Qi lässt sich leicht weitergeben

Kapitel 35

"That's why I'm so happy. Kanako won't encounter any misfortune. She won't grow old. She won't die. That man in black was just a clown; he knew nothing, which is why he pushed her down. For a moment, I was worried that Kanako might die as a human before completing her preparations to become an celestial being—"

Kiba remembered her saying that Kanako would turn into Raiko after she died. But wouldn't that break the cycle of happiness for the girls?

"Sister, so Kanako can't be dead, right?"

Yangzi didn't know how to answer, so she just whispered, "Yes, you won't die."

After saying everything he wanted to say, Lai Zi turned towards Kiba.

He laughed.

She was very happy.

Kiba finally understood why the girl was happy. Simply put, it was this: Raiko wasn't very happy now, while—in Raiko's eyes—Kanako seemed very happy. Raiko would become Kanako after she died, which was good. But now Kanako had an accident, so what would happen? The unfortunate Raiko would still be unfortunate in her next life, which was terrible. If Kanako died like this, she would be reincarnated as Raiko again. Then the original cycle of happiness would be replaced by a cycle of unhappiness, which was the worst possible outcome.

That's why she desperately used terms like "ascending to immortality" and "departing from immortality" to explain. In this way, after Lai Zi died, he became Kanako, and Kanako, who didn't die, became a celestial maiden. Regardless of whether celestial maidens die—I remember Lai Zi mentioning before that they would—the one reincarnated as Lai Zi wasn't Kanako, but a celestial maiden.

This is why Lai Zi is happy.

Kiba was somewhat confused. To Kiba, it was nothing but nonsense, not even worth discussing whether to believe it or not. But to this girl who was not yet twenty, the idea seemed to be reality.

So, it's not surprising that something like this could happen inside the box that was in sync with the girl?

—This is outrageous!

Kiba immediately dismissed the idea.

"So, it's no use searching no matter how hard you try, detective."

Lai Zi finished speaking casually and turned his back to the wood yard.

A mechanical sound came from inside.

"Mr. Kiba."

Yoko called out to Kiba.

“Now that things have come to this point—and it may be a bit rude of me to say it—it’s no longer something you can handle on your own, is it, Mr. Kiba—and that person?”

Yoko glanced at Fukumoto.

“Mr. Fukumoto, is that right? Please stop interfering in our affairs.”

"Does this mean it's causing you trouble?"

Yangzi did not answer.

"With Ishii's weak, office-minded thinking, he won't be able to find Jia Caizi."

Yoko didn't want to look at Kiba. And Kiba didn't dare to look Yoko in the eye either; their gazes never met.

“I know—maybe we can find it if you come and look for it.”

"If that's the case, then why?"

Kiba looked at Yoko's reflection in the mirror on the washbasin.

It's like watching a movie.

"Who exactly is your enemy—the guy who would do something so illogical?"

"yes--"

Kiba returns.

"It's you—"

Yoko didn't make a sound. But her lips did say it.

—What does that mean?

Kiba didn't understand. He didn't hear any clear voice; perhaps they were talking about something else.

—No, that's exactly what she said.

Does she have some misunderstanding about the timber yard? Or...?

In short, it's incomprehensible.

It's unbelievable that Yoko has been doubting herself all along. She can shamelessly say in front of everyone that Kiba was the culprit. Searching all of Japan, there should only be Ishii.

—Then Mimasaka

Yes, the cold-blooded scientist entered the room.

Inform them that Suzaki's body has been discovered.

—Why would Mimasaka specifically come to inform us of this? It would be understandable if a police officer came to inform us. But no. At that time, the only people in the reception room were the victim's family member, Yo, and three outsiders. There's no reason for them to be specifically notified. Besides, Kiba doesn't think Mimasaka would do this kind of errand-running work at all.

Kiba had never spoken to Mimasaka before.

At that time—

"Susaki was killed, died in front of the incinerator—"

To whom was that statement addressed?

Mimasaka's expression was different from usual; she seemed a little flustered.

And the object of his gaze should be Yoko.

But what followed was clearly directed at Kiba.

"Shouldn't it be your turn to handle this murder case? Instead of staying here asking pointless questions, why don't you hurry up and go help at the scene? That Mongolian-looking inspector looks like he's about to get anemia. Or is it that you can't do it, or that the jurisdiction is different?"

—How did you know my identity?

Mimasaka probably came to tell Yoko that Suzaki was dead, and also to prevent Kiba from questioning Yoko. That's the feeling.

I don't understand at all.

Suddenly, Yunzi seemed very flustered, and asked in a tearful voice, "Professor, where's Ganako? Is Ganako alright?"

It was as if they thought that Naoko had been safe and sound until then—

This could be explained by the fact that she suddenly felt uneasy the moment she saw Mimasaka, and thinking about it that way, Yoko's reaction might not seem so unnatural. However, after repeatedly recalling the situation, it still feels a bit strange.

Could it be that Yoko only started worrying about Kanako's safety after learning of Suzaki's death?

It's even harder to understand now.

Mimasaka did not answer.

Yoko slumped into the chair like a puppet with its strings cut.

Suzaki's body was found in front of the incinerator behind the building.

The discoverer was Mimasaka.

No, the correct answer should be police officers.

Just as Mimasaka was about to leave, he was spotted by several police officers coming down the stairs. The officers asked him where he was going, and Mimasaka replied...

The answer was, "Susaki hasn't come back yet. I'm going to go find him."

Incidentally, Mimasaka had been in her room on the second floor until this point, a fact corroborated by several police officers.

Upon hearing this, the officers realized that Suzaki had already left the building. One officer suddenly felt uneasy—

This is what he himself said—Kiba personally inquired—so the police officers determined the building's location earlier than Mimasaka. He recalled...

It seems that Tokumizaka said:

"No problem, you can stay indoors."

However, the officer didn't hear clearly at that time. He went around to the back and found someone lying on the ground.

Normally, the first thing to do is to confirm who the deceased is. But perhaps he was excited by the extraordinary development—though Kiba thought it was just because he was a coward—the officer shouted loudly.

As a result, Mimasaka pushed past the police officers to reach the scene and examined the body.

The cause of death was brain contusion caused by a severe impact to the brain.

The murder weapon has not yet been found; it is likely a angular, rod-shaped piece of metal. However, the timber yard doesn't know where to find something with such a perfect shape.

Good things.

Suzaki left before 6:18.

Kiba entered the reception room at 6:32.

The body was discovered at 7:30 AM. Approximately one hour had passed. All police officers should have entered the building between 7:00 AM and the discovery of the body within 30 minutes.

Mimasaka came to inform me of this around 7:50.

No, even if you arrange them in order, you can't make sense of it. No matter how much you replay a systematic memory, it's useless.

—Furthermore, Yoko's attitude is even more concerning.

Indeed, what Kiba finds most difficult to let go of is Yoko's words and actions at the time.

Mimasaka stood silently in the doorway, Yoko looking at him with unfocused eyes. Soon, Yoko's eyes, which had been brimming with tears, finally overflowed. Mimasaka spoke.

In a voice that was completely different from when he first arrived, extremely calm—no, composed—wrong, cold—he spoke.

"The patient—is gone. Thanks to these slow and incompetent staff, she really has been taken away. I'm at my wit's end. Plus, Sugiyama has been killed too. So, it's beyond saving."

Mimasaka looked at Kiba with those reptilian eyes.

"It's no use doing anything now."

At this moment, Yangzi's attitude changed drastically.

Yoko inhaled deeply the air that was constantly vibrating subtly inside the box, emitting a mournful cry that sounded extremely similar to the noise of an electrical appliance. It was a muffled cry, as if her trachea was about to burst.

"I don't want to! Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Kiba sounds like that.

She headed toward the wood yard.

"Mr. Kiba!"

She was crying.

"Mr. Kiba, Mr. Kiba, please, please help me find Kanako! I take back everything I just said to you. Please. Hurry, right now, Kanako's life, hurry!"

Fukumoto and Raiko looked at Yoko in surprise.