Hyouka – The AfterStory
Project Collaboration by Commander Cody & Maria
EPISODE 05
Chitanda Tetsugo stood from the doorway, his eyes gazing toward his only daughter, fast asleep. The affliction was abating, it seemed. There she was, fast asleep, completely in peace, without any external sign of agony. Her breathing was normal, except that her mouth was open, but only by a slight.
He had also visited his wife, too, whom he loved dearly, and she was asleep, too, with no sign of suffering.
But even with the hope of his daughter's recovery, and that of his wife, came the likelihood of the same plot happening again, this time with a vengeance. Someone was behind this poisoning. He became fearful that his joy of seeing his family alive and healthy, particularly his daughter, would be short-lived. Having the logical mindset of a businessman, he knew in the back of his mind that if the poison plot remained unsolved, his years, no, his days of seeing his wife and daughter alive and healthy could well be his last. To experience happiness, only to have bitter days follow with cruel calculation, would become unbearable on a man already saddled with much worry over the weight of uncertainty in the fate of his wife and daughter.
And on top of his worry over his wife and daughter was the reputation of the family business. If word of the poisoning got out beyond the boundaries of the Chitanda family, his business would suffer. Accusations of poisoning customers were the last thing he wanted on his reputation. Somehow he would need to have his business investigated, but in a discreet manner. He had thought of commissioning a prefectural investigator to follow the poisoner's track, but for a price: anything the investigator uncovered would need to be revealed in a court of law, especially in a serious matter such as tainted crops.
Even if he was not a professional detective, Oreki Houtarou was his best bet. And he would be motivated. The Chitanda family supported the young man in his studies at Kobe University. It was time for the young man to return the favor. And he would, because he knew that between Houtarou and Eru was a blossoming connection. And that blossoming connection would keep Houtarou motivated to do whatever he could to solve the case.
He had to tell Houtarou what he figured would happen. Perhaps he and the young man would come up with a plan to get the Chitanda family out of this nightmare.
Chitanda Tetsugo made a call.
Houtarou's phone kept ringing off the hook. This was the seventh interruption he had; with four being related to customer service and the other three related to Sunohara stopping by to make small talk, integrated with the usual requests for research information. He was hardly in the mood for another.
Nevertheless, Houtarou picked up the phone. "Oreki desu," he said in a weary tone that lacked enthusiasm.
"Oreki Houtarou-san?"
Houtarou jumped from his seat, startled. It was Chitanda Tetsugo. If Tetsugo was calling, his call would have something to do with Eru's health.
"Ano…Chitanda-san," said Houtarou. "Is Eru all right?"
"She's on her way to recovery," said Tetsugo over the phone. "It will take a lot of time; the food poisoning nearly killed her."
Houtarou breathed a sigh of relief. A few days ago, he had been afraid for Eru's life that when he heard the good news of her recovery, the young man stumped for the socially appropriate words. His schedule grossly conflicted with his desire to stay with her, or even visit her, during the times when her afflictions were at its worst. If Chitanda Tetsugo was calling, it would have something to do with Eru's health relapsing. Only when Eru told him of her recovery did he reluctantly leave her side. Chitanda's calling would make him worry that maybe she had fallen sick again or relapsed in the time he was gone.
All he could say was, "I was afraid…"
"So desu ne," said Tetsugo. "I was afraid, too."
"Hai."
"Now here's the worst news." There was a pause. "My family business is on the verge of disintegrating. I cannot sell rice that is tainted."
"With respect, Chitanda-san…wouldn't a private investigator handle it?" asked Houtarou.
"Hmm…an investigator could," said Tetsugo. "That crossed my mind. Let's see…I have Sunohara-san in mind."
"Sunohara-san…" Houtarou mused. Something dawned on him as he remembered young bespectacled lady who supervised him. "Chotto…there is a young lady with that surname who works in the Kamiyama Library."
"Young lady?" asked Tetsugo. "Hai…that's the investigator's daughter."
"She's my supervisor," said Houtarou.
"Interesting," Tetsugo mused. It all seemed coincidental.
Houtarou tried so hard not to consider how many connections Chitanda Tetsugo could possibly have. His connections were hardly a surprise, though; Tetsugo could be a pretty influential man.
"I'll commission Sunohara-san to investigate the matter," said Tetsugo. "However…there may be circumstances where his hands could be tied."
"Demo…The same could happen with me, too," said Houtarou. "Chotto matte…I remember now. Satoshi, Ibara-san, and I had visited Nakahama Industries. The plant manager had received reports about tainted rice bags."
"Tainted…" Tetsugo muttered under his breath.
"The manager has employee records your investigator can look at," said Houtarou. "Sunohara-san, you say? Have him start there."
"I'll make the call," said Tetsugo. "In the meantime…I need a second pair of eyes. In the course of your high school years, Eru has told me of your ability to come up with…plausible solutions. You can account for details that would normally pass us by. Besides…you have as much a stake with solving this problem…for Eru's sake."
Perhaps this was a form of encouragement, but Houtarou was too painfully aware of his limits. Nevertheless, his mind traveled back to the days when Eru and her father had helped him; how much help they had given him. Somehow there seemed the unwritten obligation to return the favor of friends.
Then again, maybe it was more than just a mere social obligation. He had felt drawn to her, to a greater extent than he could ever imagine when he visited her at her bedside when she was taken by the illness. But drawn to what? Well, for one thing, her beauty; that much was obvious; her cheerful disposition; her ability to overlook, if not put up with Houtarou's personality. He could remember how put off he could be with Eru's tendency to violate his personal space; but now it was nothing. Maybe the love bond was going over Houtarou's head, perhaps?
"It would have to be on a Sunday," said Houtarou. "I would proceed with the investigation the next day…but…Sunday the only day I can take off…without filling out a form. That and…" He wanted to bring Satoshi for further help. "I need Satoshi's help," he said.
"Sou desu ne," said Tetsugo. "Demo…Look…if you can do what you can with finding out who's behind these food poisonings…we would be very grateful."
"Hai," Houtarou agreed.
"I won't take much of your time," said Tetsugo. "Demo…for Eru's sake…"
"I will," said Houtarou, standing up from his seat, prepared to affirm that he would do his best for Eru's sake. "You can count on me."
"Arigatou gozaimasu," said Tetsugo.
"And…can I stop by to see Eru?" asked Houtarou.
"If she's well enough to see you," said Tetsugo. "Demo…knowing her, I think she would keep herself awake just to see you."
"Hai," Houtarou agreed.
"She'll see you tonight," Tetsugo finished. Houtarou heard a click over the phone.
That evening, Houtarou stopped by the Chitanda house. After knocking on the door, a resident showed up. It was Chitanda Hiromi.
"Aa, Oreki-san, konbanwa," she greeted him with a smile.
"Konbanwa," Houtarou returned the evening greeting. "Ano…I…I came to see Eru."
"Ah, hai," said Hiromi. "Please…come in."
"Shitsureishimasu," said Houtarou, being obedient to the beckoning of Eru's mother. He stepped inside, took off his shoes, and put on clogs. He said those words as a form of saying "Excuse me."
Hiromi led Houtarou to Eru's room. "Eru-chan, you have a visitor," the mother told her daughter. Upon Eru's invition Houtarou entered her bedroom.
"Oreki-san!" she beamed.
Houtarou ambled over to Eru's left side of the bed. "How are you?" he asked.
"Well…the sickness is abating," said Eru. "At least the extra time should allow me to recover," said Eru.
"You seem pretty optimistic," said Houtarou.
"One must have faith that he or she will make it to the end," said Eru. "Even if reality seems bleak."
Houtarou heaved a discouraging sigh, and Eru noticed it. She only made a light smile; a smile that, in spite of her condition, and the circumstances surrounding her, reflected her gift for see a silver lining in a cloud. He felt baffled over how Eru can possibly be of good cheer.
Well, the fact that she was recovering spurred on her good cheer, too.
"You know, Eru…you're too beautiful to die," the young man uttered. "If you died…it would be so devastating."
It was a blunt statement. But Eru seemed confused. Of course it would be devastating for her family, for her friends.
"For you?" Eru asked.
Houtarou made a nod, before he responded, leaving no doubt for his intentions, "Hai," he said.
Eru smiled; her face, as Houtarou could pick up, was full of love, like that of a mother to a child. "I am recovering, Houtarou-kun," she said, trying to encourage the young man. "And I am quite healthy."
"But…when you were ill…I was afraid," said Houtarou, his voice trembling. "Afraid you would be lost, gone."
He came closer to Eru, beholding her countenance; a countenance so enticing, so infections, as if such countenance were enough to, perhaps, put him in a trance, and maybe soften his heart. Her eyes slowly gained back its radiance as Eru recovered her health, her pretty face relieved, but filled with love, and yet at the same time, worry over her friends. Her relief became increased when she knew that Houtarou was finally spurred to action to solve this problem; perhaps not for her own sake, but for his sake. Ironic, because this time, Houtarou had someone to lose; and this impending devastation motivated him to solve the mystery behind the poisonings.
The young woman took his hand. "Houtarou-kun…I want you to know…I have not forgotten about you," she said.
Houtarou looked up at Eru. He finds those words strange, and yet relieving, and the same time, finds that Eru had taken his hand.
"Eru…has something got over you?" asked a confused Houtarou.
"Well…something," said Eru. What could she say? If she liked the young man so much, she could hardly bring herself to say she was fond of him, without embarrassing herself. So she said something else; something that at least told Houtarou she loved him, perhaps like a friend. "You…you will always be in my heart, Houtarou-kun…as a friend."
Houtarou was tempted to say "Likewise," as a simple reply. From what Houtarou suspects that Eru's words sound like words said…to a lover. Maybe that was what Eru meant, even if Eru was not trying to be so direct about her message. But Houtarou could tell that Eru's fondness for him was growing.
"Houtarou-kun…"
Houtarou looked up.
"Houtarou-kun…do you remember Juumonji Kaho-san?"
Houtarou could barely remember the name, much less the person.
"She was one of my friends at Kamiyama High," said Eru. "She still is."
"I'm…I'm surprised you still kept in touch," said Houtarou.
"Well, she lives in Kamiyama, too," Eru elaborated. "Kaho-san's father was having difficulty with the rice we sent. Something related to…side effects."
Houtarou raised his eyebrows in shock. "Were they…affected by the poison, too?"
"It's likely," said Eru. "I was able to contact Kaho-san. She said she was fine, but…her parents were taken ill."
Houtarou thought for a while. "Perhaps she could be our lead to what's going on with these poison plots," he proposed. "Maybe she can tell us more about what's going on."
"Hai," Eru agreed. "In addition to that…she had encountered some bizarre activities taking place related to the administration of the Arekusu Shrine."
The Arekusu Shrine was owned by the Juumonji family. Eru would usually make regular visits to the shrine to pray for good lock, and to see Kaho, if she was at the Shrine.
"That sounds like something Satoshi and Ibara-san need to hear," said Houtarou.
"I can call her," Eru offered to Houtarou. "Can you hand me the wireless phone on my desk?" she asked the young man.
Without a word, Houtarou got up from the bed to fetch the phone on Eru's desk. After she had received the phone, Eru dialed the number for her friend. It took a while before her friend picked up the phone.
"Moshimoshi," came a voice over the phone,
"Kaho-san?" Eru called.
"Ano…Chitanda-san. How are you?"
"Still recovering," said Eru. "How about you?"
"I'm all right", Kaho replied over the phone. "I'm looking after mother today."
"What happened to her?"
"She ate some rice, and now she is sick," said Kaho.
Eru nearly dropped her phone. It was probably the same illness she and her mother had gone through. She had to find out more from her friend.
"Kaho-san…are you going to stay at home during Sunday?"
"I plan to," said Kaho. "I have no other plans for Sunday other than letting myself unwind after a busy week."
Eru breathed a sigh of relief. "Kaho-san, if you plan to stay at home, would you be able to meet with me? And Oreki -san?"
"I could," said Kaho over the phone.
"We also plan to bring Fukube-san and Ibara-san, too, assuming they can come," said Eru.
"That's fine," Kaho replied. "I wouldn't mind a little gathering once in a while."
"Ano…it's going to be more than a gathering," said Eru, feeling a little embarrassed that Kaho was thinking it would be a relaxing time. "All four of us need to know more about the rice shipment problems your family had. And the strange business transactions related to the Shrine."
"Is that so…"
"Ano…don't take it the wrong way," a worried Eru blurted out. "Oreki-san is investigating the problem…and he needs to know more what's going on. So I thought…"
"I'll be glad to tell you what went on during the week," said Kaho.
"I am so grateful," said Eru. "Arigatou arimasen."
"Hai. I'll make accommodations for Sunday. You wouldn't mind matcha tea, would you?"
"Not at all," said Eru. Well, the others might, she thought. But I'm being too presumptious here.
"I'll see you on Sunday, then," said Kaho, before she hung up the phone.
"My turn," said Houtarou.
He decided to make a few calls, starting with Satoshi. Even if his knowledge comprised of many trivia Houtarou regarded as useless, particularly about human history, he anticipated that he would need his friend to help with breaking the logjams of deductions commonly done in the manner of Sherlock Holmes. He pulled out his mobile phone and dialed Satoshi's number.
"Yo, Houtarou," Satoshi greeted him.
"Satoshi…would you be able to meet on Sunday?"
"Sunday…" Satoshi muttered. "I'm not sure, Houtarou…"
Houtarou heaved a sigh.
"Besides," Satoshi was quick to add. "I think you may find me of little use with your investigation. I'm a database, you know. But a database can't draw conclusions."
"Yes, you will," said Houtarou. "You will know things we don't."
"You'd better not criticize me about how useless my information can be," said Satoshi.
Even if Satoshi always said he was a human database, Houtarou felt that even whatever information his friend held would be needed, although it was pretty difficult to break his habit of criticizing his friend. "I'm not sure I can promise that," he said. "But…I still need your help. I'm…I'm desperate."
"Houtarou…desperate?" asked Satoshi in turn. "Not desperate enough to feed my ego?"
"Enough," said a serious Houtarou. The line went silent. With uneasy apprehension Houtarou began to wonder whether he said something that put off his friend.
A moment later, Satoshi's voice came again. "All right, Houtarou. I'll come over," he said.
Houtarou beheld almost died; and the Chitanda family business was on the verge of ruin. Like he said, Eru was too beautiful to die.
"Satoshi…things won't get any better unless all of us put our heads into solving this mystery."
"How is Chitanda Eru-san?" asks Satoshi.
"Eru is on the way to recovery," said Houtarou. "She has some family history that will relate to investigating who's behind the sabotage of her family business."
"I'll see if there's time to schedule a meeting," said Satoshi.
"You'll have to make the time," said Houtarou. "The lives and business of the Chitanda family are at stake. If whoever had tried to poison the Chitanda family is going to strike again…"
"Now that you've mentioned it, I'll make the time," said Satoshi. "The next executive marketing conference won't take place till the next week. I've still got to draft the goals and objectives of this conference in a presentation."
"Very well," said Houtarou. "But can you meet on Sunday?"
"Now that you've impressed upon me the urgency of your request, I'll make the time," said Satoshi. "But let me check my schedule first. I'll call you back soon."
"Arigatou," said Houtarou, touched by his friend's consideration.
"Might as well as Mayaka to come along, too," said Satoshi. "A meeting like this, I think, would interest her."
"I was planning on it," said Houtarou.
"All right, I'll call you back," said Satoshi.
After he heard a loss of activity over his phone, Satoshi called Mayaka's number.
"O-re-ki!" Mayaka snarled. "Why are you trying to call me at a time like this?"
"Ano…Ibara-san, there's no need to snarl at me," Houtarou stammered, suddenly taken by surprise over Mayaka's response to his calling.
"I'm in the middle of trying to come up with a cool plot for a romance manga, and you are…"
"Ibara-san, I'll make it quick," Houtarou interrupted Mayaka. "Eru, Satoshi, and I have arranged to meet with Juumonji Kaho-san on Sunday, to learn more about who's behind the poison plot." His words did not exactly correspond to what he and Eru actually knew, which concerned an irregularity in Kaho's family business of the Arekusu Shrine. Nor did he mention that Satoshi was still checking to see if he could fit the Sunday meeting into his schedule. Nevertheless, he had to get Mayaka's attention.
"Who's behind it, you mean?" asked Mayaka.
"Hai." Houtarou was direct with Mayaka now. "Can you meet on Sunday?"
"Ano…I suppose I could try, but I'm a little busy, you see." There was a pause; presumably Mayaka was checking on her calendar. "That's only two days from now. I wasn't planning to schedule a meeting on Sunday…"
Eru tried to reach for Houtarou's phone, but she was unable to do so. "Ano…Houtarou-kun, let me handle this," she said.
Heaving a sigh, Houtarou handed his mobile phone to Eru.
"Maya-chan…please do this as a favor for me," Eru beseeched her friend.
"Ano…Eru?" Mayaka sounded puzzled and concerned.
"All of us, former members of the Classics Club are involved with solving a mystery that concerns my family's life and business," said Eru. "We need your input based on what you learn from the people involved in this plot."
"But…Chii-chan…I don't understand why you need me when you've got Oreki-san and Fuku-chan to…"
"Well…it is the company, and the support," said Eru.
Mayaka could be heard heaving a sigh. "All right," she conceded. "I hate to be useless around here. I mean…I could learn more about the poison plot, but…"
Eru was at a point where she could barely persuade her friend to join her. What point was there for Mayaka to join the group when it seemed there was hardly anything new or enlightening to offer?
Then Houtarou had an idea. "Eru," he said. "Tell Ibara-san that in case we encounter any attempts to sabotage our investigations, we need an extra hand to carry out certain things we would be unable to do."
"What do you mean?" asked Eru.
"Let's say, for example, that we are informed of a plot. She would either need to be a messenger, or help Satoshi…or you."
"I…I think that would make sense," said Eru. She put Houtarou's mobile phone back to her ear. "Maya-chan, we'll…I'll need your help with getting us out of a diplomatic mess. Just in case, if something goes wrong…"
There was some silence before Mayaka's voice came back. "All right, for your sake, I will come," she said.
"Please," said Eru. "It's…we need to find out who's behind these plots."
"Anything…anything for you, Chii-chan," said Mayaka in a resolute manner.
"Arigatou," said Eru gently.
Just as Eru gave the phone back to Houtarou, it rang. Houtarou pressed a key on his mobile phone for establishing the cell line.
"Yo, Houtarou," Satoshi said over the phone. "I tried calling you, but you weren't answering."
"Ano…gomen nasai," said Houtarou. "Eru had to persuade Ibara-san to come."
"Persuade?" asked Satoshi.
"Ibara-san was…a little busy with manga work," said Houtarou.
"Sou desu ne," said Satoshi with some understanding. "Anyway…the reason why I was calling was to tell you…that I checked my schedule. I can put myself down for Sunday."
"Sunday," Houtarou confirmed, feeling quite relieved. "Excellent, Satoshi. It's settled."
"Don't act as if I'm useless in the group," said Satoshi, before he hung up the phone.
"I'll make the necessary arrangements, then," said Eru.
It was Sunday afternoon. Houtarou met with Satoshi, Mayaka, and Eru on the way to the House of Juumonji.
All four young men and women stood at the door. Eru was given the honor of knocking on the door, since Kaho was her friend.
Juumonji Kaho opened the door. Eru made a formal greeting, making a bow. "Konnichiwa," Eru greeted, using the traditional afternoon greeting.
Kaho bowed in turn. Her manner of bowing conveyed a sense of ritualistic formality about Kaho herself. She observed the four young men and women.
"It's been a long time…since I have seen all four of you," said Kaho. "Would you like some tea?"
"Please," Satoshi pleaded, with an aching desire to rest. "We've been walking for a long time."
Kaho only smiled. "Please come in," she said, in a warm but reserved manner.
Satoshi was the first to step inside, followed by Houtarou and the young ladies. After shutting the front door, Kaho led the four into the living room. On a wooden floor covered with a large green tatami mat sat a large kotatsu made of polished mahogany wood. Small bowls lay across the table.
"It's a tea ceremony," Eru observed.
Houtarou seemed to recognize it, since he had tea before with a senpai, Irisu Fuyumi, when she wanted him to solve the mystery of one of the amateur actors killed during a filmmaking project.
"Please…sit," Kaho beckoned the four to their places at the kotatsu.
"Arigatou arimasen," Eru said to her friend. Kaho was Eru's friend; so she conveyed an informal "Thank You".
After the four seated themselves around a short table, in classic seiza posture, Kaho took one bowl and cleaned it in concentrated, if not entirely graceful movements, and did likewise with four bowls. Even in that sense, Satoshi seemed absorbed in this elaborate ritual. Houtarou simply just stared at Kaho cleaning the bowls, and Kaho was beginning to notice it.
"Oreki-san, are you taken up with this elaborate ritual of the tea ceremony, or are you just staring at me?" asked Kaho in an emotionless tone of voice.
It startled Houtarou, for it was a bit rude. "Oh…sumimasen…" he said, proceeding to rectify himself of bad manner. "I…I was bored."
Mayaka had to stifle a laugh, as Houtarou gave the impression that he was not taking seriously this elaborate traditional opened a porcelain pot, revealing matcha powder, in the color of lime green. With a tea scoop, she poured three small scoops of matcha into five bowls. Then she took a steaming kettle and poured hot water into each of the bowls. She then whisked the bowls with tea.
"Wow," Satoshi marveled. "Juumonji-san is not just a miko at the Arekusu Shrine; she's also graceful tea ceremony hostess?"
Kaho's faced blushed over Satoshi's remark. "In that regard, I can only say I'm amateur," she said. "I learned a little bit from Irisu-san."
"Irisu…" Houtarou mulled over. In some ways, perhaps Irisu Fuyumi and Juumonji Kaho were acquainted during their high school years.
"Besides…this is an informal ceremony," said Kaho. "A proper tea ceremony would be more elaborate."
"But this is great," Satoshi complimented Kaho on the tea ceremony. And he meant it.
"Arigatou arimasen," Kaho said to Satoshi in a polite but formal way.
All four guests, including Kaho, took their bowls, and took a sip of the warm tea.
"Kaho-san, you mentioned your mother was ill?" Eru inquired.
"I'm afraid she is," Kaho answered. "She's still bedridden."
"My goodness," said Eru, putting her hand to her chest, worried over her friend's family situation. "I hope she can recover.
"It was not exactly fatal, thank goodness," Kaho explained. "It seems that it was…a mild sort. But still…"
"Sou desu ne," said Eru with great concern. "What about…what about your father?"
"He's all right…though he was a bit…nauseous," said Kaho.
Houtarou observed Kaho a little. She was all right, it seemed. If there was a food poisoning going on in her family, it was also likely she would have fallen victim to such plots.
"Does it have to do with the food poisoning?" the young man inquired.
"Hai," Kaho answered simply.
"If you don't mind me asking…how is it that you and your father are still all right?" asked Houtarou.
"Well…" Kaho proceeded to answer. "Yesterday, I was very picky with the way Mother prepared the rice. I didn't want to eat."
"Why not?" asked Eru.
"The rice tasted dry," Kaho replied. "Of course…Mother only tasted a bit. Father…he felt the same way, too. Only…he felt a gag reflex coming, so he spat out the majority of the rice. He couldn't stand it. Mother could tell Father didn't like it, so it made her sad. When she when she asked me…I felt the same way, too. Mother said it would be all right if I didn't bother to eat it, since the rice so was dry, anyway.
"Anyway…Mother felt a bit nauseous, as did I," Kaho finished.
"How long were you taken ill?" Houtarou inquired.
"I think it was…for about two days. I got a little better after that. That was some weeks ago."
Houtarou said and asked no more; but internally he was adding up some pieces in his mind. The illness of Kaho's mother, it seemed, was more severe than that which Kaho and her father had gone through.
"Perhaps it was some kind of food poisoning that became more potent the more a poisoned substance was consumed," Houtarou made a surmise he thought was within plausibility.
"Food poisoning?" a shocked Mayaka cried, recoiling in fear.
"It is quite likely, I think," said Houtarou.
"But at varying levels?" asked Mayaka. "Does such a poison possibly exist?"
"It is quite possible," said Satoshi, and he proceeded to rattle off the names of many chemicals associated with most poisons that Houtarou could barely remember them all.
"I…I think I may have had gone through a more potent form of this illness," said Eru. "It almost killed me."
Now Houtarou felt under pressure to solve the case as much as he could…and soon.
"Would you know of anyone named Hayashi?" asked Houtarou.
"I…my family may have come across that name," said Kaho.
"Houtarou-kun, tell her all you know," Eru exhorted him in desperation.
"A few days ago…Eru told me about troubles with her family's rice shipment," said Houtarou.
"Hai!" Eru exclaimed. "I had suspected something was…irregular…about the schedule of our shipment. Then after okaasan and I had made some rice cakes to serve to our guests…we started feeling sick."
Kaho eyed Eru with great skepticism. "Demo…it seems you're trying to make a connection between two circumstances that seem far apart," she said.
"It does seem like a weird connection," remarked Satoshi. "First an irregular shipping schedule, then a poison plot."
"We have seen the later details for yourself," huffed Houtarou. "Starting with my visit to the Kobayashi Lab to have rice samples investigated…and visiting Nakahama Industries to discover that there was a switching of rice bag labels."
"Switching?" asked Mayaka and Eru together.
"Hai."
"I also did some of my homework," said Satoshi. "And if I have made connections properly, there are some disturbing revelations about this suspected rival family."
"Go on," Houtarou pressed his friend.
"Well…his name is Hayashi Hideki-san. Accordingly, he was a young man who served in the Kempetei during the Second World War."
The Kempeitei was the branch of military police in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its origins went beyond the Second World War, but not beyond the Meiji era. Judging by the confused, unsettled looks of Kaho and the four former members of the Classics Club, even bringing up that former vestige of the Japanese Empire would carry some semblance of emotional torture. The history of the Kempeitei was often left out of discussion in school history, and what more that Satoshi had to say about it could leave a reason.
"The Kempeitei were a despised group in the Imperial Army by many people during the Second World War," said Satoshi. "Hayashi was in his mid-twenties when he served, and he was stationed in the Gifu Prefecture, in the 5th Branch."
His face then turned to Eru. "Eru…you're pale," Satoshi observed.
Eru looked at Satoshi. "What?" she asked. "Oh…"
"I take it that the history of the Kempetei affects you," Satoshi observed.
"Hai," said Eru. "You see…my uncle told my how is father was arrested."
Houtarou became wide-eyed. Eru's uncle was Sekitani Jun. He, along with Mayaka and Satoshi, had helped Eru solved the case of her missing uncle several years ago, during their first year in high school.
"What for?" Houtarou asked.
"He was called "unpatriotic"…and was uncooperative with the authorities," said Eru.
"Hai," said Satoshi. "They weren't exactly the kind of people you rubbed the wrong way."
"So what did he do that earned him the wrath of the Kempetei?" asked Satoshi.
"Ano…his family was keeping valuable silverware in the house…hidden. Those men…from what my uncle told me before…they came up to his house and demanded to know where it was, saying it was related to the war effort. They raided the house…and my father saw one of those men with an elaborate silver platter…given to him and his wife on the day of their marriage."
From the looks of things, this platter had much sentimental value to the family, hence the protesting.
"My uncle's father said they could take them all, but he pleaded the soldiers to let him and his family keep that one," Eru continued. "When one of the men refused…he became incensed, and dared to defy them, even blocking their way. In response, they beat him and took him away."
The rest of the guests, including Kaho, felt sober over this sad story.
"Chotto matte," said Houtarou.
Eru looked up, as did Kaho. It was considered impolite to use any informal forms of speech in the presence of someone he was hardly acquainted with, no less one that never included a kudasai. The two young women cast looks of disapproval at Houtarou, who, noticing their cold gazes, recoiled back to his seat.
"Sumimasen," said Houtarou, with a bow, before raising himself. "As I was about to say…many of the men would have been drafted into the Imperial Army," he continued. "How would Sekitani Satoshi have stayed home?"
"Who know?" asked Satoshi. "Maybe Sekitani Satoshi had an exemption."
"He did," Eru confirmed. "My uncle's father…he had a bad leg."
Mayaka became astonished. This was something about Eru's family history she had never known before. "A bad leg?" she asked, shocked. "How?"
"An accident," said Eru. "A large log fell on his leg when he was doing woodcutting."
Why had I never known this before? Mayaka asked herself.
"My uncle's father was not released until 1945," said Eru.
"…The same year when the Kempeitei was disbanded…and disarmed," added Satoshi. "We're talking about the units focused exclusively on homeland security."
"What became of Hayashi-san?" asked Houtarou curiously.
"I have very little to tell you," asked Kaho. "Other than that he is still a fairly wealthy man. Perhaps not as rich as the Chitanda family…"
"The given name, Hideaki, of course, is rather appropriate, seeing how he would use unscrupulous means to take advantage of an opportunity," said Satoshi, before turning to Houtarou. "Admit it, Houtarou," he teased the young man. "The logic of your mind must coincide with how apropos the name is to a man of poor ethical behavior."
"I couldn't agree more," said Houtarou with a sigh, though he said his piece mostly to satisfy Satoshi. He then turned to Kaho.
"Juumonji-san," Houtarou got her attention. "Where does Hayashi-san come into this mess?"
"Well…given his reputation, it would hardly be surprising if he was behind the poison plots," said Kaho.
Houtarou suspected that pinpointing an elaborate plot to one man would be too simple. "Is it possible this Hayashi-san would have accomplices?" he asked.
"Well…the Hayashi family had a business specialist: Shimizu-san," said Kaho.
"But what would a business specialist have to do with a poison plot?" asked Houtarou.
Kaho shook her head.
"Perhaps he got a formula…and some advice from an expert poisoner," Satoshi surmised. "Of course, that's only a surmise."
Expert poisoner. It was not out of plausibility that a businessman could seek advice on this matter. Chitanda-san will have hired a private investigator. Maybe I can have that investigator look into this matter.
"But that still leaves the question of how he concocted a formula that poisons people the more each substance is consumed," said Houtarou.
"Do you think we should find out who sold the poison to Shimizu-san?" asked Satoshi.
"I would be tempted to," said Houtarou. "But I think we should pay a visit to Hayashi-san. From what Juumonji-san has said, Hayashi-san is a prime suspect. I'm more interested in his motives."
"Matte kudasai," Satoshi stopped him. "You mentioned that Chitanda-san is hiring a private investigator. Maybe we should convey this information to the investigator, too."
Houtarou had to give this matter some thought. It would be logical to do this, as this would be information that the investigator would be interested in.
No, Houtarou thought to himself. I need him to investigate the poison. Besides…we should be able to find ways to exploit this Hayashi-san. We will need him to compensate the Chitanda family…without having him hauled off to jail. If we can put him in a position of ease, he would be willing to tell us all he can.
"Chitanda-san has commissioned an investigator to find out more on the poisonings," said Houtarou. "Funny thing, though; the investigator happens to be the father of a young lady, Sunohara Kanae-san, who supervises me at Kamiyama Library."
"What?" a surprised Mayaka spat out. "Chitanda-san? Having many connections? You don't suppose…he's got many more connections than we know?"
"Perhaps," said Houtarou. "But he's trying to keep the matter discreet."
"You don't suppose that the young lady is trying to spy on you?" asked Satoshi.
"Stop trying to bring outlandish conspiracy theories into this discussion!" Houtarou snapped.
"I spoke in jest," said Satoshi, making a shrug of his hands. "But Houtarou, the conspiracy theories arising from this discussion are outlandish."
"But they have an element of plausibility," said Houtarou. "The young lady spying does not. I know Sunohara Kanae-san well enough."
"So you think," said Satoshi.
"Back to the investigation," Houtarou said right away with a sigh, ignoring Satoshi's remark. "Poisoning is out of my expertise. But we can handle Hayashi-san."
Satoshi turned to Houtarou. "Chotto matte," he scolded his friend. "Who's 'we'?"
"Presumably all four of us," said Houtarou. "All of us need to learn additional details of the plot so we can make our own conclusions. Particularly Eru."
"Your reasons are questionable," said Satoshi. "Particularly when you bring Chitanda-san along to visit Hayashi-san."
"Doushite?" asked Houtarou.
"You are going to lead Chitanda-san into a lot of danger," said Satoshi. "If something happens to Chitanda-san, you may end up facing the wrath of her father. Bear these things well in mind, Houtarou, as they have helped you at University."
Houtarou could not ignore his friend's words, for these reasons. He made up his mind that he would not take Eru unless she asked. Houtarou turned his efforts to finding more about Hayashi's accomplice, Shimizu.
"Juumonji-san, can you tell us more about Shimizu-san?" asked Satoshi.
Kaho mentions that the family had a business specialist named Shimizu. According to her, Shimizu authorized a sizable payment to a suspicious company…for nonexistent services. That discovery was not made until a few days later; prior to that, Shimizu turned in his resignation.
"Why would he do that?" Houtarou inquired curiously.
"Perhaps…perhaps Shimizu-san was afraid of getting caught in the middle of his scheme," Kaho surmised. "It is possible he wanted to leave the shrine quickly before otousan got wind of what he did."
"And what did he do that earned Shimizu-san the wrath of the law?" asked Satoshi. His loquacity, even done in earnest of inquiry, was too dramatic for Mayaka to take, including Houtarou. Eru seemed to be quite impressed.
"After some investigation, we discovered that Shimizu-san that sizable payment to a suspicious business front," said Kaho. "A front…run by the Yakuza."
Eru and Mayaka recoiled in fright. The Yakuza were an unsavory group known for their involvement in organized crime. though some people could mixed feelings about their other side of providing aid to those in need.
"But with the Yakuza, though, some people have mixed feelings about regarding them as the plague," said Satoshi. He was not far off; sometimes the Yakuza was known for providing aid to those in need.
"True," said Houtarou. "But much of the time, their practices are rather…questionable."
"You're too nice about it!" Mayaka chided Houtarou. It seemed that the reputation of the Yakuza for engaging in extortions against businesses, and trafficking in drugs and guns seemed to outweigh any good side it purported to have; hence, associations with the Yakuza were largely frowned upon. "These people are bad news!" she cried. "They're…violent!"
"Not all of them," said Satoshi. "Some of their methods are a bit…subtle. Besides…we cannot necessarily conflate one form of questionable activities, like extortion, or trafficking of illegal merchandise, to the entire group," said Satoshi "The Yakuza have specialties. I'm thinking that, judging from what we've heard about Shimizu-san, he may come from a group specializing in…sabotage."
Mayaka then turned to Satoshi. "How is it you know about this stuff?"
"I'm a database," Satoshi said, with an open hand gesture.
"So what's your entire point?" Houtarou asked Satoshi.
"I'm thinking that if Shimizu-san may have come from a Yakuza group with some sort of interest in sabotaging the business welfare of rich, influential people," said Satoshi. "But that's merely my surmise."
Even more frightening was the possibility of this Shimizu having connections with organized crime. The possibility intrigued Satoshi, however frightening it was. "Did you check his arms?" He asked.
Kaho shook her head. "I had no reason to," she said. "He seemed like an ordinary man."
"He probably may have many of them on his body," Satoshi said, feeling a bit amused. "And he was hiding them."
Mayaka gave Satoshi a shove, which startled him. "Mayaka, what was that for?" he cried.
"You're not implying that Kaho-san strip him down, are you?" Mayaka whispered with such disapproving force at Satoshi.
Satoshi was feeling quite nervous. "Well…whatever it was, perhaps that could explain why he wanted to leave so soon," he said, anxious to change the subject. "Apparently, he was that clever."
"Did he succeed?" asked Houtarou, referring to whatever the man had done to the Shrine.
"I'm not sure," said Kaho. "All we can say is that he siphoned 400,000 yen to the Mikado."
"Mikado?" Satoshi had a very quizzical look on his face. "You mean the Emperor of Japan?"
Kaho shook her head. "Iie," she said. "It's the name of the front."
"Oh," said Satoshi. "Is that an idea of a joke?"
"What do you mean?" asked Mayaka curiously.
"Mikado is a title given to the Emperor of Japan," Satoshi explained. "It's like saying that the Emperor of Japan wanted to make several thousands of yen on the side."
I wonder why anyone would give this front a particular name."
"Do you think it for his own gain?" asked Houtarou. "For Shimizu, I mean?"
"I think so," said Kaho. "But I don't think he had an account of his own. All we know is that he forwarded money to the Mikado front. Beyond that, we have no idea of his motives."
"Maybe he was promised something valuable," Houtarou surmised. "I don't think a business specialist like Shimizu would jeopardize a well-paid job to do something to do something so drastic, and…criminal."
"You would think a guy like that would have his whole life ahead of him," Satoshi remarked.
"Would you have any idea about the whereabouts of Shimizu-san?" asked Satoshi.
"Iie," said Kaho, shaking her head.
An idea emerged in Houtarou's mind, but all the talking made for a distracting environment for a thinking man like him. He needed a secluded place in the house.
"Would you mind if I used the bathroom?" asked Houtarou.
"Not at all," said Kaho calmly, pointing to the back hall of her house that joined the living room. Houtarou sat up from his seat as Satoshi winked back at Mayaka and Eru; Houtarou was not just going to use the bathroom. He was going to sit back and think.
Houtarou disappeared into the back hallway until he made a left to the bathroom; a room smaller than the office he had at Kamiyama Library.
He shut the bathroom door before leaning back on the door as he tried to come up with some sort of plausible connection with three elements he had learned about the case.
The food poisoning attempts in Eru's family.
The financial siphoning in Kaho's family.
And now, in connection with the financial siphoning…the Yakuza.
Could it be the Yakuza were behind all of these plots? Who was responsible for them? And now Houtarou, Satoshi, Mayaka, and Eru were making plans to visit a man named Hayashi. Perhaps that man, whoever he was, would be a main instrument in these plots of attempted poisoning and fraud.
It seemed too easy to make that conclusion, Houtarou thought. Maybe he was thinking of all those Sherlock Holmes stories that Satoshi was fond of; the kind of stories that pointed to one villain, only to discover it was someone else; someone far more sinister behind the scenes; someone thought of as insignificant. Maybe it was possible that Hayashi would be just a pawn, but who knew? Unless they heard that man's story, the rest of finding out who was responsible was moot.
After using the toilet, Houtarou emerged from the bathroom before he came across his friends, and Kaho, who remained perfectly seated in the same place she had sat before.
He cleared his throat. "Now that I've thought about it, I think there is a connection between the food poisoning, the siphoning, and the Yakuza," he said. "And I think Hayashi is our only lead."
"You criticized me for suggesting a visit to this man," Satoshi protested.
"At that time, I hardly knew," said Houtarou.
"Ano…You can't exactly blame Houtarou-kun," said Eru, speaking on behalf of Houtarou. "He was concerned that a visit like this would be fraught with danger."
Houtarou sat down on the tatami mat near Eru. He hardly said anything more, given that he debated over whether to take that decision. Satoshi seemed right about that man named Hayashi. Leading Eru into trouble was the last thing he wanted to have on his hands.
"Well, Chitanda-san is still alive," Houtarou suddenly heard Satoshi say. "I think your parents will be alive, too."
"Fukube-san, that's a bit presumptuous to say!" Eru exclaimed. "You won't know if…"
"Chitanda-san, I was just trying to give Houtarou consoling words!" Satoshi exclaimed in protestation.
"Satoshi, I know that visiting Hayashi-san is a little risky…but we have little choice," said Houtarou.
Satoshi turned to face Houtarou. "You do realize you're leading Eru into a lot of danger?" he asked. Mayaka perked up, finding Houtarou's suggestion troubling, particularly to Eru.
"It is our only way we can learn more about who is behind those plots," said Houtarou, before turning to Kaho, before he could change his mind. "Juumonji-san, would you happen to know when Hayashi-san stays at home?"
"Usually on Sundays," said Kaho.
Perfect, thought Houtarou. If we come at an unexpected time, he'll be caught unaware.
"Would you have his address?"
"We should have it," said Kaho. "We acquired some information on him when we interviewed Shimizu-san."
Kaho excused herself and disappeared into the hall.
"Houtarou-kun, I want to go with you," said Eru.
"Demo…Chitanda-san, are you sure?" Houtarou asked out of concern. "You're not well enough…"
"Daijoubu," Eru assured him. "I'll be fine. Besides…I need to know the history for myself. It is…it is the only way for me to attain closure."
Mayaka, observing Eru's behavior, widened her eyes. It seemed to mean that she wanted to be close to Houtarou.
Kaho emerged from the hall, with a paper detailing the address of the Hayashi residence. Houtarou took the paper.
END OF EPISODE
NOTES:
The Kempeitei: Paramilitary branch in the Imperial Japanese Army, responsible for order in the civilian realm. (See Wikipedia for more info: wiki/Kempeitai)
For Hayashi's recollection of his career in the Kempeitei in a brutal confrontation with Sekitani Jun's family, I used a reference from Letters from Iwo Jima. An officer, formerly in the Kempeitei, had to deal harshly with a family who kept a barking dog. The officer allowed the family to keep the dog, on the condition that the family prevent the dog from barking. When the dog barked, however, the other Kempeitei officer barged into the house and shot the dog without a second thought.
Japanese Naming Convention:
Surname: Given Name:
Juumonji Kaho
Hayashi Hideki
Shimizu Ibuki
Western Naming Convention:
Given Name: Surname:
Kaho Juumonji
Hideki Hayashi
Ibuki Shimizu
Vocabulary Translations from the Japanese Language:
Hai - Yes
Iie - No
Ano... - Umm... (Filler Word)
Arigatou arimasen – Thank you very much
Chotto matte – Wait a little
Chotto kudasai – A little, please (variant of "Please wait"
Sumimasen – Excuse me
Matte Kudasai – Wait, please (more direct form)
Doushite? – Why?