After searching the shopping streets, I somehow managed to find Dazai.
In an old coffee shop facing the streets, he’s chatting with a lady.
“Is this your first time coming to Yokohama? Shall I show you around?”
“I must apologize, because of me…. Is it really okay? It looks like the Agency is in a huge uproar over the bombs. Kunikida-sama also looked really busy with the investigation this morning when I contacted him.”
“It’s because Kunikida-kun is a work monster. Did you know? If he makes an appointment around 12 in the afternoon, he would show up 10 seconds before. Isn’t he just like a train?”
“I see… Is that how it is?”
“Hey Dazai! Don’t slack off work! And don’t use me as a topic to pick up girls!”
“And then, at the abandoned hospital, Kunikida-kun was so scared of ghosts he almost cried like a gi-“
“Listen to me!”
I landed a round kick on the back of Dazai’s head who was looking like he had lots of fun talking to Miss Sasaki.
“Ouch! What the hell are you doing, Kunikida-kun? Eh? Kunikida-kun? You were around?”
“It’s not ’You were around?’ You knew but intentionally carried on, right? Right in the middle of such a crucial time for the agency just what the hell were you doing on a date? What’s more the partner is the victim of a case.”
“Jealous?”
“I am not jealous!”
I am absolutely not jealous in the least.
“No way. This lady was almost killed by the criminal and received mental trauma, right? Protecting and taking care of her heart is also part of a detective’s important mission, no? Also, speaking from experience, only kindness and smiles and tolerance can treat a lady who just went through something horrible.”
“That last line was nonsense, you idiot.”
… At the very least, I should make a memo in my notebook later.
“But can a person who walks around wearing such frivolous and thoughtless clothing like you have a chance?”
With this level of beauty, she should at least have a boyfriend, right?
“Because you think like that, Kunikida-kun is Kunikida-kun. If you would just listen, you would know that she has no relatives, nor does she have a person close enough to rely on. Even her only lover just broke up with her not too long ago.”
–I did hear about her not having a person she can rely on, but not to this extent.
“That’s why, Kunikida-kun, I can do it,” a grinning Dazai nudged my side.
“Do what?”
I have no idea what he’s talking about…… I made a face to show him that.
“Listen up, Dazai. I came here to explain to you about what happened in the meeting that you skipped this morning. If you skip another meeting, I will take the quick and suitable measure to resuscitate you the next time you try to commit suicide.”
“Oh dear… Kunikida-kun, you’re actually thinking of something so nasty…” Dazai made an unpleasant face.
After being satisfied with his expression, I placed the documents at hand on the tabletop.
“It’s the latest information. The transcript of when the police questioned the kidnapper, the taxi driver, has arrived. He confessed to locking the victims in the cage and placing that poisonous gas to prevent escape. But those were the only things he had done. He said he has no recollection of installing the hidden cameras that took the secret pictures. It’s hard to think that he would lie when he’s already in such a situation. In other words…”
“There are at least two criminals. The one who does the kidnapping and the one who does the filming. The first is the taxi driver – so the latter is the ‘Blue Disciple’, right?”
“I am afraid so.”
“Excuse me…” Miss Sasaki said in a timid voice.
“I am just wondering if it’s alright for me to listen in on such a conversation. It’s the Agency’s classified information regarding the investigation… it might be a violation to let someone like me who is not involved to know…”
“Sasaki-san is a victim, so of course you are involved. There’s no need to worry. If that wasn’t the case the rule demon that is Kunikida-kun won’t start explaining in front of you.”
“I am not really that strict with rules. Just a normal amount of strict.”
“See? Just like this, he can be an easy-going senpai who can throw wonderful jokes at times. Well, and then? Are there any more clues about the criminal we’re going after?”
“Just a normal amount…”
“…. Sorry. I get it, just a normal amount. Please continue with the explanation.”
Why am I getting apologized to?
“I will continue then; it’s the result of checking said driver’s background. As far as I can gather from the given information, he had no interaction whatsoever with the underworld society and was just a regular taxi driver. He also doesn’t have any suspicious criminal acquaintances. It’s hard to think that such a person can simply kidnap people and hand them over to a buyer from an organ trafficking syndicate. Apparently there’s someone who told him that organs trafficking is a scheme that can get him rich quickly.”
“And that’s the ‘Blue Disciple’? If that’s so, wouldn’t it be better to ask for his name from the driver?”
“He said he can’t say it. If he does, he will definitely be killed next time – I really do want to make him spit it out with every fiber of my being, but unfortunately he’s currently being quarantined midair by the police. By the time the arrangement for another interview with the police is made, it will already be sunset.”
Just what kind of person is the criminal this time around?
Persuading the taxi driver to get into organs trafficking, then placing hidden cameras in the abandoned hospital, and on top of making bombs and placing them somewhere unknown, he threatened the Agency. Just what is his purpose?
“Excuse me. If I may be so impertinent…” Miss Sasaki who had been quiet of this time said.
“This ‘Blue Disciple’ that I’ve been hearing about from just now…. Isn’t it the same criminal from the ‘Blue Flag Terrorism’ case?”
“That case, huh?”
The Blue Flag Terrorism Case.
The case where Rokuzo’s father died in the line of duty.
When I saw the word ‘Blue’ I also doubted if it was the work of the same person for a moment.
“But the mastermind who called himself the ‘Blue King’ had died by explosion. The dead can’t threaten the living. That is the truth of this world.”
“Good point, Kunikida-kun. So ghosts are not scary after all, right?”
“Don’t talk about ghosts for a second time.”
“But… Even though the explosion was enormous, I heard that his remains were not found. Maybe he somehow managed to escape and is currently hiding somewhere…”
I was also curious about that and asked the police about it. However, there were no answers.
“According to the police’s forensic investigation, there was no doubt that the Blue King had died. Their forensic skills are trustworthy. If we put into account that their fellow policemen got caught up and died in the line of duty, I don’t think they would overlook anything or be wrong about it.”
“But….”
“As for me, I don’t know that much about the Blue King, but there might be a group of his followers that is seeking revenge on the Agency?”
What an uneducated person. With no other choice, I started to explain.
The Blue King was aiming for the attack and destruction of several government institutions and was the mastermind behind the ‘Blue Flag Terrorism’ case. He did so much damage after the attack was therefore said to be the worst terrorist nationwide.
Before he raised the Blue Flag, he was only a superior bureaucrat.
After he graduated as a valedictorian from the highest learning institution there is and went to study overseas, he does legislative and administrative work as a civil officer in the capital and becomes a young man who is motivated to aim for higher ranks. The situation wasn’t clear as to why he decided to purge the government.
One day, a certain video was sent to a national broadcasting station. A young man who hid his face with an undyed blue flag was making a crime declaration. He called himself the ‘Blue King’ and lamented over the imperfect world; he also claimed that only imperfections can cover other imperfections.
“No matter how much we aspire, our neighbours still fall sick, our fathers and mothers still die, bad people are still judged as bad based on only one side.
If that’s so, then let’s desire for an ideal world.
Not by God’s hands, but by the bloodied hands of our imperfect selves.”
At the same time he made those declarations, institutions belonging to the country were attacked in three different ways. Committing arson against buildings related to the police force, colliding high speeding cars, and bombing the police headquarters. After conducting a follow-up investigation on the victims of the attack, it was made clear that they were: a murderer who killed eight people but got off scot-free due to lack of evidence, a member of the parliament who was rumoured to use the budget to aid developing countries for his personal gains, and a small group of policemen who assaulted a young legislator and hid behind the name of the law. All of them died by the attacks.
He convicted criminals who couldn’t be judged by the law by committing crimes against them.
Everyone was taken aback by the assaults. Attacking multiple highly secured government institutes despite the strict defense at the same time, no one thought that was possible.
After that the Blue King repeated his crimes, condemning criminals, many times.
The police and the government who had lost their dignity ordered the discovery and capture of the Blue King nationwide. They even made a request to the Agency.
What happened after was exactly like I had talked about before. The discovery of the secret base, the infiltration and the suicide bombing. It was settled a top a mountain of corpses.
“However, if it is the doings of the Blue King, it is unclear why he would relentlessly try to defame the Detective Agency this much.”
“Isn’t the one he has a grudge on is you, Kunikida-kun?”
The Blue King? Has a grudge on me?
Well, it is true that I was the one who received the information regarding the pursuit of the Blue King. I was the one who contacted the police and made the investigation team move out. But – No way.
The nation’s worst terrorist in all of history – His ghost.
Ever since the Blue King died up until now, he couldn’t clear his resentment, so he decided to take revenge on me and the Agency–
“At any rate, until we know the true form of the criminal, we have to be cautious. We don’t know when we might be attacked. Sasaki-san has to take shelter at somewhere safe too.”
“Do you mean the Agency’s office? However there’s no one at night. Where –“
I abruptly realized what Dazai is up to.
“Don’t tell me you are planning to use her protection as an excuse and bring the lady to your own house. I won’t forgive you, you bastard, lewdly spending days and nights together, it’s a suspicious and unhealthy relationship. Are you some kind of beast, you bastard? How outrageous, I would sympathize with her more –“
“Wait a minute, Kunikida-kun. There’s nothing between Sasaki-san and I.”
“Huh?”
“I am saying. The first night she stayed over, I was sleeping in the room next door; I didn’t lay even a finger on her afterwards. Making advances on a person on the day they were almost killed is rude, right? There’s also the consequences coming from a violent senpai.”
I see…. Is that so? Then I guess I am just jumping to conclusions.
“Well, I knew Kunikida-kun was going to misunderstand, but it was interesting so I didn’t stop it.”
This guy……
But in the case that such a pure and serious person like me can make such honest mistakes, “Just because she’s staying over for a night you’re already having such suspicions, Kunikida-kun is really perverted.” With that one sentence, I couldn’t explain myself or retaliate, there’s no other way than keeping it all in. If only he didn’t say that.
….. But of course I would be suspicious. This is Dazai we are talking about.
If only Dazai wasn’t such an idiot who would seduce any woman he sees. The sense of distance with a victim of a case is hard to judge.
“Don’t say such confusing things. If nothing happened then that’s good. Starting from now distance yourself properly from victims and have an appropriate relationship with them. That’s what you call being professional.”
“…..Understood.”
Dazai firmly nodded and faced Miss Sasaki.
“By the way, Sasaki-san, do you have an ideal type?”
“What did you mean when you said you ‘understood’!?”
He’s contradicting himself. He just likes women in general.
“T-type…? Well I think the idea of types is ridiculous and it makes me ashamed… But I feel like men who can throw their ideals away and just jump into things are… wonderful.”
So she said.
“Aaaahh, this is impossible, that is totally not Kunikida-kun, isn’t this hopeless. Tch, I’ll let you two talk in private, I am going to count the number of fingers I have on both hands.”
“Hey Dazai! Don’t break away from the conversation all by yourself!”
“Just what are you doing? I’ve forgotten which number I have counted up to!”
“Stop sulking! Just get back on your seat!”
If it was just the two of us at such a time, I wouldn’t know what to say!
“Well that’s…. It’s because I am just a normal woman, even if I am next to a person who is striving for ideals, I cannot be of any use and even if I want to support his ideals until my heart breaks, in the end we would just tire ourselves out…. At worst, he would pick his ideals over me and I would be abandoned. That’s why I refrain from dating an idealist.”
Miss Sasaki who smiled fleetingly. Such a….
“It’s so easy to understand Kunikida-kun’s expressions.”
“I-I am not thinking of anything! Don’t look over here, Dazai!”
“Ouch!”
I forcibly turn his neck until he faces another way.”
“You told me to come here, then you told me to look away, how puzzling! Let’s return to the original topic.”
What was it again?
“Ah, it was regarding Miss Sasaki’s safety. Well, it’s not like the police won’t work together with us, but…..”
“Excuse me… I am really happy that you two are going as far as letting me stay over, but as I guessed, it was a bother…. I’ll be staying somewhere else starting tonight, I’ll find a hotel or something, so please do not worry.”
“No way. We cannot say for sure that staying at a hotel will be safe, it’s also a bad sign after such a case. We also don’t know when Dazai will turn into a perverted beast. Come to my place.”
“Eh?”
“Eh?”
“It’s not like I have anything to be guilty about!”
“No matter how you think about it, that was really suspicious! How shameless.”
“That’s not it! I was thinking about it innocently!”
“Hahaha, it’s a lie. Sasaki-san, I can assure you that Kunikida-kun’s house will be really safe. What’s more, it’s okay, Kunikida-kun doesn’t have such desires… that’s not it, it’s because he treats ideals highly. Do you want to see his notebook? Kunikida-kun’s ideal woman is amazing.”
Dazai handed my notebook to Miss Sasaki. I instantly checked my pockets. My notebook is gone.
“Dazai! When did you take it!?”
“Look, it’s this page.” Dazai opened the notebook and pointed with his finger.
“Oh, is it really okay? Such a thing…”
“But you’re interested, right?”
“Eh… well, truth be told, I am a little curious.”
Miss Sasaki giggled and look at the words on the notebook.
She pales by the moment.
“Eh, what does this mean…? I see… But this is…”
My image of an ideal woman.
Eight pages, fifteen chapters. It’s a long composition with fifty-eight entries.
“Eh… Ah, in other words…. Hmmmmm, ah…..”
I remembered Dazai’s words.
“It is better if you don’t show that page to women. It’s a turn off.”
Miss Sasaki finished reading and when she raised her head up again, the smile that was there before disappeared.
The only thing that was there was a statue-like, life-absorbing cold smile.
“Kunikida-sama.”
“Yes….”
“Such a person does not exist.”
000
Someone, please bring me sake.
After searching the shopping streets, I somehow managed to find Dazai.
In an old coffee shop facing the streets, he’s chatting with a lady.
“Is this your first time coming to Yokohama? Shall I show you around?”
“I must apologize, because of me…. Is it really okay? It looks like the Agency is in a huge uproar over the bombs. Kunikida-sama also looked really busy with the investigation this morning when I contacted him.”
“It’s because Kunikida-kun is a work monster. Did you know? If he makes an appointment around 12 in the afternoon, he would show up 10 seconds before. Isn’t he just like a train?”
“I see… Is that how it is?”
“Hey Dazai! Don’t slack off work! And don’t use me as a topic to pick up girls!”
“And then, at the abandoned hospital, Kunikida-kun was so scared of ghosts he almost cried like a gi-“
“Listen to me!”
I landed a round kick on the back of Dazai’s head who was looking like he had lots of fun talking to Miss Sasaki.
“Ouch! What the hell are you doing, Kunikida-kun? Eh? Kunikida-kun? You were around?”
“It’s not ’You were around?’ You knew but intentionally carried on, right? Right in the middle of such a crucial time for the agency just what the hell were you doing on a date? What’s more the partner is the victim of a case.”
“Jealous?”
“I am not jealous!”
I am absolutely not jealous in the least.
“No way. This lady was almost killed by the criminal and received mental trauma, right? Protecting and taking care of her heart is also part of a detective’s important mission, no? Also, speaking from experience, only kindness and smiles and tolerance can treat a lady who just went through something horrible.”
“That last line was nonsense, you idiot.”
… At the very least, I should make a memo in my notebook later.
“But can a person who walks around wearing such frivolous and thoughtless clothing like you have a chance?”
With this level of beauty, she should at least have a boyfriend, right?
“Because you think like that, Kunikida-kun is Kunikida-kun. If you would just listen, you would know that she has no relatives, nor does she have a person close enough to rely on. Even her only lover just broke up with her not too long ago.”
–I did hear about her not having a person she can rely on, but not to this extent.
“That’s why, Kunikida-kun, I can do it,” a grinning Dazai nudged my side.
“Do what?”
I have no idea what he’s talking about…… I made a face to show him that.
“Listen up, Dazai. I came here to explain to you about what happened in the meeting that you skipped this morning. If you skip another meeting, I will take the quick and suitable measure to resuscitate you the next time you try to commit suicide.”
“Oh dear… Kunikida-kun, you’re actually thinking of something so nasty…” Dazai made an unpleasant face.
After being satisfied with his expression, I placed the documents at hand on the tabletop.
“It’s the latest information. The transcript of when the police questioned the kidnapper, the taxi driver, has arrived. He confessed to locking the victims in the cage and placing that poisonous gas to prevent escape. But those were the only things he had done. He said he has no recollection of installing the hidden cameras that took the secret pictures. It’s hard to think that he would lie when he’s already in such a situation. In other words…”
“There are at least two criminals. The one who does the kidnapping and the one who does the filming. The first is the taxi driver – so the latter is the ‘Blue Disciple’, right?”
“I am afraid so.”
“Excuse me…” Miss Sasaki said in a timid voice.
“I am just wondering if it’s alright for me to listen in on such a conversation. It’s the Agency’s classified information regarding the investigation… it might be a violation to let someone like me who is not involved to know…”
“Sasaki-san is a victim, so of course you are involved. There’s no need to worry. If that wasn’t the case the rule demon that is Kunikida-kun won’t start explaining in front of you.”
“I am not really that strict with rules. Just a normal amount of strict.”
“See? Just like this, he can be an easy-going senpai who can throw wonderful jokes at times. Well, and then? Are there any more clues about the criminal we’re going after?”
“Just a normal amount…”
“…. Sorry. I get it, just a normal amount. Please continue with the explanation.”
Why am I getting apologized to?
“I will continue then; it’s the result of checking said driver’s background. As far as I can gather from the given information, he had no interaction whatsoever with the underworld society and was just a regular taxi driver. He also doesn’t have any suspicious criminal acquaintances. It’s hard to think that such a person can simply kidnap people and hand them over to a buyer from an organ trafficking syndicate. Apparently there’s someone who told him that organs trafficking is a scheme that can get him rich quickly.”
“And that’s the ‘Blue Disciple’? If that’s so, wouldn’t it be better to ask for his name from the driver?”
“He said he can’t say it. If he does, he will definitely be killed next time – I really do want to make him spit it out with every fiber of my being, but unfortunately he’s currently being quarantined midair by the police. By the time the arrangement for another interview with the police is made, it will already be sunset.”
Just what kind of person is the criminal this time around?
Persuading the taxi driver to get into organs trafficking, then placing hidden cameras in the abandoned hospital, and on top of making bombs and placing them somewhere unknown, he threatened the Agency. Just what is his purpose?
“Excuse me. If I may be so impertinent…” Miss Sasaki who had been quiet of this time said.
“This ‘Blue Disciple’ that I’ve been hearing about from just now…. Isn’t it the same criminal from the ‘Blue Flag Terrorism’ case?”
“That case, huh?”
The Blue Flag Terrorism Case.
The case where Rokuzo’s father died in the line of duty.
When I saw the word ‘Blue’ I also doubted if it was the work of the same person for a moment.
“But the mastermind who called himself the ‘Blue King’ had died by explosion. The dead can’t threaten the living. That is the truth of this world.”
“Good point, Kunikida-kun. So ghosts are not scary after all, right?”
“Don’t talk about ghosts for a second time.”
“But… Even though the explosion was enormous, I heard that his remains were not found. Maybe he somehow managed to escape and is currently hiding somewhere…”
I was also curious about that and asked the police about it. However, there were no answers.
“According to the police’s forensic investigation, there was no doubt that the Blue King had died. Their forensic skills are trustworthy. If we put into account that their fellow policemen got caught up and died in the line of duty, I don’t think they would overlook anything or be wrong about it.”
“But….”
“As for me, I don’t know that much about the Blue King, but there might be a group of his followers that is seeking revenge on the Agency?”
What an uneducated person. With no other choice, I started to explain.
The Blue King was aiming for the attack and destruction of several government institutions and was the mastermind behind the ‘Blue Flag Terrorism’ case. He did so much damage after the attack was therefore said to be the worst terrorist nationwide.
Before he raised the Blue Flag, he was only a superior bureaucrat.
After he graduated as a valedictorian from the highest learning institution there is and went to study overseas, he does legislative and administrative work as a civil officer in the capital and becomes a young man who is motivated to aim for higher ranks. The situation wasn’t clear as to why he decided to purge the government.
One day, a certain video was sent to a national broadcasting station. A young man who hid his face with an undyed blue flag was making a crime declaration. He called himself the ‘Blue King’ and lamented over the imperfect world; he also claimed that only imperfections can cover other imperfections.
“No matter how much we aspire, our neighbours still fall sick, our fathers and mothers still die, bad people are still judged as bad based on only one side.
If that’s so, then let’s desire for an ideal world.
Not by God’s hands, but by the bloodied hands of our imperfect selves.”
At the same time he made those declarations, institutions belonging to the country were attacked in three different ways. Committing arson against buildings related to the police force, colliding high speeding cars, and bombing the police headquarters. After conducting a follow-up investigation on the victims of the attack, it was made clear that they were: a murderer who killed eight people but got off scot-free due to lack of evidence, a member of the parliament who was rumoured to use the budget to aid developing countries for his personal gains, and a small group of policemen who assaulted a young legislator and hid behind the name of the law. All of them died by the attacks.
He convicted criminals who couldn’t be judged by the law by committing crimes against them.
Everyone was taken aback by the assaults. Attacking multiple highly secured government institutes despite the strict defense at the same time, no one thought that was possible.
After that the Blue King repeated his crimes, condemning criminals, many times.
The police and the government who had lost their dignity ordered the discovery and capture of the Blue King nationwide. They even made a request to the Agency.
What happened after was exactly like I had talked about before. The discovery of the secret base, the infiltration and the suicide bombing. It was settled a top a mountain of corpses.
“However, if it is the doings of the Blue King, it is unclear why he would relentlessly try to defame the Detective Agency this much.”
“Isn’t the one he has a grudge on is you, Kunikida-kun?”
The Blue King? Has a grudge on me?
Well, it is true that I was the one who received the information regarding the pursuit of the Blue King. I was the one who contacted the police and made the investigation team move out. But – No way.
The nation’s worst terrorist in all of history – His ghost.
Ever since the Blue King died up until now, he couldn’t clear his resentment, so he decided to take revenge on me and the Agency–
“At any rate, until we know the true form of the criminal, we have to be cautious. We don’t know when we might be attacked. Sasaki-san has to take shelter at somewhere safe too.”
“Do you mean the Agency’s office? However there’s no one at night. Where –“
I abruptly realized what Dazai is up to.
“Don’t tell me you are planning to use her protection as an excuse and bring the lady to your own house. I won’t forgive you, you bastard, lewdly spending days and nights together, it’s a suspicious and unhealthy relationship. Are you some kind of beast, you bastard? How outrageous, I would sympathize with her more –“
“Wait a minute, Kunikida-kun. There’s nothing between Sasaki-san and I.”
“Huh?”
“I am saying. The first night she stayed over, I was sleeping in the room next door; I didn’t lay even a finger on her afterwards. Making advances on a person on the day they were almost killed is rude, right? There’s also the consequences coming from a violent senpai.”
I see…. Is that so? Then I guess I am just jumping to conclusions.
“Well, I knew Kunikida-kun was going to misunderstand, but it was interesting so I didn’t stop it.”
This guy……
But in the case that such a pure and serious person like me can make such honest mistakes, “Just because she’s staying over for a night you’re already having such suspicions, Kunikida-kun is really perverted.” With that one sentence, I couldn’t explain myself or retaliate, there’s no other way than keeping it all in. If only he didn’t say that.
….. But of course I would be suspicious. This is Dazai we are talking about.
If only Dazai wasn’t such an idiot who would seduce any woman he sees. The sense of distance with a victim of a case is hard to judge.
“Don’t say such confusing things. If nothing happened then that’s good. Starting from now distance yourself properly from victims and have an appropriate relationship with them. That’s what you call being professional.”
“…..Understood.”
Dazai firmly nodded and faced Miss Sasaki.
“By the way, Sasaki-san, do you have an ideal type?”
“What did you mean when you said you ‘understood’!?”
He’s contradicting himself. He just likes women in general.
“T-type…? Well I think the idea of types is ridiculous and it makes me ashamed… But I feel like men who can throw their ideals away and just jump into things are… wonderful.”
So she said.
“Aaaahh, this is impossible, that is totally not Kunikida-kun, isn’t this hopeless. Tch, I’ll let you two talk in private, I am going to count the number of fingers I have on both hands.”
“Hey Dazai! Don’t break away from the conversation all by yourself!”
“Just what are you doing? I’ve forgotten which number I have counted up to!”
“Stop sulking! Just get back on your seat!”
If it was just the two of us at such a time, I wouldn’t know what to say!
“Well that’s…. It’s because I am just a normal woman, even if I am next to a person who is striving for ideals, I cannot be of any use and even if I want to support his ideals until my heart breaks, in the end we would just tire ourselves out…. At worst, he would pick his ideals over me and I would be abandoned. That’s why I refrain from dating an idealist.”
Miss Sasaki who smiled fleetingly. Such a….
“It’s so easy to understand Kunikida-kun’s expressions.”
“I-I am not thinking of anything! Don’t look over here, Dazai!”
“Ouch!”
I forcibly turn his neck until he faces another way.”
“You told me to come here, then you told me to look away, how puzzling! Let’s return to the original topic.”
What was it again?
“Ah, it was regarding Miss Sasaki’s safety. Well, it’s not like the police won’t work together with us, but…..”
“Excuse me… I am really happy that you two are going as far as letting me stay over, but as I guessed, it was a bother…. I’ll be staying somewhere else starting tonight, I’ll find a hotel or something, so please do not worry.”
“No way. We cannot say for sure that staying at a hotel will be safe, it’s also a bad sign after such a case. We also don’t know when Dazai will turn into a perverted beast. Come to my place.”
“Eh?”
“Eh?”
“It’s not like I have anything to be guilty about!”
“No matter how you think about it, that was really suspicious! How shameless.”
“That’s not it! I was thinking about it innocently!”
“Hahaha, it’s a lie. Sasaki-san, I can assure you that Kunikida-kun’s house will be really safe. What’s more, it’s okay, Kunikida-kun doesn’t have such desires… that’s not it, it’s because he treats ideals highly. Do you want to see his notebook? Kunikida-kun’s ideal woman is amazing.”
Dazai handed my notebook to Miss Sasaki. I instantly checked my pockets. My notebook is gone.
“Dazai! When did you take it!?”
“Look, it’s this page.” Dazai opened the notebook and pointed with his finger.
“Oh, is it really okay? Such a thing…”
“But you’re interested, right?”
“Eh… well, truth be told, I am a little curious.”
Miss Sasaki giggled and look at the words on the notebook.
She pales by the moment.
“Eh, what does this mean…? I see… But this is…”
My image of an ideal woman.
Eight pages, fifteen chapters. It’s a long composition with fifty-eight entries.
“Eh… Ah, in other words…. Hmmmmm, ah…..”
I remembered Dazai’s words.
“It is better if you don’t show that page to women. It’s a turn off.”
Miss Sasaki finished reading and when she raised her head up again, the smile that was there before disappeared.
The only thing that was there was a statue-like, life-absorbing cold smile.
“Kunikida-sama.”
“Yes….”
“Such a person does not exist.”
000
Someone, please bring me sake.
