Chapter 25 The Thirteenth Day of the Main Body

My place was nearby, so Mingming and I didn't walk together for too long. When we arrived, I asked Mingming if she wanted to come in and sit down, but she declined.

Mingming said she had something to do, so I didn't stay any longer.

I adapt very well to living alone. Living alone can amplify feelings of loneliness, but it doesn't necessarily mean being alone.

The next day, I went to the detective agency.

"Or." Ranpo squinted at me, then turned to look at Yosano Akiko. "Yosano, I told you, he might come."

Yosano Akiko held her forehead: "Alright then, Mr. Ranpo."

I asked, "What happened?"

"Ranpo-san is going out." Yosano Akiko shrugged.

"No problem, Ms. Akiko." I agreed first, then asked, "Is it a commission?"

“No.” Yosano Akiko denied my guess with a straight face, “It’s just simple…”

"I'm going to buy some food, or..." Ranpo chimed in, his timing absolutely perfect.

I:"……"

I was overthinking it.

"I'll have to trouble you, Edakawa."

"It's alright, Ms. Akiko."

Whatever it is, I'm always happy to contribute to the Armed Detective Agency's affairs; my sometimes leisurely life actually makes me uncomfortable.

Edogawa Ranpo shouted, "Let's go, or..."

The famous detective appeared by the door at some point, dressed in a neat detective outfit.

“Okay,” I replied, then turned to Yosano Akiko. “I have to go, Akiko-san.”

She cautioned, "Be careful."

"I will, don't worry."

When I go out with Ranpo, my main role is to lead the way.

Hmm... because Ranpo gets lost very easily, and is quite prone to getting lost.

We managed to get separated halfway through a trip to an amusement park, and in the end we had to rely on the loudspeaker to shout it out.

"Please come to the radio station immediately, Mr. Edogawa Ranpo is waiting for you here."

My reaction at that moment was: ?

Think about it and you'll understand how directionally challenged Ranpo is.

I was the complete opposite of Ranpo.

You know, no one knows Yokohama better than me, and that's not an empty statement.

So you're lost?

It does not exist.

****

Ranpo and I returned home with a full load.

"Or." On the way back to the detective agency, Ranpo tugged at my sleeve.

"What's wrong, Mr. Ranpo?" I stopped obediently and gave him a questioning look.

Ranpo pointed to the street and said, "The famous detective wants to buy crepes."

"Sure, go ahead." I readily agreed.

“But,” I looked down at my hands, which were brimming with sweat, “Mr. Ranpo, you might have to buy it yourself, is that alright?”

"Hmm, it's alright." Ranpo slowly shook his head, then asked me, "Or would you like one?"

I feel like I'm laughing like an old father whose son (?) has finally grown up: "I appreciate Ranpo-san's kindness, but it's not necessary."

"Even if you change your mind later and say you want some, I won't give you mine."

I was both amused and exasperated: "I won't go back on my word." Besides, the only one who would go back on something like this is you, Mr. Ranpo.

Ranpo skipped off to buy crepes, clutching his money, while I stood a short distance in front of the shop waiting.

Behind me were the streets of Yokohama, with cars coming and going, and the occasional sound of horns.

It's currently the season between spring and summer; it's far from cold, but not hot either, making it a very comfortable time of year.

The trees along the street are covered with lush leaves, which rustle and patter when the wind blows. Occasionally, a bird will perch on a branch, then flutter its wings and fly away again, chattering.

A dozen meters away from the crepe shop stands a relatively tall clock tower, right at the corner of the street. Its exterior walls are painted brick red, making it stand out among the silver-white buildings. With its imposing stature, I noticed it at a glance.

"Oh! The famous detective is back!" A few minutes later, Ranpo walked over quickly, full of excitement, holding a crepe.

Meanwhile, the waitress next to him was shouting, "Little boy! Your change!"

He then walked a few steps and stopped, probably realizing that the clerk might be calling him. He looked back, confirmed it, and then ran back to catch the change that the waitress was holding between her fingers.

"Or! The famous detective is back!"

He gave me the change and happily scooped up a mouthful of whipped cream for himself.

If I had my hands available, I probably would have patted Ranpo on the head.

"Let's go then." Finally, I added, "Remember to stick close to me, Mr. Detective."

Ranpo and I had only taken a few steps—really, not even a few steps, we hadn't even crossed the road yet.

"Bang!"

I heard a deafening sound, like something exploded.

Then came a rather heavy "thump".

I vaguely sensed that sound; it was the sound of a heavy object falling to the ground, accompanied by a slightly crisp and sharp sound.

Two sounds came in quick succession, very close together, and extremely loud. For a moment, I felt like I was going to go deaf.

The rising dust made it impossible for me to judge the situation, and I quickly thought of Ranpo.

Mr. Ranpo is the core and brain of the Armed Detective Agency. He is the most important link, and therefore, physically speaking, he is also the most vulnerable link.

"Ranpo-san! Are you alright?!" I had to ask loudly, my speech becoming faster.

I felt my heart pounding, definitely faster than normal.

“Or,” Ranpo said, speaking more slowly than I did, “something’s happened.”

"!" I felt my heart stop for a moment.

Ranpo continued, "The crepe got dusty."

I:"……"

Oh, this.

This was indeed a problem for Ranpo.

I breathed a sigh of relief: "It's okay, we can go back and buy another one."

But another problem arose.

It's obvious that Ranpo and I are in a bad situation right now.

Ahead of Ranpo and me, the brick-paved street suddenly sank into a deep depression, with shards of broken glass scattered around it. Embedded in the very center of the depression was a very unfortunate man, face down, probably disfigured beyond repair. The broken bricks could barely outline his general shape.

His back was clad in a black leather shoe, followed by black trousers, a black overcoat, a gray vest, a black choker, and finally a black gloved hand pressing down on a black hat.

Along with Osamu Dazai, he was a member of the Port Mafia, the largest port company in Yokohama.

Nakahara Chuuya.

Oh wow.

Lately, things have been incredibly unlucky.

I'm not actually that afraid of the Port Mafia. To be honest, I used to have an alias that associated with the Port Mafia for a short time because of work, which is why I know so much about the inner workings of the Port Mafia.

Before this, I met Osamu Dazai at the Lupin bar, who was also one of the top figures in the Port Mafia, but I wasn't intimidated at all, and I could even chat with him while he was performing.

While part of the reason was that Dazai Osamu wasn't very good at fighting, another part was undoubtedly because of my status; I didn't need to be afraid of anything.

But it's clear that all of this is predicated on—

My identity is not that of Edakawa, a member of the Armed Detective Agency.

Given the Port Mafia's ruthless approach to their adversaries, I feel that if I encountered them as a member of the Detective Agency and was recognized, there's a very high chance I'd be shot dead. :)

The probability that Ranpo and I could contend with and defeat Nakahara Chuuya is about the same as the probability that I could open a domain.

Before anyone noticed, I grabbed Ranpo and turned around decisively.

I shoved the change into Ranpo's hands. "Mr. Ranpo, go buy another crepe."

Ultimately, there's still a chance I won't be recognized, since I haven't been with the detective agency for very long. If Ranpo isn't recognized... well, if no one recognizes Ranpo as a member of the detective agency, then Chuuya Nakahara's position as a senior executive might be meaningless.

You can't see me, you can't see me.

"etc."

I:……

I genuinely suspect that someone overheard my inner thoughts and then deliberately did the opposite of what I wanted.

I slowly twisted my neck, unaware of how stiff my movements appeared to others.

"Was that calling me, sir?" I turned to the side, a hint of doubt in my eyes, trying to hide from Ranbu's departing figure.

Although one's inner self is not very stable, one must maintain a composed appearance.

Chuuya Nakahara asked earnestly, "Have I seen you before?"

Behind him was a group of port mafia members cleaning up the mess.

To be fair, when Chuuya Nakahara stomped on someone with one foot, his aura was truly imposing, a typical presence that commanded respect.

But now, standing properly in front of me, that imposing aura vanished instantly. At first glance, he looked like a middle school student.

I smiled and said, "Maybe. I've done part-time jobs in many places in Yokohama. You must enjoy drinking, sir?"

"Yes." Chuuya Nakahara nodded.

“Then you may have seen me at a bar; I used to work at a bar,” I said.

No problem.

Although I met Dazai Osamu while working at Lupin Bar, Dazai Osamu and Nakahara Chuuya were partners, so rounding it off (?) I'll just say I met Nakahara Chuuya.

"Huh? You worked at a bar?"

Suddenly.

I heard a completely new yet very familiar voice.

His tone rose at the end of the sentence, indicating a question, but the question itself wasn't obvious; rather, it seemed as if he had developed some interesting interest.

God knows how desperate I was at that moment.

Every cell in my body was resisting looking at the person who came, but this world is ultimately made of matter, and there is no such thing as a true "I think, therefore I am" phenomenon. So it is impossible for him not to exist if I don't look at him or think about him.

If I could really achieve the latter, I would have ascended to godhood long ago.

My gaze slowly shifted from Chuuya Nakahara and landed on the owner of that voice.

I saw a pair of bare, iris-colored eyes, their light shimmering in the bright sunlight, appearing both bright and gentle. He smiled slightly, which made him seem even more approachable.

Ah, those familiar bandages.

—It really is Osamu Dazai.

Good grief, I'm devastated.