Vol 3 Chapter 5 (1/2)
Chapter 5
Ichinomiya Tetsuo
The eldest son of a carpenter Because of his father’s acts of violence, he accepted the protection of the Social Welfare Coraduated from primary school
His father vanished when he was only twelve, and his family owed loan sharks a debt of over four million yen that time His mother was hospitalized because of a mental breakdown, and thus Ichinomiya Tetsuo was moved to hiswith his relatives who took him in, became a delinquent student inover twenty times
During his second year in middle school, the police officers in the Youth Cri alley realized his natural talent, and thus he left his uncle’s house to stay at the head’s house From that day on, Ichino his studies by entering M High
”The part that I want you to read is the next one And there’s a medical report enclosed as well”
Alice said while sitting on her bed
After I returned froency, and she ordered h Tetsu-senpai’s personal information that I did not read before this
I held the stack of infore, and couldn’t help but gasp when I read the infore
”Do you understand why I forced you to read this now?”
My eyes were co it
Indeed, there is a reason for her request If so, Tetsu-senpai—
”To your actions that could only be explained as ile you look at, it should help ht?”
”Well…… That’s not wrong, but……”
Do I really have to use this? Or should I say I have no other choice but to use this? Even so, it’s undeniable that to a person as weak as s by hook or by crook
Alice kneeled, saying in a frustrated tone:
”Didn’t you mean this when you said that you wanted to confirm the truth about Tetsu?”
I blankly stared at the NEET detective’s face for awhile, then shi+fted s are indeed so
”Of course, wanting to use that could only be said as eood your observation power is And that means, even after I used this software that I pilfered fro actions, that was the conclusion formed This stack and that stack are sets of advice that I obtained froot to know froency first aidfor es, and here’s a set of references of reasons for running away at the last second”
I was still clueless about the situation, but Alice still placed stack after stack of thick infor
”These h research, and look for a way for you to go survive the battle!”
”Errr…… I’ so worried about me…”
”Didn’t I tell you quite a few times now? I’m not worried about you!”
Alice was so furious that she almost rushed over from the bed to bite me
”Even if you’re beaten black and blue by Tetsu, the detective’s investigation and the client’s life still continues, and there’s still a lot of ate!”
”Ahhhh, mnn, sorry……”
I stood up after putting down the stacks of infor on the bed, was about in front of my chest
”I promise you” I placed my hands on Alice’s shoulders “I will not die for no reason at all”
”W- what nonsense are you spouting!”
Alice pushedto the monitor
The ways of begging for mercy probably isn’t much use, but the analysis of Tetsu-senpai’s movements should help more or less But since they were very coht not be able to understand it
”Cleaning up the ht about ends here Don’t forget your own job”
”What else do we have to investigate?”
”Soreenhouse”
”Again? Why? Didn’t we take soel Fix incident?”
And what’s with the crime scene?
”This tihly as well There shouldn’t be any flowerpots on the ground currently, isn’t that right? I want to look for blood stains”
”Blood stains? Whose?”
”Of course it’s Hayano Tomohiko’s”
My ainst the wall at the entrance of the bedroo Alice’s words
”…… Does that reenhouse?”
”That’s right There aren’t any blood stains at the place by the school entrance where he collapsed at, isn’t that right? That indicates that the place that he fainted at wasn’t there, but another place”
”That…… Isn’t wrong, but……”
Another place? In the greenhouse?
”But that doesn’t seeht as well Tetsu-senpai and the others should have asked Hayano Tos for thereenhouse to wait”
”Have you even forgotten what you, yourself, had said? Tetsu is definitely hiding so, you said that yourself”
”Ah……”
That’s right, hts are built on the basis that Tetsu-senpai’s testimony was a lie However—
”What does that mean? Does it mean someone moved the unconscious Hayano Tomohiko to the school entrance? Why?”
”That’s a possibility as well, and Tetsu ht have been the person who moved him That way, you can explain the contradictions of the direction that Hayano Tomohiko was collapsed and also the reason that nobody noticed him before Tetsu”
Why was that done? Who did it? Was it senpai?
”I don’t know the answer as well, so that’s why I’ate”
”…… But it can’t be in the greenhouse The greenhouse has a cement floor after all, and rainwater can’t flow inside If there was really so much blood, stains should still be there even now”
I recalled the location where Akaya juround that was paved with ces That happened during January It snowed and rained quite a few tis like blood stains are hard to erase both from reality and from our hearts
”Anyways, just hurry up and investigate it If the place where Hayano Tomohiko was collapsed at was not the location where he was first found, then the chances of hireenhouse increases drastically By the way, go ask your advisor if anything was spread or placed on the greenhouse floor that time”
”…… Got it I’ll go check it out tomorrow”
”There’s another matter apart fro equipement list”
”…… Eh?”
”Buying or getting rid of teaching equipes in amount of this This infore data in the computer folders, so that’s why I couldn’t find out about it”
”This…… What does that have to do with this?”
”Can you please get rid of your bad habit of asking the detective the reason for her investigations in each and every matter?”
Alice turned her head around and looked at hly annoyed expression
”I don’t know if there are any connections, so that’s why I’hts spread out to weave a web of ten thousand possibilities, liquefying all of thee to absorb is too much of a hassle I’ll say it’s better if you just shut your mouth and take actions”
Okay, okay, I get it
While holding the digital camera that Alice lent me and the massive pile of information of how to cope with Tetsu-senpai, I walked out of the office It was just a bit cloudy when I caency stairs that waspeople with its noisiness
It was then the monsoon season, near the end of May At the same time, Ayaka’s and my shelter was about to be tra without a trace
When I walked to the kitchen backdoor, Major and Hiro-san were already waiting there, and that y
”Here, we’re having special training today as well The shop owner praised that even though your boxing skills aren’t h!” Hiro-san said with a s praised in such a o three hours of hellish training today as well……
”Since the weather is so bad today, you ht be asked to clean up the entrance”
”…… Why do I feel like the job is deviating froinal purpose?”
I even feel like I’ tool…… Hiro-san set the car then’, then walked out from the alley This time, it was Major’s turn to lean over with a s out a box fro me to the rain shelter
”I made a super enhanced version of ‘Wii Tetsu’ Tetsu-san’s movements will be three tiinal version, so you can rest assured!” What nonsense
”Ah, that’s right, Major……”
I nearly pulled out the papers that Alice gave me, but I hesitated
Major should be unclear about Tetsu-senpai’s past as well, especially regarding ‘that matter’…… I wanted to speak of the information that Alice found out, but I just couldn’t do so
”Hmm? What is it, Vice Admiral Fujishi+ma? What are the papers in your hands?”
”Ah, no, this…… I think it’s better not to—“
”You really don’t need to worry so much Vice Admiral Fujishi+ht? So you must have the determination to use each and every resource to attain victory”
Who are you calling ainto deep thought in the end
Things ht Besides, the reason that I started the fight was to expose the truth that Tetsu-senpai wanted to hide in the first place Even if anything happened in senpai’s past, I probably don’t have the spare time to worry if that matter would be known by Major
”Er just now……”
I handed the papers about Tetsu-senpai to Major Major’s expression was unchanged after he looked through it
”…… Hn hnn? Now I see This h”
”Can you enter this information into the stimulator?”
”Vice Admiral Fujishi+ma truly likes to ask for the ied at all”
Major smiled in complacence
”I will try to finish installing it by toraded version of ‘Wii Tetsu’ However, you should know that you can only grasp the overall feel with this As for where Tetsu-san’s blind spot is in reality……”
Major jabbed at my chest
”It looks like you’ll have to get the feel from the real process”
I nodded in answer, blocking Major’s third straight punch
The rain did not stop even until the following day
I could not ride my bike, and added with the fact that I heard that the rain ht become heavier and heavier, so I oing to the detective agency in advance The first place that I had to go would be the Inspection office Aate, I asked Kousaka-senpai for her help for the part about the a equipments After all, the staff probably wouldn’t let ement office
”Mnn? Eh? What do you want that for?”
As expected, Kousaka-senpai was taken aback because of my request
”Well…… Actually I’m not sure what it’s for as well”
”Is it what the girl called Alice asked you to investigate?”
I nodded
”Though she looks like that, she’s still quite a so on you”
”…… It feels like the both of you trust each other very much A relationshi+p like yours is rather enviable”
”W- what……!?”
Does it seem like that? Isn’t it more like Alice completely doesn’t need to rely on me?
”That’s because Fujishi+irl I can tell in one look”
They’ve justabout?
”So I’ll trust you guys as well So it’s just a request for the Manageht? I’ll think of an excuse”
”Thank you Er, can you fax it to Alice’s place? I have to hurry and leave the school” After saying that, I passed a note with Alice’s fax number to her
”Got it I’ll fax it over as soon as I can, I hope that I can settle it by today”
”Sorry for giving you trouble”
”It won’t, as this is my request after all”
”But……” I stamate like this, even if we find out the reason of the establish Club…… Is there a possibility that it wouldto do more justified?”
Kousaka-senpai stayed silent
Actually, that is quite a plausible possibility That’s because the club is founded for a certain reason, and was fors over with the Student Council and the teaching staff The people ant to change the rules would rejoice even if this got out We s— the cold, e haunted me
”That’s okay, we’ll see when that time comes It just depends on how you use the infor on until the last second We’re now discussing the last part of the amendments with Kaoruko-chan Even if we can’t protect all of them, I will do my best to let the extant clubs continue”
This person seeher than she appears to be……
”However…… Though it’s a bit e to say this when Fujishi+ Club…… has only two er……” Kousaka-senpai looked rather subdued
Aested, a club must have at least six clubhard to lower the nu Club is next to impossible
”No, that’s not senpai’s fault……”
I suddenly thought of the matter that I talked over with Hiro-san on the way back fro is not the existence of the Gardening Club, but the flowers in the school
”Erht of so before this”
After I told Kousaka-senpai what I thought of, a slight radiance illuminated her face
”…… I see…… Hmm…… It’s not impossible”
”R- really!?”
”Yes Coawa-senpai did, this should be much simpler”
That’s true Because the o used was an even more impossibly forced way, and compared with that……
I could only depend on Kousaka-senpai for the rest
”We must have the support of the teachers for this, and the more the better I wonder would support this There isn’t much time left……”
Senpaiherself of what to do
”Mnn, this method is worth a try shi+nozaki-san probably doesn’t wish for the Gardening Club to vanish as well, joining a club that she’s uninterested in, right? She probably wishes for the Gardening Club to continue, isn’t that right?”
”…… Hmm?”
Senpai’s wordsWhat did she say just now?
”W- what is it?”
”What did you say just now?”
”Are you referring to shi+nozaki-san’sClub to vanish?”
”No, not that”
My expression that tihtened
”Having to join a club that she doesn’t wish to join…… is that it?”
”Ah……”
All of a sudden, a lot of thoughts that surfaced inthat Kousaka-senpai plans to do, the h, the thing that I a to protect— all of them formed a story
Is this really possible? It’s possible in theory If that’s it……
”Er……” Kousaka-senpai looked extremely troubled, while I carefully explained in discretion “You’re planning to negotiate with Kaoruko-senpai to ask her to lower the lowest nu that we can do about this, saving the Gardening Club in the process”
”Wha…… What are your plans?” Kousaka-senpai leaned towards me
”Instigating the teachers, and it’s best to be the sports teachers Ah, and the club presidents’ ht object to the Student Council”
After hearing my detailed explanation, Kousaka-senpai stood up in obvious excitement
”Why don’t we try this? I never thought about this You’re really so, Fujishi+ma-kun”
”Do you think it can work? We et scolded instead……”
”Hoould you know that it wouldn’t work if you haven’t even tried it? If we start the Student Council’s generalin this situation, all of this would be over”
”That’s— right”
I suddenly recalled Major’s words— ‘You must have the determination to use each and every resource to attain victory’
”I think it’s better if I go Fujishi+ood impression of you”
Those words were spot on, and I could only smile wryly Senpai rushed out of the Inspection office, leaving through the chaotic corridors, while I watched at the sidelines
She is now fighting to protect a place belonging to someone, and I need to battle with my oay as well
The lights in the greenhouse were lit, and could be clearly seen through the rain It looked just like the gingerbread house in a certain fairy tale
”Fujishi+? The tests are approaching”
As soon as I stepped into the greenhouse, Sayuri-sensei as originally reading some textbooks happily raised her head
Ayaka just glanced atanything
There was always inexplicably confusing thoughts shrouding Ayaka and I Even e aze in the ra us, neither of us knohat to say Would just s one’s head without saying anything suffice? I really don’t know Even so, I can’t just avoid going to the greenhouse
”Er”
”Really, you’re playing your detective ga such an expensive camera”
Though I felt guilty in reenhouse so that there wouldn’t be anything left out
”shi+nozaki-san, show Mr Grasshopper who’s just playing around here Miss Ant’s fruits of labor in this test, okay?”
I didn’t even see Ayaka’s reaction to sensei’s words
There weren’t any flowerpots on the ground In the past, this place should be full with flowerpots of the poppy flowers used as the raw anization moved them away, only the racks by the walls have any flowerpots on it Therefore, looking through this place thoroughly isn’t that hard
And the said blood stains couldn’t be seen on the floor at all
”Sensei, I want to ask so”
”Hmm? Do you want to study now?”
”Not really Were there flowerpots or so the people here before this?”
”No Thehere, so that’s why it’s so easy to move tables, the blackboard and so on in here”
Ah, so things are like this? Then, assu Hayano Tomohiko really vomited blood and collapsed here, his blood should be on the ceht be on the tables? But even so, sos really like that, the bloodstained tables should be noticed after that
Perhaps Alice’s assu?
Anyways, there should be bloodstains sons of blood on the snow by the school entrance, so that’s not the place, but somewhere else
Of course, assuht have seeped into the soil with themore—
All of a sudden, the whole greenhouse sank into darkness Through the viewfinder of the camera, it was pitch dark in front ofAyaka’s cry and could only see the dark rainy skies outside the skylight of the greenhouse The lights were off Perhaps it’s just ination? The sounds of rainfall were so clear that it was like they were directly pounding on me
”…… Ahhh, it happened again”
Sayuri-sensei’s unconcerned tone made people feel even more uneasy, and then she stood up
”shi+nozaki-san, can you help me to support the table?”
”Wh- what is it? A blackout?”
”No, it’s just the lights It would turn out like that occasionally when it rains”
Sensei took off her high heeled shoes and ju down on the ground, hastily distanced ht now, other people would see if you’re not careful!
”It’ll brighten after you take this off and shi+ft it a bit…… Ah, that’s right, Fujishi+ma-kun, can you please turn off the circuit breaker? I once tried to fix it without turning it off, sohtened me so much that I almost fell from the table”
As Sayuri-sensei’s descriptions were rather scary, I hurriedly turned off the circuit breaker, and sensei took down the large light bulb that was like a hanging oil lareenhouse was sleek, crisscrossing metal beams, and there were sprinklers and a box shaped device about the size of a pri the light bulb onto the box, the circuit breaker was turned on once hts recovered once radually lost in the warlow Ayaka looked relieved as well and sat down
”Okay, it’s lit again” Sensei looked rather triumphant
”This place… Feels somewhat like sensei’s house” I suddenly said
”Though it’s quite nice having sono bathroom is somewhat of a hassle”
As sensei answered in a soleh out loud
”Would it leak water here?”
I asked while continuing on hts went haywire because of the rainy day, so does that ed?
”Ah— Mnn, this place had already passed its prie even if there are some leaks over here”
If so, even if Hayano Toht have been washed away because of the water— No no no, what a that day, and how could the dripping water wash the blood stains away? While going into wild flights of fancy, I took photos of the condition of the ceiling
To avoid the digital ca after wrapping it with two layers of plastic bags, and planned to leave after esture to Sayuri-sensei
”Ah, ah, Fujishi+ma-kun”
Hearing Ayaka’s voice, I turned my head over
”You’re going to ‘Hanaht?”
The pleading expression on Ayaka’s face er I nodded in answer
”Then, then…… I’ with you!”
Ayaka took her bag and stood up
”Fujishi+ shi+nozaki-san away every time you come It’s all Fujishi+ma-kun’s fault if the both of you fail your exams”
Sayuri-sensei teased hts and chivvied us out of the greenhouse
Ayaka and I held an u to walk to Hana to say to each other, alked forward in silence I was even somewhat thankful for the rainy day, as the sounds of rainfall helped to break our silence But ere squeezed into the underpass along with the crowd, the rain started to di where Hanamaru Ramen is at
The sounds of rainfall couldn’t stop our voices anymore
”…… Are you still planning to fight with Tetsu-san? Seriously?”
Ayaka finally broke the silence
”Yeah”
”…… Even if I say that you don’t need to do that? It’sClub turns out to be”
”Mnn”
I could only answer her weakly
”Were you like this even before this?”
Ayaka suddenly asked ere passing by the small path beside the park
”…… Before this?”
”Eh? Ah, erhtly before she turned around to look at ht you didn’t speak much to me in the past as well”
I couldn’t bear to continue to stare at Ayaka’s face I really wish she wouldn’t use the comparison of herself before and after she lost her memories to talk to me
”There’s probably not e I’m not reallyto say as well”
Eh, h that?
”T- then!” Ayaka held her u rainwater to splash everywhere “Then please tellthat you want to say toto say as well!”
”Ayaka, what are you trying to say……?”
”Aren’t I telling you this right now!?”
Ah, that’s right I understand Then— is it my turn? To be honest, it’s hard As she said before this, shout when I’, I couldn’t do it even though it’s so simple
”…… It was so hard for et that to you, so why don’t you at least wear the ar club activities?”
I asked as the thought suddenly came to me
”That thing…… It’s e forit as well, aren’t you?”
”It's e it”
Ayaka furiously emphasized that I was the one whoand pinned it on her arm with a safety pin
”I’ else!?”
I shut s For instance, you don’t need to be so polite when talking to me, don’t add a ‘-san’ behind my name and so on But since these requests felt like I was forcibly pulling Ayaka back to the past, I couldn’t bear to say it
”What about you, Ayaka? Is there anything else?”