Souvenir - Chapter 9.4

“I was panicked. I thought Suu had been attacked by an intruder. The window was shattered, and Maria, who should have been home, was nowhere to be found. I was completely alone.”

“The housekeeper said she was dismissed the same day you confessed to Suu about the guardianship.”

“That’s impossible!”

“She did call your workplace one last time to thank you.”

“That ‘thank you’… I thought it was for helping her with a charity event.”

His green eyes widened slightly as if something had clicked.

“Do you know anyone who could have contacted her?”

“Only Suu… Wait—!”

This man was different from the others.

He wasn’t simply investigating my story.

He was trying to uncover the truth about someone else.

“The housekeeper claims it was your voice she heard.”

“That’s impossible.”

“Do you know any other women who had access to your home?”

“Maybe… You?”

“You mean Yoko?”

“No… ‘You’.”

“Suu’s mentor?”

“Yes.”

“The mentor you hired was a woman, correct?”

“…What?”

He lowered his gaze slightly, exhaling as if something had just made sense.

“I see. So it’s ‘You’, not Yoko. I’m truly glad I got that name from you.”

Closing his notebook, he swiftly turned and left, moving with an urgency I hadn’t seen before.

That was the last time I saw him.

He never returned to my holding cell.

And I no longer cared who he was.

With Suu gone, none of it mattered anymore.

Returning to Emptiness

Because of him, I was eventually released.

But was I truly free?

Where was Suu?

Was she alive or dead?

No one would tell me.

I no longer cared about what happened next.

But before I let go completely, I decided to write one last letter.

I headed to the abandoned underground study—once my father’s.

I didn’t know why I was doing this.

As I rummaged through an old desk for paper and a pen, something tumbled out.

A black stone.

“So… my treasure was here all along.”

I grasped the cool, familiar object in my palm.

Its icy touch brought back memories.

Tears spilled from my eyes.

But this time, the color of those tears was darker than anything I had ever seen.

“Do you still think about your mother?”

You gently stroked my hair as you asked.

I think I love him.

Being with him makes me feel so happy.

He is always calm, always kind.

My cheeks are red, but it’s not from embarrassment—it’s from the blow I received yesterday.

But the memory of the strike is gone, leaving only the pain.

“I try not to,” I replied.

“But sometimes, when I see children holding hands with their mothers at the supermarket, I remember.”

I must still be immature.

I want to grow up quickly, but I also longed for more of my mother’s love.

You squeezed my hand tightly.

“I want to save people like you—those who lost their parents too soon.”

When he looks at me with those gentle eyes, I feel flustered.

But deep within them, I can’t tell what he’s thinking.

His eyes are so dark.

“I’ll let you see your mother again.”

He embraced me.

His scent was fresh—exciting, like the first signs of early summer.

It was different from Tommy’s mature, grounding fragrance.

To me, You seemed dazzling.

He would show me a new world.

No—he will.

“What do you mean, ‘see my mother again’?”

He chuckled softly and stroked my hair once more.

“Exactly what I said.”

I didn’t understand.

But if I followed him, I felt like I’d be taken to a world beyond this one.

“You’re going to be reborn—completely, body and soul.”

“I’m looking forward to it, You.”

“So, how’s the preparation going?”

“Almost done. But I forgot something—I need to go back home to get it.”

“That’s fine. He still can’t leave, anyway.”

“Will he never get out?”

“Not after what he did.”

“That’s… scary.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

“Will we be happy?”

I looked up at him, uncertainty clouding my gaze.

“If that’s what you want.”

His hand gently cupped my cheek.

Then, with slow, deliberate movements, he opened a small case.

Inside, there was a small pair of earrings. They had a simple design with small round gemstones that symbolized the color of Suu’s eyes.

Suu stares at it intently. “This…?”
“It’s your proof. Proof of living under my care.”You smiled quietly.
Su, feeling confused, pinches it with her fingers.
“…What if you put this on?”
“Become mine.”
Sue’s fingers trembled slightly.
“…Really?”
“That’s right. You’re already moving into a new world.”
Suu closed her eyes.

“I might not be… me.”

You’re smile deepened.

“No, you’re still ‘you.’ You’re just changing a little.”
He gently stroked Su’s earlobe.
“I won’t hurt you. This isn’t just for show, you know.”

The next moment, Su let out a small gasp.
A small needle pierced her ear.

“Look, it’s beautiful.”
You smiled contentedly and gently touched the small jewel on her ear.
“You are now one of us.”

Suu gently placed her hand on her ear.
“……Can we be happy?”

You whispered gently while holding me close.
“If that’s what you want.”

Hello.

The house I visited after a long time was in terrible disarray. Bottles and trash were scattered everywhere, just like the house where I used to live with my mother, and it was in a very bad state.

I lied to Yo. It was wrong to say that Tommy had not been released yet; apparently, he had already returned home. I found out about it while I was on my way to the supermarket from the apartment I had rented to prepare for moving my base with Yo.

Suddenly, my arm was pulled, and I was asked, “Is it Suu?” At first, I thought it might be Tommy, but although the person looked somewhat like Tommy, they had lighter hair and eyes that resembled mine. They didn’t seem to want to show their face much. When my arm was pulled, a large ring hit me and it hurt.

Tommy is returning home.

He left after saying just that. I hurriedly finished my shopping and returned to the apartment, then asked Yo, “Is Tommy still not released?”
“I heard that from an acquaintance in the police, but why?”
“I have a package that I absolutely need to pick up early…”

“It’s safer to go back while they’re not here…”

So I decided to secretly go meet him. It was because I still had feelings of wanting to see him.
But if Yō found out, he would give me a very scary punishment, so I was carefully planning it. I had heard from Yō that Tommy was a terrible person, and my memories of spending time with Dad had become vague, but deep down, I still felt a lingering attachment and couldn’t fully convince myself that he was a terrible person.
“Tommy?”

I sensed someone on the sofa, so I quietly approached, and there he was, lying down with his beard and hair unkempt. There were many bottles of alcohol scattered around.

“Who…?”
In a weak, withered voice, he replied, his appearance unrecognizable from the past.
It looks like they haven’t had a proper meal in days. Their complexion is poor, and the bags under their eyes are severely sunken.

“It’s me…”

You came.
“You’re alive…?”
Even though Su is right in front of me, I don’t feel anything anymore. Su quietly approached and crouched down in front of me. Looking into my vacant eyes, Su mumbled something in a small voice.

Gently enveloped my face.
“I’m sorry.”

I could only catch that.

What on earth is she apologizing for?
“I… I can’t remember anything… I ran away because you were about to kill me… but that doesn’t feel right either…”

“Why are you apologizing?”

“There was no other way…”

“Why…?”

“This might also be erased from memory…”
Saying that, she forcefully covers my mouth. She grabs my tattered shirt with both hands. Am I going to be strangled to death by her?

“……”

She straddled me and kissed me fiercely over and over again. Then, she started to unbuckle my belt and take it off.

“I could tell by looking into your eyes… the person I loved.”

I could tell by looking into your eyes… you are my precious person.

Suu cupped my face with her small hands.
“I’ve always… wanted to see you…”

That voice was somewhat hoarse.

“I… I can’t remember anything… They told me that you tried to kill me. But that doesn’t feel right either.”
I gently held her hand.

“Why are you apologizing?”

“There was no other way…”

Suu tightly grasped my shirt.
“I feel like everything… has disappeared. The days I spent with you, the kind words… everything.”

In a trembling voice, she continued.

“That’s why… once more… remind me of myself.”
I wiped her tears with my fingers.
“Suu…”

She gently rested her head on my shoulder.

“Hey… please…”

I was so drunk and had taken so many sleeping pills that my rationality was completely gone. In that state, when she kept stimulating my lower body… it was as if a switch flipped, and I couldn’t forgive her no matter what. A violent desire to completely ruin her surged up in an instant, and with my last ounce of strength, I managed to turn the tables and flip her over from the position where I had been pinned down.

The feeling of “whatever will be, will be” grew stronger, and I hugged tightly, tightly. If it was going to turn out like this, I should have done it this way from the beginning.

“Woooooaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh”