Tokyo: Rabbit Officer and Her Evil Partner
Chapter 251 - 172: Drowning

Chapter 251: Chapter 172: Drowning

Ono Ken ignored it and left Fujiwara Section Chief waiting in the reception room, personally taking the three guests to the inner hall. Naturally, reserved guests should be treated differently from uninvited intruders.

The four of them passed through a half-open corridor, with the sound of flowing water in the background, and the courtyard’s maple leaves lush and green. Ono Ken, wearing a kimono, slid open the inner hall’s sliding doors, knelt to the side like a servant, and gestured for everyone to sit on the cushions.

"Lady Nakako has been overly mournful lately, her days and nights reversed, and she has not risen yet." Ono Ken bowed apologetically, "Please bear with us and wait patiently."

Yazaki Momo said it was no issue and took the opportunity to ask, "In that case, could you show us around?"

Minamoto Tamako took off her sunglasses, clasped her hands together, and softly pleaded, "It would be best if we could visit the crime scene..."

Fushimi Roku quickly covered her mouth, signaling her to quiet down, and smilingly said to Ono Ken, "She means it would be best to visit the locations where anomalies occurred, mainly to witness the legendary ground spirits and evil spirits."

Only then did Minamoto Tamako remember her role was that of a ’supernatural event enthusiast.’ Directly asking to go to the crime scene made her intentions too obvious, and anyone could see she was there to investigate the case.

"I have yet to inquire, this gentleman is...?" said Ono Ken, looking towards Yazaki Momo, who then glanced at Fushimi Roku, intending for him to introduce himself.

Minamoto Tamako had a bad feeling and hurriedly tried to cover Fushimi Roku’s mouth in return, but her arms weren’t long enough, and Fushimi Roku spoke faster, saying nonchalantly, "I am a Spirit Medium Detective."

"A spirit medium... can also be a detective?" Ono Ken asked.

"I specialize in spirit communication, capable of directly asking the deceased to identify the murderer." Fushimi Roku was very professional, having already gotten into character, speaking such things naturally.

Ono Ken looked as if she had an epiphany, nodded, indicating that she understood.

Seeing her so calm, Minamoto Tamako thought, as expected of a maid from a noble family, she must have seen a lot of storms and was not surprised to encounter such a strange thing as a ’Spirit Medium Detective.’

"Rightfully so, please follow me."

Ono Ken stood up once more, with Yazaki Momo following closely. Minamoto Tamako leaned in towards Fushimi Roku and whispered, "See? I told you Miss Ono was nice. Generally, butlers of wealthy families are very strict and wouldn’t casually allow outsiders to tour around like this!"

Fushimi Roku replied indifferently in a low voice, "Fool! How could she make such a decision on her own? Nakako must have given instructions beforehand... And haven’t you thought about why Nakako consented to let Yazaki Momo follow and report?"

"Why?" Minamoto Tamako was still somewhat lacking in understanding human nature.

"The princess isn’t naïve. You suspect Oogami Nui of being a fraud; wouldn’t she have doubts too?" Fushimi Roku said while walking.

"If she has doubts, why even invite them?" Minamoto Tamako didn’t understand.

"Grasping at straws when there’s no other solution, taking comfort wherever possible in times of grief can deceive oneself," Fushimi Roku gave her a glance.

Minamoto Tamako suddenly thought of the rabbit policeman, and instantly understood Nakako’s conflicting feelings.

The two whispered for a while; after crossing the corridor, the sound of wind chimes disappeared, and the room was frightfully quiet. They instinctively fell silent. Ono Ken led the three upstairs, heading to Akishino Mako’s room before her death.

As a blooming young girl, Akishino Mako’s room was unexpectedly austere. Minamoto Tamako looked around, noticing only a desk, a bookshelf, and a chair. The floor was laid with tatami, and the bedding seemed to have been stored in the closet.

The space, though large, was frighteningly desolate.

Fushimi Roku turned his head; light shone through the sliding wooden door on the left side of the room. He approached it and slid open the door to reveal a balcony. The corridors and railings were wooden.

Fushimi Roku stood by the railing, looking down at the garden pond below; the water was clear, with red and white koi suspended among them, and a few golden-scaled fish swimming by.

"Miss Akishino fell from here."

Behind him, Ono Ken’s voice came unexpectedly.

Fushimi Roku turned around to see her guilt-ridden expression as she softly said, "That night, I failed to look after the young lady..."

Upon hearing this, Yazaki Momo quickly retrieved her camera from her bag, snapped a close-up of Ono Ken’s remorseful face, and then asked, "You don’t mind, do you? It might be used as material for publication... If you do mind, I can delete it."

Ono Ken hesitated for a moment before saying, "I really shouldn’t be in the limelight, so please understand, Miss Yazaki."

Yazaki Momo nodded in understanding and promptly deleted the photo. As a reporter, her priority was to capture valuable shots, and only afterward consider whether they could be published without infringing on others’ privacy.

Minamoto Tamako leaned on the railing with both hands, peering down, her bobbing hair swaying in the wind: "It’s not even high, and there’s a pond below; how could someone die from falling?"

"Miss Akishino couldn’t swim," Ono Ken replied.

Minamoto Tamako suddenly realized that Akishino Mako had drowned; previously, Yazaki Momo had mentioned Akishino Mako committed suicide by jumping, making Minamoto Tamako think she had fallen to her death.

Yazaki Momo took out a notebook, inquiring Ono Ken about the details of the incident, to which the latter did not hold back, having recounted this several times to the police; once more made no difference.

The incident happened on a night when Arashiyama experienced a heavy storm. Thunder and lightning frightened Miss Akishino; she was already convalescing at home and claimed to have seen a ghost after the fright, at one point saying she heard strange water harp sounds, and at another, that she saw her deceased father.

Princess Nakako, following the usual routine, personally attended to her daughter. Later in the night, Ono Ken noticed that the mistress was exhausted and drowsy and offered to take over, letting the mistress return to her room for rest while she attended to Miss Akishino.

After Nakako left, Miss Akishino became agitated again. Ono Ken brewed a pot of calming tea for her, which somewhat soothed her anxious state.

"I thought she had fallen asleep and took the tea set back to the kitchen to tidy up a bit, but when I returned, I no longer saw Miss Akishino..."

Saying this, Ono Ken lowered her head, looking increasingly guilty.

Having listened, Minamoto Tamako hurried to comfort Ono Ken, advising her not to be overly self-reproachful; whereas Fushimi Roku, lost in thought, glanced at the pond again and asked, "Where was the body retrieved from?"

"It was— it was Mr. Fukuyama who jumped into the pond attempting to rescue Miss Akishino... Unfortunately, it was too late."

Perhaps due to the emotional scene, there was a catch in Ono Ken’s voice.

Though it seemed a bit unfeeling, such questions needed asking. Minamoto Tamako finally understood why criminal police in dramas always kept a stern face. She lowered her voice and softly asked, "So, was there an autopsy done?"