[ Discontinued ] Crossroad 『Detective Conan』

Chapter 5 - Questions

   The sound of a gunshot. Some blood. A body. The sound quite close to an explosion. And that smile, that cold look of the man. He enjoyed it. He was proud to have eliminated what he considered an embarrassment.
   What had happened the day before haunted Kyoka's mind, which interpreted the slightest actions and gestures of the one who had ruined her life. This made her feel so bad that she woke up with a start and a sweat, panting.
   She took the time to calm her breathing. For a moment, a brief moment, she thought she was in her room, which would reassure her. But she remembered it was not the case. She was in the room of this policeman she did not know, in the form of a child apparently aged six or seven.

   The girl sat up and looked around, able to see the room from the faint sliver of light outside. Then, she got out of bed and took her jacket before putting it on, although it was too big. She then opened the window and took in the fresh air.
   Leaning on the ledge, standing on her tiptoes, she felt something in her pocket. She put her hand in it and took out the cakes given by Asahi. She had forgotten them. She had also forgotten that her adoptive father wanted to tell her something at the time.
   -It's true... He... He... she whispered.
   Tears began to flow.
   -If I hadn't... If I hadn't passed through this alley... They...
   The high school girl put her back against the wall and let herself fall before bringing her knees closer to her chest. She wanted to go back, go another way, but she couldn't. She was the sole culprit of her situation in her eyes. This long-haired man was right.

   The sun had been up for quite a while when Kyoka woke up. She had had trouble getting back to sleep, but she managed... after she could see the sunrise.
   The young girl gently pushed open the bedroom door and noticed that there was no one there. She was only half surprised.
   -... He is a policeman after all...
   She closed the door behind her and took care not to step on anything. She looked at everything in her field of vision.
   At the same time, the front door opened to reveal Jinpei carrying a bag. After slamming the door, he approached the girl and gave her the bag.
   -I'll let you dress in that.
   -Eh ?
   She grabbed the bag and looked inside. There were clothes. She looked up at the policeman who let out a yawn before hesitantly going to the room where she had spent the night.

   Once in said room, Kyoka opened the bag and took out a pair of pants, a t-shirt and a jacket. There was also a pair of boots.
   She took off the large bathing suit she was wearing and began to dress in the purchased clothes. She soon realized it was too big, though smaller than her seventeen-year-old high school clothes. But she wasn't going to complain. Matsuda had made the effort to buy clothes when he didn't have to.
   The girl also tried on the boots. The fact that it was a size or two above the one she currently had didn't bother her that much. On the contrary, she was more at ease.

  Once her new clothes were put on, she exited the room. She spotted some food on the table. A dish containing instant noodles. Matsuda was up, eating the same thing.
   Seeing this reminded the high school girl that she was hungry. She hadn't swallowed anything since the day before. Or rather, for almost two days.
   The policeman motioned for her to sit down when he saw that she didn't dare. She thanked him with a nod and sat down on the only chair there was. She immediately began to eat, although the first butchers were not easy because of the nausea it caused her.

   - Can you tell me a bit more about what happened yesterday? Jinpei asked after a few minutes.
   Kyoka raised her head, surprised at this question. She knew deep down that it was going to happen eventually, but it still surprised her.
   She lowered her gaze, which filled with sadness.
   -Uh... Actually...
   She didn't know where to start or what information she shouldn't say.
   -I was out and... When I came back...
   The girl rubbed her eyes to dry her tears. But she knew that the more she talked, the worse she would be and therefore, the more she would cry.
   She thought for a moment while wiping away her tears. She clearly couldn't tell that two men in black had made her swallow something that made her look younger. Who could believe that?
   -I was... I was out and... I... I came back... And... before... before I could go in front of the house... her. ..
   -There were important people for you in this house...
   She nodded.
   -My adoptive parents and my brother...
   She had started crying again. She knew she would never hear Yosuke's voice again. She could never bother him again. And that was extremely painful to her.
   -You can stay here tonight too. he said.
-... Thanks...
   She didn't even know where she was going anyway. But on the other hand, she wondered how long she could stay with him.

   Jinpei's phone started ringing. The latter picked up.
   -Hello ? Yes...
   Once answered, he exited the room, leaving Kyoka alone. She stared, still crying, at her meal. She forced herself to finish it before leaving the table.
   She rubbed her eyes to stop crying and went back to the bedroom. She settled on the floor, against the bed, with her knees against her as always.