Broken Mask

12. Broken Mask

Thanks to ItsMagik1 for beta reading this chapter.

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"Before we discuss the final case," Kyoko said, "there's something you must understand."

While waiting for the return bus, I was still looking at the card over and over again, and Kirigiri glanced at me out of the corner of her eye and said, 'You look happy.' She still has the side of her face turned towards me, her white breath quietly blending into the falling snow.

"Of course, this is a rank '5.' I've always felt that this will be the best I could do in my life, no matter how hard I try."

"I'm afraid you think too little of yourself. With Yui-oneesama's strength, there is room for improvement."

"Heyyy, what's going on here? It's rare for you to praise me like that. Today is not my birthday."

"I only state the facts."

"If so, then you don't know me at all. My head is not that bright, and I don't have any knacks."

"To work as a detective, you don't need to be smart or have knacks. But... you are half right, Yui-oneesama."

"Half?"

"It seems like I know Yui-oneesama, but in reality, I don't know you at all."

She looked into the distance, as if she was speaking to someone who is not here.

What? She didn't...? Although Makoto initially recoiled, his shoulders soon slumped in acceptance. "Yeah, you would say that."

Kyoko's arms folded tightly against her chest. "Sure, we had been through a lot together, but did we really understand each other? Could I truly claim to understand Yui-oneesama's heart? No, I didn't. I... I never did." Her voice strained as she said that last part.

As much Makoto loved Kyoko, he would have been lying if he said that he understood her perfectly. There was still much he didn't know about her. Kyoko had said that personal experience had taught her that getting to know someone too well could cloud one's judgment. Obviously, she had been talking about this final case with Yui. Makoto was about to find out what she meant.

"Anyway," Kyoko said, "about one month passed since Johnny's game. One last month to spend with Oneesama in relative peace, but of course, it could not last. One day, I received a letter for the next Duel Noir. This time, I was the summoned detective, and the location... was where it had all begun. Sirius Observatory."

Full circle, Makoto mused.

"The location wasn't the only familiar item," Kyoko said. "The challenge letter also specified charybdotoxin, knock-out drugs, cash, all things we had seen in our previous cases. I could already tell that this case would reuse techniques from our previous Duel Noirs."

"Huh? But... why?"

Kyoko glared darkly. "That will become apparent soon enough."

Packing food and water, Kyoko and Yui had set out to face the final Duel Noir. On the way, they had met another detective bound for the scene, Shiroko Yukimura, DSC 880. Although Kyoko had been reluctant, she and Yui had accepted Yukimura's offer for a ride to the observatory.

"On the way," Kyoko said, "Yukimura-san delivered a shocking revelation. Mikado Shinsen was dead."

Makoto's eyes widened. "Dead? But..."

"I didn't believe it, either," Kyoko said. "However, I would later learn from my grandfather that it was true. Shinsen had committed suicide. Furthermore, he had done this after..." Her face contorted into a agonized grimace. "He had met with Oneesama."