Chapter 46: "They"
Hiromitsu Morofushi had imagined many different scenarios for when he would meet Yamawashi again.
He was not a person who liked to daydream, yet these thoughts always surfaced silently amidst the bustle. Even he had found it surprising that imagining that scene never caused him any pressure or sadness, nor did it cast a shadow of exhaustion over his few moments of leisure.. After all, a reunion is always a good thing, even if it might never happen in reality.
His hair has grown long, Hiromitsu Morofushi thought.
For a period of time, Yamawashi's hair looked about as long as it does now, but later he cut it short himself. The result wasn't great, after all, he is an amateur barber.
It had been one year and seven months, yet the memories felt like a rewind, as if they had never parted ways and were still happening yesterday.
The interrogation room had been cleared in advance. He had come here today in his capacity as a representative of the Japanese National Police Agency, but before stepping out, Akai whispered that the recording had been turned off.
He expressed his gratitude, but in truth, he had nothing to say to Yamawashi that couldn't be heard by others.
"I didn't expect you to be caught," Hiromitsu Morofushi said after a long silence.
It was too empty, too silent; one could even hear faint echoes.
The young man sitting in the innermost seat of the isolation room slowly raised his head. Hiromitsu Morofushi had been staring intently at that person, only at the moment their eyes truly met did he realize that Yamawashi was actually smiling.
The smile was extremely faint, even the corners of his lips remained flat, with only the slightest upward curve at the corners of his eyebrows, but for Yamawashi, that was an extremely relaxed expression.
He had imagined the scene of their reunion, imagined the atmosphere of their reunion, even imagined how Yamawashi would react when they met again, but once pulled back to reality, everything was different from what he had envisioned.
He never truly understood Yamawashi.
Moreover, during the 577 days they were missing, they had all experienced new encounters.
Looking at that smile that didn't seem like a smile, Hiromitsu Morofushi couldn't bring himself to laugh. He tried to find a more rational explanation for his current reaction by using his position as a representative of the Japanese National Police Agency, but it felt more like a cover-up.
Why didn't you escape?" he asked, trying to maintain a calm tone. "I've seen the footage from the arrest scene; with your abilities, escaping without injury shouldn't have been difficult.
Yamawashi still showed no significant reaction. They locked eyes for a few seconds; Hiromitsu Morofushi unconsciously clenched his palms, but his voice remained soft: "Why didn't you run away?"
Didn't they already escape once?
Why not continue running this time?
Why come back?
Since you've come back..
Why didn't you come to me?
Yamawashi gazed at him calmly, her eyes unwavering, as if she wanted to etch his likeness into her very soul. Hiromitsu Morofushi suddenly felt a pang in his heart; he took a deep breath, yet he still could not expel the heavy tightness lodged in his chest.
He found this silence somewhat unbearable and spoke, "You.."
"I want to see you," Yamawashi said.
For a brief moment, Hiromitsu Morofushi almost thought he had rushed over and embraced Yamawashi.
But in reality, they still occupied their respective corners of the isolation cell, separated by the empty floor and the faint echoes.
“……” Hiromitsu Morofushi said, "Why.. But you clearly.."
He said no more, covering his eyes and turning his head away to take a deep breath, his eyes dry.
On the first day after Yamawashi left, he wondered why things had turned out this way—whether it was because he hadn't done enough or if there were other hidden circumstances. Upon learning another truth, instead of shock or confusion, a greater sense of panic seeped through his very bones.
Whether it was Yamawashi, Aotsuki, or some other, more complex identity, the truth and the secrets were now set in stone and could not be changed. On the day he walked out of the Ino family alone, standing under the violent sunlight, he realized that he might never see Yamawashi again.
He had nothing to offer that could make Yamawashi stay, which was why he had chosen this long-planned, unannounced departure. As long as Yamawashi did not wish to appear, he would never know where Yamawashi had gone or if there would ever be a return.
"I want to see you," Yamawashi had once said this to him.
At that time, he was still using the pretext of having controlled Scotland to threaten Yamawashi into cooperating. Worried about Scotland's situation, Yamawashi expressed a desire to meet Scotland; that was the first time he had heard such words as wanting to see him from Yamawashi's mouth.
At that time, he heard those words clearly, but those words were not actually directed at him.
This was the first time Yamawashi had faced him directly and said those blunt words: "I want to see you."
Did you know I would come, that's why you didn't run?" Hiromitsu Morofushi said. "This isn't Japan, it's not under the jurisdiction of the Japanese police. What if I hadn't come?
If we aren't in Japan and you don't want to see me, then we certainly won't meet," Yamawashi said. "No matter what mission you came here on today, whether you came of your own accord or were sent, thank you for coming to see me.
So he really had considered the possibility that they would never meet again. There was only a single lamp hanging above in the isolation cell, casting a deathly pale light, yet Hiromitsu Morofushi unexpectedly thought of the violent sunlight from over a year ago when he had walked out of the Ino family.
“.. I've already seen him.” Hearing his own voice, Hiromitsu Morofushi felt as if the one waiting for judgment was not that wanted man, but himself. “And then? Now that you've seen him, what do you intend to do?”
Yamawashi did not answer, leaning against the wall behind him, looking quite relaxed. "Over the past year or so, I've visited many places I had never been before."
His pace was slow, perhaps because he hadn't spoken so much in a long time and was still adjusting, but every word was incredibly clear, as if he had rehearsed this passage in his mind countless times. His voice was cool and gentle, as if he were telling an ancient tale, slowly recounting times that had never been met.
.. The grasslands and lakes of New Zealand, the lavender of Provence.. I'm not interested in natural scenery; the donuts at that cafe in the UK are too sweet and don't quite suit my taste, but that shop is very quiet, no one would disturb you even if you sat there all afternoon.
Hiromitsu Morofushi's body gradually stiffened.
.. I went to Ushuaia to watch the last lighthouse at the end of the world, but when I turned around, I didn't feel like everything could start anew," Yamawashi said softly. "I'm sorry.
Hiromitsu Morofushi took a step almost by instinct, his heart racing, even feeling afraid of what he might hear next; he wanted to raise his hand to interrupt, but his throat felt as if it were blocked by a hard lump, unable to make a sound.
Yamawashi stood up.
He looked even thinner than before, but he was still as resilient and sharp as ever, just like that dagger that had been broken once.
I've been to all those places you mentioned, except for the last one.
Hiromitsu Morofushi asked, "Where?"
Yamawashi said, "Your hometown."
His eyes suddenly widened, his pupils trembling like disturbed azure lake water. In the silent space, the harsh scraping and clattering sounds of the chair being overturned had not yet dissipated, Hiromitsu Morofushi pressed that fellow who had left without saying goodbye tightly into his embrace.
He uncontrollably wanted to tighten his arms even further; even though he had already confirmed that this person was right by his side and not a phantom, his teeth were still trembling slightly.
You don't want to be separated from me either, do you?
You came back specifically to find me, didn't you?
You didn't choose to leave back then because you didn't trust me, but because you loved me, right?
..
Amidst the chaotic breathing and racing heartbeat, Yamawashi stroked his hair, just as he had at the very beginning.
Hiromitsu Morofushi's heart also seemed to settle down, as if it had been smoothed over as well.
I don't know where your hometown is," Yamawashi said. "I've been thinking about it all along the way. The scenery and the food seemed to become insignificant. I wanted to know the answer so badly.. that I was caught.
..
..
The weather in Tokyo in early December wasn't too cold yet. Having been swept into another bizarre case, Shinichi Kudo was so familiar with the Japanese National Police Agency that he felt as if he were returning to his own home. He waited in the office alone, pouring himself a cup of hot water; by the time he was nearly finished, Officer Yuya Kazami still hadn't returned. Just as he was about to head out to look for him, he turned his head and was startled, causing the disposable paper cup in his hand to crush, nearly burning him.
There was actually a living person in this office, he hadn't noticed at all just now.
He took a glance from a distance; it was someone he had never seen before, he was reading a book.
If he remembered correctly, that was Inspector Morofushi's workstation.
Yuya Kazami happened to return and didn't notice anything unusual. He skillfully pulled out a non-disclosure agreement, Shinichi Kudo, practiced in the matter, picked up a pen to sign it. His gaze drifted toward the window again, for some reason, his voice naturally dropped as he spoke, "Is that person a new officer?"
Yuya Kazami took a cautious glance toward the window and said vaguely, "Um.. he was just released this week.. er, I mean, he was transferred here."
Shinichi Kudo keenly sensed something was off from this reaction and asked curiously, "What is that officer's name? Where was he transferred from? I've never seen him before; is he a specialist?"
Ah, something like that, he was specially hired..
The more Yuya Kazami stammered, the more Shinichi Kudo wanted to know the answer. Amidst this silent tug-of-war, a cold voice rang out from the distance without warning.
Morofushi.
The volume wasn't high, yet the two of them froze as if instantly intimidated, both turning their heads in unison toward the sound.
The new police officer had already closed the book in his hands and was turning his head to look this way. Gray hair hung over his forehead, the ends looking somewhat uneven; although it looked like a failed haircut no matter how one viewed it, paired with such a face and that calm, serene temperament, one couldn't help but wonder if it was actually a deliberate style.
From a distance, Shinichi Kudo saw the gray-haired man nod to him. "You can call me Morofushi. Detective, I look forward to working with you."
As their eyes met, his brain instinctively completed a professional character analysis in an instant. Shinichi Kudo's expression froze, he braced himself against the corner of the table to steady his body.
He thought: Damn, that person looks just like an assassin.
Once that mysterious officer, who was said to have been transferred from a special department, had left, Shinichi Kudo expressed his confusion and speculations to Yuya Kazami, but they were all brushed off.
Walking into the elevator in a daze, Shinichi Kudo suddenly realized something else. ".. Was that officer also surnamed Morofushi?"
In his memory, that was not a common surname.
The youth muttered to himself, "I wonder if it has anything to do with the other Inspector Morofushi.."
Finished.