Chapter 55

I can't say Detective Chikage's reasoning is wrong. All I can do is answer "That's right" while she puffs her chest out proudly. Because of that she gets even more carried away, going "E-hem."

If she's riding that wave of confidence, I'd love to drag her down into an ocean of despair—but I can't right now. Instead I'll speak about the clue to the culprit that can be gleaned from her story.

"In short... just a moment, please."

While opening the single window at the back of the room, I look outside. There's no sign anything was thrown from here. What's more, even looking at the road below, nothing like repellent spray has been dropped. As a follow-up I step outside the room and survey the whole yard from the second-floor corridor of the apartment. No spray cans or the like are lying around.

The President follows me and asks the meaning of my actions.

"What're you doing?"

"You heard Detective Chikage's story just now. If her locked room is correct, and someone killed the hornet with repellent spray, then unless it was discarded in the yard... the culprit should still have the repellent spray. In other words, by identifying who currently has a spray can, we can mark the culprit."

"So you're saying it wasn't in the yard?"

"Yes. I believe someone is carrying it..."

"No way...?"

The President's face stiffens slightly. Tilting his head, he tries to ask what I mean.

"What do you mean, 'no way'?"

"N-no... I was just thinking what great reasoning! I see. I see. I'm absolutely dazzled by both of your deductions!"

Detective Chikage, who had been listening from behind, says "Oh my!" and then, looking a bit delighted, starts stepping in place.

Yet those words don't improve my mood. If he'd meant to say "No way! A detective this amazing is right in front of me!" he wouldn't have used the words "N-no..." to negate something.

Did he simply misspeak? Or was there some secret that needed to be denied just once? Well, with the President it's highly probable it was a slip of the tongue.

Convincing myself with that, I concentrate on deciding our next move.

"Then, if we don't hurry, the evidence may be disposed of. The three of us will break into three different people's rooms and check whether they have the spray. Of course, if you sense any danger, please return at once."

All the apartment's residents are holed up in their rooms. The residents' evening social gathering has been canceled, so they're probably preparing meals inside their rooms.

Our purpose in visiting them is to find out whether they have repellent spray.

Yet one person is dissatisfied. Detective Chikage raises her hand first.

"I can't sneak into a room that has bugs—what should I do...!?"

Come to think of it, almost everyone in this apartment keeps bugs.

I was about to suggest going to Yachiyo-san's place since she has no hornets right now, but on second thought, it's not certain her room is bug-free. She might be keeping a new species.

So I reluctantly change her assignment.

"Then, Detective Chikage, please keep watch over the entire apartment. From outside you won't see any pets, so there's nothing to worry about."

"Eh—ah, yes."

I've asked Detective Chikage to watch for anyone trying to dispose of the evidence.

"Then, the President and I will split up... um—"

"Then I'll go to Kamezaki-san!"

"...Please do. I'll check the men's team."

I'd planned to split between the first and second floors, but the President seems to have some odd feelings toward Kamezaki-san.

As long as the evidence isn't hidden, I decide to go along with the President's suggestion.

Right away, we break into Room 5 on the second floor—Mr. Uriki's room.

"Excuse me!"

The door was open so I enter without knocking. In the back is Mr. Uriki arranging canned goods; when he notices he's being watched he immediately rushes over.

"W-what's up!? Hey!?"

"No, I just had something I wanted to check regarding cockroaches..."

"Eh?"

"You know, about that banana you mentioned earlier... I wanted to find out a bit."

"Ah... well, I'm eating, but if you want to know I guess there's no choice."

With a gentle voice I tell him I'd like to see, and as planned I listen to Mr. Uriki's explanation. While nodding along to his story, I look around the cockroach cage. There's no basket that looks like it could hold a spray can.

I'm almost distracted by the cockroach moving nearby, but I steady my mind and continue the search for the spray can.

It isn't where I expected. Then I have no choice but to ask bit by bit.

"You really treasure your cockroaches, don't you... it would be terrible if they were sprayed with repellent."

"Wh-what! Exactly. Lately cockroaches have gotten tougher, but it's still dangerous."

"So you don't keep anything like that around."

"Of course not. Living close to nature means you have to coexist with bugs... the late Mr. Kamakiri wasn't quite used to that."

I thank him and leave. Unfortunately I couldn't check inside the fusuma. Interrupting his meal any further would be rude, so I'll stop pressing.

Just then the President emerges from Kamezaki-san's house. He immediately shakes his head.

"There wasn't a single one at Kamezaki-san's place."

"Including inside the fusuma?"

"I peeked in secretly—nothing. The room was stuffed with stink bugs and calligraphy gear, so searching took some effort."

"Calligraphy?"

"Yeah... brushes were there."

"Hmm... well, it doesn't seem related to the case. Let's go to Yachiyo-san together."

"Yeah!"

We visit Room 103 together. There, Yachiyo-san suddenly appears and shouts.

"H-hornets! Hornets haven't done anything wrong!"

"H-huh...?"

"So stop blaming the hornets!"

Not understanding why she's angry, my soul leaves my body for a few seconds. When it returns I ask what she means.

"What are you talking about...?"

"W-well, Kamezaki-san called! Don't badmouth hornets! That girl didn't die because of hornets. Because of that girl the hornets nearly died...! Hornets don't attack on their own! They won't sting unless attacked or unless you get too close to the nest! So absolutely—"

...I mutter to the President, who'd confirmed with Kamezaki-san.

"President, maybe you..."

"I let it slip... I told Kamezaki-san about the reasoning."

"It's my fault for failing to warn you. I'm sorry. I'm garbage."

"Don't be so self-deprecating."

"Who made me do this!?"

Just as I'm about to speak down to the President—standing on tiptoe to do it—something tumbles from my pocket: a bag containing an actual hornet.

Since it's a corpse it will surely worsen Yachiyo-san's mood. I hurry to explain.

"Th-this hornet is, uh—"

The President freezes; while I'm making excuses Yachiyo-san picks it up. I shrink, expecting more scolding.

But while checking the hornet's rear she removed from the bag, she says something that could overturn the case.

"This... has no stinger. It's a male hornet with no stinger...! Where did you pick this up!? Where was insecticide sprayed!?"

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