Chapter 38
Instructor Onizuka pondered—his teaching was fine, the person's methods were fine, the procedures were even more fine. Theoretically speaking, the police station should thank them for their help instead of complaining so much before offering just one line of thanks... So where was the problem?
By comparison, the problem could only be with the person.
Instructor Onizuka looked at Usuha Izuki, wanting to say something.
Usuha Izuki also looked at him calmly, as if he would accept whatever he said.
Instructor Onizuka knew that if he said something, the other would definitely listen. Even these recent incidents were all because he had said "don't forget your identity when out and about," and the other had carried it through to the end.
What else could he say?
This kid had done nothing wrong—what was wrong was the world's prejudice.
With thousands of words in his heart, Instructor Onizuka could only sigh: "...Sigh, about yesterday's incident, you did nothing wrong. Don't take what that criminal said to heart. It's just that, this time the impact was a bit... so there won't be any commendation. Is that okay?"
Usuha Izuki thought to himself, as long as you don't ban me from taking leave, and therefore appeared very well-behaved: "That's fine. I wasn't doing it for commendation anyway."
Instructor Onizuka was deeply moved to hear this.
If other students said this, he'd find it perfectly normal—Police Academy students who would become police officers shouldn't act heroically just for commendation, as that would show poor character. But when Samukawa Shinryu said this, he was extremely moved, feeling that his teaching had shown results!
This sense of achievement was something other students couldn't give him!
For a moment, Instructor Onizuka felt that accepting this student had actually been quite good.
Just then, Instructor Onizuka's phone rang, so he waved his hand to indicate Usuha Izuki could leave, then answered the call: "Hello?"
The caller ID showed it was still the chief from that police station, but he'd already had Hagiwara Kenji bring Samukawa Shinryu back last night, so it shouldn't be another emergency incident...
With some trepidation, Instructor Onizuka heard his old friend say on the other end:
"It's me. Sorry about last night—I was frantic. Looking at the report today, I realized your student actually helped discover a bomb case yesterday too. Since yesterday's incident can't be commended, maybe we shouldn't shortchange him on this bomb case..."
Instructor Onizuka's voice suddenly rose: "What?! There was also a bomb incident?"
In just the time from afternoon to evening, how many incidents did that kid Samukawa Shinryu encounter outside?!
Hearing this, Usuha Izuki knew things were bad and quickly walked away. Instructor Onizuka, holding the phone, couldn't call him back and could only watch helplessly as he hurried off.
After a long while, Instructor Onizuka finally finished hearing the whole story. He hung up the phone, remained silent for a long time, then called Hagiwara Kenji over.
Hagiwara Kenji appeared in his office with a guilty smile and saluted: "Instructor."
And here he'd said yesterday that if Little Shinryu couldn't get leave approved, he'd volunteer to tell the instructor he'd accompany him so nothing would happen...
If he said that now, Instructor Onizuka would probably reject both their leave applications entirely.
Instructor Onizuka looked at him scrutinizingly for a long time. Instead of shouting at him to reflect, write self-criticisms, and clean up like when Hagiwara Kenji was still a student, he said with a very subtle tone: "I finally understand why you're friends."
This troublemaking ability was really getting stronger with each generation. This year only had Samukawa Shinryu as a problem student, and he was already getting major headaches. If Samukawa Shinryu had come earlier and been in the same year as Hagiwara Kenji and the others, Instructor Onizuka didn't dare imagine what would have happened.
Hagiwara Kenji laughed dryly: "Instructor, this was just an exception. Next time something like this happens, I'll rush forward first, so this kind of strange misunderstanding won't occur!"
"There's a next time?!"
Hagiwara Kenji coughed: "Well, when encountering such situations, we can't just pretend not to see them. You also said not to forget our identity when out and about..."
Instructor Onizuka: "..........."
You can't remember other things, but you remember these very clearly, huh?!
"Next time you..." Instructor Onizuka said halfway, then fell silent. "Do you think I should continue approving leave for Samukawa?"
Hagiwara Kenji said carefully: "I think you should, because he originally requested two days of leave, but each time he comes back by midnight the same day, so it's actually like having no time off at all."
"Right." Instructor Onizuka said expressionlessly. "In less than half a day, why does he encounter incidents every single time? This time he even encountered two cases—will it be three next time?"
Hagiwara Kenji spoke up for his friend: "Instructor, I think if we're going to blame anyone, we should blame the criminals for wanting to commit crimes. If he doesn't go out, maybe that bomb wouldn't have been discovered and would have hurt someone else. Every time he goes out, he can stop or help solve some cases, which is actually a good thing..."
—Ignoring some strange effects on the Police Academy's reputation, overall it really was a good thing.
Instructor Onizuka looked quietly at Hagiwara Kenji: "...So you also think he'll encounter cases whenever he goes out?"
Hagiwara Kenji: "..........."
"Speaking of which, you all were like this too—bombs, kidnappings, robberies..." Instructor Onizuka listed them like treasures. "Except for the frequency not being as high as his, the nature was pretty much the same. You all almost died several times before even graduating... I'm your instructor and have a duty to protect you during school, but when you encounter these things outside, I'm always the last to know."
Instructor Onizuka sighed deeply: "Actually, having lived this long and seen so much, I've discovered that sometimes many things really can't be explained scientifically. For instance, some people just have accident-prone constitutions and easily encounter cases wherever they go. I see you all are like this, and Samukawa seems to be too... In some ways, he's quite suited to being a police officer."
Hagiwara Kenji heard there might be hope and quickly asked: "So if he requests leave next time..."
"Let's see if he can convince me." Instructor Onizuka rubbed his temples. "The principal is very concerned about the school's reputation now..."
Hagiwara Kenji: "...Is it that serious?"
"After so many years, there's never been a case of a police station being reported by criminals! In one night, everyone who should know found out!" Instructor Onizuka covered his head. "I've become famous too, but I really don't want this kind of fame..."
Talk about ten years of education going unnoticed until a student causes trouble and the whole world knows!
Hagiwara Kenji consoled him: "Look on the bright side—at least it's not because your student committed a crime."
Instructor Onizuka: "..........."
Great consolation. Please don't console me next time.
Instructor Onizuka took half a minute to calm himself, then looked up at Hagiwara Kenji: "Since other students might have complaints, giving him another commendation could cause dissatisfaction, so neither of yesterday's two cases will be commended. Go explain this to Samukawa."
Hagiwara Kenji quickly nodded.
Really, being an Assistant Instructor was indeed different from being a student—the instructor hadn't said anything critical about him!
Soon Hagiwara Kenji found an opportunity to tell Usuha Izuki about this.
Usuha Izuki didn't really care about commendations anyway and nodded calmly after hearing: "I understand. It's normal to be resented."
"It's not that serious..." Hagiwara Kenji was embarrassed. "Everyone knows your intentions were good and the problem was with the criminals. As for Onizuka class's reputation, that's not your fault either. The instructor just wants you to lay low..."
Usuha Izuki asked: "So can I still request leave next time?"
He needed to get some fresh air! Life at the Police Academy was no different from prison, except the efficiency of farming suspicion values brought a little warmth.
Hagiwara Kenji: "...You can try."
As it turned out, only adults thought too much. The students who hadn't yet entered the workforce didn't really have much dissatisfaction with this incident.
After all, they had one foot in the police world already. Some students even had police officers in their families, so naturally they'd heard some rumors and discussed them after returning to school.
"Samukawa-kun is amazing—discovering bombs and catching drug dealers... Doing so well yet still being reported by criminals. First time hearing about such a thing! So unlucky!"
Some were displeased, feeling their interests were affected: "Seems like the people with him were seniors from Onizuka class. Now Onizuka class's reputation..."
"Enough! Samukawa-kun did nothing wrong. Onizuka class's reputation should have improved—this was just an accident... If you're dissatisfied, go do something to improve Onizuka class's reputation! Doing nothing yourself but nitpicking when others do something—I really can't stand people like you. What do you have to compare with Samukawa-kun?" Sato Miwako couldn't stand such talk before and couldn't hold back this time either, slapping the table as she stood up.
The person's face reddened: "I wasn't even mentioning Samukawa-kun, I was just stating facts..."
Sato Miwako sneered: "Didn't you also say women shouldn't be police officers before? So what police-appropriate deeds have you accomplished? Let's hear them."
Miyamoto Yumi had long been fed up with this guy who only stared at others and gossiped, constantly making snide remarks and discriminating against female students. She helped her best friend complain: "I remember you were good friends with that guy who dropped out, right? This is completely personal grudge... It wasn't Samukawa-kun who made your friend drop out—it was his own wrongdoing. We haven't even said that the first dropout from our entire school coming from Onizuka class affected Onizuka class's reputation, yet now you're saying Samukawa-kun affected..."
The person was very displeased being lectured by female students he looked down on. Just as he was about to retort, he noticed from the corner of his eye that Usuha Izuki had entered the classroom and quickly shut his mouth, though his expression still showed some indignation.
Usuha Izuki naturally heard what these people were arguing about but didn't particularly care. He nodded at Sato Miwako and Miyamoto Yumi as a greeting and thanks for speaking up for him.
At this moment, the neighbor of the dropout came over and quietly reported: "After I got home, I found him and relayed your message... He showed no remorse at all and seemed very dissatisfied. I don't think he'll come apologize to you."
"That's fine. You helping relay the message is enough." Usuha Izuki was just making a casual move and didn't care whether it worked. "Thank you."
The neighbor classmate was so happy his ears turned red: "No need to thank me. I'm very happy to help Samukawa-kun... Being able to handle so many cases while still in Police Academy—Samukawa-kun will definitely become a famous detective in the future!"
"Thanks for the kind words." Usuha Izuki said casually. "Class is starting soon. Go back to your seat."
"Ah, yes, yes..."
This class covered some murder methods. Instructor Onizuka had other business to handle, so Hagiwara Kenji was substituting.
His teaching style was freer, liking to ask questions frequently to expand students' thinking.
"Alright, everyone can now see this has been set up as an ordinary kitchen and living room." Hagiwara Kenji stood in a simulated crime scene room. "Just using what appears here, what murder methods can you think of?"
Students: "......"
Hagiwara Kenji smiled: "Don't be nervous. As police officers, you must know more than criminals do to solve cases. If you can't think of methods criminals can think of, how will you solve cases? An excellent detective must also be a master criminal... We only look at what someone did, not what they're capable of doing. Understand?"
Many felt the Assistant Instructor was tactfully speaking up for Samukawa Shinryu.
Hagiwara Kenji didn't delve deeper into this topic: "This is just a warm-up to get everyone's minds active. Don't overthink it. Raise your hands to answer—creative ones can skip this class's homework."
Mentioning no homework immediately motivated everyone.
"The living room chandelier could be rigged as a trap to crush someone below."
"Knives can kill people."
As more people answered, fewer options remained for later students. After all, the murder methods everyone could think of were basically the most obvious ones. Once taken by earlier students, others couldn't think of alternatives.
The intervals between raised hands grew longer. Finally, after Hagiwara Kenji asked three times with no more hands, Usuha Izuki raised his.
Hagiwara Kenji smiled and asked: "What method can you think of?"
"Take the batteries out of the TV remote in the living room. The black solid inside is manganese chloride. Soak in water for at least an hour to get a manganese chloride solution. High-temperature evaporation of the remaining solution contains severe toxins, soluble in water, causing Parkinson's disease and mental confusion with no recovery. As long as the perpetrator is still on a business trip when symptoms appear, by the time they return, the person might already be dead."
Hagiwara Kenji: "..........."
—Little Shinryu, the good words I spoke for you earlier were probably wasted...