Romantic Troubles of Duanmu-kun

Three days later,

As time passed, Tokyo approached the height of summer, with the afternoon sun growing increasingly intense.

After walking several minutes from the subway station, Kazuki Kaichirou stopped in his tracks, narrowed his eyes, and looked up.

It was a massive building situated in the center of Tokyo. The sunlight pouring through the floor-to-ceiling windows in the lobby was so bright and transparent that one could hardly keep their eyes open.

“Kazuki-san, you’ve arrived!”

The receptionist smiled at Kazuki Kaichirou as he entered the lobby, eagerly guiding him toward the elevator.

“Yanagihara-san is waiting for you upstairs.”

…

With an almost imperceptible sound, the elevator doors slowly opened, revealing a traditionally decorated Japanese-style room. Finding himself in such surroundings, Kazuki Kaichirou felt somewhat uncomfortable in his suit.

Sitting at a low table on the tatami was a tall, lean elderly man with a solemn expression. His silver-streaked hair was meticulously combed, his glasses set aside as he sipped hot tea with his eyes half-closed.

Kazuki Kaichirou gave him a respectful bow. This man was at the pinnacle of Japan’s 300,000 police officers.

The Superintendent General, Yanagihara Masashi.

“Please sit.”

Yanagihara Masashi set down his teacup and gestured to the seat across from him.

After Kazuki Kaichirou sat down, Yanagihara-san didn’t immediately speak. Although Kazuki had many questions, this wasn’t the right moment to pour them all out.

Had the police taken a stronger stance on this case, perhaps it could have been resolved more quickly. That girl who chose to jump from the roof at private Yuihara High School might not have died.

In fact, Asami Yuko had strongly demanded this during the investigation meeting. However…

“Compared to catching the criminal early, removing the worms within the police force is more important. Because the latter could potentially cause greater damage through public authority.”

This was the judgment of the man before him. Having received orders from his superior, Kazuki Kaichirou had no choice but to comply.

“How is it going? Any new information?”

“I’m sorry, Yanagihara-san,” Kazuki Kaichirou replied with a bitter smile.

“That person has vanished without a trace. They’ve likely already been moved abroad by accomplices…”

“Is that so?”

Yanagihara Masashi’s face revealed no expression.

“You… don’t seem surprised?”

Kazuki hesitated a moment before asking tentatively.

“Even attempting to catch ‘Gecko’s’ tail is not so easy. Our battle with them has continued for over a decade. This level of obstruction was anticipated.”

It is commonly known that geckos survive by detaching their tails. They escape danger by shedding their tails, which grow back after some time.

The criminal nicknamed “Gecko”—currently considered Japan’s most dangerous criminal. Even the police knew very little about Gecko’s true identity and background. It wasn’t one person, not multiple individuals, and could hardly be called a group or organization… If forced to describe it, it would be something like a “phenomenon.”

No matter how severely damaged, no matter how many times the “tail” was cut off, it would always return—a vicious phenomenon with the tenacity of an insect.

“That’s true,” Kazuki-san nodded.

“However, something curious this time warrants attention. For instance… this ‘Gecko’s tail,’ despite having a good opportunity, ultimately didn’t harm Asami-san.”

“Hmm…?”

Yanagihara Masashi seemed to have heard something concerning and looked up. His eyes, surprisingly keen for his age, now fixed a hawk-like gaze on the prosecutor.

“Harm? Did the criminal meet Yuko?”

“They did… but Asami-san probably didn’t notice them. How should I put this…”

Kazuki Kaichirou’s expression grew troubled.

“She was… sound asleep at the time.”

At the time, Asami-san had expended considerable effort investigating past cases. After resting in the archives room, the woman who was asked by the novelist to look after Asami-san was actually her.

Kazuki Kaichirou took out a photo and placed it on the table.

The woman in the photo was a young, attractive female police officer. Her identity had now been confirmed as an undercover criminal.

“…I see.”

Yanagihara Masashi lowered his eyelids. His true feelings couldn’t be read from his aged face. The silence in the Japanese-style room lasted for a long time.

“Since there’s no news, we’ll leave it at that for now. We’ll handle the follow-up work. Also… this is somewhat personal. About that high school student who appeared near Yuko that I asked you to investigate—do you have any leads now?”

Yanagihara-san was likely well aware. After all, the Superintendent General’s sources and informants couldn’t possibly be inferior to those of a mere prosecutor… What he really wanted to hear was Kazuki’s analysis.

Though troubled, Kazuki Kaichirou ultimately decided to give a frank answer.

“No. Although I know he’s an international student from the same school as Asami-san, all other information has been deliberately concealed.”

He scratched the back of his head with a troubled expression.

“How should I put it… I find this puzzling. Since they can conceal information despite investigations by the public prosecutor’s office, they could, in theory, fabricate documents and records that would not arouse suspicion. Wouldn’t that be less conspicuous and safer?”

Yet, they didn’t do that.

It was almost like—

“A ‘threat.'”

“‘Please don’t pry into or covet this man’s secrets’… Something like that.”

“…So what should we do?” Kazuki Kaichirou asked.

“This person might be dangerous. The publicity work currently pushing Asami-san to the forefront is at a critical stage. Should we prohibit his association with Asami-san?”

Though his impression of that young man was actually quite good, out of caution…

“No, of course not.”

Contrary to Kazuki Kaichirou’s expectations, Yanagihara Masashi rejected this proposal without hesitation.

“Yuko has made her own choice, and I likewise support her determination. Moreover…”

Kazuki couldn’t help but widen his eyes in surprise. This was the first time he had seen a smile on Yanagihara Masashi’s face, though it vanished in an instant.

“She is that person’s granddaughter, the ‘Great Detective’ chosen by this era. There is no guarantee more trustworthy than the decision she herself has made.”

The old man spoke words that seemed entirely unlike those of a Superintendent General, or even a police officer.

But please keep this confidential for now.

On this day of the Great Detective’s birth—