Not a detective

Page 238

"Wait a minute," Kiri Aoi said quickly, "I want to go too."

Seeing them turn to look at her, she waved her hand and explained:

"I can't become a shikigami... but I still have fighting power."

Kirisame Aoi picked up the two knives that were placed against the wall and tucked them into her waistband.

Her strength was already formidable, and even now, it was no less than that of Chizuko. Moreover, she was prepared to draw "Ama-no-Kurakumo" once again for Asakawa Riku.

As long as Asakawa Riku can be saved, I'm willing to fight even in a hopeless battle.

However, this ignited fighting spirit was quickly dampened:

"Just stay here."

Chizuko said coldly, turning her head away, her hair tracing an arc, leaving behind a heartless silhouette: "What if the ward is attacked and something happens? Someone needs to guard it."

"I..." Before Kirisame Aoi could say anything, Chizuko led the other two out, leaving only a bang as the door slammed shut.

She gritted her teeth in resentment... Why didn't she even have a chance to try to atone for her sins?

Chizuko still hasn't forgiven him.

Kirisame Aoi gripped two knives, yet felt an unprecedented powerlessness, as if endless darkness was enveloping her from behind, devouring and gnawing at her heart.

Even more agonizing than Asakawa Riku lying in the hospital bed, Shinonome Suetsuki had her own way of protecting him, so why was she the only one who couldn't do anything?

This weakness and helplessness felt like returning to that summer three years ago, when in despair she could only watch as Asakawa Riku rushed up to protect her.

I've clearly shed blood and sweat to become stronger, so why can I only watch in the end?

Just when I was sinking into deep despair...

"Foggy rain".

A voice suddenly came from behind.

"I know...don't call me." Kirisame Aoi responded impatiently to the auditory hallucination; she had had enough of dwelling on the past. "I'll just be the same as I was back then..."

"Foggy rain".

However, that voice continued to call out.

It was a very familiar, gentle voice.

"Don't make me go back to the past... I've had enough... It was just a hallucination, right? What's the point... I can't go back anyway..."

Kirisame gritted her teeth, gripping the knife handle so tightly she felt as if she were about to bleed.

However, the voices behind it didn't stop; they just kept repeating:

"Foggy rain".

"...!"

Wu Yu Kui couldn't help but consider a possibility. She turned her head in surprise, her eyes widening and her pupils contracting:

“You…Asakawa…”

The boy in the hospital bed opened his eyes: "Hey, Kirisame, you didn't respond when I called you. Are you being arrogant? I thought you were seriously injured."

Winter of Man: Chapter Five - Promise

"You're awake...?!"

Kirisame Aoi quickly put down her knife and rushed to the bedside: "I'll go call them back... No, doctor, I'll call the doctor over first...!"

"No, no need." Asakawa Riku shook his head and said. At this point, he could only shake his head slightly, and there was no response from the body below his neck.

It's already a miracle that he can still speak; his trachea is still functioning normally...

Although his voice was hoarse, he forced himself to speak:

"I don't have much time left to be lucid, so don't go and call for help. Let me finish."

Asakawa Riku glanced at Shinonome Suetsuki lying on the hospital bed beside him. She had her eyes closed as if she were asleep and did not respond to his waking up.

He guessed that he and Moyue were now essentially in a state of "sharing a life," and if he regained consciousness, Moyue would inevitably fall into a coma.

If it goes on for too long, it will damage Mo Yue's body. Even an immortal ability user cannot suffer damage indefinitely.

So he decided to make the most of the time and get to the point:

"This is not your fault."

He knew that after the incident, Wu Yu Kui might blame herself and think that she was the culprit who caused all of this.

But that's not right.

“…Me.” Kiri Aoi paused for a moment, seemingly not expecting him to say that.

"This whole thing was my own doing. I went to find Asukai Shi myself, and even if I'm cut up like this, it's my own fault. How can you blame me? You just took me to that space at my request. You even tried to stop me, but you didn't succeed. You might as well hate Asukai Shi like Chizuko and the others."

What Asakawa Riku needs to do is to enlighten Kirisame Aoi and help her stop getting stuck in her own thoughts.

But this couldn't be done in just a few words, and Kiri Aoi's eyes dimmed again: "But..."

Upon hearing the name Chizuko, she was filled with guilt again, recalling the short girl with the coldness and ferocity in her eyes.

Is it really none of my business...? If it weren't for me... she would definitely hate me too.

"Think about it, if she really considered you an enemy, would she put an enemy in this important hospital room and let an enemy protect me who is lying in a hospital bed?"

Asakawa Riku smiled, as if he had overheard the conversation: "She entrusted you with such an important responsibility—protecting the rear—precisely because she trusts you."

"……this."

Wu Yu Kui was stunned; she had never thought of it in this way before.

Asakawa Riku explained:

"Chizuko is like this. Although she is a bit petty, she is not unreasonable. Sometimes she may say something harsh when she gets angry. Please bear with her."

"No... I understand..." Kirisame Aoi nodded vigorously. Regardless of whether this statement was true or not, at least Asakawa Riku's explanation warmed her heart.

It's as if just his voice can bring warmth and restore strength to people.

Even now that things have turned out like this... your first thought is still about other people's problems...

Kirisame wrinkled her nose slightly, gently stroking his hair, and said with concern, "Does it hurt like this? Should I give you some painkillers or something..."

She was the first to witness that bloody and cruel scene; her limbs had been severed, and the pain she endured was unimaginable.

Especially for a martial artist, this is undoubtedly a way to die that destroys their dignity. Even if they survive, they will have lost their legs and body, which they are so proud of.

It's unimaginable how much pain Asakawa Riku himself was in.

"It's okay, it doesn't hurt." Besides, I can't feel anything anymore. Asakawa Riku kept these words to himself, simply smiling.

"I've said my piece. My last sentence is just a request. Kirisame, I hope you will set off immediately and catch up with them."

Upon hearing this, Kirisame Aoi did not hesitate at all, picked up her knife again, and stood up.

"Want me to fight with you...? Okay."

That was her original intention, but Asakawa Riku's words reignited her fighting spirit.

The fact that he was able to wake up and was not completely in a vegetative state gave him great confidence and hope that he could recover.

Now Kirisame Aoi had no more worries. She was going to join Chizuko and the others in their revenge, whether they wanted to or not.

However, what Asakawa Riku said next was completely different from what she had imagined:

"No, I don't want you to fight." The head lying on the hospital bed could hardly make any violent movements, only his lips could open and close, but you could see the urgency in his eyes: "What I want you to do is to rush up, stop them, don't let them carry out any revenge plans, don't let them do anything stupid, stop them."

He repeated it twice.

"What……"

Wu Yu Kui was stunned, as if a blade that had just been drawn had suddenly been pushed back in.

"Kirisame, only you know who Asukai Uta is. Chizuko and the others don't understand anything. She's not someone you can challenge, nor is she someone you can face."

Asakawa Riku's eyes were calm, as if they contained both compassion and sorrow:

“That’s a power from another level, something from a completely different world. Even if it’s a god, it’s not a god at all… You have to understand, not all enemies have to be defeated… You absolutely cannot make contact with them. You must stop them, or they will all die. Only you can do it… Don’t let yourself, or them… die.”

His voice grew increasingly muffled and indistinct as he spoke, the jumbled words becoming almost inaudible.

Even when Kirisame pressed herself against him, she could only hear his murmured words and his rapidly beating breath.

You could even see his fingers trembling wildly, as if he was trying his best to grasp something, breaking through the boundaries of the phantom limb, almost struggling to lift it up.

If he could, he would definitely stand up and chase after them out of the room.

Now, Asakawa Riku can only entrust all of this to her.

"promise me."

"Asakawa...Asakawa...don't sleep...!"

Wu Yu Kui cried out in panic, but she didn't know how to keep him, nor did she dare to grab his body.

All that could be heard was the surrounding life monitoring instruments in complete chaos, emitting all sorts of sharp alarms, with the values ​​fluctuating wildly, as if performing a chaotic symphony.

Doctors and nurses rushed over from a distance, pushed aside the obstructing Kiri Aoi, and picked up instruments to prepare for further rescue.

Kirisame Aoi could only catch a glimpse of Asakawa Riku, who was now covered by a breathing mask again, through the backs of the doctors and across their shoulders.

Their eyes met again, as if they were reading the last two sentences:

"don’t worry."

"I will resolve this incident, and I will save everyone."

Winter of Man: Chapter Six Lu Chuanqian

My name is Lu Chuanqian.

This is a somewhat strange name. The "Lu Chuan" part is fine, but the "Qian" part always evokes negative connotations such as "shallow knowledge" or "lacking in learning and talent."

It's not a commonly used character in names. Even if the Five Elements are lacking water, there are many better characters that can be used to replace it. Why choose this particular character for the name?

My parents, however, said it meant "just scratching the surface," hoping I wouldn't be too obsessed with anything too profound, or achieve anything too great. Even if it was just a fleeting experience, it would be enough to make the most of my life's journey. In other words, they didn't have high expectations for me; they just hoped I would live an ordinary, happy life.

"Qian" here means relaxed. The parents are very open-minded, but also somewhat frustrating.

Since birth, my life has seemed to be bound to this word. I have not achieved anything spectacular, nor have I encountered any memorable events.

The family was an ordinary family, neither rich nor poor, and since they received pocket money, most students wouldn't have a clue how much money the family had.

Born in the city, I went to school as usual.

My academic performance wasn't outstanding, just above average. Although I got into a top high school, I was just coasting along. I tried really hard, but it seemed like I couldn't climb any higher.

People have said I was precocious since I was little, a child who caused my parents and teachers a lot of worry. I may be a little introverted, but I am very polite and my studies have never caused anyone any trouble.

I don't have any ambitions. I just want to study hard, get into university, and then slowly decide what to do next. Most kids this age are like that.

Growing up safely and peacefully, without any setbacks, and in good physical and mental health—that's pretty much what my parents expected of me, and I'm just following their lead.

"...Asa!"

A voice interrupted the pretentious high school student's rambling thoughts.

I turned around and saw the owner of that sweet voice, a girl with a bright smile.

She's the same age as me, but to me she's like the sun. She has a fair and delicate face with exquisite and beautiful features. Even without makeup, she's beautiful enough to be a model. Although she has short, student-style bob haircut, it makes her even cuter. Today, she's wearing a white dress and she lifted the hem of her dress and twirled around.

I heard she was taking ballet classes, but I didn't expect her to be this good.

"How is it? Doesn't it look good?"

Her delicate feet were clad in sandals rather than ballet shoes, and her taut calves were slender and graceful, making her look like a swan dancing in the night sky, as if all eyes were drawn to her.

"Stop showing off, sit down."

I felt my face getting hot, but I still forced myself to speak.

After she sat down opposite me, she still moved closer like a little fox and said slyly, "Hey... A-Qian, did you secretly drink? Why is your face so red?"

"You're wrong."

I cleared my throat forcefully and placed the menu in front of her: "Let's order, see what you want to eat."