nhp | (Sutamai) 'Tonight, You and I Will Unravel a Mystery ♥', Part 3

EVENT STORY INDEX

15.

-European Manor: Hall-

Yui: That is unacceptable.

If you’re going to involve Izumi, then I demand you present me with a suitable justification.

Aoyama: Just who exactly do you think you are......

Sugano: C’mon, think about it.

Isn’t it better to also have someone who actually heard something come along just in case?

If the sound is coming from some ghost that I can't see or hear...

Then I can’t confirm its source.

Rei: ...... I can’t exactly say that I’m fully on board with the idea based on that reasoning, but......

Kyosuke: Then I’m coming too.

Rei: Huh?

Kyosuke: “Isn’t it better to also have someone who actually heard something come along”?

-European Manor: Second Floor Corridor-

The thought that if something were to happen to Kyosuke-kun, who was only helping out with the investigation as a support, was what made Seki-san to somewhat show his disapproval.

However, in the end......

It was decided that the members who would go up to the second floor were the three of us—me, Sugano-kun, and Kyosuke-kun.

Sugano: ...... Okay, no one here.

Rei: ...... I’m going up first.

Kyosuke: Yeah, be careful.

While speaking at an even lowered whisper than before, the three of us headed up towards the second floor corridor.

Rei: (...... There’s no one here.)

(But I feel...... a presence for some reason.)

Sugano: ......

Kyosuke: ......

The hairs on the back of our necks were raised with every step we took. That’s when we started hearing it... The sudden murmurs.

???: ...... is...... n’t… that it?

Rei: !!

Kyosuke & Sugano: !

All at once, we shared a look of understanding—and in a flash, the air became tense.

Rei: (This room...... There’s somebody in it!?)

Sugano: ......

As he remained focused on his surroundings and the door in sight, Sugano-kun reached deep into his pocket.

And with his other hand, he signalled low to us.

Deciding that he meant for us to “get down”, Kyosuke-kun and I slowly but steadily took several steps back.

Sugano: (...... If there are only three people at max, then this should do the trick.)

(I may be armed, but still, if there are more than four people...... Well, whatever happens, happens.)

Rei: ...... Let’s go down to the first floor and let everyone know.

Kyosuke: ......

It happened when Kyosuke-kun was whispering his okay into our ears with a troubled expression.

[CLICK]

Rei: !

(Crap!)

As I went to try and cover him in the spur of the moment, my arm was forcefully pulled from behind me faster than I could turn around.

Kyosuke: ...... Sorry.

Rei: (Kyosuke-kun!?)

17.

-European Manor: Second Floor Corridor-

In an effort to hide me, Kyosuke-kun had pulled me behind himself so that his back was facing me.

Sugano: ......

Up against whoever was emerging from behind the door...

I witnessed Sugano-kun swing low at them with something at a frightening speed, and with no hesitation.

???: WOAH!?

However, the person caught at the end of that hand was...... someone completely unexpected.

Sugano: Oh?

Shindo: Hey...... What’s the meaning of this?

Rei: S-Shindo-san!?

Kaname: ...... Oh, there you are.

Kyosuke: Huh? Kana-kun as well!

Rei: W-What’s going on here? Why are you two......

Kaname: Well, a lot of things happened.

Sugano: Uh-huh. Yeah, you’re gonna have to elaborate on that bit just a little~

Shindo: ...... We’ll explain everything.

So could you cut it out and drop that ridiculously sized fork already?

Sugano: Oh, sorry.

Rei: So it was a fork......

Kaname: (The tip was focused at his eyeballs. If that had hit its mark then he would’ve been on his way to going blind.)

It’s a good thing you grabbed his arm, Kiyoshi-san.

Shindo: ...... No, just now, that was......

Sugano: Oh, don’t worry, I made sure to stop in time!

Shindo: ......

Kaname: (...... This person appears to be normal-looking, but he could actually be someone dangerous.)

Rei: A-Anyway, everyone else is in the hall.

L-Let’s all go downstairs for now.

Sugano: Right~ So now that we’ve cleared that up, come along everyone.

Rei: (Phew...... But I’m sure glad that he wasn’t stabbed by the fork.)

(Also......)

...... Kyosuke-kun.

Kyosuke: Yes?

Kyosuke-kun had been walking slightly ahead.

He then slowed down his pace a little and lined himself next to me.

Rei: Thanks for covering me before. Even though I was supposed to be the one protecting you......

Kyosuke: ...... I’m sorry.

Rei: Huh?

Kyosuke: I ignored your instructions about informing Seki-san and the others......

Rei: (...... So I didn’t hear him wrong before.)

19.

-European Manor: Corridor-

Rei: ...... I don’t think it’s right for me to tell you not to mind it all.

But just for today, don’t let it get to you too much.

Kyosuke: But......

Rei: I’m not yet at a point where I can just tell you to “follow my instructions at all times” either.

And that's because I don’t have confidence in my decisions.

So in the end, I’m glad no one was hurt.

Kyosuke: ......

Rei: But I’m going to work hard so that I’m able to get angry enough to yell at you to trust me one of these days.

If possible, I want you to also have faith in me next time, Kyosuke-kun.

Kyosuke: ...... Okay.

Rei: Oh, but everyone else really is capable!

So it’s not “if possible”, but “please do believe in them” and follow their instructions accordingly!

Kyosuke: Ahaha, okay. No worries. I’ll do just that.

...... That aside, I pulled on you quite strongly and forcefully before. Sorry. Is your arm okay?

Rei: Oh, yeah, not a problem!

You’re pretty strong, Kyosuke-kun. I was a little taken aback.

Kyosuke: Ahaha, is that so?

(...... It was done in the spur of the moment, so it wasn’t as if I was aiming to make her feel self-conscious over it.)

(But she sure is calm even though I did suddenly embrace her with all that I had......)

I did train quite a bit for a filming the other day after all.

Rei: Oh! Yeah, that makes sense. I guess you did say that you practised some sort of martial arts.

(...... Now that I really think about it…… Even though you could call it an on-the-spot situation...)

(I was completely saved by one of the most popular actors in a rather amazing way just now.)

(Even though we've been moving around in the same dust-filled space, he had a really nice smell coming off of him......)

......!

(H-Hotties are beings that produce a nice smell in the f-first place anyway!!)

(There’s no reason to get all flustered over the truth of such universal knowledge, now of all times!! End of discussion!!!)

Kyosuke: (...... Maybe not?)

-After regrouping-

-European Manor: Hall-

Rei: ...... So the both of you have come to this manor to conduct a search per Kujo-san’s request?

Kaname: Yep. But what we’re looking for aren’t drugs, but a “wedding present”.

Arakida: A wedding present......?

Sugano: Wow, all of a sudden, a rather unexpected word is popping up~

Shindo: Whether it exists or not, it’s still a suspicious item.

The current owner of this manor came forth with the proposal as a condition for the transfer of rights for this place.

20.

-European Manor: Hall-

Natsume: The current owner?

Kaname: That would be Helman Paul’s one and only daughter.

Rei: His daughter......?

Seki: ......

Shindo: It’s a story from almost 20 years ago.

Apparently it’s something the novelist prepared in advance when her engagement was decided.

To begin with, you couldn’t exactly say that their relationship was any good by a long shot. Conversation had also been sparse between father and daughter.

He had become estranged from her since quite some time ago before her marriage.

Of course, she had no idea in the least that he had prepared such a present in advance.

Thanks to the letter that her mother had left her when she passed away from sickness last month, she was made aware of its existence for the first time.

That was apparently how the story went.

Kaname: So according to that letter, it’s probably still hidden away somewhere inside this manor.

Aoyama: Hidden away?

Shindo: I quote, “There’s no way that stubborn man would’ve just put it into safekeeping like normal” is what his daughter said.

Rei: (I see. So that’s why Kaname-kun and Shindo-san were chosen to be dispatched.)

But Kujo-san didn’t mention any word of this......

Seki: ...... No, personally speaking, he did mention it to me.

Rei: Huh? Really!?

Seki: “There's no reason to go out of your way to dampen the spirits of the members for the investigation with an unrelated matter.”

That’s what he said to stop me from telling everyone.

However, I didn't hear of anything as far as the two of you coming here today to look for something.

Shindo: That’s because we were initially told to not interfere with the investigation.

And to withdraw before noon hits.

Kaname: It took a while to open up the desk drawer in the library before we could leave.

Shindo: ...... But I didn’t think that because of that, I would have something come after my eyes.

Sugano: Ahaha, that was a close call~

Arakida: It’s not a laughing matter.

Rei: By the way, when did you two get here?

We were on the first floor but we didn’t even notice the front door being opened......

Kaname: We were here long before you and everyone else arrived. Since early this morning, in fact.

Rei: What!?

Sugano: But you weren’t anywhere when we first arrived and did an immediate scout of the manor......

Shindo: That’s because we’ve been in the underground library up until now.

Yui: Underground library?

Natsume: Was something like that anywhere on the map?

Shindo: We went down via the hidden staircase in the study room on the second floor.

Although it didn’t have either of what we were looking for or what you were all looking for.

Seki: Is that so......

Kyosuke: Have you checked over everything once already, Kana-kun?

Kaname: No, not yet.

We were just in the middle of thinking of what to do since we don’t have enough time and all.

Kyosuke: I see......

Seki: ...... In that case...

If it’s alright with you two…...

Shindo: ?

Seki: Why don’t we split the work between everyone here and search for both items?

Kaname: ...... You mean like cooperating?

21.

-European Manor: Hall-

Shindo: Us two amateurs won’t amount to much in terms of helping.

And I think we’ll just be a burden on you all.

Kaname: (...... He’s using pretty words but he’s just hoping to head home for the day.)

Shindo: (It’s after work hours from this point onward. Like hell I’m going to do overtime for free.)

Seki: ...... As the person in charge here...

I have a duty to do everything in my power to solve this case within the shortest time available.

I would feel apologetic towards people whom I truly believe would “just be a burden”.

But then again, I would not be able to offer this sort of proposition either.

Shindo: ......

Seki: This is not a one-sided offer of help.

I hope to have you fully lend us your assistance. How about it?

Natsume: (...... He’s smiling and he's being gentle, but…...)

Arakida: (That unknown pressure is something else......)

Aoyama: (That technique of his that renders others unable to refuse is probably in part due to him being in the Ministry.)

Shindo: (...... He appears amiable, but he’s a cunning man.)

-European Manor: Hall-

Thus, we welcomed our other two comrades and divided the work between everyone. We even went as far as to search every nook and cranny of the manor.

However…...

Aoyama: Did you find anything on your end?

Rei: No luck...... Nothing in the second floor kids room, study room or bedrooms. Absolutely nothing......

Sugano: I found two piano keys though~

Natsume: Oh. I think we also spotted some as well.

Kyosuke: I brought them with me just in case.

Kaname: Come to think of it, there was one in the kitchen too. And I think in the entranceway maybe?

Rei: Should I go fetch it for the time being? Whereabouts is it?

Kaname: I’ll go with you.

Yui: (...... Piano keys, huh......)

23.

-European Manor: Hall-

Kyosuke: By the way, about my brother...

We’ve been neglecting him this whole time, but do you think he’s doing okay?

Arakida: Yeah...... I accompanied him to the car before.

He said that after he's recovered himself to a certain degree...

He’ll temporarily return to the city to buy a mask.

Kyosuke: A mask? But I brought a spare with me though~

Natsume: Or rather, even though he was that lifeless, he still hasn’t given up on gathering research material.

Aoyama: Well, that’s most likely because he only came here for that purpose.

Without being able to find either the drugs or the wedding present, it gradually became darker outside.

Rei: ...... The rain’s starting to come down pretty hard, huh.

Natsume: The typhoon isn’t going to directly hit us, but it’s apparently going to come real close around tonight.

Sugano: Woah, sounds like it’s gonna be a full-on thrill ride back down the mountain road~

Arakida: ......

Aoyama: What should we do, Seki-san?

Seki: Whatever the case, we can’t afford to waste anymore time.

Just as Aoyama-san and Seki-san began to discuss our time limit for the case with a grim expression...

Kyosuke: ...... Oh?

Rei: Is something wrong?

Kyosuke: No, it’s just that we’ve collected 5 piano keys altogether.

But only one has some sort of marking-like thing carved into it.

Yui: ...... A marking?

Kyosuke: Yeah, it doesn’t seem to be just some scratch...... Do you think it’s the Katakana “ki”? Maybe?

Katakana “ki” looks like this: キ

Sugano: No, isn’t the vertical stroke slanting in the opposite direction?

Kaname: If you ask me, it’s more of a “not equal” sign.

Yui: ...... As I thought, there’s more to it.

Rei: Yui-san?

Yui-san approached the piano with a peculiar expression. Intrigued by this, I followed after him.

Yui: Izumi. Do you know what sounds the missing piano keys make?

Rei: Huh? Oh, yeah. Um, I think this one here is probably “Do”, so......

Starting from the bottom, I think it’s “La Re Mi Mi Mi”......

Oh!!

Yui: What’s wrong?

Rei: Kyosuke-kun!

Could you lend me that piano key with the marking for a sec?

Kyosuke: Huh? Sure.

Here you go.

Rei: Thanks...... Yep, just as I thought.

Look here, Yui-san.

Yui: ......?

Rei: From the top, it’s the second “Mi”.

And on the actual piece as well, there’s a similar-looking marking.

Katakana “mi” looks like this: ミ (similar to “ki”)

24.

-European Manor: Hall-

Sugano: What, no way. Wow, you’re right!

Aoyama: Does that mean that this piano key was pulled out from there?

Rei: Possibly......

Natsume: If we look closely, maybe there’s something written on the other piano keys as well?

Shindo: ...... No, that was the only one different from the rest.

Kaname: ......

Yui: ...... “La Re Mi Mi Mi”, “Mi Mi Mi Re La”......

Kyosuke: My brother isn’t picking up his phone so he could be driving at the moment.

For the time being, I’ll let him know our current situation via LIME.

Rei: Thanks. If you could......

GAAAH!?

Arakida: !!

You...... Could you stop with that sort of reaction?

Rei: S-Sorry...... But, um......

Natsume: What is it now?

Rei: Er, o-over there. There’s a cursed doll inside the piano......

Inside the half-opened lid of the piano, and in a corner that completely happened to be a blind spot from the front looking in...

There, silently sitting, was a doll with what could only be called an eerie smile on its face.

Sugano: Oh yeah, that would really give one a shock~ Even I let out a sound before.

Rei: Please share that sort of information with the rest of us!!

Shindo: ...... It’s a German doll.

Natsume: That’s something you really wouldn’t want to make eye contact with in the dark.

Sugano: If you look closely though, it’s surprisingly cute.

Aoyama: No, I don’t think so......

Rei: (Actually, I’d rather not look too closely...... But that’s not something I should be saying......)

I nervously took the doll out from inside the piano and examined it.

Kyosuke: Oh, you’ve actually got a point there. On a closer look, the clothes it’s wearing is kind of cute.

It’s got a music note pattern, or more precisely, a musical score?

Seki: There’s something embroidered on the hat......

Kaname: ...... I think it says “ADELE”.

Rei: Maybe it’s the doll’s name?

Kaname: Probably.

Yui: ...... German......

Of course! I get it now!

Aoyama: Woah, what the hell? Don’t suddenly shout out like that.

Yui: It’s in German pitch notation!

Aoyama: Come again?

Rei: German pitch notation??

[CLICK]

Makoto: ...... Correct you are, Yui Kotaro.

Rei: !?

Kyosuke: Brother!

Aoyama: (I get why the mask, but......)

Sugano: (Sunglasses.)

Natsume: (Why the sunglasses?)

Arakida: (Isn’t it dangerous if he can’t see in front of him since it's dark?)

Kaname: (...... That surprised me. I thought it was a suspicious person.)

Shindo: (There really isn’t anyone here who’s not a weirdo.)

Seki: (Tsuduki-san, does the dust affect your eyes as well......?)

Makoto: If we convert it into German pitch notation, then it’s “CDEFGAHC”.

In other words, the missing piano keys spell out “ADEEE”.

Yui: ...... Of course......

So that’s how it is. I’ve connected all the dots!

Rei: (Oh wow...... I’m pretty sure everyone’s wondering the same thing.)

(But no one’s commenting on it because of the way things are going, so I guess we’re just moving on then!!)