Disclaimer::::
I do not own Harry Potter or Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro characters. Only my OC Character (s).
I don't make any profit from any of my stories on this website.
Rated M for future sexual content and language
"Characters Speaking"
Characters Thinking
/Author Comments/
~~~Chapter Eleven~~~
~~~Previous~~~
We walk home in silence. Neuro is the first to break it. "It wasn't a mystery worth eating. I thought I should celebrate after it was solved, but I never expected there would be someone like her."
"Aya-san is satisfied with this, right? It doesn't matter what I say; I couldn't save her or the victims." Yako comments.
"You gave her what she needed, Yako," I add softly.
"Who knows? But to me, you've proved to be useful this time." Neuro praises, causing Yako to look up shocked. "You gained her trust on the stage. The ability to persuade is something important and crucial to a detective. Being human and having the power to capture the hearts of others..." Neuro is hanging from the arch. "Feel proud, Yako...This is something that only you, Yuuki and that lady have and something I don't have."
"Neuro..." Yako's eyes widen, and Neuro disappears, his voice heard as he does. "Come back to work tomorrow like any normal day. If you're late, I will break all the joints in your body..."
The next day, I watched with Neuro as they removed all the posters that had Aya on them.
~~~Present~~~
I place on my light red coat (over my alizarin crimson and black princess dress) and pick up my bag and some groceries before heading back to the office. I just finished working at my cafe/restaurant, though I asked one of my employees to get my groceries for me.
I open the door to see Yako eating a banana, Neuro on his computer, and Godai watching the TV. I head to the kitchen and pack the groceries away. (The kitchen looks exactly like the one in my cafe/restaurant).
Neuro looks up from his computer. "Servant Number Two, this should be good news for you." This got both Yako's and Godai's attention. "The actress who was in the drama you just watched got killed."
"No way!" Yako states surprised.
"What!? Kaoruko was!?" Godai exclaims, surprised.
"Neuro, stop teasing him." I scold.
Neuro stands up. "No, the one who actually got killed is Nishida Mei." There is a knock on the door. Neuro hair clip begins to glow and pulse. "Seems like there's a mystery here. "
The woman at the door has short, slightly curled brown hair and eyes. She is wearing a red headband, red glasses, a black turtleneck, an orange coat, a white skirt, a red handbag, and a pair of high heels.
Neuro, Yako, and I are at the office door, looking at Godai. "Huh, what did you just say?" Yako questions.
Godai is standing sideways, hands on hips, with a blush on his face. "I was just thinking, 'Maybe I should go?'"
"You're going? Where?" Yako queries.
With a blush on his face still, he has his fists clenched as he moves his arms and legs about. "Don't make me say everything!" He stands up straight, arms folded, and, of course, blush on his face. "I obviously meant going to the studio. It's just like what happened in the drama: she got killed in the resting room. Noma Kaoruko, who worked together with her, is probably being suspected. The person who just came is Noma Kaoruko's manager. Obviously, we should accept the request!"
"You are not honest with your feelings at all." I tease softly, causing Godai to blush slightly.
~~~The Talk with Kaoruko's Manager~~~
The woman comes in and sits on the couch. She has her head bowed, looking at the floor. "Maybe you already know. Our Kaoruko and Mei-san were rivals. Mei-san was the one who received the lead part of Wafukudeka Five."
"I see. So that's the reason why Kaoruko-san is being suspected." Yako comments
The manager looks up, denial written over her face. "Kaoruko is not the kind of person who would do this kind of thing. I hope you can clear her of suspicion." She ends with a bow.
~~~Back to the Present~~~
Godai is up close. "How can I not go!?"
Yako taps her fist against her palm. "I get it. You just want to see Noma Kaoruko. Such addiction..." Yako teases, pointing both thumbs and two fingers at him.
"I-Idiot! It's not like that!" Godai denies it, face red. He folds his arms, head tilted in the air. "I just want to help out."
Yako stares at Godai, an amused look on her face. "What's with that look?" Godai demands, and Yako sneaks closer. He points at her, leaning forward. "I'm telling the truth."
"Alright." Neuro agrees. He appears in front of Godai, his eyes glowing. "You finally want to help me..."
~~~At the Studio~~~
Godai sneaks into the studio disguised as a female cleaner while the three of us go through the front doors. As we walk through, we see Sasazuka and Ishigaki. "Sasazuka-san!" Yako calls out and waves as they turn around.
"Huh? It's you guys again." Ishigaki moans.
"We're here today because we accepted a job," I admit.
"Job?" Sasazuka queries.
"Yea, it's her inquiry," Yako states, turning to look at Kaoruko's manager.
She bows. "Hello. I am Noma Kaoruko's manager, Iriyama."
I ignore the rest of their conversation as we walk through the studio and towards the crime scene. My eyes flash green briefly as the spirit of the murdered woman is still lingering.
I finished getting all the information I needed just in time for Sasazuka to open the door to the crime scene. "This is the crime scene. The victim didn't appear during the screening time. Her manager, Naito Asami, came to get her and found her corpse. These are the pictures." He takes out two pictures to show us.
The first one shows a close-up of the body. "It seems like a rope-type object was used." Neuro comments.
"Yeah." Sasazuka agrees. "But nothing similar to a rope was discovered on the scene."
"Then the murderer took it with them," Yako adds.
Sasazuka puts away the photographs. "I guess. But the problem is after the victim came in to rest, there was no sign of anyone else coming in." Yako lets out a surprised gasp as Sasazuka walks towards the window. "We watched the surveillance camera recording. There is only one door in this room." He opens the window. "We've also included the possibility of entering through the window. But this is the 25th floor."
At this point, Yako, Neuro, and I have joined Sasazuka at the window. The four of us look outside.
"I see. How about above?" Neuro asks, looking up.
"Directly above is the filming studio; there are no open windows." Sasazuka comments.
"How about next to it?" I ask.
"The changing rooms are there," Sasazuka replies.
Neuro is looking up at that window, eyes slightly glowing. "Changing room..."
~~~Surveillance Room~~~
We follow Sasazuka as he leads us to the surveillance room, where we look at the footage. "After the victim, Nishida Mei, finished changing on the 26th floor, she took the lift back to the 25th floor's resting room. The time is 16:10."
"Isn't there a digital recording of the changing room?" Neuro questions.
"No, because it's a changing room." Sasazuka points out.
Neuro looks back at the screen. "I see."
"30 minutes passed until her manager Naito discovered her. There was no one who entered the room until then." Sasazuka continues.
"So that means the most suspicious person is the manager," Yako states.
"But she only entered the room for a few seconds. It's impossible to strangle someone to death in such a short time." Sasazuka adds.
"It takes more than a few minutes for a person's brain to be cut off from getting any oxygen. " I comment, still looking at the screen.
"That's right..." Yako agrees.
"That reason made Noma Kaoruko the main suspect. Because, after she dies, the role of the main character is hers." Yako lets out a gasp of surprise before looking at Sasazuka. "Ishigaki is investigating it now."
"Where is this drama filmed?" Neuro queries.
"In the studio above," Sasazuka states.
Neuro disappears and comes back with Godai, who is now in another disguise. He is wearing blue jeans, a red shirt, a creme jumper tied around his neck, a fake moustache and beard, and a grey cap.
Even I have been disguised as a maid. My hair is in low ponytails and held by a black band. I am wearing a black choker with white frills and a silver bell at the front. The skirt I am wearing is white with a ruffled trim, a long flowing ribbon sewn to the back, and a black ribbon on the front corners. The chest fabric is black, while the sleeves remain the same, but it has a string ribbon.
I am also wearing a pair of white over-the-knee stockings with a white ruffle at the top and a black ribbon tied in a bow. I am wearing a pair of black high-heeled shoes, crisscrossing over the feet, and a ribbon tied with a bow.
I look down at my uniform before looking at Yako. "You don't want to be in disguise, Yako?"
Yako quickly shakes her head. "No way! It suits you, though, Yuuki-nee."
I nod my head. "I like it."
Because I was distracted, I didn't see Neuro looking at me, interest in his eyes once more before it disappeared when I turned to look up at him at the same time Yako did. "Are you sure it's okay? Letting Godai-san take the role of the director is just too crazy."
"Don't worry. As long as there is 777 Tools of the Demon World, Evil Fiction, you can change your character. But it only lasts 30 minutes." Neuro admits.
"What happens if you run out of time?" Yako asks.
"It will eat your ears, then invade your body, and eat your organs." Neuro finishes close to Yako's face, eyes glowing.
"Did you have to ask?" I query with a laugh.
Yako looks away, back at the set. "We must find the murderer quickly. Huh? Isn't that Ishigaki-san who's standing over there?"
Ishigaki hears Yako's voice and looks up at us. We share a look before walking toward him. "What's with that outfit?"
"Ishigaki-san, you too. But I think it suits you very well." Yako praises.
"It's called investigating...investigating...Senpai's orders." Ishigaki admits.
Ishigaki stops and looks at me blankly. "What is it?"
A faint blush is on Ishigaki's cheeks. "Not bad...I'll take a picture."
"No, thank you." Yako denies.
Ishigaki lets out a pout and lowers his head.
I let out a small chuckle. "I don't mind if you take a picture. It's part of the memories we create, after all."
Ishigaki perks up and is quick to take a picture, causing Yako to sweatdrop and me to let out a small chuckle again.
Not that it makes a difference. I've already got a picture of Godai in both his disguises and me in my maid uniform. I took a picture of Ishigaki in disguise, too. Precious memories are worthy of having pictures taken. It's funny, too. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Neuro wander off. No doubt going to do more investigating.
~~~3rd POV~~~
Neuro appears outside, standing on the side of the building. Neuro's eyes glow, and a smirk appears on his face. With the glow in his eyes, he sees footprints heading down the side of the building. He takes out the picture of the victim before looking up at the top of the building. Again, the smirk stays on his face.
~~~Yuuki's POV~~~
The filming starts. Yako stays at the side as I walk onto the set. I place two cups of tea on the table. I make a small bow before lifting my head slightly. "Please excuse me." I turn away and walk off.
"Cut!" Godai calls out.
"CUT!" A man repeats. "Let's take a break."
I walk over to Yako, who hands me a bottle of water. I take a sip, and as I do the bottle back up, footsteps come towards us. "Are you Katsuragi Yako and Yuuki?" We look to see a man standing in front of us. "The ones who solved Aya Eishia's case?"
The man has black eyes, and brown hair pulled back into a ponytail with a section of hair above the left eye. He is wearing a red top, a blue blazer, trousers, and shoes. He is also wearing a black necklace with a silver charm.
Yako places her hand on her head. "Yea…it's…"
"Are you doing an internal investigation?" He queries.
"No…" Yako denies it as she holds up her hands.
"I was asked to make an appearance in the drama." I offer, causing Yako to let out a low sigh.
"I see." The man says as he places his hands on his hips. "The two of you are celebrities. So popular."
"No, no way." Yako denies it as she waves her hands in front of her, causing me to chuckle softly.
The man leans forward. "But this drama won't be aired. The main actress, Mei, was killed just like that. Just standing here will make a person feel uncomfortable. And the person chosen to take her role is Kaoruko." He turns back to look at us. "Such selfish women are rare. Always pestering Mei…So pitiful." He lets out a gasp when he sees Kaoruko's manager standing there. "Iri…Iriyama-san." He lets out an awkward laugh. "A joke to lighten up the atmosphere…a joke…" He runs off in the other direction.
I hear footsteps and turn slightly to see Ishigaki walking up to us. "A pro who brings unnecessary conflicts."
"What do you mean?" Yako questions as she turns slightly to look at him.
"Actor Makoto Suzumoya seems to have had a relationship with Nishida Mei." Ishigaki continues.
"Really? That person is another suspect," Yako comments.
"Yeah, someone to keep an eye on." I agree.
"Noma-san is coming!" A male calls out.
Yako and I turn to look. The footsteps get closer before she walks through the door. She has black hair pulled into a bun, brown eyes, a blue butterfly hair ornament on the side of her head, pink lipstick, and a purple kimono with a red obi with a black robe and a blue butterfly in the middle.
Godai abruptly stands up as she walks up to him. "Ah, a newbie director. Can you handle this job?" Godai spaces out. "What is it? Are you alright? That face…What a disgusting guy." She turns her head to the side. "I don't care about your skills, understood?"
"Oh, oh, my queen." Makoto walks towards her. "You don't seem happy today. You're ruining your beautiful face."
Kaoruko lets out a scoff. "That person died; why do I have to take the role of the main character? Isn't this similar to a substitute?"
"No, it IS a substitute," Makoto says, causing her to narrow her eyes. He laughs and holds up a hand. "It's just a joke…a joke…"
"Anyhow, she deserved her death. Her death makes it better." Kaoruko comments.
"Hey, there's no need to say that!" Makoto scolds.
"Never mind, it was originally my character." She turns her head to the side and closes her eyes. "I won't act as crappy as she did. Please take care of me, director." She turns away and walks off.
We look at Godai as he turns around. "It's starting! Put your back into it!"
"It got him all excited instead." Yako points out dryly before her eyes widen. "Oh No! The Evil Fictioness!" Yako moves her head about. "How many more minutes are left?"
"He will be fine for now," I comment as I look at Godai sweatdropping.
~~~3rd POV~~~
Neuro heads back to the surveillance room. Neuro has the guard flick through the footage until it shows Mei going into the room. "Please go back. Stop." He has it stopped before she enters the room. "Please show me what's happening inside the elevator." He does. "I see. This mystery is on the tip of my tongue." Neuro states, his eyes glowing. He places his phone next to his ear as he speaks to Akane. "Listen, Akane. Investigate the past of the person I'm going to tell you about."
After Neuro gets all the information he needs, he returns to the set.
~~~Yuuki's POV~~~
"Scene 12 Roll 75. Ready, Start!" A man calls out as we begin filming once more.
Kaoruko turns around. "The murder is you. it can only be you." She turns around to show her hairpin. "You cannot lie to this hairpin. Stop lying; tell the truth already!"
Godai lets out a sigh. The man next to him looks at him. "Director, director."
Godai snaps out of it. "CUT!"
"Yes. Take a break!" Another male calls out.
Yako and I share a look as Godai leans back in his chair, breathing slightly heavily. Yako looks around briefly before Iriyama speaks up. "How is it? Watching Kaoruko's acting live?"
Yako snaps out of it and puts a hand around the back of her head. "To be expected of Kaoruko-san!" Yako looks at the set and pumps her fist. "There's a strong feeling of an actress!"
"She's good." I praise as Yako nods her head with a smile.
"Yes, no matter what anyone says, Kaoruko's acting is always real. That is her, even if she has an argument during work. She wouldn't go as far as to kill someone." Iriyama states confidently.
"You trust Kaoruko-san…" Yako says as she turns to look at her with a smile on her face. "Did you work with Kaoruko-san for a long time?"
"Yes, of course." Iriyama agrees before looking down. "Not long after I entered this profession, I started working with her. It's nearly 20 years now…"
"Oh, wow, I never knew that," Yako admits.
"To Kaoruko, I am her first manager. There weren't many jobs for her in the beginning. Her only roles were extras, corpses, etc." Iriyama turns her head towards us. "But no matter what role it was, she still tried her best." She looks at the ground. "The first time she was selected to be in a drama, she was so happy. We didn't have money to buy wine, so we bought some beer in a convenience store and cheered at home. We were bimbos, but still, we rejoiced." She closes her eyes. "I gave up my job as an actor so that I could become her manager and support her. I thought that was the best."
"You wanted to be an actress?" I question with a small smile on my face.
"It doesn't seem like it, right?" Iriyama comments.
"No, we didn't mean it like that." Yako denies.
Iriyama looks away, a slight blush on her cheeks. "I'll just tell you quickly. I was a gymnast during my school days. I also won the nationals."
"Wow! That's amazing!" Yako praises.
"Countless cheering and flashing cameras. That feeling, you won't understand it unless you've experienced it." She looks at us, her fists clenched towards her chest. "That feeling is really good!" She snaps out of it and looks away. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay." Yako and I say at the same time.
"I thought to myself: 'I'll get the same feeling if I become an actress.' But it seemed like I didn't have talent." She turns to look at us with a smile on her face. "So, I choose this path to help someone else achieve their goals."
Yako looks away. "So, that's how it is."
"Detective-san's!" We both turn to look at her again. "Kaoruko is innocent! Please clear the suspicion surrounding her! Please!"
"Yes…I understand." Yako replies with a strained smile.
I let out a chuckle. "We'll do our best."
I hear footsteps just as a male voice speaks out. "Sensei, Yuuki, sorry to keep you waiting."
"Neuro." Yako and I call out, surprised at his appearance.
Neuro lifts his finger, the Evil Fiction on the tip. "It's time to solve it. People who are involved already gathered in the changing room on the 26th floor. Iriyama-san, please come too."
"O-Okay..." Iriyama agrees hesitantly.
~~~26th Floor Changing Room~~~
"What's happening?" Kaoruko demands. "I don't care if you're a detective or what. Calling us here during our break is annoying!"
Neuro places his hands on Yako's shoulder. "I'll introduce you...this is Detective Katsuragi Yako-sensei. She will point out the murderer of Mei-san."
All of them, apart from Kaoruko, let out a gasp of surprise. Naito leans forward. "So that means the murderer is amongst us?"
"Yes. Sensei, please start." Neuro's eyes glow.
"The murderer is...YOU!" Yako points at Iriyama.
"What?" Sasazuka states, surprised as the rest look confused and surprised.
"Detective-san...why do you think I..."
"What an idiotic detective; Iriyama would never kill that person." Kaoruko denies.
"That is..." Yako trails off.
Neuro interferes before Yako panics. "It seems like this is what the surveillance cameras are telling us."
"Are you saying that you caught me on tape?" Iriyama demands.
"No, it's the opposite. There are no signs of you on any of the cameras. This is the proof that you're the murderer." Neuro points out.
"What does that mean?" Ishigaki questions confused.
"Before Mei-san was killed, you were the only one to not appear on any of the cameras," Neuro adds.
"So, what does that prove? There are places where cameras can't film. I was there..." She states her hand on her chest.
"As you said, you were at a place with no cameras." Neuro interrupts. "That is this changing room. Mei-san always checked her costume before a screening. Knowing this, you used the opportunity. After using a rope to kill Mei-san, you put on her costume. Then you walked out as if nothing happened. Strictly speaking, you were filmed on camera, but as Mei-san."
"What about the body?" Ishigaki queries. "Mei-san was found in the resting room."
Neuro opens the window behind him. "Next is explaining the plan."
"Rope?" Yako queries.
Neuro grabs hold of the rope. "This rope is tied to the roof. Let's have an example. Sensei."
Yako goes pale as Neuro ties the rope around her waist. She screams as Neuro throws her out the window. I check to see her swinging, still attached securely to the rope.
"Okay, everyone, let's go to the resting room below." As soon as we do, Neuro opens the window to show Yako. "Using this method, the body was easily transported."
"I see," Sasazuka states.
"After receiving the corpse, the ropes are united. The murderer put the costume back on the victim, then used this rope to go back up to the changing room." Neuro adds.
"Wait...no matter what you say, Iriyama couldn't be capable of doing this!" Kaoruko denies.
Neuro opens his eyes and looks at her. "Iriyama-san was a gymnast before. Using the skills capable of winning the nationals, maybe it's not impossible. There were also female footprints on the wall. If we use those as evidence...we can get the answer instantly."
Iriyama has her head lowered. A smirk appears on her face before she begins to laugh. "Kaoruko, you were like my duplicate. An actress who was trained by me. Someone like you who's so talented...How could you get your main character role stolen by some idol actress?"
Kaoruko backs away from Iriyama. "Iriyama, you..."
Iriyama undoes a button off her coat before throwing it behind her. She is now wearing a purple suit with a green ribbon around her waist. She isn't even wearing her glasses, and her hair is undone, flowing freely down her back. "It wasn't easy training you as my duplicate, so now it's going to be meaningless! Wasting such talent! So, I had to do it myself. Spotlights shining, cameras flashing, all focused on me!" She runs past us and jumps on the window ledge.
"Iriyama!" Kaoruko shouts.
"Don't do anything stupid," Sasazuka warns.
Iriyama places her left hand on her chest. "Starting now, I am the main character! I already contacted some staff."
Lights shine on her figure from behind her. "There she is!"
She looks behind her. "Look, they're here."
"Don't move the camera! Don't miss the moment of the arrest!" A man orders.
Iriyama stands on the ledge, holding only one hand onto the window and the other to her side. "Come, fellow staff, film me! I am the murderer! Just like this! Point the cameras at me! More flashing lights! Ahh...I'm surrounded by such light. I'm filled with light. Catch me!" She yells before jumping off the ledge.
She is stopped from falling due to the rope Neuro had after he ate his meal, that is. "It seems she was just barely saved."
Sasazuka and Ishigaki take Iriyama away. Yako, Neuro, and I watch from in front of the studio as they drive off. Godai joins us. "The murderer was the person who gave us the task."
"Yeah." Yako nods her head, upset.
"Look at that," Neuro states, looking at the screen where Kaoruko is talking to the press.
"Kaoruko." Godai mutters.
"The actress of the tragic female lead," Neuro adds.
"In the end, Iriyama only wanted herself in the centre of attention. Or..." Yako trails off.
"Maybe for that and another reason…maybe…" I mutter before letting out a sigh.
"Whatever it is..." Neuro comments.
There is a flashing light before Yako and I are surrounded by reporters. "Another murderer caught. Is it true?" A woman asks.
"Female high school detective, active again!" A man states.
Godai walks off to the right while Neuro walks off to the left, leaving Yako and me staring at his back.
/Thank you for reading this chapter. Please leave a review. Your opinions are appreciated.\