Truth or Lie?

I stare at the photograph of the woman in the rain in astonishment, the pieces falling into place in my head. An audible gasp escapes me. All this time I was out searching for Haruko's mother, seeking out the person who was heartless enough to abandon a helpless child in the middle of a storm... and all along, the answer was right under my nose.

Mr. Takahashi rushes into the room upon hearing my gasp. "Miss Kuriyama?" he asks. I don't answer him. My hand is shaking now, tears blurring my vision of the photograph. "Miss Kuriyama," he repeats, "what's wrong?" My head is spinning. I open my mouth to speak, but my voice fails me.

Mr. Takahashi gently takes the photograph out of my hand, placing it on the desk in front of me. He kneels down next to me, placing his hands over mine to calm them. "Chie," he whispers. Hearing my name from his mouth takes me by surprise. I can't remember if he's ever used my given name before. "Chie, look at me." It takes all my strength to lift my head and meet his eyes. His expression is intense, filled with worry and care. "What's wrong?"

"It's Ayano." My voice is merely a whisper, but my words are unmistakable. Mr. Takahashi squints at me in confusion. I pick up the photograph again. "Ayano is Haruko's mother."

Mr. Takahashi jerks back in surprise, nearly tumbling onto the floor. He steadies himself, a look of horror replacing the worry that was there a moment ago. He's quiet for a long moment before asking, "Are you sure?"

"It all makes sense," I explain, attempting to keep my voice level. "She somehow knew the exact details of Haruko's abandonment, despite originally claiming to not have been anywhere around her when she was abandoned. Then, she convinces us that the wallet left in Haruko's basket must be connected to Haruko's parents in some way, sending us on a wild goose chase with a dead end." My words are coming out fast and frantic now. "Then when we ask about her attempt to steal the wallet on the first day, she confesses to robbing Mr. Kurokawa, but her story doesn't add up. She throws the wallet out the window of a moving train, but it just happens to land in Haruko's basket, perfectly placed?" I stop for a moment to catch my breath, and Mr. Takahashi encouragingly places his hands back on mine. "And I remember now. On the very first day, when she showed up at your door after I found Haruko, her hair and clothes were wet. Like she had been in the rain. And that look of surprise on her face when she saw me with Haruko... it wasn't a look of surprise because a strange woman was in your apartment with a baby. It was recognition."

Mr. Takahashi looks down, attempting to gather his thoughts. "And you're absolutely sure of this?"

"I wasn't, not at first," I reply. "I had a hunch, but nothing to prove it. But then, I found this again." I hold the photograph out to him, and he cautiously takes it from me. His eyes search the photograph, and I can see him going over every detail in his head. The woman standing in the rain in the middle of the street, a small baby in one arm, a familiar basket in the other. I point at the woman depicted in the picture. "I thought that white fur coat looked familiar to me. Now I know why."

Mr. Takahashi stares at the photograph, hurt and confusion and anger warring on his face. His tone is desperate as he speaks. "But why would Miss Eguchi take such an interest in Haruko if she was the one who abandoned her? Why would she feed her and change her diapers, even take her to the hospital when she was sick? It doesn't make sense!"

"That's the part I can't figure out." I stand up, pacing around the room. "Why would she take care of Haruko and pretend to help us find her parents when she was the one who abandoned her? Was it to throw us off so we wouldn't suspect her? Was it just a strange curiosity? That's the thing that doesn't add up."

Haruko begins to cry, waking up from her nap. I sigh, walking over to pick her up while Mr. Takahashi makes a new bottle for her. I'm just starting to feed her when the door suddenly opens, and Eguchi Ayano herself walks into the room.