Asai Narumi turned back and looked at Ran and Hoshimiya Yuu again.
"Ran, thank you."
She gave Ran, who was still tightly holding her, a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I will turn myself in properly. I won't run away anymore."
Ran looked steadily at Asai Narumi for a moment, then lowered her head, offering no reply.
"Mr. Hoshimiya, I don't know how to repay my debt to you for saving my life…"
"Don't worry about me interfering with your reunion with your family."
Hoshimiya Yuu pushed off his knees and stood up, interrupting her. "This is no place to talk. We need to leave first."
The memorial service had just ended, and many villagers who hadn't slept had started to notice the fire at the Community Hall.
By now, the closest villagers were almost arriving.
Regardless of whether Asai Narumi would turn herself in or attempt suicide again, leaving this place was the priority.
Hearing the growing noise in the distance, Asai Narumi silently nodded.
Ran, lost in thought, didn't respond but was led by Asai Narumi to follow Hoshimiya Yuu.
Avoiding the crowds rushing toward the fire, Hoshimiya Yuu led the two women back to Asai Narumi's house.
Except for Ran, his and Asai Narumi's clothes were torn, stained with blood and various smudges. They couldn't go back to the hotel, so the only viable location was Asai Narumi's home on Tsukikage Island.
Asai Narumi's house was a classic two-story, single-family home. The second floor had two bedrooms, and the first floor had the kitchen, bathroom, and living room.
Because the fire had woken up many villagers, to avoid being seen, the three of them chose to talk in Asai Narumi's room on the second floor instead of the living room.
Hoshimiya Yuu was exhausted and didn't care that his clothes were dirty, sitting down heavily on a chair.
"Mr. Hoshimiya, please sit. I'll see if there are any clothes here that suit you."
"Don't bother. Even if you have any, your size wouldn't fit me."
Hoshimiya Yuu waved his hand. "Go clean yourself up, change out of those clothes, and ideally, destroy them immediately."
Asai Narumi's clothes had the blood of Nishimoto and Tatsuji Kuroiwa on them, and they were also torn by the fire. Destroying them immediately was the simplest and most efficient course of action.
Asai Narumi didn't understand why she had to destroy the clothes, as she had already planned to turn herself in.
Nevertheless, she obediently agreed.
After Asai Narumi went to bathe and change, Ran returned to the hotel alone.
The sudden panic earlier had interrupted her plan to shower, and after all the running around, she was sweaty and her clothes were dirty.
Now was a good time to go back to shower and change, and bring back a change of clothes for Hoshimiya Yuu.
After Ran brought the clean clothes, Hoshimiya Yuu also took a shower.
After showering, his fatigue completely set in. He truly wanted to fall asleep immediately, but things weren't over yet…
Upstairs, in Asai Narumi's bedroom.
Asai Narumi sat in a seiza-like position at the foot of the bed.
Hoshimiya Yuu leaned against the headboard, sitting cross-legged opposite her.
Ran was situated between the two, sitting on the side of the bed.
"Dr. Asai, did you destroy the clothes?" Hoshimiya Yuu asked, struggling against his sleepiness.
"Yes." Asai Narumi nodded somewhat self-consciously. "I shredded them, burned them to ash, and flushed the ashes down the drain."
Hoshimiya Yuu looked at Asai Narumi in surprise. This method of destroying evidence is pretty good.
Even he couldn't have done better in such a short amount of time, yet Asai Narumi had instinctively and perfectly disposed of the criminal evidence on her first try.
Looking at the gentle and fragile-looking beautiful doctor in front of him, Hoshimiya Yuu couldn't help but feel a little dazed.
After showering, Asai Narumi's makeup was gone.
Without the gender-neutral makeup she used to conceal herself, her lovely, soft face and delicate features were fully revealed.
Combined with her slender and graceful figure, she looked like a beautiful young college student at a glance.
"Mr. Hoshimiya…"
Asai Narumi's cheeks were slightly flushed, and she twisted uncomfortably.
After her shower, she had put on her nightgown.
She hadn't thought anything of it when she was alone, but now, sitting across from Hoshimiya Yuu, she realized how revealing her light blue, semi-sheer nightgown was.
Even though she had deliberately worn a bra and panties, every time their eyes met, she still felt completely exposed.
She was immensely shy inside, yet not angry; instead, she seemed a little happy.
Asai Narumi didn't know why she felt this way, nor did she know how to face this unfamiliar emotion.
She could only softly call out Hoshimiya Yuu's name, attempting to divert his attention.
Hoshimiya Yuu was unfazed. He was half-dead from exhaustion and had risked so much. What was wrong with rewarding his eyes now?
This didn't even count as interest!
"That was very well done."
While continuing to admire the sexy nightgown version of Asai Narumi, Hoshimiya Yuu said, "Now, let's talk about why you were in the fire."
He didn't directly mention Asai Narumi's intention to commit self-immolation but let her speak for herself.
Even though all three present knew the truth, having Asai Narumi say it herself carried a completely different significance.
"…"
There was a moment of silent contemplation. Asai Narumi looked at Hoshimiya Yuu, then at Ran. Adjusting her mood, she slowly began to speak.
"After we parted, I ambushed Tatsuji Kuroiwa on his way home and killed him not far from his house…"
Pausing, Asai Narumi turned her head, trying to avoid the scrutinizing gaze of Ran and Hoshimiya Yuu, and continued slowly, "After completing my revenge, I went to the Community Hall, found gasoline from a nearby storage room, and then…"
Asai Narumi couldn't finish the rest.
She didn't need to say it. Hoshimiya Yuu already knew the truth; he was just confirming it now.
Meanwhile, Ran's beautiful eyes completely dimmed.
She hadn't known Asai Narumi intended to commit suicide, and Hoshimiya Yuu hadn't had time to explain.
But her intuition was sharp, and she was very empathetic.
From the behavior of Hoshimiya Yuu and Asai Narumi, she had already suspected something.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have clung to Asai Narumi so tightly earlier.
She had originally held a glimmer of hope that the fire was an accident.
But Asai Narumi's answer extinguished that last bit of hope.
"Narumi-nee, why did you try to kill yourself?"
The despairing Ran couldn't help but question her. "Didn't you say that after the revenge was over you would turn yourself in, and then when you got out, we would all go together…"
Ran's voice grew softer and softer. She was naive, not stupid.
By the time Asai Narumi was released, everything would have changed.
That promise was just a beautiful wish that was destined to never be fulfilled.
Asai Narumi looked apologetically at Ran. "I'm sorry, I broke my promise. I felt it was better to be reunited with my family in the flames than to face prison."
Hoshimiya Yuu raised an eyebrow and asked, "Then if you didn't have to go to prison, would you still try to kill yourself?"