Chapter 14
Rina Natsume took a sip of beer and continued reviewing the drug data report sent by Miyako.
“Patients should abstain from alcohol, you really should get your boyfriend to keep an eye on you,” Sato said as he flipped the slices one by one with tongs until both sides were golden brown, then placed them on the plate of the young lady across from him.
"You've ordered so much meat, are you going to eat it or not?"
Rina Natsume pouted, glancing at the meat on her plate amidst her busy schedule, her face full of disgust: "You don't want to eat this burnt meat, so you just put it on my plate?"
This is what it means to be kind but unappreciated; this person is a heartless freeloader!
If his arm hadn't been broken, he would have pinched all that flesh back up.
Sato took a deep breath, rubbed his face, and then changed his expression, asking with feigned sincerity, "So what kind of food do you want, Rina? Medium-rare, medium-well, or medium-well?"
"........"
The phone vibrated twice. Natsume Rina looked up at him, then looked back at the phone screen.
Sato raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, "Have you ever gone out to eat with your boyfriend?"
Could he be a chef?
You've spoiled her so much.
Rina Natsume thought for a moment, then her fingers flew across the screen as she typed and sent a message: “You have feelings for my boyfriend.”
Remembering a less-than-pleasant misunderstanding, Sato decisively said, "No, I was just curious, that's all."
“Curiosity and uncontrollable concern are the seeds of love,” Natsume Rina said seriously. “If you have designs on him, I will tell Yukiho-nee, so you should give up on this idea as soon as possible.”
Sato forced a smile, but gritted his teeth. "How many times have I told you? I'm not gay."
Rina Natsume smiled and said, "Then don't ask, or I'll misunderstand."
"You just don't want to talk about it." Thinking of this, Sato pulled out a towel from the side to wipe his hands and changed the subject. "So, what exactly are you looking at?"
Rina Natsume: "Junichi Takahashi's corpse."
Eating barbecue while looking at corpses...
This astonishing quirk is exactly the same as Miyako's.
Sato asked, "What did you find?"
Rina Natsume put down her phone and said calmly, "I should know what drugs were found in Junichi Takahashi's autopsy."
"Corpse!" Upon hearing these two words, the waiter felt a chill run down his spine, and his gossipy expression instantly turned into fear. "Um... this is the lettuce ordered by the second person, sir. Well, all the dishes have been served. Enjoy your meal!"
After saying that, he quickly ran into the kitchen.
“Studying corpses at the dinner table, look at the state you’ve terrified people,” Sato paused, “What kind of drugs are they?”
Rina Natsume slightly raised her eyes, "Psilocybenosiderin."
"Speak like a human being." As the head of the First Investigation Division, Sato certainly had a bad temper. Sometimes, when faced with a difficult case, he would definitely fall out with his subordinates, no matter who they were.
So privately, everyone calls him "the devil's nightmare".
However, this time he immediately realized that he needed to change this habit.
He said with a smile, "Little Rina."
"......."
Rina Natsume was thoroughly disgusted and closed her eyes to calm herself down.
"Psilocybene is extracted from certain poisonous mushrooms. After consumption, people may experience color distortion or disorientation, possibly accompanied by panic and paranoia. This substance has many side effects and is still under development."
This is considered a good match for my major.
"It shouldn't be from eating poisonous mushrooms, right?" Sato smirked. "What's this thing used to treat?"
Rina Natsume smiled. "It's not a treatment. This kind of thing usually becomes a component of hallucinogens."
"Hallucinogens?" Sato's expression turned serious. He paused briefly in thought before saying, "These things are prohibited by law, aren't they?"
Rina Natsume: "That's about right. These kinds of things interfere with the normal function of neurotransmitters in the brain, causing people to experience hallucinations, cognitive confusion, mood swings, and other abnormal mental states. They are extremely harmful to physical and mental health and are irreversible."
Sato couldn't help but frown: "A normal person wouldn't take something like this, not even the Mafia—"
Natsume Rina picked up her wine glass, but before she could even bring it to her lips, a cold hand suddenly pressed down on her wrist. "Sister, you shouldn't drink when you're sick. It's bad for your health."
The hand was almost touching her lips, the beautiful blue veins on the back of the hand like a perfect work of art sculpted by a master.
Kurosawa Shiran smiled faintly and took the wine glass from her hand without batting an eye.
Natsume Rina stared at the captivating eyes under the light, momentarily flustered.
I feel like I've seen it somewhere before, but I can't remember where.
Sato chuckled, "Oh, so you're your boyfriend of four years in a long-distance relationship!"
Rina Natsume paused slightly, withdrew her hand, and continued looking at her phone.
Kurosawa Shiran sat down next to her, close to her.
Then, she smiled faintly at Sato and handed him the paper bag with both hands: "Sato-senpai, this is a cake I bought from a dessert shop. I came in a hurry, so I'll definitely make up for it next time."
Is there really such a good-looking man in the world?
Sato stared at the other person's face, taking the item with him. "He's quite sensible, a good kid."
Natsume Rina: "......"
Two idiots.
Kurosawa Shiran smiled and said, "I often hear my sister mention you, senior. You are an excellent and responsible police officer. Your work must be very hard, right?"
"Hahaha," Sato said, his mind seemingly clouded by the alcohol. "It's alright, it's alright."
Kurosawa Shiran called over a waitress and asked them to prepare some tea. Then she turned around and said, "Sister, the oolong tea here is pretty good. I'll change your beer for you."
Sato, observing this scene, expressed his approval: "That's right! That's how it should be. You're missing a boyfriend like that to keep you in check and prevent you from being so willful. Young man, I have high hopes for you!"
After saying that, he felt something was off. "But why do you look so familiar?"
Her boyfriend's height is quite unusual in the country.
Natsume Rina: "..."
Is it finally going to grow a brain?
“Senior, we’ve met before,” Kurosawa Shiran kindly reminded her, “at the annex.”
Sato searched his memory for a moment, then exclaimed in shock, "You're Hoshino?!"
Kurosawa Shiran nodded obediently.
Sato's face fell instantly. His gaze lingered between the two of them. After a long pause, he slammed his hand on the table and stood up: "I object to your marriage!"
Everyone: "......."
In an instant, all the customers in the barbecue restaurant, including the waiters, turned their attention to it.
Natsume Rina: "..."
Kurosawa Shiran was taken aback and blinked: "Sister, have you already decided to marry me?"
Rina Natsume: "Can't you two use your brains?"
Kurosawa Shiran hugged him tightly and said excitedly, "I do!"
He didn't dare hug too tightly, but simply wrapped his arms around the person.
"You're willing my ass! Who agreed to your marriage? Get your filthy hands off me!" Sato stood up agitatedly, about to hit him.
Suddenly a gentle voice came from behind.
"Junji, I've been looking for you at the hospital for ages! Turns out you were drinking here. Looks like you don't want to go home."
Upon hearing this, Sato immediately sat back down, drenched in sweat, looking like a wilted eggplant.
Rina Natsume put down her phone and smiled slightly: "Sister Yukiho."
"It's Rina! It's been so long! Rina has become even more beautiful!" Yukiho exclaimed in surprise. "What happened? Are you injured?"
Rina Natsume said, "I fell by accident. Yukiho-nee, sit down and eat with us too."
Sato took the bag from her hand and made room for her. Yukiho sat down, looking worried: "It looks serious. What did the doctor say?"
Rina Natsume: "It'll be fine after a few days of rest."
Xuehui said earnestly, "Even so, they shouldn't be here."
Rina Natsume: "Sato-senpai said he would treat me to a meal, so I came."
Is this something a human being would say?
Sato weakly said, "I didn't order the drinks."
Xuehui turned to look at him: "Junji, are you saying that these bottles came by themselves and then poured the wine into the glasses?"
Sato looked up at the culprit opposite him.
Rina Natsume seemed not to notice, took a sip of oolong tea, and asked, "What have you been busy with lately, Yukiho-nee?"
"I'll teach you a lesson when we get home!" Xuehui glared at him angrily, then noticed the boy beside her. "Still working at that same financial company, everything's fine. By the way, who is this...?"
Kurosawa Shiran tried his best to play the role of an obedient and sensible boy. "Hello, Yukiho-neechan, I am Hoshino Rin."
"What a lovely child. Junji is so unreliable, letting you drink." Yukiho paused for a moment, thinking of their hug just now, and asked, "You are...?"
Rina Natsume: "...Come over for a meal together."
"Sister?" Kurosawa Shiran looked at her with an ambiguous expression, making them seem like a young couple having a tiff.
Xuehui chuckled softly and said kindly, "You seem to have a good relationship. Hoshino must be working hard taking care of Rina, right?"
Kurosawa Shiran: "No, my sister is very good to me."
Rina Natsume said with a hint of helplessness, "Yukiho-nee...."
She is capable of taking care of herself.
"Okay, stop talking," Xuehui said, her heart feeling heavy as she recalled their last meeting.
She said with a hint of reproach, "That time, you really scared me. I always thought you were being bullied abroad."
Kurosawa Shiran's fingertips twitched slightly. "Did someone bully my sister?"
Rina Natsume: "No, it's just that the academic pressure is too much."
Xuehui breathed a sigh of relief. "I think your mental state was really bad during that time, but thankfully, you've recovered now."
Rina Natsume: "That's an exaggeration."
Xuehui lowered her head. "We're really worried about you, but we often can't get in touch with you."
Rina Natsume felt a rare pang of guilt: "I change my phone number occasionally."
The atmosphere grew tense. Sato pushed aside the cumbersome wine glasses and poured Yukiho a cup of tea. "By the way, how did you find us?"
When this was mentioned, Xuehui laughed in exasperation, “When I came out of the hospital, I heard someone say that there were two weirdos at the barbecue restaurant who hadn’t even taken off their hospital gowns and were queuing for a table at the entrance.”
Natsume Rina: "..."
“That’s right.” Kurosawa Shiran nodded in agreement.
We didn't chat for long before it got quite late.
After everyone left the barbecue restaurant, Yukiho went to the dry cleaners next door to pick up her clothes, while Kurosawa Shiran told Rina to wait for him there and then disappeared.
Sato thought for a moment, then asked with some concern, "Are you sure you want to be discharged?"
Rina Natsume smiled and said, "I'm going to Yokohama to check on my sister's things."
Sato took out a cigarette case from his pocket and said, "Be careful."
Rina Natsume looked up at him and took the things from her hands.
Sato was shocked and was about to ask her, "You smoke?" when he saw her slowly take out a lighter, and with a "click," a flame shot out. Her movements were casual and lazy, yet very practiced.
The pale smoke drifted from her lips, blurring the emotions on her face and leaving a faint smell of tobacco.
Sato frowned slightly.
He suddenly realized that he had never truly understood the person in front of him.
That feeling of unfamiliarity and remoteness was vividly displayed in that instant.
I never knew the smell of smoke could be so repulsive.
She shouldn't be a smoker.
Rina Natsume flicked the ash from her cigarette with her fingertip: "Haven't you noticed yet?"
Sato was very dissatisfied with her current behavior. With a tightness in his chest, he said in a deep voice, "Takahashi Junichi's death was a cover-up by the mafia. She may be hiding a secret."
Rina Natsume said, "Junichi Takahashi's emotional breakdown, his second wife Shiori Fujiwara's mental breakdown, and his first wife's heart failure may all be the result of hallucinogen injections. Someone is experimenting on them, including my sister. You should have noticed that there have indeed been many similar cases in the country recently. Judging from the scale of this crime, there must be a huge organization behind it."
Sato clenched his fists uncontrollably, his tone icy: "You're investigating them?"
Rina Natsume didn't say anything.
The brightly lit shopping mall was bustling with people, and the noise of the crowd seemed to drown out everything else.
Sato took a deep breath and tried to express his thoughts: "Takizawa investigated this case, so you guys..."
"Investigate the consequences of doing so," Natsume Rina added, without much emotion, the rest of what he hadn't finished saying.
Sato's expression changed, and he said sternly, "What I want to say is that this matter is very dangerous!"
Rina Natsume: "So please stop interfering."
Sato stared intently at her: "Are you crazy? Do you even know what you're doing?"
"You know nothing, you'll die." Natsume Rina lowered her eyes to hide the unreadable emotions in them, stubbed out her cigarette, and threw it into the trash can next to her.
Then he turned and left.
Sato rubbed his face hard, about to chase after her, when Yukiho grabbed his arm from behind. "You smoked again? Where's Rina?"
He glanced back, and in that short time, the person had disappeared into the crowd.
"Sister, need a ride?" Kurosawa Shiran crossed her arms and leaned against a black SUV, giving her a flirtatious wink.
Natsume Rina didn't say anything, and waited for him to open the car door before getting into the passenger seat.
The car was completely quiet. Kurosawa Shiran turned her head to look at her, noticing that she was in a low mood, and gave a faint smile, "Sister?"
Having just undergone surgery, coupled with the effects of alcohol, my head was throbbing with pain.
Rina Natsume leaned back in the car seat, closing her eyes wearily, her hands on her knees tightening uncontrollably.
An unbelievable thought arose in Kurosawa Shiran's mind. She lowered her eyes slightly, concealing the deep smile within.
He stared at her lips and moved closer silently.
The distance is getting closer and closer.
Natsume Rina suddenly opened her eyes, met his gaze, her heart tightened, and her voice was hoarse: "What are you doing?"
In an instant, Kurosawa Shiran felt as if her heart had been scratched by a kitten, and her whole body tensed up. "...Sister, you're not wearing a seatbelt."
Natsume Rina calmed herself down in a few breaths, turned her face away, didn't speak, and pursed her pale lips.
I'm so angry!
It was so close.
Kurosawa Shiran fastened his seatbelt, still harboring ulterior motives. He leaned over the steering wheel, turned his head, and stared at her. "Sister, I want to kiss you."
Natsume Rina finally glanced at him and smiled, "No."
"...Huh?" Kurosawa Shiran was still a little aggrieved for a moment. "Why?"
Rina Natsume: "I have a boyfriend."
If her boyfriend turned into a corpse, her sister probably wouldn't care about him anymore.
Kurosawa Shiran was in high spirits as she thought about the upcoming plans. "So, where do we go next?"
Rina Natsume didn't know why he suddenly became so emotional. She looked at the dark sky outside the window and sighed helplessly, "My house."
Kurosawa Shiran: "Okay."
Natsume Rina: "......"
It seems we've figured out her background.
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