Not a detective

Page 214

This description may be somewhat confusing, because his mind is also in a state of confusion right now.

Simply put, it's like that memory is right there in your mind, but you just can't see it.

It seems as if it was deliberately ignored.

Like PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), it's said that the human brain develops a mechanism for self-forgetting to protect itself, thus ignoring certain experiences that one doesn't want to recall. But Asakawa Riku couldn't even remember what had happened that he dared not even think about; when he turned around, he could only see a blank.

It is indeed real, but it also feels somewhat unreal.

Only now are they stunned and speechless.

Three years ago, in the summer... in the past... he did indeed successfully protect that girl from the real culprit, ensuring that no one was harmed.

It was supposed to be a happy ending, so why did it turn out like this?

All he remembered was that it was because of this incident that he ultimately chose not to be a "Faceless Man," gave up his dream of becoming a hero, and decided to be an ordinary high school student.

That summer...

Asakawa Riku took a deep breath to calm himself down.

He glanced at the door to the activity room; it hadn't been opened yet, and Asukai Shi hadn't arrived.

This time, I can't let anything interrupt me. I have to finish reading this book no matter what.

Nue's Summer: Chapter Six - Friends

Chapter Four

After that, we became friends.

I was both curious and nervous about this new friend; to be honest, this was the first real friend I had ever made in my life.

To avoid drawing attention, I suggested that Nue remove her mask, and her height returned to normal. I was surprised afterward.

I never imagined Nue's true identity was like this...

Nue said, "In order to catch the hidden culprit, I can no longer continue as the Faceless Man. Instead, I must try to disguise myself as an ordinary person and not be so conspicuous."

For this simple plan, we started pretending to be friends.

When I was going to school, Nue would walk me to school and then go to her own school. When school was over, Nue would come over first and accompany me home.

It appears to be an escort mission, but in reality, it's about getting the people around them used to this stranger's appearance. With time, they'll stop noticing and gradually get used to Nue's presence.

Only when the stalker's legend is completely dispelled and the tide recedes will the true culprit be discovered.

Even so, I, who am usually alone, always feel a little uneasy and at a loss when I suddenly have a companion by my side.

At first, I didn't know how to start the conversation, so I could only remain silent for more than ten minutes before I slowly opened up.

It was Nue who took the initiative.

What are your hobbies?

I looked over in surprise.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm not checking your household registration."

Nue laughed: "It's just that walking around like this is too boring, isn't it? We need to find something to talk about."

"...I sometimes write a little, but it's just a hobby, a way to record my life."

I answered tentatively.

"Like a diary?"

"Yes... but not entirely. I don't write everything down, only special things."

"Oh, that's really interesting."

Nue's exclamation didn't seem like a complete perfunctory response; she genuinely felt that way.

I was a little happy; I never thought I'd be getting attention.

So we started talking more, chatting on our way to and from school, and I took the opportunity to learn more about Nue.

This wasn't just about deepening our relationship; walking side by side, we were less stiff and acted much more naturally, no longer like pretending to be companions.

Such a disguise might be easier to fool others.

But deep down, I don't simply see this experience as a pretense; I'm very grateful to have had the opportunity to meet Nue.

Although there is a slight age gap between us, we hardly feel any barrier when chatting; it's like we're peers, and we can chat naturally.

My classmates at school also said that I have become more cheerful and talkative.

Although the nue is a nocturnal monster, it brought me the sun.

I've become more and more open and honest, even talking about my family:

"...I do live alone; my parents aren't here. I actually left my family and their plans, which my family was quite unhappy about. My elders wanted me to follow the established path and carry on their aspirations, but I wanted to take control of my own life, so I ran away. Looking back now, it was a bit impulsive."

"Do you regret it?"

Nue didn't laugh; instead, she became serious and asked earnestly.

"To say I regret it... I wouldn't say that." I thought for a moment about how to answer: "I just feel that I'm too young and I'm not sure if it's the right choice."

"It's already quite mature that you can think like this. Making your own choices and decisions also takes a lot of courage."

Nue shook her head: "Unlike me, I also left my hometown and my parents at a young age, not voluntarily, but forced and unknowingly..."

"what……"

I covered my mouth in surprise: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to poke at your scar..."

"It's ok."

Nue smiled: "I was just saying what I felt. Let's not talk about this anymore. So, what about you? Are you doing okay living alone in Tokyo?"

The fact that they deliberately avoided this topic suggests there are some details behind it that I am unaware of.

But I didn't press the matter further in person; instead, I replied:

"Actually, I haven't completely separated from my family. Even though I came here on my own, my family still helps me with rent and tuition. They even send me my monthly living expenses, so don't worry, I can live well on my own."

"I see. Even without worrying about money, it's really impressive that you can live alone in a big city at such a young age."

Nue sighed, "If it were me, I probably wouldn't even know how to cook."

"My cooking is actually pretty good, isn't it?"

I laughed and said, "Nue is also alone in Tokyo, right? You've left home. Why don't you come stay with me?"

"Hmm...it might not be convenient right now."

Nue's expression suddenly froze.

I stammered, "Ah, I'm sorry, I might have been a bit abrupt... I didn't mean anything by it."

"Do not blame you."

Nue smiled wryly: "It is indeed inconvenient. Although I have left my hometown and family, that's true... I don't know how to say it, but I have important things to do now."

Judging from her expression, she seemed to have something difficult to say. Come to think of it, Nue always takes me home, but I've never seen where Nue lives or whether she has any other family members.

The important thing, perhaps, is why Nue insists on doing those dangerous jobs; I wisely refrained from asking further.

In short, it was just a slightly awkward little incident and it didn't affect our relationship.

We continued as usual, going to and from school every day, chatting and joking, but we tacitly avoided mentioning family topics and just let it go.

We do have an "important task" to do: to find the dangerous individuals lurking around the campus, the real "stalkers," and to stop and apprehend them before they commit a crime.

Although this reason has gradually become an excuse for me to spend time with others, I have not forgotten the important matter.

"But...it's been so long and they still haven't come?"

I asked back, puzzled.

Almost half a month has passed since that day, and the daily pretense has brought no change whatsoever.

The area around the school remained as peaceful and quiet as ever. Even the rumors about the stalker gradually diminished after the disappearance of the "Faceless Man," but the real culprit still hadn't been found.

Is it really just a rumor? Do stalkers not actually exist?

I'm confused. All I know is that if things continue like this, summer vacation might come and I still might not see any results.

"How about we try another approach—"

"Do not talk."

Nue suddenly interrupted me as I walked into a small alley around a corner, the only way home.

His voice suddenly became solemn and sharp: "Did you hear that? They're coming."

Nue's Summer: Chapter Seven Fierce Battle

"Chapter of Wu"

I quickly became alert, all the cells in my body became highly focused, and I instantly took control of my breathing and heartbeat, entering a state of flow.

As I stepped back, I realized that my heel had sunk into the wriggling asphalt.

This is not right.

Although this is a remote alley in Tokyo, I have walked this road countless times over the years and know everything around it by heart. It is impossible for the road surface to be in such a primitive state.

The original cement road surface was inexplicably softened, like a beach and sand pit, mud and swamp, swallowing my feet.

The streetlights flickered overhead, and from those fragmented pieces of light, shadows were rushing toward me from different angles.

"Just in time."

My excitement outweighed my nervousness; it was the moment I had been waiting for.

The left hand traces the arc of Tai Chi Cloud Hands, but the knuckles feel a sticky, gelatinous substance.

It didn't feel like I was hitting a real object.

Um--?

Going a step further, it fiercely pierced the protection of the night, and the right elbow suddenly thrust upward with the inch-force of the Bajiquan top elbow, as if piercing through countless layers of soaked Xuan paper.

The combat felt terrible, like the worst kind of action game. I felt nauseous and wondered if my mind was affected.

"What the hell……"

This is the first time I've encountered an opponent like this.

At first glance, they might be mischievous assassins. The shadows and special effects could be magic tricks. We've encountered enemies who deliberately bluff to scare their opponents before. They're like those colorful poisonous insects in the wild, trying to scare away predators by being as flamboyant as possible, but in reality, they're easily broken and can't withstand a fierce attack.

But this time is different.

After several attacks, I was unable to catch any trace of my opponent, and I couldn't even see the enemy's body or appearance. I was completely flustered and unable to break through.

It was as if I was trapped in this dizzying alley, the shadows forming a prison, my strength utterly useless.

It's not that simple.

I quickly realized that everything before me was clearly not as simple as it seemed, and was beyond my previous understanding.

Could it be some kind of hallucinogenic nerve gas? Is everything I'm seeing now just a hallucination?

My body shouldn't be so easily affected by "toxins," that's something I've learned through training.

I didn't smell anything strange, but I didn't dare to be careless at all. I slowed down my breathing for the time being, but this terrible feeling showed no signs of ending.

I forcefully pulled my leg out of the vortex that had sunk into the ground, and as it swept through the air, it brought up sticky, thread-like substances that were impossible to identify.

Is it a person? Or some kind of monster?

It felt as if someone had forcibly implanted the compound eyes of a praying mantis into my optic nerve, and the world I saw was split into dozens of pieces.

I simply closed my eyes and relied solely on the sensations of my body to make the encounter.

...That's much better now.

The moment my fist collided with a bone-like structure, I switched to a boxing jab rhythm, the frequency of three short and one long punches chiming through the air.

I managed to hit the enemy for the first time... I think, but I still couldn't make out what it was.

Each punch sank into a medium of varying density, as if that thing was constantly changing shape, but none of that hindered my increasingly rapid punching speed.