Instead of just waiting for it to heal, Hinata had decided to use this wound…for revenge. Revenge on her so-called parents, the ones who’d inflicted so much pain on her. The moment she came up with the idea, she told Kumori about it.
“Think about how it works on TV and in mysteries. The detective always finds a way to trace the weapon back to the culprit. But if we use the Injury Peeling Cream as our weapon, it’ll basically be a perfect crime.”
“I guess so. If you put this wound on somebody’s neck, it would be like slashing their throat without leaving behind any evidence. But, Hinata…”
“What? Are you saying I shouldn’t be thinking about revenge?”
Kumori’s brow—scar and all—furrowed as if she was in thought. She didn’t nod or shake her head in response but kept her eyes downcast.
“That’s not for me to say,” she replied. “I don’t want revenge on the people who gave me my scar. It’s enough that I’ll never have to see them again. But if you do want revenge, then that’s fine. That’s what’s right for you.”
“So…you’re not going to try to talk me out of it?”
“No. If this is really what you desire, I don’t have any right to stop you. I’ll say one thing, though. This cream is a double-edged sword.”
“? What do you mean?”
“Think about what would happen if your victim got a hold of it and used it against you. The more powerful a weapon is, the more danger you’ll be in if something goes wrong. That’s all I’m worried about.”
Kumori’s expression remained serious.
Hinata was silent for a moment. She understood what Kumori was trying to tell her. And it made sense that she’d be worried. However…a powerful tool like this didn’t come along every day.
“I think…I’m going to have to take my chances,” Hinata stated. “I’ll never get an opportunity like this again. How else am I going to get my revenge without worrying about being arrested for it?”
Maybe that was asking for too much. Maybe, if she was serious about wanting revenge, she should have been prepared for whatever kind of punishment the law gave her. But that wasn’t fair. All Hinata wanted to do was pay someone back for what they’d done to her, take back something that was taken from her. Why should she get punished for that?
“Before I met you, Kumori, my life was always controlled by someone else. I feel like…if I can’t prove I’m the one in control now, this will never really be my life, you know?”
Kumori nodded. Of course she understood.
Hinata nodded back, trying her best not to cry.
The girls returned to the orphanage, gathered up all their allowance and savings—along with the plastic bag containing Hinata’s old scar—and set out again.
Hinata was so antsy she could barely sit still. Even with the gash removed from her body, it would still heal over time. She had to hurry. A perfect injury like this ought to be used while it was still nice and deep.
Kumori didn’t say anything but stuck by her friend the whole way. The two of them went to the train station, and each bought a ticket to the town where their intended victim lived. Hinata didn’t consider that person family anymore. From now on, they were just a target.
It cost her almost all the money she had to buy a one-way ticket. But that was okay. If she could get her revenge, she didn’t care what happened afterward.
The train passed through several towns in the fading evening light before the girls finally arrived at their destination.