Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093094088809262/episodes/16818622171637009252
◇
As we got into the car, I exhaled deeply as I gripped the steering wheel.
As I started the engine, a low rumble echoed through the car, and Yua chan leaned back slightly in the passenger seat.
Soichi sat slumped in the back seat, watching the lights of the convenience store fade away.
“It’s a shame there’s no evidence. With only Goto san’s testimony, it’ll be difficult to corner Shindo.”
Soichi spoke up, as if to speak for me.
“Yeah. But it’s still a valid piece of evidence. There’s still a possibility. If that’s true, I wish I knew someone in the police department…”
As I muttered this, Soichi suddenly fell silent.
I looked at his face through the rearview mirror and saw a somewhat thoughtful expression.
“What’s wrong?”
I asked him, and he paused for a moment before saying.
“No, it’s nothing. Anyway, I’ll go talk to Goto san again later. Maybe we can find out something from there.”
I nodded lightly at those words.
Certainly, we had to make the most of what we had at hand for now.
But Soichi’s attitude bothered me. Is he hiding something from me?
The memory of what he said earlier in the day about “having to apologize” crosses my mind, but right now, Shindo is my priority.
Yua chan was quietly watching me on the passenger seat with her hands on her knees.
“Yuuto kun, are you okay? Aren’t you tired?”
Her gentle voice made me smile.
“I’m fine. Just knowing that you’re worried about me makes all my tiredness disappear.”
She smiled a little shyly and murmured softly, “That’s good.”
When we first met, she was hiding her body, which was covered in scars from domestic violence, and didn’t respond to what I said.
But now, she is concerned about me like this.
My desire to protect her has grown stronger.
“Hey, Yuuto. There’s a chance the same thing could happen to the others. You don’t want to get involved with a detective like that.”
“That’s true.”
“Plus I don’t know anyone in the police. It seems like I’m at a dead end, but even if I don’t know anyone in the police, there might be another route.”
Soichi suddenly interrupted from behind.
“Another route?”
I asked, and Soichi leaned forward a little.
Then he pulled out that weekly magazine and said, “I’m going directly to the person who wrote this article.”
I thought about it, but it was a very risky thing to do.
Especially if someone like me, who is anti-social and has some weaknesses, were to go to a place like that and get hold of that information…
“I know what you mean. I’ll be the main focus, so don’t worry.”
“…Yeah. I’ll ask the boss too. If he knows anyone in the police.”
“Okay. At any rate, the more testimonies we get, the more credibility we will have, and we may be able to see a pattern in the way Shindo does things.”
“That’s right. Let’s try there first, and if that doesn’t work…”
I nodded and stepped on the gas pedal.
The car’s lights cut through the dark countryside, seeming to illuminate our next target.
◇
When I returned home, the clock had struck midnight.
Spreading the clippings and notebooks out on the living room table, Soichi and I began to formulate a plan.
Yua chan sat on the sofa, rubbing her sleepy eyes and staying by our side.
Occasionally, I held a cup of hot tea she had brewed for me, which eased my exhaustion a little.
“According to this article, it seems that the reporter knows of at least two victims of Shindo. It gives a general outline of the incident.”
Soichi said, pointing to a clipping.
“It says, ‘A man was wrongfully arrested and sentenced to five years in prison’. The other is ‘a victim who was assaulted while in custody on fraud charges’.”
Without specific names, it’s hard to find them. But there is a possibility that these cases are in the court records or something. If you narrow it down to cases of false accusations, I don’t think there are that many.
When I said this, Soichi thought for a moment.
“Court records…. Then you could ask someone you know. There’s a guy I met when I was working part-time at a weekly magazine. Of course, it’s not the same company that wrote this article.”
“Really? If you can get in touch with him, ask him. You’ll be lucky if you can pull something off with Shindo’s name.”
I said with great vigor, and Soichi tapped his chest and said, “Leave it to me.”
At that moment, Yua chan got up from the sofa and came up next to me.
“Yuuto kun, is there anything I can help you with?”
I was a little surprised at the seriousness in her eyes.
“Yua chan…it’s enough for me just to be by your side. I don’t want you to get involved in anything dangerous.”
But she shook her head and said.
“I want to see Yuuto kun doing his best, too. If this Shindo person is a bad person, I won’t forgive him either…”
The police didn’t help me either.
I remember hearing that before.
I appreciate the sentiment, but…is it okay?
“…Okay. Then, I’ll have Yua chan organize the articles. It would be great if you could just write down in a notebook what we read.”
When I said that, Yua chan’s eyes lit up and she nodded, “Yeah, I’ll do my best !”
Soichi grinned and said.
“You guys really get along. It’s embarrassing to watch.”
I replied, “Shut up.” and laughter echoed through the living room.
◇
The next morning, Soichi contacted a journalist friend.
Over the phone, I heard him ask, “Let me know if you come across anything by the name of Detective Shindo.”
I was in the kitchen making breakfast, reviewing the notes that Yua chan and I had compiled last night.
The notes, written in her meticulous handwriting, were organized into a list of key points taken from the clippings.
“Yua chan, you’re amazing. This is so easy to understand.”
When I praised her, she smiled shyly.
“If I can make Yuuto kun happy, I’ll do my best.”
Her words warmed my heart.
When I stroked his head, she used to get angry at me for treating her like a kid, but now she looks happy.
Soichi hung up the phone and came back into the living room.
“Okay, they’re gonna look into it. I’ll go through the court records and other documents released by the police, and see what I can find. It’s only a matter of time before Shindo’s dirty tricks are exposed.”
His confident face gave me a little hope.
“Then we’ll just have to wait for the next clue to find the victim. We have Goto san’s interview recorded, so we’re all set.”
I said, and Soichi nodded.
Yua chan gently took my hand in hers and said.
“Yuuto kun, I believe in you. I’m sure we can win.”
These words ignited a fire in my heart.
The battle to destroy Shindo was still in its early stage.
But at this moment with Yua chan and Soichi, I didn’t feel like losing.
The sun was rising outside the window, and our new day was about to begin.
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