Chapter 4

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From the look of it, this concrete building has seen better days. The ivy, which grew from the flower beds, covered the walls. Most parts of the wall, which could be seen through the gaps of the ivy here and there, began to peel off in places.

“‘Detective Tendou’s Agency’ ?”

This was written on a large piece of paper, which was stuck to one of the third floor’s windows. Was it maybe a sticker? The edges were peeling off a little as well.

It was a large building, so it should have more than a few tenants, but only that signboard was hung out.

“‘Mysterious phenomenons? I will help you with anything’ ”

Continuing to read the text below, his first impression was that this kind of thing is somehow fishy. However the highlighted words, which said ‘Free consultation’ was a bit more enticing to him.

Especially for the current Shouma, who was in danger of having his scholarship terminated, not to mention that he has just been fired from his part-time job. Shouma now could only think of the strange phantoms.

“Well, if one calls it a mystery then it is a mystery. The consultation is free, if anything happens I just leave…” Shouma said this to himself, already forgetting about the cat he saw earlier.

It was like an excuse. However, he wanted to find a reason for this situation of why he needed to rely on such a suspicious-looking Detective Agency. Now, he was sure to know what ‘grasping at straws’ meant.

“Alright, I’ll go!”

Shouma made up his mind, then pushed the glass door of the entrance.

—

“Yes, yes, comin’!”

The person who greeted him was a cute girl with short-cut hair. She was probably around a high-schooler’s age. Her big and round eyes reflected Shouma’s face.

She had a lively smile on her face, and her appearance was too casual for a clerk. She wore an orange hoodie and denim shorts, with knee-high socks on her slender legs. On her right one, there was a purple with black border pattern, the left one was yellow with the same black border pattern on it. And then there were the green sneakers, which made the overall color scheme too flashy.

As soon as she saw Shouma’s face, a little “Oh?” escaped from her mouth. She reacted as if it was some unexpected reunion, but Shouma couldn’t recall knowing a girl who dressed this gaudy.

“Are you a customer?”

“Yes…” his voice rasped with nervousness.

She pulled up her lips in a good mood and called to the back of the office.

“Tendou-saaan! There is a customer!”

“Oh? A customer?” came the reluctant voice from behind the partition. “There is no way a shady agency like ours would get so many clients.”

A hand showed up from behind the partition, fluttering, as if brushing something off.

He was apparently watching TV there. A man’s voice, with its characteristic drama-like performance, could be heard faintly by Shouma.

“If you are aware that it’s shady then please fix it somehow! And it’s really, really…a customer!”

The girl quickly shuffled closer to the partition. Despite the fact that she went to pick him up, the man named Tendou didn’t seem to be interested in coming out from the back.

“Eh? But it’s getting into the exciting part!”

“Wouldn’t it be better to just record it? What do you think I bought the hard drive for?”

“Watching the recorded one and watching it in real time transmits a different kind of ambiance, you know. Besides, my hard drive is already full…”

“I don’t want to hear about it, just come out! There is a customer waiting for you!”

As the man was dragged by the girl, his upper body had been pulled out from behind the partition. Then, as he saw Shouma, he blinked in surprise.

“Ah, there really is one.”

“I told you so, didn’t I?”

With an exasperated voice, the girl released her hands that were around Tendou’s side. At that moment, the unsupported Tendou’s head hit the floor with a thud.

It must have hurt a lot, since he writhed while holding his head in his hands.

As he watched the exchange before him, Shouma’s eyes half-closed and his first thought was that “Oh, this guy might be hopeless.”

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