The Forgetful Detective Series Volume 2 Chapter 1 Part6-7

6

"Sorry to keep you waiting, I'm Okitegami. You're my client, Oyagiri-san, right? A pleasure to meet you."

She said as she appeared at the café—it had been a while since I last saw her face-to-face, but there was no way I could mistake her all-white hair. Still, her 'pleasure to meet you' meant she must have forgotten about me again… did I really give off such a light impression? Whatever the case, this made for our third conversation, and if I properly explained, I was sure she would remember.

Kyouko-san's fas.h.i.+on that day consisted of a light blue s.h.i.+rt and jacket, a tight skirt, stockings, and pumps, a formal ensemble. Was it because unlike when she came to the museum, she was on the job? Perhaps she was a person with a clear on and off switch; when it came to me, if I took off my guard uniform and spent a whole day off, I felt as if I would lose sight of myself. Maybe that's why I never got around to returning it, I couldn't help but wonder.

"Yes. I'm Oyagiri. It's a pleasure."

Whatever the case, I wasn't wearing a nametag, and of course, in my unemployed state, I didn't have any business card to give her, so as I stood, all I could do was name myself.

"Haha. As you said, you do have a wonderful build. I could pick you out at a glance. Oyagiri-san, are you doing something to train?"

Giving a care-free smile, Kyouko-san offered some flattery—her atmosphere hadn't changed from when I last saw her at the museum. Since it seemed there was a considerable change in fas.h.i.+on between her work and private life, I thought her manner of speech would change as well, but that didn't seem to be the case.

"I'm not doing anything special at the moment, but… well, due to my job I… no, I don't have that job anymore…"

When we spoke over the phone, I hadn't told her the details. Rather, the talks proceeded at such a rapid tempo, it was more accurate to say she didn't afford me the time to say the details. When I resolved myself to call the Okitegami Detective Agency, I ended up with an evening appointment on the very same day.

I was only told to wait at the designated café.

Naturally, I had intended to make a booking on some later date, and the rapid tempo did put me off, but as far as I can tell, it seems as if the Okitegami Detective Agency only handles same day appointments—isn't that practically the same as not making an appointment at all?

Could one really set up a detective trade on that system… while I held some questions, it was best to get it over with as quickly as possible, so I got my appearance in order. After waiting for Kyouko-san to finish placing her order (contrary to her white hair, she turned down sugar and milk, ordering straight black coffee), "… Umm, truth be told, we've spoken on this matter before… do you have any recollection of that?" I got right into it.

"Hmm?"

Kyouko-san blankly tilted her head… she didn't have the slightest idea.

"See, there's that museum you often go to, right? I was working as a security guard there… since I'm not wearing my uniform, is it hard to recognize me?"

Kyouko-san silently stared at me… I wondered what she was thinking was she trying to imagine me in a security guard uniform?

"There's a… museum I go to."

"Y-yes. Umm—there's this painting of the earth you always used to… no, it's not on display anymore, did you notice that?"

"My word…"

"Some circ.u.mstances have forced me to quit my job at the museum, but have you been around there lately?"

"Oh… I wonder."

The gears were more misaligned than I thought. Perhaps I had a strong impression of it simply because it was my workplace, but to Kyouko-san, her visits to the museum were simply a portion of her daily life not important enough to commit to memory. No, at the very least, back when she used to stand stock still an hour, that couldn't have been the case—that was no was no way to express what would shave away one twenty fourth of her day.

It was difficult to say it left a light impression on her.

"Oyagiri-san. For now, I'm fine if you keep speaking on the matter—please ignore if I'm personally involved with any of the contents of the request. If possible, please explain it as if you're spelling it out to someone you're meeting for the first time. While you're at it, please forget for a moment that I'm Okitegami Kyouko, and tell me all the calamity that has befallen you, down to the last detail."

Her black coffee arrived, and Kyouko-san said such a thing after taking a mouthful. With how slow the talks were going, she was pretty much sending out a lifeboat, but that didn't detract from how strangely she put it.

Forget for a moment that Kyouko-san is Kyouko-san… I doubted I could reset my cognition of her so conveniently, but I presumed that as a detective, she hoped to obtain an objective grasp of events. The observer effect, was it? I don't have any study in that field, so I don't really know… but whatever the case, I shouldn't stick my mouth into the methods of a professional.

So I spoke about the events surrounding my last few months on the job. I didn't think I had to touch on Hakui-kun, but she demanded 'down to the last detail', so I decided to throw it in just in case—even if she didn't ask, he was a boy who left too large of an impact to ignore.

I concealed the fact I thought Kyouko-san was an old woman when I first met her—it was too untactful to look her in the face and say it. Still, that left me without a reason for calling out to her so, "Your back was simply so charming, I couldn't help but call over," I said to cover it up. When it comes to a security guard who ditches work to hit on someone, it would be inevitable they get sacked, but in regards to that, it would still be more flattering than the truth.

Luckily, it seems I didn't give her a bad impression and, "Oh my, you're quite something," I got off with some light scolding. From her gentle smile, perhaps she had unexpectedly seen right through my deceit. The woman had a certain something to her that made me second guess.

And on her further urgings, I continued on to tell the full story. When I explained it to someone like that—come to think of it, that was the first time I properly explained it to someone from start to finish—I felt a certain degree of consistency, rather, it felt as if what I had gone through wasn't as bizarre as I thought it was; but that still only ran to a 'certain degree' and no further, or so was the impression I got.

What sort of impression did Kyouko-san take from it?

As I wondered and waited for her reaction, she lifted up her cup that had run empty over the course of the story, "I'll be getting a refill, but how about you?" she said something that sounded wholly out of place—granted, it was true my throat was dry from all the topping.

To take her consideration into account, I ordered an ice tea. Kyouko-san's second order was a double espresso. For that one as well, she said "I don't need milk or sugar"—just what sort of tongue did she have on her?

"I'm quite relieved that I can be of some use… it seems you're unaware, but I'm a considerably specialized type of detective, and my field of expertise is terrible constrictive. So, if I determined it was impossible, I would have to introduce you to someone else in the business… it's quite a shameful feeling to have to pa.s.s a job to a rival, you know."

Kyouko-san said as she waited for her drink to arrive… but a field of expertise?

"And what's your expertise?"

"Perhaps calling it a field of expertise isn't the right term. I mean the subjects I'm capable of resolving, and those I cannot… wasn't it written on the business card I handed you?"

"Not that I recall…?"

I took out the business card I carried along just to be sure… but looking at it front to back, I couldn't see any warning labels that looked the part.

"It's definitely on it. See, it's right there."

Leaning over the table, Kyouko-san pointed it out… she got closer than I had antic.i.p.ated, startling me into bending my back in the opposite direction, but I could make out the words she pointed out.

'We'll solve your troubles in a day!'

I hadn't paid it much mind, but under the 'Okitegami Detective Agency' logo, such a vigorous sales pitch was lain out—but just what sort of specialization did that point to? It sounded like simple enthusiasm, or a declaration of conviction, maybe even the catchphrase of the office. While it sounded a little too boastful to go and say she could 'solve your troubles in a day'… forget warning, it was even rea.s.suring.

"You're wrong about that. It means I can, 'Only take on jobs that can be solved in a day'… I'm the forgetful detective, after all."

"For"

I hesitated at that term I wasn't used to hearing.

"Forgetful… Detective?"

"Yes."

For some reason, Kyouko-san gave a triumphant nod.

"My memory is reset each and every day… every event that has happened today will be cleanly forgotten by tomorrow."

7

Kyouko-san only has today.

I had made a request unaware of the most emphasis-worthy characteristic of the Okitegami Detective Agency, but having heard that, I finally had a satisfying explanation for our unmes.h.i.+ng conversation. It wasn't just that Kyouko-san didn't remember me, or that she didn't remember visiting the museum, she had forgotten everything that happened up to yesterday. It was no wonder she only accepted same-day appointments—even if she did take up a job for a later date, by the time the day in question came, she would have already forgotten the corresponding appointment. This wasn't on the daily level of bad memory or forgetful… I couldn't believe it all of a sudden, but I couldn't think that Kyouko-san had any reason to lie about that. There would be no need to indicate that demerit on her business card if it wasn't true. For the detective trade with a premise of prolonged investigation, was that not a fatal attribute to have?

"Don't worry about it, it's not all bad. More than that, it's apparently been treated as a priceless treasure before. To a detective, behind that premise, there's an even bigger premise of preserving confidentiality and adhering to secrecy. Looking at it from the perspective of protecting privacy, there's nothing more trustworthy."

"Oh… I see."

Sure enough, the person investigating would forget, so there were no means for information to leak… not only the contents of the investigation, the fact they took a request, and who the client was would be forgotten by the next day. It went both ways, and even if Kyouko-san herself learned national-level secrets she should never find out, she would never have to feel in danger… if she was simply going to forget it in a few hours, she wouldn't have any need to brave the risk.

If a detective came around who could brazenly step right into any cla.s.sified scenario, I could see why she'd be cla.s.sified as a priceless treasure. I had made the request oblivious, simply listening to her words, it did seem that contrary to her gentle air, Kyouko-san's style and stance made for a sharp detective separated from the sort I'd imagined her.

Once national secrets entered the conversation, I felt like shrinking back at the notion I had brought her a request concerning the likes of myself. Wasn't it rude to use our slight connection to make such a small request? Perhaps reading the mood, "Oh, don't worry about that," Kyouko-san waved a hand in front of her face.

"No matter what sort of incidents I've taken charge of or resolved, to today's me, you're my first ever client, and this is my first job. There's a question of whether I'm capable of doing it or not, but I'm not the sort to be picky with my work… I may lose my memory, but that's precisely why I never lose my beginner's drive."

If you don't find me unreliable, please don't rescind your request, Kyouko-san deeply lowered her head.

I had learned first-hand the pain of losing a job you'd thought you've secured, and the words 'I never forget my beginner's drive' did have a good ring to them… come to think of it, perhaps it was because I had lost my beginner's drive that I was unable to stop an old man's rampage. At some point, the job I had wished hard for had started to become only natural, and because I had gotten around to thinking it was only natural for me to stand there, I was unable to deal with an unforeseen situation.

Going at it constantly thinking today is your first day… and at the same time your last is perhaps the most favorable mindset for labor.

"I'll be troubled if you take me so seriously. When you get down to it, I can't acc.u.mulate experience, and I can't learn—you could say I'm more suited to routine work than anyone. I can be deeply moved by the same piece any number of times."

"I see, so that's how it was."

The reason she spent an hour entranced by that painting every time she came to the museum, was because she had forgotten the last time she saw it… and the reason she frequented the museum might not be because it piqued her interest to such a degree, but because her past history of visiting had been erased.

If everything was a first experience, then admiration would never fade… always facing art with a fresh perspective, well, that might not be too bad. The desire to erase the pa.s.sion you got from an interesting movie so you can get another taste of it from zero is something everyone's felt once or twice, and Kyouko-san could actually—albeit unwillingly—pull it off.

When I called out to her the second time—and today the third—Kyouko-san treated it as our first meeting not because I left a shallow impression, but because the memories had already been reset, and how she forgot her emphasized two hundred million yen was also because she had actually forgotten it. However, if her life became a routine precisely because her actions didn't acc.u.mulate, then calling a painting two hundred million yen one day, and two million yen another, was remarkably inconsistent. The painting Kyouko-san once appraised as 'two hundred million yen' really should, on another day—another 'today' still be two hundred million yen.

No… maybe not?

Even if there was no time-based change on Kyouko-san's part, with its environment and circ.u.mstance, perhaps the target changed by the day… You can see weather as one word, but the sky's never the same twice. For every day she took a look at the clouds and decided to visit the museum, was a day where she decided to read a book at home.

More so, it was precisely because she forgot her appraisal of two hundred million yen, that she could see through to its 'current value' with partial eyes. Which means some sort of change would have to have happened to that painting… something even I couldn't notice when I looked at it every day, a minute change…

"But hypothetically, even if there was a change, the painting's already been smashed to smithereens… there's no way to confirm it. There's no use saying it at this point, but if only I'd ask you to solve the mystery back then, something like this wouldn't have…"

"No, I'm sure that's the fault of that day's me's shortsightedness. It's nothing you need to repent for, Oyagiri-san, that day's me is to blame. Yes, the real problem here lies with that day's me saying something so profoundly suggestive, without telling anyone what it really meant."

She kept repeating that day's me, that day's me, but from my point of view, it was Kyouko-san all the same… just because she had cleanly cut off her past self, she was boldly pus.h.i.+ng her under the bus.

"And it's not like it's too late. I said it, didn't I? I'm relieved I can be of some help—I said."

"Eh?"

Yeah, that's right.

She said it… that it was within her field of expertise.

Then that inevitably meant that Kyouko-san determined the matter could be solved in a day… but was that really possible? Even if she said today, it was already evening, and it did appear there was barely any time remaining… even if we brought our feet to the museum that very instant, we wouldn't make it before they shut their doors. Whether she wanted to investigate the scene, or question those concerned…

"No, we don't have to move a single step. The mystery has already been solved."

"Eh?"

"Oh my. Were you unaware of that? On the contrary, I'm surprised you even made a request to me. Ah, it must be the result of profoundly suggestive thing I said, a splendid sales pitch if I do say so myself… I guess I really can't take that day's me for a fool. Yes, the truth is, they call me the fastest detective–"

Kyouko-san carelessly threw it out… but f-fastest?

Certainly, if the mystery was already solved, I couldn't ask for any faster but, that was almost as if she heard a math problem from me, and instantly did some mental arithmetic. On top her nature, the forgetful detective couldn't take down notes, so she had to do it in her head but… that wasn't what I meant.

"T-then Kyouko-san, do you already know the answer?"

"I won't go as far as to call it an answer… as things stand, it's just a deduction. As a matter of procedure, I'll have to go substantiate it, but there's probably no doubt."

"That's amazing."

She said it too matter-of-factly for me to praise her, and while I let out some plain admiration, Kyouko-san humbly shrugged her shoulders with an, "It's nothing much."

"It just goes to show your provision of information was detailed enough for me to picture the scene and scenario just from your words… though you could also take it as me skipping some crucial steps as the problem solver. If I had to say, an armchair detective's means go against my principles. I'm thankful to be a detective who shaves down her soles visiting the crime scene a hundred times… well, in this case, it sounds like I've already been to the scene- the museum enough time, so let's just make a special exception."

Her saying my detailed account solved the mystery was probably just social courtesy, but I did feel some pride in my chest… Old Wakui had called me a knot-eyed amateur but at the very least, this showed I wasn't knot-eyed as a surveillance guard.

Of course, if I myself didn't notice the answer, I really can't evade the label of knot-eyed…

"But in that case, Kyouko-san."

"What could it be?"

"Could that possibly mean the deduction you wouldn't give for free that day, will be provided free of charge today?"

That's really rea.s.suring, I had intended to continue but,

"What are you saying!?"

Kyouko-san put her hands to the table in abject astonishment—the one surprised by her threatening air was me.

"That's not what I meant when I said it was nothing. There's no way you'd be able to get the reasoning I wouldn't unveil for free that day, free of charge. What are you even saying?"

"O-of course."

"My fee will be the standard rate. Not a single yen short."

It's not like I was trying to use her slip of the tongue to haggle myself out of paying, but she was so ardent in chastising her past self, so I wondered if that was the case. It seems she had no intent to repent for her 'shortsightedness'… she was going to keep pus.h.i.+ng it until it worked.

It's something I understood from when she appraised the painting, but it seemed Kyouko-san was stricter with money than I understood her to be… just because she was able to easily, swiftly piece together her deduction, the price wasn't going down.

Of course, I had no objections.

It should actually be rising, come to think of it, it's strange to think the reward should go down because the job was done fast… and around that point, the espresso and ice tea we ordered arrived. It was the first time I ever saw someone drink an espresso straight… Kyouko's face didn't even grimace at the bitterness, she kept an elegant countenance as if she was sipping a café latte.

Was it because she couldn't see the world as sweet as me, that she was a detective who knew the bitterness of life… no wait, even if she tasted her way through sweet and sour, Kyouko-san would forget the taste.

"Then let's start solving the mystery. Are you ready?"

"Ready… do I need to prepare something?"

"No, nothing in particular."

As I braced myself, the forgetful detective turned it on me.

"If I had to say, prepare your heart."