Tantei wa Mou, Shindeiru - Volume 5 - Chapter 5

The famous detective swears once again. 

"Sen…pai…" 

Mia Whitlock stared dumbfounded at the white-haired famous detective. 

Of course, Mia already knew that Siesta had revived, or the possibility of it. However, she was sure that this was just a piece of information that she understood in her mind. 

It had been a year, and this reunion shouldn't have happened, so Mia froze on the spot, still shedding tears. 

"Looks like the crying part hasn't changed." 

Next to me, Siesta smiled. 

"I don't remember crying that much in front of you though…Senpai." 

On the other hand, Mia turned her head unhappily. 

Once Siesta saw Mia's reaction, she looked at me and sighed. 

"I think you should fix that habit of making girls cry." 

"As if there's anyone out there who wants to get into mayhem like that?" 

"Well, I can say that I'm relieved that you're still the same." 

"That's an unpleasant way of being relieved." 

I couldn't deny that I'd caused her trouble all this while because of this same old nature of mine though. 

"Besides, this is where I always show up." 

And with that, Siesta took a step towards Mia. 

"…!" 

But Mia's expression was contorted. 

Surely she felt that she did not deserve to be face to face with Siesta. 

"I've denied the future you wanted to protect, Senpai. In this new route I found, another life was taken. I knew very well that no one would be happy." 

Yes, Mia didn't think this ending was right. She couldn't ignore Natsunagi's zeal, and she couldn't save the person who had once saved her life. She had the chance to redeem herself…but the price was that another detective would be sacrificed. 

A week ago in London, Mia took a new step. But her toes weren't always pointed towards the future she was aiming for. 

"I'm sorry." 

Mia's eyes reddened and she hung her head in simple words. 

"I could not stop the?famous detective?from betting once again. I knew it might be a mistake, but I could not do anything about it. I was, I was…." 

"That's not true." 

As if to interrupt Mia's words, Siesta hugged her softly. 

"First of all, I'm the one who owes you an apology. I'm sorry, Mia." 

Siesta then apologized to Mia. 

"…Why, Senpai?" 

Mia's round wisteria eyes flickered, as though she didn't understand Siesta's intentions. 

"I caused you trouble in the past because of my selfishness. I'd like to apologize again for that." 

It was a year and a half ago when Siesta planned to have the enemy steal the?Bible?, with the possibility that she would ultimately sacrifice herself. Siesta had requested Mia's help in realizing her plan. 

"…You were just trying to fulfill your mission as a?Tuner?, Senpai. I did not have the resolve." 

Mia cried into Siesta's chest and let her tears flow. 

"And now, once again, I… " 

"That's different, too." 

But Siesta grabbed Mia by both shoulders and insisted firmly. 

"After all, we haven't reached the end of this route yet." 

Mia's eyes widened. 

"It's true that Nagisa's sacrifice revived me. But who says this is the end?" 

And like Mia, my body trembled at Siesta's statement. 

Just as I had vowed that this story would not end until I brought Siesta back to life. 

Siesta also hadn't given up on Nagisa Natsunagi, even in this desperate situation. 

"Okay, Mia?" 

And so Siesta declared on this observatory, in the heart of Japan. 

"I'm going to save Nagisa Natsunagi." 

Just like she never gave up on me. 

That's what Siesta promised Mia and me, or herself. 

"…Really?" 

Mia asked Siesta in a somewhat childish voice. 

Siesta wiped away Mia's tears and said with a smile. 

"Yes. After all, I like stories with happy endings."