Tokyo: Rabbit Officer and Her Evil Partner
Chapter 291 - 212

Chapter 291: Chapter 212

The evening darkness poured slowly into the Lower Kamogawa River, like a ladle of warm water.

The stone slope of Izu Town was steeped in a pale purple twilight, the bamboo curtains of the hot spring hotels were gradually being rolled up, Taira Sakurako sat by the gate of Shuoshan Temple, nearby, traveling dancing girls were tuning shamisen, and a group of children gathered by the creek to release lanterns.

The evening party was about to begin.

Taira Sakurako couldn’t help but start imagining that unknown woman who had once lived here, appreciating the same scenery under a silent, warm glow. If she hadn’t been taken away by her father, perhaps she would be like those children releasing lanterns...

Mizutani Hiroshi caught her sorrow and quickly signaled Mori Hajime to turn the camera to capture this scene.

...

"What are they doing?"

Minamoto Tamako crouched behind a stone Buddha, staring at the gate of Shuoshan Temple: "I’ve felt something was off before, it seems Sakurako is hiding something from me... Now it looks like that’s indeed the case!"

She still remembered Sakurako hiding money, not having clarified the reason at the time, it had been weighing on her mind.

"Mr. Fu Jian, what do you think..."

Turning around, Minamoto Tamako saw Fushimi Roku talking with a monk in a robe. She wondered what mischief he was up to, put her hands on her hips, and went over to eavesdrop, realizing he was booking a room.

It’s the peak tourist season, and Shuoshan Temple is a popular spot, the Zen rooms are limited and already fully booked.

Fushimi Roku used his silver tongue to emotionally and logically elaborate Sakurako’s tragic life story, which deeply moved the old abbot, feeling that if he didn’t help, even the Buddha might condemn him.

"Amitabha."

The old abbot clasped his hands, uttered a Buddha chant, indicating he could vacate his Zen room for the two to rest overnight, provided they didn’t mind the differences between men and women...

"Of course, I don’t mind," Fushimi Roku also clasped his hands to return the courtesy, expressing gratitude, and discreetly slipped a few bills over: "The abbot is willing to sacrifice for convenience, truly showing a Bodhisattva’s heart, fully embodying the open-minded style of a monk."

The outsiders love flattery too, the old abbot chuckled, tucked the money into his sleeve, took out the Zen room key, and signaled them to go as they pleased. If they can’t find the way, or need anything, they can talk to the novice monk in the temple as he still had other travelers to entertain, wouldn’t accompany further.

Minamoto Tamako watched the abbot walk away, turned back to ask: "Didn’t we book a hotel in the resort? Why waste money to stay at Shuoshan Temple?"

"It’s already this late, Sakurako will probably stay overnight here, what about us then?" Fushimi Roku looked at her with an expression of calling her an idiot: "Are we going to sleep on the mountain as ninjas?"

Only then did Minamoto Tamako realize her travel plans had been completely disrupted.

She had originally planned to wander the Hot Spring Street after lunch, visit the Plum Garden as various plum blossoms continuously bloom from early December to March; in the evening, she’d have gone to experience Atami’s most famous hot springs, which she heard even had mixed baths, hopefully finding an indoor hot spring only open to women...

How did she end up in Izu Town so inexplicably?

Moreover, if staying overnight in Izu Town, what about tomorrow’s travel plan?

She had planned to wake up the next morning, drink a cup of Shizuoka tea, taste the local specialty eel pie, then head out to the coastline to watch the returning seagulls... if it’s just an afternoon delay, it’s still within the tolerance range, but if staying overnight in Izu Town, wouldn’t that be completely off-plan?!

Minamoto Tamako found it hard to accept, she had spent a lot of effort, painstakingly compared before selecting the best travel strategy!

If there were an MBTI test these days, she’d be a typical J person, travel must have all details planned, including hotel stay, dining specialties, sightseeing attractions, transport... everything has to go step by step for it to be a perfect travel experience!

But Fushimi Roku is obviously a P person, adaptable, as long as he has money, sleeping anywhere isn’t a problem? Anyway, places like Shuoshan Temple offer disposable bathrobes, can soak in hot springs at night, worst case hand-washing underwear, hang underpants on window, continue wearing them tomorrow.

It’s well known, travel is a litmus test for relationships. If personalities don’t match, there’s bound to be friction along the way, might even argue and break up halfway, each taking a ride home.

For now, to accommodate Taira Sakurako, their contradictions hadn’t surfaced.

Minamoto Tamako was disappointed but considering it’s Sakurako’s first trip, decided to temporarily shelve the travel plan—there’s plenty of time to have fun later, no need to rush this moment.

On the other side, Taira Sakurako finally waited for the traveling performances to end, tourists returned to their rooms to rest. She patted off the dirt on her seat, got up, and walked along the stone path through bamboo forests, journalist Mizutani Hiroshi and Minamoto Tamako quickly followed, continuing to tail.

The small town at Izu Town, Amagi Ridge, had developed into a tourism village, hot spring hotels with white walls and black tiles were scattered on the slopes facing the sea, Sakurako asked at every house.

The innkeepers heard the name "Koizumi Mizuki", showing varied expressions, some looked thoughtful, saying Miss Mizuki was a woman with a strange temper; some seemed uneasy, asking what relation Sakurako had with Miss Mizuki; others were astonished, asking if this was for some TV program...

In short, most of the responses were: "don’t know", "not clear", "haven’t seen her since she went missing"...

When asked about Koizumi Mizuki’s former address, residents gave a clear answer:

"She lived alone by the sea, right under the Ishiraki Lighthouse, used to help guard the tower."

After Taira Sakurako left, Minamoto Tamako pretended to be a tourist, discreetly asking residents what that little girl had asked, only to receive completely different answers. Almost all residents were wary, glancing Fushimi Roku up and down:

"Just chatted a bit, please, who is this..."

Minamoto Tamako found it hard to explain as she’s just a traveler, not convenient to assume a criminal police identity, naturally couldn’t say Fushimi Roku was her partner; if saying a casual friend, it seemed a bit estranged.

She simply let Fushimi Roku introduce himself, the latter frankly stated he was the girl’s guardian, specifically accompanying her to search for relatives.

"Ah, I see."

The residents showed an understanding look, their tone was suggestive, attitudes suddenly turned cold, and promptly indicated they had other matters to attend, straightforwardly requested guests to leave.

After being shut out a few times, Minamoto Tamako turned back and couldn’t help but scrutinize Fushimi Roku, feeling he dressed quite ordinarily today with nothing noticeable: "Why are they so wary of you? Is it because your expression is too fierce?"

Fushimi Roku could also distinctly feel, the local residents targeted him. Clearly, he hadn’t even spoken, yet they fixed on him with a guarded look.

This unwarranted hostility made him feel ill at ease.

"Maybe these residents did something bad to Sakurako," Fushimi Roku speculated: "that’s why they are targeting me."