Chapter 52
Perhaps having been traumatized by Usuha Izuki quite a bit, Morofushi Hiromitsu could actually vaguely grasp a bit of Usuha Izuki's thought process.
He pinched the cross that had been forcibly put on him and asked somewhat speechlessly: "Is it to make badmouthing more convenient?"
"Yes."
Usuha Izuki pulled over the skeleton frame he had thrown aside earlier, rested his chin on the skull head, and with a pure and innocent expression, put the skeleton's hands together in a pleading gesture. His pale green eyes looked sincerely at Morofushi Hiromitsu: "Won't you?"
Morofushi Hiromitsu's gaze lingered on the skeleton frame for a second, thinking that if he wanted to act cute, a cat would probably be more effective... Ah, speaking of cats, this unpredictable, occasionally crazy behavior that could scratch people at any moment—Usuha Izuki himself was quite cat-like...
"You can suggest it to Boss." Morofushi Hiromitsu was now somewhat resigned. Even if Gin suddenly jumped out pointing a gun at him right now, he'd have to consider whether he was dreaming due to too much stress. "I don't have the authority to designate partners."
Actually, partnering with Usuha Izuki had advantages aside from the mental stress.
For instance, Vodka and Gin would remember him. When they wanted to know about Usuha Izuki's situation, they'd contact him. This kind of private social circle was something many people couldn't get even after years in the organization.
On this basis, his achievements wouldn't be overlooked, and even if missions failed, as long as it wasn't too excessive requiring someone to take the blame, considering Usuha Izuki's status as a second-generation organization member, they probably wouldn't hold it against him.
Although Boss probably wouldn't dare share important intelligence with Usuha Izuki, judging from Usuha Izuki's reckless charging style just now, he might actually come into contact with things they didn't originally want him to know.
The only problem was that Usuha Izuki didn't like taking on too many missions. If he also followed suit and stayed idle at home, promotion might be slow. But attention from other executives or even Boss might compensate for this.
When his experience accumulated enough and he wanted to get closer to the core, he could apply to dissolve the partnership with Usuha Izuki. The entire organization would understand him and wouldn't question it...
Morofushi Hiromitsu quickly analyzed the situation. Since the benefits outweighed the drawbacks, mental stress and such—he could endure it. Personal comfort should still come after the mission.
As for whether Usuha Izuki had actually discovered his and Rei's true identities... honestly, he felt that both his and Rei's acting skills were decent, and they had completed organization missions properly without revealing any flaws. If discovered, it should be through Metropolitan Police or National Police Agency records, in which case no amount of struggling would help. For now, he'd assume the other party hadn't discovered anything and continue acting cautiously.
Usuha Izuki was very happy and gave him a brilliant smile: "Then I'll go talk to Boss!"
Morofushi Hiromitsu nodded indifferently.
As a member without a codename, Boss would most likely sacrifice him to satisfy Usuha Izuki's request.
Although he had indeed agreed himself, thinking about having to meet with Usuha Izuki frequently in the future made Morofushi Hiromitsu feel physically and mentally exhausted.
Facts proved that Morofushi Hiromitsu's guess was correct.
When Usuha Izuki asked for Gin's photo, Boss at least gave Gin advance notice. When it came to Morofushi Hiromitsu, he was directly gifted to Usuha Izuki like a present.
Nothing at all—just relying on Usuha Izuki's verbal notification after sending emails.
If Vodka hadn't sent him an email with the subject line [My Condolences], Morofushi Hiromitsu might have suspected whether Usuha Izuki was falsely conveying orders...
Regarding Morofushi Hiromitsu's fate, Vodka was very sympathetic and sincerely wrote in the email: [If you can't take it anymore, come find me. As long as I'm free, I can drink with you.]
Looking at this, Morofushi Hiromitsu wondered if he had broken the undercover record by being able to drown his sorrows with Vodka so quickly.
He replied to Vodka: [It's not that bad. Botanist doesn't come home normally. Remember to have Gin take the photos before the weekend.]
Yes, after Usuha Izuki got Morofushi Hiromitsu from Boss, they had a meal together, and then he disappeared again.
Following previous patterns, he probably wouldn't return until next weekend.
Actually, Morofushi Hiromitsu had some speculation about this. He suspected Usuha Izuki was secretly working somewhere else, experiencing real ordinary people's work...
Vodka had different thoughts about this. Vodka felt Usuha Izuki should be going somewhere to study, just too embarrassed to say so, and believed Usuha Izuki indeed should study Japanese properly.
Both thought their own speculation was more reasonable. Morofushi Hiromitsu decided to ask when he had the chance.
Before, they weren't familiar, but now they were partners. Wanting to know where the other partner usually was seemed quite normal, right?
Knowing that only appearing on weekends would make organization members suspicious, but stubbornly doing it anyway, Usuha Izuki had already returned to the Police Academy.
As soon as he came back, Instructor Onizuka appeared suspiciously: "Cough, it's been quite chaotic outside lately. Nothing happened, right?"
Usuha Izuki answered: "No."
Previously, he hadn't farmed enough suspicion values, so after going out, he'd deliberately wander around with Samukawa Shinryu's identity and occasionally encounter cases.
This time, he had directly farmed enough suspicion values on the organization's side to meet his psychological expectations, so there was no need for Samukawa Shinryu to continue encountering strange things—he also had to consider whether encountering cases too densely might really affect his leave requests...
Hearing Usuha Izuki's calm response, Instructor Onizuka was deeply moved.
Great, so no cases occurred this week either... That's how it should be. Even if Samukawa Shinryu always encounters cases, that's because criminals insist on committing crimes. What does it have to do with innocent Samukawa Shinryu?
There were only a few months left until Samukawa Shinryu graduated from Police Academy. He shouldn't think about resigning or anything. Just hold on a bit longer! Freedom was coming soon!
"Alright, go back to the dormitory and rest." Instructor Onizuka instructed, "Go easy in tomorrow's judo class. You gave Komatsu psychological trauma during the last sparring session."
Usuha Izuki said carelessly: "I was already going easy. If his psychological fortitude is insufficient, he shouldn't become a police officer. Criminals will only be more terrifying than me."
Instructor Onizuka: "......"
That's a bit disingenuous of you to say! This year's students can be said to have the strongest psychological fortitude since the school's founding!
"By the way, did Assistant Instructor Hagi... Hagiwara come back?"
"No, he probably went to find Matsuda and the others..." Instructor Onizuka suddenly remembered something. "Why didn't you go with them this time?"
Usuha Izuki was silent for a moment: "I always feel like going with them leads to encountering cases. I heard that when they were at the Police Academy, every time they went out together, they'd either encounter robbery or arson."
Instructor Onizuka wanted to say something but hesitated, feeling like Samukawa Shinryu lacked some self-awareness: "............"
You problem students are all the same—don't be like the pot calling the kettle black. What did I do to deserve being an instructor for you bunch of once-in-a-century troublemakers! My hair is about to fall out completely!!!
This time, Usuha Izuki was rarely telling the complete truth.
When Hagiwara Kenji went out to meet up, he had also invited him, but Usuha Izuki himself had refused.
Because he wasn't sure how long the organization's side would take to handle things this time, and there was a high possibility that Hagiwara Kenji would go back to Samukawa Shinryu's house with him and drive him directly to dinner.
Although he could make excuses and join them midway later, considering that Hagiwara Kenji and the others did indeed have some accident-prone constitution, combined with Samukawa Shinryu's [Black Screen Aura], he'd definitely get dragged into trouble... Even he would get tired from back-to-back action, so he'd better come back and rest first.
Hagiwara Kenji returned in the evening, bringing Usuha Izuki a box of yokan.
"Squad Leader asked about you today, wondering why you didn't come." Hagiwara Kenji put the yokan on Usuha Izuki's desk. "What have you been busy with?"
Usuha Izuki said casually: "Went home to clean."
Hagiwara Kenji raised an eyebrow: "Want me to help next time?"
There was no particular reason to refuse this. After Usuha Izuki politely demurred a few times, he agreed under Hagiwara Kenji's insistence: "Next week... no, the week after that. One week without cleaning shouldn't matter much."
Next week, Gin would probably have the photos ready and be waiting for him to divine which people on the assassination list were bad guys. He really wouldn't have time.
System: [You'll discover in the future that situations where you don't have time will increase. It's still more convenient to buy a Body Double Puppet.]
Usuha Izuki held firm to his principles: [Before I save enough points to buy permanent residence rights, I can't waste suspicion values!]
[......How long will this take to save up! Are you a hamster?! And how is a Body Double Puppet wasting money?! It's a very useful item!]
[You don't understand. I'm the type who finishes homework in the first week of vacation so I can play worry-free for the rest of the time.]
System: [So disciplined? I couldn't tell—you were just sleeping in before coming to the Police Academy...]
[That was all necessary sacrifice.] Usuha Izuki was also heartbroken. [Anyway, the internet isn't well-developed in this world. There's nothing fun to do on phones at night, so going to bed and waking up early isn't impossible... Can you give another 10% discount on that Body Double Puppet?]
The system was speechless: [So whether you consider it wasteful spending isn't based on usefulness but on price?! Why make so many excuses! 15% off—that's really the bottom line. Even if you ask again, it's still 15% off.]
[Forget it then.] Usuha Izuki glanced at the price in the store. [I'll wait until I absolutely have to buy it. It'll still be 15% off then, right?]
[......Yes.]
The Suspicion Value System had given up hope for this miser. Very likely, Usuha Izuki would become the only contractor in its career who never bought a Body Double Puppet.
Usuha Izuki was someone with plans. If he felt the Body Double Puppet wasn't worth it, he really didn't want to buy it.
For now, he'd just be a time management master. He'd reconsider when he really couldn't handle it anymore.
So another week passed, and Morofushi Hiromitsu, who had already taken root in Usuha Izuki's house and even gone out on a solo sniping mission before returning, finally saw Usuha Izuki coming home from school.
"You're finally back." Morofushi Hiromitsu breathed a sigh of relief. "Gin's getting impatient waiting."
Although Usuha Izuki hadn't come home all week, he did reply to emails properly and occasionally answered phone calls, so it wasn't complete radio silence.
Vodka had even sent him somewhat sourly worded emails saying it seemed like Usuha Izuki really liked him...
Usuha Izuki flopped onto the sofa: "Don't mention those annoying things. Let me rest first—huh?"
As he rolled over, he suddenly hugged something: "Where did these cushions come from?"
Morofushi Hiromitsu: "I bought them. I thought you needed them more."
Someone who starts leaning all over the place as soon as he sits on the sofa should buy some cushions. Don't lean on him again next time to listen to his heartbeat for lie detection—people's control over their heartbeat is quite poor!
Although he felt Usuha Izuki wouldn't care about any serious issues, Morofushi Hiromitsu still had lingering fears and wanted to avoid it as much as possible.
Usuha Izuki, who hadn't drawn any cushions, looked moved: "Midorikawa—truly my best friend! You're so good to me! I've been finding this sofa uncomfortable for ages!"
Morofushi Hiromitsu was puzzled—if it was uncomfortable, why not buy a different sofa...
Usuha Izuki continued: "I'm so moved! Do you want anything in return?"
If it were "Morofushi Hiromitsu," he'd probably answer that you already gave me the cross before, but as organization member Midorikawa, he would only give a cold, ruthless response.
"Then start divining right now which people on this list are bad guys."
Usuha Izuki: "............Alright."
He reluctantly hugged a cushion and got up, taking the materials Morofushi Hiromitsu handed him.
Thanks to Usuha Izuki's strange habit, Morofushi Hiromitsu had obtained quite a few names of people the organization wanted to assassinate. Unfortunately, he couldn't be too obvious and could only quietly pass along individual names.
Usuha Izuki flipped through all the materials, got a rough idea in his mind, then went through the motions of taking a crystal ball into his room.
The divination process wasn't shown, but when he came out, Usuha Izuki had singled out one file.
"This one."
Morofushi Hiromitsu glanced at it and quickly sent an email to Vodka.
Usuha Izuki picked at some freshly washed grapes and, after eating half a plate, asked: "Where's the target now? Getting it done today?"
"No." Morofushi Hiromitsu looked at Vodka's reply. "We have to wait four days until he attends a charity gala—kill the chicken to warn the monkeys."
Usuha Izuki: "......"
What?! He thought it could be finished in one day! Even if it was farther away, two or three days should be enough—after all, Japan is so small... How could there be scheduled times?! Isn't it enough if the person dies?!
System gloated: [Ah, school's starting, what to do? Why don't you take leave? After all, you won't buy a Body Double Puppet, right?]