nhp | (Sutamai) Character Main Story

CHAPTER INDEX

4.1.

-Dry Cleaners-

Staff: No worries. I’ll just get you to hand over your receipt number now then.

Please wait one moment and I’ll bring it out for you right away.

Rei: Thank you.

The place was the dry cleaners on the way home from the train station.

I had come to pick up the dress I was to wear for tomorrow’s infiltration.

This vital mission that was handed down to me by the higher-ups of their own discretion.

In these last two days, I had pounded into my head the information relating to the organisations, exhaustively gone over the plan, and made headway with the preparations.

Rei: (The Mirror of Judgement…)

The looking glass used by Lord Enma and that was created from crystals.

The very mirror that was said to reveal everything about the course of the dead.

That person’s actions, and what became of the people involved with them because of those actions, and even as far as to what they felt—all of it.

Staff: Sorry about the wait. Could I ask that you check that that’s everything?

There was the dress permeating with the distinct smell of the dry cleaners.

Plus the one other item, being the handkerchief with the initials of which the owner was a mystery.

Rei: Yep, all good.

Staff: Would you like a bag for them?

Rei: Oh, yes, please. Thanks.

???: Huh? That handkerchief…

Rei: ?

When I turned around to that voice, I met eyes with the male customer who had entered a little after myself.

Rei: (Just now, did he say something about the handkerchief?)

I had given thought to him possibly being the owner, but the voice wasn’t the same.

But I wasn’t a hundred percent confident in my memory of when I was in a trance because of the fever.

Rei: Excuse me, but do you perhaps know of this handkerchief?

??? (Miyase): Huh?

Rei: I apologise for the suddenness. It’s just that, this handkerchief is something I borrowed, and…

??? (Miyase): … No, I’m sorry. It was my mistake.

Rei: (A mistake, huh... bummer.)

??? (Miyase): I must apologise on my end too.

Rei: Oh, no, not at all.

??? (Miyase): It’s a lovely handkerchief.

Rei: It is, isn’t it… Well, um, excuse me then.

??? (Miyase): Of course. The streets are dark at night, so please do be careful on your way.

I gave a bow at the concern coming from this man I didn’t know, and hurried out of the place.

??? (Miyase): …………

* * *

-Neighbourhood-

After quickly leaving the dry cleaning place behind me in the distance, I replayed my conversation with the stranger I met by chance.

Rei: (He kind of, somewhat, gave off a soft vibe.)

Despite the brief interaction, that gentle impression stayed with me.

Rei: (But even people like him, once they’re projected in the Mirror of Judgement, then…)

(Maybe their real self is actually someone totally different.)

The anxiety and pressure I felt towards the infiltration caused my recovering stomach to tightly squeeze in on itself.

When I aimlessly looked upwards, a roadside mirror was within sight.

For a while, I stared at the night view reflected in there.

* * *

-Kujo Household: Living Room-

Miyase: Hey, Soma-san, isn’t this your handkerchief? It was mixed in with my laundry.

Kujo: Yeah, it’s mine. Sorry about that.

Miyase: Having your initials on your handkerchief… makes it feel like you’re a young master.

Kujo: The tailor that I’m partial to made it for me to go along with the suit.

He’s planning to come by next weekend. What do you say we order one for you then as well?

Miyase: I have no need for it. Not like I use a handkerchief all that oft—

Oh.

Go had knocked the teacup he was holding in his hand against the saucer, and a slight amount of its contents had spilled over.

It was because the time we’ve spent together has grown that I knew this, but apparently, it seemed like he was a bit of a scatterbrain in some ways.

I offered him the handkerchief that he had returned to me not a minute ago, all the while failing to contain my smile.

Kujo: This is where a handkerchief comes into play.

Miyase: ……

I had been able to elicit a natural look of protest and displeasure from him.

At the time too, I knew for a fact that I was undeserving of that privilege.

* * *

-Kujo Household: Study-

Kujo: ……

Miyase: Oh, did I wake you?

Kujo: Go…

Miyase: If you fall asleep sitting down in a place like this, you’ll get sick again.

You’re attending that business dinner outing tomorrow, aren’t you? I have your suit all ready to go.

Kujo: … Right.

Miyase: It’s quite rare of you to partake in that sort of thing of your own choice.

Kujo: The host is someone I have old ties with.

When he saw my face, he told me that there was a matter he wanted to discuss with me, and I was unable to find a reason to refuse him.

Miyase: … Is that so? I’m not sure I understand the finer details, but…

I’ll put on some decaf tea for you. Once you’ve finished drinking it, please do properly rest up in bed.

For tomorrow’s sake as well.

Kujo: Yeah, thanks.

Miyase: Not a problem. This is my job, after all.

Kujo: ……

Go was holding in his hands a folded-up blanket.

The presumptuous thought of having wanted my dream to last for just a little while longer passed my mind.

* * *

On the day of the infiltration, a muffled rain started coming down in the evening.

4.2.

-Inside the car-

I was en route to the party venue in the car that Aoyama-san was driving.

Seki: Izumi, be careful to not overdo it.

Rei: Got it. I’ll take note not to.

There were three objectives with the infiltration this time.

Firstly, gathering as much intel on the guests at the party as possible.

Secondly, getting a hold of the actual HMD.

Lastly, investigating into Kujo Soma as information on him was far too scarce at the moment.

Through the car's front side mirror, Yui-san was eyeing me with a look full of worry from the passenger seat.

Yui: With regards to Kujo Soma, it’s more or less confirmed that the previous generation had ties in the underworld.

But due to the intervention of some higher authority or other, the matter was never brought to court…

Rei: The odds of even the current head being in the clear is low, huh.

Yui: Yeah.

Rei: I’ll do my best to see if I can establish contact.

Seki: If you judge that the situation is beyond your control, then fall back at once. Understand?

Rei: Roger that.

Aoyama: Oh. That building must be it. We’re in sight of the venue guys.

After verifying the mission location through the car window, I slid on the mask of a criminal seeking out the new drug.

The crystal necklace embedded with the micro camera was affixed to my dress with a fabric adhesive.

And the intercom was concealed by my hair.

I shared a look with Seki-san, and we both wordlessly nodded at each other.

Rei: (Alright, time to bring on the infiltration!)

* * *

-Party Venue-

The instant I stepped foot into the place, I was greeted by a tall waiter wearing a mask.

Waiter: Welcome to the feast of mirrors. Please allow me to inspect your invitation.

Rei: Of course.

I presented to him the camouflaged smartphone used for investigations.

When I showed him the QR code only sent out to the invited guests…

The waiter nodded with a “That’s the one”.

Waiter: Very well then, do accept this.

It’s a special gift given out to all attendees of the party.

Rei: …

What was handed to me was a small round pill inside an opaque case the size of a ring box.

I took the case and brought it closer to my necklace so that it would be clearly captured on camera.

* * *

-Inside the car-

Yui: … So that's the HMD, huh.

Aoyama: We predicted as much that it’d be passed out at the entrance.

Seki: Yeah. I’m sure Izumi will be able to nail it.

* * *

-Party Venue-

Rei: Is this…

Waiter: Most certainly, it’s HMD.

Rei: … Thank you. May I take it right here, right now?

Waiter: It would do me great pleasure to bear witness to it.

The waiter’s eyes that I could see from the open slit of the mask crinkled with glee, and a shiver ran through me.

While calmly keeping my instinctive reaction under wraps, I faked taking the pill.

Waiter: Milady can be assured that that magic pill will carry her to the heights of ecstasy in no time at all.

The actual thing was securely in my hold.

Rei: (Next is figuring out if it’s the real deal or not as I round up information on the guests.)

I did a scan of the inside of the venue while recalling in my head the faces of the gang leaders and Kujo Soma from the photos we had acquired.

Rei: (Even when calling it a mask, it looks like the majority of them are the venetian kind.)

(The lower portion of their faces, such as the shape of their nose, the outline of their lips, the features of their jawline—)

(And even their teeth. I made sure I had them memorised beforehand.)

(So long as I can get close and talk to them, I should be able to tell who they are for the most part.)

???: … It’s been quite some time since I’ve attended settings of this nature.

Rei: (That voice just now—!! The one I heard when I collapsed…)

When I went to turn around, I was given a startle.

Several men and women were narrowing in on my direction as though circling me.

Man: Hey, you. I heard you’re a special guest.

Rei: Huh?

Woman: We’re going to have to show you a good time now, won’t we~?

The hands of the people in masks reached for me in swarms, brushing against my body.

Rei: !?

* * *

-Inside the car-

Rei: “W-What are you… S-Stop! That’s—!”

Seki: Izumi!

Aoyama: The video’s cut off.

Yui: What’s going on!?

(Sutamai) Character Main Story - Kujo Soma, Vol 0 Ch 4