Chapter 52

Taking advantage of the door being open, the person who had been pounding on it stepped inside the entryway. Then, seeing Detective Chikage collapsed there, he rubbed his eyes several times.

That man with the shaggy hair. He cast a gloomy gaze toward us. The President's grandmother, rising with a grunt, started toward the entryway to greet him.

"Oh my, what's the matter?"

"I come back after ages, and why... why is this happening!? Grandma, isn't this awful?"

"It couldn't be helped..."

A bit noisy. The man was pleading in a sorrowful voice.

Not knowing who the man was, I asked the President, who was sipping tea beside me.

"Who is that?"

"Ah... perfect timing... that's the person who hated having the hornets exterminated most of all. The resident of Room 103 next door, Yachiyo-san."

"So you're saying the person who threatened 'Don't kill the hornets'—other than Yachiyo-san, who resents Mr. Kamakiri—is Yachiyo-san herself?"

"Yeah. The answer's simple. Apparently it's now at Yachiyo-san's house, but for a while her parents wouldn't let her keep bees, so she kept them here. That's how much she loves them."

"H-hornets!?"

After hearing that from the President, the man's shouts drifting over finally made sense.

"Grandma! While I was away for weeks you did something awful! I told you again and again to stop!"

"It couldn't be helped. Someone's life was on the line..."

The President's grandmother looked to have a hard time persuading him. Yet I couldn't help. I'd only just learned the circumstances; I couldn't gauge the depth of his love for the hornets. If I stepped out I'd only make their talk worse.

While they spoke, I questioned the President and kept investigating. If I didn't clear what bothered me from my mind, I'd never feel right.

"Um... when he kept hornets here, was he using this apartment like a warehouse?"

"No, not really a warehouse—more like a hideout."

"A hideout? Ah, you mean parents who wouldn't let him raise them?"

"Yachiyo-san's a part-timer who lives with her parents in a detached house. Apparently she used this apartment as a place to run away to now and then."

"I see. Still, it's amazing she managed to take the hornets home. Did she get her parents' permission?"

"Ah... rather than permission, it's different. They mostly die out. When summer ends the breeding hornets usually die, she told me sadly."

Listening, I gave a small nod and took in his knowledge.

If he loves hornets that much, it's no wonder he'd send a threatening letter. While I was thinking that, the noisy voice outside faded. Seeing the President's grandmother standing alone in front of the entryway, the talk with Yachiyo-san must be over.

Then one more visitor. This time a slender man in his twenties wearing round glasses, and a woman of the same age carrying bags, came calling.

The woman was surprisingly lively, hugging a big bag and a sack of rice. Maybe I shouldn't compare, but the man held only a small bag yet somehow looked weighed down.

"Here you go, Grandma! The groceries you asked for... and I picked up lunch too!"

"Ah, thank you so much!"

"Oh, it's fine! I'll carry it. Come on, hand over the batteries."

Hearing the exchange between the woman and the President's grandmother, the President moved. He quickly took the rice bale from the woman. I followed suit, grabbing the plastic bag stuffed with vegetables.

Glancing between the exhausted Detective Chikage slumped at the entryway and us, the woman spoke.

"Oh my, Grandma. You've got three grandkids visiting?"

"No, dear. One's my grandson, the others are his friends. Today they're helping clean the empty room."

"Then the key to the empty room is unlocked?"

"Yes."

"I'll help out later too!"

"Kamezaki-san, thank you."

According to the President, she's Kamezaki, living in Room 203. Her hobby is raising stink bugs. Another eccentric, I couldn't help thinking.

"Well then, Kamakiri-kun, let's do this!"

"Nah, I'm kind of... not now... yeah... Grandma, sorry. Could you wake me tonight?"

The listless man next to her handed the President's grandmother a bag of batteries and left. He's apparently Mr. Kamakiri from Room 201.

But what does "wake me tonight" mean? If he feels unwell, he could just sleep till tomorrow, I thought.

"Is something happening tonight?"

When I turned to ask the grandmother, Kamezaki-san answered first.

"Everyone here loves bugs and reptiles. Kamakiri-kun likes big beetles and stag beetles, I like stink bugs, that sort of thing. Not just us two from the same black company, but all the residents are colorful and fun. So we pick a weekend night when everyone's free and go out to eat together or have a barbecue."

"So you'll enjoy lively insect talk..."

Friendlier than I expected. I started to think the threatening letter might be a prank from someone outside.

I felt I understood why the President's grandmother had shown the letter openly to the residents. She must have thought they'd answer honestly.

Yet no one claimed responsibility. Could Yachiyo-san, who loved hornets, have done it after all? No, if it were that simple she'd have spoken up.

I tilted my head, unable to solve it, and the investigation was suspended for now.

"Cleaning again... President."

"Well, the place has changed. Let's switch it up!"

This time we changed rooms and began cleaning Room 202. Since someone was sleeping next door in 201, we hadn't brought a vacuum. A sad fact about high-school boys: we can't stay quiet.

"President! Keep it quieter! You're swinging the broom so hard the sound when it hits the tatami is too loud!"

"You're loud too!"

"No way."

"No way."

"You're louder."

"Hyoga, you're louder."

"If we keep this up we'll wake him."

"Hmm, let me see."

The President started to leave to check if he was awake. I quickly grabbed his shoulder to stop him.

"What are you doing!? Don't go into someone's room to see if they're asleep!"

"It's locked anyway; I can't. That's not the point! There's a sliding door on the 201 side, right?"

"Y-yes?"

"Open this and...!"

"Ah—"

Inside the sliding door the President opened lay a secret any child would dream of.

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