File 54 - [Audio Post]

[truthinfortune]

Hm... It's been a year since he and I met that day at the Samegawa River... [a soft laugh] To think such an innocuous meeting would be the prelude to a wonderful relationship. I never would have conceived of such a possibility back then...

It's funny how the most unexpected friendships often turn out to be the most enduring. But I am grateful for

Comments

[det_goofball]

[[Oh, hiatus, what hiatus?]]

Been a while, huh?

[truthinfortune]

...Yes. It has.

I haven't taken on any new case work since... closing the case in Inaba.

[det_goofball]

Really? Why's that? I remember when I first met you, that's all you ever seemed interested in.

[truthinfortune]

You know, I'm not sure. At first, I wanted to take a break because, well... frankly, I needed it. Battling against a deity twice... I really wasn't mentally prepared to begin taking on casework so soon after that.

But then the spring term commenced, and I got so caught up with school work and my social life. If I were to begin taking on a serious caseload, I wouldn't be able to attend classes.

But maybe there's another reason for it... One that I'm having a hard time admitting to myself...

[det_goofball]

Hm. Makes sense, I guess. I... kind of miss it myself, to be honest, though guess Dojima-san wouldn't have been impressed by me thinking it was fun or anything.

Hah, you know what happens when you don't admit stuff to yourself.

[truthinfortune]

When I was fighting by Senpai's side... I felt like I was part of something important... something bigger than myself. I'm not saying that I want to have the world threatened again like that, but... I miss that sense of purpose, I guess.

I know, I know. I'd hate for Yamato-Takeru to go back to being a Shadow again. Facing that side of myself once before was enough.

I think... there's a part of me that hesitates to move on to another case because the last one was left unfinished...

[det_goofball]

You're just at a loose end. Someone like you, you'll get past that all right. I mean, seriously, you're still just a kid when all's said and done.

But you did finish it. Maybe not as soon as any of us would've liked but still.

[truthinfortune]

You know, there was once a time when I would have resented such a sentiment. But now... I want to enjoy what's left of my childhood. Dojima-san and Nakamouri-keibu have to remind me from time to time not to grow up too fast, and I've taken their words to heart.

I suppose the case has concluded in the way it was meant to be... So long as the truth has come to light, I should be satisfied and leave it at that.

Summer vacation will commence in a few months. Maybe I should use the opportunity to take on a few cases while school is closed...

[det_goofball]

It's good advice... take it from one who knows, you want to make the most of it while you have it.

Yeah, sure, go for it. Don't want to end up bored stiff, do you?

[truthinfortune]

I intend to. Before long, everyone will be going off to university. It will be harder for us to keep in touch, so I want to make the most of our time together in Inaba.

You mean like you? I can't imagine what you do for entertainment on the island, aside from watching daytime television shows...

[det_goofball]

Oh, that's right, your little Investigation Team'll be splitting up, eh...?

Hey, you'd be surprised. Some of the stuff that goes on here is like a television show in itself, with the people that always want to seem to visit. But, y'know, having said that, wouldn't mind getting out and about. Check out a couple other worlds.

[truthinfortune]

It already has... Things haven't been quite the same around here since Senpai left. But it was bound to happen sooner or later. When you follow your dreams, that path often leads you away from familiar territory. But I have no doubt that such a separation will be temporary. We'll all meet up again, one day.

I've heard tell that you've come into your own world-hopping device. I hope you don't intend to pull another stunt like you did with Chie-senpai. She'll kick you in the face if you try that again.

[det_goofball]

Oh, of course, I forgot he'd gone. Guess the community'll always keep you together somehow, hm.

Aaahh, you heard about that? I think she meant to kick me in the face the first time, only she missed. By quite a lot.

[truthinfortune]

Yes. But more importantly, it's the bonds we forged during that year which shall keep us connected, no matter how far apart we may be.

Of course. What sort of detective would I be if I didn't keep tabs on certain "persons of interest"?

[det_goofball]

Bet you could write a book about all these ~bonds~ of yours, it sounds like the sort of thing you read in a self-help thing.

Oh, so I'm just a "person of interest" now?

[truthinfortune]

I don't think it's something that can easily be put into words. It's... something you have to experience for yourself.

Would you prefer to be called a criminal? Because in the end, that's what you are: a criminal on the lam. I have to keep a close watch on your movements until you're safely behind bars.