Although every encounter with Uzo, even one "face-to-face" through a network cable, put considerable psychological pressure on Okiya Subaru.
This was even worse: Uzo said nothing at all, merely creating incidents near him without directly showing any clear attitude. It left Okiya Subaru unable to eat or sleep, terrified that he might misunderstand Uzo at some point and cause irreparable consequences.
Just as he was agonizing over it, his phone suddenly rang.
Okiya Subaru checked the caller ID.
Then, instinctively, he opened his laptop, pulled up the surveillance software, and glanced at it.
A row of green lights showed that no one was watching or listening in, so he finally answered the call. "Mr. Akai?"
"I'm nearby. I saw police coming out of the apartment where you live, but I didn't see you." Akai Shuichi's voice came through. "Was everything resolved smoothly?"
Hearing that he was nearby, Okiya Subaru relaxed slightly and briefly recounted the case.
After listening, Akai Shuichi fell silent for a moment before asking, "Which part involved Uzo? Or rather, why do you think this was Uzo's doing?"
After saying that, he suddenly paused, remembering the plea for help Okiya Subaru had sent earlier.
Strictly speaking, it had not mentioned Uzo at all. It had only said, "There's a Murder Case. The neighbor is dead."
Perhaps Okiya Subaru had influenced him, because Akai Shuichi realized that when he had seen that email, his first thought had also been—Uzo was making a move.
Akai Shuichi: "..." Still, as he looked at the peaceful scene in the distance... he secretly wondered whether, if this really was a trap Uzo had set to punish Okiya Subaru, it was a little too simple.
Across the phone, Okiya Subaru keenly sensed the faint doubt in Akai Shuichi's emotions.
A vague sense