Chapter 110 The Man in the Baseball Cap...

After hearing Tsukino and Chiya's reply, the man's smile became more genuine, and he pulled out a chair without much movement and sat down opposite Tsukino and Chiya.

Tsukino and Chiya ignored the sound of the chair being pulled out opposite them. After saying "Okay," he continued to look down at the novel he was holding.

From across the table, one could hear the man sharing the table softly ordering food from the waiter, and the waiter confirming with the man that everything was correct.

The café had a quiet atmosphere, so the man and the waiter deliberately kept their voices down to avoid disturbing others. However, since they were sharing a table and were very close, Tsukino and Chiya could still hear them.

However, this didn't affect Tsukino and Chiya much. When he wanted to focus on something, nothing could distract him except for a huge, earth-shattering noise. Besides, the man and the waiter weren't even that loud.

Tsukino and Chiya were engrossed in the story depicted in the book.

He was reading a mystery novel that incorporated elements of folklore and supernatural tales.

During summer vacation, the male protagonist, a college student, is invited to become a tutor for a pair of twin high school students. During a casual conversation while tutoring the siblings, he learns about a rumor that was popular at the siblings' school before the vacation, involving a kind of psychic game similar to "fox, dog, and raccoon divination".

It is said that the game can summon the spirits of the dead when played by two or more people, allowing communication with them. However, the dead can only answer "yes" or "no" three times, and after asking the questions, a complicated ritual must be performed to send the spirits of the dead back, otherwise irreversible consequences will occur.

Then one day, the older twin is unexpectedly murdered, his death gruesome, and the killer remains unknown. The younger twin, heartbroken and desperate, resolves to use psychic abilities to retrieve her brother's soul, hoping to use this to help find the murderer. The male protagonist, unable to bear seeing his sister's devastation and also wanting to find the killer himself, ultimately agrees to participate in the séance…

Overall, it's a classic novel that combines elements of school ghost stories and murder cases. While the novel is filled with supernatural elements, it's actually just that some characters use ghost stories and folklore to mislead the reader; the final outcome is still scientifically sound. The folklore sections are indeed very interesting and well-integrated into the story, and the mystery-solving parts aren't too contrived.

Tsukino and Chiya have almost finished reading the story.

He has already watched the final revelation; now all that's left is the epilogue after everything has settled.

"Not bad, huh?" Tsukino thought to himself. Although his impulsive trip to the bookstore wasn't originally to buy this book by an unfamiliar new author, but rather because he suddenly remembered a story written by someone and planned to reread it, he ended up buying this novel with a theme he liked, abandoning his plan to reread the original work.

I wonder when I'll be able to see that person's new book; I guess I'll have to wait a while longer.

After all, if I'm not mistaken, that person is probably still rushing to finish the manuscript. It will take some time before the manuscript is submitted and officially published, so it's probably still a long way off before I can see his new book in bookstores.

Although there was still a small part left to read, Tsukino and Chiya abandoned their plan to read it all at once. The black-haired boy, who had been looking down at the book, casually tidied the strands of hair that had fallen onto the pages, placed the bookmark that came with the book on the page he had read, closed the book, and casually placed it on the table.

He took a sip of the cold drink he had ordered earlier.

At this moment, the drinks and food that the man across from them had ordered were brought over by the waiter. Apart from initially asking to share a table, the man did not have any further conversation with Tsukino and Chiya.

They don't bother each other, each doing their own thing, creating a great sense of distance, which is very fitting for strangers meeting for the first time.

Tsukino and Chiya scooped a spoonful of cake into their mouths, savoring the sweet yet not cloying creamy flavor, while glancing towards the doorway. Just moments ago, the wind chimes hanging at the shop entrance had tinkled crisply as the door was pushed open.

—Are you here yet?

After swallowing the cream, Tsukino and Chiya took another sip of their drink. Because they had just eaten cake, the drink didn't taste as sweet as before, but Chiya didn't mind.

The person who entered alone was a young man wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, and he was wearing a pair of leather gloves on his hands as he pushed the door open.

The young man's skin was an abnormal, almost lifeless pale color compared to that of ordinary people. The last time Tsukino and Chiya had seen someone with such a complexion was when Ohma Kokichi.

The person who pushed open the door was different from ordinary people in both appearance and demeanor.

He exuded a chilling aura. Tsukino and Chiya had initially thought that the description of "being covered in cold air" was just an exaggerated description that could only be seen in novels, but after seeing this person, they felt that the description seemed to have become realistic.

Well, if you only look at their appearance, this person can easily give people the first impression that "they don't seem very easy to get along with."

However, if it's just a fleeting encounter with a complete stranger who will never have any further contact in the future, then of course it doesn't matter, right?

Tsukino and Chiya glanced at him casually, as if drawn by the sound of wind chimes outside the door, before looking away and continuing to eat their cake with spoons.

However, he vaguely sensed that this seemingly unapproachable newcomer, as if he already had an appointment, walked straight towards a seat that was already occupied.

That spot was also located near a corner of the store, meaning it was near where Tsukino and Chiya were currently. Or to be more precise, it was a spot separated from Chiya by an aisle.

They certainly seemed to have arranged to meet. Otherwise, why would the new guest sit down in the empty seat at the opposite table without even asking?

Tsukino and Chiya were seated only an aisle away from the two people. The distance between them wasn't far, but it wasn't close enough for them to hear the conversation clearly. Moreover, the two people didn't raise their voices while speaking.

...That's how it should be, logically speaking.

In fact, Tsukino and Chiya still heard what they were saying.

"You are one of the murderers."

The conversation began with such blunt and somewhat baffling remarks.

They came on strong, and were certainly not friendly... although it's true that there's no need to be friendly to the "murderer."

"What are you talking about?" Upon suddenly hearing this inexplicable accusation, the other person's voice naturally carried a clear sense of confusion. "No, by the way, who are you?"

"Playing dumb?" The man in the baseball cap spoke with a voice as cold as his demeanor. "You prisoners, it seems like you won't give up until all the evidence is laid out in front of you, as if it's some kind of tacit agreement."

"It's fine to play dumb to avoid being scammed, but to put up such a futile resistance when you already realize you've been discovered is just a waste of time."

After saying that, the man paused slightly. The other person sitting opposite him, as if to confirm what he had just said, then said things like, "I don't understand what you're saying" and "You've mistaken me for someone else."

The man wearing a baseball cap sighed.

Then, as if he hadn't heard what the other person was saying at all, he continued, "The other murderer is the man with a scar on his face who sits closest to the door."

"You framed that innocent doctor and misled others into believing that the series of murders was caused by the doctor's supernatural abilities."

"But in reality, the whole thing has nothing to do with superpowers. It's just that people sometimes have a preconceived notion that people with powerful superpowers will use their superpowers when they kill."

"You think you've escaped, and you've made the residents upstairs in this shop your new targets."

"Evidence? Of course there is, that is..."

The man in the baseball cap presented evidence to identify the murderer. Tsukino and Chiya found it interesting to hear the detective's crime-solving process, but they also felt there was no need to listen any further.

Tsukino and Chiya finished the last bite of cake, then took a tissue to wipe the tiny bit of cream that had gotten on their lips. They then put their mouths to the straws, watching the remaining liquid in their cups gradually decrease until the straws could no longer suck up anything.

I think I'm a little too full from drinking.

Tsukino and Chiya thought this to themselves.

Then, the next second, a roar suddenly erupted from the previously quiet and harmonious coffee shop.

The man, who had been saying "What a joke!", slammed his hand on the table and stood up. It seemed that it didn't take him long to go from being at ease to trying to argue and finally to being furious.

Almost everyone in the store instinctively looked over at the sudden commotion, including Tsukino and Chiya.

He saw the man who had stood up, his face flushed, quickly look around with an angry expression, and then, upon seeing Tsukino and Chiya just across the aisle from him, he seemed to have made a decision immediately and rushed towards Chiya in a few steps.

Tsukino and Qianye: "..."

Tsukino and Qianye: "…………?"

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Author's Note: Qianye: Huh? Me?