The Covert Operative
The fact that the final exams were approaching was convenient for Jyuu. During that period, students seldom went out. As such, it’d be less likely for him to meet someone he knew, or get dragged into unnecessary drama. After returning from school, Jyuu put on some casual attire and went to town.
He had no destination.
He had no business in town, either.
If anything, it was those who wandered the street that he had business with.
Jyuu had decided to catch the culprit.
On the day he was invited to Ochibana Ame’s house, precisely at the moment he was shown a certain image, everything became crystal clear.
Ame, relieved to hear that Jyuu wouldn’t involve himself with the incident, showed the final photo—
—Fujishima Kanako’s dying moment.
In that picture, there was a candidness that no acting in dramas could ever reproduce.
A face so twisted in agony, as its owner suffered and pleaded for her life.
...A person he knew was put through such a harrowing situation before being killed.
Jyuu couldn’t forgive the culprit for documenting and even collected her dying moment.
He just couldn’t let it go.
He had to find and unleash all his wrath on the culprit.
However, it wasn’t for the sake of Fujishima Kanako, but for himself.
As a matter of course, he hadn’t discussed it with anyone, and even severely forbade Ame from following him for the time being. When asked why, Jyuu said that he was seeing someone.
‘It’s a date, so don’t bother me.’
Despite her skepticism, Ame nodded.
Likewise, to Jyuu, Ame wasn’t completely in the clear, yet. After all, among the anime and occult magazines that cluttered her bookshelf, there was also a book titled, ‘Complete Murder Methods.’
If Ochibana Ame was an accessory to murder, she might be showing those images as a warning.
Come to think of it, didn’t she specifically tell him to stay out of it?
Suspicion swelled in Jyuu as confusion pervaded his mind.
Once the case was solved, he’d surely be able to reach a decision—be it regarding his own dilemma, or their relationship.
Thus, Jyuu wandered aimlessly in the night city.
***
Since he was only a student, Jyuu had neither sources of information, nor help. Not only that, he was also an amateur in terms of investigation. In the end, he had to rely on his luck. It was frustrating, yet he didn’t give up.
Even so, he was too ignorant. As he walked, Jyuu desperately tried to come up with something. He knew a few places where incidents were likely to occur. He knew several people who could be the culprit. Nevertheless, none of them seemed to have anything to do with the case.
What kind of person is the culprit, and what goes through his mind when he kills someone?
While remembering Ame’s analysis, Jyuu tried to do an assessment.
The culprit had a sense of mission.
...Otherwise, for what purpose does he keep killing?
Then, what would that sense of mission be?
There was no way Jyuu could sympathize with a madman, much else see through his mind. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t pursue it, but this time, it was different.
Jyuu continued to think.
Despite knowing how useless it was, Jyuu tried to put himself in the killer’s shoes.
Like that, his search would go on every day until midnight.
During one of those nights, Jyuu was taking a break at a 24-hour family restaurant. He was sipping his third cup of coffee when it occurred to him that he hadn’t studied for the exam at all. He became dejected.
As he looked outside the window, he could see countless raindrops rolling down the glass like living beings.
Soon, the end of the rainy season will arrive. Two days ago, there was a heavy downpour, and another fell victim to the Random Street Murderer.
The murder itself took place in a completely different direction than the place Jyuu was investigating.
It began to dawn on him—how futile everything was.
No matter what he did, he couldn’t prevent another incident from happening.
However, somewhere within his heart, there was an unyieldingness.
During class, he suddenly glanced at a certain empty seat. It was Fujishima Kanako’s seat. Most likely, it’d remain empty until the end of the semester. Despite her passing, the seat wasn’t moved—perhaps due to the school's consideration. As for the seat itself, it was in the middle of the classroom, making it noticeable. The emptiness was akin to a constant reminder of her permanent absence.
Maybe Jyuu was biased, but the other classmates didn’t seem to care much. Miya also seemed to have moved on. No one had any intentions of finding her murderer.
As he eyed the customers in the store, Jyuu pondered to himself.
Since the culprit would capture their victim’s final moment, shouldn’t he focus on camera owners? However, in this day and age, people who didn’t own a camera like Jyuu seemed to be in the minority.
When he asked Miya as a test, she told him that she had a phone camera and a digital camera. Apparently, the same went for the other classmates. As such, the camera wouldn’t aid in solving the case.
...I need to identify the perpetrator somehow. Maybe, I should try to read his pattern? But how am I supposed to do that?
Outside the window, those who didn’t have umbrellas scampered away. Several police cars with blaring sirens also drove by.
Something must’ve happened.
Why do the incidents continue to rise?
Did it have anything to do with the structural integrity of the world?
Then, was there a fatal flaw in the world’s structure?
…Or was it humanity itself that was fatally flawed?
As Jyuu stared blankly at the other side of the window, savoring the bitterness of the coffee, something occurred to him.
—One of God’s creations.
Back when he was young, Jyuu believed the rain to be so, and that it had meanings.
Unbeknownst to him, he’d been imposing his selfish delusions on a natural phenomenon. He didn’t even care whether or not it made sense, letting his imagination run wild.
He’d find meaning in meaningless things, and set rules for nothing.
At the same time, he was also bound to his own rules.
To always jump over small puddles; to always gargle three times; to always put on shoes starting with the left foot...
...The rules that weren’t imposed by anyone, ones that were decided on his own.
Over the years, he’d forgotten about those rules.
After he’d emptied his cup, along with the diminishing bitterness, Jyuu found his concentration grew. Gradually, he became lost in thought. Rather than thinking, he was consumed by his thoughts.
Two days ago, the incident occurred on a rainy day.
On the day when Fujishima Kanako was murdered, it was also raining.
Is this a mere coincidence? If it isn’t, then what’s the reason?
Certainly, the rain would muffle the screaming, so it was probably ideal for killing random passersby, but that shouldn’t be the only reason.
According to Ochibana Ame, it had something to do with the killer’s sense of mission.
A rainy day and a sense of mission.
Natural phenomena and selfish rules.
What if the murderer “had” to kill someone on a rainy day? In his craziness, he’d interpreted the rain as God’s command, leading to the brutal incidents.
At that moment, Jyuu ceased his thoughts and stormed out of the store. If his assumption was correct, then someone's die tonight, as well. Before that happens, he had to find the culprit!
However, as if to dampen Jyuu’s readiness, the rain stopped after a while.
Afterwards, the moon drifted amidst the clouds.
While looking up at it, Jyuu resentfully went home.
The next day, after school, Jyuu immediately went to the public library near his house. After reading the recent newspapers, he realized that his reasoning wasn’t off the mark. Almost all of the serial murders occurred during rainy days. Although the discovery left him with slight uneasiness, it was still a clue.
Murders were more likely to occur during rainy days—that was for sure.
Suddenly, he couldn’t wait for it to rain, while the burden on his chest only increased.
The rainy days...
That alone was enough to intensify his suspicion towards Ochibana Ame.
As a result, not only would he ignore her at school, he’d also avoid her after school.
Again, when asked, Jyuu used his non-existent girlfriend as a reason.
Upon hearing that, Ame backed off surprisingly easily.
Jyuu didn’t know what kind of psychology was at work there.
“Jyuu-kun, are you studying for the exam properly?”
“I didn’t.”
“Wow, with such dignity, too...”
“I’m fine, just mind your own business.”
After appropriately dealing with Miya, Jyuu’s investigation continued until midnight.
Five days had passed since he found out about the rainy day. Two days before the final exam, he was still in an impasse. It only rained for a day. On that day, an incident also took place, but in a different place than anticipated. Since he mostly relied on luck, it was no wonder he didn’t stumble upon the crime scene.
By that point, the police should be aware of the connection between the rainy days and the incidents. Still, no culprit was caught. Was it the negligence of the police? Or had their investigation progressed to a certain extent, rendering Jyuu’s actions pointless?
Soon, Jyuu was forced to face his limitations.
Thus, the day of the final exam arrived.
***
“Jyuu-sama, is today no good?”
“Yeah, I already promised someone.”
After school, when Ame came to pick him up from class, Jyuu gave her the cold shoulder.
Neither Miya’s accusatory gaze nor Jyuu’s suspicion towards Ame had subsided.
Avoiding the two, he left the school, changed his attire at home, and went to town as usual.
The final exams will start tomorrow, followed by summer vacation.
...Should he continue the investigation during the vacation?
Certainly, quitting was easy, but was it really alright?
While the act itself stemmed from self-satisfaction, if he were to stop here, he wouldn’t be able to come to terms with his feelings. Not only that, it’d feel half-assed.
“In the end, I guess all I did was explore the town...”
When he looked up at the sky, only a few stripes of clouds could be seen. It didn’t seem like it’d rain. Since the weather forecast said that there was a 60% chance of rain, he had high hopes—but apparently, luck wasn’t on his side.
Suppressing the urge to sigh, Jyuu slumped his shoulders and continued to roam around the city.
In a sense, this part of him was similar to the murderer’s—in which they both had a preconceived sense of mission.
Jyuu smiled wryly at the thought.
***
Around 10:00 P.M, night had engulfed the entire city.
Nonetheless, the city seemed livelier than during the day. Regardless of how the night was a time to be asleep, it was also a time of excitement. Even the atmosphere between the day and night was completely different. The atmosphere of the day was invigorating, while the atmosphere of the night permeated even the innermost part of the soul.
As he made his way through downtown, Jyuu sneaked a glance at his surroundings. There were lots of couples... A middle-aged office worker and a high school girl; a man in black and a female college student; a lanky man flocked by women; a man that was obviously in that line of work, accompanied by five ignorant middle school girls...
Some of them were definitely criminals.
In fact, one of them might have murdered someone.
Jyuu—who ignored those people in favor of finding the serial killer, was selfish in his own right.
Along the way, a few people gave him dangerous glares, but he managed to get past them.
How helpless the police officers on patrol were—!
In proportion to the increase in violent crime, it was said that the death rate of police officers was also increasing. Apparently, even with a gun strapped to their waist, their safety wasn’t guaranteed.
Just when Jyuu thought that the public servant had it rough, his cellphone rang. However, the caller ID didn’t appear on the screen.
...Is it from a public phone, or anonymous?
He decided to pick up the call.
“Hello...?”
“...kouen...”
“Huh? What are you saying?”
“...kouen...”
The same word was repeated again and again. Moreover, the voice sounded strange, as if using a voice changer.
Those who believed in curses and ghosts may be terrified, but Jyuu didn’t care about them.
A human was behind the phone call.
“Hello? Who are you? Where did you get my number? What is this about?”
Instead of answering his questions, the call was cut off.
While staring at the telephone, Jyuu tilted his head.
It wasn’t like no one knew his number.
Shortly after he entered school, he got into troubles with his seniors. It ended with him scribbling his phone number on the blackboard, implying that he’d always be ready to accept a challenge, even if it was just a scuffle. Most of the calls ended up being prank calls, but he still didn’t change his number because it was a hassle.
If it was someone who’d called him before, then the number should’ve been registered.
At the same time, it wasn’t like Fujishima Kanako was contacting him from the afterlife to applaud him for how much work he had done.
Is this a prank call?
Usually, that was the kind of conclusion he’d arrive at, but something struck him as odd.
...’Kouen’ itself meant a park.
What does that mean?
Although, now that he thought about it, he always investigated the alley, and never the grand park nearby. A park with a lot of bushes and poor visibility. The location was perfect for lynching. Knowing that, the general public seldom visited that place at night.
With mixed feelings, Jyuu went to the back alley.
In Tokyo, there were quite a few places with few streetlights, and Jyuu had been checking them regularly. However, it only led him to getting rid of a drug dealer who was trying to ensnare an elementary schooler. No matter what he did, a place like that wouldn’t disappear. It was similar to the fact how human technology still couldn’t eradicate the darkness.
Upon arriving at the park’s entrance, there was a dingy sign that said, ‘Don’t stay silent if you’re being molested.’ What purpose could that possibly serve? At the act equivalent to putting up a sign that said, ‘Life is precious’ at a suicide spot, Jyuu chuckled.
Perhaps, it was himself that he was laughing at, for believing the prank call to be some kind of a lead.
...Although, there’s no way it’d be that simple.
—At that moment, something other than his laughter echoed from somewhere.
Staying silent, Jyuu listened closely to it.
The chirpings of insects such as cicadas. The mewling of cats. The buzzing of cars on the street. The whistle of the breeze—and finally, the faint cry of a human. After a quick look around, Jyuu realized that it came from inside the park.
The billboard immediately came to mind. Molesters and thugs would frequent that area.
While it had nothing to do with him, Jyuu wasn’t the kind of person who’d just overlook it.
Thus, he rushed towards the park, where he pushed his way through the bushes and the trees, before finally reaching the depths of the park. Jyuu cautiously approached so that in case of sexual assault, he could overtake the offender from behind.
Rather than chasing him away, it’d be better to just beat them to pulp.
As he made his way to the sound source, he stepped out into a somewhat large, grassy clearing.
There, he saw someone.
...Huh?
Jyuu couldn’t believe his eyes.
That someone wasn’t alone—there was another person. Said person was lying on the ground. Through the gaps in the trees, the streetlights of the park faintly shone, dimly illuminating the scene. As for the collapsed man, he appeared to be an elderly office worker. His entire face was dyed crimson as he laid there motionlessly.
Jyuu wasn’t so optimistic to assume that his face was covered with red paint, or that it was a prank.
Still, to make sure, Jyuu left the bush. At that sound, the figure turned around—it was a young man. His stout figure made it easy to spot him in the dark. He was wearing sports wear, and his chest was stained red. A blotch of the same color could be seen near his mouth.
Jyuu ran his gaze—he’s as tall as me. However, the man weighed more than him, and not because of fat, but muscle. A dull, lustrous metal could be seen on his fingers—a brass knuckle.
...Did he take advantage of his robust physique to beat his opponent to death?
Jyuu chuckled.
...Is he the culprit?
How simple—!
How could the culprit to the Random Street Murders case be this obvious?
Was Fujishima Kanako murdered by this guy?
That straightlaced and serious girl... was killed by such a guy?
...Outrageous. This is simply outrageous.
While he could simply skip the questions, Jyuu still found himself asking—
—His heart was pounding.
He was so excited, he didn’t think he’d be able to say anything, but he did.
“...What are you doing here?”
“You’re safe now.”
“Huh?”
Despite the unexpected reply, Jyuu was more surprised at how unperturbed the man was.
Despite witnessing the murder scene, the man wasn’t upset in the slightest.
If anything, he seemed proud.
“You’re a civilian, aren’t you? Don’t worry, for I’ve completed my mission.”
As the man approached, Jyuu braced himself.
Seeing that, the man smiled wryly.
“You must be confused. I’m sorry, let me explain.”
The man moved to a brighter spot. At last, Jyuu could make out his face.
He was in his late twenties. A refreshing and clean face—the so-called handsome guy. In formal attire, he’d appear like an elite businessman.
Furthermore, his atmosphere was one that’d allow him to easily mingle with both men and women.
...He’s the culprit, right?
His conviction that’d existed until just a moment ago wavered.
Then, the man reached for his jacket, which’d fallen at his feet, before throwing something at Jyuu.
Somehow, Jyuu managed to catch it. It was a black leather notebook.
“I’m a secret government agent. I’ve just completed my mission. While it’s top secret, now that you’ve seen it, it can’t be helped. Check that out, my identity is written there. I believe it’ll clear all the misunderstandings. However, please don’t divulge this to anyone else?”
“S-sure...”
Faintly nodding, Jyuu stared alternately between the notebook and the man.
His nervousness had somewhat dissipated. After all, the man didn’t seem to feign his calmness. Then, was the man uninvolved? If so, how to explain the body of the deceased office worker?
...Maybe, it wasn’t a real corpse, but a prop. While his secret agent story was difficult to swallow, he also didn’t sound to be lying on the spur of the moment.
Anyway, as the man said, Jyuu decided to take a look at the notebook.
He flipped through the pages—
—However, the contents were all blank.
“...Hey, this is—”
—Jyuu didn’t get to finish his words.
A heavy impact ran through his head, throwing his sense of balance off. Nevertheless, before he could even register the pain, Jyuu had already leaped back. Something flew past his nose. The wind pressure ruffled his bangs, and shiver ran down his spine.
Despite staggering, Jyuu backed away. In the next moment, there was another malicious attack. Reflexively, Jyuu held up his left arm to intercept the blow that was aimed at his face. With a dull sound, pain shot through his body. The adrenaline secreted by his brain helped clear his mind.
Rolling on the ground, Jyuu slipped out of the bushes. As he arrived at the area fully lit by the streetlamps, the ground shifted from soft to hard soil.
His field of view had expanded, which was relieving. Jyuu stood up while holding his left arm.
“Damn, I think my bone’s cracked.”
The man who stalked Jyuu out of the bushes didn’t even show the slightest hint of excitement after the attack.
Instead, he casually approached Jyuu. His jacket was draped over his shoulder, and in his hand was the notebook that Jyuu had previously dropped.
In such a bright place, it soon became apparent. Even more so when Jyuu had often seen ‘it’ in fights. Splattered on the man’s chest and blood, were none other than blood.
“I believe you know who I am.”
Sliding the fallen notebook into the pocket of his jacket, the man proceeded to speak.
“I’m an agent hired by the government to eliminate a being such as you—the enemy of mankind.”
As he listened to the man’s story, Jyuu adjusted both his consciousness and breathing so that he wouldn’t feel the pain in his left arm.
...After giving Jyuu the notebook that supposedly contained his identity, the man waited until Jyuu was preoccupied by it to land a blow—
—Isn’t it just a distraction!?
Yet, he fell for it. Jyuu was angry at his own stupidity.
Jyuu glared at the man while assessing his damage.
That man’s strength was abnormal. Jyuu, who’d been in many fights, could gauge his ability. With his gifted physique and practiced moves, no wonder that man had no hesitation. Unlike ordinary people, he didn’t hesitate.
...Of course, because he was a killer. He was trying to kill Jyuu.
After slaying one victim after another, his killing skills inevitably improved. The man seemed to be able to score a killing blow rather effortlessly.
Therefore, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the man’s blow would normally result in instant death. After all, a brass knuckle wasn’t that different from a hammer, and also as deadly.
If Jyuu was your average high school student, he’d have died long ago. Indeed, the fight would’ve ended from the moment he was hit by the surprise attack.
However, because Jyuu was naturally resilient, he recovered rather quickly. Other than by her mother, Jyuu had never lost to anyone else. While he’d been beaten up by a lot of people, he always made sure to return the favor.
His mother once told him that her toughness flowed in his vein.
Despite whatever reasons she might have, Jyuu was grateful for his resilience.
As Jyuu rolled his fallen back tooth over his tongue, he shifted all his focus to the man, muffling anything else. Presently, all he could hear were their breathings, along with his own heartbeat. He concentrated on the man’s movements. Thus, the dizzying pain in both his head and belly were driven out of his consciousness.
If, for example, he were to suffer from three more blows, he’d likely faint. Once that happens, he’d be doomed. As for why the man didn’t pounce immediately, it must’ve been because he was devising some plans to kill Jyuu. Not only were the opponent’s strength and technique superior; he had a lot of experience in killing people.
...Thus, Jyuu ceased his thoughts, letting his instincts take over.
Come what may, I will regret nothing.
After taking a deep breath, Jyuu charged full speed at the man.
As the man assumed a stance to take him on, Jyuu directed his fist at his face.
—For my broken tooth.
Jyuu scored a lucky hit to the man’s right eye, creating a momentary opening.
Following that, Jyuu bent his knees as hard as he could and sank his hips, before springing with tremendous momentum. Jyuu’s fist connected with the man’s jaw. After suffering Jyuu’s ultimate punch, the man was briefly thrown into the air, but didn’t fall down in the end.
...His physique wasn’t just for show.
The man groaned while holding his chin. At the same time, Jyuu quickly took off his watch and wrapped it around his right fist.
The watch itself was bought by his mother a long time ago. From a brand he’d never heard before. A watch made mostly of steel.
Jyuu violently spun his upper body and slammed his right fist into the man’s face. Under normal circumstances, the man would probably see through his amateur move. But now, distracted by jaw pain, he was full of openings. After that blow, Jyuu’s fist began to sting.
Looking at where he was hit, it appeared that the man’s nasal bone and front teeth were broken.
“Uuuaaaaaargh—!”
As the man screamed, Jyuu slammed his fist at his mouth.
His front teeth shattered, and Jyuu’s fist went halfway into his mouth.
When Jyuu retracted his fist, he drew a string of blood, along with several broken teeth at the back of his hand.
“—Gah, ugh... ack...”
If the man were to suffer the same fate as his victims, then it’d be karmic justice. In spite of that, something was holding Jyuu back.
This guy deserves to die.
Nevertheless, if he was caught, he’d get the death penalty anyway—
—Still, Jyuu couldn’t kill him.
He derided his indecisiveness, but it didn’t help.
Reluctantly, Jyuu took out his cellphone.
Should he call the police and let them handle the rest? While it might be complicated to explain everything, it was still the most rational solution.
As he held up his phone, Jyuu briefly shifted his attention away from the man. Within those seconds, the man’s vengeful gaze reflected Jyuu as he clenched his fist. When Jyuu put his phone to his ear, the man unleashed his wrath.
Upon realizing this, Jyuu widened his eyes. But in the next second, a dull thump resounded, and the man crumpled. He fell face first into the ground, and never got up again.
After seeing the man convulsing repeatedly, Jyuu slowly looked up.
Ochibana Ame stood there with a concrete block in her hands.
“...Y-you.”
“Jyuu-sama, are you alright?”
“Why are you here? How did you know this place?”
“Because I’m your servant.”
After replying with a smile, Ame dropped the block on the ground. Then, she kicked the man’s body, forcing him to lie on his back. She pried his eyes open, and checked his pupils.
“He doesn’t seem to be dead. He’s just unconscious.”
When the man was about to hit Jyuu, she hit his head from behind using a concrete block.
She wouldn’t hesitate when it came to Jyuu’s enemy.
Seeing the red-tinted block, Jyuu gulped.
“I found this lying near the bush. Whether or not it was used by someone before being discarded there, I don’t know. It’s a busy world.”
While explaining about the block, Ame had a dejected look on her face. As she did that, she tied the man’s hands and feet with what appeared to be a nylon string, which seemed to have been prepared in advance.
Her deftness was both astonishing and terrifying to Jyuu.
“What about that string?”
“I brought it from home.”
Thus, Ame tightly bound the man and after confirming that he was still out cold, she left.
“This string can’t be cut by human strength, so rest assured.”
“Thank you for helping me, but you still haven’t explained why you’re here?”
Unless she had some kind of divine providence, she shouldn’t be able to predict when and where he’d show up?
Just how on earth did she manage to find this place?
“Understood, I shall explain.”
...Apparently, Ame didn’t believe it when Jyuu said that he wouldn’t get involved with the case. She also guessed that he kept her away to not drag her into the matter. As a result, she feigned ignorance while helping out behind the scenes.
Today, she rushed to his aid after hearing Jyuu scream for her.
Certainly, Jyuu was so busy looking for the killer that he didn’t pay much attention to his surroundings.
If she were to tail him at a distance, it’d be difficult for him to notice.
“No, I didn’t follow you every day, just on the most likely days.”
“...Most likely?”
“Yes, only on days when the incident is more likely to occur.”
She seemed to have deduced the killer’s behavior patterns, albeit it was slightly different from Jyuu’s own.
“...On days where the incident is more likely to occur—as in, rainy days, right?”
However, it wasn’t raining today—yet the incident still occurred.
Moreover, Ochibana Ame was here.
...What does this mean?
In her usual nonchalant tone, Ame clarified.
“At first, I also thought that the weather had something to do with the murder, even more so after looking at the data. Nevertheless, murders still occur on days without rain. That part struck me as odd.”
“What if it’s just a coincidence? I mean, this guy’s crazy, so there’s no knowing what goes in his mind...”
“While it’s true that this guy is insane, in terms of philosophies, he’s fairly consistent. Even if it’s twisted, he has a set of rules.”
After Jyuu mulled over it, Ame clued him in—
—the weather forecast.
Without fail, the weather forecast would always inform them—
—the chance of rain.
“...The chance of rain?”
“Yes, the crimes occurred on days when the chance of rain exceeded 50%”
“Basically, if the chance of rain exceeds 50%, he’s going to murder someone that day?”
“According to the data, such is the case.”
“But why...?”
“This is purely my assumption, but it’s probably some kind of majority vote.”
“Majority vote...?”
“I suspect that he sees the chance of rain as the majority of the vote, and only on days when the chance of rain exceeds the majority that people are killed.”
“That’s messed up...”
Despite saying that, Jyuu was more or less convinced by the hypothesis.
The killer believed himself to be a secret government agent.
What if in his silly analogy, he was convinced that the weather report on TV was the government’s method of directing him?
As he pictured that, Jyuu felt a faint chill.
The chance of rain today was 60%, but it didn’t actually rain.
Still, something happened.
Therefore, the chance of rain may be crucial, after all.
Although a lot could be said about Ame’s reasoning, it wasn’t completely out there.
“...Wait a minute. What if the chance is 50%? Didn’t that happen a lot?”
“If the data is correct, he will either kill someone or he won’t.”
“Now that’s just thoughtless...”
“Thus, just in case, I followed Jyuu-sama, but I have my doubts as well. I have a few other questions... Good timing, let’s ask the person in question.”
Ame climbed on top of the fallen man and pulled him by the collar.
“Hey, I have a few questions for you. Get up.”
A cold, inquisitorial tone that was unlike one that she’d been using to speak to Jyuu.
Jyuu ran up to Ame, who began to shake the man with all her might.
“Enough. I don’t really care about it.”
“Is that so?”
Somewhat reluctantly, Ame released the man.
In truth, Jyuu wanted to hear the full story from the man himself.
However, not like by doing so, he’d be achieving anything.
It wouldn’t bring back Fujishima Kanako or other victims.
Not only that, the man would probably talk nonsense.
“Then, let’s leave the rest to the police.”
“...Come to think of it, did you make that call too?”
“That call...?”
“A call told me to go look here... It wasn’t you?”
“No, it isn’t.”
Ochibana Ame wouldn’t lie to Jyuu.
...Then, who on earth made that call?
“Well, leaving that aside, once we call the police, what then? How are we supposed to explain? ...Huh? What are you doing?”
Ame was searching through the man’s jacket, which had fallen off.
“Did you find anything dangerous?”
Jyuu expected someone so out of it to have some drugs stashed away, but Ame shook her head.
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Then, is it decided that this guy’s just a wacko?”
Jyuu didn’t waste time contacting the police.
Meanwhile, Ame was still examining his jacket, but gave up after a while.
She tilted her head and returned the jacket to its original position.
“Now, we just need to hand him to the authorities and our job’s done.”
As Jyuu tried to make the call, he was reminded of his broken left arm.
Since Ame was likely to fuss about it, Jyuu decided to hide it.
“Jyuu-sama, are you injured?”
“It’s nothing. At least, it’s not to the extent that you should worry about.”
“Really?”
“Believe in the king’s words.”
“I understand. ...Uhm, Jyuu-sama, I have a single request?”
“...For me?”
Jyuu stared at Ame’s face. Ever since they met, it was her first ever request.
Somehow, she seemed a bit embarrassed.
“I owe you one for helping me out back then. So, go ahead and tell me.”
“Actually...”
After hearing her request, Jyuu wanted to clutch his head.
When asked where she was going, Ame told her parents that she went to Jyuu’s house to study for an exam.
In short, she wanted to match her stories.
After all, Ame made the mistake of being discovered by her parents when she was about to leave.
While her mother was quite lax and open-minded, her father seemed to be strict...
Therefore, unless there was a valid reason, her father wouldn’t be convinced.
“...Got it. Well, if your parents call me, I’ll be sure to back you up.”
“If possible, would you please come to my house after this?”
“After this? Why? Could it be... Your father is waiting?”
“Yes.”
“O-oh, I see... Well, okay...”
Upon seeing that Jyuu had slumped his shoulders, Ame apologetically bowed her head.
Jyuu really wanted to flee, but that’d be unmanly, even more so considering that he was indebted to her.
...Wait, “unmanly”?
‘Ask the woman you fall in love with.’
In the past, such was his mother’s answer when asked about the meaning of masculinity.
Smiling both deprecatingly and bitterly, Jyuu suddenly recalled the existence of a certain notebook.
“Can you read what’s written in his notebook?”
Ame took the black leather notebook from the man’s jacket and read it.
Then, she tilted her head.
“It’s empty, though?”
“Well, yeah...”
...Is delusion something that is exclusive to an individual?
Could it transfer to someone with the same wavelength?
Jyuu didn’t quite understand it. But for some reason, when Ame confirmed that the notebook was empty, he felt relieved.
While Ochibana Ame was definitely a denpa, this man was something else entirely.
Jyuu was at a loss as to what to explain to the police, but decided to just wing it.
Unfortunately, he chanced upon the killer. Fortunately, he won—that was it.
Still, how was he supposed to explain Ame’s presence?
...As expected, I’d have to pretend it’s a date.
But then, would he be required to introduce himself to Ame’s parents, as well? Once the school found out, he’d be teased by Miya.
Jyuu suddenly began to worry about his daily life from now on.
—Anyway, case concluded.
Or so he thought.