novelraw Chapter 70: Chapter 70
Chapter 70: Chapter 70
70
The blackout curtain wall was put away, and the interior was brightened again. The sunlight filtered through the stained glass, casting vivid shadows on the deep-pile carpet.
Today's weather is fine, and birds fly by in the sky from time to time, drawing thin black lines on the carpet.
More than ten minutes had passed since the meeting of the four of them ended. Rimbaud and Nakahara Nakaya left with Alice's instructions and the matters confirmed by several people, and took Yumeno Kusaku with them when they left.The child didn't sleep well, and woke up when Rimbaud picked him up. Alice thought he would insist on refusing to leave, but he didn't expect him to see that Osamu Dazai wanted to stay, so he hugged Alice's coat obediently and Rimbaud went back.
Yes, Osamu Dazai stayed after everyone else left.At this moment, Alice was sitting on the velvet sofa facing the floor-to-ceiling windows, while the boy took off his windbreaker and suit jacket, only wearing a shirt and vest, leaning on her lap.
After everyone left, he turned on the shade, then pulled her to the sofa, pressed her shoulders to let her sit down, then took off his coat and threw it on the ground casually, leaning against her on the carpet, stretching out his hands to grab her. He picked up her hand and put it on his head.
"To touch the head."
He raised his head, looked at her with those twinkling kite eyes, and said softly.
It was an air that Alice could not refuse at all.
So although she felt that this posture was somewhat ambiguous at the age of herself and Osamu Dazai, Alice still obediently followed suit.
Besides, she knows that she actually likes Osamu Dazai to cling to her.
Alice is not stupid, she can feel that Osamu Dazai has a wonderful and subtle possessive desire for her, which is not the same thing as Yumeno Kusaku's purely childish possessive desire.
And she doesn't hate this feeling.
Children are like birds that will leave the nest one day, and they will become more and more independent as they grow up.You will have your own private space, your own relationships, and then, your own life, your own family.This is a very natural thing.
They will graduate from her one day—it seems that Chuya, who is becoming more and more mature and reliable, has basically stopped being hugged now.
But for some reason, Alice always felt that even in another ten or twenty years, Osamu Dazai would act like a baby with her in a soft tone like now, attract her attention in his own way, and get tired of talking to her crookedly. Rubbing and rubbing.To touch the head, to hug, to kiss.He never hides it, and Alice can't always say no.
In other words, she never wanted to refuse—he needed her, and this kind of recognition would always make her feel a strange sense of satisfaction.
She was a little different to him after all.It was as if it happened yesterday, scaring the other children. Although she didn't regret her actions, she was still full of guilt and self-blame.However, when she saw the worry in Osamu Dazai's eyes, she felt guilty and remorseful at the same time, and for some reason, her throat seemed to be blocked by cotton candy like clouds, light and thick, with a hint of sweetness , but it makes people want to cry, a warm illusion.
It was an indescribable feeling she was not familiar with.
Thinking about it, Alice felt a softness in her heart.
She gently combed his soft and fluffy curly hair, the dark brown and almost black hair slipped between her fingers, with a smooth and cool touch like silk.
like a cat.
Her movements gradually slowed down, and soft ripples appeared in her eyes.
——Like that kind of cat who can act coquettishly, every sound, every step, steps on her heart.
Osamu Dazai was holding one of her hands to play with at the moment, noticing the change in Alice, the boy raised his head slightly.
"What is sister thinking?"
"I'm thinking..." Alice paused, "Aji is like a kitten..."
Dazai laughed softly.The boy's voice was clear and light. He raised Alice's hand high, squinting his eyes to see the sunlight leaking from between her fingers, "If my sister wants, I can be my sister's cat."
"...Don't talk nonsense..."
Alice's movements paused, and for some reason, she felt a little hot.She subconsciously changed the subject, "Just now..."
"Ok?"
"Why did you say it..."
"Probably because I don't want my sister to speak out."
Osamu Dazai replied in a very relaxed tone as a matter of course.
"Because my sister is afraid."
Alice stopped moving.
That illusion reappeared—the heart and throat seemed to be filled with something light and heavy, and a little...wanted to cry.
"I know. I know all my sister's secrets. For example, my sister does not belong to this world. For example, my sister actually 'knows' many things."
—For another example, Mr. Mori is Mr. Mori.
Because, it is too easy to understand.Not to mention that the girl has never tried to hide, even if she sticks to it and buries it deeply, for Dazai Osamu, it is very easy to see through the hidden part of people's hearts.He was born with this talent.Desires, ambitions, love and hate, nothing can escape his eyes.not to mention……
"In my 'memory', there is no such Alice."
"Well... I also think it's ridiculous, this setting." Alice paused, "So, when did you find out?"
"Early."
"That's it."
"Where is my sister? When did you find out?"——When did you find out about the information I left you?
Alice paused, and gently curled his hair with her fingers, "It's also the earliest."
"really?"
"...Well, although I noticed traces, I only confirmed it later."
"That's why I'm smarter." The boy said triumphantly.
Alice finally laughed, "That's what it is." With such a tone, are you a famous detective somewhere?
"But my sister never asked." Dazai Osamu narrowed his eyes, and the tiny sunlight danced on his eyelashes.He neither pursues nor questiones, even if he cannot understand, he always embraces his decisions and choices.There are countless opportunities to take advantage of, but nothing is done.
"I neither asked nor used it, and even mentioned it to others."
From a utilitarian point of view, Alice's behavior is undoubtedly a great waste of information and resources.
But for Alice, it's all for the very simple reason
"How could it be possible to tell others that that is your secret." What the hell is it to use?Which normal person would take advantage of his family?
—Look, that's it.
Osamu Dazai laughed, "So, I don't want my sister to tell others. Only I know my sister's secret—as long as I know it alone."
"But……"
"But it's okay not to say it now. Because the [combat staff officer] in the organization behind Verlaine is probably also the one who knows the development of this world—or the "should have developed" of this world. Even, she may know The root of this incident is the lack of intelligence. Therefore, to eliminate this point and not fall into a disadvantage in future confrontations, we must have the same intelligence as the opponent. Is this how my sister judged?"
Unlike Osamu Dazai, who only has his own "memory", the actions of the other party have shown that she is an "omniscient" bystander in a certain sense.It is a further existence than the one who obtained the [Book].
"Yes."
"And to explain the 'source' of these intelligence, it must be explained 'from the beginning'."
——Because Alice is a person who will not lie to her family.
"……Yes."
"However, in this 'starting from the beginning', there is a part that is difficult to explain, and it scares even my sister. What could it be? I thought of it."
"Aji..."
Osamu Dazai curled the corner of his mouth, "Is it because we are [roles]?"
Alice's breath stopped.
The curvature of Osamu Dazai's lips widened. "Sure enough."
"It doesn't matter whether there are extra memories inexplicably, or existences from other worlds, even if it is resurrected from the dead like a video game to open the second week, these are just 'astonishing facts', at best they belong to the category of 'unbelievable' .With my older sister’s character, she wouldn’t hesitate about such a thing.”
"The only thing that scares my sister is the things that might hurt us—for example, how to explain to us, 'You are actually just characters in the book'."
"Azhi..." There was an extremely rare weakness in the girl's voice, as if she was secretly begging him to stop talking.
——But even so, she did intend to tell this matter just now.Compared with the fear of not being able to predict how the other party will respond, she still chose to confess in order to make everyone safer.
"You're more afraid of hurting us by telling the truth than you are of hurting us by not telling the truth."
——This is such a lovable fear.
That's why he stopped her.
Osamu Dazai stood up, walked around the sofa, hugged Alice from behind, and covered her eyes with his hands.
"Aji?"
The girl's eyelashes trembled in his palm.The touch felt like a butterfly fluttering its wings timidly.
The smile on Osamu Dazai's lips deepened.He rested his chin on the girl's shoulder and whispered in her ear.
"So, just don't say it."
The kite-colored pupils stared forward, and on the bright floor-to-ceiling glass windows, there was a girl who had been deprived of vision and his own figure embracing her across the back of the sofa.
"Exchange my secret for my sister's secret. All the news you want to convey can be conveyed through my mouth."
Unlike when I first met her, now, compared to my 16-year-old self, the girl can already be described as slender.
"My sister's secret, as long as I know it. I don't need to force myself to do things that will bring fear."
You've got me - so, next, lean on me.
"Sister, don't be afraid. I will protect you—now, it's my turn to protect you."
The boy's clear voice fell on his ears, and he gently put down his hand.Alice only felt that the sunlight that suddenly caught her eyes suddenly became dazzling.
Her throat was a little dry, and she blinked several times before wiping away the sudden moisture in her eyes.But at this moment, Osamu Dazai had straightened his back, put his hands on the back of the chair, and showed his usual brisk smile.
"And, look, didn't I do a good job?" He blinked at the glass, "In someone's words, this is the optimal solution."
Alice had to admit that he was right.For Rimbaud and Chuya, who have neither the knowledge of the original work nor the memory of the second week, it is impossible for them to know the scope of Dazai Osamu's "memory".And probably because of the previous foreshadowing, apart from the initial surprise, the two of them accepted the fact that "Osamu Dazai has memories of things that didn't happen" very well.Even Zhong also showed an expression of enlightenment, saying, "No wonder you know the Mafia well, so you already knew it."As for why I didn't say it before, Osamu Dazai's simple sentence "It's not necessary, and I don't want to" will solve the problem.
Because it is Dazai, it is not strange at all. Rather, it is quite normal to not understand what he is thinking. It took Dazai several years to make this concept into the consensus of everyone.
——Is this also a preparation for this moment?
For a moment, this thought ran through Alice's mind.But immediately, she burst out laughing.
So what if it is, so what if it is not?
The fact is, this child, as he said, protected her very well.
Alice finally relaxed completely - as Osamu Dazai said, she is just a person, of course she will be afraid and fearful.
"...Aji, thank you."
"No need." Osamu Dazai smiled and shook his head, "Sister doesn't need to thank me. And I'm more curious than thanking..." He blinked, "In the story my sister saw, I What kind of person is it?"
Which "I" do you know?
"Ah, this one." Alice scratched her head, "Actually, I haven't seen it, I just heard it from a friend."
"Eh?"
"To put it simply, it's just hearsay. If you're curious, I'll tell you in detail after I've been busy for a while. But compared to Yokohama, I know a little more about Pengo Lie."
"I see." This time, Osamu Dazai smiled sincerely, "Then make an appointment, and tell me in detail next time."
"Okay."
Osamu Dazai smiled, took a step back, and changed the subject, "Then I'm going to do things first. Counting the time, the slugs should be almost ready, and it's my turn to appear. Sister, see you tonight."
"Okay, see you tonight." Alice stood up, nodded, and watched him pick up his coat and windbreaker and walk out of the office.
***
And when the heavy door of the chief's office closed behind him, the brisk smile on Osamu Dazai's face disappeared.
The boy casually threw the clothes to his subordinates who had already been waiting outside, and while striding forward, he stretched out his hand and untied the bandage around his left eye.
Under the indoor light, there was an icy chill in his iris-colored eyes.
Everything is as he expected.
The opponent's goal is not [Book]——no, in other words, the opponent has made two-handed preparations from the beginning.
If the situation in Yokohama is "same" as that [combat staff officer] knows, then activate the second hand and seize the [book] while Yokohama is in chaos. If the situation in Yokohama is different, obtain the maximum intelligence.As for Verlaine, he was an abandonment from the very beginning—because the other party knew from the very beginning that Verlaine was [unable to win].
As for Umezawa Kinzo's 5000 billion yen, it is just a cover-up simply to confuse the situation.The other party had no intention of taking the money in the first place.
And the position, purpose and tendency of the other party are also very obvious.
An existence similar to [Alice], but chose [Rat]?
Or, is it [Five Decays of Heaven and Man]?
There was a cold light in Dazai's eyes.Funny, things are starting to get interesting.
[Cat] and [Rat], and their respective [foreign aid], [savior] and [destroyer].It's like [the world] placing the chips on both ends of the balance, looking forward to, or planning a [fair] duel.
He has activated all the channels, but there is still no information about the man behind the scenes.Even Luanbu's reasoning was completely broken on Verlaine.In the famous detective's words, "everything else was erased".
——But [Erased] itself is information.
—For example, the ability called [Perfect Crime].
Walking into the elevator, he casually stuffed the bandages to his subordinates, took back his coat and put it on, and smiled coldly at the closed elevator doors.
Now just wait.As long as the other party has a "must achieve purpose", they will definitely take action again.
The first round of confrontation was robbed first.Although they didn't lose, the opponent won a big victory.
But next time, who will win the game is still unknown.
"Unfortunately……"
"Master Dazai, what did you say?"
"No, nothing." Osamu Dazai shook his head and stretched out his hand, "Give me the windbreaker."
It's a pity that the other party detected an abnormality.With the prudence of the opponent, the next confrontation may have to wait for several years.