The Eccentric, the Beauty, and the Detective: Kiriki Junka's Mystery Log Volume 2 Chapter 4

“Romantic love between siblings… is too much. It's illegal, and it'll put up barriers by disgusting the people around you. You'll make a hell with just you and your sister. You still have time. Give it up.”

Even at the second command, Yamakawsenpai was stiff necked.

“That's right, I'm prepared for everyone to say that kind of thing. I still love Ayumi. She might even love me too. If we both love each other, we can overcome any difficulty. Well… it is intimidating so I haven't exactly done it yet…”

“So, let's have you confess. That's it, how about after school today,” instigated Junka.

I shocked, as were Nao and Yamakawsenpai.

“W-what are you talking about? If I could do it that easily, I wouldn't be troubled.”

Junka was harsh, “So when will you do it? If you stay slow, nothing will change. You should think about how your sentiment has already hurt at least one girl already.”

I guessed he was talking about Tachibansenpai. Junka watched as the disheartened Yamakawsenpai's shoulders drooped.

He spoke as if he had to squeeze it out, “That's true… should I go for it? All right, fine. I'll confess to Ayumi today. That fine with you?”

Junka silently lowered his head.

“It is. Thank you for your decisiveness.”

After school Junka, Nao, Tachibansenpai, and I all hid on the roof to observe the confession of the nervous looking Yamakawsenpai.

Tachibansenpai hadn't been able to accept our explanation and had asked, “but, isn't Ayumi-chan his sister?” twice.

Though it was sudden, she had still followed Junka's directions to hide.

“She's here,” Junka quietly announced her awaited arrival.

I could tell even from behind her that she was Yamakawa Ayumi as she came through the door and faced Yamakawsenpai.

“Did I keep you waiting, Onii-chan?”

Yamakawsenpai wiped the sweat from his brow with his handkerchief.

“No, I just got here.”

He had no heart and his voice wavered. Ayumi giggled.

“What's up. You're acting strange."

Tachibansenpai tugged on the cuff of my shirt, and asked in a small voice, “Hey, Suzaku, is Yamakawkun really going to confess?”

My response was faint, “Yeah, that's right.”

She was speechless.

Not noticing us, Yamakawsenpai and Ayumi locked eyes.

“Ayumi, I have something serious to tell you.”

“Okay.”

With a gulp, he clearly stated in a loud voice, “I love you! Ayumi!”

He impulsively took her by the shoulders and shook her a little.

“I love you. I don't look at you as a sibling, I don't look at you as family, I see you with the eyes of a man, Ayumi, and I love you as a woman!”

Ayumi seemed a little lost as she responded, “Uh? Wait, Onii-chan, what was that?”

“I'm saying that I love you. You might not believe it, but for half a year, this love for you has been burning in my chest.”

“No way…”

Ayumi's voice was hoarse and she weakly took a few steps on the rooftop. Yamakawsenpai, on the other hand, desperately pressed her for answers.

“That's a lie. We always went out as siblings, right? The movies and shopping and stuff… that time was always a blessing for me. What could be better on this earth than to be with the woman I love most? Isn't it the same for you?”

Junka, Nao, and Tachibansenpai watched with bated breath. I was no exception.

Yamakawsenpai started to put on the moves, “So, Ayumi, let's not keep going as mere siblings, but as a man and a woman. It'll surely go well, no I'll make sure it does. How about it, Ayumi!”

Before Yamakawsenpai could even close his mouth, a heavy silence dominated the rooftop.
That was when Ayumi muttered, “Thank goodness…”

We were dumbfounded. Was that absurd confession a success? Yamakawsenpai's smile lurched.

“Ayumi…”

She didn't let him finish what he was saying, “Did you think I'd say that?”

“What?”

Ayumi violently knocked Yamakawsenpai's hands off her. She seemed to be veritably smouldering.

“So that's how you saw me, Onii-chan?”

Yamakawsenpai had neither the dignity of a man nor of a brother.

“Uh, well, that's… Ayumi…”

Then came the sharp sound of Ayumi slapping him across the cheek. He stumbled two or three paces back.

“I want to make it clear that I really enjoyed going out with you. As siblings, we were on the same page, our fun talks seemed without end, and it was really relaxing to be together. Maybe if you weren't my brother, I really would go out with you, that's how much I love you, Onii-chan,” her tone was one of guidance, “But, you are my brother. Even with familial love, and how fun it is to hang out, you're still a brother. We can't become lovers, and I never saw you that way anyway. Also, there's someone in my class that I like.”

Yamakawsenpai looked with despair at his sister.

“ayumi, are you serious about that?”

“Yeah. I'm only saying this because you've crossed a line, but don't get to close to me anymore, Onii-chan.”

Ayumi held her elbows, and let a disgusted voice slip, “So gross…”

Yamakawsenpai had no more grounds to stand on as Ayumi backed away from him.

“If you do anything suspicious, I'll tell mum and dad right away. I do believe in you, though, Onii-chan, that you won't do anything like that… If I had figured it'd be fine to have that sort of a relationship with you, it wouldn't have been a laughing matter.”

Her final words pierced her brother.

“Adieu.”

The door opened, and we heard the sound of Ayumi running down the stairs. With time, that sound was enveloped by the stillness of the fading sun. All that was left behind was the heartbroken Yamakawsenpai with his shoulders down.

We came out from our cover and approached him.

“Too bad, Yamakawsenpai,” spoke Junka harshly.

Yamakawsenpai began to cry. Though he clenched his eyes, the clear lines began to stream down his cheeks.

“Ayumi… why? Ayumi…”

Tachibansenpai was amazed.

“I never thought you'd confess to your sister. So the reason you rejected me was because you were in love with your own sister… unbelievable.”

Nao had consistently disliked him, so her gaze held no sympathy.

“This is for the best, Yamakawsenpai. Once you've recovered from the pain of your unrequited love, please search for a respectable love.”

Yamakawsenpai broke down wailing.

Junka suddenly started shouting for a taxi with one hand raised. Naturally, there were no passing taxis that stopped for him. With no explanation offered, Junka went to soothe Yamakawsenpai.

“It's as Iidsan says. You'll find a new love and the days when you wanted your sister will be as a fleeting memory to be looked back upon. Right, Tachibansenpai?”

“Hey, Kiriki,” came a whisper that I could also hear, “I really don't want to confess to Yamakawkun again right after being rejected, and I told you I've got someone else I like, so don't try to pair us up.”

Junka smiled, “I see, I won't meddle.”

That night, back at my place, Junka was making silly voices.

“Isn't it about time for you to go home, Junka?”

The two of us were in casual clothes, eating chips, drinking cola, and trying our best to clear an action game, but it was already 8:00pm, and supper and tomorrow both needed to be considered. I'd had about enough and wanted him to go back to his house next door.

“Aaah, they got me. Right, your turn, Rouji-kun.”

“Don't mess it up there. I'll show you the pattern, the pattern.”

I took up the controller and got back to playing the game. My character appeared in a great fortress and began to fight a large monster with his sword.

Junka opened his mouth as he watched the screen, “It was Nessie, right? This case.”

“Excuse me?”

“Siblings can't become lovers, and even if they did, it wouldn't last long. There would come a day of regret. Even still, Yamakawsenpai wanted to see it happen. Almost like Nessie of Loch Ness.”

I looked over at him and the sound of my character taking loads of hits from the monster filled my ears.

“I can't help but pull back from a guy who loves his little sister like that, just like Iidsan. But, thoughts are free. That pure desire to see something happen cannot be disgraced by anyone.”

The game over sound shot through the room. Junka smiled with a whiff.

“In the end, I still got myself involved in the settlement of the matter. You still have a ways to go, Rouji-kun.”

I smirked, “Next time I'll do it right. Oh yeah, are you going to do the usual thing?”

“Oh, that's right, I suppose I shall.”

Junka thumped his chest.

“That's the full story of this case, Rouji-kun.”

Translator's Note:

Junka was talking about a pure desire to see something happen. I first translated it as “Yamakawa really wanted it,” but then we had problems with the parallel turning into “the purity of his heart's desire isn't something anyone can dishonour.”
Not only was that not parallel, but his desire was not sounding appropriately pure. Not that his desire was pure, but Junka was talking about desire itself rather than the specifics… or, Junka has a few more problems hidden inside that have yet to clearly surface.

Editor's Note:

Don't blame the editor fully for the chapters drying up. He stopped around the time I slowed down quite a bit. Not that I haven't been going faster than him, but I still encouraged this low-priority status. I wasn't supposed to be doing this all by myself anymore, but it felt rude to ask for this to get edited all of a sudden after all this time. Well, it was supposed to be edited right away, but it got forgotten about. I forgot about it too, and accidentally left things at a cliffhanger.

Chapter end