A Pair of Hearts

By MORI Hiroshi

Kaoru thought she would get married to her boyfriend Thoru soon. However, since she met Satoru, Thoru's younger twin brother, something in her mind had changed. Kaoru noticed that she was being attracted toward Satoru more than to Thoru.

While Thoru was on his overseas business trip, the apartment Satoru lived in was burned down and a burned body was found on the site.

Was it an accident?
Was it a suicide, homicide, or murder?
Whose body was burned to death, Satoru or Thoru?

Did Thoru kill Satoru?
Or, did Satoru kill Thoru?

There is only one victim.
There is only one suspect.

And, there is only one truth.

This work was first published in 1999 by Kodansha and translated in 2014 for The BBB: Breakthrough Bandwagon Books.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 29, 2014
• ISBN: 9781312315662

Book preview

A Pair of Hearts

A Pair of Hearts

Originally written in Japanese by MORI, Hiroshi

Translated by Ryusui Seiryoin

Cover illustration by Polka D

Cover design by Tanya

This work was first published in Japan in 1999.

Japanese edition copyright © 1999 MORI, Hiroshi / Kodansha

English edition copyright © 2014 MORI, Hiroshi / The BBB: Breakthrough Bandwagon Books

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-312-31566-2

-1-

The city was getting dark and hazy after the rain.

Only neon lights reflected on the coated surface of asphalt seemed to be awakening to the dusk, and created a discontinuous border of light between the road and the sidewalk. Wastepaper blown away by the wind and the light rhythm of the music from a distance hung back momentarily and vanished into the back alley. A black cat, which was blending into the darkness under the concrete steps leading to a café, appeared to be seeing everything, but it couldn’t possibly imagine the loneliness of people coming and going there.

Kaoru was walking up the stairway, while striking the steps with her high-heeled shoes.

She pulled the heavy glass door open outward. The motion pumped out the warm air and the aroma of cigarette smoke from the inside.

Over the bar, a barkeeper with a beard raised his hand. A waiter wearing suspenders, who was new to the café, bowed to Kaoru.

Kaoru looked at the usual table, located at the innermost part of the café.

Something seemed to be a little different this time.

There were two Thorus taking seats.

Kaoru had a boyfriend named Thoru, and there was supposed to be only one Thoru in the entire world. However, she was seeing two Thorus in front of her at the moment.

Kaoru took a deep breath, held her purse in front of her stomach, and walked toward the table. Every time she walked, other people’s eyes definitely gravitated toward her. She knew her ability to be the magnet of others’ attention quite well.

Thanks for waiting. Good evening. I’m sorry I’m late.

Don’t worry. We are way ahead of time. Thoru smirked, and gave a sidelong glance at Kaoru.

A man sitting next to Thoru had long hair, which was almost reaching his waist. He was resting his elbow on the table and was putting his cheek on his hand. He took a brief glance at Kaoru, but soon averted his eyes away from her and turned toward a nearby window. The magnitude of Kaoru’s visual magnetism at that very moment was less than one percent of attention she usually enjoyed getting from other typical males.

He is Satoru, my younger brother. Thoru introduced the man with long hair.

Nice to meet you. Kaoru said in as gentle a tone as possible, and had a seat.

Satoru looked up a little, glanced at her again, and looked down as if he was nodding slightly. He