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↳ currently playing ;;
[Skipping stones] - [TXT]

Vienna had hoped that the tranquility of the previous night would usher in a period of calm and resolution. The sense of peace she felt, nestled close to Ni-ki, had seemed like a promise of better days ahead.

However, that fleeting comfort was abruptly shattered when she found herself sitting in Shotaro's office, reality slapping her awake with its harshness.

The office was stark, its walls lined with shelves of files and case notes. Shotaro, seated behind his desk, looked at her with a mix of concern and professional detachment. Vienna's heart raced as she tried to shake off the remnants of her dreamlike state.

The calm she had felt was a distant memory, replaced by the pressing reality of the situation before her.

As Shotaro grappled with the disjointed thoughts swirling in his mind, he mechanically went to pour a cup of water for both Vienna and himself.

The sound of the water cascading into the cup was a stark contrast to the troubling witness testimony echoing in his head: "There were several people walking past who saw them beat that girl up. They stripped her of her clothes and dragged her around, parading her for all to see. There were innumerable people who stood by, watching the debacle unfold..."

The water overflowed from the cup, splashing onto the counter and pulling Shotaro back to the present. The cold splash against his hand served as a stark reminder of the gravity of the situation.

His colleagues were waiting outside the interrogation room, but he alone had taken on the responsibility of questioning Vienna.

Shotaro slid the cup of water across the table toward Vienna, breaking the silence with her name. "Vienna?"

She lifted her head, her gaze calm and unwavering. There was no fear in her eyes, no confusion—just a steady, quiet resolve that unsettled Shotaro even more. He hesitated, searching for the right words, unsure where to begin.

"What's going through your mind right now?" he finally asked, his voice tight with tension.

Vienna tilted her head slightly, her response deliberate, each word measured. "Right now? It's about time I got home."

"Home?" Shotaro repeated, taken aback by her nonchalant answer.

She nodded, her expression unchanged. "Yes. If I wasn't here... I would have been home by now."

The simplicity of her words weighed heavily in the room, as if they were discussing something mundane—yet the undercurrent of everything left unsaid lingered between them.

Vienna lowered her head again, her fingers twisting anxiously into a knot, as though she was wringing out the words she didn't want to say. Silence stretched between them, and it became clear that she had no intention of offering anything more.

Shotaro exhaled, frustration flickering in his eyes. "Vienna..."

No response.

He took a deep breath, gathering himself. "Hana and her group—what did they do to you?" His voice was softer this time, urging.

"She hit me. A single slap," Vienna said flatly.

"And then?" Shotaro pressed, sensing there was more. "What happened after that?"

Vienna shook her head, her movements slow and deliberate. "I forgot," she whispered, her voice fragile as she repeated, "I don't... remember."

Her wide eyes met his, but they held nothing—just confusion, as though she herself was unsure if she wanted to recall the truth.

Shotaro was at a loss, his mind searching for the right approach. He glanced over his shoulder at his colleagues outside, their silent presence only intensifying his frustration. When he turned back, he saw Vienna gazing out the window, the bright afternoon sun casting light on her frowning face.

She murmured something softly under her breath, her words drifting into the room like an eerie lullaby. "After lunch, it's time for an afternoon nap... sprinkle water near the bamboo mat."

Her voice was distant, lost in a world far removed from the interrogation room.

Shotaro rose from his seat, the tension in his body evident as he left the interrogation room, shutting the door behind him. His mind swirled with confusion and helplessness. As he stepped out, Yuta was waiting, arms crossed, his face a mask of concern.

"Selective memory loss?" Yuta muttered, his brows furrowing. "It's a form of self-protection after enduring a traumatic event. Should we bring in a psychologist to counsel Vienna?"

"You mean you want to awaken her memory?" Senior Yang interjected, his voice sharp with concern.

Before anyone could respond, Shotaro spoke up, his voice tight. "She's about to take her graduation exams."

The weight of his words lingered in the air, the gravity of Vienna's situation clear. Awaking those buried memories could bring clarity, but it could also bring chaos to the fragile balance she was holding onto.

Senior Yuta looked at him thoughtfully. "So what are you suggesting?"

Shotaro exhaled, running a hand through his hair, unsure of what was right. "I don't know... But pushing her right now, it could break her even more."

Vienna appeared distracted, her gaze constantly drawn to the blazing sunlight streaming through the window. Every so often, Shotaro and his fellow officers had to bring her attention back to them. When she finally turned to face them, her dark eyes held a clear, unwavering focus, as if silently declaring the truthfulness of her words.

"Do you hate Hana?" Shotaro asked carefully.

Vienna's expression remained unchanged. "I'm alright."

Shotaro raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by 'alright'?"

"If you didn't mention her," Vienna paused, her voice slow and deliberate, "I wouldn't think about her."

Her answer hung in the air, leaving the officers speechless. Shotaro felt a momentary loss for words, the simplicity of her response cutting deeper than any emotional outburst might have. After answering, Vienna once again turned her head toward the window.

It was 12:30 PM, and the sun was at its zenith, casting a fiery brilliance over the world outside, the heat almost tangible as it seemed to splinter the air into shards of light.

Senior Yang, still unsatisfied, pressed on. "What about now? Now that you've been reminded of Hana—do you hate her?"

Vienna's eyes flickered briefly as she considered the question. She turned back toward the sun, her silence louder than any answer she could give.

Disrupted once again, Vienna shifted her gaze toward Senior Yang, her voice soft but steady. "I'm alright."

Senior Yang leaned forward slightly. "Only 'alright'?"

Vienna's fingers twisted subtly in her lap, a sign of nerves creeping through her otherwise calm demeanor. "I have, already forgotten, how she, looks like." Her stutter grew more pronounced, betraying the tension she tried to suppress.

Senior Yang, like the other officers, was taken aback by her response. The room grew silent, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air. For a moment, no one knew what to say, stunned by the detachment in her voice.

Shotaro's interest piqued at Vienna's response, his brow furrowed slightly, deep in thought, but before he could speak, Senior Yang broke the silence.

"Where were you the day Hana went missing?"

Vienna lifted her eyes slowly, locking her gaze with Senior Yang. "Which day?"

The abruptness of his question had no visible effect on her, and Senior Yang felt a flicker of frustration at her calm composure. Internally, he sighed before continuing. "The day after Hana and her friends humiliated you."

"I was at school," Vienna answered without hesitation.

"Why didn't you take medical leave?" Senior Yang pressed.

"I needed to, revise. Exams are near," Vienna said, her tone as steady as ever, the small stutter only making her determination more palpable.

The officers exchanged glances, incredulous at Vienna's answers, yet none could find an immediate fault in her responses. Each question seemed to slide off her with effortless calm, frustrating them further.

"You were in school the entire day?" Senior Yang asked, his tone sharp.

"Yes," Vienna answered.

There was no way she could have lied about being at school—the truth could easily be verified with a quick visit to the school office.

"And where were you that night?" Senior Yang pressed on, his suspicion growing.

"I was at the movie theater," she replied, her voice steady.

"You went to watch a movie?" A flicker of doubt flashed in Senior Yang's eyes. "You decided to go to the movies at a time like that? What about your revision? Did it suddenly become less important to you?"

Vienna remained composed despite the intensity of his questions, taking her time before responding. "Because... it was a classic movie."

Senior Yang's eyes narrowed. "You went to the theater alone?"

"No."

"Who were you with?"

"My classmate."

"What's the name of your classmate?" he asked, leaning forward.

"Jungwon," she answered without hesitation.

Shotaro cut in before Yang could speak again. "Who suggested going to the movie theater?"

Vienna's gaze didn't waver. "He did."

The room fell into an awkward quiet after Senior Yang's departure, the unspoken tension heavy in the air. Shotaro remained seated, watching Vienna with a growing sense of unease. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, but every question they threw at her was met with calm, unwavering answers.

When Senior Yang returned, he spoke again, his voice nonchalant, "This young girl is simply too calm."

Shotaro shot him a look. "What are you implying?"

"Nothing," Senior Yang replied with a casual shrug, but his eyes hinted at more. "People's reactions, their demeanors—they're shaped by their surroundings, their personalities. But more often than not, they're shaped by the things they've recently gone through."

Shotaro frowned but didn't respond. He knew what Senior Yang was hinting at, but there was nothing concrete. Still, Vienna's calmness—the eerie steadiness she maintained—stayed with him.

It was the kind of composure that didn't belong to someone her age, especially not someone who'd been through what she had.

It felt like she was holding back something—something important.

But for now, they had no evidence. Only questions.

"This means that Vienna's unnervingly calm demeanor could be a result of her being trapped in a state of extreme self-protection, one she can't seem to escape?"

"Yes," Senior Yang replied solemnly, his tone carrying a weight of grim realization. "The officers questioned Vienna about her whereabouts leading up to Hana's disappearance simply for convenience. After all, Vienna was already at the police station to discuss the bullying she suffered from Hana. Based on her responses, she doesn't seem to be connected to Hana's disappearance."

Shotaro stood still for a moment, processing the gravity of Senior Yang's words. He then turned and headed back to the interrogation room, opening the door with a quiet creak.

Vienna remained in her seat, her eyes fixed on the intense sunlight streaming through the window. The cup of water in front of her remained untouched.

The oppressive heat of the day made the need for hydration almost unbearable.

Shotaro knocked softly on the doorframe. "Vienna, you're free to go now."

He guided Vienna to the canteen, where they had lunch together. Shotaro had bought a bottle of water specifically for her. As soon as Vienna received it, she twisted off the cap and drank half of it in one swift motion, clearly parched.

As they finished their lunch in relative silence, the warmth of the day and the quiet atmosphere seemed to weigh heavily on both of them. Shotaro could sense the undercurrent of tension that Vienna carried with her, even if she wasn't ready to speak about it.

"Remember, Vienna," Shotaro said as they prepared to leave, "if you need anything, don't hesitate to reach out. We're here to help."

Vienna managed a faint smile, her eyes reflecting a mix of gratitude and weariness. "Thanks, Shotaro. I will."

As they parted ways, Shotaro couldn't shake the feeling that Vienna's calm facade was a shield against a deeper turmoil.

He watched her walk away, her figure gradually blending into the crowd, and hoped that, in time, she would find the peace she sought and the strength to confront whatever shadows lingered in her heart.

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