everything the ice bites
EIGHT
They go into the observation room and watch through the one way mirror.
"Today, around three in the afternoon, at an apartment in the Kagemino Himawari neighbourhood, a boy was found lying at the bottom of the stairs, unconscious with a severe head wound," Renji begins, voice clipped. "His name is Terazawa Haruto. Twelve years old. The boy woke up from surgery and remained silent. When he finally spoke, his first words were 'Otou-san. My father did this. He tried to kill me.'"
Renji pauses, letting the information sink in, before continuing.
"According to the child's testimony, he said that he was tired. That you wanted him to walk up and down the stairs in order to lose weight," Renji states, an edge to his voice. "You insult him and proceed to push him down the stairs."
"No," Terazawa Kei shakes his head, insisting. "That's not what happened. Haruto is lying!"
Renji looks at him, unimpressed.
"So, according to you," Renji drawls, disdain no longer hidden in his expression. "A twelve year old boy falsely accused his father of attempted murder to try and put him in prison?"
"A…" His face turns pale. "Attempted murder?"
"A child was severely wounded on a staircase where there is no CCTV, nor witness, and the father he was with has disappeared. That kid then points to his father as the culprit," Renji snaps, narrowing his eyes. "You get how suspicious this sounds, right?"
Silently, Terazawa nods, his movement stiff and awkward.
He takes a moment to regain his composure, pushing his glasses up his nose, shifting his feet beneath the table. Karin takes note of his unease, gaze lingering for a moment, before glancing at Renji. Her mouth presses into a thin line.
"I did tell him to go up the stairs, but it's very different from what Haruto says," Terazawa speaks, slowly. "I encouraged him for his hard work. Then I received a phone call. Then I told Haruto that I'd be back around dinnertime, and then I told him that he should stretch. That's all. My friend was in the area, so I met with him for a few drinks. Then my wife called me. That's what happened."
It's evident from Renji's expression that he's not convinced.
"Detective Abarai, how could a parent do that to a kid?" Terazawa Kei asks, trying to appeal to him, horrified at the accusation. "How could I do that? Listen to me, it doesn't make any sense!"
Without any warning, Renji leans over the table and —
"Is… is Renji sniffing him?" Yuuichi blinks, and turns to Karin, eyes wide. "Really?"
"Yeah," Karin shrugs, unfazed. It's been known to happen. "It's fine."
"Have you ever…?" Yuuichi asks, curious.
"Nope."
"What —" Terazawa says, instinctively drawing back, shocked by Renji's action. "What are you doing?"
"Short ribs and sake," Renji answers with a smirk, refusing to widen the distance between them and staying exactly where he is, much to Terazawa's discomfort. If anything, he gets closer. "That's what you had for dinner."
"… yes," Terazawa pushes his glasses up his nose again, affirming, "I did."
"With a guy friend," Renji adds, tone deceptively light.
There's a slight pause, and then Terazawa Kei nods.
"Yes."