nhp | (Sutamai) Character Main Story - Hattori You, Vol 0 Ch 4

CHAPTER INDEX

4.1.

-Half a year later-

-Investigation & Planning Division-

Rei: Aoyama-san? I’m done writing up the report that you instructed me to do yesterday.

Aoyama: Leave it over there. I’ll go through it later.

Rei: Imaoji-san, there’s a bit here that I don’t understand with this dropped case.

Imaoji: There should be accompanying material for that one. I believe it’s being kept in the reference room.

Rei: Got it. I’ll try having a look for it.

I busily scrambled about in between the space of my desk that was stacked high with files and paperwork.

It’s been one week since I was assigned to the Investigation and Planning Division after finishing my training.

I was hecticly living out my days to the fullest.

Rei: (There’s so much to remember, from the terminology to whatnot!)

(But it’s a worthwhile job, so I want to hurry up and become a valuable asset as a full-fledged agent.)

Right then—!

Aoyama: Nothing right about this.

The report that I had handed in just before landed on top of my desk with a loud thud.

When I looked up, Aoyama-san was standing there imposingly.

Aoyama: Redo it.

Rei: You’ve read through the entire thing already?

Aoyama: I can tell just by skimming over it. Your simulation for the investigation is way too naive in thinking.

At this rate, you won’t be out in the field for another thirty years.

Rei: T-Thirty years…

The widely accepted ace of the NCD was a merciless work demon.

But he was directly my mentor, and his orders were absolute.

Rei: I’ll redo it by today.

Aoyama: Have it done by the afternoon.

Imaoji: I do think that’s pushing it…

Imaoji-san, who was passing by from behind, spoke up as though he was unable to simply watch on without saying anything.

Imaoji: There’s only two hours left, I hope you know.

Aoyama: That’s plenty of time, isn’t it? I could do it in five minutes.

Imaoji: Not everyone can be as brilliant-minded as you, Aoyama-san.

Oh, I don’t mean to say that you’re not capable yourself with my words just now, Rei-san—

Rei: I know. All I have to my name at the moment is sheer willpower anyway.

Imaoji: It’s a very respectable quality to possess.

By the way, about the materials I mentioned before, it looks like you can view them even from the computer.

Rei: Thanks for the tip! You’ve saved me big time!

Imaoji: You’re most welcome.

He smiled gently, and I felt at peace.

It was as if time was flowing slowly around only him.

Rei: (Maybe it’s because he’s lived overseas for a long time that he’s unfamiliar with the common practice here in Japan.)

(So the nickname given to him is “Mister Out-of-touch”…)

(But it doesn’t appear that way at all. He actually feels like the soothing type instead.)

Yui: Being grilled by the demon boss, and then comforted by the prince. Your emotions must be on a wild roller coaster ride.

Yui-san was coming closer to where I was sitting, and with some sort of apparatus in his hand.

Yui: The drastic changes in your body temperature, blood pressure, and pulse due to the fluctuations in emotions—do allow me to examine them.

Rei: You want to check… my temperature and blood pressure?

Yui: If I can also get in a strand of your hair while I’m at it, then even better.

Aoyama: Kotaro.

Imaoji: You called me a prince, but aren’t you the one who’s the prince here?

Yui: Who knows. I have no interest in myself.

What I do have interest in is…

Rei: W-Wait, you’re a bit too close!!

Those handsome looks were a huge hit with the ladies, and the nickname given to him was “The Prince of the NCD”.

But in actuality, he had a not-so-normal interest in my DNA.

This was the mad scien—er, I mean—the genius scientist, Yui-san.

Rei: (They all have way too unique personalities!!)

Aoyama: If you don’t get this done on the double, you’re staying back today as well.

Rei: G-Guh… I’m aware of that.

Imaoji: That phrase isn’t one that exists in Natsume-kun’s dictionary.

Natsume: Huh? Which one?

Aoyama: The “staying back” one. Not like you didn’t hear it.

Natsume: Soz. I was focused on my work and all.

Up until then, Natsume-kun had been facing his computer, and was only finally joining in on the conversation.

He put his life on the line to leave work on time, and was given the nickname “Mister Five-Fifteen”.

He was the youngest member in the division, and because we were the same age, I was able to speak to him on friendly terms.

Natsume: We talking about Rei-chan’s welcoming party? Hit me up anytime, and I’ll book a place.

Aoyama: No one said anything about that.

Imaoji: That’s the NCD’s party planner, for you.

Natsume: I was just thinking it’s about time we can have one ‘cause it’ll be a week since she’s came.

What do you reckon, Seki-san—oh.

Seki: Today, is it? Yes, I’ll pass on the message.

When Natsume-kun had turned to ask Seki-san, he was in the middle of a phone call.

But it seemed like he was just about finished up with it as he looked my way and spoke.

Seki: Izumi, I need you to shortly head on over to the Police Department.

Rei: The Police… Department?

Imaoji: Is that what that phone call just now was?

Seki: Yeah. Ordinarily, we should be paying them a visit and making the rounds of introductions immediately following an assignment into our division.

But like us, they’re also frequently out on the job. Today, however, I hear their members are all relatively assembled.

Rei: Got it. I’ll leave straight away.

Aoyama: No helping it then. I’ll wait until 3pm for that report you owe me.

Seki: I forgot to mention it, but Aoyama, you go with her too.

Aoyama: Me?

Seki: You’re her mentor, are you not? It only makes sense that you go as well.

We’ve had many opportunities to team up with the Police, and in particular, with the First Division.

And I’m sure we’ll be seeing them a great deal more often from now on.

So try to be on your best behaviour around them.

4.2.

-CIU First Division-

Rei: My name is Izumi Rei, and I’m an agent with the Investigation and Planning Division in the Narcotics Control Department under the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

Pleased to make your acquaintance!

We had gone around to every relevant sector within the police department, with the last place we headed for being the First Division.

After introducing myself and giving a bow, the youngest officer delivered me an applause…

??? (Sugano): Wooow, that was like the self-intro of a transfer student!

??? (Arakida): Is that something to be hyped about?

??? (Asagiri): They both serve the same purpose, so there’s that.

??? (Sugano): Well then, we can’t not respond back by giving our intros too!

First up, we have here the immovable face of stone that’s as super capable as he appears—give it up for our glasses guy, Tsukasa-san!

??? (Asagiri): I don’t enjoy being categorised based on a single aspect of my feature.

I’m only wearing glasses in order to correct my vision.

Aoyama: God, you’re as argumentative as ever.

??? (Asagiri): What exactly is wrong with a logical explanation?

??? (Sugano): Wowee, you two~ Your faces are frightening. Well, whatever. I’m gonna continue with the intros.

??? (Asagiri): …

The person called “Tsukasa-san” firmly readjusted his glasses.

Asagiri: I’m Asagiri Tsukasa.

Rei: I’m Izumi Rei. It’s nice to meet you.

(He really is calm and collected… Totally gives off the sense of a clear-thinking person.)

The introductions continued without any time for me to wonder if it was just my imagination that he and Aoyama-san seemed to not get along.

??? (Sugano): This gruff and hard-faced guy here with the unpleasant look in his eyes that’ll make a crying child bawl out weeping, is… Sosei-san!

Aoyama: What, nothing but tears to be had there?

Arakida: Arakida Sosei.

Rei: A pleasure.

(He certainly is hard to approach… Feels like the spitting image of a police detective.)

Sugano: And lastly, we have me. The promising newbie, and the forever refreshing, and adorable junior—here, here for Sugano Natsuki.

Aoyama: So in a word, the happy-go-lucky guy.

Rei: Sugano-san… Pleased to be working with you.

It appeared that Sugano-san was also my age, and the vibe you got from that cheerful personality of his was like you could open up to him on the spot.

Rei: (Kinda feels like Natsume-kun. It sure does help to have these sorts of moodmakers around.)

Aoyama: By the way, the bigshot—

Sugano: Thing is, before we knew it, he was gone. He was sitting here up until a minute ago too.

Asagiri: It could either be the rooftop or meeting room.

Rei: (Who… are they talking about?)

Sugano: Want me to go have a look?

Arakida: No guarantee you’ll find him.

Rei: Would you prefer that we come back again another time?

??? (Hattori): Oh, well now, have our guests already arrived?

I quickly turned around at the voice I heard coming from behind me.

A tall man was leisurely stretching with an eye mask in his hand.

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

Rei: !

(He’s—!)

{Flashback}

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

—Riiight. Thanks for the helpful advice—

—You’re better off not joining the NCD—

{End Flashback}

Rei: (That guy who warned me not to join the NCD half a year ago!)

(Seki-san had said that he was a police detective, but… he’s with the First Division!?)

Aoyama: What’s the matter, Izumi?

Maybe it was because I was standing there looking stumped that I had Aoyama-san nudging me in the arm.

Aoyama: Introduce yourself to Hattori-san.

Rei: Oh, yeah…

Hattori: …

He had the same unconcerned aura from that time.

But I couldn’t stop myself from feeling on edge at the strange intimidating air around him.

I silenced my racing heart, and breathed in deeply.

Rei: I’m Izumi Rei. I recently joined the Narcotics Control Department.

It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance!

Hattori: The pleasure’s all mine.

… You didn’t heed my warning.

Rie: Huh?

Hattori: No, nothing.

Sugano: That it, You-san? Well then, I’ll do the honours for you.

This here is the Archdemon of the Police HQ and the chief of our First Division!

Rei: !

(This person is the chief!?)

Hattori: “This person is the chief?”

Rei: !

Hattori: Bullseye, huh.

Rei: No, that thought certainly didn’t cross—

Hattori: Excuses are useless. It’s written on your face.

I’ve got a present for Miss Newbie here. Starting from today…

You’ve been assigned to STAND.

Rei: …

When I made a blank face at the unfamiliar sounding word…

The other four around me gulped, and looked at each other.

Aoyama: Izumi… in STAND…?

Arakida: Are you for real?

Hattori: As real as can be.

Asagiri: From what I’ve seen, I’m not convinced that she’s a valuable resource.

Sugano: Savage as hell. But you know, it’s a heck of a feat to be the first girl in STAND!

Rei: …

(What’s “STAND”?)