Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093094088809262/episodes/16818622171529463461
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I pulled into the parking lot of a convenience store and turned off the engine.
Silence fell over the car, and all I could hear was the distant chirping of insects.
Yua chan was still asleep in the passenger seat, but the blanket had slipped down a little.
I gently fixed it and looked at Soichi.
“We’re here?”
I whispered. Soichi nodded and looked out the passenger window.
“Yeah. Goto Kiyotsugu should be on the night shift. If my information is correct, now would be a good time.”
The lights of the convenience store were dim, and the old signboard made a creaking sound as it swayed in the wind.
The night in the countryside is so quiet that it feels eerie.
I took a deep breath to calm myself down.
Here is the first step toward destroying Shindo.
“Let’s have Yua chan wait in the car. It’s better not to wake her up.” Soichi suggested, but I was a little hesitant.
It would certainly be safer.
But I didn’t want to leave Yua chan alone.
If I could, I would want to be there for her all the time.
Her body was covered with scars from domestic violence, and her eyes were frightened.
Now she’s sleeping peacefully by my side like this.
“….No, I’m taking her with me. I don’t want to leave her.”
When I said that, Soichi looked a little surprised, but just replied, “If you say so.” and said it with a slightly stunned laugh.
I lightly patted Yua chan on the shoulder to wake her up.
“Yua chan, we’re here. Can you get up?”
She looked up sleepily, rubbing her eyes.
“…Yuuto san? Where are we?”
She seemed still lightheaded, but she smiled a little in response to my voice.
Her smile was so different from the dark expression she used to have that it made my heart tighten.
“We’re at the convenience store. I have to run some errands, so will you come with me? Just stay by my side.”
Yua chan nodded frankly and began to fold the blanket.
The gesture was strangely endearing, and I narrowed my eyes at her.
◇
The automatic door of the convenience store opened and the cold air hit my face.
The inside of the store was more deserted than I had expected, and the fluorescent lights were flickering.
It was a countryside convenience store, as one would expect.
The man standing behind the cash register looked like Goto Kiyotsugu.
He looked to be in his fifties, with a thin body and a tired expression on his face.
His hair was thinning and his eyes were sunken.
It is not surprising that he would look like this after being falsely accused and thrown in jail for 10 years.
Soichi walked ahead of me and headed for the cash register.
I pulled Yua chan’s hand and made her stand a little behind me.
Her hand was small and a little cold.
I squeezed her hand and she looked up at me.
“Are you okay?”
Hearing that, I laughed softly and replied, “I’m fine.”
Soichi approached the cash register and called out to Goto.
“Hi, how are you? You must be Goto Kiyotsugu, right?”
Goto looked at Soichi with a dubious look.
“…Who are you?”
His voice was low and a little trembling.
You can tell he’s on full alert.
“I wanna talk to you about Detective Shindo, you remember what happened 10 years ago, right?”
Goto’s face froze for a moment when Soichi cut him off straightaway.
I could tell by his reaction. This guy definitely knows something.
“….I don’t know anything. Go home.”
Goto turned away and tried to retreat behind the cash register.
But Soichi stepped forward and slammed a clipping on the counter.
“Look at this. This is evidence that Shindo has brought down many people through false accusations. You’re one of them, aren’t you?”
Goto’s hand stopped and he looked down at the clipping.
He was silent for a moment, then let out a small breath and said, “What do you want?”
“……Me? What do you want me to do? I’m not part of the weekly journal.”
I took the opportunity to step forward and open my mouth.
“We’re not from a weekly journal. I want to destroy Shindo, personally. He is trying to frame a guy I know. He’s being falsely accused, just like you were. Your testimony might be the evidence.”
Goto stared at me.
There was a mixture of weariness and resignation in his eyes, but I also sensed a burning in them.
After a long silence, Goto murmured.
“….Okay. I’ll talk. But we can’t do it here. Come to the rest area in the back.”
“Eh? Can I open the door?”
“Yes. I don’t get visitors anyway.”
◇
The rest area was small, and the smell of cigarettes permeated the air.
Goto sat down on a chair, opened a can of coffee and took a sip.
Yua chan sat next to me and stared at Goto.
Goto looked away a little awkwardly at her gaze.
“What’s that kid? Is that yours?”
“Well…something like that.
“Hmmm. You’ve killed people before, haven’t you?” he said, smoking his cigarette.
I froze, unable to say anything.
“You have the same look in your eyes as those guys I met in jail. Of course, the eyes of a man who has killed people.”
I sat back in my chair and continued talking.
“When I was arrested, Shindo falsified evidence. He accused me of theft, which I didn’t do, and eventually forced me to confess. When I resisted, they beat me and even threatened my family.”
Goto’s voice was low and angry.
“Ten years for theft?”
“That’s absurd. Ten years of my life was taken away from me. He was promoted with a nonchalant look on his face as if nothing had happened, and he’s still doing the same thing now, isn’t he?”
He clenched his fists.
The same thing must have happened when the boss’s senior was executed.
Shindo is a scum who tramples on people’s lives with impunity.
“Do you have any proof? Anything that can put Shindo away.”
Soichi leaned forward and asked.
Goto thought for a moment and then said.
“There’s no evidence. I’m sure it’s all been covered up. But if I testify, it might make a difference.”
“Then…”
“But I don’t want anything to do with him anymore.”
When I asked him again, Goto narrowed his eyes.
“As much as I want to get revenge on Shindo, I just want to live in peace. I don’t want him to drive me crazy any more.”
Soichi and I looked at each other.
If we could get this, it would be a big step toward destroying Shindo.
“I understand. I won’t mention your name. Can I have an interview with you to find out what he did to you as part of the evidence? Of course, I’ll compensate you. How about that?”
“….Yeah, okay. We’ll talk about the details another time.”
Soichi and I nodded and left.
If I knew any of the police, I might be able to find out something.
◇
When we left the convenience store, the night wind felt cold.
Yua chan shook my hand and murmured quietly.
“Yuuto kun, good work.”
My heart was burning at those words.
I grabbed her hand and said,
“Yua chan is by my side, so I can do my best.”
Soichi said with a laugh from behind me.
“Yuuto, you’re all over Yua chan, aren’t you? Let’s get back to the car. It’s cold.”
We laughed and headed back to the car.
The battle to destroy Shindo had just begun.
But with Yua chan and Soichi around, I would never lose.
In the darkness of the night, the lights of the car illuminated the road and seemed to open up our future.
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