56: Chapter 56: Endless Blackmail

"Detective Fujino, you really saved us back there!"

Shimazaki Yuji watched Anzai Mamoru retreat like a defeated dog, a lingering anger still simmering in his eyes.

He turned back to Fujino, remarking,

"That's the first time I've ever seen that guy look so flustered."

"Thank you so much!"

Mamegaki Taeko added, bowing slightly to Fujino.

"If Yuji had really lost his temper with him, I don't know what kind of trouble would have started."

"Don't mention it,"

Fujino waved dismissively.

"I couldn't stand that guy either."

He looked between the couple.

"By the way, I heard you two are getting married next month. Is that right?"

"Yes, the wedding's next month,"

they confirmed simultaneously, both looking slightly bashful.

"Well, congratulations in advance,"

Fujino smiled.

"But Shimazaki-san, you're ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠about to be the head of a household. Try not to be so impulsive next time. Brute force doesn't work against leeches like him."

He gave Taeko a subtle, meaningful glance.

After some more pleasantries, the film crew headed towards a traditional Japanese inn (ryokan) near the shrine.

Well, not everyone. Nachi Shingo, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the pretty-boy actor, complained the ryokan was too run-down and insisted on staying at the Teitan Hotel instead.

"This place is run-down?"

Fujino raised an eyebrow. The ryokan near the shrine wasn't exactly a luxury resort, but it seemed perfectly decent, even quite nice. If this wasn't good enough for him... that guy really had an inflated ego. Even Yoko Okino hadn't complained. Someone like that, acting high and mighty in a crime-ridden city like Beika... probably won't last long before getting himself killed.

After changing into yukata (cotton robes provided by the inn), the group gathered for dinner.

In the ryokan's main dining hall, with tatami mat floors.

Fujino, wearing a black yukata, sat sipping juice, observing the lively interactions among the crew.

It wasn't that he didn't drink, but drinking in this professional context felt inappropriate. Sharing a few beers with Kogoro Mouri to bond with the neighbors was one thing. Drinking here could easily lead to unwanted rumors or scandals.

"By ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the way, Shimazaki-san, aren't you drinking?"

Fujino glanced around, then asked Shimazaki Yuji sitting beside him.

"Well, as the Assistant Director, I'm responsible for safety on set and things like that,"

Shimazaki replied, scratching his head slightly.

"It wouldn't look very professional if I got drunk."

"Ah, I see..."

"Anzai! Where are you going?"

The director suddenly called out.

Fujino looked up to see Anzai Mamoru stuffing his hands in his pockets and walking out alone.

A moment later, Mamegaki Taeko also excused herself, saying she had something to take care of.

Watching the two leave separately, Fujino frowned. Something felt off.

He quietly stood up and followed them out.

Night fell. On the stone steps leading up to the shrine.

"Got the money?"

Anzai Mamoru stood with his hands in his pockets, facing Mamegaki Taeko with a smug, demanding look.

"No."

Taeko stood her ground, her voice firm.

"From now on, I'm not giving you any more money!"

"Heh. You think you can just forget everything?"

Anzai sneered contemptuously.

"Don't forget, when Sugiyama killed himself back then, you were an accomplice!"

"If that gets out, do you really think you'll still be able to marry that loser Shimazaki?"

"I suggest you just hand over the cash quietly. Or... you could pay me back with your body. Wouldn't mind that either."

He stepped closer, a lecherous grin spreading across his face.

"Haven't had a married woman yet!"

"Shut up!"

Taeko, losing her composure, suddenly pulled a fruit knife from her pocket, pointing it shakily at Anzai.

"If you don't want to die, stay out of my life from now on!"

"You bitch! How dare you threaten me!"

Anzai's suppressed anger from earlier finally erupted. He lunged forward, intending to tackle Taeko to the ground.

"WHAM!"

In a flash, a figure appeared between them.

A wooden sword, moving like a blur, struck Anzai hard in the stomach.

With a choked gasp, Anzai stumbled backward, clutching his abdomen in agony.

"Who's there?!" he wheezed, staring incredulously at the shadowed figure that had materialized seemingly out of nowhere.

"Fujino. A detective."

Fujino raised the bokken, pointing it steadily at Anzai.

"Anzai Mamoru. What just happened here... if reported to the police, would likely land you a charge of attempted rape, at the very least."

"None of your damn business!"

Anzai glared at Fujino, momentarily stunned, then scoffed dismissively.

"Go ahead, call the police! It was self-defense!"

"Is that so?"

A slight curve touched Fujino's lips. He pulled out his phone.

"You might not know this, but my phone has a built-in recording function. I captured everything just now – you blackmailing Mamegaki-san, and then attempting to assault her."

"The victim, fearing further threats, drew a weapon she carried for self-defense... that sounds like legitimate self-defense to me. You, on the other hand, resorted to violence ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠when your blackmail failed. Even if this goes to the prosecutor, it looks pretty clear-cut: charges of intimidation and attempted rape against you."

"Damn it! Give me that phone!"

Anzai's face twitched uncontrollably. He swung a wild punch at Fujino, trying to grab the phone.

"Lost your cool?"

As Anzai charged, Fujino met him head-on. The bokken flashed.

Thud.

With a single, clean strike to the head, Anzai collapsed onto the stone steps like a sack of potatoes, unconscious.

Against stronger opponents, Fujino might need more effort. But against a common thug like this? If one hit couldn't knock him out, Fujino's 350% combined enhancement would be wasted.

"Detective Fujino... how did you..."

Mamegaki Taeko, recovering from the shock, dropped the fruit knife with a clatter, staring at Fujino.

"Just happened to be out practicing my swordsmanship," Fujino lied smoothly. "Didn't expect to run into... this."

He looked pointedly at Taeko.

"But if I'm not mistaken, that guy was threatening you, Mamegaki-san?"

"And from the sounds of it, this wasn't the first time."

Hearing this, Taeko slumped onto the steps, defeated, and began to explain everything.

In high school, she'd briefly fallen in with a delinquent crowd, which included Anzai Mamoru. During that time, she'd helped them steal valuable items from her family's shrine multiple times. This ultimately led to the shrine's warehouse manager committing suicide out of guilt and shame.

After that tragedy, Taeko left the group, determined to live a normal life.

But recently, Anzai had found her again. Using the warehouse manager's suicide as leverage, he began blackmailing her relentlessly, turning her life into a nightmare.

With her wedding to Shimazaki Yuji just a month away, she couldn't bear the endless extortion any longer. That's why she'd brought the knife tonight – a desperate attempt to threaten Anzai into leaving her alone...