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

Capítulo 20

"Okay. See you tomorrow..."

"Call the school. I don't know when I'll be able to get out."

"Is everything alright?"

"Just give me a suitable name. Call me around midnight."

"Understood."

“If I call you, your voice will sound familiar, and your sister will most likely answer the phone.”

"Okay. I'll definitely call."

"Then, you go first. I'll go back after a short while."

"Okay. Well... see you tomorrow."

"All right."

Ayako emerged from the shade of the tree, glanced around, and then hurriedly walked out.

"Big sister."

She hadn't gone far when she heard someone calling her. Ayako was startled, "Yuriko—"

"Where did you go? We were so worried about you."

"Excuse me. I just... took a short walk around the station area."

"This road is very secluded, so we have to be careful."

"yes."

The two sisters began walking back. Ayako asked, "Did you find anything about that black veil?"

"We asked everyone who came to the funeral. But no one could remember who wore a black veil or anything like that. Many people didn't wear one either. —However, only a few people dropped out halfway through."

"That's very suspicious."

After a pause, Yuriko said, "Professor Andong is among them."

Without thinking, Ayako stared at Yuriko and shouted, "What did you say? What do you mean?"

"It doesn't mean anything in particular. It's just stating the fact that Professor Anton disappeared during the funeral."

"Don't you think it's rude of you to say something like that?"

"I didn't say anything. Why are you so angry?"

"Of course. The teacher took me and Zhu Mei in for a long time! She's such a noble person. To speak of someone like that as if she were a murderer..."

"I never said he was the murderer. But his characteristics do match those of a murderer very well. I know about Dad's affairs, but I wouldn't know about something like a sudden business trip. It was a fire..."

2005-3-14 15:56:00

“I never said he was the murderer. But his characteristics do match the murderer’s perfectly. He knew about Dad’s affairs, but he wouldn’t have known about something like his sudden business trip. He was the first person to arrive when the fire broke out, and it seems like he and his wife didn’t get along. Right? And then there’s the fact that he left the funeral when Kanda Hatsue was murdered. And people nearby said he was wearing a black veil.”

“Yuriko!” Ayako said, her voice trembling. “This is too much, no matter what. I can’t take it anymore.”

"Don't take it so seriously. I'm just explaining my reasons."

"You're being ridiculous! Stop acting like you know everything! That's enough!" Ayako shouted in despair and then ran away.

Yuriko sighed softly, muttering to herself, "I still managed to fool her..." She guessed that Ayako was probably still meeting with Anton, so she used a little trick to get the truth out of her. Ayako's angry demeanor just now was completely reckless. Yuriko shrugged and walked back.

While talking to Ayako, Yuriko's impression that Anton was the murderer gradually deepened, even surprising herself. Indeed. To add to that, the fact that Kanda Hatsue saw a "tall, strong man" with Mizuguchi Junko also perfectly fits the description. Yuriko began to tremble. Not from the cold, but from the mixed feeling of impatience and a strange sense of loss as the results of her long-term investigation gradually revealed their true nature.

How could it be Professor Andong? —That's what Yuriko thought. But the crime of murder was committed by someone so uncertain, someone like, "How could it be that person?"

Perhaps some people, out of disgust or fear for brutality in daily life, might kill due to drunkenness or momentary anger, but it's unlikely that someone would harbor murderous intent due to long-standing resentment and meticulously plan a killing. Everyone can achieve psychological balance by venting their dissatisfaction and anger. Those who cannot do this will let their pressure and worries accumulate little by little, like silt at the bottom of a pond, eventually turning into action. Consider Anton, as a teacher, he should belong to the type of person who cannot vent his troubles. Especially considering the seemingly disharmonious relationship between him and his wife, Kiko, his inability to resolve daily dissatisfaction, coupled with work-related disturbances, makes his life truly difficult. "He had all the conditions to commit the crime," Yuriko muttered.

Of course, no one is born a murderer; it must be caused by many other factors. — It's not an exaggeration to say that Anton was such a person.

However, Ayako seemed to have genuinely fallen in love with Anton, a situation that greatly troubled Yuriko. This was the only area where Yuriko had no experience; what could she do? She was at a loss. "Troubles are truly endless..." Yuriko muttered, shaking her head helplessly.

As soon as Yuriko returned to the Katase family home, Tamami came out to greet her. "What's wrong with Ayako-neechan? She's crying loudly and has crawled into bed."

"Let her be, nothing will happen." Yuriko suddenly felt waves of fatigue wash over her.

"Want to take a shower?"

"Mmm. I want to go to sleep right away." Yuriko went upstairs to the second floor, which served as the three sisters' bedroom.

Exhausted after the funeral, Katase picked up a small package from the sofa in the living room, glanced at it, and casually tossed it onto the table. He tossed it a little too hard, and the package fell off one end of the table, rolling under the magazine rack and disappearing from sight.

2005-3-14 15:57:00

Chapter Twelve: Detective or Sister?

The next day, Yuriko slept until late morning. She seemed extremely tired, partly because no one woke her up. When Yuriko went downstairs, the house was quiet. Katase had gone to work to try and forget her grief, while Atsuko and Tamami had gone to school, of course.

Where's Ayako? —Yuriko arrived at the front gate and noticed Ayako's shoes were missing. "She went to work, didn't she?" Even though Kanda Hatsue was killed, there was no other way but for her to go to work there now. Ayako understood that at least. Perhaps because of what happened yesterday, she didn't want to see Yuriko today. Yuriko shrugged, thinking.

I'll wash my face first, so I headed towards the bathroom. Just then, the doorbell rang. —What am I going to do? I'm still in my pajamas. Oh well, whatever. It's probably just the mailman or something.

"You're here." As soon as the door opened, Officer Kuniyoshi stood in front of Yuriko.

"Oh dear, are you still sleeping?"

Yuriko panicked and ran inside.

"—You could have just called before coming," Yuriko grumbled as she got into Kuniyoshi's car.

"I'm sorry. But you look really cute in your pajamas," Guoyou said with a grin.

Yuriko spat softly and turned her head away, ignoring her.

Guoyou didn't seem to mind, saying, "They called and said they'd like to meet with you. I wonder what they want to say to you."

Junko Mizuguchi's parents said they wanted to meet Yuriko. Yuriko had visited them once before, but they weren't home. Since then, due to a series of unforeseen events, she hadn't been able to visit again.

Junko Mizuguchi's house was a very ordinary apartment building. Yuriko and the others went up and rang the doorbell.

"You're here." A woman's voice came from inside. The door opened, and a slightly plump woman in her fifties stood before them.

"This is Kuniyoshi, the one who answered your call." Kuniyoshi nodded in greeting. "This is Ms. Yuriko Sasamoto."

"Oh, welcome, welcome." The woman smiled and looked Yuriko up and down. "I am Junko's mother. Please come in."

The living room is reminiscent of a simple restaurant, and it has been kept as spacious and bright as possible since it is temporarily used for receiving guests.

"—Where is your husband?"

"He's been meeting with his kendo friends all day," Mrs. Mizuguchi said, serving tea. "That's why I invited you all here."

"Oh, so that's how it is..."

“My husband still can’t accept the fact that our daughter was killed like that.” The woman gave a somewhat forlorn smile. “But look… on that bookshelf, there’s a picture of Junko, isn’t there? My husband put it there without realizing it. He knows very well in his heart that Junko is dead. It’s just that he’s too stubborn to say it out loud…”

Yuriko put down her teacup and asked, "May I see the photo?"

"Ah, look."

Thinking about it carefully, I really didn't know much about Junko Mizuguchi's appearance. From newspaper photos and television appearances, I had no idea what kind of woman she was. The photo seemed to have been taken during a trip somewhere. She was wearing sportswear and casual clothes, smiling happily. Seeing that lovely smiling face, I could completely understand the feelings of that father who refused to accept losing such a daughter…

"She's a very honest child, with a very gentle personality." Although mothers often show favoritism when talking about their children, Yuriko sensed the same impression from the photo. And—Yuriko suddenly realized this person resembled someone else. Who was it? Not the facial structure, but the overall impression that reminded Yuriko of someone. But who was that person? Yuriko couldn't quite place it.

"—So, Miss Junko and that man started dating two years ago..." Kuniyu noticed Yuriko's question and took out his notebook. "Then, has she mentioned anything about that man?"

“Well… I’ve asked her many times, but she won’t answer anything…” the lady said, shaking her head. “I think she’s afraid that my father will be furious if he finds out.”

"If that's the case—"

"I think she fell in love with a married man."

Is this your intuition?

"If she were a mother, she would understand."

"I see." Kuniyu nodded. "But, they didn't mention anything like names?"

"yes."

"Is there anything... that could be a clue? Like age, occupation, etc."

"She didn't say anything about that person either... In short, she refused to speak about anything related to that person, just like a tightly closed seashell."

2005-3-14 15:58:00

"So, have you discovered that Miss is pregnant?"

“I noticed. I could tell from her complexion and anxious expression. Especially since the mother and daughter had similar symptoms.”

"I see. Have you asked Miss about this matter?"

“I asked her. I told her, ‘Even if you deny it, I’ll find out.’ — Of course, she thought I would abandon her, so she suddenly burst into tears…”

"That means you admit it."

“Yes. She herself didn’t know what to do. I said, ‘I won’t tell your father anything, but you have to figure out a way to resolve this.’”

"What did Miss Junko say?"

She said, "This time, I'm going to get to the bottom of this."

When did this happen?

"Two days before that fire."

"So, she wanted to negotiate a solution with the murderer, but the murderer was pushed to the limit and killed her."

“If I had asked more questions back then, or conversely, if I hadn’t said anything at all… perhaps this wouldn’t have happened.” The lady wiped away her tears and said, “This is something I’ve never been able to let go of.”

“I don’t think it has anything to do with that,” Yuriko said. “That kind of crime must have been planned a long time ago. The murderer didn’t suddenly decide to kill. I don’t think what you said to Ms. Junko was the cause of the incident.”

The lady silently gazed at Xi Lizi.

Yuriko quickly lowered her eyes and said, "I'm sorry, I think I said something unnecessary."

“No, you are a very kind girl,” the lady said slowly. “You must have been very worried about your father’s whereabouts. But it’s wonderful that he has been cleared of suspicion.”

"Thanks."

"That's all I can tell you, officer," the lady said, spreading her hands gently. "That's all for now; it probably won't be of much help to you."

“No, it’s very helpful, not at all like you said.” Kuniyu closed his notebook and stood up. “If you remember anything else, please contact us. We will definitely catch the murderer.”

"Then I'll leave it to you." With that, the lady bowed deeply.