Someone slowly pushed open the hospital room door. Huiqi looked up and saw Iwao Kuroiwa and Juuzou Suzuya, who was sitting in a wheelchair.
"Have you had enough rest?"
"I can just about get around, so I came to see Shinohara." Iwao Kuroiwa's voice was heavy with emotion, his eyes filled with sorrow.
Juuzou Suzuya sat in his wheelchair, staring at the unconscious Yukinori Shinohara. Another man stood behind him.
The third man was Iba Fujishige, one of the few Special Class Investigators in the CCG who had lived long enough to retire. However, he had lost an arm in a battle against Owl years ago.
"You must be Special Class Investigator Huiqi? I've heard a great deal about you. I'm truly glad Yukinori Shinohara got to know you."
"I'm glad too. Yukinori Shinohara comforted me after Kawashima died, but now I can't do the same for him." Huiqi answered with a bitter smile, his gaze desolate.
"Ah, Mado, and now Shinohara too. You two really don't know how to treat your old boss! I was still waiting to have a drink together."
The grief in the hospital room grew heavier. Everyone present mourned for Shinohara. Such an outstanding Ghoul Investigator was now hovering between life and death.
"Here. Kureo Mado asked me to give you this. Were you wondering why he never handed you his last letter? He just didn't want his daughter to see it."
Iba Fujishige took the letter out of his pocket and handed it to Huiqi. As a rule, last letters written in the ward were entrusted to its Special Class Investigator, and Kureo Mado's was the only one Huiqi had not received.
Huiqi opened the letter and read its contents word by word. Although the handwriting was ugly, he could still feel the care