nhp | (Sutamai) Character Main Story

3.1.

-Investigation & Planning Division-

Yui: The initials “S.K.” huh? It’s gotta be some kook who was pretending to be your everyday helpful neighbour.

Come Monday—

Thanks to the generous treatment I received at the hospital, I was completely recovered, and was able to go into the office full of energy.

The topic of our chit-chat that had casually come up before work started was to do with the blunder I had caused on Saturday.

Rei: “Some kook”, that’s not… He saved me, you know.

Yui: But he took off straight away without even giving his name, right?

You can’t deny the possibility that he was some creep.

Rei: (Hmm…)

After I had woken up in the hospital, I had enquired with the nurse about the man in question.

She had replied that he had left without stating his name.

Natsume: For what it’s worth, it’s a good thing he’s the type of weirdo who enjoys helping out others.

Aoyama: He even got you into his car. It would’ve been bad news if he was not-so-normal.

Rei: U-Ugh… Sorry. I’m very much reflecting on my inadequacy to handle a crisis…

Aoyama: Well, we’re glad you’re safe.

Yui: Give me a call next time whenever you’re feeling sick. I’ll gladly come nurse you back to health.

Rei: (I can hear the extra add on “Of course, I’ll be receiving compensation for the sake of my research though”…)

But I could also feel the no doubt thought for my well-being there, so I smiled back in appreciation.

Rei: Thank you.

Yui: Not at all.

Imaoji: If you ask me, I can’t help but think of it in a slightly romantic way.

The initials on a handkerchief being the only thing you have to go off from.

It’s somewhat like an encounter out of a romance movie. Wonderful, wouldn’t you say?

Yui: Is it a romance movie polluted with the urge to throw up from gastritis, and the feeling of exhaustion from hyperthermia?

Rei: That’s so far off from being romantic…

Natsume: Haha. You really didn’t even catch a glimpse of his face or anything?

Rei: Hmm… The sensation of his hand is about as much as I remember.

Aoyama: His hand?

Rei: He had his hand on my forehead the entire time we were in the car heading for the hospital.

I’m guessing that he was most likely helping to take the heat off.

Oh! I also heard his voice.

Natsume: Was there anything distinctive about it that could be used as a clue?

Rei: Hmm… If anything…

What stood out was that it felt like a calm and gentle voice.

Yui: Which pretty much means there’s zilch to go on from.

I nodded with a bitter feeling.

At that exact timing, Seki-san showed up carrying a thick file.

Seki: Morning. We’re jumping straight into having a meeting, so I want everyone to gather around.

In a flash, the air took on a grave and tense atmosphere, and I went into work mode.

Seki: Before I give an outline of the investigation matter…

Are you all familiar with the man known as “Kujo Soma”?

We all went to get a peek at the photo that Seki-san had placed on the desk.

Rei: Kujo Soma…

At the core of my awareness, a murky haze slowly rose forth.

3.2.

-Investigation & Planning Division-

Kujo Soma—

Natsume: If I recall, wasn’t he the Director of Oomori Pharmaceuticals?

Imaoji: The current head of the wealthy Kujo Family, and—

Aoyama: Part of an organisation with never-ending constant dark rumours in the business world… is what I’ve heard.

Yui: Or that he’s got ties in the underground circles, or how he has a hand in the overseas manufacturing of illicit drugs…

Rei: You don’t mean—! He’s linked to the case this time too?

Seki-san nodded with a poised face.

Seki: The illicit drug that began circulating around within this last month.

We’ve got hold of intel that Kujo Soma is involved in the production and trade of HMD.

Aoyama: HMD?

Seki: “Hell’s Mirror Drug”.

At present, that’s what they’re calling the drug making its way throughout the vicinity.

Natsume: A mirror from Hell, huh… They’ve come up with yet another oh-so-brilliant name.

Seki: It apparently takes after the “Mirror of Judgement”.

Rei: Mirror of judgement?

Natsume: What even?

Seki: To put it briefly…

“A mirror that Lord Enma, keeper of the Netherworld, used to reveal all and everything about the dead”—or so it goes.

If you take the HMD, then similar to what’s reflected in the Mirror of Judgement…

You’ll be able to become the real you with nothing to hide.

In other words, they’re supposedly claiming that it’s liberation from suppression.

Imaoji: Pardon the interruption, but may I ask just one question?

Seki: Yeah, shoot.

Imaoji: Is this “Mirror of Judgement” any different from the Johari Window?

Rei: Oh, I’ve heard about the Johari Window one before.

It was a self-awareness model based on the psychology that the human mind consisted of four window panes.

Yui: The Johari Window, huh.

I believe the “open” pane was the one known to yourself and also known to others.

Aoyama: Then there’s the “blind spot” not known to yourself, but known to others.

Imaoji: And the “hidden” pane known to yourself, but not known to others.

Rei: With the last one being the “unknown” pane not known to yourself nor others, right?

Natsume: The Mirror of Judgement and the Johari Window, huh.

Yeah, I guess I can see why they sound alike.

Imaoji: Exactly. That’s why I was curious to know if there was any connection between them.

Seki: There are many people who even get them confused. However, they’re two completely different things.

But they do share a common ground.

In my head, I searched for that something that brought the two together.

A person’s entire self, reflected in the mirror from Hell—and the mind’s window consisting of the hidden, the unknown, and one’s very own blind spot.

Rei: Oh! Is it “the real you”?

Imaoji: … That makes sense.

Seki: Yeah. But this notion that a person’s true self is the one where they’ve lost their mind from drugs is not something I believe in.

Seki-san flipped through the file of documents, and fixed his serious gaze on each and every one of our faces.

Seki: Word’s come up during our investigation into HMD.

That in three days time, two appointed gang leaders will be holding a drug party.

It’ll be in the form of a masquerade ball, but Kujo Soma’s name is also on the guest list that the top procured.

What’s more, the extent of the infiltration that they were able to secure… only accounts for a female.

Rei: (!!)

A lump was suddenly lodged in the back of my throat when I caught on to where the conversation was leading.

Aoyama & Yui: …

Imaoji & Natsume: …

Seki: Can I ask this of you, Izumi?

At Seki-san’s calm voice, I gradually released the breath I was holding in.

It was clear that this investigation was an order from the higher-ups, and that I had no choice in the matter.

But even so, I could feel Seki-san’s consideration and faith towards me in the fact that he had phrased it in a way that sought my intentions.

Rei: (He’s checking to see how I feel about it first, even with having judged that I would be up to the task.)

I looked at Seki-san straight in the eyes, and stood up tall.

Rei: Yes sir! I’ll give it everything I’ve got!

Seki: I figured you’d probably say something like that.

(Sutamai) Character Main Story - Kujo Soma, Vol 0 Ch 3