Chapter 130
While Kudo Yusaku was busy rushing his manuscript and Usuha Izuki wanted to immerse himself in vacation, Hagiwara Kenji and Matsuda Jinpei weren't in that mood.
Usuha Izuki went to his room to change clothes and pack things to bring to the beach, while these two huddled together, discussing and packing at the same time.
"Shouldn't you tell me the truth now?" Matsuda Jinpei opened his backpack and stuffed water inside. "What's really going on with Samukawa? Making bombs without measuring instruments... this skill level, did you know about it?"
Hagiwara Kenji sighed: "Do you think he'd let me know?"
Matsuda Jinpei thought about it and couldn't argue.
"He didn't even let me watch the manufacturing process, made me go out, said he was afraid I'd be in danger..."
Hagiwara Kenji had also been holding back anger: "If that expert hadn't barged in, I wouldn't have known he made bombs like that... Heh, manufacturing without measuring instruments is indeed dangerous, but he's not afraid of being in danger himself!"
Seeing the usually gentle and considerate Hagiwara Kenji this angry, Matsuda Jinpei quickly patted his shoulder: "He probably really doesn't think it's dangerous. Same with bomb disposal before—insisting on defusing in someone's palm, not afraid the other person might shake and make him cut the wrong wire..."
As he spoke, Matsuda Jinpei also got fired up: "What the hell is wrong with that Samukawa guy!"
The two vented their emotions with complaints for a while before calming down.
"Should we ask directly later?" Matsuda Jinpei asked.
Seeing Samukawa Shinryu's violation of protocol while knowing to make Hagi leave, he probably didn't want to be found out. Asking now, who knew if he'd answer.
Hagiwara Kenji rubbed his forehead: "I'll ask and see how he tries to brush me off this time."
Matsuda Jinpei: "..."
From Hagiwara Kenji's attitude, Matsuda Jinpei was certain these two were still hiding other things from him, but if Hagiwara Kenji thought it wasn't a big deal and unnecessary to mention, then he'd pretend not to notice for now.
It's just that if possible, he still hoped for some heads up—stop scaring people all the time!
After a brief discussion, Hagiwara Kenji returned to his room to pack, then the group set off for the beach.
The timing was a bit late, but it wasn't raining and the sun hadn't set yet, so walking on the beach was still okay. They only had a few days of vacation total, already delayed two days by the case—even if the sun had already set, they had to get out and walk.
The sea breeze was cool, the coastline long—Usuha Izuki didn't want the "Black Screen Aura" to cause any more trouble affecting his vacation, so he specifically chose a place with fewer people.
After walking for a while, Matsuda Jinpei consciously went into the sea, giving Hagiwara Kenji and Usuha Izuki space for a heart-to-heart.
Hagiwara Kenji asked: "What were you thinking?"
"About what?"
"The violation of protocol." Hagiwara Kenji turned his head to look at his friend. The formula wasn't worth asking about—if he wanted to investigate, he could always find it, especially since Little Shinryu had joined some illegal organization. What he most wanted to ask about was still that fearless operation. "Do you think you have nine lives? What if you made a mistake?"
Usuha Izuki wanted to say he wouldn't make mistakes, but on second thought, Hagiwara Kenji definitely couldn't accept that kind of reason.
So he pondered for a moment and gave a slightly more detailed truthful answer: "...I won't make mistakes. I have a very good feel."
Hagiwara Kenji instinctively wanted to complain.
Your good feel is fine for buying vegetables without bringing scales, but relying on feel for making bombs—are you afraid you're not dying fast enough?!
However, having witnessed too many outrageous things about Usuha Izuki, he swallowed back the complaint, thought for a few seconds, bent down to pick up a small stone from the beach, and placed it in the other's hand: "How much does this stone weigh?"
"2.37g." Usuha Izuki immediately reported the number.
Hagiwara Kenji: "..."
Precise to two decimal places?! He wasn't just making it up, was he?!
He skeptically put the small stone in his pocket, planning to find a chance to measure it when they returned: "Even so, you told me before that it was your first time making explosives... It's not like you can't use measuring instruments, so why didn't you? For your first time being so reckless, what were you thinking?"
Usuha Izuki continued answering sincerely: "Too lazy to use them. I know what you're worried about, but if I can live, I'll definitely choose to live. I don't have self-destructive tendencies."
Hagiwara Kenji: "............"
Not having self-destructive tendencies was good, but this answer was way too infuriating!
What do you mean "too lazy to use them"?!
The system was anxious: [Why are you explaining so clearly! Just let him suspect you're self-destructive!]
[No, this is a friend, and I'm a sincere person.]
System: [... I'm starting to not recognize the word 'sincere' anymore.]
Hagiwara Kenji maintained his smile while grinding his back teeth: "Aren't you afraid of making a mistake?"
"Don't worry, I really treasure this life of mine." Usuha Izuki said, "If you think I'm seeking death, that's definitely your misperception."
Hagiwara Kenji: "............"
Matsuda Jinpei looked up to see Hagiwara Kenji charging aggressively toward the ocean.
Hmm... looks like the conversation didn't go too smoothly.
Matsuda Jinpei thought for a moment and went over himself: "Samukawa, I'll just ask you one question."
"What?"
Matsuda Jinpei asked seriously: "Will you always stay on our side?"
He had vaguely realized that Samukawa Shinryu's bomb disposal probably wasn't taught by Hagiwara Kenji either. Now he could even make bombs—all dangerous skills that didn't seem like things a normal orphan should know.
After all, Samukawa Shinryu's files, being an orphan from a remote area, were convenient for forgery in the first place.
He might have connections with organizations that police shouldn't be in close contact with—best case would be some gang, not very lethal. Worse would be yakuza, at least nominally a legal organization, and as long as he hadn't participated in the dirty work they did privately and cut contact in time, it would still be okay. Worst case would be a completely illegal organization that couldn't even register in Japan where yakuza were legal.
Hagi definitely knew more than he did and would help cover up... this meant Hagi was willing to trust Samukawa.
What about him?
Would he trust?
Matsuda Jinpei rationally organized his thoughts.
He trusted his own eyes.
Many people were intimidated by Samukawa Shinryu's terrifying aura and dangerous temperament, assuming that Samukawa Shinryu's nature was also cold and ruthless, but that actually wasn't the case.
Others worried that Samukawa Shinryu might become cynical and revenge against society due to being misunderstood and ostracized, but based on Matsuda Jinpei's observations, there was no need to worry at all.
This guy enjoyed being misunderstood and would even deliberately say strange things—his personality was somewhat nasty.
However, completely different from his scary aura, this nastiness actually leaned more toward a rather childish mischievous mentality.
Despite the records showing only a one-year age difference between them, he seemed actually several years younger, quite immature. Matsuda Jinpei found it hard to imagine him actually doing bad things.
Some people in Samukawa Shinryu's position might have already given up and really gone to join criminal organizations, but not Samukawa Shinryu. He naturally accepted his situation of being easily misunderstood and, with a mindset of messing with people, insisted on staying around these people who were prone to wild thoughts. Watching others feel shocked and afraid made him happy.
If he really went to join criminals, Samukawa Shinryu might actually find it boring.
Not changing himself, not changing others, but while others suffered because of him, Samukawa Shinryu remained unaffected—that was already winning. Ordinary people really couldn't learn this.
Matsuda Jinpei also considered Hagiwara Kenji's protection of Samukawa Shinryu and decided to temporarily trust Samukawa Shinryu as well.
He wouldn't ask where those skills came from—with Samukawa Shinryu's abilities, if he wanted to learn, he'd definitely find someone to teach him. He wouldn't ask why Samukawa Shinryu didn't take his life seriously, afraid of getting himself angry to death. He just wanted a promise.
As long as Samukawa Shinryu dared to promise, he'd dare to believe—according to his observations, Samukawa Shinryu was actually quite sincere with him and Hagi most of the time.
Hearing Matsuda Jinpei's question, Usuha Izuki was stunned.
So direct!
But for vacation, he really didn't want to keep wasting time on explanations. An attitude like Matsuda Jinpei's—not asking too much, daring to believe if you dared to say—was quite convenient.
Usuha Izuki began thinking.
System: [Do you need to think about this? Isn't this a freebie question?]
[Ah, Matsuda is being so sincere, so I should naturally think carefully before answering. Can't brush him off.]
System: [...]
—Asking whether you'll be a good person and you still need to think carefully, so you really do have problems!!!
Matsuda Jinpei didn't immediately get an answer but relaxed a bit, because this showed the other was indeed thinking seriously.
But if the thinking time was too long, that wouldn't work—it would mean internal struggle. He'd silently count three more seconds...
Under Matsuda Jinpei's gaze, Samukawa Shinryu answered.
"I promise you, at least up to now, I'm still on your side. If I change my mind someday, I'll tell you."
Matsuda Jinpei immediately looked exasperated: "...You might change your mind!"
Hoping for honesty, but this was too honest!!!
"Because we're friends, I don't want to make promises I can't keep. Being rigorous is better, right?"
The sun slowly sank into the horizon, the orange warm light hitting Samukawa Shinryu gradually being swallowed by darkness.
He tilted his head slightly, strange emotions flashing through his dark red eyes.
"—I also don't want to... disappoint."
The sound of suddenly surging waves covered that low murmur. Matsuda Jinpei instinctively asked: "What?"
"Nothing." Samukawa Shinryu resumed his usual deceptively cold expression. "Don't worry for now. I'll be a good police officer."
Matsuda Jinpei: "............"
No! Can't be reassured! What the hell would make you disappointed enough to stop being a police officer? Explain clearly! Is it the police?! There are bad apples among police too—don't be so extreme!!!