Tokyo: Rabbit Officer and Her Evil Partner
Chapter 299 - 220: Eve of Dawn

Chapter 299: Chapter 220: Eve of Dawn

Ito Mayu planned to escape again, but Fushimi Roku is no weakling like Minamoto Tamako. Even if he’s bare-handed and scantily clad with only a towel, he’s still capable of annihilating the enemy forces and pursuing criminals.

In a swift move, he executed the Blue Cat Naughty Three Front Kicks, commonly known as the sweeping leg, tripping Ito Mayu while still managing to hold down the edge of his towel to avoid exposure, because, after all, boys need to protect themselves, especially when out and about.

Ito Mayu fell face-first, kowtowing towards the bathroom curtain. Minamoto Tamako stood at the doorway, too scared to open her eyes and look inside. Upon hearing the commotion, she instinctively took two steps back.

"Are you going to talk or not?!"

Fushimi Roku shouted angrily, raising the stool once more, preparing to smash it down onto Ito Mayu’s butt.

The middle-aged men finally came to their senses, shouted "Enough is enough," and shakily climbed up from the ground, ready to fight Fushimi Roku to the death—but still without any clothes on, making the scene increasingly unsightly.

"——Stop!"

Ito Mayu yelled, clutching her nose, quickly explaining the identities of Fushimi Roku and Minamoto Tamako.

Everyone paused at his words, looked at each other in disbelief, and suddenly halted their actions, making the scene even more bizarre.

Fushimi Roku couldn’t stand it anymore and suggested getting dressed before settling the matter, and everyone else silently agreed.

Not fighting during changing is the code of conduct in the community, much like in tokusatsu films where transformations are never interrupted.

Once dressed, the middle-aged men finally looked presentable. Fushimi Roku looked up and recognized them as the innkeepers they had met earlier at the East Sea Inn—earlier, he was too focused on other parts, fearing accidental touches or any sudden movements.

Everyone exited the hot spring and stood outside the curtain. Minamoto Tamako’s eyes scrutinized them as if looking at suspects, worried someone might sneak away.

Ito Mayu was the last to come out, head down, apologizing and explaining that it was all a misunderstanding.

"We thought Mr. Fushimi was Sakurako’s foster father, so..."

The innkeepers explained in a flurry of words. They had lied earlier, claiming that the Dancing Girl who had taken Taira Sakurako away was actually Ito Mayu. Many residents had seen it and actively helped to block the tourists’ view, allowing Taira Sakurako to disappear into the crowd.

Minamoto Tamako, quick to connect the dots, immediately questioned, "So, was the charred corpse in the bonfire also your doing? If a group conspired, they could easily have hidden the victim inside the woodpile in advance... Speak! Who is your ringleader?!"

Upon hearing this, the innkeepers hesitated, daring not to answer, looking skywards or downwards with a ’none of my business’ expression.

Minamoto Tamako became genuinely angry, her small fists clenched tightly. If she had handcuffs, she would definitely cuff this group and take them back to the station for Chief Kikuchi’s thorough interrogation.

It wasn’t the time to pursue responsibility, as she was too anxious to know where Sakurako was—where had this group taken Sakurako?!

Ito Mayu stated they were about to meet up with Taira Sakurako, and if Minamoto Tamako and Fushimi Roku didn’t mind, they could come along.

Additionally, the innkeepers sincerely apologized to Fushimi Roku, explaining their previous rudeness towards him was unintended, and that the attack in the bathhouse was due to their misunderstanding of the situation, earnestly bowing and shouting ’our deepest apologies’ in unison.

The two of them whispered to each other, Minamoto Tamako suspecting town residents had some unspeakable motives, advising Mr. Fushimi to be cautious and keep an eye on them.

Fushimi Roku, not often encountering situations where the other party apologizes after being hit, wasn’t overly concerned and thought it might be worth following them to see if they would indeed find Taira Sakurako.

At Fushimi Roku’s persuasion, Minamoto Tamako calmed down a bit, finding the whole matter suspicious.

Why would town residents collectively attack Taira Sakurako’s foster father?

Why did they stop once they learned of Fushimi Roku’s identity?

Moreover, why did they abduct Sakurako, and now why are they saying they’re going to meet her... could it be Sakurako is in cahoots with them?

Her mind overflowed with questions, popping up like mushrooms after a rain.

To find the truth and locate Sakurako, Minamoto Tamako decided to accompany Ito Mayu and the others to their destination—the cliff by the sea, near Ishiraki Lighthouse.

On the way, Minamoto Tamako kept silent, exhausted from the day’s trek, finding it difficult just to keep up on foot.

Ito Mayu offered to help, suggesting he could carry her, but Minamoto Tamako refused.

She’s a criminal police, after all—how could she let a suspect carry her? If word got out, how could she continue as a famous detective and police chief?

But as for Mr. Fushimi, this guy showed no consideration, being her partner he should have helped her, yet here even suspects showed more thoughtfulness than Fushimi, which was deeply disappointing!

"Didn’t help me while climbing" she deducted one more point from him.

Minamoto Tamako bore a grudge once more.

By the time everyone reached the Ishiraki Lighthouse, it was past three o’clock, the darkest time of night, with the morning star hanging in the sky, glittering and beautiful.

Beneath the Ishiraki Lighthouse, a crowd of local residents, mostly women, gathered. Seeing Minamoto Tamako and others safe and sound, they appeared puzzled, quickly reuniting with their husbands, whispering among themselves.

"Why, why are there so many people..."

Minamoto Tamako plopped down on the grass, leaning back, hands supporting the ground, gasping at the sky, unwilling to move another inch.

Fushimi Roku strolled leisurely, having just soaked in a hot spring, feeling relaxed, treating the walk as a scenic stroll, enjoying the sea breeze.

When he reached the lighthouse, he noticed a stone pillar about half a meter tall standing at the edge of the cliff, covered in moss with wild grass growing around, faintly engraved with several lines.

Fushimi Roku assumed it was a tourist spot and approached to examine it. The stone was eroded by the sea breeze, its inscriptions weathered and unclear. After observing for some time, he could only discern half a sentence:

"Please shout..."

Shout what?

Fushimi Roku guessed it was one of those marketing tricks, where you’re asked to shout at the sea perhaps for a fee. He had seen tourist spots like that in past lives where louder shouts raised water columns, with each shout costing fifty bucks, so better to pretend not to see.

"Want to try?"

Behind him came Ito Mayu’s inquisitive voice.

Fushimi Roku turned back, seeing Ito Mayu with tissues stuffed in her nostrils, looking expectantly. "This is the most famous custom in South Izu Town, as long as you shout out the name of someone precious facing the sea, you’ll definitely get a response."

Fushimi Roku thought indeed, these mountain folks were crafty, still thinking about making money—even so, marketing tactics were too blunt, he wouldn’t fall for it, thus shook his head to refuse.

Minamoto Tamako’s small ears twitched at the conversation, feeling intrigued but too embarrassed to express it. Besides, this wasn’t the time to experience local customs and traditions. She paused for four to five minutes before questioning Ito Mayu and others:

"Didn’t you say you would meet Sakurako? Where is she?"

Ito Mayu pointed towards the edge of the cliff, where the sea met the night, the lighthouse cutting through the evening wind, and there’s a faint black dot trembling amidst the waves.

It was an old, shabby fishing boat.

Minamoto Tamako placed both hands flat above her eyes, adopting a monkey’s posture on watch but still couldn’t see clearly, turning her head to inquire from Ito Mayu what was going on. The latter sighed softly, sitting by the cliff with everyone gathered around Fushimi Roku and Minamoto Tamako, awaiting expectantly.

"It’s a long story," Ito Mayu said, "Fortunately, there’s still time."

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