Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Perfect Reasoning (5)
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A large handprint was left on the desk. The kids who had briefly taken an interest in Hwayoung scattered like the tide going out. Just before the end-of-class bell rang, I was the only one left in front of her seat.
"What are you doing? Class is starting. Take your seat."
The teacher announced the start of class in a dry, emotionless voice, and I turned back to my own seat.
"...Thank you."
"Huh? You've read that book too? It's so good. I couldn't sleep because I was dying to know who the male lead ends up with."
"Indeed. After reading it, I couldn't sleep either, wondering what kind of love triangle drama would unfold later. There'll probably be a scene where the two women fight over the man."
"...Was it that kind of story?"
A bit of commotion passed during break time.
I didn't want to get dragged into annoying conversations by leaving Hwayoung alone again, so I sandwiched her between Yumi and me. Yumi started off awkward, but once she realized they shared similar tastes in novels, she bloomed into lively chatter like she'd never been standoffish.
I lightly nudged Yumi's arm and said,
"Yumi, aren't you being too neglectful toward me now that you've made a new friend?"
When I said it jokingly, Yumi playfully pulled away and responded in a cheeky tone.
"But Serika, you don't read those kinds of novels anyway. You said they're boring. You don't get the appeal of push-and-pull."
She was right. The romance novels that elementary school girls loved didn't suit me at all. I once forced myself to read one to follow the trend, but the male lead was so unlikeable that I couldn't finish it.
"But that's just it. If they like each other, they should just say 'I like you!' 'I like you too!' and boldly start dating. Why act like cowards, mumbling 'What if she hates me?' and sulking? Then suddenly some stupid misunderstanding piles up and they fight."
Yumi shook her head at my rant and turned to Hwayoung.
"See? Serika has no sense of romance. She's heartless, no blood or tears."
"Exactly. Any girl in her prime should be tossing and turning all night over this novel."
Hwayoung joined in attacking me as if she'd never been awkward at all. Her speed at subtly rejecting people while bonding with others was ridiculously fast.
Honestly, the phrase "girl in her prime" stung a little, but I turned my head slightly and said,
"...Anyway, it's not for me."
After school ends and you've made a new friend, what's next?
"I heard a new cafe opened up ahead. Want to check it out?"
"A cafe? My parents say coffee keeps me from sleeping, so they won't let me drink it."
"Come on, we can get something else. I'll treat today. Let's go."
"Wow! Serika's the best!"
"Wait just a moment, Miss Serika. I, I can walk without you pulling me like this."
Of course we had to hit the cafe and gossip.
Yumi, who got excited and yelled that I was the best at the mention of me paying, and Hwayoung, who flailed helplessly behind from the pulling force. We slowly made our way to the cafe. Cars crept along the road following the signals, and on the sidewalk, kids who had just gotten out of school swarmed toward their destinations.
Yumi pouted her lips, checked her schedule on her phone, and grumbled.
"Ah, I have cram school later. Must be nice not going to any, Serika."
"I'm in a bit of danger too. Mom's been nagging that if my next grades are like this, she'll send me to cram school."
"Yeah, your grades are kinda borderline, Serika."
This wasn't because I was stupid. Private elementary school exams were just tough. By the standards of someone from my previous life who graduated an average school with average grades, scoring 60 on average here was pretty decent.
"60 is average!"
"Pfft."
Yumi didn't buy it. Hwayoung, standing beside her, nodded indifferently and said,
"Surprising. You're weak at studies, Miss Serika. As expected of someone born with brute strength."
No, wasn't 60 a good score?
Was it really that serious?
I avoided their teasing, subtly judgmental gazes and looked across the street.
"Hm?"
And there was a man wearing star-shaped sunglasses, staring right at me from inside a car. Star-shaped sunglasses, tattoos covering his body, cigarette in his mouth, red sports car. I knew who he was.
Yamaguchi Shinsuke.
In the original story, one of the Prophets' informants who used his back-alley connections and various info to put characters in tough spots.
By the story's setting, he was a total scumbag involved in every crime imaginable, yet surprisingly sharp at deduction, giving the protagonist's group trouble multiple times. But why the hell was this guy here right now?
"Serika? What's wrong?"
"Is something the matter? Do you know him?"
Yumi and Hwayoung called out when I stood there blankly without a word. I snapped to my senses with a start. Right, thinking about it, I wasn't supposed to know Yamaguchi Shinsuke right now.
"Oh, no. Just some stranger."
I almost got in trouble staring blankly.
He's a smart guy, so I couldn't give him any reason to suspect. I forced a smile and hurried ahead of the two.
"Come on, let's go!"
Shinsuke lit his cigarette.
Sitting at the wheel, he observed Serika's retreating figure while waiting for the light to change.
Ever since he'd become convinced that Iwamoto Yoshio wasn't the culprit, another hypothesis had formed in Shinsuke's mind.
Who had pressed the lever right before the Jericho Tower collapse?
Iwamoto Serika.
Who had taken in the wandering Sally and gotten her a job?
Iwamoto Serika.
But if Iwamoto Yoshio wasn't the culprit, then didn't that make Serika the mastermind behind all these incidents?
Yamaguchi Shinsuke had initially dismissed the hypothesis as absurd when it first occurred to him. Logically, it was completely nonsensical.
Iwamoto Serika was just an elementary school kid. How could a child like that uncover the Prophets, learn about the Jericho Tower explosion, and approach Sally?
But flipping it around led to these inevitable questions.
How had Iwamoto Serika learned about the Jericho Tower explosion?
How had she known Sally was a key figure the Prophets were after?
And how had she known about the Prophets enough to attempt contact with Dennis?
Truth is sometimes the most ridiculous thing. When all other possibilities are eliminated, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.
Shinsuke had confirmed it from Serika's reaction just moments ago.
If she didn't know him, she would've averted her gaze the instant their eyes met and walked away without a word. His appearance was plenty intimidating. A regular girl from a private elementary school would've looked away and bolted.
If she were naive and clueless about the world, she would've boldly brought him up in conversation.
But Iwamoto Serika had stared at his face for a long while, like she'd seen someone she recognized, then made an excuse about not knowing him and slipped away from the scene.
As if she couldn't let him know she recognized him.
At that moment, Yamaguchi Shinsuke was certain.
Iwamoto Serika knew something.
Was she the true mastermind pulling the strings behind all these events?
Or was there someone else backing her?
Shinsuke took a drag from his cigarette.
Then, eyes closed, he thought.
Digging for info from his surroundings had reached its limit. When he found an informant, Shinsuke always moved to Plan B.
"The names are too hard. Frap...puccino? Macchiato?"
[From: Yamaguchi Shinsuke]
It's Yamaguchi Shinsuke. You know who I am, right? Let's talk sometime.
While Hwayoung focused on picking from the menu, my phone dinged. I opened it and checked the message.
How did he get my number?
I hesitated for a moment. He was an informant in the original story, so it made sense he could get it. He'd probably shared info with Dennis, so he'd know about me too.
If he had bad intentions, I had no way to block him.
Damn, what do I do? Reply? Ignore?
Thinking about it, if he wanted me gone, would he bother contacting me and leaving a trace?
Yumi, having chosen her order, tilted her head at my expression.
"Serika? What's up? Something bothering you?"
"Huh? Oh, no. Nothing."
I turned to look out the window.
Red sports car.
Shinsuke lounged back in his seat inside, gazing at me leisurely.