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Chapter 105: Chapter 2.8

"Take it easy, Siesta."

Where in that thin body of hers did all the food she ate go? Siesta cleaned plate after plate with lovely table manners but at dizzying speed. We had no time to talk about Arsene.

"But, you know, I need to eat while I can."

"What was the 'you know' for? You can eat again whenever you want."

Siesta wasn't listening. She was scanning the menu again. I was slightly exasperated...but it did also strike me as sort of nostalgic.

Back when we were together constantly, we'd eaten at the same table like this all the time, discussing cases or making plans for future work or talking about nothing in particular... Anyway, the sight I remembered most from those three years might have been Siesta blissfully enjoying her food, the same way she was doing that now.

"Come to think of it, what's your favorite food, Kimi?" she asked out of nowhere while we were waiting for our next order to arrive.

"Uh, what? Is there a reason you're talking like we just met?"

"No, it just occurred to me that we'd never discussed things like that."

I see. Come to think of it, she was right. It felt like we'd never talked about stuff like that or covered any of the basic topics; we'd just bantered.

"Actually, I don't even know your real name or age or where you're from." "If you put it that way, I've practically never heard what you really think,

Kimi."

Yeah, she wasn't wrong about that. Even if we hadn't asked those questions, though, we'd walked together and sometimes stood back-to-back, and we'd understood each other. I'd also never considered whether that had been right or wrong.

"Basically, I like anything that has a deep, rich flavor."

That wasn't why I said it, and it seemed kind of late, but I answered Siesta's question anyway.

"Deep, rich-tasting foods? That's not even a type."

"The thing is, as long as it has a definite taste, it satisfies me."

Especially during those three years, almost everything I ate had been pizza or some other kind of junk food. ...Maybe that was why. My strong memories with Siesta had been the only ones I'd remembered, as if they were linked to those vivid flavors.

"What about you, Siesta?"

"Mm, that's a tough one. There's nothing I dislike."

As she answered, Siesta paused in the act of reaching for her glass. Thinking back, I did get the feeling she found everything she ate delicious. The only time she'd grimaced was when I'd made that lousy curry... Maybe she really didn't have any favorites.

"If I were having my very last supper, though..." Siesta responded to my inquiry with a hypothetical. "I think I'd like to eat it with the person I most enjoy spending time with." Smiling faintly, she gave an answer that didn't quite match the original question.

"...I ate too much."

Still fully dressed, I collapsed onto the hotel bed.

"Heh-heh. Yes, your stomach's definitely sticking out."

Siesta had cleared more plates than I had, but it was like everything she'd eaten had evaporated or something. She sat down in a chair by the window, wearing a cool smile. We'd finally finished our long dinner and returned to our hotel. ...Speaking of finally, there was one more thing.

"Still, that wasn't like you. You never back down that easily." On the bed, gazing at the ceiling, I brought up the Arsene incident again. A few hours

ago, surrounded by those men in that office, Siesta and I had ended up letting the Phantom Thief get away.

"I didn't know how Arsene had gotten those men to obey him. I couldn't use force."

...Oh, I see. If we hadn't withdrawn, there was no telling what order he would have given them. To ensure the safety of everyone present, she'd had to pretend she was helpless.

"Besides, even if I lost, the Ace Detective hasn't," Siesta said firmly. "Someday, Nagisa's bound to defeat the Phantom Thief."

"...Yeah. Now we've got another reason we have to wake her up." There was no way she'd let an enemy who plotted to control others' hearts get away.

Nagisa Natsunagi. With her passion, I was sure...

"But as far as you're concerned, Kimi, that's not the biggest reason." I heard the bed creak. Straddling me, Siesta peered into my face. "You just want to wake Nagisa up because you want to see her again."

"...Don't just say people's thoughts aloud. At least ask first." "I'm right, though, aren't I?"

The room was dim. The moonlight that filtered in through the curtains made Siesta's smile even more alluring.

"...Dunno." I knew there was no need to put her off. Even so, it was awkward to be seen so thoroughly, and I found myself looking away.

"Male tsunderes aren't popular, you know." "Mind your own business."

Today, though, Siesta wouldn't let up. "Tell me one thing you like about her, then."

What's the "then" for, huh? Actually, something like this happened just three weeks ago. ...In which case, it wouldn't be fair if I didn't answer this time, too.

"...Natsunagi, right. Well, you know. She's, uh...cute, isn't she?" "......"

Why did she clam up? Should I have mentioned her personality first or something?

"Oh, it's just that hearing the word 'cute' come out of your mouth gave me a nasty chill."

"Not fair." That's not a reason to get goosebumps.

I plucked up my

courage and said something I don't normally say. Praise me for it, would ya?

"Heh-heh. Still, this is getting entertaining."

"Don't tease me for your own amusement. Whatever it is, it's obviously not going to be any fun for me."

"Well, it means that even when Nagisa called you names or brushed you off, in your heart, you were thinking, My partner is way too cute, right?"

"Quit analyzing it so calmly! And I didn't make that 'cool guy' face!"

...Dammit, Natsunagi. Thanks to you, I'm getting humiliated here.

"Yes, right there, that's the one I meant." "Like I said, quit reading my mind."

And you. Hurry up and get off me already. I pointed at the bed next to mine, instructing Siesta to move. Man, I'm glad we reserved a twin room.

"...Uh, you're interpreting that gesture wrong." For some reason, instead of going to the next bed, the ace detective had stretched out next to me. Had she always been this slow on the uptake?

"Oh, of course. I didn't realize."

Yeah, right. She'd clearly done it on purpose.

Speaking in a nonchalant monotone, Siesta gazed at my profile. Her face softened.

"What are you after?" I asked.

"You wouldn't stop talking about Nagisa, so I got jealous... Would that do?"

"If you'd put more emotion into it, I might have hugged you out of nowhere."

"You didn't put any emotion into that either, Kimi." We argued a little, then laughed.

"We haven't changed, have we?"

"Nope. We're just like we were a year ago."

The lights in the room were out. On the narrow bed, Siesta and I gazed at each other.

"Well, your drive for sleep and food have been satisfied, so if we're being honest, I'm concerned you might hit me up for the last one."

"I told you, I've only got two great motivations. And what do you mean, 'concerned'?" Siesta narrowed her eyes as if she had a bone to pick with me.

"You say that now, but that's not what you said before." "When?"

It had been a month ago already. When we fought Chameleon on that cruise ship, and Siesta had borrowed Natsunagi's body, she'd told me...

"You said, 'To tell you the truth, I might have slept with you once. I considered it, at least.'"

"......" For a moment, Siesta looked rather guilty. "...Well, you said to tell you that sooner, didn't you? Really, it sounded as if you were the one who was interested."

She hit me with an impossible instant retort.

Well, back then, I had no idea I'd get to see you again like this.

"And so, if I had to say, I thought you might not be able to control your emotions seeing me again after a year apart, and you'd throw your arms around me or something." Somehow having gotten the upper hand, Siesta reproached me. ...Sheesh.

"Get over yourself." She was lying next to me, and I geared up to flick her forehead.

"Well, I mean..." Suddenly, Siesta's expression turned lonely. "You pushed yourself much too hard for my sake." She gently touched my cheek.

...Oh. So she had known about that seed, huh?

"Even if the seed's been extracted, you might still end up suffering side effects from it one of these days." Was it my imagination? Siesta's eyes seemed wet. "You may lose the ability to see your beloved Nagisa or hear your cherished Yui sing. You may lose your voice; you might not be able to fight with your rival Charlie. Even so, you—"

"I don't care," I said, hugging her tightly. "I knew I wouldn't. That's why I chose the future that might have you in it." No matter what I lost because of it, I'd wanted to see Siesta again. "Sorry. I just said I hadn't changed, but I've learned how to be honest about stuff like that."

I'd failed to do it twice, and I had regretted it both times.

"...Are you stupid, Kimi?" I could hear Siesta's weak voice from the vicinity of my chest. "That almost sounds as if you..."

But she didn't say the rest of it. She just squirmed a little in my arms...then heaved a big sigh. "I suspect somebody's going to stab you one day."

"Where the heck did that come from?" Even if I am a trouble magnet, I never want to get dragged into that kind of mess.

"Listen." Siesta poked her head up out of my arms. There was no sadness in her face now. "Come to think of it, I didn't ask you last time. I think you'd

probably tell me now." With that preface, Siesta asked me, "What did you think of those three years?"

That was another thing that had happened on the cruise ship a month ago. While Siesta was protecting me from the enemy's attacks, she'd told me, "Those unforgettable three years I spent with you are the best memories I have."

At the time, I hadn't been able to respond. Since she'd asked me again, I had a chance to tell her. In that case...

"Do you even need to ask?"

Knowing it was too dark for her to really see it anyway, I gave her my biggest smile.

"I had so much fun, it's kind of frustrating."

When she heard that, Siesta murmured, "I see." She sounded somewhat relieved. She put her arms around me, hugging me back. "Thank you."

Yeah, that's right.

That was the promise we'd made a year ago: If we survived and met again, I'd take her up on that hug.

Right now, one year later, that wish had come true.

"What's that 'Thank you' supposed to mean?" But as I joked around with her like usual, Siesta's warmth enfolded me. My eyelids grew heavy, and I didn't fight them. I fell into a deep sleep.

—The next morning...

When I woke up, I was alone.