Dear Grandpa:
I apologize for getting back to you so late. There have been some recent events transpiring that has left me reluctant on what I should write back to you. But first, before I go any further with that, I feel it is best to begin with my most recent case.
Simply put, my time in Katsuyama felt more welcoming than my last foray. Unfortunately, that's the best I can say for the trip this time. Most of the police force there still seemed apprehensive about my assistance at first, but eventually they came around to tolerate my existence. As I was just playing an advisory role, I thankfully didn't have to stay too long. The case I was aiding in seemed to be very open and shut—the body was discovered near a local butcher's shop, the butcher himself didn't have an alibi, and due to several testimonies, many of the locals said that the butcher and victim had tension between them for a myriad of years. When I took my leave, they were working on checking any blood found in the butcher's shop as well as ascertaining to which knife could be the murder weapon. While I would like to say that I have faith in the work done by the police force, I wouldn't be taken by surprise if they did find a way to fumble this case. I apologize that this goes against your teachings that I should believe in my fellow man. Alas, I am faraway from thinking as such with this particular police division.
Now I find myself residing in Inaba. You, of course, knew of my case well beforehand, so I won't be going over the details again. However, upon arriving here, I was informed that my assistance was no longer needed as they had made a huge breakthrough, enough to finally move forward and wrap things up. While I was a tad perturbed that they didn't inform me until my arrival, I did see this as an opportunity to take some time for myself. Until my next case, I will be biding my time in Inaba, making a point to contact old friends and preparing thoroughly for when I leave yet again. It is unfortunate that I didn't have the forethought to book ahead with Amagi-senpai at her family's inn. With Summer opening up its chapter this year, the Amagi Inn is, quite understandably, at its busiest and they didn't have any available accommodations for me. Perhaps whenever the next Inaba case comes across my desk my fortune will favor me better—or maybe I shouldn't wait until the last possible moment when booking my housing needs. After these last few cases, I've been forlorn for a near-decent bed to rest my head in. Maybe another sign I need to visit the estate sometime soon? Ah, I'm rambling again, but the point still stands.
So now to the main topic at hand that I seem to be unconsciously avoiding whilst typing all of this out. As you know through all of our correspondences over the years, I have shown very little interest in any romantic endeavors. You have encouraged me, but never pushed me, to experience more in life than what I have let in. And I will be the first to admit that you are correct in doing so. Before my stint in Inaba during the murder case involving one Tohru Adachi, my world was one very narrow in its scope. I would only speak to people when necessary, I would only eat what was necessary (and stuck to the few items I found appetizing), and I certainly wouldn't entertain the thought of romance. You might not remember the first time that the topic became relevant, back when Narukami-senpai was assisting in your "quest" of sorts. It was the first time I had truly felt connected with someone in such a way. But when I confronted him with my feelings, it was then that he informed me it wasn't mutual. I grew disheartened, but I still remember the feeling well. I believe the experience led to my growth as a person. And perhaps, upon reviewing that time he and I spent together, it wasn't a feeling of love; at least, not in the traditional sense. I do care about him a great deal, but I realized that the feeling was similar to that of how I felt about all of my friends. Perhaps, because he was one of my first true friends (that wasn't family, don't worry), I was just mistaken in what was there between us? Regardless, I suppose there isn't much sense to dwell on it now.
And now I am here today. Tomorrow, I will be going on a "date" with the young man who now runs Tatsumi Textiles by himself, Kanji Tatsumi. You should remember him Grandpa, as I invited him on a few of my visits up to the estate while we were in school together. After replaying the events that transpired that lead to this happening over and over again in my mind, I have come to realize that this wasn't any accident on my part, as much as I believed it to be. These feelings I've had for the tailor prodigy mustn't be anything short of "love." I've harbored these thoughts for years at this point, and while it is much, much too early to say anything of the sort to him, I can safely say that there seems to be much difference in what I feel now versus what I felt for Narukami-senpai. And while I am happy that I have finally made an approach to this new world laid out before me, I am also beyond frightened. My friendship with Tatsumi-kun was one that I treasured years back and after losing it—the circumstances of which will remain a secret between you and I, I'm afraid—I'm quite anxious of the fact that I may lose him once more. However, I know that this is territory that needs to be explored. A detective needs to be thorough in their investigation, no? With these frivolous human emotions still clawing their way to the surface, I cannot bring myself just to let things be.
With this new and rekindled flame between Tatsumi-kun and I, perhaps it is a sign of better things to come. A brighter future may be lying in wait for me, but I must be the one to strike the match. By the time that you have read this and assuming that we follow our typical time between correspondences, the event in question happening tomorrow should have already taken place. I hope you are in understanding I write this without vitriol, but I am not seeking approval from you on my choice of a suitor. Tatsumi-kun is a perfectly respectable and more than capable man with a bright future of his own ahead of him. His passion for what he does is commendable and, despite that very thin veil in his past of acting as a delinquent, he is one of the most caring individuals I have come across in my travels. So as such, I do hope that whenever you find the time to write me back, that you choose not to dissuade me in my ventures.
All of this to say, I hope to hear from you again soon Grandpa. After the next case in the coming weeks comes to a point of conclusion, perhaps I will find the time to visit the estate once again. Please, as always, give my best to Yakushiji-san. I miss the both of you a great deal.
Regards,
Naoto
Long time, no update huh? I apologize for the wait on the newest chapter, but with work starting up again, I have been finding less and less time to write. So, to tide things over until I feel the actual next chapter is truly ready, I typed up a quick idea I had whilst working on the newest chapter. I consider this just an aside. While I don't want to give out any definitive dates on when the actual new chapter will be out because I hate making promises on things I can't keep, I will say I'm about 6k words into it and I feel I'm about 3/4 of the way finished with it. Give or take.
Anyways, I hope you all like this little extra slice of content. Next chapter will be out whenever, I suppose. Thanks again for reading!