Psychic Detective Yakumo / Shinrei Tantei Yakumo

Epilogue

Ishii had come to the door that had the plate which read <Movie Research Circle> on it.

He was here to discuss what happened after the incident. Though this was usually Gotou's job, that wasn't the situation now.

'I'm not going to bite. Why not come in?'

Ishii was startled when a voice suddenly called out to him.

He restrained his fear and opened the door. The owner of the room was sitting in a chair with sleepy eyes, as usual. His hair was all mussed up.

'Ah, hello.'

'Please sit.'

Unlike Ishii, who was hesitant, Yakumo was calm.

Ishii sat as he was told. Yakumo yawned, stood up and opened the refrigerator in the corner of the room.

'Ishii-san, would tea be acceptable?'

'Ah, yes.'

Yakumo brought back two plastic bottles of tea.

'Now, what has happened?'

Yakumo drank a mouthful of tea from one of the plastic bottles and sat in the chair.

'You may already know...'

'You're stiff.'

'Ishii-san, since you are older than me, you don't need to speak so politely.'

'Ah - oh...'

Ishii would try, but it wasn't something he could do something about right away even if he was told to fix it.

Perhaps he empathised with Ishii, who didn't know what to say next, because Yakumo said,' Well, it's fine,' urging him to continue.

'Makoto-san has reported on the series of police scandals, so nothing can be hidden any longer.'

Makoto's article had been taken up to the top.

After that, there had been a grand journalism war from all news outlets, and it continued even a week after the incident. It had developed into a huge scandal.

It was ironic, now that he thought about it. A scandal from police history had been reported by the daughter of the chief of the police.

Yesterday, Makoto had called him and said that she had finally been disinherited.

She had said she felt better, but Ishii thought that wasn't true.

Just the one case had showered sparks on so many people and warped their lives.

However, Ishii thought this now. If Gotou and Yakumo hadn't been there, that warping might have become even greater.

'I read in the newspaper that the chief of the police resigned. How about the others?'

'Chief Ideuchi was given a disciplinary dismissal. Currently, there is an investigation.'

It was a natural punishment, but Ishii had complicated feelings on it.

What Ideuchi had done had been completely unforgiveable, but was it really fine to reject all of Ideuchi as evil because of it?

'How about his son?'

'Ah, yes. He was taken back yesterday. The situation was explained to him, but it was too much for him to understand. He felt a bit like Urashima Tarou[1].'

'How amusing.'

Yakumo forced a smile at Ishii's boring joke.

He spoke so smoothly that Ishii felt stupid for bracing himself.