The Justice I Never Expected Has Increased 17

Chapter 17

There were still 12 hours left until Tanaka Tomoya’s release. When Asuka Kazuya got out of the car, the gate of the Tanaka residence was tightly closed. The surrounding residents, somehow having gotten wind that he might be the murderer mentioned in the news, had written messages like “get out” all over Tanaka Tomoya’s house.

“Isn’t this a disturbance of public order?”

“This is private property.” Matsuda Jinpei stepped back, looking up at the second-floor window. “At most, it’s just a warning and a fine.”

Asuka Kazuya vaguely remembered having memorized the relevant regulations in the Special Abilities Division, but he couldn’t remember them after spending so long in the organization. He was surrounded by outlaws like Tequila, who drove without a Japanese driver’s license.

Restrained by Matsuda Jinpei’s presence, Asuka Kazuya suppressed his urge to pick the lock and obediently raised his hand to ring the doorbell.

“Is anyone home? We’re the police.”

There was no response from the doorbell. However, the second-floor curtain was opened slightly. Tanaka Tomoya’s mother stood there, neither speaking nor moving. The woman maintained this posture for a full two minutes before finally deciding to open the gate.

“Come in,”

Perhaps worried that the neighbors would misunderstand something again, after they showed their police IDs, Tanaka Miho stepped aside, instinctively tightening her coat.

Unlike the chaotic yard outside, the entrance was clean and tidy. To the right of the living room was a display case, filled with photos of Tanaka Tomoya playing baseball in school.

Matsuda Jinpei noticed that the stand for a baseball on the top shelf was empty.

“That was a gift from player Otani to Tomoya,”

Tanaka Miho said. She closed the door, standing by the shoe rack.

“I sold it, it paid for part of the lawyer’s fees.”

After saying that, she hesitated for a moment.

“Tomoya is innocent, when will the police release him?”

“Please trust the police’s ability to handle cases.” Faced with Tanaka Miho’s question, Matsuda Jinpei spoke bluntly. “If we determine he is innocent, the Metropolitan Police Department will release him tonight.”

Hearing the exact time, Tanaka Miho breathed a sigh of relief.

“But that’s not the purpose of our visit.”

Asuka Kazuya said, his gaze sweeping over the ornaments neatly arranged by size on the table in the distance.

“As far as I know, yesterday was the fifteenth anniversary of your daughter, Tanaka Airi’s, disappearance.”

Tanaka Miho was stunned, following his gaze.

Those were handicrafts made by her daughter when she was in elementary school. Tanaka Miho had kept them since her disappearance.

“Airi was always a tidy child,” Tanaka Miho said with nostalgia. Her tone was soft, her expression gentle. “There were specific requirements for size, color, and even the angle at which they were placed. At that time, I was always worried that such a habit would cause her trouble when she grew up, so I followed the therapist’s advice and tried to correct it. But Tomoya always said Airi was his younger sister, even if it was a bit troublesome, it didn’t matter.”

Seeing the increasingly serious expressions of the two police officers, Tanaka Miho paused, asking hesitantly.

“Airi just had a bit of OCD. Is there a problem with that?”

“We should report this to Inspector Megure.”

After leaving the Tanaka residence, Asuka Kazuya looked thoughtful.

“But I have a feeling he’ll scold me for acting on my own, so you should report it.”

Matsuda Jinpei, who wasn’t even a member of the First Investigation Division: “…”

He should go report it, then get scolded for overstepping his authority?

Matsuda Jinpei rolled his eyes, thinking that this guy had “ingratitude” written all over his face.

“Do you think Tanaka Tomoya is helping his sister cover up?”

Asuka Kazuya: “Probably. By the way, do you have a sister?”

“No.” Matsuda Jinpei put his hands in his pockets, turning back to look at him after hearing this. “What did you think of?”

Asuka Kazuya: “I was just thinking, if Matsuda-kun’s family killed someone, would you cover for them?”

If such a criminal case was related to the police, it would easily be swept under the rug. Evidence could be tampered with, testimonies could be invalidated. In this situation, internal supervision was especially important.

But even so, many cases in Japan were still left unsolved every year.

Matsuda Jinpei was silent. He seemed to be remembering when his father was arrested as a criminal a long time ago, his expression under his sunglasses unreadable.

“No,”

After a long while, Matsuda Jinpei withdrew his gaze from Asuka Kazuya, replying casually.

“But I’ll personally investigate the truth.”

Asuka Kazuya naturally didn’t know what Matsuda Jinpei was thinking. He just felt that the police were really serious—that’s why he said that Matsumoto-senpai was mistaken about him. Asuka Kazuya often did things outside the law. He was the type to help you get rid of a body.

“Then that’s settled,” he said excitedly. “Tanaka Tomoya definitely has something to hide. Although Mrs. Tanaka said Airi was kidnapped when she was playing with Tanaka Tomoya in the park, who knows the truth?”

Matsuda Jinpei raised an eyebrow at this.

“You’re not even using surnames anymore, when will you fix your overly familiar habits?”

Asuka Kazuya: “Okay, Jinpei-kun, I understand what you mean.”

Matsuda Jinpei: “I don’t think you understand at all.”

Asuka Kazuya: “What’s that, you’re slandering me again, if you say that again I’ll start calling you like Hagi-kun.”

Matsuda Jinpei could easily imagine that scene. He didn’t argue any further, knowing that continuing to talk would only be a waste of time.

“And then?” he asked. “Where to next? We should get the technical department to check Tanaka’s recent bank statements.”

If the assumption that Tanaka Tomoya was covering for Tanaka Airi was correct, they must have had secret communication, possibly online, or at a specific location. Based on the frequency of the crimes, Tanaka Airi didn’t have a way to earn money through work, so she could only rely on Tanaka Tomoya.

However, the police’s technical department was too righteous, it would take forever to get a result.

“Are you really not coming to the First Investigation Division?” Asuka Kazuya asked. “Your train of thought is so clear.”

“Don’t drag me down.” Matsuda Jinpei raised his eyebrows. “You’re just usually bored at work without anyone to torment.”

After discovering that this “young master” was familiar with them, Inspector Adachi, unable to control him, had visited the bomb disposal unit more than once.

The meaning was to persuade him to work properly, especially to not keep pets that looked like viruses on his desk.

Asuka Kazuya didn’t know about this, only snorting. “I’m very popular.”

As he said this, he called someone in the technical department in front of Matsuda Jinpei, then excused himself to buy dinner and slipped into the convenience store next door, taking out his phone. “Beep beep beep, Vodka, it’s me.”

Vodka felt a chill down his spine, a bad premonition.

Then he heard Asuka Kazuya say, “Help me investigate someone.”

Vodka paused, glancing at Big Brother beside him: “Aren’t you supposed to be monitoring Miyano Akemi? Who do you need to investigate?”

“Didn’t Gin tell me to infiltrate the Metropolitan Police Department, to steal their undercover files when the time comes?” Asuka Kazuya said matter-of-factly, taking a sandwich from the shelf. “You wouldn’t understand even if I told you. Anyway, I took a case, this is a necessary step to further gain the police’s trust.”

Vodka: “…”

Vodka: What Gin?! You’ve only been with that gloomy Bourbon for a few days and you don’t even call Big Brother anymore! Where’s the spirit you had clinging to Big Brother’s thigh before?!

Having had a previous experience of being scolded by Big Brother, Vodka didn’t immediately agree to Asuka Kazuya’s request. Instead, he looked at Gin for help.

Gin played with the lighter in his hand, signaling him to continue.

Vodka sighed in relief: “Can’t you investigate it yourself?”

Asuka Kazuya said seriously: “My persona now is that of someone who has nothing to do. Investigating it myself doesn’t fit my persona.”

…You also have nothing to do normally.

Vodka fell silent, wanting to beat him up.

But he knew very well that he not only couldn’t beat Calvados, but might also end up bald like Rum.

After struggling, Vodka looked haggard: “Fine, you send it to me.”

Asuka Kazuya: “You should have agreed earlier, phone calls are expensive these days… Oh right, the First Investigation Division wants me to watch some educational videos, I don’t want to watch them, can you watch them for me? It’s some police exam, good luck Vodka, I believe you’ll definitely pass.”

…What exam? Make him take the exam on how they catch them?

Vodka was speechless, on the verge of a stroke.

So when Matsuda Jinpei walked into the convenience store, he heard Asuka Kazuya arguing with someone on the phone.

“What do you mean I haven’t called you in a while? Why would I call you… Isn’t Big Brother not happy when I call him? How pitiful, I even heard you getting scolded by Big Brother… You’re the fickle one, I’m loyal to Big Brother… Damn it, is your phone leaking audio? Why else would Big Brother send me a message saying that if I said such disgusting things again, he wouldn’t pay me next month’s salary.”

Almost every word was a point of ridicule. Matsuda Jinpei leaned against the side, waiting for Asuka Kazuya to hang up before asking.

“Relationship troubles?” Matsuda Jinpei sorted out his thoughts, his tone complicated. “You like your Big Brother?”

Asuka Kazuya was still angry: “He’s not a blood-related older brother.”

Matsuda Jinpei suddenly felt his family relationship was even more complicated.

He was silent, glancing at the message Hagiwara Kenji had sent on his phone.

[So cunning!! Saying that your car broke down so you couldn’t come to the mixer, turns out you were out on a mission with little Kato!]

Asuka Kazuya, having paid, leaned closer.

“Do you even need mixers?” Asuka Kazuya asked sincerely. “I thought someone as handsome as you must be dating two or three girlfriends at the same time.”

“No, that was probably too rude, let me start over, just pretend you didn’t hear what I said.”

Matsuda Jinpei took a deep breath.

He was expressionless, pinching Asuka Kazuya’s golden head: “Who do you think I’m wasting my time here for?”

Asuka Kazuya was silent.

Asuka Kazuya thought.

Asuka Kazuya declined.

“Give it up, Jinpei-kun,” he said, heartbroken. “You just don’t understand my humor, we wouldn’t have a good relationship if it continued like this.”

Matsuda Jinpei was so angry he had no temper left. Looking at Asuka Kazuya, he seemed to understand how Inspector Onizuka felt when he was looking at them.

This guy was doing it on purpose. Thinking this, Matsuda Jinpei smiled through gritted teeth as he met those eyes.

Asuka Kazuya’s brain automatically recognized the danger signal. He reflexively took two steps back, gathering his wits.

“Save point!”

“Save point is invalid.”

The righteous palm finally landed on Asuka Kazuya’s head. Matsuda Jinpei withdrew his hand, narrowing his eyes as he looked at him.

“We’re still working. Kato, who were you playing games with?”

Asuka Kazuya curled his lip: “That’s called entertaining life. Besides, your hits aren’t even one-tenth as painful as my Big Brother’s.”

“…”

A violent dad, a bizarre relationship with his “brother.”

Matsuda Jinpei, who had never comforted anyone before, was overwhelmed with complicated emotions. He swallowed the words he had prepared to teach him a lesson.

After careful consideration, and having no other choice, Matsuda Jinpei decided to convince himself.

If he wanted to play, then let him play.

Matsuda Jinpei slowly looked away.

Having grown up in that environment, it was already good that this guy hadn’t become a mafia member.