Shiba Taizou falls. The shot hits his arm—nothing lethal. Just a warning.  

He looks at me, lying still on the floor. I couldn’t tell what he was feeling. He doesn’t scream, doesn’t beg, just stares with resigned eyes, as if nothing mattered—and that bothers me.

— The next shot could hit another limb.

My tone is neutral. Cruelly neutral. As if it were just another casual observation about the weather.

He takes a deep breath, then asks:

— Why don’t you just kill me, Mr. Mikami?

— I’m not an idiot. You know too much to die silently. And I’m running out of patience.

My hand tightens around the revolver. With every second, the idea of pulling the trigger feels… easier. More acceptable. Taizou laughs. Not loudly. But sharply, acidly. As if he enjoys seeing my reaction. Still sitting, he looks me in the eye and says:

— Want me to tell you a little story?

But before he can say more, I hear the doorknob being forced. A familiar voice, shouting. Desperate.

Yuki.

— Haru?! What the hell was that?! Are you okay?!

Shit.

I say the first thing that comes to mind:

— It’s okay, Yuki. I’m handling it.

But then the bastard smiles. And yells:

— Help, Miss Yuki! He’s going to kill me!

Son of a bitch.

The sound that follows is different. It’s not just a doorknob turning anymore. It’s impact. Weight. Fury.  

Then the door collapses. Splintered wood. And there she is.

Yuki.  

Gun in hand. As she steps inside, she panics, looking around, trying to understand what’s happening. Until she freezes at the scene: me with the gun, Taizou injured.  

She stands there, motionless, as if trying to process the situation. Then, trembling slightly, she slowly points her gun at me.

— Lower the gun, Yuki. You’re in the way— I say, trying to speak to her as a friend.

— You shot him? — Yuki says, her voice almost holding back a sob, mixed with fear.

She’s in shock. Clearly. But that doesn’t change what needs to be done.

— I did what was necessary — I reply firmly.

— Necessary? Haru, he’s a suspect. We don’t know how deep he’s involved in all this! What the hell are you doing?! You’re a cop and…

— Ex-cop, Yuki — I interrupt, coldly. — I don’t have time to waste on bureaucracy and this blah-blah-blah.

I turn back to the bastard and growl:

— Tell me what you did at the orphanage. Now!

But she’s still there. Her voice cuts through me like a blade.

— Haru, put the gun down. Don’t make it worse.

I aim at Taizou but glance at her. What I see is betrayal.  

Yuki really doesn’t understand. She thinks she can stop me?  

I knew it. Trusting her was a mistake… a mistake I won’t make again.  

I grip the gun tighter. My fingers hurt. My chest too.  

I breathe. Cold. Focused.

— Do what you want, Yuki. But this bastard has blood on his hands. I know it.

— Don’t make me do this, old man.

Tension fills the air like flammable gas.

Then—the unexpected.  

Taizou gets up.  

Too fast.

I turn. About to shoot. But before I can…

_BANG!_

Pain explodes in my hand. My gun falls far away. Blood runs down my hands.  

Then, I freeze. Yuki really shot…  

Shock turns into rage. I yell:

— WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, YUKI?!

Taizou seizes the opportunity. He runs like a rat.  

I try to chase him, but she intercepts me and points the gun at me.  

There’s no hesitation in her eyes anymore. In that moment, I knew she could shoot again.  

I try to stay calm, but I can’t hide my anger. Even in a low voice, I say:

— Yuki… put it down.

— You’re under arrest. You’ve crossed every line.

— HE’S GUILTY, YUKI!

— Evidence, Haru?! Just because he worked at the orphanage? I also thought everything was wrong, I was shocked too, but this… this is crossing a line you can’t come back from!

— You don’t know shit! You don’t know what it feels like to be guilty for not taking your daughter to that damn park. Knowing that if you had, she would be here with me!

Anger burns my throat. Guilt burns my chest.

— All you know how to do is complain about how shitty your life is…

She says.

And I lose my footing.

— You don’t know anything, your life is too perfect, Yuki… you don’t know what it is to carry real guilt, and…

— I killed my father, Haru.

Silence.

The world stops.

She looks at me. Eyes teary. Voice trembling. But firm.

— My father beat my mother. And me. Every day.  

One day, my mother ended up in the hospital. She was beaten so badly she almost died. Became paralyzed. I came home, grabbed a knife. He came at me… and I finished him. — She cries. Just a little. But enough to tear me apart inside. — The cop who knew my family history… called it a suicide. But I know it wasn’t. My mother… she doesn’t know. Doesn’t know the truth. This is a secret I’ll never tell her.  

So, Haru… I don’t carry guilt?

Silence.  

This time, I have no words.  

She approaches. Slowly. Like she’s talking to a wounded animal.

— Please… come. Before you do something you won’t be able to forgive yourself for.

I look at her. And only realize the obvious.

— I think, Yuki… this is the end of our partnership.

I run. Jump out the window. When I hit the ground, the fall knocks the air out of my lungs.  

I slowly stand. My hand slightly cut from the glass.  

I start walking, stumbling. My bones scream with every step.  

Gradually, I pick up speed until I’m running toward Yuki’s car.

I smash the window.

Open the door and get in. Quickly start the ignition. The engine roars.  

She appears at the window, screaming, trying desperately to stop me.  

But before she can react, I accelerate.  

In the rearview, I only see her kneeling. Crying heavily.  

But there’s no time for that.  

The case must be finished.

---

On this day, everything changed.