Chapter 69
Inspector Megure wanted to say something more, but Officer Shima had already quickly dragged the person away.
The police officer who had previously handled that case in Samukawa Shinryu's apartment with Inspector Megure finally couldn't help speaking up after the parties involved had left: "Inspector Megure, is that Samukawa-kun really okay?"
Inspector Megure wiped cold sweat: "This... this... it's normal for honor students to know more..."
Though it was really suspicious, he couldn't suspect someone without any basis!
They'd already misunderstood when he was framed before! And when that Cult Leader died, he couldn't help suspecting whether Samukawa Shinryu had done something...
He was a Police Academy student after all. His tendency to suspect people at the drop of a hat was really bad, so Inspector Megure worked hard to restrain himself. This time he made great efforts to show trust in Samukawa Shinryu, letting him express his views, trying to secretly make up for his private suspicions.
...And then Samukawa Shinryu said such a string of suspicious things.
The other officers were the same—they all felt bad for suspecting him last time, only to discover he was a Police Academy student who helped solve cases. This time they tried to be more rational...
But no matter how rational they were, after that speech just now, they couldn't control their suspicions anymore.
It really felt like that guy was putting himself in the criminal's shoes the whole time! Not only could he understand the criminal's bizarre thoughts, he even improved the criminal's methods! If his tone hadn't been calm throughout, they would have thought he was frustrated with the criminal's incompetence!
Inspector Megure sighed and walked over to the company president to handcuff him.
The president looked dazed, seemingly still immersed in Samukawa Shinryu's final words.
From the moment he first saw Samukawa Shinryu, he actually felt he would probably be exposed.
The instant those dark red eyes like dried blood met his gaze, it was as if he'd been completely seen through—this person should be the same type as him, so he could easily understand his actions.
It was just unfortunate that this kindred spirit stood on the police side and chose to expose him.
Originally he wanted to resist desperately, but watching Samukawa Shinryu expressionlessly lay out his escape methods bit by bit, even beginning to analyze his inner thoughts, he felt there was no need to struggle anymore.
If he refuted one piece of evidence, there would definitely be other evidence he hadn't noticed waiting for him.
Continuing to struggle would just make him a clown in that person's eyes—the other party was probably enjoying watching him struggle desperately.
Presumably this Samukawa Shinryu became a police officer to closely observe criminals making fools of themselves, right?
Other professions probably couldn't satisfy this twisted pleasure.
Especially those final words...
If he had acted early as Samukawa Shinryu suggested, could he really have perfectly evaded police investigation?
Damn it, just by that little bit—if only he had acted earlier...
The president was filled with regret.
Meanwhile, Officer Shima, who had practically kidnapped the intern from the scene, finally returned to their territory—the melon bread van.
Officer Shima pushed Samukawa Shinryu into the passenger seat, walked around to get in the driver's seat, slammed the door hard, stared ahead silently for a few seconds, sighed, then fell silent again, seeming to struggle with patience, but finally couldn't help turning to explode.
"Why did you say those things just now? Finding evidence and identifying him as the criminal would have been enough! No! You shouldn't have been responsible for even that part!"
Ibuki Ai also got in the car, looking somewhat worried: "Samukawa-kun, some things are okay to think about, but you can't actually do them! I just beat up a criminal once and had to write dozens of pages of self-reflection and got transferred..."
The furious Officer Shima included his partner in his tirade: "You're not much better! You even drew your gun! Some things are best not even thought about!" Then he turned back to continue berating the newcomer. "Don't say unnecessary things in the future! You'll get yourself in trouble! Especially about how to improve methods... there's absolutely no need to say such things!"
Samukawa Shinryu waited for Officer Shima's emotions to stabilize a bit before slowly saying: "I just wanted to teach him a lesson."
Officer Shima, finding this phrase very familiar: "...??? I could understand last time, but how did you teach him a lesson this time?"
"If it was just solving the case, he might think he wasn't suited for this kind of thing anyway, with limited regret. But now he must think he was just one step away from not being discovered, and he'll regret his own indecisiveness terribly." Samukawa Shinryu pondered. "During his time in prison, he should keep obsessing over this problem."
Officer Shima: "............"
Making criminals regret that their plan was just one step away from being a perfect crime... this way of teaching lessons is too weird!
But he had to admit, it sounded quite effective. Many times when you're far off, you feel it's just that way, but being one step away is most painful. If it were him, he'd probably obsess over it until death.
This psychological torture would indeed cause stronger mental damage than simply going to prison.
Ibuki Ai disagreed: "Don't help criminals perfect their plans! What if he learns from it!"
"...I was just speaking casually. Even if he did that, there would be other evidence. As long as something is done, it leaves traces."
Good, this sounded like something a police officer would say. Officer Shima breathed a sigh of relief.
Having worked in Investigation Division One, he knew this case wasn't actually difficult. As long as police made more inquiries afterward and asked that luxury store, they would naturally discover the loophole.
Samukawa Shinryu casually adjusted his gloves: "Besides, this person was easy to trick. The clerk only said Yura-san told her she found her key, not that he should also know about it, but he just believed my words. Someone with this kind of brain can't commit perfect crimes."
Officer Shima: "...So even that line wasn't true!"
"I attended interrogation classes properly."
"I can see that... but I don't think our Mobile Investigation Unit usually needs this..."
"It was useful this time."
"It shouldn't have been needed!"
Officer Shima felt his blood pressure rising: "I wanted to tell you last time—you're just a police officer. Teaching criminals lessons is the judge's job and has nothing to do with you!"
Samukawa Shinryu countered: "Victims' families also have the right to teach him lessons."
"Are you a victim's family member?" Officer Shima frowned. "You're not one of those people who thinks they're especially righteous, that legal punishment isn't enough, so you want to serve heaven's justice, are you?"
Ibuki Ai muttered: "Thinking legal punishment isn't enough is completely understandable. The victim is dead but he gets to live just fine..."
"You shut up first! I'm asking Samukawa!"
Officer Shima felt his blood vessels about to burst. What had he done to deserve partnering with two people?
"Samukawa, what exactly are you thinking? Let me say this first—the person I hate most is someone who views their actions as justice."
Ibuki Ai pouted: "Ah—you've said that to me too. Isn't having a sense of justice a good thing?"
"Having a sense of justice and considering yourself justice are two different things." Officer Shima rolled his eyes, then continued questioning Samukawa Shinryu for an answer. "So which type are you?"
"Don't worry, senior. I won't justify my actions. I'm very clear about what I'm doing—"
The dark-haired, red-eyed youth met Officer Shima's gaze through the rearview mirror. The metal buckle's reflection on his shoulder strap gave him a solemn, cold quality.
"—Because I have no sense of justice at all. I do those things simply because I want to, unrelated to justice. Does saying this put you at ease?"
Officer Shima: "...Maybe you should have a little."
Like hell that puts me at ease! Isn't this even more worrying?!
Do you hear what you're saying?! Is this what a police officer should say?! Are police academies so casual about recruitment now?!
Thinking this, Officer Shima directly asked: "How did you pass the Police Academy interview?"
"Answered questions normally." Samukawa Shinryu said. "But I heard rumors at the academy that the interviewer worried that rejecting me would lead me to crime, causing reporters to write 'Criminal turned to crime after Police Academy rejection,' so they agreed."
Officer Shima: "............"
This worry was rather meaningless. Forget about him possibly turning to crime if rejected—looking at him now, Samukawa Shinryu could commit crimes even while being a police officer!
Who knows when this guy might cross that line and do something irreversible!
Samukawa Shinryu even comforted him: "I understand what senior is worried about. Indeed, when people think they're righteous, they become especially cold and cruel. But I have no justice, so I won't have this problem."
"...Great comfort. Don't comfort me next time." Officer Shima covered his face in pain. "Without even a sense of justice, why do you want to be a police officer?"
"It's precisely because I lack a sense of justice that I became one."
Samukawa Shinryu said flatly: "I want to understand someone's thoughts. He was a police officer. Maybe if I become a police officer, I can get closer to him."
Officer Shima was stunned.
Ibuki Ai became interested: "Eh—who is that police officer? Tell us, maybe I know him! I can help analyze!"
The dark-haired youth lowered his eyes, long lashes casting small shadows on his pale face.
"...He's already dead."