nhp | (Sutamai) 'Tonight, You and I Will Unravel a Mystery ♥', Part 1

EVENT STORY INDEX

1.

Summer had passed by, and October was well on its way through autumn.

“Autumn readings, autumn recreational sports, and an autumn appetite.”

But what was awaiting us was…... an “autumn of overtime work.”

-Investigation & Planning Division-

Rei: ...... Argh............ Haarrrghhh......

Natsume: That zombie-like sighing is just barely recognizable as being human. You alright there?

Rei: I feel like I’m going to fall asleep if I don’t make some noise or something......

ARGH!?

When I turned around to face whatever cold thing that was suddenly pressed against my cheek...

I was greeted to the sight of Aoyama-san idly shaking a can of coffee.

Aoyama: You a bit more awake now?

Rei: Y-You scared the daylights out of me......

Aoyama: Here, take it.

Rei: Huh? Are you sure? Thank you.

Aoyama: Take a break when you can.

Rei: (So t-thoughtful...... Up until now, he was all like “You done yet?” and “Next is this”.)

(He was piling work on me like there was no end in sight.)

(He was being a spartan commander......)

Aoyama: It’s going to be a long night after all.

[THUD]

Rei: ......

Natsume: Rough times, huh. Oh well, drink your coffee and do your best then.

Rei: Wha—! Don’t tell me you’re done?

Wait...... Um, I’ll return the favor next time so could you lend me a hand here—

Natsume: Laters.

Rei: Of course......

Imaoji: Shall I take off some of the load for you, Rei-san?

Rei: Oh! No, no, out of the question!

(I couldn’t possibly ask that of someone who’s in the middle of admirably finishing up a workload way bigger than mine!)

Natsume: Well then, I’m out—

Oh...

Seki: Thanks for your hard work.

-Investigation & Planning Division-

Rei: Oh, Seki-san! Welcome back.

Seki: Were you just about to leave, Natsume?

I’m glad I caught you in time. Sorry, but could you stay back for a little while longer?

I’ve received information on a case that I’d like to deal with urgently.

Natsume: Huh? Oh, okay......

Aoyama: What a shame, huh, Natsume?

Imaoji: You were one step away from having it all.

Yui: It’s divine punishment for abandoning Izumi. You tried.

So I guess I’ll be leaving first then.

With a slap on the shoulder to Natsume-kun while smiling...

Yui-san tried to slip around and leave, and was slapped on the shoulder by Seki-san.

Seki: I was thinking of also having you come along to the site for the case this time.

If your hands are free at the moment, then perfect timing.

Yui: ......

Natsume: ...... This is divine punishment for abandoning me.

Rei: (The punchline was delivered perfectly like in a skit......)

-Several Minutes Later-

Rei: ...... There’s a large amount of drugs in an empty house in the suburbs!??

Yui: Unknown whereabouts of the owner, and no one coming and going in a long time...... What a peculiar story.

Seki: Our informant also said that they weren’t actually able to confirm the existence of these drugs.

So at present stage, it’s only a story with a possibility of holding true......

Aoyama: But that possibility is high, is what you’re saying.

Seki: Correct. If it was just hearsay...

Then I believe that he wouldn’t have ever come calling on me.

Aoyama: He?

Seki: ...... The truth is…...

The source of the information for the case this time is Kujo-san.

Rei: !

-Investigation & Planning Division-

Seki: It seems that, for various reasons...

Kujo-san is hoping to take over ownership of that vacated European manor.

And it would appear that in the process of gathering information on that manor, he overheard talk of drugs being stashed away there.

It comes down to him wanting to clean up any complications beforehand.

So he contacted me in the form of providing information.

Natsume: Well, it kind of reeks of suss by saying various reasons......

But if the part about the drugs is in fact true, then even we can’t afford to be taking it easy.

Imaoji: You’re right.

If perchance, that large amount of drugs were to fall into the hands of some smuggling group, then......

Rei: !!

Seki: ...... That’s the situation at hand.

Our job this time is to promptly locate and recover the drugs before something like that happens.

With the exception of Imaoji, who has arrangements to meet up with one of our moles, everyone here will head towards the site tomorrow.

Imaoji: Sorry I can’t join you, but all the best with everything.

Aoyama: Yeah, leave this one to us.

We’re talking about a large amount of drugs here, so we’re bound to find something with this number of people searching.

Seki: ...... However, I do have one concern with this investigation.

Yui: A concern?

Seki: The estate was formerly occupied by a mystery novelist who spent their later years in that European manor before passing away over 10 years ago.

Word has it that the inside is full of riddles and trick mechanisms that he set up as part of his hobby.

Rei: R-Riddles and trick mechanisms?

Seki: Of course, we don’t know if the drugs could be hidden somewhere or not.

The only thing I was able to procure was a rough map of the estate.

Natsume: That rough map...... wouldn’t happen to have the key to solving the riddles, would it?

Seki: Absolutely nothing is recorded down.

Rei: !

Imaoji: ...... Looks like this case is going to prove to be quite tricky.

Yui: ...... Seems like it’s going to be an unforgiving site, but hang in there everyone.

Aoyama: You’re coming with us.

Natsume: It makes you not want to go at any cost, huh.

Rei: (No doubt, it sounds troublesome. But it would be way more of a hassle to deal with that large amount of drugs going around instead......)

Anyway, there’s no other way around it but to search with all we’ve got...... So I’ll do my best!

Seki: Yeah, I’m counting on you.

-Investigation & Planning Division-

Seki: Seeing as that’s just how it is, I want you all to finish up quickly for today and to go home and get a good rest.

The meeting is adjourned. Thanks for all your hard work everyone.

Everyone: Good work everyone.

Rei: ...... Okay!!

(For the time being, even if I can’t finish everything, I’ll keep going until I reach a good point to stop at......)

Seki: ...... Even though I said to finish up quickly...

It would be difficult to leave at this rate.

Rei: Huh? Seki-san?

As if it was something completely natural to do, Seki-san took a portion of my piled up work and carried it back with him.

Seki: I’ll help you out for a bit today.

Rei: No, no, no!? Out of the question!!

I was just really slow at working, so I’ll carry that responsibility and finish everything......

Aoyama: ...... Well, I guess I can’t push you around all I want if you’re in such a thoroughly worn out state.

I’ll be taking half of that pile, Seki-san.

Rei: !? No, wait......

Imaoji: Then I’ll take half of that portion.

Aoyama: I’ll leave this to you then. Izumi, what’s this?

Rei: Oh, that’s......

Yui: Right. That’s the material for updating the database. I asked Izumi to take care of it the day before yesterday because my hands were full at the time.

Aoyama: Then you can take this share, Kotaro.

Yui: Guess there’s no choice but to help you out...... You know...

This is perfect timing because I was just thinking that I’d like to know of Izumi’s latest blood platelet count.

Aoyama: There’s nothing “no choice” about it. It was originally your work to begin with.

Natsume: And in exchange, he’s fully brimming with intentions to extract Rei-chan’s blood.

Nothing less to expect, huh.

Rei: U-Um, everyone! Really, your thoughts alone are enough, so......

Natsume: The stack of resources piled up here—you’re not using them anymore, right?

Rei: Huh? Yeah.

Natsume: I’ll return these and bring you the next set while I’m at it.

But what work do you still have left on you?

Rei: Ummm...... Wait, that’s not it! Weren’t you about to leave, Natsume-kun?

Natsume: As it is, if it’s only me leaving without doing anything...

Then I feel like I’ll be dumped with more bothersome work from Itsuki-san starting tomorrow.

Rei: ......!

(...... Even though everyone’s coping with a workload much larger than my own…...)

(It’s cowardly and pathetic of me, but......)

On top of the obviously cleared up desk compared to before, I felt overwhelmingly touched from it all.

Rei: I’m sorry!! And I’m truly thankful to everyone!

I’m having you all spoil me for today, but I will repay this favor at tomorrow’s investigation!

Aoyama: You’ve gone and said it, so you better find the drugs at all costs, alright?

Rei: Yeah!

Imaoji: Please give it your all.

Rei: (I have to search with everything I’ve got, and be even just a little bit useful!!)

-At the same time-

-Kujo Household: Living Room-

Kujo: ...... Concerning the matter of your suspicions, I have taken measures against the unnecessary baggage in question.

Granted that it exists or not, you need not worry anymore.

Woman: Thank you very much. Please do see this through for me.

And what about that other thing......?

Kujo: ...... That is also something you need not trouble yourself over.

We will hold accountability and find it for you.

-The Next Day; Afternoon-

-European Manor-

Natsume: Oh, I’m starting to see it...... Is it that one over there?

Seki: Yeah, it appears so.

Rei: So that’s the trick house loaded with riddles......

Sugano: Oh, they’re here!

Heeyyy, good job coming guys!

Arakida: ...... Thanks for coming.

Rei: Oh, thanks for coming as well...... Wait. Huh!?

Kyosuke: Morning, Rei-san.

Makoto: ......

The owner of this manor was a mystery novelist by the name of Helman Paul.

It wasn't yet made public, but his life had come to a close after his suicide—a suicide that left doubts to be had.

It would seem that it became a cold case for STAND to handle.

And the fact that the two from the CIU First Division had to hastily join up with us was because they received notification of such. However......

Aoyama: Why are the Tsuduki brothers here as well?

Sugano: Well, let’s just say it’s a long story with such and such happening!

Kyosuke: Ahaha, yeah, pretty much.

Rei: No, wait, what......

Seki: (...... I see. I’m not sure as to the reasons or details behind it.)

(But when Hattori-san had said, “I’ve also sent in reinforcements besides those two”......)

(He must’ve meant this.)

-European Manor-

Makoto: There’s no reason to draw out all this explaining. We simply followed instructions and came here.

Sugano: Not sure what sort of riddles there are gonna be.

But isn’t having Sensei here super reassuring?

Natsume: I guess that’s true......

Makoto: I agreed on the condition that I be allowed to freely gather research material for myself.

I will carry out my end of the terms.

However, I’m letting you know ahead of time that I have no intention of completely following all of your instructions.

Aoyama: (...... In other words, your main goal in coming here was to gather research material.)

Yui: Well, regardless of what his objective is, I understand why he’s being included considering his character.

What I don’t understand is......

Kyosuke: Oh. I was allowed to accompany my brother as his support just in case.

Seki: As his support, huh......

Kyosuke: I was thinking, like, what if he ends up becoming way too caught up with gathering research?

So I was worried about letting him go on his own, and it just happened to be my day off!

Rei: (...... Makoto-san, as compensation for your far too brilliant mind...)

(Your reflexes are somewhat, you know. But when was it that Kyosuke-kun had said that again......)

...... There will be unforeseen tricks set up so there’s also the danger of falling into a trap hole and all.

Having a support role is essential.

Kyosuke: Right?

Makoto: ...... This goes without saying every time, but what exactly do you take me for?

Rei: N-No, t-that's not it! Naturally, I think it’s a situation that could equally happen to anyone here!!

Seki: Haha...... Well, anyways. Since a promising hand has come to lend us help now...

Shall we make haste and go inside?