The Eccentric, the Beauty, and the Detective: Kiriki Junka's Mystery Log Volume 2 Chapter 15

“Eh? He's coming? Right now, to the gate?”

“Yes, now let's go.”

Three minutes later, we headed out with our indoor shoes still on. The rain had cleared, and the school gate shone in the rays of the sun. A certain personage was shining with it.

“Yuuko!”

Kodairsenpai had called Kanechiksensei by her first name. At first, she was unable take a step, having come to a halt, overwhelmed with emotion. Junka, however, gave her a little push towards that heavenly destination. Like a bicycle rolling downhill, her rapid gait turned to running as she closed the distance with Kodairsenpai.

“Kodairkun!”

She dove into his welcoming arms, wrapping her own around his neck as he returned the embrace.

“How is it, Yuuko? Haven't I bulked up a bit?”

“You have. You have…”

She crumbled to tears, nuzzling her head in his chest. Kodairsenpai caressed his beloved's hair.

“To be honest, I didn't want to meet just yet. I would have had more confidence if I'd already been accepted into a famous university in the area, but Kiriki-kun wouldn't shut up about how we ‘need to meet to rekindle the love,' and eventually pushed me to it.”

“Do you know how much I wanted to come forward when I heard your voice over the intercom? But I couldn't reveal our relationship, so I entrusted the precious task to Tajiri Mine-san. Do you think that was enough?”

“Yeah, I figured it'd cause you some troubles so I lied about giving it to an underclassman so you could play along. I was expecting you to have someone retrieve it.”

Junka clutched a hand to his chest, and I winked.

“That's all for this case.”

We drew near to the two as they embraced.

“Here you are, Kodarisenpai.”

“Oh, sorry.”

He distanced himself from Kanechiksensei, an arm still around her shoulder.

“Right, here you are. Don't lose it this time.”

Held in his hand was the handbook from the previous year. Kanechiksensei was unable to stop sobbing, and she reverently accepted the handbook.

“Yeah, I'll take care of it.”

She smiled after wiping some tears away with a finger.

“I like you, Kodairkun; I love you!”

“Me too, Yuuko.”

The two then seemed to forget our presence and met in a passionate kiss.

“A lot happened, but thanks for returning the handbook, Kiriki-kun.”

The case was settled when Kodairsenpai returned to Hokkaido, and his handbook had been safely returned to Kanechiksensei. She dropped by after art class to thank us for getting the handbook back to her.

“I'd like to thank you, is there anything you would like?”

“There is one.”

Junka took a folded sheet of paper from his bag, and showed it to her. They were the detective association's recruitment pamphlets.

“This is what we have at present, and as you can see, it lacks punch. I would like you, being the art teacher, to make us an enticing and wonderful advertisement.”

“Sounds fun,” she began with her characteristically gentle smile, “Got it, I accept.”

I noticed that Nao had a complicated expression, being the artist behind our current pamphlets.

“Yours were fine for what they were, Iidsan.”

I followed up with a smile.

“Thanks, Suzaku-kun, but I already understand.”

I put power into my words, “It's true, Iidsan, I like it.”

She blinked a few times before, “Is something up, Suzaku-kun?”

“Uh, well, not really…”

I'd been trying to appeal to her through positivity, but I guess that was how it was going to turn out.

The sudden downpour of the rainy season eased, and the dazzling sun blazed over the land. The season had passed.

I almost wanted to dance in the heat of the brilliant sunlight that came pouring down from on high

Translator's Note:

I can get through these really short ones in one sitting, which is nice. I tend toward formal equivalence in my translation style, but I should probably also learn to go for dynamic equivalence a little more often for the sake of readability. Of course everyone who translates does both instinctively, but recently I've been trying to get over my stiff formal dialogue with some more dynamic stuff. This time, I tried some dynamic equivalence in the narration as well, but I don't like the idea of changing stuff too much, so it tempts me to put in footnotes somehow.

Editor's Note:

I've given up on Junka's catchphrase that he says at the end of each case. It'll probably be different every time. FILLER NOTE

Chapter end