Not a detective

Page 19

And the signature at the very bottom, the one that looks like scribbles, is actually the artistic signature of "Zhizuo Chuchu," designed to be cute in the style of an idol.

Although Ms. Takagi was unable to completely recreate it, it roughly matches the original.

"So... Mr. Takagi Ichiro's affair was with this... Ms. Orioku?"

Xingyu was speechless.

She at least knows what the concept of a Vtuber is, and she can understand the popularity of this project nowadays.

However, Takagi Ichiro is the owner of a large company and a man in his forties. It's hard to equate him with the Vtuber fan group.

"Ah."

Asakawa Riku nodded: "It's okay if you can't figure it out, just report it truthfully."

No matter how absurd the answer may be, the evidence is right in front of us.

It really can be done in two or three hours.

Spring of the Earth Spider: Chapter Thirty-Three - The Cheating Detective

After encouraging Hoshino to prepare herself mentally, she was asked to call Ms. Takagi.

I bet Ms. Takagi hadn't even gotten home yet when she received the call that the investigation was over. I wonder how she felt when she heard all that nonsense.

Judging from Xingyu's exhausted appearance and worn-out speech, it would be very difficult to explain clearly.

After all, she was a traditional young lady raised in seclusion, who had little experience with electronic products and the internet. How could she suddenly understand the concept of "Vtuber"?

Thinking about this, I feel that Xingyu has really had a tough time.

However, in other words, if Ms. Takagi had a basic understanding of this, she probably wouldn't have had this misunderstanding.

While Hoshino was racking her brains, Asakawa Riku sat in a chair, deep in thought.

He wondered if Takagi Ichiro's behavior could be considered online dating.

Perhaps it shouldn't be considered as such.

But does it count as infidelity?

It's hard to say.

In terms of the relationship between fans and Vtubers, Ichiro Takagi may never have met Tama Orisaku, let alone had a physical relationship with her.

But emotional infidelity... His wife took such good care of him at home, and regardless of whether her methods were right or wrong, it's somewhat heartless of him to betray her by turning his affections to a virtual character.

He thought that Takagi Ichiro probably suffered the pain of losing his daughter a year ago and couldn't cope with it, so he used the virtual streamer on the internet as a substitute for his beloved daughter.

Even so, buying an "engagement ring" is a bit outrageous... This already shows genuine affection.

Nothing feels right no matter how you think about it.

This is so bizarre; it's probably one of the strangest "infidelity investigations" ever.

Asakawa Riku had a vague feeling that if he joined this detective agency, he would encounter more strange and unusual events in the future.

"The side events are irrelevant to us; the detective's job is simply to uncover the truth."

If it were Shinonome Suetsuki, she would definitely say that with disdain.

Even though she didn't say those words, Asakawa Riku felt like he had figured out that eccentric person's mindset.

Yes, it's a paid service; the client's task is simply to find the cheating partner and evidence of infidelity. In that case, they just need to report the facts truthfully.

Whether Ms. Takagi can accept this outcome, and whether the court can use it as grounds for divorce... is none of the detective's business.

...

"There's still one thing I can't figure out."

Asakawa Riku raised his head and looked at Hoshino across the sofa: "Shinonome Suetsuki, how did she know the truth in advance?"

After investigating, he discovered the mystery that Takagi Ichiro's affair was with a Vtuber.

But the detective seemed to have seen through the truth right away.

When Asakawa Riku learned that the clues were the two sketches, he thought he should find the shop that sold the rings and then trace his lover's whereabouts from the shop's customer information. But that would require an "on-site investigation." However, Shinonome Suzuki had determined from the beginning that "this incident does not require an on-site investigation." How did she know that it could be done with an online search?

Only two or three hours? How can you be so sure?

Did she once see the design of the "engagement ring that will last a lifetime with Orioku Juju" and memorize the ring's appearance and that Vtuber?

That's too much of a coincidence, impossible. It would take an absurd amount of knowledge to pull that off.

"You mean Miss?"

Upon hearing this question, Xingyu suddenly became excited, as if all her previous fatigue had vanished: "Miss is amazing, isn't she? She's a detective, after all."

"That's an irrelevant answer. Of course I know she's a detective, but even detectives go through a process of reasoning, right?"

Asakawa Riku frowned. It seemed that "reasoning" didn't exist here.

"Hmm..." Xingyu rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought: "I don't know either, after all, Miss never tells me about these things."

Is that so?

It seems this will remain an unsolved mystery, even more unbelievable than the mystery of Mr. Ichiro's infidelity.

But Asakawa Riku was disappointed, and Hoshino suddenly said:

"It seems... she can see."

"see?"

"Ah, I'm only telling you this... Don't say I let it slip."

Xingyu was startled. She seemed to be talking to herself. Then she glanced quietly in the direction of the living room. Dongyun Sueyue should still be sleeping inside.

Then she leaned closer and whispered, "Miss, she seems to have [superpowers]."

"what?"

Asakawa Riku shrank his neck in surprise.

“I’m not just making this up,” Xingyu said confidently, her face full of conviction. “I grew up with Miss, after all these years, I definitely have evidence.”

Then she launched into a long explanation: "For example, a few days ago, she foresaw that the cake shop downstairs was going to launch limited-edition spring desserts and told me in advance that she was going to buy them..."

Asakawa Riku had to interrupt her:

"Wait, could it be that she saw the cake shop's announcement beforehand, like a preview on social media or a flyer posted somewhere?"

"It's definitely not just this one thing. For example, since she was a child, Miss has been very good at finding things. If anyone in the family loses something, she can help find it immediately. From ordinary toys for children to important documents for adults, or even gold bars and bonds in the safe, she can even point out where they are if they have been stolen. It's amazing!"

Xingyu's words were becoming increasingly outrageous, but her expression suggested it wasn't just hearsay, but rather that she had witnessed it firsthand.

"Everyone said she had the potential to be a detective, and she actually became one!"

She covered her mouth with her palm and whispered mysteriously:

"Miss's eyes are so beautiful... It's as if she can see things that ordinary people can't see when she looks at someone, whether it's a secret from the past or a secret from the future."

That's ridiculous, utter nonsense.

Asakawa Riku really wanted to refute her like this: there's no such thing as "superpowers" in this world.

The idea of ​​a "monster" is already outrageous enough, and now a new setting is suddenly popping up? What was he doing for the first sixteen years of his life?

Uncontrollably, I thought of those eyes—the eyes of Higashigumo Suetsuki, like dazzling gems, radiant and shimmering.

When being stared at, it feels like everything about you is being seen through.

Her parents' departure, financial difficulties, even cooking... She once revealed information that she could never have known, right in front of Asakawa Riku.

If this isn't a superpower, then how do you explain it...?

Using superpowers to deduce the truth? A detective with superpowers? That's... too unreasonable. Did she see Ms. Takagi and then see the Vtuber named Orisaku Tamatsu, and then deduce the process from the conclusion to arrive at the result? Is this kind of thing really allowed in the detective world? If it is, it's completely cheating.

No, I must be out of my mind to believe such stupid things.

"I understand... Your information is very valuable."

Asakawa Riku shook his head, clearing his mind of distractions, and stood up: "Then, please let me know the results of today's interview after the detective wakes up."

Earth Spider Spring: Chapter Thirty-Four: The True Demon

"Please wait, Mr. Kawasaki."

Xingyu suddenly stood up and blocked his way.

"My name is Asakawa Riku." He sighed, it seemed this guy was also affected by the incorrect introduction he had just given.

"Ah... my real name is Hoshimi Kohana."

The girl paused for a moment, then smiled and said a completely unfamiliar name.

This caught Asakawa Riku completely off guard.

He was stunned for a moment, until the other party took the business card and he recognized which words it was.

Hoshino... Hoshimi Koyu... Goodness, it's an abbreviation!

"You're in an even worse situation than me," he said, looking at the other person with pity.

However, Hoshimi Koyu smiled nonchalantly and said, "The nickname is proof of your intimacy with me, Miss."

Good guy.

"Is there anything else?" Asakawa Riku put the business card into his pocket. "Stop always defending her. That girl just doesn't know how to remember people's names properly."

"I have something to give you."

Xingyu completely ignored the second half of the sentence, so let's just call her Xingyu.

She rummaged through the folder and pulled out a stack of papers, which she solemnly handed to Asakawa Riku:

"This is the contract."

"Ok?"

"The employment contract."

Asakawa Riku was stunned: "...No, please explain what's going on."

In this room, facing this seemingly innocent blonde girl, he felt a strong sense of alienation.

“Asakawa-kun, aren’t you going to work at our firm? Here’s the contract.” Hoshino smiled, seemingly looking forward to working with the boy in front of her. “Ah, of course, I don’t have the final say on this. Miss anticipated this, so she asked me to prepare the contract in advance. She said you’ll definitely pass the interview and you can start working right away.”

Again.

Here we go again.

Asakawa Riku gritted his teeth. He was unwilling to believe in the existence of superpowers and could only attribute the situation to mystification.

It must have been when her father introduced her to the job through connections that Dongyun Sueyue already knew about it, so it's no surprise that she made preparations in advance.

"Okay, I'll sign."

Feeling that his reasons for joining the "Detective Club" were similar, Asakawa Riku developed a strong competitive spirit and interest in the eerie atmosphere of the "Detective Agency".

He wanted to see what other tricks the detective could pull.

However, this slight dissatisfaction vanished the moment he saw the contract.

"...Are you sure you didn't make a mistake? Is there an extra zero?"

He pointed to a number on the contract.

The pay for the job seems a bit too much.

"Hmm? No, that's the payment the young lady specified. I've confirmed it."

Xingyu craned her neck to take a look, then nodded seriously.

There was too much. Even though Asakawa Riku had taken advantage, he couldn't help but say it out loud. There was just too much.

Ordinary high school students would never earn such a wage outside; you couldn't find it anywhere. It's almost equivalent to the monthly salary of a regular office worker.

Moreover, the contract only stipulates that the working hours are on weekends, from 9 am to 6 pm, with a one-hour lunch break.

Working two days a week for this amount of money... Asakawa Riku even suspected that this was a way of asking him to sell his body.

My first time scamming?