The lights came on in the meeting room as the slideshow ended, and all the auditors began to applaud, praising the Irie Institution's dramatic accomplishments.

"Wonderful, absolutely wonderful!!

To be honest with you, I wasn't expecting too much from this Hinamizawa Syndrome research."

"I figured that even if there was progress, it would be three steps forward and two steps back every decade."

"Oh my!

How impressive it is to achieve so much in such a short period of time!

This is all thanks to you, Director Irie!!"

"Oh, no.

This is all because of the staff that supported me, and Takano-san too."

"Don't be so humble.

Hee hee hee.

Director Irie is a genius in the field of neurology.

After all, he's also produced greater achievements than any other doctor when it comes to the brain."

"That's true!

Not many doctors as young as you have nearly as much experience operating on brains."

"Congratulations, Lieutenant Colonel Irie!

Now I can go back to Tokyo with my head held high."

"I'm honored we gave you something good to take back with you, Tomitake-san.

By the way, could you please stop calling me Lieutenant Colonel? I just can't get used to it...

I almost prefer 'Risa-san' at this point."

"Ah ha ha ha!

I bet you do, huh?"

"Hee hee.

You sure were a huge help.

You're the one who secured funding for our research, even when we couldn't produce feasible results. We couldn't have done this without you."

"It wasn't any trouble... ha ha ha ha...!

But really, the results you've presented today are just brilliant!

Not only have you found the cause of the syndrome, you've also provided a clear path towards future research.

We're looking forward to hearing more progress when we come again next time."

"I'm sure the Tokyo office will quit bothering us about cutting your budget with these sorts of results."

"Hee hee.

After all, we nearly lost our budget for the canned coffee we provided to you all, didn't we?"

"""Bwaaa ha ha ha ha ha!!!"""

"Tomitake-kun, make sure you report our progress to Tokyo well enough that they give us enough funding to hold a party!"

"We've been getting nothing but the stick, it's time for the carrot!"

"Hahahaha, we'll be happiest if that carrot comes back in the shape of funding."

"""Waa ha ha ha ha ha!!!"""

And with that congenial atmosphere, our routine audit was over.

Irie was surrounded and being questioned by National Institute of Infectious Diseases workers who had joined the auditors.

"Takano-san, congratulations!

I can't really say this out loud, but all the progress I've seen tonight is thanks to your hard work."

"Hee hee.

Thank you, Jirou-san."

Jirou-san and I are the only ones here who know that strings were pulled in order to create the Irie Institute.

...So only Jirou-san can understand what I had to go through.

"But I've only just risen to the stage for my research.

My opponent and I are finally in the same arena, that's all.

The critical fight comes after this.

And it should be getting even more exciting in the future."

"Aha ha ha.

By the way, Manager Nakagawa told me to tell you that he wants you to hold a presentation in Tokyo.

Even the Alphabet board wants you to come meet with them.

I guess they all want to hear this directly from you."

"Oh my, isn't having you explain enough?"

"Nah, ah ha ha ha!

I-I don't think that's what they mean...!

I-I bet they want to meet such a pretty researcher in person, maybe, ah ha ha ha...!"

"My my, aren't you being silly, Jirou-san?

Hee hee hee."

"Excuse me.

Major Takano, there's a phone call for you from Tokyo."

"Thank you for holding,

this is Takano."

"Heeey, how are you doing?"

"K-Koizumi-sensei!!

Thank you for taking time to call me..."

"Wa ha ha ha!

You know, I heard you made a significant breakthrough, Miyo-chan,

so I had to call to congratulate you!"

"Thank you very much!!

Yes, thanks to your support, we've been able to accomplish the first step of identifying the microbe that causes Hinamizawa Syndrome."

"Mmm-hmm,

I see, I see!!

Great job, Miyo-chan!

I'm sure Takano-kun is very happy in Heaven right now!!"

"That's a little too early to say.

My grandfather was attempting to go beyond merely identifying the cause of the syndrome.

His work was about showing the possibility of human thoughts actually being controlled by parasitic agents in our bodies.

...Only when that is proven will his research be recognized for the great achievement it is.

Hee hee.

When we're able to explain all thoughts and religions with parasites,

heehee, the world is going to be tossed into chaos."

"Wa ha ha ha ha. How interesting!!

I can just imagine how those religious big shots will react once they find out that their leaders are parasites!! How interesting!

I would love to see that.

I won't die until you show that to me, Miyo-chan."

"Please don't say that.

Do look forward to it, though.

I'll make sure that this research will spread shock throughout the world.

Then the whole world will finally realize how great my grandfather was, and they'll be fighting each other to read over the documents he left behind.

Only then can I say that I've repaid my debt to him."

"...I'm a little envious of Takano-kun~.

I don't want money, you know.

I don't mind getting rid of half of what I have.

I just wish I had a grandchild who would carry on my legacy."

"Thank you so much.

Those words mean so much to me."

"By the way, I sent you a present.

It's a nice bottle of wine for you to celebrate with.

I didn't know your address, so I sent it to the clinic.

However, they told me they're having a difficult time importing it, so it may take a little while. But when it comes, please have a party with the people who helped you."

"Celebratory wine?

Well then, I wonder what expensive sort of drink Koizumi-sensei'll be sending us!"

"Oh, it's not that kind of expensive.

Don't you remember, Miyo-chan?

Takano-kun used to keep a particular bottle of wine."

...I remember...

That's right. My grandfather kept a certain bottle of wine.

I don't know if he bought it himself or if someone gave it to him,

but he treasured it, and he always said he'd open it when his research finally gained recognition.

I was a child then, so I don't even remember what brand it was, but Mr. Koizumi would know.

He went through all the trouble to find the same bottle of wine for this special occasion.

...For the first time in a while, Takano felt the same sunny warmth she experienced during her time with her grandfather.

"Thank you very much...

...Uncle Koizumi..."

"Hmmmm.

I like it when you call me that, Miyo-chan!!

I don't feel like you're speaking to me when you say 'Koizumi-sensei'.

Wa ha ha ha!!"

I can't help but smile along with him...

Because I think Tomitake and Irie were just having a similar exchange.

"If you like it that way, then I'll be happy to call you that when there's nobody around.

Hee hee."

"Hmm, I'll be happier if you'd call me that even in front of people!

Wa ha ha ha."

I don't know exactly how old he is.

But if he can laugh so energetically, he'll live for many more years to come.

...I guess the saying about living a long life is true after all.

"Takano-kun and I both wished you were truly part of our family.

We really did..."

...My grandfather had his own family, of course.

But because he was so into his research, he became estranged from his wife. They were legally married, but they lived separately.

I never met his family when I was a child.

I only met them... after my grandfather committed suicide.

During his latter years, my grandfather went into psychological despair, and began to look at his life with cynicism.

His condition became worse over time, and he was shocked at his own dementia. He was afraid of living while his consciousness degraded.

So... he jumped off the rooftop of the hospital.

Only my name was in his suicide note.

None of his family members' names were in it.

That's when all his relatives showed up and took everything my grandfather left behind.

They were afraid I was going to get his estate.

They had lawyers and all that, so I backed down.

I asked for everything in his study in return.

Those idiots don't understand the value of my grandfather's research.

They were actually happy to strike a deal out of court, and they could also get rid of the piles of papers and jars with human organs in them.

They never even showed up once when he was alive, yet, like hyenas, they appeared after his death. I'd never let them put their hands all over my grandfather's research.

Fortunately, I was able to protect my grandfather's soul from their tainted hands.

"Hmm.

Okay, I'll get going here.

If there's anything you need, be sure to call Uncle Koizumi, okay?

I'll do anything for my granddaughter!!"

"Thank you, Uncle Koizumi.

I'll work even harder!!"