For the most part, the rest of that day was filled with too many questions and very few answers. For starters, her phone still said it was June 20th. Her last text was of her and Yoshida the day before yesterday... which was supposed to be three days ago. Her bed still had the same messy pattern on her sheets, the sushi Hinasuke bought was still edible and the wall had a small dent where she threw her phone.
No, something was wrong. Terribly wrong.
The whole world around her seemed to testify that indeed whatever she thought happened, never really happened. Just what the hell was going on?
She opened her phone. Her heart sank.
Missed call: Hirangi.
She quickly dialed his phone number as she started frantically pacing around the room, her teeth biting her nails.
The phone rang. Then rang. Until a bit of static—weird. Then—
"Hello? Ms Hashinada?"
"Oh thank God you picked up, I was beginning to think I was losing my damn mind."
The man chuckled over the phone, that same chuckle that immediately reminded her what made her start hating this man in the first place.
{ With the help of a little motivation, of course...}
But, instead, all she heard was a softer, gentler and sympathetic tone:
"I'm glad you sound better than when I last called you. You've got more life and fire in your voice now..."
Akira's eyes narrowed a little in confusion, but she needed to play along, she didn't want him to withhold whatever information she'd need if she was gonna figure out what the hell's going on, "Yeah, I guess, I'm...starting to get more determination. It's..." Her voice dropped to a low whisper, soft, angry yet sad all at once, "It's not everyday people get assassinated for no reason."
There was a small, long silence after she said that, so much so that she thought she'd lost connection, "H-Hello? Mr Hirangi?"
"Who got assassinated, Ms Hashinada?" The man whispered, voice low and measured. It was suddenly more...serious.
Akira's heartbeat slowed down in her ears as she realized that Hirangi had no idea who she was talking about.
"Akashi. My brother. He's the one who got assassinated, don't you remember?" She whispered faintly, her body sinking into the couch.
"I know it's hard losing a loved one, Ms Hashinada, especially given how close you and your brother were, but...you shouldn't use that word so lightly. Even if you're still in shock, saying that someone was assassinated immediately makes things of top priority, ma'am. So please, I ask you refrain from using that word so carelessly."
The words sat and settled down on Akira's chest. Pressing hard against the couch's armrest, knuckles turning pale as she gripped it tighter, she hesitated before she asked, "W-What are you saying? You told me that Akashi was murdered, you told me that he was assassinated, that's what you said, Mr Hirangi, how could you forget that?" her voice came out a little bit shakier than it should've.
"Ma'am, I know you're in shock. Believe me, I understand your pain, but..."
"... your denial of your brother's suicide will spread fear."
D-Denial? She wasn't denying anything! She was telling the truth, dammit, she knew what she was talking about.
She heard it from HIM.
"I-I don't understand. Y-You said he was murdered. That's why you called me, you called me to tell me that he was murdered. You called me at 12:25 pm. That call was you telling me that he was murdered not that he committed suicide, what are you telling me? Why are you denying what you said? Why are you changing your words?" She whispered, voice shaking slightly as she swallowed to try and keep her mind steady.
She knew what she was saying, she knew what she was talking about.
"Ms Hashinada. When I called you at noon, I called you to inform you that the crew in the H.D.N.A laboratory confirmed that it was safe for his body to be cremated in a High density energy zone. I..." His voice softened a little, "I never said any of the things you've claimed..."
Akira's phone slid through her hands as the realization hit her like a freight train.
Whatever this was, whatever nightmarish world or alternate reality this was, Akashi was never murdered. And that meant...
That Akashi...
"Hello? Ms Hashinada? Are you there, ma'am?"
"No...it can't be..."
...really committed suicide.