"Perhaps…"
Asai Narumi shrugged, intending to dismiss the topic.
After deciding not to kill herself, bringing up her previous intentions felt not only overly dramatic but also deeply embarrassing.
However, her attempt at evasion was misinterpreted by Ran, who was sitting next to her.
Since learning about Asai Narumi's plan at noon, Ran had been in a state of internal conflict.
Reality clashed with ideals, and reason was at odds with emotion.
It was as if two little figures were fighting in her mind: a little angel and a little devil.
The little angel insisted on absolute justice: regardless of any objective factors, human life was paramount.
The little devil constantly persuaded Ran to follow her inner desires: to allow the three drug traffickers to be killed, to sympathize with Asai Narumi, and even to help her.
Up until now, neither the little devil nor the little angel had decisively won.
The external manifestation of this was that Ran hadn't interfered with anything.
She said she agreed with Hoshimiya Yuu and Asai Narumi, yet she was still thinking about calling the police.
Thinking about calling the police, yet she did nothing, even knowing people had died.
But the moment Asai Narumi spoke those words, the little devil launched a surprise attack, leaving the little angelic Ran incapacitated.
She had almost caused Asai Narumi's death because of so-called justice.
Was that kind of justice truly justice?
Everyone's definition of justice is different.
To Asai Narumi, revenge was justice.
Putting herself in Asai Narumi's shoes, Ran honestly didn't feel that the doctor had done anything wrong.
The smug little devil and the fallen little angel slowly dissipated together.
In that moment, Ran began to realize her true perspective.
Good people should be protected, and bad people should be punished.
If the law couldn't achieve that, then she wouldn't care about the criminals' fate, let alone sacrifice a good person's life for it.
That was the justice she truly wanted.
This path would not be easy; a vague, ambiguous justice is hard to maintain, and one misstep could even be counterproductive.
But difficulty wasn't a reason to abstain.
Choosing the black-and-white approach was easier, just like Shinichi Kudou, who would use any means to solve a case.
Eavesdropping, stalking, deception, illegal entry…
He talked constantly about punishing criminals but never mentioned his own criminal actions.
This was not the justice Ran wanted.
"It's all my fault… If I hadn't insisted that Narumi-nee turn herself in, this wouldn't have happened… Narumi-nee, don't turn yourself in. Come back to Tokyo with us. We'll go eat ice cream together, go to the amusement park together…"
Ran covered her face with her hands, full of self-reproach, her voice tearful.
Asai Narumi was stunned, and then her face became awkward.
In the end, she couldn't bear to see Ran so distressed, so she suppressed her embarrassment and told the truth.
"Ran, don't be like that. Actually, my desire to commit suicide… cough… had nothing to do with you."
Asai Narumi took Ran's hand, looking at the girl's pretty, tear-streaked face. She said with a touch of bashfulness, "The main reason was that after I completed my revenge, I suddenly felt a great emptiness. I felt my life had lost its meaning…"
Asai Narumi's life experience had been complex, and she was an emotional person. After completing her revenge, her life suddenly lacked a goal.
Thinking that her own hands were stained with blood, she impulsively felt that instead of going to prison, it would be better to commit self-immolation and be reunited with her family.
Leaving in such a way would not only spare her the infamy of being a murderer but might also give her a chance to be forever remembered.
Tragedy is often more unforgettable than comedy, and regret leaves a deeper impression than satisfaction.
Hoshimiya Yuu understood this sentiment, but he didn't want this kind of tragedy and regret to happen to him or those around him.
He didn't care about being remembered; as long as he lived happily, that was enough.
In the fire, the moment Hoshimiya Yuu carried Asai Narumi, he could tell from her reaction that she wasn't truly desperate to die.
It was more a loneliness that made her feel life was meaningless.
"Really?"
After hearing Asai Narumi's explanation, Ran felt slightly better, but she still asked anxiously.
Asai Narumi's beautiful face was deeply flushed. Admitting her inner thoughts out loud was incredibly embarrassing.
But meeting Ran's concerned gaze, she still answered honestly, "Really."
"Then you won't have any more impulsive thoughts, Narumi-nee?" Ran's self-reproach had lessened, but she was still worried.
Hoshimiya Yuu had been quick and decisive this time, but what about the next?
If Asai Narumi's mindset didn't change, they couldn't possibly monitor her 24 hours a day.
"Don't worry, Ran."
Asai Narumi said earnestly, "Mr. Hoshimiya risked so much to save me. Even if not for myself, I will live well for Mr. Hoshimiya's sake."
"Mm-hmm, that's good."
Ran was happy for Asai Narumi, but she felt that statement sounded odd, though she couldn't pinpoint why.
Seeing that Ran's anxiety had been resolved, Asai Narumi stammered, "Ran… that… does what you said earlier still count?"
"What did I say?" Ran asked, wiping her tears, looking confused.
"It was about… not turning myself in…"
Asai Narumi was a bit awkward.
It was embarrassing to go back on her promise immediately after making it.
But if she could, she really didn't want to go to prison.
If she could have accepted prison with equanimity, even if her life lacked purpose, she wouldn't have decisively chosen self-immolation.
"No, you don't have to." Ran shook her head earnestly. "I'll just pretend I don't know anything about it."
She had found her own kind of justice, and she spoke those words from the heart.
"That's wonderful!"
Asai Narumi excitedly got up to change clothes.
Ran immediately covered Hoshimiya Yuu's eyes with her hands and scolded him playfully, "Hoshimiya Nii-san, you're still looking!"
"Hahaha."
Asai Narumi, who had just taken off her nightgown, laughed. "What's the harm? I'm wearing underwear underneath, anyway."
"Narumi-nee…"
Ran felt helpless. Asai Narumi's brazenness made her seem like the uptight one.
She lowered her hands, glaring at Hoshimiya Yuu, hoping he would be more discreet.
Hoshimiya Yuu touched his nose, pretending not to notice.
While admiring Asai Narumi's sexy, fair body, he watched her put on her going-out clothes and asked.
"It's so late. What are you planning to do?"
"I need to go deal with the evidence and clues."
Asai Narumi looked away awkwardly and whispered, "I thought everything was over before, so my surgical knife is still lodged in Tatsuji Kuroiwa's body, and it has my fingerprints."
She didn't mention Kawashima and Nishimoto. She had been clean and swift with them, leaving few traces.
Crucially, she didn't have time to deal with everything.
The Community Hall fire was raging, and almost all the villagers were awake.
Crowds were gathering near the Community Hall, and the path where Tatsuji Kuroiwa's body lay could have someone passing by at any moment.
Perhaps his body had already been discovered.
Even if there was only a sliver of hope, she had to check.
"You don't need to go."
Hoshimiya Yuu pinched the bridge of his nose. Under the curious gaze of Asai Narumi and Ran, he whispered, "I already took care of it for you while you were showering."