Tokyo, the shady intelligence of private detectives

Yuzuru Masahiro was taken aback. He knew all four detectives at the Shin-Yi Detective Agency, but he had never seen this female detective before.

Yui Satsuki quickly answered his question: "This female investigator is someone I hire privately, so you don't know her well, Yuzuru-kun."

"She's already told me about how you deliberately struck up a conversation with Kitazawa at the bar last night, attracting the attention of several customers."

"Under the circumstances at the time, what Yuzuru did was appropriate."

"I've seen the photos, and your judgment of each person's thoughts is basically accurate."

Masahiro Hanyu was relieved. "Thank you, President. It's an honor to receive your recognition!"

Satsuki Yui continued, "In recent months, Ozawa Reika's underwear has been frequently going missing."

"She reported it to the police, but because there were no eyewitnesses and no signs of trespassing, the police were unable to find out why the underwear was missing."

"So she asked me to investigate this matter. All four detectives in our agency had other commissions, and I didn't have the time."

"I've always wanted to thank Ozawa for issuing the 'GG' report to the detective agency. She was eager to get to the bottom of this, so I hired other investigators."

"But the investigation hasn't yielded any results yet. If you, Yuzuru, have the ability, I'd rather entrust this matter to you than hand it over to other investigators. I'd feel more at ease with that."

Masahiro Hanyu puffed out his chest. "President, I have the ability." Of course, he would fight for the 10 yen commission.

Yui Satsuki nodded slightly. "After reading this report, I also believe that Yuzuru-kun can do it."

"My female investigator believes that the theft of the underwear may be due to an infatuation with Ozawa, and the suspect is among the bar's regular customers."

"These three customers from yesterday come here every night around midnight. The female investigator believes they are the prime suspects."

Masahiro Hanyu looked puzzled. "Your investigator should have followed the suspect, right?"

Yui Satsuki said, "She also suspected he was a writer and followed him, but didn't find anything unusual."

"After all, there are many customers at the Misty Bar, so the person who stole the underwear might not be among these three customers."

"So, Yuzuru-kun, you can use your mind-reading ability to observe the bar's customers and find the thief who stole Ozawa's underwear."

With a sincere expression, Masahiro Hanyu asked, "President Satsuki, are you now formally entrusting this matter to me?"

Yui Satsuki confirmed, "Yes, as long as Hanyu-kun completes this commission, he will receive a commission of 10 yen."

She opened the drawer, took out another 5 yen, and handed it to Masahiro Hanyu. "This is the advance payment for investigating this commission. If it exceeds this amount, you will have to pay for it yourself."

"For this request, I'll give Yuzuru-kun five days, is that alright?"

A faint light screen appeared before Masahiro Hanyu's eyes.

[Privacy Intelligence Reward System Launched]

[Host Level: 1, can obtain three random pieces of information]

[Respondent identified: Ayari Ozawa]

[Information 1: "Ozawa Ayari dislikes any physical constraints in private and is willing to sleep naked."]

[Second piece of information: She has a Shiba Inu named Ono]

[Information 3: "Flirting Weekly Comics" 1992, Issue 23]

Masahiro Hanyu carefully put away the 5 yen. "The bar's customers have a variety of backgrounds, so five days is a bit rushed, but I will do my best to complete the task."

Yui Satsuki looked quite satisfied. "I greatly admire Hanyu-kun's proactive attitude in fulfilling the commission."

Masahiro Hanyu said, "President, I have a request. Since the underwear was lost at Ozawa's house, I would like to go to her house to check it out in person."

The first piece of information concerns Ozawa's lifestyle.

The second piece of information concerns Ozawa's family's dog.

Masahiro Hanyu intuitively felt that instead of observing the bar patrons, he should go to Ozawa's house to look for clues.

The Shiba Inu's name is Ono. I wonder if it's related to Ono, the yakuza leader I saw last night?

Satsuki Yui thought for a moment, "Hanyu-kun's request is reasonable. Ozawa is resting at home right now, so you can go see her at noon."

"I'll contact her later, and I'll give you her home address."

With the address given to him by Yui Satsuki, Masahiro Hanyu left the detective agency.

He first went to Maruzen Bookstore in Shinjuku and found issue 23 of the "Flirting Weekly Comics" published this year.

"Flirting Comics" is an adult-oriented erotic comic, and issue 23 is related to lingerie.

Masahiro Hanyu carefully browsed through the comics, noting that the female protagonist in this issue appeared wearing various types of lingerie.

The style of the lingerie was extremely imaginative, especially the heroine's graceful waist, which seemed familiar to Masahiro Hanyu.

His first thought was of Ayari Ozawa. Compared to the real person, the manga not only looked somewhat similar, but was also very lifelike.

Masahiro Hanyu also noticed a line that was interspersed throughout the entire manga: "That hidden fragrance is faintly visible, with the scent of gardenias."

What information is the third piece of intelligence trying to convey? Masahiro Hanyu can't figure it out yet, but based on his experience from the previous two instances, it must be a useful clue.

Ayari Ozawa's house is a two-story wooden detached house located in Shirasagi-cho, Nakano Ward, just a 15-minute drive from Shinjuku Golden Town.

Masahiro Hanyu rang the doorbell, the gate opened, and Ayari Ozawa stood inside.

She wore an apricot floral dress with a short beige cardigan over it, and light makeup. Her gentle demeanor was completely different from her sexy and glamorous appearance at the bar.

Masahiro Hanyu bowed slightly. "Excuse me, I'm Masahiro Hanyu from the Shin-Yi Detective Agency!"

Ozawa Ayari looked him over, then suddenly chuckled softly, "I know, President Satsuki already mentioned it on the phone."

"So you're an investigator from the detective agency. I thought the bar had gained another regular customer. I was just being presumptuous!"

Masahiro Hanyu said in a serious tone, "Sorry, I went to the bar last night, but it was for work."

"My impolite behavior was merely a test of the other guests, so please forgive me, Mr. Ozawa."

Ozawa's eyes darted around. "Yuzuru-kun wasn't being rude! Most of the guests I meet intentionally strike up conversations; I'm used to it."

"But if any guest behaves inappropriately, I'm not one to be trifled with."

"I'll tell you a secret, Yuzuru-kun: I'm a 7th dan black belt, only two dan lower than President Satsuki."

Masahiro Hanyu was somewhat surprised. "Ozawa-san is so capable. No wonder Tanaka warned me."

Yuzuru Masahiro entered the room, looked around, and asked, "Excuse me, does Ozawa-san live here alone?"

Ozawa Ayari shook her head, "I'm not alone, I have Ono with me."

Masahiro Hanyu was taken aback. "Oh, is that Ono-kun I met last night?"

Ayari Ozawa looked surprised: "No, Yuzuru-kun, you've misunderstood."

She turned and greeted, "Ono, we have guests! All you do is sleep in!"

At the shout, a yellow Shiba Inu waddled to the doorway.

Ayari Ozawa introduced, "This is Ono; it's the one that keeps me company."

Yuzuru Masahiro recalled the second piece of information: "Ozawa-san, did you name this Shiba Inu after you met Ono-kun?"

Ozawa Ayari blinked. "I met Ono-kun because this Shiba Inu is named Ono."

"Hanyu-kun, let me show you the terrace where we hang our underwear to dry."

After carefully choosing his words, Masahiro Hanyu said, "Ozawa-san, I'd like to... take a look at your underwear first, is that alright?"