked away.

'There’s something I want to ask you, Ishii-san,’ said Yakumo.

'Why did you need to go to the shrine to do that?’ asked Ishii, still looking at his feet.

He knew the answer. It was because Yakumo was going to ask something that would have been difficult to ask in front of Gotou and Haruka.

'I want to know about your past, Ishii-san.’

'My past…’

'Yes.’

'My past isn’t interesting.’

Ishii laughed bitterly.

'That isn’t it.’

'Then what is it?’

'Ishii-san.’

Yakumo’s eyes narrowed.

Like clairvoyant eyes that could see to the bottom of his heart –

'What is it?’

'Ten years ago – what happened here?’

The direct question pierced Ishii’s chest.

Yakumo really did know everything. Ishii knew it’d be easier for him to confess, but his heart still fought back.

'I don’t know what…’

Ishii tried to ask as calmly as he could, but he still couldn’t stop his voice and hands from shaking.

Yakumo wouldn’t be fooled by something like this.

They had gone through so many cases together, so Ishii knew that well.

'Then let’s change the question.’

Yakumo walked towards Ishii.

Still frozen, Ishii gulped and held his breath.

'Glasses monkey.’

Ishii couldn’t believe his ears.

'I-I…’

'Mochizuki-san called you that, Ishii-san.’

'I-I don’t understand.’

'You don’t need to hide it. Mochizuki-san bullied you during high school, right?’

’T-that’s not…’

'You don’t have to hold back any more.’

Yakumo put a hand on Ishii’s shoulder. He had an expression on his face that was gentler than Ishii had ever seen before.

Ishii heard something fall off in his heart.

'It was awful…’

Even though he had tolerated it for so long, but once he said it aloud, he couldn’t stop his mouth from moving.

'Even though I hadn’t done anything, every time he saw me, he’d say I was an eyesore, punch me and kick me. He treated me like a slave. No, slaves had it better. He didn’t even think of me as human,’ said Ishii, everything gushing out of him.

'Did you not say you didn’t like it?’ said Yakumo.

That sentence amplified Ishii’s anger.

People who had never been bullied always said that.

You were bullied because you didn’t assert yourself. If you were cooperative, you wouldn’t have been left out –

'Please don’t say that so easily. If I resisted, I would have been treated even worse. The people around me just ridiculed me too – nobody helped. No matter how painful and frustrating was, all I could do was bear it.’

'Ishii-san…’

'All I could do was wait for the storm to pass.’

'Kosaka Yukari-san, who died ten years ago, was also one of your bullies, correct, Ishii-san?’

Yakumo’s quiet words made Ishii freeze.

He hadn’t thought that Yakumo knew that much.

'Urgh…’

'You don’t have to hide it any more.’

'I…’

'Just like you say, Ishii-san, keeping quiet and tolerating the situation wouldn’t make it worse, but on the contrary, it also can’t change the situation.’

'I know…’

'That’s why it’s time to change it,’ Yakumo said quietly.

'It’s too late to do anything now. The past can’t change.’

'No, it can.’

'Eh?’

Ishii looked up with surprise.

'Please think about Makoto-san.’
’..’

'She faced her painful past and changed it.’

– Now, I think of it as a good experience.

The words Makoto said in the cafe ran through Ishii’s head.

Perhaps it was because she had faced her own past that she could think that way.

– Could I do the same thing?

'I hated those two from the bottom of my heart,’ said Ishii, before he’d even noticed he was talking.

Just as Yakumo had theorised, Yukari had also been one of Ishii’s bullies. She and Mochizuki had scorned and tyrranised him together.

It was agony going to school.

What are they going to do to me today – he had lived in fear. It didn’t feel like he had been living.

He had even thought about dying.

He had also thought about killing them.

Even if it had just been playing around for them, it had been different for Ishii. There was a scar in his heart that could never be erased.

He had almost forgotten. No, he had tried to forget.

And yet –

'Ishii-san, could you tell me what happened here ten years ago?’ Yakumo said gently.

Under that earnest gaze, Ishii was resigned. He couldn’t hide it any more.

'That day ten years ago – I was about to go home after class,’ Ishii said quietly.

Standing in front of him, Yakumo nodded to urge Ishii to continue.

'After going through the school gates, Mochizuki called out to me.’

Mochizuki had been different than usual that day.

'He took me to a cafe.’

The cafe with the wall clock.

'Just the two of you?’ asked Yakumo.

Ishii nodded and continued his explanation.

'Yes. He handed an envelope to me and told me to give it to somebody.’

'To whom?’

'He didn’t tell me then. He just said that I would know if I went…’

Ishii had had a bad feeling since hat moment.

However, he hadn’t been able to refuse. That was how strong Mochizuki’s will had been.

'What was inside the envelope?’

'I didn’t know then. He threatened me, saying he would kill me if I opened it…’

It wasn’t a lie. Ishii had found out what was inside afterwards.

'So then what did you do, Ishii-san?’ Yakumo said expressionlessly.

Ishii swallowed and continued.

'Just as he told me, I walked here…’

The scenery then flashed through Ishii’s mind vividly.

He had gone to the shrine in the evening and a woman had been standing in front of the tree of deceit. Just where Yakumo was standing now.

Somebody that Ishii knew.

– You’ll know if you go.

Ishii understood the meaning of Mochizuki’s words then.

'Kosaka Yukari-san was there then,’ said Yakumo.

He already knows that much – though Ishii was surprised, he nodded.

'Just as Mochizuki told me, I handed the envelope to Yukari-san.’

'And then what did she do?’

'She took the contents of the envelope out and went completely pale. Then, she yelled, asking why he didn’t come.’

The envelope had had ten-odd ten thousand yen bills and an envelope.

Ishii had understood everything then.

There had been a rumour that Yukari was pregnant. Of course, it was Mochizuki’s child.

Mochizuki had probably handed Ishii a letter saying they would break up and money for an abortion. He had probably thought that meeting Yukari directly would have caused trouble.

He had probably asked Ishii because he didn’t want other people to know. He had known that Ishii wouldn’t say anything.

An awful man – is what Ishii had thought.

However, Ishii hadn’t been able to say that. He had just stood there.

'Then what did Yukari-san do?’

Yakumo’s eyes narrowed.

– I don’t want to say what comes next.

But contrary to his will, his mouth moved.

'She cursed at me… You’re not human. You’re a glasses monkey… She threw rocks at me…’

Ishii gripped his hands into tight fists. His body shook.

Even though ten years had passed, the humiliation he had felt then came back to him like it had happened yesterday.

'She even told me to die…’

'That’s awful. Even though it didn’t have anything to do with you, Ishii-san.’

Exactly. It didn’t have anything to do with Ishii. But still –

'Why did she have to say that much?’

Yakumo didn’t answer Ishii’s question.

Ishii knew that Yakumo had no way of answering, but the anger and hatred that welled up within him couldn’t be restrained.

'After she had cursed me plenty, she thrust the envelope towards me and tried to leave the shrine… I… was so frustrated…’

Ishii looked at his hands.

His hands were trembling.

'Then what happened?’ asked Yakumo.

Ishii looked at him.

'I don’t really know. Before I knew it, I had run out of the shrine…’

'Ishii-san…’

'Perhaps I… her…’

'Ishii-san.’

'The person who pushed Yukari-san off the steps – it might have been me…’

'Ishii-san!’ said Yakumo, cutting in.

However, Ishii’s emotions continued to run wild.

'No, that has to be it! I pushed her!’

'You didn’t.’

'What do you mean, I didn’t? I can still feel it in my hands!’

'You can’t let yourself be overwhelmed.’

'I was frustrated! I hated those two! I thought about killing them countless times!’

'Please calm down.’

'I’m not a glasses monkey! I’m human! I’m Ishii Yuutarou!’ screamed Ishii, his body twisting.

Then, all the strength left him and he fell to his knees.

Tears spilled out.

Why do only I have to suffer like this – Ishii had lived like this, shutting away that suppressed emotion.

That emotion had exploded on that day ten years ago.

That had birthed a new darkness and had made Ishii suffer all this time.

'I know.’

A kind voice reached Ishii’s ears and made him look up.

Yakumo was crouching in front of him with a gentle smile.

'I know that you’re you, Ishii-san.’

'I…’

'It’s the same for me. People treated me like a monster because of my red left eye. Even though I was a human, like them…’

There was a shadow in Yakumo’s eyes.

His red left eye, which could see the spirits of the dead – something different from others. That would have been a target for bullying.

– It was the same for him too.

Just from realising that, Ishii’s heart felt a bit lighter.

'Let’s stop trawling up the past,’ said Yakumo as he held a hand out towards Ishii.

'I-I…’

'Ishii-san, you aren’t a glasses monkey. You’re a human being – a detective now. Correct?’

'Y-yes…’

It was just as Yakumo said. He had to face the case without running away, as a detective.

With determination, Ishii took Yakumo’s hand.

-

6

-

'Yakumo-kun and Ishii-san aren’t back yet,’ said Haruka.

Gotou looked up. 'Yeah.’

'I wonder what they’re doing.’

Haruka had thought that Yakumo would be right back after taking Ishii out with him, but it had already been more than an hour.

It made her want to know what they were doing, since they were taking so long.

'Who knows,’ said Gotou, sounding discouraged as he crossed his arms.

'I wonder if Ishii-san is related to the case,’ Haruka said without really any meaning behind it, but that moment, Gotou glared at her.

'Of course not.’

His voiced sounded filled with a strong will.

Yakumo wouldn’t call Ishii out if he wasn’t related to the case. Gotou had to know that too.

He probably wanted to believe in Ishii anyway.

'Of course,’ replied Haruka with a wry smile.

'Ishii’s a guy whose redeeming feature is his cowardice. He couldn’t hurt anybody.’

Gotou’s words made Haruka’s chest feel hot.

No matter what Gotou said, he had a great love for Ishii.

Ishii probably always followed Gotou no matter how much Gotou hit him because it was from an upside-down love rather than bullying.

'Well, in any case, there’s no point thinking about it. All we can do is wait.’

Gotou stretched.

'It’s because you always leave things up to others that you never grow.’

Yakumo came in while complaining.

He seemed very annoyed as he ran a hand through his messy hair.

'Eh? Where’s Ishii-san?’ asked Haruka.

Since Yakumo was back, Haruka had thought Ishii would be with him, but he was nowhere to be seen.

'He went back first,’ said Yakumo, looking away slightly.

'What? We were waiting…’ grumbled Gotou, taking out his mobile.

'Who are you going to call?’ asked Yakumo as he sat down.

'Obviously Ishii.’

'Please don’t.’

'Why not?’ said Gotou sulkily.

'Please let him be alone today. Ishii-san is suffering too.’

As Yakumo said that, his eyes seemed somewhat sad.

'What do you mean?’ asked Gotou.

'You’ll find out tomorrow,’ said Yakumo quietly, putting his chin in his hand.

What did he talk about with Ishii – Haruka was curious, but she couldn’t ask.

'Honestly, everyone’s just…’ said Gotou in his dissatisfaction, putting his mobile in his pocket and standing up.

Yakumo stopped him.

'I have a request, Gotou-san.’

'What?’

'I want you to bring Matsuda-san, the suspect, and Yuuko-san, the victim’s fiancée, to that shrine tomorrow.’

'Why?’

Gotou sat back down with his brow furrowed.

'You really are an idiot, Gotou-san.’

'What did you say!?’

'We’re ending the case.’

Yakumo’s words made Gotou’s eyes go wide.

'Sounds like you understand everything.’

'Yes, I do.’

'Explain what you mean!’

In contrast to Gotou’s agitation, Yakumo was calm. He put his fingers in his ears to complain about the noise.

'Anyone’d want to speak up after hearing that. What do you mean?’

'Please don’t be in such a rush. You’ll understand everything – ’

'Got it. I’ll do something about it,’ said Gotou with a snort. Just as he was about to leave the room, he stopped with his hand on the door.

'Hey, Yakumo.’

'What is it?’

'Is Ishii… related to the case?’

'Yes.’

'He’d never kill somebody.’

Gotou turned around and looked at Yakumo with a strong gaze.

'I know.’

'Then…’

'It’s fine. Gotou-san, you can just believe,’ interrupted Yakumo.

For a while, Gotou just looked straight at Yakumo, but then he finally said 'Got it’ in a quiet voice and left.

Yakumo sighed as he watched Gotou leave.

He appeared considerably tired.

'Hey, what happened?’ asked Haruka, knowing there would be no response.

Yakumo glanced at Haruka and ran a hand through his hair.

'A number of things.’

'A number?’

'You people are so hasty. You’ll understand tomorrow.’

Yakumo put a finger to his brow.

'I’ll really find out tomorrow?’

'Yes.’

'OK.’

'There’s something I want you to help out with too.’

Yakumo smirked.

When Haruka saw that smirk, she had a terribly bad feeling –

-

7

-

– It’s heavy.

Ishii felt like he was being crushed under the weight of his past. Even after Yakumo had left, Ishii hadn’t been able to leave the shrine.

He leant against the tree of deceit and held his head.

'Glasses monkey.’

He heard a voice from nowhere in particular.

When Ishii lifted his head, he saw Mochizuki in front of him.

His white shirt was dyed red. But still, he was smiling in a carefree manner.

'Mochizuki…’

It felt like the name was strangled out of Ishii’s throat.

Had Mochizuki’s spirit appeared in front of him, or was it an illusion from his heart? Ishii couldn’t decide.

'Add a “-san” to that. You’re acting cheeky for a glasses monkey.’

'I…’

'What? Can’t hear you.’

'I-I’m not a glasses monkey… I’m Detective Ishii Yuutarou…’

'Don’t make me laugh. You can’t even do anything on your own.’

’T-that’s not…’

'What’s not true? You’re still terrified of me, right? Freaking out on your own and curling up in a corner.’

It was just as Mochizuki said.

He was a coward who couldn’t do anything on his own. There was no way that this would make it possible for him to face the incident. Ishii lost his strength, sat on the ground and held his head.

It was so quiet it was uncanny.

– I want to disappear.

Ishii had that wish. If he disappeared, he would be able to escape from this unpleasantness.

'Ishii-san.’

Amid Ishii’s confusion, he heard a voice.

He looked up and saw Makoto standing there, panting.

'Makoto-san… Why are you…’ said Ishii in surprise.

Makoto smiled.

'I heard from Yakumo-kun that you were here.’

'Yakumo-shi told you that?’

Why did Yakumo tell Makoto where Ishii was? And why did Makoto come here?

Ishii couldn’t find the answers to those questions.

'I heard most of the story from Yakumo-kun,’ said Makoto. She lowered her long eyelashes, seeming sorrowful.

'I see…’

'Ishii-san, you suffered a lot as well.’

Eh?’

'I said this before, right? That I was bullied.’

Makoto shrugged.

Come to think of it, they had talked about that in the cafe.

'I’m envious of you, Makoto-san,’ said Ishii without thinking.

'Envious?’

'Yes.’

'Why?’

'Even though something so painful happened in the past, you managed to overcome that. Whereas I…’

Ishii’s memories swung him about – he still lived while dragging his past behind him.

If he could cut them away, it would probably be easier, but he just couldn’t do it.

'Ishii-san, you’re too kind,’ said Makoto with a smile. Ishii couldn’t accept them honestly.

'I’m not kind. I’m just a coward.’

'It’s the same thing.’

'It isn’t.’

To Ishii, Makoto’s words sounded like mere consolation.

Kindness and cowardice were falsely similar. He didn’t have any kindness.

As proof of that, he had lived with strong hatred this whole time. If he were a kind person, he would probably have forgiven them with no hatred.

'It’s the same thing. Ishii-san, it’s because you’re too kind that you can’t blame anybody. That’s why you blame yourself.’

'That isn’t it. I just didn’t say it aloud. I blamed Mochizuki. I hated him. I even wanted to kill him.’

'But you didn’t kill him.’

In contrast to Ishii’s agitation, Makoto was calm.

'No… I might have killed him.’

'Eh?’

'On that day ten years ago, I pushed Yukari-san down the stone steps in my hatred!’ yelled Ishii. His heart – his body – it felt like they were breaking into pieces.

He felt that he was vile and filthy.

Yet Makoto still smiled at him.

It made Ishii feel perplexed.

'Ishii-san, you didn’t push her down the stone steps.’

'How can you know that?

Makoto hadn’t been there. There was no way for her to know.

'I know. Ishii-san, you couldn’t kill anybody.’

'But I hated her.’

'Everyone feels hatred, but there’s a line between those who act on it and those who don’t.’

'A line…’

'Yes. Ishii-san, you aren’t somebody who could cross that line.’

'But I can still feel it in my hands…’

Ishii looked at his hands.

'Is that the truth?’

Makoto gripped Ishii’s hands, enveloping them.

Her hands were a bit cold, but Ishii felt the bottom of his heart grow warm.

'Urgh…’

'Didn’t you just tell yourself that?’

'Just tell myself…’

'That’s what Yakumo-kun said too.’

'Yakumo-shi did?’

'Yes. He said that you blamed yourself so much that you even deluded yourself into thinking that you killed Yukari-san ten years ago…’

'B-but…’

'In order to solve the curse of the past, you have to face the incident. So… Let’s stand.’

Ishii stood up, led by Makoto.

– I can’t run. No. I’ll stop running.

In Ishii’s chest, something like determination welled up within.

-

8

-

'Where are you planning on going?’

As Gotou drove the car, Matsuda called out from the backseat.

Matsuda had been acting tough ever since his arrest, but it looked like even he was troubled.

'The shrine where the incident occurred,’ replied Gotou curtly.

'The shrine?’

'Yeah.’

'What are you planning on doing?’

Gotou didn’t have the answer to that.

He’d brought Matsuda out on the pretext of inspecting the scene, but it was actually on Yakumo’s request. He hadn’t heard the details, but –

'To end the case.’

That was what Yakumo had said.

All he could do now was believe in Yakumo’s words.

'To end the case?’

'Yeah.’

'The case is already over. I killed Mochizuki. Nothing more, nothing less.’

Matsuda’s wide open eyes seemed to be filled with a strong well.

– Ah, these eyes.

Gotou understood the true nature of the unease he’d felt from Matsuda.

Matsuda had testified to assaulting and stabbing Mochizuki for his money.

However, when Gotou looked at Matsuda’s straight eyes, it seemed incredibly haphazard. Matsuda didn’t seem like somebody who would kill someone.

That was why Gotou was troubled and irritated.

'The case isn’t over yet.’

'It’s over.’

'You can say that, but the case isn’t over 'til I say it is.’

'You’re persistent.’

Matsuda looked in exasperation at the car’s low ceiling.

'For a detective, being persistent is praise.’

'Detectives, eh… You don’t look like a detective to me.’

'What do I look like?’

'Who knows. I wonder…’

After saying that, Matsuda bit his lip.

Then, he shut his mouth and sat still, like he had become a stone statue.

Gotou focussed on driving.

He would stop thinking for now. Yakumo would lead him to the truth soon.

After a while, the car reached the stone steps at the bottom of the shrine.

They would walk now.

Gotou got out of the driver’s seat, opened the back door and told Matsuda to get out.

Matsuda sighed and got out of the backseat.

'We’re going.’

Gotou urged Matsuda to climb the stone steps.

For just a moment, Matsuda looked up at the sky. He narrowed his eyes, like he thought the sun was bright. His expression looked sad to Gotou.

Gotou climbed the stone steps with Matsuda.

His footsteps were heavy, but Gotou continued climbing, believing that the truth was ahead.

'Gotou-san, you’re late.’

Gotou heard a voice as he arrived at the shrine.

He saw Yakumo standing in front of the tree of deceit.

His eyes were sleepy as usual as he ran a hand through his messy hair.

'Shut up. I had a lot to prepare too.’

'It takes you this much time to prepare because of your inefficiency.’

'I don’t need to hear that from you!’

'I can hear you even if you don’t speak that loudly.’

Yakumo stuck his fingers in his ears to complain about the noise.

Yakumo always did this, but Gotou was still annoyed by the brat.

'Who’s that?’

Matsuda looked openly suspicious.

– How should I explain?

Ignoring Gotou’s wavering, Yakumo walked straight towards Matsuda.

'You’re Matsuda-san, yes? It’s nice to meet you. My name is Saitou Yakumo.’

Yakumo greeted Matsuda politely.

'You a detective too?’ asked Matsuda, seeming confused.

Yakumo smiled innocently in response.

'No, I’m not a detective. I’m just a student,’ Yakumo said nonchalantly.

’S-student?’

Matsuda looked even more confused.

'Yes.’

'What is this?’

Matsuda looked at Gotou for an explanation.

– I’m screwed.

While Gotou was trying to think of an excuse, he spotted somebody climbing the stone steps.

It was Ishii and Yuuko.

When Matsuda saw Yuuko, his expression hardened at once.

On the other hand, Yuuko’s eyes went so wide that Gotou thought they might fall out. Her hands flew to her mouth in shock.

'W-why is that person here?’ Yuuko asked Ishii.

'Ah, no, that’s… Er…’

Ishii faltered, unable to explain properly.

'I gathered you here,’ said Yakumo in a clear voice.

'That person is the criminal who killed Toshiki-san.’

Yuuko turned her anger towards Yakumo.

'I know.’

Yakumo was calm.

'Then why are you doing this?’

'Of course, it is to end the case.’

'The case is over. What are you saying now?’ interrupted Matsuda.

In response, the corners of Yakumo’s lips turned up in a carefree smirk.

'It isn’t over. Matsuda-san, you know that too, don’t you?’

'W-what?’

'We are going to end the case now.’

After saying that, Yakumo took the black contact lens out of his left eye and lifted his head.

'Y-your eye’s red….’ said Matsuda in a shaking voice, when the deep red left eye turned towards him.

It wasn’t just Matsuda who was surprised. Though Yuuko didn’t say anything aloud, her hands were at her mouth and her eyes were wide open.

'Don’t fuss,’ said Gotou, cutting Matsuda down. He looked at Yakumo.

Whether he was used to this reaction or suppression his emotions, Yakumo’s expression was the same as always.

'My left eye isn’t just red,’ said Yakumo in a flat voice.

'W-what?’

Matsuda frowned.

'My left eye can see the spirits of the dead – that is, ghosts.’

'Eh?’ said Yuuko in surprise.

'Idiotic. Ghosts? You planning on putting on an exorcism here or something?’ said Matsuda scornfully.

'Shut up for a bit,’ said Gotou.

'It looks like he is here too now,’ said Yakumo after a silence, turning towards the tree of deceit.

'He?’

Yuuko cocked her head.

'Mochizuki Toshiki-san.’

'Eh? But he’s…’

'I said this earlier. I can see the spirits of the dead.’

'Is T-Toshiki-san really here?’ said Yuuko pleadingly.

'Yes.’

'Where? Toshiki-san, where are you?’

Yuuko seemed to believe Yakumo. She looked around frantically for her dead lover as she called out.

It hurt to watch her.

'Please calm down.’

Ishii couldn’t bear it and soothed Yuuko.

Gotou looked at Matsuda. His brow was wrinkled – he looked troubled.

He was probably confused by the unexpected development.

'Now, everyone is here.’

Yakumo slowly looked at everyone.

'What are you going to do?’

Matsuda glared at Yakumo. Yakumo wasn’t a guy who’d be frightened by something of that level. He looked at Matsuda expressionlessly.

'Please don’t make me keep saying this. I’m going to end the case.’

'I said that the case is over.’

'Then there’s nothing to be frightened of. Please look there.’

'W-what?’

'Did you not hear me? I said you can just look there.’

They looked at each other, their gazes letting off sparks.

After a while, Matsuda was the first to look away.

Yakumo nodded in satisfaction.

-

9

-

'So how are you planning on ending it?’ Gotou asked Yakumo once everything had calmed down.

At this stage, Gotou couldn’t see how they could get out of this mess.

'There is something that needs to be made clear first.’

Yakumo held up his index finger.

'What?’ asked Gotou, leaning forward.

Yakumo probably already knew the truth behind the case.

'Is it the person who’s lying?’ interrupted Ishii, sounding agitated.

'Nobody’s lying. The case is already over.’

Matsuda kicked the ground in his irritation.

That moment, Yakumo glared at Matsuda. Even Gotou found the glare scary enough to make a chill run down his spine.

'It appears it really would be better to start with you.’

Yakumo turned to face Matsuda.

'What are you saying?’

'It’s because you change your testimony that things are such a mess.’

'I haven’t changed my testimony,’ denied Matsuda, but for some reason, there was no power to his words.

'What did Matsuda-san say to Yuuko-san when he was arrested?’

Yakumo looked at Gotou.

Gotou was able to remember the answer immediately.

'You planning to betray me…’

Matsuda had said that.

Those words meant that Yuuko and Matsuda had been working together, but after that, Matsuda had claimed that he had worked alone.

That inconsistency had been one of the problems troubling Gotou.

'That’s wrong. I just said that to but the blame on that woman.’

Matsuda shook his head.

'That’s a lie,’ declared Yakumo.

'What do you know? Don’t just say whatever you want.’

Matsuda tried to grab at Yakumo.

Gotou stopped him immediately and pulled him away from Yakumo.

Don’t make a fuss… Yakumo, what are you talking about?’

'What Matsuda said when he was arrested is correct.’

'I said that it’s wrong!’

Matsuda tried to leap at Yakumo again.

Gotou blocked Matsuda’s foot and pushed him to the ground.

It was a forceful method, but if Gotou didn’t do this, they wouldn’t get anywhere.

'So Matsuda and Yuuko were working together to kill Mochizuki?’

'That’s wrong! There’s no way I could do that!’ screamed Yuuko with a frantic expression.

She pushed away Ishii, who was trying to hold her back, and clung to Gotou.

'Why do I have to kill the person I love? Please believe me already! I didn’t do anything!’

Gotou felt divided as he saw the tears roll down Yuuko’s face.

He didn’t think Yuuko was lying.

'Oi, Yakumo…’

Gotou looked at Yakumo.

After a sigh, Yakumo placed a hand on Yuuko’s shoulders.

'I know. You didn’t request for Mochizuki-san’s death,’ said Yakumo.

Gotou couldn’t believe his ears.

'What do you mean?’

Gotou pressed Yakumo for an answer.

Yakumo had said earlier that Matsuda and Yuuko were working together, but now he had said something completely different to Yuuko.

'Right now, we need to make Matsuda’s motive clear before dealing with her,’ Yakumo said firmly. Then, he looked at Ishii.

After receiving that signal, Ishii took the crying Yuuko a little ways away.

'Matsuda-san, you stabbed Mochizuki-san because somebody requested that you do so.’

'I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ said Matsuda, getting up.

His tight fists were shaking.

'There’s no point playing dumb. You received a request. Then, you consented to it.’

'I said, I don’t know what you’re talking about!’

Matsuda’s voice was wild.

'In the end, he killed Mochizuki for money?’ asked Gotou.

'Mochizuki-san didn’t receive money for the murder,’ Yakumo said flatly.

'It wasn’t money?’

'It wasn’t.’

'Then what was it?’

'His daughter’s life.’

Yakumo’s words hit Gotou like a strong impact.

It seemed like it was the same for Matsuda. He stared, dumbfounded, at Yakumo.

'H-his daughter was a hostage?’

'That isn’t exactly it, but the situation was something like that.’

'Explain it in a way I can understand,’ said Gotou, irritated.

'Matsuda-san’s daughter is in hospital for leukaemia.’

'Yeah.’

'The culprit said this to approach Matsuda-san: “I am a compatible donor for your daughter.”’

'What!?’

Though Gotou was shocked, he understood.

In short, the culprit requested that Matsuda kill Mochizuki for a bone marrow transfusion.

Just as Yakumo said, that was the same as holding Matsuda’s daughter hostage. If he refused, there would be no transfusion and his daughter might die.

'No! You’re just making this up!’ yelled Matsuda, curling up as he did so.

'It’s natural for you to deny it. If the person who made the request is arrested, there will be no transfusion. You had to say that you worked alone no matter what happened for your daughter’s sake.’

Yakumo’s quiet words made Matsuda turn pale.

That response was enough.

Yakumo was probably correct. Matsuda had killed Mochizuki for his daughter’s bone marrow transfusion. But –

'When he was arrested, he said, “You planning to betray me?” Why?’

'Why do you think the crime occurred in front of Yuuko-san in the first place?’

'That’s…’

'In order to make her the witness and leave Matsuda-san out of the investigation.’

– That’s how it was?

If Yuuko was the witness and gave an appropriate testimony, she could leave Matsuda out of the investigation.

'But Yuuko said that he was the culprit…’

'Correct. Matsuda-san thought that he had been betrayed and ended up saying, “You planning to betray me?”’

'But if Yuuko was arrested as an accomplice, there’d be no transfusion, so he testified that he’d worked alone,’ said Gotou in one breath.

Yakumo nodded.

A number of mysteries now made sense.

'Don’t just say whatever you want!’ yelled Matsuda, his face bright red.

'Don’t get so worked up!’

Gotou glared at Matsuda, but Matsuda still didn’t calm down.

'That woman’s got nothing to do with it! I did everything on my own!’

'You…’

'Please… Just say I did it myself.’

Matsuda grabbed Gotou’s shoulders and pleaded with tears in his eyes.

'Unfortunately, it’s pointless no matter how much you flounder,’ said Yakumo, running a hand through his messy bedhead.

'W-what?’

'Your daughter’s bone marrow transfusion will not take place.’

'W-what are you talking about?’

'You were tricked. She probably isn’t a compatible donor.’

Matsuda’s eyes went wide when he heard Yakumo’s words.

Finally, he looked at Yuuko. She was shaking in fear by Ishii.

'I… was tricked?’ said Matsuda, like he was talking to himself.

'Yes.’

'That’s a lie. I saw the compatibility chart. She should be able to be my daughter’s donor.’

'The document was faked.’

Matsuda’s expression hardened.

'Then what’s going to happen to my daughter?’

That question made Yakumo grow silent and look away.

Matsuda fell to his knees.

He covered his face with his hands. It looked like he was crying.

This man had been trying to protect his daughter. He had even killed somebody to do it. That didn’t make it forgivable, but Gotou understood why he’d done it.

'Matsuda…’

Gotou put a hand on Matsuda’s shoulder, but Matsuda pushed it away and stood up.

'Can’t believe… you tricked me…’ growled Matsuda. He looked at Yuuko with a killing intent.

– This is bad.

Just as Gotou thought that, Matsuda flew at Yuuko.

'Stop!’ yelled Gotou, running after him.

'Wait. Please calm down!’

Ishii stood in front of Matsuda as a shield for Yuuko, but Matsuda pushed him away immediately.

'You kidding me!? What did I do this for!? I’ll never forgive you!’

Matsuda grabbed Yuuko’s hair.

'Aahh!’

As Yuuko screamed, she flailed about to try to escape Matsuda.

Matsuda lifted his fist.

Words wouldn’t be able to stop him. Gotou kicked Matsuda with all his strength.

After taking that surprise attack, Matsuda let go of Yuuko and fell to the ground on his side. He still got up again and tried to attack Yuuko.

'That’s misguided resentment! You idiot!’

Gotou grabbed Matsuda by the collar and pushed him to the ground again.

Even though he was covered in dirt, Matsuda still got up to glare at Gotou. He looked like a demon.

'What do you understand!? My daughter’s going to die! My daughter!’ shouted Matsuda in tears.

It was true that Gotou could empathise with Matsuda, but Gotou couldn’t forgive him.

'No matter what the reason, you can’t take anybody’s life!’

That was Gotou’s belief as a detective – no, as a human being.

'Those are just pretty words! A parent would do anything for their daughter!’

'Still…’

'I promised. To save my daughter… no matter what… so…’

Matsuda dug his fingernails into the ground.

He was probably trying to bear with a pain that felt like it would cut through him. But –

'The person who died felt the same sadness as you,’ said Gotou as he looked down at Matsuda.

'Like I care about the other guy! I don’t care about anything else if I can save my daughter.’

'It’s because you’re like that that you were so easily tricked!’

Gotou grabbed Matsuda’s collar and forced him to stand up.

'I…’

'You have to know that too, right?’ said Gotou, his voice taking an about turn as he spoke kindly.

Matsuda’s shoulders slumped as he looked down.

He wants to save his daughter – Gotou understood that. But he couldn’t sacrifice another life for that.

Matsuda had to know that too.

But people were weak. That was why they got caught up in the current.

'Matsuda-san, please tell the truth.’

After a while, Yakumo walked forward.

Matsuda wiped his tears with his hand and slowly looked up.

'I met that woman one week ago…’

Matsuda looked at Yuuko.

'I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

Yuuko shook her head to deny it, but Matsuda continued talking despite that.

'She said that if I killed the man named Mochizuki Toshiki, she would be my daughter’s bone marrow donor.’

'So you went to the shrine that day,’ said Yakumo.

'Yeah. Just like that woman told me to, I hid behind that tree.’

Matsuda pointed at the tree of deceit.

'You’re lying! That’s a lie!’

Yuuko’s hair flew about as she wailed.

Ishii held her back with all his might.

'Shut up! You planning on running away now?’

'I don’t know what I don’t know.’

'I’m listening to what Matsuda-san has to say right now. Please be quiet.’

Yakumo interrupted their conversation.

Maybe she was afraid of being looked at by that red left eye, as Yuuko shut her mouth, her face twitching.

After things had calmed down, Yakumo urged Matsuda to continue. 'What happened after that?’

'I did as I said and turned the knife towards Mochizuki, who was with that woman.’

'And then you stabbed him?’ asked Gotou.

Matsuda shook his head.

'That woman got in the way.’

'Got in the way?’

'Even though she was the one who told me to kill him, when I pointed the knife at him, she tried to stop me. The man named Mochizuki fought back too – I was frantic. It became a scuffle, and before I knew it, the man named Mochizuki was on the ground, clutching his stomach…’

Matsuda was probably remembering the event. He was shaking as he looked at his hands.

Matsuda hadn’t stabbed somebody because he wanted to.

He had probably lost himself.

'What happened after that?’ pressed Yakumo, his eyes narrowed.

'I ran away… That woman was supposed to contact me after, but I didn’t hear from her.’

'So you went back to the scene to see what was happening.’

Matsuda nodded.

Gotou knew the rest.

'Why… Why are you making something like this up?’

Yuuko was the one who spoke.

Her teary eyes were filled with anger.

'Trying to get away alone? What a cowardly woman you are,’ said Matsuda disparagingly, but Yuuko didn’t back down.

'I really don’t know! Stop saying whatever you want!’

'Calm down!’ yelled Gotou, stopping the two of them.

The new testimony from Matsuda sounded convincing and made sense. At the same time, Yuuko didn’t look like she was lying.

'Who’s correct?’ Gotou asked Yakumo.

Yakumo ran a hand through his messy hair and smiled bitterly.

'There are no lies in Matsuda-san’s testimony.’

'Then…’

'At the same time, Yuuko-san’s testimony is also true.’

Gotou was at a loss for words –

-

10

-

'W-what do you mean?’

Ishii couldn’t believe his ears.

'I mean exactly what I said. Neither Matsuda-san nor Yuuko-san has lied.’

In contrast to Ishii’s confusion, Yakumo was calm. However –

’T-that’s impossible.’

Matsuda testified that Yuuko requested that he kill her fiancé, but Yuuko, on the other hand, said that she didn’t know Matsuda.

Their two views were opposites. They couldn’t both be true.

'No, it holds true.’

'It’s impossible,’ said Ishii in an unusually strong tone.

No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t solve that contradiction.

'Right!? That makes no sense!’ agreed Gotou, approaching Yakumo.

However, Yakumo still didn’t budge. His red left eye probably saw a truth that Ishii and Gotou didn’t know –

'She was possessed.’

Yakumo’s words struck Ishii’s chest.

'Possessed…’

'In short, Yuuko-san was possessed by the ghost of her older sister, Yukari-san.’

Yakumo pointed at Yuuko.

– Ah, so that’s how it was?

Ishii finally understood. If that was true, it would make sense for the testimonies to contradict.

'W-what do you mean?’ said Gotou, sounding like he didn’t understand.

'Something similar happened before, didn’t it?’

'You mean with Hijikata…’

'Yes. In this case, Yukari-san’s spirit has been controlling Yuuko-san. In short, the two sometimes switch places.’

Yakumo looked at Yuuko.

'My sister?’

Yuuko’s eyes went wide in surprise.

'Yes.’

Yakumo nodded.

Nobody spoke. It was like time had stopped.

'But is that really true?’ asked Gotou.

'That is all I can think of,’ Yakumo replied calmly.

'But Yukari died ten years ago,’ said Gotou, wiping the sweat off his forehead.

'The amount of time doesn’t matter. Spirits will continue to wander as long as they have unfinished business.’

Ishii felt a chill run down his spine.

Yukari’s hatred – it was probably towards the person who killed her.

'I…’

Interrupting Ishii, Yakumo continued his explanation.

'Yukari-san had a strong hatred. She was pushed down the stairs to her death.’

'Urgh…’

Yuuko ground her back teeth together uncomfortably.

'In order to clear that hatred, Yukari-san possessed her sister, Yuuko-san.’

'My sister… possessed me…’

Yuuko’s eyes were wide as she put her hand to her chest.

'Yes. Yuuko-san, Yukari-san’s spirit sometimes switches with yours.’

'That’s… that’s impossible! I’m me!’ pleaded Yuuko, leaning forward.

'When she switches over, it’s like you’re sleeping. You aren’t conscious of it.’

'I see. So that’s why the people at the hospital have said she’s been acting strange…’

Gotou clapped his hands together.

'Probably.’

Yakumo nodded.

’T-then… who met Matsuda-san?’ asked Ishii, wiping the sweat off his forehead.

'She looked like Yuuko-san. However, I believe Yukari-san was inside her.’

'W-what!?’

Gotou’s body bent back in shock.

'I-in short, the person who requested Mochizuki’s death was not Yuuko-san, but Yukari-san’s ghost, who was possessing her…’ said Ishii in a shaking voice.

'Exactly. That is why Yuuko-san didn’t know Matsuda-san.’

Yakumo smirked.

If Yakumo was right, both their contradictory testimonies would be true at the same time.

However, there was still something Ishii didn’t understand.

'Why did Yukari-san try to kill Mochizuki?’ asked Ishii.

Yakumo slowly moved to the stone steps and looked down.

'Somebody pushed Yukari-san down these steps to her death ten years ago.’

Yakumo’s tone was indifferent.

Ishii felt like he was being accused.

He might have been the one who pushed her.

'I…’

Yakumo looked up to interrupt Ishii.

His red left eye seemed sad for some reason.

'Yukari-san thought that the person who killed her was Mochizuki-san, her lover at that time.’

'But that…’

– Might have been me.

Ishii thought about saying it, but Yakumo shook his head.

'Yukari-san thought it was Mochizuki-san.’

'That’s wrong!’ shouted Yuuko, her hands in fists.

'Please be quiet for a bet.’

Yakumo looked at Yuuko.

Yuuko gulped loudly under that pressure and shut her mouth.

After a deep breath, Yakumo continued his explanation.

'Currently, that fact doesn’t matter. The important thing is what Yukari-san thought.’

Yakumo paused before continuing.

'Yukari-san knew that the man who killed her was going to marry her younger sister. From her perspective, it was completely unforgiveable. Yukari-san’s hatred grew stronger. In the short time that she took over Yuuko-san’s body, she approached Matsuda-san and planned to kill Mochizuki-san.’

After finishing his explanation, Yakumo ran a hand through his hair.

'So I was tricked by a ghost…’ said Matsuda in shock.

'In short, this incident was planned by the dead Yukari and executed by Matsuda – right?’ said Gotou, wrapping things up.

'That’s a bit incorrect.’

Yakumo immediately rejected Gotou’s opinion.

'W-what’s incorrect about it?’ asked Ishii, confused.

Yakumo slowly walked up to the tree of deceit.

'Have you forgotten? There is one more testimony.’

'One more?’

Gotou furrowed his brow.

Ishii felt the same way. They should have had all the testimonies now.

'Whose testimony?’ Ishii asked Yakumo hesitantly.

Yakumo left a tantalising pause before slowly turning around.

'The testimony of the victim, Mochizuki Toshiki.’

-

11

-

'I see!’

Ishii spoke up without thinking.

Yakumo looked at the shrine. Ishii couldn’t see anything but the shrine, but it was different for Yakumo’s red left eye.

The murdered Mochizuki was probably there.

Yakumo slowly walked up to the shrine.

'Matsuda-san assaulted Mochizuki-san when he was with Yuuko-san at the shrine. Then, the two had a scuffle… correct?’

Yakumo stopped, turned around and looked at Matsuda.

'Yeah,’ Matsuda said firmly, as if he was already resigned.

'Matsuda-san, you stabbed Mochizuki-san with a knife then. That is correct as well, yes?’

'Yeah,’ replied Matsuda.

'Matsuda-san, do you remember where you stabbed Mochizuki-san then?’

Matsuda’s brow furrowed in confusion at Yakumo’s question.

'Stomach… I think…’

It was an unreliable reply, unlike his earlier ones.

'Did you stab him just once? Or was it twice?’

'Urgh…’

'Perhaps you don’t remember how many times you stabbed Mochizuki-san because you had lost track of yourself?’

'What do you mean?’

Gotou went right up to Yakumo.

'I’ll explain now, so please don’t speak so loudly.’

Yakumo put his fingers in his ears to complain.

'Please tell us. What on earth happened?’ asked Ishii, unable to stay silent.

According to what was said so far, Matsuda hadn’t stabbed Mochizuki’s chest. Then who did?

'Ishii-san, Mochizuki-san has two stab wounds, yes? In his chest and his stomach.’

'Yes.’

'Which was the lethal wound?’

'The chest,’ Ishii replied immediately.

Though Mochizuki had a stomach injury too, it had been shallow – it wasn’t the direct cause of his death.

'In short, after Matsuda-san left, Mochizuki-san was still alive.’

'W-what!?’ Gotou shouted again.

'I said, please don’t speak so loudly.’

'Shut up! Stop putting on airs and tell us already!’

In his agitation, Gotou grabbed Yakumo by the collar.

’D-Detective Gotou.’

Ishii tried to console the agitated Gotou and stepped between them.

Yakumo sighed in exasperation before starting his explanation.

'After being stabbed in the stomach, Mochizuki-san fainted, but he woke up after a while,’ said Yakumo. Then, he looked at Yuuko.

Yuuko shook like a small animal.

'What happened after?’ Gotou urged.

'When Mochizuki-san woke up, he saw Yuuko-san in front of him. He pleaded for her help, but she didn’t.’

'Because she was Yukari-san…’ said Ishii after gulping.

Yakumo nodded.

From Mochizuki’s perspective, she looked like Yuuko, but inside her had been the ghost of Yukari, who had died ten years ago.

'Yukari-san took up the knife that Matsuda-san tossed aside…’

Yakumo’s eyes narrowed and he shut his mouth.

Ishii understood what was next even without Yakumo’s saying it.

The knife was stabbed into Mochizuki’s chest –

That was why he had an injury in his chest and his stomach, and why Yuuko’s fingerprints had been on the knife.

'I-I… didn’t kill him?’ said Matsuda in a hoarse voice, looking at his hands.

'I…’ said Yuuko, her voice trembling.

'You must have had an inkling that your sister’s ghost had possessed you,’ Yakumo said quietly.

'I thought it was… a dream…’

'A dream?’

Ishii stared at Yuuko.

'The day Toshiki-san was stabbed… My sister appeared in front of me and said… to kill him… but I thought it was all a dream…’

Tears fell from Yuuko’s eyes.

'It wasn’t a dream,’ declared Yakumo.

'Eh?’

'Yukari-san is currently possessing another woman.’

'Another…’

'Yes. She is still filled with hatred, trying to kill someone.’

'I…’

'Who could Yukari-san be trying to kill, when she has already taken her revenge?’

'I don’t know.’

Yuuko shook her head forcefully.

'Do you really not know?’

'W-what are you talking about?’

'The person who pushed your sister off the stone steps was – ’

'Stop!’

'You, wasn’t it?’

'No!’

Yuuko’s scream drowned out Yakumo’s voice.

After a silence, Yakumo said, 'So you’re still going to deny it. Then I’ll ask the person herself.’

– The person herself?

What did he mean?

In response to Ishii’s question, a woman appeared from the tree of deceit’s shadow –

-

12

-

'Eeek!’ shrieked Ishii, leaping up when he saw a woman suddenly appear from the shadow of the tree of deceit.

The woman wore a blazer school uniform. The one from the school Ishii had gone to.

Her hair hung in front of her face, so he couldn’t see it clearly.

However, that was –

'Kosaka Yukari-san…’ said Ishii.

Yuuko was shocked.

'It was you… I’ll kill you…’ the woman moaned, approaching Yuuko with the movements of a zombie.

'N-no…’ said Yuuko, her voice trembling as she backed away.

The woman continued to walk towards Yuuko.

Even though the situation was so strange, Yakumo just watched silently.

'It was you… You killed me… You pushed me down the stairs… and killed me…’

The woman’s cry echoed through the shrine.

Yuuko collapsed to the floor, perhaps in fear.

She took deep breaths as she sobbed.

– At this rate…

Ishii tried to go help Yuuko, but he was so afraid that his knees buckled. He couldn’t move.

The woman’s hand reached out towards Yuuko’s neck.

'Stop!’

Gotou was the one who yelled.

He rammed his body into the woman.

'Aah!’ shrieked the woman as she fell.

At this stage, Ishii also noticed something strange.

A ghost without a body couldn’t be rammed into.

'Honestly, that hurts.’

The woman spoke in a clear voice, completely different than it had been before, and stood up, taking off her wig.

Ishii had seen that face before.

'H-Haruka-chan!’

'Why is it you, Haruka-chan?’ said Gotou in surprise.

Haruka rubbed her knee and glared at Yakumo.

'Why didn’t you explain beforehand?’

'I forgot.’

In contrast to Haruka’s anger, Yakumo just replied with a yawn.

It looked like Yakumo had used Haruka to put on a good show.

'Honestly. Yoou’re the worst.’

'Don’t say that. It worked wonders.’

Yakumo responded to Haruka’s complaint with a smile.

What worked wonders – Ishii glanced at Yuuko, who was kneeling on the floor while moaning.

'Why!? Why!?’ screamed Yuuko.

Her eyes were wide open, showing her teeth. She looked just like a demon.

'A-are you all right…’

Ishii tried to approach her, but Yuuko stood up and pushed his hands away.

'I’m not at fault! My sister is!’

It looked like Yuuko had completely lost herself.

'Oi.’

Gotou grabbed her arm, but Yuuko flung it aside.

'She always acted like a good girl, but she hit me when nobody was looking! She rolled around with laughter when she saw me in pain! Do you know how I felt?’

– I see. This person also…

Ishii felt like he had been stabbed in the chest.

'Yuuko-san…’

'Do you know how happy I was that you died? Why are you still getting in my way when you’re dead!?’ screamed Yuuko while crying.

Yuuko had probably been bullied by her older sister, Yukari, every day.

From the bully’s perspective, it might have just been an extension of a joke, but from the bullied person’s perspective, it was the same as torture.

Ishii understood how painful those days were –

And the bully was a relative. She couldn’t escape – it would have been an eternal hell.

'It’s all right now. Please calm down.’

Ishii called out frantically, but Yuuko’s eruption of emotions still didn’t stop.

'I’ll kill you again!’ yelled Yuuko as she tried to assault Haruka.

Ishii frantically held Yuuko down.

'Let go!’

Yuuko twisted her body about, but Ishii still didn’t let go of Yuuko.

Soon, Yuuko became exhausted and collapsed to her knees.

'What is this?’ asked Gotou, looking suspicious.

'Exactly what it looks like,’ Yakumo replied curtly.

'I don’t get it.’

'Yuuko-san was bullied at home by her older sister, Yukari-san. Yuuko-san’s hatred built up and she pushed Yukari-san down the shrine’s steps that day ten years ago,’ said Yakumo in one breath. Then, he took a long sigh.

'W-what?’

'Yukari-san thought that Mochizuki-san had killed her, but after possessing Yuuko-san and killing Mochizuki-san, she realised the truth. That the one who killed her was her sister.’

'Wha!?’

'Then, she decided to kill Yuuko-san this time.’

'So that’s why she possessed Mai,’ said Haruka, continuing Yakumo’s explanation.

'Correct. In order to kill Yuuko-san, she had to be in somebody else’s body, so she possessed your friend, who just happened to be nearby.’

After finishing his explanation, Yakumo slowly walked up to Yuuko.

Yuuko looked up, her face covered with tears.

'You actually regret it, don’t you? What happened to your sister.’

Yakumo’s voice seemed filled with warmth and kindness.

'I don’t regret…’

'You envied your sister, but at the same time, you looked up to her.’

'That’s a lie!’

'It isn’t a lie. Did you two sisters always not get along?’

Yuuko shook her head.

'She was a really nice sister… but…’

'When did she start bullying you?’

'I don’t really remember…’

'Wasn’t it about a year before she passed away?’

Yuuko looked up in surprise.

’…’

'The reason she started bullying you was Mochizuki-san.’

'Why him…’

'When Mochizuki-san went to Yukari-san’s house, he saw you and fell in love.’

'That’s… I…’

'That was the cause of Yukari-san and Mochizuki-san’s conversation about splitting up.’

'But…’

'Yukari-san felt like Mochizuki-san had been stolen away from her and started to bully you. That wasn’t all – she thought up a plan to keep him.’

'I see. So the story about the pregnancy was Yukari-san’s lie,’ said Ishii in understanding.

Ishii had thought that Yukari was pregnant because of the rumour at school and the money in the envelope, but the autopsy hadn’t found any signs of it.

Yukari had lied to keep Mochizuki, but he hadn’t shown up.

That was why she had been so furious.

'Yes,’ said Yakumo with a nod. Then, he turned towards Yuuko again.

'Yukari-san really loved you, but that just made her want you to take her lover even less. I think there was also a feeling of weakness – of being completely incapable of winning.’

Yakumo placed a hand on Yuuko’s shoulder.

'Sis… I’m sorry…’ said Yuuko, sounding pained, and she fell down in tears again.

It was so sad. Even though sisters should have had a different path, why did these two end up this way?

All Ishii could do was watch silently.

'Ishii-san.’

Yakumo looked straight at Ishii.

'Y-yes.’

Ishii accepted that gaze stiffly.

'It’s your turn next.’

'My…’

Ishii gulped.

'Yes.’

Yakumo’s sharp eyes looked at him.

'I don’t…’

Interrupting Ishii’s words, Yakumo shook his head.

'You understand now, yes? Ishii-san, you didn’t push Yukari-san down the stairs ten years ago,’ said Yakumo firmly. Then, he smiled gently.

It was clear from Yakumo’s mystery solving that Yuuko was the one who pushed Yukari’s back.

However, there was still a blurry shadow within Ishii.

'Is that really true? I still feel like I pushed her back with these hands…’

Ishii looked at his hands.

'It’s a hallucination,’ Yakumo said with determination.

If Yakumo said that, it might be true, but –

'Even if I wasn’t the one who acted on it, for that moment, I did want to kill her. It’s the same offence,’ said Ishii all at once.

His breath was ragged, like he had been running at full speed.

Yakumo smiled upon seeing that.

'Ishii-san, you’re too serious.’

'I…’

'Everybody feels hatred.’

'But…’

'And it’s different now, isn’t it?’

Yakumo placed a hand on Ishii’s shoulder.

That moment, Ishii felt like all his tension crumble away.

'I… hated Mochizuki Toshiki and Kosaka Yukari. I was so frightened I couldn’t do anything. Why did they treat me this why… I thought countless times about killing them…’

Ishii gripped his fists tightly. He knew himself that his blood had rushed to his head, making his face red.

'Ishii-san,’ said Yakumo in a hoarse voice.

'I still hate them now!’ Ishii yelled towards the sky.

Everything was quiet.

How long was he there? Before he noticed, Mochizuki was standing in front of him.

He didn’t know if it was an illusion or his actual spirit, but Ishii still looked straight at Mochizuki.

Strangely, he didn’t feel any fear

'I’m not a glasses monkey. I’m Detective Ishii Yuutarou,’ declared Ishii.

Mochizuki Toshiki’s expression twisted.

'So high and mighty. You…’

'I realised this after becoming a detective! Hatred produces nothing! So!’

Ishii interrupted Mochizuki.

The Mochizuki Toshiki standing in front of him disappeared, like he had melted into the air.

The moment he disappeared, Ishii felt like he had been smiling slightly.

-

13

-

– It’s finally over.

Gotou sighed in relief.

'I’ll leave the clean-up to you then,’ declared Yakumo. Then, he walked down the stone steps briskly.

'W-wait a second.’

Haruka hurried after him.

'Man, he just does whatever he want,’ muttered Gotou, though on the inside, he was grateful.

Without Yakumo, they probably wouldn’t have been able to solve the case, but Gotou couldn’t feel relaxed.

He always had to do this, but he needed to deal with the case while leaving out the spiritual phenomena. It hurt his head just thinking about it.

'Detective, can I be forgiven with this?’ asked Matsuda, interrupting Gotou’s thoughts.

That caused Gotou’s anger to swell up all at once.

'Idiot! Like you could be forgiven!’

Matsuda gulped, seeming surprised by Gotou’s yell.

'Even if he didn’t die because of you, it was still attempted murder!’

Matsuda wasn’t the one who killed Mochizuki, but he had still tried to cross a line that could never be crossed.

Gotou felt bad about Matsuda’s daughter, but no matter the reason, you couldn’t take someone’s life.

'What… should I have done…’

Matsuda looked at Gotou pleadingly.

'Think about that yourself,’ replied Gotou.

Matsuda smiled bitterly.

'How cold…’

'Like I’d be kind to you. You chose the wrong path. No matter how you try to excuse yourself, that can’t be forgiven.’

'Yeah…’

Matsuda’s shoulders slumped as he looked down, maybe because he finally realised how heavy his crime was.

'But if you chose the wrong path, you can just correct it.’

Matsuda looked up.

'How do I correct it?’

'Like I know.’

'How irresponsible.’

'Shut your mouth. If you don’t know, look for it. I’ll go with you,’ Gotou said forcefully.

It wasn’t consolation – it was how Gotou really felt.

Catching the criminal didn’t solve the case. Clearing away the darkness that the victims and the perpetrators carried was what ended the case.

In that meaning, cases that occurred once could go on forever.

But still –

'I did… something unbelievable…’

Matsuda fell to the floor and started sobbing.

He had realised late, but it wasn’t too late. He could still fix things now.

'Get up.’

Gotou stuck his hand out towards Matsuda.

Gotou lifted his tearstained face.

'Walk with your own feet. For your daughter’s sake too.’

Matsuda wiped his tears with his hands and stood up.

'I’ll go back with Matsuda,’ Gotou told Ishii, who was with the crying Yuuko.

'Eh, but…’

'It’s fine. I’ll call help,’ said Gotou. Then, he walked away with Matsuda.

He went down the steps and sat Matsuda in the back of the unmarked police car. Then, he started the engine.

He drove.

Matsuda looked out the window absentmindedly.

Gotou felt like he understood why Yukari had chosen this man.

Matsuda had been prepared to even throw away his own life, if it was for his daughter’s sake. He was pure, in a sense.

It was probably because Yayoi knew that that she had continued to believe in Matsuda.

-

14

-

'Wait a second!’

Haruka finally caught up to Yakumo after climbing down the shrine’s stone steps.

'Don’t dawdle.’

Yakumo yawned as he continued to walk.

'Where are you going?’

'To do the final touches,’ replied Yakumo like it was a matter of fact, but Haruka didn’t understand.

'Final touches? What do you mean?’

'You really are thoughtless.’

It was an awful way of putting it.

'I won’t understand if you don’t explain properly,’ protested Haruka.

Yakumo sighed. 'That’s why you’re thoughtless. Do you think the case is over?’

'I-it isn’t?’

Just as Yakumo said, Haruka had thought the case was over with the exchange at the shrine.

'Our original goal was to save your friend, who’s been possessed by a ghost.’

'Ah!’ said Haruka without thinking.

It made sense for Yakumo to think she was stupid. The original goal was to save Mai. In that sense, just as Yakumo said, the case wasn’t over yet.

'If you get it, hurry up,’ said Yakumo, sounding displeased as he started walking quickly.

Haruka followed him.

'Hey, what’s going to happen to Yuuko-san?’ Haruka asked Yakumo as they went to the hospital.

From the truth that Yakumo had revealed, Yuuko had been possessed by the spirit of Yukari, who had died ten years ago, and killed her lover, Mochizuki Toshiki.

However, the police probably wouldn’t believe in ghosts.

'She’ll probably be charged with murder.’

'That’s…’

Haruka felt discouraged. It wasn’t like she had wanted to kill her lover, Mochizuki, but she would have to be charged.

The case had a somewhat unpleasant aftertaste.

'It’s a cold way of putting it, but she killed her own sister ten years ago. She’s paying the price for that. This case happened because it was bound to,’ Yakumo said disinterestedly.

'But…’

'No matter the reason, that’s how taking somebody’s life is.’

Yakumo’s words struck deep into Haruka’s chest.

It was just as Yakumo said. Hatred bred more hatred, and the same thing kept happening.

– I wonder if Ishii-san was able to clear away his hatred.

That question suddenly came to Haruka. She thought about asking Yakumo, but she decided against it.

Conjecture wouldn’t do anything.

They walked silently.

She thought about a number of things, but even after reaching Mai’s hospital room, Haruka hadn’t organised her thoughts.

'Let’s go,’ said Yakumo while Haruka was thinking.

'OK,’

Haruka took a deep breath and cleared her mind.

After licking his lips, Yakumo opened the hospital room door.

Mai was lying in bed.

The window was open. The curtains shook in the wind.

'Mai,’ said Haruka.

Mai slowly sat up.

However, Haruka realised once seeing those eyes that it wasn’t Mai. They were Yukari’s eyes.

Yakumo walked up to Mai.

'Kosaka Yukari-san, correct?’

'Ooh…’ moaned Mai, glaring at Yakumo.

Yakumo’s expression didn’t change.

Haruka put her hands together in front of her chest, as if praying. All she could do was watch.

'Your sister, Yuuko-san, confessed that she killed you ten years ago,’ began Yakumo.

Then, Mai’s expression changed. Her eyes flew open in shock.

'Killed,’ said Mai in a low voice, reaching out towards Yakumo.

'If you want to kill Yuuko-san no matter way, you’ll have to wait for her to be released from prison.’

Mai ground her teeth loudly.

'Hatred breads nothing. Let’s stop this already.’

Yakumo placed a hand on Mai’s shoulder.

However, Mai shook it off immediately and stared at Yakumo with hateful eyes.

'I'llkillyou…’

Mai’s breathing was ragged.

Yakumo shook his head slightly.

'Yuuko-san said she regrets killing you. She said “Sorry” while crying.’

Mai’s brow furrowed in suspicion.

Yakumo took a deep breath before continuing.

'You regret it too, don’t you? You loved your sister, Yuuko-san, didn’t you?’

Mai’s face twisted in pain.

'But you were seized with jealousy and lost sight of what was important…’

’…’

'This incident began with that jealousy. You should know that best yourself, correct?’

'Urgh…’

'Wasn’t the person you truly couldn’t forgive yourself?’

'I was wrong…’ said Mai.

Unlike her early beastly howls, her words were clear.

'Nobody will be happy with more of this hatred. Let’s put an end to this already.’

Yakumo looked at Mai’s face.

'Sorry… Tell my… sister… tha…’

Mai collapsed while speaking.

'Mai.’

Haruka ran up to the bed.

She was breathing. It looks like she was OK for now.

Haruka looked at Yakumo. He was looking outside the window with distant eyes.

'How’d it go?’ asked Haruka.

Yakumo’s shoulders relaxed.

'She left.’

'I see.’

Haruka looked out the window.

For just a moment, the clouds in the sky looked like a person’s face.

'Haruka…’

There was a voice. Mai’s voice.

Haruka saw Mai on the bed. Her eyes were open, though they were squinting.

'Mai!’

Haruka heaved a sigh of relief.

A lot of things had happened, but now the incident was really over –

ANOTHER FILES THE TREE OF DECEITfile 03: the tree of deceit-1-Haruka stood with Yakumo in front of Mai's hospital room. Let's go see her again.After receiving Makoto's report, Yakumo made that suggestion, but Haruka didn't understand why.What are we going to do when we see her?''There's something I want to confirm,' replied Yakumo, running a hand through his messy hair.'What do you plan on confirming?''You'll know when you see it,' said Yakumo expressionlessly. He probably wouldn't say anything even if Haruka pressed further.Haruka gave up and knocked on the door.There was no response. When she opened the door, she saw Mai lying on the bed.Though her eyes were open, they weren't focussed.She looked a bit more tired than she had yesterday. Haruka wanted to save her somehow, but she had no way to do that.Yakumo slowly walked up to the bed and sat on the round chair beside it.Haruka watched while holding her breath.'Kosaka Yukari-san, yes?'In response to Yakumo's murmur, Mai turned to look at Yakumo.'A h'It sounded like it hurt Mai to speak.'You know the man named Mochizuki Toshiki-san, don't you.'The moment Yakumo said that name, Mai's eyes flew open. She pulled her body up and reached out towards Yakumo.Her hands gripped Yakumo's neck.'Yakumo-kun!'Haruka tried to run out to him, but Yakumo stopped her.Mai's hands dug into Yakumo's neck. Even in that situation, Yakumo just looked at Mai without faltering.'I'm not Mochizuki Toshiki-san,' said Yakumo, though his breath sounded constricted.'Ur gh'Mai sounded like she was suffering.'You understand this as well, don't you? Killing me won't dispel your grudge,' Yakumo said quietly.Mai let go of his neck.'Are you OK?' asked Haruka.'Don't worry about it,' Yakumo replied, but the hands' imprints remained on his neck.Haruka felt anew the resolve Yakumo had upon facing this case.After a silence, Yakumo brought his face close to Mai's eyes and murmured, 'I want to ask you something. What happened that day?'Mai's dry lips moved slightly.'I was betrayed' replied Mai. No, to be correct, it was Yukari, the spirit possessing Mai.'Who were you betrayed by?' asked Yakumo.'That man''Mochizuki-san?'Mai's breathing was ragged.'I was always waiting For that man that but''He didn't come.''I loved but that man''Somebody else came to the shrine that day, correct?' said Yakumo. Like he had known from the start.'That monkey''What did you do afterwards?''From behind Agh''Somebody pushed you from behind so that you fell down the stone stairs.''Aaaaahh!'Mai let out a beastly howl.Her hair flung about as she flailed her arms and legs wildly.'M-Mai.'Haruka couldn't stop herself from approaching to try to calm Mai down, but Yakumo stopped her.'Stop.''Why? Mai is''She'll possess you,' Yakumo said in a harsh tone, pushing Haruka aside.Haruka couldn't do anything even though she was watching her friend suffer. She was mortified by her powerlessness.Yakumo turned towards Mai again and asked, 'Who pushed you?'Mai suddenly stopped moving.A groan came out of her throat as she glared at Yakumo.A chill ran down Haruka's spine.It felt like a strong hatred was spilling out from Mai's bloodshot eyes.'I'll kill you'After saying that, Mai lost her strength and collapsed.'Mai.''It's fine. She just fainted,' said Yakumo.When Haruka looked at Yakumo, she saw that his forehead was covered in sweat. His brow was furrowed like he was in pain.'A-are you OK?' asked Haruka.Yakumo leant against the wall, brushed back his fringe and looked up at the ceiling.'Yeah. It was a bit intense.''Intense?''Her emotions.''By her, do you mean Yukari-san?''Yeah. She has an incredibly strong hatred.'Haruka could tell that too.'Why is she so full of hatred?'Yakumo left the hospital room, escaping Haruka's questioning.'W-wait.'Haruka hurriedly ran after Yakumo.Yakumo stood with his back against the wall in the corridor in front of the hospital room.He had his arms crossed with a difficult expression on his face.'As I thought, she Kosaka Yukari-san didn't die in an accident''Eh? Really?' said Haruka in surprise.'Yeah. This is a fully-fledged murder case.''Which is why she hates the person who killed her''Well, that's how it is.''Who on earth is it?' asked Haruka.Yakumo's expression twisted, like he was withstanding pain.'It'd be easy if I knew.'Yakumo started walking.'Wait.'Haruka went right after him.She could tell from looking at Yakumo's back.Yakumo probably knew who killed Yukari, but he didn't want to say it right now. Who on earth could it be?While Haruka was thinking, the words Yakumo said earlier came up in her head. Because Ishii-san is a main player.'There's no way.'Haruka hurriedly wiped that unfortunate thought out of her head.-2-Ishii and Gotou sat at a table in a cafe.They were waiting for Yuuko.Gotou blew out smoke in irritation. Ishii had nothing to do so he just looked at the clock on the wall.When he stared at it, it felt like time had turned back.That day Ishii had been in this cafe with Mochizuki.Mochizuki had handed Ishii something and asked him to deliver it to somebody at the shrine with the tree of deceit.No, Mochizuki hadn't asked. He had ordered.Ishii hadn't been able to refuse.The relationship between Ishii and Mochizuki had been an absolute one, of master and servant.Of course Mochizuki had been the master. Ishii had to do what he said. If he didn't, he didn't even want to think about how he'd be treated.Ishii had gone to the shrine as he was told The events that came afterwards flashed through his head like a revolving lantern. No. I don't want to remember.He frantically tried to push the memories away, but it was no use. They were his own memories. No matter how he tried to refuse them, he couldn't erase them.'I''Shut up!'Gotou's fist came down on him.The impact brought Ishii back to his senses.His palms were clammy with sweat.'I-I'm sorry.'After Ishii apologised, the cafe door opened and Yuuko showed up.She arrived twenty minutes later than the appointed time.'I sincerely apologise for the wait.'Yuuko greeted them. There were shadows under her eyes. She looked a step more tired than she had yesterday.'No, not at all. Please sit down.'Ishii urged her to sit opposite them. Yuuko sat down.Ishii called the waiter and ordered coffee for three.'Today, we called you out because we want to check something with you,' said Gotou after the waiter brought them coffee.'What is it?' asked Yuuko in a faint voice.'You said you didn't know the suspect, Matsuda, right?'Gotou pressed his cigarette out in the ashtray and looked at Yuuko.Under that intimidating gaze, Yuuko's expression stiffened.'I did say that. I'd never seen him before that day.''That's strange. His daughter's at your hospital.''Eh?''Matsuda Misaki You know her, right?''That person's Misaki-chan's'Yuuko looked genuinely surprised.'Yeah. He's Matsuda Misaki's father.''That's'Yuuko had a complex expression on her face.'You said a man you didn't know suddenly assaulted your fianc, but that's a lie, right?''It isn't. I've never met Misaki-chan's father.''Don't play dumb! You knew Matsuda, right?' Gotou said threateningly.Yuuko's shoulders jolted up.Ishii knew that Gotou was irritated, but if he intimidated Yuuko this way, she wouldn't be able to say the things she wanted to.After Ishii calmed Gotou slightly, he turned towards Yuuko.'I'm sorry. Are you all right?' asked Ishii.Yuuko nodded.'You talked to Matsuda-san using the hospital phone, yes?''I did?'Yuuko's eyes were wide open.'During your work hours, somebody called Matsuda-san from the hospital.'Ishii placed the piece of paper with the call log on the table.Yuuko took it and looked at it carefully.'I don't know. Anybody can use the phone at the nurse station. It doesn't have to be me.''But you're the only person who was working during all these times.''That's not definite. Somebody might have worked on their day off and used it.''Don't try to fool me. It'll be obvious who used the phone if we check the security camera footage for the nurse station,' Gotou cut in.'I really don't know,' said Yuuko, sounding like she would cry.'Matsuda said he fell for you. Weren't you in a relationship? And then Mochizuki got in the way,' said Gotou as a final blow.'Please don't just say whatever you want!'Yuuko hit the table, making her emotions apparent.'Tell the truth.'Gotou still didn't back down.'What are you saying? I loved Toshiki-san. No I still love him now.''I can't believe that. We've got proof. What sort of relationship did you have with Matsuda?''Stop already!' Yuuko shouted again, with tears in her eyes.It was probably not from sadness but from anger and mortification.'Then talk honestly.''The person I loved was killed, but I'm even being treated like I was complicit I'She didn't say anything else.Yuuko covered her face with her hands and went silent.He sniffling echoed through the cafe.Even Gotou looked away awkwardly.She isn't lying Ishii didn't have proof, but he felt that.In any case, asking her anything else about the matter probably wouldn't get them any information.'Are you all right?'Ishii held a handkerchief out towards Yuuko.However, Yuuko didn't take it. She took a handkerchief out of her own bag and wiped her tears.She didn't want sympathy from the police. It was like she was saying that.Ishii waited for Yuuko to stop crying before speaking. 'Yuuko-san, we understand that you loved Mochizuki-san. Er Would it be all right to ask you another question?'After wiping her tears with a handkerchief, Yuuko looked up. She didn't respond, but Ishii took that as a yes.'I want to ask about your older sister.'When Ishii asked that, Yuuko's eyes went wide open in surprise.'My sister?''Yes. Your sister was dating Mochizuki-san before she passed away, correct?'Yuuko didn't respond.Ishii continued.'Did you know that?'Ishii saw Yuuko's hands tighten into fists as she looked down.This wasn't a question from Ishii and Gotou.Yakumo had told Gotou to ask it. He had said that the situation would change depending on the response.Ishii knew the answer without hearing it.Of course Ishii knew about Mochizuki and Yukari's relationship, but all the people in the grade did too. Even some of the teachers knew.They'd gone to each other's houses, so Yuuko, Yukari's little sister, must have known.'Did you know?' asked Gotou in irritation, perhaps annoyed by Yuuko's silence.Yuuko lifted her head just slightly.Her eyes were filled with a darkness like hatred.' with that.'Yuuko's faint voice didn't reach Ishii's ears.'What did you say?''This incident has nothing to do with that,' spat out Yuuko.Her forceful tone made Ishii falter for a moment.'No, well, yes, but''Then why are you asking?''No, that's''I'm sick of this already. Please allow me to head home.'Yuuko stood up and tried to leave the cafe.However, Gotou stood in front of her to stop her.'We're not done asking questions yet.'Gotou grabbed Yuuko's wrist.'Please let go of me,' Yuuko protested.The waiter looked at them suspiciously.Unlike Ishii, who was worried that the waiter might report them to the police, Gotou continued talking without a care.'I won't let go tell you answer.''My sister's unrelated to this, isn't she?''Then you can respond, right?'Yuuko's emotions reached their boiling point as she shouted, 'Yes, I knew!'''Ishii gulped under that pressure.'I knew. My sister brought Toshiki-san home a number of times. So''So you approached him while knowing?' asked Gotou, glaring at Yuuko sharply.'Is there a problem with that?''That's''That person placed flowers at the shrine every year on my sister's death anniversary. I always watched him. Even though it wasn't his fault that my sister died, he continued placing flowers for ten years.''So you fell for him because of that kindness of his,' said Gotou sarcastically.'That's enough, right? I'm going home.'Yuuko pushed Gotou away and left the shop.Ishii didn't feel like going after her. It looked like Gotou felt the same way, as he sat down with a click of his tongue.'Damn. What was that' grumbled Gotou.'Ah'All Ishii could do was give that listless reply.After a while, Gotou said, 'Hey, Ishii.''Yes?''What sort of woman was that Yukari, who died ten years ago?''I don't really know,' Ishii replied vaguely.'You were in the same class, right?''Yes, but we weren't very close''Useless.'Gotou smacked Ishii's head.'I-I apologise.'Ishii smiled bitterly. It was a lie.He knew Yukari well.With a gorgeous appearance, the male students had all yearned for her.For Yukari to date the class leader, Mochizuki, had been a natural development.A god couple that anybody would envy but it had been different for Ishii.Mochizuki and Yukari had been the worst couple. The two of them hadn't treated Ishii like he was human.Once, he had picked up a pen Yukari dropped.Normally, people would have said thank you, but she hadn't responded that way. Instead, she had falsely accused him of stealing her pen.After that, Mochizuki had punched him countless times.Yukari had laughed while watching Ishii in pain.It had been a daily cycle.Ishii had hated the two of them. I want to kill them.It was inevitable that Ishii felt that way.It had been the same on that day too.When Yukari looked at him scornfully, a black emotion had exploded in the bottom of Ishii's heart. I.Interrupting Ishii's thoughts, Gotou's mobile rang.It was probably Yakumo.'We're going.'After Gotou's call ended, he stood up.'Eh? Where to?''You'll know if you come.'Gotou left the cafe briskly.Ishii hurriedly tried to go after him, but then he remembered that they hadn't paid and went to the register.After Ishii finished paying, the waiter said to him quietly, 'What an unpleasant woman.''Yes?''Getting angry when she was the one two-timing she's not a good woman. It'd be better if you quickly forgot about her.'It seemed like the waiter had completely misunderstood.Ishii was about to deny it when Gotou yelled, 'Hurry up!' Ishii left the shop with a vague smile.-3-Haruka and Yakumo went to the shrine where the incident had occurred.From the elevated ground, they could see the whole town.The sun was low in the sky, dying the town a vivid orange. It was a beautiful place. When they looked out like this, it didn't seem like a murder scene at all.'Hey, what are you going to do here?' Haruka asked Yakumo.After leaving the hospital where Mai was, they had come here, but Haruka hadn't been able to get the reason why out of Yakumo.Yakumo put a hand on the cedar tree that was cordoned off with a Shinto enclosing rope and closed his eyes.It was he was feeling its pulse.Only this cedar tree, called the tree of deceit, knew what had happened here.It seemed mysterious when Haruka thought that.'I want to ask something,' said Yakumo, turning around.'Whom do you want to ask?''The victim, of course.''Eh?'Haruka was surprised, but Yakumo was calm.With a blank expression, he walked straight towards the shrine.'So you were here.'Yakumo stopped right in front of the shrine.Haruka couldn't see anything, but Yakumo could probably see him. The spirit of the man named Mochizuki, who had been killed her - a ghost was probably Haruka held her breath and watched.'I have something I want to ask,' said Yakumo. There was no response, but it was just that Haruka couldn't hear it. Yakumo's ear probably heard somebody's voice.'What happened ten years ago?'Haruka had been sure Yakumo would ask about the current case.If Yakumo was going out of his way to talk about the incident ten years ago, it probably had a great deal to do with the case.The wind blew The tree of deceit rustled, like it was pleading something.'So Ishii-san really'When Yakumo said that, his shoulders slumping, Haruka reacted sensitively.'What do you mean?''Keep quiet for now,' Yakumo said, cutting her down.Haruka couldn't do anything but keep her mouth shut.However, she couldn't erase her questions. From Yakumo's tone, Ishii was very involved with the current case.There was no way that he was the culprit. Haruka wanted to think that, but part of her couldn't declare it.He had clearly been strange ever since the incident occurred.Haruka didn't have any evidence, but it felt like he was hiding something important.'I finally see it' said Yakumo, interrupting Haruka's thoughts.Haruka looked at Yakumo, who turned around and slowly started walking towards her.'What did you see?''who's lying and who's telling the truth I see it now.'Yakumo looked at the tree of deceit.'Who's lying?' asked Haruka.Yakumo's eyes narrowed as he smirked.'People's memories are vague.''Vague?''Yes. Perhaps it would be better to call them subjective.'Haruka didn't understand what Yakumo wanted to say at all.'What do you mean?''For example, if you were talking about a memory with a friend.''OK.''At times like that, don't the experiences you talk about differ sometimes?''Come to think of it'Haruka had experienced that a number of times.When she talked with a friend about a day they went out together, she'd say it'd been sunny when her friend would say it'd been cloudy.Haruka would think they'd gone with five people, but her friend would say there'd been four.Even though they'd experienced the same event, the colours of clothes, hairstyles small details like that would change.'That occurs because people's memories are subjective.''That so?''Though it seems like you remember everything, you only cut and paste the things you want. With the passing of time, those memories warp further.''Why?''Every time you remember a memory, you add emotion to it.''Emotion?''Correct. You could call it a wish. People forget the unpleasant and only accept the things they want.''But then the memory wouldn't make sense.''Exactly. That's why people unconsciously alter their memories.''But''You've altered your memories too, with your sister.''Urgh.'Haruka couldn't breathe for a moment when Yakumo suddenly brought up her sister.'Because of your feeling of guilt, you decided that your sister hated you. As a result, even though it was an accident, you even thought you had killed her, right?''That's'Haruka couldn't deny it. She had done so.That had shut away the enjoyable memories she'd had with her sister.Haruka got the gist of what Yakumo was trying to say, but there was another problem with the current case.'Then who's lying?' asked Haruka.Yakumo sighed in exasperation.'Probably only this tree knows.'Yakumo looked at the tree of deceit.At some point, it had grown dark, and the tree of deceit also had a different appearance than it had had at noon.'What do you mean?'Evading Haruka's question, Yakumo briskly started walking away. Honestly.Haruka pouted, but she went after Yakumo.-4-'Sorry to bother.'Gotou opened the door to Meisei University's Movie Research Circle, which Yakumo used as his secret hideaway.'It looks like nobody's here,' said Ishii as he peered inside.Even though Gotou had come all the way here, they couldn't do anything if he wasn't here.'Where's he loitering?' said Gotou with a sigh. Maybe I'll come back later.Gotou had just thought that and turned around when he saw Yakumo. Haruka was next to him.'If you stand there with your large body, you'll get in the way.'Yakumo looked at Gotou coldly.'What? Were you following us?''Please let off with the idiocy. What good would doing that do me?''What did you say!?''Calm down. Your body won't be able to bear it if you take everything Yakumo-kun says seriously.'Haruka was the one who cut in.'Right.'It was true that responding properly to this quibbling man would be stupid.'Anyway, please decide whether you want to go in or leave.'Yakumo ran a hand through his messy hair.'I'm obviously going in,' declared Gotou, stepping into the room.He sat with Ishii and Yakumo and Haruka sat opposite them.'So how was it?' said Yakumo the moment they'd settled down.Even though he was the one who asked, he yawned, seeming bored. Gotou didn't like his attitude, but he could tell that complaining would just get him a painful retort.'About Yuuko'Gotou cleared his throat and started explaining.Her response when he'd pressed her about contacting Matsuda, and when he'd asked about her sister Kosaka Yukari and Mochizuki Toshiki. He spoke in as much detail as possible.After Gotou finished explaining, for a while, Yakumo put his index finger to his brow and seemed to be thinking.'So she isn't conscious of it' said Yakumo after a long silence.'What do you mean?' Gotou asked immediately.'I can't answer right now.''What?''You don't have to understand. Since I do,' said Yakumo calmly.However, Gotou couldn't keep calm.'You do? So you know the culprit?''Well, so far as it goes,' said Yakumo quietly, scratching the tip of his nose.'Who's the culprit? Tell me!''I don't want to,' Yakumo replied immediately.'What?''Did you not hear me? I said I didn't want to.''You screwing with me?''No. I am completely serious.''Then why won't you tell me!?'Gotou grabbed Yakumo by the collar in his agitation.However, Yakumo still looked unaffected.'Detective Gotou, please calm down.'Ishii was the one who interrupted, looking like he might cry at any moment.'Like I could keep calm.''I understand how you feel, but''Shut up!'Gotou hit Ishii's head.Gotou felt bad about Ishii, but turning his temper towards him seemed to have helped Gotou calm down.'Why won't you tell me who the culprit is even though you know?' asked Gotou again, sitting back down on the chair.'In this case, breaking through to the truth isn't enough.''What?'Revealing the truth was the end of a case, not just with this one.'The order in which the mysteries are solved is important.''Order? What are you talking about?'Haruka spoke before Gotou could.'Is our goal to find out who killed Mochizuki-san?'Haruka said, 'Ah!' It seemed like she understood everything from that sentence.'We need to save Mai, who's been possessed by a ghost,' said Haruka to confirm.'Exactly.''So you don't care about our case?'Gotou frowned.For Yakumo and Haruka, maybe it was more important to save the girl who was possessed by a ghost. But for Gotou, it was crucial that he find out the culprit.'I didn't say that.'Yakumo shook his head in exasperation.'What?''In order to save the woman who has been possessed by a ghost, it is necessary to solve the case you're chasing, Gotou-san. It's just that giving up the culprit reckless won't work.''It won't work?''It won't. I said this earlier, but to solve both of these problems, the order that we solve the mysteries is important.''The order, eh' muttered Gotou, putting his chin in his hand.'If we get the order wrong, we won't be able to bring out the truth.'After saying that, Yakumo smirked.He was the only one who understood. It was always that way for Yakumo. The attitude annoyed Gotou, but he couldn't go back after coming this far.'So what order would be good?''Before that, there is something I want to confirm.''What?' asked Gotou.Yakumo slowly stood up.'Ishii-san, would you come with me?''M-me?'Ishii's eyes went wide at Yakumo's words.-5-Ishii took the stone steps to the shrine.He couldn't see his feet because it was so dark. His feet felt as heavy as weights as he took one step at a time.He stopped and looked up at Yakumo's back, a little ahead of him.Gotou had said he'd come too, but Yakumo stopped him.Ishii didn't know what he was thinking. No, that wasn't true. He really did know. That was why his feet felt heavy.'What is it?' said Yakumo.Ishii came back to his senses.'No, it's nothing.'Ishii smiled wryly and started climbing the steps again.When he reached the shrine, he was a bit out of breath.The shrine was creepy at night.The town that spread before his eyes was lit up beautifully, but the shrine was enveloped in darkness, like it had fallen into a hole.Yakumo went up to the large cedar tree called the tree of deceit and placed a hand on the trunk.He looked somewhat like a loving Virgin Mary.'Er Why did you bring me here?' asked Ishii towards Yakumo's back.Yakumo slowly turned around and looked at Ishii.He had his black contact lens hiding it now, but for a moment, it looked to Ishii like Yakumo's left eye had flashed red.Ishii couldn't bear that pressure and looked away.'There's something I want to ask you, Ishii-san,' said Yakumo.'Why did you need to go to the shrine to do that?' asked Ishii, still looking at his feet.He knew the answer. It was because Yakumo was going to ask something that would have been difficult to ask in front of Gotou and Haruka.'I want to know about your past, Ishii-san.''My past''Yes.''My past isn't interesting.'Ishii laughed bitterly.'That isn't it.''Then what is it?''Ishii-san.'Yakumo's eyes narrowed.Like clairvoyant eyes that could see to the bottom of his heart 'What is it?''Ten years ago what happened here?'The direct question pierced Ishii's chest.Yakumo really did know everything. Ishii knew it'd be easier for him to confess, but his heart still fought back.'I don't know what'Ishii tried to ask as calmly as he could, but he still couldn't stop his voice and hands from shaking.Yakumo wouldn't be fooled by something like this.They had gone through so many cases together, so Ishii knew that well.'Then let's change the question.'Yakumo walked towards Ishii.Still frozen, Ishii gulped and held his breath.'Glasses monkey.'Ishii couldn't believe his ears.'I-I''Mochizuki-san called you that, Ishii-san.''I-I don't understand.''You don't need to hide it. Mochizuki-san bullied you during high school, right?''T-that's not''You don't have to hold back any more.'Yakumo put a hand on Ishii's shoulder. He had an expression on his face that was gentler than Ishii had ever seen before.Ishii heard something fall off in his heart.'It was awful'Even though he had tolerated it for so long, but once he said it aloud, he couldn't stop his mouth from moving.'Even though I hadn't done anything, every time he saw me, he'd say I was an eyesore, punch me and kick me. He treated me like a slave. No, slaves had it better. He didn't even think of me as human,' said Ishii, everything gushing out of him.'Did you not say you didn't like it?' said Yakumo.That sentence amplified Ishii's anger.People who had never been bullied always said that.You were bullied because you didn't assert yourself. If you were cooperative, you wouldn't have been left out 'Please don't say that so easily. If I resisted, I would have been treated even worse. The people around me just ridiculed me too nobody helped. No matter how painful and frustrating was, all I could do was bear it.''Ishii-san''All I could do was wait for the storm to pass.''Kosaka Yukari-san, who died ten years ago, was also one of your bullies, correct, Ishii-san?'Yakumo's quiet words made Ishii freeze.He hadn't thought that Yakumo knew that much.'Urgh''You don't have to hide it any more.''I''Just like you say, Ishii-san, keeping quiet and tolerating the situation wouldn't make it worse, but on the contrary, it also can't change the situation.''I know''That's why it's time to change it,' Yakumo said quietly.'It's too late to do anything now. The past can't change.''No, it can.''Eh?'Ishii looked up with surprise.'Please think about Makoto-san.''..''She faced her painful past and changed it.' Now, I think of it as a good experience.The words Makoto said in the cafe ran through Ishii's head.Perhaps it was because she had faced her own past that she could think that way. Could I do the same thing?'I hated those two from the bottom of my heart,' said Ishii, before he'd even noticed he was talking.Just as Yakumo had theorised, Yukari had also been one of Ishii's bullies. She and Mochizuki had scorned and tyrranised him together.It was agony going to school.What are they going to do to me today he had lived in fear. It didn't feel like he had been living.He had even thought about dying.He had also thought about killing them.Even if it had just been playing around for them, it had been different for Ishii. There was a scar in his heart that could never be erased.He had almost forgotten. No, he had tried to forget.And yet 'Ishii-san, could you tell me what happened here ten years ago?' Yakumo said gently.Under that earnest gaze, Ishii was resigned. He couldn't hide it any more.'That day ten years ago I was about to go home after class,' Ishii said quietly.Standing in front of him, Yakumo nodded to urge Ishii to continue.'After going through the school gates, Mochizuki called out to me.'Mochizuki had been different than usual that day.'He took me to a cafe.'The cafe with the wall clock.'Just the two of you?' asked Yakumo.Ishii nodded and continued his explanation.'Yes. He handed an envelope to me and told me to give it to somebody.''To whom?''He didn't tell me then. He just said that I would know if I went'Ishii had had a bad feeling since hat moment.However, he hadn't been able to refuse. That was how strong Mochizuki's will had been.'What was inside the envelope?''I didn't know then. He threatened me, saying he would kill me if I opened it'It wasn't a lie. Ishii had found out what was inside afterwards.'So then what did you do, Ishii-san?' Yakumo said expressionlessly.Ishii swallowed and continued.'Just as he told me, I walked here'The scenery then flashed through Ishii's mind vividly.He had gone to the shrine in the evening and a woman had been standing in front of the tree of deceit. Just where Yakumo was standing now.Somebody that Ishii knew. You'll know if you go.Ishii understood the meaning of Mochizuki's words then.'Kosaka Yukari-san was there then,' said Yakumo.He already knows that much though Ishii was surprised, he nodded.'Just as Mochizuki told me, I handed the envelope to Yukari-san.''And then what did she do?''She took the contents of the envelope out and went completely pale. Then, she yelled, asking why he didn't come.'The envelope had had ten-odd ten thousand yen bills and an envelope.Ishii had understood everything then.There had been a rumour that Yukari was pregnant. Of course, it was Mochizuki's child.Mochizuki had probably handed Ishii a letter saying they would break up and money for an abortion. He had probably thought that meeting Yukari directly would have caused trouble.He had probably asked Ishii because he didn't want other people to know. He had known that Ishii wouldn't say anything.An awful man is what Ishii had thought.However, Ishii hadn't been able to say that. He had just stood there.'Then what did Yukari-san do?'Yakumo's eyes narrowed. I don't want to say what comes next.But contrary to his will, his mouth moved.'She cursed at me You're not human. You're a glasses monkey She threw rocks at me'Ishii gripped his hands into tight fists. His body shook.Even though ten years had passed, the humiliation he had felt then came back to him like it had happened yesterday.'She even told me to die''That's awful. Even though it didn't have anything to do with you, Ishii-san.'Exactly. It didn't have anything to do with Ishii. But still 'Why did she have to say that much?'Yakumo didn't answer Ishii's question.Ishii knew that Yakumo had no way of answering, but the anger and hatred that welled up within him couldn't be restrained.'After she had cursed me plenty, she thrust the envelope towards me and tried to leave the shrine I was so frustrated'Ishii looked at his hands.His hands were trembling.'Then what happened?' asked Yakumo.Ishii looked at him.'I don't really know. Before I knew it, I had run out of the shrine''Ishii-san''Perhaps I her''Ishii-san.''The person who pushed Yukari-san off the steps it might have been me''Ishii-san!' said Yakumo, cutting in.However, Ishii's emotions continued to run wild.'No, that has to be it! I pushed her!''You didn't.''What do you mean, I didn't? I can still feel it in my hands!''You can't let yourself be overwhelmed.''I was frustrated! I hated those two! I thought about killing them countless times!''Please calm down.''I'm not a glasses monkey! I'm human! I'm Ishii Yuutarou!' screamed Ishii, his body twisting.Then, all the strength left him and he fell to his knees.Tears spilled out.Why do only I have to suffer like this Ishii had lived like this, shutting away that suppressed emotion.That emotion had exploded on that day ten years ago.That had birthed a new darkness and had made Ishii suffer all this time.'I know.'A kind voice reached Ishii's ears and made him look up.Yakumo was crouching in front of him with a gentle smile.'I know that you're you, Ishii-san.''I''It's the same for me. People treated me like a monster because of my red left eye. Even though I was a human, like them'There was a shadow in Yakumo's eyes.His red left eye, which could see the spirits of the dead something different from others. That would have been a target for bullying. It was the same for him too.Just from realising that, Ishii's heart felt a bit lighter.'Let's stop trawling up the past,' said Yakumo as he held a hand out towards Ishii.'I-I''Ishii-san, you aren't a glasses monkey. You're a human being a detective now. Correct?''Y-yes'It was just as Yakumo said. He had to face the case without running away, as a detective.With determination, Ishii took Yakumo's hand.-6-'Yakumo-kun and Ishii-san aren't back yet,' said Haruka.Gotou looked up. 'Yeah.''I wonder what they're doing.'Haruka had thought that Yakumo would be right back after taking Ishii out with him, but it had already been more than an hour.It made her want to know what they were doing, since they were taking so long.'Who knows,' said Gotou, sounding discouraged as he crossed his arms.'I wonder if Ishii-san is related to the case,' Haruka said without really any meaning behind it, but that moment, Gotou glared at her.'Of course not.'His voiced sounded filled with a strong will.Yakumo wouldn't call Ishii out if he wasn't related to the case. Gotou had to know that too.He probably wanted to believe in Ishii anyway.'Of course,' replied Haruka with a wry smile.'Ishii's a guy whose redeeming feature is his cowardice. He couldn't hurt anybody.'Gotou's words made Haruka's chest feel hot.No matter what Gotou said, he had a great love for Ishii.Ishii probably always followed Gotou no matter how much Gotou hit him because it was from an upside-down love rather than bullying.'Well, in any case, there's no point thinking about it. All we can do is wait.'Gotou stretched.'It's because you always leave things up to others that you never grow.'Yakumo came in while complaining.He seemed very annoyed as he ran a hand through his messy hair.'Eh? Where's Ishii-san?' asked Haruka.Since Yakumo was back, Haruka had thought Ishii would be with him, but he was nowhere to be seen.'He went back first,' said Yakumo, looking away slightly.'What? We were waiting' grumbled Gotou, taking out his mobile.'Who are you going to call?' asked Yakumo as he sat down.'Obviously Ishii.''Please don't.''Why not?' said Gotou sulkily.'Please let him be alone today. Ishii-san is suffering too.'As Yakumo said that, his eyes seemed somewhat sad.'What do you mean?' asked Gotou.'You'll find out tomorrow,' said Yakumo quietly, putting his chin in his hand.What did he talk about with Ishii Haruka was curious, but she couldn't ask.'Honestly, everyone's just' said Gotou in his dissatisfaction, putting his mobile in his pocket and standing up.Yakumo stopped him.'I have a request, Gotou-san.''What?''I want you to bring Matsuda-san, the suspect, and Yuuko-san, the victim's fiance, to that shrine tomorrow.''Why?'Gotou sat back down with his brow furrowed.'You really are an idiot, Gotou-san.''What did you say!?''We're ending the case.'Yakumo's words made Gotou's eyes go wide.'Sounds like you understand everything.''Yes, I do.''Explain what you mean!'In contrast to Gotou's agitation, Yakumo was calm. He put his fingers in his ears to complain about the noise.'Anyone'd want to speak up after hearing that. What do you mean?''Please don't be in such a rush. You'll understand everything ''Got it. I'll do something about it,' said Gotou with a snort. Just as he was about to leave the room, he stopped with his hand on the door.'Hey, Yakumo.''What is it?''Is Ishii related to the case?''Yes.''He'd never kill somebody.'Gotou turned around and looked at Yakumo with a strong gaze.'I know.''Then''It's fine. Gotou-san, you can just believe,' interrupted Yakumo.For a while, Gotou just looked straight at Yakumo, but then he finally said 'Got it' in a quiet voice and left.Yakumo sighed as he watched Gotou leave.He appeared considerably tired.'Hey, what happened?' asked Haruka, knowing there would be no response.Yakumo glanced at Haruka and ran a hand through his hair.'A number of things.''A number?''You people are so hasty. You'll understand tomorrow.'Yakumo put a finger to his brow.'I'll really find out tomorrow?''Yes.''OK.''There's something I want you to help out with too.'Yakumo smirked.When Haruka saw that smirk, she had a terribly bad feeling -7- It's heavy.Ishii felt like he was being crushed under the weight of his past. Even after Yakumo had left, Ishii hadn't been able to leave the shrine.He leant against the tree of deceit and held his head.'Glasses monkey.'He heard a voice from nowhere in particular.When Ishii lifted his head, he saw Mochizuki in front of him.His white shirt was dyed red. But still, he was smiling in a carefree manner.'Mochizuki'It felt like the name was strangled out of Ishii's throat.Had Mochizuki's spirit appeared in front of him, or was it an illusion from his heart? Ishii couldn't decide.'Add a -san to that. You're acting cheeky for a glasses monkey.''I''What? Can't hear you.''I-I'm not a glasses monkey I'm Detective Ishii Yuutarou''Don't make me laugh. You can't even do anything on your own.''T-that's not''What's not true? You're still terrified of me, right? Freaking out on your own and curling up in a corner.'It was just as Mochizuki said.He was a coward who couldn't do anything on his own. There was no way that this would make it possible for him to face the incident. Ishii lost his strength, sat on the ground and held his head.It was so quiet it was uncanny. I want to disappear.Ishii had that wish. If he disappeared, he would be able to escape from this unpleasantness.'Ishii-san.'Amid Ishii's confusion, he heard a voice.He looked up and saw Makoto standing there, panting.'Makoto-san Why are you' said Ishii in surprise.Makoto smiled.'I heard from Yakumo-kun that you were here.''Yakumo-shi told you that?'Why did Yakumo tell Makoto where Ishii was? And why did Makoto come here?Ishii couldn't find the answers to those questions.'I heard most of the story from Yakumo-kun,' said Makoto. She lowered her long eyelashes, seeming sorrowful.'I see''Ishii-san, you suffered a lot as well.'Eh?''I said this before, right? That I was bullied.'Makoto shrugged.Come to think of it, they had talked about that in the cafe.'I'm envious of you, Makoto-san,' said Ishii without thinking.'Envious?''Yes.''Why?''Even though something so painful happened in the past, you managed to overcome that. Whereas I'Ishii's memories swung him about he still lived while dragging his past behind him.If he could cut them away, it would probably be easier, but he just couldn't do it.'Ishii-san, you're too kind,' said Makoto with a smile. Ishii couldn't accept them honestly.'I'm not kind. I'm just a coward.''It's the same thing.''It isn't.'To Ishii, Makoto's words sounded like mere consolation.Kindness and cowardice were falsely similar. He didn't have any kindness.As proof of that, he had lived with strong hatred this whole time. If he were a kind person, he would probably have forgiven them with no hatred.'It's the same thing. Ishii-san, it's because you're too kind that you can't blame anybody. That's why you blame yourself.''That isn't it. I just didn't say it aloud. I blamed Mochizuki. I hated him. I even wanted to kill him.''But you didn't kill him.'In contrast to Ishii's agitation, Makoto was calm.'No I might have killed him.''Eh?''On that day ten years ago, I pushed Yukari-san down the stone steps in my hatred!' yelled Ishii. His heart his body it felt like they were breaking into pieces.He felt that he was vile and filthy.Yet Makoto still smiled at him.It made Ishii feel perplexed.'Ishii-san, you didn't push her down the stone steps.''How can you know that?Makoto hadn't been there. There was no way for her to know.'I know. Ishii-san, you couldn't kill anybody.''But I hated her.''Everyone feels hatred, but there's a line between those who act on it and those who don't.''A line''Yes. Ishii-san, you aren't somebody who could cross that line.''But I can still feel it in my hands'Ishii looked at his hands.'Is that the truth?'Makoto gripped Ishii's hands, enveloping them.Her hands were a bit cold, but Ishii felt the bottom of his heart grow warm.'Urgh''Didn't you just tell yourself that?''Just tell myself''That's what Yakumo-kun said too.''Yakumo-shi did?''Yes. He said that you blamed yourself so much that you even deluded yourself into thinking that you killed Yukari-san ten years ago''B-but''In order to solve the curse of the past, you have to face the incident. So Let's stand.'Ishii stood up, led by Makoto. I can't run. No. I'll stop running.In Ishii's chest, something like determination welled up within.-8-'Where are you planning on going?'As Gotou drove the car, Matsuda called out from the backseat.Matsuda had been acting tough ever since his arrest, but it looked like even he was troubled.'The shrine where the incident occurred,' replied Gotou curtly.'The shrine?''Yeah.''What are you planning on doing?'Gotou didn't have the answer to that.He'd brought Matsuda out on the pretext of inspecting the scene, but it was actually on Yakumo's request. He hadn't heard the details, but 'To end the case.'That was what Yakumo had said.All he could do now was believe in Yakumo's words.'To end the case?''Yeah.''The case is already over. I killed Mochizuki. Nothing more, nothing less.'Matsuda's wide open eyes seemed to be filled with a strong well. Ah, these eyes.Gotou understood the true nature of the unease he'd felt from Matsuda.Matsuda had testified to assaulting and stabbing Mochizuki for his money.However, when Gotou looked at Matsuda's straight eyes, it seemed incredibly haphazard. Matsuda didn't seem like somebody who would kill someone.That was why Gotou was troubled and irritated.'The case isn't over yet.''It's over.''You can say that, but the case isn't over 'til I say it is.''You're persistent.'Matsuda looked in exasperation at the car's low ceiling.'For a detective, being persistent is praise.''Detectives, eh You don't look like a detective to me.''What do I look like?''Who knows. I wonder'After saying that, Matsuda bit his lip.Then, he shut his mouth and sat still, like he had become a stone statue.Gotou focussed on driving.He would stop thinking for now. Yakumo would lead him to the truth soon.After a while, the car reached the stone steps at the bottom of the shrine.They would walk now.Gotou got out of the driver's seat, opened the back door and told Matsuda to get out.Matsuda sighed and got out of the backseat.'We're going.'Gotou urged Matsuda to climb the stone steps.For just a moment, Matsuda looked up at the sky. He narrowed his eyes, like he thought the sun was bright. His expression looked sad to Gotou.Gotou climbed the stone steps with Matsuda.His footsteps were heavy, but Gotou continued climbing, believing that the truth was ahead.'Gotou-san, you're late.'Gotou heard a voice as he arrived at the shrine.He saw Yakumo standing in front of the tree of deceit.His eyes were sleepy as usual as he ran a hand through his messy hair.'Shut up. I had a lot to prepare too.''It takes you this much time to prepare because of your inefficiency.''I don't need to hear that from you!''I can hear you even if you don't speak that loudly.'Yakumo stuck his fingers in his ears to complain about the noise.Yakumo always did this, but Gotou was still annoyed by the brat.'Who's that?'Matsuda looked openly suspicious. How should I explain?Ignoring Gotou's wavering, Yakumo walked straight towards Matsuda.'You're Matsuda-san, yes? It's nice to meet you. My name is Saitou Yakumo.'Yakumo greeted Matsuda politely.'You a detective too?' asked Matsuda, seeming confused.Yakumo smiled innocently in response.'No, I'm not a detective. I'm just a student,' Yakumo said nonchalantly.'S-student?'Matsuda looked even more confused.'Yes.''What is this?'Matsuda looked at Gotou for an explanation. I'm screwed.While Gotou was trying to think of an excuse, he spotted somebody climbing the stone steps.It was Ishii and Yuuko.When Matsuda saw Yuuko, his expression hardened at once.On the other hand, Yuuko's eyes went so wide that Gotou thought they might fall out. Her hands flew to her mouth in shock.'W-why is that person here?' Yuuko asked Ishii.'Ah, no, that's Er'Ishii faltered, unable to explain properly.'I gathered you here,' said Yakumo in a clear voice.'That person is the criminal who killed Toshiki-san.'Yuuko turned her anger towards Yakumo.'I know.'Yakumo was calm.'Then why are you doing this?''Of course, it is to end the case.''The case is over. What are you saying now?' interrupted Matsuda.In response, the corners of Yakumo's lips turned up in a carefree smirk.'It isn't over. Matsuda-san, you know that too, don't you?''W-what?''We are going to end the case now.'After saying that, Yakumo took the black contact lens out of his left eye and lifted his head.'Y-your eye's red.' said Matsuda in a shaking voice, when the deep red left eye turned towards him.It wasn't just Matsuda who was surprised. Though Yuuko didn't say anything aloud, her hands were at her mouth and her eyes were wide open.'Don't fuss,' said Gotou, cutting Matsuda down. He looked at Yakumo.Whether he was used to this reaction or suppression his emotions, Yakumo's expression was the same as always.'My left eye isn't just red,' said Yakumo in a flat voice.'W-what?'Matsuda frowned.'My left eye can see the spirits of the dead that is, ghosts.''Eh?' said Yuuko in surprise.'Idiotic. Ghosts? You planning on putting on an exorcism here or something?' said Matsuda scornfully.'Shut up for a bit,' said Gotou.'It looks like he is here too now,' said Yakumo after a silence, turning towards the tree of deceit.'He?'Yuuko cocked her head.'Mochizuki Toshiki-san.''Eh? But he's''I said this earlier. I can see the spirits of the dead.''Is T-Toshiki-san really here?' said Yuuko pleadingly.'Yes.''Where? Toshiki-san, where are you?'Yuuko seemed to believe Yakumo. She looked around frantically for her dead lover as she called out.It hurt to watch her.'Please calm down.'Ishii couldn't bear it and soothed Yuuko.Gotou looked at Matsuda. His brow was wrinkled he looked troubled.He was probably confused by the unexpected development.'Now, everyone is here.'Yakumo slowly looked at everyone.'What are you going to do?'Matsuda glared at Yakumo. Yakumo wasn't a guy who'd be frightened by something of that level. He looked at Matsuda expressionlessly.'Please don't make me keep saying this. I'm going to end the case.''I said that the case is over.''Then there's nothing to be frightened of. Please look there.''W-what?''Did you not hear me? I said you can just look there.'They looked at each other, their gazes letting off sparks.After a while, Matsuda was the first to look away.Yakumo nodded in satisfaction.-9-'So how are you planning on ending it?' Gotou asked Yakumo once everything had calmed down.At this stage, Gotou couldn't see how they could get out of this mess.'There is something that needs to be made clear first.'Yakumo held up his index finger.'What?' asked Gotou, leaning forward.Yakumo probably already knew the truth behind the case.'Is it the person who's lying?' interrupted Ishii, sounding agitated.'Nobody's lying. The case is already over.'Matsuda kicked the ground in his irritation.That moment, Yakumo glared at Matsuda. Even Gotou found the glare scary enough to make a chill run down his spine.'It appears it really would be better to start with you.'Yakumo turned to face Matsuda.'What are you saying?''It's because you change your testimony that things are such a mess.''I haven't changed my testimony,' denied Matsuda, but for some reason, there was no power to his words.'What did Matsuda-san say to Yuuko-san when he was arrested?'Yakumo looked at Gotou.Gotou was able to remember the answer immediately.'You planning to betray me'Matsuda had said that.Those words meant that Yuuko and Matsuda had been working together, but after that, Matsuda had claimed that he had worked alone.That inconsistency had been one of the problems troubling Gotou.'That's wrong. I just said that to but the blame on that woman.'Matsuda shook his head.'That's a lie,' declared Yakumo.'What do you know? Don't just say whatever you want.'Matsuda tried to grab at Yakumo.Gotou stopped him immediately and pulled him away from Yakumo.Don't make a fuss Yakumo, what are you talking about?''What Matsuda said when he was arrested is correct.''I said that it's wrong!'Matsuda tried to leap at Yakumo again.Gotou blocked Matsuda's foot and pushed him to the ground.It was a forceful method, but if Gotou didn't do this, they wouldn't get anywhere.'So Matsuda and Yuuko were working together to kill Mochizuki?''That's wrong! There's no way I could do that!' screamed Yuuko with a frantic expression.She pushed away Ishii, who was trying to hold her back, and clung to Gotou.'Why do I have to kill the person I love? Please believe me already! I didn't do anything!'Gotou felt divided as he saw the tears roll down Yuuko's face.He didn't think Yuuko was lying.'Oi, Yakumo'Gotou looked at Yakumo.After a sigh, Yakumo placed a hand on Yuuko's shoulders.'I know. You didn't request for Mochizuki-san's death,' said Yakumo.Gotou couldn't believe his ears.'What do you mean?'Gotou pressed Yakumo for an answer.Yakumo had said earlier that Matsuda and Yuuko were working together, but now he had said something completely different to Yuuko.'Right now, we need to make Matsuda's motive clear before dealing with her,' Yakumo said firmly. Then, he looked at Ishii.After receiving that signal, Ishii took the crying Yuuko a little ways away.'Matsuda-san, you stabbed Mochizuki-san because somebody requested that you do so.''I don't know what you're talking about,' said Matsuda, getting up.His tight fists were shaking.'There's no point playing dumb. You received a request. Then, you consented to it.''I said, I don't know what you're talking about!'Matsuda's voice was wild.'In the end, he killed Mochizuki for money?' asked Gotou.'Mochizuki-san didn't receive money for the murder,' Yakumo said flatly.'It wasn't money?''It wasn't.''Then what was it?''His daughter's life.'Yakumo's words hit Gotou like a strong impact.It seemed like it was the same for Matsuda. He stared, dumbfounded, at Yakumo.'H-his daughter was a hostage?''That isn't exactly it, but the situation was something like that.''Explain it in a way I can understand,' said Gotou, irritated.'Matsuda-san's daughter is in hospital for leukaemia.''Yeah.''The culprit said this to approach Matsuda-san: I am a compatible donor for your daughter.''What!?'Though Gotou was shocked, he understood.In short, the culprit requested that Matsuda kill Mochizuki for a bone marrow transfusion.Just as Yakumo said, that was the same as holding Matsuda's daughter hostage. If he refused, there would be no transfusion and his daughter might die.'No! You're just making this up!' yelled Matsuda, curling up as he did so.'It's natural for you to deny it. If the person who made the request is arrested, there will be no transfusion. You had to say that you worked alone no matter what happened for your daughter's sake.'Yakumo's quiet words made Matsuda turn pale.That response was enough.Yakumo was probably correct. Matsuda had killed Mochizuki for his daughter's bone marrow transfusion. But 'When he was arrested, he said, You planning to betray me? Why?''Why do you think the crime occurred in front of Yuuko-san in the first place?''That's''In order to make her the witness and leave Matsuda-san out of the investigation.' That's how it was?If Yuuko was the witness and gave an appropriate testimony, she could leave Matsuda out of the investigation.'But Yuuko said that he was the culprit''Correct. Matsuda-san thought that he had been betrayed and ended up saying, You planning to betray me?''But if Yuuko was arrested as an accomplice, there'd be no transfusion, so he testified that he'd worked alone,' said Gotou in one breath.Yakumo nodded.A number of mysteries now made sense.'Don't just say whatever you want!' yelled Matsuda, his face bright red.'Don't get so worked up!'Gotou glared at Matsuda, but Matsuda still didn't calm down.'That woman's got nothing to do with it! I did everything on my own!''You''Please Just say I did it myself.'Matsuda grabbed Gotou's shoulders and pleaded with tears in his eyes.'Unfortunately, it's pointless no matter how much you flounder,' said Yakumo, running a hand through his messy bedhead.'W-what?''Your daughter's bone marrow transfusion will not take place.''W-what are you talking about?''You were tricked. She probably isn't a compatible donor.'Matsuda's eyes went wide when he heard Yakumo's words.Finally, he looked at Yuuko. She was shaking in fear by Ishii.'I was tricked?' said Matsuda, like he was talking to himself.'Yes.''That's a lie. I saw the compatibility chart. She should be able to be my daughter's donor.''The document was faked.'Matsuda's expression hardened.'Then what's going to happen to my daughter?'That question made Yakumo grow silent and look away.Matsuda fell to his knees.He covered his face with his hands. It looked like he was crying.This man had been trying to protect his daughter. He had even killed somebody to do it. That didn't make it forgivable, but Gotou understood why he'd done it.'Matsuda'Gotou put a hand on Matsuda's shoulder, but Matsuda pushed it away and stood up.'Can't believe you tricked me' growled Matsuda. He looked at Yuuko with a killing intent. This is bad.Just as Gotou thought that, Matsuda flew at Yuuko.'Stop!' yelled Gotou, running after him.'Wait. Please calm down!'Ishii stood in front of Matsuda as a shield for Yuuko, but Matsuda pushed him away immediately.'You kidding me!? What did I do this for!? I'll never forgive you!'Matsuda grabbed Yuuko's hair.'Aahh!'As Yuuko screamed, she flailed about to try to escape Matsuda.Matsuda lifted his fist.Words wouldn't be able to stop him. Gotou kicked Matsuda with all his strength.After taking that surprise attack, Matsuda let go of Yuuko and fell to the ground on his side. He still got up again and tried to attack Yuuko.'That's misguided resentment! You idiot!'Gotou grabbed Matsuda by the collar and pushed him to the ground again.Even though he was covered in dirt, Matsuda still got up to glare at Gotou. He looked like a demon.'What do you understand!? My daughter's going to die! My daughter!' shouted Matsuda in tears.It was true that Gotou could empathise with Matsuda, but Gotou couldn't forgive him.'No matter what the reason, you can't take anybody's life!'That was Gotou's belief as a detective no, as a human being.'Those are just pretty words! A parent would do anything for their daughter!''Still''I promised. To save my daughter no matter what so'Matsuda dug his fingernails into the ground.He was probably trying to bear with a pain that felt like it would cut through him. But 'The person who died felt the same sadness as you,' said Gotou as he looked down at Matsuda.'Like I care about the other guy! I don't care about anything else if I can save my daughter.''It's because you're like that that you were so easily tricked!'Gotou grabbed Matsuda's collar and forced him to stand up.'I''You have to know that too, right?' said Gotou, his voice taking an about turn as he spoke kindly.Matsuda's shoulders slumped as he looked down.He wants to save his daughter Gotou understood that. But he couldn't sacrifice another life for that.Matsuda had to know that too.But people were weak. That was why they got caught up in the current.'Matsuda-san, please tell the truth.'After a while, Yakumo walked forward.Matsuda wiped his tears with his hand and slowly looked up.'I met that woman one week ago'Matsuda looked at Yuuko.'I-I don't know what you're talking about.'Yuuko shook her head to deny it, but Matsuda continued talking despite that.'She said that if I killed the man named Mochizuki Toshiki, she would be my daughter's bone marrow donor.''So you went to the shrine that day,' said Yakumo.'Yeah. Just like that woman told me to, I hid behind that tree.'Matsuda pointed at the tree of deceit.'You're lying! That's a lie!'Yuuko's hair flew about as she wailed.Ishii held her back with all his might.'Shut up! You planning on running away now?''I don't know what I don't know.''I'm listening to what Matsuda-san has to say right now. Please be quiet.'Yakumo interrupted their conversation.Maybe she was afraid of being looked at by that red left eye, as Yuuko shut her mouth, her face twitching.After things had calmed down, Yakumo urged Matsuda to continue. 'What happened after that?''I did as I said and turned the knife towards Mochizuki, who was with that woman.''And then you stabbed him?' asked Gotou.Matsuda shook his head.'That woman got in the way.''Got in the way?''Even though she was the one who told me to kill him, when I pointed the knife at him, she tried to stop me. The man named Mochizuki fought back too I was frantic. It became a scuffle, and before I knew it, the man named Mochizuki was on the ground, clutching his stomach'Matsuda was probably remembering the event. He was shaking as he looked at his hands.Matsuda hadn't stabbed somebody because he wanted to.He had probably lost himself.'What happened after that?' pressed Yakumo, his eyes narrowed.'I ran away That woman was supposed to contact me after, but I didn't hear from her.''So you went back to the scene to see what was happening.'Matsuda nodded.Gotou knew the rest.'Why Why are you making something like this up?'Yuuko was the one who spoke.Her teary eyes were filled with anger.'Trying to get away alone? What a cowardly woman you are,' said Matsuda disparagingly, but Yuuko didn't back down.'I really don't know! Stop saying whatever you want!''Calm down!' yelled Gotou, stopping the two of them.The new testimony from Matsuda sounded convincing and made sense. At the same time, Yuuko didn't look like she was lying.'Who's correct?' Gotou asked Yakumo.Yakumo ran a hand through his messy hair and smiled bitterly.'There are no lies in Matsuda-san's testimony.''Then''At the same time, Yuuko-san's testimony is also true.'Gotou was at a loss for words -10-'W-what do you mean?'Ishii couldn't believe his ears.'I mean exactly what I said. Neither Matsuda-san nor Yuuko-san has lied.'In contrast to Ishii's confusion, Yakumo was calm. However 'T-that's impossible.'Matsuda testified that Yuuko requested that he kill her fianc, but Yuuko, on the other hand, said that she didn't know Matsuda.Their two views were opposites. They couldn't both be true.'No, it holds true.''It's impossible,' said Ishii in an unusually strong tone.No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't solve that contradiction.'Right!? That makes no sense!' agreed Gotou, approaching Yakumo.However, Yakumo still didn't budge. His red left eye probably saw a truth that Ishii and Gotou didn't know 'She was possessed.'Yakumo's words struck Ishii's chest.'Possessed''In short, Yuuko-san was possessed by the ghost of her older sister, Yukari-san.'Yakumo pointed at Yuuko. Ah, so that's how it was?Ishii finally understood. If that was true, it would make sense for the testimonies to contradict.'W-what do you mean?' said Gotou, sounding like he didn't understand.'Something similar happened before, didn't it?''You mean with Hijikata''Yes. In this case, Yukari-san's spirit has been controlling Yuuko-san. In short, the two sometimes switch places.'Yakumo looked at Yuuko.'My sister?'Yuuko's eyes went wide in surprise.'Yes.'Yakumo nodded.Nobody spoke. It was like time had stopped.'But is that really true?' asked Gotou.'That is all I can think of,' Yakumo replied calmly.'But Yukari died ten years ago,' said Gotou, wiping the sweat off his forehead.'The amount of time doesn't matter. Spirits will continue to wander as long as they have unfinished business.'Ishii felt a chill run down his spine.Yukari's hatred it was probably towards the person who killed her.'I'Interrupting Ishii, Yakumo continued his explanation.'Yukari-san had a strong hatred. She was pushed down the stairs to her death.''Urgh'Yuuko ground her back teeth together uncomfortably.'In order to clear that hatred, Yukari-san possessed her sister, Yuuko-san.''My sister possessed me'Yuuko's eyes were wide as she put her hand to her chest.'Yes. Yuuko-san, Yukari-san's spirit sometimes switches with yours.''That's that's impossible! I'm me!' pleaded Yuuko, leaning forward.'When she switches over, it's like you're sleeping. You aren't conscious of it.''I see. So that's why the people at the hospital have said she's been acting strange'Gotou clapped his hands together.'Probably.'Yakumo nodded.'T-then who met Matsuda-san?' asked Ishii, wiping the sweat off his forehead.'She looked like Yuuko-san. However, I believe Yukari-san was inside her.''W-what!?'Gotou's body bent back in shock.'I-in short, the person who requested Mochizuki's death was not Yuuko-san, but Yukari-san's ghost, who was possessing her' said Ishii in a shaking voice.'Exactly. That is why Yuuko-san didn't know Matsuda-san.'Yakumo smirked.If Yakumo was right, both their contradictory testimonies would be true at the same time.However, there was still something Ishii didn't understand.'Why did Yukari-san try to kill Mochizuki?' asked Ishii.Yakumo slowly moved to the stone steps and looked down.'Somebody pushed Yukari-san down these steps to her death ten years ago.'Yakumo's tone was indifferent.Ishii felt like he was being accused.He might have been the one who pushed her.'I'Yakumo looked up to interrupt Ishii.His red left eye seemed sad for some reason.'Yukari-san thought that the person who killed her was Mochizuki-san, her lover at that time.''But that' Might have been me.Ishii thought about saying it, but Yakumo shook his head.'Yukari-san thought it was Mochizuki-san.''That's wrong!' shouted Yuuko, her hands in fists.'Please be quiet for a bet.'Yakumo looked at Yuuko.Yuuko gulped loudly under that pressure and shut her mouth.After a deep breath, Yakumo continued his explanation.'Currently, that fact doesn't matter. The important thing is what Yukari-san thought.'Yakumo paused before continuing.'Yukari-san knew that the man who killed her was going to marry her younger sister. From her perspective, it was completely unforgiveable. Yukari-san's hatred grew stronger. In the short time that she took over Yuuko-san's body, she approached Matsuda-san and planned to kill Mochizuki-san.'After finishing his explanation, Yakumo ran a hand through his hair.'So I was tricked by a ghost' said Matsuda in shock.'In short, this incident was planned by the dead Yukari and executed by Matsuda right?' said Gotou, wrapping things up.'That's a bit incorrect.'Yakumo immediately rejected Gotou's opinion.'W-what's incorrect about it?' asked Ishii, confused.Yakumo slowly walked up to the tree of deceit.'Have you forgotten? There is one more testimony.''One more?'Gotou furrowed his brow.Ishii felt the same way. They should have had all the testimonies now.'Whose testimony?' Ishii asked Yakumo hesitantly.Yakumo left a tantalising pause before slowly turning around.'The testimony of the victim, Mochizuki Toshiki.'-11-'I see!'Ishii spoke up without thinking.Yakumo looked at the shrine. Ishii couldn't see anything but the shrine, but it was different for Yakumo's red left eye.The murdered Mochizuki was probably there.Yakumo slowly walked up to the shrine.'Matsuda-san assaulted Mochizuki-san when he was with Yuuko-san at the shrine. Then, the two had a scuffle correct?'Yakumo stopped, turned around and looked at Matsuda.'Yeah,' Matsuda said firmly, as if he was already resigned.'Matsuda-san, you stabbed Mochizuki-san with a knife then. That is correct as well, yes?''Yeah,' replied Matsuda.'Matsuda-san, do you remember where you stabbed Mochizuki-san then?'Matsuda's brow furrowed in confusion at Yakumo's question.'Stomach I think'It was an unreliable reply, unlike his earlier ones.'Did you stab him just once? Or was it twice?''Urgh''Perhaps you don't remember how many times you stabbed Mochizuki-san because you had lost track of yourself?''What do you mean?'Gotou went right up to Yakumo.'I'll explain now, so please don't speak so loudly.'Yakumo put his fingers in his ears to complain.'Please tell us. What on earth happened?' asked Ishii, unable to stay silent.According to what was said so far, Matsuda hadn't stabbed Mochizuki's chest. Then who did?'Ishii-san, Mochizuki-san has two stab wounds, yes? In his chest and his stomach.''Yes.''Which was the lethal wound?''The chest,' Ishii replied immediately.Though Mochizuki had a stomach injury too, it had been shallow it wasn't the direct cause of his death.'In short, after Matsuda-san left, Mochizuki-san was still alive.''W-what!?' Gotou shouted again.'I said, please don't speak so loudly.''Shut up! Stop putting on airs and tell us already!'In his agitation, Gotou grabbed Yakumo by the collar.'D-Detective Gotou.'Ishii tried to console the agitated Gotou and stepped between them.Yakumo sighed in exasperation before starting his explanation.'After being stabbed in the stomach, Mochizuki-san fainted, but he woke up after a while,' said Yakumo. Then, he looked at Yuuko.Yuuko shook like a small animal.'What happened after?' Gotou urged.'When Mochizuki-san woke up, he saw Yuuko-san in front of him. He pleaded for her help, but she didn't.''Because she was Yukari-san' said Ishii after gulping.Yakumo nodded.From Mochizuki's perspective, she looked like Yuuko, but inside her had been the ghost of Yukari, who had died ten years ago.'Yukari-san took up the knife that Matsuda-san tossed aside'Yakumo's eyes narrowed and he shut his mouth.Ishii understood what was next even without Yakumo's saying it.The knife was stabbed into Mochizuki's chest That was why he had an injury in his chest and his stomach, and why Yuuko's fingerprints had been on the knife.'I-I didn't kill him?' said Matsuda in a hoarse voice, looking at his hands.'I' said Yuuko, her voice trembling.'You must have had an inkling that your sister's ghost had possessed you,' Yakumo said quietly.'I thought it was a dream''A dream?'Ishii stared at Yuuko.'The day Toshiki-san was stabbed My sister appeared in front of me and said to kill him but I thought it was all a dream'Tears fell from Yuuko's eyes.'It wasn't a dream,' declared Yakumo.'Eh?''Yukari-san is currently possessing another woman.''Another''Yes. She is still filled with hatred, trying to kill someone.''I''Who could Yukari-san be trying to kill, when she has already taken her revenge?''I don't know.'Yuuko shook her head forcefully.'Do you really not know?''W-what are you talking about?''The person who pushed your sister off the stone steps was ''Stop!''You, wasn't it?''No!'Yuuko's scream drowned out Yakumo's voice.After a silence, Yakumo said, 'So you're still going to deny it. Then I'll ask the person herself.' The person herself?What did he mean?In response to Ishii's question, a woman appeared from the tree of deceit's shadow -12-'Eeek!' shrieked Ishii, leaping up when he saw a woman suddenly appear from the shadow of the tree of deceit.The woman wore a blazer school uniform. The one from the school Ishii had gone to.Her hair hung in front of her face, so he couldn't see it clearly.However, that was 'Kosaka Yukari-san' said Ishii.Yuuko was shocked.'It was you I'll kill you' the woman moaned, approaching Yuuko with the movements of a zombie.'N-no' said Yuuko, her voice trembling as she backed away.The woman continued to walk towards Yuuko.Even though the situation was so strange, Yakumo just watched silently.'It was you You killed me You pushed me down the stairs and killed me'The woman's cry echoed through the shrine.Yuuko collapsed to the floor, perhaps in fear.She took deep breaths as she sobbed. At this rateIshii tried to go help Yuuko, but he was so afraid that his knees buckled. He couldn't move.The woman's hand reached out towards Yuuko's neck.'Stop!'Gotou was the one who yelled.He rammed his body into the woman.'Aah!' shrieked the woman as she fell.At this stage, Ishii also noticed something strange.A ghost without a body couldn't be rammed into.'Honestly, that hurts.'The woman spoke in a clear voice, completely different than it had been before, and stood up, taking off her wig.Ishii had seen that face before.'H-Haruka-chan!''Why is it you, Haruka-chan?' said Gotou in surprise.Haruka rubbed her knee and glared at Yakumo.'Why didn't you explain beforehand?''I forgot.'In contrast to Haruka's anger, Yakumo just replied with a yawn.It looked like Yakumo had used Haruka to put on a good show.'Honestly. Yoou're the worst.''Don't say that. It worked wonders.'Yakumo responded to Haruka's complaint with a smile.What worked wonders Ishii glanced at Yuuko, who was kneeling on the floor while moaning.'Why!? Why!?' screamed Yuuko.Her eyes were wide open, showing her teeth. She looked just like a demon.'A-are you all right'Ishii tried to approach her, but Yuuko stood up and pushed his hands away.'I'm not at fault! My sister is!'It looked like Yuuko had completely lost herself.'Oi.'Gotou grabbed her arm, but Yuuko flung it aside.'She always acted like a good girl, but she hit me when nobody was looking! She rolled around with laughter when she saw me in pain! Do you know how I felt?' I see. This person alsoIshii felt like he had been stabbed in the chest.'Yuuko-san''Do you know how happy I was that you died? Why are you still getting in my way when you're dead!?' screamed Yuuko while crying.Yuuko had probably been bullied by her older sister, Yukari, every day.From the bully's perspective, it might have just been an extension of a joke, but from the bullied person's perspective, it was the same as torture.Ishii understood how painful those days were And the bully was a relative. She couldn't escape it would have been an eternal hell.'It's all right now. Please calm down.'Ishii called out frantically, but Yuuko's eruption of emotions still didn't stop.'I'll kill you again!' yelled Yuuko as she tried to assault Haruka.Ishii frantically held Yuuko down.'Let go!'Yuuko twisted her body about, but Ishii still didn't let go of Yuuko.Soon, Yuuko became exhausted and collapsed to her knees.'What is this?' asked Gotou, looking suspicious.'Exactly what it looks like,' Yakumo replied curtly.'I don't get it.''Yuuko-san was bullied at home by her older sister, Yukari-san. Yuuko-san's hatred built up and she pushed Yukari-san down the shrine's steps that day ten years ago,' said Yakumo in one breath. Then, he took a long sigh.'W-what?''Yukari-san thought that Mochizuki-san had killed her, but after possessing Yuuko-san and killing Mochizuki-san, she realised the truth. That the one who killed her was her sister.''Wha!?''Then, she decided to kill Yuuko-san this time.''So that's why she possessed Mai,' said Haruka, continuing Yakumo's explanation.'Correct. In order to kill Yuuko-san, she had to be in somebody else's body, so she possessed your friend, who just happened to be nearby.'After finishing his explanation, Yakumo slowly walked up to Yuuko.Yuuko looked up, her face covered with tears.'You actually regret it, don't you? What happened to your sister.'Yakumo's voice seemed filled with warmth and kindness.'I don't regret''You envied your sister, but at the same time, you looked up to her.''That's a lie!''It isn't a lie. Did you two sisters always not get along?'Yuuko shook her head.'She was a really nice sister but''When did she start bullying you?''I don't really remember''Wasn't it about a year before she passed away?'Yuuko looked up in surprise.'''The reason she started bullying you was Mochizuki-san.''Why him''When Mochizuki-san went to Yukari-san's house, he saw you and fell in love.''That's I''That was the cause of Yukari-san and Mochizuki-san's conversation about splitting up.''But''Yukari-san felt like Mochizuki-san had been stolen away from her and started to bully you. That wasn't all she thought up a plan to keep him.''I see. So the story about the pregnancy was Yukari-san's lie,' said Ishii in understanding.Ishii had thought that Yukari was pregnant because of the rumour at school and the money in the envelope, but the autopsy hadn't found any signs of it.Yukari had lied to keep Mochizuki, but he hadn't shown up.That was why she had been so furious.'Yes,' said Yakumo with a nod. Then, he turned towards Yuuko again.'Yukari-san really loved you, but that just made her want you to take her lover even less. I think there was also a feeling of weakness of being completely incapable of winning.'Yakumo placed a hand on Yuuko's shoulder.'Sis I'm sorry' said Yuuko, sounding pained, and she fell down in tears again.It was so sad. Even though sisters should have had a different path, why did these two end up this way?All Ishii could do was watch silently.'Ishii-san.'Yakumo looked straight at Ishii.'Y-yes.'Ishii accepted that gaze stiffly.'It's your turn next.''My'Ishii gulped.'Yes.'Yakumo's sharp eyes looked at him.'I don't'Interrupting Ishii's words, Yakumo shook his head.'You understand now, yes? Ishii-san, you didn't push Yukari-san down the stairs ten years ago,' said Yakumo firmly. Then, he smiled gently.It was clear from Yakumo's mystery solving that Yuuko was the one who pushed Yukari's back.However, there was still a blurry shadow within Ishii.'Is that really true? I still feel like I pushed her back with these hands'Ishii looked at his hands.'It's a hallucination,' Yakumo said with determination.If Yakumo said that, it might be true, but 'Even if I wasn't the one who acted on it, for that moment, I did want to kill her. It's the same offence,' said Ishii all at once.His breath was ragged, like he had been running at full speed.Yakumo smiled upon seeing that.'Ishii-san, you're too serious.''I''Everybody feels hatred.''But''And it's different now, isn't it?'Yakumo placed a hand on Ishii's shoulder.That moment, Ishii felt like all his tension crumble away.'I hated Mochizuki Toshiki and Kosaka Yukari. I was so frightened I couldn't do anything. Why did they treat me this why I thought countless times about killing them'Ishii gripped his fists tightly. He knew himself that his blood had rushed to his head, making his face red.'Ishii-san,' said Yakumo in a hoarse voice.'I still hate them now!' Ishii yelled towards the sky.Everything was quiet.How long was he there? Before he noticed, Mochizuki was standing in front of him.He didn't know if it was an illusion or his actual spirit, but Ishii still looked straight at Mochizuki.Strangely, he didn't feel any fear'I'm not a glasses monkey. I'm Detective Ishii Yuutarou,' declared Ishii.Mochizuki Toshiki's expression twisted.'So high and mighty. You''I realised this after becoming a detective! Hatred produces nothing! So!'Ishii interrupted Mochizuki.The Mochizuki Toshiki standing in front of him disappeared, like he had melted into the air.The moment he disappeared, Ishii felt like he had been smiling slightly.-13- It's finally over.Gotou sighed in relief.'I'll leave the clean-up to you then,' declared Yakumo. Then, he walked down the stone steps briskly.'W-wait a second.'Haruka hurried after him.'Man, he just does whatever he want,' muttered Gotou, though on the inside, he was grateful.Without Yakumo, they probably wouldn't have been able to solve the case, but Gotou couldn't feel relaxed.He always had to do this, but he needed to deal with the case while leaving out the spiritual phenomena. It hurt his head just thinking about it.'Detective, can I be forgiven with this?' asked Matsuda, interrupting Gotou's thoughts.That caused Gotou's anger to swell up all at once.'Idiot! Like you could be forgiven!'Matsuda gulped, seeming surprised by Gotou's yell.'Even if he didn't die because of you, it was still attempted murder!'Matsuda wasn't the one who killed Mochizuki, but he had still tried to cross a line that could never be crossed.Gotou felt bad about Matsuda's daughter, but no matter the reason, you couldn't take someone's life.'What should I have done'Matsuda looked at Gotou pleadingly.'Think about that yourself,' replied Gotou.Matsuda smiled bitterly.'How cold''Like I'd be kind to you. You chose the wrong path. No matter how you try to excuse yourself, that can't be forgiven.''Yeah'Matsuda's shoulders slumped as he looked down, maybe because he finally realised how heavy his crime was.'But if you chose the wrong path, you can just correct it.'Matsuda looked up.'How do I correct it?''Like I know.''How irresponsible.''Shut your mouth. If you don't know, look for it. I'll go with you,' Gotou said forcefully.It wasn't consolation it was how Gotou really felt.Catching the criminal didn't solve the case. Clearing away the darkness that the victims and the perpetrators carried was what ended the case.In that meaning, cases that occurred once could go on forever.But still 'I did something unbelievable'Matsuda fell to the floor and started sobbing.He had realised late, but it wasn't too late. He could still fix things now.'Get up.'Gotou stuck his hand out towards Matsuda.Gotou lifted his tearstained face.'Walk with your own feet. For your daughter's sake too.'Matsuda wiped his tears with his hands and stood up.'I'll go back with Matsuda,' Gotou told Ishii, who was with the crying Yuuko.'Eh, but''It's fine. I'll call help,' said Gotou. Then, he walked away with Matsuda.He went down the steps and sat Matsuda in the back of the unmarked police car. Then, he started the engine.He drove.Matsuda looked out the window absentmindedly.Gotou felt like he understood why Yukari had chosen this man.Matsuda had been prepared to even throw away his own life, if it was for his daughter's sake. He was pure, in a sense.It was probably because Yayoi knew that that she had continued to believe in Matsuda.-14-'Wait a second!'Haruka finally caught up to Yakumo after climbing down the shrine's stone steps.'Don't dawdle.'Yakumo yawned as he continued to walk.'Where are you going?''To do the final touches,' replied Yakumo like it was a matter of fact, but Haruka didn't understand.'Final touches? What do you mean?''You really are thoughtless.'It was an awful way of putting it.'I won't understand if you don't explain properly,' protested Haruka.Yakumo sighed. 'That's why you're thoughtless. Do you think the case is over?''I-it isn't?'Just as Yakumo said, Haruka had thought the case was over with the exchange at the shrine.'Our original goal was to save your friend, who's been possessed by a ghost.''Ah!' said Haruka without thinking.It made sense for Yakumo to think she was stupid. The original goal was to save Mai. In that sense, just as Yakumo said, the case wasn't over yet.'If you get it, hurry up,' said Yakumo, sounding displeased as he started walking quickly.Haruka followed him.'Hey, what's going to happen to Yuuko-san?' Haruka asked Yakumo as they went to the hospital.From the truth that Yakumo had revealed, Yuuko had been possessed by the spirit of Yukari, who had died ten years ago, and killed her lover, Mochizuki Toshiki.However, the police probably wouldn't believe in ghosts.'She'll probably be charged with murder.''That's'Haruka felt discouraged. It wasn't like she had wanted to kill her lover, Mochizuki, but she would have to be charged.The case had a somewhat unpleasant aftertaste.'It's a cold way of putting it, but she killed her own sister ten years ago. She's paying the price for that. This case happened because it was bound to,' Yakumo said disinterestedly.'But''No matter the reason, that's how taking somebody's life is.'Yakumo's words struck deep into Haruka's chest.It was just as Yakumo said. Hatred bred more hatred, and the same thing kept happening. I wonder if Ishii-san was able to clear away his hatred.That question suddenly came to Haruka. She thought about asking Yakumo, but she decided against it.Conjecture wouldn't do anything.They walked silently.She thought about a number of things, but even after reaching Mai's hospital room, Haruka hadn't organised her thoughts.'Let's go,' said Yakumo while Haruka was thinking.'OK,'Haruka took a deep breath and cleared her mind.After licking his lips, Yakumo opened the hospital room door.Mai was lying in bed.The window was open. The curtains shook in the wind.'Mai,' said Haruka.Mai slowly sat up.However, Haruka realised once seeing those eyes that it wasn't Mai. They were Yukari's eyes.Yakumo walked up to Mai.'Kosaka Yukari-san, correct?''Ooh' moaned Mai, glaring at Yakumo.Yakumo's expression didn't change.Haruka put her hands together in front of her chest, as if praying. All she could do was watch.'Your sister, Yuuko-san, confessed that she killed you ten years ago,' began Yakumo.Then, Mai's expression changed. Her eyes flew open in shock.'Killed,' said Mai in a low voice, reaching out towards Yakumo.'If you want to kill Yuuko-san no matter way, you'll have to wait for her to be released from prison.'Mai ground her teeth loudly.'Hatred breads nothing. Let's stop this already.'Yakumo placed a hand on Mai's shoulder.However, Mai shook it off immediately and stared at Yakumo with hateful eyes.'I'llkillyou'Mai's breathing was ragged.Yakumo shook his head slightly.'Yuuko-san said she regrets killing you. She said Sorry while crying.'Mai's brow furrowed in suspicion.Yakumo took a deep breath before continuing.'You regret it too, don't you? You loved your sister, Yuuko-san, didn't you?'Mai's face twisted in pain.'But you were seized with jealousy and lost sight of what was important''''This incident began with that jealousy. You should know that best yourself, correct?''Urgh''Wasn't the person you truly couldn't forgive yourself?''I was wrong' said Mai.Unlike her early beastly howls, her words were clear.'Nobody will be happy with more of this hatred. Let's put an end to this already.'Yakumo looked at Mai's face.'Sorry Tell my sister tha'Mai collapsed while speaking.'Mai.'Haruka ran up to the bed.She was breathing. It looks like she was OK for now.Haruka looked at Yakumo. He was looking outside the window with distant eyes.'How'd it go?' asked Haruka.Yakumo's shoulders relaxed.'She left.''I see.'Haruka looked out the window.For just a moment, the clouds in the sky looked like a person's face.'Haruka'There was a voice. Mai's voice.Haruka saw Mai on the bed. Her eyes were open, though they were squinting.'Mai!'Haruka heaved a sigh of relief.A lot of things had happened, but now the incident was really over