Chapter 96
That morning, even though he was on holiday at home, Instructor Onizuka still got up early as usual.
His wife, who was used to his routine, had already prepared breakfast for him. After exchanging greetings, Instructor Onizuka sat down, picked up his cup, took a sip of water to moisten his throat, and unfolded the newspaper with one hand.
The huge Chinese characters on the headline immediately caught his eye.
Police academy...refuses...crime...
"Pfft—! Cough cough cough..."
Instructor Onizuka hadn't even swallowed a mouthful of water when he spat it out, even choking himself in the process.
"Husband?!" His wife exclaimed in surprise, quickly coming over to pat him on the back, asking with a mixture of worry and reproach, "How can you choke on water at your age?"
"Cough! Cough cough cough!!!"
Instructor Onizuka was very agitated and wanted to say something, but he couldn't stop coughing. He was coughing so violently that he couldn't even see the words clearly.
It was his wife who seemed to understand him perfectly, picking up the newspaper and glancing at the headline: "A student rejected by the police academy has become a bomber... Do you know him?"
"Cough cough cough cough!!! Give me, give me the newspaper!"
Instructor Onizuka finally stopped coughing and bravely took the newspaper back, reading it himself.
After seeing the photos of the prisoners with their faces blurred, Instructor Onizuka finally calmed down.
...Oh right, we've accepted Hankawa Shinryu!
His wife, still bewildered, said, "Knowing him is none of your business. Isn't this a perfect excuse? You all realized this guy isn't suited to be a policeman, that's why you rejected him. Is there a problem?"
"No problem, of course no problem." Instructor Onizuka breathed a sigh of relief and wiped away his cold sweat. "Sigh, I was too nervous."
After interviewing Shinryu Hanakawa, he and his colleague, who was also in charge of the interview, had several nightmares while hesitating about whether to admit Shinryu Hanakawa: "Because we didn't admit him, Shinryu Hanakawa became the Moriarty of the criminal world, and the police academy was caught in a media storm."
He even vividly dreamt of reporters with their cameras and microphones blocking his way, questioning him about whether he had considered the consequences if someone as academically gifted as Hanchuan Shenliu were to commit a crime…
Reporters won't analyze things as rationally as his wife; they'll only write about sensational stories to generate more controversy, turning the criminal into someone who could have had a bright future, and whose criminal status was ruined by prejudice at the police academy.
He dreamt about it so often that he sometimes couldn't distinguish between reality and dreams. This time, he almost thought that his nightmare had finally come true. Only after calming down did he realize that Han Chuan Shenliu had been accepted.
Moreover, he's already an intern, so even if Hanchuan Shenliu commits another crime in the future... While police crimes are big news, they're not uncommon.
Based on experience, the impact on police academies is minimal. At most, reporters will offer symbolic criticism, focusing their attacks on the entire police system as if the Japanese police force is full of criminals and Japan is doomed.
After all, one's position determines one's perspective; criticizing the police and those in power generates more buzz than criticizing a single criminal.
His colleague, who had interviewed Han Chuan Shenliu with him, had probably seen the headline too, and just then called him: "Have you seen the news?!"
"I saw it."
My colleague was incredibly excited: "Thank goodness we got Han Chuan! I can't even imagine what he would do if he wanted to take revenge on society..."
Instructor Onizuka coughed and said, "He's a good student. We admitted him because of his outstanding abilities."
"Yes, yes, that's exactly what I meant." The colleague quickly corrected himself, then added with a sigh, "I heard that reporters have already gone to the school gate..."
Instructor Onizuka was also glad he was on vacation today: "Who refused? Good riddance!"
Although it had an impact on public opinion regarding police academies, from his personal perspective, it was actually a good thing to keep a trashy person who would break down if he couldn't get into the police academy out of the police force.
It's tough on the colleague who refused the bomber; he'll be harassed for a long time by these reporters who love to distort the truth...
Colleague: "Nobody refused; this guy failed the written test."
Instructor Onizuka: "…………"
Oh... he's overthinking it. Not everyone is like Han Chuan Shenliu, so outstanding that even with such prejudice, people only hesitate rather than reject them outright.
After talking with his colleagues, Instructor Onizuka felt inexplicably excited, with a sense of fulfillment that he had actually saved someone's life.
He thought for a moment and then called Kenji Hagiwara to ask about Shinryu Kasukawa's recent situation—they were friends, so they must know something, right?
Anyway, he wouldn't dare call Captain Kikyo. If something really happened, Kenji Hagiwara would be more tactful in his words.
Kenji Hagiwara answered the phone quickly: "Instructor?"
Instructor Onizuka, unusually amiable, asked, "How was your holiday? Are you ready to go to the First Investigation Division?"
"It's not bad, the paperwork is being processed. I ran into my teammates from the explosives handling team yesterday, and they also said they didn't want me to go back... Sigh, do they really not trust my abilities? I'm a little sad."
Even knowing that Kenji Hagiwara was joking, Instructor Onizuka still said, "They just have a bit of psychological trauma, and the First Investigation Division is the dream of so many people. Everyone is happy for you that you got in... Were you meeting with the explosives disposal team yesterday?"
"No, I was supervising Xiao Shenliu's self-criticism when I got involved in a case. You may have already seen it; it's on the front page of several newspapers today—the one about failing the police academy entrance exam."
Instructor Onizuka: "…………"
Hearing no response from the other end, Kenji Hagiwara asked in confusion, "Instructor? Is the signal bad?"
"Ah... I did see that headline." Instructor Onizuka chuckled dryly. "What a coincidence... no, I mean..."
Kenji Hagiwara sympathetically understood Instructor Onizuka's incoherent speech and considerately avoided those awkward topics: "It was Shinryu who discovered the culprit. The other party was wearing a police uniform, had infiltrated the scene, and planted a bomb under the car... When everyone was raising their guns, only that person's gun-raising posture was wrong, and Shinryu noticed it at a glance."
Instructor Onizuka: "...? Everyone raise your guns?"
"It's nothing, just a misunderstanding," said Kenji Hagiwara, the strategist, casually.
But Instructor Onizuka had already guessed what had happened. His lips twitched involuntarily. He wanted to ask for clarification, but felt there was no need to ask if the other person didn't want to talk about it. In the end, he chose to change the subject, deceiving himself: "Is Hanchuan alright?"
Hanchuan Shenliu seems to know some rumors about his admission. Will he overthink things after hearing what the prisoner said?
Kenji Hagiwara replied, "Don't worry, Fukaru won't even give a damn about someone like that."
He was at the scene, and when he heard the prisoner's hoarse and defiant questioning, he was also a little worried that Xiao Shenliu might have wild thoughts.
Although Xiao Shenliu seemed not to care much when he heard those rumors before, and even made a joke like "Would it be better for the public to talk about him if he committed crimes after becoming a policeman?", it was completely different to be questioned to his face about why he was able to become a policeman.
However, Shinryu Hanakawa's spirit was much stronger than he had imagined.
The red-eyed youth looked down at the criminal lying on the ground, still unwillingly trying to look up at him, and smiled—a rare sight indeed.
"The fact that you were arrested after only committing two crimes is enough to prove..."
Kenji Hagiwara, anticipating that this guy was about to say something strange, decisively covered Shinryu Kagawa's mouth: "He meant an IQ problem. He was the top student in our police academy this year. It's only natural that such an outstanding person was admitted."
Shiratori Ninzaburo's expression was indescribable: "Oh..."
No matter how much you try to explain it, what he just said just didn't sound right!
What kind of person would give a response like, "Because if you refused me, it wouldn't just be two bombings and murders!" when asked, "What makes you think you're qualified to be a police officer?"
It's fortunate that this small area was cleared out earlier, so no one but them could hear it, and he's not the type to gossip.
But honestly, once he figured out the thought process behind Hanakawa Shinryu's answer, he was just as shocked and confused as the prisoner lying below that Hanakawa Shinryu could actually be a policeman...
The case was handled by the First Investigation Division, and since everyone involved was a police officer, Shiratori Ninzaburo considered that the three of them were on vacation and didn't seem to be planning to take credit, so he didn't have them go to the Metropolitan Police Department with him. He told them to have Kanakawa Shinryu go and take some supplementary statements when they had time.
Kenji Hagiwara said speechlessly, "Perfect, you can go back and write your self-criticism."
"...I helped the First Investigation Division solve the case, can't my merits offset my demerits?"
“No, if that prisoner goes back and complains, you'll probably have to write another one.” Kenji Hagiwara said coldly, unable to contain himself as he questioned, “How many times have I told you to watch your words? Why do you enjoy deliberately making people misunderstand you?”
Hanchuan Shenliu thought for a moment and said, "Because I like it."
Hagihara Kenji: "..."
"This guy's personality is really awful," Matsuda Jinpei complained. "Now I actually think those taciturn, cold-blooded villains in TV dramas are pretty good..."
Kenji Hagiwara took a deep breath: "Write down your apology today..."
"Achoo!" Hanchuan Shenliu suddenly sneezed.
Kenji Hagiwara was taken aback, remembering that this guy hadn't worn a coat when he came out and had been standing in the cold wind for so long; he hoped he wouldn't catch a cold.
"I'll write it tomorrow." Han Chuan Shenliu pulled up the collar of his turtleneck sweater and buried half of his face in it. "My head hurts."
Matsuda Jinpei: "...I'm starting to suspect you're deliberately trying to gain sympathy."
Kenji Hagiwara thought so too, but they've already pushed Shinryu Saekawa to the point of playing the victim... This...
He sighed, "Alright, then take your time writing, but I don't have time to revise it for you. I have to deal with the job change."
Matsuda Jinpei raised an eyebrow: "I'm free, I'll come."
Hanchuan Shenliu said expressionlessly, "No need, I'll have Ibuki-senpai look at it after I finish writing it."
Having a senior colleague watching over things is fine... as long as you can submit it, that's good. Otherwise, if you don't even write a self-criticism, then there's a problem with your attitude.
Kenji Hagiwara was somewhat relieved. He took the person home, and together with Jinpei Matsuda, they picked up their belongings and left Shinryu Samikawa's house.
However, instead of writing a proper self-criticism at home, Han Chuan Shenliu lay down to rest. The next day, he found a place to switch identities and returned to his original apartment.
Shuichi Akai was reading in the living room when he heard the door open.
He looked up and saw Bo Yezhai, who had taken his kickback.
After that phone call, Usui Saiki never contacted him again. Akai Shuichi even suspected that this guy wasn't actually that sick and had normal logic, so he was feeling guilty. But then he came back today.
"Oh, you're still here! Perfect!" Usakata Saiki seemed quite pleased.
Shuichi Akai raised an eyebrow: "How could I leave before I've received my kickback... Is there something you need?"
"I already said it's not a kickback... I need your help with something."
"Another murder?"
Bo Yezaki shook his head: "No, it's very simple, it's related to the text."
Shuichi Akai became serious.
Could it be that they're organizing the data into a computer? I've heard that modernization is particularly slow in Japan, and many civil servants don't know how to use computers...
Someone else might not necessarily entrust this kind of task to him, who hasn't even joined the organization, but with a mentally ill person like Usakabe Saiki, it's hard to say. He might be using unimportant information to test him.
"What is it? Let me think about it." Shuichi Akai played hard to get.
Bo Yezaki: "It's really simple. Can you write two self-criticism templates for me? Just use the standard for civil servants."
Akai Shuichi: "…………???"
—Does the organization really make code-name members write self-criticisms for taking kickbacks from subordinates?
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I'll update extra tonight... just to console myself. It's already a great achievement to update earlier than yesterday... a little earlier, and I'll be back to 3 AM sooner or later. Everyone's right, if we delay, it'll only get later and later...
.
Han Chuan: He was arrested after only committing two crimes. (If it were me...)
Hagiwara, who had already anticipated this: I knew you were going to pull this stunt.
Shiratori Ninzaburo, who is still unfamiliar with the Sankawa: I don't understand, just like the prisoner.
.
Akai, unaware that Usoba was also working part-time: Does the organization require me to write a self-criticism?
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