Case 2: The Crimson Theater Murder
Information 1: Regarding the High School Girl Detective Uzura Preview Screening
Director: Torio Hiichi
Cast: Haigamine Yuriu, Reiichi Marukoshi, Ayumi Takamine,
Yoshiaki Otowa, Takeshi Kazusa
Date: ○ Month × Day, 18:00~
Venue: Crimson Theater
Information 2: Regarding the Crimson Theater
A long-established movie theater boasting a history of over eighty years. Originally known as the Tsubaki Motion Picture Theater, it was renamed to its current title, the Crimson Theater, in the post-war era. The name is derived from the unique red color scheme that adorns the entire facility. While the economic downturn of the late 1990s drove it to the brink of permanent closure, the theater was saved by the preservation efforts of local residents and remains open for business today.
Chapter 1: I Don't Really Mind. I'm Free Anyway
Two months have passed since the passenger plane crash and Queen Irie sinking incident, said to be the worst in history.
"There's a Japanese phrase for a narrow escape that literally means 'Picking up a life.' But that bothers me. To pick something up, you have to drop it first, right? Meaning something like barely being saved and escaping death. Lately, this phrase has been bothering me. Picking up life. Picking up? What is picking up? That makes it sound like you've dropped your life once. Isn't that kind of weird? Life is something everyone possesses originally. Picking it up? But to pick it up, you inevitably have to drop it once, right? Because you can't pick up what hasn't fallen. But dropping a life means, in short, dying. There's the word 'Rakumei' (dropping life/death) too. So normally, a dropped life cannot be picked up anymore. Since you're dead the moment you drop it, there's no way you can pick it up. Isn't it weird? Don't you think? That's why, I think the phrase 'Inochihiroi' contains a contradiction."
(T/N:Inochihiroi (命拾い) It combines the kanji for "Life" and "Pick up/Gather." Sakuya is arguing that you cannot "pick up" a life unless you have "dropped" (died) it first.)
Just past 5 PM on a bustling Friday. Walking along the orderly sidewalk in Tokyo, I was passionately discussing the imperfection of words. I realized it suddenly last night, and since it was the biggest discovery recently, I wanted to tell Lilitea as soon as possible.
"Cute..."
On the other hand, Lilitea was waving slightly at a one-year-old being held by a strange woman waiting for the signal as we passed. She's not listening to my story at all.
"Hey, Lilitea!"
"What is contradictory about it? If it is 'Inochihiroi', Sakuya-sama does it all the time, do you not?"
She was listening properly.
"Regarding me, that might be so, but generally speaking..."
"In that case, 'Inochihiroi' is a word that exists only for Sakuya-sama. It's crooked."
Saying that, she reaches out casually to my necktie. Her expression was unexpectedly defenseless, so it made my heart skip a beat.
"It's fine, Lilitea. People are watching. Besides, it's just a small preview screening today, no need to be so fired up."
"What is 'just a small', I wonder. While you sprayed unfamiliar perfume on yourself when leaving."
"...You could tell?"
"It is obvious," she says, bringing her nose close to my neck. Even more embarrassing.
"This perfume is a gift from that person that arrived last week, isn't it?"
"...Was it? ...Might have been."
That person refers to none other than the rookie actress Haigamine Yuriu.
We have been invited to the insider preview screening of her first starring movie, The Movie: High School Girl Detective Uzura, and are about to head to the venue, the Crimson Theater in Tokyo.
It's been two months since I met Yuriu.
Originally, she and I lived in different worlds, but after various events, she now calls me Shishou and adores me. Last week, such a girl sent a certain present along with the invitation to the preview. When I opened the small box, the contents were a fancy perfume.
"If I didn't wear the perfume she gave me, it would feel kind of rude, wouldn't it? Naturally, Yuriu-chan is coming to the preview today as the lead."
"I am not particularly blaming you. Just, you put on a little too much."
Lilitea brings her face even closer. From her saying that, a natural nice scent different from perfume wafted. Like flowers, like fruit, like soap.
"Things like this should be just faintly fragrant."
"Really? I don't usually wear perfume, so I didn't know the amount."
Today, to match the perfume, I tried putting my arms through a going-out suit I don't usually wear. Actually, I sent my own suit to the cleaners, but there seemed to be some mistake over there and it didn't make it in time for today, so I'm reluctantly borrowing my old man's hand-me-down.
Maybe because of that, I feel like the overall silhouette and the brown color shade are going a bit against the times. But the length is perfect.
We arrived at the Crimson Theater a little past 5:30.
True to its name, the building was unified in crimson for both the exterior and interior.
"Whoa, bright red."
"It has a sense of unity and is beautiful."
"Yeah... It's like blood. Like being inside a living creature... Ah, if by some mistake I get killed here, my fresh blood will also soak into this red and dye the Crimson Theater deeper, huh."
"Worst-case assumptions are fine, but please do not add unpleasant reading guides to a normal theater."
There are several halls in the theater, but the preview screening is held by renting out one of them.
Since it starts at six, there was still a little time, but many dressed-up adults were already gathered in the lobby, each enjoying standing chats.
I find a known face among them.
That's Yuriu's manager.
"Oh hello, Katsuragi-san. You were already here. Thank you for your help with the other matter the other day. Yes, yes, indeed. Yuriu was also pleased."
He is acting friendly with the cat-loving Producer Katsuragi. Like that, with business cards and souvenirs in hand, going here and there. He must be busily greeting industry people.
I haven't spoken to him directly yet, but his earnest attitude comes across. I want him to do his best and make Yuriu a great actress by all means.
While watching such a scene, a man in a worn-out coat, not very suitable for this place, came from beyond the crowd.
"What, so you were invited too."
"Manzorogi-san was invited too?"
We point fingers at each other.
"Naturally. I lent various help as a detective for the filming of this movie. There is no problem calling me a concerned party."
The familiar unpopular detective, Manzorogi Kaoruta, pulls the front hem of his suit proudly. However, he smelled of tobacco and coffee. As usual.
"Even though you didn't do anything in particular."
"I did! Various things at that!"
"Just kidding. It was tough back then," I replied lightly, and he made a dissatisfied face.
"Back then" refers to about a month ago. We were involved in a terrible incident at a certain hotel.
It was commonly called Kowloon's Hotel, and it was the filming location for the movie being previewed today.
That was truly a chilling night, and thinking about it, summing it up as just "tough" might not be enough.
"Hmph, the truly tough part was after you left the hotel."
Manzorogi mutters as if digging up abominable memories. But he immediately changed the subject saying, "Well, more importantly than that," and pulled me to a nearby sofa. The sofa is also red.
"Sit here a sec."
Manzorogi showed a gesture of checking the surroundings a little.
We sit side by side on the sofa. Lilitea was standing beside me, waiting.
"What?"
"You, I hear you're investigating that matter."
He said so after clearing his throat drily once.
"Don't get too deep."
"That matter?"
"Hey! Is this the time to play dumb! The matter of the major accident two months ago!"
"That wasn't an accident, but an incident caused artificially."
The unprecedented passenger plane crash and Queen Irie sinking incident. Not a day goes by that I don't think about that day. There's no way I wouldn't get deep into it.
"That is exactly why. That's right. There is a culprit for that. You're chasing the guys who caused that, right? But listen, regarding that matter, right now, police organizations around the world, the ICPO, the FBI, and even the military are moving. It has developed into an international problem. So—"
"Manzorogi-san, you said 'guys' just now, right? Is the culprit the Seven Old Men after all?"
"You..."
Manzorogi leaned back on the sofa awkwardly.
"So you tracked it that far after all. That's classified information, just so you know."
"Yes. But that's as far as I got. Seven sinners once captured by my old man as a detective. That is the ‘Seven Old Men’, right?"
I am ashamed to say I only learned of their existence recently. Taking that incident as an opportunity, I started reading through the case files my dad left behind for the first time, and learned about them there.
Kill Wonder (Ureshibara Mimi) - Sentence: 250 years
Warlord (Haotao) - Sentence: 411 years
Android (Felisette) - Sentence: 638 years
Cannibal Gourmand (Talita Rigby) - Sentence: 784 years
Empress (Y. Derringer) - Sentence: 999 years
Celebrity (Chardina Infericous) - Sentence: 1466 years
Apostate Detective (Zilch) - Sentence: 3875 years
The Seven Old Men. That is the collective name for the seven internationally wanted criminals who were even called disasters. I don't know who started calling them that.
"I hear that after they were caught by my dad's hand, they were imprisoned in maximum-security prisons around the world."
"Yeah, and thus the seven went from sinners to prisoners."
Naturally, depending on the country, some wouldn't be strange to be subject to execution, but all were kept alive due to various unfathomable circumstances. The result is the joke-like prison terms imposed on each of them.
"That's right. And... currently, five of them have already broken out."
I suspect that the one who brought down that passenger plane is one of the Seven Old Men. Or, it's possible all of them were pulling the strings behind the scenes.
The police seem to suspect so too.
"They caused the hijacking incident for revenge, lured my old man out, and crashed the passenger plane. Politely researching even the cruise ship his son, me, was on, and on top of that."
How many people did they involve? How many died?
"Even you get angry so plainly sometimes."
Manzorogi said that, but he wasn't teasing; he looked genuinely surprised. Then, as if giving in, he handed me information.
"...Until now, the country has been pulling strings to cover it up, but the fact of the jailbreak has started to be reported. In this day and age, information manipulation can't be done forever. But the latest information is still barely being withheld."
"Latest information?"
"The information that some of them have already entered this country."
For a moment, I had the illusion that the air pressure deep in my ears changed. A sensation like when turning on the noise-canceling function of headphones.
As if the world sunken one step down—.
They might already be next to us.
"Know this and stay quiet. Don't stick your neck out. Listen, I'm advising you out of goodwill. Sakuya, you have eyes that say you want to go catch them right now."
I was caught off guard. I instinctively touch my face.
"It looks dangerous."
"I won't... do anything reckless. I just want to know the truth of that day."
"If you're trying to avenge your old man, stop it. It's impossible for a half-fledged like you. Even that immortal Oitsuki Tatsuya... got done in, after all."
Revenge? Wrong. You're wrong, Manzorogi-san. I have no such intention at all.
"My old man is alive."
"I understand the painful feeling. Following your mother, even your old man meeting such a fate, even you..."
"It's not wishful thinking. Rather, desperate thinking. The man named Oitsuki Tatsuya is someone whom I can only think is alive even assuming the worst. It's a son's intuition."
"You..."
"So, until my old man wanders back one of these days, his half-fledged son has to manage the Oitsuki Detective Agency in his own half-fledged way."
That said, I'm not strictly trying to follow the content of the last email from my dad. I don't intend to be a filial son; it's my will.
"I am the acting president now. For that, I have to show I can do one or two detective-like things. Though there are many hardships."
When I conveyed that with conviction, Manzorogi laughed a little while keeping a displeased face. A dexterous face.
"I can't watch that precariousness, but I'm relieved that you don't seem rotten. Oops, it's time."
Saying that, he stood up from the sofa.
Indeed, looking at the clock, it was already just before six.
While we were talking, many involved people had gathered in the lobby.
Walking from over there in a good mood after finishing in the restroom is Director Torio Hiichi. He should still be in his thirties, but he is wearing a suit of a style from a long time ago, unsuited to his age. Not that I can talk.
When our eyes met for a moment, he bowed with a truly subtle face where emotion and fear coexisted, and hurriedly passed by.
I also met him at the filming location. Seeing my face probably reminded him of the incident at Kowloon's Hotel.
There was a man who found such a director and hurriedly approached.
"Director! Congratulations on the completion this time! Please take the special seat in the center today. We will have the beautiful Yuriu-chan sit next to you."
Apparently, he's someone a bit important from Yuriu's agency. Next to him, the manager is making a displeased face.
"No, well, I..."
However, Torio seems slightly put off by the anachronistic reception.
"Please sit with a bang!"
Being a director seems tough in various ways too.
"Even so, it's amazing they managed to reach completion after all that happened."
Thinking of Yuriu, I honestly think it's good it didn't get shelved.
"...Lilitea?"
I intended to speak to Lilitea, but there was no reply.
Thinking it suspicious and looking back, she was buying juice and popcorn for two at the concession stand.
She comes over here carrying them on a tray. Her steps seem somewhat light.
"Sakuya-sama, shall we add a hot dog?"
"Ah, you buy that kind of stuff properly. You're all set."
When I conveyed my honest impression, Lilitea started and hid the tray behind her back.
"No! Li-Lilitea didn't particularly!"
She must have been looking forward to it quite a bit.
Now, the movie preview begins.
"Shishou~! Over here! Your number one disciple Yuriu is here! Here!"
When I stepped into the theater, a cheerful doggy was wagging its tail over there.
Wrong. That is today's star, the lead actress Yuriu. She is wearing a thin bolero over a tight evening dress based in black, and it suits her very well.
The chairs and walls in the theater were also all crimson, so Yuriu's black dress stood out beautifully.
"Shishou! I secured a perfect seat for you!"
Every time Yuriu waves her hand, her slender waist and the richly developed chest unsuited to it sway left and right as a set.
As invited, I sat to her left. A seat slightly behind the center. Indeed, a perfect seat.
"How is this seat! A cut above, right?"
Yuriu spreads both arms in a welcome pose. The thought "Praise me, praise me!" is leaking out from her face.
When I replied, "It doesn't look a cut above, just the same as other seats," Yuriu raised her usual quirky, lovely laugh, "Ahyahya!"
"I'm grateful, but is it okay for me to use such a place? Shouldn't someone more important or deeply related sit here?"
The people sitting around are all people with that kind of atmosphere.
"As expected, Shishou is so sharp. There are no assigned seats, but there's a rule for where to sit by vague custom. And, that is the seat where the director was originally supposed to sit."
"Eh."
Told that, I instinctively started to lift my hips.
"Now, now. The director himself gave up the seat in secret. Saying he has a preferred seat. Look."
She put her hand on my shoulder to stop me and pointed to the back corner of the theater. Looking, Director Torio was sitting in the leftmost seat of the last row.
"Apparently, since he was a child, it was always that seat in movie theaters. Something about that angle being the best to immerse in the movie."
As expected of a movie director. A preference I can't quite understand.
"If that's the case, I'll sit gratefully, but..."
However, there was no vacant seat for Lilitea next to me. When she realized that, Yuriu visibly made a "Crap!" face and held her head.
"I'm sorry! My planning was sloppy... Th-Then Lilitea-san, please sit here! It's okay. I'll look for another seat... lonely by myself..."
She stands up from the seat and urges Lilitea, "Please, please." However, we can't exactly push aside the director and lead actress to sit. In the first place, she herself isn't hiding her lonely expression at all.
"Yuriu-sama, please do not worry. I will move."
Lilitea naturally understood that point, flawlessly seated Yuriu, and turned on her heel.
"Then Sakuya-sama, stay healthy."
"Stay healthy, you say... Umm, Lilitea... my pop... corn..."
"Yes? This is all mine, though?"
My assistant seemed to still be angry about earlier.
While this was happening, Director Torio came out in front of the screen looking embarrassed and began a simple greeting.
Talk about today's weather. Inside jokes. And the difficult path to completion.
Director Torio, who has a backstage temperament, could hardly be called skilled at greetings, but as someone who shared the peak of those hardships, his words struck a chord.
"Whether we like it or not, movies reflect the times. In that sense, umm... being able to capture the now-gone Mizushima Park's Nichirin Ferris Wheel on film this time is personally pleasing and meaningful—"
Greetings from the actors were also scheduled after the preview.
When the director withdrew with applause, the lights went down silently. I have no intention of acting like a connoisseur, but I don't dislike this atmosphere before a movie starts. If I had popcorn and a carbonated drink at hand, it would have been perfect.
In the fleeting silence until the image was projected on the screen, Yuriu poked my upper arm chon-chon. When I reacted and turned that way, her face was right nearby.
"You wore that perfume for me."
A whisper strokes my ear.
"Ah, yeah. As etiquette."
"Pu...! What is that."
I got a little flustered and gave an off-base reply.
Yuriu stifled her laughter so as not to be heard by those around her and laughed innocently, "Ukuku."
Again, I thought she was a surprisingly beautiful girl. Is it because today is her big stage? Unlike usual, she even looks mature.
"Thanks for the present."
When I thanked her belatedly, Yuriu seemed to realize she was too close and hurriedly moved her body away from me.
"It-It's fine. It's a token of gratitude. I worried too much at the store and it took a while though."
"I don't usually wear perfume so I'm a bit restless... But, come to think of it, this scent..."
Actually, I had a vague recollection of this perfume's scent. But I stopped mid-sentence. I tried to say I feel like I remember smelling it somewhere before—but telling her, who chose it so earnestly, something to the effect of "someone close might have already been wearing it" felt a bit lacking in delicacy.
So I changed the subject, "But, token of gratitude?"
"That's, well, various things. Shishou saved me on the cruise ship, and during the incident during filming... And, Shishou became my Shishou."
"I feel like the Shishou matter was quite forceful though."
"Yes. I wooed you forcibly."
The lovely rookie actress puffs out her chest. It's strange how in this kid's case, saying such things doesn't look sleazy at all.
"But watching Shishou, thanks to that, I feel like I understand what a detective is a little better than before."
"How so?"
"I had an image of a detective holding a pipe, making a difficult face, and thinking about the culprit intently, but a real detective gets covered in wounds all over his body every time an incident occurs and faces death many times, doesn't he?"
"That perception is wrong."
That is a very small, bad exception.
"Ehehe. Then it's fine if it's wrong. I'll only take Shishou as my model. Please continue to guide me in the future."
"I'm not in a position to guide people, but if I'm okay. But I can't let you do dangerous things."
"I'm sorry. I'm always just being saved by Shishou... I wish I was as strong as Lilitea-san."
"If even you became that strong, I'd have no standing. Yuriu-chan is good as you are now."
A cheerful, healthy, admirable, and adorable girl. And dog-like.
Yeah, yeah. As expected, she's good as is—while I was nodding alone, Yuriu's face turned bright red.
"Umm, does that mean, when push comes to shove, you'll risk your life to protect me again?"
"Umm... well, when push comes to shove. I'll protect you."
At that time, rather than risking my life, it seems I'll literally be sacrificing my body though.
Yuriu showed a teasing expression while blushing.
"By any chance, Shishou, do you go around saying suggestive things at various scenes like that and unlocking girls' locked rooms one after another?"
"That's a terrible misunderstanding."
What is a girl's locked room?
"No self-awareness, huh. I feel like I've started to understand not just the detective, but Shishou too."
"Wait a sec."
Just then, the image was projected on the screen pa. It seems it's finally starting. I missed the chance to explain. But before the main story starts, I'll say just this.
"I feel like I've started to understand Yuriu-chan too."
"Eh?"
"You have a cute face but surprisingly hide thorns."
It was intended as a counterattack, but hearing my words, she paused for a moment, then placed her index finger on her lips and smiled.
"Want to try getting pricked by the thorns in secret?"
"You said I always say suggestive things... but I'm returning those words right back to you, tied up with a pretty bow!"
We giggled at each other's jokes.
Now, let's end the flirting with the disciple and concentrate on the movie. It's a movie completed after all that hardship; let's appreciate it gratefully from corner to corner.
The movie began with a depiction of the protagonist Uzura's daily life.
A life typical of a normal high school student is shot in a long take typical of movies.
Yuriu on the screen looked like a completely different person.
I inadvertently glance next to me. The person herself is there. A strange sensation.
Yuriu in reality noticed my gaze and met my eyes.
She stuck out her tongue as if to hide her embarrassment.
Then the movie scene shifts to the main incident scene.
The characters are all present, and the background music heightens the drama.
From there, the movie gradually gathers heat—
Just as I was expecting, suddenly the screen went pitch black.
"Huh?"
Naturally, the inside of the theater also becomes pitch dark. It feels like when you encounter a sudden blackout while watching TV at home.
Everyone is buzzing.
"Is this a dramatic effect?" just as I started to ask Yuriu, the director's voice was heard.
"Hey, what happened!"
"I'm sorry! Equipment trouble!"
A staff member is apologizing in the distance. Since it's dark, it's an exchange of voices only.
This movie is plagued by misfortune everywhere.
Still, if we wait a little, the screening will resume. No need to get irritated.
Even if the movie stops, it's not like I'll die. Since I have time, I'll wait leisurely while expecti—
□
When I woke up, Lilitea's remarkably symmetrical face was in front of me.
Confirming that I woke up, she brought her face close to me and whispered sweetly.
"Welcome back to the land of the living, Sakuya-sama."
"...Eh?"
I couldn't grasp the situation for a moment and hurriedly sat up. It was the preview theater, and I was sitting in my seat. Lilitea is sitting to my left. It seems she was giving me a lap pillow there.
The movie is playing on the screen. I recall it was interrupted by trouble, but now that has been resolved, and the screening has resumed.
The scene is where Uzura is rotating her brain fully to deduce the case.
‘How on earth did the culprit of this case sneak up behind the victim? I don't understand at all! I want to go home!’
This unreliability is also a characteristic of High School Girl Detective Uzura.
"Culprit..."
Thanks to seeing that scene, my memory was awakened.
"...I see, I... was killed."
Putting a hand to my mouth, I just stare into the void. That was the time necessary to accept my own death.
"You have been killed again, Sakuya-sama."
"...So it seems."
"Ah, Shishou, are you awake?"
Suddenly, Yuriu called out from the opposite side of Lilitea.
"You must have been really tired. It's almost the last scene."
"...Sorry. Umm... was there anything unusual?"
"Not unusual at all~. Shishou, you fell asleep halfway through."
Apparently, she doesn't even realize I was killed right next to her.
"You know, during the blackout from the trouble earlier. When the movie resumed, you were limp with your eyes closed, so I thought about waking you up, but I thought maybe you were tired from work, so I left you alone. Then Lilitea-san came over quietly."
"I begged her and had her switch seats."
Lilitea pointed to the seat she was sitting in and said. I don't remember well who was sitting in the seat to the left, but let's hope it wasn't an important person.
"As expected of Lilitea-san. Not missing the change in Shishou's condition even from a distant seat. Besides, umm, even a lap pillow."
Yuriu is fidgeting somewhat.
"It's kind of a weird expression, but I felt like I saw the Holy Mother."
"Holy Mother?"
I don't really understand what she's trying to say.
"You know, Lilitea-san when looking at Shishou's sleeping face. With such a gentle face—"
"Yuriu-sama, isn't it some kind of mistake? As you see, it is dark inside the theater."
"Eh? Then what about the head patting?"
"Lilitea wasn't doing such—not doing it! I wasn't doing it, okay?"
The first half "not doing it!" was directed at me, and "I wasn't doing it, okay?" was directed at Yuriu.
"Look, Yuriu-sama, let's concentrate on the movie. It's a precious preview."
"R-Right. Ah, the scene with my catchphrase is oveeeer..."
While dropping her shoulders in disappointment, Yuriu turned to the screen again. After confirming that, I whispered softly to Lilitea.
"So, who killed me and how?"
"It seems some kind of poison was injected. There was an injection mark on your neck."
Being told that, I instinctively moved my hand to my neck.
"Did you not notice anything?"
"At that time... when the film stopped and it became pitch black. I was put to sleep by someone. Like this, in the darkness, suddenly I was made to smell something from behind..."
"Chloroform, perhaps. I apologize. I couldn't sense it immediately. Since Sakuya-sama gets killed by all sorts of methods whenever I take my eyes off you, I tried not to take my eyes off you on a daily basis, yet."
"Regarding that, I'm the one who is sorry."
"When the lights returned and the screening resumed, I looked back at Sakuya-sama's state and saw you were limp, so I had a bad feeling."
With Lilitea's observational eye, she would have known at a glance whether I was dozing off or not.
"When I approached and checked, you had already passed away. It was a blunder."
"No, it's no wonder. You were in a distant seat, and it was pitch black."
In fact, even Yuriu next to me didn't notice.
"But well, even if it wasn't dark, you might have missed it. Lilitea seemed engrossed in the popcorn at hand."
When I pointed that out, Lilitea moved her eyebrows slightly, and then leaned forward as if saying it was unexpected.
"Sakuya-sama, I am a worthless assistant who couldn't be by your side at the crucial moment. I shall accept the scolding willingly. However, I cannot remain silent when my honor is disparaged by such speculation. On what evidence do you say such a thing?"
She seems to have her own pride, and her degree of indignation was quite something. While receiving her words, I decided to say what I was hesitating whether to say or not.
"Because there's evidence food debris on your mouth."
"Fufufu. Quite an interesting negotiation tactic."
However, Lilitea has a composed expression. She brings one hand to her mouth and laughs elegantly.
"...You just casually wiped your mouth while laughing, didn't you?"
My face is red, too.
Putting that aside, I checked behind my seat. There was an aisle about 1.5 meters wide running there. The row I was sitting in happened to be at a break in the seating blocks.
Feigning that nothing had happened, I returned to my original posture, and from there, we continued our conversation while keeping our eyes on the screen.
"Someone used that darkness to sneak up behind me... huh."
Perhaps the staff thought they could fix it immediately, but the theater had remained dark for a while during that trouble.
"How long was the theater completely dark?"
"At most, about five minutes."
"That's plenty of time to commit a crime."
"However, why is Sakuya-sama targeted like this, one after another? Not only that, but you are always properly killed. You are careless."
"I'm the one who wants to ask that."
I never expected to be killed in a movie theater. I wish they’d let me feel safe at least when watching a movie.
"So, do you have any idea why?"
"I don't have any idea why I'd have to be killed. ...I don't, right? It’s not that I'm just unaware, but actually a piece of trash who's buying resentment everywhere, right? If there's that kind of atmosphere, don't stay silent, tell me, okay?"
"Please do not sound like a salaryman worrying about unconscious body odor. Well, I do think it would be good for you to pay a little more attention to yourself, perhaps by wearing perfume like today once in a while."
"I'm dense about that sort of thing. And it's embarrassing to go buy it myself."
"Hmm."
What is 'hmm'? Technically, I'm the detective and you're the assistant. That was too dismissive.
"In that case... Lilitea could go buy something suitable that matches Sakuya... if you like."
"Really? Actually, I've been secretly worrying lately that I might be giving off the stench of death... wait, what were we talking about?"
"Ahem... Returning to the topic. About the culprit's whereabouts."
"Were we talking about that? Well, whatever. And?"
"From the time Sakuya-sama entered eternal rest until now, the theater's exit doors have not opened once."
"You were checking even that?"
"If the doors opened even a little, light from the hallway would shine in, making it obvious. There is no reason for me to miss that."
"In other words, the culprit who poisoned me is still here, enjoying the movie."
"They probably intend to escape from here by blending in with the flow when the screening ends and everyone leaves the theater at once."
"Hmm... But what grudge does she have against me..."
The more I think about it, I really don't have any idea why I'd be killed at a timing like this today.
"...Sakuya-sama, what did you just say?"
"Hmm?"
"Did you say 'she'? Is the culprit a woman?"
"Ah, sorry. I missed telling you. Yeah. I think so. Just before I fell asleep, I heard it. The culprit's voice. I think it was definitely a woman."
The movie's story progressed moment by moment, approaching the last scene.
Unlike the real me, High School Girl Detective Uzura had already safely resolved the terrifying incident at the hotel and was about to run out the front entrance full of energy.
"Please say such things at the beginning. Before talking about someone's popcorn."
She's still holding a grudge.
"Sorry, sorry."
"So, what did the culprit say?"
Tracing the memory remaining along with the smell of chemicals, I repeated the words I heard.
The culprit definitely said this:
—It's your fault for not cutting the Ferris wheel.
"Ferris wheel...? That thing in amusement parks?"
"Probably."
"Is it something you can cut?"
"Scissors or a knife probably wouldn't work."
"Is it some kind of code?"
"Those who understand probably understand. With this."
"You have a guess?"
"Yeah. Since coming back to life, I've been thinking about the meaning of those words, and I came up with one thing. Regarding that, Lilitea, trusting in your abilities, I have a favor to ask."
"Yes."
Good answer. I could feel the enthusiasm in Lilitea's gaze, ready to handle any difficult problem or dangerous mission.
"Watch the rest of this movie with me."
"...Huh?"
She showed an expression that was the model of someone being taken aback. When a girl with a cool impression makes a face like that, simply put, there is something very cute about it.
"Intently. From corner to corner."
"Is that all... you need?"
"Please, Lilitea. Let's watch the movie together."
"I don't really mind. I'm free anyway."
For some reason, Lilitea had the vibe of a girl reluctantly agreeing to a date invitation.
From then on, true to my words, the two of us watched the movie seriously. Or rather, we observed it.
A little while later, a certain landscape in a certain scene was projected on the screen.
It was a scene shot outdoors.
After seeing that scene, Lilitea nodded slightly as if convinced.
"Sakuya-sama. So that is what it meant."
"Seems so. Yeah."
I nodded in the same way, and then checked my own smell as if to confirm. Seeing me do that, Lilitea pulled my sleeve apologetically.
"Could it be that you are seriously worrying about what I said earlier? I didn't mean it like that, you know?"
"Eh? Ah, I'm not seriously checking my body odor. While thinking about the reason the culprit killed me, I remembered one thing, albeit late. I just confirmed that."
And as a result of confirming, I found out it seemed unmistakable.
"I see. If that is the case, then fine."
She's kind in weird places.
"Lilitea, about the plan for after this."
"I understand. I will go ahead."
"Yeah."
My assistant stood up without a sound and slipped out into the aisle.
Remaining there, I appreciated the movie, which had little time left, intently until the end.
Yeah. It's a good movie.
Then, glancing casually at Yuriu next to me, she was sleeping with drool dripping down.
Hey, lead actress. It's almost the end credits.
Chapter 2: Shall We Call It Theater-Seat Detective?
A few minutes after Lilitea left, I stood up and headed for the culprit's seat.
People in the back rows cast slightly cold glances at me for standing up midway. The male-to-female ratio in the venue was about six to four.
I search while straining my eyes in the dim light.
Found him. Lilitea is already sitting in a certain seat in the last row.
At a glance, I was convinced. The person sitting to her left is the culprit.
Taking off my suit jacket and draping it over my shoulder, I approached and called out.
"Is this seat taken?"
I could tell the person visibly stiffened. Well, that's a normal reaction.
Without waiting for the other party's consent, I sat in the empty seat to his left.
Sandwiching the culprit with Lilitea.
"...Who are you?"
"The person you killed just a moment ago."
"I don't know you."
The boy flatly denied my words. His age is elementary school, no, maybe first year of junior high. His hair is long enough to half-hide his ears and hang over his eyes.
"Is this maid your partner too?"
The high, slightly unstable voice peculiar to boys of that age. Indeed, the voice I heard by my ear at that time.
That voice wasn't a woman's, but a boy's voice before it broke.
"I don't understand. What are you people, anyway?"
"Like I said, it's me. Me."
"Scammers? I'll call the police."
That voice was slightly husky yet high and strangely pitiful, sounding like a girl's voice.
"I wonder who will be in trouble if the police are called. Even with this, you don't know?"
I tossed the jacket I had taken off to the boy. He caught it instinctively and seemed to understand what I meant in an instant, his expression stiffening—he brought my jacket to his face and started sniffing.
Let me state for the record, it's not that my body odor is a special scent that captivates people with certain fetishes.
What he is smelling is the scent of the perfume I was wearing today.
"Smells, doesn't it? The same scent as Director Torio."
He looked alternately at the suit and me, then collapsed in despair.
"What the hell... No way, that's..."
His slender body, still in the process of growing, slid down from the seat. He seems to have understood too.
"Right. It was a case of mistaken identity. Ah, give back the jacket. ...Hey, don't pull it so much. It, it'll stretch! It's gonna stretch!"
Somehow managing to reclaim my only Sunday best from the boy, I put my arms through the sleeves again.
"What's your name?"
"...Natsume."
Perhaps because he was in the middle of being stunned, he gave his name surprisingly honestly.
"I'm Oitsuki Sakuya. I'm a detective."
"Detective...?"
He turned an indescribably suspicious expression toward me, like someone looking at a difficult piece of contemporary art.
"Natsume-kun, your true target was Director Torio. But in the darkness, you mistook me for the director and attacked."
"So... it seems..."
"I figured. You investigated where the director would sit in the lobby before the preview, didn't you? And when the director's greeting ended and the preview was finally about to start, you snuck into the theater late."
I observe the changes in the boy's expression while explaining. There were no notable changes, but I noticed one thing. This kid is an outrageously beautiful boy.
Within that androgynous and somewhat fleeting beauty that appears only during a certain period of this age, I also sense a danger and intensity that could easily head toward ruin without hesitation.
Perhaps he's the son of one of the actors. If so, sneaking into today's preview would have been easier than for a complete civilian.
"But unfortunately, due to various things, I ended up sitting in the seat where the director was arranged to sit just beforehand. On top of that, this suit I wore today had a silhouette very similar to Director Torio's suit. This is an old-fashioned type."
Additionally, when sitting, the difference in physique is hard to tell. The outline of the body illuminated by the backlight from the screen. Looking from a distance in the dark, it must have been very easy to misunderstand.
"And when the venue became pitch black due to that trouble, you took action thinking there was no way to miss this opportunity."
Approached from behind, identified the target by smell, and attacked.
"That's right. But I was hesitating until the very last minute... If not for that trouble... I probably wouldn't have moved to action."
Judging from his demeanor, the hesitation was likely genuine. But a perfect opportunity arrived before his eyes, and that drove a single boy to commit a crime.
"It was pitch black at that time, but Director Torio's perfume is unique, so it leaves an impression whether you like it or not. You approached relying on that scent. But sorry about that too. Today, I happened to be wearing the same perfume as the director."
Because these two coincidences—unfortunate for Natsume—overlapped, he mistook the target to kill.
"Even though I planned it so much... to make a mistake... But if so... why are you alive? I definitely gave you poison with this hand... Immortal?"
"I am absolutely not immortal."
"Maybe the poison mixture was weak..."
Was it homemade? That's scary. What on earth was injected into me?
"You can rest easy. For now, I don't intend to hand you over to the police."
"You're saying you'll let me go?"
"Depending on your motive. If Natsume-kun is a hopeless trash boy, I'll have you atone legally considering the future. But if your reason for action was desperate, I might let it slide."
"...You're Sakuya, right?"
"No need for thanks."
"That proposal is kind of scary. Like a dangerous killer who forces an abnormal choice on the opponent and kills them easily if he doesn't like the answer."
True. Now that he mentions it, I understand that feeling a bit. But I don't want to be told that by a boy who poisons people.
"So? Why did you target the director?"
"Simple story. I wanted to force the cancellation of this movie's release."
"Because you didn't like the Ferris wheel scene?"
When I said that, his complexion changed and he looked at me again.
"...The detective story seems to be true."
It seems I hit the bullseye.
"Thanks. But it's what you said to me. 'It's your fault for not cutting the Ferris wheel.' Actually, you intended to say that to Director Torio, but practically, I was the one who heard those words. And at first, I didn't really understand what it meant. But when I thought about it assuming those words were directed at the director, I kind of understood."
I made a peace sign with one hand and opened and closed it.
"The word 'cut' you said meant cutting and deleting unnecessary scenes in film editing. Cutting the film. Even on TV variety shows, talents sometimes say it jokingly, right? 'Please cut the current scene.' In other words, you desperately wanted the director to cut the Ferris wheel scene."
Once I understood that, it was just a matter of searching for the scene where the Ferris wheel appears in the movie with Lilitea. If it wasn't there, it would mean that scene had passed while I was dead. In that case, I intended to ask the director later to let me check the film again, but it appeared properly at the end.
Specifically, it was a scene shot with a telephoto lens looking down an old alley.
High School Girl Detective Uzura walking away down a straight alley.
Beyond that, the Ferris wheel in question is impressively reflected.
Inside the wheel of the Ferris wheel—the setting sun was perfectly contained.
It's the Ferris wheel the director also touched upon in his pre-screening greeting.
It's a shot that can only be taken at a specific time from a specific spot, and because of that, it is called the Nichirin (Sun Ring) Ferris Wheel.
Passersby are living their daily lives with a naturalness that doesn't seem like extras.
In that scene—Natsume was reflected in the foreground of the screen.
It was such a brief moment that you wouldn't notice unless you were looking for it consciously, and it was somewhat out of focus. But it was definitely him.
"You didn't formally receive an offer and appear as an extra... right?"
When asked, he nodded immediately. That means that scene was a so-called guerrilla shoot conducted without permission from the person on site.
"In other words, the woman next to you was also unintentionally reflected on the film."
In the middle of the scene, Natsume and—a woman of age—came out of a building as if snuggling, and walked toward the foreground as if hiding from public eyes.
The woman was wearing a hat pulled low, so her face couldn't be seen well. But from her silhouette and walking posture, she didn't seem like a general, ordinary woman.
"This is a complete guess, but could she be an actress?"
"Yuka... did nothing wrong."
He dropped the honorific. No, more importantly—.
"Yuka, eh? Don't tell me, Yanai Yuka?"
If I recall, she's a talented young actress who is said to be sure to break out in the near future.
The boy nodded without a word.
I was genuinely surprised by this. Because the building the two came out of was a so-called love hotel.
"Just so you know, nothing happened. Yuka isn't stupid enough to act thoughtlessly during this important time, and I..."
"Ah, you don't have to go into details."
I wouldn't know what to do even if told.
The age difference, each other's social standing—.
Those things don't matter right now. I have no intention of correcting or blaming.
Just two people attracted to each other were having a secret date, and of all things, that scene was burned onto movie film. That is all.
"Of course, we didn't realize we were being filmed in that scene. But after walking down the road a bit like that, we found the camera. Yuka realized immediately. It was a movie film crew, and they had been filming some scenes until now. Including us."
That quick intuition is expected of an actress.
"I saw Director Torio was also at that spot, so later I called his office many times and begged Director Torio. To cut the Ferris wheel scene. But he wouldn't listen."
"Just because a tryst with a much younger lover was reflected?"
"There's no way I could tell an industry person that."
That's true.
"Naturally, the director probably wanted to know the reason too, but you couldn't honestly tell him the crucial reason, so you could only submit a request to cut it."
Then there's no way it would be accepted.
"I was told he absolutely couldn't cut it because it was an important scene."
"It seemed to be one of the director's obsessions, so he wouldn't agree easily."
Besides, that Ferris wheel was supposedly demolished after filming and is gone now. It can't be reshot now.
"But putting you aside, Yanai Yuka-san was hiding her face with a hat, so wouldn't she not be identified?"
"Even so. Can you say it's absolutely safe? Can you say it with responsibility? If this movie is screened nationwide from now on, someday someone might notice. Movies remain forever. Right?"
"That's right."
I was easily argued down.
"If that happens, Yuka's future as an actress is finished... Yuka will surely become an amazing great actress from now on. And yet, if that is closed off because of something with me... That's why..."
"So you thought you'd rather make the movie itself unable to be released?"
If the director were murdered at the preview screening, would it be shelved this time?
As an outsider, I don't really understand the industry's judgment criteria or rules. But an incident already occurred during the filming of High School Girl Detective Uzura. It's a work with a history. If the history piles up, a release cancellation might have been possible this time.
"But, I failed that too... I couldn't protect the person I love."
The boy hung his head like it was the end of the world. That appearance looked somewhat exaggerated to me, and felt kind of ticklish.
"Pure love, isn't it."
It was Lilitea who voiced a slightly surprising impression. She leaned forward slightly from her seat and nodded at Natsume as if impressed.
"Unable to consult anyone, unable to rely on anyone, yet you took action with the earnest desire to protect your lover."
"U... Umm. ...Yes."
Somehow the boy's attitude is completely different from when dealing with me. I'm not convinced.
"Lilitea... hey."
"Sakuya-sama."
"So—"
"Sakuya."
What is that desperate face?
"Umm... come to think of it, an incredibly bad incident happened during the filming of this movie, right? I heard the movie company pulled strings behind the scenes to force the filming to continue, and somehow managed to complete it."
Why am I talking in such a roundabout way?
"So if I tell the director that I might inadvertently make that public to the world, he might listen to one request. For example, formally listing the name of Yanai Yuka, who accidentally appeared in a certain scene, as a friendship appearance in the end credits."
The moment I said that, Lilitea's expression brightened.
"That is right. If we make it so she appeared officially, everything becomes acting."
"Yeah. Only the director might guess the circumstances, but if we silence him properly, it'll be fine. That person seems to be staking his life on releasing this movie, so conversely, he wouldn't want such a scandal to come to light and tarnish it."
"Then if we have him say Yanai Yuka's cameo appearance was something the director set up in secret from the cast and staff too, there will be no problems. A surprise, isn't it."
Lilitea clasps her hands in front of her chest and nods emphatically.
"Good grief, Lilitea is such a girl."
Natsume is looking at my face as if he still can't believe it.
"You're saying let it be water under the bridge? Seriously? Aren't you too much of a pushover?"
"If you doubt me, I can flip the table right now?"
"Ah, no, kidding, kidding! I-I believe you! Umm... sorry for poisoning you."
Strange apology.
At that moment, the lights came on and the surroundings became bright.
The preview had ended.
□
Following the preview, the actors' greetings began on stage. But Lilitea and I left the theater without watching it.
To see Natsume off quietly. He bowed deeply enough to look admirable, then left the Crimson Theater as if rushed by something. Perhaps he went to see his beloved person to tell her what happened here today.
When Natsume's figure disappeared, Lilitea said something like this proudly.
"Sakuya-sama, you 'picked up your life' again this time, didn't you."
I see, so in my case, it's used like that.
Drop a life, pick it up again. A difficult constitution.
"Anyway, thanks to our deduction, it didn't become a fuss, and our honor as 'two making one full-fledged' is restored. Let's End Roll!"
"I hate that lame series."
"I-I'm sorry..."
"Ah, I like that face."
Hey assistant. Your affection is twisted.
"But actually, it was a magnificent display of being an armchair detective. No, in this case, shall we call it Theater-Seat Detective?"
She says something rather clever.
"I'll accept the rare praise from Lilitea honestly. Now then..."
"Will you return inside even now?"
Right about now on stage, the just-woken-up Yuriu is probably giving a greeting while panicking.
"Right. But before that, a little shopping. Lilitea, go back ahead."
Parting with Lilitea, I headed to the concession stand as if invited.
Because I was teased once, I was completely in the mood for popcorn.
However, there was another female customer at the stand. Her age is probably the same as mine, or a little younger. Subtracting the height added by the high heels at her feet, she's a quite petite girl.
Her hair was a stunningly beautiful blonde, and the crimson dress wrapping her body looked more expensive than anyone else's I saw today. Not just expensive, that red stands out enough to make all the crimson of the Crimson Theater fade.
Is she involved in today's preview? However, without special circumstances like ours, I don't think there's anyone else who would come out to buy food at this timing.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Thanks."
She receives the popcorn from the clerk elegantly, executes a light 180-degree turn, and—
"Kyaaa!?"
Noticed me standing behind her and screamed. In the shock of the moment, she spills the popcorn grandly on the floor.
"Ehh..."
Not understanding what was happening, I froze on the spot. The other party seemed the same, and we stared at each other for a few seconds.
Of course, although it's strange to say, I was the one who yielded.
"Umm, I'm kinda sorry."
"You! What is the meaning of appearing suddenly behind Charu! You startled me just a l-little bit!"
That was a little bit?
"No, I didn't intend to startle you. Or rather, do you get that scared just by someone standing behind you at a concession stand? I do feel bad though."
"I-It can't be helped! Charu is weak to surprise types..."
"Surprise types? Like jack-in-the-boxes? Or horror movies where a hand suddenly comes out of a pond?"
I give random examples. She nods koku-koku as if to say exactly so. Her atmosphere and demeanor feel very much like a rich young lady, but her courage seems to be that of a small citizen.
"Even if you say that, this is a movie theater, so you could assume there might be other people in your blind spot. If you say this is your home bathroom, that's a different story."
"Why does Charu have to nervously anticipate other people's movements?"
"No, because."
"The surroundings, no, the world should anticipate Charu and move so as not to startle me."
"...Right. That's exactly right."
It started getting troublesome, so I decided to just go along with it.
"I'll pay for the dropped popcorn as an apology."
"Eh? For Charu?"
It was mostly just going with the flow of conversation, and I didn't intend to say anything that strange, but she looked blank as if she heard a rare word in the world.
"Here you go."
When I handed her the new popcorn, she accepted it surprisingly honestly.
"...Thanks."
"No problem."
And, trying to act smart, I went to buy my own portion—and realized I ran out of money to buy my own by treating her just now.
Come to think of it, I only had 600 yen on me today.
Should I call Lilitea now and get additional allowance? No, that's too embarrassing in front of this girl.
As I was agonizing, a card of a color I'd never seen was held out from the side.
"It's fine. In return, Charu will treat you. It's special. Caramel flavor is fine, right?"
Saying that, the girl in the dress treated me to popcorn. I thought she might be a strong-willed girl, but she's unexpectedly kind.
She sits on a nearby sofa and crosses her legs elegantly. Then, noticing me standing belatedly, she patted the seat next to her.
"Here."
I sit next to her as told. Then we savored our respective popcorn with a crunching sound.
"Mmm. This is it, this. I came all the way just for this flavor at this theater."
"Heh, the popcorn here was famous?"
"You, were you trying to buy it without knowing? What a sinful person."
It seems I committed a sin unknowingly.
"Is it introduced on TV or something?"
"No. Just that Charu likes it."
"Ehh..."
"Not knowing Charu's preference is the sin."
She elegantly recrosses her legs, picks up popcorn one by one, and tosses them into her small mouth.
"Even if you say that, I think it's quite natural that I don't know the preference of you whom I just met now."
"Hey, how is that one?"
"Eh? The caramel flavor? Well, it's good."
"Hmm..."
"...If you like, want some?"
If peered at with such curious eyes, I can only say this.
"It's not particularly great, but I'll eat it."
Some rich young lady is plundering my popcorn one after another with beautiful fingertips.
"You're a glutton, aren't you."
"How rude, Oitsuki Sakuya. Though it would be a lie to say I have no interest in food."
"Huh? Did I introduce myself already?"
Instead of answering my question, she sucked her fingertips elegantly and smiled thinly. It was quite bewitching, and I had trouble deciding where to look.
"Umm, can I ask your name too? Is Charu fine?"
"It's Chardina. Chardina Infericous."
"Heh, same name as one of the Seven Old Men."
"Right. Since I am the person herself."
"Is that so."
"That is so. But Seven Old Men is such a tasteless name, isn't it. Even though Charu and the others didn't intend to form a gang."
I neither missed hearing it nor misheard it. I clearly heard and understood that unique self-introduction. On top of that, I thought about whether it was a joke or serious.
This girl just said she is one of the Seven Old Men.
Seven Old Men 2nd. Chardina Infericous. The atrocious criminal with a 1466-year sentence, jailbreaker, Millionaire Phantom Thief Celebrity.
I hesitate to react because of it, I remain unable to move.
Since some time ago, a siren has been wailing in the distance. It seemed to be gradually approaching this theater.
"I came halfway around the earth today just for the popcorn here and you. Since Oitsuki Tatsuya died along with the passenger plane and passenger ship, I wondered if his son-kun was happily despairing."
"...Were you on that ship?"
She didn't answer anything to that. But there is no ordinary person who knows the circumstances this far.
I was convinced. Sitting next to me now is unmistakably Chardina Infericous. One of the Seven Old Men who broke out of jail and came to Japan.
I feel the sensation of hair all over my body standing on end.
In contrast, Chardina rose from the sofa without lingering attachment.
"I'm satisfied, so I'm going now. Charu has business in the Middle East after this."
"Middle East?"
"It seems a civil war is heating up in a certain country, so just to sell some weapons."
"Are you an arms dealer?"
"Nope. A light side job. If the business deal is settled, I wonder if I should extend my trip to America afterward and buy a rocket or something."
"Rocket... Space?"
"Space."
"Manned?"
"Manned. I already have a few, but I wanted to collect different colors."
"Different colors."
Is she mistaking a space rocket for sneakers or something? It's not a level of having a crazy sense of money or being digits apart.
"So that's that, son-kun... no, Sakuya. See you again soon."
Brushing her long hair over her shoulder with the back of her hand, Chardina left me there and started walking gracefully.
"Wait..."
Move. Chase her. She's right in front of you. One of the Seven Old Men. The person holding the key to the mystery of my old man's death—no, disappearance.
I slapped my thighs repeatedly like starting an engine to force myself to stand up.
That's right. I can't let her escape here. Ending with small talk while picking at popcorn—there's no way that's okay.
I ran as if stumbling, caught up with Chardina, and put my hand on her shoulder.
"Wait a minute!"
"Hiiyaaa!?"
Chardina screamed and sat down on the ground.
"Ah, sorry."
I startled her again. Quite a difficult girl.
"L-Like I said! Don't! Do! Thaaat! Suddenly!"
She protests with tears welling up in her strong-willed eyes. She bangs my thighs with the popcorn bucket, but it doesn't hurt at all.
Angry, she places a hand on her chest, takes a deep breath, and stands up.
"...Did something happen just now?"
"Various things happened."
Are you intending to pretend nothing happened?
"Geez... I planned to leave dashingly."
When it comes to this, the ojousama language inserted occasionally becomes exquisitely funny too. But of course, this isn't the time to laugh. The opponent is the worst jailbreaker.
"Was it you? Did you bring down that passenger plane, and kill many people... my old man..."
Sudden sweetness spreads in my mouth as I tried to question her. Because Chardina stuffed caramel-flavored popcorn into my mouth with her hand.
"Like I said, Charu is busy. Let's leave that for the next opportunity. Just as well, the escort bunch seems to have gathered."
She takes a step forward. The automatic doors slide open smoothly left and right.
Before I knew it, outside was crowded with dozens, hundreds of police vehicles.
The night town where the sun had completely set is illuminated by countless emergency lights.
"Rest assured. I don't intend to ride such cheap taxis. Charu is going this way."
A long limousine I'd never seen was parked right in front of the movie theater.
In the driver's seat was a woman who looked ferocious like a shark, and in front of the rear door was a cold-looking woman with a knife as a hair ornament. Both in black clothes, and neither looked like a decent ordinary person.
The woman with the knife ornament opens the door reverently for her master. Getting into the limousine from there, Chardina lowered the window and stuck her face out.
Since she beckoned, I approached warily, and my tie was grabbed.
"Wapu."
My face was pulled close, and her beautiful face came right in front of my eyes.
Immediately after, Chardina sprayed something on my face.
"Sakuya, I meant to tell you, but that perfume is the worst."
What she sprayed as if overwriting it seemed to be her personal perfume.
"Also, as thanks for the treat, just one piece of advice. Be careful of Empress."
"Empress...?"
"Oh my, haven't you noticed yet? I see. That girl, doing roundabout things as usual. I don't like it after all."
Chardina shows a face as if pondering something. But in both her hands, the popcorn bucket is still firmly held.
"Wait. What on earth are you..."
"Shh. Too bad. It's time."
"How do you intend to leave here in this situation?"
The main street is filled with police cars. There isn't even a gap for a bike to pass, let alone this limousine, and they wouldn't let it pass anyway.
However, she didn't seem to consider it a problem at all.
"Don't you know Charu's way? I bought all the roads from the private airport to here in advance, so the visible range is already all Charu's private road. So I pass as I please, and I won't let anyone hinder me. Anyone."
Bought? The roads?
"Sorry asobase."
Suddenly a roar echoed in the sky.
The police officers who had gathered looked up at the sky all at once.
What appeared weaving through the gaps between buildings was an attack helicopter with a terrifying silhouette.
Without any warning, it rained cannon fire. The dangerous kind, 20mm or 30mm.
The densely packed police cars became beehives one after another, bouncing like pogs and flipping over.
Fragments of rearview mirrors and asphalt flew and cut my cheek.
Passersby screamed and fled in confusion. The police also hid in the shadows of buildings.
After finishing trampling as much as it liked for about thirty seconds, the helicopter flew away to the other side of the sky.
The town became quiet as if it were a lie.
"If you're going to hit, use financial power rather than brute strength. Sorry for being rich."
Cleaning was completely done, and the road was empty.
This is the Millionaire Phantom Thief Celebrity.
"God speed you. Sakuya."
The limousine carrying Chardina passed leisurely through the countless vehicles showing their bellies and spewing black smoke.
"W-What was that sound just now!? Did a war start!? Wait, what is thiiis!"
Manzorogi hears the sound and jumps out to the front. Witnessing the disastrous scene on the street, he jumped nearly a meter.
I was just standing there stunned.
Did my legs freeze at the extrajudicial violence of the Seven Old Men? Did I despair?
No, wrong. I was just weak from having my caramel popcorn magnificently taken away. That's all.
"Hey Sakuya! Hey! What on earth happened!?"
"The young lady... went to buy a rocket of a different color."
Crimson flames are rising here and there on street corners. Like Chardina's lingering scent.
"Hah? What are you saying... Damn! HQ! Respond! Something terrible is happening! Every single police car is showing its belly and burning! What kind of dispatch is this? I haven't heard about this!"
Next to Manzorogi making a fuss into his phone, I was feeling the scent of the overwritten perfume.
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