7: Chapter 7: The Double-Crossing Detective

Five minutes later, back inside Fujino's apartment.

Fujino sat on his brown sofa, observing Yoko Okino as she nervously described being stalked recently.

He felt a profound sense of bewilderment.

Ikegami Yuko just walked out the door, and now Yoko Okino walks in.

Seriously? Did you two coordinate this?

Yoko's request put Fujino in an awkward spot.

He'd just accepted Yuko's commission to dig up dirt on Yoko.

And now Yoko was hiring him to investigate the stalker... who was almost certainly Yuko.

This is getting complicated... like one of those nested Russian dolls.

How am I supposed to handle this?

"If you can truly get to the bottom of this, Detective Fujino, we're prepared to offer a fee of four hundred thousand yen."

Noticing Fujino's distracted air, Yoko's manager, Eiichi Yamagishi, shrewdly mentioned the payment, testing the waters.

'Four hundred thousand yen?'

Fujino's ears perked up immediately.

Well... maintaining client confidentiality is important, obviously.

But... playing double agent just this once wouldn't hurt, right? Especially for 400k?

I mean, that's a serious amount of money. The sincerity is palpable! Heaven itself must approve!

"So, Miss Okino," Fujino said, smoothly transitioning back into professional mode as he poured her a cup of tea (using the same pot, oops).

"You're asking me to find the person who's been monitoring you these past few days?"

"Yes," Yoko nodded gratefully, accepting the tea.

"You're sure it's not just paparazzi?"

"No..." Yoko frowned slightly.

"Paparazzi... I'm unfortunately used to them. This is... different. Much worse."

"Every time I come home, I find things moved around. Furniture shifted slightly."

"I keep getting silent phone calls. And the day after a call, photos taken of me inside my own home arrive in the mail."

"And just last night... someone chased me down the street..."

Yoko's voice trembled, tears welling up in her eyes.

"I honestly don't know what to do anymore. If this continues, I won't be able to sleep at all..."

Fujino looked closer. He could indeed see faint dark circles under her eyes.

For an idol, especially one as popular as Yoko Okino, lack of sleep was disastrous.

"What kind of monster would do this...?" Fujino thought, genuinely disgusted.

Then he remembered. Oh, right. Based on the original story... it was probably Ikegami Yuko.

The same Ikegami Yuko who just hired me...

...Crap. that monster is me.

"Ahem!" Fujino cleared his throat, trying to dispel the sudden wave of awkward guilt.

He quickly changed the subject, putting on his detective hat.

"Based on your description, Miss Okino, it sounds like you're dealing with a 'sasaeng fan'!"

"Sasaeng fan?" Yoko looked confused.

"What kind of... rice is that?" (Note: 'Fan' sounds like 'rice'/'meal' in Japanese.)

"Not 'rice fan,' sasaeng fan," Fujino corrected patiently.

"'Fan' as in admirer. It refers to obsessive fans who invade idols' private lives." He elaborated,

"They engage in extreme behaviors like stalking, taking hidden photos, breaking into homes, voyeurism... basically, anything to get closer to their idol's private life."

"Why haven't I heard that term before?" Yoko asked, tilting her head like a curious kindergartener raising her hand.

"Ah, well, you wouldn't have," Fujino said, trying to sound convincing while slightly flustered.

"Because... I coined the term myself. Yes! Before you came here, I'd already helped countless idols suffering from these... sasaeng fans..."

Yoko's eyes widened with admiration.

"In that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠case, Detective Fujino, you must know how to handle them, right?"

"Naturally."

"I have specific methods for dealing with sasaeng fans."

"What methods?!" Yoko leaned forward eagerly.

"Catch them and send them to jail for rehabilitation. Solves the problem permanently."

"Isn't there... another way?" Yoko frowned, hesitant.

"Even if they're an extreme fan, I... I don't want to send them to prison."

"Sigh. Miss Okino, you're too kind for your own good... In that case, things become considerably more difficult."

Fujino let out a dramatic sigh, adopting an expression of profound reluctance.

He looked exactly like a classic movie trope – the hero pretending something is harder than it is to get more money. The 'Gotta Pay More' Hermit.

Yoko didn't catch the implication, but her manager, Yamagishi, certainly did.

'Difficult' doesn't mean 'impossible.' That look means he wants more money.

"If Detective Fujino can resolve this discreetly, without any public exposure,"

Yamagishi interjected smoothly, "we're willing to add an additional one hundred thousand yen to the fee."

"After all," he added pointedly, "if this situation became public, it could seriously damage Yoko's reputation."

Ah, this guy gets it! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Teachable! Fujino mentally high-fived the manager.

Nodding gravely, Fujino made a decision that went against every ethical bone in his... well, maybe not every bone.

"In that case, I will treat this matter with the utmost confidentiality and dedicate my full resources to the investigation."

Watching Fujino's sudden transformation into a paragon of righteous determination, Yamagishi had the distinct feeling he'd just been fleeced.

This guy... he's totally crooked, isn't he?

But what choice did they have? For jobs under a million yen, rumor had it that no one in Tokyo was better at keeping secrets than this guy.

His discretion was apparently legendary within certain circles. Yamagishi had come here based on a trusted recommendation.

With a resigned sigh, he said, "Alright then. We'll leave it in your hands, Detective Fujino."

He pulled a thick envelope from his pocket, filled with cash. "Here's the deposit."

Fujino accepted the bulging envelope, coolly extracted the bills, and counted them. One hundred thousand yen. Exactly right.

He glanced at Yamagishi's pained expression. A flicker of conscience—or perhaps just good business sense—stirred within him. He separated half the bills, fifty thousand yen, and handed them back.

"My policy is a ten percent deposit upfront. You can keep the rest for now. Those are my terms."

"Oh! Thank you very much!" Yamagishi bowed deeply, taking back the money, looking genuinely ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠surprised and relieved.

Maybe I misjudged him... Or maybe this case really is that complicated?

"Don't mention it, don't mention it. Just business," Fujino waved dismissively.

It'll all be mine eventually anyway.

"since I've accepted the case, time is of the essence. Let's head over to Miss Okino's home immediately and begin the investigation."

His voice rang with purpose.

"The sooner we find the truth, the sooner Miss Okino can get a good night's sleep."

"Right!" Yamagishi nodded vigorously, impressed by Fujino's efficiency.

See? The recommendation was solid. This guy is definitely a reliable professional.