Tokyo Detective Chronicles

In the kitchen of the Fushimi family, the overhead light cast a dim, yellowish glow.

He was bending down and rummaging through a cupboard that hadn't been opened in ages. With some difficulty, he pulled out a box of unopened butter cookies from a dusty corner. Luckily, they weren't expired yet...

It's a bit embarrassing that we almost couldn't find any snacks or food reserves to serve guests. Am I being too reliant on the Hoshizaki family's cooking?

When there's nothing to eat, all I can think about is grabbing a quick bite at a nearby restaurant, or just grabbing a convenience store bento box...

It's such a waste of my professional-level culinary skills.

While he was thinking, his other hand was not idle either; he tore open a tea bag and threw it into a porcelain cup.

The old kettle made a whistling sound, emitting white steam, with the steam gently bobbing against the lid.

The not-so-cheap black tea bag slowly unfurled in the porcelain cup, releasing its amber-colored tea and filling the air with its aroma...

On the edge of the kitchen counter behind him, Karin was sitting with her legs crossed.

The tattered mourning clothes she wore looked like they had been worn for many years; the fabric was so thin it was almost transparent, and the edges were frayed with loose threads.

Several obvious slits were located on her waist and at the base of her full thighs. The dim light shone from in front of her, and through the gaps in the fibers, one could vaguely see the fair skin underneath.

A loosely wrapped white bandage covered the upper half of his face.

Through the gaps in the bandages, those amber eyes appeared somewhat languid, glancing at Fushimi's back intentionally or unintentionally.

She casually rested one hand on the table, while the other hand played with a strand of her hair, the wide sleeves of her mourning dress sliding down to her elbows.

"so--"

She drawled, "The little ones explored every hospital, pharmacy, and even some illegal clinics on the black market that they could find around Chiyoda."

She swung her dangling legs, which were somewhat translucent.

The key points and results of the investigation were explained in detail.

"No similar cases have been found...at least not around Chiyoda."

Fushimi paused as he filtered the tea, the rising steam blurring his expressionless profile.

He was slightly surprised by the efficiency; the investigation had been so thorough in just one day and one night.

"So fast?"

"That's for sure~"

Karin shook her head smugly, a few strands of hair slipping out from the edge of her bandage: "After all, it was you who personally asked for it, so those kids really put in a lot of effort."

She paused, her tone becoming slightly more serious:

"However, other parts of Tokyo... will probably need more time."

Fushimi grunted in acknowledgment and poured the filtered black tea into the teapot.

The fact that no more cases were found is good news.

If the leech monster case is an isolated incident and doesn't involve more victims, that would be the best outcome, and it would also greatly reduce his burden of investigation.

Even if it's just for that huge black and red orb of obsession, he will continue to investigate.

However, the current search area is limited to the area around Chiyoda Ward, which is his base of operations.

Entering someone else's territory to conduct a large-scale investigation without prior notice could cause serious problems... Therefore, we must proceed slowly.

"Did you cause any trouble?"

He asked casually, placing the brewed black tea and biscuits on the tray.

"Uh...no."

Huali immediately turned her head away, her amber eyes glancing guiltily towards the corner of the wall, her voice a little weak.

Looking back on what happened last night... it seems we exaggerated things a bit too much. In their eagerness to complete their mission, the monsters caused some strange rumors to emerge...

A new urban legend about "multiple medical institutions in Chiyoda Ward being haunted at night" has probably already begun circulating in a small circle.

Fortunately, thanks to her efforts to salvage the situation today, things have been largely calmed down.

Feeling guilty, Huali picked up a cup of black tea, took a sip, and stuck out her tongue because it was so hot.

Fushimi glanced at her but didn't ask any further questions.

"Tell me if you encounter any problems."

He said calmly, "I won't be angry because you tried your best to help me and caused trouble."

"Oh……"

Huali replied softly, "I understand."

"As for the investigation, just have the other monsters keep an eye out. I'll reward them for any discoveries."

Fushimi changed the subject: "But there is another, more important matter that needs your attention."

"Huh? Not again?"

Huali puffed out her cheeks.

With her arms crossed over her chest, the sleeves of her mourning clothes slipped down, revealing her fair forearms.

He complained about the workload, but his body betrayed him by leaning forward slightly.

Fushimi briefly explained the wounds on Hayakawa Chiho's body and the strange fragrance.

The talisman previously pasted on the girl's back was partly to help Huali conceal her aura and avoid being detected by other powerful demons or spirit mediums.

"Your next task is to follow her and see where she lives, and see if you can find anything unusual."

"..."

"Yeah, yeah, you really like bossing people around..."

Karin pouted. In the past, she would feel bored when Fushimi didn't visit her for weeks at a time, but lately, he would call her to do things every day, and it was always because of other girls...

However... she had no complaints about being able to help Fushimi.

She looked at her translucent, smooth instep.

She looked up at the boy's back and suddenly smiled, but then quickly suppressed it.

"If possible, please do everything you can to protect her."

Fushimi recalled the girls who bullied Hayakawa Chiho at school and added.

"Why should I protect your new girlfriend?!"

Karin, who was still somewhat dazed, suddenly grabbed a half-dry rag from the side and threw it violently at the back of Fushimi's head.

Without turning his head, Fushimi caught the rag that flew at him and used it to wipe the water stains on the table.

"Thank you for your hard work these past few days."

After thinking for a moment, Fushimi added, "Once I'm done with this busy period, I can grant you a reasonable wish."

"Huh? Really?"

Karin's eyes lit up instantly, her previous slight displeasure vanished, and a smile appeared on her face beneath the bandages.

"So I actually get a salary?"

"Um."

"It's a deal then!"

She excitedly swung her legs, shouting, "No taking it back!"

Just then, Hayakawa Chiho's cheerful voice came from outside the door:

"Fushimi-senpai, I'm all changed."

Fushimi picked up the tray containing cookies and black tea and pushed open the kitchen door.

The living room lights are brighter than the kitchen lights.

Hayakawa Chiho had changed back into her washed and dried school uniform: a crisp white shirt, a knee-length black skirt, and her hair neatly combed and styled into a bun at the back of her head.

Her smile became even brighter.

She is youthful, beautiful, and lively, showing no trace of her previous disheveled appearance at school.

However, Fushimi's gaze did not immediately fall on her, but passed over her and saw Hoshizaki Rina standing frozen in the shadows of the corridor, her eyes fixed on Fushimi.

Hoshizaki clearly witnessed Hayakawa changing clothes.

I saw those exaggerated wounds.

At this moment, Hoshizaki's usually bright eyes widened, his gaze shifting between Fushimi, Hayakawa, and the two cups of black tea on Fushimi's tray, finally settling on Fushimi's face.

Then she covered her mouth, her eyes filled with disbelief, her pupils trembling as if she were about to cry.

She remembered hearing some rumors recently from Koizumi and Shimizu about certain middle-aged men with unusual fetishes who specifically sought out female students to play dangerous and violent adult games.

The scene before her eyes inappropriately conjured up terrible associations in her mind.

Could it be that Iori also...?

First came shock, then bewilderment, followed by a look of disbelief mixed with...disdain as if looking at trash.

Fushimi: "..."

Hayakawa Chiho only then noticed Hoshizaki, who had been standing in the corridor for who knows how long with a strange expression. She blinked and tilted her head.

"Huh?"