Shinrei Tantei Yakumo – ANOTHER FILES Vol 2 Chapter 3

ANOTHER FILES – THE COFFIN OF PRAYER
file 03: the coffin of prayer

1

Makoto sat at a window seat in a twenty-four hour family restaurant and stared outside.

Seven in the morning – the shop was unexpectedly busy with businessmen coming before work.

Makoto was looking at an old lot.

She was waiting for somebody here. Orita Ryou. The person they thought had called Makoto.

Last night, she had looked up a variety of things about Orita. Though he had gone to a local high school, he had stopped attending school and quit.

Now, he lived with his parents and worked part-time as a security guard at night.

She had talked to people who knew him, but their impressions were all consistent. He was quiet and n.o.body knew what he was thinking.

She hadn’t been able to find any friends who were close to him.

She recalled what Namioka, his middle school teache,r had said. Makoto herself had been bullied before.

The cause of ith ad been a very little thing that anybody could have done.

However, that had had a great influence on the rest of her life. Makoto felt it was the same for Orita.

He had lied to escape from the bullying. Unable to reveal the reality that he was being bullied, all he could do was lie.

Because he was too kind, he had even been given the heartless nickname Horata.

‘He came – ’

Makoto got up, interrupting her thoughts.

So that she wouldn’t lose Orita, who was walking slowly while looking down, she paid for her meal and left the shop.

If she stood right in front of him, he would escape. Makoto called ut to Orita from an angle.

Orita turned around and looked shocked when he saw Makoto.

He turned around and tried to run right away, but Makoto had expected that. Makoto grabbed his arm.

'You were the one who called me, right?’

’T-that’s not true.’

Orita looked away from Makoto and responded in a hoa.r.s.e voice.

He was probably on guard.

'I came to hear your story,’ said Makoto gently.

'I don’t have anything to say.’

Orita shook away Makoto’s arm. Makoto lost her grip for a moment, but she grabbed Orita’s arm again immediately.

'I do though. You aren’t a liar. Right?’

When Makoto said that, Orita’s expression hardened.

Namioka’s story yesterday had been bothering Makoto this whole time. She had talked about a corpse at Kagami Spring.

Namioka and the cla.s.smates had probably thought that Orita was lying again.

However, Makoto didn’t think that. She felt that Orita’s lies were all to protect himself.

The story about a corpse in Kagami Spring was different though.

That one lie was completely different from the others. Makoto felt there was truth there.

Furthermore, six years after that, he had called Makoto about it.

'Six years ago – you saw something in the spring. Am I right?’

That was the conclusion Makoto had been led to.

He witnessed something – if she found out what, she might be able to solve the puzzle behind the case.

Of course that wasn’t all. It was necessary for Orita to face reality in order to overcome his traumatic experiences.

'I don’t know…’ said Orita, like the words had been strangled out of him.

Since he was looking down, Makoto couldn’t see his expression.

'No, you do know.’

When Makoto tried to look at his face, Orita turned away to avoid it.

Orita’s body was shaking, though only faintly.

'I don’t know… I don’t know anything…’

'That’s not true.’

'I saw an illusion because I’m crazy…’

Orita shook his head slightly.

It felt like those words summed up everything Orita had experienced. It would have been easier for him if he could blame others, but he couldn’t. That was why he suffered more than other people.

'Please. I want you to tell me what you saw.’

'I said I don’t know!’ yelled Orita, forcing Makoto’s hand off him and running.

Makoto could catch up to him right away, and she knew where he lived. However, she just didn’t feel like running after him.

For Orita – saying that was just deceit, and it might drive him into a corner.

When Makoto thought that, her feet wouldn’t move.

But then why had Orita gone out of his way to call about a corpse?

Makoto’s mobile rang, interrupting her thoughts. Haruka’s name was on the display.

'h.e.l.lo.’

She heard Haruka’s very anxious voice through the speaker.

'What happened?’

< p="">

Haruka herself was probably rather confused.

All she could say was that it was serious. She hadn’t explained anything.

'Calm down. What happened?’

< p="">

When Makoto heard that name, her heart dropped.

'What happened to Is.h.i.+-san?’

'Eh?’

It was so unexpected that Makoto almost dropped the phone.

2

'What the h.e.l.l is happening?’ yelled Gotou, looking at Is.h.i.+ who was sitting in a chair.

They were in the university’s Movie Research Circle room, which Yak.u.mo used as his secret hideaway.

In the chair, Is.h.i.+ was limp like a doll, not moving at all. Gotou could tell he was alive from his faint breathing, but –

'Please don’t make me keep saying the same thing. It is just as it seems. He’s been possessed.’

Yak.u.mo stifled a yawn as he spoke, seeming incredibly sleepy.

Even though they were in a situation like this, he didn’t show any sign of nervousness at all, as usual. Rather than strong nerves, it felt like he didn’t have any emotion at all.

'I’m asking why this happened!’

They had gone to the church last night to see the room where the crime had occurred. They had looked around and left the room when Gotou noticed that Is.h.i.+ hadn’t followed them.

Before Gotou could yell at him, he heard Is.h.i.+’s scream from inside the room.

Gotou and Yak.u.mo ran inside in a hurry and saw Is.h.i.+ on the floor. He didn’t have any injuries and he was breathing.

What the h.e.l.l happened? As if to respond to the question in Gotou’s head, Yak.u.mo said this.

'He’s been possessed – ’

Bringing him to a hospital would be of no help. That was why they’d brought him to Yak.u.mo’s room.

The question was why Is.h.i.+ had been possessed.

'I don’t know the reason, but since Kirino-san’s spirit is wandering, he probably has some unfinished business.’

'I see…’ replied Gotou, but then he noticed a big problem hidden in Yak.u.mo’s words.

'What did you say just now?’

'I said, he probably has some…’

'Not that. Who did you say was possessing Is.h.i.+?’

'Kirino-san is,’ said Yak.u.mo, expression not changing a white.

'You – why did you keep quiet about something so important!?’

Gotou grabbed Yak.u.mo by the collar in his burst of emotion.

'I didn’t mention it?’ said Yak.u.mo, completely calm.

Since it was Yak.u.mo, it was definitely on purpose. It made Gotou even angrier.

Fortunately, since Is.h.i.+ was in this state, there was n.o.body to stop him. This time, he’d really hit Yak.u.mo.

Just as he raised his fist, he heard a groan.

'Eh… W-where am I?’

Is.h.i.+ looked around in confusion.

'You OK?’

Gotou tried to approach Is.h.i.+, but Yak.u.mo stopped him.

'Is.h.i.+-san is still being possessed,’ said Yak.u.mo quietly.

Which meant Gotou could be possessed if he wasn’t careful.

'Er… What on earth am I…’ said Is.h.i.+, sounding troubled.

It seemed like he didn’t know he was possessed.

'Please just tell us what you remember about what happened.’

Yak.u.mo kneeled in front of Is.h.i.+, who was sitting, and asked that question while meeting his eyes.

'I… That’s right. I saw a ghost in that room. It was Kirino-san. He suddenly came towards me…’

Is.h.i.+’s forehead was sweaty as he covered his face with both hands.

'Please listen calmly. Is.h.i.+-san, you are being possessed by a spirit right now.’

'Eh?’

Is.h.i.+ dropped his hands to reveal a shocked expression.

'It’s fine. I will definitely save you, so please tell me. What is Kirino-san pleading?’

Gotou felt there was something odd about Yak.u.mo’s words.

'You can see him, right? Don’t you know?’ asked Gotou.

Yak.u.mo shook his head slightly and stood up.

'He isn’t saying anything – ’

'What?’

'He’s just there. He should be wandering because he has unfinished business, but he won’t say anything about it.’

Yak.u.mo ran a hand through his hair in irritation.

Yak.u.mo wasn’t a mind reader. If Kirino wouldn’t say anything, he wouldn’t know.

That meant that Is.h.i.+, being possessed, could feel how Kirino felt better.

'Oi, Is.h.i.+. How about it?’

Gotou looked at Is.h.i.+.

However, Is.h.i.+ was in shock, like he still couldn’t believe what was happening.

'I…’

Is.h.i.+ held his head, looking like he was in pain.

'Oi! Is.h.i.+! Hang in there!’

'It’s a lie, right? That I’m possessed. Please. Tell me it’s a lie. I mean, I…’

Is.h.i.+ was pleading.

'Don’t make a fuss.’

Gotou hit Is.h.i.+’s head without thinking.

As if that was a switch, Is.h.i.+’s body started convulsing, but soon that stopped.

Is.h.i.+ slowly lifted his head.

When Gotou saw that expression, he felt something cold run down his spine.

'Kirino^san then – ’

Yak.u.mo looked at Is.h.i.+ sharply.

Gotou also knew already that the person in front of him wasn’t Is.h.i.+. The air about him was completely different.

'Go… tou…’

Is.h.i.+’s mouth moved.

'What?’

'I’m… sor… I…’

Is.h.i.+ – no, Kirino – spoke with ragged breathing.

However, his words were cut off and Gotou didn’t know what he was trying to say.

'Kirino, who killed you? What happened there?’

'Sorry… It’s all… my fault…’

When he finished speaking, Is.h.i.+ slipped out of the chair. Yak.u.mo moved quickly to catch him.

'That was Kirino, right?’ asked Gotou.

'Yes,’ Yak.u.mo replied curtly.

If Gotou hadn'th eard wrong, Kirino had apologized to him. What was that apology for –

'I finally see it,’ said Yak.u.mo, sitting Is.h.i.+ in the chair again.

'What?’ asked Gotou.

Yak.u.mo put a finger to his brow and had such a sharp gaze it was frightening.

Gotou could tell, since they’d known each other for so long.

When Yak.u.mo looked like this, he had come to an answer.

'We might have misunderstood something.’

'What are you talking about?’

'I can’t say right now,’ Yak.u.mo said firmly.

When Yak.u.mo became like this, no matter how Gotou pressed, Yak.u.mo wouldn’t open his mouth until the truth was clear.

Gotou could guess what Yak.u.mo would say next too.

'So what should I investigate?’ asked Gotou, which made Yak.u.mo smirk confidently.

3

'Yak.u.mo-kun!’

Haruka opened the Movie Research Circle door with great force.

'You’re noisy.’

In contrast to Haruka, who was panting for breath in panic, Yak.u.mo had his usual sleepy eyes. It made Haruka feel like she was the one who was strange.

'Where’s Is.h.i.+-san? Is he OK?’

'Somehow. He’s over there.’

Yak.u.mo turned his gaze towards a corner of the room.

Is.h.i.+ was sitting there with his head hung. He was as still as a doll.

'Why did this happen…’

The door opened, interrupting Haruka’s question, and Makoto rushed in, looking panicked. The moment she spotted Is.h.i.+, she tried to run up to him without even greeting them.

'Please don’t approach him carelessly.’

Yak.u.mo grabbed Makoto’s shoulder.

Makoto realised immediately what Yak.u.mo was trying to say, so she said quietly, 'I’m sorry.’

'Won’t you sit?’ urged Yak.u.mo.

'But – ’

Makoto spoke up, but Yak.u.mo stopped her.

'Kirino-san’s spirit is possessing Is.h.i.+-san. In order to save Is.h.i.+-san, we need to solve this chain of incidents.’

In order to do that, we need to organise our information – that was probably what Yak.u.mo was saying.

'I know that, but if things stay like this, Is.h.i.+-san will…’

'Exactly. If things stay like this, Is.h.i.+-san will be in danger. That is why we must do what we can.’

Yak.u.mo turned his gaze, almost like a glare, towards Makoto.

Though Yak.u.mo was acting calm and showing no emotion, he probably felt differently on the inside.

Yak.u.mo had been there when Is.h.i.+ was possessed. He had to feel guilty for not preventing it.

'First, let’s sit,’ urged Haruka, which made Makoto sit down as well, maybe because she also understood the situation.

Though Makoto wasn’t acting like herself, perhaps there was no helping it, since Is.h.i.+ was the one who was possessed.

'First, about the rumour surrounding Kagami Spring – ’ said Yak.u.mo once they had all calmed down.

Makoto seemed to have regathered her calm as she nodded and began to speak.

'Just as you said, Yak.u.mo-kun, it appears that the rumour of spiritual phenomena at that spring started six years ago.’

'That matches up with the period when Kento-san’s older sister disappeared,’ said Haruka, which made Yak.u.mo nod.

'The spring of truth – how about that legend?’ asked Yak.u.mo, chin in his hand.

The legend was a set with the rumour about ghosts at Kagami Spring. Your true self was reflected in the spring, and the people who saw it were cursed and killed –

Takatos.h.i.+ had believed that to be true and gone to Kirino, the pastor.

'Regarding that rumour, it appears it was spread much later than the one about the spiritual phenomena.’

'Is that so?’ said Haruka in surprise.

'I thought it was strange too…’

'Well, that sort of legend is usually added on later,’ replied Yak.u.mo calmly.

Now that Yak.u.mo mentioned it, maybe that was true. People’s rumours always brought along others. Somebody would get the story wrong somewhere, and it was likely that changed rumour would spread.

'You’re next.’

Yak.u.mo turned his eyes towards Haruka.

'Ah, right.’

'You found out something about the song, right?’

'Yup. I’m sure about it.’

Haruka took out the CD with the original song from her bag. She would have been too embarra.s.sed to use the one she had played with the orchestra circle, so she had borrowed one from a rental shop yesterday.

Yak.u.mo took the CD and then closed his eyes.

It was like he was listening to the song right then.

'You met Orita-san.’

After a silence, Yak.u.mo opened his eyes and said that.

Namioka’s and Nomoto’s stories flashed through Haruka’s head, which made a vague feeling spread grow throughout Haruka.

'Yes. I tried to talk to him this morning, but he got away, saying he didn’t know anything.’

Makoto’s shoulders slumped in disappointment.

'Maybe there is something he really does not want to talk about, or…’

Yak.u.mo stopped midway, crossed his arms and looked up at the ceiling.

Perhaps Yak.u.mo was putting together the details of the case right now in his head. Haruka and Makoto waited in the silence for Yak.u.mo’s next words.

How long did that last – Yak.u.mo suddenly stood up.

Yak.u.mo, lit up by the sun from the window, sometimes gave off an aura that made it hard to approach him.

Haruka thought that Yak.u.mo would say something, but he just stared into s.p.a.ce.

Haruka couldn’t see anything, but Yak.u.mo could see the truth of the case – that was how Haruka felt.

Finally, Yak.u.mo quietly said, 'I see. I will go meet Orita-san.’

'Eh?’

Makoto looked surprised.

To be honest, Haruka was surprised too. She didn’t think that Orita would talk if Yak.u.mo suddenly went, but she could see confidence in Yak.u.mo’s expression.

Makoto seemed to sense that too, as she nodded. 'I understand.’

'Makoto-san, I’ll leave Is.h.i.+-san to you.’

Yak.u.mo’s narrowed eyes seemed to be letting off a faint light –

After leaving Yak.u.mo’s room, Gotou sat in the driver’s seat of the car –

This was where Is.h.i.+ normally sat. Come to think of it, it had been a long time since Gotou had been alone in a car.

For the car he normally felt so small to feel so large just because Is.h.i.+ wasn’t there –

When they first paired up, Gotou had thought he’d been given an incredible piece of luggage. He had even thought that Is.h.i.+ should just quiet already and been very cold.

But still Is.h.i.+ had followed him without faltering.

Even while Gotou scorned him for being clumsy and useless, Gotou had started to evaluate Is.h.i.+ more kindly.

Come to think of it, it might have been like that with Kirino too.

Gotou, who let his emotions run wild, and Kirino, who viewed cases logically and free of emotion. The impact of these two people with completely different perspectives had to happen, and made everyone worry and troubled.

But now that he thought about it, it might have been a good balance in its own way.

After that incident, he and Kirino had split up and the partners.h.i.+p had ended. While Gotou had thought it refres.h.i.+ng, it was true that he had lamented the loss of their rivalry.

If Gotou hadn’t been so prejudiced and had talked more with Kirino, maybe they would have had a different relations.h.i.+p.

'What am I thinking about…’

Gotou laughed self-deprecatingly, cleared his head and started the car.

This wasn’t the time to wallow in the past. He didn’t know what Yak.u.mo was thinking, but he would believe in him and move forward.

He had to do that to save Is.h.i.+.

At the same time, it would save Kirino’s spirit.

Gotou went back to the precinct by car and visited the forensics department. He looked around the room and walked up to a face he recognized among all the officers doing their own work.

'Oi.’

After Gotou spoke, a horse-faced man lifted his head.

It was Matsutani, who had joined the force at the same time as Gotou.

'What, it’s you, Gotou…’

Matsutani looked blatantly displeased.

Gotou didn’t like this part of Matsutani, but in a way, it was similar to how Gotou himself acted.

'There’s something I want to ask.’

'Leave it for later.’

Matsutani waved a hand and went back to his computer.

– A really unpleasant guy.

Anger welled up within Gotou, but he held it back. He had to have Matsutani’s cooperation no matter what.

'That’s not gonna fly.’

Gotou grabbed Matsutani by the collar and pulled him up.

Though Matsutani looked shocked, he didn’t resist. Perhaps he was resigned.

'What do you want to know?’ said Matsutani, though he looked annoyed.

'First, I want blueprints of that church.’

'Which church?’ asked Matsutani, even though he really knew. He was a dull guy.

'The church where Kirino was killed.’

'Ah… I do have it, but what do you want it for?’

Gotou couldn’t answer Matsutani’s question, because he himself didn’t know. Yak.u.mo had just told him to bring it.

'Just take it out!’ threatened Gotou. Matsutani reluctantly opened his desk drawer and started searching.

'I hear the dead Kirino was partnered with you,’ said Matsutani as he continued to search.

'Yeah.’

'Seems you really didn’t get along.’

'Where’d you hear that?’

'Just around.’

Info travelled fast in the police. Just as Matsutani said, rather than from a specific someone, a lot of people who knew about the situation back then were probably talking about it.

'I don’t get along with anyone,’ said Gotou with a snort.

It was fact. If there was one thing Gotou couldn’t accept about himself, it was how he bit back at everyone.

Because of that, he was stuck in this do-nothing job.

But he didn’t regret it. He didn’t want to lick shoes to the point of bending his own beliefs.

'Maybe. Well it seems like the guy called Kirino had his own bad habits. There was a rumour he was dating a woman who had some problems too.’

'What?’

It was the first Gotou had heard of Kirino having a woman.

'It was a rumour, so I don’t know that much either. Here.’

Matsuyama held out the blueprints.

'Thanks.’

Gotou took the blueprints and made a move to leave when Matsutani called out to him.

'Is that all?’

Like Gotou had said at first, the blueprints were only the first thing on his list. He had almost forgotten something important.

'Right. Actually, I want to ask about audio equipment.’

Gotou walked to Matsutani again.

5

Haruka went to a care facility in the city –

Of course, Yak.u.mo was with her.

They had left Is.h.i.+ in the Movie Research Circle room, but it was probably fine, since Makoto was taking care of him.

The problem was why they had come here –

From the flow of the conversation, Haruka had been sure they were going to met Orita.

'What are you going to inestigate here?’ asked Haruka once they reached the entrance, which made Yak.u.mo stop.

'Utugi k.u.mi-san, of course.’

'I see – ’

k.u.mi was the start of this case. Why did she possess Sachiko and keep singing – as long as they didn’t solve that puzzle, they wouldn’t be able to solve the case.

'She probably doesn’t wish it, but still…’ murmured Yak.u.mo.

What on earth did that mean? Haruka was about to ask but Yak.u.mo went through the entrance as if to escape that.

After giving a name at reception, they went right to the waiting room. It seemed Yak.u.mo had Makoto make an appointment by phone beforehand.

He really was good at laying groundwork.

After waiting for a while on the sofa in the waiting room, a man came into the room. He had a long face and had an incredibly gentle demeanour.

'I sincerely apologise for the wait.’

'No, I apologise for coming at such a busy time.’

'Not at all. My name is Sone.’

The man held out a business card.

The name Sone Satos.h.i.+ was printed on the business card. It said he was a care worker.

'I am Saitou of Hokutou Newspaper. This is my a.s.sistant, Ozawa. I’m sorry, but I’ve just run out of business cards,’ said Yak.u.mo with an innocent look.

Even though he normally looked so sour, Haruka thought he really was skilled at times like this.

'You’re here regarding Utsugi k.u.mi-san’s case, correct?’ said Sone once they had exchanged greetings and he had settled on the sofa.

It seemed like Makoto had properly conveyed what they wanted to know.

'Yes. When did k.u.mi-san come here?’ Yak.u.mo asked politely.

'I think it was about eight years ago. She was a seventeen-year-old high school student, and her younger brother was a primary school student,’ said Sone, gaze wandering as he looked through his memories.

'If I remember correctly, their father pa.s.sed away in a traffic accident…’

'Yes. Well, if it were just a traffic accident, there probably wouldn’t have been such a problem, but the situation was as it was.’

Sone rubbed his hands together with a wry expression.

'What sort of situation was it?’

'I don’t know if I should say… Everything has finally died down. The name Utsugi is really their mother’s. It used to be Sumida.’

'Sumida?’

'Yes. There was a reason that they had to change their family name. If possible, please understand that and keep that quiet.’

From the way he spoke, he probably wouldn’t talk even if they pressed further. Yak.u.mo didn’t ask anything else and just nodded.

'But because of the age they came, didn’t it take time for them to acquaint themselves with the others?’ asked Yak.u.mo, to which Sone nodded.

'The older sister, k.u.mi-san, was friendly with everyone immediately. She was a kind woman with good manners, and she was good at singing too.’

'Singing – ’

Yak.u.mo reacted to that word.

That song flashed back through Haruka’s head too. Why was she still singing now? She felt like there was a hint there.

'Yes, she joined the choir here too. The church even had her join during weddings and Christmas.’

'What happened to k.u.mi-san after she left?’

Yak.u.mo continued to ask questions in a disinterested manner.

'She had such a good voice. She could have continued down the music path, but since she couldn’t, she started work at a factory in a nearby town.’

'Is that so…’

'She came to visit often after that too. Her brother Kento-kun was here too. Every time she came, she’d sing to the younger children.’

From what Haruka heard, just as Sone had said at first, k.u.mi probably had been a very kind woman.

'How about her younger brother, Kento-san?’

Yak.u.mo changed the topic to Kento.

'It took Kento-kun some time to become friendly with everyone. He was a very sensitive child and he hadn’t accepted what happened to his father either. Maybe he was afraid of the new environment, or troubled.’

Since Haruka had never been in such a situation, all she could do was imagine it.

But still, she could easily believe that his hards.h.i.+ps would have been beyond description. Perhaps that was why he hadn’t been able to make many friends in middle school.

Perhaps Yak.u.mo and Kento were alike.

Contrary to what they wanted, they were put in tough environments and had had to battle alone.

'But because k.u.mi-san was so reliable, she might have both a sister and a mother for Kento-kun – ’

Sone’s eyes were narrowed, like he was looking into the distance.

'I hear that she’s missing now…’

When Yak.u.mo said that, Sone’s face grew dark.

'Yes. Kento-kun said that he hadn’t been able to contact k.u.mi-san. I was the one who filled the missing persons report.’

'Is that so?’

'It seemed like she hadn’t been going to work for the past few days at the factory too… The police just took the report. They didn’t do anything.’

Sone’s eyes were wet with anger.

'The police do not think something is a case unless they believe it to be very serious,’ Yak.u.mo said flatly.

It looked like he didn’t plan on mentioning that k.u.mi was dead here. Maybe he suspected Sone, or –

'It’s true. We searched too, but in the end, we couldn’t find her. I tell myself that she must have gone somewhere far away because of some circurmstances.’

Sone’s expression was sorrowfull.

Perhaps this was a twisted way of thinking, but Haruka thought that Sone had already given up and thought that k.u.mi was no longer living.

'Did k.u.mi-san seem strange before she disappeared?’ asked Yak.u.mo.

Sone’s brow furrowed, seeming troubled.

'From what I saw, I don’t think there was anything. No, maybe there was. But k.u.mi-san was a woman who never let that show on her face.’

'Was she the type who shouldered the burden alone?’

'If that was the case, I would have been able to notice too, but./. Anyway, she was a woman who always smiled gently. She accepted everything and enveloped it…’

'Do you mean she was broadminded?’

'Maybe. If the Virgin Mary really lived at some point, she was probably like her… sometimes I think that. Now that I think about it, we relied so much on her open heart and couldn’t understand her suffering and sadness. When I think that, it makes me sad.’

Though Sone spoke calmly, his expression painfully expressed his troubles.

At the same time, Haruka’s impression of the woman named k.u.mi changed.

k.u.mi was probably a woman who helped many and was loved by many. Why did a woman like that have to do? And why did she keep singing now?

Haruka couldn’t find an answer to that question –

'One last thing.’

Yak.u.mo leant forward, as if to say that this was the main topic.

'What is it?’

'You know this person, right?’

After saying that, Yak.u.mo placed a photograph on the table.

'Yes. It’s been all over the news,’ replied Sone.

'Not that - you knew this person before this was news, correct?’

After saying that, Yak.u.mo smirked.

6

Makoto sighed as she looked at Is.h.i.+, slumped in a chair –

It was great that Yak.u.mo had relied on her to watch over Is.h.i.+, but all she could do was watch him suffer.

She felt herself incredibly powerless and small.

Would they really be able to save Is.h.i.+ like this?

There were too many things she didn’t understand with this case. She didn’t know what direction they were headed, let alone where they were going.

On top of that –

Interrupting Makoto’s thoughts, Is.h.i.+ let out a groan.

'Is.h.i.+-san!’

Makoto went towards him immediately. She almost touched him, but she recalled Yak.u.mo’s words and stopped.

If she approached him carelessly, she might be possessed.

’M-Makoto-san…’

Is.h.i.+ sounded surprised when he opened his eyes.

'Are you all right?’ asked Makoto.

Is.h.i.+ looked around.

'Where am I? What on earth did I…’

Yak.u.mo had said that he’d told Is.h.i.+ he was possessed, but from that reaction, Is.h.i.+ was probably still confused.

Makoto had experienced the same thing.

When you were possessed, a stranger’s spirit ate away at you and made your consciousness hazy, your memories vague.

'It’s fine. You don’t have to be afraid,’ Makoto said kindly.

'I see… I’ve been… possessed by Kirino-san…’

Is.h.i.+’s forehead was sweating.

'Is.h.i.+-san…’

'Kirino-san… is inside me…’

After saying that much, Is.h.i.+ hugged his head, as if he was in great pain.

'Are you all right?’

'Kirino-san… to Gotou-san… That person is really…’

After saying that in a hoa.r.s.e voice, Is.h.i.+ fainted and almost slipped out of the chair.

Makoto hurriedly caught him.

Maybe she would be possessed, but to be honest, she would be fine with that. If that would make Is.h.i.+ get better, rather, that was –

Just as Makoto was embracing Is.h.i.+’s body, her mobile rang. Yak.u.mo’s name was on the display.

'h.e.l.lo, Hijikata speaking.’

Makoto sat Is.h.i.+ down on the chair again before answering.

She heard Yak.u.mo’s lazy voice from the opposite end.

'He woke up earlier, but he’s fainted again…’

Is.h.i.+ had said something in spurts and Makoto hadn’t understood, but maybe Yak.u.mo would be able to see it from another perspective.

Makoto explained her short exchange with Is.h.i.+.

– Gotou-san is the key?

What on earth did that mean? Makoto thought about asking, but Yak.u.mo spoke before she could.

'What is it?’

In this situation, Makoto was ready to cooperate. However –

'It seems y