Truth

Yumimura's voice gradually began to tremble. He looked very unwilling to recall what had happened that day, but given the circumstances, he could only force himself to continue.

"At that time—the boy suddenly flew into a rage. He waved his knife and shouted for Mrs. Sofue to shut up. Everyone was terrified and shrank back into their seats, too afraid to say anything.

"But Mrs. Sofue knelt on the floor and begged the boy, saying she couldn't hold it in anymore. She looked genuinely distressed.

"I remember it clearly. She had just gone to the restroom at the previous Service Area, but Ms. Yukiko Shimokawa, who was being held hostage, spoke up for her. Mrs. Sofue repeatedly promised that she was only going to the restroom and would be back in five minutes—

"Only then did the boy let me drive into the Service Area. He told Mrs. Sofue that if she did not return in time, he would find someone on the bus and kill them."

At this point, Yumimura suddenly clutched his head, his expression twisting in pain. "But—Mrs. Sofue still hadn't returned after more than ten, nearly twenty minutes. The boy was completely enraged. He took all his anger out on Ms. Yukiko Shimokawa, the one who had spoken up for her. He raised his knife—and killed her."

Hearing this, Amaki and Kobe understood why everyone on the bus had chosen to keep silent about that day.

Although the culprit had a knife, he had only been a teenager. If everyone on the bus had worked together to subdue him, perhaps the tragedy would never have happened.

"So you blame yourselves for failing to subdue that hostage taker at the time?" Kobe tilted her head.

"Ahem—" Amaki gave a dry cough, trying to remind Kobe not to