Part 164: Further contact with Kiryuu Moeka is impossible

I'd be with her the entire time if I could, but I still didn't go. Kiryuu Moeka hasn't replied. I have no choice but to seek her myself now.

I don't know much about that woman in the first place. The only clue I have is the name of her publishing company, Arc Rewrite. I remember Moeka saying she worked there. I quickly find it after searching online. Sure enough, their main business was producing PC magazine articles. Moreover, their office is in Akiba.

I promptly try asking them by phone, but I got an answering machine. I guess they're still closed for Obon. Or maybe nobody's at the office? Oh, whatever... looks like I have to go there directly.



Right about now, most of the otaku are forming a line in Ariake. I've experienced the craze of that festival many times myself. It's literal war. Whenever Mayuri tells me she's going to participate, I go into shock. I always imagine Mayuri getting trampled to death by the otaku avalanche, but Mayuri is actually surprisingly quick on her strong legs. She possesses the astounding ability to smoothly weave through the crowd of people. So, it's more likely that Kurisu will get trampled. I can't help but my sympathize with my assistant. I might've done a bad thing.



It's in a glass-sided multi-tenant building. Pretty fancy. I quickly charge the office, but nobody is there. After waiting about 30 minutes, a man who looks like a staff member comes, so I ask him for Kiryuu Moeka's contract address. Of course, I lie that I'm her relative, but the answer he gives me is unexpected:



"You don't...?"

Balls...! I've been tricked!

In the first place, Moeka's part of SERN's mercenary force, the Rounders. She's been working here in Akiba while hiding her history. It's not like she'd give out her real place of work. Do I have no more clues...?

Just when I've given up, the "Arc Rewrite" staffer pounds his hand as if he remembered something.

"No, wait. I'm certainly she came here for just two days, but there was a female part timer who we lost contact with. I think her name might have been Kiryuu... Maybe we still have her resume."

I frantically bow my head and ask him to look for it, and he acknowledges, though a little hesitant.



It doesn't seem like the place a young lady would live alone. When I approach the apartment, I feel a strange unease. I don't know why, but there's a police officer there.



And in front of one room on the second floor - Room 202, which is Moeka's, according to her resume – there’s a blue sheet covering the door.

What?

What happened?



"Excuse me, did the person in that room move?"

"Huh? No."

"Then...?"

"Are you a concerned party?"

"...an acquaintance."

"You didn't hear anything?"

The police officer seems to have a tough time talking. I'm starting to feel uncomfortable.

"What happened?"





"Eh...?"

It took me everything I had to ask again.

Why now...?

Why... suicide...?

"When was that?!"

"Yesterday."

"...no way."

"...the body should've been carried to the third Chiyoda hospital. Doesn’t look like she has any relatives. We're stumped. Will you go see her?"

"..."

I lower my head and leave the area.



What's up with that? I don't understand at all... Just what's going on... It was suicide? The woman who mercilessly killed Mayuri committed suicide...?

Or is this a conspiracy? Internal discord turned into murder, covered up as suicide...?

Today is the 16th. Yesterday was the 15th.



Three days have passed since then. As a result of slowly moving back to the original world line, Mayuri's death somehow gets pushed back day by day. That meant Moeka's attack was getting pushed back day by day. So this means that in this world line, Moeka no longer attacks the lab.

But even so, why did she die...? I don't get it. I don't get it, but this is the first time this has happened. How should I deal with this? What is it I must do?

I squat on the spot, grapping my head.



...I don't think such a convenient future will come. At least, the world wishes for Mayuri's death. It'll do whatever it can to stop me from preventing that. I'm the one changing the world line as he pleases, though. Just give me a break already...



I mean, until just a few weeks ago, I was just a pretentious hipster college student. I hadn't seen people close to me die. Both of my parents, and my grandparents, are still alive. I lived my entire life without having to deal with death. Yet, in these past mere three weeks - virtually, more than that - just how many times have I faced death? My heart's been strained to the limit. It's been hard to tough it out until this point, too.

Just one more. Most likely, there's just one more D-mail I must cancel. If only I could steal Moeka's phone...

"A time leap..."



Moeka died at noontime yesterday, the 15th. I should go back to before then. Moeka's reason for suicide doesn't matter. I don't know why that woman would kill Mayuri or herself. The only thing I do know is that I need to contact that woman to cancel the D-mail...!

Returning to the lab, I casually look up to the second floor window and lose my breath.