Chapter 57

Since I'm still feeling lousy, I end up messing up the President's hair, too.

"Hey—! Cut it out!"

"Let me think!"

"Dude, not my hair! Stop tickling my aesthetic locks!"

"Fine by me!"

While we were fooling around like that, someone stood watching with a gentle smile. The President's face went bright red; then she decked me and tossed sweet words toward that person.

This President...!

"Ah, sorry for letting you see something so silly."

"Oh my, if you two were in the middle of some BL action, I've interrupted something naughty."

It was Kamezaki-san, her red triangular kerchief still on. She had come to help us clean, but she'd gotten the wrong idea—big time.

I jumped out and tried to clear up the misunderstanding.

"Sorry! It's not what it looks like! We weren't doing anything shady behind the sliding door!"

"Was that so..."

"So you believe me?"

"Well, people have all kinds of hobbies these days. Whatever floats your boat—don't worry, I'm totally accepting!"

"She didn't believe me at all!"

"Fufufu..."

I ruffle my hair again. If I keep messing with it like this, what if I go bald someday?

No point stressing over stupid stuff.

Still, I politely declined, explaining I had to focus on the investigation right now.

"Sorry. I'm looking into something... so cleaning has to wait."

"Oh... I see. You're right—it's already after six. Let's leave the cleaning for next time, then."

Saying that, Kamezaki-san took off her kerchief and stuffed it into her pants pocket. She looked a little disappointed, but she understood.

Since she was already here, I figured I'd ask a few questions so the trip wouldn't be wasted.

"You do know what we're investigating, right?"

"Yes, I heard from him over there. It's bothering you, isn't it? Mr. Kamakiri's death... I try not to dwell on it, since it drags me down, but with that threatening letter and all, it's hard not to be curious."

"Right. If anything—anything at all—stood out to you..."

"Even if you say that, there really wasn't anything..."

"Really? You didn't see anyone acting suspicious?"

"Hmm... I did see that girl calling herself a detective trembling like crazy. And Mr. Uriki was hunting for cockroaches... At the time, no, nothing seemed odd. Nothing especially surprising happened."

"Figures..."

In the end, talking with Kamezaki-san gave us no leads. All we'd done was satisfy the President's libido while she stood next to us, beet-red and silent.

With that settled, she headed back to her room.

The investigation had hit a dead end.

Unlike the police, we can't use forensic science, and we don't have the authority to question people. If we ask around any more, we'll just get labeled a nuisance and kicked out.

We still have no clear idea who the culprit is.

That's when my smartphone buzzed with a notification—from a certain someone.

"I'd like to talk. Want to hop on a private chat?"

It was an invitation from Miiko's virtual avatar. When she streams, she sometimes sets aside time just for me.

I could never refuse. Even if it's only digital, I want to be with her. That feeling makes me accept her invites no matter where I am.

I peer into the screen where the adorable Miiko stares back at me. The President—her big brother—noticed and waved at her from the side. "Yo!"

"Thanks... Are you busy right now? I figured you'd be free on a Saturday night, so I called."

My arm gets tired if I hold the phone too long, so I set the smartphone down and started talking. Actually, I'm pretty busy—investigating what looks like a murder disguised as an accident.

"That's how it is... No idea who the culprit is."

She puts on an exaggerated act, cupping her hand over her mouth. "Oh dear, how awful." Way too obvious.

Still, despite acting all ditzy...

She's a first-rate great detective. I hate admitting it, but the intel she gives is top-notch. I couldn't help getting my hopes up.

"Anyway... there are loads of mysteries. Even if it was staged as an accident..."

"Yeah... If there really is a culprit, this could turn into a perfect crime..."

"...If it were truly perfect, they wouldn't have left a threatening letter... Well, maybe not. Still, it's worth considering that the letter might have some crazy meaning."

"Huh? A crazy meaning?"

The President chimed in with, "What the heck's that supposed to mean?"

Exactly. It's hard to imagine any significance in that bizarre message about casting a curse.

Or so I thought—but if I focus on the line that came before it, a little sense starts to emerge.

Do not destroy the wasps' nest.

Meaning the culprit wanted to kill Mr. Kamakiri with hornets—making it look like a natural death. They wanted this one to appear natural too.

They even created a stage—the apartment with the wasp nest—to carry it out.

Wait a minute. The culprit created that stage?

The reason I left Mr. Kamakiri alone was because he was asleep. So in the end, the stage was set to show he was sleeping inside a locked room.

Does that item play into it?

"Not seeing anything yet? The answer to the riddle... it's coming, coming..."

The President reacted by yawning wide and making a dumb face.

"Stop that—it's making me sleepy. Yaaawn."

Mr. Kamakiri stood on the stage the culprit had built—sound asleep. So start from there. Think from there.

How to reach the answer to the riddle.

I was getting excited. I could taste the thrill of watching a mystery unravel.

"...President."

"What is it? Right now I'm browsing my porn history while listening to my cute little sister's voice."

Before I knew it, my smartphone was in the President's hand. No way I'd let him blackmail me with my browser history—I clenched a fist, ready to knock him out cold.

That instant...

...I got it.

How this case was set up.

If I think about it that way, it becomes obvious. Lie down, put myself in the victim's place, and close my eyes.

"Huh, I can't hear Hyoga anymore."

"Nah... Hyoga just suddenly passed out on the floor..."

"Big brother... did you overwork him? You didn't knock him out from exhaustion, did you?"

"No way, I only had him help with cleaning! And a little detective work..."

"You sure?"

Even their silly bickering sounds pleasant right now.

That's right—right now I won't lose. I won't lose to the culprit. There is a truth the President will struggle to accept, but...

He'll just have to bear it. He'll have to get past it.

For now, let's stay positive.

Everything is becoming clear.

Evidence? None? No—we've got some. If I follow Miiko's advice and think about the culprit's message, I'll figure it out.

This is a perfect crime. Without a doubt, that piece of evidence is still there.

"Hey—are you okay?"

"You all right?"

Matching the President's and Miiko's voices, I sit up and declare:

"I'll blow Detective Chikage's reasoning to pieces! And I'm ready to solve this entire case!"

Miiko says, "Glad I could help!" and flashes a smile before disappearing from the screen. The time limit came a little early; shame, but the culprit takes priority over Miiko right now.

I've only got one shot.

With this, I'll bring The Choudou Manor Murder Case to an end!

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