Ayanokouji’s Guide to Using Tools at Butei High - Chapter 16

Because he didn’t want it known that he was a member of the Port Mafia, he sent Tanizaki Junichiro away. In my impression, I don’t believe Dazai Osamu is such a fragile person—fragile to the point of not being able to let anyone know about his past.

When I first met Dazai Osamu, it was four years ago during a Port Mafia interrogation of an internal mole. However, the other party wouldn’t have any memory of that, and I certainly wouldn’t speak of it myself. As for the fact that he might feel I am very familiar with him, there are too many ways to explain that—I happened to see him somewhere, I heard about him from someone, I confronted him in a certain organization, and so on; there are too many excuses.

Regardless, he can’t find any evidence that I’m lying.

Returning to the matter at hand, at this moment, Dazai Osamu’s way of speaking has already started setting a rhythm.

“Are you from the Port Mafia side? Just tell me yes or no.”

Why do I need to answer this question?

If he believes I am, then please find the answers and evidence himself to prove it, and then have the Armed Detective Agency reject my entry. If the evidence he finds says “no,” that is also his own problem.

Why should I speak frankly? Why save him time and energy?

Furthermore, would he really believe what I say? If I were in his position, I wouldn’t believe a single word he said.

“If there is something you want to say, Dazai-san, you can say it directly. There’s no need to be so indirect and hypocritical, wasting each other’s time.” My fingertips brushed against the corner of the table as I entered a thinking state.

“Ayanokouji-kun is truly cautious.”

It was as if Dazai Osamu were already sitting right in front of me; I could even imagine him sitting in that swivel chair of his, leisurely making the call, trying to throw out questions one by one to catch me off guard.

“This afternoon at the criminal base—eh, what was it called, ah, right, the Port Central Building—I found many blueprints for criminal plans. The number one item among them was ‘completely destroy the Armed Detective Agency.’ Many of the originals were actually deleted, but it’s said that our dedicated information broker—Taguchi Rokuzou, can recover the files. Thus, I saw the photo of you working with the Azure King there.”

Dazai Osamu was asking questions almost randomly, without logic, as if saying whatever came to mind without any purpose at all. However, hearing that Taguchi Rokuzou had already seen that photo caused my heart to grow quite a bit colder.

“Besides that, another interesting thing has surfaced. For example, when Taguchi-kun saw your photo, he was extremely panicked, and his mental state has been completely off. Logically speaking, he shouldn’t know you, right?”

“Ayanokouji-kun, tell me, what role do you play in this entire incident? According to Tanizaki, Ranpo-san has already informed you about the entrance exam. If you can’t answer this question properly, you won’t be able to join the Agency, even if you are unrelated to this matter.”

“Most importantly—”

I could almost imagine him raising a finger, putting on an air of having everything completely within his grasp. I immediately mobilized the intelligence investigations I had conducted on the Armed Detective Agency; logically, there shouldn’t be anything I didn’t know.

Including the matter of the character exam—I had actually heard about it through other channels long ago, which is why I made a series of arrangements.

“There’s a rule in our Agency—if you guess my previous profession correctly, you can get a 700,000 yen bonus. Aren’t you greedy for that money?”

Is this man just here to toy with me?

“As you said, I was indeed one of the participants in the Azure Flag Terrorist Incident two years ago.”

Dazai Osamu’s voice sounded thoughtful as he said: “In that case, when you came to the Agency that day, was it actually for something other than an interview? After all, you’re already a member of a certain organization, so wouldn’t it be strange to participate in an interview? I had always assumed you were waiting for some timing to join, but thinking about it now, if you didn’t come for an interview back then, everything makes sense.”

“Thinking back on your action of hiding the documents, I initially thought you might just be a bit shy. Looking at it now, do you really know what ‘shy’ means?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, knowing exactly who I am, and knowing that I know who you are, your attitude remains so calm and indifferent, completely unmoved. You didn’t take the conversation just now seriously at all. It seems you simply have no sense of shame, do you?”

This fellow was again switching concepts and talking nonsense.

I decided there was no need to be patient and explain exactly what happened to him.

“Sorry, I’d like to hang up now. I will turn myself in to the people at the Agency; you can have them relay it to you.”

As expected, it’s impossible to speak with him calmly and peacefully.

Just as I was about to hang up the phone, Dazai Osamu’s final words, “Do you really need to be protected for three weeks? Isn’t that too long?…” were cut off just in time.

I didn’t know what Dazai really wanted to say.

Before Tanizaki returned to the room, I had him bring back Edogawa Ranpo, who was at the snack vending machine downstairs. Because the room was laid with tatami mats, I sat in a seiza position naturally.

I explained the process clearly, including the matter of Edogawa noticing my input method yesterday.

During the Azure Flag Terrorist Incident two years ago, I was in contact with the Azure King in the capacity of an online arms dealer. So, that explains why there was an image of me working with the Azure King. Two years ago, when I was mistaken for coming to the Agency for an interview, I actually wanted to provide a series of details regarding the munitions the Azure King had ordered.

I provided weapons to the Azure King first, only learning about his subsequent Azure Flag Terrorist Incident later. Later, during the condolence events for the detectives who died in the line of duty, I met Taguchi Rokuzou. Knowing he was orphaned, I began to contact him and proactively help him.

“If I had to define it with one word, it would be ‘atonement.’ But now that Taguchi knows I once provided munitions to the Azure Flag, I’m afraid the relationship will completely rupture.”

“I’m not saying this to prove I am innocent; on the contrary, I am not a good person,” I said in a flat tone. “In the end, for self-preservation, I didn’t provide the weapon details. After all, the other party was an outlaw, and I was unarmed. Moreover, seeing that the Agency members have such sharp observational skills, perhaps my extra effort wasn’t necessary.”

“It hasn’t been easy for you either.” Tanizaki patted my shoulder, trying to comfort my emotions.

Should I say ‘as expected of someone from the Armed Detective Agency’?

Hearing that I was engaged in arms dealing, he didn’t care at all, only hearing my last sentence. Or has my speaking technique improved? Is this the effect of the mixers?

“Two years later, today, I realized the remnants of the Azure Flag have started acting again. To avoid the brunt of it and avoid being used as a scapegoat, I came to Fuyuki City. Of course, the best situation is to have a bodyguard by my side.”

Tanizaki Junichiro kept following my line of thought: “No wonder you were in such a hurry to come to Fuyuki City.”

Edogawa didn’t say a word the whole time, completely unyielding, staring at me with a tense face.

“Do you have a question?” I asked Edogawa in return.

Edogawa Ranpo seemed to be waiting for me to ask; he held his hands high as if tracing a giant circle or holding a large ball, and said in an indignant tone: “Of course I do! A huge pile of questions!!”

As soon as he said this, alarm bells rang in my mind.

Edogawa’s thoughts are the type I can’t keep up with right now; he is too imaginative and unpredictable, and he is often skilled at hitting the nail on the head without mercy.

“So, if there were no Azure Flag incident, you wouldn’t have joined the Agency, right?”

This question exceeded the scope of my imagination. I subconsciously glanced at Tanizaki; I didn’t know what answer Edogawa Ranpo wanted.

“Logically speaking, if there were no Azure Flag incident, I would have no reason to join the Agency. If I wanted to join, why would I wait until today, two years later?”

Although I have a bit of OCD, I feel that every time I act, I must have a very clear logic for the action. Just saying “because I want to do something” isn’t enough to convince myself.

“…I definitely won’t let you into the Agency!” Edogawa Ranpo stood up, making a show of defiance toward me.

“…”

“No, wait, if you don’t want to join the Agency, then I definitely have to make you join!!!”

“…………”

“No, I super-dislike you, I won’t let you join the Agency!!!”

“……………”

He seemed quite conflicted. Given his zero-tolerance policy for the truth, I felt it was better not to point it out.

“Say something, at least!”

I reviewed the one-second rule in conversation, paused for a moment to show that I had indeed been listening to his tantrum, and then I said: “Well, although you don’t like me, I actually quite like you.”

The moment those words fell, I clearly felt time freeze. Edogawa’s eyes widened, like a cat that had been suddenly startled, and he shifted his gaze away from me with a stiff body. Then, at an extremely slow speed, he crawled into his futon, entering from the bottom end; after hiding half his body, he began to kick his legs with “thump, thump, thump” sounds.

“…Are his legs suddenly itchy? Do you want to help him scratch them?”

Tanizaki looked at me with full bewilderment.

I also looked at him with bewilderment.

“What’s wrong?”

“This… well, I was thinking, maybe you could go ask what’s going on?”

I shook my head decisively and said: “Too dangerous. There’s a high probability I’ll get kicked.”

“…Ayanokouji, you really are an amazing person.”

I had a feeling what Tanizaki said wasn’t exactly a compliment.

For some reason, tonight ended very peacefully, except that I heard Edogawa eating snacks in his futon. After I noticed, he tossed me a piece of candy and said with a grin: “You can’t tell anyone.”

Was he watching some funny video or story in his futon that put him in such a good mood?

After placing the candy by my pillow, I continued to sleep.

There’s a whole series of things to do; I hope everything in Yokohama is going according to plan.

Will three weeks be long?

Not long; just right.