Tokyo: Rabbit Officer and Her Evil Partner
Chapter 45 Super Cold Reading Skill

Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Super Cold Reading Skill

Minamoto Tamako inquired one by one and learned that only four people were close to the skeleton at that time: Yoshimura Yu, Hideo, Miu, and Instructor Shirota. The first two were pulled over by Miu, and the latter was there to maintain order, so he gathered the remains slightly to ensure the students showed respect to the deceased.

Three minutes flew by in the blink of an eye. Before Minamoto Tamako could investigate further, Instructor Shirota led the instructors and students out of the cave.

She initially wanted to continue to prevent them from leaving but was held back by Fushimi Roku.

"Come on, enough is enough. Everyone is tired. If you have any questions, ask them later; the evidence won’t grow legs and run away," Fushimi Roku said, hands tucked into his sleeves as he yawned, with tears welling up in his eyes. "As for these bones, let’s just call the local police to handle them."

"But, but, what if the thief hides the evidence?"

In Minamoto Tamako’s mind, someone who secretly took someone else’s belongings and refused to admit it was undoubtedly a thief.

"If they wanted to hide it, they would have done it already. Do you think you can search everyone’s body?" Fushimi Roku said as he walked. "Let’s talk privately if there’s anything else. We should at least spare them some dignity."

Minamoto Tamako furrowed her brows, realizing that things were not as simple as they seemed. She trailed behind Fushimi Roku and asked, "Do you know who stole the bullet?"

"I don’t know."

"You definitely know! Come on, tell me! How did you figure it out? I didn’t notice any clues at all!"

"No, I clearly said ’I don’t know.’ How did it turn into ’know’ in your ears?"

"I recently learned the Cold Reading Technique from a book. I can judge whether the person being questioned is lying through micro-expressions! Isn’t that impressive? That’s the charm of deduction!"

Minamoto Tamako never missed a chance to promote the art of deduction to Fushimi Roku.

The two chatted as they passed through the mountain forest in the opposite direction. Since they drove up the mountain, they drove back down, without having to trek with the group.

Fushimi Roku opened the car door and casually asked, "What did you base your judgment on that I was lying?"

"You didn’t dare look me in the eyes!" Minamoto Tamako sat in the passenger seat, obediently fastened her seatbelt, and said confidently, "The book says that if the person being questioned averts their gaze and doesn’t dare look into the questioner’s eyes, it means they’re lying."

"..."

Fushimi Roku closed the car door, turned his body, and stared at Minamoto Tamako with wide eyes. "Come on, ask me again while looking into my eyes."

"Do you know who stole the evidence?" Minamoto Tamako asked.

"I don’t know," Fushimi Roku said.

"Liar!" Minamoto Tamako immediately made her judgment.

"And what is it this time?" Fushimi Roku asked.

"The book says that staring wide-eyed without looking away is also a sign of lying." Minamoto Tamako grew even more smug, feeling she’d unraveled the mysteries of the human heart.

It seems that understanding people’s thoughts isn’t so hard after all. Back then, Fushimi used to say, ’criminals themselves defy logic,’ but now it seems he was just arguing for the sake of argument! As a future famous detective and famous police chief, no crime can escape my Eyes of Golden Flame!

Fushimi Roku showed a disdainful expression, remembering when he also saw books at street stalls titled ’Learn a Little Cold Reading Every Day,’ ’Twenty Tricks to Hypnotize Quickly,’ and ’Practical Social Skills to Instantly Gain Others’ Trust,’ peppered with Martial Arts Secret Manuals and household tips... He thought only elementary students and underdeveloped minds believed such made-up publications, but Minamoto Tamako actually believed them and exuberantly put them into practice.

"So impressive," Fushimi Roku delicately applied pressure to the accelerator, spun the steering wheel, and said perfunctorily, "I never imagined Tamako had mastered such remarkable skills. It won’t be long after graduation before you rise to the ranks of the criminal police, becoming a renowned police chief in the industry. Truly worthy of congratulations."

Minamoto Tamako was elated with the praise, feeling neither her waist nor legs ached and the alluring arc of her calves in the climbing shoes stood out, her blocked nose from a cold even cleared, almost giving her a euphoric sensation.

"Hehe, I’m not that good... It’d still take at least two years of work before I can apply for the criminal police exam. I’m still a bit distant from being a famous police chief and detective."

Her calves swung under the seat, the tuft of hair atop her head wagging back and forth, savoring this rainbow of compliments.

After a while, Minamoto Tamako felt she shouldn’t just be pleased alone; she wished to share her joy and said, "Fushimi, you’re really great too. What you just said was spot on, though a bit harsh, but it hit all my heartstrings!"

"I was just talking nonsense," Fushimi Roku said nonchalantly.

He didn’t even believe those ghostly words himself; he just knew what was advantageous to say.

"Such heartfelt speech, how could it be nonsense? Fushimi, you’re quite the tsundere... ’A police officer’s most important quality is to listen to the voices of those in pain, and for that, one must become the strongest person,’ wow, I could never come up with that phrase in my lifetime. It’s practically my life motto!"

Minamoto Tamako’s eyes glistened as she pulled out her small notebook and excitedly said, "Look! I even wrote it down. I’ll use it to constantly remind myself in the future; no matter what happens, I must stay strong!"

"Are you a grade-schooler? Only grade-schoolers copy slogans into books, right?" Fushimi Roku glanced sideways.

Minamoto Tamako huffed, telling herself she was magnanimous and wouldn’t stoop to arguing with a stubborn tsundere.

If it were her high school temper, no matter what, she’d make life difficult for Fushimi Roku, at least make him retract that ’grade-schooler’ comment! She’s only 21, still has room to grow, maybe next year she’ll hit 1.6 meters!

The two drove down the mountain and returned to the small inn. Minamoto Tamako borrowed the inn’s phone to report the precise location of the bones to the local police. After receiving a positive response, she went upstairs with Fushimi Roku to their room.

As soon as they entered the room, they couldn’t wait to take off their coats and snuggle into the electric blanket. Fushimi Roku casually grabbed a pillow, lay sideways on the tatami, and, with his eyes closed, said, "Go draw the curtains; I want to sleep."

Minamoto Tamako originally wanted to say, ’What are you doing sleeping in broad daylight?’ but then remembered that Fushimi had taken care of her all night without sleeping, so he did need to catch up on his rest. She stood up to help close the curtains, plunging the room into dimness, with only a warm yellow light seeping through the gaps of the blanket.

Minamoto Tamako snuggled back into the blanket for warmth, sitting by the table. She spaced out a bit; then it dawned on her suddenly.

"Wait! Isn’t this sleeping together?!"

Blood rushed to her head, and her face instantly turned red. She didn’t dare to glance at Fushimi Roku, lying beside her. Her soft toes curled involuntarily in the blanket; she curled up at the table, listening to the sound of her heart pounding.

How improper is it to have an unrelated man and woman in the same room? Would others not misunderstand if they saw this?

Minamoto Tamako secretly glanced over, the ambiguous light casting onto the boy’s profile. His dark, shiny hair fell across his face as he peacefully slipped into a dream, his eyelashes appeared so long.