669 Suppose that the person the most important to you died because of you (2/2)
Yoshihara fell silent.
He then puffed some more smoke before speaking again.
”If Haruta-san and your companion don't mind the smell of smoke, we can walk together for a little while.”
There was no character named ”Risa” at all in ”Legend of the Heavenly Divine Sword”!
Yoshihara was quite mystified as to why this ”Haruta” knew the name of Risa and brought it up in such a manner.
Meanwhile, Seiji confirmed his previous inference: the mysterious woman must definitely be Risa Kobayakawa!
Yuuzou Yoshihara having such a reaction to the name of Risa was the best evidence of this.
Did the world really work on six degrees of separation? Seiji could only exclaim over how all of this was actually connected to Mayuzumi and Reo's incident.
It seemed likely to him that because he'd experienced that incident, he was able to hear Risa Kobayakawa's voice and even see her.
”I really can't remember the specific storyline. How much can you remember, Yoshihara-san?”
”I don't recall much, either. It probably happened the way you said,” Yoshihara said in a low voice.
”What happened to that assassin swordsman after Rika died?”
”…He continued to do what he always did.”
”I think that there's more to the story after that. The swordsman assassin then accepted a job that he knew he would absolutely die in… Why's that?” Seiji continued to talk in a coded manner.
”Probably in order to atone.”
”To atone for Risa?”
Yoshihara fell silent.
”Risa died because of the swordsman, so the swordsman wants to die for her as well. Perhaps that sounds reasonable, but that's probably not what she wants to see.” Seiji looked directly at Yoshihara.
”…Indeed, it's quite idiotic for the swordsman to do so. However, he won't regret it,” Yoshihara spoke slowly. ”Because the thing he regrets most in his life is causing Risa's death.”
His calm words contained an endless amount of heaviness.
Seiji fell silent.
”Haruta-san, suppose that the person most important to you died because of you. However, there's a chance to revive her at the cost of your own life. How would you choose?” Yoshihara inquired.
This was a question without an answer.
That was because everyone would have their own answer.
Yoshihara didn't ask this question to hear Seiji's answer. He wanted Seiji to know that he had already answered this question.
Even if the already dead Risa didn't want him to do this, he wouldn't retreat or regret.
”…Is the swordsman truly certain that the dead can be revived? That he's not being scammed? That he's not sacrificing yourself for nothing?” Seiji asked a flurry of questions. ”And even if she's able to revive, is he certain that she won't have any negative side effects? That she won't be in pain or even have a fate worse than death?”
Yoshihara fell silent.
”If the swordsman isn't certain that she can revive and have a normal life again, then this sacrifice can't be called anything other than idiotic!” Seiji spoke in a sharp tone.
”Still, he has no other choice.” Yoshihara revealed a heavy expression. ”Besides, his life is now… meaningless.”
A chilly sea breeze blew past them.
”This is nothing more than wanting to die,” Seiji spoke in a heavy voice.
”Perhaps so,” Yoshihara stated calmly.
”Saving her is only an excuse. He only wants to use the excuse of saving her to have a glorious death.”
”Perhaps so.”
”Just how idiotic can such a person be? Disgusting.”
”Perhaps so.”