Not a detective

He grasped the small half of Chizuko's outstretched finger and shook it with great seriousness. Her skin was very cool and soft, as if it had no bones.

Asakawa Riku released his hand: "I will assist you in completing this matter, but if I lose interest later, I may leave at any time. Let's make it clear in advance."

He didn't want to be so excited only to end up disappointed again, just like before.

"no problem."

Chizuko looked up at him and smiled sweetly, "I won't let you down. Please be on time for the event starting tomorrow."

...

As Asakawa Riku left the mystery club's activity room, something happened.

The moment he turned around, Chizuko also turned her head slightly and spoke to the empty space behind her.

It's not quite accurate to describe it as "said something," because she only moved her lips and didn't seem to make any sound.

She changed the way she spoke, producing extremely low-frequency syllables that are imperceptible to humans.

A series of things came out of his throat.

The sound frequencies that humans can hear range from 20Hz to 20000Hz. Above that is called ultrasound, and below that is called infrasound.

In contrast, the range of human sound frequencies is between 85Hz and 1100Hz, which is necessary to ensure that our conversations can be transmitted.

Only animals like dogs, elephants, and jellyfish can hear infrasound. Do humans, who can emit infrasound, even exist?

Chizuko said:

"Aju, go and touch his shoulder."

"This isn't an attack; just let him feel the touch."

"I think if it were a sudden, unintentional attack, people would be startled no matter what, right?"

It turns out that it wasn't just Asakawa Riku who suspected Chizuko was acting; Chizuko herself was also wondering if the boy was pretending not to feel anything in order to appear bold.

Don't be reckless... Asakawa-kun, if you're in danger, shouldn't you let your senior protect you?

"Well, I'll take my leave then."

But nothing happened until Riku Asakawa packed his things, closed the door, and left.

"Aju" did not chase after them.

"Ok?"

Chizuko paused for a moment and looked at the ghost beside her.

It was a huge, transparent humanoid figure that almost filled the entire activity room. At this moment, she was curled up behind Chizuko, standing still and not following any commands.

"What's wrong... Are you scared?"

Chizuko frowned. She noticed that the ghost's body was trembling slightly, refusing to approach Asakawa Riku.

This is unusual. Compared to the mountain child, the ghost is a much more powerful yokai. Kiku has been with her since she was a child, and has always been like a guardian deity.

Just the mere existence of Kiku can cause discomfort and unease, let alone touching her. It can cause nightmares for a long time. Once you see her in person, it can cause serious psychological damage, and even drive the timid crazy. Chizuko has always trusted her, but she doesn't seem to be in a good state today. What's wrong?

No, not just today.

Chizuko remembered yesterday, and Kiku had been hiding behind her the whole time, maintaining the arrangement of [Asakawa Riku - Chizuko - Kiku].

I initially thought she was trying to block the wind from the window for me, but now that I think about it, something doesn't seem right.

"Akiku, are you avoiding that boy?"

Although she was talking to herself, Chizuko seemed to have received a positive answer, and her expression became increasingly strange. She also thought of something else.

Why did the Yamawara attack Asakawa Riku?

Chizuko initially thought that it was Riku Asakawa's touch that offended the Yamawaro, but the Yamawaro was clearly not that kind of person. In fact, it was a very gentle and friendly creature. Even if it was a prank, it would not bite people directly. Chizuko suddenly realized that the sudden outburst of aggression was just like... being forced to the point of having no other choice!

Yes, it's like a small dog facing a huge enemy, realizing the absolute difference in strength, having no other choice but to fight to the death—that's the feeling.

Riku Asakawa, a person with zero inspiration and who can't even sense yokai... could he pose such a strong threat to them?

"Just who are you...?"

The girl lay on the table, gazing in the direction he had left, muttering to herself.

The Spring of the Earth Spider: Chapter Ten - This is the Real Major Crisis

When Asakawa Riku returned home, it was already dinnertime.

He frantically tried to cook, but as a beginner, the food was too mushy to eat, so he eventually switched to instant noodles.

"This can't go on..."

he said to himself.

It seems that cooking skills cannot be learned quickly; perhaps he simply lacks talent. Asakawa Riku doesn't want to starve to death at home.

Discounted bento boxes from convenience stores can last for a while, but you'll get tired of them after a while. Considering nutrition and cost-effectiveness, cooking your own meals is the most reasonable strategy.

What should I do?

He passed by the bank on his way home from school, withdrew some money, and saw the remaining balance:

"180000."

With the two banknotes in hand, that makes 20 yen.

It's not wrong to say it's three months' living expenses; for students who don't need to pay rent, it's definitely enough for three months.

But Asakawa Riku also knew that this couldn't be squandered. Now that he had no parents to rely on, he had to rely on himself for everything.

School ended early today, and he planned to take the train to Shibuya. According to the location search on the map, the Shinonome Detective Agency was located in such a trendy place. Appearances can be deceiving. The route showed that it would take about an hour to get there from near the school. He estimated that he would arrive before five o'clock, which would give him time to inquire about part-time jobs.

Unexpectedly, I got entangled with a troublesome senior and missed the departure time.

Asakawa Riku himself boasted that he would be a temporary member, so he would definitely keep his promise and participate in club activities at least for the rest of this week.

The firm is probably closed now, so I'll have to wait until the weekend to make a formal visit. Hopefully, they'll have someone available to see me then.

...Yes, if the shop wasn't open on weekends, there would be no need for high school students to work part-time.

Asakawa Riku suddenly realized something and clapped his hands in delight at his guess, but in an instant, he frowned and sighed.

Right? No, that's not right. He vaguely felt that he had developed a strange quirk called "reasoning." How could this be? This wasn't the behavior of an ordinary high school student.

"Alright, let's stop here."

So, the plan is finalized, and we have enough living expenses for this week, so let's deal with the "Detective Club" incident first.

He thought this, but hunger made him too lazy to even think about looking for the letter, and he fell into a deep sleep.

At this moment, there are five days left until Asakawa Riku receives the murder threat love letter incident.

...

Asakawa Riku did not come to the mystery club after school as promised.

He arrived a little early, around noon.

When I opened the door, I found Chizuko-senpai holding a lunchbox, eating elegantly.

On the table in the distance lies a yellowed, worn book, which is open but stuck on one of its pages.

Judging from this scene, she must have been careful with her books and worried that the pages would get dirty from the food. But from so far away, was she using a small stick to turn the pages?

Asakawa Riku couldn't find the answer to his question, and Chizuko-senpai seemed startled, almost dropping her lunchbox.

"Asakawa-san...it's not time for club activities yet?"

She looked up in surprise, a grain of rice still at the corner of her mouth.

“I know.” Asakawa Riku nodded, and then explained why he barged in: “I was worried that if I knocked, it would seem like I was showing off and knew someone was inside beforehand.”

"He was already showing off when he said that."

"Would explaining the reason hurt Kazamatsuri-senpai's feelings?"

"Okay, let's stop here."

Chizuko reached out her hand, righteously stopping Asakawa Riku from speaking.

Asakawa Riku then stopped explaining.

...

It wasn't hard to guess that Chizuko-senpai would have lunch in the activity room. Of course, he couldn't be like Sherlock Holmes, discovering hidden rice grains or oil stains in the corners through yesterday's observations. That's something only detectives do in novels. Besides, Chizuko-senpai must have cleaned very well, and with ventilation, there wouldn't be any food smell left.

He guessed it by using interpersonal relationships and psychological deduction.

First of all, yesterday he was witnessed pulling and chasing Chizuko-senpai, and it seems that some ambiguous rumors have already spread.

The male friend she had just made patted her on the shoulder and teased her, saying, "Asakawa, you bastard, you're amazing! You managed to win over the senior on your first day at school."

Of course, Asakawa Riku quickly explained that he had simply joined the mystery club.

He realized that the expressions of those around him had changed slightly when he said those words.

Even the teasing and joking remarks have disappeared.

...We've only been in school for two days, how come these guys are so good at gathering information? They even know the rumors about the second-year students?

Asakawa Riku had to admire the people of this country's ability to "read the air".

But he also sensed something in the air: as he had predicted, Chizuko-senpai did indeed have some bad rumors and reputation, and most of them pointed to the "Mystery Club".

The mystery club is haunted by supernatural phenomena.

A friend whispered this to Asakawa Riku, or something like that, and advised him to find an excuse to leave the mystery club.

My friend's words were vague and did not explain in detail, only saying that this incident was one of the school's "seven mysteries" and was very strange.

Asakawa Riku felt that their relationship was not very deep, and it was already rare for the other party to risk the pressure of being a senior to advise him. So he thanked his friend properly and declared that he would not back down.

The rumors didn't bother him too much; instead, they helped him to better understand Chizuko's situation.

In short: Chizuko-senpai has been isolated.

Of course, this shouldn't be considered bullying, nor was it a direct personal attack.

Rather, it was the fear generated by the "ghost stories" that caused people to avoid her, afraid of being tainted by misfortune and horror.

However, the harm caused to the victims is the same.

Is it the influence of a monster that brings about this discomfort, so that over time people have no choice but to isolate her?

It shouldn't be due to a leg disability. Asakawa Riku is confident that no one but him should be able to tell that Chizuko-senpai's leg is a prosthesis.

Objectively speaking, Chizuko-senpai is quite cute. If the truth about her disability were revealed, she would likely receive even more sympathy and affection, which would be enough to resolve the current situation.

But she did not choose to do so.

Out of pride, or perhaps because she has no dissatisfaction with the status quo? Judging from the way she eats alone in the activity room, she seems quite relaxed and at ease.

In short, it was through this reasoning that Riku Asakawa deduced that Chizuko-senpai would have lunch here. She was isolated by various cliques and could not stay in the classroom. Since the school did not have a cafeteria or similar places, and there was an activity room, she did not need to go to the rooftop or the toilet. This was her secret space.

...

Riku Asakawa didn't explain his reasoning process. Instead, he smiled at Chizuko and said:

"Kazamatsuri-senpai, may I ask if you made your own bento?"

"……what?"

Tsuchigumo no Spring: Chapter Eleven - No Senior Will Make a Bento for a Junior

Chizuko put down her chopsticks and wiped her lips with a tissue:

"Asakawa-san, I don't think any senior would make a bento for a junior."

"So, it really was you who did it."

Asakawa Riku stared at the empty lunchbox: "It looks delicious."

Chizuko rolled her eyes: "If I remember correctly, we finalized the details of the transaction yesterday. It's not fair for you to add conditions now."

Yesterday's deal was that Chizuko would explain the truth about the yokai world to Riku Asakawa in exchange for Riku Asakawa joining the mystery club and solving the murder-prediction love letter case.

She's right; it definitely has nothing to do with making bento boxes.