After school, at Fujino's home.
Detective Profession Mission: Bandage Man Incident Mission Objective: Solve or prevent this murder case Mission Time Limit Countdown: Within twenty-four hours after the victim's death Mission Reward: 500,000 yen bounty, 50 Detective Reputation
"A murder case involving the Bandage Man?"
Fujino stood before the balcony, studying the newly appeared System Task on the interface. A sharp glint flashed in his deep eyes.
If Fujino remembered correctly, this case should have been connected to Suzuki Ayako.
Suzuki Ayako had founded a film club during her university years.
After all the club members graduated, they agreed to hold a reunion every two years.
This reunion had been set at the Suzuki family's forest villa.
As for why a murder case would happen...
It was all because of Ikeda Chikako, a popular writer who had also been in the club back then.
Ikeda Chikako had plagiarized the idea of a girl named Atsuko and used the stolen concept to write "Blue Kingdom," which won that year's Best Newcomer Award.
Unlike Ikeda Chikako, who went on to become a popular female literary figure, Atsuko, whose idea had been stolen, had been unable to seek redress and eventually hanged herself in despair.
Takahashi Ryoichi, who had always secretly loved Atsuko, would avenge her at the gathering a few days later by using a clever method to brutally dismember Ikeda Chikako at the Suzuki family's forest villa...
Knock, knock, knock!
Just then, a knock at the door suddenly interrupted Fujino's thoughts.
"Could it be another client?"
Fujino froze for a moment at the sound.
Weren't there a little too many commissions this weekend?
There were even more than he could take on during a normal workweek...
Putting those thoughts aside, Fujino slowly rose to his feet.
He crossed his hundred-square-meter bedroom, walked to the door, and opened it.
A girl with a streak of red hair in her bangs came into view.
Fujino looked the girl over and could not help but pause.
"Excuse me, are you Detective Fujino?"
The girl spoke first.
Out of courtesy, Fujino put on a professional fake smile and asked, "That's me. What can I do for you?"
"Hello, Detective Fujino. I was referred here by an acquaintance..."
The girl politely greeted him, explained how she had learned of this place, then asked somewhat nervously, "I was wondering whether Detective Fujino accepts commissions to find out who the girl someone likes is?"
"As for that kind of commission..."
Fujino trailed off, countless thoughts running through his mind.
Being a detective was not about fighting and killing. It was about connections and social graces.
Every client belonged to a certain circle. Win over the client, and everyone in that circle became a potential customer.
The reason this girl had come to Fujino was probably not because of his reputation, but because she had heard about him from friends in her social circle.
To be honest, Fujino really did not want to take on a commission reeking of romance.
But she had been referred by an acquaintance and was quite polite, so he might as well hear her out first.
After all, appearances could be deceiving.
What if this girl was a rich woman?
After entering the room, the girl took off her baseball cap, revealing the trendy streak of red hair at the front of her bangs, then explained why she had come.
The girl's name was Mieko Shibasaki. She was only two years older than Fujino, had joined a band right after graduating high school, and was currently a guitarist in a popular rock group...
As the band's guitarist, she had always secretly been in love with its lead singer, Tatsuya Kimura.
Not long ago, unable to contain her restless heart any longer, she had finally confessed to Tatsuya Kimura.
But the result was obvious. She had been rejected outright.
When he rejected her, he had even said that he already had a girl he liked and would keep waiting until that girl came back.
Heartbroken, Mieko wanted to know exactly how she fell short of that girl.
That was why she had specifically come to Fujino and asked him to investigate who Tatsuya Kimura truly liked.
"So, Miss Mieko Shibasaki, you want me to investigate who the girl Tatsuya Kimura likes is?"
"That's right."
Mieko Shibasaki nodded as she listened to Fujino summarize her request. "If possible, I'd like Detective Fujino to investigate in secret without being discovered."
"If I remember correctly, Tatsuya Kimura is a very popular idol, isn't he?"
"Investigating an idol of that caliber costs much more than usual. It would be around 500,000 yen."
"I'll pay 500,000 yen."
Upon hearing Fujino's quote of 500,000 yen, Mieko Shibasaki agreed immediately without the slightest hesitation.
"Then that couldn't be better..."
Fujino was very pleased by Mieko's decisiveness.
She was not a rich woman, but she was still a high-quality client.
Fujino nodded and poured her a cup of black tea. "I'll accept your commission. I guarantee that I'll investigate discreetly and won't let anyone discover it."
"When should I pay the commission fee?" Mieko accepted the tea and asked, "If it's all right, I can pay the full amount right now."
"No rush, no rush."
"For the commission fee, clients usually pay a one-tenth deposit when placing the commission, and the remainder after it has been completed."
Fujino chuckled. The more he looked at Mieko, the more agreeable she seemed.
"I see."
Mieko nodded, then took out a credit card. "Can I pay the deposit by card?"
Fujino: "..."
This seemed to be the second time already, didn't it?
Did people not carry cash anymore?
"Ahem."
Fujino cleared his throat. "It doesn't matter if you don't have cash. We can settle it all together afterward. I believe Miss Mieko is a trustworthy person."
"Oh."
Mieko nodded. "In that case, thank you for trusting me."
Fujino watched her put the bank card away and sighed.
Then he said to Mieko, "But there is something I still need to remind you of beforehand, Miss Mieko."
"What is it?"
"Based on my extensive investigative experience, romantic investigations like this generally don't end well."
Under Mieko's astonished gaze, Fujino continued seriously, "Once you find out exactly who he likes, Miss Mieko, are you sure you can accept reality?"
At those words, Mieko Shibasaki fell into a daze.
That was right...
She had never considered what she would do after learning who Tatsuya Kimura liked.
Perhaps she would try to change...
But what if that person was someone she could never replace? What would she do then?
As she thought, her hands clenched tightly around the jeans covering her thighs. The expression on her face gradually dimmed, eventually turning somewhat desolate.
"Thank you for the reminder, Detective Fujino."
After thanking Fujino, she made up her mind. "As long as I can find out who Tatsuya likes... that alone will be enough for me."
"If that's the case, then I'll accept this commission."
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