Killed Again, Mr. Detective Volume 1 Case 2 Chapter 2 part 1

Volume 1

Case 2: The Crimson Theatre Murder

Chapter 2 Allow Me to Regard You as The ‘Theaterchair’ Detective (Part 1)

TLed by: TanoshiKara

A few minutes after Lilithea leaves.

I too stood up from my seat and headed to the culprit's seat. Standing up halfway through the movie led to me being met with cold glares from the people behind my row.

The ratio of males to females in this place is about six to four.

I squinted my eyes in the dim light as I looked for them.

There they are.

Lilithea was already sitting in a certain seat on the last row.

I was convinced with a single glance. The person sitting to her left was the culprit.

I took off my coat, slung it over my shoulder, and walked closer.

"Can I sit beside you?" I then said.

I clearly saw the other person's body tense up.

Well, it is a normal reaction.

Without waiting for an acknowledgement from the other person, I sat in the empty seat to my left, so as to sandwich the culprit between me and Lilithea.

"......Who are you?"

"The person you just killed earlier"

"I do not know someone like you"

The boy refuted my words without hesitation.

Judging from his age, he is probably an elementary schooler, no, a middle schooler in his first year. His hair covers half of his ears. It is so long that it draws attention.

"Is the maid here your friend?"

A slightly high-pitched but unstable voice, characteristic of his age. That is indeed the voice that whispered into my ear. That voice was not a female's, but a boy's before his voice cracked.

"You are not making any sense. Just what in the world are you?"

"I am saying that it is me. Me, me"

"A conman? I'll call the police, you know"

While his voice was slightly hoarse, it was high-pitched, oddly cute, and sounded like a girl's voice.

"I wonder which one of us would be troubled if the police were called. Do you not recognize this?"

I tossed the coat I had taken off to the boy. He caught it reflexively, and his face stiffened, seemingly understanding what I wanted to say in a split second. He then brought my coat to his face and started sniffing it.

Just saying, but it is not like I have a special type of body odour that turns people with certain kinks on. What he was sniffing was the deodorant I used today.

"It smells, right? The same smell as Director Toriho"

"What is this......I can't believe...such a thing......" He muttered weakly while looking back and forth between me and that coat.

His slender body, which is still in the middle of maturing, slides off the seat little by little.

It seems like he understood as well.

"Correct. You got the wrong person. Ah, return my coat. ......Hey, do not pull on it that hard. I-It will become wrinkled! I'm telling you it'll become wrinkled!"

Snatching back my one and only somehow, I put it back on.

"What is your name?"

"......Natsume"

Perhaps still in a daze, he, surprisingly, gave his real name.

"I am Sakuya Outsuki. A detective"

"Detective......?"

He looked at me with an indescribably dubious expression, much like someone who was looking at an abstract modern artwork.

"Natsume-kun, your real target was Director Toriho. However, in the darkness, you mistook me for the director and attacked me"

"Seems like......that's the case......"

"It was as I had expected. In the lobby, you looked into where the director was going to sit before the advance screening began, right? You then snuck into the theater after the director's address, when the advance screening was about to begin," I explained as I observed the changes in his expression.

I could not see any changes that stood out, but I realized something. This child is an extremely handsome boy.

Within the androgynous and fleeting beauty that only manifests during a certain period in children at his age, I felt a precariousness and recklessness that, depending on the circumstances, would most likely head towards destruction without a hint of hesitation.

He might be the son of one of the celebrities in the movie. In that case, he probably had an easier time sneaking in as compared to a total outsider.

"Sorry to say, but various things happened, and I sat in the seat that the director was supposed to sit in. On top of that, the silhouette of the suit I am wearing today looks very similar to the director's suit. This one is a vintage style"

Additionally, it is hard to differentiate our physiques once we are seated. The human silhouettes, cast on the floor by the illuminated screen. They must have been quite easy to mistake from afar, I wager.

"You then sprang into action during that technical trouble, when it was pitch-black, thinking that this chance was too good to pass up"

He approached from behind, identifying the target by his smell, and attacked.

"It is as you say. But, I was hesitant until the very end...... If that technical trouble did not occur......I probably would not even have done it"

From how he was acting, it is probably true that he was hesitant. However, the perfect chance came, and it spurred a boy on to commit a crime.

"It was dark at that time, but Director Toriho's deodorant was unique, so whether people like it or not, it leaves an impression on them. I see that you relied on that smell to close in on me. I must apologize for that as well. I coincidentally used the same deodorant as the director today"

As these two unfortunate coincidences—in Natsume's eyes—overlapped with each other, he mixed up the target of his murder.

"Even though I planned that thoroughly......to think......I mixed it up... But, if that is the case......why are you alive? I did, in fact, inject poison into you with these hands...... Are you immortal?"

"I am by no means immortal"

“I wonder if I went too easy on the composition of the poison......"

So it was a homebrew. That's scary! What in the world was I injected with!?

"You do not have to worry. I have no intention of turning you in for now"

"Are you saying you'll let me go?"

"Depends on your motive. If Natsume-kun scummy boy who is beyond help, then in consideration of the future, I shall have you atone for it through the law. However, if the reasoning for your actions is sincere, I do not mind letting you go"

"......You...Was it Sakuya?"

"No need to thank me"

"That suggestion sounds scary, though. Feels like an insane serial killer, pressuring another person with two strange choices, killing the person in the blink of an eye if the answer is not to their liking"

That is true. Now that he mentioned it, I do know why it kind of has that vibe. But I do not want to be told that by a boy who killed someone with poison.

"So? Why did you target the director?"

"Simple. I wanted to push this movie to the point where its screening will be canceled"

"Because you did not like the Ferris wheel scene?"

His complexion changed when I said that, and he looked at me once again.

"......Looks like the detective thing is real, huh"

Seems like I hit it right on the mark.

"Thank you. But you are the one who said it to me, you know. 'It's because you didn't cut the Ferris wheel,' or so you said. You meant to say that to Director Toriho, but I was the one who actually heard those words. And, I did not quite understand what that meant at first. However, I did kind of understand after assuming that those words were for the director"

I tried mimicking the opening and closing of scissors with one of my hands.

"The word 'cut' you mentioned meant the cutting out of any unnecessary scenes during the movie's editing. Cut the film. Personalities on shows such as TV variety shows occasionally say it as a joke. Please cut the scene earlier. In other words, you wanted the director to get rid of (cut) the Ferris wheel scene no matter what"

Once I knew this, Lilithea and I merely needed to find the movie scene that showed the Ferris wheel. If there was no such scene, it meant that we had missed the scene while I had been killed. If that happened, I would have asked the director and checked the film once again, but the scene did appear at the end.

To be precise, it was filmed in an old alley with a telephoto lens. Uzura, the high school detective, walks off into the distance in that long alley. In the horizon is the aforementioned Ferris wheel, captured in its grandeur.

The evening sun fit perfectly within the wheel of the Ferris wheel.

This was the Ferris wheel that the director mentioned in his address.

It was a shot that could only be captured at a certain time from a specific spot, and it was due to this that the Ferris wheel was called the Sun Wheel Ferris Wheel.

The passersby were going about their daily lives so naturally that it was unbelievable that the people acting as them were extras.

Caught in 4K, in such a scene—in the foreground—was Natsume.

It was for such a short length of time that it would have been impossible to realize if I had not been consciously on the lookout for him; It was somewhat blurry as well, but he was definitely there.

"It is not like you officially accepted the offer and appeared as an extra......right?"

He nodded immediately after I asked the question.

That means that that scene must have been filmed without seeking permission from all parties involved, in other words, Unauthorized Filming.

"In other words, the female beside you was unintentionally captured on film"

In the middle of the scene, they—Natsume and a young woman—went out to the alley from a building, leaning against each other, they walked up the alley inconspicuously.

The woman had pulled down her cap, so I could not see her face clearly. However, from her figure and manner of walking, I could tell that she was no ordinary woman.

"This is just my guess, but is that person an actress, perhaps?"

"Yuka......did nothing wrong"

Whoa, he called her by her first name. Nah, rather than that—

"By Yuka, do you mean Yuka Yanai?"

If I remember correctly, she is said to be a skilled young actress who will undoubtedly become a hit in the near future.

The boy merely nodded without saying a word.

Now that is definitely surprising. Why? That is because the building they came out of is a love hotel.

"Just saying, but nothing happened in there, okay? Yuka is not an idiot who will act recklessly during such an important period, and even I......"

"Okay, no need to tell me the details"

I would not know what to do with the details even if he did tell me. The gap in their ages, their societal status—.

Such things do not matter right now. I have no intention of correcting him, nor do I intend to condemn him. Merely two people, attracted to each other, on a secret date, which was etched into a film, of all things. That is the entire truth.

"That scene; We, of course, did not realize that we were being filmed. However, we walked up the alley for a while and found out that there were cameras. Yuka knew right away; Knew that they were a filming crew and that they had been shooting some sort of scene the entire time, with us included, that is"

That level of perceptiveness, as expected of an actress.

"As I saw that Director Toriho was there, I called his office many times at a later date and begged Director Toriho to. Please cut out the Ferris wheel scene, I begged. But, he did not agree to do it"

"Told him that it was because a secret date with your slightly older lover was captured on film?"

"You know I can’t tell that to a person in the industry"

That is true.

"The director would, of course, want to know the reason, but there was no way you could say the truth, so you could only repeatedly request that the scene be cut out"

There is no way the director would agree to do it.

"I was told that it was an important scene, so it cannot be cut out"

"Seems like it was a fixation of the director's, so it would not be easy to have him consent to that"

Additionally, if memory serves, the Ferris wheel was demolished after the filming, so it should be gone by now. A reshoot would be impossible even if they did it now.

"However, you aside, Yanai hid her face with her cap, so she would not get identified, right?"

"Even if that is the case. Can you guarantee that it won't happen? Will you be able to take the responsibility for saying that? If this movie were to be screened in theaters worldwide, there might be a day when someone might notice. Movies are eternal. Isn't that right?"

"That is true"

I got argued down way too easily.

"If that happens, Yuka's future as an actress will be over...... Yuka will surely be a hit actress in the near future. Despite this, if this path closes off because of me...... That is why......"

"Why not ensure that the movie itself cannot be screened publicly, you thought?"

Will the director being murdered during the advance screening truly shelve the movie for good this time?

An outsider like me has no idea about the industry's deciding factors and rules. 

However, there was already an incident during the filming of the movie, 'High School Detective Uzura'; A movie with a certain history. If such incidents overlap, the movie's screening might have been canceled.

"But, even that has failed...... I could not protect the person I love"

The boy hung his head in despair, as if the world had ended for him. I felt that his reaction was overly exaggerated, causing me to feel somewhat embarrassed.

"Genuine love, I see"

It was Lilithea, who voiced her thoughts, which were quite the shock to me.

She then bent forward slightly and nodded at Natsume, seemingly impressed.

"I see that you acted, despite having no one to consult nor rely on, due to the genuine wish of wanting to protect your lover"

"Uh......Uh-huh. ......I did"

Seems like the boy's attitude towards her was totally different from when he was talking to me. How discontenting.

"Lilithea......Uhh"

"Sakuya-sama"

"Sooo—"

"Sakuya"

What is up with that desperate expression...

"Errmm......Come to think of it, didn't some terrible incident happen during the filming of this movie? I heard that the production company pulled some strings behind the scenes, forced the filming to continue, and barely managed to finish its production"

Why am I talking in such a roundabout way?

"So, if I happen to tell the director that I might accidentally leak that out to the public, he should agree to a request of mine at least; Like listing Yuka Yanai, who was filmed unintentionally, as a cameo in the end credits, for example"

Lilithea's face lit up the moment I said that.

"Well, if she has an official appearance in the movie, everything will be treated as an act"

"Yeap. The director may be the only one who catches on, but it will be fine if I keep him from spilling the beans. That person seems desperate to have this movie screened publicly, so he would not want a scandal to go public and for his movie to be criticised because of it"

"Everything will then be A-okay if we go with the narrative that the director staged Yuka Yanai's cameo appearance and kept it as a secret from the staff and cast members. A surprise, I see"

Lilithea clasped her hands in front of her chest and nodded.

"Geez, Lilithea sure is a maiden"

Natsume is still staring at me in disbelief.

"You saying you’re letting bygones be bygones? You serious? Aren't you too kindhearted?"

"If you are doubtful, I am open to changing my mind right this instant, you know?"

"Ahh, I'm kidding, I'm kidding! I-I'll believe you! Erm......sorry for poisoning you to death"

A strange apology.

Just then, the lights turned on, and the place lit up.

The advance screening had ended.

□

After the advance screening, a greeting from the cast on stage

However, Lilithea and I left the theater without watching it. It was to see Natsume off without drawing attention. He bowed deeply, so much so that I thought it was laudable, before swiftly leaving the Crimson Theatre, as if he were in a rush. He might have gone off to meet his precious lover to tell her what had happened here.

"Sakuya-sama, you picked up your life once again this time, huh?" Lilithea said proudly as Natsume's figure disappeared from view.

I see, so that is how it is used in my case. Throwing my life away and picking it back up once again. A troublesome physique.

"Anyway, our deduction did not cause an uproar, and the two of us did a full-fledged detective's worth of societal obligation splendidly. Let's roll the end credits!"

"I hate that boring series"

"S-Sorry......"

"Ah, I like that expression"

Hey Miss Assistant, your love is twisted, you know?

"However, you, in fact, did magnificently as an Armchair Detective. No, in this case, allow me to regard you as the ‘Theaterchair’ Detective"

She sure knows how to praise someone.

"I shall gladly accept those rare words of praise from Lilithea. Well then......"

"Shall we go back inside right now?"

Yuriu is probably on stage right now, panicking while giving her greeting as she has just woken up.

"I guess. But before that, I want to do a little shopping. Head back first, Lilithea"

After parting ways with Lilithea, I turned toward the stall, as if drawn to it. I was teased once, so I was in the mood for some popcorn.

However, there was another customer at the stall, a female. She is probably the same age as me, or slightly younger. She is quite a petite girl, after excluding the height she gained from wearing high heels. Her hair is a stunning gold, one that blows any drowsiness away, and the crimson red dress she is wearing looks more expensive than any of the other dresses I have seen today. It is not only expensive, it is also so striking that all the red in the Crimson Theatre pales in comparison to it.

Is she one of the staff from the advance screening? But I don't think anyone else would leave their seat, during a time like this, to buy something without special circumstances like ours.

"Thank you for waiting"

"Thank you"

After elegantly getting her popcorn from the employee, she nails a swift one-eighty-degree turn—.

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Feel free to comment/pm me if you find any mistakes. Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed the first part of the second chapter.