Chapter 192
Facing Vodka's question, Usuha Izuki said very calmly: "I suddenly remembered."
"...Oh."
Vodka didn't think anything was wrong either. After all, Usuha Izuki always did things on a whim, so he chose the most convenient answer: "Lost it."
It had been so many years—losing it would be quite normal, right?
"Lost it?" Usuha Izuki's voice suddenly rose. "You could lose such an important thing? Why don't you lose yourself!"
Vodka: "??? It's just a photo. Is it that important..."
Usuha Izuki whipped around: "FBI! Do you think it's important?"
Calling him FBI again... Anyway, no one else reacted, so forget it. No need to argue over a title.
Akai Shuichi coughed and considered his words carefully, choosing to stand on Usuha Izuki's side and help: "After all, it's a photo of an organization executive. What if it randomly ended up in some base and we encountered a situation like this Plamia incident? Botanist could be in danger because of it... So it really is very important."
Usuha Izuki pointed accusingly at Vodka with heartbreak: "Look at you! Even an undercover knows how important my photo is—it's practically organizational secrets—yet you don't take it seriously. I think you're deliberately trying to sell me out!"
Akai Shuichi: "..........."
I really spoke up for you for nothing...
But it was fine. As long as he maintained an attitude of "too lazy to explain anymore," no one would suspect him of anything.
Vodka still didn't take Usuha Izuki's words seriously, focusing on arguing about the issue that concerned him: "It's been so long—isn't it normal to forget where I put it? You should have asked me for it earlier!"
"So you're the type who loses important documents carelessly... I think I should remind the Boss to have you handle fewer important missions."
"...Once I finish this current mission, I'll go back and find your photo for you, okay?"
"One month." Usuha Izuki held up one finger. "I want to see my photo. Any problems?"
Whether there were problems or not, he could only agree now. Vodka reluctantly nodded: "No problem... Do you have anything else?"
If not, please leave quickly!
Plamia's matter couldn't be helped, and the photo search would only result in blame. When Usuha Izuki came, the atmosphere here became very restless—nothing like a normal organization.
Usuha Izuki seemed to really just be passing by casually. Knowing they were nearby, he'd specifically come to cause some trouble. He had no real business, and after once again labeling them all as undercover agents meeting to exclude him, the normal person, he left.
About five minutes after Usuha Izuki left, Gin, who had become mute, finally experienced a medical miracle and instantly recovered, immediately starting to settle accounts: "Who told him we were here?"
"Big Brother, you know me—I least want to see that guy."
"Not me."
"Not me either."
No one admitted it.
Gin sneered: "Whichever one of you is the rat, don't let me catch evidence..."
Akai Shuichi immediately felt speechless.
Had the rats in Gin's mouth been downgraded to tipping off Usuha Izuki...
Usuha Izuki had single-handedly changed the organization's style. Such a character, and he'd never even written a proper report—it was his failure as an undercover.
But when he wanted to do some summary work, he discovered he knew very little about Usuha Izuki. His impressions were all of unimportant crazy antics...
This method of avoiding intelligence gathering and targeted trap design was truly impossible for ordinary people to learn.
While Gin was investigating who the rat was, Usuha Izuki had already left the apartment building where the safe house was located, planning to find somewhere to eat.
Honestly, he'd come this time because he was bored on vacation, wanting to ask about Plamia's situation and get the photo he'd just remembered a few days ago. He really had no other purpose and was even too lazy to farm suspicion values.
But Akai Shuichi couldn't help giving him suspicion values like crazy the moment he saw him, making him somewhat sentimental about why he hadn't played this game with Akai Shuichi earlier.
Mm, he could consider showing up more in front of Akai Shuichi to see how many more suspicion values could drop.
Taking a car to a nearby street, since it wasn't mealtime yet, it was a bit empty with few people in the shops. This made Usuha Izuki unsure which restaurant was good, leaving him hesitant.
Just then, he heard a hesitant call.
"...Usuha?"
Usuha Izuki turned to look and discovered it was actually Kudo Shinichi: "Shinichi? What are you doing here?"
"I came out to eat." Kudo Shinichi was a bit happy to see someone familiar. "Usuha too, right?"
His parents had returned to America again. Today being Sunday, he had to handle meals himself. Although he and Usuha Izuki had only met once, after experiencing the snow woman legend murder case last time, he felt they'd become much closer and chatting now didn't feel awkward.
As for why he'd missed mealtime... because he'd gotten absorbed reading books at the bookstore and only realized the time when he came to his senses.
Usuha Izuki nodded: "Do you know which restaurant around here is good?"
"...Mm, I'm not really sure either." Kudo Shinichi hesitated. "How about we just pick one?"
"Fine. Want to go together?"
Kudo Shinichi naturally wouldn't refuse.
But with two people, they weren't limited to fast food places and could eat barbecue together, so they chose a barbecue restaurant.
"Wel-welcome!" The waitress smiled as she greeted them, but for some reason her eyes were a bit swollen, as if she'd just been crying.
Just then, a man who looked like the owner came out, frowning: "We're not open for business right now."
Kudo Shinichi's gaze swept over both people, becoming somewhat suspicious, but since the other party was clearly trying to drive them away, they couldn't very well force their way in: "Sorry..."
"Hah? You're driving away customers who've already entered? Do you know whose people I am? Are you sure you want to kick me out?"
But Usuha Izuki suddenly spoke with a questioning tone full of implications.
These meaningful words made the owner, who had been about to drive them away, look hesitant and instinctively size him up.
At first glance, he seemed like just a fashionably dressed youth wearing jeans, with a bolo tie around his white shirt collar. However, his black haori looked like it had been taken separately from some formal wear, and seemed to have some family crest he couldn't understand printed on it—or perhaps some organizational symbol.
The youth's wrist had several loops of prayer beads, and his other hand reached behind his waist, as if trying to pull something from there. Based on the owner's experience, something could very likely be tucked at that position.
This mix of traditional yet non-traditional, modern yet non-modern styling was honestly somewhat unsettling.
Whether it was a delinquent from a motorcycle gang or a low-level member of a local yakuza organization... the owner just hoped these two would leave and didn't want any trouble, so after hesitating, he could only back down.
"...Sorry, that was rude of me. Customers are guests—please have a seat."
After speaking, he retreated to the kitchen as if escaping.
Usuha Izuki turned to Kudo Shinichi: "See? This type only bullies good people."
Kudo Shinichi: "..........."
Although he roughly understood that this Usuha had probably also noticed something wrong and wanted to stay to investigate, this method was really something he hadn't expected... Being able to think of this approach immediately—wasn't his thought process a bit too broad...
The waitress came over with side dishes and a menu, as if trying to ease the atmosphere.
"This is bitter melon tofu, complimentary side dish for you both. Though it's not very tender, it tastes good... Here's the menu—please see what you'd like to order."
As she spoke, the waitress seemed to notice something and crouched down to pick up two coins: "Are these coins yours?"
Usuha Izuki said calmly: "Yes, just leave them there."
The waitress looked at him uncertainly, giving off a wave of suspicion values.
System: [This isn't your money, right? You're even taking advantage of such small benefits? This suspicion value farming is a bit degrading.]
[...She's not suspecting that. She's wondering if I understood her hint.] Usuha Izuki was speechless. [Look, Kudo Shinichi doesn't think I did anything wrong... I'm helping her too.]
System: [...???]
Kudo Shinichi indeed didn't show any disdainful emotions. He very calmly ordered and asked Usuha Izuki what he wanted to add.
Usuha Izuki also added several plates of meat, then let the waitress go.
Kudo Shinichi used a small spoon to take a bit of the complimentary tofu: "...Mm, this bitter melon tofu... Usuha, please try some."
Usuha Izuki also took a bite. Both simultaneously made eye contact and nodded with subtle expressions.
This tofu was called bitter melon tofu but had no bitter melon taste at all... and it was actually quite tender.
Bitter melon tofu (gōya tōfu), if you removed "tender" (fuyafuya)... what remained was "robber" (gōtō), right?
Plus the five-yen and ten-yen coins just picked up from the floor could also be read as "robber" (gōtō)...
I see. Kudo Shinichi thought—that shop manager really had problems.
Probably not the real manager, right? The real manager might already be...
Kudo Shinichi coughed, feeling it would be suspicious for them to sit here without talking, so he started a topic: "Speaking of which, I wonder how that snow woman movie ended up. I hope everyone's okay."
Usuha, do you think the real manager is still alive?
"No problem." Usuha Izuki said very calmly. "The protagonist is very calm."
Although the waitress's eyes were swollen from crying and her hands shook when serving water, her mental state seemed okay—not like someone who'd seen a dead body, meaning the real shop owner was definitely fine.
Kudo Shinichi could actually deduce this too. He was just a bit worried and wanted confirmation from Usuha Izuki, so after getting agreement, he showed a relaxed smile.
The trouble now was that although they'd successfully entered the shop, it was actually harder to call police.
He didn't know any police officers well enough to exchange emails. To call police, he'd have to use the phone, but that would definitely be overheard. Using hints, he didn't know if the operator would understand—it would be terrible if they treated it as a prank call.
Better to find an excuse to go outside...
Just as Kudo Shinichi was thinking this, he saw Usuha Izuki shake his head: "Let's eat first. We can deal with anything after eating—I'm hungry."
Kudo Shinichi: "...???"
Although they were eating here and the kitchen wasn't soundproof, so the criminal probably wouldn't kill anyone during this time, could Usuha really still have an appetite to eat?!
"By the way, you said you went to a bookstore earlier. What did you buy?"
Kudo Shinichi hesitantly chatted with Usuha Izuki for a few sentences, trying to analyze whether there were any hidden meanings in Usuha Izuki's words, but found that Usuha Izuki was really just making casual conversation without any hints embedded in the dialogue.
Maybe to lull the criminal into complacency?
Kudo Shinichi cooperated uncertainly, but being so close to a criminal for the first time made him too worried about the real shop owner. His chest felt tight, and though he'd been hungry before, now he couldn't eat anything.
In contrast, Usuha Izuki remained composed, eating at a perfectly normal pace while even commenting occasionally, as if he'd really just come for barbecue with no worries at all...
Middle schooler Kudo Shinichi: "..........."
Was—was he not steady enough?
Usuha Izuki finally finished eating, then suddenly said: "There's something wrong with your meat!"
The waitress hurried over: "What? What's wrong?"
"I wasn't calling you—get your boss out here." Usuha Izuki looked impatient with his arms crossed, clearly acting like he was looking for trouble.
The fake shop owner·real criminal silently cursed his bad luck, lifting the curtain from the back kitchen and walking over: "Customer, what's wrong with our meat?... You've already finished eating everything, haven't you?"
Yes, Kudo Shinichi had no appetite, but Usuha Izuki's appetite was unaffected. With no one competing with him, he ate particularly enthusiastically and finished all the barbecue, making it look more like he was just looking for trouble now.
The criminal thought that maybe when he'd been rude driving them away earlier, his bad attitude had made the other party feel displeased, so now he was starting trouble.
But he hadn't known the other party was so difficult to deal with then! He had a person tied up in his kitchen! How could he have time to entertain customers! Life really couldn't buy foresight...
Should he offer money now? The money wasn't his earnings anyway—might as well give it to settle this...
Just as the criminal was wondering if he should spend money to avoid disaster and send this guy away, he saw the other party looking at him inexplicably.
"I called for the boss—what are you doing here? Go release the boss!"
Criminal: "...?!?!?!"
Kudo Shinichi: "...?!?!?!"
—Ah?! This direct?!