Holy Father-Style Tool-Person - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: The Sixteenth Day of the Tool-man

“Eiji—!”

Matsuda Jinpei’s trembling voice rang out across the corridor, causing the person in front of him to pause slightly.

But soon, that person made a move; he actually sped up his pace slightly, as if he wanted to leave this place immediately.

Matsuda Jinpei naturally knew about the issues regarding Eiji’s status at this moment. He remembered every single rule in the code of conduct clearly, but he found himself unable to watch the person before him leave in silence.

As long as he gazed at his back, Matsuda Jinpei would recall the time at the Police Academy when his classmates gathered together to discuss their respective dreams.

Unlike the others, Hiiragi Eiji’s dream was so cliché it made people want to laugh. It was a dream that did not start from his own desires, but was righteous and noble—the kind that only appeared on textbook pamphlets.

“To risk everything to protect the people who are important to me.”

That was the first time Matsuda Jinpei noticed this classmate named Hiiragi Eiji. His features were outstanding, and his slender figure was unusually conspicuous in the crowd.

He loved to laugh, and even after receiving a chorus of laughter upon stating those words, he still wore a gentle smile on his face. Only in those amber eyes was there a look full of perseverance.

The scene at that time was carved into Matsuda Jinpei’s memory. He simply felt that this boy, who spoke so frankly about his dreams, had eyes filled with light.

He had always believed that Hiiragi Eiji would surely be able to achieve his dream.

During the long time at the Police Academy, Hiiragi Eiji’s hard work left others in the dust. Whenever someone asked him how he managed to persist, he would always answer lightly: “Because, if I don’t work hard, there is no way to realize my dream.”

If he didn’t become strong enough, he wouldn’t be able to protect others.

Now, he had really done it. Hagiwara Kenji was lying in another safe place just like that.

But this was also the first time Matsuda Jinpei realized the weight of a person’s dream—it was something that had to be practiced with one’s life.

Therefore, he could not bring himself to comply with the requirements of the regulations. Upon noticing the other party’s intention to leave, Matsuda Jinpei immediately quickened his speech: “…You don’t need to respond to me! Just don’t leave like this.”

Fortunately, after hearing this, that person really stopped. Perhaps it was because his injuries were too severe, but the elbow Hiiragi Eiji was using to support himself against the wall suddenly gave out. He allowed his shoulder to slam into the wall.

Matsuda Jinpei struggled to restrain himself from stepping forward, “You… did you go on some dangerous mission? You, in this state, in this state… where are you going? Did you come specifically to save Hagiwara?”

The response was still silence.

Matsuda Jinpei’s hand gripped tightly, “Is this… your dream?”

Unexpectedly, noisy footsteps came from the safety passage behind Matsuda Jinpei. Someone was coming up. Conversely—

Hiiragi Eiji began to move again.

“Wait—”

Matsuda Jinpei spoke subconsciously to stop him, only to find that he had absolutely no standing to make him stay.

Reason and sensibility tugged back and forth. Just as Matsuda Jinpei was about to make a decision, Hiiragi Eiji, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke.

“Don’t worry, Jinpei.” His voice was hoarse from his injuries, but the tone was remarkably light, “I am doing what I have always insisted on doing.”

Wishing to use his own small power to protect everyone important to him.

“I have already broken the rules, so keep it a secret for me.” Hiiragi Eiji reached out and waved at Matsuda Jinpei behind him.

From beginning to end, he never looked back. Before the people downstairs were about to rush into this floor, he left.

When Hagiwara Kenji woke up, he narrowed his eyes subconsciously, dazzled by the snow-white ceiling above.

Immediately following this, his previous memories returned rapidly. He sat up almost instantly. His last memory before losing consciousness was someone using their bare hand to strike the back of his neck, causing him to fall into a coma.

But he clearly remembered… because he had sensed someone’s intent to attack in advance, he had dodged slightly while running. Although he hadn’t fully dodged the attack, by tilting his head slightly, he had caught a glimpse of a familiar color.

Those light-colored hairs…

“Awake?”

A low, hoarse male voice sounded beside him. Hagiwara Kenji realized he was lying in a hospital room, and sitting beside him was Matsuda Jinpei, who was bowing his head to fiddle with his phone.

He seemed to be looking at photos from the Police Academy period. Ninety percent of them were group photos containing Hiiragi Eiji.

After swiping past the last photo, Matsuda Jinpei put away his phone. As he looked up, Hagiwara Kenji was startled, because Matsuda Jinpei’s appearance at this moment was indescribably despondent.

Hagiwara Kenji guessed in his heart, “Jin-chan…”

“Next time,” Matsuda Jinpei interrupted him, pounding his shoulder heavily with his fist, “Wear your protective gear! Your life is worth far more than you think it is.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Save that for the person who deserves to hear it.”

A huge explosion resounded throughout the entire district. Even Dazai Osamu, who was more than a kilometer away from the scene, heard the loud bang clearly.

People around ran toward the scene like a tide, but Dazai Osamu stared at the coffee cup in front of him, lost in thought.

I don’t know how much time passed. The surroundings remained quiet, but someone stopped in front of him.

Dazai Osamu’s reaction was a beat slow. He raised his head sluggishly, and then, those tawny eyes widened slightly.

Standing in front of him was Hiiragi Eiji, who had battered scratches on his face but was smiling so brilliantly.

“You…” Dazai Osamu’s throat felt as if it were blocked by a mass of soft cotton, and making a sound became such a difficult task, “…Why did you come back?”

No, what he should have said was: How could he have returned alive?

Why come back with injuries? In such a short time, such a long distance, the cordon, the patrolling helicopters—how did he avoid them? And how did he arrive at the scene?

Smiling so happily—is it because he saved his own friend? Why could he create a situation bordering on a miracle in such a short time?

Such an ending, an ending full of hope, had never been in Dazai Osamu’s expectations.

Hiiragi Eiji was completely unaware of Dazai Osamu’s inner thoughts. Hearing the question, the smile on his face suddenly froze.

…Wait, wait! What does that mean?! Could it be that he misunderstood?!

The pain of his wounds made Hiiragi Eiji give up on trying to beat around the bush; besides, in front of Dazai Osamu, he often doubted his own intelligence.

Thus, he tentatively expressed his thoughts: “…I thought, you told me about the bombing case because you wanted to give me a chance?” A chance to save Hagiwara Kenji.

Dazai Osamu widened his eyes again.

Looking at his obvious expression, Hiiragi Eiji was almost desperate, but he continued to state his inference: “You processed that… action plan for me; were you not helping me hide my identity and not intending to do anything to me?” Although he had exposed his identity, wasn’t Dazai Osamu’s behavior a hint to him?!

Dazai Osamu did not respond for a long time.

Just as Hiiragi Eiji was calmly thinking about how to report to the Metropolitan Police Department and explain his failed undercover mission, Dazai Osamu suddenly laughed lowly, and then, this laughter grew louder and louder.

Hiiragi Eiji watched as Dazai Osamu raised his hand to cover his forehead.

“That’s right, Eiji, your inference is correct.” There was still laughter in Dazai Osamu’s words.

While relieved, Hiiragi Eiji vaguely felt that something was not quite right, but his vision was already seeing afterimages due to the severe injuries and the aftereffects of the Eight Inner Gates.

“But… is it really useful?” Dazai Osamu’s voice dropped suddenly. He said softly, “They are too weak, without any power. Escaping this time, they still cannot escape the next time relying on their own power. Even so, do you want to save them time after time?”

Hiiragi Eiji’s brain, which was about to stop functioning, carefully contemplated Dazai Osamu’s words. He couldn’t help but laugh: “Hmm, of course. Because my goal was achieved long ago.” He existed just to protect. “Also, those people are not weak at all,” Hiiragi Eiji refuted bluntly.

Perhaps they were insignificant existences in this world, but they still strove to radiate their own brilliance. People like that—where on earth were they weak?

He was just an ordinary person too, but he could still create some low-probability events, right? Saving and being saved; redeeming and being redeemed.

Thinking of the safe and sound Hagiwara Kenji, the smile at the corners of Hiiragi Eiji’s mouth rose uncontrollably again.

He had done it once more.

“No one knows your experiences, your efforts, your battered state. Even so, on this nameless road, do you want to keep moving forward?” As an undercover agent, one already chooses a nameless road. Even if so, is it okay?

Hiiragi Eiji barely supported himself so as not to collapse immediately. He whispered his answer to Dazai Osamu’s question: “Yes.” This was where his duty lay.

After asking this question, Dazai Osamu fell silent again.

Hiiragi Eiji could no longer hold on and fell softly in the direction of Dazai Osamu.

“But what I chose for you is a road that only has a one-in-ten-thousand chance of existing.” You are the one who creates miracles.

Dazai Osamu stated the fact calmly, but what came to meet him was Hiiragi Eiji, who had lost consciousness.

He caught a ball of scorching light. The phototaxis ingrained within the human body made it impossible for him to let go.

Almost trembling, he gathered this ball of light into his embrace.

[Dazai Osamu Favorability +30]