Kamisama no Memochou:Volume 3 Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Below the ginkgo tree that grew beside the walls extending from the school entrance— in the middle of the pathway that leads to the courtyard between the school buildings and the exterior walls, and also from the boundary between the tiled floor and the soil ground extending inwards from the plaza in front of the school entrance. I leaned against the wall of the school building, staring at the place where the roots swelled.
The sports clubs in the middle of their jogging passed by in front of my eyes with a rhythmic and loud noise while the long shadows of the ginkgo tree branches slowly extended to my feet along with the afternoon sunlight in May.
If it were to be a winter evening, this area would be shrouded in shadows because of the walls blocking the sunlight ages ago, turning into a chilly pathway. I unmindfully imagined Hayano Tomohiko collapsed in the thick layer of snow. Though it was winter, the sleeves of his shirt were unreasonably rolled up, and it was said that there were signs of vomited blood on his chest as well.
But no matter how I imagined, the silhouette in my mind who was collapsed on the snowy ground would turn into the Student Council president Hayano Kaoruko-senpai. When I think about this, I have completely no idea what Hayano Tomohiko-senpai looked like
As for Tetsu-senpai who was squatting beside the cold body of the victim, I could clearly imagine him, but he was wearing his usual short sleeved T-shirt. How is that possible? At that time, he should be obediently wearing his school uniform as well.
I stopped imagining the scene that I never saw before, and picked up my phone to take photos of the surroundings. I sent them to Alice immediately after I finished taking them, and then I walked to the courtyard.
A glass roof reflecting the dazzling sunlight could be clearly seen at the other side of the narrow, dark courtyard, and that is the greenhouse. The day that the incident happened, Hayano Tomohiko was doing self revision there. It is said that it was snowing heavily that day, so the surroundings of the greenhouse should be pitch black as well.
Even so, a crowd of boys went there— the delinquents who used the greenhouse as their secret base, the Gardening Committee members who took Sayuri-sensei’s supplementary classes after class.
Tetsu-senpai— he was one of them as well.
With the excuse of coldness endurance training, they told Hayano Tomohiko to jog out and buy something in the falling snow, while they stayed warm in the greenhouse. Since a really long time passed, Tetsu-senpai went to the entrance of the school to have a look, and found Hayano Tomohiko collapsed at the roots of the ginkgo tree.
Hayano Tomohiko’s cardiopulmonary functions were naturally weak, and he had primary pulmonary hypertension as well; His blood pressure rose rapidly because of the sudden cold, and his symptoms worsened, causing pulmonary hemorrhage, and he died that night in the district hospital.
After collecting all the information about the incident that day and piecing them together, that was the conclusion that Alice and I formed.
The guitar melody of ‘Colorado Bulldog’ rang in my pocket.
“Did you get the photos?”
‘I received it, but there’s something strange.’ That was Alice’s answer at the other side of the phone.
“What do you mean?”
‘The location where the victim collapsed. It should be on the way to the greenhouse after passing the courtyard from the school entrance, but……’
“Is there anything strange about that?”
‘Wasn’t it so cold that it was snowing that day? Then why didn’t he just enter the school building from the school entrance, isn’t walking past the corridors to the entrance nearest to the greenhouse from the courtyard?’
I moved the phone away and checked out the school building.
That’s right. There were two entrances to the courtyard, and the one inside is very close to the greenhouse. That means, one could reach the greenhouse while avoiding the snow outside as long as he enters the school building. However……
The image that drifted into my mind at that moment made me feel a chill on my back.
“…… The person that told him to be the gofer might be the one who told him to run back in the heavy snow.”
I hoped for Alice to deny the suggestion, but she answered nonchalantly:
‘That is certainly possible. The other point is the direction of him collapsed.’
Direction?
‘From the testimonies of the witnesses who saw Hayano Tomohiko collapsed, there were a few more versions besides Tetsu’s. Before the ambulance reached, actually quite a few students and teacher saw him. The advisor of your club— Kuroda Sayuri saw that as well. According to the testimonies, Tomohiko collapsed while facing the direction of the ginkgo tree, that statement is consistent.’
“…… Does that really matter?”
‘Think carefully about it by yourself. Is empty space the only thing in the middle of your eyes and ears?’
I was rather unhappy because of her saying that, and closely observed the ginkgo tree again. Since his head is facing the tree, that means his legs were pointing towards the school building or the courtyard. And he’s lying down—
Hmm?
“…… Does that mean he collapsed on the way outside and not after he finished buying the things?”
‘That assumption can be established. Don’t you feel that it’s strange?’
“Why? Even if he didn’t collapse when he’s coming back— ah, no, sorry. I get it, I get it.”
I realized the contradiction before Alice started to scold me, and hurriedly corrected myself:
“The timing doesn’t match, right?”
‘That is correct. Seriously, please develop the habit of sitting down and thinking carefully before saying you don’t know.’
“Okay, I’m wrong……”
According to Tetsu-senpai’s testimony, he went to the school entrance to look for Hayano Tomohiko because he came back too late. If that is true, that should happen some time after Hayano Tomohiko went out. Assuming Hayano Tomohiko collapsed before he exited the school, he should be in the heavy snow for quite some time.
Just like that, there’s a suspicious contradiction. Why wasn’t Hayano Tomohiko noticed by the other people before being found by Tetsu-senpai? Even if it’s snowing heavily that day, the place that he was collapsed at was beside the school entrance, and it was just after school, when there are the most people going out.
“Is it possible that he collapsed when he came back? Maybe something happened that caused him to collapse in that direction.”
‘What would the something happened that you spoke of refers to?’
“I have no idea……”
‘The situation that you spoke of is largely possible, because it’s just the direction that he was collapsed. Even if it’s when he came back, there might be some reason that caused him to collapse facing the school entrance. In any case, the thing that we are certain of is that something happened there. A detective cannot miss these clues, and also cannot dismiss them and forget them.’
I grunted in agreement. We must remember them no matter how little they are.
’There’s another thing that I can’t confirm here. So I wish for you to question Kuroda Sayuri about this.’
”Mnn, what is it?”
And Alice gave me an odd question that I found hard to say.
”…...Must I…… ask this?”
I think Sayuri-sensei probably doesn’t want to recall anything about Hayano Tomohiko anymore. But if I ask her this kind of question……
’If you know any other witnesses, feel free to ask them.’
That kind of person— only Tetsu-senpai is left. I get it now, there’s really no other alternative. And there’s not much time left.
Coincidentally, both sensei and Ayaka were in the greenhouse.
”Though you said that you’re going to save the Gardening Club, Fujishima-kun doesn’t join the club activities or supplementary lessons often……’
Ayaka looked rather downcast. It seemed that she was still rather concerned about our unfinished conversation because the guys from Hirasaka-gumi, Hiro-san and the others suddenly came and made trouble.
”It’s okay even if the Gardening Club disappears, I just hope you can come here everyday……”
It’s okay…… even if it disappears. My chest was painful after hearing Ayaka say that.
For who, and for what reason am I protecting the Gardening Club for? In the end I have to have a fight with Tetsu-senpai too. I suppressed the doubs in my heart and answered randomly:
”Err…… Sorry. It’s because I’m busy with my part time job.”
”But I heard that you were fired from your job at the ramen shop because of Shinozaki-san, wasn’t it?”
Sayuri-sensei picked at my wound with a smile, and told me to quickly take out a textbook and sit down. So you even talk about these things? When I’m not here……
”To be honest, if I compare Fujishima-kun with Shinozaki-san, isn’t it completely incomparable? Fujishima-kun isn’t serious, and doesn’t work, and isn’t considerate, and isn’t serious……” She actually said that I’m not serious twice!
”Erm…… Min-san probably saw Fujishima-san’s strong points, right?”
Ayaka hurriedly explained for me.
”Is that so……? For example?”
”W- well…… For example, you would help to taste the new products even if you’re already full, saying honestly that it’s bad even though you know you’re going to get beaten up, and you would take the initiative to try the taste even if Min-san didn’t ask you to.”
”Fujishima-kun, aren’t you an employee? Why did you just taste the products?” Sensei interjected.
”Of course it’s not just that!” If you’re helping me like that, it’s better if you don’t speak……
I weakly sat on the seat beside Ayaka, nearly forgetting the reason that I came here for.
”Actually, it’s my other job that I’m busy with.”
”Oh? So you actually have two part time jobs? It’s no wonder your grades were so bad. What’s your other job about?”
”Well……” I really feel lazy to explain……
”An assistant detective, right?” Ayaka added while looking at my face.
”Detective?”
Sayuri-sensei widened her eyes in surprise. I think this is a rather natural response.
”Wait a minute, it wouldn’t be dangerous work, would it? Like searching for missing people, catching adulterers in the act and the likes?”
”Ah, that’s not it……” I see, so the impression of most people on detectives is like that? “We don’t accept cases like that, and I’m really just doing odd jobs there.”
”It’s a dangerous job. He often gets hurt.”
Ayaka said grumpily, while I hastily interjected to prevent her from continuing:
”That means, the detective would investigate a lot of cases through the internet, but there are some cases when we must go to the scene to investigate, and those are what I’m usually doing.”
”For example, what case do you investigate?” Sayuri-sensei tilted her head in puzzlement.
There’s no other choice, since the topic is on this now…… I gulped and continued:
”Now…… we’re investigating the incident on that snowy day. The case about Hayano Tomohiko-senpai……”
Sayuri-sensei’s expression didn’t undergo drastic changes this time, it’s just that her expression was rather unnatural, and she bit her lips lightly.
”The detective told me to ask you something. Sensei, you probably saw Hayano Tomohiko at the scene, right? Before the ambulance came.”
When sensei nodded lightly in confirmation, I continued to inquire:
”Then please think back on the situation that time, was there any signs of bleeding at the spot where the victim was collapsed?”
I noticed a queasy expression on Ayaka’s face, while sensei’s expression was pale as snow.
”Well….. Mnn…… Probably not…… Because it was snowing heavily that time, so we would have noticed if there was blood on the ground. But why are you asking about that?”
Sensei’s answer sounded like she was mumbling to herself, while a chill came on my back because of her answer.
No signs of blood? Hayano Tomohiko should have vomited blood that time.
This might be a point that had been overlooked, because the snow that kept falling buried the signs of blood. That would mean Alice predicted that I would get this answer even before this. I finally understood what she wanted to express.
What— does this mean?
”Why are you investigating this? Quite a few passed now.”
Sensei looked like a withered flower when she was asking me that.
”…… I remember that I told you about the matter that the Gardening Club is going to be abolished, right?”
I glanced at sensei and Ayaka.
”The Gardening Club is actually a rather odd club, and was forcibly founded by a member of the Inspection called Minagawa Kengo in a short time. It’s obviously a small club, but its budget isn’t small, and it requires a large maintenance fee, and that’s why the Student Council is trying to solve this problem. But if there was a reasonable reason when it was founded……”
”Minagawa-kun? Does it refer to that Minagawa-kun?”
”Sensei taught them in supplementary classes before this, right?”
”That’s right…… But the supplementary lessons had to stop after that, while Minagawa-kun repeated the year and then left school…… Though I’m not sure what he’s doing right now, I still know how to contact him. Why don’t you just ask Minagawa-kun directly? Why are you doing so much to ask me about Hayano-kun?”
Just at that moment, I noticed that Ayaka’s condition started to be unstable. Whenever she hears the word Minagawa, her shoulders would tremble. But I must still tell sensei the truth……
”Minagawa-senpai…… He already passed away…… Because of the drug incident last winter.”
Sensei covered her mouth with both her hands.
”How can this be……”
”But I think there’s definitely a link between this— about the incident on the snowy day and the reason for the establishment of the Gardening Club. That’s why I must know about Hayano-senpai and Minagawa-senpai.”
And about Tetsu-senpai as well……
Even if I have to hurt the living to speak for the dead, I have to get this clear.
”Mina…… Gawa……”
A voice suddenly came from beside us, it was Ayaka. She stared at thin air, her half-open mouth breathing in and out lifelessly.
”Ayaka…… What’s wrong with you?”
”Minagawa…… Mnn, mnn, it’s nothing…… No……”
Perhaps she knows him? Does Ayaka know Minagawa Kengo? I suddenly recalled how Ayaka looked like when she suddenly collapsed after looking at the monitor in Alice’s room. I thought that it was because she had a bad memory about ‘Angel Fix’ at the time, but there’s actually another possibility, which is Minagawa Kengo’s name.
”Do you know Minagawa Kengo?”
Ayaka covered her ears and shook her head violently in denial. That’s right, even if Ayaka hasn’t lost her memory, it’s impossible that she knows him. That’s because Minagawa Kengo was in the same year as Tetsu-senpai, so he should be about six years older than us. Besides, he left school already, so it’s impossible that he could stay at school along with Ayaka. However—
”Ayaka, please tell me if you know!”
I grabbed Ayaka’s shoulders and started to shake her violently.
”I- I don’t know! Don’t know! I can’t remember……”
”Please, remember it—“
”Fujishima-kun, please stop that!”
Suddenly the piercing metallic sound of a chair being overturned rang through the whole greenhouse, while I kneeled on the ground. Sayuri-sensei was glaring viciously at me with her whole face reddened. Sensei squeezed between Ayaka and I, forcing us apart. When I realized that, regret started to well up in my heart as well.
What— did I do to Ayaka just now?
”It’s okay if you want to play detective, but please think while putting yourself in Shinozaki-san’s shoes.”
Sensei squatted beside me, saying in a tone that’s so gentle that it’s somewhat cruel. At the other side, Ayaka stared at me while being separated by sensei, trembling while supporting herself on the table.
”So…… rry—“
”If you want to apologize, please say it to Shinozaki-san.”
While avoiding Sayuri-sensei’s gaze, I stood up.
”Ayaka, Sorry, I’m……”
”I- it’s okay, I’m the one who feels sorry. Not remembering anything, and I kept bringing trouble to Fujishima-kun……”
”There’s no such thing. It isn’t like that, erm, well……”
I heard my own voice, but it was empty. Harming the people who are still alive just to protect the deceased’s name— just as Alice said. I don’t have that resolution, but I kept harming Ayaka repeatedly……
Sensei gently placed her hands on Ayaka’s shoulders, speaking quietly in her ears. I really couldn’t bear to look on, so I scarpered from the greenhouse after picking up my bag on the floor. As I was about to walk to the school entrance through the courtyard, I noticed a silhouette at a corner of the greenhouse, where the flower racks formed a blind spot. The person seemed to have noticed me as well, and hurriedly left the greenhouse.
After I met the person’s gaze, I realized that she was Kaoruko-senpai.
Seeing me being dazed, senpai sighed, as though she gave up on something.
”I didn’t eavesdrop on your conversation deliberately……”
So she heard all of it…… But from when?
”Are you still investigating this meaningless thing? Please don’t investigate Tomohiko because of your personal interest, okay?”
It wasn’t hard to see how sad she was from Kaoruko-senpai’s expression. To search for Hayano Tomohiko’s forgotten words, how many people must Alice and I continue to harm?
“I’m not doing this because of personal intere……”
“Sayuri-sensei seems to be inside as well. I wanted to ask you to hurry up and tidy up the greenhouse, but since it looked like you’re busy inside, I’m telling you here. Please don’t drag things on anymore! The general meeting is on next week, while the effective date of the resolution is on next month!”
As I was thinking of how to answer her, Kaoruko-senpai turned around and walked away to the direction of the school buildings. I hurriedly chased her and said:
“P- please wait for a minute! Things haven’t been decided yet, have they?”
”Listen, the club president meetings passed the resolution, so it’s useless no matter how hard you and Kousaka work. Most of the clubs will agree with this during the plenary meeting.”
Without even turning around, Kaoruko-senpai answered me coolly.
”Hayano Tomohiko-senpai—“
When I blurted out the name, Kaoruko-senpai finally stopped, standing at the corner of the ladder at the west side of the school building.
”Didn’t die from being tormented…… by Tetsu-senpai and the members of the Gardening Committee.”
Kaoruko-senpai turned around. Her long hair swayed because of her movement like a pleated skirt, while the piercing radiance of the desert sun shone in her eyes.
”What are you talking about?”
I’m not sure, actually. Even Alice haven’t grasped the truth, so of course I’m not certain about this as well. But there is a lava hot truth that hasn’t cooled down into facts in my heart— Tetsu-senpai is definitely not a person who would do this kind of thing. If so, that means that someone in the case that we’re discussing about is lying.
”Then why would Tomohiko—“
”I don’t know yet.”
With her eyes widened, Kaoruko-senpai heaved a long sigh.
”Is there something wrong with your brain?”
That might be the case, it’s not strange even if people think that there’s something wrong with my brain.
”I’m investigating about this. Senpai might not be able to forgive the Gardening Club, but the person who founded the Gardening Club might have his reasons……”
”That’s irrelevant to this!”
After shouting that unconsciously, Kaoruko-senpai clenched her hands and bit her lips, trying hard to refrain her emotions that could explode at any time.
”Are you an idiot? I’m not abolishing the Gardening Club because of this kind of reason. Isn’t Tomohiko irrelevant to this matter……?” Senpai’s voice trembled slightly, and it was evident that she was lying. “I don’t know what you misunderstood, but that’s not my own decision. The teachers were talking about removing the greenhouse as well, while the General Executive division was diligently preparing to take care of these foamy clubs all along. It’s too late no matter how much you investigate, so that’s why I told you to prepare to clear away your stuff.”
Among senpai’s last few words, I could feel the pity and sorrow in her voice. But seeing me continue to look at her unhesitatingly, senpai flung her hair again, turned around and left.
It’s too late no matter how much you investigate…… Irrelevant to this matter…… Useless no matter what you do……
It really might be so. No, it’s probably like that now. I remember that Alice once said that I would think of something about Kaoruko-senpai wanting to abolish the Gardening Club. In the current stage, I haven’t done anything yet. Then what am I running here and there for? Even hurting Ayaka, and having to brawl with Tetsu-senpai……
I think this is probably because— because of the uneasiness for the place that I want to protect. Because I don’t even know why I want to protect it. Is the Gardening Club really a place that I should protect even though I have to dig out secrets from other people’s graves? I want to be certain about this.
Because there’s Ayaka and I. Is this reason not enough? I asked and answered myself, so the answer was revealed immediately. If I could continue my battle with just this reason, Ayaka and I wouldn’t turn out like this now. It’s the same for Alice. If things can resolve themselves, unresistingly accepting everything on this word, she wouldn’t need to shut herself in that cold room full of dolls.
And that’s the reason that we continue to be detectives.
”Does Ayaka know Minagawa Kengo?”
Even Alice was surprised by my statement. She sat on the bed in the office that was always had the air conditioning on, holding a can of Dr. Pepper while turning around to look at me with her eyes widened.
”…… It isn’t certain that things are like that.”
”Oh, I see, indeed— there is a possibility.” Alice hugged a smaller sized bear while staring at thin air.
”But it seems that Ayaka doesn’t remember it…… And he’s a person who dropped out too.”
”He’s an ex-member of the Gardening Club, so it’s possible that he got to know Ayaka by going back to school for a few times.”
”That’s not wrong, but……”
I sat in front of the bed, hugging my knees while staring at my toes.
I couldn’t just ask Ayaka about that, because Minagawa Kengo’s name might just be linked to her past memories.
I raised my head and observed Alice’s expression stealthily. She might just tell me ‘If you’re still a detective, then you should mercilessly dig out Ayaka’s thoughts hidden in her heart’…… Probably?
”That’s right, usually I would probably have no choice but to say that.”
Alice smiled in self-deprecation.
”But I don’t want to see Ayaka like that anymore. When you aren’t here in the room recently, I kept thinking in my room. Before being a NEET, before having the identity of a detective, being able to play a certain role should be a great thing, right?”
”…… A certain role?”
”That’s right, a certain role for other people. Tetsu, Major, and Hiro could be said as companions, Yondaime could be said as a brother, while most of the people in this world would probably be said as friends. This is a relationship that can only exist between a person and another, or that might be what we call ‘human’, right?”
The smile on Alice’s face at that moment looked as enigmatic as the morning fog. I could only feel a pain on my chest, and I couldn’t say it though I wanted to speak something.
”As for what Ayaka is thinking of, it has already sank into the sands at the depths of the river, nobody could know that. But I am afraid that digging it out again would hurt Ayaka, so I plan to just let it be sunk…… That way, I can still hire you with a dirt-cheap price. Do you still remember the employment contract?”
Alice leaned her face on her bent knees, smiling happily with her head tilted. Though Alice confused me by suddenly saying that, I remembered my previous lesson, and thought before I questioned her.
”…… Ah, ahhh, mnn.”
I remembered it. Didn’t I suggest that myself?
Last winter, it happened during the Angel Fix incident. Alice’s aim was not to expose the truth of the situation, and was not to exterminate an organization that creates drugs, but for Ayaka. Why did Ayaka jump down from the top of the building? Only that suspicious point confused the NEET detective who claimed to be able to see through everything while being in her room.
The end of our contract was until ‘the mystery was solved’.
Since Ayaka hasn’t recovered her memories yet, the answer that Alice found was not confirmed by Ayaka, so that’s why I’m continuing to be her assistant detective— things should be like that in name.
”Besides, Minagawa Kengo’s trails could be located from other places.”
”…… Eh?”
”You can’t do anything about this matter. I will ask Yondaime to help. It might proceed unsuccessfully, and it might even completely overthrow the hypothesis that I suggested just now in the worst cases, so I can’t tell you about this yet.”
”…… I understand.”
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