Soliloquy

The wind picked up, sweeping snow from the ground and rooftops into a blinding white haze that swallowed everything and scattered the last of the maple leaves. A figure wandered through the mountain woods, its face and gender impossible to discern.

The silhouette drew nearer, seemingly carrying a small child on its back. The person stopped and frantically dug into the snow with bare hands. The snowfall grew heavier, blurring the outline further. Ten minutes later, the figure buried something deep, smoothed the snow over, then walked straight toward me. As the distance closed, it turned out to be an attractive woman in a black puffer jacket. Gloveless, her fingers were purple, fresh blood dripping from her fingertips.

“Sir, how did you find me?” The voice sounded like a young girl’s. “Even in the dark, a moving black speck stands out against all this white.” Then a blade pierced my throat.

I died.

1

Zhongchuan Town

Morning

After the snow fog, the town greeted a rare morning sun. Violin melodies echoed across the residential blocks, carrying the distinct vibe of the snow country.

I crunched my way across the snowplow-compacted road toward the café. “Mr. Zhongsen, off to work this early?” I nodded to an elderly woman bundled in a thick hat and scarf. The café was empty; Zhongchuan was a sparsely populated town to begin with.

The faint drifting notes of a violin caught me off guard. Was Gaoqiao Cimu practicing this early? Standing behind the counter, I suddenly remembered the piles of uncleaned coffee grounds from the previous day; the kitchen staff hadn't arrived yet. The kitchen connected to a stockroom filled with coffee supplies, where the smell of mildew mixed with the aroma of roasted coffee powder.

The bell jingled as the front door pushed open. I hurried to the counter. It was Shanben Yiyi, the shop’s only young female employee. She had gotten into Waseda University but ended up here in this remote town for reasons unknown.

“Shanben, so early?”

“It’s seven forty.” Her tone was emotionless, reeking of solitude. Before I could reply, she headed into the kitchen. The bell chimed again as a plainly dressed man stepped inside. “Zhongsen, an iced Americano, one ice cube, two sugars.” This was Jitian Xiasan, an information broker who claimed to know every secret in Hokkaido. Rumor had it someone paid eight hundred thousand yen for his intel, though I never bought it. He leaned over the counter. “Do you know anything about that woman who just went to the back?” I shook my head, contrasting his sallow skin with Shanben Yiyi’s fair complexion. “You’re out of her league.” Jitian froze. “What do you mean? She’s from Tokyo.”

“I know.” Lowering his voice, Jitian said, “Minato Ward, Tokyo.” I blinked in surprise. “Isn’t that just like Kalorama in Washington? Then how could she—?” Getting excited over gossip, he cut in: “She’s on the run linked to a murder case.” Doubt lingered in my mind; she was always quiet, but I shut down the gossip. “Quit spreading rumors, you could get sued. She’s in the kitchen and might overhear.” Irritated, he switched topics. “A teenage girl wandered into town around four a.m. with a violin; that’s the music we hear.”

The kitchen door creaked open mid-chat, interrupting the conversation between Jitian and me. Shanben Yiyi stepped out holding two garbage bags. “Ms. Shanben, isn’t there a trash bin by the back door?” She fell silent briefly, then answered, “The lock’s broken, can’t open it.” She left without another word.

It was nine thirty-six, and the café stayed unusually empty. Normally, elderly regulars would be gathered to chat by this hour. I handed Jitian his coffee and zoned out by the fogged winter window, suspecting fresh snow fog was rolling in. A phone notification from the boss snapped me back.

“Are there any customers left? Close early if not. Take three full days off starting tomorrow and wait for further notice.” Staring at the text, I typed back: “Boss Tengye, what’s wrong?”

“A body was found roughly five hundred meters away; the whole area’s cordoned off.” Jitian spotted the message, set cash down, and rushed out. Bitter frigid wind surged inward as the door swung open.

“Step back! Keep clear of the police cordon! Make way for Mingji precinct officers!”

“Put your phones away, no photos!”

The warnings fell on deaf ears. Zhongchuan only had four local patrol officers; a homicide required backup from outside. Over ninety townsfolk crowded round, filling the air with speculation, jeers, sarcasm, and vulgar whispers. Half an hour later, six officers from Mingji arrived. The snow fog thickened sharply, limiting visibility; temperatures dropped steadily until the crowd gradually dispersed.

All footprints pressed into the snow seemed hidden away, vanishing entirely after the swirling snow fog swept past, as if something had been buried for good beneath the white drifts.

All footprints pressed into the snow seemed hidden away, vanishing entirely after the swirling snow fog swept past, as if something had been buried for good beneath the white drifts.