Kazuma finally reaches the point where he is standing right behind her back. He doesn't try to talk with her afterward and looks around, making sure of something.
No, he didn't Imagine something in his mind as he was already too tired for that. He looks around with emptiness in his eyes as if there's no point in doing such things.
Without even realizing it, the girl keeps her distance from him. She was trying to get off from there, but Kazuma realized it before she was able to escape.
Looking at her footsteps and the sounds, she was trying to sneak from him. Both of them just see each other pointlessly there for a while.
While she looks to be afraid, he seems to be calm yet very tired. The emotionless face probably makes her scared.
The girl slowly takes steps one by one to the back. She gets farther from him, yet he only stands there calmly.
She is drenched in a heavy sweat, and her body is shivering. She can't even breathe properly. Her steps become slower as if she's freezing.
Kazuma takes her movement seriously. He then looks behind to know what she will do if he does so. He then does it for about two minutes.
She's still there, even after he turns his body back. She is still scared and can't even move. She can't even stand in this case. She starts to cry again, but not loud as before. It doesn't even make any sound.
Wanting to test something again, now he moves a step instead. It makes her in a worse position. Her reaction is even more horrible.
He then gets closer and closer. Then, all of a sudden, she starts to run leaving him alone. Kazuma doesn't even try to talk with her or call her afterward.
For a minute, he just stood there alone staring at the sky. Yet somehow, he seems to hold his tears as his eyes welled up with tears. He then looks down and wipes all those tears.
As he looks down, he can see his watch. It's 11:50 PM already. Knowing something is wrong, he comes back to the office.
He hasn't been imagining anything since the night shift started.
With a serious look, he tries to find her somewhere near the office. She can't be contacted by any means at the moment. It's very dark inside the office, but the lights outside are very bright as usual.
The streets are not very empty, since there are still vehicles passing. But there's no jam or crowd there. There are people nearby. Kazuma then does a surprising thing.
Kazuma: Excuse me, do you see this woman (showing a picture of her)?
Stranger: What kind of clothing does she wear?
Kazuma: She should be going off from work.
Stranger: No, I haven't seen any women going off from work.
Kazuma: How long have you been here?
Stranger: I probably saw you coming out from that office (pointing at where Kazuma is working).
Kazuma: When was the last time you saw any people getting out of that office?
Stranger: Probably, about thirty minutes ago.
Kazuma: Thank you for the help.
Besides that stranger, Kazuma also asked several other people to get more information. Most of them didn't see her. The rest refused to answer in suspicions.
The only information he got was the fact nobody left the office after 11:40 PM. Besides, they were (the ones who left the office) men, and probably one of them is 'M'
Unlike before, he has started to talk to himself again since he started asking everyone he could. Finding where she is, gives him some energy to go.
To rest himself, he buys several snacks again at the store that are still open (or maybe they are open 24 hours). He then sees his watch, and it shows that it's 12:45 AM already.
As he enjoys his snacks which mostly are sweets, someone approaches him and asks him.
Stranger: Excuse me, did you see my daughter by any chance?
Kazuma: May I see her picture? I think I saw a girl about an hour before.
Stranger: Where? What was she doing?
Kazuma: She was crying in the park until she was running from me. Maybe, she misunderstood something.
Stranger: You mean this girl?
Then, the girl he met before appears. She was hiding near there until she appeared when the stranger showed her.
Kazuma: I'm sorry. Do you mean she is your daughter?
Stranger: I will say you're the most clumsy kidnapper.
Police officer: You're under arrest for kidnapping!
Kazuma: Wait, I didn't even do anything!
The police officer came suddenly from his back. He arrested Kazuma as if he has committed a dangerous crime. Kazuma can't fight back against the officer, except with his words that the officer didn't even hear.
While he was being arrested and pushed to get into the car, he tried to look at her. She only stares at him with empty eyes, while her father seems disgusted by him.
The girl keeps staring at him, and when the car gets off, she keeps her eyes tracking it until it can't be seen anymore. Kazuma then sees the park as the car drives passing it.
Police officer 1: Committing your crime at the park, huh? You know it's still a public place, even if it's not crowded anymore.
Police officer 2: It seems we're very to have a task to catch a chase a dead fish.
Police officer 1: Not only living as trash, but you're also living as a clown.
Police officer 2: You know you're in trouble when you have stupid work and can't even do it properly.
The police officers kept mocking him until they arrived at the destination. Somehow, they could rhyme their jokes (about him), making it more hurting to be heard.
Kazuma tried not to hear them and ignored them. But, he was just in a place that wouldn't let him do so. Those words were struck inside him, even though he didn't commit the crime.
He didn't have any ideas why he was there. He was only waiting for his friend who wanted to meet him. He didn't even know what he should think about that girl.
Then, a thought comes to him as he gets out of the car. "A day of absence means a salary cut, doesn't it?" He thinks about what could happen this day. There's a clock there saying it's 1:25 AM already.
Another police offer then takes over for escorting him to the place he will sleep. The place is too strange for him as he is sure he didn't commit any crimes. Then, they arrive at the 'bedroom'
Well, it's not like the place is uncomfortable or something, but it's both intimidating and depressing, especially for someone who didn't belong there. Not to mention that he probably has a better bedroom in his home.
He was told by the officer to be prepared for court today. It confuses him as the schedule of a court shouldn't be decided that fast. But, it doesn't make him wonder as everything is already too strange for him.
He can't sleep with the environment at the time. He thinks about his life. "Do I have that many sins? I was a normal employee working for a company, and then in a night, I'm here being a suspect and getting called as trash by everyone I see," Says himself in his mind.
It's a very hard and complicated time for him. Every negative thought is coming suddenly to his mind again and again. It makes him cry, though he tries to hold the tears.
He thinks he has no friends for helping him in this kind of situation. "Besides, I don't think I have any friends. They are nothing but co-workers, aren't they?"
His mind didn't stop there. "Friends? Co-workers? aren't they enemies? I heard it. They said everyone hates me, yet I don't even know the reason why. They don't even tell me why they hate me," Says him in pain.
For a second, he saw the clock. It's already 2:15 AM. Knowing he has to get good sleep, he tries to forget those things and tries to sleep.
He tries to replace negative thoughts with more positive ones. But it didn't work that well. Until he is finally able to sleep about 30 minutes later.
He then opens his eyes at 06:00 AM as an officer wakes him up. The officer gives him a paper about his schedule. The officer also informs him that it has been decided he will not use the government-prepared lawyer. But, a lawyer somehow wants to handle his case.
According to the schedule, he will meet the lawyer at 09:00 AM, and the court is planned to be started at 3:00 PM.
Masatoshi Inagaki is the name of the lawyer. He is not a well-known lawyer in the public face, but he is a very experienced lawyer who has worked for more than 15 years.
He has handled more than one hundred cases and won almost all of them. There were even times when he handled more than three cases on the same day and won all of them.
Inagaki's competency makes him very relaxed. But, it just grows his suspicions more. "There's no way a very experienced lawyer wants to help me for free like this. Something strange must is happening right now," Says him in confusion.
Almost three hours later, he finally can meet the lawyer. He is tall and has a very charismatic figure. The lawyer has also a very strange aura.
Masatoshi: You've already been freed from this case. But, there's one thing I want you to do.
Kazuma: I'm sorry, but I don't think that's the best way to start a conversation.
Masatoshi: Everything will go as we want as long you follow my instructions.
Kazuma: You don't even hear me!
Masatoshi: I will tell you when you have to do something in court.
Kazuma: Whatever. Then, when will I know that?
Masatoshi: Don't worry! It's an easy task. You will understand it soon in court. Anyway, excuse me. I have another appointment. I will come back when the court starts.
The lawyer confuses him. He doesn't even know if he has to believe him or not. Then, suddenly a call comes.
Shinsuke: Did someone just appeal you into court?
Kazuma: Yeah, but don't worry, I get the way out. I can't get to work today.
Shinsuke: Well, I don't know what happens. But, I hope you know the consequences.
Kazuma: ...
Shinsuke: Don't worry! I will try to save your career.
Kazuma: I'm very thankful for that.
Kazuma tries to calm himself after the phone call. He doesn't know what could happen next. He knows things will undoubtedly get worsen, but he hopes it will not be that bad.
The time then finally comes. The court will be started in thirty minutes. Yet, there's still no sign of the lawyer coming. Waiting for him and the court in uncertainties, he reads information about the court.
The name of the girl is Chiaki Kajiura, while the father's Hiroshi Kajiura. Kazuma is alleged of kidnapping and rape. He knows they will allege him with others too later.
Several minutes before the court, everyone is told to get into the courtroom. Suddenly, the lawyer came here as if he knows the right time when they will be told so.
The lawyer says that the win rate is positively 100%. He has the best weapon, which he says he will reveal later in court.
They then get into the courtroom as the last person to do it. Mr. Kajiura only stares at them as if they are the most disgusting people in the world. Chiaki is absent from the court since she is still a child, and her role is replaced by her father.
The court will be started in three minutes. As they sit, the lawyer says something.
Masatoshi: There's an amusing thing standing here.
Kazuma: What is it?
Masatoshi: Mr. Kajiura often uses my services throughout the time. It's interesting, doesn't it?
Kazuma: ...
Masatoshi: No, there's no revenge or something like that. I just want to always stand in the right place.