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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 5 Chapter 1.3

「You said it! You said it, you child! Even though you were talking about being a great detective, you just said something completely unsubstantiated! That’s why I’m scared of you being a detective that just thinks about looking cool! 」

「I’m sorry Juugo! Don’t act like I’m a person that’s always looking forward to violent incidents! 」

「That’s what you’re thinking! Always! If that’s not what you are thinking then don’t urge people to ‘cause a violent incident’! 」

「Hmph. I’ll praise you for seeing through it today. You are a good rival. 」

「Yeah, that’s definitely a line the villain would say right? 」

「And you haven’t had any misdeeds up till now? 」

「Yeah, now you are saying things the good guy would say, but it doesn’t fit the flow of the story. 」

As usual, this great detective doesn’t waver. Getting back to the topic at hand…

「Looks like things are starting to get interesting. 」

Tensai is happy and grinning. Apparently this mysterious case has struck a chord with the detective. What’s really going on anyways?

「Well the quickest way to find out what happened would be to ask Yun-chan about it. 」

「Eh? Why is that Juugo-kun? There’s a way to find out what happened with this case sooner than doing that. 」

「What is it D’arc? How? 」

「You should ask Yuiga-san. 」

The only people who know about this incident are Yuiga, the stabbed, and Yun, the stabber. For some reason the President came into contact with Yun-chan, and even after being stabbed he tried to protect her.

Well D’arc’s idea certainly is true. However both Tensai and I sigh at the smiling D’arc’s suggestion.

「Yo, D’arc. I don’t understand. 」 「Hmph, D’arc. You don’t know anything. 」

「Wh..what? Both of you? 」

「The President is the most unreliable source」, we both say in unison.

I can’t believe that the handsome President who is a womanizer will tell us the truth. I’m sure he’ll dodge us anyways.

Well then President Yuiga. What are you planning on doing this time?

3

「Yun has been missing since last Friday after school. 」

The day after visiting President Yuiga, Tsujimi Tetsunoshin (AKA Tetsu-kun) came to school after being absent yesterday. I immediately called out to him when I could, and went to the roof as soon as it was lunch break.

And the answer to my questions about Yun-chan was one word.

「Seriously? 」

「Well, I’m in the middle of searching as hard as I can right now. 」

To be honest, when I saw Tetsu-kun’s face this morning, I could guess. He has dark circles under his eyes and an expression that looks more grumpy than usual. But if that’s true then some of the possibilities I expected have disappeared.

What I thought was the most likely possibility was that Yun-chan was hidden by the Three-Skulls after stabbing President Yuiga. The Three Skulls are a gang that manages Tsukuyomi Town, which is known as the Driftpool of Nanaejima. Tetsu-kun who is in front of me belongs to this gang. There was a time when Yun-chan was indebted to the Three Skulls a little while ago, and she looks up to Botako-san, the mysterious villain who runs the gang, as her sister.

Another possibility is that Yun-chan stabbed President Yuiga under the orders of the Three Skulls, or rather Batako-san who leads the gang.  I wonder what she is hiding, because she is one of the people who are looking for the same Nanana Collection we are.

It wasn’t Tensai’s hypothesis yesterday, but I couldn’t deny the possibility that the reason why Yuiga was attacked was something related to the Nanana Collection.

Well it seems that all of that was a mistake.

「Ummm, not only Tetsu-kun, but Batako-san is also searching. 」

「Aaa. Under my sister’s command, I’m keeping an eye out as much as I can, but there’s no real information. 」

Tetsu-kun tightens his fist in frustration. Apparently he really hasn’t a clue. So even he doesn’t know.

Why did Yun-chan stab President Yuiga? And where did Yun-chan hide?

「I still want to find Yun. But on my sisters orders I’m being told to stay here because maybe Yun will come to school. 」

Tetsu-kun continued to watch the city from the roof. He seems to be quite upset about Yun-chan and is not sure she is safe.

Looking at the situation I can understand the reason for Batako-san’s order. Certainly the possibility of Yun-chan coming to school cannot be said to be completely zero. But I can’t imagine it happening. I can empathize with Tetsu’kun’s anxiety. Tetsu-kun must have been searching for Yun-chan non-stop without even taking a break. If he keeps going like this, it won’t be strange if he collapses at any time. Even if it’s just during the time that Batako-san is sending him to school, he must give his body a rest.

「Juugo. On the contrary, I want to ask if you know anything. 」

「Eh? 」

「You asked about Yun, but it’s not public knowledge that she went missing. 」

I understood what Tetsu-kun was getting at as he strengthened his gaze. Certainly if someone asked about Yun-chan’s safety with such pinpoint timing, it wouldn’t be strange to mistakenly think that they knew something. Or rather, I do actually know. What I know though is just that Yun-chan stabbed President Yuiga.

The school is still full of speculation about President Yuiga, who was covered in blood and taken to the hospital. The only people who really know what happened are us adventure club members. Well how do I answer?

「No, it’s not like that. The Ikusaba-san affairs have been dealt with and I was thinking of going somewhere with everyone again but Tetsu-kun and Yun-chan were absent, so I thought something may have happened. 」

I decided to lie and dodge Tetsu-kun. I don’t think I should talk about the fact that Yun-chan stabbed President Yuiga right now. Tetsu-kun wouldn’t want to believe that. Heck I can hardly believe it myself.

「…yeah. Sorry I asked something weird. 」

Tetsu-kun dropped his shoulders dejectedly.

「No, it’s ok. 」, he says with a smile.

My head has a sharp ache from the lie I told. ‘Sorry’, I apologize to Tetsu-kun in my heart. It was then that I heard the sound of the rooftop door opening.

I turned to look and was surprised. The one who had come to the rooftop was the bespectacled girl who was the shining star of my class; Yurika Yumeji. Her glasses are her charm point and her gentle smile will make you fall in love. She has such a divine appearance it’s as if she has a shining halo.

「Oh, here you are. Both of you. 」, Yumeji-san said as she quickly approached us.

「What’s wrong Yumeji-san? 」

「Actually I was looking for you two at the request of Tensai-san. 」

「Eh? Not just me but both of us? 」, I say while looking over at Tetsu-kun.

「Yes, she wants you to come to the courtyard immediately. 」

 

「I’d like to introduce you to Aya Suruga, a first-year student. 」

Students enjoying their lunch can be seen here and there in the courtyard during lunchtime. Tensai and a first-year girl were seated on a bench in one corner of the courtyard.

Aya Suruga-chan, who bowed her head when introduced, seemed familiar to me. Who is this kid? Aya Suruga, I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere…

「She is Saki Yoshino’s roommate, and also the client who asked me to investigate her when she went missing the other day. 」

「OH! I remember! 」

That’s right. This kid came to my classroom before and Tensai refused her request. It was hard for me at the time because Tensai made me not go to school.

「So, uh… What do you want from us? 」

「Actually, yesterday I received this letter from Saki. 」

「A letter from Yun-chan! And from yesterday! 」

Suruga-chan took a cute piece of stationary out of her pocket. We quickly took it and checked the stamped postmark.

「The date is Sunday, two days ago. That means this letter was sent after Yun disappeared. 」

Tetsu-kun, who was standing next to me, stared at the stationary I was holding with an excited expression. I quickly get Suruga-chan’s consent to see the contents of the letter.

To Aya

I’m sorry to have to tell you this in a letter. There is something I have to do no matter what, and now I have to leave my room for a while. Of course I plan to come back when I’m done with my errands.

Also, I’m sorry I worried you before. While I was in Tsukuyomi-gai, I was unable to contact you, and I deeply regret that I caused you to worry.

When I returned to my room I was very happy to know that you were worried about me. But soon after that we got into a fight and didn’t speak to each other for a long time. I feel like I needed to apologize, but I couldn’t come up with one. So this is how I ended up being able to. I’m really sorry.

I’m a little late, but happy birthday. There is a present for you in the top drawer of my desk, so please open it. (Do not open any other drawers!) I hope you like my present.

Well then Aya, Let’s meet again with a smile next time.

Saki Yoshino.