Chapter 15

"Tch, so it's that guy this time." Ranpo Edogawa pouted. "The great Ranpo is obviously better than him."

Osamu Dazai wore a smile, but the oppressive aura around him made the hairs on Atsushi Nakajima's arms stand on end. "Heh."

You said you loved me, and this is what I get? Heh.

Fyodor was smiling too, though his smile looked distinctly chilly.

Ayatsuji Yukito couldn't even be bothered to spare a glance for the people bringing him up. His reddish-brown eyes never left the screen.

The world is so big. I want to see it.

143 had followed through on his words, though he had brought one extra person along.

"What's so interesting about all this? Do you have nothing better to do?"

They were on a pedestrian street in a small town. People came and went, lending it a certain bustling air, but Ayatsuji Yukito was growing genuinely impatient. They had already spent an hour here.

At this point, Ayatsuji Yukito had yet to develop the sharp edges that years of confinement would give him. Although he wasn't polite, at least his tongue wasn't particularly venomous.

"Sorry, sorry." An Xinyi pressed his palms together. "It's my first time seeing this, so I couldn't help looking a little longer."

Ayatsuji Yukito gave An Xinyi a puzzled look. "You don't look like someone seeing it for the first time." He was clearly interested, but there was no sense of unfamiliarity.

And yet he wasn't lying. Ayatsuji Yukito could be certain of that.

Those two conclusions were undeniably contradictory, however.

"I never saw it with my own eyes before." An Xinyi propped his chin on his hand, his beautiful phoenix eyes narrowing. "Actually seeing it really does feel different."

Ultimately, those memories didn't belong to 143. Only what he saw now was real.

"All these people, each one different. That's pretty nice too."

Unlike the An Xinyis, all produced on an assembly line. Although they had their differences, they were far too alike.

143 liked differences.

"...You make no sense." Ayatsuji Yukito shook his head, but there was a spark of interest in his reddish-brown eyes. Even though An Xinyi had brought him out from under surveillance, he could leave whenever he wanted. After all, An Xinyi hadn't restrained him.

Perhaps those words had partly moved him to stay, but the greater reason was his interest in An Xinyi himself.

Despite having such a dangerous ability, despite knowing what he would face if he continued working as a detective, Ayatsuji Yukito had never stopped.

He loved living as a detective, loved deducing the truth, loved pursuing the unknown. That was his instinct as a detective, something he could never abandon.

Now, he had found a new mystery.

An Xinyi.

Innocent yet mature, cold yet passionate. Utterly contradictory, utterly complex.

Ayatsuji Yukito couldn't help growing excited, because he actually couldn't read this person at a glance.

How fascinating. As a detective, he simply couldn't suppress his instincts when faced with such an interesting mystery.

He wanted to solve this mystery. Once he did, this journey would come to an end.

But at this moment, Ayatsuji Yukito couldn't possibly imagine what the future held.

"Haha, sorry, sorry. But observing humans can be pretty interesting sometimes, right?" An Xinyi smiled brightly. "Though observing those people is far too easy for you, isn't it, Yukito?"

This guy really does make himself at home.

Still, Ayatsuji Yukito couldn't be bothered to argue about how An Xinyi addressed him. He was merely a little impatient. "If you know that, why aren't we leaving?"

"It's easy for you, Yukito, but it might be very difficult for me."

An Xinyi's voice gradually grew quieter. In fact, going by the thought processes of the other An Xinyis in his head, it would be very easy. But ultimately, those weren't 143's thought processes.

As 143, he couldn't understand humans yet.

"But since my traveling companion has spoken, let's leave for now." An Xinyi answered good-naturedly and led Ayatsuji Yukito away.

As An Xinyi led him farther and farther off the beaten path, Ayatsuji Yukito had an ominous premonition. Surely not.

"Where are you going?"

An Xinyi scratched his head. "I don't know."

"Anywhere is the same to me." He merely wanted to see it: this world the An Xinyis loved, this world countless An Xinyis had sacrificed themselves for.

Ayatsuji Yukito felt his blood pressure rising. "Where do you plan to sleep tonight?"

An Xinyi wasn't troubled in the least. "Anywhere is fine."

"...Goodbye." Ayatsuji Yukito immediately turned to leave. This guy was far too unreliable. Had he lost his mind when he decided to follow him?

"Hey, wait." An Xinyi stopped Ayatsuji Yukito. "I can't help it, you know."

An Xinyi spread his hands, then pulled out his empty pockets. "I don't have any money."

Ayatsuji Yukito, who was equally penniless, said, "..." He felt as though he'd been conned.

Seeing Ayatsuji Yukito's gaze grow increasingly hostile, An Xinyi offered an apologetic smile. "All right, let me think... Got it."

"Leave it to me."

Mizuki Tsujimura covered her mouth. She desperately wanted to laugh, but she didn't dare.

Her eyes had already curved with amusement, though, and she was laughing wildly inside. Haha! I never thought I'd see Mr. Ayatsuji in such an awkward predicament! I'm going to laugh at him in my head for the rest of my life. That's what he gets for always lashing me with that sharp tongue.

Ayatsuji Yukito shot her a cold glance. He didn't need to think to know what was on her mind. "You should see an ENT specialist. That facial distortion needs treatment."

"Oh, I forgot." Ayatsuji Yukito's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Even a plastic surgeon couldn't save you, could they?"

"..." Aaargh! Drop dead, Ayatsuji Yukito!

Ayatsuji Yukito completely ignored Mizuki Tsujimura's impotent fury. Watching himself on the screen, he could actually understand what that version of him was thinking. If he encountered someone so interesting, he would certainly be delighted by the challenge too.

But... Ayatsuji Yukito pressed his lips together. Even he could never have guessed that the truth would be so bizarre and so tragic.

"How do you think he'll solve this?" As the young master of the Gojo Clan, Satoru Gojo had never worried about money. Now, he was eagerly speculating.

"Want to compete and see who guesses right?" Satoru Gojo was raring to go.

"I can't guess." Megumi Fushiguro couldn't be bothered to play along. While Yuji Itadori and Nobara Kugisaki were already arguing back and forth, he merely shook his head.

Ultimately, An Xinyi's previous specialties had all been too far removed from ordinary life. They were skills that could earn fortunes, but not only did the current An Xinyi, 143, have nothing to his name, this was just an ordinary small town.

What would he do?

"You actually know magic tricks?" Ayatsuji Yukito had already examined An Xinyi's hands. They looked nothing like the hands of someone who had practiced magic tricks, yet what An Xinyi had just performed required the skills of a top magician.

Just moments ago, An Xinyi had overturned Ayatsuji Yukito's previous impression of him. With his silver tongue, he had successfully borrowed props from a household, then performed magic tricks in the busiest part of town. His exquisite performance had the audience applauding in amazement. Although the townspeople didn't earn much, An Xinyi had still collected enough to cover two or three days' expenses.

This is even more interesting. Ayatsuji Yukito's lips curved. Everything left traces. An Xinyi clearly hadn't studied magic tricks, and his hands bore no calluses, yet he performed them so well... The harder the mystery, the more interested he became.

An Xinyi grinned. His face always wore an easy smile. "Let me tell you a secret."

He looked as though he were sharing a confidence. "There's nothing in this world I can't do."

Ayatsuji Yukito remained noncommittal, so when An Xinyi made him a simple doll, he was genuinely surprised.

"Weren't you disappointed earlier that you hadn't brought your dolls?" An Xinyi brushed the wood shavings off his hands. "You really like dolls, don't you?"

Because of the lack of materials, the doll An Xinyi made was somewhat rudimentary, but that did nothing to diminish its exquisite craftsmanship. Even Ayatsuji Yukito, who was accustomed to masterfully crafted dolls, was astonished by the lifelike carving.

His gaze shifted to An Xinyi's hands. No scars, no calluses, yet they could make a first-rate doll.

A genius? Or some kind of ability? Something like copying or stealing other people's skills? But it doesn't seem like that... Ayatsuji Yukito felt that the mysteries surrounding An Xinyi were only multiplying.

"Don't you find dolls more interesting than humans?" Ayatsuji Yukito held the short-haired girl doll, part of his attention drifting to what clothes would suit her.

"If you're asking me, I can't answer that yet." After all, 143 had little experience with either humans or dolls.

There was no question that An Xinyi was a master of all trades. Across countless cycles, the memories of countless An Xinyis were his greatest wealth. Whatever the profession or field, An Xinyi had tried his hand at it.

In other words, even if 143 were given a hoe and told to become a farmer right now, he could become the best farmer there was. As a person, however, 143 was a newborn baby, far too immature.

"If I had to say..." An Xinyi thought for a moment, then suddenly smiled. "If all humans were like you, I'd prefer humans."

"How does this guy say things that make your heart flutter without batting an eye, completely oblivious?" Momo Nishimiya covered her face. "That's so unfair!"

The women present couldn't help nodding.

As for Ayatsuji Yukito himself, his expression turned even colder.

Ango Sakaguchi pinched the bridge of his nose, nursing a headache. Am I supposed to keep track of his romantic life on top of monitoring his behavior? But can I even keep Ayatsuji Yukito in line? An Xinyi is far too smooth.

Utahime Iori touched her face, feeling a little regretful about her scar for the first time. "It really is a little frightening."

Who wouldn't fall for him, hearing something so sincere and heartfelt?

Satoru Gojo sidled over with a grin. "What's this? Feeling a spark of romance, Utahime? Give it up. He wouldn't be interested in you."

Utahime Iori said, "..."

"Satoru Gojo! One of us is dying today!"

"Is this a born player's natural talent?" Nobara Kugisaki couldn't be bothered with a certain delinquent teacher who was courting death. Watching the person on the screen, she couldn't resist commenting.

"Heh." Certain people sneered.

It's clearly a scumbag's natural talent.