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墨書 Inktalez
At the end of December 2009,
Although Christmas was just yesterday, the streets were still filled with a strong festive atmosphere.
The red and white colors extended to the intersection of the third and fourth blocks of Sakuragaoka Town, with tiny yellow lights twinkling as they wrapped around the trees. In the fourth block, several streets were lined with large corporations.
Naoki Okamoto was hurrying towards Wadaya, a well-known traditional Japanese restaurant located on Sixth Street.
Sixth Street was famous for its luxury, with various shops showcasing their exquisite and glamorous appearances year-round, and the holiday season brought no extra decorations. Naoki Okamoto felt a sudden chill in the air and quickened his pace.
Crossing through a wooden round gate intricately carved with patterns, Naoki Okamoto skillfully made his way up to the second floor from the left side. The Okamoto Group had been performing exceptionally well lately, expanding into new fields and rapidly increasing its strength, with news of rising output frequently appearing in newspapers.
As the nephew of the company president, Naoki Okamoto had smoothly risen to the position of head of the Automobile Design Department in June. As usual, the year-end gathering for Okamoto Company was held a day after Christmas at Wadaya in Sakuragaoka Town's fourth block, but this year was somewhat special for Naoki Okamoto.
“Director, you’re here,” a group led by Jing Tai ran over from a distance, their expressions somewhat heavy as they nodded at Naoki Okamoto.
“Sorry for being a bit late. Have you all started yet?” Naoki Okamoto asked.
Jing Tai immediately shook his head. “Not yet; we’re waiting for you.”
He led Naoki Okamoto to one of the tables where the leaders of each group in the Automobile Design Department were seated. As soon as Naoki approached, they all stood up to greet him.
“How long do you plan to stay today?” Jing Tai scratched his chin and asked quietly, looking somewhat troubled. “About that matter over there…”
From the moment Naoki Okamoto stepped into the suite, he sensed that everyone was quietly discussing him. When Jing Tai spoke up, he felt even more acutely that all eyes were on him, waiting for his next response.
"I can only stay for about an hour, then I have to rush to the hospital. I've also made an appointment with the officer from the Investigation Division," Naoki Okamoto said.
"Ah... well then..." The people around him immediately showed expressions of understanding. Naoki Okamoto felt a mix of sympathy in their gazes, which made him uncomfortable. The mugicha on the table emitted wisps of steam, and he took a few sips, feeling warmth spread through his body.
After just half an hour, Naoki Okamoto found an excuse to leave early. He made his way to the café across from Zhongyang Hospital as agreed.
Looking around, Naoki Okamoto noticed that his companion had not yet arrived, so he ordered a cup of coffee and chose a seat in the corner. He anticipated that the upcoming conversation would not be pleasant, which darkened his mood further. The soft laughter from a couple at the neighboring table felt particularly jarring at that moment.
About ten minutes later, a middle-aged man in a gray long coat pushed open the door, causing the wind chime above it to jingle. He quickly walked over to the bench opposite Naoki Okamoto and sat down, signaling to the waiter for some black tea.
Naoki Okamoto took a sip of his coffee and sized up Kawaguchi Yuichi across from him.
Kawaguchi was lean but sturdy, with sun-kissed skin that looked very healthy. He habitually squinted his eyes, revealing a sharp gaze. He was quite close with Naoki Okamoto's father and was six years older than Naoki. Now he served as the head of the Criminal Investigation Division.
"Have you been to the hospital?" Kawaguchi asked in a low voice.
"Not yet. I'm planning to go later; Yukiho's condition has stabilized a bit," Naoki Okamoto replied.
"That's good." Kawaguchi drummed his fingers on the table as if contemplating how to start the conversation.
Naoki Okamoto didn't want to engage in small talk any longer and cut straight to the point: "Has there been any progress in the investigation?"
"I already know who the murderer is," Kankou said.
Naoki Okamoto was taken aback by the rapid progress, unable to respond immediately. Waves of excitement surged in his chest, and he urged Kankou to continue with his eyes.
"It's a young man in his early twenties named Miki Kazuya. His body was discovered today in the Morikawa Town Keiju District. It is suspected that he committed suicide in the early morning. We confirmed he was the murderer because there was a suicide note in his jacket pocket, and it seems there is no possibility of framing anyone else." Kankou explained.
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