Kayaoke

The story open on Kenya sitting on Satoru bedside, saying he was sorry he didn’t followed Satoru that day, and that he should have known more than anyone (that there’s a criminal looming around).

Sachiko told Kenya not to blame himself. It achive noting, and he should focus on polishing his good point.

Kenya thought he really respect Sachiko. Even though her only son was like this, she still stood strong and soothed other.

* * * * * * *

Since Satoru had gone to sleep, Kenya felt like he was left alone. He felt souless. The one who could pull him back was his friends.

Kezu invited Kenya to have an okonomiyaki party, but Kenya said he wasn’t in the mood. But Kazu said if Satoru was here he’d definitedly love to go. So Kenya realized what his friend was trying to do.

“The one who encourage someone who’s in trouble is a friend,” said Kazu.

Kenya smiled and said let’s eat a lot for Satoru’s part, too.

Kenya knew what’d maked Satoru happy.

It’d be finding the criminal.

* * * * * * *

One day when a friend visited Kenya’s dad, Kenya tried to sneak into his father’s workroom to to see files related to Satoru’s accident. His dad discovered him before Kenya could find anything, and told him they’ll talk about this later.

The next day, Kenya told his dad he suspected that Satoru’s case and the case in C town (the case that a father became a suspect for killing his own daughter) were relate, and he might be able to find something. Kenya said he prepared his mind to persue a criminal.

His dad said he won’t oppose Kenya about following this case, since Kenya is his son, it’s no wonder. But the problem is Kenya himself.

“What did you mean when you said you have prepared your mind?”

“Do you have an ability to catch the criminal?”

“Had you prepared anything yet?”

“A faraway goal is not a bad thing, but this matter is not something you should pursue yet. You should focus on what you can do. The case and such, you could do it later.”

Since that day, his dad locked his workroom. It meant for Kenya to cut out everything and move forward. This is the prepare state.

So Kenya studied hard, aimming to become a lawyer like his dad.

* * * * * * *

Last year of Junior high, everyone in Satoru’s group passed their exam. Kenya chose a school at Supporo for his middle school education. Everyone cerebrated by having an okonomiyaki party.

Kenya no longer felt empty after he win something. He appreciate his friends and surrounding. He walked home with a charm Miyuki (his sister) gave him.

When he got home, his sister and mother welcomed him. His dad seemed to know he passed the exam, so he just sit there and read a newspaper. That night, everyone eat wonderful dinner made by his mom. His family care.

Kenya must went to live in a dorm when he enrole in a school in Supporo, he might not have a chace to entered his dad’s workroom. He wondered would he be able to open it this time.

The door was unlocked.

Kenya realized how much his dad trusts him and cried.

Kenya read Satoru’s files, the moment he saw the picture of a car that gotten pulled from the river, Kenya was shocked. It’s the same type of car as Yashiro’s. He repeated “No, it’s not true.” in his head for many times.

Yashiro had moved away from their town 6 months after Sachiko moved Satoru to stayed in a long term hospital there.

* * * * * * *

When he was in his last year of high school, his father gave him an account book, with Kenya’s name as the owner. The amount of money was enough for Kenya to think” if I work a part time job, I’d be able to attend a university in Kantou where Satoru lives.

Kenya told his dad he wanted to go to Keio (in Tokyo. It indeed is in Kantou. but this part confused us to no end, because in Another Record Kenya said he graduated a law school from Chibadai. @_@ Either I don’t understand how studying law work, or Sanbe and Ninomae (Another Record’s author) let some detail slip while they discussed the plot. idk @_@;)

Kenya’s dad warned him that the living cost in Tokyo is high, but Kenya said he will work part time job and won’t let his grade fall.

That’s when his mom said she also had something to give him.

His mom gave Kenya another account book in Kenya’s name.

“if you have times to do a part time job, use that time to do something you like instead,” she said, while smiled at him.

His mom wasn’t uninteresed in fasion like he had thought when he was young, she had saved up money for his education since forever.

Note: the Gaiden English scanlations were quite off on some parts. Eg., the scanlation went: Kenya mom said “I don’t have any better clothes than this.”

It actually should be: She doesn’t spend any money on clothes, and dresses plainly to the point that I (Kenya) told her to “Dress a litter better,” sometimes.” So Kenya had thought “fasion might not be her thing.”)

* * * * * * *

After he moved to…wheretever he live in his uni era, Kenya went to visited Satoru. He told Satoru he think he and Satoru were never alone. (since there’re many people who support them.) Then told Satoru he will visit again.

Kenya thought back to when he was in Junior high.

Kenya said he felt like Satoru who’s sleeping was left alone.

But Osamu said he doesn’t think Satoru’d think so. He said the day when Satoru went after Misato alone, it’s because Satoru is kind, and didn’t want his friends to face any danger.

“Don’t you think so, Kenya?” Osamu asked.

…Kenya reflected back on that conversation, and thought, he has been saved by that words.

His surrounding are full of kindness.

‘It was because of you (Satoru), that I could change myself.’

‘I’ll continue to pursue the criminal.’’

‘I believe that one day I could talk and laugh with you.’

‘I, who recived such enormouse kindness, think this is my duty.’

* * * * * * *

Time pass.

In 2001, the murder case in C town expired.

Kenya stood in front of the Nishizono estate and cried in frustration. He felt like his dad’s frustration in Hokkaido had reached him here. (I always thought he was crying over his dad’s tomb or something in the manga.)

That’s when he met Sawada, who was his dad’s old friend. Kenya had saw Sawada once when he was young. (A friend who visited his dad when Kenya had tried to sneaked into the workroom, was Sawada.)

Sawada invited Kenya to his office and introduce himself that he’s working as a private reporter now. They chatted. Kenya said he was that close to pinpoint the murderer, but because there was no evidents, it ended just like that. He said he was so powerless.

“Saying the case expired because of yourself is arrogant,” said Sawada.

He asked Kenya what’d he do since the case had expired, give up?

“No way,” Kenya answered.

“Good, then, those day when we get a reward will come.”

Kenya realized that, for him, this was the first case expiration he faced, but for Sawada, he must have been facing this irritation many times now.

* * * * * * *

Kenya began to work with Sawada, and learned from him.

In 2003, Kenya became a lawyer.

“We should avoid risk, but at the same time, we shouldn’t be afraid. When we became adult, responsibility follows nonetheless. When we face many events, our footwork become stronger,” said Sawada.

“Stays in safe zone, but don’t let your decision becomes dull, is that right?” Kenya asked.

“Yes, our advantage right now is we can move freely without having to be afraid of a risk. Don’t worry, the day when we get our reward will come.”

Kenya thought, he respects Sawada-san.

Kenya phone recieved a new message. Kenya read it, It’s from Sachiko.

’He woke up.’

Kenya cried.

“Sawada-san, “that day” isn’t long now.”

“May I walk around for a little?”

Kenya walked down the stair, then he started running.

End of Gaiden chapter 3

Omake

Becuase, KENYA’S DAD! HNNNNNNNNNNNN