Chapter 36
Usuha Izuki blended in with this group of classmates and went to the izakaya together.
The other three skillfully ordered drinks. Matsuda Jinpei glanced at Usuha Izuki, who was still looking at the drink menu: "Don't tell me this is your first time drinking and you don't know how to order?"
Usuha Izuki said calmly: "Yes, because I had no money before."
Date Wataru showed a disapproving expression: "Matsuda..."
How could you sprinkle salt on someone's wounds like that? Such poor speaking skills—really worried Matsuda might offend people!
Matsuda Jinpei's mouth was twitching: "Squad Leader, don't let him fool you. He's saying that on purpose."
Date Wataru didn't believe it.
Even if this new friend seemed easy to misunderstand, Matsuda Jinpei shouldn't talk about him like that!
Hagiwara Kenji chuckled quietly and coughed as he explained: "Squad Leader, it's true. Little Shinryu likes to joke around."
When they first met, Hagiwara Kenji and Matsuda Jinpei had indeed been very careful to consider this orphan Samukawa Shinryu's feelings, but later they discovered that Samukawa Shinryu truly didn't care!
This guy was really smooth at making jokes about himself, full of dark humor. Sometimes when it wasn't even necessary to mention it, he'd deliberately poke at his own wounds just to enjoy watching others squirm.
Like just now—he could have simply said it was indeed his first time drinking, but this guy just had to bring up how he had no money before...
Matsuda Jinpei had previously doubted himself, wondering if he was maliciously misinterpreting Samukawa Shinryu. After all, the other always had no expression and seemed to have a very serious, rigorous personality—not like someone who would joke around constantly.
It wasn't until Hagiwara Kenji also noticed this problem and remarked "Little Shinryu really likes dark humor," that Matsuda Jinpei finally confirmed his guess was correct.
Hagiwara Kenji understood and helped explain, saying "Maybe Little Shinryu does this to help us relax, showing he really doesn't mind, so we shouldn't worry about these things either."
Matsuda Jinpei accepted this reasoning, but now seeing that Squad Leader had also been fooled and even scolded him for it, he recalled being led around by the nose in the past and felt somewhat grumpy.
Samukawa Shinryu's appearance was too deceptive! Always making people think he couldn't possibly be this boring and childish!
But in reality, this guy really was this boring and childish!!!
Stop judging people by their looks!!!
Usuha Izuki regretfully found this trick no longer worked and simply admitted: "Sorry, just joking."
Date Wataru finally believed and laughed heartily: "Hahaha, I didn't even notice."
Hagiwara Kenji asked considerately: "So, have you decided what to drink? Need me to recommend a few?"
"Please do." Usuha Izuki simply closed the menu.
Hagiwara Kenji helped order something with relatively low alcohol content.
In izakayas, people always opened up easily. Squad Leader spoke first: "I heard Hagiwara, you went back to the Police Academy as an Assistant Instructor? How do you find it?"
"Not bad. Seeing young people so energetic gives me motivation too."
Matsuda Jinpei mocked: "What kind of old man talk is that? You're not even much older than them, okay?"
Date Wataru asked with concern: "What are your plans afterward? Going back to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit?"
No one present thought Hagiwara Kenji would really stay at the Police Academy long-term, so asking about his future plans was natural.
Hagiwara Kenji pondered: "I'm actually considering criminal investigation work."
Of course he was skilled at bomb disposal, but unlike Matsuda, he didn't love tinkering with things—he was just good at it.
Just as Matsuda said, his observational skills and affinity when dealing with people, knowing what attitude and words to use with different people, might have more room to shine when investigating cases and gathering information from relevant personnel.
And he indeed didn't reject this option—found it quite appealing.
"Criminal investigation sounds great!" Date Wataru supported his friend's idea. "I like being a detective too. The experience I'm gaining at the local precinct might come in handy later... By the way, what about you, Samukawa? Any thoughts?"
The enthusiastic and caring Date Wataru, worried that his old classmates chatting might make their new friend uncomfortable, quickly found a chance to include him.
Usuha Izuki had answered this question before and was now practiced: "I want to work on the front lines... the kind where I'd frequently encounter crime scenes."
Date Wataru: "..........."
The "Black Screen Aura" had slightly less effect on someone with Date Wataru's personality, but even so, hearing Usuha Izuki's answer, he couldn't help but think wrongly for a moment.
Why would he want to encounter crime scenes? Did he have some kind of fetish?
Maybe he liked seeing corpses—then he should become a forensic pathologist... The reason for insisting on front-line work was...
Hagiwara Kenji coughed: "Squad Leader, what Little Shinryu means is probably that he wants to find clues and catch criminals from the very beginning..."
Date Wataru snapped back to reality: "Oh... oh, that's good. Criminals like to return to the scene... uh, no, I mean, some criminals do like returning to scenes. No, what I meant to say was..."
What was he saying?! Making it sound like Samukawa was a criminal returning to the scene!
Why did his mind go blank just now?!
Although the "Black Screen Aura's" effect was diminished, Date Wataru's current resistance wasn't very good. Once affected, his brain didn't quite obey him.
Matsuda Jinpei laughed without reservation: "No need to explain. Everyone understands what you mean, right, Samukawa?"
Usuha Izuki nodded.
Date Wataru felt embarrassed and silently downed a drink.
Matsuda Jinpei remembered something: "Speaking of front lines, do you know the Metropolitan Police is reforming?"
Hagiwara Kenji had heard a bit: "You mean the Criminal Investigation Department's Mobile Investigation Unit? They're apparently changing from a three-unit system to four units, so they might switch to 24-hour shifts every 4 days."
The Mobile Unit and Mobile Investigation Unit were different things.
What Matsuda Jinpei belonged to was the Security Department's Mobile Unit Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team, while what was being reformed now was the Criminal Investigation Department's Mobile Investigation Unit.
Mobile Investigation Unit members had to patrol their assigned areas 24 hours a day. When incidents occurred, they'd rush to the scene as quickly as possible for preliminary investigation. Almost all crime scenes had Mobile Investigation Unit personnel.
However, after preliminary investigation, cases would be handed over to local precinct police or other departments.
"It's a place full of forced half-measures. Even if you want to continue investigating, you have to hand it over to others when time's up." Matsuda Jinpei commented. "But it might suit Samukawa—it's definitely very front-line."
Since the Mobile Investigation Unit basically worked in pairs patrolling outside, though they'd also be at headquarters, their average stay time was shorter than other departments. So aside from Samukawa Shinryu's partner, other colleagues would feel very comfortable...
Otherwise, if it were the kind where you sit in offices frequently, Samukawa Shinryu's colleagues would suffer.
Usuha Izuki was indeed quite interested.
The system had said some people might develop resistance to the "Black Screen Aura," so he shouldn't rely on it too much. Long-term office work with constant colleague interaction might lead to gradual desensitization, meaning fewer and fewer suspicion values.
But the Mobile Investigation Unit was different—long-term external patrols meant high freedom, meeting many people, and when needed, he could appear in his police capacity to scare local precinct officers who didn't know him.
This position seemed tailor-made for him!
Usuha Izuki's acting was mediocre. Though still expressionless, everyone could tell he was very interested—his eyes had lit up after all.
Date Wataru said: "Although theoretically, the Police Academy arranges placements after graduation, if a department sends an invitation or you particularly want to go somewhere, you can talk to the instructor. If there are no capability issues, the instructor will recommend you. Some departments regularly ask academy instructors about promising candidates."
Matsuda Jinpei, working at Metropolitan Police, had slightly better access to information: "This reform has been discussed for a long time and was finally confirmed recently. Though it can't start immediately, the person in charge is very decisive—it should begin within six months at the latest... Ah, changing from three to four units means they'll need more people. Maybe they'll recruit from the Police Academy."
Hagiwara Kenji sighed: "Actually, you often have to try things to know if they suit you. Just sounding suitable doesn't count..."
Usuha Izuki was also moved—so having police connections was useful! Getting this intelligence was as simple as having drinks! Otherwise, he wouldn't even know where to start investigating.
"Thank you, I'll consider it carefully."
He wanted to express gratitude and raised his glass to toast with everyone.
But just as Usuha Izuki raised his hand, he felt like he'd seen something, so he pulled his hand back a bit to confirm.
The others waiting to clink glasses had their hands awkwardly suspended mid-air: "...?"
Usuha Izuki stared at his glass for several seconds, then naturally lowered his hand without toasting.
Hagiwara Kenji noticed something: "What's wrong?"
"The bald guy behind me is dealing drugs."
The several police officers immediately understood that "dealing" meant selling drugs.
Since all of them turning to look would be conspicuous, only the two facing him looked up directly to observe, while Hagiwara Kenji mimicked what Usuha Izuki had just done, trying to see the scene behind through the glass's reflection.
Honestly, the reflection was too strong and somewhat dazzling. Hagiwara Kenji wondered how Little Shinryu had noticed something wrong in that instant. Thinking back, he seemed to have discovered it just as he raised his glass. What kind of eyesight was that...
Soon everyone had locked onto the person Usuha Izuki mentioned. Looking at that Mediterranean-style hairstyle, he really did look like a kappa.
"If he still has drugs on him, we could catch him red-handed, but we need to be careful about evidence destruction..."
Like scattering them on the ground and claiming they had nothing to do with him. Without prior records and other evidence, it would be very troublesome, and there were no cameras here either.
Hagiwara Kenji was quite enthusiastic about his Assistant Instructor role. He trusted Samukawa Shinryu's judgment completely and felt this was a perfect practical opportunity.
"Want to go question him, Little Shinryu?"
The dark-haired, red-eyed youth stood up and walked toward that table.
Just as everyone was waiting to hear the familiar "Hello, could I ask you a few questions," they saw Samukawa Shinryu slam his palm on that table.
"Whose people are you? What are you here for?"
The bald kappa immediately went weak in the knees: "Boss! I didn't know this was your territory! The drugs belong to Mr. Inoshita!"
Date Wataru was dumbfounded: "...Huh? Huh? This..."
Matsuda Jinpei asked quietly: "Is this the current teaching results of the Police Academy?"
Hagiwara Kenji forced a smile: "...Trust me, this is just a special case... Just tell me if this method works or not!"