Chapter 91: Yuriko Kawachi’s Obsessiveness
Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
Yamaoo Small District, 8th Building Unit 1, Number 1306.
Indoors.
historical
Rei Takamori looked at the sorrowful crowd and Kucha, who was crying non-stop on the sofa. He could not help but shook his head and sighed. As a veteran policeman, he had seen too many situations like these, so he took it more calmly.
Chiba Shiori sat beside Kucha on the sofa and comforted her softly. Little did she expect that an offline gathering will morph into a tragedy.
Kimura Kazuki stood beside the sofa as he looked at the transparent Yuriko Kawachi, who was right beside Kucha. He wanted to comfort her, he opened his mouth, but he kept quiet instead. Yuriko Kawachi knew that she was now dead and a specter. Even if she spoke, no one would be able to hear her, as she had tried just now.
Evidently, Yuriko Kawachi had accepted her own death during this short time. She was no longer as terrified and helpless as before.
Yuriko Kawachi was ‘Chiyoko.’ ‘Chiyoko’ was just her pen name, not her real name. After observing her for a while, Kimura Kazuki knew that she was not who he was looking for.
That was because he saved Nishiyama Chiyoko’s photos on his phone. Nakagawa Aokiji had sent them to him earlier. So even without referring to her photos, he knew that she was not Nishiyama Chiyoko from Akichi High School. They did not look alike at all.
Kimura Kazuki felt sorry for Yuriko Kawachi’s death, but he was not very sad. He did not know her, so they were practically strangers. It was natural that he did not feel much.
“Miss Yuriko Kawachi died of cardiac arrest. It is commonly referred to as sudden cardiac death. Miss Yuriko experienced a lack of rest for a prolonged period. Her body was weak, and she lacked exercise, which led to this sad outcome. My condolences to everyone.”
Rei Takamori had rushed over after receiving the police report. Upon entering, they checked the room meticulously. After eliminating possibilities of a homicide, they concluded that this was a case of sudden cardiac death as a result of overnight fatigue.
In Japan, an average of one to two people die of sudden death every minute. Although it was often reported in the news, no one really paid attention to it when it did not happen to them. The sorrow of the deceased’s friends and relatives when it took away a life would be too late.
“We have contacted Miss Yuriko’s parents, and they are on their way.” Rei Takamori tried to speak in a gentle tone. “I need everyone to come with us to the station for your statements.”
Hearing this, Kucha wiped her tears on a piece of paper napkin she picked up. She stood up silently. Her actions indicated that she was willing to cooperate with the police.
Everyone left the room very quickly.
Kimura Kazuki trailed behind. He watched as Yuriko Kawachi attempted to leave with the rest, but the blazing sunlight made her yell in pain, and she retreated back indoors frightfully.
Quietly, he lifted the Sun and Moon sword and closed up on Yuriko Kawachi. Caught off guard, Yuriko Kawachi was sucked into the Sun and Moon sword without a noise.
Everyone arrived at the police station very quickly.
At the police station, Kimura Kazuki watched as Rei Takamori lifted his Sun and Moon sword on the table and attempted to withdraw the sword. He smiled and said, “Mr. Rei, this is a piece of woodwork. The sword’s sheath and its body are one, so there is no way you could withdraw it.”
“I see.” Rei Takamori smiled. He just wanted to check if it was a sharp object. Now that he knew that it was not, he couldn’t care less. He picked up his notebook and motioned for Kimura Kazuki to sit down. After understanding the situation slightly, he questioned out of curiosity, “I heard that you were the one who kicked Room 1306 open.”
“That’s right.” Kimura Kazuki smiled again. He knew that Rei Takamori was only asking routinely, so he did not lie.
There was a look of surprise on Rei Takamori. The door was leaning slanted on the wall when they arrived, so they assumed that a thug had broke in and committed murder. They only found out that it was Kimura Kazuki who kicked it down after asking around. If not for the witnesses of ‘Light Novel Room,’ they would not have believed it.
However, he did not continue questioning. They had already eliminated homicide when they were in Yuriko Kawachi’s house, so all the people from ‘Light Novel Room’ were not suspects. It would have been inappropriate for him to continue.
The members of the ‘Light Novel Room’ concluded their statements and gathered in front of the police station not long later. No one had the heart to continue sightseeing in Akihabara. Kucha smiled forcefully and said, “This is the end of today’s offline activity. You may leave now.”
There was no objection from the crowd, as staying back would only cause more misery. Besides, only Kucha and Chiyoko were friends in real life, the others were merely cyber acquaintances. Although it was a pity, they were not extremely sad, just a little sorrowful. After all, they were all writers. What happened to Chiyoko today could also happen to them one day.
While not much thought was given in the past, what happened today stirred something in their hearts.
After bidding farewell to the rest, Kimura Kazuki and Chiba Shiori took the tram home together.
On the tram, Chiba Shiori did not speak much. It was clear that Yuriko Kawachi’s sudden death was a blow to her. After all, she had been acquainted with Kawachi for a long time. Even though they never met in real life, they were close friends online.
Kimura Kazuki did not speak either. After they separated at the Seigyoku District, he took the tram to Jinwen District.
Kimura Kazuki arrived home in a bit.
He released Yuriko Kawachi’s spirit as soon as he reached home.
Like Akie Hanzawa, when Yuriko Kawachi emerged, she looked terrified. She had been sucked suddenly into a white room when she was in her own home, it was suffocating and scary for her. A creepy old man was standing still, unmoving in the white room.
When she was in the white room, she stayed crouched in a corner and stared at the old man without blinking. She was afraid that he would morph into a scary monster and eat her up. Little did she expect that she would pop up in a narrow room instead of 10 minutes.
“Hello, Miss Kawachi.” Kimura Kazaki’s attitude toward friendly ghosts was an extreme opposite of his usual one. His expression was warm and pleasant.
“You... Aren’t you the person who was at my home?” Listening to his voice, Yuriko Kawachi jumped. She stared at Kimura Kazaki in shock and stuttered, “What... What do you want!?”
As a light novelist, one must have an abundance of imagination. She thought that the old man in the white room was her abductor, but she realized now that it must have been Kimura Kazaki. The thought that he had used mysterious ways to bring her here involuntarily made Yuriko Kawachi feel fearful. He might be a member of some evil organization.
Kimura Kazaki was not clear about what Yuriko Kawachi was thinking about. In a calm tone, he comforted Yuriko Kawachi and explained the situation to her like how he did to Akie Hanzawa the last time.
“So... Miss Yuriko, what are you obsessed with?”
Compared to Akie Hanzawa, Yuriko Kawachi’s acceptance came much faster. Also, like Akie Hanzawa, she chose to believe Kimura Kazaki’s explanation as this would help her achieve her dying wishes. Was there an evil organization that made wishes come true?
Kimura Kazaki saw that Yuriko Kawachi was bemused. He continued to explain patiently, “Miss Yuriko, you’ve become a specter because you have a deep obsessiveness. You should know what your obsessiveness is.”
Hearing this, Yuriko Kawachi put some thought into it. Deep inside, she knew what her wish was. She felt incredulous, “Why is this, my wish?” She looked at Kimura Kazaki anxiously, “Can I change my wish?”
“Sorry...” Kimura Kazaki shook his head.
Yuriko Kawachi was disappointed, but she still revealed her deepest wish.
“I wish that my novel can be published...”
Hearing this, Kimura Kazaki heaved a sigh of relief. That would be simple. Self-publication would do too.
“I also wish that my novel would gain the favor of massive readers and that it could be adapted into manga and animation form...”
“...”