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The streets of Tokyo were covered with snow, and there were even small snowdrifts.
Ron was walking aimlessly down a deserted street. No one was paying attention to him, and he wasn't paying attention to anyone else. He didn't know how long he'd been walking or what district he was in. But what did it matter?
He felt a headache coming on. He leaned against the wall of a building and closed his eyes. Maybe he should just stay here forever. His head was aching from the intrusive thoughts.
He had failed in his job. No matter how great a detective he called himself, people continued to die. He had failed his parents' expectations. He had failed himself.
How many more people would have to die before he solved the case? And what was the point of solving the case now?
He couldn't save anyone. Not the victim, not the criminal.
Why was he doing this now? He should just give up his detective work, leave Tokyo, and lock himself away in some secluded corner of Japan...
He's not a great detective, he's a murderer...
“Excuse me, are you all right? ”
A soft, concerned voice made Ron open his eyes. In front of him stood a young man with brown hair and expressive eyes, although Ron couldn't tell if they were gray or brown due to the blur in his own eyes.
Ron didn't have the strength to look at the stranger with the eyes of an experienced detective. But he knew that the guy had approached him out of good intentions — he had even held his umbrella over Ron as he spoke.
Yeah… it was for people like this that Ron wanted to become a great detective. He wanted to protect innocent people.
But now he realized that he couldn't do anything.
“It's okay, go your way,” Ron replied gruffly, straightening up and heading in the opposite direction. The guy gave him a doubtful look and continued on his way, occasionally glancing back.
You can't drag others into your problems.
If Ron was going to be considered a murderer, he at least hoped that it wouldn't affect innocent people. If you're going to be a murderer, you should only kill criminals... That's what Elmer had told him recently.
It made his heart ache. Elmer meant that it wasn't all lost, but Ron had just walked away... Run away.
Ron suddenly stumbled and fell into a snowdrift. But instead of getting up, he stayed lying there. The cold enveloped his body, and his clothes slowly began to soak through.
“I'll just lie here for a while,” Ron decided, and he stared up at the cloudy sky. Snowflakes fell onto his face, leaving a strange, shivering sensation.
“ Hey... Should I take you to the hospital?”
A familiar voice called out from above, and then an umbrella appeared, blocking out the sky. Now the detective noticed that the umbrella had a starry sky pattern on it.
“Such a beautiful umbrella,” Ron said instead of answering.
The guy also stared at his umbrella in confusion.
“Oh, yes, it’s really beautiful…” he muttered.
There was a brief silence. The guy, remembering why he had come over, sighed and spoke again. “You shouldn't lie in the snow. Can I help you in any way?”
Unexpectedly for Ron himself, the detective's lips twitched in a faint smile. He looked at the worried guy with some sympathy and began to slowly get up.
“You shouldn't help everyone you meet.”
“I know,” the guy shook his head. “Please go home. If you're unwell, I'll walk you out.”
Ron thought for a moment.
“Yes, walk me out, please. But…" Ron looked around. “Where are we anyway?”
The guy was surprised and almost dropped the umbrella from his hands, but he quickly came to his senses and gave the address.
Realizing how far he had wandered, Ron still chose the longest road possible. So they walked leisurely through the streets under the same umbrella.
“What's your name?” Ron asked.
“Totomaru Isshiki.”
Ron nodded, repeating the name in his mind. It sounded familiar, but he couldn't place where he'd heard it before.
“Kamonohashi-san, wouldn't it be more convenient to take this street?”
“What...?”
Ron froze in front of a fork in the road. How could this man possibly know where Ron's house was or his name ? He frowned.
“So you were sent by Elmer, Isshiki-san?” he asked grimly. His desire to return vanished instantly.
Totomaru shook his head nervously.
“No, no! I…” He lowered his head in embarrassment. “I’m sorry. You could say you’re my idol.”
Ron remained silent, waiting for him to continue. Totomaru took a deep breath and raised his head. He held Ron’s distant gaze.
“You’re a brilliant detective, your deductive skills are unmatched! I've always dreamed of becoming someone like you, but my deduction will never match yours…” Totomaru chuckled bitterly. “And that's why I admire you even more, Kamonohashi-san.”
“I'm not what you see,” Ron retorted, and he was about to leave again.
Totomaru apologized and grabbed Ron's sleeve before he could go. Ron obediently stopped.
“Murders don't happen without victims, and there's nothing you can do about it…” Totomaru whispered. “You once said that you chose your own path to rid the world of criminals…” His voice held a hint of sadness, but he spoke with confidence. “Please don't give up your work as a detective.”
Ron's chest warmed, and he didn't dare to turn around to face his "fan."
“I am a murderer.”
Totomaru was taken aback for a second, but he quickly regained his composure.
“You're not a murderer. And you know it.”
It was quiet again. Totomaru hesitantly let go of Ron's sleeve and walked around him to look at Ron's face.
“If you still want to take a break from work, don't lie in the snow,” Totomaru said softly. “Why don't you come to my place?”
Ron could only hear the sincerity and concern in his voice. So he really wasn't from Elmer. Gradually, the fog began to clear from his eyes.
Tomamaru smiled gently and waited for an answer.
“Okay, Toto , I think I'll stay with you for a while…” The words slipped out of his mouth before he had a chance to think about them. However, Tomamaru Isshiki, affectionately known as Toto, clapped his hands joyfully, although the umbrella in one of his hands made it a bit difficult.
“Great, Ron , I'll treat you to something delicious!” exclaimed Toto, and hurried down the street, occasionally checking to see if Ron was following and if he needed an umbrella.
A grateful smile involuntarily appeared on Ron's face. He didn't understand why he had followed "Toto" so naively. Perhaps it was because Toto had said something that Ron needed to hear? Or because Toto seemed genuinely sincere?
But, in any case, Toto had managed to touch some fragile strings in Ron Kamonohashi's soul that Ron himself had no idea about.
-
They sat next to each other by the kotatsu. Just recently, Ron had thought that the cold was calming, but now he realized how much he missed the opposite — warmth .
Ron held a warm cup of tea brewed by Toto in his hands, lost in thought.
“Help yourself, Ron .” Toto carefully pushed a plate of cookies and a small packet of black liquid towards him. Ron raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“This is…”
“Your favorite syrup, I know.”
Ron didn't respond, but he pulled the packet closer to him.
“ Ron… ” Every time Toto said his name, the detective's heart felt lighter. The way Toto said Ron's name was soothing, even gentle. “When snowflakes fall on your head, your hair looks like a starry sky. Just like on my umbrella.”
Once again, Ron's lips curved into a smile.
That's right... he definitely needed a break, some warmth, and… someone like Toto.