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Stop making excuses!

Kiba was angry. His anger burned quietly, yet fiercely.

"You haven't told Kanako about your father at all. You still want financial aid, you still want that money, don't you! Tell me the truth!"

Yoko didn't look at the timber yard, didn't make any excuses, and honestly admitted it.

"Perhaps—yes. You're right, the burden of my mother's illness is too heavy for me. To be honest, the Shibata family's help has been a great help. So I—"

"Ah ah."

Kiba seemed to remember something, and his anger dissipated amidst the vibrations of the building.

"You've repeatedly emphasized to me that you're a liar—"

Kiba has fallen silent once again.

"Mimazaka. You're the one who pursued Yoko—your daughter—to this extent. Don't you have anything to say?"

Kyogoku-do stared at Mimasaka. I didn't understand what he really meant. It seemed like it wasn't time to explain yet.

Mimasaka laughed.

"Chuzenji, your interests are really low-level. What's the point of digging into people's privacy in this kind of setting? It's just incredibly boring."

The next moment, Mimasaka's expression returned to seriousness.

"If I said, 'It's all my fault. I left Kinu, who was suffering from an incurable disease, to be cared for by Yoko,' would you be satisfied? Masuoka, Chuzenji says the responsibility lies with me, so blame me if you want. If you want us to pay back the money, then I'll pay it back?"

He wasn't being sincere. Mimasaka said all of this without a trace of genuine feeling.

Masuoka could also tell, and like Kiba, he deliberately didn't face him, and retorted sarcastically.

"I don't believe you have the ability to repay. Are you going to sell this research institute? Don't boast about things you can't do. However—"

Masuoka then looked at Yoko.

"—But couldn't you have handled it better? Whether you tell the truth or lie, whichever method you choose—there are better ways to handle it, aren't there!"

Yoko's gaze slowly shifted from the floor to Kiba.

"Mr. Kiba also said something similar to me. She said that if I had just told some lies back then, things would have ended perfectly."

There was no activity at the lumberyard.

He could feel Yoko's gaze fixed on his back.

“But I never want to tell any more lies. Our lives are built on lies, and piling lies on top of lies will only make me feel more miserable. But—even though I didn’t say anything to Kanako, I think the child knows I am her mother. The child just didn’t say anything.”

Kiba's broad back became a screen, on which Yoko projected her memories.

"In short, I don't want to say anything to Kanako. So I couldn't agree when Mr. Masuoka said he wanted to talk to Kanako directly. But I was also afraid—if I really told Mr. Masuoka that Kanako wasn't actually Mr. Hiroya's child, he would ask me to repay the aid I had paid in the past. I really don't have the ability to repay that now. So I had to give this ambiguous answer. I'm very ignorant in economics and politics, and I didn't expect Mr. Shibata Yohhiro to be such a remarkable person. So I thought that if I kept refusing, Mr. Masuoka would eventually give up."

“I’ve told you about Shibata’s influence on society hundreds and thousands of times! Even if you don’t lie, there are many ways to resolve this. If you were to admit to me that Kanako isn’t Shibata’s bloodline, I’d do anything to help you! It’s just a small matter!”

Masuoka seemed very unwilling to accept this.

"Why won't you open up and talk to me? Am I really that untrustworthy? You—you even trusted that down-on-his-luck guy Amamiya! Do I look that fierce? How shameful."

This is the truth. Masuoka wasn't a bad person or a cold-blooded animal; he was just a bit clumsy. He was regretting his inability to convey his true feelings.

Kiba, with his back to Masuoka, said:

“Masuoka, there are two kinds of words: those that move people and those that don’t. No matter what your true thoughts are, it’s hard for your words to penetrate people’s hearts.”

Masuoka didn't turn his head, ignoring his remarks.

Kyogoku-do continued. He was the only one who could see the whole picture; no one else could manage this situation.

"In short, in order to keep Kanako away from Mr. Masuoka's late-night visit, you had to semi-force Kanako to go out. Although Kanako is of middle school age, I think she can usually tell what's going on at home. Fortunately, Kanako has always enjoyed taking walks at night, so she doesn't find it too painful."

Yangzi looked up at the void with nostalgia.

“That child was truly a good child. I really don’t understand how she could grow up so carefree. But I also know that it was just a facade she was desperately putting on in front of me. That child was miserable, in pain, and emotionally twisted. I didn’t understand anything, but Amamiya knew a lot about Kanako. I heard that when I started becoming an actress, she would go for a walk almost every night, and she didn’t stop even after I quit my job. But anyway, she didn’t go astray—so I just let it go.”

Yoko's tone was melancholic; the inner reality, once spoken, transformed into a story. She was like a newly emerged butterfly, a woman situated between beauty and ugliness, elegance and fragility—

Kyogoku-do continued his "secret insight".

"At the same time, coincidentally at this critical juncture, your news was published in a lousy magazine."

"Um--"

The timber yard reacted.

"Susaki has come to you again as a threatening man. However, he didn't find you first; instead, he ran into Kanako."

"I think—that should be it."

Yoko's expression, which had been filled with nostalgia, gradually turned into one of regret.

"Kanako guessed the truth of the secret, and she was deeply hurt and tried to leave home. However, she must have told Amamiya her destination."

How do you know?

Kyogoku-do has never had contact with Amamiya. Of course, all the information we have about Amamiya comes from Kiba, Yoko, and Masuoka. I doubt any of them know anything about this.

"You'll find out soon enough."

Kyogoku-do continued:

"Kanako invited her only friend, Kusumoto Yoriko, who also had serious family problems, to run away from home together. Then—in Yoriko's hands—she became half-dead."

"What! Kyogoku, you..."

Kiba couldn't help but turn around after hearing this. His expression was like a ghost—that might be a bit of an understatement—but he was extremely haggard and had a fierce look. That's to be expected. When Toriguchi, Aoki, and I heard the conclusion, we were utterly shaken. Without evidence and motive, could it really be convincing?

"That's exactly right, sir. That's exactly what happened. It just so happened that Raiko was in that situation and pushed Kanako off the platform."

The first incident: the attempted murder of Kanako—

Kiba's face lost its tension, replaced by an incomprehensible expression.

"I see."

Kiba seemed to understand quickly. It was Masuoka who was surprised and unable to understand.

"What? It's that girl! That... one..."

"So...so that's how it is! Waaah..."

Officer Fukumoto covered his mouth, his eyes brimming with tears.

"So, Kusumoto-san is the culprit? Kanako didn't commit suicide after all—"

When the prisoner's name was mentioned, Yoko's mouth dropped open in surprise. Did Yoko harbor no hatred for Raiko? Or was it simply that it took time for her surprise to turn into hatred?

"People who intend to commit suicide don't tell their families where they're going. Nor does it seem like they're disguising it. So, did they change their minds along the way? — At least they would wait until they reach their destination before committing suicide, right? It's rare to change one's mind on the platform before departure."

Things were so unexpected that Kiba said weakly:

"They said they wanted to see the lake, but they didn't tell me why they wanted to go."

“Kanako told Amamiya about this, and Amamiya—should also know the destination. Kanako didn’t plan to go very far. At most, Kanako just wanted to go to Lake Sagami.”

"Lake Sagami?"

Several people asked the same question in unison.

"It's not Lake Sayama or Lake Okutama, but Lake Sagami."

The rumbling sound seemed to distort and sway. Instantly, the fluorescent lights flickered on and off.

"But Kanako didn't die; she was just seriously injured. Normally, such severe injuries would be fatal, and the tragedy of Yoko and Kanako should have ended there. But the curtain was not lowered because Yoko's father was—Mimasaka Koshiro."

Everyone present looked towards Mimasaka.

"Is it your turn to explain now, Professor?"

"Unfortunately, I'm a scientist, not a sophist like you. However, no matter how much you try to expose our secrets, I won't be held accountable. Even if detectives and police officers are present, it won't matter."

Amidst the surrounding gazes of everyone, Mimasaka followed the pipes extending from the boxes on the platform to the connected measuring devices, reading the values and recording them on the paper in her hand.

Kyogoku looked at him sadly.

"You must be quite surprised to receive a call from Ms. Yoko after fourteen years. You didn't expect Ms. Yoko to know about this place. Not only that, she also told you that her daughter is dying. Even though you've never met her, Kanako is still an irreplaceable blood relative to you. I believe you are also wholeheartedly determined to save her."

The Onmyoji's tone became a bit intense, and he continued:

"Professor, isn't that right? You want to save Kanako because she's your blood relative—no, a relationship beyond blood. Isn't that right? If not, please correct yourself, otherwise your poor daughter—"

“The demons will be unable to leave.”

Kyogoku-do said.

Mimasaka is—

Mimasaka ignored his statement.

The mechanical voice was particularly clear whenever the speech stopped.

Mimasaka remained expressionless. Kyogoku-do went a step further:

“Kanako’s body is beyond repair. Her injuries are too severe. You must start the surgery immediately. Yoko and you have both provided blood volumes that are almost life-threatening. This is a major operation, and Suzaki is the only assistant. If it weren’t for the genius Mimasaka performing it—and the patient being Ms. Kanako—there would be no chance of success.”

"You've been talking about these boring things all this time."

From my position, I couldn't see both Mimasaka and Yoko at the same time, so I looked towards the person who spoke.

"Surgery is just a technique; there's no need to be sentimental about it."

"Really? Then your skills are indeed first-rate."

Kyogoku-do crossed his arms.

"As far as I know, Mimasaka Koshiro is one of the most talented scientists in Japan. His research, based on immunology, transcends factions and divisions, providing the academic community with forward-looking perspectives that are several to several decades ahead of its time. He also advocated for treatments like gene manipulation, which were like dreams, but unfortunately they were too advanced and were suppressed. However—at this time, he was at most shunned because of the awe he received, and was by no means a heretical scholar who would be expelled from the academic world."

Having half of her life succinctly summarized by someone else, didn't Mimasaka feel any pleasure or displeasure?

Or perhaps he simply didn't have the ear to listen to the sophistry of a charlatan.

Mimasaka simply carried out his work quietly.

"His setbacks began with his wife's illness. Although myasthenia gravis is not an incurable disease, its cause is still unclear with the current level of medical technology, and the chance of a cure is extremely low if it is severe. Ms. Kinuko's condition is—severe. Professor Mimasaka was not ostracized by the academic community, but gave up all his official duties to treat his wife's illness. Am I right, Professor?"

There was no response.

I noticed Yoko and turned to look at her.