Return to battle and faith
Bright lights shone evenly, filling the air with a quiet atmosphere, and the sound of pages turning was gentle and unhurried. Oda Sakunosuke sat in the chair in front of the desk, engrossed in the book.
The discovery that his new friend loved reading filled Tsurumi Nagare with a sense of admiration, a feeling that usually gave him a headache when reading long texts. He idly flipped through the envelopes on the table, while simultaneously unable to resist the urge to look at the book in Oda's hands.
Tsurumi Kawaru lay on the table, tilting his head forward and craning his neck: "Is this good? What's it about?"
When he took it out just now, he only opened it and flipped through it casually. When he saw the dense text, he lost interest and threw it on the table.
Oda Sakunosuke looked up from his book, his bright blue eyes still gleaming. When he started talking about Natsume-sensei's book, the usually calm and composed young man suddenly became quite talkative.
Tsurumi Kawakami blinked, his golden eyes appearing even more translucent and clear under the light, like a piece of amber. He nodded, as if understanding, and changed the subject, asking, "Does Oda really like Natsume Soseki's books?"
Oda Sakunosuke calmed down slightly and nodded: "Yes. I've read all of Natsume-sensei's books, but it's a pity that one of them only has the first volume, and there's no sequel."
Oda Sakunosuke still felt some regret when he brought this up.
Tsurumi Kawakami looked curious and asked, "Eh, why didn't you continue writing?"
Oda Sakunosuke recalled the same question he had asked Natsume Soseki a few years ago, just like Tsurumi Ryu. Snapping out of his reverie, he shook his head and handed the book back to Tsurumi Ryu.
"Thank you, it's getting late, I should go back now."
Tsurumi Kawakami took the book and casually put it back in the drawer. He glanced at the time; it was almost nine o'clock. At this hour, he was usually close to bedtime, so he didn't try to keep him. Instead, he waved goodbye to Oda.
After seeing Oda off, Tsurumi Kawaru strolled to the door, pushed it open, and peered out with curiosity. There were no streetlights nearby, and in the deep darkness, the bright moonlight was enough to make out outlines. The surroundings were quiet.
After enjoying the night breeze for a while and killing a few mosquitoes, Tsurumi Kawakami closed the door and wandered around the room aimlessly. Suddenly, he noticed the low cabinet next to the sofa and his eyes lit up.
Tsurumi Kawaru opened the cabinet door, and his expression immediately turned to joy and surprise when he saw the two cans of crab meat hidden inside: "Dazai's canned crab meat!"
He took the canned food out and put it together with his piggy bank.
After finding the canned food that Dazai had hidden, Tsurumi Kawakami seemed to have flipped some strange switch, and began searching everywhere in the house. He took out anything useful and put it aside, intending to take it with him later.
Gradually, more and more things piled up on the table. Tsurumi Kawaru was immersed in the joy of rummaging through things. He took out a nail clipper from somewhere and stuffed it into his pocket: "Hmm, take this too."
He then crawled into the cabinet, trying to take out the metal box inside.
Just then, a clear voice, tinged with doubt, suddenly rang out from behind.
"What are you doing"
Hearing the sound, Tsurumi Kawa was startled and bumped his head on the top of the cabinet with a loud thud. Something on the cabinet fell to the ground with a crisp sound.
"Wow—!! That scared me to death!"
Tsurumi Kawaru covered his head as he stepped out of the cabinet, turning to meet a pair of curious, emerald-green eyes. He looked at the black-haired boy dressed in a strange outfit and wearing a brown cloak.
Tsurumi Kawakami rubbed the back of his head, stared at him, and asked, "Who are you? Are you here to trade information too?"
"Ranpo-sama isn't here to buy information." The boy who called himself Ranpo-sama looked Tsurumi Kawaru up and down, and said in a cheerful tone like a little bird, "So you don't know where the president and the others went either?"
Completely bewildered, Tsurumi Kawakami repeated, "President."
Ranpo pouted, giving him a disapproving look while muttering under his breath, "Ugh, another idiot. The president is the president, after all. We're the Armed Detective Agency. I'm the only detective, you know."
Tsurumi Nagaru only realized that this person was with the silver-haired man who left with Dr. Mori when he was gesturing and talking. Moreover, the other party was actually a detective.
Seeing the surprised look on Ranpo's face, he gave a proud snort. Tsurumi Kawa clapped his hands enthusiastically and said with an admiring and straightforward expression, "Wow! You're amazing! I've only ever seen detectives on TV."
Ranpo circled him, his gaze shifting from his hands to a pile of clutter on his desk: "Are you taking all of this? Why even the tissues?"
He walked to the table, picked up an opened pack of tissues, turned around and asked Tsurumi Kawakami.
Tsurumi Kawaru followed to the table, looking at the pile of things with a rare headache. He looked left and right, trying to find a bag to pack them all in: "Of course we have to take them with us. The tissues have been opened and will get damp and moldy if we don't use them. It would be a waste not to take them with us."
Ranpo wrinkled his nose, reluctantly accepting his reason, and then noticed some other odds and ends.
"Did the president and the others say when they'll be back?"
Tsurumi Ryu pulled a supermarket plastic bag from under his desk and said as he filled it with odds and ends, "Dr. Mori said he'll be back before ten o'clock."
He glanced at the time and said to Ranpo, "Ah, it's already past nine o'clock. People should be sleeping by now."
Ranpo looked at Tsurumi Kawakami with a surprised expression, and said in shock, "Why are you going to bed so early instead of playing games?"
Tsurumi Kawaru grunted, somewhat annoyed, and said, "Dazai won't play with me. He said I'm terrible at games."
"Oh, in that case, you shouldn't play anymore," Ranpo silently swallowed the words he was about to say and sincerely suggested.
Tsurumi Kawa didn't realize the meaning behind Ranpo's words. He just complained to him a few times, then put all the odds and ends on the table into a bag and put it together with the piggy bank.
Ranpo sat in a chair watching him, then suddenly said out of the blue, "You haven't been scammed, have you?"
Tsurumi Kawakami paused for a second, then turned around, his clear golden eyes revealing utter bewilderment: "What?"
Ranbu turned his chair around, squinted at the room, and said with a troublesome but well-intentioned look, "You're a superhuman, right? And your superpowers must be very strong, which is why the doctor at this clinic took you in. Did he promise you anything? You weren't tricked, were you?"
Upon hearing Ranpo's words, Tsurumi Kawakami realized what he meant and listened carefully. He shook his head and said to Mori Ōgai with a serious expression, "Dr. Mori didn't lie to me."
Although Tsurumi Kawaru could only manage to eat half a meal before, out of consideration for Dr. Mori's wallet, Mori Ougai did take him in when he first arrived and gave him a place to stay.
Ranpo, however, was not quite convinced. After all, such a capable but simple-minded fool was the easiest person for a wicked adult to deceive.
The two chatted casually, and time flew by until 9:40. At this moment, Ranbu, who had been watching outside, suddenly stood up and walked towards the door.
Tsurumi Kawakami paused for a moment, then realized what was happening and followed him to the door.
Upon seeing the people emerging from the darkness, Tsurumi Kawaru happily pushed open the door and called out to them, "Dr. Mori! You're back!"
He then noticed that the silver-haired man was carrying someone on his back. The person heard his voice, raised their head from their back, and revealed a pale, sickly face and a pair of wary eyes.
Tsurumi Kawa was taken aback for a moment, and Mori Ōgai and President Fukuzawa walked over one after the other.
Once they came into the bright light, Tsurumi Kawakami realized that the two adults were in a rather disheveled state, their feet covered in thick black mud and their trouser legs splattered with a few barely noticeable specks of mud.
When Fukuzawa saw the extra people in the clinic, his expression turned a little sour the moment he saw Ranpo, but he didn't say anything, only giving a signal with his eyes.
When Mori Ougai saw their interaction, he immediately realized that he was a member of the detective agency.
President Fukuzawa carefully placed the person on his back onto a chair, his face calm and serious as he looked at Mori Ougai: "Dr. Mori, I think we need to discuss Yosano's matter further."
Mori Ougai's expression changed, a glint of light flashing in his dark red eyes. He glanced at Yosano Akiko, who was hanging her head and saying nothing, and then followed Fukuzawa outside.
After the adults left, Tsurumi Kawaru was very curious about the person they had brought back. He walked up to Yosano, his gaze lingering on her plain nightgown for a few seconds, before greeting her warmly.
"Your name is Yosano?" Tsurumi asked, recalling the name the adult had mentioned earlier.
Ranpo, who came in from the doorway, looked rather annoyed. Seeing Tsurumi Kawakami talking incessantly, he glanced at Yosano Akiko, who was still hanging her head and remaining silent, and said, "Are you an idiot? She doesn't want to talk to you at all, yet you keep bothering her."
After being scolded, Tsurumi Kawa was momentarily bewildered. He looked around and subconsciously apologized.
At this moment, Xie Ye, who had been keeping her head down, reacted. She raised her head, revealing a pale face, and her empty eyes suddenly showed emotion.
"No, I don't need your apology." His voice was hoarse, as if he hadn't spoken in a long time.
Ranpo looked at her and suddenly frowned, saying as if deliberately or unintentionally, "The president and the doctor are fighting."
Upon hearing his words, Xie Ye reacted strongly, turning to look at him with a hint of pain in his dark red eyes.
Tsurumi Kawakami, who was standing nearby, ran straight to the door and exclaimed in surprise when he saw Alice appear next to Mori Ougai: "Dr. Mori released Alice!"
Ranpo frowned and glanced back at the startled Tsurumi Kawakami, then turned back to her with a rare serious expression: "I know a little about your situation from the president. Regardless of what happened in the past, you can make a choice now."
Yosano suddenly raised her head, her eyes trembling slightly. Then her eyes reddened and welled up with tears: "Do I still have a choice? No matter what, my ability will hurt others. I don't want to continue like this."
Ranpo knelt down in front of her, looking directly into her troubled eyes, and said firmly, "Of course you have a choice. If you don't want to stay, you can come to our detective agency."
Yosano: "Do you need my special ability too?"
Ranpo shook his head, stared at her intently, and said in a light tone, "Although our detective agency is just starting out and does need a doctor, you can decide when to use your ability, or you don't have to if you don't want to."
Upon hearing his words, Yosano opened his mouth, his pupils trembling as he stared straight at Ranpo in front of him.
Ranpo: "What we need is your gentleness."
Upon hearing this, the black-haired, red-eyed girl trembled, her shoulders shaking, and tears streamed down her face. Through her blurry vision, she looked at Ranpo in front of her, her voice choked with emotion: "Okay."
Ranpo immediately relaxed upon receiving a reply, flashing her a bright smile. "Detective Ranpo, on behalf of the Armed Detective Agency, welcomes you!"
At that moment, Tsurumi Kawakami, who had just walked over, heard Ranpo's welcoming speech and looked at them in confusion. Suddenly, he noticed the tears on Yosano's face and stood there helplessly.
He looked at the detective next to Yosano: "Ranpo, you made her cry."
Ranpo stood up, blocking Yosano from behind. He put one hand on his hip, puffed out his cheeks, and said somewhat angrily, "Hmph, Detective Ranpo would never do such a thing! Besides, Yosano is now one of our detectives!"
Tsurumi Kawaru looked at him with a wronged expression after being scolded, and for a moment he seemed a little weak: "Oh."
Ranpo snorted, turned around, handed a tissue to Yosano, then walked outside and glanced at the adults still fighting. He then said to Tsurumi Kawaru, who had followed him, "The president is going to win."
Upon hearing this, Tsurumi looked over, and a blinding white light flashed as President Fukuzawa's sword tip came to rest on Mori Ou's outer neck.
In the arena, Fukuzawa pointed his sword at Mori Ougai's neck, his sharp gaze fixed on him, before he lowered the sword and sheathed it.
“This time, I won.” He looked at Mori Ougai and said calmly.
Slightly embarrassed, Mori Ougai forced a smile. He put away the scalpel, subtly rubbed his numb hand, and then put away his superpower, Alice.
"As expected of Lord Silver Wolf, your swordsmanship is indeed very impressive," Mori Ougai said with a smile.
Fukuzawa's jaw tightened, he gave Mori Ougai a cold glance, put his hands in his sleeves, and walked past him toward the clinic.
Mori Ougai turned around and looked at the clinic. He saw Fukuzawa go in and then come out with the detective and Yosano shortly after. When he passed Tsurumi Kawaru at the door, he nodded to him and then left with his men.
During this time, the other person did not look up at him even once.
Tsurumi Kawa watched Ranpo and the others leave, then turned around and saw Mori Ougai standing behind them. He was startled, then asked happily, "Dr. Mori, shouldn't we go back now? It's past ten o'clock."
Mori Ougai straightened his trench coat and responded.
Tsurumi Kawakami ran back to the clinic with a happy expression, picked up a large bag from the chair, and hugged a piggy bank in his arms. He glanced at the thick stack of letters on the table, paused for a second, and then picked it up.
Once inside the car, Tsurumi Kawa placed the bag at his feet, then, leaning against the back of the passenger seat, handed the letter to Mori Ougai in front: "Dr. Mori, there's a letter for you."
Mori Ougai paused for a moment, then took the letter. His gaze froze for a second when he saw the address written on the letter.
"...That's good news." He smiled, a pleased expression on his face.
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*This is a direct quote from the plot. Here's an extra third of the chapter, only finished writing at 1:30 AM, the time is a bit creepy. Thank you all for your support! *kissing everyone!*
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