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.
"I come bearing groceries!" she happily calls out, setting the paper bags on the kitchen counter. Mr. Takahashi moves quickly, positioning his body to shield me and Haruko from Ayano. Anger flashes across his expression. Ayano looks up at us, and I pull Haruko closer to my chest, setting her bottle down on the desk. Her eyes dart between the two of us, a look of confusion on her face. "What's wrong?" she asks.
Mr. Takahashi presses his lips together in a firm line, refusing to say anything. I attempt to speak, but the words simply won't come. All I can do is hold Haruko tighter, shielding her from the woman who abandoned her. Ayano looks back and forth between me and Mr. Takahashi, before finally landing on Haruko. Realization dawns on her, and her confused expression melts into coldness.
"So, you finally figured it out." Her voice is so different. It's monotone and cold - nothing like the Ayano I know, who was warm and friendly. "I'll be honest... I expected Kōichi, bright and investigative as he is, to figure it out faster than that." Her gaze flicks up to me. "Unless it was Chie who figured it out..."
The look on my face must give it away immediately, because Ayano tilts her head back and laughs. "In that case, I underestimated you, little Miss Kuriyama. I never thought the little art school grad, the wannabe curator, would be smart enough to figure out such a complicated mystery."
"Don't speak to Miss Kuriyama that way," Mr. Takahashi hisses, stepping towards Ayano. Ayano takes a step back, holding her hands up in a placating gesture.
"Now, now, don't get so worked up, Kōichi," she says, a playful edge to her tone.
"And don't call me that," Mr. Takahashi continues. "Show some respect."
Ayano feigns a look of hurt at Mr. Takahashi's words. "C'mon, now, Kōichi, I thought we were friends."
"Not anymore."
Ayano's lips curve up into a malicious smile. "So sensitive, Mr. Takahashi. Didn't I once tell you that you should stop blindly trusting people like you do? It's not my fault you didn't heed my warning."
Mr. Takahashi clenches his fists, stepping towards Ayano again. I reach forward and place a hand on his shoulder, pulling him back. "Mr. Takahashi, don't," I say quietly.
"You should listen to your little girlfriend, Mr. Takahashi," Ayano teases. "It will be best for you if I leave this encounter unscathed."
"What do you mean?" Mr. Takahashi says, his voice rising in volume. Ayano simply nods her head towards the door. Mr. Takahashi and I turn towards the door to see Mr. Suzuki standing there... with a gun in his hand.
***
All I can do is watch helplessly, clutching Haruko to my chest, as Ayano binds Mr. Takahashi's hands and feet to the desk chair. Mr. Suzuki keeps the gun pointed at my head. Haruko begins to cry quietly, and I gently rock her, attempting to quiet her down.
"Mr. Suzuki, your business is with me," Mr. Takahashi says. I can tell he's trying to hide his fear as he speaks. "Leave Miss Kuriyama out of it."
Mr. Suzuki laughs maniacally. "You see, I could, Mr. Takahashi. But then I wouldn't have any leverage against you. Miss Kuriyama is my insurance."
Mr. Takahashi levels his gaze at Mr. Suzuki. "If you hurt her, I swear on my life that you will never get what you want from me. You can tie me up, you can torture me, you can threaten to kill me, but I will never talk."
Ayano swiftly kicks him in the shin, causing him to hiss in pain. "Just give Mr. Suzuki what he wants, and we have no reason to hurt either of you," she says.
"And what, exactly, does Mr. Suzuki want?" Mr. Takahashi asks, frustrated.
Mr. Suzuki flashes a wicked smile. "I want you to confess to your crimes, Mr. Takahashi."
Why is he so obsessed with the case of the missing student? I think.
Mr. Takahashi sighs. "I know you believe I'm to blame for that student running away. Let me tell you the whole truth. Perhaps then you'll be able to lay to rest your obsession with your missing brother."
Missing brother? I think. Haruko's starts to cry louder, drawing Mr. Suzuki's attention away from Mr. Takahashi.
"Can you get that thing to stop crying?" Mr. Suzuki shouts at me. "I can't think straight when it's making so much noise."
"She's hungry," I retort. "She needs her bottle, but it's on the desk over there."
He sighs, keeping the gun leveled at my head. "Fine. Grab the bottle. But don't try anything."
I carefully make my way over to the desk, turning my back to him. As I grab Haruko's bottle, I notice my cell phone sitting on the desk where I had left it. Before I could stop myself, I grabbed it off the desk, sliding in between Haruko and I so Haruko's body hid the phone from Ayano and Mr. Suzuki.
I turn back towards Mr. Suzuki, but his attention has already shifted to Mr. Takahashi. Ayano is leaning against the counter, staring at the two of them as if holding people hostage bored her to death. Holding the bottle up to Haruko's mouth, I carefully manage to get a hold of the Yokohama police department on speed dial. I turn the call volume all the way down so Mr. Suzuki and Ayano won't hear it, and then continue to feed Haruko.
I look up at Mr. Suzuki. He's yelling at Mr. Takahashi to confess to something, but I'm not sure what. "Mr. Suzuki," I say cautiously. "Please, stop this. No one needs to get hurt."
"And no one will get hurt, if you all cooperate," Ayano says coldly.
"If you shoot me, everyone will hear the gunshot," I continue. "We're on the third floor of the Yokohama apartment complex. People will come running as soon as they hear a gun go off. You'll be caught and go to jail."
"I don't care!" Mr. Suzuki shouts. "All I want is justice for Ryō!"
Mr. Takahashi gives me a knowing look before turning to Mr. Suzuki. "You won't get any justice for your brother from jail."
"Mr. Suzuki," I carry on, "everyone knows Takahashi Kōichi in apartment number 301."
Ayano gives me a suspicious look, but doesn't say anything. I ignore her. "If they hear the yelling or a gunshot, they will come to check on him. You'll be caught and then, like Mr. Takahashi said, there will be no justice for Ryō."
I send a silent prayer to whatever higher power might be out there. If we make it out of here alive, it will be a miracle. All I can do now is wait.
I turn my attention to Ayano as Mr. Suzuki interrogates Mr. Takahashi. "Ayano..." I say, not sure where to start. She turns towards me, her expression stone cold. I take a deep breath before continuing. "Why? Why are you doing all of this? Why would you abandon Haruko, only to then help us take care of her and look for her parents? Why are you helping Mr. Suzuki right now?" I blink back tears, unwilling to let Ayano see me cry. "Was any of this real?"
Ayano looks away, pursing her lips. Something flashes across her expression for a split second - Sympathy? Regret, maybe? - before melting back into disinterest. "I didn't plan on ever being a part of Haruko's life again," she says, her tone full of boredom. "After my daughter passed away, I couldn't bear to raise another. But then you showed up, right next door... and well, I couldn't help my curiosity." She shifts her gaze to Mr. Suzuki and Mr. Takahashi. "And besides, I had a job to do. I had a role to play. Haruko just happened to become a part of that."
"What job?" I ask, exasperated.
"I was hired to become Mr. Takahashi's neighbor and to gather information for Mr. Suzuki. I had to pretend to be his friend." Her voice is nonchalant, as if lying to someone for months and assisting in a hostage situation was a normal occurrence.
"You're insane," I say, hugging Haruko to my chest, as if that could protect her from her mother.
Ayano gives me a thoughtful smirk. "Perhaps. Although, I prefer to think of myself as driven."
My attention is drawn away from Ayano as I hear Mr. Suzuki yelling once again. He's hysterical, calling Mr. Takahashi a liar. Mr. Takahashi, on the other hand, is keeping his tone calm - but I know him well enough to see that he's struggling to keep himself from getting too emotional. He is gently explaining to Mr. Suzuki what happened with Ryō and the article he wrote about the bullying ring at Ryō's school. Mr. Suzuki runs his hand through his hair, looking distraught. The hand holding the gun is shaking now, and it's barely even pointed at me anymore.
"Mr. Suzuki, I've never tried to make excuses for myself," Mr. Takahashi says. "My article resulted in a tragedy, but I've never regretted writing it." Mr. Takahashi takes a steadying breath. "If I'd discovered Ryō's intention to run away that day, I'd have never left his side. I would have made sure he got the help he needed. And for that, I am tremendously sorry." Mr. Takahashi hangs his head, and I can see the emotions warring on his face.
"I was planning on taking Ryō on a trip with me during his summer vacation as soon as I returned to Japan," Mr. Suzuki says wistfully. He smiles to himself, but it's bittersweet and anguished. "How can I not hate you? I've dreamed of making the culprit pay for a long time. I wanted you to be humiliated and spat on by everyone, to suffer the same pain as Ryō. I wouldn't sleep soundly again until I knew you were rotting behind bars!"
Mr. Takahashi keeps his head down. He doesn't say a word. I realize that he's not going to defend himself. I can't help but speak up.
"Mr. Suzuki, Mr. Takahashi didn't sit on the sidelines. He's never stopped paying the price for what he wrote," I start. "He's been living with guilt and pain every single day, and he shouldn't have to." Mr. Suzuki is too distracted to even aim the gun at head anymore. His hand hangs limp at his side, as if he's forgotten it was even there.
I glance at Ayano for a second. She still looks bored, but also annoyed. She notices me and glares at me. "Wataru, can we speed this up?" she asks. "I don't have all day."
I cut in before Mr. Suzuki can speak again. "It sounds to me like Mr. Takahashi's not the only one to blame here. It sounds like it was those bullies who truly harmed Ryō and the other victim. It also seems like Mr. Takahashi was the only one who lent a helping hand when Ryō was at his lowest."
Mr. Takahashi looks up at me in surprise. Although he doesn't say anything, I can see the gratitude on his face.
Suddenly, the door bursts open, and several Yokohama police officers burst into the apartment. "Suzuki Wataru, drop the gun and put your hands up!" Mr. Suzuki turns around, surprised. But he drops the gun easily, raising his hands in defeat.
As the police put handcuffs on him, Ayano's expression morphs into faux gratitude. "Thank goodness you're here!" she exclaims. "I was so scared, I thought he was going to kill us all-"
Before she can continue, another officer grabs her arms and cuffs them behind her back. "Eguchi Ayano, you're under arrest for assisting the kidnapping of Takahashi Kōichi and Kuriyama Chie." Ayano tries to protest, but they're already escorting her out of the apartment.
A third officer is working on undoing Mr. Takahashi's bonds as they drag Mr. Suzuki and Ayano away. As soon as he's free, I run forward and fling myself into his warm embrace. He's trying his best to appear calm, but his eyes give away his emotions. He holds me tight, as if he's afraid I'll disappear if he lets go. I bury my head in his chest, blinking back tears. We're okay. We're going to be okay.
***
Mr. Takahashi takes a cigarette out of the pack in his pocket, followed by a lighter. I quickly snatch the cigarette out of his hand, throwing it out the open window next to us. He looks up at me in surprise. "C'mon, Chie, I think I've earned one after today."
"You promised me you would quit," I say sternly. "And you put me in charge of holding you to your promise. Do you really intend to make a liar of yourself, Mr. Takahashi?"
He sighs, placing the pack of cigarettes on the windowsill. "Quick, take them before I change my mind." He closes his eyes as I throw the pack out into the rain and close the window. He groans, flopping face down onto his bed. "Why do you hate me?"
"I don't hate you," I say, sitting on the edge of the bed next to him. "In fact, I like you so much, I want you to live long enough to see my dream of becoming an art curator come true."
Mr. Takahashi rolls onto his side, propping his head up with his arm. "Honestly, after all this, I thought you might abandon that dream to become a professional journalist."
"I think I'll leave the journalism to you, Mr. Takahashi," I laugh. "I've had enough of mysteries for now."
Mr. Takahashi's expression is unreadable as he stares at me for a while. Finally, he smiles, saying, "You're going to be an amazing curator, Chie."
I raise an eyebrow at him. "You don't usually call me by my given name, Mr. Takahashi. What's going on?"
He lowers his gaze, biting his lip to suppress a smile. I notice a slight tint of red to his cheeks. Is he blushing? "I just thought... We've known each other for a while now. We don't have to be so formal all the time. We're... we're friends now." He hesitates on the word "friends."
"So... does that mean I can call you Kōichi then?" I ask, smiling at him. He can't hide his smile this time, and the redness on his cheeks is much more intense than before. He's definitely blushing.
"Yeah, I'd like that," he says quietly. Suddenly he sits up on the bed, his expression slightly troubled. "Chie, can I tell you something?"
"Of course," I reply.
He presses his lips together, his expression contemplative. "I honestly thought I was going to lose you today." His hand is shaking, and it seems like it's taking him a lot of effort to keep his voice level. "I thought that even if I gave him everything he wanted, he might still kill you, just to get back at me."
"Kōichi, I thought he was going to kill you," I retort. "He never wanted me, he was just using me to get a confession out of you."
"I know but-" He stops to take a breath. "I was just so afraid that if I did or said the wrong thing, he would kill you for it." He meets my gaze, placing a gentle hand over mine. "And I couldn't bear the thought of losing you, especially without telling you how I feel..."
My heart skips a beat. Kōichi squeezes my hand. I've never seen him look this vulnerable before. "Chie..." he says, his voice tender. "I think I'm falling in love with you."
My head is spinning. Did I hear him right? Did he really just say that, or am I imagining all of this? The feel of his hand on mine is the only thing keeping me grounded as my thoughts run rampant in my mind.
I twist my hand to lace my fingers through his. His eyes flick down to look at our hands. A hint of a smile appears on his face, one that he's quick to conceal. I can only manage to whisper, but my words are still clear. "I'm falling in love with you, too, Kōichi."
His face lights up with an almost childlike glee. "Really?" he asks, searching my face for any sign that I might be lying to him. I laugh, brushing a stray lock of hair out of his face.
"Really." His blush deepens, and he looks away from me in embarrassment. I can't help but giggle at how cute he looks.
He meets my eyes again, his gaze intense. He hesitates for a moment before speaking. "Chie, would it... would it be okay if I kissed you?"
I smile. "Of course."
He cups my face and pulls me in for a gentle but short-lived kiss. As he pulls away, I grab the collar of his suit jacket, tugging him back. "No," I whisper gently, brushing my lips over his again. His hand falls to the small of my back, pulling me closer to him.
"I love you," he whispers against my lips in between kisses.
I smile, drawing back from him slightly. "I love you, too."
And in that moment, I know everything will be alright. I don't know how, I don't know when, but I know that, no matter what, I'll always have him. And as long as we have each other, everything will be okay.