Novel: Resonance of Petrichor ⑲

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Episode 19: The Charisma of Being Good at Being Pampered ④

I answered the questions from Izumi Ukisho of the Weekly X Social Department while feeling nervous.

　I couldn't tell the truth. Heading to Aira's hideout, the victims rescued at that time, the manuals that served as evidence—everything was thanks to the hamster's efforts.　Talking about what Kinkuma did as if it were my own fine play felt painful because I was lying, so I told Izumi exactly what I had seen and felt.

“I see,” “That must have been tough.”　When she sympathized with me in a whisper, I fell into a mood where the mixed feelings I had held toward Aira were being sublimated.　It was similar to the feeling of being comforted by my mother when I fell and got hurt, saying, “That must have hurt. You’re a brave boy, you didn't cry.”

　I printed out the email Kinkuma had sent and took another bath to calm my nerves.　“Well, time to turn myself in.”　As soon as I braced myself and sat in the driver's seat of my car, I suddenly realized.　“I’m going to be asked who sent this email.”

　I entered the address in Ome City into the car's navigation system, faked it to look like I had accessed Aira's GPS, and started the car.　“Kinkuma, I’m coming to save you now.”

　If I get caught by Aira again, if I get locked up again, my body will tremble with fear, and the “earth-rumbling voices” I heard for five days inside the locker will echo in my brain. The foul odor that shouldn't be there will prick at my nose.

　That is hell; I never want to be locked up there again.　However, if I don't go to Ome City, I’ll end up abandoning Kinkuma. It’s a place I have to go to regardless.　When should I storm the building? Even after arriving at the Yahata Building, I couldn't find an opportunity to break in. I approached the building on tiptoe.　The building's mailbox had a tag that read “Sunny Duck,” and there were no signs of other tenants.　At 7:00 PM, three women left the building, and I was able to confirm that Aira, pulling a suitcase, was among them.　The time had passed midnight.　Even if two of the five women remained in the building, I thought—without any real basis—that as a man, I could win by force.　“Shall we go?”　The trembling from fear turned into the thrill of battle.

　Relying on the light from my smartphone, I approached the building's door. I strained my ears toward the steel door. Before I could insert the screwdriver I had taken from the car's equipment into the keyhole, I turned the doorknob.　The door opened easily... You’ve got to be kidding me?　The moment I was bewildered, I heard the sound of something rolling, and...　“Tatsujun?”　Eek!

　When the fluorescent light turned on,　“It’s me, Kinkuma.”　Kinkuma was hanging next to the switch, holding a toothpick in one hand.

　Exposed concrete with monochrome sofas and tables. The scent of lavender was mixed with the smell of ammonia. It was exactly as I had seen it.

“Since you didn't lock the door, I thought Aira had come back.”　...With three people there, that’s way too careless.

“The hideout door was unlocked?”　Izumi Ukisho leaned forward.　She placed the tablet she was holding next to where she was sitting and said,　“Aida Riko and her associates have victims in their office, and PCs are valuable items, right? They don't lock the door?”

　I was terrified that I would be locked up by the women again because the door wasn't locked.

　But, Ms. Ukisho, this is what you want to hear, right?

　The hideout was unlocked, and on top of that, there was an email sent from Kinkuma to the apartment, and a falling out between accomplices including Aira. It was material to be suspected.

　I was interrogated and even had my house searched.　The police analyzed the apartment's security cameras, the car's dashcam, and my PC; the GPS logs provided an alibi and proved my innocence. I’m grateful for the benefits of civilization.

“That’s right. And you know, Ms. Ukisho.　According to the police, the PC at the hideout wasn't locked either.”

This is also the truth.
Even if there are fingerprints belonging to Aira and the others, my fingerprints are not on the PC. The police and the forensics team will prove that.

Aira might be getting grilled about this during her interrogation, but it's the behavior of a Syrian hamster. Who would believe that a hamster operated a PC?
Aira will likely lie again, claiming something like 'I confessed to Mr. Tatsumi,' in an attempt to secure a reduced sentence.