nhp | (Sutamai) Character Main Story - Hattori You, Vol 0 Ch 3

CHAPTER INDEX

3.1.

-Pharmacy-

Mano: You were scouted to join the NCD?

Rei: I know it’s hard to believe all of a sudden, but…

After I made my way back to the pharmacy, I caught hold of Mano-san.

I decided to try consulting with him about the matter from earlier.

Rei: You were working in the NCD previously, weren’t you?

Mano: I suppose. It’s been a long time coming since I’ve quit though.

Rei: As a former agent, do you think I’m cut out for the job?

Mano: Hmm, let’s see now…

He crossed his arms, and stared hard at my face.

Mano: You’re a highly skilled pharmacist.

You’ve got guts and the strength to keep at it. You possess the necessary elements for being an NCD agent.

However, they’re not your average government officials.

They hold the authority to investigate and apprehend targets, as well as being permitted to carry arms.

It’s a dangerous profession, and there’s a chance that you could also fall into unforeseeable peril—

Rei: What you said just now…

Mano: Hm?

Rei: Someone else has told me the same thing. They’re most likely a police detective.

Mano: Most likely, as in… the person themselves didn’t tell you their occupation?

Rei: No, they didn’t. Seems like they’re an acquaintance of the NCD officer that came afterwards.

They were all nonchalant and not very police-like, so I’ve got them stuck in my head instead.

Mano: A police detective who’s not very police-like…

Rei: (Huh?)

Something flickered across Mano-san’s eyes.

But it was only for an instant, and he immediately went back to his usual smiling expression.

Mano: Even I met with danger a number of times during my years of service.

Nonetheless, it was an extremely worthwhile job.

It comes down to whether or not you want to join the NCD, that’s all.

Rei: Honestly… it’d be a lie if I said that I wasn’t interested.

There’s no question that it’s an occupation I’ve admired, and more than anything—

{Flashback}

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?

{End flashback}

Rei: (If this peculiar body of mine can save someone, then…)

(Isn’t it a matter of what I should do rather than what I want to do…?)

I was stirred into action at what might as well be called a life’s mission.

Rei: … For the time being, I think I’ll give it a go with accepting the offer.

I may be deemed unsuited for the job during the training window.

But even so, I want to take a shot at doing all that I can.

Mano: If that’s how you feel, then I guess you’re onboard for the challenge.

Life isn’t always about making the right decisions.

But you’re young, so you can start over again as much as you like…

Try not to regret your choices, okay?

Rei: You got it!

My mind was made up after having received a push from my boss, who was a former NCD agent and someone whom I respected.

I decided that I would report to my team manager as early as today even. Since it was for the best that I discussed with them my leave and all.

Rei: (I was right to talk it out with Mano-san.)

(Huh? Wait, then…)

I had believed that it would be fairly rude to pry, so I didn’t really ask him about anything other than to do with the job.

But there was just one thing that bothered me, no matter what.

Rei: (Why did he quit the NCD?)

(Maybe there’s some kind of reason for it…?)

3.2.

-Inside the car-

Sugano: So we’re coming up empty-handed despite the lengthy stake-out, huh.

Hattori: Well, that’s pretty much how it goes.

I had Natsuki riding in the passenger seat as I sped through the streets at night.

We received a tip-off saying that there was a sighting of someone who looked like the drug-smuggling suspect at a certain apartment complex, so we had headed towards the place.

But it ended up being in vain.

Sugano: Here I was thinking that we could actually be beating the NCD in pinning down the suspect.

Hattori: Don’t go competing with them over something like that.

Sugano: It’s not as if I am or anything.

Though doesn’t it make you happy to be first in a race?

Hattori: Assuming it’s just your average race.

Sugano: Seems like you’re not the type to have those sorta hang-ups.

Hattori: Hang-ups?

Sugano: Hmm, such as the reason why you’re set on being a police officer and all.

Hattori: World peace.

Sugano: Wow, are you seriously saying that?

Hattori: Of course. How lovely it is for everyone to get along.

We need to be buddy-buddy with the NCD too.

Sugano: Haha, it doesn’t sound the least bit genuine coming from you!

Natsuki was laughing cheerfully.

Then, out of nowhere, he twitched his nose and took a sniff.

Sugano: You know, your car sometimes gives off a different smell.

Hattori: That so?

Sugano: Did you change your brand of cigs?

Hattori: …

(He sure has a sharp nose.)

Normally, I would be a regular user of “Lucky Strike”.

But once every month, there was a day where I would smoke a different label.

Hattori: (The brand that person had preferred was “Ark Royal”…)

Yeah, depending on how I feel.

Sugano: I’ve got friends who have also said that they swap out brands between their work and private life.

They say it’s easier to switch on and off their work mode that way.

Hattori: Is that necessary?

Sugano: It’s probably hard for us to do with our job, since we gotta scram the moment we get a call in.

Come to think of it, you popped in from somewhere else, didn’t you? Were you meeting up with someone?

Hattori: … Nope. Mind checking if there’s any car behind us?

Sugano: Oh, right, sure~

We had arrived at the police department’s parking bay at that exact timing.

So I deliberately brought the subject of cigarettes to a close.

* * *

-CIU First Division-

Sugano: We’ve returned!

Asagiri: Welcome back. There’s a guest here for You-san.

Hattori: …

Seki: …

Hattori: (Oh, well now. If it isn’t Mister Section Chief of the NCD.)

(He looks a bit pissed.)

Seki: I hear that you’ve made contact with her.

He wasted no time with the greetings and got right down to business.

Seki: Why did you say something like that to her?

Hattori: Something like that, as in?

Seki: “You’re better off not joining the NCD”—that’s what.

This is clearly a breach of your authority.

Hattori: I was simply stating the obvious.

Sugano: Oh boy, the air around them is yikes.

Arakida: They can hear you, man.

Hattori: I think I speak the truth when I say that she’ll come across unexpected danger, no?

Tell me, is there even any value in it for her to take up the position at the cost of her current job?

Seki: I make it more than a point to warn of the risks involved. It’s up to her to decide from there.

There’s a possibility of her narcotics tolerance being taken advantage of by the underground bunch. In which case, if she were a part of our team—

Hattori: Look, I understand what you’re trying to say.

It would certainly be difficult to keep guard of one single citizen around the clock, even if she did have a peculiar genetic make-up.

If she were to come under the wing of the NCD, she would have the highly capable members in there constantly by her side to protect her.

Hattori: (Although going by that, I think putting her with us would be the better option over the Ministry.)

(I suppose there’s really no way we can just recruit her to be a fed…)

It figured that the NCD would be the most ideal place for her to make the best use of her skills as a pharmacist.

But with the number of drug incidents on the rise every year, her narcotics tolerance was something that even us police desperately wanted.

Hattori: … There goes that saying that the lion will drop his cub into a bottomless valley.

Seki: Meaning…?

Hattori: Forcing them to grow by giving them strict training is also one method of raising them, or so to speak.

The same with an adorable little pupper. Hold on too tightly and you’ll end up crushing them.

Seki: I have no idea what you’re getting at, at all… But I’ll take those words with caution.

He politely bowed his head, and then gallantly left the room.

Sugano: God, that was tense! I can finally breathe again…

Arakida: You were holding it in?

Asagiri: He was unusually on edge, wasn’t he?

Hattori: I’m sure the other side have their own directives.

(I need to run this by the guys at the top as well.)

(Somehow, it feels like I’ve completely gotten myself tangled up in something messy…)

Her being one of the foremost people in the world with a special set of genes was a given.

But the fact that she had ties to that so-called person didn’t stop nagging at me.

Hattori: (Was it a coincidence or was it inevitable? There’s no telling at this stage.)

(Now then, how will things unfold from here…)