My Knife Pointing At Your Heart

CHAPTER 22

Chapter 22: Information Needed

"That Pippi might be the one who killed Sumire that night..."

Mrs. Hanada's words hung heavy in the air, echoing off the walls of the small room. The accusation seemed to suck the warmth right out of the conversation.
Yurika's eyes widened. She retreated into her own mind for a split second. What if she really did kill Sumire?

She looked back at the old woman and voiced her doubt. "But... how come Pippi is dead, too? Does that mean she carried this secret to her grave? Or was she silenced?"

Mrs. Hanada gulped, her throat tight with suppressed emotion. "We really don't know for sure. Since she is gone, the truth about Sumire's death might just be the tip of an iceberg. And our knowledge? We are merely scratching the surface." Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, trembling slightly.

Yurika leaned forward. "If Pippi really did it, then her mother, Lenka, might know something about it."
Mrs. Hanada nodded slowly, her expression grave. She reached out, taking Yurika's hand in hers and squeezing it gently, her skin paper-thin and warm. "Yurika... You must be careful. There are eyes everywhere."
The warning lingered as Yurika fell into deep thought.

Come to think of it... in my recovered memories, I did find Sumire on the staircase, bloody and broken. If Pippi had truly intended to kill her, and succeeded, Sumire would have been dead when I arrived. But she wasn't. Does that mean Sumire was still alive after Pippi's attack?

Yurika's mind raced, connecting dots that had previously been obscured by amnesia. The police report mentioned a fragment of the trophy was embedded in Sumire's head. But when I was there... that piece wasn't there yet. Goodness... I can't believe myself. Why did I leave her there? I could have helped her! This 'condition' of mine... it's taking over my humanity.

The silence stretched too long. Mrs. Hanada leaned in, concerned. "Yurika? Are you okay? You've gone pale."
Startled, Yurika blinked, snapping back to reality. "Ah, yes... I'm sorry. I was overthinking." She paused, deciding to trust the woman. "Mrs. Hanada, I need to tell you something. Something about my lost memories."

Yurika recounted the vision she had-finding Sumire on the stairs, injured but perhaps not yet fatal, and how she had fled the scene in a panic.

"Yurika... dear," Mrs. Hanada whispered, horrified but not judging. "Do you mean there could have been someone else present at the scene after you left?"
"It's the only explanation," Yurika replied, her voice gaining confidence as the logic clicked into place.

"When I found her, she was on the 20th step. But after the show, when the body was discovered, she was at the bottom, near the 44th step. If Pippi attacked her, she fell to the 20th. But someone else must have pushed her the rest of the way."

Mrs. Hanada covered her mouth, tears welling in her eyes. "You are correct... she might have fallen again, or... oh, my poor Pippi. She would never kill a person. Not my granddaughter."

Yurika smiled sadly, offering what comfort she could. "She probably woke up from whatever rage took hold of her, realized what she had done, and fled the scene before the final blow was struck."
Mrs. Hanada began to weep softly. Yurika moved closer and wrapped her arms around the trembling woman, offering a silent, awkward hug.

Hours later, the emotional exhaustion had taken its toll on both of them. Mrs. Hanada bustled about, preparing bedding for Yurika in the guest room. She smoothed the sheets with care.
"Thank you for letting me stay, Mrs. Hanada," Yurika said softly.