1. Clinging night（With illustrations）
【Prologue】
Ikaru
"I'm calling you to tell about my sin."
"But I have no regrets."
"It's me who with my husband until the end of his life,
"I want to tell you that."
― Night Call ―
The heat makes sweat drip down the neck.
11:00 p.m.
It was an August night with heavy rain that seemed to melt lead.
The woman, who had just caused the death of her beloved husband about 30 minutes ago, was driving up a mountain road to flee her mansion, leaving him and her stepson, 9-year-old Ikaru.
Rather than saying that she ran away, it might be more correct to say that she left Luna City aimlessly.
At the end of the falling curve, there is a sheer cliff.
Before the woman entered the curve, she stopped her car and called her stepson, who was sleeping in their mansion.
After the two calls sounded, the ringing sound echoing in her ears suddenly stopped.
A small sigh can be heard from the other side of the mobile phone.
"I don't know if Ikaru received my message. However, I don't care anymore. This is the end of my life."
"Goodbye, Ikaru. Poor child."
"If possible, I wanted to love you."
The woman started her car again and stepped on the accelerator with all her strength toward the curve that was approaching. She didn't turn her steering wheel.
Right after that, the woman's car rattled off the sheer cliff and fell into the bushes below.
A flock of ravens sleeping in their beds in the dark forest suddenly woke up and let out a dissonant voice.
The lead-colored rain grows stronger.
An inconvenient truth
True feelings never to want to be known.
Hide them all
A high-pitched crow's voice resounded in the mountains, as if to oppose the sound of the noisy rain.
1．Clinging night
― A sleepless night clings to my body ―
It's still raining.
The intense heat of the sun shining on the asphalt during the day turns into an updraft at night,combined with the humidity of the rain, increasing discomfort.
"Adam, can't you sleep?"
Juliet said ,and giving half-asleep eyes to the young man who sat up beside her, then turned eyes to the bedside clock.
Digital clock shows 0:05 am
Adam said,
"Isn't the air conditioner broken here? Julia, how are you sleeping in a room like this every day?"
The name of the man who lit the light stand above the dresser was Adam M. Fields.
The owner of this room - Juliet Canary - is Adam's childhood friend who grew up together in an orphanage.
Adam's slender figure reflected in the mirror. Juliet stares at it over his back and sigh deeply.
Jet black hair. Slitted eyes that are the same color as his hair. His dark skin and facial features suggest that he may have been an immigrant from the East.
However, Adam did not know his own origin. It remains a mystery now that his mother, who was his only relative, passed away.
Adam, who had been subjected to child abuse by his mother, was protected at the age of 6 and came to the orphanage in the slums where Juliet lives. Having no family name, he took the name of his nursing home as his surname.
Juliet giggled, and said to Adam.
"Well, speaking of the heat, it's hot, but if I sleep naked, I'll manage somehow."
Adam turned his gaze to Juliet, who was laughing cheerfully.
Her light brown hair and white skin contrasted with him. Moreover,she has round eyes of bluish ｍakalite green. But Juliet didn't know herself more than Adam. She was abandoned as soon as she was born. Her only possession was a piece of paper with the name "Juliet Canary" attached to her swaddling clothes.
Adam said to juliet.
"You're going to break your stomach …do you always sleep naked like that in the summer?"
"No way, Adam is the only one as of now,who I shows my fairly skin in bed ,"
“as of now?”
"yes!"
The girl with a cute smile is 16 years old.
The young man stood up with a fed up look on his face is 18 years old .
Although they had rough days together, they were able to get regular jobs, which was rare for young people from slums. Juliet is a nurse in a slum hospital. Adam, who was expected to have high intellect, was able to enter the capital Luna City Police Department, which was highly competitive, with the support of his supporters.
Adam said,
"I'll use your shower."
Juliet answered,
"Okay. But now may only water come out."
Adam hesitated for a moment,and turned to face Juliet as if made up his mind.
"Hey, Julia, why don't you leave the slums and come to my house? Luna City is much better than here, even if it's a small apartment, and it's safe."
This time it was Juliet who stuttered her words.
"... Um, is that a marriage proposal ? "
"It's a mess... you're quick. Well, even so, it's okay..."
After saying that, Adam was a little confused.
He wasn't in a position to feel confident about his job or about himself. On the one hand, he wanted Juliet by his side ,even though he had no intention of tying her up.
However, Juliet said,
"No. I won't leave the slums. Even in hospitals where I work in shabby condition, there are many patients waiting for me. I won't go to Luna City."
Adam frowned. From Luna City to the hospital in the slums where Juliet works, it takes less than 20 minutes by train. It's an easy distance to travel. What is Julia afraid of ? She is probably frightened by the very thought of leaving the slums.
"And..."
Juliet said to interrupt Adam's words．
"If we get married and have a child."
"You're really quick. Are you even thinking about such a thing?"
"Yes. That's why, Adam... listen to me."
Juliet casually puts on a baggy T-shirt and walks over to Adam's side. She gently touched his back,and said,
"When reach the age of reason, our children will surely ask me , why are there so many bruises on Papa's back? What is that red pattern on his neck?"
The fingertips of the girl wrapped around Adam's neck were thin and warm. But he bluntly brushed it away with his hand. A lead-colored rain falls on his heart. Indelible finger marks on the nape of his neck...he was strangled by biological mother when 6 years old. When It became clear to the society , it was decided that he should go to an orphanage.
Adam sat down on the stool in front of the dresser, put his favorite heat-not-burn cigarette, IQOS, into his mouth, and fell silent.
"Besides, a child who is like a mass of curiosity is curious even about Mother"
The peculiar smell like popcorn from heated cigarettes <IQOS> hits a nose tonight. Juliet, still standing in front of Adam, held out her left wrist in front of him.
"Kids will ask Mother. Why do you have so many scars on your wrists? Are the red dots on your wrists burns from accidentally touching the pot?"
"Come on, Julia. It's too late to say that."
"Well, let me tell you. Even if we get married and have a child, both papa and mama are full of scars. They're abused, groped, hurt physically and mentally... If I'd have parents like that,I hate it. I absolutely hate seeing scars that look like the slum brand!"
"So, you can't go to Luna City? You just thinking about marrying me makes you sick!"
"No, Adam. I want to be with you. Now and forever!"
"..."
An awkward atmosphere. The sound of rain hitting the window echoes in the silent room. Adam and Juliet are unable to say the next words to each other, the discomfort only increased.
Just as Adam, who was exhausted, was about to stand up, his cell phone rang.
The time is 0:35 am
“Did something happen at this hour?”
The voice of his boss, the detective, echoed in Adam's ear as he answered a mobile phone.
