Yuki received the report with a tense expression. Her eyes scanned the screen quickly, but carefully. I could see, even from where I was, that she wasn’t just reading—she was digesting every word. When she finished, she looked up at me with a confused and slightly frightened expression.

— Look at this, old man. And try not to freak out.

I reached for it immediately. I didn’t even bother hiding my anxiety. It was obvious I wanted to see the damned report. She handed me the phone in silence, and I began reading, my eyes glued to the screen as if the content could give me all the answers the world had denied me until now.

---

File received: Preliminary Autopsy Report – Takeuchi Masanori  

Sender: Dr. Nishikawa Kenji – Medical Legal Institute  

Recipient: Detective Amano Yuki  

Subject: Post-mortem Examination – Takeuchi Masanori

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Summary of relevant findings:

Cause of death:  

Severe cranial trauma, resulting from repeated impacts against a hard surface. Multiple fractures in the temporal bone and depression of the left parietal region. Massive intracranial hemorrhage. Consistent with reports of self-aggressive behavior during interrogation.

Internal examination (cranial cavity):  

Upon opening the cranial vault, dark viscous material was found lodged in cerebral fissures, particularly in the frontal regions and near the brainstem.

Preliminary analysis of the substance:  

The sample exhibits biological activity. Microscopic examination indicates it is an unidentified parasitic organism with unusual cellular structure. Shows active behavior upon contact with neural tissue.

Critical observation:  

The substance does not match any known toxin or cataloged microorganism. Samples were sent to specialized laboratories.

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Forensic note:  

The presence of this organism in human brain tissue is highly anomalous. At this time, there is no plausible natural explanation for its origin or mechanism of infection.

---

I read and reread it as if I could extract some hidden meaning from the technical words. Even medicine seemed unable to name that thing—the damned black slime. Part of me wanted to laugh, another part wanted to scream. But in the end, all I felt was immense frustration. We had reached a dead end. Or perhaps… it was time to take another path. I knew it was time to go to the Asas do Amanhecer orphanage.

I left the room slowly, as if my feet had forgotten how to move. It was already dark. I didn’t even notice how much time had passed while I watched those tapes. The world had changed outside—even the rain had stopped—but inside, everything was still frozen. I turned to Yuki, who was silently watching me.

— Let’s go, we have to…

— It’s already late — Yuki interrupted firmly before I could finish. — Let’s go home. And today I stay at yours, but don’t even think about trying anything, old man. I’m armed — she added, with that playful smile of hers that, on days like this, only irritates me.

I stared at that smile, which seemed like a fragile bandage over a wound that had been bleeding for years. I answered flatly:

— No. We’re not going home. We don’t have time for that.

Her face hardened instantly. The playfulness disappeared from her eyes like a candle blown out by the wind.

— You want to go now? To the orphanage? Haru, we have no idea what we’re facing. Since the mayor disappeared, everything’s gone out of control. This is getting serious in a way that… scares me. We need to think calmly.

— I don’t have time for calm. I can’t waste any more time… my daughter… this case has to do with my daughter. Years without answers, and now you ask me to stay calm? I don’t have time.

The words tore out of me. I felt my chest burn, as if the certainties I was trying to deny were piling up and threatening to explode inside me. But Yuki, always so strong, responded with a promise:

— I promise we will find her.

That’s when the rage consumed me. Like a sudden fire.

— It’s the same as three years ago… And look where we are. Did you keep your promise?

Immediately, I saw her face fall. As if I had ripped the ground from under her feet. She tried to hide it, shrugged, pretended it hurt less than it did.

— I’ll stay at your place today. For the case. And tomorrow… we go to the orphanage.

She still insisted. Even after everything, she insisted. But I saw it… in her eyes. An expression… guilt? Maybe. Probably. But nothing I said was a lie. I’m tired of people thinking they understand me, or feeling sorry for me. That cheap sentimentality really pisses me off. Still, even if I hate to admit it, it was truly better to rest.

I ended up going with her. Silently. Got into the car. The atmosphere inside was so dense and uncomfortable. Nobody said anything. We just drove to my apartment.

When we arrived, I opened the door. The air inside was stifling, motionless, as if the place had forgotten how to breathe. Yuki came in. It was her first time. Usually, when she visited, she’d call me to go out. But she had never stepped inside. For a moment, I hesitated—I don’t usually receive visitors. But I showed her where the bathroom was. She went to shower.

While the water ran, I searched for a mattress. I opened my closet. Dust. Mold. A few dead cockroaches inside. It was the portrait of my life—a pile of forgotten and deteriorated things. Nothing out of the ordinary. I took the mattress and placed it on the living room floor. A pillow, just to fake some comfort.

She came out of the shower shortly after. She was lean, but her eyes… those eyes. A sad emptiness, a shadow hanging in the corners of her gaze. As if she carried a weight no one else could see.

I just stared at her:

— You can go to sleep. Tomorrow we go to the orphanage…

But as I passed by her, something happened. Yuki grabbed me. I didn’t have time to react. Before I could understand, she hugged me tightly. She was crying. Crying like a wounded child trying to fix the world with her own arms.

— I’m sorry… forgive me. I tried everything. I tried so hard all this time. I watched you get more and more lost… and it’s my fault. I should have found her. I should have brought her back. But I failed… I tried at least to give you some comfort, but seeing your state, I think I failed again… I’m sorry, forgive me…

I was speechless.

That woman who always smiled, who joked in the middle of pure chaos, was now breaking apart in my arms. Yet, I still couldn’t forgive her. She had given me hope, and that hope had been dying as time passed… Still, seeing her like that made me sad.

She didn’t deserve the weight of my burden.

So I hugged her back.

— You don’t need to cry. Just learn to live with guilt. That’s what I always do — I said, holding her tighter in the embrace.

She cried a little longer, but in silence.

Then she slept in the living room. And I went to my room. The silence of the night fell over us like a cold blanket. I just closed my eyes, started to sleep, and only one thought crossed my mind:

Tomorrow we go to the orphanage.

Will we finally get answers?