Kikanshita Yuusha no Gojitsudan : Chapter 28

Chapter 28 The Hero’s Detective Story 1

　slurp

　The Cola I was drinking through the straw made a slightly vulgar sound as I emptied the glass.

　I drank it all at once because I was thirsty from riding my bike under the blazing sun while wearing thick, long sleeves clothes.

　I once again went to pour the drink from the drink bar into the empty glass.

　A drink bar is really helpful, isn’t it?

　It is such a blissful gift for a poor college student.

　The training camp is over without a hitch (?), and I’m halfway through my summer vacation, in which I spend doing my part-time job, university assignments, and enjoying touring in my free time.

　The other day, Saito asked me to do a cosplay job at a summer event as usual, so other than my usual work at a family restaurant, I didn’t have to deal with any other obligations, and I’m able to spend my days leisurely.

　However, the costume for the event was abruptly changed to a different rider’s costume.

　The costume was changed because, according to Saito, the Wizard costume became a hot topic of conversation after the terrorist attack on the museum, and there was a possibility that other cosplayers might wear the same costume.

　It honestly saved me from remembering my folly at that time.

　Recenly, my mental health is improving as well, now that the subject of terrorism and the mysterious cosplayer that had been continuously being reported in the news every day has almost disappeared.

　Apparently, at one point it was even said that it was an act to advertise a movie or something. I’m sorry, Bandai-san.

　However, perhaps it was due to this. The cosplay and Tokusatsu related booths at the convention were more crowded than the previous years.

　Apparently there’s a person with some kind of Middle Eastern look wandering around the hall wearing half pants and a Moe T-shirt, which made him stand out. I thought I had seen his face somewhere, but I think he was the ambassador of Country I. There were several SP-like people dressed in black surrounding him, as well.

　That guy won’t be purged or anything after he returns to his home country, right? ……

　Nevertheless, at any rate, I was able to get some valuable war funds after finishing my part-time job.

　For some reason, along with the money, he said ‘I’ve made a new creation, I’ll give it to you, Kashiwagi-kun,’ and pushed a costume that looks like a Tokusatsu style costume, combining Rider and Space Detective, with a broad smile, though.

　The costume is made of aramid fiber and the mask seems to be made of titanium alloy. What exactly is Saito trying to make me do?

　Thus, I managed to get some money to play with, although it isn’t much.

　And of course, I’m still continuing to make the silver accessory, you know?

　I was surprised at the large number of orders I received recently, mainly from the nurses at the hospital where my mother works.

　Once, I gave a sample of the product when I went to the hospital to run an errand that my mother asked me to do, and it seemed to be unexpectedly well received. (TL: I’m not sure if he giving the sample to his mother or his mother colleague)

　Other products also sold out little by little, so the sales itself has been flourishing.

　This month’s sales are already close to one million.

　Ayumi was so happy that she was dancing with joy.

　After all, even if she only gets 20% of the share, it’s guaranteed to be at least 200,000.

　However, since most of the payments are made via credit card, the actual cash is not available until a few months later.

　So I’ll remain poor until the end of the month when I receive the last month’s sales.

　Though, when the money comes in, I’ll splurge happily.

　But I doubt I’ll last until the end of the month with the current money I have, considering the cost of gas and drinks. ……

---

　Well, that’s aside.

　The reason I’m having a drink at the family restaurant today isn’t because I’m thirsty or I’m here to eat.

　I’m meeting up with Akane because I received a call from her last night that she wanted to discuss something with me.

　Ten minutes before the appointed time, Akane walked into the restaurant accompanied by another girl.

　She immediately noticed as soon as I raised my hand, then came to the table I was at and sat down.

“Sup! Mizukami, Long time no see.”

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Long time no see. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”

　As you can see from the conversation we just had, the girl who came with Akane is my acquaintance, as well. Or rather, she was my classmate in high school.

　Her name is Youko Mizukami. (TL: I don’t know if I got the surname correct. The author unusually didn’t put the kana above the kanji for the name. Kanji: 水上 洋子)

　She is a second-year student at the department of education like Akane, and although we are merely former classmates, she is Akane’s close friend.

　It seems that the one that wants to consult is not Akane, but Mizukami.

“Once again, I’m sorry. For calling you out at such short notice.”

“I don’t mind that, but what do you want to discuss? If this is about love, I’m of no use, you know.”

“I’m not that much of an idiot, you know. What’s the point of asking for love advice from a spineless blockhead like Kashiwagi?”

　That’s a terrible thing to say, geez.

　I am sad to say that I can’t argue with it because it’s a bit ridiculously familiar to me.

“It’s not exactly unrelated to Shishido-kun, but apparently it’s something to do with the circle that Youko take part in.”

　Akane adds.

　By the way, Shishido is Mizukami’s boyfriend and his full name is Kenji Shishido. He’s a classmate of mine, Akane, and Mizukami in high school. Although, we were only in the same class in the second year, so we’re not particularly close to each other.

　Well, we’d talk to each other if we were in the vicinity. I don’t dislike him, though, because he’s a good guy with a diligent personality.

　I think I’ve talked to Mikami a lot more than with Shishido, since we were in the same class for two or three years and she was close to Akane.

“If I’m not mistaken, Mizukami is part of the event circle, right?”

　Mizukami nods in affirmation to my confirmation.

　These days, the image of event circles is not so good because of the recent scandals or crimes committed by some private university’s circles, but our university’s circle is not only organize an event for the school festival but also for the local festival, and they also organize volunteer activities such as presentations at nursing homes and retirement homes in the prefecture in cooperation with the cultural clubs of the neighboring junior and senior high schools, and they were quite a serious circle with a good reputation.

“Did something happen in the Circle?”

“It’s not like there was any big trouble. But this year, since the seniors in the fourth year retired, the atmosphere in the club became strange.”

　I’m not quite understand.

“Strange?”

“Before, the atmosphere was very harmonious, and we got along very well with our seniors and were very lively, but suddenly things became somewhat awkward. In fact, some of the girls suddenly lost their enthusiasm and quit, and some of the seniors became very overbearing.”

“Is the senior starting bullying the junior because they got carried away after the oldest senior disappeared?”

“Maybe, but, I’ve asked the girl who seems to have lost her enthusiasm, but she won’t tell me anything. Also Kenji’s been acting weird lately, and he’s been telling me I should quit the circle.”

“Are things not going well with Shishido?”

“That’s not true!”

　Mizukami denies my question with a powerful voice.

　Ooh. Don’t glare at me that much.

　Well, although these guys aren’t a stupid couple, but they’ve always been close.

“Which means, Shishido might know something about the source of the problem.”

“Also, recently, some senior members of the circle have started planning a mixer or a dance party.”

　I see.

　It’s the kind of event that caused crimes at a famous private university, and that’s why she got anxious.

　Mizukami looks like she still has something to say as I briefly gather my thoughts.

“Is there anything else? Come on! Go ahead and throw up and feel better! Adah!”

“Do you think this is an Interrogation!”

　Akane accurately tsukomied my funny man act.

　Mizukami laughs a little when she sees us and pulls a small plastic bag out of her bag.

“That senior gave this pouch to Kenji the other day, and I’m curious.”

　It was a small clear plastic bag with a couple of white oval tablets inside.

　I take them in my hand.

“Is it okay for you to carry these?”

“There were several of the same, so it’s probably okay.  …… Hey, what do you think that is?”

“Pill…….Is it.

“I hate to think about it, but by any chance: ……”

　Mizukami looks at me with a very uneasy expression, as if she is relying on me.

“…… I’ve seen something like this on TV before. I’ll check it out again to make sure, but you’re probably right.”

“! Really?!”

　Mizukami was in shock.

“I think it’s some kind of Sildenafil pill.”

“…… and what kind of drug is that?”

　I answered Mizukami’s question with a very uncomfortable expression.

“It’s a drug used to treat Erectile Dysfunction,’”

　Both Mizukami and Akane make a face as if they don’t understand my answer.

　Yeah, I deliberately said it in a way that made it difficult to understand, after all.

“The most common name for it is ‘Viagra’, which is used to treat so-called ED.”

“He?”

“What?”

　I pursued Mizukami further while grinning wickedly.

“Well, it’s that diligent Shishido, you know.  Is it possible that he already had concerns about it?”

“T, that’s not true! Even last week! I mean, what do you make me say?!”

　Mizukami responds with a flushed face.

　No, I was the one who made fun of her, but I don’t want to deal with an acquaintance confessing their affair.

　I renewed my expression and said a few words to Mizukami.

“I’ll keep it with me and examine it to make sure, just in case, but I think the seniors probably pushed it on him is not the full picture. The same goes with Shishido’s personality, but I don’t think there are many people from ‘that’ second year class that would mess with drugs.”

　Mizukami and Akane both look at each other after hearing my words, as if they remembered something unpleasant.

“Certainly, I don’t think anyone who saw ‘that’ would try to use weird drugs.”

　Akane says.

　Actually, when we were 2nd year students in high school, our homeroom teacher made us watch footage of a drug rehabilitation center several times as part of life guidance.

　The footage was so shocking that it was comparable to watching horror movies.

　It was a traumatizing experience for the students who saw the footage of people going through withdrawal symptoms, screaming in bizarre voices, and hurting themselves due to hallucinations.

　It’s so traumatic that even the guy who was actually interested in illegal herbs said he ‘would never do it’.

“I see. Does that mean I can relax a little?”

“But, Yuuya, how are you going to investigate it?”

“Hmm? I’ll ask Saito for help. His face is rather well known. If I remember correctly, he knew someone from medical school as well. Well, you don’t have anything to worry about, do you?”

“I understand. Can I request you to do it? Also, about that drug effect ……”

　Mizukami’s cheeks flushed a little, as if it was hard to say.

“I know. I won’t let anybody know about it. And Mizukami better not pester Shishido about the pills, either. He’ll probably tell you about it himself, eventually. Also, I’m going to do a little digging about the Circle, too. There are some things that I’m a little curious about there, so you’ll have to be careful too, Mizukami.”

　Mizukami nodded with a serious expression on her face when I mentioned the circle.

　Afterwards, the three of us chatted with each other and asked what they were up to, and then we separated.

　Akane went together with Mizukami, saying she was still planning to go shopping with her or something.

Now, what should I do about it? This thing.

　I straddle the parked bike and mutter to myself, looking at the entrusted items in my hand.

　Then I cast ”appraisal” once again to make sure.

“Appraisal.”

Name: Heaven’s Door

Composed mainly of Methyl​enedioxy​methamphetamine and Tryptamine.

A form of synthetic drug.

　This is gonna be troublesome.

---

Translator’s Note : 

Once again, I don’t know if I got Youko’s surname correctly. The author unusually didn’t put the furigana above the kanji for her name. Her name in Kanji: 水上 洋子

I’ve done some searching, but the kanji 水上 can be read more than one way, so if there’s the “correct” way to read the kanji please comment.

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