"There are too many case files from Hassan City in the past decade. I can't show you them one by one, only some specific cases."
Arano Ryoko regained her usual wind-like swiftness as she flashed her beautiful eyes at Kitagawa Tera. "So, Kitagawa, if you don't have any clues at all about this investigation, you can forget all the pretty words you just said and stay home with your sister."
There was a sea of cases of all sizes over the past decade. Moreover, if he really wanted to investigate, it would not only be the cases in Hassan City, but it would also have to include the ones in the areas surrounding Hassan City.
This undertaking was not a one-day project. Even Arano Ryoko's colleagues had huge headaches handling them.
After cooling down from her hotheadedness, she did not think that Kitagawa Tera had an accurate direction for investigation.
Arano Ryoko sat by the computer, waiting for Kitagawa Tera to make a joke of himself.
But what she did not expect was for Kitagawa Tera to open his mouth without any hesitation. "First, look for the school that Ishikawa Kaito attended."
He spoke quickly and decisively, not like someone unprepared.
Arano Ryoko was slightly stunned at Kitagawa Tera's composure, but her hands did not stop. She quickly retrieved Ishikawa Kaito's information.
Ishikawa Kaito's photo on the screen was from ten years ago.
It was a young man with short hair and a round face.
Kitagawa Tera did not care about the other party's looks. His eyes firmly locked on to the line of information at the bottom.
Enrolled in Sucha Private High School.
"So? Did you find what you wanted?"
Ignoring Arano Ryoko's ridicule, Kitagawa Tera kept silent for a moment before saying, "Continue searching for two keywords: Sucha Private High School and fire."
"Hmph." Seeing Kitagawa Tera not giving up at all, Arano Ryoko snorted, and her fingers got to work again.
But at the same time, Arano Ryoko was surprised.
There was indeed a fire at Sucha Private High School, but that was reported ten years ago and old news.
It was impossible for someone living in Tokyo to know without deliberately investigating.
Is this kid really on to something?
Arano Ryoko brought up the file.
This time, she did not tune out the information and started carefully examining the results on the computer.
"Ten years ago, a huge fire broke out in Sucha Private High School. Dozens of victims succumbed to it, and only one girl escaped alive. Moreover, there were many signs of deliberate arson in the school. The culprit has not been captured until now. Sucha Private High school was also forced to close down because of the turmoil caused by this incident and 'Murderer Ishikawa Kaito'."
Only one girl escaped? Kitagawa Tera became spirited. "What's the name of the girl who survived?"
"Hmm…" Arano Ryoko clicked the mouse and frowned. "Seems like the girl's parents requested this matter not to affect their daughter. Therefore, according to the Law of Protection of Minors, no record of it was kept on file. The newspapers didn't report it either. They only Student A as a general term."
Kitagawa Tera was not in a hurry and said quickly, "In that case, can you add another keyword 'Yuuki'? There should still be records left."
"Yuuki?" Arano Ryoko did not start searching immediately but looked at Kitagawa Tera with some surprise. "Where did you get this information from?"
Could there be a traitor in our police station? Does this kid possess such remarkable abilities?
"Search it first." Kitagawa Tera did not answer her question but only glared at the computer. It seemed as though they could reach the answer with this.
Arano Ryoko finally got started.
A few search results popped up when she searched for 'Yuuki' and 'Sucha Private High School'.
"… This girl… passed away."
"Let me see."
Kitagawa Tera pushed Arano Ryoko aside without a word, his expression calmly sweeping through the items on the form.
Sakura Yuuki (deceased), female, born on May 1st, 1994. Enrolled in Sucha Private High School, second year. Blood type…
Sakura Yuuki in the photo was cute, with short, straight hair. She grinned broadly at the camera.
Looking at the slightly blurry colored photo with the deceased after her name, Kitagawa Tera fell silent.
Sakura Yuuki was dead.
This was the result from the file.
The record meant that this person was dead from the point of society and reality.
"So? Did you find what you wanted?" Arano Ryoko asked again as she looked at Kitagawa Tera's serious expression.
She did not hold much hope.
Sakura Yuuki was someone who died ten years ago. A dead person would not be able to resurrect and commit crimes.
She knew from Kitagawa Tera's expression.
The truth of this case was still hidden behind fog…
Arano Ryoko did not expect Kitagawa Tera to raise his head calmly again, his voice unchanged. "I have some headway, but I have to ask Ryoko-san to help check something."
"???? Kid, you better not deceive yourself." Arano Ryoko grinned. "I know you might be a little agitated since the lead is now broken, but deceiving yourself isn't good."
Kitagawa Tera did not show the agitation of a young man just because of Arano Ryoko's contempt.
There was no benefit arguing with Arano Ryoko. One wrong step in the arguing and he might be slapped with the crime of assaulting a police officer.
He was merely looking quietly at her.
Arano Ryoko's mouth could not help twitching, feeling Kitagawa Tera's gaze on her. She finally restarted searching in frustration.
Kitagawa Tera turned his attention back to Sakura Yuuki's photo, seemingly wanting to grasp the truth of the events a decade ago from this girl's innocent face.
…
It was winter, and day turned into night in no time. Starlight shone sparsely through the night sky.
Kitagawa Tera finally emerged.
Kamiya Mirai, who had been sitting on the cold bench for hours, naturally rushed at Kitagawa Tera to grumble.
But after seeing Arano Ryoku behind him, she zipped her lips, looking wronged.
She also wanted to complain about how disgusting the coffee in the police station was and how hard the bench was!
But with Arano Ryoko here, she could not verbalize it into words.
She could only look grudgingly at Arano Ryoko.
Who asked Arano Ryoko to tell her to sit here by herself!
"It's a little late. I'll drive you and Kitagawa back. Wait here." Arano Ryoko ignored Kamiya Mirai's glare, took her car key out of her pocket, and walked toward the parking lot.
As soon as Asano Ryoku left, Kamiya Mirai ran over with an explosion of expressions.
"Really! Ryoko-oneesan and you didn't bring me along when you were doing interesting stuff! I obviously wanted to join in!"
"It was nothing interesting. It's useless telling you." Kitagawa Tera shook his head.
Kamiya Mirai might have leaked about the diary if he had brought her along.
Kitagawa Tera was also selfish. Although the system did not specify whether he should catch the culprit himself or let the police catch the culprit, Kitagawa Tera wanted the reward and did not want to add any extra factors that could cause the mission to fail.
Kamiya Mirai did not have as much on her mind as Kitagawa Tera. She continued with vigor, "You don't know how disgusting the coffee in the police station is—"
"You think I don't know how disgusting the coffee in the police station is or how hard the bench is?" Kitagawa Tera suddenly interrupted her with a calm voice.
"???" Kamiya Mirai's eyes grew wide.
Is Kitagawa Tera really able to read minds? How did he know what I wanted to say?
She wanted to continue, but Arano Ryoko driving over interrupted her ruthlessly.
"Hehe. Kitagawa almost treats the police station as his own home. He's come more than three times to record statements. He certainly knows about the taste of the coffee in the police station."
"…" Kamiya Mirai's small mouth moved but did not make a sound in the end.
She looked at Arano Ryoko helplessly and then at the silent Kitagawa Tera.
Treat the police station as his own home…
Kitagawa Tera is as brilliant as always…