Shinrei Tantei Yakumo – ANOTHER FILES - Volume 3 - Chapter 2

ANOTHER FILES – THE TOWER OF JUDGEMENT
file 02: for whom

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1

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All Ishii could do was watch as Haruka was put into the police car and taken away.

He had never imagined that he would ever see such a sight.

‘They’re just screwing around!’ shouted Gotou beside Ishii. His voice was filled with frustration.

Ishii understood his anger as well.

Haruka would never kill someone, but Sonoda and Onodera were already calling her the perpetrator.

'Haruka-chan really…’

'Of course not!’ yelled Gotou, interrupting Ishii’s words.

Ishii’s shoulders jolted as he looked at Gotou, whose face was lit up with anger. He was probably so angry because he believed in Haruka.

'But… there’s testimony…’

That was the biggest problem.

Though the details were still unclear, according to Sonoda, a guard had seen Haruka commit the murder.

There was no way to escape that.

'The guard’s gotta be wrong! Must’ve been too dark to see properly!’

That was possible.

If they checked the testimony thoroughly, there might be a hole in it.

However – the more Ishii tried to believe, the greater the suspicion in his heart grew. That was a fact.

The reason Ishii felt that way was Haruka.

Haruka hadn’t responded at all even when Gotou and Ishii arrived. She hadn’t been unconscious or anything, but her eyes had been unfocussed and seemed hollow.

Could it be that Haruka had killed somebody instinctively and was now in shock?

If that was the case – no, of course it wasn’t.

Ishii shook away the thoughts in his head. This was no time to think about that. HE had to confirm the situation first.

'Eh?’

Ishii noticed something odd.

'What?’ asked Gotou.

'Yakumo-shi – where did he go?’

Gotou had explained the situation to Yakumo after he was kept out of the scene of the crime.

Ishii had worried that Yakumo would be shocked or go on a rampage, but unexpectedly, he had only replied curtly, 'Is that so?’

His words had been so weak and emotionless. He hadn’t even seen Haruka off – he had just disappeared.

– How will Yakumo-shi take this case?

Ishii didn’t know.

'It’s him. He’s gotta have some sort of plan.’

Ishii couldn’t simply believe Gotou’s words. Was that really true? Ishii couldn’t shake that question away.

'Anyway, we’ve gotta go too,’ said Gotou.

'Eh? Go? Where to?’

'Obviously to find out what happened!’

Gotou’s fist came crashing down.

'But… I don’t think they’ll give us any information…’

Those were Ishii’s true feelings.

Sonoda and Gotou had a terrible relationship. It would be hard to believe that Sonoda would just give information to Gotou.

'Stop thinking about it. We’re going to get the info no matter what!’

After declaring that, Gotou strode away.

Ishii tried to follow him, but he immediately tripped on something and fell.

'What are you doing!?’

With Gotou urging Ishii to rush, Ishii hurriedly stood up, but he suddenly felt a strange presence as he looked up.

He saw a person in the shadow of the school building looking up at the clock tower. Since they were at a distance, Ishii couldn’t see their face, but it looked like a small-framed student.

– A curious onlooker?

'Ishii, what are you doing!?’

Gotou’s yell made Ishii jump up and hurry over.

-

2

-

Yakumo sat with his legs out in the dark room.

His head felt heavy.

It was hard to breathe, perhaps because his breaths were short.

Gotou had told him something shocking.

Haruka was a suspect in a murder case.

To be honest, he couldn’t believe it, but he also couldn’t firmly deny it.

His thoughts wouldn’t let him.

– Did you do it?

Though Yakumo could just meet her and confirm the truth, he had returned to this room, as if running away.

Perhaps he was afraid of finding out.

If Haruka replied, 'Yes,’ he felt like something important within him would break.

– No, it can’t be! She would never kill someone!

Though he denied it loudly in his heart, his thoughts stopped him once more.

– What do you know about her?

There was a voice in the back of his head.

It was correct.

He knew almost frighteningly little about the person called Haruka.

What kind of friends she had, what she liked, what kind of life she had walked – he had never asked her anything.

Though they had solved many cases together, that was all.

No matter how his heart tried to deny it, he had no evidence to declare so.

Gotou, the complete opposite of Yakumo, was furious.

Haruka was under suspicion, but there was no way that she’d’ve done it – that was what he said.

To Yakumo, that was so strange he couldn’t understand.

Why did he believe so much in somebody he didn’t know that much about? Even if they did have a close relationship, people changed depending on the environment and situation.

There was no way to grasp every action that somebody else took, so believing in somebody – that was nothing but ego.

Yakumo ran a hand through his hair and looked up at the low ceiling.

The Movie Research Circle room which always felt small felt incredibly large.

He even felt like he himself had shrunk.

– Why did this happen?

To be honest, when Yakumo took the case from Haruka and Kanae, he hadn’t thought it was that serious.

From Yakumo’s perspective, as somebody who had a red eye that could see the spirits of the dead and always saw ghosts, he didn’t understand people who made such a fuss, saying ghosts were behind things.

He had planned on just fixing things up and brushing it off, so he had told Haruka to bring Nishizawa, the young man who was thought to be possessed.

– Had I been wrong to do that?

If he had gone together with her, perhaps this wouldn’t have happened.

– What do I mean by “this”?

Yakumo realised that in his thoughts he had already determined Haruka to be the perpetrator.

– Do I think of Haruka as somebody who would hurt other people?

Yakumo thought about it, but he couldn’t come up with an answer.

He knew nothing about Haruka, so he had no way of answering.

It was like he knew, but he knew nothing. She was only a stranger. He didn’t even know himself that well, so how could he believe in a stranger he knew nothing about?

Yakumo held his head in his hands.

– What should I do now?
Yakumo had lost his grip on the situation.

-

3

-

The next morning, Gotou went to the general hospital.

He found the person he was looking for after he went through the entrance.

It was Miyagawa, the chief of the detectives. He was talking to two guards about something – probably last night’s case.

Before Gotou could talk to him, Miyagawa noticed Gotou and waved.

'How is the situation?’ asked Gotou immediately, at which point Miyagawa stuck out his chin as if to say 'Follow me’. He probably didn’t want to talk in front of the guards.

They went out the entrance to the courtyard. Miyagawa sat on the bench.

Gotou sat next to him.

'How’d you know I was here?’ said Miyagawa.

'Heard from some detectives that you were looking at the victim…’

Gotou and Ishii were completely kept out of the loop regarding last night’s case.

No, kept out wasn’t the right expression. It was out of the Unsolved Cases jurisdiction anyway.

Gotou couldn’t leave the situation as it was though, so he had gone around trying to get information.

First, he got some detectives to try to get them to tell him how the investigation was going, but they just kept saying, 'We have nothing to discuss.’

Gotou wasn’t on this case, so he was nothing more than smoke, but it was also probably because he knew the suspect, Haruka.

He somehow managed to find out that Haruka was being held in detention and would be interrogated in the morning.

There, Gotou changed his method and asked where Miyagawa was.

Miyagawa had been paired up with Gotou when Gotou had just joined up, with Miyagawa a veteran detective who acted as his teacher.

He worked the scene hard and tended to get emotional, but he was somebody who you could trust. Most importantly, he was one of the rare people who didn’t ignore Gotou and Ishii in the Unsolved Cases department.

Gotou had gone to Miyagawa, thinking that he might tell him something.

'So you want me to share info…’ murmured Miyagawa, leaning forward.

'Yes.’

'Honestly… You really won’t listen to anyone once you’ve had your say.’

'That’s what you taught me, Miyagawa-san.’

Gotou’s words made Miyagawa smile.

'What do you want to know?’

'Is the autopsy finished?’

That was Gotou’s first question.

Since it was a murder, the female victim would be sent to autopsy. If Miyagawa was at the hospital, that meant that there were autopsy results.

'Cause of death was cerebral contusion. One hit to the head – ’

Miyagawa’s tone was heavy.

'Which meant she had been hit pretty hard,’ said Gotou.

Miyagawa smiled bitterly.

'Well, yeah.’

'Then wouldn’t it be likely that the perp is a strong man?’ objected Gotou, but Miyagawa frowned.

'You know the suspect, right?’

'Yes.’

'Is it true that a friend of that kid?’

The kid Miyagawa was referring to was Yakumo.

Miyagawa was one of the few people on the force who knew Yakumo could see ghosts with his left eye and believed him.

Miyagawa had met with Yakumo before too.

'Yes.’ Gotou nodded.

Yakumo and Haruka were friends – was something he couldn’t just say with their relationship, but it wasn’t something Gotou needed to explain now.

'I understand why you don’t want to believe it, but you’re a detective. Don’t have any preconceptions.’

'I don’t,’ objected Gotou, but Miyagawa didn’t accept that.

'Really?’

'Eh?’

'Think about it. The perpetrator didn’t assault the victim barehanded. They used an iron pipe.’

'But…’

'Even somebody who doesn’t have a lot of strength can kill.’

Gotou understood what Miyagawa was saying.

But that wasn’t the only reason Gotou was saying Haruka wasn’t the perp.

'Haruka-chan isn’t the sort of girl who would wave around an iron pipe.’

Gotou had met with Haruka countless times through cases.

She was the type of person who would never harm somebody else, no matter what happened. She’d put herself in danger first – that was her strength.

'That’s a preconception.’

'Maybe, but there’s no motive either.’

'Can’t say that.’

'Why not?’

'The victim, Koike Kanae, twenty-one years old, was in the same seminar as Ozawa Haruka, the suspect. There’s the possibility that they had a disagreement about something.’

Suspect – that word left an unpleasant feeling in Gotou’s heart.

He had never thought that Haruka would be called that.

'Even if there was some sort of trouble, she wouldn’t go hitting somebody with a pipe.’

'I’m saying that’s a preconception. People sometimes do things you don’t expect. People who are normally quiet suddenly going on a violent rampage – there’s countless cases of that,’ said Miyagawa hotly.

It was true that Gotou had seen several cases like that too. When going around questioning afterwards, people would always say, 'I can’t believe that person would…’

But still Gotou couldn’t accept it.

'I accept that, but this time is definitely different. There’s got to be some sort of mistake.’

'Why are you going that far to cover for her?’

Gotou hadn’t thought Miyagawa would ask that, so he wasn’t sure how to answer.

'Do I need a reason to believe in her?’ said Gotou, which made Miyagawa sigh.

'Even if you say that, there is evidence. The suspect’s fingerprints were on the iron pipe.’

'She might have just picked up the weapon at some time.’

Gotou was still objecting.

He knew it was a weak excuse, but he still didn’t want to accept it.

'Maybe if there were only the fingerprints, but there’s a witness too.’

'The guard?’

'Yeah. The guard reported the incident and arrested the suspect. He had heard a woman scream on his rounds, and when he went to the scene, he saw the suspect hit the victim with an iron pipe.’

You could call it incriminating.

If he had come later, it would have been a different story, but if he had seen the moment of the attack, there was nothing that could be said. But still –

'He might’ve been mistaken. It was dark, right?’

'Unfortunately, that’s unlikely. The guard had a torch.’

'I still won’t believe,’ Gotou said forcefully, standing up.

'Calm down. You’re too emotional right now. Keep a cool head – ’

Gotou felt Miyagawa’s words were strange.

In the past, Miyagawa wouldn’t try to politely convince his subordinates – he’d just drop his fist on them and scorn them.

Though sometimes Gotou resented that, it was because Miyagawa was that way that he relied on and respected him.

That was the case with investigations too.

If Miyagawa didn’t accept something, no matter what the higher-ups said or how the evidence looked, he would keep going anyway.

And yet –

'I misjudged you.’

'What?’

'I’ve never kept a cool head, now or in the past. I always ran forward, emotions first.’

Gotou puffed out his chest, which made Miyagawa smile in exasperation as he stood up.

'What are you boasting about that for?’

'That’s what you taught me, Miyagawa-san.’

When Gotou said that, Miyagawa frowned.

'That’s different from this situation.’

Miyagawa’s objection was terribly weak.

He must have understood himself what was really important, but now that he was in management, he couldn’t act as freely as he had done before.

Gotou couldn’t blame Miyagawa.

People had their own positions, and there were roles to go with that. In that sense, Gotou wasn’t bound in anyway, which was why –

'No matter what anybody tells me, I’m going to do things my way until I’m satisfied.’

'What are you going to do?’ asked Miyagawa.

Miyagawa had to know even without Gotou’s answer.

'I’m going to believe in Haruka-chan and do all I can. That’s all – ’

Saying just that, Gotou put the hospital behind him.

-

4

-

Ishii sat on the bench in the corridor and stared at the interrogation room door –

On the other side of that door, there was an investigation going on right now. When Ishii thought about that, an indescribable pain ran through his chest.

Last night, Haruka had been taken into custody as a suspect in a murder case, and Ishii had been fervently trying to gather information with Gotou.

Though he had barely slept at all, he didn’t feel sleepy or tired.

Perhaps he was running on adrenaline.

He had to clear Haruka’s name no matter what. He wanted as much information as possible now to do that.

After a while, the interrogation room door opened –

Ishii stood up immediately.

Sonoda and Onodera came out. It was probably their break.

'E-excuse me…’

Ishii called out to the two of them, who had started to walk down the corridor.

Sonoda and Onodera turned around at the same time.

The moment Sonoda saw Ishii, he made a very obvious click with his tongue.

'You’re Gotou’s partner, right?’ said Gotou, his detest clear.

'I’m Ishii of the Unsolved Cases Special Investigation department.’

'What do you want?’

Sonoda glared at Ishii.

I want you to tell me about the interrogation – it would be easy if Ishii could just say that, but he ended up biting his tongue.

'Unlike you, we’re busy. If you need something, say it already,’ Sonoda said.

He didn’t speak so provocatively when Gotou was here. He was probably looking down on Ishii now that he was alone.

'Er, um… I…’

Ishii tried to speak, but his mouth wasn’t working in his anxiety.

He hated how he couldn’t act strong at times like this. He was such a weak and cowardly good-for-nothing.

'I can’t hear what you’re saying.’

Sonoda smiled mockingly.

'Er, um…’

'What? Looks like Gotou can’t even teach his subordinates properly.’

– I don’t care what you say about me, but I can’t forgive anybody who makes fun of Gotou!

Anger welled up within Ishii, but he couldn’t put it into words properly.

He had come to get information, but it was impossible in this situation. Just as he was about to give up and leave, Sonoda called out to him.

'Come to think of it, you guys know the suspect, right?’

Sonoda had a thin smile on his face.

Ishii felt unsettled just from looking at it, but of course he didn’t have the guts to say that.

'Y-yes.’

After Ishii nodded, Sonoda snorted loudly.

'She went and hit her friend with an iron pipe. What a crazy woman – ’

'You’re wrong!’

Even Ishii had to shout at this. His voice was so loud he even surprised himself.

'What am I wrong about?’

Sonoda seemed shocked, but he got over it immediately and retorted.

Haruka wasn’t that sort of woman.

When Ishii first saw Haruka, he had thought that an angel had come to earth.

That was what a pure, sweet and lovely woman she was. Since then, Ishii had met with Haruka through numerous cases, but that first impression hadn’t changed. Rather, it had grown stronger.

Haruka would never hurt anybody.

'Haruka-chan would never do that!’ insisted Ishii, but Sonoda just laughed.

'What a simple guy you are.’

'I’m just saying the truth…’

'Too bad for you, but the suspect confessed.’

'Eh?’

For a moment, Ishii didn’t understand Sonoda’s words.

'I’m saying that the suspect confessed to the crime.’

– Haruka confessed to the crime?

Why? That was the question that kept coming to Ishii.

'That makes no sense. There must be some mistake, right?’ Ishii asked Onodera, clinging to a last hope.

'Just earlier, she confessed that everything was her fault,’ Onodera said flatly, looking bitter.

'But that’s…’

Ishii felt dizzy and backed away, slumping onto the floor.

'How pathetic.’

Sonoda looked down at Ishii with scorn.

Though Ishii felt angry and frustrated, weakness came over him. He couldn’t even stand up.

'I…’

'We got the suspect’s confession, so that’s the end of the investigation. Don’t go messing around with things – ’

Sonoda said just that and walked away with Onodera.

Ishii vacantly watched them leave.

– It’s a lie! It’s a lie! This has to be a lie!

Ishii held his head in his hands and screamed in his heart, but doing that didn’t change the truth.

'What am I…’

– What am I supposed to do now?

He had been running around since last night with Gotou because he’d believed in Haruka’s innocence, but if she had confessed, nothing they did would change anything.

Ishii wasn’t sure how long he had just sat there in a stupor. Somebody was calling his mobile.

Gotou7s name was on the display. Ishii answered the phone in desperation.

'Hello, Ishii Yuutarou speaking – ’

<I know that, idiot?>

He heard Gotou’s displeased voice from the phone.

’S-sorry.’

<I heard a few things from Miyagawa-san – ?

Gotou quickly told Ishii what he had heard from Miyagawa.

However, barely any of it reached Ishii. It didn’t matter how much information they had now. It was useless.

<And on your end?>

Gotou asked that after he had finished his explanation.

He had to tell Gotou what he had heard from Sonoda – Ishii knew that, but the words wouldn’t come out.

'Er… um…’

<Can’t you say things clearly? >

'Sorry.’

<If you have the time to say sorry, tell me already.>

Ishii took a deep breath to calm himself down before speaking.

'It seems H-Haruka-chan confessed to the crime – ’

<What?>

Gotou’s voice came back like a beast’s growl.

'I said, Haruka-chan confessed to the…’

<There’s no way she did that!>

Gotou’s yell rang in Ishii’s ears.

Gotou’s voice, filled with fiery rage, made Ishii shudder.

'B-but…’

'Shut up with your “but"s! Why did things end up that way?>

'I-I don’t know, but I just heard it now.’

His voice was shaking.

<What do you mean, you don’t know!?>

'Even if you say that…’

<There’s no way Haruka-chan would confess!>

'But…’

<Find out why that happened!>

'Even if you tell me to "find out”, how am I…’

<Figure it out yourself!>

Gotou hung up.

For a while, Ishii just sat there in shock, head in his hands.

He felt like he might cry.

Though part of it was fear from Gotou’s terrible rebuking, there was also frustrating, misery, sadness – a mixture of emotions.

His heart was over capacity, and felt like it was just under breaking point –

-

5

-

'Ishii-san – ’

Makoto spotted Ishii from behind and called out to him. He was walking down the precinct corridor with shoulders slumped.

She had actually just come to meet Ishii and Gotou in the Unsolved Cases Special Investigations room.

'Ah, Makoto-san…’

Ishii slowly turned around and replied in a hoarse voice.

His face was as lifeless as a corpse’s.

‘Are you all right?’ asked Makoto, but Ishii just let out a weak 'Ah…’ and smiled awkwardly.

'What are you here for today?’ asked Ishii, cocking his head in confusion.

It was like his heart was elsewhere. He had to be very troubled.

'About Haruka-chan – I hear she was arrested as the perpetrator in a murder case.’

When Makoto said that, Ishii let out another weak 'Ah…’

It wasn’t something to discuss in the corridor, so Makoto suggested, 'Shall we move elsewhere?’

Makoto led them to the Unsolved Cases Special Investigations room.

Ishii walked like he was drunk and then slumped into a chair.

He was in a worse condition that Makoto had imagined.

'Has Haruka-chan really been arrested?’ asked Makoto.

Ishii looked pained. 'She hasn’t been officially arrested yet, but I think it’s just a matter of time.’

'I can’t believe it. Isn’t it some kind of mistake?’

'I want to think that too, but there’s a witness – ’

'Couldn’t it be some sort of mistake there?’

The incident had happened at night. An eyewitness might have mistaken something in the dark.

'That isn’t all.’

Ishii’s voice went slightly higher.

'Meaning?’

'Earlier, Haruka-chan confessed to the crime – ’

Ishii’s words were so unexpected that Makoto needed some time to understand.

'But – that makes no…’

'I can’t believe it, but that’s the information I received.’

Ishii’s shoulders slumped.

His hands were gripped into tight fists and were shaking. He probably couldn’t keep the emotions raging within him in order.

'And you accepted that, Ishii-san?’

'I can’t accept it…’

The moment Ishii said that, he dropped his head to the desk.

It felt like he was berating his own powerlessness. Makoto understood that feeling so well it hurt, but wallowing here would solve nothing.

'Then let’s investigate.’

Makoto walked up to Ishii.

'Investigate what? She’s confessed. I can’t believe it, but it’s a fact,’ replied Ishii in a thick voice, his head still on the table.

The incident was so unexpected that he couldn’t deal with it and was holing up within himself. When Makoto looked at Ishii, pathetic – was not the word that came to mind.

Ishii was too sensitive and kind to be a detective.

At the same time, Makoto knew that Ishii would not crumble here. Ishii had the strength to keep standing up. So –

'It doesn’t matter whether she confessed or not,’ said Makoto, placing a hand on Ishii’s shoulder.

Ishii’s body jolted in surprise and he lifted his head.

'Doesn’t matter?’

'It doesn’t. Ishii-san, you believe that Haruka-chan wouldn’t ever hurt anybody, right?’

'Of course I do…’

'Then I think you should continue to believe her. Or are your feelings towards Haruka-chan so weak that they can be shaken by somebody else’s words?’

Even as Makoto said that, she felt a prickling pain in her chest.

She had noticed a while back that Ishii had feelings for Haruka. At the same time, Makoto also felt –

This wasn’t the time to think about that. Makoto shook away those thoughts and smiled at Ishii.

'I…’

'It’s OK. Ishii-san, you aren’t alone. There’s Gotou-san, and I’ll help as well, though there isn’t much I can do.’

Perhaps Makoto’s words reached Ishii, as the light in his eyes behind his glasses seemed to have returned.

'But we’ve been left out of the investigation.’

'Eh? Ishii-san, you worry about that sort of thing?’

Makoto spoke with exaggerated surprise, which made Ishii’s brows furrow in confusion.

'What do you mean?’

'Haven’t you ignored that sort of thing up until now?’

The Unsolved Cases Special Investigations Department only had Gotou and Ishii, but they had solved many cases up until now, and they had done it without caring at all about the other investigation units.

'That’s right, you’re completely right – ’

Finally, a smile appeared on Ishii’s face.

Makoto sighed in relief. Even though it put her in an unfavourable position, she didn’t care if she could help Ishii.

'But what on earth should we do?’

That was the problem. Even if they said things like the other investigations didn’t matter, if they stepped over too many lines, they might run into unexpected obstacles.

Makoto wasn’t sure where they should start.

'Wasn’t there anything that bothered you about this case?’ asked Makoto.

For a while, Ishii let his gaze wander as he thought, but then he said, 'Ah!’

'What is it?’

'No, I just thought that I wouldn’t be able to think of anything on my own, but if it’s him…’

Ishii’s eyes seemed to glitter behind his glasses –

-

6

-

Gotou was headed for the prefabricated building behind Building B at the university.

He was here to tell Yakumo that Haruka had confessed.

'Yakumo! You here?’ yelled Gotou as he swung open the door to the Movie Research Circle.

Yakumo was sitting in his usual chair.

He looked sleepy as usual with his messy hair as he read a thick book.

Even though he had to have noticed that Gotou had come in, he didn’t even look up, let alone respond.

Though he was acting the same as usual, that was strange in this situation.

'Yakumo. You…’

'Please leave if you don’t have anything to say. I’m busy,’ interrupted Yakumo.

Though they always had this conversation, it felt incredibly unnatural.

'I do have something to say. It’s about Haruka-chan,’ said Gotou, feeling irritated.

Yakumo lifted his head slightly.

'Ah, that…’

His uninterested expression made Gotou lean forward without thinking.

Up until now, even when Yakumo’s eyes were sleepy, they had always had a sharp glint to them, but Gotou couldn’t see that in Yakumo today.

– Is this really Yakumo?

It was strange enough that Gotou wanted to ask.

'Don’t just say “Ah, that”! We have to hurry and do something for Haruka-chan.’

'Why?’

Yakumo cocked his head like he was confused.

'What are you saying?’

'That’s what I want to ask you, Gotou-san.’

'What?’

'She’s a suspect in a murder case. The police determined that, so it isn’t my place to say anything. I’ll leave the investigation to the police,’ Yakumo said flatly. He clapped the book shut.

'You… Are you serious?’ asked Gotou, his voice shaking.

Maybe Gotou was afraid of hearing Yakumo’s answer. Depending on what Yakumo said, Gotou’s emotions could explode at once.

'Of course I’m serious,’ Yakumo said casually.

'What’s wrong with you?’

'Nothing. I’m the same as usual.’

'No. This isn’t like you.’

'Gotou-san, what do you know about me?’

Yakumo narrowed his eyes at Gotou. They were cold, emotionless eyes.

'I know tons. How many cases do you think we’ve solved together?

'That doesn’t count as knowing a person.’

Yakumo let out a yawn, as if bored.

'Don’t say that. Apparently Haruka-chan confessed earlier. If we don’t hurry and do something – ’

'If she confessed, she’s the perpetrator, isn’t she? There’s nothing for me to do now,’ Yakumo said flatly. He opened the book again.

– What’s with his attitude?

'Do you think Haruka-chan’s the culprit?’

'She confessed, so wouldn’t she be?’ Yakumo replied quietly, eyes on his book.

'Of course she isn’t!’

Gotou lost the fight against his anger. He grabbed Yakumo’s book and threw it at the wall.

The book made a loud thump and fell.

Still, Yakumo didn’t move from his chair.

'People are foolish – ’ said Yakumo with a slight sigh.

'What?’

'Even though they don’t know someone, they get trapped by their own illusions, thinking that the other person is a certain way, no doubt about it.’

'What are you trying to say?’

'That you are doing exactly that right now, Gotou-san.’

'Me?’

'Yes. Why are you making such a fuss about how she would never commit a crime?’

'Obviously because I believe in her,’ declared Gotou, which made Yakumo laugh.

'That isn’t belief. You’ve just gone and created a version of her that you like inside of you. What you really believe isn’t her but the image you have of her.’

– What the hell is he saying?

Disappointment was growing rapidly within Gotou.

– Since when did Yakumo start being like this?

No, Yakumo would just say that that was Gotou’s image of him too. When that thought came to Gotou’s mind, he shook his head.

'No!’

He had already yelled before he’d noticed.

'What are you objecting to?’

'It’s not just an image inside me. I believe in Haruka-chan.’

'Idiotic…’

Yakumo snorted aloud.

The anger that had been welling up inside Gotou exploded.

'You bastard… Get a grip already! You should know best that Haruka-chan would never do something like that!’ shouted Gotou, grabbing Yakumo’s lapels over the table.

Even though Gotou was glaring at Yakumo with all his anger, Yakumo just looked at him coldly.

'Please don’t be so loud…’

'You’re the one who made me!’

'Why do you believe in her so much?’ Yakumo asked coldly.

'Why?’

'I don’t know anything about her…’

Yakumo’s sentence felt somewhat sad.

'Of course you do!’

'I don’t. I don’t know what seminar she’s in. What friends she has. What she wants to do in the future – and that’s not all. Her likes. Her dislikes. How she was raised. I don’t know anything about her.’

After saying all that, Yakumo’s eyes were unsettled. Sad eyes that seemed to swallow all of Gotou’s anger.

'You…’

'Isn’t it the same for you, Gotou-san? How much do you know about her?’

'I…’

– I know nothing.

He had been on several cases with Haruka, and through them, at some point, he had thought that he had grown to know her.

Just as Yakumo said though, he knew frighteningly little about Haruka’s personal life.

Even though they had talked so much, why hadn’t he ever asked – it was almost strange.

That was probably because they had always had a case on.

Yakumo had probably reached the same conclusion with this case and lost his understanding of the person called Haruka.

'You understand now, don’t you? We don’t know her well enough to declare that she isn’t the culprit – ’

As if that was conclusive, Yakumo shook off Gotou’s hand. Gotou staggered backwards and stared at Yakumo in shock.

It was faint, but Yakumo’s eyes were wet.

Maybe Yakumo regretted it. Regretted that he hadn’t got to know Haruka better –

Gotou felt the same way. They had always had a case on, so he’d never really talked about normal things with Haruka.

He knew nothing about Haruka, and that had ended up being normal.

He felt incredibly pathetic now.

This was probably how Yakumo felt too.

It was quiet, as if everything had been drowned by water –

Just as Yakumo said, maybe they didn’t know anything about Haruka. But did that mean Gotou couldn’t believe in her?

'No!’ shouted Gotou.

Yakumo had a red left eye which could see the ghosts of the dead.

Because of that, he had experienced heartbreaking pain countless times and carried more sadness than other people could even imagine.

He had hated himself and grown afraid of rejection from others, so he had shut himself in his own shell.

The person who had opened Yakumo’s heart was none other than Haruka.

She had called the red eye that Yakumo had hated so much beautiful.

How much that one word had saved Yakumo – Yakumo himself had to know better than Gotou.

'What do you mean, no!?’

Yakumo’s voice was loud as well.

'Maybe we don’t know anything about Haruka-chan!’

'That’s what I said!’

'But! Those are just facts that you can write down!’

'Facts that you can write down are what make up a person!’

'Don’t be an idiot! Like you can know what makes a person from stupid stuff like that!’

Gotou grabbed Yakumo’s lapels again.

Yakumo glared at him fiercely, but Gotou wasn’t afraid at all.

'OK, listen up! You and me, we don’t know anything about Haruka! But we know her heart better than anyone else!’

Gotou had only met Haruka through cases, but – because of that, there was something he knew.

What Haruka would think and do in situations when her life was in danger – Gotou had seen that up close.

That was the person Haruka was.

Gotou and Yakumo had both seen Haruka’s pure heart, which held no lies.

'You’re just lining up nice words…’

Yakumo’s words fired up Gotou’s anger again.

Before he’d notice it, he had shoved Yakumo.

Yakumo’s back hit the wall, and he sat down right there.

'Lining up nice words!? Open your eyes already! Haruka-chan believes in you right now! But what are you doing!?’

Gotou went up to Yakumo and yelled with all his strength.

Yakumo glared up at him, still sitting.

It wasn’t the same cold gaze as earlier. His eyes were fiery and sharp.

'Talking like you know everything…’

'You fool! Do you still not get it!?’

Gotou lost himself to his anger and raised his fist to punch Yakumo –

-

7

-

Ishii was brought to his senses by the sudden yell he heard.

He and Makoto had just reached Meisei University’s Movie Research Circle room.

That had probably been Gotou’s voice.

Ishii and Makoto exchanged a glance and then opened the door to run in.

Ishii was stunned by what he saw.

Gotou had his fist raised to punch Yakumo, he was slumped against the wall.

'Detective Gotou! Please calm down!’

Ishii clung to Gotou and frantically tried to stop him.

'Shut up! Let me go! I need to punch him!’

'You can’t!’

'I said, let go!’

Ishii tried to stop Gotou, but he had no way to beat Gotou in strength. Ishii was thrust away and rolled across the floor.

His head slammed into the wall, and stars blinked in front of him.

'Ishii-san, are you all right?’

Makoto rushed towards him.

Though it hurt, Ishii couldn’t just sit here. He got up immediately to step between Gotou and Yakumo.

'Move!’

Gotou glared at Ishii.

It was a gaze so frightening it made him shudder, but he couldn’t back down. Gotou’s eyes were clearly different from usual.

He could have actually killed Yakumo with those eyes.

'I-I can’t do that. What on earth happened anyway?’ asked Ishii, even though his voice was shaking.

'I’m going to fix this guy!’

Gotou tried to punch Yakumo again.

Ishii frantically pushed Gotou back, but Gotou didn’t move at all. This would just be a repeat of earlier at this rate.

Just as he thought that, Makoto stepped between Gotou and Yakumo as well.

'Gotou-san, please calm down first.’

Even Gotou couldn’t just push Makoto away, so he finally backed down, though not without a click of his tongue.

Ishii sighed in relief.

He had really been nervous there for a moment.

'What happened?’ Makoto asked Gotou.

'This idiot…’

Gotou started to speak, but Yakumo stood up, interrupting him.

'Nothing happened,’ said Yakumo, with his usual expressionless face and flat tone.

He was so calm that it was like the earlier commotion had never happened.

'Of course something happened,’ said Makoto, sounding half-exasperated.

Yakumo ran a hand through his messy hair and then righted the chair to sit in it.

'While I was thinking about how to solve this case, that bear suddenly assaulted me,’ said Yakumo, pointing at Gotou.

'That wasn’t what you said earlier!’ shouted Gotou, but Ishii hurriedly stepped in between them.

If this continued, Ishii would need doubles of himself to fix this.

'Gotou-san, I understand how you feel, but let’s calm down and talk first,’ urged Makoto.

Gotou looked displeased, but he sat down.

Really, thank goodness for Makoto. If Ishii had been alone, he didn’t know what would have happened.

'So what really happened?’ asked Makoto with a sigh.

'I said, nothing happened – ’

Yakumo was nonchalant, like nothing really had happened.

Gotou tried to interrupt, but just as he had half-got up to say something, Yakumo stopped him.

'I know, I know. Please be quiet,’ Yakumo said curtly.

For a while, Gotou just glared at Yakumo, but then he smiled and sat down.

'Yeah, it was nothing really. Just the usual lovers’ quarrel.’

'Please don’t say something so disgusting,’ rebutted Yakumo immediately.

'What?’

'A lovers’ quarrel refers to a quibbling fight that occurs due to some romantic entanglement. I would be very troubled if anybody mistakenly thought that I had anything like that with you, Gotou-san.’

'I would be too!’

'You’re the one who said it, Gotou-san.’

'Just shut up!’ shouted Gotou. He crossed his arms and looked away.

Ishii didn’t know what had happened between the two, but it looked like they were finally back to normal.

Ishii and Makoto looked at each other and sighed in relief.

'Ishii-san, Makoto-san, I apologise for asking this so soon after your arrival, but could you tell me all that you know?’

Yakumo tapped his brow with his finger. His eyes had a glint in them.

Though Ishii was frightened by that glint, he spoke.

That said, all Ishii knew was that Haruka had confessed, so Gotou started speaking halfway through.

Gotou shared the information he had got from Miyagawa, like how Haruka’s fingerprints had been on the weapon and that the eyewitness, the guard, had seen her hit the victim with a metal pipe.

The victim was a woman named Koike Kanae, who was a student in the same seminar as Haruka.

The cause of death was a cerebral contusion with no other injuries that stood out.

'How about you, Makoto-san?’

After Gotou finished, Yakumo turned to Makoto.

'Me…?’

'Yes, regarding that author.’

– What on earth does he mean by author?

Ishii was confused, but he didn’t say anything. It was Yakumo. He would never talk about something if it wasn’t related.

'So it’s related somehow?’ asked Makoto, looking troubled.

Yakumo nodded.

'Wait. What are you talking about?’ interrupted Gotou, unable to stop himself.

Yakumo looked incredibly annoyed as he ran a hand through his hair and said, 'Makoto-san is investigating an author who says he was made to write a novel by the ghost in the clock tower.’

'W-what!?’ shouted Gotou, standing up from his chair.

Ishii didn’t express his feelings aloud, but he felt the same surprise.

'The trouble she brought me had something to do with the clock tower – ’

Yakumo had said that last night.

That was why he and Ishii had been investigating if anybody had died on campus.

'Furthermore, the victim of this case is the person who asked for her advice about the spiritual phenomenon – ’

'What!?’

Gotou reacted strongly to the words Yakumo had spoken so casually.

'Please don’t speak so loudly.’

Yakumo frowned, looking fed up.

'Anybody would want to after hearing that news. Why didn’t you say that earlier?’

'You didn’t ask.’

'You…’

Gotou lifted a fist, but Ishii hurriedly pacified him.

As a result, Ishii received a fist to the head.

'This case is centred on the clock tower. The key to solving this case must be there – ’

Yakumo put his finger on his brow and narrowed his eyes.

Though I was a frightening expression, Ishii saw hope there.

'Right! Let’s prove Haruka-chan’s innocence!’ shouted Gotou, raising his fist.

Yakumo sighed in mock disappointment.

'Please don’t say such stupid things. It’s possible that she did it,’ Yakumo said coldly.

'Are you going to start saying that again!?’ said Gotou angrily.

Ishii felt the same way.

– Didn’t Yakumo believe in Haruka?

They were together so often.. He had to know that Haruka wouldn’t hurt anybody.

'Please cool off your head. You won’t be able to see the truth if you look at the case with preconceptions.’

'I know that, but…’

Yakumo raised a hand to stop Gotou’s objections.

'No, you don’t know anything. Sometimes people behave in ways you don’t expect.’

'Impossible.’

'How can you say that for sure? There’s been a case like that before, right? A sad incident in which somebody killed somebody without wanting to…’

After Yakumo said that, everyone present said, 'Ah!’

'The tree of deceit – ’ said Ishii.

Yakumo nodded.

A sad incident in which the players’ emotions had entangled in a terrible way –

Somebody had been possessed by a ghost and killed somebody despite their own intentions.

'Are you saying that that’s what happened this time?’ asked Gotou in a hoarse voice.

'I’m just saying that it’s a possibility – ’

After saying that, Yakumo’s gaze fell to his feet.

'But if that’s the case…’ said Makoto, but Yakumo interrupted her.

'Let us think about that later. First, we find the truth behind the case – ’

Ishii agreed to Yakumo’s suggestion.

But if Haruka had really committed the crime while being possessed, there would be no way to save her –

That thought seemed to be pulling Ishii’s heart into a deep darkness.

-

8

-

Haruka was in a small room with no windows.

There was a steel desk in the middle of the room, and Haruka sat on a folding chair in front of it.

Two men sat opposite her.

They were detectives. One was Sonoda. The other was Onodera.

– Why am I here?

Haruka didn’t understand.

At some point, she had found herself sitting here. She couldn’t believe it, but her hands were cuffed.

The cold metal felt terribly heavy.

'So what was your motive?’ asked Sonoda brusquely, his legs stuck out in front of him.

'Eh?’ said Haruka, not understanding.

'I said motive. Why did you kill your friend?’

The continuous stream of unexpected questions put Haruka at a loss for words.

Killed a friend? Haruka had no idea what he was talking about.

She had never even been violent towards anyone, and yet –

'Tell us the reason!’ said Sonoda, sounding impatience. He hit the table with his fist. Even if he acted intimidating, Haruka couldn’t reply to something she didn’t know.

'There must be some mistake,’ said Haruka desperately.

'What?’ Sonoda looked at her suspiciously.

'I don’t understand what you’re talking about at all.’

'Of course you understand! Don’t think I’ll play nice just because you’re a woman if you keep saying whatever you want!’ threatened Sonoda.

'Now, now…’ said Onodera sitting next to him.

Sonoda made a click with his tongue, seeming incredibly displeased, but he didn’t say anything else.

'You must be a bit confused,’ Onodera said gently.

'Um… What’s happened? This is an interrogation room, right? Why am I here?’

After Haruka let out a list of questions, the detectives looked at each other, seeming troubled.

Even if they looked like that, Haruka didn’t think she’d asked anything strange.

'Please tell me,’ Haruka pleaded, leaning forward.

'You hit your friend Koike Kanae-san with a metal pipe. You remember that, right?’

'I did that to Kanae?’

'Yes.’

Onodera nodded.

Haruka wanted to ask why they believed that, but more importantly, she wanted to know about Kanae.

'What about Kanae? How’s Kanae doing?’

'She passed away…’

'No…’

Haruka started shaking.

She had met Kanae after they were in the same seminar, but at first, they hadn’t talked about anything in particular.

Kanae wasn’t the type to talk on her own to people around her, and Haruka was the same way.

They had become friends about three months in –

Though Haruka usually walked home, it had been raining that day, so she had gone to the bus stop at the front gate.

At that time, Kanae had been sitting on the bench under the shelter while reading a book.

– She’s in the same seminar as me.

That was all Haruka had felt, but she had seen the book she was reading before.

'The Count of Monte Cristo – ’

When Haruka said the name aloud, Kanae looked up.

'I’m surprised you know,’ said Kanae, smiling despite looking puzzled.

'Eh? Ah, actually I’ve never read it…’ Haruka said hurriedly.

Then, she explained how she had had to look for a paperback copy of the book with Yakumo because of a certain spiritual phenomena-related event.

Kanae had seriously listened to a story that hadn’t been that interesting at all.

Ever since then, they began to talk about various things whenever they meant.

Haruka really liked Kanae’s soft and gentle mood. She was one of the few people that Haruka could be herself around without worrying.

And yet –

'You did it, correct?’

Onodera’s voice interrupted Haruka’s thoughts.

'Me?’

'Yes. You’re the one who killed Koike Kanae-san, right?’

'That’s… I would never do that…’

'But you said you did earlier.’

'What did I say?’

'That it was all your fault.’

Haruka felt her consciousness slipping away from her upon hearing Onodera’s unexpected words.

She couldn’t remember saying anything like that. She didn’t even remember doing anything. She had actually just found out that Kanae had died now.

– What’s happening?

Haruka frantically went through her memories.

When did she last meet with Kanae?

Right. She had listened to her worries and gone to the clock tower with Yakumo. Then, she had met Kanae once more at the cafeteria.

She had met with Nishizawa, who had experienced the spiritual phenomenon with Kanae. After that, they had eaten sandwiches and parted ways –

Then, she had had to hand something in and went to her circle, and she’d thought she would go to Yakumo’s room afterwards to report on what had happened.

She had spotted Kanae in front of the clock tower on the way to Yakumo’s room. After that – it was no good. She couldn’t remember.

The more she tried to think, the more it felt like her mind was being split apart.

No. Her consciousness was definitely being swallowed up by the darkness now –

– Yakumo-kun! Help me!

Haruka screamed desperately in her heart, but her scream didn’t reach anyone –

-

9

-

Gotou looked up once more at the tall clock tower.

He had come to Meisei University countless times. The clock tower had always stood there as a symbol, but he had never cared much about it until this case.

But maybe that was just how people’s impressions were.

They only noticed something after something happened. That was probably exactly how Yakumo felt now.

He looked beside him and saw Yakumo looked up at the clock tower.

'Are you OK?’ asked Gotou.

Yakumo narrowed his eyes slightly.

'What do you mean?’ he said, playing dumb.

'What? I’m worried about you.’

Yakumo had been obviously off when they had been talking earlier.

Though it had looked like things had calmed down when Ishii and Makoto came, that didn’t mean Gotou’s anxiety had left him.

He didn’t know if Yakumo had really dealt with his feelings to look at the case clearly.

'I haven’t fallen so far that I need a single-celled bear’s concern.’

Though Yakumo was saying that aloud, he had to be exhausted inside.

'Don’t put up a strong front.’

'I’m not. From my perspective, I’m more concerned about you, Gotou-san.’

'What?’

'Since when have you been so violent?’

'You’re the one who made me!’

'Putting the blame on others? How childish.’

Yakumo shrugged for effect.

Gotou thought about hitting him, but he decided against it. He didn’t want to think about what Yakumo would say if he did.

'More importantly, let’s go.’

After declaring that, Yakumo started walking straight towards the clock tower.

The tower still had No Trespassing yellow tape all around it, but there were no guards.

Yakumo and Gotou went under the tape to the clock tower.

The events of last night suddenly flashed back in Gotou’s mind.

Yakumo had fought with a guard in front of the tape. It was incredibly rare for Yakumo to lose his cool like that.

Perhaps he had sensed something.

If Gotou had known this was going to happen, maybe he should’ve dragged Yakumo along even if he had to force the guard away.

'Was the gate locked at the time of the incident?’

Yakumo’s question interrupted Gotou’s thoughts.

He looked forward and saw Yakumo standing in front of the gate.

'Probably.’

'Please don’t be so vague,’ Yakumo said curtly.

'Is it important?’

'In order to determine whether it is important or not, we need accurate information.’

When Yakumo was like this, he seemed more like a detective than Gotou.

'Got it,’ Gotou said with a nod.

Yakumo briskly walked towards the back. Gotou followed him immediately.

When they got to the back, Gotou saw a metal door. It was rusty and looked very old.

Yakumo slowly opened the door.

Even though it was daytime, it was dark inside –

Yakumo took a pen light out from his pocket and illuminated the interior.

It wasn’t a very big door Gotou couldn’t see much past Yakumo.

Yakumo seemed to be thinking for a while, but then he went inside.

Gotou followed him.

Yakumo silently began to climb the stars up the clock tower.

The interior of the clock tower, about fifteen metres tall, had a staircase inside that went along the walls. By the time they reached the top room, Gotou was out of breath.

'Are you already worn out?’ asked Yakumo, voice full of malice.

'Shut up. This is nothing,’ spat out Gotou, wiping the sweat on his forehead.

The top room was much smaller than Gotou had expected. Desks and chairs. Some old machine things. That was all.

Yakumo slowly looked around. His eyes stopped beside the stairs.

There were significant bloodstains there. You could tell a lot of blood had been spilled.

Yakumo crouched there to look at it carefully.

'Find out anything?’

'Nothing…’ Yakumo replied curtly. Then, he walked up to the mirror and looked at that carefully.

This looked fairly old and was covered in dust.

Yakumo stared in the mirror for a while, but then he went to the window on the wall, perhaps having lost interest.

The glass was as dirty as the mirror so you couldn’t see outside clearly.

Yakumo unlocked it and pushed open the casement window.

Cold air from outside rushed in, mixing with the mouldy air within.

'This is probably the window – ’ murmured Yakumo.

'What?’

'I had you investigate this, right, Gotou-san? The woman who committed suicide by jumping from the clock tower – ’

Right. Haruka’s case had been so shocking that Gotou had forgotten, but Gotou had gone to see Yakumo to talk about that. But –

'How do you know it’s that window?’

'It was written in the documents. Please read them properly.’

Though it was Gotou’s fault for missing it, he didn’t like Yakumo’s tone. He thought about complaining but decided against it.

He had no way of beating Yakumo in an argument.

'Could I ask one thing?

After looking out the window for a while, Yakumo asked him that.

'What?’

'How can you believe in someone without proof, Gotou-san?’

Gotou couldn’t reply to Yakumo’s question immediately.

Part of it was that he didn’t understand why Yakumo cared, but mostly it was that he didn’t know how to answer.

'I don’t know.’

'That’s not an answer,’ interjected Yakumo immediately.

That was true, but –

'I don’t know why I believe people either. Do you need proof to believe in people? Believing or not believing – it’s a matter of feeling.’

That was Gotou’s straight response.

He had never thought about a reason to believe in somebody. Rather than thinking about it, he decided with his heart.

'It must be nice to be so simple…’ said Yakumo, and then he turned around to face Gotou, sitting on the windowsill with a smile.

It was a sad smile, as if a hole had been left in his heart.

'Do you still not believe?’

'In what?’

'In Haruka-chan – ’

The moment Gotou said that name, Yakumo stopped smiling and looked down slightly. His shadowed face looked troubled.

Just as Gotou thought, Yakumo probably hadn’t dealt with his feelings yet.

'To be honest, I don’t know. I know too little about her – ’

Yakumo’s voice was unusually weak.

Though earlier, Gotou had gone on a rampage because of his own emotions, he could accept Yakumo’s pains now.

Yakumo had to be feeling terrible regret about this case.

– Why hadn’t he talked to Haruka more?

He had thought that Haruka would always be there and had never tried to get to know her. He was blaming himself for that now.

'You know more than enough about her.’

'No, I know nothing… That’s why I don’t know…’

Yakumo bit his lower lip.

'Then you can get to know her better from now on.’

'It’s too late…’

Yakumo’s face twisted like he had eaten something bitter. The incident has already happened – is probably what he wanted to say.

'It’s not too late. And getting to know someone is different from believing in someone.’

'It’s the same. If you know more about somebody, you can use that to understand their thought pattern.’

Gotou couldn’t help but laugh at Yakumo’s words.

'What’s so funny?’ asked Yakumo, looking a bit sulky.

'Thought pattern? Don’t talk about people like data. You can’t use that to understand people’s feelings, right? You said yourself that people sometimes do things you don’t expect – ’

'What are you trying to say?’

Yakumo stood up from the sill.

'I’m saying that you’re thinking too much. Doesn’t matter what people are doing where – their core doesn’t change.’

'What a stupid answer.’

Yakumo gave him a mocking glance.

Strangely, that attitude didn’t annoy Gotou now. He even thought it cute.

'Yeah, but that’s why I’m saying it. You’re thinking too much. Doesn’t matter what friends Haruka-chan has or what she likes. She’s her.’

'Have you never been betrayed by your simple logic?’ asked Yakumo.

'I have,’ Gotou said with force.

It wasn’t just once or twice that he’d believed in people and been betrayed. There were many incidents he didn’t want to remember.

'Then maybe you should learn from it.’

'I’ve learnt to believe in people from it. Like I believe in you – ’

'I might betray you too, Gotou-san.’

'If it happens, it happens,’ said Gotou with a shrug.

Yakumo laughed.

'You really are simple.’

'Won’t deny it,’ said Gotou.

Yakumo turned towards the window again.

Gotou didn’t know what was on Yakumo’s mind as he looked out the window, but he was sure that Yakumo now wanted to move forward.

That was enough for now. One day, Yakumo would be able to believe in somebody without any conditions too.

'Shall we get going?’ Yakumo said suddenly, turning on his heels.

'Get going? Where to?’

Yakumo ignored Gotou’s question and briskly walked down the stairs.

– He really does whatever he wants.

-

10

-

Makoto went to Onda’s research room.

When she contacted him earlier, Onda had immediately made time for her, even though she had just met him yesterday.

That said, today she wanted to ask about the incident, not the novel. The atmosphere would be a bit heavier.

Makoto took a deep breath before knocking on the door and going in.

'Thanks for coming,’ Onda said with a smile. Makoto went inside and sat diagonally from Onda.

'I apologise for coming when you’re busy,’ said Makoto.

'Don’t worry about it,’ Onda replied.

'Actually, I’m here today about yesterday’s incident…’

When Makoto said that, the smile left Onda’s face.

It was a natural response. The victim, Koike Kanae, had been in the literature circle. Even if Onda didn’t talk to her much, he would have at least known her.

'Why did this happen… I don’t know what to say…’

Onda leant back on his chair and looked up at the ceiling. It looked like it had been quite a shock for him.

'Were you close to the victim, Koike-san?’ asked Makoto.

Onda sat up to look at Makoto.

'The police asked me the same thing.’

'The police?’

For a moment, Makoto was surprised, but it was natural for the police to question people close to the victim.

'I want to be of help if I can, but I only knew her in the circle. There isn’t much I can say.’

'That’s fine,’ Makoto said with a nod.

Onda cleared his throat and began to speak.

'To be honest, she was a student that didn’t stand out much. Like I said yesterday, the literature circle regular puts out a literature magazine, so the students in the circle tend to like to write, but…’

Onda paused, but Makoto could guess what he was going to say.

'She wasn’t the type to proactively participate.’

'That’s how she looked to me. Though she had been in the circle for three years, she had never written anything to publish in the magazine.’

That was a bit strange.

Makoto understood since she wrote articles, but writing wasn’t something anybody could do easily. There were people who were inclined towards and against it.

Maybe she realised that she wasn’t inclined towards writing after joining the circle – but after Makoto thought about that, it was also unnatural.

If that were the case, she could have just quit.

It wasn’t as easy for seminars or classes, but you could quit as many circles as you wanted.

'I wonder why she stayed in the literature circle,’ Makoto said to herself.

'I wonder too. I didn’t know either. Maybe I should have asked…’

Onda’s words were filed with regret.

This was another point which made Onda different from the other lecturers. He didn’t just lump all the students into one group – he thought of them all as individuals and interacted with them that way.

He was the type of person who would think about what he could do and act on it.

'I can’t believe this happened… It’s too terrible…’

Onda put his hands together as if in prayer.

It didn’t just sound like a platitude – it felt like he meant it.

'Um… I want to ask one more thing, but…’

Makoto was hesitant, but she spoke anyway.

'What is it?’

'I heard that there is a student named Nishizawa-san who is also in the literature circle.’

'Ah, I think he’s in fourth year.’

'Were Nishizawa-san and Koike-san close?’

This was something Yakumo had told Makoto to ask.

Kanae had brought the issue about the clock tower to Haruka, and Nishizawa was the one she had thought to be possessed.

'Hm, I think they were fairly close.’

'Were they dating?’ asked Makoto.

Onda’s brow furrowed.

'Unfortunately, I’m a bit slow with that sort of thing. Maybe they were, but maybe they weren’t – that’s all I can say.’

Onda was young for an associate professor, but he was already in his early forties. It made sense that he didn’t know much about his students’ love lives when they were twenty years younger than him.

'I see – was there anyone else Koike-san was close with?’

'Close with?’

'Yes.’

'Hm… Ah, right. The person we discussed the other day, Sakurai-kun, was fairly close to her.’

– Sakurai Itsuki.

The hopeful newcomer who had debuted as a novelist while still a student.

'How were they close?’

'It’s hard to say, but I think they were just normally close.’

If Yakumo was right and the clock tower was at the heart of this case, then Sakurai, who claimed that he was made to write his novel by the ghost of the clock tower, could easily be connected to the case somehow.

However, it would be dangerous to have any preconceptions.

Furthermore, a question had come to Makoto.

'Have you ever seen Nishizawa-san and Koike-san talking to each other/’

'Hm… Maybe, but Sakurai-kun’s presence left a stronger impression…’

'I see. By the way, were Sakurai-san and Nishizawa-san close?’

When Makoto asked that, Onda looked troubled and he put a hand on the back of his neck.

'Those two, eh… They had different ways of thinking.’

'How were they different?’

'Sakurai-kun is the type who perceives things through feeling, but Nishizawa-kun is the opposite, taking things logically. That’s why they like different works and always had different opinions.’

'Did they ever fight?’

'A number of incidents like that happened. I would always be called into mediate, but the two are both stubborn…’

Onda smiled wryly.

From that response, it was probably a rather frequent occurrence.

Perhaps the friction between the two had something to do with the case.

'Does it have something to do with this case?’

Onda’s question interrupted Makoto’s thoughts.

'Ah, I…’

'Do you suspect Sakurai-kun or Nishizawa-kun? I heard that the culprit has already been arrested, but…’

It was true that the way Makoto had spoken now would make anyone think that Sakurai or Nishizawa was under suspection.

'No, that isn’t the case,’ Makoto hurriedly objected, regretting the way she had spoken.

She had been intending on gathering information fairly without any preconceptions, but she had been biased.

Haruka wasn’t the culprit – that thought might have made her that way.

Believing in someone meant that there was the danger that biases like that would arise. Was it more important as a person to believe or to clear away all biases in order to solve a case?

Perhaps this was the true nature of Yakumo’s worries –

-

11

-

Ishii visited the security room by the university’s front gates.

It had a large window for a good view of people coming in and out with a counter and a chair.

It was a simple construction and had a break room in the back where there was a table and chairs.

Ishii had come to the break room.

After waiting in a chair, a man who looked to be in his late twenties wearing a navy uniform came in.

'Hello, I’m Ishii from the Setamachi precinct.’

Ishii stood up and held out his police ID.

'My name is Seo.’

The man who called himself Seo gave Ishii a quick bow with his hat still in.

Ishii couldn’t say it was a very friendly reception.

'I would like to ask about the day of the incident…’

After they had both sat down, Ishii took out a memo pad.

Seo was the eyewitness to the incident as well as the person who had contacted the police. Ishii had come for some of Seo’s time so that he could reconfirm what had happened.

'I’ve already told the police everything. Even if you keep coming back…’ mumbled Seo.

He probably was feeling uncharitable because of how many times he had undergone questioning. Perhaps his attitude couldn’t be helped.

However, Ishii couldn’t back down here.

He needed to gather as much information as he could to prove Haruka’s innocence.

'I apologise, but it is necessary.’

Seo sighed.

'Why did you go to the clock tower on the day of the incident, Seo-san?’

'Why? Just because it’s the last route I take on my rounds…’ replied Seo, rubbing his eyes.

He was probably very tired because he had been questioned until late at night. Ishii felt bad, but he still had to ask.

'Is the clock tower included in your route?’

'Ah, it isn’t, but…’

'What is it?’

'I said this late night. When I passed by, I heard something like a woman’s scream.’

Seo wiped sweat off his forehead with a handkerchief.

'What did it sound like exactly?’

'What did it… It’s hard to explain with words. Something like “Aaah”, I think.’

'What did you do then, Seo-san?’

'I thought it was strange so I went to the clock tower. Then, I heard some noises… I went inside because I thought somebody was there.’

Seo scratched under his nose.

It was normal for a guard to go check if they heard something like a scream, but –

'Did you go alone?’

'Yes,’ Seo replied matter-of-factly.

'Didn’t you think about calling for help?’

If Ishii had been in the same situation, he definitely wouldn’t have gone alone.

'I wasn’t sure I heard a scream then and the university campus is large. Everyone is working in different areas. It would take too long if we went and called for someone else every time anything happened.’

Perhaps it was just as Seo said.

Meisei University had a large campus with many buildings. It had differences in elevation as well, so it would take a lot of time to call for anybody.

'I see… Where did you enter the clock tower from?’

'From the back entrance.’

'Why did you go from the back?’

A guard would have the key. It would be more effective to enter from the front.

'I wasn’t planning on going in at first.’

'Is that so?’

'I was sure that it was just some students playing around, so I thought I’d just go around the clock tower once to check.’

'Then why did you go inside?’ asked Ishii, which made Seo sigh.

'Detective, do you suspect me?’

'No, that’s not it…’

Though Ishii hurriedly denied it, Seo’s anger wasn’t settled.

'This happened lasn ight too, but I just reported the crime, and yet you detectives are saying this and that about…’

'I apologise…’

Ishii bowed his head.

Seo wasn’t the first to react this way.

As a detective, you had to check every detail to find out the truth. However, many people took that as their being under suspicion.

Perhaps Ishii would feel that way himself if a detective did the same thing to him. That said, he couldn’t just stop here.

'We don’t suspect you, but in an investigation, we need to ask for every detail. Could I ask for your cooperation for just a bit longer?’ Ishii asked formally.

Seo let out a deep sigh, but since he didn’t stand up from his seat, Ishii took that as agreement.

'Was the back door open?’ Ishii asked.

Seo put his chin in his hands as he thought.

'It was open.’

'I see. Then what did you do?’

'I turned on my torch and went inside. Then, I heard people arguing from the room on top so I went up the stairs. There…’

Seo stopped talking.

Ishii gulped. He wanted to know what happened next, but at the same time, he didn’t want to.

Ishii still thought that there had to be some sort of mistake. Haruka would never hurt anyone.

However, once he heard the words from Seo’s mouth, there was no going back. He was afraid that what he had believed in would crumble.

'I saw a woman hit another woman with a metal pipe,’ said Seo.

The moment Ishii heard that, his head went blank. For a while, he was in shock.

Seo was speaking, but nothing went into Ishii’s ears.

He had believed that pursuing the truth would bring him to Haruka’s innocence, but he had been given evidence proving her crime instead.

Why did Haruka do something like hitting Kanae with a metal pipe?

No matter how much Ishii thought, he couldn’t find an answer.

-

12

-

Gotou and Yakumo headed for the north side of campus – about ten minutes from the clock tower.

Gotou always just went straight for Yakumo’s hideaway when he came to Meisei University. He hadn’t thought that the place was this huge.

The incline was sharp too – it was pretty tough.

Yakumo stopped in front of a three-storey building.

'So what’s inside?’ asked Gotou as he looked up at the building.

It looked like it had been built recently, with a concrete construction.

'This building has rooms for circle and club activities.’

'That all?’

That’s all.’

Gotou clicked his tongue without thinking.

Making such a big building just for circles – this was completely different from Yakumo’s little prefab.

'Why don’t you move here too?’

Yakumo shook his head.

'I don’t like noisy places.’

Gotou didn’t think it was that noisy, but before he could say that, Yakumo had already gone inside.

'Honestly,’ muttered Gotou, though he followed Yakumo in.

After Gotou stepped inside, he immediately understood what Yakumo had meant by 'noisy’.

Right inside, there was a large lounge. A male student was lying across one of the sofas there while playing acoustic guitar. Two female students were sitting there, entranced as they listened.

A little further away, six students were playing some sort of game loudly.

Furthermore, there were students working on something on their laptops and a young man and woman playing hide and seek.

'It is pretty noisy…’

'That’s what I meant.’

Yakumo glanced at the commotion behind him before going up the stairs.

'So where are you going?’ asked Gotou as he followed Yakumo, which made Yakumo stop halfway up the stairs.

'You came without knowing?’ said Yakumo with a dramatic sigh.

'Since you didn’t explain.’

'What kind of excuse is that?’

'Just explain already.’

'You’ll find out if you follow me.’

Yakumo began walking up the stairs again.

When Yakumo got like this, there was no point trying to get an answer out of him. Gotou gave up and followed Yakumo.

In the corridor on the second floor, there were doors with small windows lined along the wall, like karaoke boxes. There were probably the circle rooms Yakumo had mentioned.

Gotou realised Yakumo’s goal upon seeing the nameplate on one of the doors.

The second door from the end read <Literature Circle – The Clock Tower>. If Gotou remembered correctly, Kanae, the victim, had been in the literature circle.

Yakumo knocked on the door.

After a while, a young man who was pale and thing opened the door.

His hair was unkempt and his almond eyes looked very intelligent – he felt kind of like Yakumo.

'Is somebody named Nishizawa-san here?’ Yakumo asked in a flat tone.

The young man who had opened the door looked suspicious. 'That’s me…’

'So you’re Nishizawa-san. That’s perfect. Would you talk to us?’ as Yakumo said as he tried to go inside.

'Hey.’ Nishizawa pushed Yakumo back out.

'What are you here for so suddenly?’

Nishizawa’s suspicion made sense.

Yakumo normally did this sort of thing more skilfully, but this was too forceful.

'My name is Saitou Yakumo. Koike Kanae-san consulted me about the ghost that appears in the clock tower.’

'Ah, that… Come in. Nobody’s here right now…’

Nishizawa opened the door wide to let them in.

Gotou and Yakumo nodded at each other and then went inside. The room was probably about ten tatami in size. It was bigger than Yakumo7s room and was clean, since it was new.

There was a table in the middle of the rom, and the walls were lined with full bookshelves.

'Who’s that?’

Nishizawa looked at Gotou.

Gotou was about to introduce himself, but Yakumo stopped him.

'Though this person looks the way he does, he is a famous medium,’ said Yakumo, pointing at Gotou with his chin.

Yakumo probably thought that they would get more information if Gotou didn’t say that he was with the police, but medium? Gotou didn’t like it, but he nodded confidently and in a way he hoped was medium-like. 'Yes, my name is Gotou.’

'I can’t believe this happened…’ said Nishizawa as they sat down at the table.

His voice was filled with frustration.

'Yes…’ replied Yakumo, looking down.

'When I met that girl yesterday, I didn’t think that she would kill Kanae-chan…’

Nishizawa sighed slightly.

Though Gotou was irritated that Nishizawa was already sure that Haruka had killed her, he bore with it. They wouldn’t get any information if he made a fuss now.

'Did you meet the two of them yesterday?’ asked Yakumo in a flat tone, like he wasn’t really interested.

'Kanae-chan called me out to the cafeteria… Then, she said she thought I was possessed by a ghost and wanted me to meet with somebody who was knowledgeable about them…’

After Nishizawa said that, Gotou finally understood some of the background of the case.

'But you didn’t come to me in the end.’

Yakumo gave Nishizawa a sharp gaze.

'I said no. Since I’m not possessed by any ghost – ’

'It appears that way.’

'Eh?’

Yakumo’s words seemed to have surprised Nishizawa.

'I can see the spirits of the dead – that is, ghosts.’

'You being serious?’

'Yes. It doesn’t bother me if you don’t believe me. In any case, you aren’t possessed.’

'As I thought.’

It wasn’t clear whether Nishizawa believed Yakumo or not, but he laughed slightly, before looking sad again

'Putting aside the possession incident, did you actually see a ghost in the clock tower?’ asked Yakumo.

For a moment, Nishizawa looked troubled.

'I said I saw one then, but now that I think about it, I feel like I just saw something like it.’

'In short, you didn’t see clearly.’

'Yeah, which is why I said…’ murmured Nishizawa.

'What is it?’ asked Yakumo.

'Ah, Kanae-chan was worried about me, but I kept telling her that it was nothing. And yet…’

Nishizawa’s voice was filled with frustration.

Though it was faint, there were tears in his eyes.

'Did you meet with Kanae-san after that?’

'That was the last time – ’

Nishizawa shut his eyes tightly and sniffled.

He had to be regretting what happened. Maybe he was thinking that this might not have happened if he had talked to Kanae more.

'I apologise for asking, but what relationship did you have with Kanae-san?’

Gotou had the same question as Yakumo.

'What do you mean?’

'Was it just that she was your junior in the circle? Or did you have a personal relationship?’

Nishizawa frowned.

'There was nothing like you’re imagining. She was closer to Sakurai than to me…’

'Do you mean Sakurai Itsuki-san?’

'Yeah.’

The moment Sakurai’s name came up, Nishizawa’s face twisted in dislike.

Even without his saying it, Gotou could easily tell that they didn’t get along.

'Were Sakurai-san and Kanae-san dating?’

'Who knows? I never heard anything about that… I’m going to change the topic, but…’

Nishizawa paused.

'What is it?’ Yakumo asked, leaning forward.

Nishizawa seemed hesitant, but then he said, 'The girl named Ozawa-san. I don’t know her well, so maybe it’s not something I can say, but I feel like she isn’t the one who killed Kanae-chan…’

Those words hit Gotou with impact.

'What is your reason for thinking that?’ asked Yakumo.

Nishizawa looked wry. 'I don’t have any proof or anything. I just feel that way…’

After saying that, he looked out the window.

Was he really saying that just from a feeling?

'Do you perhaps have any hints of a reason for thinking that way?’

Yakumo asked Nishizawa what Gotou was thinking.

'Nothing really, but… since something similar happened before…’

Nishizawa’s voice was shaking slightly.

'When you say before – do you mean when Mizuhara Noriko committed suicide?’

Nishizawa’s eyes went wide.

'You know?’

'Yes. I think that the ghost wandering the clock tower is hers.’

After Yakumo said that, Nishizawa murmured something.

Gotou didn’t hear it. He asked about it, but Nishizawa just denied saying anything.

-

13

-

Ishii looked up at the looming clock tower.

The clock’s needles were stopped and no longer served their purposes, but the tower was still a symbol of the university.

It was mysterious how the clock tower seemed intimidating now when Ishii hadn’t paid it any attention before.

It was different since he knew something had happened there.

'Don’t space out.’

His head was suddenly hit from behind.

He knew who it was without turning around.

’D-Detective Gotou…’ said Ishii wihle holding his head.

Gotou was there, with Yakumo standing next to him. Though Yakumo normally had a sharp glint in his eye even when he seemed distant, he seemed terribly unreliable now.

Though he was forcing himself to look expressionless, Ishii could tell he was shaken underneath that mask.

It wasn’t just Yakumo.

Ishii was still shaken now. He would believe in Haruka – he had decided to do that, but still, everything shook him up.

'How was it?’ asked Gotou, interrupting Ishii’s thoughts.

'Eh, ah, yes…’

Ishii cleared his throat, pushed up his silver-framed glasses and explained in detail what he had heard from the guard named Seo. According to Seo, he had clearly seen the moment when Haruka hit Kanae. In short, no matter the reason, Haruka had hit Kanae with a metal pipe – that was fact.

That was the biggest reason for the doubt Ishii had.

'Impossible,’ said Gotou in a dark, low voice.

Ishii wanted to think that too, but wishing for something wasn’t going to change this.

'B-but…’

'To hell with your “buts”! That guy’s lying, no doubt about it!’ Gotou roared.

'Why would a guard lie like that?’ said Yakumo.

That’s…’

Gotou’s fury instantly died down.

Ishii felt the same way. There was no reason for the guard named Seo to lie. Saying that he had lied just because they wanted to believe Haruka was innocent would make it impossible for them to find out the truth.

'That means there’s one possibility – ’ said Ishii. Gotou and Yakumo both turned to look at him.

This made Ishii strangely nervous so he couldn’t speak like he wanted to.

'Please let us here your opinion, Ishii-san.’

It was incredibly unusual for Yakumo to ask for an opinion.

Perhaps this incident had made him lose confidence in his own thoughts.

That said, Ishii was hesitant to share his opinion, since there was a fatal flaw in his theory.

'Just say it.’

Gotou hit his head.

'There was a rumour about a ghost in the clock tower. Perhaps that ghost possessed Haruka-chan and assaulted…’

Ishii gulped after saying that much. It was one of the possibilities Yakumo had mentioned before.

He felt like it had become real now.

The same thing had happened in the case of the Tree of Deceit, which had been very close to Ishii’s heart.

'Idiot! That doesn’t help clear Haruka’s name!’ yelled Gotou.

Ishii knew that, and that was the problem in his theory.

If Haruka had really committed the crime while possessed, it would be impossible to clear Haruka’s name.

With the police and courts currently, nobody would accept that a crime was committed by a ghost. Even if it was true –

'It hasn’t yet been determined that she didn’t do it…’

Yakumo was the one who spoke.

Ishii turned his surprised gaze towards Yakumo. Gotou looked just as shocked.

'You…’

Gotou started to speak, but Yakumo interrupted him.

'Please don’t make me keep repeating myself. If we do not consider all possibilities, the truth will be warped,’ Yakumo said without interest.

Gotou grabbed Yakumo by the lapels.

'You – I thought you believed in her!’

'Who said that?’ Yakumo said calmly.

'Then why are you even investigating? Aren’t you investigating for Haruka-chan’s sake!?’

Gotou’s face was bright red, but Yakumo looked as calm as usual.

However, there was no resignation or sorrow in his expression. Rather, Ishii thought Yakumo looked strong, but kind.

Perhaps it was determination that he saw.

'I am investigating this case for my own sake,’ said Yakumo, at which point Gotou let go.

'For your own sake?’

'Yes.’

'What do you mean?’

'I don’t care whether she’s a murderer or not. I just want to know what happened.’

Yakumo’s calm words made gave Ishii gooseflesh.

That was Yakumo’s determination.

Ishii and Gotou were worried about whether Haruka had killed somebody. The truth of that would determine how Haruka was treated and how their relationship with her would change – those details were their concern.

However, Yakumo was different –

Yakumo still didn’t believe in Haruka, but that was why he was trying to find out what happened.

Even if the results weren’t something he wanted to here, he was probably determined to accept them in their entirety.

– I can’t win.

It was frustrating, but Ishii felt that.

He felt like he had just seen how accepting the person named Yakumo was.

'I get it.’

After a silence, Gotou laughed wryly and said that.

Gotou had probably felt Yakumo’s determination too.

'Then, I have one request…’

Yakumo narrowed his eyes.

Ishii prepared himself immediately. When Yakumo looked like that, it was always an unreasonable request.

'What?’ asked Gotou, whether he understood that or not.

'Let me meet with her – ’

Ishii couldn’t hide his agitation.

To be honest, it was near impossible for Yakumo and Haruka to meet in this situation.

It would have been different perhaps if they were in charge of the case, but Shinoda and Onodera wouldn’t accept a request like that.

'What’ll you do if you meet her?’ asked Gotou, looking troubled.

'There are a number of things I want to confirm. It would be quickest for me to meet her directly to confirm whether she is possessed or not.’

That was true.

Yakumo, who could see the spirits of the dead, would be able to tell immediately if he met Haruka whether she was possessed or not.

However, the only people in the force that believed in Yakumo’s special ability were Gotou, Ishii and Miyagawa.

Saying that he wanted to see if Haruka was possessed wouldn’t work.

'That’s true, but… getting you to meet her would be…’

Even Gotou looked bitter.

'Would it be difficult even for you, Gotou-san?’

Yakumo gave Gotou a cold glance.

It was a question made by somebody who knew Gotou well. Yakumo knew that if he asked Gotou a question like that, it would light a fire behind him.

'No, I’ll do something about it,’ said Gotou, puffing out his chest with confidence.

Meanwhile, Ishii just held his head in his hands.

-

14

-

Makoto joined up with Yakumo after talking to Onda.

It felt strange. She always met with Yakumo in the Movie Research Circle room. She couldn’t remember ever walking around campus like this with him.

Yakumo walked with his shoulders rounded and head down.

It was posture that avoided other students’ gazes.

He probably did this not because of the cold but out of habit to hide his red eye.

And now, the only person who had accepted that red eye, Haruka, was the suspect in a murder case.

His refined profile looked distant as usual, but his heart had to be in a storm.

Makoto couldn’t find the words to say.

After walking for a while, they reached the same lounge Makoto had been in yesterday.

Today, Sakurai was there already and stood up to bow politely upon seeing Makoto.

'I apologise for taking so much of your time when you’re busy.’

'No…’ Sakurai replied in a hoarse voice. There was none of yesterday’s refreshing manner.

According to Onda, Sakurai had been close to the murder victim, Kanae. The death of somebody close to him had probably cast a shadow on him.

'This is a Meisei University student…’

'My name is Saitou Yakumo,’ said Yakumo, continuing Makoto’s words.

Sakurai looked suspicious, and Makoto and Yakumo shared a glance.

When Makoto had arranged to meet with Sakurai, she had only told him that there was something she really wanted to ask.

He must have thought it was something to do about yesterday’s interview, so now he was confused about why a student from the same university was here.

'Actually, I want to ask you about yesterday’s incident,’ Makoto said once they had all sat down.

Sakurai’s expression looked pained.

'I… To be honest, I still can’t believe it…’

Sakurai’s fists were gripped tightly on his lap. Veins bulged in his thin arms.

He appeared to be desperately trying to keep in his overflowing emotions.

'I heard that you were very close to Kanae-san,’ said Makoto.

Sakurai sighed. 'Yes, well…’

'What sort of girl was Kanae-san?’

'She didn’t speak up much, but she was a very kind girl.’

'In what way?’

'When we went out to drink, she would go and ask for everyone’s orders, and she would watch over those who had drunk too much. She was just really kind. I’ve never seen her angry…’

As Sakurai spoke, his sniffled.

The tears in his eyes looked like they might fall out at any moment.

It hurt to watch him.

It was natural, but in a case, there were perpetrators and victims. Perhaps they hadn’t been looking properly at the victims since Haruka was the suspect in this case.

Makoto felt that terribly now.

'I see…’

'Why did Kanae-chan have to be killed?’

Sakurai turned his gaze towards the clock tower outside the window.

'Do you have any ideas along that line?’ Makoto asked directly.

Sakurai thought for a moment, but then he shook his head.

'I can’t think of anything. Actually, I heard the perpetrator was a student in the same seminar…’

Sakurai didn’t know that Makoto knew Haruka. He probably didn’t even know the suspect’s name.

Still, Sakurai’s words struck deep in Makoto’s heart.

'Actually – ’

Yakumo, who had been silent until now, suddenly began to speak.

'Yesterday, before Kanae-san passed away, she consulted me about a spiritual phenomenon.’

'A spiritual phenomenon?’

Sakurai cocked his head.

'Yes. Do you know a person in the same circle by the name of Nishizawa-san?’

'Yes,’ responded Sakurai.

There was no change in his expression. Onda had made it sound like they were at it like cats and dogs, so it was a bit of a let-down, but Sakurai was probably too mature to show anything in front of a stranger.

'Apparently, Nishizawa-san experienced a spiritual phenomenon when he went to the clock tower. Did you hear anything about that?’

Sakurai shook his head slightly.

'I haven’t.’

'Kanae-san said that Nishizawa-san had been acting strangely ever since… It appears she thought that he was possessed by a ghost.’

'I see…’

'Did you feel anything?’

'Eh?’

'In regards to Nishizawa-san’s behaviour. Did you think he was acting differently than usual, as Kanae-san did?’

Sakurai’s expression turned severe.

'I didn’t notice anything in particular. Actually, Nishizawa and I don’t talk much…’

'Are you on bad terms?’

'To say it clearly, yes. Though I feel like I’m just being hated in a one-way fashion…’

'Has it been that way ever since you enrolled here, or was there some sort of impetus?’

Yakumo kept asking questions.

Makoto didn’t know what he was thinking, but it was clear he was going somewhere.

Makoto swallowed and watched the two of them talk.

'Even if you ask about an impetus…’ said Sakurai.

'Wasn’t there something? Perhaps three years ago – ’

The moment Yakumo said that, the blood left Sakurai’s face.

Three years ago – that was when a student in the literature circle had committed suicide by jumping from the clock tower.

'What are you talking about?’ asked Sakurai, his brow furrowed.

Perhaps he was trying to play dumb, but he wasn’t very good at acting.

'You don’t know?’ asked Yakumo.

Makoto felt that Yakumo really was amazing at talking.

'I don’t.’

'I see… That’s when a student in your circle committed suicide by jumping,’ said Yakumo, as if to remind Sakurai, at which point Sakurai finally acknowledged it.

'Ah, that…’

Though he was acting like he’d just remembered, it was far too unnatural.

'Did you really forget?’ asked Yakumo, eyes narrowed.

'Rather than forgetting it… I didn’t realise what you were talking about since you just said three years ago.’

Sakurai smiled wryly.

'You said that you were made to write a novel by the ghost of the clock tower.’

'Yes.’

'I thought that the ghost in the clock tower was the student who jumped from there to kill herself, but am I wrong?’

Yakumo was smiling.

It was a frightening smile that made a chill run down Makoto’s spine.

'What on earth are you talking about? I don’t understand at all… Please excuse me.’

Sakurai stood up as he said that, clearly upset, and he left, just like that.

Makoto didn’t feel like following him.

She was more interested in why Yakumo had asked that.

'Makoto-san, you have the previous things he’s written, yes?’

Yakumo spoke before Makoto could.

'I have the previous magazines published by the literature circle.’

She had the volumes she had borrowed from Onda before the incident.

'Would you mind lending them to me?’

'I don’t mind, but…’

Yakumo’s mobile phone rang, interrupting Makoto.

-

15

-

Haruka sat on the chair in the interrogation room, half in shock.

It had been a chain of shocking and unbelievable events.

She had still been trying to accept the fact that Kanae had been killed when she was told that Haruka herself had killed her.

Furthermore, Haruka herself had confessed.

She didn’t remember saying anything like that. She had just found out that Kanae was dead.

She felt like she had fallen into another universe. She kept hoping that she would wake up from this dream.

Though part of it was because of the unbelievable situation wherein she had been turned into a murderer, more than anything else, she couldn’t accept that Kanae was dead.

She didn’t even have time to grieve with the interrogation.

Furthermore, she couldn’t remember any of what the detectives were telling her, but they didn’t believe her when she told them that.

Her chest hurt.

She felt as though her organs had been carved out of her while she was still alive. 

She hadn’t known that not being believed would hurt so much.

She even felt that it would be easier to just accept that she had done it, as everyone was telling her, if she was going to suffer so.

Somebody who had been framed and claimed their innocence had said something similar before.

Now, Haruka understood.

At this rate, she felt like her very existence would be shaken.

– Yakumo-kun, help me.

Just as Haruka murmured that in her heart, the investigation room opened.

It was probably those two detectives again. Haruka didn’t feel like lifting her head.

Somebody sat in front of her.

The air that came in had a familiar smell. A warm, pleasant smell that seemed to melt her frozen heart.

The smell made Haruka look up and she held her breath unconsciously.

Somebody she knew well was in front of her – Yakumo was sitting there.

His usual sleepy eyes and messy hair. It felt so nostalgic.

'Are you doing OK?’ said Yakumo in his flat tone.

It was, without a doubt, Yakumo’s voice –

Haruka didn’t know why Yakumo was here, but she didn'tcare. She was so happy to see him.

'Yeah…’

As she nodded, tears started pouring out.

All the emotions she had been keeping in came out in a surge, and her tears wouldn’t stop falling.

– I can’t see Yakumo through the tears.

As Haruka sobbed, she rubbed frantically at her eyes.

'It’s OK…’ said Yakumo, placing a hand on Haruka’s shoulder.

That was enough to make all the pain and sadness go away.

Haruka wanted to just hug Yakumo tightly and cry until she felt better.

'I don’t have that much time. Let me ask you a few questions – ’ said Yakumo quietly.

When Haruka heard those words, she understood what Yakumo was here for.

'OK…’

Haruka nodded and took deep breaths to calm down.

'Did you go to the clock tower that night?’

'Yes.’

'Why?’

'I was going to your place when I saw Kanae walking near the clock tower.’

'Was she alone?’

Haruka shook her head.

'She was alone, but it looked like she was following somebody…’

'What happened after?’

'I don’t remember… Sorry…’

The memories after that were vague. Before she’d noticed it, she was being interrogated as a murder suspect.

Haruka bit her lower lip.

Even though Yakumo had come to see her, all she could give him was vague information. She wasn’t helping at all.

She felt so frustrated that tears started to well up again.

'I see… So it was you…’

Yakumo suddenly started to murmur.

'Eh?’

Haruka began to ask a question, but Yakumo stopped her.

'Why are you here?’

'I…’

When Haruka tried to respond, Yakumo shook his head. It was a strange conversation, but there had to be a point to it.

Haruka shut her mouth and watched.

'I see… That was taken as a confession…’

After saying that, Yakumo let out a long sigh.

Suddenly, there was a commotion on the other side of the door. Somebody was arguing.

'There’s no time. Last, I want to hear just one thing from your mouth – ’

Yakumo looked at Haruka with serious eyes.

'What?’

'Did you kill her?’

Yakumo’s words stabbed Haruka in the heart.

She couldn’t believe that Yakumo would suspect her too – for a moment, she was disappointed, but that changed when she saw Yakumo’s eyes.

Yakumo wasn’t asking because he doubted Haruka. It was because he was trying to believe in her.

'It wasn’t me… I don’t remember… but it wasn’T me…’

After Haruka said that, Yakumo smiled slightly.

'I’ll believe in you.’

Those words were enough to make Haruka’s heart feel lighter.

She felt like she would be able to bear whatever anybody told her now.

'Yakumo-kun…’

'Can you believe in me?’ asked Yakumo as he slowly stood up.

He didn’t even have to ask. Haruka had always believed in Yakumo.

'Yes.’

After Haruka nodded, Yakumo smiled wryly and ran a hand through his messy hair.

'OK. I’ll hurry. Deny whatever anybody asks you.’

'OK.’

Just as Haruka nodded, the door burst open, and Gotou and Ishii along with the detectives who had been interrogating Haruka, Shinoda and Onodera, came rushing in.

'What are you doing here!?’ yelled Sonoda as he went up to Yakumo.

However, Yakumo wasn’t disturbed.

'Sorry. I was looking for the washroom, but it seems I’m lost,’ said Yakumo, playing dumb.

'Like that excuse would work!’

Shinoda tried to grab Yakumo, but Gotou stepped in the way. Onodera joined the fray and Ishii tried to stop that.

In the scrabble, Yakumo casually opened the door and stepped outside.

Just before Yakumo left, he turned around once and gave Haruka a small nod.

Though he didn’t speak, it felt like he was saying, 'Believe in me.’

Haruka replied with a big nod.

That was enough for her to believe in Yakumo, no matter what happened next –

ANOTHER FILES THE TOWER OF JUDGEMENTfile 02: for whom-1-All Ishii could do was watch as Haruka was put into the police car and taken away.He had never imagined that he would ever see such a sight.They're just screwing around!' shouted Gotou beside Ishii. His voice was filled with frustration.Ishii understood his anger as well.Haruka would never kill someone, but Sonoda and Onodera were already calling her the perpetrator.'Haruka-chan really''Of course not!' yelled Gotou, interrupting Ishii's words.Ishii's shoulders jolted as he looked at Gotou, whose face was lit up with anger. He was probably so angry because he believed in Haruka.'But there's testimony'That was the biggest problem.Though the details were still unclear, according to Sonoda, a guard had seen Haruka commit the murder.There was no way to escape that.'The guard's gotta be wrong! Must've been too dark to see properly!'That was possible.If they checked the testimony thoroughly, there might be a hole in it.However the more Ishii tried to believe, the greater the suspicion in his heart grew. That was a fact.The reason Ishii felt that way was Haruka.Haruka hadn't responded at all even when Gotou and Ishii arrived. She hadn't been unconscious or anything, but her eyes had been unfocussed and seemed hollow.Could it be that Haruka had killed somebody instinctively and was now in shock?If that was the case no, of course it wasn't.Ishii shook away the thoughts in his head. This was no time to think about that. HE had to confirm the situation first.'Eh?'Ishii noticed something odd.'What?' asked Gotou.'Yakumo-shi where did he go?'Gotou had explained the situation to Yakumo after he was kept out of the scene of the crime.Ishii had worried that Yakumo would be shocked or go on a rampage, but unexpectedly, he had only replied curtly, 'Is that so?'His words had been so weak and emotionless. He hadn't even seen Haruka off he had just disappeared. How will Yakumo-shi take this case?Ishii didn't know.'It's him. He's gotta have some sort of plan.'Ishii couldn't simply believe Gotou's words. Was that really true? Ishii couldn't shake that question away.'Anyway, we've gotta go too,' said Gotou.'Eh? Go? Where to?''Obviously to find out what happened!'Gotou's fist came crashing down.'But I don't think they'll give us any information'Those were Ishii's true feelings.Sonoda and Gotou had a terrible relationship. It would be hard to believe that Sonoda would just give information to Gotou.'Stop thinking about it. We're going to get the info no matter what!'After declaring that, Gotou strode away.Ishii tried to follow him, but he immediately tripped on something and fell.'What are you doing!?'With Gotou urging Ishii to rush, Ishii hurriedly stood up, but he suddenly felt a strange presence as he looked up.He saw a person in the shadow of the school building looking up at the clock tower. Since they were at a distance, Ishii couldn't see their face, but it looked like a small-framed student. A curious onlooker?'Ishii, what are you doing!?'Gotou's yell made Ishii jump up and hurry over.-2-Yakumo sat with his legs out in the dark room.His head felt heavy.It was hard to breathe, perhaps because his breaths were short.Gotou had told him something shocking.Haruka was a suspect in a murder case.To be honest, he couldn't believe it, but he also couldn't firmly deny it.His thoughts wouldn't let him. Did you do it?Though Yakumo could just meet her and confirm the truth, he had returned to this room, as if running away.Perhaps he was afraid of finding out.If Haruka replied, 'Yes,' he felt like something important within him would break. No, it can't be! She would never kill someone!Though he denied it loudly in his heart, his thoughts stopped him once more. What do you know about her?There was a voice in the back of his head.It was correct.He knew almost frighteningly little about the person called Haruka.What kind of friends she had, what she liked, what kind of life she had walked he had never asked her anything.Though they had solved many cases together, that was all.No matter how his heart tried to deny it, he had no evidence to declare so.Gotou, the complete opposite of Yakumo, was furious.Haruka was under suspicion, but there was no way that she'd've done it that was what he said.To Yakumo, that was so strange he couldn't understand.Why did he believe so much in somebody he didn't know that much about? Even if they did have a close relationship, people changed depending on the environment and situation.There was no way to grasp every action that somebody else took, so believing in somebody that was nothing but ego.Yakumo ran a hand through his hair and looked up at the low ceiling.The Movie Research Circle room which always felt small felt incredibly large.He even felt like he himself had shrunk. Why did this happen?To be honest, when Yakumo took the case from Haruka and Kanae, he hadn't thought it was that serious.From Yakumo's perspective, as somebody who had a red eye that could see the spirits of the dead and always saw ghosts, he didn't understand people who made such a fuss, saying ghosts were behind things.He had planned on just fixing things up and brushing it off, so he had told Haruka to bring Nishizawa, the young man who was thought to be possessed. Had I been wrong to do that?If he had gone together with her, perhaps this wouldn't have happened. What do I mean by this?Yakumo realised that in his thoughts he had already determined Haruka to be the perpetrator. Do I think of Haruka as somebody who would hurt other people?Yakumo thought about it, but he couldn't come up with an answer.He knew nothing about Haruka, so he had no way of answering.It was like he knew, but he knew nothing. She was only a stranger. He didn't even know himself that well, so how could he believe in a stranger he knew nothing about?Yakumo held his head in his hands. What should I do now?Yakumo had lost his grip on the situation.-3-The next morning, Gotou went to the general hospital.He found the person he was looking for after he went through the entrance.It was Miyagawa, the chief of the detectives. He was talking to two guards about something probably last night's case.Before Gotou could talk to him, Miyagawa noticed Gotou and waved.'How is the situation?' asked Gotou immediately, at which point Miyagawa stuck out his chin as if to say 'Follow me'. He probably didn't want to talk in front of the guards.They went out the entrance to the courtyard. Miyagawa sat on the bench.Gotou sat next to him.'How'd you know I was here?' said Miyagawa.'Heard from some detectives that you were looking at the victim'Gotou and Ishii were completely kept out of the loop regarding last night's case.No, kept out wasn't the right expression. It was out of the Unsolved Cases jurisdiction anyway.Gotou couldn't leave the situation as it was though, so he had gone around trying to get information.First, he got some detectives to try to get them to tell him how the investigation was going, but they just kept saying, 'We have nothing to discuss.'Gotou wasn't on this case, so he was nothing more than smoke, but it was also probably because he knew the suspect, Haruka.He somehow managed to find out that Haruka was being held in detention and would be interrogated in the morning.There, Gotou changed his method and asked where Miyagawa was.Miyagawa had been paired up with Gotou when Gotou had just joined up, with Miyagawa a veteran detective who acted as his teacher.He worked the scene hard and tended to get emotional, but he was somebody who you could trust. Most importantly, he was one of the rare people who didn't ignore Gotou and Ishii in the Unsolved Cases department.Gotou had gone to Miyagawa, thinking that he might tell him something.'So you want me to share info' murmured Miyagawa, leaning forward.'Yes.''Honestly You really won't listen to anyone once you've had your say.''That's what you taught me, Miyagawa-san.'Gotou's words made Miyagawa smile.'What do you want to know?''Is the autopsy finished?'That was Gotou's first question.Since it was a murder, the female victim would be sent to autopsy. If Miyagawa was at the hospital, that meant that there were autopsy results.'Cause of death was cerebral contusion. One hit to the head 'Miyagawa's tone was heavy.'Which meant she had been hit pretty hard,' said Gotou.Miyagawa smiled bitterly.'Well, yeah.''Then wouldn't it be likely that the perp is a strong man?' objected Gotou, but Miyagawa frowned.'You know the suspect, right?''Yes.''Is it true that a friend of that kid?'The kid Miyagawa was referring to was Yakumo.Miyagawa was one of the few people on the force who knew Yakumo could see ghosts with his left eye and believed him.Miyagawa had met with Yakumo before too.'Yes.' Gotou nodded.Yakumo and Haruka were friends was something he couldn't just say with their relationship, but it wasn't something Gotou needed to explain now.'I understand why you don't want to believe it, but you're a detective. Don't have any preconceptions.''I don't,' objected Gotou, but Miyagawa didn't accept that.'Really?''Eh?''Think about it. The perpetrator didn't assault the victim barehanded. They used an iron pipe.''But''Even somebody who doesn't have a lot of strength can kill.'Gotou understood what Miyagawa was saying.But that wasn't the only reason Gotou was saying Haruka wasn't the perp.'Haruka-chan isn't the sort of girl who would wave around an iron pipe.'Gotou had met with Haruka countless times through cases.She was the type of person who would never harm somebody else, no matter what happened. She'd put herself in danger first that was her strength.'That's a preconception.''Maybe, but there's no motive either.''Can't say that.''Why not?''The victim, Koike Kanae, twenty-one years old, was in the same seminar as Ozawa Haruka, the suspect. There's the possibility that they had a disagreement about something.'Suspect that word left an unpleasant feeling in Gotou's heart.He had never thought that Haruka would be called that.'Even if there was some sort of trouble, she wouldn't go hitting somebody with a pipe.''I'm saying that's a preconception. People sometimes do things you don't expect. People who are normally quiet suddenly going on a violent rampage there's countless cases of that,' said Miyagawa hotly.It was true that Gotou had seen several cases like that too. When going around questioning afterwards, people would always say, 'I can't believe that person would'But still Gotou couldn't accept it.'I accept that, but this time is definitely different. There's got to be some sort of mistake.''Why are you going that far to cover for her?'Gotou hadn't thought Miyagawa would ask that, so he wasn't sure how to answer.'Do I need a reason to believe in her?' said Gotou, which made Miyagawa sigh.'Even if you say that, there is evidence. The suspect's fingerprints were on the iron pipe.''She might have just picked up the weapon at some time.'Gotou was still objecting.He knew it was a weak excuse, but he still didn't want to accept it.'Maybe if there were only the fingerprints, but there's a witness too.''The guard?''Yeah. The guard reported the incident and arrested the suspect. He had heard a woman scream on his rounds, and when he went to the scene, he saw the suspect hit the victim with an iron pipe.'You could call it incriminating.If he had come later, it would have been a different story, but if he had seen the moment of the attack, there was nothing that could be said. But still 'He might've been mistaken. It was dark, right?''Unfortunately, that's unlikely. The guard had a torch.''I still won't believe,' Gotou said forcefully, standing up.'Calm down. You're too emotional right now. Keep a cool head 'Gotou felt Miyagawa's words were strange.In the past, Miyagawa wouldn't try to politely convince his subordinates he'd just drop his fist on them and scorn them.Though sometimes Gotou resented that, it was because Miyagawa was that way that he relied on and respected him.That was the case with investigations too.If Miyagawa didn't accept something, no matter what the higher-ups said or how the evidence looked, he would keep going anyway.And yet 'I misjudged you.''What?''I've never kept a cool head, now or in the past. I always ran forward, emotions first.'Gotou puffed out his chest, which made Miyagawa smile in exasperation as he stood up.'What are you boasting about that for?''That's what you taught me, Miyagawa-san.'When Gotou said that, Miyagawa frowned.'That's different from this situation.'Miyagawa's objection was terribly weak.He must have understood himself what was really important, but now that he was in management, he couldn't act as freely as he had done before.Gotou couldn't blame Miyagawa.People had their own positions, and there were roles to go with that. In that sense, Gotou wasn't bound in anyway, which was why 'No matter what anybody tells me, I'm going to do things my way until I'm satisfied.''What are you going to do?' asked Miyagawa.Miyagawa had to know even without Gotou's answer.'I'm going to believe in Haruka-chan and do all I can. That's all 'Saying just that, Gotou put the hospital behind him.-4-Ishii sat on the bench in the corridor and stared at the interrogation room door On the other side of that door, there was an investigation going on right now. When Ishii thought about that, an indescribable pain ran through his chest.Last night, Haruka had been taken into custody as a suspect in a murder case, and Ishii had been fervently trying to gather information with Gotou.Though he had barely slept at all, he didn't feel sleepy or tired.Perhaps he was running on adrenaline.He had to clear Haruka's name no matter what. He wanted as much information as possible now to do that.After a while, the interrogation room door opened Ishii stood up immediately.Sonoda and Onodera came out. It was probably their break.'E-excuse me'Ishii called out to the two of them, who had started to walk down the corridor.Sonoda and Onodera turned around at the same time.The moment Sonoda saw Ishii, he made a very obvious click with his tongue.'You're Gotou's partner, right?' said Gotou, his detest clear.'I'm Ishii of the Unsolved Cases Special Investigation department.''What do you want?'Sonoda glared at Ishii.I want you to tell me about the interrogation it would be easy if Ishii could just say that, but he ended up biting his tongue.'Unlike you, we're busy. If you need something, say it already,' Sonoda said.He didn't speak so provocatively when Gotou was here. He was probably looking down on Ishii now that he was alone.'Er, um I'Ishii tried to speak, but his mouth wasn't working in his anxiety.He hated how he couldn't act strong at times like this. He was such a weak and cowardly good-for-nothing.'I can't hear what you're saying.'Sonoda smiled mockingly.'Er, um''What? Looks like Gotou can't even teach his subordinates properly.' I don't care what you say about me, but I can't forgive anybody who makes fun of Gotou!Anger welled up within Ishii, but he couldn't put it into words properly.He had come to get information, but it was impossible in this situation. Just as he was about to give up and leave, Sonoda called out to him.'Come to think of it, you guys know the suspect, right?'Sonoda had a thin smile on his face.Ishii felt unsettled just from looking at it, but of course he didn't have the guts to say that.'Y-yes.'After Ishii nodded, Sonoda snorted loudly.'She went and hit her friend with an iron pipe. What a crazy woman ''You're wrong!'Even Ishii had to shout at this. His voice was so loud he even surprised himself.'What am I wrong about?'Sonoda seemed shocked, but he got over it immediately and retorted.Haruka wasn't that sort of woman.When Ishii first saw Haruka, he had thought that an angel had come to earth.That was what a pure, sweet and lovely woman she was. Since then, Ishii had met with Haruka through numerous cases, but that first impression hadn't changed. Rather, it had grown stronger.Haruka would never hurt anybody.'Haruka-chan would never do that!' insisted Ishii, but Sonoda just laughed.'What a simple guy you are.''I'm just saying the truth''Too bad for you, but the suspect confessed.''Eh?'For a moment, Ishii didn't understand Sonoda's words.'I'm saying that the suspect confessed to the crime.' Haruka confessed to the crime?Why? That was the question that kept coming to Ishii.'That makes no sense. There must be some mistake, right?' Ishii asked Onodera, clinging to a last hope.'Just earlier, she confessed that everything was her fault,' Onodera said flatly, looking bitter.'But that's'Ishii felt dizzy and backed away, slumping onto the floor.'How pathetic.'Sonoda looked down at Ishii with scorn.Though Ishii felt angry and frustrated, weakness came over him. He couldn't even stand up.'I''We got the suspect's confession, so that's the end of the investigation. Don't go messing around with things 'Sonoda said just that and walked away with Onodera.Ishii vacantly watched them leave. It's a lie! It's a lie! This has to be a lie!Ishii held his head in his hands and screamed in his heart, but doing that didn't change the truth.'What am I' What am I supposed to do now?He had been running around since last night with Gotou because he'd believed in Haruka's innocence, but if she had confessed, nothing they did would change anything.Ishii wasn't sure how long he had just sat there in a stupor. Somebody was calling his mobile.Gotou7s name was on the display. Ishii answered the phone in desperation.'Hello, Ishii Yuutarou speaking 'I know that, idiot?He heard Gotou's displeased voice from the phone.'S-sorry.'I heard a few things from Miyagawa-san ?Gotou quickly told Ishii what he had heard from Miyagawa.However, barely any of it reached Ishii. It didn't matter how much information they had now. It was useless.And on your end?Gotou asked that after he had finished his explanation.He had to tell Gotou what he had heard from Sonoda Ishii knew that, but the words wouldn't come out.'Er um'Can't you say things clearly? 'Sorry.'If you have the time to say sorry, tell me already.Ishii took a deep breath to calm himself down before speaking.'It seems H-Haruka-chan confessed to the crime 'What?Gotou's voice came back like a beast's growl.'I said, Haruka-chan confessed to the'There's no way she did that!Gotou's yell rang in Ishii's ears.Gotou's voice, filled with fiery rage, made Ishii shudder.'B-but''Shut up with your but"s! Why did things end up that way?'I-I don't know, but I just heard it now.'His voice was shaking.What do you mean, you don't know!?'Even if you say that'There's no way Haruka-chan would confess!'But'Find out why that happened!'Even if you tell me to "find out, how am I'Figure it out yourself!Gotou hung up.For a while, Ishii just sat there in shock, head in his hands.He felt like he might cry.Though part of it was fear from Gotou's terrible rebuking, there was also frustrating, misery, sadness a mixture of emotions.His heart was over capacity, and felt like it was just under breaking point -5-'Ishii-san 'Makoto spotted Ishii from behind and called out to him. He was walking down the precinct corridor with shoulders slumped.She had actually just come to meet Ishii and Gotou in the Unsolved Cases Special Investigations room.'Ah, Makoto-san'Ishii slowly turned around and replied in a hoarse voice.His face was as lifeless as a corpse's.Are you all right?' asked Makoto, but Ishii just let out a weak 'Ah' and smiled awkwardly.'What are you here for today?' asked Ishii, cocking his head in confusion.It was like his heart was elsewhere. He had to be very troubled.'About Haruka-chan I hear she was arrested as the perpetrator in a murder case.'When Makoto said that, Ishii let out another weak 'Ah'It wasn't something to discuss in the corridor, so Makoto suggested, 'Shall we move elsewhere?'Makoto led them to the Unsolved Cases Special Investigations room.Ishii walked like he was drunk and then slumped into a chair.He was in a worse condition that Makoto had imagined.'Has Haruka-chan really been arrested?' asked Makoto.Ishii looked pained. 'She hasn't been officially arrested yet, but I think it's just a matter of time.''I can't believe it. Isn't it some kind of mistake?''I want to think that too, but there's a witness ''Couldn't it be some sort of mistake there?'The incident had happened at night. An eyewitness might have mistaken something in the dark.'That isn't all.'Ishii's voice went slightly higher.'Meaning?''Earlier, Haruka-chan confessed to the crime 'Ishii's words were so unexpected that Makoto needed some time to understand.'But that makes no''I can't believe it, but that's the information I received.'Ishii's shoulders slumped.His hands were gripped into tight fists and were shaking. He probably couldn't keep the emotions raging within him in order.'And you accepted that, Ishii-san?''I can't accept it'The moment Ishii said that, he dropped his head to the desk.It felt like he was berating his own powerlessness. Makoto understood that feeling so well it hurt, but wallowing here would solve nothing.'Then let's investigate.'Makoto walked up to Ishii.'Investigate what? She's confessed. I can't believe it, but it's a fact,' replied Ishii in a thick voice, his head still on the table.The incident was so unexpected that he couldn't deal with it and was holing up within himself. When Makoto looked at Ishii, pathetic was not the word that came to mind.Ishii was too sensitive and kind to be a detective.At the same time, Makoto knew that Ishii would not crumble here. Ishii had the strength to keep standing up. So 'It doesn't matter whether she confessed or not,' said Makoto, placing a hand on Ishii's shoulder.Ishii's body jolted in surprise and he lifted his head.'Doesn't matter?''It doesn't. Ishii-san, you believe that Haruka-chan wouldn't ever hurt anybody, right?''Of course I do''Then I think you should continue to believe her. Or are your feelings towards Haruka-chan so weak that they can be shaken by somebody else's words?'Even as Makoto said that, she felt a prickling pain in her chest.She had noticed a while back that Ishii had feelings for Haruka. At the same time, Makoto also felt This wasn't the time to think about that. Makoto shook away those thoughts and smiled at Ishii.'I''It's OK. Ishii-san, you aren't alone. There's Gotou-san, and I'll help as well, though there isn't much I can do.'Perhaps Makoto's words reached Ishii, as the light in his eyes behind his glasses seemed to have returned.'But we've been left out of the investigation.''Eh? Ishii-san, you worry about that sort of thing?'Makoto spoke with exaggerated surprise, which made Ishii's brows furrow in confusion.'What do you mean?''Haven't you ignored that sort of thing up until now?'The Unsolved Cases Special Investigations Department only had Gotou and Ishii, but they had solved many cases up until now, and they had done it without caring at all about the other investigation units.'That's right, you're completely right 'Finally, a smile appeared on Ishii's face.Makoto sighed in relief. Even though it put her in an unfavourable position, she didn't care if she could help Ishii.'But what on earth should we do?'That was the problem. Even if they said things like the other investigations didn't matter, if they stepped over too many lines, they might run into unexpected obstacles.Makoto wasn't sure where they should start.'Wasn't there anything that bothered you about this case?' asked Makoto.For a while, Ishii let his gaze wander as he thought, but then he said, 'Ah!''What is it?''No, I just thought that I wouldn't be able to think of anything on my own, but if it's him'Ishii's eyes seemed to glitter behind his glasses -6-Gotou was headed for the prefabricated building behind Building B at the university.He was here to tell Yakumo that Haruka had confessed.'Yakumo! You here?' yelled Gotou as he swung open the door to the Movie Research Circle.Yakumo was sitting in his usual chair.He looked sleepy as usual with his messy hair as he read a thick book.Even though he had to have noticed that Gotou had come in, he didn't even look up, let alone respond.Though he was acting the same as usual, that was strange in this situation.'Yakumo. You''Please leave if you don't have anything to say. I'm busy,' interrupted Yakumo.Though they always had this conversation, it felt incredibly unnatural.'I do have something to say. It's about Haruka-chan,' said Gotou, feeling irritated.Yakumo lifted his head slightly.'Ah, that'His uninterested expression made Gotou lean forward without thinking.Up until now, even when Yakumo's eyes were sleepy, they had always had a sharp glint to them, but Gotou couldn't see that in Yakumo today. Is this really Yakumo?It was strange enough that Gotou wanted to ask.'Don't just say Ah, that! We have to hurry and do something for Haruka-chan.''Why?'Yakumo cocked his head like he was confused.'What are you saying?''That's what I want to ask you, Gotou-san.''What?''She's a suspect in a murder case. The police determined that, so it isn't my place to say anything. I'll leave the investigation to the police,' Yakumo said flatly. He clapped the book shut.'You Are you serious?' asked Gotou, his voice shaking.Maybe Gotou was afraid of hearing Yakumo's answer. Depending on what Yakumo said, Gotou's emotions could explode at once.'Of course I'm serious,' Yakumo said casually.'What's wrong with you?''Nothing. I'm the same as usual.''No. This isn't like you.''Gotou-san, what do you know about me?'Yakumo narrowed his eyes at Gotou. They were cold, emotionless eyes.'I know tons. How many cases do you think we've solved together?'That doesn't count as knowing a person.'Yakumo let out a yawn, as if bored.'Don't say that. Apparently Haruka-chan confessed earlier. If we don't hurry and do something ''If she confessed, she's the perpetrator, isn't she? There's nothing for me to do now,' Yakumo said flatly. He opened the book again. What's with his attitude?'Do you think Haruka-chan's the culprit?''She confessed, so wouldn't she be?' Yakumo replied quietly, eyes on his book.'Of course she isn't!'Gotou lost the fight against his anger. He grabbed Yakumo's book and threw it at the wall.The book made a loud thump and fell.Still, Yakumo didn't move from his chair.'People are foolish ' said Yakumo with a slight sigh.'What?''Even though they don't know someone, they get trapped by their own illusions, thinking that the other person is a certain way, no doubt about it.''What are you trying to say?''That you are doing exactly that right now, Gotou-san.''Me?''Yes. Why are you making such a fuss about how she would never commit a crime?''Obviously because I believe in her,' declared Gotou, which made Yakumo laugh.'That isn't belief. You've just gone and created a version of her that you like inside of you. What you really believe isn't her but the image you have of her.' What the hell is he saying?Disappointment was growing rapidly within Gotou. Since when did Yakumo start being like this?No, Yakumo would just say that that was Gotou's image of him too. When that thought came to Gotou's mind, he shook his head.'No!'He had already yelled before he'd noticed.'What are you objecting to?''It's not just an image inside me. I believe in Haruka-chan.''Idiotic'Yakumo snorted aloud.The anger that had been welling up inside Gotou exploded.'You bastard Get a grip already! You should know best that Haruka-chan would never do something like that!' shouted Gotou, grabbing Yakumo's lapels over the table.Even though Gotou was glaring at Yakumo with all his anger, Yakumo just looked at him coldly.'Please don't be so loud''You're the one who made me!''Why do you believe in her so much?' Yakumo asked coldly.'Why?''I don't know anything about her'Yakumo's sentence felt somewhat sad.'Of course you do!''I don't. I don't know what seminar she's in. What friends she has. What she wants to do in the future and that's not all. Her likes. Her dislikes. How she was raised. I don't know anything about her.'After saying all that, Yakumo's eyes were unsettled. Sad eyes that seemed to swallow all of Gotou's anger.'You''Isn't it the same for you, Gotou-san? How much do you know about her?''I' I know nothing.He had been on several cases with Haruka, and through them, at some point, he had thought that he had grown to know her.Just as Yakumo said though, he knew frighteningly little about Haruka's personal life.Even though they had talked so much, why hadn't he ever asked it was almost strange.That was probably because they had always had a case on.Yakumo had probably reached the same conclusion with this case and lost his understanding of the person called Haruka.'You understand now, don't you? We don't know her well enough to declare that she isn't the culprit 'As if that was conclusive, Yakumo shook off Gotou's hand. Gotou staggered backwards and stared at Yakumo in shock.It was faint, but Yakumo's eyes were wet.Maybe Yakumo regretted it. Regretted that he hadn't got to know Haruka better Gotou felt the same way. They had always had a case on, so he'd never really talked about normal things with Haruka.He knew nothing about Haruka, and that had ended up being normal.He felt incredibly pathetic now.This was probably how Yakumo felt too.It was quiet, as if everything had been drowned by water Just as Yakumo said, maybe they didn't know anything about Haruka. But did that mean Gotou couldn't believe in her?'No!' shouted Gotou.Yakumo had a red left eye which could see the ghosts of the dead.Because of that, he had experienced heartbreaking pain countless times and carried more sadness than other people could even imagine.He had hated himself and grown afraid of rejection from others, so he had shut himself in his own shell.The person who had opened Yakumo's heart was none other than Haruka.She had called the red eye that Yakumo had hated so much beautiful.How much that one word had saved Yakumo Yakumo himself had to know better than Gotou.'What do you mean, no!?'Yakumo's voice was loud as well.'Maybe we don't know anything about Haruka-chan!''That's what I said!''But! Those are just facts that you can write down!''Facts that you can write down are what make up a person!''Don't be an idiot! Like you can know what makes a person from stupid stuff like that!'Gotou grabbed Yakumo's lapels again.Yakumo glared at him fiercely, but Gotou wasn't afraid at all.'OK, listen up! You and me, we don't know anything about Haruka! But we know her heart better than anyone else!'Gotou had only met Haruka through cases, but because of that, there was something he knew.What Haruka would think and do in situations when her life was in danger Gotou had seen that up close.That was the person Haruka was.Gotou and Yakumo had both seen Haruka's pure heart, which held no lies.'You're just lining up nice words'Yakumo's words fired up Gotou's anger again.Before he'd notice it, he had shoved Yakumo.Yakumo's back hit the wall, and he sat down right there.'Lining up nice words!? Open your eyes already! Haruka-chan believes in you right now! But what are you doing!?'Gotou went up to Yakumo and yelled with all his strength.Yakumo glared up at him, still sitting.It wasn't the same cold gaze as earlier. His eyes were fiery and sharp.'Talking like you know everything''You fool! Do you still not get it!?'Gotou lost himself to his anger and raised his fist to punch Yakumo -7-Ishii was brought to his senses by the sudden yell he heard.He and Makoto had just reached Meisei University's Movie Research Circle room.That had probably been Gotou's voice.Ishii and Makoto exchanged a glance and then opened the door to run in.Ishii was stunned by what he saw.Gotou had his fist raised to punch Yakumo, he was slumped against the wall.'Detective Gotou! Please calm down!'Ishii clung to Gotou and frantically tried to stop him.'Shut up! Let me go! I need to punch him!''You can't!''I said, let go!'Ishii tried to stop Gotou, but he had no way to beat Gotou in strength. Ishii was thrust away and rolled across the floor.His head slammed into the wall, and stars blinked in front of him.'Ishii-san, are you all right?'Makoto rushed towards him.Though it hurt, Ishii couldn't just sit here. He got up immediately to step between Gotou and Yakumo.'Move!'Gotou glared at Ishii.It was a gaze so frightening it made him shudder, but he couldn't back down. Gotou's eyes were clearly different from usual.He could have actually killed Yakumo with those eyes.'I-I can't do that. What on earth happened anyway?' asked Ishii, even though his voice was shaking.'I'm going to fix this guy!'Gotou tried to punch Yakumo again.Ishii frantically pushed Gotou back, but Gotou didn't move at all. This would just be a repeat of earlier at this rate.Just as he thought that, Makoto stepped between Gotou and Yakumo as well.'Gotou-san, please calm down first.'Even Gotou couldn't just push Makoto away, so he finally backed down, though not without a click of his tongue.Ishii sighed in relief.He had really been nervous there for a moment.'What happened?' Makoto asked Gotou.'This idiot'Gotou started to speak, but Yakumo stood up, interrupting him.'Nothing happened,' said Yakumo, with his usual expressionless face and flat tone.He was so calm that it was like the earlier commotion had never happened.'Of course something happened,' said Makoto, sounding half-exasperated.Yakumo ran a hand through his messy hair and then righted the chair to sit in it.'While I was thinking about how to solve this case, that bear suddenly assaulted me,' said Yakumo, pointing at Gotou.'That wasn't what you said earlier!' shouted Gotou, but Ishii hurriedly stepped in between them.If this continued, Ishii would need doubles of himself to fix this.'Gotou-san, I understand how you feel, but let's calm down and talk first,' urged Makoto.Gotou looked displeased, but he sat down.Really, thank goodness for Makoto. If Ishii had been alone, he didn't know what would have happened.'So what really happened?' asked Makoto with a sigh.'I said, nothing happened 'Yakumo was nonchalant, like nothing really had happened.Gotou tried to interrupt, but just as he had half-got up to say something, Yakumo stopped him.'I know, I know. Please be quiet,' Yakumo said curtly.For a while, Gotou just glared at Yakumo, but then he smiled and sat down.'Yeah, it was nothing really. Just the usual lovers' quarrel.''Please don't say something so disgusting,' rebutted Yakumo immediately.'What?''A lovers' quarrel refers to a quibbling fight that occurs due to some romantic entanglement. I would be very troubled if anybody mistakenly thought that I had anything like that with you, Gotou-san.''I would be too!''You're the one who said it, Gotou-san.''Just shut up!' shouted Gotou. He crossed his arms and looked away.Ishii didn't know what had happened between the two, but it looked like they were finally back to normal.Ishii and Makoto looked at each other and sighed in relief.'Ishii-san, Makoto-san, I apologise for asking this so soon after your arrival, but could you tell me all that you know?'Yakumo tapped his brow with his finger. His eyes had a glint in them.Though Ishii was frightened by that glint, he spoke.That said, all Ishii knew was that Haruka had confessed, so Gotou started speaking halfway through.Gotou shared the information he had got from Miyagawa, like how Haruka's fingerprints had been on the weapon and that the eyewitness, the guard, had seen her hit the victim with a metal pipe.The victim was a woman named Koike Kanae, who was a student in the same seminar as Haruka.The cause of death was a cerebral contusion with no other injuries that stood out.'How about you, Makoto-san?'After Gotou finished, Yakumo turned to Makoto.'Me?''Yes, regarding that author.' What on earth does he mean by author?Ishii was confused, but he didn't say anything. It was Yakumo. He would never talk about something if it wasn't related.'So it's related somehow?' asked Makoto, looking troubled.Yakumo nodded.'Wait. What are you talking about?' interrupted Gotou, unable to stop himself.Yakumo looked incredibly annoyed as he ran a hand through his hair and said, 'Makoto-san is investigating an author who says he was made to write a novel by the ghost in the clock tower.''W-what!?' shouted Gotou, standing up from his chair.Ishii didn't express his feelings aloud, but he felt the same surprise.'The trouble she brought me had something to do with the clock tower 'Yakumo had said that last night.That was why he and Ishii had been investigating if anybody had died on campus.'Furthermore, the victim of this case is the person who asked for her advice about the spiritual phenomenon ''What!?'Gotou reacted strongly to the words Yakumo had spoken so casually.'Please don't speak so loudly.'Yakumo frowned, looking fed up.'Anybody would want to after hearing that news. Why didn't you say that earlier?''You didn't ask.''You'Gotou lifted a fist, but Ishii hurriedly pacified him.As a result, Ishii received a fist to the head.'This case is centred on the clock tower. The key to solving this case must be there 'Yakumo put his finger on his brow and narrowed his eyes.Though I was a frightening expression, Ishii saw hope there.'Right! Let's prove Haruka-chan's innocence!' shouted Gotou, raising his fist.Yakumo sighed in mock disappointment.'Please don't say such stupid things. It's possible that she did it,' Yakumo said coldly.'Are you going to start saying that again!?' said Gotou angrily.Ishii felt the same way. Didn't Yakumo believe in Haruka?They were together so often.. He had to know that Haruka wouldn't hurt anybody.'Please cool off your head. You won't be able to see the truth if you look at the case with preconceptions.''I know that, but'Yakumo raised a hand to stop Gotou's objections.'No, you don't know anything. Sometimes people behave in ways you don't expect.''Impossible.''How can you say that for sure? There's been a case like that before, right? A sad incident in which somebody killed somebody without wanting to'After Yakumo said that, everyone present said, 'Ah!''The tree of deceit ' said Ishii.Yakumo nodded.A sad incident in which the players' emotions had entangled in a terrible way Somebody had been possessed by a ghost and killed somebody despite their own intentions.'Are you saying that that's what happened this time?' asked Gotou in a hoarse voice.'I'm just saying that it's a possibility 'After saying that, Yakumo's gaze fell to his feet.'But if that's the case' said Makoto, but Yakumo interrupted her.'Let us think about that later. First, we find the truth behind the case 'Ishii agreed to Yakumo's suggestion.But if Haruka had really committed the crime while being possessed, there would be no way to save her That thought seemed to be pulling Ishii's heart into a deep darkness.-8-Haruka was in a small room with no windows.There was a steel desk in the middle of the room, and Haruka sat on a folding chair in front of it.Two men sat opposite her.They were detectives. One was Sonoda. The other was Onodera. Why am I here?Haruka didn't understand.At some point, she had found herself sitting here. She couldn't believe it, but her hands were cuffed.The cold metal felt terribly heavy.'So what was your motive?' asked Sonoda brusquely, his legs stuck out in front of him.'Eh?' said Haruka, not understanding.'I said motive. Why did you kill your friend?'The continuous stream of unexpected questions put Haruka at a loss for words.Killed a friend? Haruka had no idea what he was talking about.She had never even been violent towards anyone, and yet 'Tell us the reason!' said Sonoda, sounding impatience. He hit the table with his fist. Even if he acted intimidating, Haruka couldn't reply to something she didn't know.'There must be some mistake,' said Haruka desperately.'What?' Sonoda looked at her suspiciously.'I don't understand what you're talking about at all.''Of course you understand! Don't think I'll play nice just because you're a woman if you keep saying whatever you want!' threatened Sonoda.'Now, now' said Onodera sitting next to him.Sonoda made a click with his tongue, seeming incredibly displeased, but he didn't say anything else.'You must be a bit confused,' Onodera said gently.'Um What's happened? This is an interrogation room, right? Why am I here?'After Haruka let out a list of questions, the detectives looked at each other, seeming troubled.Even if they looked like that, Haruka didn't think she'd asked anything strange.'Please tell me,' Haruka pleaded, leaning forward.'You hit your friend Koike Kanae-san with a metal pipe. You remember that, right?''I did that to Kanae?''Yes.'Onodera nodded.Haruka wanted to ask why they believed that, but more importantly, she wanted to know about Kanae.'What about Kanae? How's Kanae doing?''She passed away''No'Haruka started shaking.She had met Kanae after they were in the same seminar, but at first, they hadn't talked about anything in particular.Kanae wasn't the type to talk on her own to people around her, and Haruka was the same way.They had become friends about three months in Though Haruka usually walked home, it had been raining that day, so she had gone to the bus stop at the front gate.At that time, Kanae had been sitting on the bench under the shelter while reading a book. She's in the same seminar as me.That was all Haruka had felt, but she had seen the book she was reading before.'The Count of Monte Cristo 'When Haruka said the name aloud, Kanae looked up.'I'm surprised you know,' said Kanae, smiling despite looking puzzled.'Eh? Ah, actually I've never read it' Haruka said hurriedly.Then, she explained how she had had to look for a paperback copy of the book with Yakumo because of a certain spiritual phenomena-related event.Kanae had seriously listened to a story that hadn't been that interesting at all.Ever since then, they began to talk about various things whenever they meant.Haruka really liked Kanae's soft and gentle mood. She was one of the few people that Haruka could be herself around without worrying.And yet 'You did it, correct?'Onodera's voice interrupted Haruka's thoughts.'Me?''Yes. You're the one who killed Koike Kanae-san, right?''That's I would never do that''But you said you did earlier.''What did I say?''That it was all your fault.'Haruka felt her consciousness slipping away from her upon hearing Onodera's unexpected words.She couldn't remember saying anything like that. She didn't even remember doing anything. She had actually just found out that Kanae had died now. What's happening?Haruka frantically went through her memories.When did she last meet with Kanae?Right. She had listened to her worries and gone to the clock tower with Yakumo. Then, she had met Kanae once more at the cafeteria.She had met with Nishizawa, who had experienced the spiritual phenomenon with Kanae. After that, they had eaten sandwiches and parted ways Then, she had had to hand something in and went to her circle, and she'd thought she would go to Yakumo's room afterwards to report on what had happened.She had spotted Kanae in front of the clock tower on the way to Yakumo's room. After that it was no good. She couldn't remember.The more she tried to think, the more it felt like her mind was being split apart.No. Her consciousness was definitely being swallowed up by the darkness now Yakumo-kun! Help me!Haruka screamed desperately in her heart, but her scream didn't reach anyone -9-Gotou looked up once more at the tall clock tower.He had come to Meisei University countless times. The clock tower had always stood there as a symbol, but he had never cared much about it until this case.But maybe that was just how people's impressions were.They only noticed something after something happened. That was probably exactly how Yakumo felt now.He looked beside him and saw Yakumo looked up at the clock tower.'Are you OK?' asked Gotou.Yakumo narrowed his eyes slightly.'What do you mean?' he said, playing dumb.'What? I'm worried about you.'Yakumo had been obviously off when they had been talking earlier.Though it had looked like things had calmed down when Ishii and Makoto came, that didn't mean Gotou's anxiety had left him.He didn't know if Yakumo had really dealt with his feelings to look at the case clearly.'I haven't fallen so far that I need a single-celled bear's concern.'Though Yakumo was saying that aloud, he had to be exhausted inside.'Don't put up a strong front.''I'm not. From my perspective, I'm more concerned about you, Gotou-san.''What?''Since when have you been so violent?''You're the one who made me!''Putting the blame on others? How childish.'Yakumo shrugged for effect.Gotou thought about hitting him, but he decided against it. He didn't want to think about what Yakumo would say if he did.'More importantly, let's go.'After declaring that, Yakumo started walking straight towards the clock tower.The tower still had No Trespassing yellow tape all around it, but there were no guards.Yakumo and Gotou went under the tape to the clock tower.The events of last night suddenly flashed back in Gotou's mind.Yakumo had fought with a guard in front of the tape. It was incredibly rare for Yakumo to lose his cool like that.Perhaps he had sensed something.If Gotou had known this was going to happen, maybe he should've dragged Yakumo along even if he had to force the guard away.'Was the gate locked at the time of the incident?'Yakumo's question interrupted Gotou's thoughts.He looked forward and saw Yakumo standing in front of the gate.'Probably.''Please don't be so vague,' Yakumo said curtly.'Is it important?''In order to determine whether it is important or not, we need accurate information.'When Yakumo was like this, he seemed more like a detective than Gotou.'Got it,' Gotou said with a nod.Yakumo briskly walked towards the back. Gotou followed him immediately.When they got to the back, Gotou saw a metal door. It was rusty and looked very old.Yakumo slowly opened the door.Even though it was daytime, it was dark inside Yakumo took a pen light out from his pocket and illuminated the interior.It wasn't a very big door Gotou couldn't see much past Yakumo.Yakumo seemed to be thinking for a while, but then he went inside.Gotou followed him.Yakumo silently began to climb the stars up the clock tower.The interior of the clock tower, about fifteen metres tall, had a staircase inside that went along the walls. By the time they reached the top room, Gotou was out of breath.'Are you already worn out?' asked Yakumo, voice full of malice.'Shut up. This is nothing,' spat out Gotou, wiping the sweat on his forehead.The top room was much smaller than Gotou had expected. Desks and chairs. Some old machine things. That was all.Yakumo slowly looked around. His eyes stopped beside the stairs.There were significant bloodstains there. You could tell a lot of blood had been spilled.Yakumo crouched there to look at it carefully.'Find out anything?''Nothing' Yakumo replied curtly. Then, he walked up to the mirror and looked at that carefully.This looked fairly old and was covered in dust.Yakumo stared in the mirror for a while, but then he went to the window on the wall, perhaps having lost interest.The glass was as dirty as the mirror so you couldn't see outside clearly.Yakumo unlocked it and pushed open the casement window.Cold air from outside rushed in, mixing with the mouldy air within.'This is probably the window ' murmured Yakumo.'What?''I had you investigate this, right, Gotou-san? The woman who committed suicide by jumping from the clock tower 'Right. Haruka's case had been so shocking that Gotou had forgotten, but Gotou had gone to see Yakumo to talk about that. But 'How do you know it's that window?''It was written in the documents. Please read them properly.'Though it was Gotou's fault for missing it, he didn't like Yakumo's tone. He thought about complaining but decided against it.He had no way of beating Yakumo in an argument.'Could I ask one thing?After looking out the window for a while, Yakumo asked him that.'What?''How can you believe in someone without proof, Gotou-san?'Gotou couldn't reply to Yakumo's question immediately.Part of it was that he didn't understand why Yakumo cared, but mostly it was that he didn't know how to answer.'I don't know.''That's not an answer,' interjected Yakumo immediately.That was true, but 'I don't know why I believe people either. Do you need proof to believe in people? Believing or not believing it's a matter of feeling.'That was Gotou's straight response.He had never thought about a reason to believe in somebody. Rather than thinking about it, he decided with his heart.'It must be nice to be so simple' said Yakumo, and then he turned around to face Gotou, sitting on the windowsill with a smile.It was a sad smile, as if a hole had been left in his heart.'Do you still not believe?''In what?''In Haruka-chan 'The moment Gotou said that name, Yakumo stopped smiling and looked down slightly. His shadowed face looked troubled.Just as Gotou thought, Yakumo probably hadn't dealt with his feelings yet.'To be honest, I don't know. I know too little about her 'Yakumo's voice was unusually weak.Though earlier, Gotou had gone on a rampage because of his own emotions, he could accept Yakumo's pains now.Yakumo had to be feeling terrible regret about this case. Why hadn't he talked to Haruka more?He had thought that Haruka would always be there and had never tried to get to know her. He was blaming himself for that now.'You know more than enough about her.''No, I know nothing That's why I don't know'Yakumo bit his lower lip.'Then you can get to know her better from now on.''It's too late'Yakumo's face twisted like he had eaten something bitter. The incident has already happened is probably what he wanted to say.'It's not too late. And getting to know someone is different from believing in someone.''It's the same. If you know more about somebody, you can use that to understand their thought pattern.'Gotou couldn't help but laugh at Yakumo's words.'What's so funny?' asked Yakumo, looking a bit sulky.'Thought pattern? Don't talk about people like data. You can't use that to understand people's feelings, right? You said yourself that people sometimes do things you don't expect ''What are you trying to say?'Yakumo stood up from the sill.'I'm saying that you're thinking too much. Doesn't matter what people are doing where their core doesn't change.''What a stupid answer.'Yakumo gave him a mocking glance.Strangely, that attitude didn't annoy Gotou now. He even thought it cute.'Yeah, but that's why I'm saying it. You're thinking too much. Doesn't matter what friends Haruka-chan has or what she likes. She's her.''Have you never been betrayed by your simple logic?' asked Yakumo.'I have,' Gotou said with force.It wasn't just once or twice that he'd believed in people and been betrayed. There were many incidents he didn't want to remember.'Then maybe you should learn from it.''I've learnt to believe in people from it. Like I believe in you ''I might betray you too, Gotou-san.''If it happens, it happens,' said Gotou with a shrug.Yakumo laughed.'You really are simple.''Won't deny it,' said Gotou.Yakumo turned towards the window again.Gotou didn't know what was on Yakumo's mind as he looked out the window, but he was sure that Yakumo now wanted to move forward.That was enough for now. One day, Yakumo would be able to believe in somebody without any conditions too.'Shall we get going?' Yakumo said suddenly, turning on his heels.'Get going? Where to?'Yakumo ignored Gotou's question and briskly walked down the stairs. He really does whatever he wants.-10-Makoto went to Onda's research room.When she contacted him earlier, Onda had immediately made time for her, even though she had just met him yesterday.That said, today she wanted to ask about the incident, not the novel. The atmosphere would be a bit heavier.Makoto took a deep breath before knocking on the door and going in.'Thanks for coming,' Onda said with a smile. Makoto went inside and sat diagonally from Onda.'I apologise for coming when you're busy,' said Makoto.'Don't worry about it,' Onda replied.'Actually, I'm here today about yesterday's incident'When Makoto said that, the smile left Onda's face.It was a natural response. The victim, Koike Kanae, had been in the literature circle. Even if Onda didn't talk to her much, he would have at least known her.'Why did this happen I don't know what to say'Onda leant back on his chair and looked up at the ceiling. It looked like it had been quite a shock for him.'Were you close to the victim, Koike-san?' asked Makoto.Onda sat up to look at Makoto.'The police asked me the same thing.''The police?'For a moment, Makoto was surprised, but it was natural for the police to question people close to the victim.'I want to be of help if I can, but I only knew her in the circle. There isn't much I can say.''That's fine,' Makoto said with a nod.Onda cleared his throat and began to speak.'To be honest, she was a student that didn't stand out much. Like I said yesterday, the literature circle regular puts out a literature magazine, so the students in the circle tend to like to write, but'Onda paused, but Makoto could guess what he was going to say.'She wasn't the type to proactively participate.''That's how she looked to me. Though she had been in the circle for three years, she had never written anything to publish in the magazine.'That was a bit strange.Makoto understood since she wrote articles, but writing wasn't something anybody could do easily. There were people who were inclined towards and against it.Maybe she realised that she wasn't inclined towards writing after joining the circle but after Makoto thought about that, it was also unnatural.If that were the case, she could have just quit.It wasn't as easy for seminars or classes, but you could quit as many circles as you wanted.'I wonder why she stayed in the literature circle,' Makoto said to herself.'I wonder too. I didn't know either. Maybe I should have asked'Onda's words were filed with regret.This was another point which made Onda different from the other lecturers. He didn't just lump all the students into one group he thought of them all as individuals and interacted with them that way.He was the type of person who would think about what he could do and act on it.'I can't believe this happened It's too terrible'Onda put his hands together as if in prayer.It didn't just sound like a platitude it felt like he meant it.'Um I want to ask one more thing, but'Makoto was hesitant, but she spoke anyway.'What is it?''I heard that there is a student named Nishizawa-san who is also in the literature circle.''Ah, I think he's in fourth year.''Were Nishizawa-san and Koike-san close?'This was something Yakumo had told Makoto to ask.Kanae had brought the issue about the clock tower to Haruka, and Nishizawa was the one she had thought to be possessed.'Hm, I think they were fairly close.''Were they dating?' asked Makoto.Onda's brow furrowed.'Unfortunately, I'm a bit slow with that sort of thing. Maybe they were, but maybe they weren't that's all I can say.'Onda was young for an associate professor, but he was already in his early forties. It made sense that he didn't know much about his students' love lives when they were twenty years younger than him.'I see was there anyone else Koike-san was close with?''Close with?''Yes.''Hm Ah, right. The person we discussed the other day, Sakurai-kun, was fairly close to her.' Sakurai Itsuki.The hopeful newcomer who had debuted as a novelist while still a student.'How were they close?''It's hard to say, but I think they were just normally close.'If Yakumo was right and the clock tower was at the heart of this case, then Sakurai, who claimed that he was made to write his novel by the ghost of the clock tower, could easily be connected to the case somehow.However, it would be dangerous to have any preconceptions.Furthermore, a question had come to Makoto.'Have you ever seen Nishizawa-san and Koike-san talking to each other/''Hm Maybe, but Sakurai-kun's presence left a stronger impression''I see. By the way, were Sakurai-san and Nishizawa-san close?'When Makoto asked that, Onda looked troubled and he put a hand on the back of his neck.'Those two, eh They had different ways of thinking.''How were they different?''Sakurai-kun is the type who perceives things through feeling, but Nishizawa-kun is the opposite, taking things logically. That's why they like different works and always had different opinions.''Did they ever fight?''A number of incidents like that happened. I would always be called into mediate, but the two are both stubborn'Onda smiled wryly.From that response, it was probably a rather frequent occurrence.Perhaps the friction between the two had something to do with the case.'Does it have something to do with this case?'Onda's question interrupted Makoto's thoughts.'Ah, I''Do you suspect Sakurai-kun or Nishizawa-kun? I heard that the culprit has already been arrested, but'It was true that the way Makoto had spoken now would make anyone think that Sakurai or Nishizawa was under suspection.'No, that isn't the case,' Makoto hurriedly objected, regretting the way she had spoken.She had been intending on gathering information fairly without any preconceptions, but she had been biased.Haruka wasn't the culprit that thought might have made her that way.Believing in someone meant that there was the danger that biases like that would arise. Was it more important as a person to believe or to clear away all biases in order to solve a case?Perhaps this was the true nature of Yakumo's worries -11-Ishii visited the security room by the university's front gates.It had a large window for a good view of people coming in and out with a counter and a chair.It was a simple construction and had a break room in the back where there was a table and chairs.Ishii had come to the break room.After waiting in a chair, a man who looked to be in his late twenties wearing a navy uniform came in.'Hello, I'm Ishii from the Setamachi precinct.'Ishii stood up and held out his police ID.'My name is Seo.'The man who called himself Seo gave Ishii a quick bow with his hat still in.Ishii couldn't say it was a very friendly reception.'I would like to ask about the day of the incident'After they had both sat down, Ishii took out a memo pad.Seo was the eyewitness to the incident as well as the person who had contacted the police. Ishii had come for some of Seo's time so that he could reconfirm what had happened.'I've already told the police everything. Even if you keep coming back' mumbled Seo.He probably was feeling uncharitable because of how many times he had undergone questioning. Perhaps his attitude couldn't be helped.However, Ishii couldn't back down here.He needed to gather as much information as he could to prove Haruka's innocence.'I apologise, but it is necessary.'Seo sighed.'Why did you go to the clock tower on the day of the incident, Seo-san?''Why? Just because it's the last route I take on my rounds' replied Seo, rubbing his eyes.He was probably very tired because he had been questioned until late at night. Ishii felt bad, but he still had to ask.'Is the clock tower included in your route?''Ah, it isn't, but''What is it?''I said this late night. When I passed by, I heard something like a woman's scream.'Seo wiped sweat off his forehead with a handkerchief.'What did it sound like exactly?''What did it It's hard to explain with words. Something like Aaah, I think.''What did you do then, Seo-san?''I thought it was strange so I went to the clock tower. Then, I heard some noises I went inside because I thought somebody was there.'Seo scratched under his nose.It was normal for a guard to go check if they heard something like a scream, but 'Did you go alone?''Yes,' Seo replied matter-of-factly.'Didn't you think about calling for help?'If Ishii had been in the same situation, he definitely wouldn't have gone alone.'I wasn't sure I heard a scream then and the university campus is large. Everyone is working in different areas. It would take too long if we went and called for someone else every time anything happened.'Perhaps it was just as Seo said.Meisei University had a large campus with many buildings. It had differences in elevation as well, so it would take a lot of time to call for anybody.'I see Where did you enter the clock tower from?''From the back entrance.''Why did you go from the back?'A guard would have the key. It would be more effective to enter from the front.'I wasn't planning on going in at first.''Is that so?''I was sure that it was just some students playing around, so I thought I'd just go around the clock tower once to check.''Then why did you go inside?' asked Ishii, which made Seo sigh.'Detective, do you suspect me?''No, that's not it'Though Ishii hurriedly denied it, Seo's anger wasn't settled.'This happened lasn ight too, but I just reported the crime, and yet you detectives are saying this and that about''I apologise'Ishii bowed his head.Seo wasn't the first to react this way.As a detective, you had to check every detail to find out the truth. However, many people took that as their being under suspicion.Perhaps Ishii would feel that way himself if a detective did the same thing to him. That said, he couldn't just stop here.'We don't suspect you, but in an investigation, we need to ask for every detail. Could I ask for your cooperation for just a bit longer?' Ishii asked formally.Seo let out a deep sigh, but since he didn't stand up from his seat, Ishii took that as agreement.'Was the back door open?' Ishii asked.Seo put his chin in his hands as he thought.'It was open.''I see. Then what did you do?''I turned on my torch and went inside. Then, I heard people arguing from the room on top so I went up the stairs. There'Seo stopped talking.Ishii gulped. He wanted to know what happened next, but at the same time, he didn't want to.Ishii still thought that there had to be some sort of mistake. Haruka would never hurt anyone.However, once he heard the words from Seo's mouth, there was no going back. He was afraid that what he had believed in would crumble.'I saw a woman hit another woman with a metal pipe,' said Seo.The moment Ishii heard that, his head went blank. For a while, he was in shock.Seo was speaking, but nothing went into Ishii's ears.He had believed that pursuing the truth would bring him to Haruka's innocence, but he had been given evidence proving her crime instead.Why did Haruka do something like hitting Kanae with a metal pipe?No matter how much Ishii thought, he couldn't find an answer.-12-Gotou and Yakumo headed for the north side of campus about ten minutes from the clock tower.Gotou always just went straight for Yakumo's hideaway when he came to Meisei University. He hadn't thought that the place was this huge.The incline was sharp too it was pretty tough.Yakumo stopped in front of a three-storey building.'So what's inside?' asked Gotou as he looked up at the building.It looked like it had been built recently, with a concrete construction.'This building has rooms for circle and club activities.''That all?'That's all.'Gotou clicked his tongue without thinking.Making such a big building just for circles this was completely different from Yakumo's little prefab.'Why don't you move here too?'Yakumo shook his head.'I don't like noisy places.'Gotou didn't think it was that noisy, but before he could say that, Yakumo had already gone inside.'Honestly,' muttered Gotou, though he followed Yakumo in.After Gotou stepped inside, he immediately understood what Yakumo had meant by 'noisy'.Right inside, there was a large lounge. A male student was lying across one of the sofas there while playing acoustic guitar. Two female students were sitting there, entranced as they listened.A little further away, six students were playing some sort of game loudly.Furthermore, there were students working on something on their laptops and a young man and woman playing hide and seek.'It is pretty noisy''That's what I meant.'Yakumo glanced at the commotion behind him before going up the stairs.'So where are you going?' asked Gotou as he followed Yakumo, which made Yakumo stop halfway up the stairs.'You came without knowing?' said Yakumo with a dramatic sigh.'Since you didn't explain.''What kind of excuse is that?''Just explain already.''You'll find out if you follow me.'Yakumo began walking up the stairs again.When Yakumo got like this, there was no point trying to get an answer out of him. Gotou gave up and followed Yakumo.In the corridor on the second floor, there were doors with small windows lined along the wall, like karaoke boxes. There were probably the circle rooms Yakumo had mentioned.Gotou realised Yakumo's goal upon seeing the nameplate on one of the doors.The second door from the end read Literature Circle The Clock Tower. If Gotou remembered correctly, Kanae, the victim, had been in the literature circle.Yakumo knocked on the door.After a while, a young man who was pale and thing opened the door.His hair was unkempt and his almond eyes looked very intelligent he felt kind of like Yakumo.'Is somebody named Nishizawa-san here?' Yakumo asked in a flat tone.The young man who had opened the door looked suspicious. 'That's me''So you're Nishizawa-san. That's perfect. Would you talk to us?' as Yakumo said as he tried to go inside.'Hey.' Nishizawa pushed Yakumo back out.'What are you here for so suddenly?'Nishizawa's suspicion made sense.Yakumo normally did this sort of thing more skilfully, but this was too forceful.'My name is Saitou Yakumo. Koike Kanae-san consulted me about the ghost that appears in the clock tower.''Ah, that Come in. Nobody's here right now'Nishizawa opened the door wide to let them in.Gotou and Yakumo nodded at each other and then went inside. The room was probably about ten tatami in size. It was bigger than Yakumo7s room and was clean, since it was new.There was a table in the middle of the rom, and the walls were lined with full bookshelves.'Who's that?'Nishizawa looked at Gotou.Gotou was about to introduce himself, but Yakumo stopped him.'Though this person looks the way he does, he is a famous medium,' said Yakumo, pointing at Gotou with his chin.Yakumo probably thought that they would get more information if Gotou didn't say that he was with the police, but medium? Gotou didn't like it, but he nodded confidently and in a way he hoped was medium-like. 'Yes, my name is Gotou.''I can't believe this happened' said Nishizawa as they sat down at the table.His voice was filled with frustration.'Yes' replied Yakumo, looking down.'When I met that girl yesterday, I didn't think that she would kill Kanae-chan'Nishizawa sighed slightly.Though Gotou was irritated that Nishizawa was already sure that Haruka had killed her, he bore with it. They wouldn't get any information if he made a fuss now.'Did you meet the two of them yesterday?' asked Yakumo in a flat tone, like he wasn't really interested.'Kanae-chan called me out to the cafeteria Then, she said she thought I was possessed by a ghost and wanted me to meet with somebody who was knowledgeable about them'After Nishizawa said that, Gotou finally understood some of the background of the case.'But you didn't come to me in the end.'Yakumo gave Nishizawa a sharp gaze.'I said no. Since I'm not possessed by any ghost ''It appears that way.''Eh?'Yakumo's words seemed to have surprised Nishizawa.'I can see the spirits of the dead that is, ghosts.''You being serious?''Yes. It doesn't bother me if you don't believe me. In any case, you aren't possessed.''As I thought.'It wasn't clear whether Nishizawa believed Yakumo or not, but he laughed slightly, before looking sad again'Putting aside the possession incident, did you actually see a ghost in the clock tower?' asked Yakumo.For a moment, Nishizawa looked troubled.'I said I saw one then, but now that I think about it, I feel like I just saw something like it.''In short, you didn't see clearly.''Yeah, which is why I said' murmured Nishizawa.'What is it?' asked Yakumo.'Ah, Kanae-chan was worried about me, but I kept telling her that it was nothing. And yet'Nishizawa's voice was filled with frustration.Though it was faint, there were tears in his eyes.'Did you meet with Kanae-san after that?''That was the last time 'Nishizawa shut his eyes tightly and sniffled.He had to be regretting what happened. Maybe he was thinking that this might not have happened if he had talked to Kanae more.'I apologise for asking, but what relationship did you have with Kanae-san?'Gotou had the same question as Yakumo.'What do you mean?''Was it just that she was your junior in the circle? Or did you have a personal relationship?'Nishizawa frowned.'There was nothing like you're imagining. She was closer to Sakurai than to me''Do you mean Sakurai Itsuki-san?''Yeah.'The moment Sakurai's name came up, Nishizawa's face twisted in dislike.Even without his saying it, Gotou could easily tell that they didn't get along.'Were Sakurai-san and Kanae-san dating?''Who knows? I never heard anything about that I'm going to change the topic, but'Nishizawa paused.'What is it?' Yakumo asked, leaning forward.Nishizawa seemed hesitant, but then he said, 'The girl named Ozawa-san. I don't know her well, so maybe it's not something I can say, but I feel like she isn't the one who killed Kanae-chan'Those words hit Gotou with impact.'What is your reason for thinking that?' asked Yakumo.Nishizawa looked wry. 'I don't have any proof or anything. I just feel that way'After saying that, he looked out the window.Was he really saying that just from a feeling?'Do you perhaps have any hints of a reason for thinking that way?'Yakumo asked Nishizawa what Gotou was thinking.'Nothing really, but since something similar happened before'Nishizawa's voice was shaking slightly.'When you say before do you mean when Mizuhara Noriko committed suicide?'Nishizawa's eyes went wide.'You know?''Yes. I think that the ghost wandering the clock tower is hers.'After Yakumo said that, Nishizawa murmured something.Gotou didn't hear it. He asked about it, but Nishizawa just denied saying anything.-13-Ishii looked up at the looming clock tower.The clock's needles were stopped and no longer served their purposes, but the tower was still a symbol of the university.It was mysterious how the clock tower seemed intimidating now when Ishii hadn't paid it any attention before.It was different since he knew something had happened there.'Don't space out.'His head was suddenly hit from behind.He knew who it was without turning around.'D-Detective Gotou' said Ishii wihle holding his head.Gotou was there, with Yakumo standing next to him. Though Yakumo normally had a sharp glint in his eye even when he seemed distant, he seemed terribly unreliable now.Though he was forcing himself to look expressionless, Ishii could tell he was shaken underneath that mask.It wasn't just Yakumo.Ishii was still shaken now. He would believe in Haruka he had decided to do that, but still, everything shook him up.'How was it?' asked Gotou, interrupting Ishii's thoughts.'Eh, ah, yes'Ishii cleared his throat, pushed up his silver-framed glasses and explained in detail what he had heard from the guard named Seo. According to Seo, he had clearly seen the moment when Haruka hit Kanae. In short, no matter the reason, Haruka had hit Kanae with a metal pipe that was fact.That was the biggest reason for the doubt Ishii had.'Impossible,' said Gotou in a dark, low voice.Ishii wanted to think that too, but wishing for something wasn't going to change this.'B-but''To hell with your buts! That guy's lying, no doubt about it!' Gotou roared.'Why would a guard lie like that?' said Yakumo.That's'Gotou's fury instantly died down.Ishii felt the same way. There was no reason for the guard named Seo to lie. Saying that he had lied just because they wanted to believe Haruka was innocent would make it impossible for them to find out the truth.'That means there's one possibility ' said Ishii. Gotou and Yakumo both turned to look at him.This made Ishii strangely nervous so he couldn't speak like he wanted to.'Please let us here your opinion, Ishii-san.'It was incredibly unusual for Yakumo to ask for an opinion.Perhaps this incident had made him lose confidence in his own thoughts.That said, Ishii was hesitant to share his opinion, since there was a fatal flaw in his theory.'Just say it.'Gotou hit his head.'There was a rumour about a ghost in the clock tower. Perhaps that ghost possessed Haruka-chan and assaulted'Ishii gulped after saying that much. It was one of the possibilities Yakumo had mentioned before.He felt like it had become real now.The same thing had happened in the case of the Tree of Deceit, which had been very close to Ishii's heart.'Idiot! That doesn't help clear Haruka's name!' yelled Gotou.Ishii knew that, and that was the problem in his theory.If Haruka had really committed the crime while possessed, it would be impossible to clear Haruka's name.With the police and courts currently, nobody would accept that a crime was committed by a ghost. Even if it was true 'It hasn't yet been determined that she didn't do it'Yakumo was the one who spoke.Ishii turned his surprised gaze towards Yakumo. Gotou looked just as shocked.'You'Gotou started to speak, but Yakumo interrupted him.'Please don't make me keep repeating myself. If we do not consider all possibilities, the truth will be warped,' Yakumo said without interest.Gotou grabbed Yakumo by the lapels.'You I thought you believed in her!''Who said that?' Yakumo said calmly.'Then why are you even investigating? Aren't you investigating for Haruka-chan's sake!?'Gotou's face was bright red, but Yakumo looked as calm as usual.However, there was no resignation or sorrow in his expression. Rather, Ishii thought Yakumo looked strong, but kind.Perhaps it was determination that he saw.'I am investigating this case for my own sake,' said Yakumo, at which point Gotou let go.'For your own sake?''Yes.''What do you mean?''I don't care whether she's a murderer or not. I just want to know what happened.'Yakumo's calm words made gave Ishii gooseflesh.That was Yakumo's determination.Ishii and Gotou were worried about whether Haruka had killed somebody. The truth of that would determine how Haruka was treated and how their relationship with her would change those details were their concern.However, Yakumo was different Yakumo still didn't believe in Haruka, but that was why he was trying to find out what happened.Even if the results weren't something he wanted to here, he was probably determined to accept them in their entirety. I can't win.It was frustrating, but Ishii felt that.He felt like he had just seen how accepting the person named Yakumo was.'I get it.'After a silence, Gotou laughed wryly and said that.Gotou had probably felt Yakumo's determination too.'Then, I have one request'Yakumo narrowed his eyes.Ishii prepared himself immediately. When Yakumo looked like that, it was always an unreasonable request.'What?' asked Gotou, whether he understood that or not.'Let me meet with her 'Ishii couldn't hide his agitation.To be honest, it was near impossible for Yakumo and Haruka to meet in this situation.It would have been different perhaps if they were in charge of the case, but Shinoda and Onodera wouldn't accept a request like that.'What'll you do if you meet her?' asked Gotou, looking troubled.'There are a number of things I want to confirm. It would be quickest for me to meet her directly to confirm whether she is possessed or not.'That was true.Yakumo, who could see the spirits of the dead, would be able to tell immediately if he met Haruka whether she was possessed or not.However, the only people in the force that believed in Yakumo's special ability were Gotou, Ishii and Miyagawa.Saying that he wanted to see if Haruka was possessed wouldn't work.'That's true, but getting you to meet her would be'Even Gotou looked bitter.'Would it be difficult even for you, Gotou-san?'Yakumo gave Gotou a cold glance.It was a question made by somebody who knew Gotou well. Yakumo knew that if he asked Gotou a question like that, it would light a fire behind him.'No, I'll do something about it,' said Gotou, puffing out his chest with confidence.Meanwhile, Ishii just held his head in his hands.-14-Makoto joined up with Yakumo after talking to Onda.It felt strange. She always met with Yakumo in the Movie Research Circle room. She couldn't remember ever walking around campus like this with him.Yakumo walked with his shoulders rounded and head down.It was posture that avoided other students' gazes.He probably did this not because of the cold but out of habit to hide his red eye.And now, the only person who had accepted that red eye, Haruka, was the suspect in a murder case.His refined profile looked distant as usual, but his heart had to be in a storm.Makoto couldn't find the words to say.After walking for a while, they reached the same lounge Makoto had been in yesterday.Today, Sakurai was there already and stood up to bow politely upon seeing Makoto.'I apologise for taking so much of your time when you're busy.''No' Sakurai replied in a hoarse voice. There was none of yesterday's refreshing manner.According to Onda, Sakurai had been close to the murder victim, Kanae. The death of somebody close to him had probably cast a shadow on him.'This is a Meisei University student''My name is Saitou Yakumo,' said Yakumo, continuing Makoto's words.Sakurai looked suspicious, and Makoto and Yakumo shared a glance.When Makoto had arranged to meet with Sakurai, she had only told him that there was something she really wanted to ask.He must have thought it was something to do about yesterday's interview, so now he was confused about why a student from the same university was here.'Actually, I want to ask you about yesterday's incident,' Makoto said once they had all sat down.Sakurai's expression looked pained.'I To be honest, I still can't believe it'Sakurai's fists were gripped tightly on his lap. Veins bulged in his thin arms.He appeared to be desperately trying to keep in his overflowing emotions.'I heard that you were very close to Kanae-san,' said Makoto.Sakurai sighed. 'Yes, well''What sort of girl was Kanae-san?''She didn't speak up much, but she was a very kind girl.''In what way?''When we went out to drink, she would go and ask for everyone's orders, and she would watch over those who had drunk too much. She was just really kind. I've never seen her angry'As Sakurai spoke, his sniffled.The tears in his eyes looked like they might fall out at any moment.It hurt to watch him.It was natural, but in a case, there were perpetrators and victims. Perhaps they hadn't been looking properly at the victims since Haruka was the suspect in this case.Makoto felt that terribly now.'I see''Why did Kanae-chan have to be killed?'Sakurai turned his gaze towards the clock tower outside the window.'Do you have any ideas along that line?' Makoto asked directly.Sakurai thought for a moment, but then he shook his head.'I can't think of anything. Actually, I heard the perpetrator was a student in the same seminar'Sakurai didn't know that Makoto knew Haruka. He probably didn't even know the suspect's name.Still, Sakurai's words struck deep in Makoto's heart.'Actually 'Yakumo, who had been silent until now, suddenly began to speak.'Yesterday, before Kanae-san passed away, she consulted me about a spiritual phenomenon.''A spiritual phenomenon?'Sakurai cocked his head.'Yes. Do you know a person in the same circle by the name of Nishizawa-san?''Yes,' responded Sakurai.There was no change in his expression. Onda had made it sound like they were at it like cats and dogs, so it was a bit of a let-down, but Sakurai was probably too mature to show anything in front of a stranger.'Apparently, Nishizawa-san experienced a spiritual phenomenon when he went to the clock tower. Did you hear anything about that?'Sakurai shook his head slightly.'I haven't.''Kanae-san said that Nishizawa-san had been acting strangely ever since It appears she thought that he was possessed by a ghost.''I see''Did you feel anything?''Eh?''In regards to Nishizawa-san's behaviour. Did you think he was acting differently than usual, as Kanae-san did?'Sakurai's expression turned severe.'I didn't notice anything in particular. Actually, Nishizawa and I don't talk much''Are you on bad terms?''To say it clearly, yes. Though I feel like I'm just being hated in a one-way fashion''Has it been that way ever since you enrolled here, or was there some sort of impetus?'Yakumo kept asking questions.Makoto didn't know what he was thinking, but it was clear he was going somewhere.Makoto swallowed and watched the two of them talk.'Even if you ask about an impetus' said Sakurai.'Wasn't there something? Perhaps three years ago 'The moment Yakumo said that, the blood left Sakurai's face.Three years ago that was when a student in the literature circle had committed suicide by jumping from the clock tower.'What are you talking about?' asked Sakurai, his brow furrowed.Perhaps he was trying to play dumb, but he wasn't very good at acting.'You don't know?' asked Yakumo.Makoto felt that Yakumo really was amazing at talking.'I don't.''I see That's when a student in your circle committed suicide by jumping,' said Yakumo, as if to remind Sakurai, at which point Sakurai finally acknowledged it.'Ah, that'Though he was acting like he'd just remembered, it was far too unnatural.'Did you really forget?' asked Yakumo, eyes narrowed.'Rather than forgetting it I didn't realise what you were talking about since you just said three years ago.'Sakurai smiled wryly.'You said that you were made to write a novel by the ghost of the clock tower.''Yes.''I thought that the ghost in the clock tower was the student who jumped from there to kill herself, but am I wrong?'Yakumo was smiling.It was a frightening smile that made a chill run down Makoto's spine.'What on earth are you talking about? I don't understand at all Please excuse me.'Sakurai stood up as he said that, clearly upset, and he left, just like that.Makoto didn't feel like following him.She was more interested in why Yakumo had asked that.'Makoto-san, you have the previous things he's written, yes?'Yakumo spoke before Makoto could.'I have the previous magazines published by the literature circle.'She had the volumes she had borrowed from Onda before the incident.'Would you mind lending them to me?''I don't mind, but'Yakumo's mobile phone rang, interrupting Makoto.-15-Haruka sat on the chair in the interrogation room, half in shock.It had been a chain of shocking and unbelievable events.She had still been trying to accept the fact that Kanae had been killed when she was told that Haruka herself had killed her.Furthermore, Haruka herself had confessed.She didn't remember saying anything like that. She had just found out that Kanae was dead.She felt like she had fallen into another universe. She kept hoping that she would wake up from this dream.Though part of it was because of the unbelievable situation wherein she had been turned into a murderer, more than anything else, she couldn't accept that Kanae was dead.She didn't even have time to grieve with the interrogation.Furthermore, she couldn't remember any of what the detectives were telling her, but they didn't believe her when she told them that.Her chest hurt.She felt as though her organs had been carved out of her while she was still alive.She hadn't known that not being believed would hurt so much.She even felt that it would be easier to just accept that she had done it, as everyone was telling her, if she was going to suffer so.Somebody who had been framed and claimed their innocence had said something similar before.Now, Haruka understood.At this rate, she felt like her very existence would be shaken. Yakumo-kun, help me.Just as Haruka murmured that in her heart, the investigation room opened.It was probably those two detectives again. Haruka didn't feel like lifting her head.Somebody sat in front of her.The air that came in had a familiar smell. A warm, pleasant smell that seemed to melt her frozen heart.The smell made Haruka look up and she held her breath unconsciously.Somebody she knew well was in front of her Yakumo was sitting there.His usual sleepy eyes and messy hair. It felt so nostalgic.'Are you doing OK?' said Yakumo in his flat tone.It was, without a doubt, Yakumo's voice Haruka didn't know why Yakumo was here, but she didn'tcare. She was so happy to see him.'Yeah'As she nodded, tears started pouring out.All the emotions she had been keeping in came out in a surge, and her tears wouldn't stop falling. I can't see Yakumo through the tears.As Haruka sobbed, she rubbed frantically at her eyes.'It's OK' said Yakumo, placing a hand on Haruka's shoulder.That was enough to make all the pain and sadness go away.Haruka wanted to just hug Yakumo tightly and cry until she felt better.'I don't have that much time. Let me ask you a few questions ' said Yakumo quietly.When Haruka heard those words, she understood what Yakumo was here for.'OK'Haruka nodded and took deep breaths to calm down.'Did you go to the clock tower that night?''Yes.''Why?''I was going to your place when I saw Kanae walking near the clock tower.''Was she alone?'Haruka shook her head.'She was alone, but it looked like she was following somebody''What happened after?''I don't remember Sorry'The memories after that were vague. Before she'd noticed it, she was being interrogated as a murder suspect.Haruka bit her lower lip.Even though Yakumo had come to see her, all she could give him was vague information. She wasn't helping at all.She felt so frustrated that tears started to well up again.'I see So it was you'Yakumo suddenly started to murmur.'Eh?'Haruka began to ask a question, but Yakumo stopped her.'Why are you here?''I'When Haruka tried to respond, Yakumo shook his head. It was a strange conversation, but there had to be a point to it.Haruka shut her mouth and watched.'I see That was taken as a confession'After saying that, Yakumo let out a long sigh.Suddenly, there was a commotion on the other side of the door. Somebody was arguing.'There's no time. Last, I want to hear just one thing from your mouth 'Yakumo looked at Haruka with serious eyes.'What?''Did you kill her?'Yakumo's words stabbed Haruka in the heart.She couldn't believe that Yakumo would suspect her too for a moment, she was disappointed, but that changed when she saw Yakumo's eyes.Yakumo wasn't asking because he doubted Haruka. It was because he was trying to believe in her.'It wasn't me I don't remember but it wasn'T me'After Haruka said that, Yakumo smiled slightly.'I'll believe in you.'Those words were enough to make Haruka's heart feel lighter.She felt like she would be able to bear whatever anybody told her now.'Yakumo-kun''Can you believe in me?' asked Yakumo as he slowly stood up.He didn't even have to ask. Haruka had always believed in Yakumo.'Yes.'After Haruka nodded, Yakumo smiled wryly and ran a hand through his messy hair.'OK. I'll hurry. Deny whatever anybody asks you.''OK.'Just as Haruka nodded, the door burst open, and Gotou and Ishii along with the detectives who had been interrogating Haruka, Shinoda and Onodera, came rushing in.'What are you doing here!?' yelled Sonoda as he went up to Yakumo.However, Yakumo wasn't disturbed.'Sorry. I was looking for the washroom, but it seems I'm lost,' said Yakumo, playing dumb.'Like that excuse would work!'Shinoda tried to grab Yakumo, but Gotou stepped in the way. Onodera joined the fray and Ishii tried to stop that.In the scrabble, Yakumo casually opened the door and stepped outside.Just before Yakumo left, he turned around once and gave Haruka a small nod.Though he didn't speak, it felt like he was saying, 'Believe in me.'Haruka replied with a big nod.That was enough for her to believe in Yakumo, no matter what happened next