Nagisa returned to Trinity as soon as day broke. Given her status, she couldn't be away for too long. Since her visit to Schale was also an impulsive action, it was clear Trinity would become disorganized if she didn't return immediately. So, although regretful, Nagisa left a Tea Party invitation with Kenji so he could visit anytime, then returned to Trinity.
Kenji saw her off and went up to the office earlier than usual. When he opened the door and entered, the strong scent of paper and ink wafted over. He sniffed the odor pricking his nasal passages for a moment, then turned on the lights that were off and plopped down in his seat.
"......"
Kenji took a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth. It was from the second pack he hadn't given to Hayool.
When he lit the tip with his lighter, acrid smoke billowed up. Kenji sucked on the cigarette while glancing sideways out the window.
Unlike yesterday, today's sky was full of dark clouds. It looked like rain might pour down any moment. Although the sun had risen, the day was still dark. The people walking the streets all had unpleasant expressions. A gloomy day had that much power to drain people's energy.
"......Hoo."
Kenji parted his lips to exhale cigarette smoke, then leaned his head back and stared blankly at the ceiling. He held the cigarette in his left hand and repeatedly opened and closed the lid of the Zippo lighter with his right hand. The clear metallic sound slightly calmed his troubled mind.
The words he heard at dawn suddenly came to mind. Seia's death. The Arius pattern seemingly related to it.
If Arius was involved, Beatrice's influence would inevitably be at play. For Arius students, free will was essentially castrated. Long-term brainwashing and exploitation had stripped away their very selves and emotions. As long as Beatrice existed, they had to absolutely follow her commands forever.
Even if it meant murder.
"......Bitch."
Hoo.
Kenji exhaled and slammed the lighter lid shut. A harsh metallic friction sound rang out, and he raised his arm over his twitching eyelids. At that moment, the closed office door swung open.
"Are you he... Ugh! Wh, what is this smell?"
The person who entered wasn't Hayool. It was Yuuka, a girl with short navy blue hair tied to the side, neatly dressed. She contorted her face as she looked around, then spotted Kenji with a cigarette in his mouth and raised her voice.
"You, you! What are you doing?"
"......"
"Isn't that a cigarette?! Why are you smoking when you're not even an adult? No, more than that. Why are you smoking so brazenly in the office?!"
"......Why did you come?"
Kenji spat out the words in a sharp voice without realizing it. It was because his confused emotions spilled out directly. Yuuka flinched.
This shouldn't happen.
He immediately bit his lip tightly in regret, but words spoken couldn't be taken back. Yet he couldn't brazenly brush it off. Kenji sighed deeply and apologized to Yuuka.
"Sorry. Something bad happened, and my tone became harsh without me realizing."
"O, oh. No. But what bad thing happened?"
Kenji didn't answer. It meant he didn't want to talk about it. Yuuka quickly realized this and closed her mouth.
The time Yuuka had known Kenji wasn't that long. At most a few weeks. Even that involved no deep interaction, merely exchanging greetings or having official conversations. They had joked around and eaten together a few times, but those instances could be counted on one hand.
But that short time was enough for Yuuka to understand what kind of person Park Kenji was.
Despite his fierce appearance, Kenji had a playful personality. At least that's how Yuuka felt. He usually had an expressionless face with lifeless eyes, but when talking, he always wore a slight smile. His actions were relaxed, and his voice was full of confidence.
But the current Kenji was completely different from the one Yuuka knew. The shadows under his eyes, sunken pupils, and icy-cold expression made the atmosphere so chilly it was hard to believe this was the usual Kenji. It felt like if she approached carelessly, she might get cut without even realizing it.
"......You should air out the room before the Teacher comes. And if you're going to keep smoking, go up to the roof."
In the end, Yuuka didn't scold Kenji any further and opened the closed window as she spoke.
"......Right. Sorry."
Kenji exhaled a long breath while looking at the ceiling, then put the cigarette back in his mouth and left the office. Since he wasn't wearing the cast due to discomfort, there were no restrictions on his movement.
Ignoring the throbbing pain in his shoulder, he went up to the roof and leaned against the railing. The gloomy sky wasn't enjoyable to watch at all, but he liked that the wind blew strongly since the day was chilly. Because he liked facing the wind. Too strong a wind made him grimace, but a moderate wind like now created the illusion of soothing his turbulent emotions.
"......Hoo."
He stared blankly down at the buildings below, then let out a weak laugh. As he did so, a sense of self-loathing suddenly bloomed.
What right do I have to mourn Seia's death? I couldn't even be by her side when she was struggling, and I left after hurting her until the very end.
What right do I have.
-Crack.
The railing Kenji was holding onto crumbled under his grip. His body leaned forward slightly. The cigarette in Kenji's mouth fell down below the building. He watched the falling cigarette blankly, then pulled away from the railing.
And muttered in a low voice.
"......I'm sorry."
According to Nagisa, Seia's body hadn't been found yet, so perhaps she might still be alive and not dead. But if she really died. If she became someone he could never see in this world again. Even if she couldn't hear it, wouldn't it be okay to leave one last word for her?
"Later, when the time comes, let's meet. Then let's not drift apart."
Just as he muttered that, Kenji's smartphone vibrated. He wiped away his flowing tears and took out his phone to check the caller's name. But after checking, Kenji's face crumpled violently.
[Caller Number Restricted]
It was the first time receiving a call like this. Kenji hesitated briefly but then carefully answered the call. He didn't know who it was, but the fact that they made such a call meant they were no ordinary person. It could be the Black Suits, Maestro, Golconda, or Decalcomania. Perhaps Beatrice found out his number and called,
If it was Beatrice, could he suppress his current emotions and converse calmly? He couldn't be sure. To draw out information by guiding the conversation as much as possible, he shouldn't let emotions take over, but Kenji felt like he could go mad wanting to kill Beatrice right then and there. He had no confidence in suppressing and controlling his emotions.
But he had to do it. Whether it was Beatrice or not. He couldn't ignore a suspicious call that suddenly came. It might seem like overthinking, but it was worth trying. There was no loss on his side.
"......Hello."
Thus, Kenji slowly opened his mouth. He waited for the other's response while repeatedly opening and closing the Zippo lighter's lid. It was a new habit he'd developed when concentrating.
"......?"
But no matter how long he waited, no answer came back. Thinking the call might have disconnected, he checked the screen, but the call was still connected. Kenji frowned slightly and sent his voice through the receiver once more.
"Hello."
[......Ah.]
A short voice came through. But it was too brief and quiet to even distinguish whether it was male or female. It seemed less like a voice being modulated and more like the phone was placed too far away. Kenji forcibly swallowed the rising sigh and opened his mouth one last time.
"Who is this?"
[......Is, is it truly you, I wonder?]
This time, a proper voice came through.
It was a familiar voice. A voice he could never forget.
Kenji's face was colored with shock.
[Ke, Kenji? Is it really you?]
"......Seia?"
[Ah, ahh......]
A choked sound came from the other side of the smartphone. That voice was also so familiar that Kenji widened his eyes, his lips trembling faintly. Meanwhile, Seia's voice continued to resonate.
[Two years. A full two years it's been. Since I heard your voice. Where on earth have you been and what have you been doing that you wouldn't show your face to me even once! Do you, do you have any idea how much I've worried about you!]
"Wai, wait a moment. I have something to ask."
Kenji managed to open his mouth while regulating his ragged breathing. This absolutely had to be clarified.
"Is this perhaps a call from heaven?"
[......Are you joking even in this situation?]
"S, so you're really Seia?"
[Where in the world would there be a fake Seia, you!]
"Huh...!"
Kenji inhaled sharply and pressed the smartphone tightly against his ear.
"Did you return from heaven?!"
[Didn't I tell you not to joke!]
Seia shouted while choking back tears.
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