Chapter 9 right arm

"Chairman Nakajo has admitted that the threatening letter was written by Takeshi Suda." Lu Yuan was brought into the interrogation room, and as soon as he sat down opposite the two criminal policemen, Gao Jian immediately told him.Lu Yuan looked at his face carefully, and finally opened his mouth. "It was him... did he really do it?" "Don't you know?" Uehara asked. Ashihara nodded.He really doesn't know. "The situation is a bit complicated," Takama said. "Let's not talk about that. At this point, you should be honest about the relationship between you and Takeshi, right? We already know that Takeshi is your accomplice."

The two detectives looked at Lu Yuan.He rested his elbows on the table, clasped his hands, and rested his forehead on them. "Actually," he said, "I don't want to involve him, so I claim that I did it alone. Even if he is dead, I don't want to involve him." Then, Lu Yuan added softly: "He is a good man." "Would you like to have a cigarette first?" Uehara offered the cigarette, and Ashihara took out one silently. ※※※ When Lu Yuan was watching the little baseball team run, someone suddenly called him from behind.Awara looked back and saw a young man in a faded tracksuit and windbreaker, with his baseball cap pulled down, standing behind the backstop.Ashihara found that he would appear in this stadium from time to time since two or three days ago.The leader, Yagi, told him that the young man was Takeshi Suda from Kaiyang High School, but they hadn't chatted directly.

"Are you Mr. Ashihara from Tozai Denki?" Takeshi asked again when he walked over.Awara showed an impatient expression.It's fine if they are acquaintances, he doesn't like people who are not relatives and friends to bring up the past with him. "yes." "I am Suda from Kaiyang." "I know, so what?" Awara said as much as possible in an attitude of refusal, but Takeshi didn't take it seriously, put his head in front of the ball net, and asked in a tone as if he was chatting: "Mr. Ashihara, how is that ball now?" "The ball?"

Takeshi lightly made a motion of throwing the ball and said, "The ball fluttered to the ground." "baffling." Awara turned his head back to the sports field, he didn't want the matter of that ball to become such a frivolous topic. "You remember when I visited the East-West Motor practice? You were at the pitching facility." "I remember. The team leader turned upside down and said that there would be a very powerful one coming in, but you let them go." "Is this considered releasing pigeons?" Wu Zhi laughed. "Maybe, I was a little interested in Dongxi Electric at that time, so I asked my seniors to show me around. The baseball team was just passing by."

"Hmph," Awara breathed out through his nose. "I'm so sorry, just by the way." "But seeing your ball is a great reward," Takeshi said: "I have a special skill, and I will never forget it when I see a good shot. After that, I went to watch a few games of East and West Denki and saw your skills. , It's just a pity that you left suddenly." "You can tell by looking at my feet." Lu Yuan tapped on the floor with his crutches. "It's all over. Now I can only fulfill my baseball dream by teaching children baseball." He slightly turned his head to look at Wu Zhi, "So, don't bother me."

"I don't intend to disturb, I just want to learn that ball from you." "I've long since forgotten." "It would be a pity if you hid that ball in your heart. Only by teaching me how to learn that ball can it play its value." "You are so confident." "yes?" "Your strength is enough. Don't you think it's embarrassing for the genius Suda to ask for advice from amateur baseball knockouts?" "I've never cared about saving face." "Yes." Lu Yuan ignored him and walked towards the boy who had finished running.Yagi also came over, and the two of them guided the little baseball players to fielding practice together.Takeshi Suda stood behind the backstop for a while, then ran away.

After that, Takeshi appeared from time to time.Since he was also a player on this Little League team before, there is no stopping him from coming here.Takeshi would sometimes give advice to those children. Of course, the children all knew him and listened to him. "No matter how many times you come here, it's a waste of time." When there were only two of them left, Awara said to Takeshi, "So far, I have never taught anyone how to throw that ball, and I don't plan to teach it in the future, whether it is the genius Suda or His Majesty the Emperor." Wu Zhi didn't say anything, a disdainful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

Lu Yuan decided to ignore him, as long as he ignored him, he would have nothing to sing. Until that day, something happened to Awara.He was abruptly relieved of his coaching duties. Although Yagi found various reasons to explain to him, Awara knew the truth.Nishi Waki, the head of security investigation who framed Awara before, is also one of the parents of the Little League players and the mastermind who forced Awara to leave. The hatred that was gradually forgotten was awakened again. ──Nishiwaki ruined my life... Now, he wants to take away the last meaning of my life... Awara had nowhere to vent the anger surging in his heart, so he drank to drink away his sorrows, constantly thinking about his hatred for Saiwaki.Just skip going to work and drink a lot of booze all day long.

At that time, he was depressed all day long, and one day, Takeshi visited the apartment. "I heard you were fired?" Wu Zhi intentionally picked up which pot he didn't open, and Lu Yuan became furious, picked up the cup next to him and threw it over.The glass hit the beams and pillars of the porch and shattered. "It has nothing to do with you." Because of the drunkenness, Ashihara's tongue got a little knotted. "That team leader is not clear-headed, and he will fire you." Awara vomited. "It has nothing to do with the team leader. It's a guy named Nishiwaki. He wants to punish me until he's willing to give up..."

Speaking of this, Ashihara stopped talking.He hadn't intended to tell anyone. But Takeshi looked at him and said: "Sounds interesting." He walked in without authorization. "Do you have any trouble with Nishiwaki?" In normal times, Awara would not pay attention to Takeshi at all, but at that time he hoped that someone would listen to his complaints, coupled with alcohol, after saying Saiwaki's name, he became more and more drunk. Awara told Takeshi everything about why he was forced to leave the company, and that the hated head of the security investigation department was Nishiwaki.

"You left the company obediently like this, can't you sue them?" Wu Zhi asked. "I have no evidence, and the witnesses are all bought by them. Even if I argue alone, it's useless." Lu Yuan picked up the one-liter magnum and poured it directly into his mouth, but accidentally choked on it.He coughed and said, "But, I... also think about revenge." "revenge?" "Yes, a big vote." Awara opened one of the cardboard boxes in the corner of the room to show Takeshi, and Takeshi's expression suddenly became serious. "These are real guys." Ashihara said, "I originally planned to strap on my body and rush into the company as a human bomb. But in the end I gave up. It's not worth dying for that kind of guy." Takeshi took out a stick of dynamite and looked at it curiously.Lu Yuan gradually felt that it was foolish to confess everything to him, and he really shouldn't tell others about this kind of thing. "It's boring, just pretend I didn't say anything." When Awara was about to sort out the cardboard boxes, Takeshi said lightly: "Do you want to give up this time?" Lu Yuan looked at his face, "What did you say?" "Human bomb," Wu Zhi said, "Why don't you do it?" "Do you want me to do it?" "That's not what it means. But if you don't do anything, can you calm down?" Ashihara took the wine bottle, raised his neck and took a big gulp, wiped his mouth and stared at Takeshi. "what do you want me to do?" "I didn't ask you what to do." Takeshi looked at the cardboard box with his head, and then shifted his gaze to Awara. "It's just that since there are these props, it's a pity not to make good use of them. For example... Do you want to put them in their company?" "Go to their company to plant a bomb?" Lu Yuan raised his eyes and scanned the surroundings. He hadn't thought of this method at all before, but then he came back to his senses and hurriedly shook his head. "No, no! Don't talk nonsense." "If you don't want to, forget it." Takeshi quickly closed the lid of the cardboard box, took out the handkerchief from his trousers pocket, and put it back in his pocket after blowing his nose. In fact, Awara was a little moved.He didn't want to let it go without revenge, but of course the method of human bombing would not work, and Wu Zhi's proposal was indeed a clever plan. "But... it's not easy to plant a bomb." Lu Yuan finally opened his mouth, "When outsiders enter the company, the inspection is very strict, and my legs are not convenient, so it is easy to arouse suspicion." "So," Takeshi said, "I'll help you. How about letting me plant the bomb?" Awara looked at his face, Takeshi pursed his lips. "Is there an exchange condition?" Ashihara asked. Wu Zhi nodded, "Yes, there is an exchange." The exchange condition is that Ashihara will teach him to throw the change shot. "I don't understand," Awara said. "Are you willing to assist a crime for such a thing?" "I also have difficulties." Takeshi rubbed the bottom of his nose with his fingers. "And I sympathize with you, I didn't lie to you." Lu Yuan gritted his teeth and exhaled slowly. "Okay, but I have one thing to say first, I can't guarantee that I can teach you that ball." Wu Zhi tilted his head and asked, "What do you mean?" "Because I didn't fully grasp the pitch myself." As Awara said, he spread his right hand in front of Takeshi. ※※※ Looking at Awara's outstretched palm, Takama and Uehara showed confused expressions.Pointing to the middle finger of his right hand with the index finger of his left hand, he said: "Isn't there a small scar next to this finger? When I was at Dongxi Electric Factory, I was cut by a cutting machine. Once someone from the safety investigation department found out, I would be punished, so I secretly went to see a doctor." He gazed at his right hand, flexed and stretched his fingertips. "It was after I injured my finger that I started to throw this different ball. I was going to throw a straight ball, but suddenly my fingertips hurt and numb, and when I threw it, it seemed to change, and even the catcher couldn't catch it. To the ball. The catcher said, what's the matter with this ball? Definitely can play power. For me, it's just a product of accident, can't throw this kind of ball comfortably. Because I don't know when my fingertips will hurt. After I started throwing this kind of ball consciously, but the change in throwing the ball when the sudden pain came on was even more amazing, and the middle finger would become stiff at the moment of throwing the ball, but I just couldn’t grasp the degree of stiffness correctly.” Ashihara suddenly laughed softly. "In retrospect, it was really a magic ball. Because I don't know when it will appear and when it will disappear, it has nothing to do with my will. I think it is a gift from God on a whim. God wants to give me a gift that has no talent, but puts all my heart into it. The man in baseball tasted something sweet, so he gave this gift." "Then how did you teach Takeshi?" Takama asked. "I can only explore through constant experimentation, because even I haven't fully grasped it myself." "Does Takeshi agree?" "There's nothing he can do if he doesn't agree." Awara replied. ※※※ As Awara said to Takama, when teaching, you can only keep trying and groping.Takeshi continued to explore and practice in Ishizaki Shrine after school.Not only Wu Zhi worked hard to learn, but Ashi Yuan also tried his best to teach.On the one hand, he was influenced by Takeshi's enthusiasm. As long as he thinks that it may be the last time he will do something related to baseball, he can't help but devote himself wholeheartedly. However, he was unable to reproduce "Magic Ball".Awara also recalled the feeling of the past and threw the ball, but nothing happened.The white ball went straight forward and fell straight down, as if what happened before was just a dream. Awara also met Akira Kitaoka at that time.That day, after he finished practicing with Takeshi, he was stopped by Kitaoka on his way back to his apartment. After Kitaoka introduced himself, he asked him why he practiced with Suda.Because Kitaoka had something to go to Takeshi's house to find him, he ran after learning that he was at the shrine, and found that the two of them were practicing in secret. Awara had no choice but to tell the truth to Kitaoka, but of course he concealed the bombing plan and only told Kitaoka that they were practicing the change shot they had thrown before. "If that's the case, he should have told me." Kitaoka was a little lonely. "He seems to be going to learn to change the ball and then tell you, because it is not easy to catch that ball, and the catcher has to undergo special training." "Is it that powerful?" Kitaoka seemed surprised. "Because it's a magic ball." Ashihara deliberately frightened him. "Magic ball..." "But you have to learn it first." "When can I learn it?" Kitaoka asked. "I don't know, I may never learn." Awara added that he was not joking.Then, ask Kitaoka not to tell Takeshi that they had talked about these words.Because they agreed not to tell anyone until the "magic ball" was finished. As the days passed, Takeshi appeared at Awara's apartment on a certain Friday. "I made this." Takeshi spread out a piece of paper in front of Awara, and some kind of design drawing was drawn on the back of the wrapping paper. "what is this?" Lu Yuan looked at the picture and asked.He only saw springs in square boxes. "Simple timing ignition device." Takeshi said nonchalantly. "Ignition device?" Awara looked at the blueprint in surprise.Although it is drawn by hand, detailed dimensions are written on it.Takeshi pointed to the blueprint and explained to him. "Pull out the wires from this part to connect to the dry battery, and then put dry ice in this space. When the time is up, the dry ice will sublimate completely, and the switch will be automatically turned on—this is the structure." "So that's how it is." After Lu Yuan finished speaking, he swallowed hard. "As long as you make a time bomb according to this picture, I will handle everything after that." "When will you use it?" Awara asked Takeshi when the plan would be implemented, and Takeshi replied without hesitation: "Three days later." Three days later, Lu Yuan was restless early in the morning, so he locked himself in his room and listened to the radio.Takeshi didn't tell him anything about the plan.Awara told him when to place the bomb and where to put it, but when it exploded was up to Takeshi to decide, but Takeshi didn't mention a word, just let him handle it. Awara has no intention of doing anything but waits for the news to be broadcast on the radio.While waiting, he clearly found that a sense of guilt gradually developed in his heart.He couldn't estimate how many casualties would be caused if so many explosives exploded?How many people will die?I am more worried that it may affect people who have nothing to do with him. Looking at the clock, he realized that it was almost noon, and Awara thought that the time should be almost there.The explosion time depends on how much dry ice Takeshi bought, but it just occurred to me that Takezhi didn't tell him where to buy dry ice. Time passed by minute by minute in anxiety, Ashihara's heart was beating unceasingly, the sweat on his hands was still dripping after wiping again and again. However, he did not hear the news of the explosion of the east-west motor, and he heard from the news until night that someone had placed a bomb that would not explode in the east-west motor. "How is this going?" When Takeshi came to the door the next day, Ashihara questioned him, but Takeshi said nonchalantly: "I only said I would plant the bomb for you, but I never said I would detonate it." "...You lied to me, you planned to lie to me from the beginning." "I'm not lying to you, I just want to satisfy your revenge. How did you feel yesterday?" "..." "Do you feel regret? Do you think you shouldn't listen to my instigation? Do you feel scared when you think of someone dying because of you? Once you have this kind of thought, your revenge will be over." Awara bit his lip and stared at Takeshi, although he was annoyed, but Takeshi was right.Although he was angry that he was played by Takeshi, he was indeed relieved by this result. "So," Takeshi said, "forget about the unpleasant things quickly, and concentrate on teaching me how to pitch. When I enter professional baseball and get a signing bonus, I will reward you well." After speaking, he grinned. "Tell me one thing," Awara said, "Since you planned to do this from the beginning, why did you actually plant the bomb? If it's just to negotiate with me, just pretend to plant the bomb." "Didn't you just say that?" Takeshi said, "Because I made an agreement with you to plant a bomb, and I always abide by the agreement." After that, they continued to carry out special training, but there was still no progress.After the trials, Takeshi came to him again, saying that he would temporarily stop practicing with Awara, and that he planned to train with Kitaoka for special training. "Kitaoka wanted to practice with me, so I agreed. He seemed to know that I practiced with you. He seemed to have seen it at the shrine by accident." "Really?" Ashihara nodded. "Perhaps with another person, the practice will be smoother." "I may come to ask you again some other day." "welcome any time." "Thank you." Takeshi said. "Each each other." ※※※ "That was the last time I saw him." Lu Yuan put his arms around his chest and sighed heavily. "In retrospect, he's an interesting person." Takama turned the ballpoint pen in his hand, and pointed at Awara with the tip of the pen. "Did you watch the trials? The game at Kaiyang High School?" "I didn't watch it, but I heard it on the radio. Was it the one where Suda threw a farewell throw that wasn't his style?" "What do you think about that wild shot? Don't you think that's your changeup?" "Well..." Lu Yuan tilted his head and said, "Because I didn't see it with my own eyes, I can't comment on it, but if it is true, it means that he completed the magic ball at a critical moment. But in that situation, he would take the risk Is it a risk?" "That day, Kitaoka wrote down the words 'I saw the magic ball'. At least in his eyes, the last wild throw was the 'magic ball' you practiced with Takeshi, so he proposed to practice with Takeshi, right?" "Maybe." Ashihara couldn't help thinking that trying to throw a new changeup shot at that critical moment was indeed something Suda would do. "Okay..." After Gaoma stood up, he sat back on the chair again, watched Awara and said, "We already know about the magic ball and the bomb case, but you lied about one thing. No , nor can it be said that you are lying, it can only be said that it is concealing. You have spent a long time telling us these things, just going in circles around this biggest secret, and you deliberately avoided this part, didn't you?" After Takama finished speaking, the interrogation room fell into a strange silence, only the dusty air slowly flowing on the floor. "I vaguely know why you want to hide it, and I fully understand your feelings. However, you can't avoid talking about it," Takama said quietly again: "About Takeshi's right arm." Kyohei Tajima stopped his hand while doing his homework and looked out the window.There are several wires on the telephone pole outside the window, the moon and stars behind, and a few clouds in front of the moon. The face of Takeshi Suda floated in front of his eyes.Maybe it's because of thinking about tomorrow's club practice. Thinking of baseball gave Tajima a headache.Memories of the past seemed to fade suddenly, what was he doing before? To be honest, Tajima no longer has the courage to hold the ball.Since learning about that incident, he hasn't wanted to hold the ball anymore. He discovered this during the Red and White War.When arguing with his teammates, Naoi reminded him with a casual remark. Without Suda's right arm, there is nothing left── Although he was saying "there is nothing left in Kaiyang", Tajima had other things in mind.For Suda himself, once he lost his right arm, he lost everything. His thinking is well founded.First, a detective named Takama hints that Suda is intensively practicing change balls.Suda threw so many fastballs and never relied on changeups, why did he suddenly start practicing changeups?Did something happen that made him feel that his ball power was limited? Second, the titles of the two books that Kitaoka borrowed from the library seem to confirm this.Both of those books were about movement disorders.Tajima went to the library to find similar books. Sports and the Body, Sports Injuries, Strategies for Movement Disorders—he discovered that Kitaoka had recently borrowed all of these books, and he was apparently investigating the problem of movement disorders. What the hell was going on? Could it be that there is something wrong with Suda's right arm or right shoulder? ──This is Tajima's conclusion.If you think about it again, it makes sense.For example, one day after Kitaoka's death, the members of the third-year club gathered for a meeting, and Sawamoto said something at that time.When Kitaoka arranged the training game, he had planned to pair Tajima and Sawamoto as the starting pitchers.Although Sawamoto thought that Kitaoka was laughing at him by saying this, he was indignant, but maybe Kitaoka was not joking, but sincere?Could it be that Kitaoka planned to arrange this in order to reduce Suda's burden? Suda, who has been throwing the whole game alone for many years, faced a tragic fate at a critical moment. In order to overcome this shortcoming, he tried to learn the "magic ball" as his trump card. Sadness hit Tajima again, it was a pain he couldn't understand.He and Suda weren't particularly close, in fact, Tajima didn't even understand how much grief Suda's death had brought him, but the grief at this moment was so real. Tajima told the detective Takama about his deduction, and Yuki was also accompanying him.The detective and Yuki listened carefully to the end of his speech. The detective nodded from time to time and sighed, but Yongshu didn't say a word from the beginning to the end. Tajima didn't know if what he told the detective was correct, and he still doesn't know. However, there was one more thing that Tajima didn't tell the criminal police, because that reasoning didn't have any real evidence, so he couldn't say it. But -- Tajima thought. However, the detective should have noticed it.Because when saying goodbye, the criminal policeman's eyes were very sad. On the way to Maiko Tezuka's house, Takama kept thinking about how to speak.He had to try to break through her defenses and make her tell the truth, but he couldn't think of any good way. He contacted Kaiyang High School this morning, but he didn't expect Maiko to still ask for leave.He wanted to find out about Maiko's situation with Morikawa, but Morikawa also asked for leave. "I heard that Mr. Tezuka is going to a relative's house in Nagano today and will stay there for a while. Mr. Morikawa may have sent her off." The clerk who answered the phone talked a lot, but because of this, he revealed important news to Takama.So, he and Ono hurried to Maiko's house. When he came to Maiko's house, Takama knocked lightly on the door.Someone inside responded softly and opened the door, and Ma Yizi poked out her fair face to look around.As soon as she saw Takama, she immediately opened her mouth wide.She had already put on makeup on her face and was probably about to go out. "I have a few words to ask you, can I?" "Uh, this..." She seemed to be very concerned about the situation in the house, Gao Ma was keenly aware of it. "Is Morikawa here? We don't mind if he's there." She took another look inside the room, the closed paper sliding door opened, and Morikawa poked his head out. "It really is you?" He smiled wryly. "Is there anything else you need to see her for?" "A little thing," Takama said, "may I bother you for a while?" "It's okay, right?" Morikawa persuaded Maiko.Ma Yizi lowered his head and said in a low voice, "Please come in." The room was tidy and clean.The low table was still there, but the desk and cabinet that Takama had seen when he came here before were gone.Ma Yizi said that it has been sold to a second-hand store.In the corner of the room there is a large duffel bag and a small sports bag put together. "I heard you plan to go to Nagano." Takama asked.Ma Yizi, who was sitting upright, nodded. "I'm trying to convince her one last time." Morikawa took a drag on his cigarette and flicked the ash into the ashtray that stood alone on the low table. "I specifically asked the school for leave, hoping she would not leave." Maiko remained silent. "Why are you leaving?" Takama asked. Rubbing her hands on her lap, she said softly, "I'm tired." "Tired? Because of work?" "……in many aspects." "I heard that the matter between you and Morikawa has been rumored in school and caused a little trouble. Is it because of this reason?" "Don't worry about that kind of thing," Morikawa said angrily after puffing out his cigarette, "Teacher will also fall in love. We can behave generously. Anyway, after a while, everyone will lose interest." "It's not what you think!" Maiko suddenly yelled loudly, and Morikawa stared at her with a cigarette in his mouth in surprise.Takama was also taken aback, and couldn't help but sit up straight. She seemed ashamed of speaking so loudly, put her hands to her cheeks, and repeated in a stifled voice, "It's not what you think." "What the hell is that?" Morikawa asked impatiently, and put out his cigarette in the ashtray. "I said... I have to think about it." Maizi touched her face with her hands and whispered.There was redness around her eyes and ears, which was obvious because of her exceptionally fair skin. "I have to think about the responsibilities of teachers, and the issue of education... I can't stand on the stage like I am now." "Why did you say that suddenly? Did something happen?" "This……" Ma Yizi lowered his hands and clenched his fists on his legs, as if to say, I can't tell you. Gao Ma felt that she should be able to break through her defense, and she was very excited at the moment. "Then can you answer our question first?" Hearing Takama's voice, she raised her head.Just as he was about to speak again, the phone in the corner of the room rang. Maiko got up and went to answer the phone.Gao Ma was secretly annoyed that he had missed an excellent opportunity. "Mr. Gaoma, I'm looking for you." She held down the microphone and said back.It was from the search headquarters, and Gao took the call. Motohashi's voice came from the other end of the phone. "Yuki Suda was taken to the hospital." "What? How?" "It's true. He was attacked on his way to school. Fortunately, only his left arm was injured. It was not life-threatening." "Mr. Benqiao, I'm afraid..." "Well, I believe it should be as you said. It is currently investigating thoroughly near the scene.──How is the situation there?" "It's just about to start." "Really? Then come back after your place is over." "I'm sure there will be no problem." After hanging up the phone, Takama told Ono: "Yuki Suda was attacked and his arm was injured." Morikawa and Maiko also changed their expressions greatly after hearing this. Takama turned to Maiko. "But we already have a rough idea of ​​who the murderer is. And you know who the murderer is, don't you?" She bowed her head deeply. "I have everything..." "Hey, Takama, what's going on?" Morikawa asked reproachfully, but Takama continued. "Are you lying for education? But it's meaningless. It will only continue the tragedy. You should know this better than others." "I……" Having said that, she froze.She opened her eyes wide and stared into the air, and then her eyes filled with tears, and a line of tears slid down her cheeks. Yuki was sent to the surgery unit of the local university hospital.When Takama and Ono arrived, a detective named Soma was waiting for them. "He has been sent to Ward 305, and his mother is here." "How about the injury?" "Here," Soma pointed to the base of his left arm. "I was stabbed by a sharp knife, and the wound was not very deep. He was attacked on a small road about 300 meters away from his home, where there were indeed few people passing by. He said he was riding a bicycle, and the man suddenly appeared Attack him. After being assassinated, he fell off his bicycle and shouted for help. The murderer is about 170 centimeters tall and in his thirties. He didn't see the murderer's appearance clearly. When he was attacked, the other party said: "It was your brother last time." , this time it's your turn.'" "It was your brother last time, now it's your turn?" Takama rubbed his left shoulder with his right hand and subconsciously sighed. "Where's the murder weapon?" "The knife fell on the ground next to it. It is a fruit knife. The knife is still very new. It should be bought recently for today's murder." Soma said in a slightly sarcastic tone: "Currently the Supervisory Division is investigating, and there are no fingerprints on it, and it is not consistent with the wounds on Akira Kitaoka and Takeshi Suda." "Are there any witnesses?" "No." Soma said with a dull face. "Really? Then I'll go and see him. Is it Ward 305?" When Takama and the others were about to leave, Soma said, "Then please. Everyone is looking forward to you and hopes to resolve this case as soon as possible." Takama raised his right hand in response.The other investigators seem to have sensed the truth. The corridor was filled with the unique smell of disinfectant in the hospital, and Ward 305 was located at the end of the corridor.Gao Jian stood at the door of the ward and took a deep breath before knocking on the door.It was Suda Shimako who came to open the door. "Ah, Mr. Interpol..." "You're shocked." Gao Jian said calmly, and Zhi Mozi's face turned pale.Takeshi was killed, and Yuki was attacked again, so it's no wonder that she turned pale with fright. "May I interrupt you?" "Okay, please come in." "excuse me." As soon as you walk into the ward, the first thing you see is the student uniforms hanging on the wall.There is a large hole in the left shoulder of the uniform, which is dyed a strange color around it.It must be blood. Yuuki lay on the hospital bed and sat up with a blanket covering his body.The bandage on the left shoulder is painful to look at.When he saw the criminal police appear, he looked a little nervous. Takama looked back at Shimoko and said: "Excuse me, can we talk to your son alone? Because I want to ask him something." "Oh... is it?" Shimozi couldn't hide his surprise.She must have been beside Soma when he was taking notes just now, but she didn't ask any more questions. "Then I'll go to the waiting room, call me if there's anything else." He walked out of the ward. Only Yuki and the two detectives were left in the ward. Takama reached into the inner pocket of his suit to get a cigarette, but immediately remembered that this was a ward, so he took it out again.He walked to the window and looked at the scenery outside the window.Below the window is a squirrel-colored tiled roof, and the clothes in the drying yard are blowing in the wind. "Will the wound hurt?" Gao Jian asked standing beside the bed. "A little bit." Yuki replied looking at the front, his voice was a little nervous. "Did it appear suddenly?" "what?" "Murderer. Didn't the murderer who stabbed you suddenly appear?" "Ah, yes, that's right." Yuuki gently stroked his bandaged left shoulder. "From the left? Or from the right?" Yuuki's mouth moved slightly. "I can't remember. Because it was so sudden, I don't know where he came from. I was riding...he suddenly appeared in front of me, and I hurriedly braked." "The murderer will attack you with a knife.──You don't remember his appearance?" "Because it was so sudden...and then ran away immediately." "Yes. He appeared suddenly and then disappeared like a ghost." Takama said Yuuki's eyes flickered as he gripped the blanket with his right hand. "The murderer said... last time it was your brother, this time it's your turn. So, I think it should be the same person who killed my brother." Takama didn't answer Yuuki's words, and looked out the window again.Under the blue sky, gray smoke rises from nowhere. "No, it's not." Takama said quietly without looking at Yuuki, "The person who killed your brother is the same person who killed Kitaoka, and the person who cut your arm is someone else." "No...it's all done by the same person." "No." Takama looked into his eyes. "Before we came here, we went to meet the person who witnessed the murder of Kitaoka. For some reason, this person didn't tell the story before, and now he finally told the truth." Takama sat down on the chair beside the hospital bed and leaned out towards Yuuki.Yuuki probably clenched his teeth, his lips trembling slightly. "The murderer...is Suda Takeshi." "Liar." Yuuki shook his head vigorously.Perhaps it was too much force, which caused pain in the wound, and his expression was distorted. "You know better than anyone that this is the fact. Your brother killed Kitaoka and then committed suicide. Didn't I say that just now? It's the same person who killed Kitaoka and Takeshi." "Then what about my brother's right arm?" Gao Ma didn't answer his question, but asked him instead: "Do you know Kenichi Nakajo from Tozai Denki?" Yuuki shook his head. "He is Takeshi's biological father." "what?……" "Takeshi went to see him before he died." "My brother went to find his father..." "We also did a lot of research." Takama doesn't want to mention the things involved in the bomb case for the time being, and we have to wait for Yuki to calm down before talking about these things. "We analyzed the meaning behind this incident and found that he may have committed suicide, so he went to see his biological father before he died. But why did he die? Is it related to Kitaoka's murder? At this time, I just heard Tian Island's speculation, so I am sure that Takeshi killed Kitaoka." "No, my brother can't do such a thing." Yuuki turned his back to Takama, his back trembling slightly. "The key lies in the murder weapon," Takama said. "What was the murder weapon that killed Kitaoka and Takeshi? That's the key. I was too careless, really too careless. I saw the place where the murder weapon was placed, but I didn't find it. a little." He took out a photo from his pocket and placed it in front of Yuki.It was a photo borrowed from Nakajo. In the photo, Nakajo and Ming Dai were doing bamboo weaving together. "These are your brother's biological parents. Isn't the woman in the photo holding a small knife? It is used to peel and cut bamboo. This is the murder weapon in this series of murders." Yuki looked at the photo without saying a word, and Takama continued: "Before, you once showed me Takeshi's most beloved treasure, which was left to him by his biological mother. There were amulets, bamboo dolls and bamboo crafting tools in it, but there was no knife. Why not? Because this small knife was used to kill people and was thrown away. I should have found out that a knife is needed for bamboo weaving, so I just said that I was too careless." "But there's no evidence that the knife was used, is there?" "No, there is evidence. Didn't the investigators go to your house last night to borrow some of Takeshi's relics? The wooden box was also included. After inspection, it was found that there was a blood reaction, and it was consistent with Kitaoka's blood type. Obviously Takeshi was in After killing Kitaoka, he put the knife back in the box." Takama recalled the previous investigation records and found the murder weapon used by Akiyo Suda to commit suicide by cutting his wrists. It was indeed the knife, and the shape and size were recorded on it.He showed the record at that time to the forensic doctor, who said that it was consistent with the wounds of Akira Kitaoka and Takeshi Suda. “可不可以请你说出实话？” 高间从椅子上站了起来，低头看着勇树。“我心里很清楚，你知道所有的一切，而且也是你锯下哥哥的右臂。因为除了你以外，没有人会做这件事，应该说──” 高间继续低声说道：“除了你以外，武志找不到任何人帮这个忙。” 勇树微微颤抖的背影突然僵住。高间低头看着他，等待他开口。沉默的时间一秒一秒过去。有人跑过外面的走廊。 "this is……" 勇树终于开了口。高间站在原地，双手紧紧握拳。 “这是我哥第一次，也是最后一次拜托我。” 勇树哭了起来。他用右臂掩着脸放声痛哭，彷佛在宣泄内心的情绪。两名刑警只能默默地看着他。 “那天，我放学回家后，看到桌上有一张字条。是哥哥的字迹。” 哭了几分钟后，勇树慢慢地开始诉说。他的语气很平静，似乎已经抛开了所有的顾虑。 “字条上写了甚么？”高间问。 “八点去附近面店前的电话亭。” “喔，原来是电话亭。你有去吧？” “对。结果电话响了。” 高间点点头，他并不感到意外。武志和中条联络时，也采用了相同方法。 “你哥哥在电话中说甚么？” “他叫我三十分钟后，带大塑胶袋和报纸去石崎神社后方的树林，还说绝对不要让别人看到。我问他为甚么？他没有回答，只说去了就知道了。最后说'好，那我等你'。” "Okay, then shall I wait for you...?" “到底是甚么事？我八点三十分准时出门时还很纳闷。” 勇树凝望着远方，说出了之后的事。 即使在大白天，石崎神社附近也没甚么人，晚上九点以前四周便一片漆黑，一个人走在附近都会心生害怕。勇树按武志的指示，带着塑胶袋和报纸走上长长的坡道。坡道前方隐约露出灯光，那是石崎神社内的常夜灯。勇树走向那个方向，虽说已经四月了，但夜晚还是有点冷。 穿过鸟居来到神社内，发现四周空无一人，勇树继续往前走，站在赛钱箱前左顾右盼，在灯光所及的范围内都没有见到人影。 ──哥说会在神社后方的树林等我。 他觉得哥哥约的地方真奇怪。或许是因为在进行特别的训练，但没有灯光要怎么练？ 走过正殿旁来到神社后方，四周突然暗了下来，伸手不见五指。他慢慢往前走，眼睛渐渐适应了黑暗，松林后方是一片空地。月光照在空地上，甚至可以清楚看到地上的石头。 “哥，你在哪里？” 他呼喊着，却没有听到回应，只有自己的声音在黑暗中飘荡。 勇树走了几步后停了下来，他看到有一个人影蜷缩在前方一个巨大的松树下，那个运动服的背影很熟悉。一定就是武志。 "what happened to you?" 勇树问道，但武志一动也不动。勇树以为他难得在开玩笑。 “哥，你到底在干嘛……” 勇树没有继续说下去，因为他看到了武志的右手。他的右手似乎拿着一把刀，鲜血染红了他的手掌。 勇树觉得有甚么东西快速冲上喉咙，他急忙跑向武志。武志盘腿而坐，身体微微前倾，勇树扶直他的身体，快要凝固的血一下子从下腹部流了出来。 勇树内心深处的某种东西爆发了，他放声大叫。这明明是自己的声音，却好像是从另一个世界传来的。不光是声音，眼前所有一切都开始变得不真实。 看到武志张得大大的眼睛，终于让他镇定下来。看到武志的眼睛，勇树无法再发出声音。那双眼睛好像在训诫他：“不要吵。” “哥，怎么会这样？” 勇树把手靠在武志的背上哭泣，他泪流不止。 勇树哭了一阵子，发现旁边放了一张白纸，那是一张摺起来的便笺。第一行写着“致勇树”。 ※※※ “我的制服口袋里有护身符的袋子，能不能拿给我？”勇树说。 小野刑警马上利落地拿了出来。 “里面有我哥哥的信。” “我们可以看吗？”高间问。 “可以，请看吧。”勇树回答。 “致勇树： 因为时间所剩不多，所以我简单扼要地写下重点。虽然对你来说，看这些内容很痛苦，但恳请你忍耐，并把信中所写的一切埋藏在心里。 我杀了北冈。 我杀他当然有原因，但没必要写下来，即使你知道也没用。 眼前最重要的不是这件事。 现在最重要的，是警方很快就会知道我就是凶手，到时候，我们的未来就会毁于一旦。我们从小共同建立起来的东西都会崩溃，我会被关进监狱，你也没有前途可言，妈妈更会极度悲伤。 为了避免这种情况发生，必须布一个局，让人觉得我绝对不可能是凶手。我想到了一个方法，这也是唯一的方法。 唯一的方法，就是我也被其他人杀害。北冈遭人杀害后，须田也遭人杀害，警方一定会认为是锁定开阳高中的投手和捕手的连续杀人案，而且会认为是同一杀手所为。这么一来就不会怀疑是我杀了北冈，你和妈妈也不会因为是杀人犯的家属而被人指指点点。 我对这个世界并没有留恋，唯一的遗憾，就是还无法报答妈妈。她对我视如己出，辛苦养育我长大，我只能用一辈子回报她的恩情。我打算好好报答她，所以我选择了棒球做为报恩的手段。 事到如今，我已经没有能力报答她了，虽然给她添了麻烦，就这样离开她着实令我痛苦不已，但也无可奈何。 只能把一切托付给你了。幸好你和我不一样，你继承了爸爸的聪明，一定会给妈妈带来幸福。如果再晚一年，我就可以带一笔钱回家给你们，但我最后还是没做到。我知道自己很对不起你们，希望你们像之前一样，母子两人相互扶持下去。虽然我是家中长子，但我身为长子，却无法为这个家做任何事。从今以后，你就是家中的长子，希望你连同我的份好好尽长子之责。 There is no time. 所以，我要死了。这是我为自己所做的事做一个了断，但这不是世人所说的自杀。我有一个最后的请求，希望你协助我完成这件事。我知道做起来有点辛苦，但你要锯下我的右手，然后藏到绝对不会被人找到的地方。这么一来，看起来就像是他杀了。我旁边有一把锯子，就用它锯下我的右臂。 记住一件重要的事，一定要锯右臂。不是左臂，也不是右脚。原因我就不多解释了，务必严格遵守。 锯子和小刀也要和右臂一起丢掉，一旦被人找到，我精心策划的计划就泡汤了。 我言尽于此，相信你一定无法接受，但请你务必忍耐。相较于你未来的人生，这些事的真相根本微不足道。日后当你回想起我时，不妨就认为我被妖魔附身后死了。而这个妖怪的名字，不妨称之为魔球吧！如果我没有遇到这个妖怪，或许会试着思考其他的方式解决问题。 最后，我要谢谢你。多亏有你，我才可以放松心情，遇到痛苦也可以咬着牙忍耐，我由衷地感谢你。 该写的都写完了，我现在最担心的，就是你能不能顺利完成我交代的事，但我相信你一定可以做到。 万事拜托了。 武志” 勇树看着白色信笺上的遗书，忍不住泪流不止。信上的字渐渐模糊，拿着信笺的手也微微发抖。 万事拜托了── 最后一句话重重地打在他的心灵深处。以前从来没有拜托过他任何事的哥哥，在生命的最后一刻，提出了这个要求，也很像是武志会提出的要求。 勇树把遗书放进长裤口袋，用衣服袖子擦擦眼泪站起来。没有时间了──哥哥说得对。如果不赶快进行，武志用自己的生命所策划的一切可能会泡汤。 正如遗书上所写的，松树旁放了一把折叠式锯子。那似乎是武志买的，上面还挂着价格标签。 勇树脱下毛衣和长裤，再脱下鞋子。他拿起锯子，将锯子对准了武志右臂根部。这时，他又看了哥哥一眼，武志似乎在对他说：“快动手。” 勇树闭上眼睛，用力拉着锯子。锯子发出“滋”的声音，很快就卡住了。勇树战战兢兢地张开眼睛，发现锯子卡到衣服，只拉了五公分左右。他从武志手上拿下小刀，先把衣服的袖子割了下来，露出武志肌肉饱满的肩膀。 勇树再度拉扯锯子，这次终于锯破了皮肤。为了摆脱恐惧，他拚命拉着锯子，但很快又卡住了。皮肤和肉卡到了锯子的刀刃。 之后，他不顾一切、发狂地拉动锯子。一次又一次地调整锯刀的位置，不时擦去卡在锯子刀刃上的肉，拭去锯子上的鲜血。 不知道过了多久，当他终于锯下武志的右臂时，已经大汗淋漓，身心都疲惫不堪。中途有好几次差点呕吐，他都咬紧牙关挺住了。 四周都是血。勇树从血泊中捡起右臂，放进带来的塑胶袋里，再连同锯子和小刀一起用报纸包了起来。这时，勇树才终于知道，为甚么武志叫他带塑胶袋和报纸来这里。 勇树的手脚都溅到了血，所幸衬衫和长裤并没有太脏，但袜子沾满了血，他也用报纸包了起来。 然后，他用武志的衣服擦了擦自己的脚底──虽然他有点内疚，但觉得武志会原谅他──然后，他穿上毛衣和长裤，光着脚穿上了运动鞋。 由于他刚才锯手臂时脱下了鞋子，现场留下了袜子的痕迹。勇树小心谨慎地消除了痕迹，也尽可能消除了球鞋印，但他觉得球鞋的脚印没有太大的关系，因为武志和勇树穿相同的鞋子，尺寸也一样大小，而且都是最近刚买的，磨损的情况也不会有太大的差别。 准备离开现场时，勇树脑海中浮现出一个想法。当时，他觉得是妙计。于是，他在武志身旁的地上写下了“魔球”，才转身离开。 接下来，他忘我地进行武志交代的事，小心翼翼地回到家，一路上都避免被人发现。他知道志摩子还没有回家，用报纸包起的东西暂时藏在住家附近垃圾桶后方，今天晚上一定可以找到机会处理掉。之后勇树脱下衣服，检查身上有没有弄脏，幸好衬衫只有肩膀附近有少许血迹，志摩子应该不会察觉有异。他发现指甲里都沾到了黑色的血垢，一定是因为刚才擦锯子刀刃的关系。他觉得应该洗不掉，所以用指甲刀把指甲剪短了。 不久之后，志摩子就回家了。 “因为哥没有回家，我自然就能出门去找他。我假装去神社，中途捡起报纸包起的那包东西，直接去了逢泽川。我把那包东西放进带去的另一个塑胶袋里，捡起地上的石头装满了塑胶袋，从桥上丢了下去。我不敢保证不会被找到，但除此以外，我想不到其他方法……。幸亏我运气好，所以直到今天都没有被人发现。” 勇树重重地吐了一口气，那是把一切全盘托出后的叹息。 “这就是那天晚上所发生的一切。” 勇树的脸上已经没有痛苦。 高间听完他的话，又看了一遍武志的遗书。虽然遗书的内容很平淡，但高间可以充分感受到武志的痛苦。 “我只想问一件事，你为甚么要留下那些字？为甚么要写下'魔球'？” 勇树垂下眼睛，轻轻摇了摇头。 “现在回想起来，才发现我做了蠢事。当时，我努力思考有没有甚么方法可以查明真相？'魔球'正是唯一的线索。但我完全不知道是怎么一回事，所以才会在现场写下。我想，警方应该会展开调查，只要知道警方调查的内容，就可以知道真相。只有我一个人知道真相。只要大家都认为哥哥是被害人，就不必担心警方会知道真相。” 然后，勇树又满脸懊恼地小声说：“为甚么我会有那种想法？” 他再度陷入了沉默，但这次的沉默并不如刚才一般沉重苦闷。他该说的都说完了，感觉只是休息一下。小野在一旁忙碌地做着笔记，听到小野终于写完时，高间问： “你了解真相了吗？” 勇树停顿了一下说：“对，我知道了。” “但你担心被查出真相，为了让我们以为另有凶手，所以才想到这么疯狂的举动吗？” 高间指着勇树包着绷带的左肩。“甚至故意伤害自己的身体。” “太晚了，”勇树摇着头。“一切都太晚了。” “我认为结果都一样。可不可以请你告诉我们你所了解的真相？” 勇树露出慵懒的微笑。 “你们不是已经知道了吗？” “我想听听你的意见，”高间问：“没问题吧？” 勇树再度沉默了一下，轻轻点了点头。 “听了田岛学长的话，我一切都明白了。” “他说的关于右臂的事吧？” “对，北冈哥应该打算和森川老师商量哥哥右臂的事。那天晚上，北冈哥是为了这件事才出门的。” “你哥哥知道这件事吗？” “不，”勇树摇了摇头。“我猜想他不知道。哥哥应该叮咛过北冈哥，请他不要把自己右臂出问题的事告诉别人，然而北冈哥不忍心隐瞒这件事，让哥哥继续投球，所以他决定去找老师，但他并不是没有向我哥打招呼。我猜想他可能在石崎神社的某个地方留了一张字条，说要找老师讨论。” 高间点点头，这一点和他的推理大致一致。 “我哥看到字条……为了阻止北冈哥，立刻追了过去。我哥……不想让别人知道他右臂出了问题，一旦被人知道，他就无法进入职棒，所以，可能一时冲动就杀了北冈哥。” 勇树说完后，用右手食指和大拇指按着双眼的眼头。 高间闭上眼睛，左右转动脖子，发出咔、咔的声音。外面又有人在走廊上奔跑。 “的确，”他张开眼睛。“武志的确不想让别人知道他右臂的事，至少在进入职棒之前，他想要隐瞒这件事。” 高间已经向芦原确认过这些事，芦原也察觉到武志的右臂出了问题。 “武志知道自己的右臂无法再恢复了。那时候，他已经不太能投快速球了，但他仍然设法隐瞒这一点以进入职棒，因为他为棒球努力了多年。于是，他希望藉由得到其他的秘密武器，隐瞒他手臂出问题这件事。新武器就是他在遗书上写的'魔球'。他虽然希望可以进入职棒打球，但似乎也已经做了最坏的打算，至少希望拿到签约金。拿到一大笔签约金，就可以让你和你妈妈过好日子。听那名球探说，你哥哥很希望尽快签进入职棒的合约，可见他多么害怕被人知道右臂已经出了问题。” 即使右臂一辈子都动不了也没关系，但签下进入职棒的合约前必须隐瞒这件事。对我来说，棒球就是这么一回事──武志这么告诉芦原。芦原也因为身体因素不得不放弃对棒球的梦想，所以武志的这番话感动了他。他向武志保证，无论发生任何事都绝对不会告诉别人。 “武志当然也和北冈做了约定，绝对不能向别人透露他的右臂出了问题，所以当北冈去找森川老师商量时，他一定很受打击。但是──” 高间停顿了一下，盯着勇树的脸。“武志并不会因为这样就产生杀机，他不是那么低级的人，只是无法原谅北冈没有遵守和自己的约定。──你知道武志进入少棒队不久发生的手套事件吗？” 勇树说他不知道，高间就把从少棒队领队口中得知的事告诉了他。 “原来曾经发生这种事。”勇树低声自言自语。 “我认为那起事件象征了你哥哥的强烈个性，他觉得必须报复没有遵守约定的人。所以那次割坏了棒球手套，这一次，他试图刺杀北冈的爱犬以进行报复。” “啊！”勇树轻声惊叫起来。 “没错，武志的目标是狗。他一定打算在刺杀狗之后逃离现场，但北冈愤而反击，追上武志后，两个人扭打起来，结果武志的小刀不小心刺中了北冈的腹部。” 高间告诉勇树，北冈命案现场附近有打斗的痕迹。 “案发当时，就已经查明凶手是先杀狗再杀人。至于原因，大家有各种不同的推论，但每个推论都有无法解释的地方，不过，刚才的解释应该合情合理。” 高间说完后，病房内再度陷入一片寂静。远处传来钟声，可能是哪一所小学的钟声。 “哥哥他，”勇树茫