[December 10th. Year: 2011. Beta Cycle]
This is arguably the hardest thing that he has to do.
Arrest and make enemies with the yakuza? He'd do it in a heartbeat.
Invade Russia and perform espionage? It will snow in the Sahara before he'd say no.
Go to war with the US? Absolutely.
But, but to tell fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers, relatives, that they'll never see their family again? And that the police department has given up on them? No. No, no, no. He rather be filing taxes or off somewhere as a prisoner of war.
Anything else. Anything but what he is going to do.
But alas, that is the life of an officer. One has to make decisions like this. It's only realistic. Whoever it may hurt, it does not matter. A delusion can only be held and maintained for so long before it becomes a poison. Shinji makes his way down the corridor. Has it always been this quiet? The sounds of his breathing and footsteps are the only thing resonating in his ears.
If his thoughts possessed voices, they too would be deafening. No, they do. He's just choosing to silence them. The burden of holding their existence already has him wishing for death. Opening his mind the wailing ravings, would only serve to push him over the edge.
And no man would, with reckless abandon, send themselves into the churning mass distortion. The feeling of a noose slowly coiling around his neck crept in.
Natsuki Honda
Miyazaki Shizuka
Sakurada Sora
Ueno Tadashi
Watanabe Tarō
Sasaki Tsubaki
Yamada Yoshimistu
Shibuya Yūma
Toyoda Akane
Fujimori Akimistu
Yamamoto Daichi
Redwood Ethan
Gresome Erina
Hashimoto Hajime
Hamaguchi Hanzō
Igarashi Hikaru
Hirata Jin
Inaba Kastumi
Ishida Kōichi
Iwai Minata
Yoshino Mayu
Yoshino Nanako
Asano Reiko
Yūki Anabel
McAllen Courtney
Kamiya Crystal
Akabane Hiraki
Moretti Lillie
These names flashed before his eyes. A film reel forever repeating, never ceasing. Lives forever imprisoned in a Schrödinger's cat scenario; never dead, ever dying. Always dead, Always alive.
Damn. His jaw hurts. How for how long and how hard had he been grinding his teeth? The thoughts are getting to him. Failure. Disappointment. He himself has four children. Four! How would he feel if they went missing one day, and their condition never known. How could he break the news that a elev—
Shinji found himself standing in front of the double doors. The sounds of people murmuring, photos being taken, and the smell of anticipation, dread and the need for answers permeated the air. Shinj adjusts his suit's collar to allow him to breathe. But that noose still stubbornly coiled tight around his neck.
Behind those doors, where camera crews and interviewers from not only across Japan, but from around. All gathering together to ask—, no. Demand answers about the investigation.
They sure are going to get one alright. . . Shinji clutches the side of his head. That damn scar. Why does it always act up whenever something is going to go south? That too only moments before an important event?
Whatever god is up there, your notifications come far too late. Shinji chided. Taking a deep breath in, and out. In, out. It is now show time. Into the den of voracious ghouls he plummets in.
Saying his praises for not breaking out in sweat when nervous, Shinji open the door. Attention falls on him. The flashing of camera lights assaulted his eyes. Sounds of camera shutters endlessly bombarded his ears. Crowd decends into discord. Voices overlap. Shinji keeps his cool and walks over to the desk, right where his name card is.
He greets the audience with a quick bow before taking a seat. Easy part down. Now, how is he going to break the news? He scans the crowd, gaze landing longer on interviewers who he knows have been following this eleven year old investigation from the start.
He side eyes his superior on his right. The balding man did nothing more than mouth the words: "Stay on script." Before grabbing his water bottle, opening it, and taking a quick sip.
Siding eyeing his assistant on his, Shinji could see beads of sweat dripping down her neck. Poor woman. Having to announce she's giving up on her nephew's and cousin's disappearance is tearing chucks out of her mental. He looks back straight into the crowd. Stay on script. Answer how the department would want it to be answered.
Shinji catches glimpses of each of the relatives of the missing people in this case. The longing for answers completely subjugating their whole being. If that is the case, He might as well rip the bandage off in one go.
The department is going to hate this opening act. The the families more so.
"Good evening to all those in attendance, to my associates and to the people watching at home. We hold this press conference to announce," Shinji pauses to take a sip of water. "to announce that the eleven year long investigation into the Class 12-2 disappearance on June 28th, will be officially ended from here onwards."