nhp | (Sutamai) Character Main Story - Arakida Sosei, Vol 0 Ch 4

CHAPTER INDEX

4.1.

-CIU First Division-

“The case of the woman-hater bringing home a woman”.

That was the name given to the incident from the other day, courtesy of Natsuki.

And sure enough, in the blink of an eye, it became common knowledge throughout the First Division.

Sugano: Man, oh man, was it an unbelievable sight!

Arakida: … I’m telling you, you’ve got it wrong.

Asagiri: I didn’t expect you to be that sort of guy, Sosei…

How despicable.

Hattori: The “lady-killer of the police department” lives up to his name, huh.

So I’m taking it that your wolf instincts have finally awakened then?

Arakida: *Sigh*…

(The more I deny it, the more they get a kick out of it…)

In the end, by the time I resigned myself and left it to be, the conversation had come full circle.

* * *

-CIU First Division-

Around the time when it belatedly became old news, and almost completely forgotten about…

The suspects for the murders occurring in District S were pinned down.

Simultaneously, it was followed by a further nasty truth.

Arakida: The bunch are involved in a drug smuggling ring…?

Hattori: What a pickle. Now then, how do you suppose this will turn out?

In other words…

Arakida: We’re gonna clash with the NCD…

Hattori: Bingo—well done.

Wanna hand over the case to them?

Arakida: … No.

Hattori: Figures, huh.

Then hurry up and reel one in.

If you come back with nothing on you…

I’ll slam you down into that ditch over there.

Arakida: (… Is he seriously trying to kill me or what?)

This incident was one that I’ve been desperately investigating on my end as well.

Even without You-san’s threat, there was no way I was going to ever pass it up to the NCD.

Arakida: (I’m just completing the job that was given to me.)

(Nothing more, nothing less.)

… I’m off to investigate.

Sugano: Here, here! I’m coming with you!

Arakida: Don’t.

Hattori: See ya. Be sure to properly look out for him.

Sugano: Leave it to moi.

Arakida: (… They’re speaking as if I’m the one being supervised.)

(Christ, how did it come to this…)

* * *

-Warehouse-

The suspects’ hideout was shortly identified thereafter.

Several agents were mobilised, and preparations were made to take them into custody for certain tonight.

Sugano: “Come in, Sosei-san! Another one’s headed your way!”

Arakida: … I’m on their tail!!

Sugano: “I’ll go around from the other side and back you up!”

Arakida: (Tsukasa-san’s group is over on the north side of the building. You-san and the others are on the west…)

In my head, I went over the positions we discussed in advance as I ran.

Arakida: … Got it.

The guy fleeing before my eyes wasn’t particularly that fast.

He had a physique that appeared to require a bit of effort to arrest single-handedly.

But if Natsuki was coming to provide support, then it didn’t seem all that difficult to do.

Large Dude: SHIT!

Arakida: Give it up—!!

I stretched out my arm and grabbed his collar.

Following on, I knocked him down with all my might and bore my weight on him with everything I had.

Large Dude: FUCK OFF!!

Arakida: … Tch!

The guy desperately fought back, and reached inside his pocket.

Just as I was doubting that action—in the next instant—a bullet whizzed right past my ear.

Arakida: (… Hell, he was hiding away something that dangerous on him?)

For a split second, I faltered in my judgment.

Maybe I had let my guard down somewhere.

The arm I was pinning him down with loosened up slightly, and the guy shoved me off.

Arakida: (Shit—!)

Sugano: SOSEI-SAN!

… Right as I was about to counter-attack, Natsuki came leaping into view.

He was advancing this way in order to apprehend the guy who shook me off, head-on.

Natsuki had yet to realise it.

That the guy was still gripping the gun in his hand.

Large Dude: OUTTA MY WAY!!

Sugano: Like I’m gonna let ya—!!

Arakida: I-It’s no use, Natsu—

The barrel of the gun was pointed at Natsuki.

My heart thumped loudly.

4.2.

-Warehouse-

Sugano: … U-Uuh!

Arakida: (… Don’t, Natsuki.)

(You can’t…)

My heart was beating frantically.

My legs were glued to the spot, and my body wouldn’t move an inch.

Everything I was seeing was moving in slow motion.

{White screen}

… The muzzle flash burst within the depths of my eyes.

What was reality and my memory overlapped perfectly.

Arakida: (No, stop—)

“YOU CAN’T, AKUTAGAWA—!!”

{Fade to black}

It was my fault again.

I’ve had more than enough of feeling like this.

That was why I tried to be careful to not get close to anyone… Didn’t I?

Rei: … ARAKIDA-SAN!

A ringing voice drummed inside my ears.

All at once, I was dragged back to reality and came to my senses.

Rei: GET DOWN!

Arakida: … Guh!

At some point, Izumi was right there.

The bullet that she fired off sent the gun in the guy’s hand scattering.

Large Dude: Gurgh…!

Sugano: … C-Close call!

Nice cover, Rei!

My body was regaining sensation all over.

The guy then dashed towards Izumi.

I sucked in a deep breath, and kicked off from the ground.

Large Dude: MOVE IT!!

Rei: …!

The guy charged forth like he was going to send everything flying, including Izumi.

Arakida: (Not on my watch, you don’t—!)

… STAND BACK, IZUMI!

Rei: O-Okay…!

Large Dude: What the… Why the hell are you so fast…!?

In the time that Izumi pulled back, I swooped in and seized the guy.

I held fast onto his arm as I twisted his upper body.

Large Dude: !?

I flung his huge frame that I was carrying on my back down onto the concrete.

A massive thud shook throughout the base of my feet.

Large Dude: U-Uuugh…

Sugano: Woah, wicked! You wrapped things up neatly with a one-hit over-the-shoulder throw!

Arakida: … Don’t struggle any further!

Large Dude: Hngh…!

The guy was writhing around on the ground in pain.

I jumped onto his back and made sure to pin him down this time for good.

Arakida: … Give it up.

I twisted his hands behind his back and firmly secured both of his wrists.

Although he put up a fight, perhaps he figured that he definitely wasn’t going to be able to make a run for it anymore, so he soon went limp.

Sugano: Actually, why are you here, Rei?

Rei: These people are being suspected of smuggling drugs, so…

We’ve also been looking into it, you know.

Sugano: But because of that, I was saved. Thanks~

Right, Sosei-san?

Arakida: … Yeah.

Rei: Not at all. Same here.

Aoyama: Izumi! You okay!?

Imaoji: We heard a gunshot…

Rei: I’ve got a hold of one of them!

… I m-mean, Arakida-san does…

Aoyama: I guess we’re butting heads, after all.

Imaoji: We spotted a patrol car, so we did give thought to the possibility.

Arakida: …………

The NCD bunch were assembling one after another.

Seemingly, from the looks of it, they had come out here in full force as well.

Sugano: Let me give you a hand there, Sosei-san.

Arakida: … No, it’s fine.

… I’ll deal with cleaning up after this.

Aoyama: There should still be guys that haven’t been caught remaining.

If we stand around idling here then they may get away.

Rei: You’re right. We’ve got to make haste…!

Imaoji: Let’s go.

The NCD guys then left in a hurry.

Arakida: You too, Natsuki.

Sugano: Oh… Roger that!

After running off like he was chasing them down, Natsuki temporarily stopped in his tracks and turned back to look at me.

Sugano: Hey, Sosei-san…

Arakida: … My bad.

Sugano: U-Ummm…

About before, who’s “Akutagawa”?

Arakida: …………

You’re just hearing things.

Sugano: Yeah, totally—of course.

Arakida: Hurry up and go help out Tsukasa-san’s group.

Sugano: On it!

Arakida: …………

This time for sure, Natsuki darted off.

While I was holding down the guy, the thoughts swirling around in the back of my head didn’t stop.

Arakida: (I was right. It’s no good.)

(Things like being friendly with someone more than necessary or getting comfortable with them…)

(I’m not suited to that sort of stuff.)

The air that I sucked into my lungs immediately became heavy.

… And the deep breath I heaved out felt like lead.

* * *

-Downtown-

Just as planned, we succeeded in capturing every last one of them that was in hiding.

The restrained suspects were being huddled into the patrol car one after another, and taken to the police station.

Rei: U-Umm, Arakida-san…

Are you hurt anywhere?

Arakida: … What?

Oh, yeah, this isn’t mine. It probably belongs to that guy who was struggling.

I lightly wiped away the blood on the surface of my hand.

Rei: I’m hoping that’s the case.

It felt like your movements were odd when you were rounding them up, so… it bothered me a bit.

Arakida: …………

(What the hell am I doing…)

(I have no right to be treated kindly by anyone.)

(There’s nothing to be gained from worrying about me… Not a zilch.)

It’s no big deal—just the usual.

It’s not something you need to pay any mind to.

I shortly answered with only a denial.

It was half close to being a plea.

Arakida: (… I’m fed up with being the one at fault in causing trouble for others.)

(I’m begging you here… Just leave me alone.)

Rei: …………

Arakida: …………

Izumi abruptly went quiet at my reply.

Even though I was the one to shut her out, for some reason, a stinging pain ran through my chest at that silence.

Rei: Sorry I asked you something weird.

Arakida: …………

Seki: Izumi!

Could you gather around here for a minute?

Rei: Oh, sure!

Well then, please excuse me.

Izumi gave a small bow and then left my side.

Sugano: … Sosei-san~!

Arakida: …………

In her place, Natsuki called out to me.

Evidently, it seemed like he was telling me to get into the vacant car with him.

… But at the moment, I just couldn’t work up the energy to respond at all.

I pretended to not notice him, and all the while lowering my eyes…

I hopped into a different car parked closeby.