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墨書 Inktalez
At the end of December 2009,
Although Christmas was just yesterday, the streets were still filled with a strong festive atmosphere.
The red and white colors stretched all the way to the intersection of the third and fourth blocks of Sakuragaoka Town, with tiny yellow lights twinkling on the trees. In the fourth block, several streets were lined with various large companies.
Naoki Okamoto was hurrying toward Wadaya, a famous traditional Japanese restaurant located on Sixth Street.
Sixth Street was renowned for its luxury, with shops presenting a refined and glamorous appearance year-round, and the holiday season brought no additional decorations. Okamoto felt a sudden chill in the air and quickened his pace.
Crossing through an intricately carved wooden archway, Okamoto skillfully made his way up to the second floor from the left side. The Okamoto Group had been performing exceptionally well lately, expanding into new fields and rapidly increasing its strength; news of rising production values frequently appeared in the newspapers.
As the nephew of the company president, Naoki Okamoto had successfully been promoted to head of the Automobile Design Department in June. As usual, the company's year-end gathering was held a day after Christmas at Wadaya in Sakuragaoka Town's fourth block, but this year was somewhat special for Okamoto.
"Director, you’re here," a group led by Jing Tai ran over from a distance, their expressions somewhat heavy as they nodded at Okamoto.
"Yes, I’m a bit late. Have you all started?" Okamoto asked.
Jing Tai immediately shook his head. "Not yet; we’re waiting for you."
He led Okamoto to one of the tables where the group leaders from the Automobile Design Department were seated. As soon as Okamoto approached, they all stood up to greet him.
"How long do you plan to stay today?" Jing Tai asked quietly, scratching his chin with a hint of hesitation. "About that matter over there..."
From the moment Okamoto stepped into the suite, he sensed that everyone was quietly discussing him. When Jing Tai spoke up, he felt even more acutely that everyone was paying double attention to his responses.
"I can only stay for about an hour, and then I have to rush to the hospital. I've also made arrangements with the officers from the Investigation Division," Okamoto said.
"Ah... well then..." The people around him immediately displayed understanding expressions. Okamoto felt uncomfortable with the mix of sympathy in their gazes. The mugicha on the table emitted steam, and he took a few sips, feeling warmth spread through his body.
After just half an hour, Okamoto found an excuse to leave early. He arrived at the café across from Zhongyang Hospital as agreed.
Looking around, Okamoto noticed that his companion had not yet arrived, so he ordered a cup of coffee and chose a seat in the corner. He anticipated that the upcoming conversation would not be pleasant, which only darkened his mood further. The soft laughter from a couple at the neighboring table felt particularly jarring at that moment.
About ten minutes later, a middle-aged man wearing a gray long coat pushed open the door, causing the wind chime above it to jingle. He quickly walked over and sat down on the bench opposite Okamoto, signaling to the waiter for a cup of black tea.
Okamoto took a sip of his coffee and sized up Kawaguchi Yuichi across from him.
Kawaguchi was lean but sturdy, with sun-kissed skin that looked very healthy. He habitually squinted his eyes, revealing a sharp gaze. He was close friends with Okamoto's father, six years older than Okamoto himself, and now served as the head of the Criminal Investigation Division.
"Have you been to the hospital?" Kawaguchi asked in a low voice.
"Not yet. I plan to go shortly; Yukiho's condition has stabilized a bit," Okamoto replied.
"That's good to hear." Kawaguchi tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table as if contemplating how to begin.
Not wanting to engage in small talk any longer, Okamoto cut straight to the point: "Has there been any progress in the investigation?"
"I already know who the murderer is," Kankou said.
Okamoto was shocked by the rapid progress and couldn't respond immediately. He struggled to contain the waves of excitement rising in his chest, urging Kankou to continue with his eyes.
"It's a young man in his early twenties named Miki Kazuya. His body was found today in the Morikawa Town Keiju District. It is suspected that he committed suicide in the early morning. We confirmed he was the murderer because there was a suicide note in his jacket pocket, and it seems there is no possibility of framing someone else." Kankou explained.
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