Shinrei Tantei Yakumo – ANOTHER FILES Vol 3 Epilogue

ANOTHER FILES – THE TOWER OF JUDGEMENT
epilogue

1

‘Sorry to bother – ’

Gotou and Is.h.i.+ had come to Yak.u.mo’s secret hideaway, the Movie Research Circle room.

'If you know you’re a bother, please leave.’

Yak.u.mo sat in his usual chair and let out a bored yawn.

'You’re the one who called us here!’

'Is that so?’

'You!’

Gotou was about to hit Yak.u.mo, but Is.h.i.+ hurriedly stopped him.

'Honestly…’ grumbled Gotou as he sat on a chair.

Though he didn’t like Yak.u.mo’s brazen att.i.tude, he was also relieved that Yak.u.mo was back to normal.

To be honest, he’d been worried for a moment there.

If Haruka had been arrested as the perpetrator of a murder, Yak.u.mo would probably never have trusted anyone again.

Now that Gotou thought about it, he himself might have only been able to continue believing in Haruka because he just couldn’t accept the other possibility, just as a child refused to believe things that weren’t pleasant.

That was fine though.

Even if belief was just putting people into your own image of them, there had to be people who could be saved that way.

Gotou knew it was a selfish way of thinking, but still –

'So how is the investigation going?’ asked Yak.u.mo, crossing his arms.

'Nowhere,’ replied Gotou with a sigh.

It was great that they had cleared Haruka’s name, but the various facts were all jumbled. They had also proven that the culprit for the traffic accident three years ago was somebody else. The investigation department was in a clamour.

'That isn’t a response,’ Yak.u.mo said, displeased.

Gotou didn’t like Yak.u.mo’s response, but it was true.

Gotou explained the current situation. Nis.h.i.+zawa, Sakurai, Onda and Seo were all giving testimonies without fuss.

It was exactly what Yak.u.mo had revealed in the clock tower. Though things were still confusing, it looked like the case was coming to a close.

After Gotou finished, Yak.u.mo said curtly, 'Is that so?’ and narrowed his eyes.

Gotou didn’t know what Yak.u.mo was thinking now that the case was over, but he felt like his expression was gentler than it had been in the past.

Then, Gotou recalled something. 'Right. s.h.i.+noda has a message for you.’

'What is it?’

Yak.u.mo frowned in displeasure.

'Sorry for everything – that’s what he said.’

To be honest, Gotou had never expected that s.h.i.+noda with his pride would ever apologise.

'I think he was probably speaking to you, Gotou-san, rather than me.’

Yak.u.mo let out a chuckle.

Gotou didn’t understand. There was no reason for s.h.i.+noda to apologise to him.

'Um – ’

As the conversation sled, Is.h.i.+ spoke.

'What is it?’

Yak.u.mo raised his left eyebrow.

'What happened to the ghost at the intersection?’ Is.h.i.+ asked timidly.

Gotou wanted to know too. Is.h.i.+ had seen the ghost of Onda’s wife, who had died in a traffic accident there.

Was she still wandering there?

'I will go confirm that now – ’ Yak.u.mo declared.

2

Makoto placed flowers by the traffic light –

There was still red paint on it.

She shut her eyes, put her hands together and prayed.

Onda’s face suddenly came up in her head. Makoto had looked up to him, a dignified man who always took care of others.

Why had Onda done something like this for revenge?

Makoto had thought about it for a long time, but she had not reached a conclusion.

Perhaps losing somebody you loved could change you that much.

'Makoto-san, you came as well.’

Makoto looked up at the voice and saw Is.h.i.+.

Yak.u.mo and Gotou were there as well.

'h.e.l.lo,’ said Makoto.

'Hey,’ Gotou replied, raising his hand. Yak.u.mo gave her a lazy 'h.e.l.lo’ as well.

'Why are you here together?’ asked Makoto.

'Ask him,’ Gotou replied, pointing at Yak.u.mo.

'Professor Onda’s wife was wandering this place, so I came to confirm what she is doing now,’ said Yak.u.mo, running a hand through his hair in irritation.

'Is that so?’

Makoto wanted to know as well.

What was Onda’s wife’s spirit doing now? Was she still wandering?

Yak.u.mo suddenly turned his gaze towards the intersection like he had noticed something there.

Makoto looked as well, but she saw nothing there. However, it was different for Yak.u.mo. His red left eye could see things they couldn’t.

For a while, Yak.u.mo just looked at the intersection, but his expression suddenly softened.

'What is it?’ asked Makoto.

Yak.u.mo looked up at the blue sky.

'She’s gone – ’

'I see…’

Makoto-san, could I request one thing?’ asked Yak.u.mo, still looking at the sky.

'What is it?’

'I want to give Onda-sensei a message.’

'A message?’

'Yes. “Our daughter and I will always be looking over you.”’

Yak.u.mo turned a sad but gentle face towards Makoto.

'Is that…’

'Yes. It’s a message from Professor Onda’s wife.’

'All right,’ Makoto said with a nod.

Onda was in questioning, she didn’t know what he would be charged with, so she didn’t know when she would be able to see him.

No matter how much time it took though, she felt like she should give this message herself.

Makoto felt it was her duty.

3

Haruka looked up at the clock tower covered in soot –

When she looked at it again like this, it felt like that night was a long time ago.

'I hear the clock tower will be torn down,’ said Yak.u.mo, standing beside her.

'Eh?’

'Well, it can’t be helped. The building is in a terrible state because of the fire, and an incident like that happened – ’

Yak.u.mo looked down slightly.

If the clock tower stayed up, it would become the symbol of a detestable incident. Perhaps there was nothing they could do but tear it down.

Even though Haruka had never given it much thought before, for some reason, she felt incredibly sad now that she knew it was going to be torn down.

'Are you thinking about her?’ asked Yak.u.mo.

'Eh? Ah, yeah.’

That had been on her mind ever since the incident.

Though Haruka’s name had been cleared, Kanae would not come back. She would never see her again.

Perhaps Haruka’s sadness about the tearing down of the clock tower had something to do with Kanae.

This was where Kanae had died.

When Haruka thought about how she would never meet with Kanae again, her heart p.r.i.c.kled with pain.

'She has a message for you.’

'A message?’

'Yes. “Sorry”.’

'No, I’m the one who should apologise.’

Haruka shook her head.

'Why?’

'I… didn’t notice. Even though Kanae was suffering and worrying… Even though she relied on me… I couldn’t help her at all…’

As Haruka spoke, tears fell from her eyes.

If she had looked at Kanae more, she might have been able to stop her before the incident occurred. When Haruka thought about that, she felt so frustrated and useless –

'Don’t blame yourself,’ said Yak.u.mo gently.

'I can’t help it… I…’

'All you ever think about is other people.’

Yak.u.mo chuckled quietly.

'Eh?’

'You always try harder for other people than for yourself. That’s why you’re a troublemaker.’

'Sorry about that…’ said Haruka, wiping away her eyes.

'But… Perhaps it’s because of how you are that people can believe in you…’

After saying that, Yak.u.mo looked up at the top of the clock tower.

'What do you mean by that?’

Was he talking about how Kanae believed in Haruka? Or did he mean –

'The meaning doesn’t matter. More importantly…’

Here, Yak.u.mo dropped his gaze to his feet.

It was unusual for him to hesitate. It felt a bit strange.

'What?’ asked Haruka.

Yak.u.mo looked wry.

'It’s nothing.’

'It’ll bother me if you don’t say it.’

'It’s fine.’

'It’s not fine!’ pressed Haruka.

Yak.u.mo looked away and ran a hand through his messy hair.

He really was acting different from usual.

'It’s nothing important. Just…’

'Mmhm.’

'Would you tell me a bit more about you?’

'About me?’

Haruka looked at Yak.u.mo.

She didn’t know why, but she felt like Yak.u.mo was somewhere closer to her than usual. Her chest felt warm, and even the silence felt comfortable.

'Never mind,’ Yak.u.mo said suddenly. He turned around and walked away briskly.

– He really just does whatever he wants.

'Hey, wait!’

Haruka, though half-exasperated, ran after Yak.u.mo.