Chapter 105: The Breaking Silence

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

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When I returned home, not even the hallway light was turned on. Once again, no one was waiting for me.

I took off my shoes and casually draped my suit jacket over the back of a chair. The sensation was the same as always, but today it felt strangely heavy.

Fatigue from the day dragged down my entire body. My steps were slow, and even the short distance from the entrance to the study felt long. I opened the study door and fumbled for the light switch. The moment the light illuminated the room, what caught my eye was—photos covering the entire wall.

Girls of various ages, hairstyles, and outfits. Some were smiling, others stared at the camera with blank expressions. All of them were part of my special collection, known only to me.

As I glanced at them, I felt no emotion. I simply walked forward in silence and stood before my desk.

I threw the mail I picked up at the entrance onto the desk. Loosening my tie, I rotated my neck as if to release the tension. I brewed some instant coffee and picked up the steaming cup.

As part of my routine, I grabbed the remote control and turned on the TV.

“—This is a breaking news update.”

The announcer’s voice played, and a news ticker ran across the screen.

“Emergency press conference: The author of ‘Two and One,’ Hajime Rangaku, reveals his true face.”

Suddenly, my hand stopped moving.

“…The author of that work…”

Without realizing it, the words escaped my mouth.

The novel that had become the talk of the town—”Two and One.”

I had never read it. I thought it was a waste of time. But if the author was the one who caused such a stir, I was curious to know more.

The screen switched, and the footage of the press conference filled the screen.

Then—

“—Today, I will officially reveal my true face. I am Hajime Rangaku.”

The camera showed the face.

In that instant, my body stiffened.

“…No way, …Hajime?”

I couldn’t believe it. The person on the screen was unmistakably Hajime Aizawa.

That boy—from the hospital.

That boy—who was liked by Miyabi.

That boy—who had what I longed for from the very beginning.

A woman named Hizaki held a microphone and cheerfully continued the introduction.

“Meet the young author who gained nationwide attention with his hit work ‘Two and One,’ Hajime Rangaku.”

I held my breath, staring at the screen. Hajime’s expression was as calm as always. Though he appeared nervous, he looked exactly the same as the face I had seen in that hospital bed.

But now, he appeared like an entirely different person. His face was filled with confidence. His outfit was well put together. And most importantly—he was broadcasting to the entire nation.

“In writing my new work, I couldn’t pretend to be someone I’m not…”

Hajime’s voice resonated through the room. It was a deep tone, yet firm and resolute.

My hands tensed. The coffee in my cup trembled slightly.

“This is… a story based on the diary of a certain girl.”

A diary?

What was he talking about?

“This girl was never found by anyone. So I… I wanted to leave her words behind.”

The room buzzed with the noise of reporters.

“Rangaku-san, who is this girl?”

“Is she based on a real person?”

“When did this happen?”

Amidst the barrage of questions, Hajime responded calmly, his eyes holding a quiet strength as if he knew everything.

“It’s purely fiction.”

He said this, but there was a certain certainty in the slight smile on his lips.

“However, the events this girl went through could happen in real life. In fact, even now, someone might be experiencing it.”

His eyes seemed to pierce through the screen, as if they were looking directly into my soul.

“She carried the loneliness of being misunderstood by those around her, and an incident occurred that changed her life forever. And the ‘certain person’ who triggered it all is still living freely today.”

I involuntarily tensed up.

“Of course, this is all a work of fiction.”

Hajime continued calmly.

“However, through writing this story, I hope to send a message to people in similar situations: ‘You’re not alone.'”

There seemed to be some hidden intent in his words. It felt as though he knew the secret that only I knew—like he had some kind of understanding of it.

“He’s bluffing… it’s just a trick.”

I muttered without thinking.

“There’s no way he’d have a diary like that.”

No, it was impossible. I was overthinking this. Hajime Aizawa knew nothing. He couldn’t know anything.

Just as I tried to convince myself of this, my gaze fell on a letter among the mail I had thrown carelessly on the desk.

It was a plain white envelope. But there was no name, address, or sender’s information written on it.

The only thing on the sender’s line was handwritten: “From a certain past girl.”

“Who…?”

I felt a sense of unease but my hand naturally reached for the envelope. I opened it and peered inside.

There was a single sheet of paper with just one sentence written on it.

“I will never forgive the mistake you made.”

My throat dried up.

And another thing. Along with the letter was a photograph—

A girl with an intense glare.

Her face bore a striking resemblance to Suz’s.

“…!”

My fingers loosened, and the photo fell to the floor.

At that moment, the door to my memories swung open.

Images of a distant summer day resurfaced in my mind.

It was hot, and two girls were resting under the shade of a tree in the park.

The knife I held in my hand.

“Follow me.”

My breathing became erratic. The sensation of the knife sliding in my sweaty palm.

Back then, without hesitation, I had shown the knife. Trembling with a sense of exhilaration I had never felt before.

The two girls tried to escape. The sharp sound of fabric tearing as I slashed at their dress. And—

“Run!”

Suddenly, Suz’s voice, shouting and running towards me.

The two girls ran away, but Suz—Suz alone stayed behind in my grip.

And then, the other girl, the one who had jumped in to save Suz, her face now merged with the girl in the photo that had fallen to the floor.

“She was… when we were little…”

I didn’t want to admit it, but it was undeniable. The face of one of the girls who had escaped back then, now slightly more mature, but it was definitely her.

And Suz… she was her sister.

“It can’t be…”

But it was possible.

Back then, I hadn’t known. That Suz and that girl were sisters. I never imagined that Hajime would know about it.

“Damn it!”

My vision turned red. In an instant, anger and fear took over my body.

With trembling hands, I picked up the photo that had fallen to the floor and slammed it onto the desk.

I grabbed the knife that I always kept leaning against the wall.

Without hesitation, I drove the blade into the photo.

With a sharp sound, the blade pierced the girl’s eye and sunk deep into the wooden desk.

“None of you…”

I turned my gaze back to the TV.

On the screen, Hajime, with his calm expression, continued to answer the reporters’ questions.

“As a writer, I hope my work can reach someone’s heart.”

Hajime spoke plainly. His unwavering gaze seemed to be directed only at me.

“He’s… after me…”

I clenched my teeth, my eyes burning with anger and fear. The handle of the knife dug into my palm.

“How dare he…”

On the TV screen, Hajime continued to speak with a calm smile, like a victor.

I glared at him with hatred, and I could feel madness slowly flickering in my own eyes.