"Oh! About that, our family temple is too small and business isn't good, so my dad works part-time as a locksmith. After all, unlocking is a very private matter, and neighbors trust a rule-abiding abbot more than a stranger locksmith... Of course, during festivals, there's still some business for the temple."
After Kawai finished speaking, Minamoto Tamako nodded in agreement and said, "Exactly, just like that. You wouldn't suspect Kawai, would you?"
"No, I was just asking casually."
Fushimi Roku relaxed, crossed his legs, leaned back in the chair, and said with his head tilted, "Since the case has been clarified, our employment relationship ends here."
He thought it was a pity in his heart that he couldn't catch Instructor Sakurai's handle.
"The killer hasn't been caught. How can it be considered 'case closed'?" Minamoto Tamako clenched her fists, "Are you really willing to give up just like that, Mr. Fushimi?"
"What else can I do? Falsely accusing an instructor could get you expelled, you know," Fushimi Roku casually said as he blew away the cherry blossom petals in front of him, "Even if you have evidence to bring Instructor Sakurai to court, the outcome won't be much different. After all, the statute of limitations has expired. What can you do about her?"
Minamoto Tamako pressed her lips tight and remained silent.
Just as Fushimi Roku said, even if she were the reincarnation of Sherlock Holmes, there's no way to bring the killer to justice in this situation.
Just as she was feeling dejected and ready to give up, Fushimi Roku suddenly changed his tone:
"However, wasn't it taught in theory class? Seventy percent of killers will reoffend. Even if Instructor Sakurai managed to avoid the law's punishment sixteen years ago, it doesn't mean she hasn't committed other offenses during these sixteen years."
Minamoto Tamako's eyes lit up: "You mean..."
"That's right, in the fifteen-year statute of limitations, if the suspect commits another crime, the statute of limitations no longer applies."
Fushimi Roku smiled, squinting like a fox: "Didn't Ishizuka Yoshio mention before? Instructor Sakurai has a habit of keeping a diary, which means..."
Minamoto Tamako suddenly realized and continued, "There are crime clues in her diary!"
"Maybe, maybe not." Fushimi Roku didn't want to commit fully.
"It's definitely a line of investigation worth the risk!" Minamoto Tamako stood up excitedly.
Unexpectedly, when the murder case was at a dead end, there was a dramatic twist. Her feelings were as if Sherlock Holmes had survived Reichenbach Falls!
As long as there's a glimmer of hope, she won't give up!
Seeing her so excited, Fushimi Roku curiously asked, "By the way, even if Instructor Sakurai committed murder and arson, what's it to you? Is it really worth risking expulsion to investigate?"
Minamoto Tamako equally curiously looked at Fushimi Roku and questioned: "If not for upholding justice, then why come to the police academy? No police officer can ignore a murder case, right?"
Fushimi Roku was momentarily at a loss for words.
As far as he knew, half of the class enrolled because they couldn't find a job, so they joined the police force.
The other half had their reasons, for instance, Hideo, most likely is to take bribes once he's on duty; and take the class president, who's probably paving the path for a political career... Even for himself, attending police training was just to be a future tax thief.
What Minamoto Tamako said was too correct, too obvious, making it seem out of place.
"Indeed! My Tamako-chan is the best!"
Kawai shouted and immediately hugged Minamoto Tamako, showing an ecstatic expression, and said in a strange tone: "Let me give you a kiss, come baby~Oh yeah~"
"No! So weird!"
"Eh~ what's wrong with a kiss! You used to love it when I kissed you, could it be that you have a new love interest?"
"That was so many years ago!" Minamoto Tamako's face turned red.
"Let me kiss you, and I'll help you find the diary in the teacher's dorm," Kawai chuckled slyly, like a creepy old man trying to lure a little girl, "Without me, you can't even get in the door, right?"
"Alright, alright."
Minamoto Tamako glanced at Fushimi Roku, feeling especially ashamed and embarrassed.
Kawai loved seeing her shy face, couldn't resist cupping her face for a kiss, and Minamoto Tamako's fair cheeks immediately blushed like a cloud of fire.
"I'll go alone tonight," Kawai softened her voice, speaking gently, "If too many people go, it'll be easy to expose."
Fushimi Roku thought to himself, how come you didn't say this last night? Are you not considering me a person?
"Eh? B-but..."
Minamoto Tamako didn't want her friend to take the risk alone.
"No worries, trust me, I scored full marks on the search practice course!" Kawai paused, restrained her smile, "Besides, you're not the only one pursuing justice. How can a police officer ignore a fugitive murderer?"
"Hmm!" Minamoto Tamako nodded forcefully, "Alright, then be careful, Kawai!"
"Don't worry!"
Kawai ruffled her hair, enjoying the moment, then said: "Oh, by the way, could you go to the convenience store and buy me a bottle of strawberry milk? I didn't bring any change…"
"Right now?" Minamoto Tamako was enjoying the conversation and didn't want to leave.
"Bath time is coming up, and milk is the most delicious after a bath!" Kawai pushed her back, urging: "Please! Hurry up, or you won't be able to get any!"
"Alright."
Minamoto Tamako's silhouette disappeared at the end of the side garden, Kawai retracted her gaze and turned to Fushimi Roku.
The latter got up, ready to go for a bath, but heard Kawai say:
"Hey, I'm talking to you."
Kawai's expression changed, looking at Fushimi Roku as if interrogating a suspect: "Stay away from Tamako in the future."
"..."
Didn't you just say 'Tamako's friends are my friends'? Is this person really so possessive? Fushimi Roku began to doubt if her orientation was normal.
Seeing that he didn't respond, Kawai continued: "You were deliberately leading Tamako earlier, just to make her steal the diary, weren't you?"
"Why do you say that?" Fushimi Roku looked down at her.
"Everyone knows you have a problem with Instructor Sakurai in practice class. Haven't you suffered enough at her hands? You don't care if Instructor Sakurai is a criminal; you just want leverage over her."
This time, Kawai didn't resort to humor. Her tone was aggressive: "I can see you consider yourself superior and smarter than Tamako. She told me about that deduction game, you know what I think?"
Without waiting for Fushimi Roku to respond, Kawai answered her own question:
"I think you disregard the law, scorn rules, and you are someone who will stop at nothing to achieve your goals. People like you should stay far away from her."
Fushimi Roku shrugged: "It's just a game."
"Just a game?"
Kawai stood up, saying: "Then play a deduction game with me. I'm different from Tamako. She's good at solving puzzles, while I'm good at creating them."
"Sorry, not interested..."
Before Fushimi Roku could finish his sentence, Kawai interrupted: "The game has already started."
She raised a finger, pointing straight at Fushimi Roku's forehead: "I'm going to steal Instructor Sakurai's diary tonight as a wager. If you win the deduction game, I'll hand over the diary to you; otherwise, if you lose, I'll burn the diary."