The Eccentric, the Beauty, and the Detective: Kiriki Junka's Mystery Log Volume 2 Chapter 12

“Well, Iidsan's focusing on her studies, and she likes Miyako-sensei…”

Hinata was squealing over the conversation, apparently a fan of romance talk.

“So Nao-san likes Miyako-sensei? That makes this a love triangle, does it not!”

I felt like I was on display, but it was an opportunity of its own. I had the chance to search for a method to destroy the status-quo.

“What do you think I should do?”

“That should be obvious. You need to have a match with Miyako-sensei like a man: a duel.”

What?

“Naturally, the judge must be Nao-san herself. If you win, you shall win her undying affection.”

That was absurd. It seemed that Hinata was a bit of a dreamer.

“As for me,” Junka began his turn, “I believe that it would be best to consider first the detective association and maintain the status-quo. If you suddenly confess and get rejected, might not Iidsan leave the association? That would be a massive blow to the association. Well, if you're confident you two have mutual affection, then I don't mind you bringing it up.”

My egocentrism instantly had me ignore Junka's proposal.

“How does it look to an outsider? How do you think she sees me?”

“She doesn't like you that way.”

“Agreed.”

The merciless response hurt.

“Should I try increasing my appeal? Maybe by telling her I like her?”

Junka burst into side-splitting laughter.

He laughed too much, and it really bothered me.

“Let's see, I think this might call for an experiment to see how far you can go. We'll know by how irritated Iidsan looks, if at all.”

Hinata's eyes lit up, and her hand shot up.

“Do your best, Suzaku-san! I'm rooting for you.”

I replied with a bitter smile, “Thanks, Tatsuno-san.”

That was around when Nao came back. Her expression was bright so it seemed things had gone well.

“I got Kodairsenpai's number. It isn't his address in Hokkaido, and it's a cell number from last year, so Sensei said he might have changed it.”

Junka happily stood and applauded, “That's our Iidsan! Go ahead and take a seat.”

When she settled down, she noticed Hinata looking at her.

“What's up Hinatchan? Your eyes are really sparkling.”

“Is, is that so? I'll make sure to be careful.”

“? … You're weird, Hinatchan.”

Junka quickly busted out his phone, and I was in a bit of a fluster.

“Oi, Junka, phones are banned in school.”

“It's fine, we're the only ones here. As long as we stay quiet, nobody knows. Iidsan, what's the number?”

“Here.”

Junka phoned the number recorded in her phone's notes app. It rang three times.

“Hello, who is this?”

It was a moody voice. Junka placed his phone on the desk.

“I am Kiriki Junka, of class 1, 3 at Shibuyamadai High School. It's a pleasure.”

“Ah, I see. I'm sorry, but from whom did you get this number?”

“From one of the teachers in the staff room.”

Perhaps having relieved his suspicions, his voice was now calmer.

“Is that right? Well, this is a bit late, but I am Kodaira Shinji. Nice to meet you.”

“The pleasure is all mine.”

Things seemed to be proceeding well for the moment.

Junka broached the main topic, “The truth is, we've found your student handbook from last year on school grounds…”

“My old handbook?”

“That is correct. From when you were in Shibuyamadai High School's class 2, 5.”

“…”

Kodairsenpai was quiet, but what that silence meant was unfathomable.

“I see. So where was it?”

“A hall on the third floor. It had been left in a nook there.”

“Right…”

“We requested the present owner to come pick it up multiple times via the school intercom, but to no avail. That is why we've grown tired of waiting and contacted you directly.”

After a long pause, Kodairsenpai made his request.

“Let's meet up then, Kiriki-kun. In person.”

Junka was shocked.

“Eh, where are you at the moment? Was it not Hokkaido?”

“I'm right near Shibuyamadai High School, as it happens, staying in a hotel. I came for a few days to search out prospective universities. Now that this has happened, it changes my schedule. Kiriki-kun, can you take the handbook and meet me in the plaza in front of Shibuyamadai Station at 6 o'clock tonight? Does that inconvenience you?”

“No, not at all. The plaza in front of Shibuyamadai Station, eh?”

“That's it. I'll phone once I've arrived. Thanks.”

So ended the call in a manner beyond our expectations to the point of speechlessness on all fronts. Junka took a deep breath.

“Things have taken a sudden turn, eh? Let's all go meet Kodairsenpai.”

When 6 o'clock rolled around, at the appointed place, we spotted the young man that was slightly more mature than his photo. He smiled and jogged over.

“Which one of you is Kiriki-kun?”

“I am, Kodairsenpai.”

Junka stepped forth. Kodairsenpai looked to the rest of us.

“Why are the rest of you here?”

A few minutes later, we had all headed into a McDonalds and taken a seat.

“Oh, a detective association, eh?”

After we'd introduced ourselves, Kodairsenpai gave a gentle smile.

“You're up to some unusual business, then. So your present case is the matter of my old handbook, eh? You've done a magnificent job.”

It was making me blush a little being praised after merely handing over a book.

“So what is to become of the handbook now?”

“Right, want to see?”

Kodairsenpai pulled a brown student handbook out of his pocket. The four of us peered in. It read “Rakuou High School 3, B, Kodaira Shinji.” The address read Hakodate, Hokkaido.

Junka put down the student handbook.

“This is the the item in question, Kodairsenpai's student handbook from last year.”

Kodairsenpai picked it up as if handling something highly fragile.

“There's no mistaking it. This' my book. It takes me back.”

He smiled like a child. Flipping through the contents, he happily looked over the plans and memos and flipbook animations he'd drawn.

“This brings back the days at Shibuyamadai. That's where I spent my youth.”

Junka slurped down some coffee through a straw.

“So, did you give the handbook to anybody?”

His eyes turned to the distance.

“Hmmm… that's right, I'm sure it was… around when I was transferring because of the move, I handed it to a first year kouhai…”

I could sense a subtle change in his tone. It seemed like he wasn't being honest, or was putting up a paper-mache facade or something.

Junka asked, “Who did you give it to?”

Kodairsenpai folded his arms.

“Who was it… I can't remember. Only, while I was prepping for my trip, I got badgered for the handbook. That's what really stuck with me.”

His words rang as hollow as an announcer's when read from a script. I figured he was lying, or maybe I should say he was so bad at lying that even I was able to notice it.

“If I remember, I'll contact you again. More importantly, and in all honesty, I'm not happy to be getting this back, since I gave it to someone. I think it's for the best if you give it back to whoever it was that had it.”

Junka nodded, “I agree.”

“How about this: I write an announcement you have broadcast in your school.”

Junka rummaged about in the bag beside him.

“I was actually thinking that something like that would really help, so I came prepared.”

What he placed on the table was his audio recorder; the one he'd used in the case of the strange customer. It looked like he always carried it.

“Could you please speak directly into this? We can broadcast your voice directly.”

Kodairsenpai was taken aback for a second at Junka's thorough preparation, but soon regained composure with a cough.

“All right, let's record it. I know, since it's noisy here, let's record it in a karaoke booth. Oh, and it's late, so you girls should head home.”

Nao and Hinata clearly looked disappointed, but since it couldn't be helped, they followed his advice.

Translator's Note:

Sorry about taking so long for all this. Thank goodness this isn't good enough to gather attention.

Editor's Note:

I do like being way off the radar. Even being off the editor's radar is a little nice. All just me by myself posting whenever, and it doesn't matter.

Chapter end