stonecrandall Page 13
Page 13
"I'm sorry to have worried you," Yuuki Takada said softly. His deliberately nonchalant demeanor seemed to crack in front of Miwako Sato. "It's just... some things aren't over yet."
"Is it about what happened to Mizuno Ai's two children?" Sato Miwako keenly caught the heaviness in his voice and said, "Do you need me to come in with you? Or... should I wait for you outside?"
Yuki Takada looked into Miwako Sato's clear and firm eyes, which held no hint of intrusion into her privacy, only pure care and support.
The weariness and unease surging within him seemed to have found a harbor where he could briefly rest.
He was silent for a few seconds, then finally nodded, his voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible relief: "Let's go in together. Anyway... you're already at the orphanage entrance, and we were the two of us who solved this case together."
The two got out of the car together.
The air at the welfare home was slightly cool in the evening.
Director Ishida slowly walked out of the welfare home, seemingly already aware of their purpose.
Without asking many questions, he simply said in a low voice, "The children are in the activity room; they just had dinner. Ariya... they're still in the usual spot; you can go see them directly."
The activity room was brightly lit, and the walls were covered with brightly colored cartoon pictures.
Chapter 19 Perhaps There Is Someone Else
I saw two figures wearing police uniforms.
Mizuno Aya immediately and instinctively shielded her younger sister Ruby behind her, her small body standing straight, her bright black eyes filled with malice as she stared directly at the two people in front of her.
Only after seeing the two figures clearly did Ahoriya's hatred and anger gradually subside.
“Ahori…” Takada Yuuki crouched down, bringing his gaze to the boy’s level, and said softly, trying to soften his voice, “Ahori, I told you I would give you an explanation, and now I have found the culprit who killed your mother, Mizuno Ai?”
At the mention of her mother's name, Ariya's eyes visibly flickered, and Ruby behind her slowly raised her head, repeating in a daze, "Mother?"
“Yes, Mother.” Yuuki Takada’s heart felt like it was being clenched.
Carefully choosing his words, Yuuki Takada avoided the bloodshed and cruelty, and said softly, "Your mother... she was a gentle and strong person. She loved you very, very much."
Seeing Ahori's expression, Takada Yuuki felt a pang of emotion, unsure how to tell him the truth. He paused for a moment, then said softly, "We've come today to tell you something about Mother. Something... very important."
Ariya's small hand gripped Ruby's wrist tightly, her lips pressed into a line, offering no response, but her eyes clearly said: I know things aren't that simple.
Yuki Takada took a deep breath and decided to stop beating around the bush.
He took out a photo of Mizuno Ai smiling brightly from his briefcase, which he had specially found, and handed it to Ahori.
"Your mother encountered some bad people," Yuuki Takada said in a low voice, trying to control his emotions, but the heaviness in his heart still permeated the air.
"The culprit who murdered your mother was Jiro Ono, the president of the company where your mother, Ai Mizuno, worked," Yuki Takada emphasized. "Your mother was very brave; she always stayed true to herself."
Miwako Sato stood silently half a step behind Inspector Takada. She could clearly feel the suppressed pain and determination in Yuuki Takada's words.
Looking at Ahoria, at the tears he was holding back and his stubbornness in his eyes, her own eyes couldn't help but well up with tears as well.
She took a small step forward and squatted down, her gaze falling gently on the little girl Ruby.
"That bad guy, Jiro Ono, has been apprehended by our police." Yuuki Takada continued, his tone growing even colder, "When Jiro Ono came to your house, he killed Ai Mizuno with a knife in hand, and then fled in a panic..."
Yuki Takada choked up for a moment and said, "To protect you, Ai Mizuno tried her best not to make a sound even after being stabbed."
He looked directly into Aya's eyes: "It's a pity... Mizuno Ai died just like that. Later, Jiro Ono noticed something was wrong and hired someone to come back to your house to look for that crucial evidence."
"Mother... does she feel pain?" Ruby, who had been silent all along, suddenly asked in a low voice with a sob in her voice, her big eyes filled with tears.
These words were like a blunt knife, piercing Yuki Takada's heart.
He could barely breathe, and the cold descriptions in the forensic report seemed to flash before his eyes again.
Multiple impact injuries, multiple stab wounds to the abdomen... a young life struggles in despair and excruciating pain.
Yuki Takada closed his eyes, his jawline taut.
Just then, a warm hand gently covered the back of Takada Yuuki's clenched fist.
It was Miwako Sato; her movements were gentle, carrying a silent sense of comfort and support.
The sudden warmth made Yuuki Takada's tense nerves tremble, and an indescribable bitterness and vulnerability instantly broke down the dam he had been holding up.
Yuki Takada instinctively reached out and gripped Sato's hand tightly.
The force was immense, like someone grabbing onto the only piece of driftwood while drowning.
Sato Miwako did not struggle, but simply let him hold her tightly, feeling the coldness and slight trembling from his palm.
"I'm sorry... your mother can't be brought back to life." Yuuki Takada said sadly, "If you ever have any difficulties in the future, ask me for help, and I can help you solve them."
“Mother…it hurts so much. But she persevered for so long to protect that thing, to protect what she considered most important…perhaps, the hope that you can live a good life in the future.”
Yuki Takada didn't specify anything to them, but he emphasized Ai Mizuno's determination to protect her with her life.
Arori Aya stared intently at Takada Yuuki, her small body trembling slightly.
Asora looked at the deep pain in Takada Yuuki's eyes and the silent support that Officer Sato was giving him, and at their tightly clasped hands.
The boy seemed to understand something.
The wariness in her eyes slowly faded, replaced by a heavy sadness and understanding that transcended her age.
He didn't cry or make a fuss; he just hugged his sister even tighter.
"That Jiro Ono..." Aya asked softly, yet with unusual clarity, "Have they caught him?"
“The villain who hurt my mother the most, Jiro Ono,” Yuki Takada’s voice returned to its cold hardness, carrying an undeniable power, “has been caught. He can no longer hurt anyone.”
Sato Miwako looked at Takada Yuuki's sad profile and felt the strength transmitted through his palm.
At that moment, she saw the heart full of responsibility and deep pain beneath Yuuki Takada's cold mask.
Yuki Takada was not heartless; rather, he suppressed all his emotions under the heavy burden of pursuing justice.
Sato Miwako gently squeezed his hand back, conveying her trust and support through her actions: You are not alone, I will face this with you.
Yuki Takada sensed her response.
“No, no… On the day my mother died, I clearly remember a man in a baseball cap coming in…” In her grief, Ruby revealed another shocking piece of news.
“Ruby?” A glint flashed in Takada Yuuki’s eyes as he stared at her abruptly and asked, “Ruby, are you sure what you just said was the truth?”
Ruby nodded and said softly, "That day, I woke up in a daze and accidentally caught a glimpse of that person, but I have no memory of it after that."
Based on Jiro Ono's account of the crime, could the real culprit be the person who came to Ai Mizuno's house later?
but……
At that moment, Yuuki Takada seemed to understand something.
After letting go, he stood up and nodded to the two of them.
Then, Yuuki Takada smiled and said to the two of them, "From now on, Officer Sato and I will come to see you often. If you have any questions, you can tell the director or come directly to us."
She glanced at Miwako Sato and immediately understood.
"Dean Ishida, I think we should have a proper talk, shouldn't we?" Yuuki Takada said calmly, looking at Dean Ishida outside the door.
Chapter 20 Telling
Yuki Takada's smile instantly cooled as he turned towards the door, his sharp gaze coldly fixed on Dean Ishida, who stood in the shadows of the porch.
There was no warmth in that smile, only cold scrutiny and an unquestionable command.
The gentleness on Dean Ishida's face had vanished, replaced by a desperately maintained but crumbling composure.
He unconsciously rubbed his fingers together, his eyes darting around as he tried to avoid Takada Yuuki's all-seeing gaze.
“Of course, Inspector Takada, please…please come to this office to discuss the details.” Director Ishida was speechless for a moment, swallowed hard, and said dryly, stepping aside to make way for him.
Yuki Takada did not take a step immediately, but turned to look at Miwako Sato.
No words are needed; a single glance is enough.
Sato Miwako immediately understood. She took a step forward, squatted down, and gently looked at the two children, especially the frightened Ruby.
“Ruby, Aya.” Sato Miwako gently murmured, deliberately making her tone soft yet firm, to reassure the two children, “Don’t worry, you two. There’s nothing to be afraid of. Don’t fret, Inspector Takada and I are here to protect you.”
"Now, could you please play with your older sister here for a bit? Inspector Takada needs to speak with Director Ishida for a few minutes, and will be back soon."
She reached out her hand, but didn't touch it rashly. Instead, she opened her palm, conveying a silent promise.
Arori Aya's tense little face remained alert, but he held his sister's hand tightly without objecting, only staring intently at Dean Ishida's back with his precocious black eyes.
Ruby nodded timidly and shrank back behind her brother.
After calming the children down, Sato Miwako continued to stay with them.
Sato Miwako watched as Inspector Takada and Director Ishida entered the room at the end of the corridor that had a sign that read "Director's Office".
At this moment, Dean Ishida was under some invisible pressure.
The door was casually closed by Yuuki Takada, making a soft click that sounded particularly clear in the quiet room.
The office was small and simply furnished.
Yuki Takada didn't sit down. He went straight to Dean Ishida's desk and looked down at the middle-aged man standing in front of it, who seemed uneasy.
“Dean Ishida…” Yuuki Takada’s eyes kept lingering on Dean Ishida as he said coldly, “I want to know everything that happened on the night Ms. Ai Mizuno was murdered… after her two children were brought here.”
"You need to give our police a more comprehensive and reasonable explanation."
Yuuki Takada leaned forward slightly, placing his hands on the table, and glanced coldly at the other person, saying, "Especially since our police cordoned off the scene of Ai Mizuno's death, I want you to tell me what you were doing there."
Dean Ishida's forehead instantly broke out in fine beads of sweat.
He pulled out a handkerchief and frantically wiped himself.
"Officer... I don't understand what you mean. The children were very unstable when they were brought in, and I've been taking good care of them... As for the scene of Mizuno Ai's death that you mentioned, I really don't remember it..."
"Don't you remember?"
Yuuki Takada interrupted him, his tone laced with undeniable sarcasm, saying, "We police have obtained surveillance footage of you near the scene of Ai Mizuno's crime..."
"Dean Ishida, things have come to this point, do you think it's still necessary to keep it a secret?"
He picked up an inconspicuous photo frame on the table, which contained a group photo of all the children in the orphanage.
"Dean, you are well aware of the consequences of harboring or even assisting in the cover-up of major criminal case leads."
"Mizuno Ai was brutally murdered, and you dared to go to the crime scene to look for something, even though the police had cordoned it off."