Chapter 41 The Uninvited Visitor

The Uninvited Visitor

“Well then… this is…?”

It’s been a month since Hatsune and I started living together in our new apartment.

Today, as always, we’re studying for her entrance exams together.

But…

“Haha… Hatsune is so smart, I don’t even have a role to play here…”

N-no, I mean, Hatsune just glances at the reference book and solves the problems effortlessly. It makes me feel unnecessary—what am I even doing here as someone who’s still in school…?

“That’s not true at all! You’re guiding me in a way that makes it easier for me to find the answers, Yuuta!”

“Haha…”

I could only manage a wry laugh at Hatsune’s attempt to reassure me.

Yeah… honestly, Hatsune’s already surpassed me.

“A-anyway! I’m totally useless without you, Yuuta!”

Well, even so… just knowing that Hatsune is getting closer to her dream makes me far happier than anything else.

“By the way, speaking of which, spring break starts in February next week. When should we visit my parents’ house?”

“Oh, right. Universities already have spring break by then, huh?”

Haha, it’s no surprise Hatsune’s confused—high school and university have completely different vacation schedules.

“Yeah. Personally, I think it would be better to go when it gets warmer. Would that work for you?”

“Of course! Absolutely! Oh no… I’m already starting to get nervous.”

“Haha, it’s way too early for that.”

“I-I know! But still, I just don’t want Yuuta’s parents to dislike me, so being nervous is only natural…”

Saying that, Hatsune pouted slightly.

“Haha, sorry, sorry. But… I’m happy you care so much about their opinion. It makes me happy, really.”

“Ah! G-geez… Yuuta, you idiot.”

Hatsune, seemingly embarrassed, lightly smacked my shoulder over and over.

Yeah… these days, Hatsune shows me all kinds of expressions like this.

It’s probably because she’s no longer living in fear like she used to.

I’m really, truly glad that she’s been able to reclaim her true self.

“Ah… there you go again, looking at me with that expression…”

“Eh…?”

I let out a small protest.

“Yuuta… mm…”

Hatsune leaned in and kissed me.

“Chu… chu… chuu…”

Today, we indulged in a longer kiss than usual.

Then, a mischievous urge—or perhaps a desire for more of Hatsune—grew within me…

“Mm!? Chu, juup… juu…”

I gently parted Hatsune’s lips and intertwined our tongues.

“Lero… chup… puha… G-geez…”

Hatsune’s face turned dreamy, her expression soft and dazed.

I pulled her into an embrace, and then…

Ding-dong

“Uwaaaaaaaaaa!?”

“Fuaaaaaaaaaa!?”

The sudden sound of the intercom made both of us scream without thinking.

W-who on earth is it at a time like this…?

“A-ahaha… Yuuta, your face looks scary, you know?”

Hatsune said that with a nervous laugh, but… it’s no wonder I look like this, right?

Irritated, I checked the intercom monitor… who’s this?

[Sorry to bother you, I’m with the police.]

“The police…? What business do the police have?”

I asked curtly, addressing the unexpected visitor from the police.

After all, I only feel distrust toward them—these people who let Hatsune suffer for so long and didn’t help her when she needed it.

[I’d like to speak with Kakizaki Hatsune-san, who resides here, um…]

I turned around to look at Hatsune.

Hatsune’s face had turned pale, and she was staring at me intently.

“…What should we do? If you want, I can just tell him you’re not here and send him away.”

“…No, I’ll meet with him…”

Hatsune said that and shook her head.

…Well then, at the very least, let me do this.

“You can meet with Hatsune, but I have one condition.”

[A condition?]

The officer gave me a puzzled look.

“Yes. I’ll be present during your conversation with Hatsune.”

[T-That’s…]

The officer’s face twisted with displeasure at my condition, but I didn’t care.

“If you can’t agree to that, I can’t let you meet her. Please leave.”

A tense silence filled the room for a while.

[…Fine. But in return, I’ll need your absolute discretion about this matter.]

Reluctantly, the officer agreed.

“…Hatsune, that’s how it’ll go. Is that okay with you?”

“Aha-ha… of course. Thank you, Yuuta.”

I opened the door and invited the officer inside.

“I-I’m Kakizaki Hatsune… um, so, what business do you have with me…?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. My name is Takahashi from the Metropolitan Police Department…”

As he spoke, the officer showed us his badge.

Oh… so this guy’s a detective, huh…

“Actually… this hasn’t been disclosed to the media yet, so I really need your utmost confidentiality…”

“Y-yes…”

Detective Takahashi furrowed his brows, then took a deep breath, as if preparing himself.

“A week ago, in the mountains of XX Prefecture, the body of an unidentified middle-aged man was discovered.”