Shi followed Dojima in her car, listening to the strings of a quartet as they drove to Dojima's house. From what he had told her, his nephew was staying with him whilst his parents were away. She smiled softly as she pulled in to park in front of his home. Adachi had declined Dojima's invitation, saying he wanted to get home before it rained and the fog set in. As she followed him inside, Shi heard a familiar female voice call eagerly out to Dojima. She stepped inside, slipping her shoes of by the door and putting some slippers on in their place.
"Hi Nanako-chan." Shi smiled as she entered, moving until she stood beside Dojima. Nanako smiled happily when she saw her, moving from behind the silver haired teen that sat by the table.
"Shi-chan." Nanako said happily. She moved forward and hugged Shi's legs.
"Man, it feels like ages since I last saw you. How's school going? You going to follow in my footsteps?" Shi joked. Nanako smiled happily and nodded, pulling Shi towards the table to begin explaining.
"Shi-san, this is my nephew. Narukami Yu." Dojima said, indicating to the silver haired teen. "Yu, this Dr Tawakemono Shi. She's the pathologist for us here at Inaba." Dojima explained. Yu raised his hand and held it out to her, smiling softly.
"It's nice to meet you, Tawakemono-Sensei." He said. She looked him up and down momentarily before taking his hand and shaking it.
"Same to you Yu-kun." She said, smiling softly. Dojima walked over as Shi took a seat on the sofa near the table.
"Shi-chan, can I get you anything to drink?" Nanako asked her, standing in front of her. Shi smiled and shook her head softly.
"I don't plan on staying too late. I just wanted to come and see how you were doing Nanako-chan." Shi said. Yu glanced from Dojima to Shi, obviously wanting to ask a question.
"Tawakemono-Sensei, if you're the pathologist that works for Inaba, then are you the one who..."
"Performed the autopsies of the victims of these murders?" Shi finished for him. Yu nodded. "I did. But as I have said to the numerous news crews, I cannot give you any information with regards to this case. An official statement will be released by my office when the police deem it suitable." She explained to him. He didn't seem concerned by this though. Shi paused as Nanako walked past her again.
"Was it your office that informed my school about Saki Konishi's death?" Yu asked her. Shi glanced at Dojima before nodding.
"Her family asked me to." She said. She glanced at her watch on her wrist before getting to her feet. "I apologise for my flying visit, but I must be heading home. If I don't go now, I'm going to get stuck in the fog and I'll never make it home." Shi apologised as she began walking to the door. Nanako followed her, watching as Shi replaced her slippers for her shoes. She turned and gave Nanako a hug, crouching to her level.
"I'll see you at work tomorrow Dojima-san." Shi said as she straightened up. Dojima nodded, standing near the stairs as Yu walked to stand beside him. "It was nice meeting you Yu-kun."
"Same to you Tawakemono-sensei." Yu replied.
"Bye Nanako-chan." Shi waved as she walked out of the door. She heard Nanako call bye as she left. Shi smiled, shaking her head as she got into her car. As she did, her phone went off. She lifted it to see a new message. It was from a number she didn't recognise. She quickly read it.
Shi-san, this is Adachi. Dojima-san gave me your mobile number and I thought I should give you mine. Also, if it's not too much trouble, could I get a lift to work tomorrow? She let out a light laugh as she imagined him looking sheepish whilst sending this. She quickly dialled his number, waiting in her car whilst he answered.
"Hello? Shi-san?"
"Hi Adachi-kun." She said, the honorific slipping off her tongue sub-consciously. "I got your message. Thank you for letting me know your number." She heard him clear his throat at the other end.
"It's no problem Shi-san."
"And it's no trouble. I will give you a lift in tomorrow. Is it ok if I pick you up at 7?" She asked him.
"Yeah, that's great. Thank you Shi-san. I'll see you tomorrow then. Good night Shi-chan." Shi paused as he changed the honorific. He didn't appear to have noticed.
"Goodnight Adachi-kun." She said, smiling softly. She hung up and put her phone down to turn on her car engine. As she slipped on her seatbelt, she caught her reflection in the rear-view mirror. She had a light in her eyes and a smile she hadn't seen for years. She quickly turned away and drove to her home. As she stepped inside, she locked her door, still smiling. Her phone vibrated again as another message appeared on her phone.
Thank you for agreeing to take me into work tomorrow. I'll find some way to pay you back. Goodnight. Adachi's new message read. Shi felt her smile grow more. She moved through her home, slipping her shoes off before heading to the kitchen. She grabbed a can of soda and a ready-made ramen bowl. As she heated it and waited for it to cook, she switched on her TV. A news report appeared on the screen, talking about the murders. She rolled her eyes and shook her head. Her home phone rang suddenly, startling her. She hopped to her feet and answered it.
"Dr Tawakemono speaking." She said. She immediately regretted answering the phone.
"Shi-san? Oh finally, I've been ringing you all day but you never answered. How are you?" Her cousin's voice rang through the phone. Shi sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"What do you want Akiko? I've already told Obaasan that I can't tell you anything about this case." A pause sounded on the other end. "Which is exactly why you rang isn't it?"
"Come on Shi-san! I would tell you if I was the pathologist!"
"It's illegal! I would lose my job if I told you!"
"You're so selfish! You've always been this way! You spend way too much time around those dead bodies! You're becoming a freak Shi, just like your parents!"
Shi froze when her parents were mentioned. She took a deep breath. "Listen here and pass this message onto Obaasan. I will never tell you anything about this case. So stop calling me and pestering me or I will have you both arrested for harassment! Stay out of my life!" She yelled before hanging up the phone. As she put it back into place, she slid to the ground. She sighed softly, feeling her eyes sting. She didn't want this anymore. The news continued its report, talking to the daughter of the owner of the inn the first victim stayed at. Shi looked at it blankly as the weight of everything fell on her.
For the first time since her grandfather's death, Shi felt a crushing loneliness take over. Her phone vibrated on the table. She looked at it before getting to her feet. She read the messages on it, feeling the loneliness fade. It was Adachi again. He was making suggestions for how he could pay her back. She smiled softly at the messages.
"Maybe, things aren't so bad." She murmured to herself. "Perhaps they're looking up for me." She mused. Little did she know how wrong that statement would be.