The shining Shoko Toyokawa

It was time for both she and Cosey to set off.

January 3, 2024, is the day when Shoko Toyokawa will meet her friends for the last time...

Chapter 18: The Worst Candidate

When Naomi Misora ​​arrived at the "suicide scene", it started to rain lightly over the sea of ​​trees.

The cold air and the "smell of the forest" penetrated through the gaps in the raincoat, making people who were used to living in big cities feel very uncomfortable.

But after following the police into the muddy forest full of thorny trees, it didn't take long before the heat became unbearable.

It is difficult to walk in this forest without roads.

Perhaps it was a psychological effect, but even though there was still a considerable distance between them, Naomi Misora ​​felt as if she could already smell the odor of burnt protein.

This place was quite hidden, and Naomi Misora ​​was surprised that the police were able to find the "suicide scene" so quickly.

As if sensing her confusion, the police officer leading the way explained, "A taxi driver called the police to report a distressed girl who got out of the car nearby. He suspected she was trying to commit suicide."

"But it's hard to find someone in this sea of ​​trees," Naomi Misora ​​broke off a branch that was blocking her path. "Did you find them through the smoke from the fire?"

"No," the young police officer shook his head, "the fire was out when we arrived."

The group struggled through a bush, and the road ahead opened up.

There was an open space created by the fall of several large trees. A red tent stood in the middle of the space.

The tent protected the suicide scene.

Several young girls wearing large raincoats were stopped outside the cordon by police officers. Their eyes were red and swollen, and they were communicating with the police officers in hoarse voices, as if they hoped to be allowed in.

The young police officer who led the way lowered his voice and said to Misora ​​Naomi, "It was them, to be more precise, the girl with gray hair, who brought us here. It's not quite accurate to say they brought us here.

The girl named Gao Songdeng didn't care about us at all. We were worried about her safety, so we followed her here.

We roughly understand what the missing person said to them. It seems that the missing person originally planned to commit suicide with Gao Songdeng..."

"Please don't record the following words, and don't tell others that I said them."

Naomi Misora ​​waved her hand and asked her two men to move away.

The young police officer looked around and said in a low voice: "The missing person is called Toyokawa Shoko, the eldest daughter of the Toyokawa family.

Half a year ago, for some unknown reason, I was kicked out of the Toyokawa family along with my father. Although we still seem to maintain the most basic contact, there is no financial exchange.

Toyokawa Yamato, Shoko's father, was devastated and became addicted to alcohol.

Shoko Toyokawa, who has no source of income, works several jobs at the same time, and recently seems to have reached her limit. Not only did she fall ill, she also borrowed 25 yen from her former band friends.

I'm pretty sure she's not the one you're looking for. I find it hard to imagine a naive little girl being so determined."

Naomi Misora ​​was not surprised that the young police officer could guess the purpose of her group.

Because when Oblivionis made his declaration, he spoke the language of Area 11, and he had at least acted in Area 11 once.

So it's only natural to suspect she's from District 11.

And Toyokawa Shoko, who was close in age to Oblivionis and had suddenly disappeared, was naturally a suspicious target.

The moment they showed their ID, their intentions were exposed.

After all, what happened in Ave Mujica is already known to everyone.

The information given by the young police officer was similar to what Misora ​​Naomi knew.

However, Naomi Misora's conclusion was different from his.

"It's precisely because she's such an innocent little girl that she's so determined to do such a thing..."

Most investigators believe that Toyokawa Shoko, the down-and-out young lady, was crushed by the burden of life.

But Naomi Minami doesn't think so. From recent surveillance videos and photos, as well as other people's descriptions, she sees a stubborn and strong soul.

She could have chosen to accept her friends' help, which might have allowed her to continue her band activities.

Or tell your friends why you left the band, at least it wouldn't be like this.

But she chose the worst and most extreme way.

In order to keep her image in the eyes of her friends from being ruined, she still wanted to be the girl who was as bright as the sun.

She quit her favorite band and distanced herself from her friends.

Would such a stubborn person reveal her weak side when she was about to commit suicide, first borrowing money from a friend, and then seeming to drag another friend to commit suicide?

The Shoko Toyokawa in Naomi Misora's mind would not be like this.

Suddenly, Naomi Misora's cell phone rang.

The moment she saw who was calling, she quickly answered the phone and asked, "How is it? What's the result?"

"The DNA of the hair follicle cells found at the scene matched that found in the target's home. They were from the same person."

The hair found by the police at the scene and the hair collected by the police at Xiangzi's home were sent for testing urgently, but the results were not what Naomi Misora ​​wanted.

"Has it been detected when the hair at the scene fell off?"

"Yes, hold on," the sound of flipping pages came from the other end of the phone. "Of the first batch of five hairs sent for testing, three were removed from the body within 12 hours. The other two, one between 24 and 36 hours old, and the other is difficult to determine."

The police also found out that Toyokawa Shoko had purchased a lot of fuel and traveled back and forth to the sea of ​​trees many times.

Combined with the hair found at the scene, it can be said that the 'Disappearance of Shoko Toyokawa'

In terms of legal procedures, a conclusion can already be drawn——

On the afternoon of January 3, 2024, Shoko Toyokawa died from a premeditated self-immolation.

All the evidence and clues point to this answer, but Naomi Misora ​​still feels that something is wrong.

But there is one thing she is sure of—

"Toyokawa Shoko, if it were you... if Oblivionis were you..."

If she is a 'naive romantic' who is determined to 'change the world' even if it means giving up everything and 'dying',

'That's the worst possible choice!'

It is often not criminals or murderers who plunge the world into chaos, but people who can inspire people and hold power.

There is no doubt that Oblivionis of Ave Mujica is such a person,

If Oblivionis is a stubborn person like Toyokawa Shoko, then she will not stop until she dies...

She (he) does not care about gains and losses, does not ask about cause and effect, and in order to achieve her (his) own "ideal", she (he) even does not hesitate to "declare war" on the world's largest violent organization.

"The world...is about to become even more chaotic..."

Misora ​​Naomi, had this premonition,

She explained a few more things on the phone and then walked towards Toyokawa Shoko's friends.

Normally expressionless, she forced a gentle smile and said softly, "I'm Naomi Misora, one of the persons in charge of this case. Are you all friends of the missing person, Toyokawa Shoko?"

"Yes... yes!" the brown-haired girl said quickly, "So, have you found out the identity of the deceased? He can't be Xiaoxiang, right?!"

Nagasaki Suyo's blue eyes were filled with eager anticipation, as if a drowning person had grasped the last straw.

Misora ​​Naomi's eyes secretly passed her and looked at the gray-haired girl.

She lowered her head at the moment, as if she might fall down at any moment, and supporting her was a girl with long black hair, her eyes red from crying, but she stood up straight stubbornly, as if she was determined to protect something important.

Naomi Misora ​​had read the information of the girl with long black hair, her name was Shiina Riki,

The last purple-haired girl at the scene, Yutenji Wakamugi, happened to be known to Misora ​​Naomi.

She is Naomi Misora's friend and Yutenji Umi's sister.

Naomi Misora ​​has no intention of greeting her friend's sister.

"I'm sorry..."

She apologized to Toyokawa Shoko's friends in her heart, and showed an expression as if she was about to inform the patient's family that the patient had died despite rescue efforts.

"Classmate Toyokawa Shoko, she died..."

Midway through her words, Naomi Misora ​​fell silent, with an expression of regret on her face as if she had told the truth.

The brown-haired girl, Nagasaki Suyo, could not bear such bad news.

Her chest rose and fell rapidly, but she couldn't breathe any air, and her body convulsed and she fainted.

Misora ​​Naomi supported her as if hugging her, and slowly squatted down, but her eyes looked over Su Shi's shoulder at the gray-haired girl who lowered her head.

can see!

From this angle, you can clearly see the expression of the gray-haired girl Takamatsu Deng!

The person who is most likely to know whether Toyokawa Shoko is dead or not is not his childhood sweetheart Wakaba Mutsu, nor the gentle Nagasaki Suyo.

But it was Takamatsu Deng who had been pestering Toyokawa Shoko and accurately found the scene of her self-immolation after she got into trouble!

Naomi Misora ​​subconsciously opened her eyes wide.

She has been specially trained and can read a lot from the subtle changes in people's expressions.

If Toyokawa Shoko faked her death and Takamatsu Deng knew about it, it would definitely not have escaped Naomi Misora's eyes.

For an introverted girl like her, it is impossible to keep her expression calm when she is suddenly subjected to such a huge shock.

"Takamatsu-san, what kind of expression will you make?!"

Chapter 19: Making the World a Better Place

"Takamatsu-san, what kind of expression will you make?!"

Naomi Misora ​​held her breath and focused her eyes on Takamatsu Touma's face.

After 0.2 seconds, she couldn't help but freeze.

What kind of expression is that?!

The Earth is destroyed, captured by a black hole, so is there any point in anything?

Or perhaps, what exists there is just an empty shell without a soul? !

Any expression interpreter who comes here and looks at Gao Songdeng's face will come to the same conclusion -

She...gave up thinking!

……

The dull look on Naomi Misora's face lasted only a moment. She laid Nagasaki Suyo flat on the ground and reached out to feel her breath.

Perhaps it is when a person is unconscious that one can keep the heart from sorrow,

The flaxen-haired girl's breathing gradually changed from rapid to regular.

"Help me call an ambulance! No, just contact the hospital and I'll take them there!"

I knew clearly what the consequences would be, and I still did it.

But Naomi Misora ​​was still extremely anxious.

She is a noble American and an FBI inspector.

In District 11, a dual economic and military colony, her "human rights" are almost unlimited.

Don't mention that telling the truth to the 'family' caused the two girls to be 'comatose',

Even if she was killed by drunk driving, the punishment for these two girls with no background would be transfer or demotion at best.

But Naomi Misora ​​was still worried about them and felt guilty.

Because before she was American, she was a human being, someone who wanted to make the world a better place.

…………

……

"So, Oblivionis-chan, what is your wish?"

It was late at night, the sound of waves came from all directions, and the yacht was swaying in the waves.

Oblivionis, or rather, Xia Isabella's hand, felt the black tea gradually cooling down, but she had no intention of drinking it.

She wore gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints, and a hairnet under the wig covered her real hair.

On the other side of the tea table, a girl with golden eyes and blonde hair, unlike Xia, who had most of her face hidden under a mask and whose voice was flat,