Page 226 of Mercy Written in Blood

Yumi nodded.

"She is."

Renji lowered his gaze to the chart. Haruki saw the shadow cross his face. Seven Takahara children taken north, their survival unknown. The journal had returned them to Renji only as names inside a fragment. Perhaps Yumi's question had opened the wound again. If so, Renji did not let the pain become hers.

He closed the chart.

"Do you know how to make a crane?"

The girl looked around.

"There aren't any birds."

"Origami."

"No."

Renji checked his pockets. He found a folded hospital memo, examined the blank reverse and tore away the printed portion with precise movements. Yumi watched.

"You're not allowed to rip hospital things."

"This was outdated."

"How do you know?"

"I wrote it."

"Then why did you write it if it's wrong?"

"Because information changes."

"That seems like a waste of paper."

Renji glanced at her.

"Yes."

He folded the remaining square. His hands moved more slowly than Haruki expected — not because he had forgotten, but because he wanted Yumi to follow.

"Fold it diagonally."

"I don't have paper."

Renji opened the chart and removed another outdated page. He tore it into a square and gave it to her.

"You're going to get in trouble," she whispered.

"I will survive."

Yumi copied him. Her first fold was uneven. Renji did not correct it. He folded again. She followed. At the third step, she became confused.

"It doesn't look like yours."

"It does not need to."

"It's supposed to be the same."

"It is supposed to become a bird."