Chigusa stayed up all night, as usual, looking for answers. And checking all the files, testimonies and evidence.
"Really, this is getting weirder and weirder, logically speaking, if you assume that the suspects were telling the truth... Then Yuukichi Hironiwa, Ria's father, is the main suspect... however, it makes no sense, he wouldn't hire me then, the clan Apart from debtors, Hironiwa did not have many enemies, their fiercest enemies, with whom the rivalry is much older than this city, died out, or rather someone murdered them...
What about debtors' family members? Were they checked at all? If Kobayashi gets his hands on this, an innocent person may face the consequences."
Chigusa left in the morning, went to the nearest store for a pack of cigarettes and headed to the police.
Chigusa: Where is Kobayashi?, I must talk to him..
Tadao: How do I know? I don't think he's come yet. Maybe he took a leave of absence, he has a little daughter.
Chigusa: So, I will call him then. Do you have his number?
Tadao: Yes (Tadao gave Kobayashi's number to Chigusa)
Chigusa called Kobayashi.
Chigusa: Hello? Kobayashi is it you?
Akira: Yes, but unfortunately I don't have much time, I'm teaching my daughter to play chess.
Chigusa: I don't care, I have just a few words to you..
Akira: So, I'm listening
Chigusa: Don't even try to frame anyone else for Hironiwa's murder. Your so-called efficiency is pure fraud, you force suspects to accept guilt instead of looking for the real criminal.
Akira: Maybe I am, However, do you have the right to lecture me? You get your own evidence from illegal sources...
Chigusa: You really are a pathological liar...
Akira: Pathological liar? I don't think so, do you remember the case from July 1997? When you provided alibi to drug dealers? In exchange for informations about the burglar…
Chigusa: How do you know about this?
Akira: Oh… This drug dealer was caught, he was stupid enough to tell me that he supposedly had protection from the police in exchange for some information...
Chigusa hung up.
Tadao: Everyone here took bribes from the Hironiwa clan.. Maybe only Ota-kun didn't because he's too young.. However, don't feel bad that you protected drug dealer.. I've personally done something worse...
Chigusa just she left the building and after leaving she lit a cigarette.
She decided to be a step further than Kobayashi and started interrogating debtor's family members.
Meanwhile Naoki is resting in his desk, Ayato avoids him for a full day, even when they are having the best contact everyday.
But, Ayato's worst suspicions did not come true, if Naoki was a murderer, yesterday, when he was not at school, he would have probably killed someone, probably from the Hironiwa clan. He gathered his courage and went to Naoki.
Ayato: Uhh, Naoki.. I-I'm sorry, you know… It was just suspicious when two days ago you came to school tired, and this Hironiwa girl was dead. I suspected you wrongly, you know, because of those old quarrels with the Hironiwas... Also forgive me for lying about Fujioka… You know It wouldn't be the best news after waking up from the coma…
*Ayato bowed*
Ayato: Please forgive me Naoki….
Naoki: Enough.. Apology accepted. It's my fault too... I could have joined you then.
So, I have an idea, invite Sakakibara and Misaki, I know a nice place near the village of Yamegawa.
Ayato: Yamegawa? It's a bit far... I doubt they would want to walk 20 kilometers just to some forest...
Naoki: I think Yuka has a driving license...
Ayato: She's studying... Besides, I don't know if my sister would want to drive us...
Naoki: There should be some way to convince her. Oh yeah, and besides, she's probably coming for the new year.
Ayato sighs
Ayato: Okay, I'll see what I can do. But it's a bit strange... Walking in the forest? I don't know if they will agree.
Naoki: The area is really beautiful, I think they should be persuaded, especially Sakakibara, Misaki probably won't go for it, unless Sakakibara manages to convince her.
Ayato: Umm, well I will try to ask them, as well as Yuka.
After class ended, Naoki went to the Hiiragi family's house, had previously learned that the area where the weapons could be hidden had been purchased by the Hiiragi family from Kiichisaburo Muneyoshi in 1988.
Knowing the connections of the Hiiragi family and the Muneyoshi clan, Naoki assumed that they had probably purchased the area to prevent anyone from accidentally discovering secret weapons caches.
Kiyoshi Hiiragi is an 83-year-old man, he still remembers General Tōkichi Muneyoshi, whose adjutant he was, he intended to commit harakiri with him, but the general advised him against it, for this reason Kiyoshi and the entire Hiiragi family are grateful and loyal to the Muneyoshi clan.
Kiyoshi: What brings you here... Naoki-sama?
Naoki: The case of hidden weapons caches in the forest near Yamegawa, Besides, you can skip using "-sama".
Kiyoshi: Oh, I'm sorry Muneyoshi-kun, Your grandmother insisted on using the suffix "-sama" And over time I started using that for everyone in your clan.
Naoki: I'm not her, I don't care about the titling, besides... Was my father's body ever found?
Kiyoshi: I don't quite remember. Let me think…. As far as I remember, they were not found... But I may not remember anymore due to my age... So, why do you need a gun?
Naoki: I promised something to my friend, but unfortunately she was killed, I intend to fulfill her will.
Kiyoshi took a deep breath
Kiyoshi: Okay, I will let you enter this area, but remember, handle your affairs quietly, you are one of the last descendants of General Muneyoshi, I would never forgive myself if something happened to you...
Naoki: Yeah, yeah I know. Thank you permission.
In the evening Ayato called Naoki.
Naoki: What? Something happened?
Ayato: Well, Yuka agreed to drive us to Yamegawa, and I also asked Kouichi if he would go with us to this forest.
He agreed, but Mei was hesistant, she thinks that this is a stupid idea.
Naoki: Great, so tommorow at 10'o clock right?
Ayato: Sure, why not? We don't have school tomorrow.
The next morning, Naoki took a knife, an axe, a crowbar, and a shovel into his backpack, as well as a piece of cloth.
Yuka, along with Ayato, Kouichi and Mei drove up to Naoki's house, all five of them soon arrived, when Yuka drove away Naoki entered the forest, the rest followed him.
Kouichi: It's quite a beautiful forest, so peaceful here...
Ayato: Yeah, maybe it wasn't the worst idea to go hiking there.
Naoki looks around carefully, Mei notices it, when Ayato and Kouichi.
they overtake them behind, Mei stops, Naoki bumps into her.
Mei: You had your reason for bringing us here, right? Besides, there's something rustling in your backpack.
Naoki: So what? If it was something illegal, why would I invite you here?
Mei: I don't trust you, especially after a certain point... You're acting suspiciously, especially towards me and Ayato.
Naoki: Mei.. To be honest, the reason why I'm acting strangely towards you is that because, I know that you are probably with Kouichi now, but… I care about you.
Mei: I'm not with Kouichi, at least not for now. Besides I'm precious to you because of my sister?
Naoki: Kinda..
Mei: Then what is your real reason to bring us there?
Naoki: Well, you know.. One day I promised Misaki, to sit near the stream in this forest. And since this moment start oficially dating, but I was poisoned and Misaki died.
Ayato: Mei! Naoki! Where are you.
Naoki and Mei came to Kouichi and Ayato. They were wandering through this forest for an hour now. Naoki wanted to isolate from his group for a moment, and then realize his true objective, he noticed a coupe of pine trees in this oak forest. Naoki said that he had to leave the group for a while, in the meantime he crossed the ice-covered river and reached a place that was a kilometer away from his friends.
After reaching the site, he began to dig up the ground, the ground was hard, but he managed to dig inside and unearthed a hatch, which he opened with a handy crowbar.
He went down to the underground hiding place, there were 4 skeletons that had most likely been lying there since the 1950s, Naoki turned on the flashlight, there were boxes in the room. Naoki opened one of them, they were mainly Arisaka rifles, but he also found explosives, pistols and submachine guns, and ammunition for these weapons, Naoki took Hamada's gun and a handful of ammunition for it, after leaving the hiding place, he buried the hatch and covered it with snow.
In the meantime, Ayato, Kouichi and Mei started looking for Naoki, he had been gone for an hour, they called him in the forest, Naoki answered them after some time.
And they met.
Naoki: I'm sorry, I got lost, thank you for searching me.
Ayato: No problem, We wouldn't leave you alone in this forest.
Kouichi: Maybe we should go back slowly? It'll be dark soon.
Naoki: Yeah, good idea. We should go back now.
Mei: Wait, but before we will go. Naoki can you show me this stream? Where you planned to go on a date with my sister…
Naoki: Well, I could, but.. Do you want to walk 20 km back home?
Mei: Kirika can drive me home, maybe she'll drop you off.
Naoki: So, in that case.. bye Ayato, and Sakakibara-kun.
Kouichi: Bye
Ayato: Okay, so bye then
When Ayato and Kouichi left then, Mei and Naoki went up the river to Mount Chitose. Naoki had previously lied to Mei, there was no stream, but as he walked up the river, Naoki hoped to find one.
Finally he found one, altough this stream wasn't that beautiful and romantic. Mei smiled slightly.
Mei: My sister had a strange sense of cuteness, She would like it here if she were with us here.
Naoki: Indeed, so do you want to stay here for a little bit longer?
Mei: Yes, don't worry , I just want to reminisce about her, And you don't want to?
Naoki: Maybe I want.
Naoki and Mei are standing near this stream, after some time, they are going to the main road, Naoki and Mei has no connection. They can't call anyone, also it's getting darker already.
Despite that, both of them reached the main road, Mei walked closer to the village and called Kirika, Yukiyo arrived there. She drives Mei and Naoki home. while waiting at the intersection, Yukiyo noticed a certain similarity between Naoki and her old friend.
Yukiyo: You are Naoki Muneyoshi right?
Naoki: Indeed, how do you know my name ma'am?
Yukiyo: You are Mei's cousin. You probably don't even know it because you lost your parents early.
Naoki: Interesting, can you continue?
Yukiyo: You are my sister-in-law's son, her name was Shinatsu Misaki before she married your father..
Naoki: I didn't even know about it.
Yukiyo: My husband wanted to adopt you, But I was against it because my husband and Kiichisaburo almost came to blows.
Naoki: Kiichisaburo was quite hotheaded, it's like him, but he never cared about me, he took me away from Yomiyama and after that I spent a few years in an orphanage.
Yukiyo: Maybe I was wrong, but I was afraid for my husband's safety. I'm sorry about you.
Naoki: No big deal.
Yukiyo: So, Kiichisaburo came back to Yomiyama?
Naoki: No, he died five years ago.
Yukiyo remained silent, she dropped Naoki off, near his house, and drove away.
Meanwhile Ayane is playing chess with her father. She learned how to play, and she beat her father.
Akira: Wow Ayane, you are really skilled in this stuff!
Ayane: Dad, but were you playing fair with me, or did you just set yourself up so I could win. Some of your moves were too trivial, I would like to play seriously with you, then even losing would bring me more joy than the gift of victory.
Akira: Oh I see, well then one last game, and it would be time for you to go to bed Ayane.
Ayane and her father played for about and hour. Ayane won, despite Kobayashi was playing seriously with her.
Kobayashi: Well, what do you think about it?
Ayane: Thank you dad, I'm really happy.
Kobayashi: So, time to go to bed Ayane...
Ayane went to her room, Kobayashi started to read the Ria Hironiwa murder case files again. Kobayashi knew that in the current situation, Kenshin Hironiwa and his father Yuukichi Hironiwa were the suspects, Kobayashi knew that telling someone this could result in either Yuukichi or Kenshin's death according to his plan.