nhp | (Sutamai) Character Main Story - Hattori You, Vol 0 Ch 1

1.1.

There’s a dream that I see over and over again.

A dream that I’m a coelacanth sleeping in the deep sea where the light doesn’t reach.

As a result of my unchanging environment, I’ve survived for a prolonged 350 million years.

What would happen if I were to move from this spot? What if I were to go all the way to a place where the light touches?

… I would vanish to the bottom of the ocean… Perhaps that isn’t a bad idea either.

* * *

-Outside the hospital-

Hattori: …

Right as I left the hospital, I frowned at the sunlight brightly blazing down from above.

The distinctive borderline between the shade and sunshine caused me to hesitate to set foot over it.

Hattori: (It’s always like this whenever I come.)

(A place that’s dead center in the city, but far away from society…)

As if daydreaming, what dragged my hazy consciousness back to reality was a single phone call.

[Ring ring]

Sugano: “Hey!! It’s me!”

Hattori: … Ngh.

Unconsciously, I moved the phone away from my ear at that energetic voice that was enough to sound like the person himself would come flying out.

Sugano: “Where you at right now, You-san?”

Hattori: Out on some minor business.

I vaguely responded with the knowledge that it didn’t answer his question as to my whereabouts.

Maybe it was because he was fully aware of my personality, but he didn’t try to pursue it any further.

Sugano: “There’s an internal call coming from the higher-ups. It’s about the schedule for the next dinner outing…”

Hattori: Gee, it’s almost surprising how much I don’t want to take that call.

On the edge of my vision, I caught sight of a familiar face.

While lightly signalling the guy with my eyes, I gave out instructions to Natsuki over on the other end of the line.

Hattori: Deal with it however you see fit.

Sugano: “Yeaaah, me winging it isn’t gonna help. Hey, You-san—”

I tapped the end call button on Natsuki as he was in the middle of speaking.

The guy came closer this way, and began to casually walk alongside me.

Guy: What’s up?

Hattori: And how are we doing today?

His name was Fujikawa Shin—alias, “Nobu”.

On the surface, he was the store manager for a second-hand clothes shop that stocked directly from overseas.

But underneath that front…

Nobu: So I’ve heard that the “No-Name Case” is safely cased-closed? Well, I’ll be damned.

Hattori: You’re as quick to get wind of things as ever.

(That’s just what I’d expect of an accomplished mole.)

Nobu was an informant and a long-time acquaintance of mine.

Using his shop’s irregular closing days to his advantage, he would hop around in and out of the country gathering intel that he would then provide me with.

Today, I called him out to meet up in front of this hospital in order to take care of a particular matter.

Nobu: Where are we heading now?

Hattori: A certain pharmacy.

Nobu: When you say pharmacy, you mean your average drugstore, or…?

Hattori: It’s a respectable one that sells medicine based on ethical principles.

There’s someone there whose identity I’d like confirmed, so I want you to get a look at them from outside.

Nobu: Like a police lineup, huh… I take it they’re a suspect of some sort then?

Hattori: Nope. They’re simply a key figure in this case.

… I suppose they’re a person who could become a big deal.

When I happened to glance up at the sky, the sun was being covered by a thick cloud.

The border separating the shade and sunshine had also at some point disappeared, and I took a huge step forward.

1.2.

-Pharmacy-

Rei: Thanks for covering me on my break.

Ayako: Oh, hey, welcome back.

After finishing up a late lunch, I returned to my workplace.

I’ve been working at “Natsu-Ha Pharmacy” for two years post obtaining my license as a pharmacist, and getting into the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at a mid-ranking university.

I was blessed with connections, and was living out my days peacefully.

Ayako: I’m gonna head on my break now too, ‘kay?

Rei: No worries, take your time.

I saw off my coworker, and went to stand behind the counter.

It wasn’t as hectic as it was during the morning, but the patients who were done getting a checkup were gradually trickling in.

Rei: With your medications for today, the prescription is the exact same as last time.

An antebate ointment, 150g—

And a lidomex kowa ointment, 180g.

Please use both morning and night, for either of them.

Female patient: Okay, I will. Thanks.

Rei: How’s your skin looking?

Female patient: It’s doing alright. By the way…

She was looking around the place restlessly.

Female patient: Is that hunky pharmacist guy not here?

Rei: Hunky… pharmacist guy?

Female patient: The tall one with the suave vibe…

Rei: Oh, right…

(I wonder if she means Mano-san.)

“Mano Takumi” was my boss, and a veteran pharmacist.

That middle-aged stud look of his made him a hot topic even at the hospital, and there wasn't a lack of patients (women) after him as well.

Female patient: So he’s not in today. What a shame…

I’ll drop by again sometime!

Rei: Thank you for coming…

(There’s obviously no way I can leak personal info just like that.)

When I breathed a sigh of relief, I was greeted by a different male customer.

??? (Hattori): Hey. Mind if I ask you a little something?

Rei: Sure, go ahead.

(How long has he been standing there for…)

(Not to mention, he’s every bit of a hunk as Mano-san!)

I hushed my slightly throbbing chest, and plastered on my work face.

Rei: Are you looking for something?

??? (Hattori): Meds for drowsiness.

Rei: Drowsiness… What sort of symptoms are they?

??? (Hattori): I’m sleepy no matter how much shut-eye I get.

Rei: There’s a possibility that it’s hypersomnia.

I suggest that you first get a doctor’s diagnosis.

??? (Hattori): Goodness. Also, there are times when I badly start to crave sweets.

Rei: That could be a sign of fatigue.

In which case, taking supplements comprised of vitamins or minerals is also—

The easygoing atmosphere and relaxed conversation left me with a somewhat strange feeling.

Still, as a pharmacist, I offered him every suitable approach that I could possibly think of.

Rei: If you’re a smoker, then it’s for the best that you take vitamins.

As for the hypersomnia, I really do think you should have that looked at…

??? (Hattori): Riiight. Thanks for the helpful advice.

Let me tell you something neat in return.

Rei: Something… neat?

He then leaned all the way forward over the counter.

When I went to move back out of reflex at how close we were…

His low and steady voice stopped me in my tracks.

??? (Hattori): You’re better off not joining the NCD.

Rei: … Huh?

(What did he just say…?)

??? (Hattori): There’s a chance that you could even come across unexpected danger. That’s what it means to work there.

Rei: …

(He really was talking about the NCD.)

The remark was so far-fetched that I thought I had heard him wrong.

But he was uttering the word all naturally, like we were chit-chatting over supplements or something.

??? (Hattori): Whether there’ll be any value in it or not for you to toss aside the quiet life you have right now…

Be sure to discern that with your own eyes, real good.

He said only that, and then promptly exited the store.

When I followed him with my eyes for a while, I saw him meeting up with another guy, and the both of them left together.

Rei: …

What the heck was that all about…

I stood there dumbfounded for some time, but eventually, I came to my senses.

I peeked into the back room to see if the other staff members had overheard our conversation.

But everyone was crazy focused on their own work, and it didn’t look like they had the luxury to spare for that.

Rei: (Why would he tell me not to join the NCD? Does that mean he’s from there too?)

(For starters, it’s not something you can join just because you want to…)

The Narcotics Control Department—AKA the “NCD”.

Special judicial police officers belonging to the drug management branch under the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare—agents that hammered down on drug-related crimes.

On top of having no guarantee that they’d be recruiting every year, the fixed number of employees was low compared to that of other government workers. It was an incredibly difficult position to land.

Rei: (I did have a period where I longed to be one, but… in the end, I gave up on the idea.)

They certainly wouldn’t come scouting someone who failed to get in just because a spot opened up.

Anyhow, that person came to warn me that I was better off not joining.

Rei: (Seriously, nothing is making any sense!)

(He sure was a mysterious person in every way though.)

I wondered if this was what it meant to feel like you were being thrown for a loop.

* * *

But as proof that it wasn’t a dream…

The bittersweet scent of tobacco that had been coming off from his shirt hung faintly in the air.