Asi Hell

Capítulo 56

Fukumoto had no choice but to accept his request.

"To be honest, Kusumoto is a bit of a strange person."

"She's unremarkable, but lately she seems to have some misconceptions about herself, right?"

"Yes, yes, she has a very gloomy personality and no friends."

I received many more answers than I needed after asking just one question.

"Misunderstanding? What do you mean?"

"I'm not good at expressing it, but I feel like her sense of confrontation has become stronger."

"Nobody was paying attention to her at all. How should I put it? Maybe she's just too self-conscious?"

"Yes, yes, but she's been taking a lot of leave lately."

The two girls helped each other supplement each other's explanations, taking turns to explain, and it was indeed very easy to understand.

"Has she not come to school at all?"

"None of them came. I heard she frequents coffee shops and is a delinquent."

"Yuzuki taught her all these things. After Yuzuki died, she thought she had become Yuzuki. It's really funny."

"Is the 'Yuzuki-kun' you're talking about the one with teak and rapeseed?"

"Yes! Officer, you know? She committed suicide, she jumped off the platform. You should know, of course."

"The teacher didn't say anything, but we all knew. He actually committed suicide! It's unbelievable, isn't it?"

It seems that among her classmates, Yuzuki Kanako was considered to have committed suicide. But their only reaction to this was, "I can't believe it."

What kind of person is Yuzuki-kun?

"Yuzuki-kun is also strange."

"So you don't have any friends either?"

"No, that's right—"

"But unlike Nanamoto, it's not that we don't want to be friends with her, it's that we don't know how to approach her."

"Yes, yes, there's an unapproachable atmosphere about them."

"His grades are very good, and he's not annoying at all."

There are slight differences between Lai Zi's impression of Kanako and Lai Zi's.

"But she's also a delinquent girl?"

"I don't know—I only know that she often goes to coffee shops."

“I saw it. I once saw her walk into the coffee shop next to the spring factory. I thought that place was terrifying.”

"Her choice of words is also unique. I've heard my mother mention it before."

"explain?"

“My mom said that the Sishengzi is indeed different.”

What is a silk seed?

"Someone without a father, I heard that Nanamoto-san is one too."

"Right?"

It's probably referring to "illegitimate children." Fukumoto wouldn't dare say that the absence of a father has absolutely no impact on a child's behavior and personality development, but it's truly unbearable to be labeled simply because a child doesn't have a father.

This is a form of discrimination. These girls' mothers have unknowingly instilled discriminatory attitudes in their daughters. Fukumoto felt a pang of sadness. He wanted to offer some earnest advice, but decided against it because it didn't align with his own stance.

Fukumoto also lost his father at a young age.

He was no longer in the mood to listen.

"Thank you for your help. Finally, I'd like to ask a strange question: these words—did you learn them in school?"

The girls read the note and shook their heads together.

Fukumoto watched the girls' retreating figures, feeling the intense exhaustion of a near-full-force run. However, he felt none of the refreshment he usually felt after exercising.

"So, Lai Zi's classmates dislike her."

Fukumoto spoke up, talking to himself.

※

Involving Fukumoto might have been a mistake.

Kiba regretted it a little.

This young man named Fukumoto was a very intriguing person. To be honest, Kiba loathed his slowness, and his obsequious attitude, along with his sensibilities so different from Kiba's own, were also extremely distasteful. However,

—For some reason, it's something I can't help but care about.

Therefore, Kiba cares about him a lot. Assisting Kiba might bring more disaster upon him, but there's no better way right now; he can't just obediently wait until his period of self-reflection ends. Moreover, Kiba feels that this matter must be resolved before his period of self-reflection ends.

The information about Yoko that I heard from Kyogoku-do last night was indeed quite shocking to Kiba.

Kyogoku-do said:

"Now, what you should do is try to comfort Miss Yoko's pain, instead of being a fool and trying to defeat her enemies. After listening to your part, I have grasped the general outline of the whole incident, but there are still some parts that need to be confirmed. Please allow me to keep you in suspense for now."

—Let me keep you in suspense for now.

Since you know, just say it. There's nothing to be afraid of, no matter what he says.

Kyogoku-do also said:

"There's only one thing I must clarify first: the dismemberment murder case and the Kanako kidnapping case are separate, and the Kanako attempted murder case should also be a separate case. Although these cases share some parts, they are actually completely unrelated to each other. Pulling on one end will cause the others to move in the wrong direction. Please be very careful."

—Only a fool would believe that.

No, perhaps it's true. But Kyogoku-do has been hesitant and stammering in his speech throughout this incident, so he can't be trusted.

Could it be that he has something he doesn't want Kiba to know?

Kyogoku-do repeatedly urged Kiba to meet Yoko. Kiba had already planned to do so, so he naturally had no objections. However, the matter Kyogoku-do wanted Kiba to investigate was a bit difficult for Kiba, who was in seclusion reflecting on his actions. Suddenly, an idea flashed into his mind, and Fukumoto's face appeared.

What's the point of asking these questions now?

Kiba didn't understand. So he simply relayed what he'd overheard to Junmoto. That dog-like guy should be able to complete the mission, right? Kiba kept thinking about these things on the way. He was running away. Because he was afraid he would think about meeting Yoko when he stopped walking—that is, after reaching his destination.

Kiba learned Yoko's address from the document that Natsukizu had given to Kyogoku-do for safekeeping—a document that Masuoka had commissioned the Kanagawa police to prepare—and the source of this document was incredibly complicated!

The location was across the station from Kiba's place, on the other side. Kiba had never been in this direction before. Although it was in the same town, it felt very unfamiliar. It was a strange landscape—seemingly familiar, yet completely unknown.

A sign indicating the zoning number was nailed to a utility pole. After turning the corner at the next alley, what immediately came into view was—

A black wall. A small, elegant, and very clean room.

—This is it.

It's just like the residence of a concubine in an ancient costume drama. If there were pine trees planted in the courtyard, it would be exactly the same.

No, perhaps it's just influenced by what Kyogoku-do told Kiba about Yoko's past yesterday.

Kiba felt lost and disoriented.

—Should I pretend to be either Saburo or Bat-an? (Note)

Note: A character from the famous Kabuki play *Yōkanjō Fukimei Yokokushi*. The story tells of Yōsaburo, the young master of a large Edo store, who falls in love at first sight with a woman named Afu in Kisarazu. They begin a relationship. However, Afu is the concubine of a local old man. After their affair is exposed, Yōsaburo is attacked by men sent by the old man, and Afu attempts suicide by jumping into the water. Fortunately, both survive. Afu is then taken in as a concubine by a large wholesaler, while Yōsaburo, having severed ties with his family, becomes a hoodlum. Because of his terrifying appearance with thirty-four scars all over his body, he adopts the name "Scarred Yōsaburo." Later, Yōsaburo and his hoodlum friend, Bat-an, go to extort money from a wholesaler, never expecting that Afu is there, and again, a concubine. Yōsaburo is furious, while Afu proclaims her deep love and innocence. Just as the two are arguing, the store owner appears, and Afu, in a moment of panic, claims that Yōsaburo is her brother. The shopkeeper tried to reconcile them, giving Sanlang and Bat An some money to leave. Later, it was discovered that the shopkeeper was actually Afu's biological brother, and he knew the whole story, so he appeared specifically to help the two reconcile.

Walk around the black wall to the back door; in this situation, it's probably more natural to enter and exit through the back door. Don't overthink it; keep your mind clear. Open the wooden door at the back of the house.

A small courtyard.

Yoko is there. She's wearing a kimono and is facing the desk, writing something.

For a moment, I didn't know what to say. Shouting "Is anyone home?" would be silly, but saying "Excuse me for intruding" sounded too much like something out of a period drama—

"ah."

Yoko, who had been writing with her head down, looked up, noticed Kiba's visit, and spoke first.

"Mr. Kiba."

"Sorry to bother you."

That explanation should be acceptable, right?

Kiba walked across the courtyard and stopped in front of the narrow corridor outside the window.

"You always seem to appear at such perfect moments."

Yoko seemed to be writing a letter. She deftly tidied up her things and turned to face Kiba.

"I always seem to run into the most unfortunate situations. Are you free?"

Kiba sat down on the narrow veranda. He was afraid to face Yoko directly.

"Please come in and sit down. It's too kind of you to sit outside—"

"No, I'll just sit here. No matter how shameless I am, I wouldn't stoop so low as to step into a single woman's room, and besides, I don't think you trust me that much."

"That's not true—"

After thinking for a while, Yoko took a cushion and asked Kiba to sit down.

I'm so sorry for the trouble I caused you the other day.

"I acted on my own will, and there's no reason I should receive your apology. Putting that aside for now, have you calmed down?"

Yoko smiled faintly.

Have those guys from Kanagawa contacted you recently?

Not yet. May I ask—

Yoko's gaze was fixed on Kiba's back.

"Do you—know something?"

"Um."

"You went to—investigate?"

"Um--"