You and me both.
“What is this place?” Saiko blinks slowly. She takes in the sterilized slabs, the air so frigid she sees her breath, the smell of cleaning fluids and the scalding blue light above.
“Where is the science?” Hsaio adds with a frown.
“Clearly you all haven’t watched enough police procedurals. Saiko, I’m disappointed.” Higemaru steps forward. With a roll of his eyes, he reaches for a steel drawer and yanks.
Urie swears as legs slowly roll out. A corpse, of course.
Mutsuki says nothing. He’s been quiet since his return to CCG. But Urie can see the perturbations in his eyes.
Aura stiffens suddenly as the body finishes rolling out.
The hair is orange. The face familiar.
Saiko tries to scream, but no sound emerges.
Urie’s blood drains from his face. Higemaru shakes. Mutsuki begins sobbing. And Hsaio rushes forward, because she needs to be closer, close enough to see –
It’s him. Shirazu Ginshi.
“Kanou was going to revive him?” Saiko cries.
“No!” Hsaio shakes her head. “It’s impossible, Saiko.”
“Don’t make the same mistake Ui did,” Urie says.
“But – but – I just want to go back,” Mutsuki protests, moving closer. Aura follows, like a shield.
“We can’t!” Urie yells. “We can’t go back! He’s dead, all of you: He’s dead and gone!”
He hangs his head as Saiko rushes closer. He’s all alone on his side of the room.
When he looks up, Higemaru has glided to his side.
“It’s okay to be upset.”
Urie swears again, but allows his subordinate to pat his shoulder.