Symbiosis 34
Ichinose Saku noticed something was wrong the moment he opened the door.
Studies have shown that simply smelling a scent can trigger memories of that time, which is called the Proust effect. The theory emerged in Ichinose Saku's mind. He covered his mouth and nose and walked forward following the smell of rust and intermittent whimpering. It was only tonight that he realized how unusually clean and quiet his home was. With some disturbing intuition, the boy wandered alone in the night, searching, trying to see that familiar figure.
This house has been vacant for some time... Ichinose Saku swallowed his saliva, like a cat, without making any sound with each step he took. It was not only the Ishii family's business that was destroyed by large supermarkets. The local small businesses either recognized the reality early on or struggled to survive. This family was the former, and they chose to close down and leave a few years ago, leaving only the house for rent. Currently, the next tenant has not been found yet. He put his hand on the door handle, carefully pushed it open a crack, and peeked inside.
There was no light in the room, and Ichinose Saku could only see two overlapping human bodies. The round figure at the bottom was obviously not a familiar face. Ichinose Saku was just about to breathe a sigh of relief, thinking about rushing in to rescue them, but when he turned his gaze to the much slimmer figure above, he couldn't help but gasp at the familiar outline.
"Good evening, Shuo," Tong Xiangwang raised his head and smiled at his little friend, his hand holding the rope without any trembling, "Aren't you going to bed yet?"
Ichinose Saku frowned, "...it will get dirty." The stranger on the ground had already lost his focus, and his last bit of struggle stopped when he saw the boy closing the door. The light in his eyes went out as quickly as it came on, and he completely collapsed with a loose body and a foul smell. "Why are you here so late at night..."
"Sorry, sorry," Kirigo Nozomi shrugged, "The new job I took is more troublesome than I expected. Why are you here so late at night..." She looked at Ichinose Saku's expression as he dragged the body to the bathroom, "What's wrong, uncle?"
"I can't find him," Ichinose Saku really wanted to grab a handful of hair to express his annoyance, but his hands were busy working and he could only rely on his tone and expression, "He doesn't look like he was caught by the cops. His clothes and suitcase are gone, and he even cleaned the house before leaving. Tsk."
"Relax," Kirigo Nozomi came to the bathroom with his suitcase. He watched Ichinose Saku throw the body into the bathtub without hesitation, and then began to strip off his clothes until he was naked. Then he put on a mask and shower cap and started working, "At least it proves that he left with a purpose."
"...Except for a note that said "I'm sorry", he left me nothing." The voice coming from behind the mask was a little muffled. Ichinose Saku took the scalpel handed over by Kokunran and calmly performed the bloodletting. "I still don't know what happened."
Kirigo Nozomi stared at Ichinose Saku's back, where the scars from his childhood were still entrenched. The marks left by wine bottles, leather shoes, boiling water belts and fists were stubborn and excessive, trembling with every growth. "I'll help you find him," she put her hands on the edge of the bathtub, with a pair of wide eyes underneath. Apart from this weird scene, their tone was calm as if they were having a daily greeting, "You..."
"What do you want me to help you with?" Ichinose Saku turned his head, breathing so close that even in such a dim environment, he could clearly see the teardrop mole at the corner of the girl's eye. "...These," he kicked the body at his feet and sneered, "are not enough."
"I had been planning to hug my knees at the entrance and say 'help me' to you when you were exhausted from searching," Tong Xiangwang sighed, "You are really allergic to romance——"
"You can try again tomorrow," Ichinose Saku responded indifferently. An uncomfortable cutting sound rang out in the bathroom. After a moment of silence, the boy spoke again, "...Is it a good thing?"
"Well," Kirigo Nozomi pressed his face against Ichinose Saku's back and put his hands on his waist, which looked like a hug, "You will realize your dream."
"Okay," Ichinose Saku lowered his head and concentrated on cutting the flesh in his hand. There was no extra emotion in his brown eyes. "What do I need to do now?"
"Do a good job, Ishii Kazuki," Tongxiang Wang let go of his hand, the warmth was fleeting, "This is also..."
Our dream.
Ishii Kazuki is alive and well, that is Ishii Yamato and his wife, Honda Tsuneichi, Ichinose Saku, Kirigo Nozomi...
——And Ishii Kazuki’s long-cherished wish.
......
"Help."
"...You really come to act again..."
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