[ Discontinued ] Crossroad 『Detective Conan』

Chapter 12 - Enoshiya Kyoka

   -Enoshiya Kyoka, does this name ring a bell?
   "Yoko"'s blood froze in an instant. She didn't understand why, suddenly, Jinpei was asking her that question. And honestly, that scared her a little.
   -I investigated a bit, continued the policeman, and I discovered that a girl named Enoshiya Kyoka lived in the house that exploded. You told me that was where you lived.
   Stress rose in the young girl. She just nodded.
   -You also told me that you only lived with your adoptive parents and your brother.
  -...

   Jinpei stared at "Yoko" for a long time. His gaze was much more serious and cold than usual, which made the former high school girl shiver. Then the policeman resumed.
  -I did research on your potential family, in order to be able to contact possible people who can recover your custody. But, as strange as it may seem, I didn't find any Tomura Yoko...
   The girl's heart began to beat faster and faster, she felt like she was breaking down on the spot.
   No...
   The policeman carried on.
   -What you told me about you coincides with the people who were in this house, and it seems that a certain young girl fled when she faced the disaster. She has since disappeared, and instead a child was found behind the house. Don't you think that's strange?

   "Yoko" could not answer. She was trying to calm her breathing, but it was already too late. Jinpei had seen very well that she was panicking.
   -Be frank with me, I don't want to waste my time with excuses that would be useless. Are you Enoshiya Kyoka?
  -I... How could I... I... I don't... I'm not...
   She couldn't decide whether to lie or tell the truth. Her hands, hidden under the table, were shaking.
   She lowered her head, starting to cry, uncontrollably. She could still lie, but she felt she was at an impasse. He had guessed everything by investigating after all.
   -I... I am indeed... Enoshiya Kyoka... I... Some men... Two men have...
   The young girl clenched her teeth, trembling, crying. She couldn't explain everything clearly. At least not yet. She still needed some time. Time for her fear to subside a little more. But was she going to have time for that?

  "Yoko" was at the windows of the room that served as her bedroom. Her gaze was staring into space, her eyes burning because she had been crying. She was also very tired, but she couldn't get her thoughts to sleep.
   She was worried about what Matsuda was going to do, or even what he might be thinking. She wasn't even sure he believed her. After all, getting younger seemed impossible to others. But on the other hand, he had proof that she was Kyoka.

  Was Matsuda Jinpei, this policeman who had wanted to keep her, going to continue doing so? After all, she had lied to him about her identity. If she could, she wouldn't have. She would have told him the whole truth. But she hadn't been able to, for fear of many things.
   And now ? Was she going to be kicked out? Was it going to be publicized? If so, she would be discovered and killed for good, in addition to the policeman. After all, these two men had blown up her house in order to eliminate anyone who might know what she had seen...

   The girl didn't know what to do. She felt totally lost, not knowing if it was more or less than before. It made her feel pretty bad.

  After a while, the former high school girl closed the window and went to bed, while thinking. But quickly, fatigue took over.

   The former high school girl pushed the door of her room gently and worried. The day before, she had thought a lot, and it was still working on her since she woke up.
  Jinpei was getting ready to go out. He turned when he heard the one he was guarding  timidly greeting him. He moved closer to her and leaned down to look at her.
   -I wanted to suggest to you. You could see if there are other people in the same situation as you.
   -Eh ?
   -If it is, they have clues about these two guys who put you in this state.
   -N... Not wrong... but... ... No... no... nothing...
   With her words, she watched the policeman leave.

   Once the door slammed shut, "Yoko" remained motionless, staring at the front door. Her fears of the day before were dispelled.
   - He... He believed my story? Really... ?
   She remained standing for a few minutes, before noticing the time. She had to go get ready. So much for breakfast.

   She entered her room and grabbed some clothes. She changed, and grabbed her bag before heading for the front door. She put on her hat to be less recognizable then she headed out.