Digital Devil Story - Chapter 7

While Feed was at Jusho High, a man from the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office calling himself Saga was visiting Nakajima's high-rise apartment building in Suginami Ward. He was impeccably dressed and his speech and mannerisms were those of a gentleman. But Nakajima's mother, who responded to the door, had never even heard of any organization called the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office before. From the man's appearance, it appeared that this organization held a lot more power than just the police. How did these people have any connection with her son, Akemi?

"Ma'am, we really need your assistance in our investigation. For Akemi's sake, too..."

Nakajima's mother had not heard anything from her son about what happened to him at Jusho High that day. But since that day when he practically materialized from thin air in their living room, she sensed in a warmth in Nakajima's eyes that was not there before. They were kind eyes, full of a kindness that looked to her for aid and yet was there to protect her as well. He hadn't said anything; instead he just sat there with her after he appeared, deep in thought about something. She had tried hard to suppress her urge to ask him what had happened to him while he had gone missing. For some reason, she got the sense that Akemi would go far away again if she did. Finally, as if he had gotten his thoughts together, Akemi had stood up and shut himself up in his room, falling into a deep sleep as soon as his head hit his pillow. But that was enough for his mother. Her own mother's intuition told her that he had been through something terrible in that short week he was gone.

I don't know what happened to him. But at the very least, Akemi didn't abandon me. Nakajima's mother felt a new love for her son from the bottom of her heart.

I won't let anyone threaten Akemi, regardless of who they are!

Not knowing what to do in the face of this woman's harsh stare, the man calling himself Saga fished in his shirt pocket for a carton of cigarettes.

"I'm sorry, but could you lend me an ashtray?"

The moment he opened his mouth, the doorbell rang. Nakajima's mother immediately stood up and picked up the intercom hanging on the wall.

"....Yes. Your colleague just arrived. Hold on a minute, I'll let you in."

Pursing her lips together as if coming to a decision, she headed toward the foyer. Smiling bitterly, the man returned his cigarette to its box and followed after her.