El segundo libro de la serie El mago de Oolong, titulado La mente normal

Capítulo 15

"What else is there besides that?"

"Hmm, ah... what is it? Oh, right. A few days ago, Kanda seemed to have gone to that hotel again. She said she had also been there around the middle of the year and saw a man who seemed to be the same person."

Yuriko was stunned for a long time, as if struck by a thunderbolt. She had actually forgotten such important information. As expected of Yuriko, although she was furious, she managed to suppress her anger in front of Anton.

“We should notify the police immediately.” Yuriko stood up. “Teacher, I’d like to borrow the phone.”

"Oh, sure."

As soon as Yuriko opened the sliding door to the restaurant, Ando Kiko suddenly appeared in front of her. She exclaimed "Oh my!" before coming to her senses and greeting her, "Y-you're back..."

“It’s Qizi back,” Anton said. “We didn’t even notice. She’s back early today. Come on, let’s eat. Ayako made it. It’s getting better and better.”

Anto Kiko entered the restaurant with a taut, ashen face. Everyone froze, speechless and completely still.

"What are you doing? What's wrong?" Anton asked.

"If this girl's cooking suits your taste so well, why don't you marry her?" Qi Zi said in a shrill voice.

“Hey, don’t say such weird things,” Anton said, frowning. “Ayako was just trying to be kind—”

"Do you think I don't know anything?" Qi Zi screamed. Ayako shrank back timidly, "Because I heard you had nowhere to stay, I took you in out of kindness, but I never expected you to seduce my husband..." Qi Zi glared at Ayako fiercely, "You treacherous cat!" and slapped Ayako across the face.

“I…I don’t know anything…” Ayako burst into tears.

“Hey! How could you do such a thing!” Anton stood up.

"Don't speak!" Qi Zi shouted hoarsely, "What's so good about this kind of girl! Isn't she just the kind of delinquent girl who immediately sleeps with any boy she sees!"

“That’s too much, saying such things—” Ayako cried, “I…have never done anything that I feel guilty about!”

"That's right, these are all your unfounded guesses."

"If not, then you can leave this house right now, no problem! You're always shamelessly refusing to leave. You think it doesn't matter if I come back late? Do you think I don't know what you're doing?!"

Yuriko finally realized what was happening, put her hand on Ayako's shoulder and said, "Big sister, they've already said that, let's go."

"But……"

"Ah, I'll stay at Atsuko's house for the night."

Ayako looked at Ando with tear-streaked eyes. Ando wanted to say something, but when he met Kiko's stern gaze, he remained silent.

"Alright, go get anything you need." Yuriko helped Ayako to her feet. "Tamami, and you too."

"Sure enough, I want one too."

"That's natural."

Tamami shrugged and stood up, along with Ayako.

2005-3-14 15:25:00

"That's natural."

Tamami shrugged, stood up, and went into the inner room with Ayako. Yuriko sat upright, saying, "We're so sorry for the trouble you've caused us all this time." She nodded in thanks.

“It’s nothing. It’s just what an educator should do,” Anton said.

"What are you teaching her..." Qi Zi deliberately turned her face to the side and said.

"Also, thank you for your kindness, but I think some unpleasant things have happened. Anyway, please forgive me." Yuriko stood up and followed Ayako and Tamami out the door.

As soon as she stepped outside, Zhu Mei exhaled and said, "Wow, that's amazing, the jealousy of middle-aged women."

Ayako stood there, turning her head to stare intently at the Ando family.

"Big sister," Yuriko urged.

"Hmm..." Ayako was still sobbing as she took a weak step.

2005-3-14 15:26:00

Chapter Nine: The Claws Reaching Out from the Darkness

"Oh dear, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." Guoyou got out of the taxi and ran over.

"I thought you weren't coming," Yuriko said with a smile. "I'm so sorry to have borrowed money from you yesterday."

"nothing."

"But it must be tough to make ends meet until you get your paycheck next month, right?"

"You've recovered your spirits, haven't you?" Guoyou looked up at the building. "It's the fifth floor, isn't it?"

"Hmm. — What do you think of what I told you on the phone?"

“There’s a good chance.” Kuniyu nodded and entered the elevator. “Actually, I told all this to old man Misaki. Other things also came together. After careful consideration, he agreed with me that if Kanda Hatsue could provide clear testimony, he would formally reopen the case and investigate again.”

Yuriko suddenly stopped in her tracks. "Really?"

"Yes. I was late because of this negotiation with him."

Yuriko's eyes welled up with tears, and she hurriedly wiped them away. "I'm sorry. I... I didn't cry yesterday, but..."

“That’s precisely where your thoughtfulness shines through. Alright, let’s go.” Kuniyoshi said, putting his arm around Yuriko’s shoulder.

The elevator is heading towards the fifth floor.

"Is Miss Ayako not at work today?"

"Yes. Today is Mrs. Katase Noriko's funeral, so she went to help out. Is there any progress on that matter?"

"That seems to be the case. Although I asked around a bit and found out that the guy who called is the key, it's impossible to filter them one by one."

As soon as the elevator stopped, the two went straight to the glass door that read "Tokyo Secretarial Service Company" and pushed it open to enter.

"—Are you looking for Kanda? Please wait a moment." The receptionist immediately made a phone call. "Ah, yes, I'm very sorry, Kanda left work early."

"Did you leave work early? Then, what time did you leave?" Kuniyoshi and Yuriko exchanged glances.

"It was around ten o'clock. She received a phone call from someone and suddenly rushed back home."

"Could you tell us where she lives?"

"Is there anything urgent for you?" Guoyou showed her police identification before she explained the address in detail.

The two left the "Tokyo Secretarial Services Company" and arrived at the building entrance, neither of them speaking. Then, they simultaneously exchanged glances.

"I am anxious."

"Me too."

Let's go to her house and take a look!

The two hailed a taxi, and Guoyou showed his police identification.

"Get out of here!" he roared.

They hadn't gone far when a white patrol motorcycle caught up with them. Whenever the taxi had to stop, Guoyou yelled at the officer on the white motorcycle, "Clear the way!" After that, they passed through red lights without any hindrance and soon arrived near their target's residence.

2005-3-14 15:27:00

"It's this area..." Guoyou looked around after getting out of the taxi.

"I live in an apartment."

"It seems so. I'll go ask." Guoyou quickly ran into the bakery next door and immediately came out again. "I understand!"

Is it around here?

"I heard it's just behind here. Let's go!"

The two of them had been jogging, or more accurately, running, for some time now.

"This is the apartment!"

“It’s on the second floor, room number three,” Yuriko said.

The apartment wasn't exactly luxurious, and as the two of them ran up the stairs, a roar immediately came from below: "It's fried to death!" But they didn't care about that anymore.

“It’s here.” The two stopped in front of a door and listened intently. They could hear moans coming from inside.

"Oh no!" Kuniyu clenched his fists above his head and slammed them against the door. With a snap, the chain on the door broke, and Kuniyu and Yuriko rushed through the wide-open door. — Yuriko, embarrassed, immediately turned around in a fluster.

With a scream of pain, the naked man and woman immediately sprang to their feet. A furious roar erupted, "What are you doing?!"

At a coffee shop near the apartment where Kanda Hatsue lives.

"Really...aren't you embarrassed?" Kanda Hatsue crossed her arms and glared at Kuniyu. Of course, she was already dressed.

"No, I'm sorry. Because I heard groans, I immediately..."

"Are you a virgin?" Kanda Hatsue asked, looking at Kuniyuu's face with an amused expression. "Is that so, officer?"

"So, may I ask about the case?" Guoyou cleared his throat, trying to steer the conversation back on track.

"—That girl is the murderer's daughter, isn't she?" Kanda Hatsue took a sip of coffee and frowned. "This is really bitter."

“He’s a suspect.” Yuriko, who was sitting next to Kuniyoshi, quickly corrected him.

"Oh, really?"

"If what you say is true, it would be of great significance in clearing Sasamoto Shonpei of suspicion."

"I didn't say anything." Upon hearing Kanda Hatsue's words, Kunitomo and Yuriko quickly exchanged glances.

"But, what about Miss Ayako—"

"What does this mean? I don't understand. Is there any evidence to prove that I said it?"

"But you did say that, didn't you? You saw Junko Mizuguchi with a man in the hotel corridor—"

"Shut up!" Kanda Hatsue interrupted them. "Don't ruin my reputation with things like hotels! I've never been to a place like that. Listen carefully, the person in my room just now was my fiancé. What will I do if he hears what I just said?"

"Please rest assured on this point. We will keep the contents of the testimony absolutely confidential. We can make an agreement with you."

"Stop joking!" Kanda Hatsue stood up. "What will people think of me? If they think I'm that kind of frivolous woman, it'll cause me a lot of trouble. Don't bother me with this kind of thing anymore!" She said and stormed out of the coffee shop.

"Wait!" Yuriko chased after her, blocking Kanda Hatsue's path as she was heading back to her apartment. "Please wait! My father is being falsely accused of murder! Just tell me what you saw—"

"How annoying! Take your hand away!" She brushed Yuriko's hand away and ran off.

Yuriko stood there blankly. Kuniyoshi came out of the shop and approached her.

"The timing isn't right. Let's retreat."

2005-3-14 15:28:00