83: Chapter 83: Was a Little Shudder All It Took?

After some idle chatter, the lunch break flew by in the blink of an eye.

"Oh right, Fujino-senpai, are you going to Ms. Sayuri's wedding tomorrow?"

Ran suddenly asked Fujino just before heading back to her seat.

"Ms. Sayuri?"

Fujino repeated, surprised.

"You know, the music teacher from junior high, Matsumoto Sayuri. Don't you remember her, Fujino-senpai?"

Seeing Fujino's surprised look, Ran reminded him,

"I remember you graduated from Teitan Junior High too, senpai. Ms. Sayuri must have taught you as well."

Fujino frowned.

"I didn't even know she was getting married."

For some reason, both Ran and Sonoko looked at Fujino with a strange expression.

Being stared at like that by Ran and Sonoko made Fujino's scalp tingle uncomfortably.

For some reason, he felt like a poor, stray kitten being pitied by gentle young girls.

[Detective Profession Task: June Bride Murder Case]

Objective: Solve the June Bride Murder Case.

Reward: 500,000 Yen, +100 Detective Reputation.

Back in his seat, Fujino frowned as he looked at the system task that had just appeared.

Matsumoto Sayuri. The name rang a bell.

If he remembered correctly, she was indeed the music teacher from Teitan Junior High.

In his memories, the original Fujino had also been a student there.

However, his relationship with Matsumoto Sayuri hadn't been particularly close back then.

As for why he didn't know about the wedding...

It was probably because he didn't keep in touch with his former classmates; contact had likely faded within a year.

Besides, the original Fujino didn't have many friends to begin with, so not knowing was perfectly normal.

Receiving an invitation would have actually been stranger.

It might even make him suspect it was some kind of prank, like the bullying the original Fujino endured in school.

Metropolitan Police Department, Division Three Office.

"Sato, any progress with eyewitness accounts regarding the 'Beika Batman'?"

Inspector Megure asked, looking tired as he sat in his office chair, addressing Sato Miwako who stood before him in her professional suit.

He'd been plagued by headaches recently because of this suddenly appearing vigilante.

First, the vigilante delivered the true culprit from the two-year-old Sanneiji Temple case right to their doorstep, and now he was rampaging through Beika Town, brutally beating up criminals.

While the reduced crime rate was good, it reflected poorly on the police.

The higher-ups believed this individual seriously undermined the MPD's credibility.

"Nothing concrete yet."

Sato Miwako shook her head.

"The testimonies from people rescued by the Beika Batman are all over the place. Some call him a hero, others say he wears all black... It's chaotic. It seems none of them really want to cooperate."

"That's understandable. The Beika Batman seems to have become a folk hero... Who would report the person who saved them?"

Inspector Megure sighed, then turned to Takagi Wataru.

"Takagi, how's the investigation at the hospitals going?"

"My side has been surprisingly productive."

Takagi pulled out his notebook.

"According to the beaten criminals, their attacker wore a Batman mask and strange white robes. They suspect he's professionally trained, showing no fear even when faced with a knife."

"What's even stranger is that they all consistently claim they never saw the person before being attacked. It's like he appeared out of nowhere and vanished just as quickly."

"Appeared and vanished suddenly?"

Inspector Megure frowned.

"If that's the case, he must have professional stealth training."

After thinking for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a moment, he stood up and addressed Takagi and Sato gravely.

"This Beika Batman has seriously challenged our authority. Orders came from above: tonight, we must apprehend him..."

Late night.

After school (or rather, after his usual routine), Fujino changed into his Assassin's Robes, put on the Batman mask, and began patrolling the Beika Town area, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hoping to catch some criminals and rack up Fighter skill points.

"The crime rate really has dropped lately... Is it seriously because they're afraid of me?"

Fujino wandered the streets for a while without sensing any criminal presence, frowning and muttering to himself.

"Help! I'm being robbed!"

Just then, a piercing female scream came from nearby.

Fujino's ears perked up. Looking towards the sound, he saw a man in a black tracksuit and knit cap sprinting away, while a fashionably dressed woman stood nearby, yelling.

Proficiency points!

A grin spread across Fujino's face as he took off in pursuit.

[Detective Enhancement +200% Activated: 239 seconds remaining]

With the 200% strength boost, Fujino quickly caught up to the purse snatcher.

Closing the distance, he launched a powerful flying kick.

Thump!

With a dull thud, the sprinting man went tumbling forward.

"Ah!"

A cry rang out. The voice sounded familiar, but Fujino didn't pay much attention.

After delivering a couple of follow-up kicks and gaining 15 Fighter proficiency points, he stopped.

He picked up the dropped purse and turned towards the woman.

"Woosh!"

Suddenly, a sound like rushing air filled his ears.

A pale leg, clad in sneakers, swung rapidly towards him!

Instinctively, Fujino leaped backward as the roundhouse kick sliced through the air where he'd just been.

"This woman... who the hell is she?"

Fujino swallowed hard. If he hadn't reacted instantly, that kick would have landed!

Taking a deep breath, he carefully observed his attacker.

That face, those clothes!

"The Beika Battleaxe?"

"Hah!"

Before his surprise could fade, another sharp cry came as she attacked again. This time, Fujino didn't dodge; he braced his arms to block.

Combining the [Assassin's Resilience] +100%, [Detective Enhancement] +200%, a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠[Purple Strength Card] +200%, [Bodyguard] +20%, and [Fighter] +40%... his current combat power boost reached a staggering +560%.

B-Rank power level!

He wondered how his B-Rank compared to Sato Miwako's B-Rank.

Sato Miwako's roundhouse kick slammed into his braced arms with a loud thwack. Fujino felt like he'd just been swatted by a bear.

Of course, it was just a feeling. Fujino's body barely shuddered from the impact, and then... nothing.

?

Sato Miwako frowned, seeing her second kick have no effect.

Normally, anyone taking a solid roundhouse kick from her, even if not sent flying, should at least be knocked back several steps.

But this weirdo in front of her?

Just a slight shudder and that was it?