Ch.155Chapter 23. Blood (9)

After a moment of silently staring at Yuu, the old man finally spoke.

“Was this child, Kotone, such an important person to you?”

He asked in a calm voice.

“Important enough to trade for the lives of everyone here? She’s already dead, isn’t she?”

Yuu frowned at the old man’s words.

Certainly… looking at it literally, it was illogical. Regardless of how he felt now, Kotone Kurosawa was… gone, and because of that, he was saying he’d kill everyone else out of anger.

But was he the type to care about such things? Yuu pondered briefly.

Kotone would have. Though he couldn’t claim to understand her perfectly yet, even when Yuu visited her home during a time when they weren’t particularly close, she willingly let him stay despite her circumstances.

And despite knowing her own situation wasn’t great, she still took the best care of her younger sister Koko.

Yes. That was all he could really judge about her. Yuu wasn’t close enough to her to know everything about each other.

He had only wanted to become closer.

“…”

Yuu’s gaze turned toward Kagami.

Their relationship seemed too complex to understand just from what he’d heard.

Though they were mother and daughter, they didn’t seem particularly close, yet there seemed to be some affection. At least Kagami seemed to think of Kotone as her daughter.

Had Kotone known? Had she kept the secret while knowing that Yuu and she were actually closer?

Next, he looked at Yuka. She had been holding a sword then too. He had seen her cut down monsters. Just like Kotone had held a blade. The two had seemed quite close normally. Despite meeting after Yuu, they had bonded—probably because they shared that kind of connection.

He had so many questions.

Questions he could no longer ask the person herself.

So Yuu wanted to hear more of that story. There was no logical reason for it. He just wanted to.

Therefore,

“Yes,” Yuu answered.

Much more calmly than when he had been speaking rashly earlier.

“Won’t you regret it?”

“…Then I’ll do that when the time comes.”

Yuu said this while staring at the person trying to persuade him.

“…My sister had that side to her too.”

Kagami spoke up.

In a tone that was unclear whether she was taking his side or mocking him, Kagami turned her head back to look at the old man.

“That side that doesn’t listen to others at all when she wants something, without a thought for consideration.”

Yuu looked at Kagami in disbelief for a moment, but Kagami was just staring straight at the old man.

She slightly raised her still-handcuffed hands. Click. The small sound of metal hitting metal was heard.

“No matter how many times you ask, my answer will be the same. So rather than stubbornly insisting and getting hurt, wouldn’t it be better to release me? You’re both asking for similar things, aren’t you?”

Demanding answers while keeping someone locked up and threatening them, knowing full well they won’t get a proper response.

Similarly, threatening someone to back down while knowing they won’t easily do so.

In the latter case, once you start threatening lives, it’s clear to anyone which side is being more unreasonable.

In truth, Yuu wasn’t even sure if he could do such a thing. It wasn’t like he was holding a mirror right now.

But it seemed the other side wasn’t sure either.

And in a situation where neither side was certain, the rational decision would be for the side with more to lose to take a step back.

Since the other side was the government itself, it might be half a step rather than a full one.

In reality, none of those present truly believed the girl’s words were sincere.

However, the side that would lose by dragging this out was the “working” side.

“…Very well.”

There was a mountain of issues to resolve. Problems had erupted elsewhere too.

Moreover, this time there were civilians who had witnessed the situation, and some were quite badly injured. Fortunately, apart from those who died inside the mansion, no civilians had died, but that was just barely avoiding death. Besides the injured, just dealing with those who had witnessed the situation firsthand would be an enormous task.

That was also why they had detained Kagami here. If she rushed out claiming she would handle it, they couldn’t know what kind of tricks this “socialite” might pull.

Most government officials are appointed positions. “Elected” positions are few.

But those with the most powerful authority among government officials are also elected.

And annoyingly, this woman had connections among the elected officials.

If she started making calls, it could interfere with resolving the issue, but that was also why she could hold out like this.

In the end, it would just be an ongoing stalemate.

Deciding to resolve what could be resolved first, the old man stood up.

“However, this matter is far from over. Ms. Kurosawa, you will need to explain why you were raising such a dangerous being.”

“I’ve been saying all along,” Kagami replied without backing down.

“I raised her simply because… she was my daughter.”

As someone came over to remove her handcuffs, Kagami rubbed her wrists as if they were sore, answering without even looking up. Seeing this, the old man let out a small sigh.

“Or would you prefer a different answer? If so, I have a congressman I’d like to introduce—”

“…No, that’s fine.”

The old man answered with a voice mixed with a sigh, and then looked toward Yuka.

“And also the reason why you didn’t try to eliminate the cause in that situation.”

“…I don’t understand why you’re saying such things to a child.”

Yuka’s father said to the old man.

This time the old man properly countered.

“Isn’t that the nature of your family? There must be many stories of those who were seduced by yokai or felt affection for them and died. Even in that situation, the girl wasn’t directly stabbed, was she? If… that,”

The old man’s gaze briefly glanced toward Kagami and Yuu.

“If that girl hadn’t decided to die herself, what do you think would have happened afterward?”

Yuka’s shoulders trembled at those words.

“…”

Yuu glared at the old man. Though Yuu had witnessed the situation too, there was no need to speak like that.

“Then we all owe our lives to that dead girl, don’t we?” Yuka’s grandfather said in a calm tone.

He was among the oldest in the room. Of course, compared to the old man with the cane, Yuka’s grandfather looked younger, but considering their professions, it might just be a difference in health.

“But using her body in such a way seems excessively heartless, don’t you think?”

“…There are those who become benefactors to many even after death.”

“That statement has no meaning unless made by the deceased themselves. If the dead have no dignity left, why would people in this world treat bodies with such respect?”

“That is certainly a valid point.”

The old man put on the fedora he had placed on the table and said,

“But may I ask where the evidence comes from that the girl was human?”

“…”

Perhaps because he had spent his life fighting yokai.

Yuka’s grandfather couldn’t bring himself to answer that question.

*

“Phew.”

Only after watching people leave the room did Yuu let out a small sigh.

It wasn’t exactly relief. There were still far more unresolved problems.

And more than that—

“…”

Now that all the targets of his anger had disappeared, the room felt much more awkward.

The atmosphere itself was extremely chaotic.

This mansion had caught fire just yesterday, and much of it had burned down. Not everything had burned—more areas remained untouched than burned—but the persistent smell of burning wouldn’t easily dissipate. The reason they couldn’t leave in the first place was because of the people occupying this room.

Moreover—

Even if he were to speak, what should he say?

Kotone’s mother, Kagami, wasn’t close with Yuu. He had only recently become aware that such a person existed. Looking intently at her face, childhood memories seemed to flicker just out of reach, but if this person had been someone who spoke to Yuu in a friendly manner, he would certainly have remembered.

Even when coming to this mansion, she probably only discussed work-related matters. There would have been no personal interaction.

The emotions he felt looking at her were… complicated.

She wasn’t someone to vent personal feelings of resentment to. Even if he wanted to blame her for abusing her daughter, he had just heard from his father that wasn’t the case. Moreover, this person had just lost her daughter yesterday.

No matter what purpose she had in giving birth to her daughter, if she had felt no affection at all, she wouldn’t have acted as she did yesterday.

Yet she wasn’t openly grieving either.

It would have been easier to understand if she had been like Yuka, seeming empty. Not that he wished for that.

Yuu had little memory of comforting others. He had lived hiding his emotions, and the people around him rarely approached him warmly. Naturally, with such limited experience in emotional exchanges, he didn’t know how to react in situations like this except to get angry.

He couldn’t even handle the emotions boiling up inside him right now. That was also why he had been so insistent with those people earlier.

“…Thank you.”

It was Kagami who spoke first to Yuu, who was standing there awkwardly.

When Yuu looked at Kagami after hearing her voice, she shrugged and said,

“If you hadn’t come, I probably would have been detained for several more hours.”

“Young lady…”

Yuu muttered, sounding a bit bewildered.

“Did I use the wrong form of address?”

“…You called me… your niece, I think.”

“You heard that.”

Kagami let out a small sigh.

“Yes, that’s technically correct… but it seems a bit late for us to start treating each other familiarly now.”

“…That’s true.”

If they continued to know each other going forward, things might be different, but for now, Yuu didn’t particularly want this person to call him “Yuu” in a familiar way.

The image from the police station was still too vivid in his mind.

“Kotone was your biological daughter, right?”

“Yes.”

Kagami answered that question definitively.

“Yes, she’s my biological daughter. And my sister is my biological sister, so you and Kotone are cousins.”

“…Why didn’t you say anything until now?”

“There were multiple reasons.”

Kagami let out a small sigh.

“First, your father was reluctant to have you, his daughter Yuu, get too deeply involved in this work.”

“…”

Hearing that, Yuu remembered how Kosuzu had been extremely kind to him.

And then one day she left without a word.

“Is that why Mom and Dad separated?”

“…I’m not sure about that. I don’t really know why my sister left. From my perspective, I think she was just tired of everything and looking for another way. It certainly wasn’t your fault.”

To Yuu, it sounded like “it wasn’t just your fault.”

But at least hearing that made him feel a little… better. Just a little. Because those words didn’t mean his mother Kosuzu was a good person.

“What about Kotone?”

“My daughter, what about her?”

“…I heard she was created as a tool.”

“That’s harsh language.”

But even as she said that, Kagami wore a self-deprecating smile.

“But… yes, looking back now, I suppose you could say that.”

Yuka slowly raised her head at those words.

Her eyes were sunken.

“If you want to blame me, go ahead.”

Kagami said, looking down at her wrist. It was red and swollen. From the handcuffs?

Massaging the swollen area, Kagami said in an indifferent voice,

“What happened is ultimately my fault. If I hadn’t given birth to my daughter with such intentions, none of this would have happened.”

“What intentions?”

This time it was Yuka who asked, not Yuu.

“…I thought you knew. Hasn’t your side benefited the most from the power Kotone… used?”

That comment was rather sharp.

Blink.

And Yuka’s eyes blinked once, stung by those words.

“If Kotone hadn’t been born for such a reason.”

“Do you think she wouldn’t have died yesterday?”

Kagami interrupted Yuka’s words.

“It’s interesting. How strange. If there hadn’t been a sword nearby, my daughter wouldn’t have died.”

“…”

Yuka’s expression changed.

At first she wore a grim expression, but then her face contorted miserably, perhaps realizing that the main cause of Kotone’s death lay with herself. Tears welled up in her eyes again, but her face showed she was trying hard not to let them fall.

“Ms. Kagami.”

Yuka’s grandfather tried to stop her words, but Kagami didn’t stop.

“…Perhaps.”

As if all the arguing was meaningless, Kagami said,

“Yes, perhaps it would have been best if she had never been born in the first place.”

…in an empty, hollow voice, slowly raising her gaze.

“Then there would have been no reason for any of it.”

No reason to be in a position to become the power of a suspicious being.

No reason to be stabbed by a sword.

No, no reason to have been born and endure all that pain.

None of it would have existed.

“…What are you saying?”

At Yuu’s words, everyone in the room turned to look at him.

Even Yuka’s grandfather and father looked at him, but this time Yuu didn’t flinch.

Once again, anger rose to his head.

He couldn’t understand why the two of them were saying such things.

Of course, Yuu also knew that Kotone was… likely gone. He had seen her neck broken, but having a heart stabbed by a sword was a completely different matter.

Moreover, Yuu thought that the “experts” here would know much better than him, who had only just learned some of the truth.

But that made him even angrier.

Yuka was definitely close enough to be called Kotone’s friend. Yuu and Kotone were friends too, but those two were much closer. From what he’d heard, it seemed they had even fought together risking their lives.

And Kagami was actually her mother.

So, because of that.

Because of that, he was even angrier.

No matter what logical reasons there might be, weren’t they the people who shouldn’t give up? The fact that Yuu was the one getting more angry felt quite objectionable.

“Shouldn’t you two be the ones who don’t do this?”

“…”

Kagami looked at Yuu silently for a moment, then slowly opened her mouth.

“Do you know what kind of sword stabbed Kotone?”

“I don’t.”

“That sword—”

“And I won’t know in the future either.”

Blink.

Yuka’s eyes blinked.

“Are you planning to be stubborn?”

“I am, if that’s what you think.”

Yuu clenched his fists.

“…Otherwise, it’s too pitiful for her.”

“…”

“Where is Kotone now?”

“Koko has her.”

“And where is that?”

“I don’t know.”

Kagami exhaled.

“In fact, those kids haven’t even gotten their phones back yet.”

“…”

“But even so, there’s no real possibility she’s alive. I’ve already confirmed it myself.”

“…Then prove it. I can’t believe it until I see it myself.”

With those words, Yuu turned abruptly and left the room.

Yuka stared blankly at Yuu’s retreating figure for a while.

“…Yuka.”

Her grandfather’s hand touched Yuka’s back.

“Yuka. Let’s go home for now.”

At those words, Yuka slowly rose from her seat.

Right now, she had no idea what to do. No, she wasn’t sure if there was anything she could do.

No matter how she thought about it, it all seemed like her fault.

Kotone died because Yuka was holding the sword.

She hadn’t wanted to kill Kotone, but that had put everyone else’s lives at risk—

“…”

What should she say?

“…Ah.”

As she passed near Kagami, Yuka tried to say something.

That she was sorry.

Despite seeing various situations, they were still mother and daughter. Yuka had killed her daughter—

But Kagami didn’t look at Yuka, though she must have heard her.

She just kept her head down, touching her wrist.

“…”

Her grandfather bowed his head. Her father did the same.

In the end, Yuka could do nothing but the same.

…If there had been no sword, if she had just dropped it from her hand then.

Would Kotone still be alive?

Her heart ached terribly.

Had Kotone felt like this when she was stabbed?

Upon leaving the mansion, she felt the temperature drop sharply.

She hadn’t noticed the cold when the mansion was on fire.

…Kotone must be cold now.

Where could she be?

Is she lying on a cold bare floor again?

The thought that she had done this to Kotone overwhelmed Yuka again, and she trembled.

Could she ever hold a sword again?

…Probably not, Yuka thought.

*

“Uuu…”

Having fled with all her might to a distant place, Koko didn’t know what to do as she held Kotone’s body.

They were in the mountains. She didn’t know exactly where. But she felt it was pointless to keep running away with Kotone like this.

“Kotone?”

Koko shook Kotone’s body again.

Thud.

Her hand fell to the ground.

Koko picked up the hand again and placed it on Kotone’s chest. She wasn’t sure why. She was just too scared of the hole there.

…Kotone had turned completely pale.

She looked as if all the blood had drained from her body. With such a large wound, that was probably what had happened.

“Uuu…”

Gripping Kotone’s body tightly, Koko sobbed again. Tears dripped from her eyes.

What should she do now?

She didn’t know anything.

Until now, Kotone had always told her what to do. Koko hadn’t always moved according to plan, but at least the principle had been with Kotone.

If she wasn’t sure what to do, she just had to find where Kotone was.

“Kotone… Kotone…”

She shook Kotone’s body again.

She already knew she wouldn’t wake up—no, she didn’t know. She couldn’t know.

Yes, Kotone would open her eyes. She always had before. Even in moments when Koko couldn’t protect her, Kotone always opened her eyes again.

This time would surely be the same, Koko thought.

She had to think that.

It was cold. Koko missed home.

The home where Kotone and Kuro were.