During their conversation, Black Stone learned that the samurai was named Yamagami. He had been separated from his younger brother, Yamashita, as a child and had never given up searching for him, even now.
After learning Yamashita's exact age, Black Stone became even more certain that Number One had been Yamashita.
He secretly breathed a sigh of relief. After all, he had saved Number One's older brother this time. If Number One knew in the afterlife, he probably would not come blame him in his dreams anymore.
And Yamagami would never be able to find Number One, who had long since died. He could continue living his new life.
However, as Black Stone smiled and saw Yamagami out of the cabin, he caught sight of someone on the distant street staring at him intensely from the corner of his eye.
That gaze felt like needles against his back, making Black Stone's heart tighten. The unease he had only just set aside rose again.
From then on, Black Stone's life did not seem to return to peace.
The following entries in the notebook became increasingly messy, as though they had been written in great haste.
Even the pages had several small burn holes, as if scorched by cigarette ash.
One night, after finishing a house call and preparing to return home, Black Stone was suddenly blocked by someone when he reached a dimly lit street.
Black Stone thought he had encountered a highway robber. He had intended to pay to avoid trouble and quickly send the man away.
But the first words the man spoke were like a bucket of ice water poured over his head, instantly plunging him into an icy abyss.
"Even after all these years, the moment I saw that smile of yours—where only your mouth smiles, not