Chapter Text
The usually bustling shopping streets in Yanaka neighborhood seemed mellow during this time, perhaps it’ll be not long before the visitors start flocking for the spring during early March. The only activity in this Tuesday morning was shop owners setting up their trade in their Japanese retro -styled lowrise buildings which had a traditional wooden touch to it, and yes, the tourists, some of whom curiously wandered around the downtown while hooking up their cameras.
There were also an addition of couples who sought after this weekday, loitering arm in arm with their partners, enjoying the weather. Who can blame them? It is a day away from the beginning of the month after all, the time when blossoming peaks with an array of sakura trees and many more flowers in the parks and corridor streets. How romantic. But perhaps the only one who seemed noticeably depressed was a certain sleek black haired lady detective with blunt bangs.
“...Ugh,” Amamiya mumbles as she bites her bottom lips ruefully, waiting at the steps of the train station’s entrance. “C'mon... What's taking him so long?”
The station was considerably busy, given that it was the peak time for visitors to travel to avoid the afternoon rush, colliding with the locals’ break-time.
clink clink, side please
Sighing, she gave way to the man who was dragging his cycle, whose compartment was full of milk cartons labelled…. Kawasemi dairy? Seeing that only makes her mood more sour. Brushing off the annoying sound of the milkman’s cycle’s clink, Amamiya kept a rapt attention to the quotidian announcements via speakers which gave insight of rhythmic arrivals and departures of trains.
This wasn’t how this day was supposed to start, Amamiya thought as she clenched her fists, literally fuming enough for bystanders at the station to awkwardly walk away from the vexed woman.
This was supposed to be her first date (self proclaimed) with her beloved Kamoo-sama, that charming manager with disheveled black hair and eyes who has a heroic personality - her fated partner (this too is self proclaimed).
Looking back, Kamonohashi happened to run across her while she was on her way home last week, after a bone-wrecking trail of cases assigned to her continuously for the past several days.
“And.. that’s why I need your skills, Amamiya-kun. Your coordination skills will come in handy when preparing for Officer Isshiki’s birthday party following this week,” Kamonohashi encourages her with his guileless smile. “After all, you know him the best since he’s your dear co-worker.”
Dear co-worker? Pfft. Amamiya had to laugh to cover up that awkwardness she was feeling. Was she and Isshiki close? No. Are they even on good terms? No, the poor boy finds her appalling and his already awkward voice quivers on sight of her. Was Isshiki giving me signs that I am not appealing to look at?, wondered Amamiya. Oh he will not; or else Amamiya would have ended him a long time ago.
Then again, Kamoo-sama was the one asking. How could she turn such a golden oppurtunity down? “Of course, I don’t mind; anything for you, Kamoo-san. If we’re at it, might as well-”
Kamonohashi, as if expecting her affirmation, spoke up with a gleaming smile. “Taito, it is then!”, he fumbled in his coat pocket, emerging with a flier and held it up to her face, the printed words now within inches of her eyes, as if expecting her to read it immediately.
“Yakiniku specialty offer… with new… dipping sauces?”
“That’s right but there’s a catch,” He replied, clearly looking excited as he flipped the crumpled paper.
“Tada!”, he exclaimed. “I got two tickets so I thought why not go there as well while shopping for the party items.” He definitely looked proud of himself as he flaunted that. “The restaurant acknowledged my exquisite sauce and added it to their menu! This came along as an invitation.
Amamiya blinked. Brown sugar sauce? With meat? That’s… outlandish to say at least. But was this an invitation to go out together? Sign me up!
Amamiya literally did a double selfcare day for her outing, something she religiously does only once a month, making sure her hair was neatly cut while keeping nothing off the mark. She couldn’t even sleep from excitement the day before. Blood red lip gloss? Check. Her beloved black crew neck top she got from a product fair last year? Check. The revered skin tight white jeans which she always took care of so that it doesn’t get any stain? Check. And now it’s the day of her much awaited-
“And yeah, I hope you wouldn’t take it to heart, Amamiya-kun”
“Uh-huh, it’s alright, Kamoo-sama.”
No. Of course not, it’s not alright at all! She expected a lot for this date just to be told this morning that he had a change of plans?! She took the subway line connecting from Chiyoda to Taito early in the morning, hoping not to run into any of her co-workers on this precious day-off (Apart from Isshiki assigned for a case nearby but he’s definitely not going to come in the way since it’s in another neighborhood).
“Being a building manager as well as a brown sugar businessman, you know how busy my schedule can get.” Feeling a tad bad at her disappointment, Kamonohashi asserted, fishing out his phone as he smiled. “But hey! I already found a good companion for you who’ll accompany you for the birthday party shopping.”
He flashed his phone screen towards her face. Cute wallpaper of a duck, no… a platypus. But Amamiya’s expression faltered as her eyes drifted to the notification icon. The messenger who apparently replied to Kamonohashi’s text with a ‘ok! I’m heading there at 10' was titled ‘Kawasemi’.
Amamiya felt a vein pop.
That’s none other than the so-called ‘Eagle Eyed Kawasemi’- ugh, so-called, my ass. I don’t even want to hear those words, let alone think about it.
“Uh… Kamoo-sama, I appreciate your recommendation on finding me a companion, but I can do the shopping alone if you’re not coming. That would be a-”
Kamonohashi chimes. “Nu-uh, that won’t do. Kawasemi-kun is arriving here for some business so he already told me he doesn’t mind running errands with you.”
That bastard did? Amamiya couldn’t help but grit her teeth.
Chuckling while clearly acknowledging the female detective’s reluctance, he flicked his wrist, checking the time on the watch.
“Now, quick, quick! You don’t want to be late at the station to pick him up”
Saying that, he turned on his heels, ready to dash off, as if about to walk over to someone who was expecting him.
She has to pick him up from the train station too!?
“Kamoo-sama, wait! Uh..,” she fiddles before interjecting on a low note. “What is this thing you got busy with?”
Could it be a sudden involvement of a pestilent tenant who wanted for a fight? Or even worse; does he secretly have a date with someone that he made an excuse to not go out with her?
Kamonohashi smiles as he shoves his hands into his coat pockets, “It’s related to something I’m passionate about. Don’t worry.”
Sigh
The conductor who happened to be standing in Amamiya’s vicinity, broke into another pale of cold sweat. What’s up with this crazy lady sighing so much as if it’s going to be the end of this world? Without even counting, the man knew she had been sighing every minute while glancing at the public clock hung on the station’s roof.
Half past nine. Notwithstanding. At least there is 30 minutes before he arrives.
Amamiya looked around the place numbingly. Should she just leave? Not like that guy would get lost anyways-
“When Kamonohashi told me that you’d be waiting on me, I didn’t quite believe it.”
Turning back, Amamiya found herself in front of a smart looking man, neatly cladded in a grey shirt and black slacks.
“Ugh, you..”
Kawasemi, letting go of his luggage, smiled calmly. “But knowing you, you would have just listened to his request despite your reluctance. Such a pleaser.”
“Tch. As if I even wanted to pick up a prick like you.”
She intensely examined the man with an unamused expression. Sighing, she turns back.
“Just as I thought. You'd be fine on your own.”, she waves off her, dismissing him casually. "Feel free to drag your ass back to your reserved hotel with your luggage. I’m leaving.”
Seeing her about to leave, Kawasemi huffs in confusion. “Hey, hey! You’re not going to leave me out here; I was just kidding!” He looks at her with a prudent expression, reaching out his hand to stop her. “Buying necessities for officer Isshiki’s birthday party, right?? I’ll keep my mouth sealed and help.”
Amamiya glanced back through her shoulder, looking at him for a moment.
“Fine.” She lets out a weary sigh, slumping her shoulders. “Just… don’t try to get on my nerves.”
Kawasemi eyed her incredulously. “Really? But I don’t even say anything to get you worked up though?” It sounded more like Kawasemi was muttering to himself than to Amamiya, who was placidly walking away as if he was invisible.
Tch. What a headstrong woman. Kawasemi scoffed, placing his tweezers back inside his pocket.
“Ron…” Isshiki mumbled to himself as he looked at the ungroomed black haired detective in confusion. Having witnessed Ron talking to Amamiya a moment ago when they were outside Ron’s apartment, Isshiki immediately hid himself somewhere so that he wouldn't get caught by her. Hell, the last thing he wanted is to get caught slacking off by his superior, especially when she assigned him a case to investigate.
“She’s gone Toto,” Ron smiles as he shoves his hands into his pockets, immediately looking at Toto’s hiding spot, behind those unkempt thick bushes which totally obscures anyone behind it. “Caught you.”
Isshiki sighs as he comes out of his hiding spot. “Yeah right, you’d totally be an undefeated player in a game of hide-and-seek.”
He dusts his grey suit, getting rid of the leaves.
Ron chuckles as he looks at his partner, nearing him. “Well, well, I’ve heard that hamsters are naturally inclined to hide beside anything near them, regardless of its opacity.”
Isshiki furrows his eyebrows. “I am not a hamster, dude.”
He looked at the direction Amamiya left and asked, “Why was she here? Er… today was Amamiya-senpai’s holiday.”
“Oh, I was just asking her to run some errands for me. Kawasemi is joining her too.”
It took a moment for Isshiki to register that. Sure Ron had the charm to make people listen to him but this was atrocious.
“Wha… running errands for you!? How did you— why would you ask them to help you with that??” He can’t help but feel shocked by the revelation that the two top-notch police detectives casually offering to do errands just like that. Plus, Amamiya-senpai and Kawasemi-san being together didn’t seem right to him.
Last time, he had to pull Amamiya back from pouncing on the tweezer equipped man who tried correcting a report written by Amamiya.
“They might bring the place they’re heading to ruins with their fighting, oh no..”
Ron smiles fondly while looking at Isshiki who was busy imagining all possible dreadful scenarios between the duo.
Just wait until you learn that they were getting things for your birthday party. It would be so fun to see your expression. Aren’t I a good partner?
“They’ll be fine, Toto,” Ron hopped ahead. “I think we should be more worried about the crime scene we’re about to visit in Taito.”
“Yeah, right.” Isshiki’s expression seemed solemn now. It was a case assigned to them.
The murder of a florist in Taito.
“Isshiki-san, I’m so glad you made it here early.”
The officer in charge who greeted Isshiki led him past the crime scene tape to the spot which was actively being examined by the forensics while surrounded by police and curious onlookers.
The officer also gave the tall man standing beside Isshiki a skeptical look. Sensing the wariness, Isshiki immediately assured him. “A-ah, he’s an acquaintance of mine who’s expertised in—”
“Honey”
“...huh?”
Isshiki didn’t even notice earlier that Ron was dressed in a literal large honey bee outfit, the antennas glowing. Truly a sight for the kids who happen to pass by. Isshiki’s face burned in embarrassment, dumbstruck.
“I’m Kamobee Mitsu, a humble apiarist who came to give expertised help for this case.”
By a coincidence, a bee buzzed its way through the area. It was a flower shop after all, surely there is a beehive close by.
“Well then, excuse me, Mr.Kamobee,” The officer didn’t look amused one bit. “I’d need you to step out of this area. This is murder which took place outside a flower shop. There is no need for you to—”
The forensic technician who was crouching down gasped as Ron plopped beside the body on the floor. “Hey, hey! Get off from here!”
“Er.. leave him be please,” Isshiki awkwardly smiled as he raised his hands to diffuse the situation. “His expertise may come handy in this case.”
He gave Ron a cross look to behave in a close-mouthed. Ron smiles in response as he lies comfortably beside the body.
A rotund man in his 50s. Lying flat on the floor with his arms stretched out.
The location was near Sendagi station were clusters of two-storeyed townhouses can be seen. It consisted of a small community of different kinds of shops, where people can shop for groceries.
The victim’s house in question was used as a flower shop and housing. The lower floor was furnished with trays of plants and flower pots, with a sign at the glass door saying ‘We’re closed’. The dim alleyway beside the building led to a rusty vending machine on the side. Right there was the small set of stairs which led to the top floor of the building, the victim’s house.
The victim lied in front of the vending machine in the shade of the alleyway.
“The victim had a wife too.”
“He did?” Ron asked
The officer ignored Ron as he continued briefing Isshiki, who listened intently.
“We contacted his wife, Mrs.Akaji,” He glanced at his phone one more time. “She was out of the city to visit her friend last night. An officer has been sent to escort her back here.”
Ron silently looked at the body. Holding a pint glass, the contents spilled on the floor, tightly. The skin on the limbs were bluish.
His eyes trailed across the body. Definitely no signs of bruises or even a puncture of the needle.
Judging by the hypersalivation on the mouth, it was definitely poisoning.
“The toxicology reports may take time,” The officer looked at the body with a grim expression. “The man was definitely poisoned.”
“Oh..” Isshiki couldn’t help but wonder about the opened can on the side of the vending machine.
“I’m assuming that the suspect filled his glass with milk from his fridge and came outside his house to buy a can of…” He squints at the can while crouching down. “Green tea, yeah.”
Ron sat up, looking amused.
“He is an avid green tea lover, huh?”
The officer looked at him with surprise, “Yes, he is, as his neighbor, Mr. Akumi has to say.”
A lean man wearing dark rimmed glasses nodded his head as he spoke, “Akaji is the only one who used this vending machine since it is placed at an inconvenient location. He loved using it, ya know?”
The green tea section inside the vending machine was the only one which had few remaining; rest of the cans inside seemed untouched. Signs that green tea is, infact, the only item being bought.
“Hm, I can see that.” Ron hums as he gets up and heads inside the house on the top floor. The police officers exchanged glances, causing Isshiki to mutter a small apology to them and hurried up beside him.
“What do you think, Ron?”
He followed him inside the house. Just an average house, a bit messy… but absolutely average. The police already assured that they searched up the entire house and found nothing suspicious, except for strips of medication inside the bedroom drawer.
Isshiki peeped beside Ron as he took a closer look at it. “That’s…”
“Atenolol. Used to reduce heart’s workload. Either the victim or the victim's wife have heart problems.”
Ron then went up to the kitchen, opening the fridge curiously. Isshiki spoke reproachingly. “We’re in the middle of a case, Ron. What are you checking the fridge for?”
Putting his hands inside the fridge searchingly, Ron smiled. “Oho? No green tea cans in here. Hm, what’s this?”
He shuffled through the condiments for a moment, his eyes intently scanning through each object.
A tray of dozen eggs from which one is missing, a container of half eaten natto, three unopened milk cartoons of one litre, and average things like that. Everything which a normal person would consume as a staple.
“He ate his breakfast before his death. Since the body was discovered on 10PM, we can—”
“EEEK!”
The high pitched screen of a woman jolted the duo, especially Isshiki. “What was that!?”
Both rushed outside the house to the alleyway where the forensics were at. A lady, definitely over her 40s and wearing some heavy makeup, was trembling as she was supported by a female officer in the scene. The victim’s body was about to be transported to be sent off for examination.
“Oh no… Akaji….”
“Mrs. Akaji, please calm down.”
Ron looked at the lady indifferently before going up to her. “Mrs. Akaji, I’m sorry for your loss but where were you last night?”
There was silence. The officer gave Ron a 'hey, that’s my line’ look.
The old lady blows her nose in the handkerchief before speaking. “I have been at my friend’s house since last evening.”
Isshiki stepped in as he asked in a questionable manner. “May I ask why?”
Now Mrs. Akaji looked a bit disturbed as she quickly replied. “Why do you want to know, huh? I sleepover at my friend’s house, even though I am old. Is it that surprising?”
This lady’s voice was definitely something else. Isshiki grimaced as stepped aside. All his life, he has been shouted a lot at, and yet this wasn’t exactly pleasant. And she was getting defensive over a single question.
Ron looked at the lady incredulously as he opened his mouth to speak but was cut off.
“I heard this woman and Akaji fighting yesterday.”
The neighbor, Mr.Akumi, intervened with a serious look on his face. Smacking his cane on the vending machine, he spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear. “I couldn’t make out what they were yelling at each other about, but they were definitely mad at each other!”
“I can vouch for Mr.Akumi too.” A milkman who parked his cycle, came past the crime scene tapes too despite being asked to leave.
Kawasemi dairy? Isshiki looked at the slip on the cycle with an awkwardness. Surely reminds him of a certain someone. Wonder how both Amamiya-senpai and him are holding up, doing whatever task Ron provided them with.
“You must be the one providing milk to Mr. Akaji, right?”
The milkman nods in response, replying to Ron with no hesitation or surprise by his questionable honey bee outfit, “Yes, I’m the one delivering milk in this area to each doorstep with sharp punctuality. Four cartons for Mr. Akaji everyday. My name is Kajii, sir.”
The man swipes out his business card, offering it to ones at the place. No wonder why he didn’t look taken aback by Ron’s outfit, when he is literally giving out his advertisement cards in the middle of a crime scene.
“Ahm, back to what I was saying.” The milkman went back looking serious.
“This morning, maybe around 5 AM, I was here delivering him milk. He told me about his wife storming out of the house after they had an argument. Not quite sure what it was about.”
Mrs.Akaji looked at the two men in anger as her face reddened. “Are you both saying I’m responsible for his murder!?”
Akumi scoffed, while glancing at the dead body. “Hah, what a joke. Akaji was always unhappy when he was with you. He ran the flower shop himself, you know? While you,” He points his cane at the fuming lady, “You’d just sit back and do nothing.”
She looked so pissed off and was about to retort before Isshiki intervened. “Calm down, you all. The post-mortem reports aren’t even out yet. While we do suspect it is poison, let’s not lash out on each other.”
Although they stopped bickering, still they looked at each other with a growl while the milkman stood there silently, watching the scene unfold.
“Detective Isshiki is right,” Ron spoke up after the commotion was over. He has been quiet for a while before. “And we can’t judge anyone until the last suspect has arrived.”
With a smile, he flicks his hair, showcasing his blue eyes.
No one may have understood what it meant, but Isshiki did. He did that thing with his hair again, surely has he caught onto something? He wondered.
The last suspect.
The last suspect was a young man with brightly colored hair and piercings on his ears. His dress was shroudy too.
“Tsk, tsk, what a delinquent-like appearance. I bet it is Shouta.”
Shouta, who was already horrified at being dragged up to the flower shop by the police, shrieked. “H-huh!? Me!? What are ya on, old man? It wasn’t me!”
Mrs.Akaji addded. "A deliquent-like tone too."
“You must be the owner of this vending machine, yes?” Isshiki inquired, while his eyes ran across the certification documents of the vending machine.
Many complaints on food safety on this particular vending machine.
“I s-swear, I didn’t kill this guy! Sure, I’m the owner of this vending machine but I didn’t.. Eughh” The anxious man doubled over to retch. Mrs.Akaji and the milkman backed away in disgust as one of the officers helped the man by patting his back.
“Ugh, disgusting…” She managed to mutter under her breath.
Meanwhile, Ron was crouched down on the one end of the alleyway, watching a kitty lap on some milk from a bowl.
“Hey there, little fella. I have this same 280ml super deluxe twin cat bowl at home for my cat too—”
There he goes; probably getting himself a break.
“Ackk! Toto, let go of my wings, you’re hurting them!”
Isshiki sighs in annoyance as he lets go of those wrenched bee wings, which he might have acquired from a second hand store. “What are you even doing? Focus.”
“The victim liked to feed cats, considering how friendly this guy acts.” The cat rubbed its face on Ron’s leg as it purred.
“Detective Isshiki, the footage from the camera of the opposite shop has been extracted,” The technician walked up, holding up his laptop, positioning better enough to let the ones at the site see.
Yesterday, 19:34:30 - The victim’s wife, Mrs. Akaji, left the house. She looked frustrated.
Today, 04:03:36 - The victim comes out of his house, refills the cat bowl with milk, sweeps the pavement before the entrance of his flower shop and sprays water on some plants. He goes back inside his house.
Today, 05:28:54 - The newspaper boy delivers the papers at the post box. Mr.Akumi, the victim’s neighbour, discreetly comes up to the house, tumbles down the cat bowl filled with milk and leaves.
Today, 05:40:21 - The milkman comes to deliver milk cartons to the victim’s doorsteps. He chats with the victim before leaving with his bicycle. After taking in his milk cartons, the victim exits his house again to refill the cat bowl with milk
Today, 07:20:12 - Shouta, the vending machine’s owner, refills the vending machine, but not completely and also leaves the potentially expired cans in there. By this time, the victim came outside, holding his pint glass with milk. An angry exchange happens between the two men, making Shouta leave in annoyance. After that, the victim bought himself a can of green tea from the vending machine, which he infused with the milk. He leaves the opened can beside the vending machine. He drank from his glass by half before placing it aside to continue cleaning the area.
Today, 08:57:48 - The victim, after placing the broom aside, started showing some difficulties, rubbing his chest. He took one last sip of his drink before crashing down in front of the vending machine. Hypersalivation occurs as his body convulses, before his life diminishes away.
Today, 10:03:17 - Mr.Akumi finds the corpse. He immediately calls the police while the onlookers increase.
“And that’s it,” the technician concludes as he shuts the laptop, leaving the spectators with a dumbfounded expression. “The CCTV didn’t record the audio so not sure what they were saying.”
All the three, Mrs.Akaji, Shouta and Mr.Akumi looked bewildered, except the milkman. The three averted their eyes, each holding their own secrets. The milkman was the first one to speak.
“Guys, like I said, me and Mr.Akaji chatted about—”
“Mr.Milkman is fine” Ron finally stated. “But I need to hear from the other three.”
Ron’s smile made the three too nervous. Isshiki couldn’t help but tilt his head in astonishment. The way Ron can size up these people despite his silly clothing and job title is admirable even after Isshiki has seen him do his magic many times before (and that antenna headwear is slowly slipping off too).
Before any of them could speak, an officer appeared with a sealed report which he handed over to the police detective. “The toxicology report came up. Mr.Akaji was poisoned. Cause of his death is ST-segment elevations, which is called, in common man's language, a heart attack.”
Isshiki listens as he opens the report, letting Ron see it.
In the victim’s bloodstream, atenolol was found in the concentration of 0.5 mg/mL, which was expected since the victim had a history of palpitations for which his doctor recommended those beta-blockers.
Doesn’t seem like an overdose on it then.
But what actually caught Ron’s eyes was another compound detected in his bloodstream.
125 ng/mL of grayanotoxin iii.
How the hell did that get into his body?
“Alright everyone, break time. I’m sure everyone is shaken up by this event, yeah? Now shoo, shoo. There is nothing to see here.”
The police officers made the crowd surrounding the crime scene retreat while Mrs.Akaji slumped wearily on the seat nearby.
Shouta finished retching and looked tired, after having used up all his energy in sweating.
Meanwhile, Mr.Akumi was angrily justifying his actions of kicking that cat bowl earlier to the milkman and another cop nearby.
“Soo… caught on to anything?” Isshiki finally drew closer to the messy haired detective who was calmly looking at the plants inside the flower shop, who’s owner is now dead. The owner definitely didn't die by natural causes; someone intentionally led him to the circumstances which made it seem like it was a natural death.
The azalea was in season here. Especially now, the azalea festival was a month away, which was to be celebrated at Nizu Shrine, a temple near this flower shop.
A tourist spot.
A tourist spot is buzzing with activity.
…buzzing with activity.
A honey bee passed by again. Isshiki warily stepped aside to let it pass before speaking up. “I think you should take that outfit off at least now. They’re pretty much convinced that you’re some expert.”
Ron smiles as he looks back at his partner. “You think so? Here I was thinking about how Amamiya and Kawasemi are holding up.”
“Oh yeah,” Isshiki totally forgot about those two for a moment, “I hope Amamiya-senpai isn’t too harsh at Kawasemi, doing whatever audacious task you asked them to do.”
Isshiki felt uneasy with Ron’s reticent look. He’s definitely plotting something… hopefully nothing bad.
Amamiya and Kawasemi reached in front of a bakery. She already looked pumped up and competitive.
“I’m choosing the cake.”
All Kawasemi managed was a half-assed smile as he looked away tiredly. “Here we go again…”