(Open POV)
"In a corner of that small, dark room, Holmes and I waited with bated breath. In time, there came from the ventilator a hiss and a soft, almost growl-like sound. Suddenly, Holmes sprang into action, lashing furiously with his cane at a point in the darkness. 'You see it, Watson?' he yelled, his tense voice reverberating through the air. I raised my dark-lantern's shutter, and the room slowly came into view. Holmes was staring intently at one particular corner when he started whispering to me, 'The victim's most perplexing final words - 'the speckled band' - I believe this is the terrible coil to which she referred, Watson!' In front of us was an enormous adder, its fangs bared as it threatened to strike. It truly was the most terrible 'speckled band' I had ever seen." Watson said, as a voiceover.
(Jared's POV)
9th January, 6:37 a.m.
On Board the Steamship Burya…
"So then...let us unravel this mystery and discover what events led to this curious murder. Pray, do excuse me. The cabin door was bolted from the inside when the man was killed. No marks to suggest the bolt was tampered with in any way. So this would appear to be a locked room mystery. In his final moments, the victim scrawled a message on the floor. Hm, almost certainly with the ink from this upset bottle. A Russian word... So the victim was a Russian man, then. And the letters are well formed, suggesting he was compos mentis at the time. Hm, this is a most extraordinary script. And evidently...not penned by the same hand as this message. In fact, I deduce it was written by someone of a different nationality. This paper seal was placed just prior to the incident... by the victim himself, I would venture. Well... what have we here?" Holmes asked.
"Who are you and WHAT do you think you are doing here?!" Sailor 1 exclaimed.
"Da, da! No one must touch before maritime police come! We must wait!" Sailor 2 said, worried.
"Shh! That won't be necessary. You see...in less than five seconds from now, I will reveal the killer to you." Holmes said.
"D-Don't be absurd! This is murder! And in cabin locked from inside!" Sailor 1 said, scoffing.
"Ah yes, the locked room. But that mystery is paper thin."
"You, you don't mean...the culprit is in there?!" Susato exclaimed.
"Could be." I said, crossing my arms.
"Wh-Who are you and where have you come from?" Sailor 3 asked.
"I'm a Great British consulting detective. The only one in the world. Sherlock Holmes. I presume...you must have heard of me." Holmes said, opening the wardrobe door for Ryunosuke to fall out of it. "Jared, handcuffs."
"With pleasure." I said, taking out handcuffs on my sling bag and putting them on Ryunosuke's wrists. "Sorry, Ryunosuke."
"Where did you get the handcuffs from?" Susato asked, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Ugh, my head is throbbing. What's going on? Something's not right here. There's trouble in the air…'
"A friend of mine. River Song." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Wait... I, I can't move!'
"Agh! What the…" Ryunosuke said, and he thought this to himself. 'Why am I in handcuffs?!'
"Hmph. So, you wake up now, hm?" The sailor asked. "We had to drag you out of the wardrobe. I do not believe how you could not wake up. You are true cold-blooded man."
"You... Haah... You found me, then." Ryunosuke said, sadly.
"Da. We found you. And now you pay...kriminal! How long are you hiding in that tiny wardrobe, hm?" The sailor asked.
"Ugh... Sorry…"
"Now you have been found, it is time to admit your crimes. Unless you want to find out how cold the ocean is, hm?" The sailor asked.
"No no! I'll tell you everything!" Ryunosuke said, worried.
"There's only one thing I'd like to know from you." Susato said, frowning. "Jared didn't want to tell me at all."
"...!" Ryunosuke said, as he thought this to himself. 'Isn't that...?'
"Why did you do it? Why did you take his life?"
"M-Miss Susato! ... Wait, what did you just say? 'Take...his life'...?"
"..."
"Um... Where, where is he? Where's Kazuma?"
"..."
"Um…" I said, looking down at the floor.
"Hah! You pretend you do not know?! You are a wolf in the sheep's pelt! You are the killer! Do not try to make excuses!" The sailor said, angrily.
"Wha...?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Kazuma-sama was... Kazuma-sama's body was discovered not long ago. Here...in this very cabin. That was bolted shut from the inside." Susato said, frowning.
"His, his body...?"
"Please... ...do not try to tell us you were doing this terrible thing in your sleep!" The sailor yelled.
"Kazuma's dead...? But...he can't be... ... And these handcuffs... Surely you two don't think I...?" Ryunosuke asked.
"I have to know... Why did you take Kazuma-sama's life? Answer me! Please!" Susato cried.
"No...NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
"Kazuma... It was just two short weeks ago…" Ryunosuke said, as a voiceover.
Flashback…
"Are you sure about this? Won't we get in trouble?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Ha ha ha ha hah! Don't you find it fun being a stowaway? Besides, how else could you come to England with me to study?" Kazuma asked.
"It was really something else when they brought your luggage in here earlier, though. The way that Russian crewman just tossed your travelling case onto the floor... ...I thought I was going to die!" Ryunosuke said, terrified.
"Yes, I still can't quite believe that. I really didn't think you'd be able to fit inside my trunk. You must be even less of a man than you look!"
"Hey! Honestly, I thought I'd broken every bone in my body!"
"Well, it's about fifty days until we dock in Great Britain. But if you confine yourself to my cabin here, Jared and I don't expect anyone will discover you."
"Ugh, I hope not! I get the feeling those Russians wouldn't be very forgiving of a stowaway…"
"They're a sturdy bunch, that's for sure."
"The last time I was a stowaway on a ship, it almost fell down towards Buckingham Palace." I said, laughing a lot. "A friend of mine had to change the course of the ship so the whole of London doesn't get flooded with radiation."
"How can a ship crash into Buckingham Palace?" Kazuma asked. "Was it a ship from space?"
"Yeah." I said, still laughing. "It's a long story. Won't happen for a hundred and eight years though."
"What I want to know is, why do we need to keep it a secret from the young lady?" Ryunosuke asked.
"From our faithful Judicial Assistant Mikotoba, you mean?" Kazuma asked.
"From YOUR close friend, more to the point. Surely we could confide in her, couldn't we? I don't believe she'd give me away."
"No, but if she knew what we'd done, that would make her guilty by association. It's best that only the three of us know about this."
"Hm, I suppose so…"
"Anyway, it's about the time that the steward is supposed to come and clean the cabin. I know it's cramped, but you'd better get in there, I think. It won't be for long. And anyway, compared to hiding inside my travelling case, it'll be a breeze." Kazuma said, happily.
"Yes, but what if the steward decides to open the wardrobe for some reason? Then I'll be in for it." Ryunosuke said, sadly.
"Stop worrying. I tell you what. Why don't you write 'Keep out' or something on this piece of paper?"
"What?"
"Then I can stick it over the wardrobe doors once you're inside."
"I'll keep Susato distracted and make sure she doesn't find out." I said, smiling. "It's full proof."
"Exactly." Kazuma said, smugly. "That's why there's three of us keeping this a secret."
"I don't know…" Ryunosuke said, looking between Kazuma and I.
"It'll work out, I promise." I said, clutching the strap of my sling bag.
"We've only been at sea for about fifteen days. How can this have happened? We were supposed to be going on this adventure to England together!" Ryunosuke said, as a voiceover.
On Board the Steamship Burya…
"We leave you at next port. Stay quiet until then. Don't make more trouble for yourself... ...Murderer!" The sailor yelled.
"No! I'm not a murderer!" Ryunosuke cried.
"Da! You said before! You said you admit everything about your crimes!"
"No! That's not right! I mean, yes, I did stow away on this ship, but... Murdering my best friend?"
"No one else could have done it. Admit the truth!"
"Um...Susato-san...Jared…" Ryunosuke said, looking between Susato and I.
"..." Susato said, at a loss for words.
"Please...tell me what happened! I need to know!"
"... Very well. But there is something I would like to ask of you, too."
"What you're going to find out, Ryunosuke. It isn't pretty." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Ugh, those eyes... She looks like she's ready to destroy me... This nightmare is getting worse by the minute... I suppose all I can do is try to find out what really happened…'
"He, he really has been killed, hasn't he? This isn't just a bad dream?" Ryunosuke asked.
"..." Susato said.
"And these handcuffs... They think I did it? They think I'm Kazuma's killer?"
"When they found him, the cabin was locked from the inside."
"What do you mean?"
"There's no access to the cabin via a porthole window, and the bolt on the door can't be operated from the outside. In other words, after the...crime, the culprit couldn't have escaped these four walls."
"What?"
"Or to put it another way, the culprit can only have been somebody inside this cabin. ...Or do you have some other explanation?"
"..." Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself. 'This is impossible…' He then spoke aloud. "How did he die, then? What happened exactly?"
"Are you still going to deny the charge? Even despite the circumstances?" Susato asked.
"Please, Susato-san, Jared! You have to tell me!" Ryunosuke said, terrified.
"... The cause of death is...still undetermined." Susato said, letting out a sigh.
"Jared, do you know?"
"Yeah." I said, looking down at the floor. "But I can't say what it is in fear of changing the timeline. I was too busy chatting with some friends in the future."
"So you were busy talking with your friends." Ryunosuke said, as he thought this to himself. 'They don't know how he died?'
"The ship's doctor is examining the body, but of course, he has no post-mortem analysis experience. I don't suppose we shall learn more until an expert has been consulted at our next port of call." Susato said.
"So presumably that means...there were no obvious external signs of injury, then?" Ryunosuke asked.
"That's true, yes."
"Can't anyone tell me what exactly happened here in this cabin?! I don't understand it! Why would anyone want to kill Kazuma?"
"Presumably, that's something you know the answer to better than anyone." Susato said, sadly.
"Please…"
"Whatever you say, you were here in the cabin, after all."
"You were here in the cabin locked away in the wardrobe." I said, rolling my eyes.
"Well, yes, I was, but…" Ryunosuke said, looking between Susato and I.
"... Kazuma-sama would always wake before dawn and do his training first thing in the morning. I was waiting outside his cabin talking with Jared, as I have every day so far on this voyage. And at night, Jared would go inside his cabin to talk with his friends through his mobile telephone. But this morning, Kazuma-sama did not come. I could sense that he wouldn't." Susato said.
"I was chatting with Neptune, Noire, Blanc, and Vert to distract myself." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Does that mean...he was already dead when Susato-san and Jared arrived at his cabin door, I wonder.'
"I knocked, but there was no reply. Then I started to become worried, so I went to find a member of the crew. Jared used his screwdriver to force the cabin door open, and when we managed to get inside... ...there was Kazuma-sama, collapsed on the floor... ..." Susato said.
'And the white tape there now shows exactly where he was found, I suppose…' Ryunosuke said, thinking this to himself, before talking aloud. "I had no idea anything had happened. I, I must have been asleep in the wardrobe somehow…"
"I wish it wasn't the case, but...that's just very hard to believe."
"Ryunosuke, time is changing by my influence. It could have gone a lot worse if I interfered too much to try and change things." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'This is all very hard to believe for me, too. Trust me!'
"Now we've told you everything that we know. So it's my turn to ask you a question." Susato said, looking at Kazuma.
"Yes, alright." Ryunosuke said, and he thought this to himself. 'Ugh, my head feels so heavy. It's still throbbing like anything.'
"Why are you even on board this ship, Naruhodo-san? You said something before about being a stowaway, didn't you?" Susato asked.
"Oh...yes... I'm afraid that's true. It's two weeks since we left Japan now. And I've been shut up in this cabin the entire time."
"I had no idea. But how could you have occupied Kazuma-sama's cabin for so long without him noticing?"
"No no no! That would have been impossible, obviously!"
"... Yes, of course." Susato said, sadly.
"...Kazuma invited us. He wanted us to go to England together."
"He actually asked you? And he asked Jared? But...why?"
"I'm afraid...I don't really know the reason myself." Ryunosuke said, frowning.
"Jared, do you know why?" Susato asked, looking at me.
"Yeah." I said, looking down at the floor.
"Can you tell us why?"
"Nope."
"I don't understand…"
"Kazuma, why do you want this? What's the real reason? Why go to such extreme lengths to smuggle me to England with you?" Ryunosuke asked.
Flashback…
"... It's an idea that's been on my mind ever since the end of that incredible trial. I think I told you then, didn't I? That you ought to become a lawyer yourself." Kazuma said, happily.
"Well, yes, you did say that. But I didn't think you were serious." Ryunosuke said.
"You have a talent for it. I can assure you of that."
"But I've never really thought about becoming a lawyer."
"Well, that's something you can decide for yourself. London is at the spearhead of cultural development. The centre of the world, in many ways. There can't be any harm in seeing such an important place with your own eyes, can there?"
"Kazuma's not wrong." I said, tossing a chocolate chip cookie into my mouth. "It won't become New York City for twenty years. And London will hold the title of the center of the world until then. Like, I've been to London in the future a lot on top of Victorian London."
"Well, no, definitely not." Ryunosuke said, chuckling.
"But on a personal level... ...if you were to become a lawyer, then... ..." Kazuma said.
"Then what?"
"Nothing. Forget it." Kazuma said.
"...?" Ryunosuke asked. "Jared, do you know?"
"Spoilers." I said, clutching the strap of my sling bag. "I can't tell you why. It's too early."
On Board the Steamship Burya…
"... Kazuma-sama is- He was always saying the same thing. That he wanted to change the Japanese legal system. Perhaps he thought he could do that with you and Jared." Susato said.
"Yes, maybe." Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself. 'But something's still bothering me a little. The look in his eyes then... It was darker than I've ever seen it before.' He then spoke aloud. "Um, Susato-san... I'm sorry that we kept it a secret from you. My stowing away on this ship, I mean."
"If I know Kazuma-sama... ...I expect he was trying to protect me. To avoid me becoming guilty by association." Susato said.
"That's, that's exactly right, yes."
"You nailed it, Susato." I said, munching on a chocolate chip cookie. "Word for word."
"If you're not the culprit, then tell me... What happened last night here in this cabin?" Susato asked, looking at Ryunosuke.
"... Well, the thing is... ...I don't really remember." Ryunosuke said.
"..."
"Kazuma and Jared here brought me something to eat, just like they always did. And then I got myself into that wardrobe over there, just like I always did. After that, I…"
"You fell asleep." I said, walking towards Ryunosuke.
"Erm... Well, yes." Ryunosuke said.
"So deeply that you didn't even stir when Kazuma-sama was killed?" Susato asked.
"Erm... Well...yes."
"..."
"I know it sounds unbelievable. Really, I do. But it's the truth! If only I'd woken up, then perhaps I wouldn't be in this predicament. And for some reason...my head's still throbbing like anything."
"Really? ..."
"Erm, is something wrong?"
"Oh, um... No, it's... Please, forget it."
"Susato-san! Jared! You have to believe me! I didn't do it!"
"I, I really don't want to doubt you. But the trouble is...there is no one else who could possibly have done this."
"There really isn't." I said, looking down at the floor. "This is a locked room mystery after all."
"Ugh…" Ryunosuke said, and he thought this to himself. 'Kazuma... I don't understand. Why...? Why did this have to happen?!' He spoke aloud. "Argh!" Before thinking to himself again. 'I can't take this!'
"Don't try to go anywhere! You're the perpetrator of this crime. You can't leave, I can't allow that to happen." Susato said, looking at Ryunosuke.
"...I'm sorry. But Kazuma was killed right under my nose here. And...I didn't do anything to stop it! And now I'm supposed to just sit around, my hands tied, while whoever did this walks free? No! I can't allow that to happen!" Ryunosuke yelled.
"Well, what do you propose to do, then?"
"I'm going to investigate. I'm going to find out exactly what happened here! I'm going to work out who took Kazuma's life, and how and why they did it! So I'm sorry...but you're going to have to excuse me!"
"Haiiiiiii-YA!" Susato said, doing the Susato Takedown.
"What the…"
"That was a Susato Takedown." Susato said, smirking.
"A Su-Susato what?" Ryunosuke asked, while he thought this to himself. 'What martial art form is that?'
"Basically, it's what Susato does to defend herself." I said, happily. "Makes her look cool."
"I'm going to need you to prove it." Susato said, looking at Ryunosuke.
"Sorry? Prove 'it'?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Yes, Your innocence. I need evidence."
"But, but how am I supposed to...?"
"Have you forgotten already? What you achieved just a few weeks ago. You successfully defended yourself in a court of law."
"Ah…" Ryunosuke said, as he thought this to himself. 'I see... She's expecting me to present some conclusive evidence.'
"..."
"Let's hope you have some evidence." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'I have to get Susato-san to believe me! I'll show her some evidence right now that proves I'm not guilty of this awful crime!'
"Maybe whatever was on the outside of the wardrobe."
"Yes." Ryunosuke said, presenting the Paper Seal. "Tell me, when I was discovered in the wardrobe before... ...was this piece of paper stuck over the doors?"
"Oh, yes, it was. I remember clearly." Susato said, her eyes widening.
"I thought so. Kazuma and Jared always put it in place whenever I went to sleep in there. Just in case the cabin steward or another crew member decided to look inside. So naturally, they did the same last night as well."
"Ah! Yes, of course! The gentleman who discovered you peeled that sign from the wardrobe doors...before he opened them."
"But if I were truly the culprit... ...I couldn't have climbed back inside the wardrobe and stuck this on the outside of the doors on my own."
"Yes... That's quite true."
"In other words... ...it's impossible that I killed Kazuma!" Ryunosuke cheered.
"..." Susato said, while Ryunosuke is lying down on the floor. "... Well... Even if you are sprawled hopelessly on the floor... ...I can see why Kazuma-sama thought so highly of you."
"Thank you...Susato-san. Now, do you think perhaps you could help me up?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Well, in the light of that evidence... ...I don't see any reason why I should stop you from investigating in here at least."
"Why not look at the evidence?" I asked, examining the paper seal, picking it up, and looking at the front of the seal. "That's a good place to start."
"You drew the characters for this paper seal, didn't you, Naruhodo-san? They're such bold, vivid strokes you made!" Susato said, excitedly.
"You're looking at a man who came aboard inside a trunk. Those brushstrokes needed to make a statement. If they'd found me in that wardrobe, those Russians would have hurled me into the freezing cold ocean." Ryunosuke said.
"...I'm sure none of the crewmen would have done anything like that."
"Hm... Well, I'm not so sure."
"They would have forced you to wash dishes in the galley until you were on death's door or something like that."
"Wash dishes until I was on death's door? That's a lot of dishes."
"There's glue." I said, looking at the back of the seal where there's glue on the backside.
"Ah, these must be remnants of the glue you used to stick the paper seal on the wardrobe." Susato said.
"Ryunosuke, you did have some rice last night. Which you did pulverize."
"That's right. It was pulverised rice." Ryunosuke said.
"...Pulverised rice?" Susato asked.
"Yes. I pulverised some of the rice from my evening meal...even though it broke my heart."
"Broke your heart?! What do you mean?"
"Remember, I'm a stowaway on this ship. All I had to eat were Kazuma's and Jared's leftovers. Even a couple of grains of rice could have meant the difference between life and death!" Ryunosuke said, worried.
"Oh my... It must have been awful for you, Naruhodo-san. But I have some glue with me, as it happens. You're welcome to use it this evening." Susato said.
"Oh! Thank you very much!" Ryunosuke said, excitedly. "Thank you! So you finally believe me?"
"I'm sorry... No."
"What?"
"I'm not sure yet. I can't rule out the possibility that you used some sort of conjuring trick to put the sign back in position."
"I didn't use my ghost powers." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'What does she think I am, a magician?'
"For now, I suggest you investigate as thoroughly as possible in here. Jared and I will do the same." Susato said.
"Alright! Let's get to work, Susato-san, Jared!" Ryunosuke said, excitedly.
"Please don't misunderstand me. I still have my doubts."
"Oh."
"I shall be watching you, to make sure you do nothing that might disturb the crime scene. I wouldn't want you using your conjuring tricks to destroy evidence, for example."
"R-Right…" Ryunosuke said, and he thought this to himself. 'Well anyway, I should make a start on investigating in here. Examine everything I can. Kazuma, I swear... I will avenge your death!'
"There's a sailor over there." I said, looking at the sailor in the corner.
'Perhaps I should see what this Russian crewman makes of the scene of the crime.' Ryunosuke said, thinking to himself, before speaking aloud. "Um, excuse me…"
"What?" The sailor asked.
"I, I was wondering how it's going. The investigation, I mean."
"... Grandmother told me Japanese people do not make jokes, but is not true, I see."
"Sorry?"
"The kriminal asking investigator for information about his crime? Very funny." The Sailor said, scoffing.
"Oh... It wasn't supposed to be a joke." Ryunosuke said, frowning.
"He doesn't appear to be laughing, either. He's convinced you're guilty." Susato said.
"You have to keep trying, Ryunosuke." I said, happily. "He might have some useful information."
"Fair point. So, last night... Did you notice anything out of the ordinary at all?" Ryunosuke asked.
"... Nyet! Of course not! Now back to corner of room and make silent! ...I say no more to you." The sailor said.
'Hm, did I hit a nerve? Just for a moment there, he seemed a little flustered.'
"There's writing on the floor." I said, looking down at the floor to see writing there.
"Did, did Kazuma write that before he died? It looks like it's written in ink." Ryunosuke said.
"He must have knocked the ink pot from the desk when he collapsed on the floor. Then I suppose he wrote this message by dipping his finger in the spillage. Poor Kazuma-sama... No doubt he was in terrible pain... It's almost unbearable to imagine it." Susato said.
'I suppose he was trying to leave some kind of a clue in his final moments, was he?' Ryunosuke said, thinking that to himself, before speaking aloud. "I'm sorry, partner... But I can't read your writing."
"I don't think that's Japanese, Naruhodo-san."
"What?! Then, then what language is it?" Ryunosuke asked.
"It pains me to admit it, but...I don't know."
"Don't know." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'It's not a foreign script I'm familiar with. What does it mean, I wonder?'
"I mean, I do know, but I don't want to spoil it." I said, as I walked over to the desk. "The desk."
"This is where dear Kazuma-sama would have sat whenever he was writing." Susato said.
"'London Diary'..." Ryunosuke said, and he thought this to himself. 'Poor Kazuma. He didn't even make it to his destination…'
"It looks as though the last entry is incomplete." Susato said, flipping to a page of the diary.
'Which means...what? He was in the middle of writing it when the incident happened?' Ryunosuke asked, thinking that to himself, before speaking aloud. "Let's see what it says. It could be a valuable clue!"
"Haiiiiiii-YA!" Susato yelled, doing her Susato Takedown to toss Ryunosuke down to the floor. "That's out of the question!"
"Wha...?"
"Kazuma-sama may have departed this world... but you must NOT read his private thoughts!"
"But, but what if it's something important? Something relevant to the case?"
"..." Susato said, looking at Ryunosuke.
"Alright, alright. I won't read it." Ryunosuke said, sadly.
"Poor Kazuma-sama…"
"I'm sorry, Kazuma." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'I don't like prying into people's personal matters, either. But in this case, isn't the need for clues more important?'
"..." Susato said, looking over at the vent. "I think that's some kind of opening for a ventilator. A hole through which fresh air can circulate into the cabin."
"Isn't that a little odd?" Ryunosuke asked.
"What do you mean?" Susato asked.
"Well, this ventilator, if that's what it is... ...looks like it must connect to the next-door cabin."
"Yes, it would appear to. You're right." Susato said, her eyes widening.
"But if its purpose is to allow fresh air into the room, surely it should be connected to the outside."
"Hm, that's true... Perhaps it's so that rain and spray don't find their way in when the seas are rough. Or something like that?"
"I suppose... Maybe that's it."
"Air conditioning won't be invented for two years." I said, sadly. "God, it feels ages away."
"Oh dear, that won't do." Susato said, frowning.
"Oh! What's the matter, Susato-san?" Ryunosuke asked.
"I don't suppose you're as foolish as me in that regard, are you, Naruhodo-san? I'm sure you're careful to look all around using [D-pad / B M], aren't you? Now, let's investigate all corners of this cabin!"
"Yes! Let's do that!" Ryunosuke said, as he thought this to himself. 'I suppose my field of vision has been rather small until now…'
"There's just one thing, Susato-san, Jared…" Ryunosuke said, looking between Susato and I.
"Yes?" Susato asked.
"What's up?" I asked, crossing my arms.
"Before we get on with investigating the cabin, could I ask the both of you again abo…" Ryunosuke said.
"Haiiiiiii-YA!" Susato yelled, doing her Susato Takedown on Ryunosuke. "I'm sorry. But we've already told you everything we know. We must do our best to find clues now. There's no time to lose!"
"Yes, alright. Could one of you just help me up first, please?" Ryunosuke asked, before thinking this to himself. 'Who's that? He wasn't there a minute ago... As far as I can tell, it looks like he might be European…'
"Oh! How did he...?" Susato asked.
"I didn't give him my sonic screwdriver." I said, looking at Sherlock Holmes. "Wow."
"You both have noticed the man, too, have you? I've no idea who he is, or how he got in here. But he looks suspicious. And tall. Suspiciously tall!" Ryunosuke said, at a loss for words.
"...! Naruhodo-san, don't tell me... Do you really not know who that is?" Susato asked.
"Um, well...no. I don't have any foreign friends or acquaintances at all." Ryunosuke said, and he thought this to himself. 'He doesn't look like a member of the crew. There's something very...unusual about him. And is he investigating Kazuma's desk, or is he just playing on it? I can't tell.'
"Well! In that case...we simply must talk with him!" Susato cheered.
"Yeah! I haven't seen him in years." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Am I imagining it, or does Susato-san and Jared look almost uncontrollably excited?'
"By the way, I expect that you've noticed already, but just in case... If you press [A / Space] on people when they're in the cross hairs, you can converse with them." Susato said, happily.
"Alright then, I'll get that suspiciously tall gentleman in my sights and see what he has to say for himself!" Ryunosuke yelled.
"Oh, please do!" Susato cooed.
"Go up to him, Ryunosuke!" I chirped, grabbing Susato's hand.
"Um...excuse me." Ryunosuke said, walking up to the man on the desk.
"..." Holmes said.
"Excuse me! Do you have a moment?"
"Shh! This is a critical point in my investigation. ..."
"Maybe I should leave him alone. He seems a little unfriendly."
"Yes, perhaps that would be for the best." Susato said, frowning.
"Greetings! I hope I haven't kept you long?" Holmes asked, jumping off of Kazuma's desk.
"Agh!"
"Um, what exactly were you doing on Kazuma's desk just now?" Ryunosuke asked.
"... ...Ah, I see. Fascinating." Holmes said.
"Uh...sorry? What do you see?" Ryunosuke asked, as he thought this to himself. 'It feels like he's looking right through me!'
"Well, that's Sherlock for you." I said, laughing a lot.
"Oh yes. Everything is clear now. The train of reasoning has run its course. My deductions have crystalised. You... ...have been in Afghanistan, I perceive. Just recently returned, if I'm not mistaken." Holmes said.
"Sorry? ...WHAT?!" Ryunosuke exclaimed.
"And now, whilst venturing toward foreign climes, you find yourself in a most troubling predicament."
"Oh!" Ryunosuke said, and he thought this to himself. 'Well, that's true at least.'
"But, but how...?" Susato asked.
"'How the deuce did I know that?' perhaps? It was really a most elementary deduction. Hardly worth explaining." Holmes said.
"Have you perhaps...managed to deduce anything else?"
"But of course. A great many things. There is no mystery, my dear madam. For example... ...you have fled your native land of Russia, being, as you are, a merciless revolutionary!"
"...!" Ryunosuke said, at a loss for words.
"You leave sixteen victims of assassination in your wake, and now travel to England to blow up the Crystal Tower!" Holmes yelled.
"...!!"
"And! When the beribboned occupant of this very cabin discovered your identity, you ended his life, too! Yes...I believe that summarises the facts beautifully. No need to hide the truth now. Nothing deceives these eyes."
"... Erm, just to be clear... You are talking about me, are you?"
"Certainly I am. Do you see another in this cabin who fits the bill? A Russian assassin with sixteen victims to his name?"
"Only if that person is a woman named Natasha Romanoff. She won't be born for 84 years though." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'I don't even see ONE person who fits the bill!'
"... So it's true. It was you who did this to Kazuma-sama." Susato said, looking at Ryunosuke.
"What?" Ryunosuke asked.
"And, and you're plotting a revolution, too... It's shameful behavior, Naruhodo-san. Absolutely wicked!"
"No...listen, there's no way I…"
"Haiiiiiii-YA!" Susato said, doing a Susato Takedown on Ryunosuke. "Now explain yourself! Tell us everything!"
"Yeah, tell us." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'This is ridiculous!'
"Naruhodo-san? How could you do it?" Susato asked.
"For pity's sake, open your eyes! I'm not a Russian revolutionary! Obviously!" Ryunosuke cried.
"Oh... Forgive me…"
"And as for you! What kind of deduction was that?! You were just saying the first thing that came into your head!" Ryunosuke said, looking at Holmes.
"Ah, but was I not right? Whilst venturing toward foreign climes, you do find yourself in a most troubling predicament...do you not?" Holmes asked.
"Well, yes, maybe."
"Hah! There you have it, you see! What do you make of that? Hm?"
"Well, to be honest... ...this ship is en route to England, and I'm in handcuffs at the scene of a murder. So...I'm not really sure you could call it 'deduction'. It's more plain 'observation'." Ryunosuke said, letting out a sigh.
"Indeed! And observation, my dear boy, is the basis of all deduction. My method is founded upon the observation of trifles, you see. I announce my findings with a brassy certitude... ...and more often than not, I'm right!"
"Haah... I don't think you introduced yourself."
"Ah, my apologies. How remiss of me. I am none other than the greatest detective of the century, known to men and women the world over." Holmes said, smirking. "The inimitable Sherlock Holmes!"
"So...it's really you? The actual Sherlock Holmes!" Susato said, excitedly.
"The very same! The inimitable ACTUAL Sherlock Holmes!"
"Sherlock, I haven't talked to you in ages!" I said, running up to Sherlock for a hug. "Even if it's a version of you in the future!"
"It is nice to see you again, Jared."
"Do you know this man, Susato-san, Jared?" Ryunosuke asked, looking between Susato and I.
"The most famous detective in the world? Naruhodo-san! Of course I do! There's nobody who hasn't heard of him!" Susato said, pulling me away from Holmes.
"His stories do live on in the future." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'What planet have I been living on then...?'
"We must ask him what he's deduced! He will have worked out the entire case already, I'm sure!" Susato said, excitedly.
"He normally does." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Really? Why do I feel uneasy about this...?'
"So...you're a 'great detective', are you? Sorry, what was your name again?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Indeed, I am none other than the one and only...Sherlock Holmes!" Holmes yelled.
"Oh, I see. You're...German? 'Herr Lock', was it?"
"No no, I have no 'herr'. I mean, I have HAIR... Please, call me Holmes. You can read all about my exploits in this exciting London publication!" Holmes said, while I took out the Strand Magazine out of my sling bag. "The one Jared has in his hand."
"Oh yes, Strand Magazine! Full of wonderful short stories and interest articles from Great Britain! I never miss an issue! I have it sent from England especially!" Susato chirped.
"I read the Strand while I was in Trenzalore for 900 years." I said, holding my copy of 'A Study in Scarlet'. "They worked wonders since that planet didn't have any internet.'
"Ah, yes, here it is... 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'... So...you're the protagonist in a series of short stories, then?" Ryunosuke asked, grabbing my copy of the Strand to look at the cover.
"Indeed I am." Holmes said, happily.
"Sherlock is a real detective, Ryunosuke. I've known him for years." I said, grabbing my copy of the Strand back from Ryunosuke, with the lawyer thinking this to himself. 'And you've read so many of your own stories, you've started to think you really ARE a detective...?'
"Make no mistake! I'm not the poor, deluded fellow you take me for. Your inference...is backward." Holmes said, looking at Ryunosuke.
"Backward?" Ryunosuke asked.
"My trusty biographer records my greatest detecting achievements and chronicles them in the magazine."
"You have a biographer...do you?"
"Doesn't everyone? Mine goes by the name of Dr Watson, presently keeping shop in London."
"Dr Watson is a friend of ours." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Doctor...Watson...?'
"I must say, thanks to that publication, I've been fantastically busy of late. Why, this very moment, I am returning from Asia, having solved the mystery of a cursed royal crown!" Holmes said, angrily.
"The Crown Diamond?" I asked, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Really? I can't work out whether I should take this man seriously or not.'
"Deduction, you see, is to me a science. Logical reasoning in its purest form." Holmes said, smiling.
"A science...?" Susato asked.
"Really...?" Ryunosuke asked.
"The astute observer notices even the most subtle of reactions in his subject. A furtive glance, a twitch of a muscle...a slight inclination of the posture... Fingernails, arm sleeves, furrows in the skin... All these things are data!" Holmes cheered.
"Riiight…"
"And the trained logician makes deductions from this data in the blink of an eye. The ultimate conclusion is, without fail...the truth! ...As I demonstrated only a few short moments ago."
"Sherlock…" I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'How can he look me in the eye and claim that...?'
"So you see...I have a turn both for observation and for deduction...and fame! THAT is what makes me the one and only Herr— No, Sherlock Holmes!" Holmes said, excitedly.
"Have you managed to deduce anything about this particular case yet?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Have I managed to deduce anything? My dear fellow! Who do you suppose discovered the culprit in his most cunning hiding place? ...That's right! It was none other than the great detective before you now! Mr Sherlock Holmes!"
"Ah, I see." Ryunosuke said, as he thought this to himself. 'In other words... ...I'm in these now because of him.'
"When I became anxious about Kazuma-sama this morning... ...I summoned all of the crew members to force the cabin door open." Susato said.
"And I concealed myself among their number, gaining entry to the scene of the crime. Yes! Luckily for everyone, the great detective, Sherlock Holmes, was on board! ...And the handcuffs seem to be an excellent fit, Mr Naruhodo." Holmes said.
"Yup. Sherlock is pretty amazing, Susato." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Argh!'
"The very moment I laid eyes on the scene, two facts were immediately apparent to me."
"Oh really? Two facts, you say?" Ryunosuke asked. "Mr Holmes, tell us, please! What two facts were apparent to you when you came into this cabin this morning?"
"Ah, yes... But first, let us be precise. The two facts in question were immediately apparent to me." Holmes said.
"Yes, yes, I understand. But what were they?"
"Allow me to elucidate... The two facts that I deduced from a mere momentary glance at the scene of the crime were as follows: Number one: The cabin was locked from within, rendering escape of the culprit out of the question. Number two: The victim was Russian and killed following a dispute with an acquaintance."
"Hold on, Mr Holmes! What made you think the victim was Russian?"
"Observe the dying message left by the victim on the floor. 'ГАРДЕРОБ'... That is the Russian word for 'wardrobe'." Holmes said, looking down at the floor.
"Do, do you really think Kazuma-sama could have left a dying message in Russian?" Susato asked.
"In their final moments, many find their native tongue filling their head. For this young man, Russian." Holmes said.
"Russian?" I asked, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Kazuma...was Russian, was he...?'
"Initially, I considered 'Garderob' may be the name of the killer. A certain 'Robert Garde' perhaps... But in the interests of thoroughness, I decided it would be wrong not to look inside the wardrobe there at least."
"Where you found Mr Naruhodo sleeping soundly…" Susato said, her eyes widening.
"Soundly like a baby." I said, clutching the strap of my sling bag.
"Quite so! I found you! The renowned Russian revolutionary killer!" Holmes said, looking at Ryunosuke.
"Two Russians right in front of us." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Why is that I'M Russian too?'
"I observed that you were wearing the same attire as the victim. In other words, you were acquainted. And if my memory serves, that outfit is the traditional dress of the Russian people." Holmes said.
"Our school uniforms are the traditional dress of the Russian people? I, I had no idea!" Susato chirped.
"...And I had no idea a detective could get something so wrong…" Ryunosuke said, sadly.
"I took a photograph of the victim and the message, that I might analyse it for possible hidden details." Holmes said.
"This…"
"This was taken immediately after the young man was discovered, before the body was removed."
I looked down at the photograph of Kazuma and I still feel bad for him.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Yes, Kazuma had already been taken away when I woke up. This is the first time I've actually seen him like this…'
"Are you alright, Mr Naruhodo, Jared?" Susato asked.
"Oh, um... Yes...thank you." Ryunosuke said, sadly.
The photograph of the crime scene has been entered into the Court Record.
"Can I ask you something, Mr Holmes?" Ryunosuke asked.
"What, pray?" Holmes asked.
"You mentioned Russia before as well, didn't you? You know, when you said I was a fearsome revolutionary fleeing from Russia and all that."
"Ah yes, the train of reasoning that led me to the truth."
"Would you mind explaining that train of reasoning to me, do you think?"
"КОНЕЧНО! Certainly, if it interests you."
"God, it's hilarious seeing this side of Sherlock for his deductions." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'How many times - I'm not Russian, and I don't speak Russian…'
"Erm, can we talk about your deduction before? The things you concluded about me, I mean." Ryunosuke said, looking at Holmes.
"Ah, the now famously accurate 'troubling predicament' you find yourself in?" Holmes asked.
"Actually, it was the other details that I was more hoping to discuss. You know, the 'merciless Russian revolutionary and assassin of sixteen' part?"
"Ah yes, the more sordid details. It was a fairly commonplace deduction." Holmes said, taking a newspaper out of his jacket pocket. "Here we have this morning's paper. The main headline reads: 'Revolutionary Vilen Borshevik Flees Russia via Shanghai'. This vessel made a port call at Shanghai yesterday. And last night, the young Russian was murdered."
"Oh." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Since when was Kazuma a Russian?'
"It sounds like Mr Holmes has concluded he was Russian because of what Kazuma-sama wrote on the floor." Susato said.
"Yeah. It does look like that."
"It was a simple act of reasoning to realise that the culprit of this crime was the same merciless revolutionary. One who would kill the very man who helped him to escape after his true identity was discovered! Yes, you...Vilen Borshevik!" Holmes said, looking at Ryunosuke.
"No no no! How could it be me? I don't look anything like this man! Just look at his face!" Ryunosuke cried.
"Well...you are a fearsome revolutionary, after all. Therefore...you have no doubt learnt to revolutionise your appearance as well!"
"Ugh, please…"
"And, I might add, your name does not appear on the ship's passenger list. Need I say more?"
"Stowaway." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Well, that's because I'm a stowaway…'
"What about the other details? The sixteen victims of assassination and blowing up the Crystal Tower?" Susato asked.
"Ah yes. The journalist clearly interviewed the man and printed all those particulars in the article. The deeds the man has perpetrated thus far, and those he is plotting. Yes, everything about this revolutionary Borshevik was included. There can be no mistake." Holmes said.
"Do, do revolutionaries usually agree to interviews with newspaper reporters, I wonder…"
"They agree to be defended by defense attorneys." I said, happily.
"They do?" Susato asked.
"Yeah."
"And what about the part where you said I was just returning from Afghanistan?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Also quite clearly stated here in the article. Borshevik is recently returned after a period of subversive activities in a war-torn region of Afghanistan." Holmes said.
"Afghanistan or Iraq." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. '...Where even is it, anyway? This 'Afghanistan' place…'
"Afghanistan is next to India." I said, smiling.
"I see."
"Here, take the paper for yourself. As a little memento of this great deduction." Holmes said, happily.
"Oh...um, thank you." Ryunosuke said, looking down at the newspaper.
"I've absorbed all that is of interest to me within its pages. But I see no rubbish bin nearby."
The article about the revolutionary has been entered into the Court Record.
"And...you may find the article on the back page of interest as well." Holmes said.
"On the back?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Cast your eye over it sometime if the interest takes you. Though you may need someone to interpret."
"Itt's all in Russian." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'It's all written in Russian. I couldn't hope to read it... But I suppose it wouldn't hurt just to glance at the article. Maybe there might be a picture or two…'
"Before we started talking, you were examining Kazuma's desk, weren't you?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Kazuma? ...Ah yes, the victim." Holmes said.
"Did you notice anything useful? Anything at all?" Susato asked.
"Observe, for a moment, the desktop of the victim... We see that the victim was engaged in penning some text." Holmes said, looking at Kazuma's diary.
"'London Diary'... Kazuma was keeping notes of the trip. Ah, but... ...I don't think you should read his private writings. It could upset people." Ryunosuke said.
"Tragic! And something you ought to perhaps elucidate BEFORE the act of reading."
"You, you mean you've read it already?"
"It is my business to know what other people do not. Yes, believe it or not, I know a smattering of Japanese."
"Oh, I see…" Ryunosuke said, as he thought this to himself. 'Well, you're about to know what a Susato Takedown is!'
"..." Susato said, at a loss for words.
"Susato-san? Aren't you going to throw the detective with one of your trademark takedowns? And Jared, aren't you going to shock the detective to death?" Ryunosuke asked, looking between Susato and I.
"I'm sorry, Naruhodo-san. What on earth do you mean?" Susato asked.
"Whatcha talkin' about?" I asked, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Life is so unfair…'
"Anyway, to return to the matter at hand. Namely, this diary belonging to the victim... It would appear the final sentence is incomplete. As if the author were cut short. Tell me, what is the nature of the writing? Pray be precise as to details." Holmes said, flipping through Kazuma's diary.
"Oh, but...I thought you knew Japanese?" Ryunosuke asked.
"A smattering, dear boy, a smattering! 'Sayonara', 'bonsai', 'mikado', 'nado-nado'... I trust you're suitably impressed!"
"Haah…"
"But this diary is littered with complicated-looking characters, of which I can read precisely none. Ah ha ha ha hah!"
"Japanese." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'So what was all that showing off about before, then?'
"If you would be so kind as to show me, I would be happy to read it to you, Mr Holmes." Susato said, happily.
"I'm much obliged, my dear madam." Holmes said, smiling.
"The final entry here in Kazuma-sama's diary consists of just two short sentences. The first reads: '1:23 a.m. - I can hear a faint whistling sound.'" Susato said, reading Kazuma's diary.
"A whistling sound?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Hm, these are very deep waters... Pray, go on…" Holmes said.
"The second sentence reads: '1:35 a.m. - What looks like some sort of speckled band is dangling from the ventilator grille.'" Susato said.
"A speckled band? What on earth does that mean?" Ryunosuke asked.
"I have no idea. I've never heard that expression before."
"Right. It's not 'The Speckled Blonde'. I'm not in the early 21st century." I said, looking down at the floor. "It's 'The Adventure of the Speckled Band' here."
"Hm, the ventilator grille, you say? The man was presumably referring... ...to the lattice there on the wall, which connects to the adjoining cabin." Holmes said, looking at the air vent.
"'The Speckled Blonde' was a more funny experience. Sherlock wanted to spend the night in the victim's bedroom. A girl's bedroom. Where there was bubble bath water involved." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Yes, the adjoining cabin…'
Kazuma's diary has been entered into the Court Record.
"So...I believe I've given you enough to consider for the time being at least." Holmes said.
"Ah, do you have somewhere to go?" Susato asked.
"As it happens, the victim's writings in his diary have piqued my interest. The matter warrants further investigation, I believe. ...And if I am still too long, the seasickness takes hold."
"Oh, I suppose... ...you're thinking of investigating the cabin next door, which the ventilator connects to?"
"Great detectives are a curious breed. Our minds rebel at stagnation. We crave mental exaltation. So yes, I intend to investigate. Hence the truth will become clear soon enough."
"Do you think perhaps...! That we could go with you?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Hm...no, that would be somewhat complicated." Holmes said.
"What? But why?"
"A simple glance at your wrists should reveal the answer."
"That being the handcuffs." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Oh...these…'
"After all, you're the prime suspect in this matter...no?"
"There's no point trying to turn it into a question. You're the one who decided I was the culprit in the first place." Ryunosuke said, scoffing.
"...Whatever do you mean? I have no recollection of naming you as the culprit at any point." Holmes said.
"... You must be joking! You, you just said it! Only a moment ago!"
"Dear me, you are clearly misguided. I would have no cause to say such a thing."
"Well actually, Mr Holmes... I did hear you say that, too." Susato said, sadly. "Jared, was Mr Holmes like this in your time? Him naming people like they're the culprit."
"Sherlock? Not really." I said, clutching the strap of my sling bag. "He was a bit of an ass. But he was never like that."
"You're quite sure? ...Well, that's very strange. I wouldn't have said you had the face of a criminal, you know? ...Not...really." Holmes said, looking at Ryunosuke.
"God. Who knew Victorian Sherlock would be like this." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'So what, were you looking at my knees before? Some great detective you are…'
"Well anyway. That was then and this is now." Holmes said, smirking.
"What do you mean?" Ryunosuke asked.
"What I mean, sir, is this: If you are the culprit, then you must play the part more convincingly! Roll over and accept your fate! Ah ha ha ha ha hah!" Holmes said, laughing a lot.
"Sherlock…" I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Now he's just being plain rude. And off he goes, having just laughed in my face... His sense of humour's as twisted as his name…'
"Naruhodo-san! Jared-san! What are you just standing there for?" Susato asked, looking between Ryunosuke and I.
"Hm?" Ryunosuke asked.
"What is it?" I asked, looking down at the floor.
"We must go and investigate the cabin next door as well!" Susato said, excitedly.
"Aren't you forgetting something? What about these? There's no way I can…" Ryunosuke said, sadly.
"Haiiiiiii-YA!" Susato said, doing the Susato Takedown on Ryunosuke. "After Kazuma-sama spent his dying moments struggling to leave us a clue, you're willing to give up?! You're just going to roll over and accept your fate?!"
"Ugh…" Ryunosuke said, and he thought this to himself. 'As if you gave me any choice in the rolling over part…' He then spoke aloud. "I think we still have some investigation to finish off in here first, don't we? Let's carry on examining what we can in this cabin while we wait for a chance to slip next door."
"Good idea!"
"It is a good idea." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'The situation doesn't look good for me, but there are still things I can do to help myself. And I owe it to Kazuma to do everything I can to find a way out of this...and bring the real culprit to justice!'
"Let's hope my memory for these cases is still good." I said, looking between Ryunosuke and Susato.
"Thanks to that so-called detective, I'm even more stuck inside this cabin than I was before. For the time being, I suppose I'll just have to focus my efforts on investigating in here." Ryunosuke said, annoyed.
"When I went for help and the crewmen forced the door open... ...this bolt had been firmly closed." Susato said, walking up to the door.
"Hm, it's quite a small bolt, and not particularly sturdy. And it just slides across to secure the door shut. But still, with the door bolted, there would be no way to get in or out of the cabin, that's for sure." Ryunosuke said, looking at the door.
"No wonder you're the main suspect." I said, smirking.
"..." Susato said, glaring at Ryunosuke.
'When she glares at me like that, I feel tense all up and down my spine.' Ryunosuke said, thinking that to himself, before speaking aloud. "I, I remember reading once in a detective novel... The culprit used a needle and thread to draw a bolt across from outside the room in a situation like this!"
"Yes, that's a clever trick, isn't it? I'm an avid reader of detective stories myself. But the door of this cabin and its frame are made of metal, and they seal together perfectly. There would be no possibility of using that needle and thread trick here, I'm afraid. ..." Susato said, sadly.
"Without the use of a sonic screwdriver, there would be no way to get in here." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'When she glares at me like that, I feel pins and needles all up and down my spine…'
"Oh look! The sign." I said, walking over to the sign.
"These are the 'Rules of Passage' for travel aboard the SS Burya." Ryunosuke said.
"It's essentially a list of requests from the captain to all passengers on board." Susato said.
"'Passengers must not keep weapons or other dangerous objects in their cabins. Pets are also strictly forbidden.'"
"..."
"What? Why are you staring at me?"
"Oh...sorry. I was just thinking. Are you more of a dangerous object or a pet? I can't decide."
"A pet can be seen as a companion." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Well, one thing's for sure. Either way, I wasn't supposed to be in here.'
"Well, you weren't. You were a stowaway turned accused." I said, looking at the bookshelf.
"The books have fallen over on the shelf, look. They've all toppled the same way." Ryunosuke said.
"And what's this? A statue of some god of the sea? Although he's fallen over as well." Susato said.
"Yes, it's almost as if the whole shelf has been ransacked, and everything mown down at once."
"I wonder if... Perhaps it was Kazuma-sama doing his morning sword training, do you think?"
"I...seriously doubt it." Ryunosuke said, scoffing.
"Then perhaps... ...it was you, Naruhodo-san? In a fit of rage."
"I wouldn't have bothered leaving the wardrobe just to mess up a few books and a statue." Ryunosuke said, as he thought this to himself. 'Could the way these things have been thrown about have anything to do with the case, I wonder…'
"Well, I'll just set everything straight again. I don't like to see a mess." Susato said, fixing the bookshelf.
"All better. Tidy." I said, walking over to the dinner table. "That looks good."
"Thank you."
"That's my dinner from last night. A roast chicken. It was really tasty." Ryunosuke said, happily.
"Yes, it was very delicious, wasn't it? But...did you eat it on the floor here?" Susato asked.
"I'm not a dog, Susato-san. I ate at the table, of course." Ryunosuke said, and he thought this to himself. 'Which begs the question of when and how the plate ended up on the floor.'
"But Kazuma-sama didn't like chicken at all, did he?" Susato asked.
"It was a bit bland." I said, frowning. "The chicken."
"No, that's right. So you and Kazuma didn't touch it. Which meant all the more for me!" Ryunosuke cheered.
"Oh no! Does, does that mean...? Poor Kazuma-sama spent his last night on this earth with an empty belly? It's just too horrible…" Susato said, at a loss for words.
"It really is horrible." I said, looking down at the floor.
'Ugh, now I suddenly have a guilty conscience and an achy stomach.' Ryunosuke said, thinking that to himself, before speaking aloud. "What do you think this is? It looks like a broken piece of glassware." Ryunosuke said, as he thought this to himself." He then thought this privately. 'Whatever the thing was, it appears to have broken clean in two…'
"The glass is such a beautiful colour. It looks like a cute little netsuke fastener from a kimono outfit." Susato said, in awe.
"A button fastener on a male kimono." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'I'm not sure that sounds like Kazuma. He wouldn't have secretly carried a cute little trinket like this around with him...would he?'
"And the mark beside it... What is it, I wonder? It has a sort of brick-like hue." Susato said.
"Yes, you're right. It is the colour of brick, isn't it?" Ryunosuke asked, while he thought this to himself. 'Even though I don't see anything of the same colour anywhere else in the cabin…'
"Um…" I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Is that...?'
"Is something wrong, Naruhodo-san, Jared?" Susato asked.
"Yeah." I said, clutching the strap of my sling bag.
"Oh, no. It's just that crewman standing by the door. I can't help feeling like I've seen him somewhere before." Ryunosuke said.
"Oh yes, you're right. He does look familiar. ...Excuse me, sir!" Susato said, angrily.
"...Yes? What can I do for you?" Hosonaga asked.
"..." Ryunosuke said, as he thought this to himself. 'I recognise that face! But, but it can't be…'
"Ahem! ...Ahem, ahem!" Hosonaga yelled, and blood bled out of his mouth.
"Inspector Hosonaga." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'It is!'
"I, I didn't know you were here, Inspector Hosonaga!" Susato said, excitedly.
"Hello again." Hosonaga said.
"What are you doing here?!" Ryunosuke exclaimed.
"I think that should be my line. I was so stunned when I saw you, my heart stopped."
"Nearly stopped...I hope." Susato said, frowning.
"I received some special orders to go undercover as a member of the crew and board this ship." Hosonaga said.
"Undercover work again?" I asked, crossing my arms.
"You certainly seem to enjoy undercover work, Inspector." Susato said.
"If there's anything I can do to help you, please ask." Hosonaga said.
'I never expected to see this man on board. But perhaps his presence can help me out of this hopeless situation…' Ryunosuke said, thinking this to himself, before speaking aloud. 'So what are your special orders this time, Inspector?'
"Yes, and why are you dressed as a member of the crew?" Susato asked.
"... I'm so sorry." Hosonaga said, guiltily.
"Hm?" Ryunosuke asked.
"This is all my fault. I take full responsibility."
"For, for what?"
"My orders were...to act as Asogi-san's bodyguard."
"...!" Susato said, at a loss for words.
"It was Minister of Justice Jigoku who pushed for this overseas study tour to go ahead. And he entrusted me with ensuring that Asogi-san reached Great Britain without being assassinated." Hosonaga said.
"Assassinated?! How, how could that even have been a possibility?" Ryunosuke asked.
"I'm not sure. But these are complicated times. There are tensions between the world's greatest powers. Minister Jigoku said we should be prepared for all eventualities."
"Whatever happens, if word gets out, could lead to 'The Great War'. A war to end all wars. Fourteen years early." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'This is incredible…'
"I, I don't believe it! Kazuma-sama was assassinated...?" Susato asked.
"Obviously we couldn't give Asogi-san a visible security escort. Which is why I'm undercover now, posing as one of the crew." Hosonaga said.
"I see…"
"And I didn't take my eyes off him the entire time we've been on board. From morning until night, every day. But I never imagined it would happen here, inside his own cabin. Not here on the first-class deck…"
"..."
"I've failed miserably at my assignment. And Asogi-san is dead as a result. I'm a disgrace! All I can do is humbly apologise."
"Inspector…" Ryunosuke said, letting out a sigh.
"So if there's anything at all that I can do to help now... ...just say the word!" Hosonaga chirped.
"We're doing what we can to investigate Kazuma's death ourselves."
"I thought you might be. You didn't do it, did you? You're not the killer?"
"Of course not!"
"We'd really like to investigate the cabin next door." Susato said, happily.
"And find the clues to find out how Kazuma died." I said, smiling.
"Yes, so we need to be allowed out of this cabin!" Ryunosuke yelled.
"... I'm sorry." Hosonaga said, sadly.
"What?" Ryunosuke asked.
"You've been deemed a risk to the ship's safety. If you moved to even touch the handle of the cabin door... That stormy-looking seaman there would surely snap your neck in two." Hosonaga said, looking at Ryunosuke.
"I suppose...I'm not just a stowaway now. They think I'm a murderer as well."
"... Would it be possible... ...to give me something to work with, do you think? I'm going to need something persuasive."
"What do you mean?" Susato asked.
"If I had a solid reason why the next-door cabin should be investigated, for example... ...I'd do everything I could to persuade the captain to allow it. Really, I'd lay my life on the line if I had to." Hosonaga said.
"But...I don't see how…" Ryunosuke said.
"... There may be a way." Susato said, frowning.
"What?! Really?"
"Think of how you tried to persuade me of your innocence, Naruhodo-san. By presenting me with a piece of evidence that you already had in your possession."
"Evidence...?"
"It's just the same as when you are in court. You must have done it many times during your trial. Simply select the 'Present' panel... ...and choose some evidence that Inspector Hosonaga could use."
'So...evidence that would give us a viable reason to investigate the next-door cabin, is it?' Ryunosuke asked, thinking that to himself, before speaking aloud. "...Alright, yes. I, I think I might know what we can use." He then thought this to himself. 'Let's see if I can Present the detective with the evidence he needs to persuade the captain.'
"I can't leave this cabin at the moment. I'm stuck here until we arrive at the next port. The captain has given me strict orders to guard the scene of the crime, you see. I'll have to entrust the investigation to you." Hosonaga said.
"Really? You're willing to do that?" Susato asked.
"Yes. As long as you don't leave the first-class cabin area. I'm afraid I can't remove those handcuffs, though."
"But...what about the captain? Aren't you going against his direct orders?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Ahem! ...Ahem, ahem!" Hosonaga said, and blood came out of his mouth. "I'm a man of my word. And I promise you that I'll lay my life on the line if that's what it takes to convince the captain. After all... ...I failed to keep Asogi-san safe. This is the least I can do."
"Thank you."
"Let's seize the moment then, Naruhodo-san, Jared! Just select 'Move' and we can leave this cabin at last!" Susato said, excitedly.
"Yeah." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. ''Move'... Alright! Let's see what we can find out!'