Chapter 28 Section 4

After dinner at the Italian restaurant, I went back to my apartment, it was around eleven o'clock.It took me a while to get the key out of the bag as the corridor was dark, and when I put the key in the keyhole - there was an eerie feeling. There was no feeling of opening the lock in my hand. I pulled out the key, tried to turn the doorknob and pulled hard, and the door opened without any hindrance. When you go out, forget to lock it? Impossible, I thought to myself.Since Hou Kawatsu Masayuki's data was stolen at that time, I have paid almost neurotic attention to the matter of "locking the door".I also remember today that I absolutely locked the door.

That is, someone has been in my house, or is—is still in it. I just opened the door and went into the house.It was very dark inside, no lights were turned on, and there was no sound. However, my gut tells me someone is in the house.I felt the breath of the other party, and also found the smell of cigarettes wafting in the room. The light switch is set in a place where you can touch it as soon as you enter the door. I stretch out my hand cautiously and fearfully to press the switch. I stopped breathing, closed my eyes for an instant, and pressed my body against the wall.Then, after my heartbeat calmed down a little, I slowly opened my eyes.

"I've been waiting for you for a long time!" President Yamamori said.He sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, a smile on his face.But those eyes were still the same, as if they belonged to another person. "In this way, I know everything." I managed to make a sound, and the end of the sentence was still a little trembling, "You are the one who has entered and exited this house several times, right? Rummaging cardboard boxes and playing pranks on the word processor." "I've never done that kind of thing!" His voice was very calm, so calm that it made people hate it.

"Even if you didn't do it, you can call someone else to do it!" But for this question, he didn't answer, just scratched his ear with the fingers of his left hand. "Do you want something to drink? Beer? If you want whiskey, I also have it here." No—he shook his head as if saying so. "Why am I here, do you know?" "Aren't you here to talk?" "That's right." He switched legs and stared at me—from head to toe, almost as if he was examining something. I had no way of properly discerning the emotion hidden in those eyes. "Did you return Yumi to me?" President Yamamori asked a question after seeing enough.

"Of course." I replied. He scratched his left ear, and then said in a calm tone: "You really did something reckless!" "I'm sorry." Apologize before saying, "My personality is like this, I will do it as soon as I think of it." "Is it because of your personality that you become a writer?" "yes." "It's better to change it!" He said, "Otherwise, men will run away from you again—just like your ex-husband." "..." I was unconsciously speechless, revealing my inner wavering.It seems that this man has investigated my affairs quite clearly.

"What are you going to do if I go to the police?" "I didn't think about it that much." "Because you guess I wouldn't go to the police if I knew it was you, right?" "Of course that's one of the ideas." I replied, "However, another well-founded factor accounts for a relatively large proportion! If the police are alerted and I ask Yumi, I will be placed under the sun. Is it? I don't think you would do that kind of stupid thing." "Do you believe what my daughter says?" "believe." "Although you may not be able to imagine it, Yumi was at her limit at that time. Even if she couldn't tell the difference between dreams and reality, it's not surprising."

"I believe what she's going through is all reality." He was silent at this point.Can't think of something to say back?What effect is it still producing?I don't know. After a while, he said: "Really? That's okay. Anyway, it's better not to do these unnecessary things anymore. I said this for your own good!" "Thank you very much." "I'm serious." He had a sharp look in his eyes, "I sympathize with your boyfriend's death, but I advise you to forget about it earlier, otherwise, you will be the next person to be hurt. "

"Injured... Do you mean I'm being targeted too?" "Not just that," he said, his voice very dark. "Only in this way, the other party will not let it go." I gulped.He looked at me, and I looked back at him. "Probably," I said, "probably all the people are under your centralized management, and then act according to your instructions! Investigating the actions of Takemoto Yukihiro and his younger brother is also your order!" "Is what you're saying right now a problem?" "I'm just making a statement. It shouldn't matter if I'm just talking, right? Anyway, this is my home too."

"Of course—can I smoke?" "Please go ahead. Let me continue what I said just now. When you were killed by Ms. Chuanjin and Niisato, you wondered if it might be an act of revenge against Mr. Takemoto a year ago, and then began to investigate this possible revenge. The actions of the person who did the act—that is, Takemoto Yukihiro’s younger brother, Takemoto Masahiko. By knowing his whereabouts at the time when Kawazu and Miss Niri were killed, we can judge whether he is a criminal or not!” As I speak, he pulls out his cigarette and lights it with an unusually high-end-looking silver lighter.After taking a sip, he stretched out his palm and gestured to me, beckoning me to continue.

"But... this is just my conjecture, it's his alibi. He should have been at work on the day when the incident happened!" "..." "The prisoner is Yasuko Furusawa, right? Please answer this question." After Mr. Yamamori took two or three puffs in a row, he also exhaled the same number of puffs.All the while, his gaze stayed on my face. "It's better not to get involved with her." Here is his answer.He still kept his mouth shut after he finished speaking, I was confused. "It's better not to get involved...how should I say it?" "Anyway, that's how it is."

A heavy, oppressive silence lasted for a while. "I'll ask you again," President Yamamori said, "Don't you mean to stop?" "No." He sighed and spit out the remaining smoke in his mouth. "There's nothing I can do about you." He extinguished the cigarette in the ashtray.That ashtray was once used by a divorced ex-husband.Where did you find it? "Let's change the subject! Do you like boats?" "No, nothing special..." "We will go out on a yacht next month. In addition to those who participated last year, there are only a few more members. If possible, would you like to participate?" "The yacht... is going to Island Y again?" "Yes, it's exactly the same as last year's itinerary. We also plan to stop at the uninhabited island where we evacuated!" "The uninhabited island also..." What is his purpose?I thought to myself, it shouldn't be the first anniversary ceremony!But no matter what, President Yamamori and his team must do something before they want to go. The barbell incident comes to mind once again. Taking this trip means that I am going deep into enemy lines.Maybe their goal is me. "Your expression seems to be warning you!" Mr. Yamamori said as if he saw through my confusion: "If you feel uneasy by yourself, you can bring someone. The lady's surname seems to be Hagio, right? How about inviting her to join us?" Indeed, if Fuyuko was here, I would feel more at ease.And I feel that if the status quo is maintained, nothing will be resolved.There is no evidence for Yumi's statement, and even if there is evidence, the appearance of the incident is still unclear.Not only that, but I also really want to join the occasions where these related people gather. "I see." I made up my mind and said, "I want to participate. However, Dongzi may also have her own affairs to be busy, so I will notify you of a formal reply in a few days." "Yes." President Yamamori stood up, patted his pants, adjusted his tie, and coughed lightly. Only then did I realize that he came in wearing shoes, so there are no men's shoes in the entrance.He just walked past me like this, and then of course walked down the hall like this.I took a closer look and found little shoe prints on the carpet. He turned his head only once before opening the door, then took something from his suit pants pocket and dropped it on the floor.A dry metallic sound sounded, and then silence returned. "I don't need this anymore, so just leave it here!" "……thanks." "Then see you at the beach!" "...See you at the beach." He opened the door and walked out, the sound of shoes getting further and further away. I picked up the things he dropped on the floor, and the cold touch came from my fingertips. --I see.I nodded understandingly.This looks like a spare key to my house!