Case Four: the meaning of farewells

  Chapter 16: confession

  Orion and Amane were driven to the apartment in Edogawa, which took about thirty-something minutes. The two sat next to each other in the car with silence between the two. As they arrived closer to their destination, Orion glanced at Amane, who was busy staring at her hands before he returned his glance to the outside.

  When the two arrived, the chauffeur went to park while Orion and Amane went inside the apartment complex. The apartment in question was 3C so the two took the stairs. As they climbed the stairs, Amane grabbed onto Orion’s arm. The two entered the apartment with Amane clutching his arm and Himura came up to them at the door.

  “You’re finally here, Minamoto,” Himura said plainly. “And you, Mizushima.” Himura turned around and waited for them to line up behind him to enter.

  The two students lined up behind Himura as he led them inside the apartment. Orion noticed this apartment was a bit roomier than the last victim’s apartment. The apartment looked clean as though the victim had been cleaning it not long before the culprit got her. But there were no signs of struggle or forced entry, as he checked before they proceeded ahead. Orion stared at the lock and knob. ‘Forced entry…. There weren’t any signs of it, so does that mean the victim knew the culprit? Or did he just come dressed so casually she thought it was a friend?’

  Orion shook his head as if trying to shake his thoughts around. He wasn’t getting the right thoughts. He walked close to the body but not enough to step in the pool of blood that formed around the victim. ‘A pool of blood…again. Why does he insist on making this such a mess? Pool of blood…’ He slammed his fist against his other hand. He wasn’t making any progress. ‘I must be focusing on the wrong object.’ Orion squinted and stared down at the body below him.

  “This is scary…” Amane said cautiously, looking down on the body. “And kind of cruel. Isn’t the neck the cause of the bleeding? He must have cut there…mercilessly. I mean, that’s where most of the blood is…”

  Amane’s observation inspired Orion. The neck area was the most coagulated of the entire body, so it made sense the culprit sliced there. He knelt by the body but not close to the coagulated blood. ‘And just how did the guy get away before making such a mess? Does he have medical expertise…? What about all their clothing? Why are both females in a transparent negligee. Is this a fetish? Or is it something else?’

  Amane looked down on Orion kneeling by a dead body. “Uh, are you alright, Orion?” Amane asked out of concern. She walked over to where Orion was kneeling and patted him on the head. She knelt beside Orion and tried to observe what he was looking at. She just saw a dead female body dressed in a partial transparent negligee with nothing else on her body. ‘Maybe she was about to sleep when a home intruder arrived.’ She was about to voice that to Orion when he suddenly stood up and she joined him. “Orion?”

  “Huh? Oh, sorry, I was lost in thought,” Orion muttered, rubbing the back of his head in abashment, and avoiding Amane’s glance. “Uh, what was it again?” Orion couldn’t let Amane know he was so busy thinking about the case that he didn’t hear her question or statement. He wasn’t sure what would happen, but it would most likely hurt the other girl. He patted Amane on the head a few times to assuage her worries.

  “I was just wondering if you’re alright,” Amane pouted, pulling Orion’s sleeve. “You were pretty focused there… I was just concerned, that’s all. Looks like it was nothing to worry about though.” She looked away from Orion the same way he avoided her glance for the most part. She felt a bit neglected by Orion even though she shouldn’t; this was somewhat his job after all. He was helping Tokyo Metropolitan Police after all.

  “Hey Amane,” Orion suddenly said, focusing his attention on the redheaded girl. She was wearing a light blue polka dot blouse with knee length white shorts and ankle sandals. Amane was standing near him but for some reason he had an inkling that something was going to happen to Amane. One of the forensics guys must have sensed it too because he went out of the kitchen and tried to reach for Amane. Considering distance, Orion quickly reached out and stepped forward to grab Amane. His hand managed to grab a hold of Amane and then he simply pulled her toward him.

  “Ah!” Amane suddenly gasped as she was pulled into Orion’s space. She reached him and clutched his shirt at the startling moment when Orion grabbed her arm. She did not expect the actions. “Wh-What’s wrong, Orion? Did I do something?” Amane asked curiously, still holding onto Orion by the shirt.

  Orion merely held onto Amane as he watched the area. He felt they weren’t clear in the apartment just yet. There was going to be something over the dead body. Then he pulled Amane to behind him and then started moving closer to the body. That was when the body suddenly exploded with all the coagulated blood.

  “Orion! Orion! Are you there???” Amane asked out of panic, looking frantically in the smoke that was left in the apartment’s living room where the body used to be at. She attempted to brush aside the smoke as she looked for Orion.

  “Stop there, Amane,” Orion’s voice came out from within the smoke. “Inspector Himura! Are you there?! I’m by where the body was,” Orion shouted to the inspector. As expected, the inspector and his team of officers opened all the windows and turned on all the fans in the apartment. Orion staggered out of the remaining smoke as Amane ran straight for him for a side embrace, which felt more like a tackle to the injured Orion. “Ack!” Orion coughed a few times before standing up with Amane stuck to his side. “I’m alright, Amane.”

  “Report!” Inspector Himura finally came up to the two who were in the remaining smoke. He did not know what to expect with the second case and a small explosion occurring where the body was. ‘How am I supposed to report this to Chief Superintendent Fujioka, especially with civilians involved. Crap. This is bad.’

  “I was observing the body for any further details that could be gotten, and Amane here was assisting me in that. I was getting stuck on how the culprit always made a pool of blood around the body but always escaped without getting a drop of blood on him,” Orion started off first. He dug his hands into his jeans pockets as he spoke.

  “Then Amane pointed out the neck must have been the source where the culprit slashed or cut. So we were trying to study the body and that pool of blood when I felt…like something was going to happen…to Amane, and the dead body,” Orion said, a faint blush went over his face. He looked away from Amane, not afraid of her response but how she would take that. ‘I…think I’m in love with Amane,’ Orion thought internally. He decided he’d confess to Amane if a good opportunity came up. His face turned redder than before as he thought through things internally.

  “Got it,” Inspector Himura nodded as he wrote down Orion’s report. He looked down at where the body used to be, but now it was just black ash with burnt blood particles. “You kids can go home first. Don’t worry about anything. You’re still on the case.” Himura didn’t like having to reassure kids, but he felt he should reassure them before they might go to Fujioka. Sighing, Inspector Himura was not pleased. Not only did they have a second body, but it also exploded on the entire team. They had nothing to take back to the morgue now. Himura sighed as he returned to examining the rest of the apartment.

  Orion and Amane left the apartment building in silence, walking side by side as usual but their moods were dampened by the sudden mini explosion. They had no clue what happened, and it could have injured Amane greatly. Orion clenched his fists in frustration, feeling he had almost lost the one he loved.

  Orion suddenly pulled Amane close for a side embrace and rested his head on top of her head. He held her close for a while as Amane rested her face on Orion’s chest while clutching his shirt. He wasn’t sure what overcame him to do this; might be the fact he almost lost Amane due to his carelessness. “I’m sorry, Amane…”

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  “Hmm?” Amane said, lifting her face up a bit. “What are you apologizing for?” She buried her face against Orion’s chest again for comfort. She wasn’t sure what warranted this closeness, but it made her happy. She felt bubbly and her stomach full of butterflies as she clutched onto Orion’s chest.

  “Um… I…almost lost you back there,” Orion said hesitantly, in a quieter voice than usual. He gripped Amane tighter in his arms. “I really, really almost did. I’m just fortunate that no harm came to you.” He buried his face in Amane’s radiant dark red hair.

  “Oh… I’m glad you were able to get me back safely,” Amane muttered, her face flushed and for once was grateful that Orion couldn’t see her face as it was red as a tomato. “I’m alright now though.”

  “I know, I know, but it was terrifying to deal with,” Orion said, still holding Amane close to him. “I’m sorry for this mess…” Orion trailed off as he smelled in Amane’s perfume as he was holding her. He felt a huge relief right now as he was able to save Amane.

  “No, it’s fine, Orion!” Amane said as she looked up at Orion. His head was startlingly removed from its spot on Amane’s head as Amane reached out to touch Orion on the cheek. She caressed his cheek for a while before tiptoeing to leave a small peck on Orion’s cheek. Her face was slightly flustered as she avoided Orion’s glance for a bit.

  Orion was startled. He did not expect a peck from Amane at this time and especially with his current mental state. Orion reached out and grabbed Amane’s arm just in case she tried to run. He then leaned forward and kissed Amane on the forehead, causing the girl to blush furiously.

  “O-Orion…!” Amane stuttered; her face still as red as a tomato. She lowered her head to stare at the ground as she was slowly aware that Orion had held onto her arm after she gave him the kiss. She knew she asked for it by giving him a peck, but she didn’t expect Orion to reciprocate. Amane wondered if it would be a good time to confess to him when she suddenly received a text message. She checked the message. “Oh… I actually have to head home now…” Her voice was despondent with her head down as she wanted to stay longer with Orion.

  “Oh…” Orion said, crestfallen. He looked away from Amane who was watching him for his response. Orion couldn’t manage being away from Amane now, especially now that he realized his feelings for her. “Um… I wouldn’t be able to come along, would I?”

  “Oh,” Amane simply said as she checked her phone again. It was just a summons to return home. Normally she had the leisure of when she returned home so she wasn’t sure why her parents were summoning her back home now. But it was getting late, and Amane worried her parents would tease them even more. Yet Amane wanted to do it; she wanted to spend more time with Orion. “Um, I think that should be fine.” Her face was flushed as she avoided looking at Orion lest he saw how red her face was.

  “Will your parents be okay with it?” Orion asked curiously, trying to get a glimpse into Amane’s reaction. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward him but did not embrace her this time. Orion was being cautious with his affectionate actions; he didn’t want to push Amane away. “You should text them first.”

  “All right,” Amane nodded as she took out her phone. She started texting her response to her father’s text message. She was anxious about what they’d say and how they may refuse Orion coming over again.

  Amane: Hey dad, I got your message. Mind if Orion came along?

  In a few moments, her father responded: Sure thing, that’s fine. We’ll get him a car to get home after.

  “Well, that’s that,” Amane said, sighing in relief. “You can come over. We’ll drive you back home after.” She gave Orion a quick squeeze of his hand and smiled at him. Her heart was racing when she realized she could be with Orion a bit longer. “Let’s go then, Orion.”

  Orion nodded as he followed Amane to her private car. Amane gave the chauffeur instructions to bring the both of them back home and later to bring Orion home when all was done. The two boarded the car and headed to Amane’s family home, which took about half an hour to get to the estate.

  “Well, we’re here,” Amane announced to Orion as she disembarked the family car. Orion followed suit as the two stood in front of the Mizushima Estate. Amane still felt abashed at the thought of bringing Orion home again even though it wasn’t the first time. She was always nervous about what Orion thought about her family and essentially, about her.

  Orion still felt intimidated by Amane’s family home as it was massive, and her family was influential. He felt inadequate to be in their presence, though he didn’t feel that way toward Amane. ‘It’s probably pretty rude I’m not treating Amane with more respect,’ Orion thought internally. Orion sighed and balled his fists to garner courage to face Amane’s parents again.

  “Are you okay?” Amane asked out of concern. She leaned forward and glanced over to Orion. She reached out a hand to touch him but was hesitant on how he’d take that gesture. Amane hid her hands behind her. She wanted to know there was nothing wrong with him coming over to the family home again.

  “Oh, I’m fine,” Orion replied with a smile. ‘I shouldn’t sweat the details. I’m sure everything is fine…’ Orion thought to himself. He shook his head and smiled again. “I’m fine, Amane. Don’t worry about it.”

  “Umm, okay…” Amane said hesitantly before pushing through the entrance. The doors went through pretty easily for a young high school girl pushing on them. Amane led Orion deeper inside the estate and turned a few times before stopping in front of the annex where her parents were waiting. “Let’s go, Orion.”

  Orion nodded as he mentally prepared himself to meet Amane’s parents again. He felt like he was seeing them to ask for Amane’s hand in marriage, but he quickly shook his head before a blush formed on his face. He followed Amane to the annex and kept his head bowed for respect.

  The annex was somewhat small, and by that, it was about the size of an apartment. It had two four seats, in which two were occupied by Amane’s parents. There was a small coffee table between the seats. There were various objects like wall scrolls hung up on the wall and on other parts of the walls were pictures of the family framed. There were various boxes placed in the annex.

  “Welcome home, Amane,” Takato Mizushima greeted his daughter. “And welcome again, Orion.” He was smiling from his seat. He gestured for the two teenagers to sit on the remaining two seats. As the two sat obediently, Amane looked abashed because she figured there was something going on with her parents to call her home like that.

  “Hon, you should tell them,” Michiko Mizushima drawled on and then flashed a smile to Amane and Orion. “Don’t be alarmed, we just have something to discuss with Amane. It’s nothing terrifying.”

  “Maybe I should leave? I mean I certainly wouldn’t belong here,” Orion said slowly as he started to rise up, but Amane pulled him back down with one hand. She shook her head as if to say it was okay for him to be present.

  “What is it, father?” Amane asked, looking at her father square in the eye. She knew it wasn’t something light either or she wouldn’t be recalled home. But she didn’t have any idea what the purpose of this was for her parents. “Please elaborate.”

  “Well…” Takato said slowly. “There’s this thing. A partner of ours has this son who’s seventeen years old and they would like to arrange for you to meet him sometime soon. However! We’re not forcing you to do it. You don’t have to do it if you don’t have to. Like if you already have someone—"

  Amane flushed immediately at the last part. She felt like her father singled out her feelings for Orion though that was unlikely. Tightening her grip on her shorts, Amane slowly looked up at her father. “Um… I rather not meet this guy. I’m sure he’s wonderful and all, but I’m really not interested,” Amane said adamantly, also trying to not to give any hint on who it was that took her attraction.

  “Oh dear, we knew you’d say that,” Michiko drawled. “But we will respect your decision. We felt we should tell you about this potential arrangement as soon as possible, so we called you home.”

  “Thanks, mom,” Amane beamed at her mother. She thought her mother already knew the truth, and maybe her father, yet they called her over anyway. They also allowed Orion to attend this short meeting. They both must know the truth about her feelings. “Um, I’m going to show a few things to Orion now then. I already arranged with my chauffeur to drop him home.”

  “Thank you for having me,” Orion said as he rose from his chair, following Amane who also rose up. The two bowed to Amane’s parents and exited the annex. Amane led Orion out of the area and into the main estate where the residences and kitchen were located. The estate was semi-traditional with some buildings built like in the past and some were modern, such as Amane’s room. As Amane reached her room, she took out a key and unlocked the door before letting in Orion. “Um, here we go… I don’t actually have anything to show you. But figured you might like it better without being scrutinized.”

  “Thanks, Amane,” Orion said, feeling warmth sneak up on him. He felt incredibly nervous, like butterflies were fluttering in his stomach. ‘It must have happened when I realized my feelings for Amane… Now I’m just a nervous wreck,’ Orion thought to himself.

  “Hehe, no problem, Orion!” Amane took a seat on her bed where Orion followed suit and sat next to her. She flushed immediately while slapping herself figuratively for blushing every time Orion sat near her. She felt like she was going to explode if she didn’t confess her feelings for Orion.

  “So…you have someone else?” Orion asked, turning his head away from Amane to avoid seeing her reaction. His heart sunk a little as he asked the question. He didn’t want to know the answer, yet he also did want to know it. Conflicting emotions raged inside Orion’s heart.

  “What?” Amane asked, tilting her head in confusion with Orion.

  “You know, what your parents were talking to you about,” Orion replied.

  “Oh, no, not really…” Amane trailed off. “I do have someone I’m interested in, but I don’t know how they feel about me. So, I’m just happy being friends with them.” Amane twiddled her thumbs nervously, hoping she’s not giving too much information that the someone was actually Orion. She really felt strongly about Orion. Her heart was racing as she looked down on her hands.

  “I see,” Orion said, nodding. He looked up at Amane and took one of her hands that she was twiddling with. She suddenly looked up at Orion and a faint blush showed up on his face. He then turned his entire body to face Amane while still holding onto her hand. “Amane… I must tell you something.”

  “Um, what is it?” Amane asked nervously. Her anxiety was rising, unable to tell what Orion was trying to tell her. Maybe he was trying to confess, maybe he was going to friend zone her, maybe it was something completely different. She avoided Orion’s gaze as her heart started beating faster than before, if that was possible.

  “I…” Orion started to say and then realized he couldn’t speak. He pulled Amane close to him instead. His heart was beating rapidly as he attempted to steady his breath to get his nerves to calm down. He held Amane even closer before he continued his confession. “Well, I know we’ve known each other for a few months now and all those months have been splendid for me. I’ve loved every moment I spent with you. I really, really care about you and…I always want to protect you. I love you, Amane.” He released Amane from his grip, aiming to keep eye contact with Amane even though he was a nervous wreck.

  Amane stared at Orion for a few moments. She was speechless. She didn’t expect Orion to confess to her of all people, but it did make sense considering all the affection the two exchanged for a while now. Amane placed a hand on her chest, feeling her rapid heartbeat. She wasn’t sure what to say or do with Orion. “Orion…” Amane said slowly. “Um… I’m flattered, really. I…don’t know if I can give you an answer right now. I mean, I really, really like you too, Orion. Trust me, I do. But can you give me some more time?”

  “That’s fine,” Orion nodded. He took Amane’s hand and held it on his lap. He felt at peace now even though he hadn’t gotten a proper response yet. Amane had placed a hand on top of his and squeezed it.