Chapter 96
This morning, although he was at home on vacation, Instructor Onizuka still got up early as usual.
His wife, accustomed to his schedule, had already prepared breakfast for him. After they greeted each other, Instructor Onizuka sat down, picked up his cup to drink some water to moisten his throat, and unfolded the newspaper with one hand.
The huge characters in the headline immediately caught his eye.
Police Academy... rejected... crime...
"Pfft—! Cough cough cough..."
Instructor Onizuka hadn't even swallowed his water when he instantly sprayed it out, even choking himself.
"Honey?!" His wife was greatly alarmed, quickly coming over to pat his back while asking with both worry and reproach, "How can you choke on water at your age?"
"Cough! Cough cough cough!!!"
Instructor Onizuka was very agitated, wanting to say something, but his coughing was uncontrollable. With such violent coughing, his vision was so blurred he couldn't even read clearly.
His wife, understanding what he wanted to do, picked up the newspaper and glanced at the headline: "A student rejected by the Police Academy became a bomber... Do you know him?"
"Cough cough cough cough!!! Give, give me! Give me the newspaper!"
Instructor Onizuka finally finished coughing and resolutely took back the newspaper to read it himself.
After seeing the pixelated photo of the criminal, Instructor Onizuka finally calmed down.
...Right, we accepted Samukawa Shinryu!
His wife was still confused beside him: "Even if you know him, it has nothing to do with you. Wasn't the rejection just right? You saw this guy wasn't suitable to be a police officer, so you rejected him. What's the problem?"
"No problem, of course no problem." Instructor Onizuka breathed a huge sigh of relief, wiping cold sweat. "Sigh, I got too nervous."
After interviewing Samukawa Shinryu, while he and his interview colleagues were hesitating whether to admit Samukawa Shinryu, he'd had several nightmares about "because we didn't admit him, Samukawa Shinryu became the Moriarty of the criminal world, and the Police Academy fell into a media storm."
He'd even clearly dreamed of reporters' cameras pointing at him, questioning whether he'd considered what consequences it would have if someone as academically excellent as Samukawa Shinryu turned to crime...
Reporters wouldn't analyze rationally like his wife. They'd only write whatever was most explosive and could cause more controversy. It would become: the criminal was originally a young man who could have had a bright future, but Police Academy prejudice made him become a criminal.
He'd dreamed about it so frequently that sometimes he couldn't distinguish reality from dreams. This time he almost thought the nightmare had finally come true. Only after calming down did he remember that Samukawa Shinryu had been admitted.
And was already in his internship. Even if Samukawa Shinryu committed crimes later... Though police committing crimes was also big news, it actually wasn't that uncommon.
Based on experience, it basically wouldn't implicate the Police Academy. Reporters would at most symbolically criticize a bit, mainly going all-out against the entire police system, as if Japan's police world was full of criminals and Japan was doomed.
After all, position determines perspective. Criticizing police and higher-ups was more newsworthy than criticizing a single criminal.
His colleague who'd interviewed Samukawa Shinryu with him had probably also seen the headline and called him just then: "Did you see the news?!"
"I saw it."
His colleague was very excited: "Good thing we admitted Samukawa! Can't imagine what extent he'd reach if he wanted revenge on society..."
Instructor Onizuka coughed: "He's a good student. We admitted him because of his outstanding abilities."
"Right, right, that's what I meant." His colleague quickly corrected himself, then sighed. "I heard reporters are already at the school gate..."
Instructor Onizuka was also glad he was on vacation today: "Who rejected him? Good rejection!"
Though it would affect the Police Academy's public opinion, keeping a piece of trash who'd break down from failing Police Academy entrance exams out of the police force was actually good from his personal perspective.
It was just hard on the colleague who rejected the bomber—they'd be pestered by those reporters who liked twisting facts for a long time...
Colleague: "Nobody rejected him. This guy failed the written exam."
Instructor Onizuka: "............"
Oh... He'd overthought it. Not everyone was Samukawa Shinryu, excellent enough that despite such prejudices, people would only hesitate rather than directly reject him.
After chatting with his colleague, Instructor Onizuka felt inexplicably stirred, with a sense of fulfillment from truly saving someone's life.
He thought about it and called Hagiwara Kenji, wanting to ask about Samukawa Shinryu's recent situation—they were friends, so they'd definitely know something, right?
Anyway, he didn't dare call Captain Kikyo. If something really happened, Hagiwara Kenji would speak more tactfully.
Hagiwara Kenji quickly answered: "Instructor?"
Instructor Onizuka was rarely gentle: "How's your vacation? Are you ready to go to Criminal Investigation Division One?"
"Not bad. The paperwork is being processed. Yesterday I met teammates from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, and they also said they don't want me to return... Sigh, do they not trust my abilities that much? I'm a bit hurt."
Even knowing Hagiwara Kenji was joking, Instructor Onizuka still said: "They just have some psychological trauma, and Criminal Investigation Division One is many people's dream. Everyone's happy for you that you can get in... Were you having a gathering with Explosive Ordnance Disposal people yesterday?"
"No, I went to supervise Little Shinryu writing his self-criticism, but we encountered a case. You probably already saw it—it's in several newspaper headlines today, about the one who failed Police Academy entrance."
Instructor Onizuka: "............"
Hearing no response from the other side, Hagiwara Kenji was puzzled: "Instructor? Bad signal?"
"Ah... I did see that headline." Instructor Onizuka laughed dryly twice. "What a coincidence... No, I mean..."
Hagiwara Kenji sympathetically understood Instructor Onizuka's incoherence and considerately didn't mention those embarrassing topics: "Little Shinryu discovered the criminal. The other person wore a police uniform and mixed into the scene, installing a bomb under a car... When everyone was holding guns, only that person's gun-holding posture was wrong. Little Shinryu spotted it immediately."
Instructor Onizuka: "...? Everyone was holding guns?"
"It's nothing, just a misunderstanding." Military advisor Hagiwara Kenji understated it.
But Instructor Onizuka had completely guessed what the situation was like then. He couldn't help twitching his mouth, somewhat wanting to ask clearly but feeling it wasn't necessary if the other person didn't want to talk about it. Finally, he self-deceptively chose to change the subject: "Is Samukawa alright?"
Since Samukawa Shinryu seemed to know about some rumors regarding his admission, hearing that criminal say those things, would he overthink?
Hagiwara Kenji answered: "Don't worry, Little Shinryu wouldn't take that kind of person seriously at all."
He'd been at the scene. When he heard the criminal's hoarse, unconvinced questioning, he'd also worried whether Little Shinryu might think too much.
Though Little Shinryu seemed not to care much when he'd heard those rumors before, even making jokes like "would the public opinion be better if I became police first then committed crimes?" being questioned to his face about what right he had to become police was completely different.
However, Samukawa Shinryu's spirit was more resilient than he'd imagined.
The red-eyed young man looked down at the criminal lying on the ground, still unwillingly struggling to look up at him, and rarely smiled.
"Just because you were caught after only two crimes proves..."
Hagiwara Kenji, predicting this guy was about to say something strange, decisively covered Samukawa Shinryu's mouth: "He means it's an intelligence issue. He was first place in our Police Academy class. It's natural that such an excellent person would be admitted."
Shiratori Ninzaburo's expression was indescribable: "Oh..."
No matter how you try to cover for him, what he just said sounded wrong!!!
What kind of thought process would make someone answer something like "because if you rejected me, it wouldn't be as simple as just two bombing murder cases" when asked "what right do you have to be police"?!
At least this small area had just been cleared out, so only the few of them could hear. He also wasn't the type to spread gossip everywhere.
But honestly, once you understood Samukawa Shinryu's thought process behind that answer, he was just as shocked, confused, and bewildered as the criminal lying below about how Samukawa Shinryu could actually become police...
This case was Criminal Investigation Division One's responsibility, and everyone was police. Considering these three were on vacation and didn't seem to intend stealing credit, Shiratori Ninzaburo didn't have them follow to the Metropolitan Police. They could just have Samukawa Shinryu supplement his statement when convenient.
Hagiwara Kenji said speechlessly: "Perfect timing—go back and write that self-criticism."
"...I helped Criminal Investigation Division One solve a case. Can't merits offset demerits?"
"No. If that criminal goes back and complains, you'll probably have to write another one." Hagiwara Kenji was coldly ruthless and couldn't help questioning, "I've told you so many times to watch your words. Why do you enjoy making people misunderstand you on purpose?"
Samukawa Shinryu thought: "Because I like it."
Hagiwara Kenji: "......"
"This guy's personality is really terrible." Matsuda Jinpei complained. "Now I think those silent, cold, ruthless villains in TV dramas are actually quite nice..."
Hagiwara Kenji took a deep breath: "You'll write that self-criticism today..."
"Achoo!" Samukawa Shinryu suddenly sneezed.
Hagiwara Kenji was startled, remembering this guy hadn't even worn a coat when he came out. After being in the cold wind so long, he shouldn't catch a cold.
"I'll write it tomorrow." Samukawa Shinryu pulled up the collar of his turtleneck sweater, burying half his face in it. "I have a headache."
Matsuda Jinpei: "...I'm starting to suspect you're deliberately acting pitiful."
Hagiwara Kenji thought so too, but to drive Samukawa Shinryu to the point of acting pitiful... This...
He sighed: "Fine, take your time writing it, but I don't have time to edit it for you. I have to handle transfer procedures."
Matsuda Jinpei raised an eyebrow: "I'm free. I'll do it."
Samukawa Shinryu was expressionless: "No need. I'll have Ibuki-senpai look at it after I finish."
Having a senior supervise was fine too... As long as it could be submitted. If he didn't even write the self-criticism, that would be an attitude problem.
Hagiwara Kenji reluctantly felt at ease, escorted him home, took his things with Matsuda Jinpei, and left Samukawa Shinryu's house.
Not long after they left, Samukawa Shinryu also quietly left, found a place to switch personas, and returned to his main body's apartment.
Akai Shuichi was reading in the living room and heard the door opening.
He looked up and saw Usuha Izuki, who had skimmed his commission.
After that phone call, Usuha Izuki had never contacted him again. Akai Shuichi had somewhat suspected this guy actually wasn't that sick and had normal logic, so he felt guilty. But now he'd returned.
"Oh, you're still here! Perfect!" Usuha Izuki looked quite happy.
Akai Shuichi raised an eyebrow: "Without getting my commission, how could I leave... You need something?"
"It's another matter... I need your help with something here."
"Killing again?"
Usuha Izuki shook his head: "No, very simple, text-related."
Akai Shuichi became serious.
Could it be organizing data into computers? He'd heard Japan's modernization process was particularly slow, and many civil servants couldn't use computers...
Someone else might not assign this kind of task to someone like him who hadn't even joined the organization, but a mental patient like Usuha Izuki was unpredictable—he might use unimportant intelligence for some kind of test.
"What is it? I'll consider it." Akai Shuichi played hard to get.
Usuha Izuki: "Really simple. Help me write two self-criticism templates. Just standard civil servant style."
Akai Shuichi: "............???"
—Did the organization actually make codename members write self-criticisms for things like skimming subordinates' commissions?