Two weeks after the failed suicide, Detective Ohba regained consciousness - his colleague decided to visit him - it was a matter of suspicion as to whether no one had helped him commit suicide.
A middle-aged man of impeccable appearance entered Ohba's room with the nurse's permission.
-I guess you know why I'm here Ohba.
Ohba looked at Kobayashi, and nodded.
-Let's get to the point...
You didn't seem tired from work, nor did you show any signs of depression.
It all looks like someone was helping you Ohba.
Ohba looked at Kobayashi with surprise.
-What do you mean he was helping?
Akira smiled slightly.
-Oh? So you pretend you don't know anything?
Two weeks ago you committed suicide.
You used your service weapon when you went to the toilet, you were barely saved.
-Sorry?
-You thought, why are you here?
An unfortunate accident?
No, you shot yourself in the head.
I'll ask the question again, did anyone help you?
You have a daughter and a wife, so you can be blackmailed with something.
Akira approached Ohba
-You are worried about them aren't you?
Ohba felt uneasy.
-Slide away Kobayashi! You're too close!
Akira moved away from him to a comfortable distance.
-Better?
Ohba nodded.
Even though I'm quite new to Yomiyama, I know who really runs this city.
Akira walked to the window and looked out at the Yomiyama cityscape.
-To think that a small city like this has such well-developed Yakuza structures. Hm, trurly uncomprehensive..
I suspect that the tentacles of the Yomiyama clans reach beyond it, because it's impossible for a Yakuza to hold sway in such a small city.
It would simply be too unprofitable...
It is interesting to note that all documents and even floppy disks about Yuukichi Hironiwa and Sadao Kamiyama have disappeared...
I think you know who might be to blame for this, but you won't say it...
- K-Kobayashi! Are you out of your mind?
Did you just accuse me of destroying the files?
It wouldn't make sense after all!
- Really?
I heard that it is rumored that your daughter is to go to a prestigious middle school in Tokyo, you are supposedly going to move there aren't you?
Do you really believe this nonsense about the curse of Yomiyama North?
- It's not nonsense!
- In that case, what is it?
And was it worth what you did?
- But I...
- I have no grudge against you Ohba, but you will probably have to explain yourself in court.
You have just been cheated by your "patrons"
But I'm still curious why you decided to kill yourself?
Maybe you still had remnants of dignity as a police officer, or your conscience wouldn't let you.
Well, for me and also for many others in the Yomiyama police force, I think it's clear...
It's not that I despise you Ohba...
If I believed those rumors about Yomiyama North I would have done the same thing as you, not everyone would do the same thing...
Except that others would know how to do it better...
Ohba felt that what Kobayashi was saying was not true, however, hearing that everything indicated that he had destroyed the file he began to connect the dots.
Ohba was freshly awakened he couldn't remember why he wanted to commit suicide, however he knew he wanted to protect his daughter from Yomiyama North's curse, which he secretly believed in.
His mind began to admit his guilt, even though there was no solid evidence.
-Please... get out…..
-I understand, I will respect your request, I will come when your condition improves.
Akira left Ohba's room with a smile on his lips, feeling as if his obstacle had been removed from his path.
Everything he said was a lie, however, Ohba was so distraught that he distrusted Kobayashi's words more than his own memories.
Akira knew that this time Ohba's successful suicide attempt was only a matter of time, after leaving Yumigaoka Hospital he passed his wife and daughter.
He already knew where this was going.
Kobayashi had already finished his work for the day and was heading toward his home.
Upon entering the house, he found his stepdaughter and daughter.
After the death of his wife a year ago, Yuuna Shodou chose to stay with her stepfather and sister rather than live with her grandparents.
There were several reasons for this, Yuuna did not want to part with her sister, Ayane, who was 6 years old and whom she loved, despite the fact that she hated her stepfather.
And she also didn't have the money to start a life on her own.
-You're back?
She asked Kobayashi.
-Well.
-Ayane found a box of chess pieces in your old things and a small doll.
She seemed interested in it.
- Chess?
Akira tried to remember if he ever had one.
- Yes, plus they belonged to some S.M
- Romaji? Hmm, let me recall...
After a long while, Akira found an excuse.
- Oh, I already know!
I bought them once in Europe, I think.
Yuuna's eyes widened, and she looked suspiciously at Akira.
- Have you been to Europe?
- I was referring to a store selling European antiques in Osaka.
- Really?
- Yes, I've never been to Europe... even though I would love to go there someday.
- So you don't know who S.M was?
Akira sighed
- No, I have no absolute idea who S.M was, it is possible that this engraving was a fake.
Where is Ayane now?
- She's playing with those chess set.
- I will teach her to play, even though she is only 6 years old she shows great intelligence, it is possible that one day she will achieve success in chess.
Shion went to the living room where Ayane was and began to teach her how to play chess, Ayane quickly memorized all the moves, and played her first chess game with her father prompting her with moves,
Ayane often debated and even deliberately misled her father.
Ayane managed to win that chess game, Shion was surprised by his daughter's intellectual abilities.
- Well done Ayane...
You have a talent for this
After which he stroked her head.
The next day, Detective Ohba had a second suicide attempt - this time successful, Kouichi, who had talked to Mei before class, also found out.
- Did you hear what happened to Detective Ohba?
Mei nodded.
- Reportedly, it is not known what pushed him to bargain for his life.
He was a fairly happy man, his financial situation wasn't bad either.
- Life is not always as it seems. One must learn to look below the surface, at the person's feelings and experiences before judging them based on their appearance and wealth.
- I think you might be right Mei.
- Someone may also have forced him.
Kouichi looked at Mei with concern.
Mei smiled slightly and looked at Kouichi.
- Just kidding, although who knows?
Kouichi breathed a sigh of relief, thinking all the while about Ohba's suicide throughout the lessons.
"Maybe I shouldn't dig into it?" - he thought.
"It's none of my business, actually"- after which he pushed away all theories about the detective committing suicide.
Ayato was received well by the 3-3 class, and quickly formed friendships with Kouichi, Teshigawara and Mochizuki, where he sort of replaced Kazami.
It was the end of the lesson, that day Kouichi decided to go somewhere with Ayato and the rest.
Naoki, on the other hand, waited for Mei outside the school building, Mei left shortly after.
- Did you know that your family was in debt?
Mei turned to Naoki, who was standing behind her.
- Are you following me that you know so much about me?
- No, but formally we are family
Mei didn't say a word, she didn't seem interested in what Naoki was saying.
- I am Koutarou Misaki's nephew, so theoretically I am your cousin.
But I know that neither Koutarou nor Yukiyo are your parents.
- What are you getting at?
- I have a theory as to why Misaki died, it may not have been leukemia.
- Do you think someone wanted to kill her?
- I don't rule out that possibility.
- Do you have suspicions?
Naoki looked around to see if anyone was nearby.
- Your parents - Mr. and Mrs. Fujioka are indebted to Yuukichi Hironiwa, do you know who this man is?
- A loan shark?
- No, someone more than that.
- And you think that because of this Misaki was supposedly killed?
- I don't rule out that possibility, after all, her condition was improving wasn't it?
- Were you the boy she mentioned?
- It depends, what exactly did she say about me?
- That you are quite quiet, and don't come out in front.
It seems to me that the description fits you.
Naoki nodded
- Did you have romantic relations with my sister?
- Let's say.
It's hard to call it a romantic relationship at this age.
- In that case, what do you want from me?
- Nothing, it's just that you should know that your sister's death may have looked different from what is written on her death certificate, goodbye.
Mei glared at Naoki as he walked away towards his house, their gazes connected once more, Mei analyzed what Naoki had told her once more, And concluded that what he had told her was a kind of unfunny joke.
However, the fact that he was her "cousin" caught her attention.
Koutarou Misaki had just arrived in Yomiyama for a week, so when Mei returned from school she decided to ask him.
- Koutarou, did you have siblings?
Koutarou was surprised by his daughter's question, at the thought of his sister he felt overwhelmed with sadness.
- Why are you asking me this Mei?
- Out of pure curiosity.
- Really? Just out of curiosity?
- If you don't want to then you don't have to say.
- All right, I'll tell you.
Yes, I used to have a sister, however, she was murdered in 1986, along with her husband and children.
Mei felt that Naoki might have been telling the truth.
- No one in her family survived?
- Only my oldest nephew survived, but his father's family adopted him and brought him to Europe, I honestly don't know what's happening to him now, but he's about your age.
With these words, Mei got assurances that Naoki was telling the truth, however, she was still suspicious of him. Naoki should not know that Misaki Fujioka was her sister, just by her appearance, unless Misaki trusted Naoki enough to tell him about it herself.
- Can you at least tell me the truth, Mei why did you want to know that?
- A new boy in my class claimed to be my cousin.
- And what was his name?
- Naoki Muneyoshi.
Koutarou felt a bit of happiness despite his overwhelming sadness.
- So all is well with him after all, I'm glad...
Before I leave for work I would like to meet him.
Do you know where he lives now?
- Somewhere in Urasawacho, when he comes home he always heads in that direction.
- Hmm, Urasawacho...
So he probably lives with his uncle?
- I don't know, I'm not interested in that.
- At least this much good...