1

"A family... ... of five?"

Although she was preparing breakfast in the kitchen with Reiko, Midori was the only one who was summoned to go to the living room. That was what she heard there.

"We only have this piece of information," Naru bluntly answered. "I"m only asking if you heard any rumors that imply that something like that happened in the past."

"No," Midori shook her head. "I haven"t. I heard from Sasakura-san that someone committed suicide here. -- It"s only that."

"Wasn"t the neighbourhood concerned?"

"No," Midori said and sighed. "Then the mother of that family is the one possessing my mother, isn"t she?"

"That seems to be the case."

"This morning mother talked like a child. What does that mean? Could it be that even the murdered boy possessed her?"

"Rather than possessed, I think she"s being used as a window of communication. -- At any rate, once our partner arrives your mother"s possession will be removed."

"When will he be here?" Midori said and Naru looked up at the clock on the wall. It was nearly seven o"clock.

"He said he will be here as soon as he"s done with his other work, which should be soon."

"I see," Midori disentangled her entwined fingers. "Please take care of us. ... ... I will stay at home too."

"Please do that. I think it"s better if Midori-san also takes some rest."

"Yes. -- Is the child I saw also that child? Is the one I saw in the bathroom the criminal?"

"I don"t know the details, but the potential seems high. This is still under investigation."

"Yes," Midori nodded, and at that moment she could hear the sound of the chime.

"That must be him."

The one behind the door was a blond boy.

Both Naru and Lin looked like j.a.panese, but weren"t j.a.panese. Midori who imagined something similar for the person named John, was bewildered.

Blond hair and blue eyes. Wearing black, clerical clothing. After making a bright smile, he politely bowed his head.

"I"m sorry about visiting so early in the morning. Is this the house of Agawa Midori-san?"

While even more bewildered, Midori instantly replied.

"I had Shibuya-san introduce you to me. My name is John Brown."

"Ah, yes ... ... Yes, I heard."

Midori pulled herself together and smiled.

"Is that so?" John smiled and bowed his head again. "Please take care of me."

"Likewise," she replied. While bowing her head, Midori stifled her laughter. So this is what Mai was telling her about.

"-- Ah, Shibuya-san."

John bowed towards someone behind Midori"s back.

"Long time no see. How have you been?"

Naru gave a rare wry smile.

"I"m fine. -- I"m sorry for having you come here so early in the morning."

"I don"t mind."

"Please come in," Midori invited John inside. Reiko had left the dining room at that moment and widened her eyes when she saw John.

"Good mornin". Please bear with me for the trouble so early in the morning."

After John said that, he also bowed his head to her. Reiko tried to stifle her laughter as well.

"Not at all. -- Please, stand upright. Breakfast is ready, will you eat with us?"

"Really. I came at the right time. Thank you."

Unable to put up with it any longer, Reiko let out a laugh. In the end, Midori laughed as well following this. Blue eyes turned to look at Midori. Midori swallowed her laughter in a fl.u.s.ter.

"... ... I beg your pardon."

"Please don"t worry over me. I"m sorry for my weird way of talking. Please, there"s no need to hold it in, just laugh."

Reiko chuckled out loud.

"If breakfast is done, I will pour you tea. -- Please come in."

"Please, if it"s no problem," John said, and looked at Naru. "Leaving that aside, Shibuya-san. Please tell me about the situation."Back to Chapter 10.5 | Forward to Chapter 11.2
Notes
John’s way of speaking j.a.panese is a bit... odd. He uses Kansai dialect on top of that, which makes for a strange combination along with his appearance. Secondly, I noticed that he bows a lot here and I’m guessing that he’s overdoing it. However, I’m not a bowing expert, so I personally wouldn"t know. Just my observation. ¯_(ツ)_/¯