I'm Very Curious (2)

"Do you believe in artificial geniuses?"

"Artificial geniuses?"

"That's right."

Sakayanagi's expression turned somewhat serious.

Such a thing seemed reasonable on the surface.

But when you actually think about it...

"I don't believe in them."

"Why is that?"

"...It's hard to explain."

Oreki spread his hands.

If geniuses could be mass-produced, could they still be called geniuses?

Sakayanagi thought more and more highly of Oreki.

The two of them were clearly a perfect match.

"Well, let's leave it at that. If you have other matters to attend to, please feel free."

"Feel free?"

"I never force anyone."

"Uh... you're right."

Oreki stood up to leave.

Before he left, he glanced at Sakayanagi.

She was reading a very thick book.

The title...

Seemed to be something about a bookshelf.

Evening.

The sky was growing dark.

Oreki walked to the window and looked out.

He had been here for two days already.

He felt as though time was flying by.

But that was just a feeling.

Before long, he drew the curtains, turned off the lights, and went to sleep.

Until the following afternoon.

"Do you still remember what happened yesterday?"

Sakayanagi's question brought Oreki back to his senses.

There had been too many things going on these past few days.

It left him in a constant state of daze.

"Yeah..."

"Did you not sleep well last night?"

"Maybe."

"Would you like me to change your room?"

"That won't be necessary."

Oreki shook his head.

He didn't want to abuse his authority.

"Let's go."

"Right, Kamuro is already waiting outside."

"It's not a motorcycle again, is it? That would be over..."

"It is not."

Sakayanagi said meaningfully.

She smiled slightly.

"That's good."

Oreki breathed a sigh of relief.

It wasn't that Kamuro Masumi was bad at riding a motorcycle.

Instead, it was on campus...

That would still be too eye-catching.

But what Oreki hadn't expected was...

"Good grief, a Lexus?"

"Mhm. I didn't expect you to know so much about cars."

"It's hard not to know about a car that costs tens of millions of yen, isn't it?"

"Is that so?"

Watching Sakayanagi's indifferent expression, Oreki felt helpless.

Money really does allow one to be willful.

"Aren't you ready yet?"

Kamuro Masumi complained from inside the car.

She had already been waiting for over ten minutes.

"Coming."

Oreki and Sakayanagi sat in the back seat.

Before long.

They arrived at the art museum.

There were pitifully few people here.

But that was normal.

People without money wouldn't come here.

People without time wouldn't come here.

The only ones who could come here were...

Oreki didn't want to say it.

Saying it wouldn't be of much use anyway.

He pulled the car door open.

"Give me your hand."

"...How rare."

Sakayanagi was stunned for a moment.

But she still extended her left hand to Oreki.

With Oreki's help, Sakayanagi stepped out of the car with ease.

But just as Oreki prepared to let go...

"Isn't that Oreki-kun?"

Kushida Kikyo waved at him from a distance.

It really is a small world.

Why do I run into people I know all day long?

"Are the two of you... on a date?"

Kushida Kikyo asked curiously.

Because, in her eyes, Oreki and Sakayanagi were already holding hands.

It was only natural for her to think that way.

"You've misunder—"

"That's right."

Sakayanagi answered a step ahead.

She took the opportunity to grab Oreki's right hand, which he had just let go of.

"Eh—"

"I didn't notice at all."

"It looks like Kei has no hope; I'll have to tell her soon."

Kushida Kikyo muttered to herself.

She seemed genuinely troubled.

As if it were her own business.

"Well then, have a good time!"

Kushida Kikyo said, then walked away.

She returned to the group of girls standing beside the convenience store.

Oreki frowned.

Something about the way this was developing felt off, didn't it?

"Was that necessary?"

"Hmm... just a little joke."

"That was quite the 'little' one."

He could already imagine that by tomorrow...

No.

Perhaps he would receive a text from Karuizawa Kei as early as tonight.

Sakayanagi loosened her left hand.

But it was quickly gripped by Oreki again.

"Asking for a little compensation shouldn't be too much to ask, right?"

"...Of course."

She responded with a touch of unfamiliarity.

High attack, low defense?

Oreki wondered inwardly.

But never mind.

Since Sakayanagi had taken the initiative to hold his hand, she shouldn't expect to let go so easily.

The two walked into the art gallery.

The place had a unique style.

A minimalist aesthetic throughout.

It made one feel quite comfortable.

Moreover, the space was vast, allowing one to view the exhibits from any angle they pleased.

"You must be Chairman's daughter, right?"

A middle-aged man in a suit walked over.

He seemed to be well-acquainted with Sakayanagi's father.

"Yes, I am."

"That's wonderful! I heard your father hired a very capable detective... may I ask where that gentleman is?"

"Right in front of you."

"In front of me? But... I don't see anyone here?"

He looked around in every direction.

Indeed, he could not spot anyone who looked like a detective.

"Heh..."

Sakayanagi couldn't help but chuckle.

She looked toward Oreki.

Oreki cleared his throat.

"I am that gentleman's assistant. You just need to show the relevant documents to me, and I will help relay them."

"I see..."

"Yes."

"But Miss Sakayanagi said he had already arrived?"

"You might have misheard."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"How strange..."

The man scratched his head, looking utterly confused.

In the end, he chose to trust the Chairman.

"Please, follow me."

And so, Oreki and Sakayanagi stepped into the elevator.

During the ride.

Why don't you dare to step forward, Mr. Great Detective?

It was a text message from Sakayanagi.

Oreki replied briefly.

--Do you want to see a cliché plot?

--Hm?

--I have no reputation or status right now. Wouldn't it be laughable to claim I'm a super-capable detective?

--That is true, I suppose.

--Then I get looked down upon. Finally, I solve the case and slap the faces of those who underestimated me.

--It feels somewhat familiar.

--Right?

The elevator doors opened just then.

Oreki shut his phone.

He followed the middle-aged man out.

"This is the surveillance footage from that time."

Oreki sat down naturally in the armchair.

The crime occurred at night.

Between nine and ten o'clock, there had been a power outage.

It lasted for about five minutes.

It wasn't until the backup power kicked in that the art gallery was illuminated again.

However...

"Stolen within five minutes?"

Oreki pondered, looking at the swapped painting in the footage.

That was bulletproof glass.

An ordinary person couldn't open it easily.

"Are there any other clues?"

"There are... but..."

"But what?"

"I can't see how it relates to this case."

"Tell me anyway."

The middle-aged man nodded.

He gathered his thoughts for a moment:

"Someone noticed an abnormal current fluctuation before the power went out."

"Leading where?"

"It seems to be... the electrical box in the staff breakroom."

"Anything else?"

"Someone sent an anonymous tip-off letter a few days ago."

"A tip-off letter?"

"Yes... it was just some insults directed at the former curator. It doesn't hold much value."

"Is that all for now?"

"Yes."

Oreki became interested.

It seems this isn't a simple case.

Interesting.

Seeing Oreki's expression, Sakayanagi, standing to the side, remained silent.

--I am quite curious...

--Will you be able to solve this one smoothly as well, little Oreki?

--To be continue