Souvenir - Chapter 00

I may have obtained the most precious souvenir in the world.

That is you.

Your name is Suu.

Suu… Ah, Suu.

Just saying your name brings a faint smile to my lips.

Within you, I see dazzling, radiant scenery.

Words cannot begin to express how much you mean to me, but just thinking of you makes me want to hold you right this moment. I want to finish this tedious paperwork as quickly as possible and return to your side.

I want to keep watching you, always, from just beside you.

You, just as you are, here—simply that is enough. I ask for nothing more.

“Hey, are you listening?”

The voice of the interrogating officer reaches my ears.

I nod faintly.

“You… did something to her, didn’t you?”

What could I have possibly done?

“That night—what did you do to her?”

Nothing.

I wanted to say that, but the words wouldn’t come out.

The officer spoke again.

“It was you. There’s a witness.”

A witness? Who?

In that moment, a chill ran down my spine.

—Suu… No… it couldn’t be you, could it?

Just then, a knock echoed at the door.

“It’s over. The case has been reassigned.”

A man in a black suit appeared.

“…From here on, I’ll be the one asking the questions.”

With an unreadable expression, he silently took a seat across from me.