The Detective is Already Dead

Chapter 42: Side Siesta

Chapter 42: Side Siesta

I didn't have much time left before my consciousness faded out completely.

I decided to spend it with my sleeping assistant's head on my knees, stroking his hair. He was sleeping like a child, with tear tracks on his cheeks.

"Are you stupid, Kimi?"

When I poked at his cheek, my index finger met with a springy resistance.

Honestly, right now, he was more like a baby than a child. "...That's why I intended to say good-bye on the boat." Because my assistant would cry. Because he'd cry for me.

To be honest, I hadn't meant to let him see me at the end. I'd meant for us to part for the last time on the way to the island... And yet he'd chased me all the way out here. Hadn't Charlie yelled at him?

I swear—

"Kimi, I suspect you like me far too much." I'd made that joke before.

I parted his bangs with the ball of my thumb. Why does his face look so cute when he's asleep? An anger I didn't really understand welled up in me, and I laughed a little.

"I'm sorry."

I knew he couldn't hear me.

"I'm sorry I ended up dying first." But I had to say it.

"Actually, there's one more reason I went with this reckless plan."

It was during that party you held for me in London, to celebrate my recovery. Do you remember what Alicia said? She said she wanted to go to school someday.

And so I decided to grant that wish.

"I could have just defeated her. Killing her would have been easy. But then...Alicia said that."

She wanted to live. She wanted to go to school.

I'd risked my life for that...and by tasting defeat, I'd won. This way, when Alicia wakes up in this body, I'll be able to send her to school.

Huh? Why would I go that far, you ask? Well, I mean—

"Because a detective's job is to protect the client's interests."

"I wanted to drink tea with you a month from now, too."

I wanted to see your profile as you said "Not fair" and sighed.

And your smile... I don't think I could ever have seen enough of your smile.

"I didn't...want to die."

But my job is to protect. And I'll protect you.

That is my mission. After all, an ace detective is someone who protects the client's interests.

I promised back then, remember? I said I'd protect you. No matter what kind of trouble finds you, I said I'd protect you with my life.

So relax and sleep, just like you're doing now. Stay in your dream; sleep in that way I might have thought was a little bit cute. It's all right. I'm sure someday, someone will wake you up.

And I know she'll hold you close, in my place.

"I never did give this to you, did I? I'm sorry."

Finally, I took out the red ribbon—which I'd stealthily slipped into Hel's military uniform during that last fight—and tied it around my head. I wonder if she'll still be wearing this a year from now.

"...That's right. I'll have to think of a name, too."

That would be the final spell that kept Hel's consciousness sealed. "Hel— The name of a cold queen said to have ruled a country of ice."

Her new name should be warmer, at least. Something to melt others' hearts.

A name that suited that smile of Alicia's, as dazzling as the summer sun... "Listen, Assistant."

I called to him, one last time.

"Remember this. The name of the one who'll wake you up someday is— Nagisa. Nagisa Natsunagi."