Vol 3 Chapter 2 (1/2)

Chapter 2

“Hayano? Hayano Tomohiko?”

As soon as she heard the naed female teacher, Hirabayashi+-sensei’s face suddenly clouded over

The day after we accepted Kousaka-senpai’s request, I went to the staff’s office after school with the excuse of wanting to borrow the keys to the greenhouse, and I asked her since she’s there She was once the advisor of the Gardening Coo

“Mnn, yes, of course I remember him”

The teacher closed her class na the namelist on the table

“He wasn’t so healthy, so he seldom came to the school But I had no idea that tiinally thankful that Sayuri-sensei couldabout this?”

“Eh? W- well…… Because I’ Club, and I heard about this from a senpai”

I hurriedly made up a lie Basically, there weren’t any senpais fro Club that I know of, but Hirabayashi+-sensei didn’t get suspicious about that It seems that I can’t ask on any to her, the voice of a male teacher came from the other side of the partition

“Even so…… Though it isn’t really nice to say this, but it’s all thanks to that incident that those good-for-nothings drop out of school So it’s not that bad”

“Really, please don’t speak of these irresponsible things”

“Didn’t Ichinoive you a lot of trouble? I won’t be surprised even if he’s arrested by the police”

Ichinomiya?

This particular nah I’ve heard of it for quite a lot of times When I recalled about it, I’ve already ran towards Hirabayashi+-sensei’s desk

“— Wh- what is it, Fujishi+ma-kun?”

“I- Ichinomiya? Does that mean Ichinomiya Tetsuo-senpai?”

Ahis otherwise black hair had a rather aard expression on his face, it seems that he’s the one who spoke to Hirabayashi+-sensei just now Perhaps he thought that letting other people hear what he said just now isn’t that good, he tried to ss over

“So you know him? Mnn, it see, lashi+ng out first before anything else whenever he does anything His grades were terrible as well, and I’ve heard that he’s a rogue up till now”

Ichinomiya Tetsuo— Tetsu-senpai dropped out from my school for four years now Was that really the reason that he dropped out

“That’s right, Ichinoofer!” The radually rising from my toes

“It was said that he wasn’t caught because there were no evidence Since he chose to drop out hi That means Hayano was killed by these people”

“Tetsu… senpai…… Bu—”

I nearly blurted soain Hirabayashi+-sensei and the other teacher looked rather shocked I i the staff’s office

The person who killed Kaoruko-senpai’s brother was actually Tetsu-senpai?

He dropped out because of that? How could this be possible? This must be a lie!

I didn’t say anything to Ayaka or Sayuri-sensei, but i to Hanamaru Ramen on my bike

Of course, Alice knew of this long ago

“Four students dropped out of their own accord after the incident, all of them were students who had contact with Hayano Tomohiko; this is the namelist The only person as confirmed to have contact with the victim that day was the fourth person”

Under the air outlet in the office, Alice spoke of that in a chillingly businesslike tone and handed uys were listed on the paper, while the fourth name was Ichinomiya Tetsuo I stared at the name

“Tetsu-senpai is—”

Though the words slipped out of my mouth, I didn’t really knohat I wanted to say

“I already phoned him to come” Alice said: “I only knew of this today Basically, us NEETs would not investigate the past of the others Major, Hiro, and Yondaiht not know of this as well, but of course there’s a possibility that they just didn’t mention it”

This really doesn’tis, Tetsu-senpai actually bullied a sick student by asking hiofer, and even caused him to die?

That’s impossible! I wanted to say that Senpai isn’t that kind of person!

“Narumi”

Even though Alice called my name, I couldn’t even stand up for a moment

“Naruood soup even if you cringe like a claet me a can of Dr Pepper!?”

I slowly stood up, taking out a can froe When I opened the can, Alice extended her hands and said:

“Drink it”

“…… Why? I don’t want to”

“Stop fussing and drink it This is an order from your superior!”

How can this count as an order from a superior? However, I couldn’t help but take a sip as I was glared by Alice with an icy gaze while I was in a stupor It tasted even worse than the last tiirl actually needs to drink three to four cans of this a day?

“How is it? Do you feel that your thoughts are getting clearer?”

“No”

Alice see the leftover drink at the side of her table

“Get another three cans over here”

As though she was protesting tothree cans that were 14 liters in total, all in one go Then, she continued:

“Then letso your mind will be clearer Do you knohy I didn’t ask for payment from the client Kousaka Yukari?”

“Hoould I know……”

I nearly forgot before sheabout the investigation fee

“Why?”

“Firstly, Kousaka Yukari does not have the ability to pay as she’s just a high school student Secondly, isn’t this your request as well? Isn’t the fortress that is going to be taken away yours as well?”

“You’re right, but…”

“Thirdly, you have the ability to pay Didn’t I pay you your wages a few days ago?”

The investigation fee that Alice asked for at that moment was so expensive that it’s scary So she asks for such a large fee each ti a detective et o, so I can still pay the money

“Don’t you wish to solve the mystery as well?”

“But even so, you don’t need to expose Tetsu-senpai’s……”

Exposing the truth of senpai’s crimes Do we really need to do it till this extent?

“Naruer of the dead, so the things that I do s that we gain in the endsomeone’s reputation But I must still—“

“Why can you still look as though nothing had happened!?”

I couldn’t help but interrupt with a harsh tone As before, even I, er was directed at, but I just felt that I was unable to continue to listen to Alice speak in that chilly, emotionless tone

Just at that e eyes of the small NEET detective started to redden

“I see! So I’ me that!”

I really didn’t kno to answer

That’s right, Alice had been friends with Tetsu-senpai long before I knew him

How is it possible that she wouldn’t feel anything about this? That’s because, Alice had not mentioned even once from just now—

She didn’t mention Tetsu-senpai’s name

“E- erm…… Alice, sorr—“

“Shut up, idiot!” Four cans flew in my direction “I’m like that in your eyes anyways! I don’t care about that at all, so ould you need to apologize!?”

Sounds of ht on the bed, face flushed and tre all over

“Why don’t you clear things away already! The NEET detective who isn’t affected by anything is going to pierce holes in her companions’ past with her optical eyes that could even pierce through the truth!”

“I’m h—“

“There’s nothing that you can help with now That point is the same as usual”

Alice turned over to the monitor in a huff I knelt on the cold floor, and had no other choice but to retract my arm that I extended towards Alice

Isn’t it at these times— an assistant detective has to help from the side?

What in the world was I doing? Even if I vented s

Tetsu-senpai arrived shortly The doorbell rang beside the bed Alice flashed the blue light as a response, and the door opened immediately

“So Narumi is here too?”

Tetsu-senpai earing a T-shi+rt as usual, and said after walking to the entrance of the bedroo at Alice and I

“The only thing is the matter mentioned in the phone?”

Alice nodded silently That’s unusual, this girl could actually express her opinions with her mouth closed

“Is that so? Then…… I have nothing to say”

Nothing to say?

“Aren’t you going to explain anything?”

“Explain what? Didn’t you investigate already?”

“Hayano Tomohiko, died because of a heart attack because of your inhumane actions— someone proved that Does that mean you admit all of it?”

“I dropped out already, so isn’t that okay? I wouldn’t have continued to study even if that incident didn’t happen I just left school two or threedeal”

I stood up to question senpai, and I o if not for Alice grabbing my wrist

“Really? Then I would like to know the details of what happened”

“I refuse”

Those words were like a devastating punch that could shatter one’s chin, stopping Alice’s words in their track

“There’s nothing else about thishere and there for information”

“Does that ness for cooperation? Even for me?”

“Not only do I refuse to help out, if you dare to tell Narumi to poke around—“

Half though his words, Tetsu-senpai stuffed his hands into his pockets and glared at et flattened by his glare

What is this? Is this person really Tetsu-senpai?

“I will unhesitatingly beat you up!”

Thein the room

Is this person really Tetsu-senpai? The good-for-nothing gambler? The person ould sivecritical moments?

He actually bullied a weak person and caused him to die?

Lies, those must be lies!

Crestfallen, I suddenly heard the sound of the door banged close When I raised ain, Tetsu-senpai had already disappeared

“Senpai!”

I hurriedly rushed out to the corridors But even though I flen the stairs, I wasn’t in tiered at the gathering spot where everyone welcoe steel buckets, turned over beer crates and wooden stands

I sat on the second step of the backstairs

“…… Fujishi+ma-san?”

Raisingher head out of the kitchen backdoor

“Ah…… You’re here……” I don’t want to let Ayaka see aze

“Fujishi+et the keys, but didn’t coht be over here”

“…… I’m sorry”

Ah, I remembered As I was startled by the contents of the teachers’ conversation, I rushed directly out of school

“What happened? The person called Tetsu-san left looking incredibly furious”

“…… Nah Nothing ha—“

How is it possible that nothing happened? And this ht not be completely irrelevant to Ayaka

I, as helplessly du at a corner alone is just a waste of time

The reason that I want to save the Gardening Club is to regain the winter that I went through with Ayaka

But I couldn’t just say that directly What should I say first? I finally said after pondering for some time:

“…… Do you know about the Gardening Committee?”

Ayaka shook her head She doesn’t know? Or was the memory just sunk in her swamp of memories?

Then let’s start from that incident

There was a Gardening Coed by the school once…… It was abolished after that because of a death incident…… And Tetsu-senpai was involved in the incident…… Though the Gardening Committee was abolished, its jobs were fully accepted by the Student Council, and thus the Gardening Club was born

The Gardening Club was the place where Ayaka and I gave each other support— and it is going to vanish

As though she was listening to a movie summary that she was completely disinterested in, Ayaka just nodded in response from time to tihtly from my body

“Then you’re planning to—“ Ayaka bit her lips lightly “Think of a way to save the Gardening Club?”

When I nodded in response, Ayaka’s expression looked rather forlorn

“Because it’s a club…… that you ed with me in the past?”

“What……?”

Though Ayaka wasn’t wrong, why is she asking about that now?

“Did you argue with Tetsu-san just because of this just now?”

“What do you mean by ‘just because’? This would mean that on’t have any place to stay at now……”

A place that was important to us, a place where our fate started I really don’t kno to explain this

I suddenly recalled the armband that I kept in ain some memories if I hand it to her? But on the other hand, I felt terrified if it would not have any effect on her after I gave that to her, since the armband is too closely linked to Ayaka and I

As Ayaka was about to say so A shadow extended totwo silhouettes at the end of the alley

“Alice called me just now, and I talked to Tetsu on the phone just noell”

Hiro-san walked quickly to e steel bucket, while Major walked toat Ayaka, he looked at ain

“This is great I have so to tell you, Vice-Admiral Fujishi+ma Can you please tell Alice about this?”

“Tell…… about what?”

“Concerning this case, we shall not assist Alice”

I stared at Major blankly Will not assist?

Hiro-san continued: “If you want to investigate about Tetsu, ill not help out” “Tetsu said that he didn’t want anyone to investigate about him, so we plan to respect his wishes”

“Even if it’s Alice’s request?”

“That’s right But since it’s rather hard to say to her…… Please tell her about this”

“Is Tetsu-senpai more important that Alice?”

I only realized the stupidity ofit Hiro-san just smiled faintly

“That’s not the probleht lose a client because of this, it’sa companion, that’s all”

Coht, this isn’t a relationshi+p that could be described by the word ‘friend’ Even so—

“Why don’t you guys tell this to Alice yourself!?”

The cold words that slipped out of my mouth surprised even myself Hiro-san’s expression froze, and Major as beside hed:

“…… That’s true So sorry for asking you to do this”

As Major walked past ain, the kitchen backdoor opened suddenly

“P- please wait for a moment!”

Major looked at Ayaka who just rushed out in surprise Ithe same expression as well, as Ayaka looked at me with her brows furrowed

“Fujishi+ma-san, this is just too much! Because—“

“…… Why?”

Of course, I know that I said so that I shouldn’t have said to Major and Hiro-san But why is Ayaka angry?

“Alice would be sad too if they spoke of this directly to her! She’s really just a child, why? Why are you so cruel to her!? Why don’t you just tell her!”

Does she really think that Alice is just a child? What are you interrupting for when you obviously don’t reer, but the words that I wanted to say froze in my mouth

I really would forget sometimes Of course, Alice is just a child— irl Ayaka was right Hoould that help anyone if Major or Hiro-san told Alice directly that they refuse to help out?

After saying all that, Ayaka retreated to the kitchen with her face pale

“…… Ah …… Ah, so- sorry! Though I actually don’t know anything……”

“It’s okay……”

I hurriedly stood up, biting ers

“Sorry, it’s my fault So sorry, Major”

I couldn’t look him in the face, so I could only look at Major’s military boots with my head lowered

“…… I’ll tell her”

“Don’t be like that…… We’re the ones who feel sorry about this”

Hiro-san answered with his head lowered as well: “Sorry, asking for you to do so that you shouldn’t”

I thought to myself: What’s with this? No hter could be heard in this alley

“That’s right, it’s as you said, we chose Tetsu and not Alice this time”

“Do you all trust Tetsu-senpai that much?”

Facing lances

“You mean— do we think Tetsu wouldn’t bully so tone, while I nodded weakly in response

“This doesn’t matter at all”

Hiro-san’s short but strong answer caused me to raise my head in surprise

“We are all NEETs, so we only care about the present As for how Tetsu was in the past, it’s none of our business I just believe that the Tetsu right now isn’t that kind of person”

Hiro-san looked at Major

“Even if Tetsu-san is running away right now because of a murder, I would hide hi to kill soht now That’s e’re kin”

Kin Companion

Then ould Alice be to these two?

But I think that’s a question that’s off-lihts

“…… Then, I choose Alice and not Tetsu-senpai”

Not a friend, not a co that could not be said in words—

Alice is a detective, while I’m an assistant detective

“I know”

Hiro-san nodded in answer Some sorroed on his face, like a lily that hasn’t bloomed

“But that doesn’t ainst her Please tell Alice to just tell us directly if she wants us to investigate so other than Tetsu-san’s past”

After saying that, Major i away fros with Hiro-san

It can’t be said that I’ht? When the silhouettes of the two left, I suddenly thought— actually Alice is the one who’s helping me If I withdrawout the words of the deceased, and wouldn’t need to worry that she would hurt Tetsu-senpai

But…

I raised aze as she was tightly holding onto the kitchen backdoor

Tothat I have to protect as well Even if Ayaka had long forgotten how ie that exists only in my heart

Fro day onwards, I would ask Ayaka to work in my stead at Hanamaru Ramen when I’m busy with my work as an assistant detective

“Ayaka is indeed ten thousand times more useful than you”

That’s the saht It seeain, but it doesn’t matter

“If Min-san doesn’tme……”

Though Ayaka was rather hesitant, she still accepted my request

Ayaka see Alice and Min-san as well Shethere I si of this while looking as Ayaka left

But there are s that would eventually disappear if you just leave it there, so I can’t stop

That day, I went to the Student Council Inspection office

“Fujishi+?”

Kousaka-senpai stayed alone in the dark, deserted Inspection office, and s minutes were piled on the table, while thepiteously Hustle and bustle from the office separated by bookshelves could be heard, which was in sharp contrast with the deserted feeling here

“…… Is there only a person in the Inspection?”

“Not really There’s actually five people, but the rest of them aren’t really interested in the job except for me”

That’s why Kaoruko-senpai would do as she like

“That’s right, didn’t you say that a senpai frou”

“Eh? Ah, mnn He’s Miyabe-senpai”

“That person should knowCoht?”

Senpai nodded in response I asked Kousaka-senpai to introduce me to Miyabe-senpai, but since the case is quite troublesome, it would probably be hard to tell him clearly about what occurred even if I suddenly went to meet him

After I thanked her and was about to leave the Inspection office, Kousaka-senpai halted me

“What is it?” I turned over and asked

“Erm… Well……”

Senpai sat before the word processor and kept rubbing her hands

“Sorry for asking you to investigate such a strange case I’ve brought you quite some trouble for my children’s sake”

“M- my children?”

“Ah, well…” Kousaka-senpai used her hand to repeatedly fan her flushed cheeks “Sorry, that wasn’t deliberate There are so abolishment, and many of thee of inspecting them, so they feel like my own children”

Ah, so that’s how things are This person is the type that would s up the sorrowful things, shouldering them alone as well

“Many people misunderstand that the Inspection exists just to abolish clubs”

I nonchalantly shi+fted ht so as well

“In reality, we’re indeed in charge of the folloork after the abolishment of a club, so some senpais had said that our job is to abolish clubs in the past But the truth isn’t like that…… The Manage the small clubs that can’t protest is also the Inspection’s job”

I couldn’t look Kousaka-senpai in the eye

“So this was actually so that I had to solve myself I’m sorry”

I shook my head hurriedly

“I didn’t help just because I accepted the request I’d be troubled if the Gardening Club disappears as well Senpai, please don’t worry too much about this Alice accepted the request for me as well She’s afraid that misfortune would land on a place where she doesn’t know”

“The girl called Alice—“

Kousaka-senpai hesitated, looking up with her brows furrowed

“— is a rather unusual girl, right?”

It felt as though she pondered some time for a suitable word to describe her, but it seems that she couldn’t find one It’s actually more or less like that

“How old is she? About eleven or twelve? Why is she nesting in a place like that to be a detective? Is she really a hikikoht now?”

“Ah…… Erm… Well……”

So senpai didn’t ask Alice these questions the first time she saw her because she planned to ask me after that? Unfortunately, I don’t have answers for any of her questions

“About these matters, I don’t know even one”

Kousaka-san raised both her hands in a ‘banzai’ pose in surprise That’s rather similar to Ayaka

“You don’t know that? H…… How is that possible? It seee that you don’t know about that?”

Is it really that strange? But when she said that, it really felt rather strange See other people see us like that, it feels so to take care of her just because I like it……

“Then why are you continuing to do that for her? Helping a girl to comb her hair too…”

“Mnn— well…… Because I’m an assistant detective?”

Whoops, I’ is off as well, why must an assistant detective comb the hair of his boss!?

“Instead of saying that you’re her assistant, aren’t you more like her family?”

“Ohhh…… Nonononono!”

I couldn’t defend ht have said sos if the door behind me didn’t open suddenly

A hint of tension suddenly appeared on Kousaka-senpai’s face After turningoutside the door

“What are you doing? Do you still have anything to do with the Inspection?”

I loweredKaoruko-senpai’s question I wanted to walk out of the office directly, but then a voice came from my back

“Fujishi+ma-kun, please wait for a moment Kaoruko-chan, please listen to m—“

Kaoruko-senpai looked at Kousaka-senpai the same time asin a sincere tone:

“Actually, I’ate…… the incident about your brother”

Kaoruko-senpai as standing beside me widened her eyes

“Why…… are you doing such a thing?”

“Because the Gardening Club was founded after that incident happened, and the budget was decided that time, so the two must be related somehow—“

“There’s absolutely no need for investigation!”

Kaoruko-senpai’s fingers were deeply clenched on her crossed ar her head