[ HIATUS ] Crossroad 『Detective Conan』

Chapter 57 - Disagreement and insomnia

   -Thank you.
   Jinpei got out of her colleague's car and put out his cigarette. The way had been made in a heavy silence, even though Sato had tried to speak, whether by trying to question the man about what was happening or simply by talking about work. But nothing made him reply. He was preoccupied with something else, with this case in which Public Security had had to intervene to stop anyone asking questions.

   The policeman moved away from the vehicle and opened his own, getting in before starting off and driving away. Sato watched him do this before crossing her arms over the steering wheel and putting her head down.
   She wanted to understand. Just understand Jinpei's actions. What had happened, at least in part, to make it necessary for Public Security to get involved.
   With a sigh, she decided to start her car. She left the building's car park and was about to turn off when she spotted her colleague's car a little further on. She raised her eyebrows in puzzlement. This wasn't the way back to the police station.
   -Where is he going...
   After a quick thought, she sighed and decided to follow him.

   Jinpei stopped in front of the hospital. He got out of his car and headed straight for Yoko's room, already knowing the way there and back from his night's commute. He was starting to feel tired but it wasn't time to sleep. Maybe later.
    He entered the room and looked at the bed. Yoko had her back to the door, probably sleeping as she didn't seem to be reacting to his presence. This was also apparent from the rhythm of her breathing. It was rather reassuring.
    Despite everything, there was one less reassuring point, although it was understandable at the time: she hadn't eaten anything. When she was a little better, when she had recovered from the events, she would regain her appetite. Let's hope she recovers quickly.

   The man left the room to get a coffee. As he turned round, he came across Sato. She was standing just outside the room, arms crossed.
   -What are you doing here? He asked her immediately.
   -I should be asking you that... You were already here this morning, weren't you?
   Her voice was quiet for the moment. She wasn't trying to upset her colleague, just to get some answers.
   -It's none of your business, as I've already told you... grumbled the policeman.
   -Does the person you're going to see have anything to do with what happened?

   There was no reply. Again the silence, the man still not wanting to say anything. He was just about to go to the coffee machine.
   -Matsuda-kun. Yoko-chan is in this room, isn't she?
   Through his glasses, the man concerned looked surprised at his colleague, slightly annoyed.
   -Can't you just mind your own business? He replied in an angry, raised voice.

   The people around him turned towards the two policemen, who took no notice of this.
   -You could just explain to me why she's in hospital! I'm worried about her too! Sato shouted back.
   -I've got nothing to say to you! It's not up to me to decide if I have to explain to you why she's here and I have no reason to explain to you what happened last night!
   Jinpei looked at his colleague, both annoyed. The man couldn't tell about the strange Organisation. It didn't suit him either, to tell the truth, but there was nothing more he could do at the moment.
   As for Sato, she clenched her fists, annoyance written all over her face. There seemed to be nothing she could do to even know why the girl was in hospital. And that was annoying and worrying.

   -She's asleep now, so I'd advise you to leave her alone. Announced the policeman.
   He put his hands in his pockets and walked off down the corridors, still watched by the few people present. His colleague sighed and glanced at the room. Then she walked away with a sigh. She would check on the child later.

   Yoko curled up in bed. She couldn't sleep. She just couldn't. But she didn't want to worry anyone, so she was just pretending. She didn't want to move, she wasn't hungry. She just wanted to be alone.
   Unfortunately for the young girl, she was causing more trouble than she wanted to. She recognised Sato's voice. She'd heard her arguing with Jinpei just outside the door. It was her fault, because she'd made a mistake following this woman disguised as Akihiko.

   The words of this member of the Organisation... They echoed in the former schoolgirl's head like a song that was repeated over and over. A song that couldn't be stopped.
   It was her fault. It was her fault that Akihiko, Yosuke, Akahara and Asahi had been killed. It was her fault that she worried Jinpei and Sato. It was her fault that the two of them had quarrelled.
   Why wouldn't life let her die? Why did she always stay alive? She didn't deserve it. She had caused the death of several people. They didn't deserve to die. So why? Just why?

   Yoko dried her tears before curling up even more despite the pain.

   Night had fallen. Yoko was still in the same position, trying as best she could to take her mind off things.
   The corridors of the hospital were quiet. Sometimes there was the sound of something rolling in the distance. But otherwise it was quiet. Far too quiet for the young girl. The slightest sound of footsteps passing quickly in front of the room, the slightest voice was a source of stress. At any moment it could have been that blonde woman who had come to finish her off, having managed to find her a second time. But these noises quickly disappeared into the distance. And each time it was back to the eerie, nocturnal silence.

   It was the sound of something unknown rubbing against the wall that made the former schoolgirl sit up suddenly, gripped by fear. The footsteps preceding this loud noise continued to fade away. It was a false alarm. Apparently there was no danger.
   The injured girl sighed with relief and looked around. Her room, lit by the faint glow of the moon, was empty. The darkness was not reassuring. Yoko didn't want to be alone.

    She started to pick up her phone before stopping dead in her tracks. No. She mustn't bother Jinpei. His presence would be reassuring, but he needed to rest too. If she were to call him, it would only be in an emergency.
   And in her eyes, the feeling of fear and loneliness was not an emergency.