(Sutamai) Character Main Story - Hattori You, Vol 0 Ch 2

[nhp]

CHAPTER INDEX

 

2.1.

 

-Several days later-

 

-Pharmacy-

 

Mano: I see here that it’ll be the same as last time with the ursodiol.

Take one tablet at a time, three times a day.

 

Male patient: Got it.

 

Mano: How’s your liver doing?

 

Male patient: So-so, I guess…

But after switching to that diet you suggested to me before, my numbers have been looking pretty good.

 

Mano: That’s excellent news. Do take care of yourself.

 

 

Mano-san saw off the patient with a beaming smile.

 

That courteous customer service of his was a huge hit, regardless of gender.

 

 

Rei: (I should follow in his example.)

 

Mano: Could I leave you in charge of the counter for a bit, Izumi-san? There’s medicine that I want to run an inventory check on.

 

Rei: Sure, go do your thing.

 

Mano: Thanks. You’re my lifesaver, as always.

 

Rei: (Oh, wow…)

 

 

His refreshing smile was dazzling.

 

Granted that it wasn’t something you could call a romantic attraction, I did harbour feelings of admiration for him.

 

 

Rei: (Forty-one years old and a suave hunk. He also has a kind and cheery personality… There’s no way he’s not popular.)

(Actually, was he a bachelor?)

(I don’t think I’ve ever seen him with a ring on…)

 

Ayako: REI!! REI!!!

 

Rei: Wha—!?

 

 

Ayako came dashing into the store.

 

No sooner had she grabbed my shoulders that she was shaking them, seemingly trembling with excitement. 

 

 

Ayako: WHERE THE HELL DID YOU FIND SUCH A GREAT CATCH!??

 

Rei: Great… catch?

 

 

According to her story, she was apparently stopped in the parking lot on her way back from the hospital.

 

 

Ayako: He asked me if there was a Miss Izumi Rei at our pharmacy.

I thought he was a model or something! He was tall, and like, a major hottie… 

Gosh, if you knew someone like that, you should’ve mentioned it to me way sooner!

 

Rei: A tall hottie on par with being a model…

(Could it be…)

 

{Flashback}

 

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

 

{End flashback}

 

Rei: Did that person… smell of cigarettes?

 

Ayako: Cigarettes? I didn’t pay any attention to that… 

Anyway, he’s waiting in the carpark, so go on and chat to him.

 

Rei: But my work here—

 

Ayako: I’LL MAN THE COUNTER FOR YOU! YOU STILL HAVEN’T GONE ON BREAK, RIGHT?? HURRY UP AND GET GOING!!

 

Rei: Y-Yeah, okay.

 

 

Just like that, I headed for the hospital’s parking lot with Ayako pushing me on my back.

 

 

* * *

 

-Carpark-

 

Rei: (The guy from that time, I think… his hair was done up at the back?)

 

 

Despite only having met him just once, that impression remained vivid.

 

Right as I was doing a scan of the place, there came the tapping sound of approaching footsteps from behind me. 

 

 

??? (Seki): Miss Izumi Rei?

 

Rei: !

 

??? (Seki): Good afternoon.

 

Rei: (Huh?)

 

 

Standing to my rear was someone who was as much of a babe magnet as the guy from the other day, yet a completely different person.

 

 

Rei: (Who…?)

 

 

2.2.

 

-Carpark-

 

??? (Seki): Are you… Miss Izumi Rei, by any chance?

 

Rei: Yeah, I am. And you are…?

 

??? (Seki): Let me start by introducing myself.

 

 

The guy then pulled out from his pocket something like a notebook, and opened it up to show me.

 

Not meaning to, I gulped the moment I saw the shining golden insignia of the rising sun.

 

 

Rei: Y-You’re with the Police!??

 

??? (Seki): No, I’m not with them.

 

 

The guy pointed to where the words “NARCOTICS AGENT” and “Narcotics Control Department” was engraved.

 

 

Rei: The Narcotics Control Department… the NCD… 

 

Seki: My name is Seki Daisuke, and I’m the Section Chief for the Investigation and Planning Division.

 

Rei: (Wait, huh? Hold on a second.)

 

Seki: I apologise that this is sudden, but…

 

 

The guy—Seki-san—began to speak in a gentle but business-like tone.

 

 

Seki: Allow me to cut to the chase since formalities are a hassle.

Would you care to join the NCD?

 

Rei: HUH!!???

 

Seki: Last month, you donated blood at the STMY Blood Donation Center—correct?

We were able to determine that you have a scarce case of narcotics tolerance based on that data.

 

Rei: Narcotics tolerance…

 

 

From what Seki-san was saying, I was apparently someone who possessed an extremely rare body composition.

 

My unique DNA sequence was resistant to a number of drug types, and there were just but a few cases like me having been discovered in the world.

 

Supposedly, even within that number, I was the only one who had a tolerance against “LSD29”.

 

 

Rei: (I can’t believe I wasn’t aware of that! It’s my own body too…)

(But if what he’s saying is true, then…)

 

Seki: Your genetic make-up could become a powerful secret weapon for the NCD especially.

In order to abolish drug-related crimes, and to save those suffering from drug addiction… Will you lend us a hand?

 

Rei: …

 

 

His straightforward words moved me.

 

It was an occupation that I had once looked up to, so my interest was largely piqued. But…

 

 

Rei: Umm, do you mind if I ask you a question?

 

Seki: Sure. What is it?

 

Rei: Was the person who paid me a visit not too long ago also someone connected to the NCD?

 

Seki: The person who paid you a visit? Who…

 

Rei: If I recall…

 

 

I listed out the characteristics that I could remember for the guy that I had met the other day.

 

When I expressed to Seki-san that he had told me that I was better off not joining the NCD…

 

Seki-san’s eyes went wide open.

 

 

Seki: He said something like that…?

 

Rei: He did ask me questions on supplements and whatnot, but most likely, I think that warning was his true objective.

I couldn’t be sure from his face if he was listening to my explanation or not, and it was like he had a habit of ironically dragging out his remarks…

 

Seki: … No doubt about it. It’s him, alright.

 

 

It seemed as if Seki-san had an idea of who the guy was, and he was making a sour expression.

 

 

Seki: That person isn’t with the NCD. He’s a police detective.

 

Rei: Huh? A police detective?

 

Seki: We’ve had plenty of opportunities to work with the Police as well, so the fact that he has ties to us isn’t incorrect. But… 

Why would he purposely come all this way to tell you something like that?

 

Rei: Who knows… He did say something about coming across unexpected danger.

Or how if it’s worth it or not to throw away my quiet life right now.

 

Seki: I won’t deny that there’s a possibility of facing dangers.

But if you’re with us, then it’ll be a cinch to protect you if it comes down to it.

Could I ask that you try, just once, giving it thought from a positive perspective?

 

Rei: … Okay, I will.

 

 

“You’re better off not joining the NCD” and “Would you care to join the NCD?”

 

In the span of these couple of days, I’ve heard enticing offers that I never would’ve dreamed of hearing, and I was unable to hide my shock.

 

At the same time, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something huge was on the move, somewhere out there beyond my scope.

 

 

Rei: (Who should I discuss this with…)

(My parents? My friends? I bet they wouldn’t know what an NCD agent’s job involves though…)

Oh, of course! There’s—