Chapter 261 - To Be the Last One Laughing
(1)
Pi-pi-pi-pi...
The alarm rings.
"Toya-kun, it's morning~"
There is no reply.
When I open my eyes, Toya-kun is gone.
"Toya-kun?"
I search the room.
Toya-kun isn't here.
"Toya-kun!"
I leave the room. His shoes are gone.
Did he go jogging by himself?
I go outside still in my loungewear.
The car is here.
It doesn't seem like he's gone out to play.
He'll probably be back soon.
I return to the house.
I prepare breakfast.
He still hasn't returned.
I wonder what he's doing~?
The food is ready.
Still not back?
Come to think of it, Toya-kun mentioned something before.
"Is there anywhere you want to go?"
"The Aokigahara forest at the foot of Mt. Fuji."
No way...!?
I rush back to the room.
His wallet is gone, but the car keys are left behind.
Also, his clothes are gone.
Traces of him changing...
I try going back to the washroom.
Toya-kun's pajamas are in there.
"Oh? Airi-chan, did you make some for Toya too?"
"Good morning, Maya-san."
I told Maya-san, who was in the kitchen, that Toya-kun was gone.
Then, Maya-san laughed.
"Toya's been in Kumamoto for the spring tournament since last night, hasn't he?"
...That's right.
I completely forgot.
About last night.
"Toya-kun, did you forget anything?"
"I'm good."
"No binge eating or drinking!"
"I, I know."
"Take care of yourself, you mustn't get injured."
"Yeah."
"..."
Is there anything else I should say?
"Good luck."
"Thanks."
"Senpai, it's time to go!"
Sakura-san is calling.
"See ya."
Toya-kun gave me a kiss.
"I won't be back for a while."
He said that and laughed.
And so, the bus carrying Toya-kun headed toward Kumamoto.
After eating, I change clothes and start the washing machine.
While Toya-kun is gone, I'm just a hanger-on.
"Washing the dishes is the auntie's job, so no!"
Maya-san says that and laughs.
Since it can't be helped, I cleaned Toya-kun's room.
After that, having nothing to do, I was watching TV alone when Maya-san called me.
"Your ride is here~"
From today until Toya-kun returns, Emi has arranged for someone to drive me.
Our group, Unity, is in conflict with a group called Egoist.
Though when I say conflict, it's just that they are unilaterally attacking us.
It seems Emi, Ai, Watanabe-kun, and Makoto-kun are leading the countermeasures.
We know the name and identity of the opponent's leader.
The opponent does not know that.
That is our advantage.
We will not make a move until the opponent reveals their hand.
That was the thorough policy.
They continue to make the members of Unity suffer through despicable means.
I don't know what their objective is.
"They're just panicking, the opponents. As rumors spread, they're just strangling themselves."
Toya-kun had said so.
"But be careful, Airi. The scariest time is when the opponent stops caring about how they look."
Toya-kun told me to be cautious.
"We've arrived."
The attendant escorted me to the classroom.
They said they would come to pick me up when the time came.
"Good morning, Tosaka-san."
"Good morning, Ishihara-kun."
In this way, while I'm in the classroom, someone is always watching over me.
I am being protected.
"I heard the matches start today. I hope you can win."
"Thanks."
When class ends, everyone gathers in the school cafeteria.
"Tosaka-san, has anything unusual happened?"
Watanabe-kun asks.
"Well, there are some things..."
"Please consult us about anything, no matter what it is."
Emi says.
"I think everyone feels the same, but..."
I always feel someone's gaze. I feel like people are gossiping about me. It's scary...
"Isn't that just Tosaka-san? Because Katagiri-kun stood out that much."
"It's not just that. Saki said the same thing."
"Yeah, was it around the same time that letter arrived?"
Saki said she was sent a letter. Slander with cruel content.
"I heard one came for Nishimatsu-kun too."
Sakai-kun says.
"We should just leave those small fry alone. They'll get bored and scatter eventually. It's more troublesome to deal with them one by one."
Emi-san says.
"But there are facts in there too."
Saki's voice sounds like she's about to cry.
"Does anyone else have anything unusual?"
No one says anything.
"Seeing as they didn't come for me or Umi-chan, the opponent's target is quite narrow."
Manabe-kun says.
"True. I heard there's no damage to Hiyama-senpai or Kimoto-senpai either."
Watanabe-kun says.
"I want a few more clues. What are they aiming for?"
"Isn't the opponent's target already limited?"
Emi says.
"No matter how you look at it, they're targeting Nishimatsu-kun and Saki. We can't go as far as fabricating a cover-up for the facts."
"That's true..."
"Those guys said that night that it's a sex-hunting circle, right? Why don't we just expose them?"
Kanna says.
"Regarding that, I think it would be more effective after we solidify the evidence a bit more."
"You're not suggesting we put out a decoy, are you?"
Akira glares at Watanabe-kun.
"No way, first of all, our faces are known. We wouldn't even make good decoys, right?"
"That's also true."
"Ah, Makoto said. He said they're launching attacks on the site, they seem pretty panicked."
Kanna says.
"It's hitting them like body blows. We should just keep attacking slowly and steadily like this."
"I'm fine because Yuma is with me, but Tosaka-senpai, please be careful."
"I'm more worried about Kanna. You're completely separated from Makoto-kun."
"Should we give Kanna-chan an attendant too?"
"If I have an attendant, I can't go to my part-time job."
Kanna laughs.
"But Kanna, you have to be careful too."
I say.
"I know," Kanna laughs.
"Everyone, I know it's painful, but this is the critical moment. We will surely find a way out. Please endure until then."
When Watanabe-kun says this, everyone nods.
When the afternoon classes end, I head to the parking lot with the attendant.
Then, I see a crowd has gathered.
I wonder what it is?
When I push through the crowd, I am stunned.
Three people are lying there, bound like sushi rolls, their faces swollen and their hair shaved bald.
They weren't there this morning.
The attendant approaches the three.
"They are breathing. Call an ambulance."
I hurriedly call 119.
At that moment, I noticed a piece of paper.
"This is what happens when you oppose us. unity"
What is this...?
"Airi-chan!?"
"What could this mean?"
"Ah, these guys..."
Kanna seems to know, but she kept her mouth shut.
Something happened, didn't it.
I'll ask her via message later.
"They got us..."
Watanabe-kun says as if groaning.
"I'll accompany the ambulance. Tosaka-san and the others, go home quickly. Don't stop by Blue Bird either."
"I understand... but."
"I know, I'll tell you the details later."
The ambulance arrived.
The patrol cars also arrived.
"Who is the person who reported this?"
"It's me."
"Could we ask you a few questions?"
"May I also be present?"
The attendant said.
"That's fine, but who are you?"
"I am this young lady's attendant. I was at the scene with her."
"Then please come with us."
"Understood."
Watanabe-kun was...
"If it's alright, please transport them to Nishimatsu Hospital. It's a hospital I'm acquainted with."
"Understood. Nishimatsu Hospital, then."
When Watanabe-kun said that, the door closed and the ambulance drove off.
We also went to the nearby police box to report.
Toya-kun, who is usually by my side, isn't here now.
I can't let him know.
I want Toya-kun to concentrate on basketball.
But if Toya-kun sees the Unity messages, he'll understand even if I stay silent.
What should I do?
I felt like calling Toya-kun right now.
"Please tell them honestly about the piece of paper and that we found it. Our family will handle the rest."
"Yes."
I told the police everything.
About the piece of paper, that Unity is our group, and that we just happened to discover them.
They wouldn't believe me easily.
"This was your doing, wasn't it!!"
The police officer threatened me.
It's scary, I feel like I'm going to cry.
Then another officer came in and spoke to him.
The officer who threatened me just now said.
"It seems you are unrelated. However, we may have you come back another day regarding Unity."
With that, I was released.
When I went outside, Emi, the lawyer from before, and the attendant were there.
"It's okay, we won't let anything bad happen. Leave it to us."
When Emi said that, I nodded.
"Well, go home for today."
With those words, I got into the attendant's car and went home.
When I returned home, Maya-san was waiting for me, preparing food with a worried look.
"Airi-chan, are you okay!?"
I hugged Maya-san.
"I might have held Toya-kun back again."
"I heard the story from Ishihara-san. Airi-chan, you didn't do anything wrong. Our Toya should understand that too."
"I wonder~"
"I don't remember raising a child who would doubt his fiancée."
Maya-san said that and laughed.
After that, I ate dinner, took a bath, and watched TV alone in Toya-kun's room.
Maya-san suggested, "Why don't we all spend time downstairs?" but I declined.
Because I didn't know when a message from everyone in Unity would arrive.
(2)
"No, this is great. Hiyama-san."
I was looking at Hiyama-kun's father, who was lying in bed, with a smile.
"Truly an amazing resident. Every other hospital was passing the buck."
"There are doctors who forget the essential life of the patient because they fear medical errors. And vice versa."
"It seems I won the bet. I'll accept your request as well. I suppose I should just acknowledge your relationship with that woman called Sakura."
"Yes... Please watch over them."
"Could you call Haruki for me?"
"Of course. Please take your time and talk, the four of you."
I said that and left the hospital room.
"Miyuki-san. How is my father's condition?"
Hiyama-kun asks.
"The progress is smooth. He should be able to be discharged next month."
"Thank you."
"Congratulations. He says he'll acknowledge your relationship. Please talk with your mother together."
"Miyuki-senpai~ thank you so much~"
"It's not like your marriage has been approved yet, so stay focused."
"Yes~"
After parting with Hiyama-kun and the others, I was patting my shoulder and thinking about having lunch.
Just then, an announcement played.
"Nishimatsu-sensei, you have a phone call. Please answer extension 49."
There is no such thing as extension 49.
49 = shi-kyuu = urgent.
It's the code for when someone is transported urgently.
I immediately headed to the treatment room.
Then, three men were brought in, unconscious and with their faces beaten.
They were naked and bound like sushi rolls.
"Vitals!?"
"They are unconscious! Blood pressure, heart rate, and brain waves are normal."
"Get a CT scan immediately!"
"Yes!"
To hear the details of the patients' condition, I spoke with the attendant.
Then...
"Huh? Watanabe-kun!?"
"Ah, Miyuki-san. Actually..."
I heard the circumstances from Watanabe-kun.
"It's okay, the external injuries are severe, but there seems to be no damage to the internal organs. Bleeding is minimal, it seems they were just beaten quite flashily. I'm taking a brain CT just in case."
"I see, that's a relief."
"Are you okay, Watanabe-kun? Won't things be difficult from here?"
"I'll probably be questioned."
"They're becoming insidious."
"True."
"Sensei, the CT is done!"
"Then, I'm going. I'll contact you again once they recover."
"That helps."
None of the three had any particular abnormalities.
I just treated the injuries and let them sleep in the hospital room.
Then, someone claiming to be from the police appeared.
"You are Nishimatsu-sensei, correct? There are a few things I'd like to ask?"
"Yes, go ahead."
"Is it true that you belong to a group called Unity?"
"That's correct, but what of it?"
"Do you have any idea who the patients transported this time are?"
"I don't."
The person claiming to be police showed a photograph.
It was something I had heard about from Watanabe-kun.
"We believe this is retaliation by Unity?"
"Unity is not that kind of barbaric group."
"However, the note says..."
"From the look of it, it's just printed text, isn't it? I believe it's the work of a third party who holds a grudge against Unity."
"Including that possibility, I'd like to hear the circumstances."
"I'm quite busy right now, so would another day be alright?"
"Yes, please. Contact me here."
The police officer handed over a business card.
"Understood."
"By the way, how are the victims?"
"They just suffered flashy violence to the face; there are no abnormalities in the internal organs or brain."
"That's good."
"May I go now?"
"Yes, thank you very much."
When the officer said that, I turned on my heel and entered the break room.
I thought while having lunch.
Unity is the first to be suspected, huh.
It's simple, but an effective method.
According to Watanabe-kun's story, the three who barged into Kiritani-kun's house messed up, so they received private punishment.
"Nishimatsu-sensei, the patients have regained consciousness?"
"I see. I'll go immediately."
I must organize the situation before the police come.
I immediately headed to the hospital room.
There's also the matter of Keisuke, and there are mountains of things I want to ask, but mixing public and private matters is bad. I'll just ask simple questions.
Thinking that, I headed to the hospital room.
All three had swollen faces.
"Do the wounds hurt?"
"A little..."
"Nurse, please step out for a moment."
The nurse leaves the room.
"By the way, who did this to you? The Egoist crowd?"
"No... a group calling themselves Unity..."
"Too bad for you. I'm also a member of Unity. Lies won't work."
"...Please don't tell anyone."
"I will tell the truth to the police."
"...Actually..."
It was the expected answer.
"Thank you, there are no particular abnormalities, so you can be discharged immediately. Do you want to stay for observation just in case?"
"No, I'm fine."
"Is that so? If there are any abnormalities again, come to the hospital."
"Yes."
I also leave the room.
To calm my anger, I chew the gum I had.
What should I do from here?
First, report to the police and explain the circumstances.
I'll leave the subsequent judgment to Watanabe-kun.
More than that, it's Keisuke's matter.
What should I do?
I stuff more gum into my cheek.
If I leave it vague, it will affect Unity's reputation.
Should I just announce it in a public forum?
Is it something that simple?
Well, my press conference will be unavoidable, I suppose.
Should I just talk about it then?
The explanation of the perception of Unity. The existence of Egoist. Keisuke's current situation.
Egoist, a despicable circle.
A group operating in the shadows.
First, it's necessary to drag these guys onto the public stage.
That's what I was thinking.
(3)
"That's why I told you, I don't know!"
"But, it's a group you manage, isn't it? Unity."
I was undergoing questioning after being voluntarily accompanied by the police.
"That's because a circle called Egoist..."
"I've heard that they are members of a circle called Egoist. But private punishment by one's own members is hard to imagine."
Use your head a bit more!
I thought that, but if I don't stay calm now, I'll cause trouble for everyone.
"Isn't it reasonable to think that you all received harassment from Egoist and did this in retaliation?"
The detective shows a photo.
"In the first place, what kind of group is Unity?"
"I'm sure I've explained that many times already."
"You're insisting it's just a group for fun, are you? False testimony will be disadvantageous later."
"Detective, a moment please?"
Another detective enters and whispers in the detective's ear.
"...You have a visitor."
"A visitor?"
The person who entered saying that was Emi-san.
The detective left the interrogation room.
Once the detective left, Emi-san spoke concisely.
"I'll be brief because we're probably being wiretapped. Call a lawyer immediately. I'll provide my company's corporate lawyer."
"...Is that okay?"
"I've explained the circumstances. Even if you're provoked, just ignore it. You'll be released immediately."
"Sorry, that helps."
"It's fine, the opponent has finally resorted to strong measures."
"Maybe we've already reached the final stage."
"Regarding future matters, I'll explain after you're released."
"Understood."
"Then, contact me when you can get out. At the usual Blue Bird."
"Yeah."
With that, she left the room.
"Now then, shall we resume the interrogation?"
"Before that, could you call my lawyer?"
I decided to call the lawyer immediately.
(4)
The smartphone ringtone sounds.
It's from Toya-kun.
I answer the phone immediately.
"Hello~"
A voice that feels nostalgic even though only one day has passed.
"Toya-kun~"
I was half-crying.
"...I heard the story. Is Airi okay?"
"Yeah, it was recognized that I'm unrelated to the incident, so I'm okay. But..."
"Are you being suspected because of Unity?"
"Yeah."
"Airi too..."
And by that, perhaps...
"Are you being suspected too, Toya-kun?"
"Not that, but the media swarmed me, so it was quite a mess."
Toya-kun is laughing as he says that.
It's not a laughing matter, you know? It's something that affects Toya-kun's future.
"It seems the police view it as a conflict between Egoist and Unity?"
That's right.
"It might be just the right timing."
"What is?"
"The matter of Nishimatsu-kun and Saki-san, and the matter of dragging Egoist into the open."
"Is that so?"
I wonder how it relates to the matter of Nishimatsu-kun and Saki-san?
"I'll tell you after the tournament is over."
"Yeah, ...come to think of it, how was the match?"
"I let off some steam. A great victory."
"You did it!"
"Yeah, if I win three more times, it's the championship."
"Uuu..."
"What's wrong?"
"I just thought that I can't see you for another three days."
"I'll be back by the weekend. Then..."
"Toya-kun, aren't you tired?"
"The one who heals my work fatigue is my cute bride, right?"
"Yeah♪"
Toya-kun says the things that make me happy at the perfect timing.
"Tell everyone in Unity that I know it's hard, but if they can weather this, they'll see a way out."
"Understood~"
Speaking of Unity...
"What about Sakura-san and Mizushima-kun?"
"They were angry. Saying it was a despicable method."
"I see."
That makes sense.
"Airi, you be careful too, I think the media and such will be a mess... It might be better to evacuate to your parents' house for a while."
"I can't leave the house over something like this."
"I thought you'd say that."
"Toya-kun, you be careful too."
"Yeah, I know. Well, see you tomorrow."
"Yeah."
"See you tomorrow," I said with a smile without thinking much, and then I realized that Toya-kun, who can say "See you tomorrow," is there for me.
A stiflingly real daily life.
There are precious things.
Fragments of eternity appearing and disappearing within a luxurious world.
Just touching, grasping, and walking firmly through our present.
To be the last one laughing, I will walk firmly through my present.
The smartphone rings.
It's a message. From Unity.
Something surprising was written.
"I've made an inquiry to a TV station. We will accept coverage of our activities."
"Haruto and Shiratori-san, don't drink," was added.
"Understood."
"Roger that."
Those two are probably meeting even now.
"They're saying they want to do it as early as tomorrow, is that alright?"
Emi says.
"The basketball group can't," Sakura-san says.
"True, it's fine even if they're not here. We'll manage well on our own."
Emi says.
"Then, gather in front of the station tomorrow at 18:00."
"Oka~y."
I reply.
First, prove our own innocence, huh.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow.