Passing through the slope took her to the rear of the building. A side door was open. Two persons in white flickered in the gloomy door. Hikari was afraid that she should go round to the entrance. She was relieved when the nurses scanning her shoes did not exclude her.
"I'm sorry I'm late." Hikari apologized to Dr. Togaki waiting for her.
"It's not the time yet." Then her both hands stopped Togaki leaving his seat
with a nod. Her look was somewhat clouded with sorrow but her teeth and eyes
were brilliant in her honey-colored face.
"Please have a seat," Togaki's hand showed a chair.
"I looked at the pier." Hikari had no sooner sat down than she said.
Bittersweet smile appeared on Togaki. "The light here is too strong for saying
that it is pastoral. But that doesn't mean there's greed. It was an odd
story."
Does he say it is ridiculous that the confusion rose very far away and
danced in the air? Hikari didn't know rightly.
"I'm sure you were surprised," said the resonant voice.
"There are many odd things," Hikari shook her head. "A call reporting Martians
will attack the Earth tonight swayed us just the other day."
Armchair analysis solved the pier incident. On the other hand, her division has been asked to look into nearly 100 calls about supernatural entities including aliens, monsters, werewolves, zombies and witches in these three years. 17 calls in the two years before last went up to 31 calls in the year before last, and to last year's 49 calls. None of the eyewitness reports was confirmed but nobody was charged with giving false information for police to waste effort.
"Not responding to a call is gaining attention, isn't it?"
"Some might be in unusual psychological state, some might be vulnerable
innately. It is possible that those made phantasm, but non-attendance policy is
not safe for such incidents." She emphasized that they have responded to such
calls properly.
"It means that there are occasions when you won't respond." Togaki penetrated
the point.
