Psychic Detective Yakumo / Shinrei Tantei Yakumo

Epilogue

1

-

'Sorry to bother - '

Gotou and Ishii had come to Yakumo's secret hideaway, the Movie Research Circle room.

'If you know you're a bother, please leave.'

Yakumo sat in his usual chair and let out a bored yawn.

'You're the one who called us here!'

'Is that so?'

'You!'

Gotou was about to hit Yakumo, but Ishii hurriedly stopped him.

'Honestly...' grumbled Gotou as he sat on a chair.

Though he didn't like Yakumo's brazen attitude, he was also relieved that Yakumo was back to normal.

To be honest, he'd been worried for a moment there.

If Haruka had been arrested as the perpetrator of a murder, Yakumo would probably never have trusted anyone again.

Now that Gotou thought about it, he himself might have only been able to continue believing in Haruka because he just couldn't accept the other possibility, just as a child refused to believe things that weren't pleasant.

That was fine though.

Even if belief was just putting people into your own image of them, there had to be people who could be saved that way.

Gotou knew it was a selfish way of thinking, but still -

'So how is the investigation going?' asked Yakumo, crossing his arms.

'Nowhere,' replied Gotou with a sigh.

It was great that they had cleared Haruka's name, but the various facts were all jumbled. They had also proven that the culprit for the traffic accident three years ago was somebody else. The investigation department was in a clamour.

'That isn't a response,' Yakumo said, displeased.

Gotou didn't like Yakumo's response, but it was true.

Gotou explained the current situation. Nishizawa, Sakurai, Onda and Seo were all giving testimonies without fuss.

It was exactly what Yakumo had revealed in the clock tower. Though things were still confusing, it looked like the case was coming to a close.

After Gotou finished, Yakumo said curtly, 'Is that so?' and narrowed his eyes.

Gotou didn't know what Yakumo was thinking now that the case was over, but he felt like his expression was gentler than it had been in the past.

Then, Gotou recalled something. 'Right. Shinoda has a message for you.'

'What is it?'

Yakumo frowned in displeasure.

'Sorry for everything - that's what he said.'

To be honest, Gotou had never expected that Shinoda with his pride would ever apologise.

'I think he was probably speaking to you, Gotou-san, rather than me.'

Yakumo let out a chuckle.

Gotou didn't understand. There was no reason for Shinoda to apologise to him.

'Um - '

As the conversation sled, Ishii spoke.

'What is it?'

Yakumo raised his left eyebrow.

'What happened to the ghost at the intersection?' Ishii asked timidly.