Chapter 16
Asuka Kazuya’s inability to understand human speech was 250% deliberate. When Bourbon told Scotch that he was undercover, Scotch’s expression was unreadable. He recalled how Calvados had fallen into the sea a few days ago and only survived by clinging to a shark, realizing that Calvados really couldn’t swim.
“And then?” he asked. “What does he plan to do about Miyano Akemi?”
“He’ll probably act one night soon.” Bourbon looked down, disassembling the handgun he carried. “Strangers have been appearing around her for the past few days, he must be preparing.”
The mission couldn’t be delayed indefinitely, Gin would become suspicious sooner or later. Bourbon was still monitoring Miyano Akemi’s movements these days, submitting reports that were half-truths and half-lies.
If Calvados didn’t act soon, to avoid being dragged down, Bourbon was ready to use Plan B.
The white Mazda stopped in a deserted corner. Scotch raised his hand and handed over the repair parts. He observed his friend’s expression and suddenly smiled.
“Are you meeting here because you’re worried about Calvados seeing me?”
Without a third person present, Scotch didn’t have to maintain his cold persona. His blue eyes softened in the dim light, a playful tone in his voice.
In contrast, Bourbon was much more exasperated.
“…He seems to care more about not finishing the buffet than almost drowning.”
Whenever Calvados’s name was mentioned, Bourbon’s tone became flat. Dark circles formed under his eyes, and he looked exhausted.
“But he plans to curse you so that all your desserts will taste like wasabi.”
Using his remarkable ability on useless things was Calvados’s specialty. A few days ago, when he was lazing around on the sofa, Bourbon casually said that he would tell his so-called “senpai” about his slacking. Calvados was stunned, not only unconcerned but also mocking him for not even knowing who the senpai he was looking for was.
Then, Bourbon couldn’t sleep well for several days.
As soon as he opened his eyes, he would see Calvados standing by his bed, staring at him blankly.
Calvados’s voice was cold, insisting that he swear he wouldn’t snitch.
“I don’t even know how he got in,” Bourbon said expressionlessly, unable to help but complain. “And the power always goes out when I’m taking a shower. Does he think I can’t tell he’s secretly using his ability?”
Scotch imagined the scene, finding it somewhat funny. But laughing at his mentally distressed companion was immoral, so Scotch suppressed his smile and turned his head.
Bourbon: “…”
Bourbon: “Hiro!”
No one had called him Morofushi Hiromitsu for a long time. The gloom on Scotch’s shoulders dissipated slightly. He turned around, meeting his childhood friend’s reproachful gaze.
“Sorry, sorry.” The young man coughed, resuming a serious demeanor. “But aren’t you worried? Didn’t you just say Calvados wanted to join the police academy?”
“What’s the use of him joining the police academy?” Bourbon looked away. “The police academy is full of powerless students with no value to exploit, Gin wouldn’t let him go. Besides, he just wants to play around.”
Scotch thought for a moment, feeling that Gin’s disapproval wasn’t a valid reason. After all, Calvados always ignored Gin’s words, only agreeing to things he hadn’t even listened to.
“I understand,” Scotch said, opening the car door and taking out the violin case from the back seat. “Rye is finishing his mission today, he might discover the eavesdropping device, be careful.”
After being tormented by Calvados for so long, Bourbon had forgotten about Rye’s existence.
He hummed softly, glancing at the address Calvados had sent on his phone.
[Popo-Tooru]
…
[Can’t walk, come pick me up]
…
Just nine words raised Bourbon’s blood pressure.
He silently exited the message, preparing to pretend he hadn’t seen it.
Unfortunately, Calvados’s cleverness was misplaced, clearly anticipating his anticipation.
Within a minute, Bourbon was bombarded with ninety-nine messages saying [Popo-Tooru].
Bourbon was brainwashed by these words, a vein throbbing in his forehead, finally understanding why Gin always beat him up.
He stepped on the gas pedal and replied to Asuka Kazuya’s message—
[On a mission]
[Shut up]
Shut up meant he agreed.
At his desk in the First Investigation Division, Asuka Kazuya stretched. Beside him was a stack of files on a serial murder case, several bloody photos shockingly graphic.
There were no survivors in any of these cases. The murderer somehow snuck into the victims’ rooms, first killing the father and mother, then entering the children’s rooms. The police found the children’s bodies 48 hours later, wrapped in sheets, some discarded in parks, others by the roadside.
Society was on edge, the TV repeatedly broadcasting warnings not to open the door to strangers.
“I didn’t expect you to actually work seriously.”
Matsuda Jinpei’s voice came from behind.
Asuka Kazuya looked up, his chair rocking as he met the other’s gaze.
“That’s slander, Matsuda-kun,”
Asuka Kazuya replied.
“I’ve always worked seriously.”
Not only did he have to search for clues about Ango-senpai, but he also had to prepare to transfer Miyano Akemi. Rum would occasionally send him ciphers from other organizations to decipher. Asuka Kazuya had just finished deciphering one when he received a call from the Metropolitan Police Department.
“But working seriously is so tiring.”
Asuka Kazuya said, slowly shifting his gaze back. He sat up straight, his virtual pet taking up half the computer screen.
“Why don’t you come to the First Investigation Division, and I’ll go to the bomb disposal unit?”
Matsuda Jinpei raised an eyebrow: “You know how to defuse bombs?”
Asuka Kazuya propped his chin: “If it’s a dud, there’s no need to defuse it, right?”
Matsuda Jinpei was speechless, patting his head.
“Just talk, if you really encounter a bomb and act rashly, you’ll be dead.”
Asuka Kazuya didn’t refute.
He looked at the interrogation room in the distance, where Inspector Megure was taking a statement from the suspect. Unfortunately, without sufficient evidence, they could only detain him for 24 hours.
“I just find it a bit strange,”
Asuka Kazuya suddenly said.
“There have been seven similar family annihilation cases, and the previous victims didn’t have a chance to breathe before they died. How come this time a name was written in the closet?”
Matsuda Jinpei: “You mean he was framed by the murderer?”
“You can’t say that for sure.” Asuka Kazuya actually used his brain for once. “He’s not willing to confess anything, and his family hired a very good lawyer for him. A fragmented name isn’t enough to convict him, and if this stalemate continues, it’ll be our fault.”
Matsuda Jinpei picked up the file next to him.
The murderer’s methods were enough to give ordinary people nightmares, but Matsuda Jinpei only frowned, his gaze finally resting on a few photos.
“You noticed it too, right?”
Asuka Kazuya propped his cheek, seeing that Matsuda Jinpei wasn’t moving, he also leaned closer to look.
“The arrangements in these photos are very regular. It’s a bit far-fetched to explain it by saying every homeowner has OCD, so it was probably the murderer who rearranged them after the crime.”
It must have some specific meaning to the murderer.
But Asuka Kazuya couldn’t figure it out.
“The way the bodies of children and adults were handled is also different.” Matsuda Jinpei continued, turning a page. “Wrapping them in sheets shows the murderer’s remorse, and discarding them in public places shows no intention of hiding.”
Matsuda Jinpei closed the file.
“Have you checked recent child abuse cases in child protection agencies?”
“Of course.”
Asuka Kazuya replied, turning his computer screen.
“There’s nothing noteworthy in Tokyo. If we expand the scope, we’ll have to contact local agencies.”
The implication was that he was too lazy to write an application.
Matsuda Jinpei was speechless. He had wanted this lazy guy to be more serious, but belatedly realized that Asuka Kazuya was very close. He stared blankly at the pet crawling on the computer screen, his eyelashes slightly lowered, his irises clear and bright under the light.
“There’s a record of a seven-year-old missing sister in Maeda’s file.”
Asuka Kazuya jumped to a conclusion.
“Maeda Tomoya is the person in the interrogation room now. If the murderer used his sister as a threat, the reason he’s not saying anything…”
Asuka Kazuya was interrupted by Matsuda Jinpei.
Matsuda Jinpei pushed his face away with a headache: “You have no sense of personal space. Don’t you get scolded when you report to Inspector Megure and the others?”
It took Asuka Kazuya a moment to realize he was talking about him.
He was probably too used to annoying Gin that he hadn’t noticed.
“No,” Asuka Kazuya replied. “I only act like this around people who aren’t threatening.”
Matsuda Jinpei: “…”
Matsuda Jinpei: “I’m sorry I’m not threatening to you.”
“It’s a compliment!” He stood up, pulling up Maeda Tomoya’s file on his phone, deciding to visit his house.
Matsuda Jinpei propped his chin: “Trespassing is illegal, you know.”
Asuka Kazuya, who had already reached the elevator, poked his head out from behind the wall upon hearing this: “Why do you also like to snitch?”
“Who else snitched on you?”
“Oniisan.”
“Can’t you just call him by his name?”
“He won’t let me.”
“…”
Matsuda Jinpei was silent, inexplicably seeing a bit of himself from his police academy days in him, feeling that letting him go out alone would lead to trouble.
Forget it.
Matsuda Jinpei thought.
He wasn’t planning to go to the department’s mixer tonight anyway.
He stood up and said to Asuka Kazuya, “Wait for me.”
Asuka Kazuya blinked: “Are you going to trespass too?”
Matsuda Jinpei narrowed his eyes: “Is there really no option for conversation in your brain?”
Seemed reasonable.
Asuka Kazuya responded with an “Oh” and took out his phone again.
While Matsuda Jinpei went to get the keys, he sent a message to Bourbon, who was on a mission.
[Don’t need you anymore, Popo-Tooru, Matsuda said he’ll take me.]
Seeing the words “Popo-Tooru,” Bourbon didn’t want to bother. He pressed his gun against the enemy’s head, about to turn off his phone, when he suddenly realized something and opened the message again.
Matsuda, which Matsuda?
How did Calvados get mixed up with Matsuda?
