After thinking it over once more, Kisaragi Chiyo shook her head.
I'm sorry." Kisaragi Chiyo showed a helpless expression. "I don't think I can remember.. I only remember that one of them was quite tall and the other was a bit shorter. As for their appearance or any specific features, I can't remember them at all.
"I thought so." Kojimayuu was not surprised by Kisaragi Chiyo's answer. He had already asked the other passengers on the train earlier, without exception, the answers he received were that they couldn't remember.
So, after receiving the same answer from Kisaragi Chiyo, Kojimayuu only felt a sense of regret and did not press for any further details.
"Is there something wrong with those two?" Date Wataru asked instinctively.
It's nothing.." Kojimayuu showed a hint of nostalgia on her face. "I just felt that the bomb disposal technique was somewhat familiar; I've seen it in a former captain's notes.. but it's probably just a coincidence.
Technique alone doesn't represent everything; it was just some of the habits and traces left behind that made Kojimayuu feel a sense of nostalgia. Thinking that it might be something related to a certain captain, she had decided to come and ask.
After receiving the answer, Kojimayuu took her leave first. Meanwhile, Date Wataru, who remained on the spot, couldn't help but feel dazed after hearing those words.
Familiar.. original!
When Date Wataru rushed over, he only knew that the bomb had been defused, but he wasn't clear on the specific details. The moment he saw Kisaragi Chiyo standing beside the criminal, he subconsciously credited her for everything.
It wasn't until hearing Kojimayuu's words just now that Date Wataru felt a sudden, absurd sense of realization.
He subconsciously gripped the notebook in his hands, his gaze falling uncontrollably upon the cat and the Bernese Mountain Dog beside the young man.
Hey, hey, hey.. No way, right? Is this for real?
Date Wataru tried his best to keep a straight face. He first lowered his gaze to the Bernese Mountain Dog wagging its tail at him. Its purple eyes were sparkling, upon noticing his scrutiny, it revealed a warm and friendly smile without any sense of reserve.
That expression really made him hallucinate a certain someone.
The cat crouching on the young man's shoulder, however, was quite indifferent; it gave him a haughty, disdainful glance, expressing its coldness to the extreme. But since Date Wataru had just seen the cat actively seeking the young man's affection not long ago, he decided to define this behavior as tsundere.
Just like xxxx.
You'd agree, wouldn't you? xxxx.
Maintaining his aloof demeanor, Matsuda Jinmi suddenly let out a sneeze, which he attributed to the recent issue of pollen blooming in Tokyo.
Date Wataru fell silent, Date Wataru wore an indescribable expression, Date Wataru sighed, Date Wataru ultimately chose to accept it.
Forget it.
Being a cat or a dog for your peers isn't such a big deal; they are all dead, so just let them be.
Isn't there a saying that the dead should be respected above all else? As long as his former classmates are happy and joyful, Date Wataru felt there was nothing he couldn't accept.
Date Wataru, whose worldview had already been shattered a year ago, managed to force a strong smile after adjusting his mindset.
He said goodbye to Kisaragi Chiyo and the kittens and puppies who seemed to be from the same generation with great calmness, then walked away with firm and composed steps.
*
"It seems we've already been discovered." Kisaragi Chiyo watched Date Wataru's receding figure and reached out to rub the Bernese Mountain Dog's head.
"It's going to happen sooner or later, anyway." Matsuda Jinpei looked completely indifferent, his long tail swishing, the tip of it brushing against the young man's cheek quite casually, bringing a fuzzy itch.
It's impossible that those two both know, yet are keeping it a secret from the Class Monitor, right?
"Little Jinpei makes a good point." The Bernese Mountain Dog nodded with a serious expression.
Then, in the next second, he finally reacted, letting out a shocked "werwer" sound.
Wait," the Bernese Mountain Dog said, eyes widening in disbelief, "What do you mean both of those guys already know?
After recovering his memories, Hara Kenji naturally retained his memories from when he was amnesiac. In his impression, he had met the incognito Furuya Rei.
But as for the other one, the editor Mr. Morofushi Hiromitsu who, in his memory, had only appeared in the words of Kisaragi Chiyo, when exactly did he find out about all of this?
That's not right.. why do Little Furuya and Little Morofushi both already know?!
What was going on with this sudden illusion that the whole world somehow knew he was being a dog?
He originally felt as if he had been isolated, ostracized, betrayed.
So he clung to Kisaragi Chiyo, using the Bernese Mountain Dog's furry body—which could hardly be called small—to entice the young man.
Only after the other party promised a string of benefits did Hara Kenji magnanimously declare that he forgave Little Jinpei and Little Chiyo for their isolation, exclusion, betrayal of him.
Matsuda Jinpei: ".."
Sometimes he really didn't want to admit that this Bernese Mountain Dog, looking so smug, was his childhood friend.
Matsuda Jinmi sighed, his soft paw pads gently patted Kisaragi Chiyo's shoulder, indicating that in this home, he was the only mature and reliable one.
*
"That's basically what happened." On the way back, Kisaragi Chiyo briefly recounted what she and Matsuda Jinpei had experienced at the station to Hara Kenji.
Of course, some of the sappy details were naturally omitted.
Even without Kisaragi Chiyo mentioning it, Hara Kenji could still guess a thing or two from the subtle expressions and body language between the two of them.
"So, Little Chiyo and I had already met so long ago." Hara Kenji felt a sense of emotion; his fate with the young man had, it seemed, been predestined years ago.
This must be destiny! Hara thought blissfully.
However, what he found regrettable was that his consciousness had not fully recovered at that time, so he had no memory whatsoever of the meeting between the two of them.
"But it's still a pity that I couldn't change your and Matsuda Jinpei's fates." Kisaragi Chiyo sighed, stopping suddenly as she walked toward the villa entrance.
Matsuda and Hara also became alert, especially Matsuda; his tail had already puffed up into a frizzy mess.
There's something inside the mailbox.
As his shoulders suddenly felt lighter, the cat and the dog both returned to their original forms. Matsuda held him by the shoulders to stop him from moving forward, while Hara Kenji stepped forward a few paces and opened the mailbox.
Inside, besides some utility bills, there was a familiar, unsigned envelope lying within.
However, unlike the thin envelope from last time, this envelope was bulging, as if something had been stuffed inside.
Hara Kenji frowned as he took everything out of the mailbox all at once. Judging by the expression on his face, it was clear that his mood was not particularly good at this moment.
To be honest, if Kisaragi Chiyo hadn't wanted to see what was in that letter this time, Hara Kenji would have just thrown the damn thing away.
Aside from Little Jinpei, the only one who could haunt Little Chiyo so relentlessly was himself!
Hara Kenji shouted.
"Stop making things more complicated." Matsuda Jinpei once again felt that it was absolutely necessary for him to take on the role of the most reliable adult in the entire household.
"At least it was someone's sincere gesture." Kisaragi Chiyo curled up on the sofa and casually tore open the envelope. As he reached inside, a doll resembling a voodoo doll wrapped in thread fell into the young man's palm.
Kisaragi Chiyo pinched the little figure with two fingers, completely undaunted by the name written on it or the thumbtacks stuck into its limbs. He brought the cursed doll close to his eyes to observe it with great interest, eventually reaching a conclusion.
Whether judging by the craftsmanship or the method and the aura of the curse it emitted, it was definitely made by a professional.
"I'm afraid the price won't be very cheap." Kisaragi Chiyo gently set the cursed doll down on the table.
"Is this really what we should be focusing on?" Matsuda Jinpei stared at the little figure on the table with a look of displeasure, but when he saw Kisaragi Chiyo's expressionless face, his gaze shifted into one of frustration at someone's perceived lack of potential.
"Just burn it directly." Hara Kenji's decisiveness was quite strong; he didn't even give Kisaragi Chiyo a chance to speak. The second his words fell, he picked up the cursed figurine and walked straight toward the kitchen.
With a click, the gas stove's flame ignited, the body of the curse doll, wrapped in white cotton rope, quickly turned to ash within the blue flames.
"It's no use." Kisaragi Chiyo leaned against the doorframe, tilting her head as she looked at Hara Kenji. Even after the other man had burned the cursed spirit, that cold, sinister cursed aura had not dissipated.
This kind of curse cannot be resolved unless the caster is found.
"Listen to me first." Kisaragi Chiyo was truly interested in Miki now, so rather than lifting the curse, he wanted to see exactly how the other person would choose to deal with him.
“How about we just go along with his wishes?” Kisaragi Chiyo said nonchalantly. He paused, then suddenly reached into his clothes and pulled a familiar cursed doll from his sleeve.
"No matter how many times it is destroyed like this, it will always come back." Kisaragi Chiyo lowered her eyes, staring at her own name written on the back of the little doll.
Upon seeing that the ink appeared to be made from some kind of animal blood, a trace of disgust flashed through the young man's eyes.
"So, why don't we just solve this problem once and for all?" Although she was quite interested in this curse, she had been constantly pestered by strange characters, any normal person would have grown tired of it by now, wouldn't they?
After figuring out the curse he was interested in and then dealing with Miki, that was Kisaragi Chiyo's plan.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Thanks for the support, my little angels! Mwah 030
Chapter 112
After returning, Kisaragi Chiyo did not forget to let her editor know.
Just a few dozen seconds after he sent the message, the other party called him.
"Morofushi-kun?" Kisaragi Chiyo hesitated for three seconds before pressing the answer button. In the brief silence, he heard a familiar voice laced with a light chuckle.
"Oboshima-sensei." After a brief hesitation, the other person still chose that form of address.
"It's me." Kisaragi Chiyo paused.
To be honest, although he and Morofushi Hiromitsu shouldn't exactly be considered strangers, they mostly chatted through messaging apps or email, rarely had moments where they needed to actually speak to each other.
"Are you feeling alright?" Perhaps it was an editor's innate restraint toward an author, or perhaps it was the rare moment of guilt felt by a novelist who was behind schedule.. In any case, even though it was just a voice call at this moment, Kisaragi Chiyo still felt a hint of nervousness.
It was like the tension of a teacher checking homework in class when your notebook, with not a single word written in it, is lying in your bag—that sense of apprehension at being suddenly called upon.
"Thanks to you, Oboshima-sensei," Morofushi Hiromitsu said in a light and friendly tone. When facing Kisaragi Chiyo, his attitude was as if he were facing an old friend he hadn't seen in many years.
"I'm completely recovered." The occasional throbbing in his heart had vanished entirely, his body had regained the temperature and flexibility a human should have.
This made Morofushi Hiromitsu realize that he had indeed survived as a human being.
"That is truly wonderful." Kisaragi Chiyo had no idea that her words perfectly coincided with his inner thoughts.
After expressing his greetings with complete sincerity, he changed the subject and raised another question to Morofushi Hiromitsu.
Do you still plan to continue being an editor after that?
Morofushi Hiromitsu's complex identity meant that he was destined not to exist forever as Kisaragi Chiyo's editor. Schrödinger's black box had already been opened, the cat that had successfully survived was destined not to stay in that small cardboard box forever.
I might return to my former profession afterwards." Morofushi Hiromitsu made no attempt to hide his intentions from Kisaragi Chiyo. "Although I have been very happy being your editor, Oboshima-sensei, I still plan to go back.
Returning to danger, returning to his friends.
As long as this choice is meaningful to you," Kisaragi Chiyo said in a calm voice. "Then go ahead and do it.
The two of them hadn't known each other for a very long time, but it wasn't a short time either. From the day Oboro Asagiri became an author under his command, Morofushi Hiromitsu had never stopped trying to figure out the person that Kisaragi Chiyo was.
Even if it was just a brief conversation, he would pull it out and analyze it several times whenever he was bored.