When the Detective Work is Done, I'll Die

Chapter 3

This is bad. They think we're the murderers.

How should I clear up this misunderstanding? While I hesitated, Miiko stepped forward boldly. Then she declared their innocence with pride.

"Hey! You've got the wrong people! She was already dead when we got here!"

"A-already dead...?"

Did the young man fear her spirit? He took one step back and muttered. But his face showed no fear of Miiko's vigor. He was smiling with half-lidded eyes.

I know two types of people who would smile in front of a corpse.

The first is a thrill killer—someone who enjoys having their murders witnessed. But that's not the case here. If he knew the corpse was there, he wouldn't need to repeat "already dead?" when entering. The fact that he killed him should be burned into his own memory.

Most likely, it's the second possibility.

A detective.

I grabbed Miiko's shoulder and pulled her back.

"Hey, Miiko..."

"H-huh? What is it?"

"Step back. I want to talk to this detective."

"Huh, a detective?"

As Miiko stepped back, the young man proudly declared himself a "detective." He puffed out his chest triumphantly.

"Good eye. Yeah, that must mean I'm famous, right? I'm Azuma, the famous detective."

Saying you're famous yourself is just cringe. His cocky attitude is also irritating. Originally, I already hated detectives—he was the last person I wanted to associate with.

Honestly, I wanted to forget about the case and just go home. But I couldn't. Miiko and I had a duty as the first discoverers to give statements to the police.

Besides, I'd promised to solve this case quickly. I couldn't irresponsibly leave. Breaking a promise is worse than being a detective.

"Quite the coincidence, finding you here. Really convenient how corpses always appear where detectives go."

I left the crime scene with only those sarcastic words. I didn't want to talk to the detective any further. Just hearing his voice replayed my past in my head and made my skin crawl.

"No, no, the corpse called for me. I'm a super excellent detective, after all. Hey, haven't you heard? The five hundred million yen case, or the Edogawa family murder case..."

"I've heard of them, but I'm not interested. Bye."

I'll leave exploring the crime scene to Miiko, who was already taking photos with her smartphone.

Thinking that, I left the room. But then I heard unexpected words.

"Hey, you're great. Really great. Your style, looks, everything passes. I fell for you at first sight. If we clear your suspicions, will you go out with me?"

His words were directed at Miiko. I'd let my guard down, thinking he'd be focused on the investigation.

I never expected him to hit on Miiko.

Stunned by my own foolishness, I returned to the room. The detective was trying to grab Miiko's arm as if it were the most natural thing.

Miiko slapped his hand away. I tried to jump between them, but Miiko began overwhelming him on her own.

"W-what are you doing all of a sudden?"

"That hurts. You admire this famous detective, right? Since you're investigating like this. Come on, I'll clear your suspicions, and you can be with me."

"Then, if I were the culprit, would you erase my crimes?"

Erase her crimes...?

She spoke those words with a mischievous smile.

I couldn't tell what her intentions were. If this detective said "yes," would Miiko accept his confession? That would be... problematic.

As expected, the detective sweetly whispered to her.

"Yeah. For you, I'd hide any crime. I would never let you suffer."

Miiko pushed Detective Azuma's body away with her hand.

"Then, no thanks. If I were to date someone, it would be someone who seriously faces the crime I committed as the culprit. Someone who could love even what I've done. Someone who runs away from that isn't right for me."

She firmly rejected him. The anxiety weighing on my heart vanished. What was I thinking? She had no intention of dating anyone.

The rejected detective began panicking, his left leg trembling. I nearly laughed at how ridiculous he looked.

"Huh!? H-hey, wait. You're going to regret rejecting this handsome detective...!"

"You do have a nice face. But it's okay. If you're a detective, you understand, right? Even if you regret it, you still want to solve the mystery. I also have someone whose heart's mystery I want to solve... right, Hyoga?"

I was suddenly singled out and didn't understand what was happening. Why was I being called? It felt like chicks were flying around my head.

"H-huh?"

"For now, I'll do my best with Hyoga. Detective, you do your best too! This case has so many mysteries."

The moment Miiko said this, the detective's smile vanished completely. He spat toward me once, said "Damn it!", and left Miiko.

What a terrible guy. He changes his attitude at the drop of a hat. With his half-baked intelligence and power, he's worse than a spoiled child.

I have no choice but to investigate while keeping an eye on him to make sure he doesn't do anything strange to Miiko again.

But before that, what Miiko said... why was I named...

Just as I was about to bring up that topic, she spoke first.

"Ah, is that a leather bag over there? Was there money inside?"

The conversation had turned to the case. I'd wanted to ask about her feelings, but right now she seemed to have nothing but the case on her mind.

Let's save that talk for after the investigation. First, I should comment on the evidence she found. Otherwise, Miiko will keep showing it to me over and over, "Hey hey! This evidence! This evidence! Look look!"

What exactly does she want from me?

"What's inside?"

She used the bag from her pocket to avoid leaving fingerprints, then touched the bag. Then she peeked inside.

"Well, there are some ten-thousand-yen bills... ah, that's not here!"

"What's not here?"

When I asked, she tilted her head and started worrying. It seemed important as she groaned "hmm hmm."

"Um, what was it called. I feel like it absolutely has to be there, but I can't remember the name... did it even have an official name..."

Come on... tell me clearly what it is.

Now there's another mystery to solve. As if I didn't already have enough trouble figuring out why the victim was buried in money.

While my head was filled with mysteries, a loud voice like a hammer blow echoed through the house.

"You damn old hag! Answer me already! I'm telling you! I'll beat you to death, dammit!"