What did she mean by confirming that? "Yes, that's right."
"Oh?"
Unrelated to my proficient English, a high-pitched electronic tone played a hit song from five years ago.
Resembling the fashionable design that's all the rage in prisons, from the pocket of her striped skirt, Natsuki-san took out a blue flip phone and checked the incoming call. "Is it already this late?"
Prompted by her hint, I also took out my phone and checked the digital clock display. It had been about an hour since we left the café, and it was just past 12:30.
"I'm sorry, I have work now," Natsuki-san said, looking apologetic. What kind of job does she have dressed like that?
"I see, it's regrettable, but it can't be helped."
"It's worth it seeing how happy you seem."
"Be careful not to get wrongfully arrested and watch out for patrol cars."
I gave her my best advice. Natsuki-san accepted it with a smile. Yeah, a good atmosphere.
"Can you give me your phone number, Mi-san?"
I readily agreed and recited my eleven-digit number.
"Okay, here's mine... If you decide to turn yourself in, call me first and confess. I'll be waiting."
With graceful manners, she bowed and then briskly walked away. However, as if spinning around on a rotating chair, she turned back and with the same stride returned to my side.
"This is a personal thing, but..."
"Huh?"
In a flash, she moved closer, pulling me towards her. Naturally, I was pulled down to my knees. My face was buried in her chest, which, while not overly ample, was soft.
"Ah... you smell good."
"Umm... is it okay to do this to a murder suspect?"
"It's called detaining a suspect."
Her genuinely amused voice was apparent. My hair stood on end.
"Um... how long will I be detained?"
"I'm interrogating you. And you haven't let go either."
"This is... well... um..."
She chuckled. Then,
"I missed this."
"Pardon?"
Natsuki-san's hands left my head. She slipped away from my arms and took a step back. She looked at my flustered expression, covered her mouth, and gave a playful shrug.
"You're the type that girls like."
With that line, Natsuki-san left the rooftop with a light step.
"Um..."
I straightened up, looking at the vibrant green scenery for a while. After about a minute, I felt embarrassed. I scratched the back of my neck.
Did she plant a bug on me? Or a tracker? Or maybe she frisked me?
In any case, when I get home, I'll throw my clothes into the washing machine and take a bath. Yes, that's a good idea.
I finished the remaining taiyaki and turned around.
Mayu was standing there.
My entire being seemed to freeze.
A black umbrella, a black sweater, a black skirt, black platform shoes, a striking outfit that drew attention, and her pale skin. Misono Mayu was standing there.
Either I or Mayu stepped forward, closing the distance to about thirty centimeters. Either I or Mayu opened our mouths and spoke.
"Liars," one of us said.
That's right, I am a liar.
A switch was flipped. Forcibly in the opposite direction.
"Were you following me?"
Something came back. This was my voice.
Mayu silently raised her arm. Not an open hand, but a clenched fist. It's such a slow movement that I understood she probably intended to punch me. Does she think I won't dodge? I swallow without chewing what's in my mouth.
"Ma-chan is a liar, isn't she?"
I was hit. The punch landed from my cheek to my front teeth, breaking the skin.
Another scar appeared on Misono Mayu's hand.
"Did you enjoy playing detective?"
I was hit again. The eyes hidden deep beneath her hat were cold as stone.
On Mayu's fist was red blood and crimson lipstick. Things that shouldn't be erased were drawn and then removed by the very person who commanded them.
"What's that?"
"You shouldn't call someone older than you 'that.'"
I was hit with an umbrella on my temple.
"You're wrong, Ma-chan. That person is here to expose your sins. So, affairs and such don't matter. It's trivial."
"Why are you laughing?"
Don't ask a human such a question.
"You never laugh when you're with me."
Ah, I see. Are you jealous? Ah, jealousy. An emotion I hate.
It feels nostalgic.
I tried laughing.
I was punched.
I hugged her.
Pushing off my arms, Mayu distanced herself.
"I smell that woman on you."
Are you implying you've smelled Kamijou Natsuki?
Maybe, maybe I have.
"You're not acting like Mi-kun."
"...I see."
Just like that, am I not Mi-kun anymore? If I'm not kind, if I'm not always available for Ma-chan, if I interact with someone else, then I'm not Mi-kun, then I'm not me, right?
"I see."
I looked around.
A metal mesh fence. It's low. There must be no precedent, so no measures have been taken.
I twisted my neck and looked at Mayu.
"This was for you, Ma-chan. Because I xxx you, it was inevitable." It's a lie.
It's a lie. A lie, a lie, a lie.
Delete. Delete. Delete.
Space key, convert. Convert, convert, convert.
It's a lie, but...
I was hit.
"Idiot."
"Huh?"
Holding the metal mesh fence with one foot and hand, I jumped and grabbed the top of the fence, pulling myself up. When my feet reached the top, the world seemed to abandon stability. Without holding on, I turned around.
"Did you think so?"
"Did you think so?"
Did you think so?
Did you think so?
Mayu, with disbelief in her eyes, stared at me.
What do you think will happen?
You'll know soon, Ma-chan. You don't have to think about anything. Just witness it. Please live happily after witnessing it.
I wish you good health and longevity. Rest in peace.
"Bye."
Before someone could say something, I crossed the boundary.
That's right.
"Liar."
That's right.
"Die."
That's right.
The beginning of the most unshackled time in my life.
Falling head first.
The blood drained from my face, I heard the sound of the sky, and then...
Ah, I forgot the details.
I died.
The tenth person, "Toy Kakeru Murder"
This time, due to the culprit's circumstances, we will take a break.
Chapter 4 "Collapse"
"What should we do once we get out?"
There's no answer. "I want to take a proper bath."
No response.
"But what about our parents?"
No response.
"Are they already asleep?"
No response.
"Goodnight."
There was no response.
While my eyes were closed, my thoughts were more active than usual, coursing through my brain cells. In that state, I thought:
Some say that when humans die, it's straightforward. Others lament that humans cling to life like cockroaches.
Regardless of how one sees it, death often seems more pure, righteous, and dignified.
And I, filthy and full of mistakes, with no sense of timing, opened my eyes as usual. My deceased parents were right in front of me.
...No, seriously.
"It's been a while..."
I hesitated over whether to say "good morning" and ended up with such a greeting. Like a crash test dummy, my parents' bodies were twisted and contorted. It was only then that my vision and brain connected, and I understood.
In other words,
"It's a dream ending?"
"Doubt."
"Correct."
A newspaper clipping was removed from my view. Instead, with the white ceiling as a backdrop, Koinichi-sensei appeared.
Today, she was wearing silver-framed glasses. A newspaper and the teacher seemed like an odd combination.
"Bad taste, isn't it?"
"To a fool who tried to kill himself, this kind of joke is within permissible limits."
Her cold words were laced with anger. Faced with an attitude I hadn't experienced before, I hesitated about how to respond. Anyway, it would be rude to talk while lying down, so I decided to try to sit up.
Perhaps because I'd been bedridden, my body felt stiff, especially my back. However, I managed to sit up without a problem. Without even looking around, the scent of disinfectant told me I was in a hospital. The smell wasn't unpleasant. Before my first time in a hospital, I had experienced far worse odors.
I observed my body as the midday sun from the window blinded me. There were no tubes for blood transfusion, no excessively wrapped bandages. No particular painful area, my wrists and fingers, toes, everything was intact. My head felt a bit light, but otherwise, I felt as I usually did when waking up. I asked the teacher for an explanation, wondering if I had undergone some kind of reconstructive surgery. Speaking of which, why was the teacher here? It's all so mysterious.