episode_0022

Kyotarou Hyo

—

Two days passed, and the day for my meeting with Chihana arrived.

Surprisingly, Takeo, the victim, was also present.

“There’s no law that says victims and perpetrators can’t meet. Besides, a stab wound isn’t an illness; I can move around right away.”

“No, I don’t think that’s usually possible right away.”

Takeo was acting so aggressively, it made me wonder if he was always this much of a musclehead. Despite being stabbed in the abdomen, he was only hospitalized for two days, and apparently, he made his way to the police station purely on the determination to meet Chihana with us today.

When I asked the police officer, he said a meeting with three people was possible. For about fifteen minutes.

Then, after waiting a few minutes in the room we were led to, partitioned by an acrylic panel.

Chihana, dressed in simple clothes, appeared and sat before us.

“What’s with all of you… Takeo, you’re alive…”

She softened her expression slightly as she looked at Takeo, but Chihana immediately frowned. She crossed her arms and legs, adopting an unrepentant attitude, but Takeo spoke to her.

“Taking that attitude again… You’re going to court soon, aren’t you? It’ll make a bad impression, so answer properly. I’ll tell you now, I’m not planning on filing a victim report this time. However, it seems the attempted murder case will still be judged… Chihana, do you have a lawyer?”

“I said I didn’t need one, but it seems they’re assigning one by force.”

“Then it’s a public defender… I’ll find a better one for you. I looked into it, and it seems even for attempted murder, you can get out with five years of probation. So, once this detention is over, it’ll be a criminal trial, and that’s it. You understand what that means, right?”

Probation, in other words, means you can return directly to society.

It’s definitely better than going to prison with a custodial sentence.

“I don’t have money… It’s fine, don’t worry about it.”

“Don’t worry about money. Who do you think I am? I’m so famous, there’s no one in the world who doesn’t know me, you know?”

Following Takeo, Tomoe also interjected.

“I’ll put money in too. I really want to talk properly with Chihana-san. Let’s go outside and talk together, all four of us? I’m sure if we talk properly, it’ll work out.”

“What do you mean ‘work out’? It’ll just be a temporary fix, won’t it? …It’s fine, don’t bother with someone like me. Besides, I’m the one who ruined a once-in-a-lifetime wedding, you know? Why are you being so kind? It’s sickening.”

“You can have a wedding any number of times. But there’s only one Chihana-san in the world. We both fell for the same person, so we can definitely be friends.”

When she said that, it made my mouth feel a little itchy.

Takeo looked at me with half-closed eyes, but it’s strange, isn’t it? I thought Takeo was more popular in the past.

“Well, that’s how it is. Chihana, I heard you’ve been disowned by both your parents, right? So I’ll be your guarantor, and everything can really change depending on your words and attitude—”

“I said it’s fine! What is wrong with all of you?!”

Against Chihana, who had raised her voice, Takeo stood up and shouted.

“I’m telling you I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life! Don’t you get it?!”

At Takeo’s unexpected shout, Tomoe and I widened our eyes, and Chihana blinked rapidly. The police officer present scolded them to be quiet, and the two apologized.

At Takeo’s confession… no, words that could be taken as a proposal, Chihana’s eyes darted around.

“Anyway, that’s how it is. I told you then, didn’t I? That I understand all of Chihana’s thoughts. We’re two of a kind. Cowardly, humble, liars, yet we love ourselves. That’s why I’m so worried about Chihana that she never leaves my mind. So, it’s better if you stay by my side, where I can keep an eye on you, you understand?”

“……I don’t understand that.”

“Right, I don’t understand either.”

“What is that…”

“I don’t understand, but I do understand. If you can’t trust me, just stab me again, I don’t care, I just want Chihana to smile.”

After yelling at each other, they immediately fell silent, staring at each other while their eyes darted about.

Perhaps there was never any room for us between these two to begin with.

Time passed, and Chihana’s criminal trial concluded with a sentence of three years imprisonment, suspended for five years, just as Takeo had said. I believe it was a lenient sentence, understandable given her sincere remorse, Takeo’s testimony as the victim, and the witness examinations of Tomoe and me as witnesses. All of it was testimony that protected Chihana Watashima, the perpetrator of this incident.

Because it was the trial of the culprit who turned Tomoe, whose maiden name was Yako, into a sea of blood, the spectator seats were even decided by lottery. But we were able to hear the verdict from the front row.

If anything, the interviews after it was over were more difficult.

“She, Chihana, is our precious friend. We will absolutely not permit anyone to infringe upon her privacy, as she is a private citizen, so please understand that.”

Perhaps Tomoe’s icy words had an effect, as the incident itself is gradually fading from public memory after only a brief commotion. Takeo told me, but it’s truly a case of a person’s rumors lasting three days [proverb: meaning rumors quickly fade]; they vanished in an instant.

We returned to our daily lives. I resumed my work at the original factory, and Tomoe continued as the president of a music agency and as a performer. Takeo was also active as a martial artist and commentator.

…Only Chihana disappeared from before us.

—

Final Episode: “The Kind Person”