ANOTHER FILES – THE TREE OF DECEIT
epilogue

Ishii walked to that shrine.

He looked at the towering tree of deceit. There was still a hazy feeling deep in his chest.

‘Ishii-san.’

Ishii turned around at the voice and saw Yak.u.mo standing there.

He was the one who had called Ishii here today.

"H-h.e.l.lo.’

"What lovely weather.’

Yak.u.mo turned his narrowed eyes towards the clear sky.

"Ah, yes.’

"How was the aftermath of the incident?’ said Yak.u.mo.

He had probably called Ishii out because he wanted to know about what happened after the case, but –

"To be honest, it is a rather difficult voyage.’

Though Yuuko and Matsuda had both honestly confessed, that was troublesome.

They had to explain the case while excluding the spiritual phenomena as well as disclosing the incident ten years ago.

If the press stuck their noses in, they would probably make a fuss, saying that the investigation had been negligent.

"I see…’ said Yak.u.mo disinterestedly, running a hand through his messy hair.

For a while after that, he didn’t say anything.

He looked up at the tree of deceit expressionlessly.

"Excuse me…’ said Ishii, unable to bear it, and Yak.u.mo turned his straight gaze towards him.

An unfaltering gaze that saw right through to the bottom of his heart –

"Ishii-san, do you remember when Mochizuki-san started bullying you?’

The question that came out of Yak.u.mo’s mouth was completely unexpected.

"No, not clearly…’

He wasn’t playing dumb. He really didn’t remember.

Before he’d noticed, the bullying had started.

"Ishii-san, it seems like you drew a manga when you were a student, correct?’

"W-why do you know…’

Just as Yak.u.mo said, Ishii had drawn a manga when he was a student. He had even thought about becoming professional when he grew up. In the end, his father had crushed his dreams, and Ishii had given up.

The problem was why Yak.u.mo knew that.

"I heard from Mochizuki-san.’

"Eh?’

"It seems like he wanted you to show him the manga you drew, Ishii-san, but you refused. Do you remember?’

"No…’

The moment Ishii said that, the memories he had shut away came back all at once.

He didn’t remember when it was, honestly. The cla.s.sroom after school. Ishii had been about to go home when Mochizuki called out to him.

– I hear you’re drawing a manga?

– Ah, no, not really…

– Let me see.

Mochizuki reached towards Ishii’s hand.

– No!

Ishii refused and ran away.

He had been sure that Mochizuki would make fun of the manga he drew.

At that time, Ishii had been closed off to everybody. He felt like everyone around him made fun of him.

Because of his lack of confidence, that was the only way he could think.

"Mochizuki-san actually wanted to be friends with you, Ishii-san,’ Yak.u.mo said.

’T-that’s…’

"But you refused him.’

"It was my fault…’

"That’s not true.’

Yak.u.mo denied it immediately.

"But…’

"Being refused does not make bullying acceptable.’

’…’

"It’s sad. Even though you might actually have been able to understand each other, because of a slight crossing of paths, you ended up hurting each other.’

Ishii nodded.

He had never tried to understand Mochizuki before.

To Ishii, Mochizuki was an object of hatred – he had become somebody Ishii could not forgive.

"If I had tried to understand him, maybe he wouldn’t have bullied me.’

"That can be said for both of you.’

"Is that so?’

"Human relationships are never one-sided… and there are people who will bully others without a reason.’

"How difficult,’ murmured Ishii.

"Did you hear him?’ asked Yak.u.mo.

"Eh?’

"Mochizuki-san said “Thank you” to you, Ishii-san.’

– Thank you?

Ishii didn’t understand.

"I didn’t do anything worth thanking for…’

"He probably meant “Sorry” by that,’ Yak.u.mo said with a cool expression.

However, Ishii felt both were wrong. The truth was –

"Shall we go?’

After saying that, Yak.u.mo started to walk.

"Ah, yes,’ replied Ishii. He ran after Yak.u.mo, but he stopped before the stone steps and turned around.

The tree of deceit stood beneath the blue sky –