PSYCHO-PASS : Paradigm Shift

Chapter 10 : The Burden of Suspense

PART 10 – The Burden Of Suspense

They repeated the recording in front of Akane.

"We were so close," she sighed, annoyed by the fact that Makishima slipped away that easily. Gino kept looking towards both Kogami and Shizuka, wondering how they felt at the moment. Shizuka seemed calm, much like Kogami was, but she was probably more affected than she led on given how she suspected the assistant from the Butcher case, Shibata, was actually Makishima.

The only person who initially trusted Kogami ever since the Specimen case was supposedly closed... was Shizuka. She supported his claims, and tried to follow available clues. Gino thought how she never gave up, never stopped believing Kogami or Sasayama, despite Sibyl treating the case as closed.

And now, Tsunemori Akane. Upon learning about the Specimen case... she also sided with Kogami and tried to assist him the best she could. Gino had to ask himself about the effect that Kogami had on women. What made these law-abiding citizens get along so easily with latent criminal's ideology?

"Rikako Oryou has already been put on the wanted list," Akane informed the present colleagues. "It's just a matter of time."

Time before they capture Rikako and get closer to Makishima, the girl wanted to say. But, something was telling Shizuka they wouldn't find fast... if they find her at all.

"She'll disappear," Kogami's tone was gentle, but his gaze was sharp. He was looking through the classroom's window at yard in front of school, thinking about how there were still ways to escape Sibyl system despite all the available surveillance.

Makishima has been avoiding the system for quite some time. He must have had some kind of help. Who was Makishima? What motivated him? How was he able to be an accomplice in so many crimes... without getting caught for so long?

"What?" Akane asked, confused about Kogami's remark. Shizuka's head felt heavy. Makishima... was someone who was interested in human behavior, and also in anomalies under the Sibyl system. His focus were citizens who didn't have regular hues... like criminals, strangers or escapists. He also either had a helper of his own, or was very tech-savy himself. He seemed to be able to erase any evidence of him - footages, audios, photos... any digital trails of him on net; making him almost untraceable despite Sibyl's various networks and database.

Gino moved towards Kogami, passing Akane by. Shizuka wondered what he was up to, squeezing her hands over her chest in reassurance. Gently, Gino tapped Kogami's back.

"Come with me. I wanna talk to you."

Kogami's eyes quickly turned to Shizuka. She was equally confused as Kogami was, so she just shrugged her shoulders. Kogami turned, and then followed Gino out of the classroom, following the Inspector's footsteps in silence.

"Senior Inspector Akibara..." Akane approached Shizuka, "... what did Enforcer Kogami mean when he said Oryou Rikako will disappear? As... will she keep on hiding, or..."

"No one can stay hidden for too long under Sibyl's watchful eyes. I don't know what Enforcer Kogami meant... but I suppose he wanted to say that Rikako Oryou's disappearance might not be of her own volition."

"So, she might be..."

"Dead. Yes. Or rather... murdered. It would be difficult for Shib... for Makishima... to keep her in hiding, given that he himself is now a wanted person. Disposing of her would be much more convenient than hiding her and supplying her with food and other necessities."

Akane's expression changed. She was worried.

"What do you think Inspector Ginoza might tell to Enforcer Kogami? Will he reprimand him?"