#を待ちながら

[shiut]

Waiting For Yuma Chapter 1 : Preview

Some english translation for the Rain Code novel, Waiting for Yuma. This is how many pages are provided in the trial reader preview, but it's still rather long, so I've put most of it under the cut.

I've also put it into an online document if you want to click here instead.

Chapter 01

The Silence of the Dolls

Morning arrives early for the trainee detective.

However, though belonging to the 【World Detective Organization】, he/she has not yet completed the training course. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. A piece of paper will never reach the moon unless it is folded forty-two times. There is much work to be done in order to become a 【Master Detective】.

Working hard to develop and refine special abilities. Acquiring basic detective skills. Sharpening a keen eye for detail. Not only that, but there are many other challenges to worry about too. I suppose you could say that the days have been filled with more hardship than joy. However, you can't call yourself a 【Master Detective】 if you can't overcome all of that. It might be a different story for people who have exceptional supernatural abilities. However, for those who don't, they must continue to keep improving in order to reach the stars.

For one such trainee, Yuka Kisaragi, this day ought to be a momentous milestone. Her efforts were recognized, and so she was allowed to accompany a real 【Master Detective】 to the crime scene. As soon as Yuka heard this, she hugged and danced with everyone she saw, which almost got her reported in the process. That’s to say, she was putting out more energy than usual for such an important day.

Or at least it should be...... no, could that be why?

Let's go over that one more time. 

Morning arrives early for a trainee detective.

That should be the case, but Yuka was in fact remarkably late.

***

"Why, why, why, why, why!?"

Yuka asked herself repeatedly as she roared down the street. Under the clear blue sky, she trampled across the well-maintained cobblestone pavement. Though, she didn't have to bother questioning herself when she already knew the cause of the problem a while ago. 

First of all, the toast was burnt. 

Secondly, the hair iron went missing.

Third, she forgot to cut the tag off her new coat that was bought for today.

That sums up why she was late today.

It was entirely a bed of her own making. But still, Yuka thought, there must be a reason for all this bad luck. It could be the alignment of the stars, or like the flow of fate, or something.

Could it be the influence of the 【Master Detective】 that I'm about to meet? 

It may be due to something like sound waves or telepathy caused by the person in question. Though, I'd rather those predictions to not be true. Yuka kept running, hoping at the very least that a kind person would be waiting for her. 

Then when she rounded a sharp corner —— she burst into a stylish cafe that had a strikingly chic dark-toned exterior wall. The interior was also uniformly monochrome, with bright light streaming through the large glass windows. The clientele had a somewhat intellectual and relaxed atmosphere. Yuka immediately felt nervous. She looked around as she listened to the classical music that was playing. The meeting place was at the far end of the window. Right, she repeatedly mouthed these words to herself while she walked over... she was suddenly rendered speechless.

Therein, was a beautiful person.

A hard leather sofa, and white painted wooden table. 

There sat a person dressed in gray. The way in which they tipped their coffee was picturesque. Their pale hair and glasses suited their sagacious profile and air of intelligence. 

While admiring the sight, Yuka had to wonder. There's an ambiguity to the person before her. Their gender is indiscernible. No matter how you look at it, it's impossible to tell if it's a he or she. They could pass as a beautiful man, or even as a ruggedly dignified woman perhaps. Yuka stared intently in order to ascertain the truth the best she could.

"......Three million"

"Eh-?"

What did they say? Yuka let out a dumb sound as she thought. Caught off-guard, she simply blinked. The beautiful person took another sip of coffee before her.

Gracefully setting down the cup, the other person continued.

"It's one hundred thousand per minute. My time is not cheap...... More importantly, you wasted precious time before the investigation as a 【trainee detective】, of course you're prepared to pay that much, right?"

Smoothly —— he, no, maybe she —— the 【Master Detective】 spoke. 

Confused, Yuka twisted her head like an owl. However, after a few seconds, she realized that what this 【Master Detective】 was referring to were 'late fees'. Yuka choked with a hissing noise. How ruthless. Is this person a demon? That's what her immediate thought was.

Flustered, Yuka tried to explain herself. He/she opened their mouth to interrupt.

"I'll have you know, burnt toast, a misplaced hair iron, and a coat tag are no excuse for being late."

"Huh-? How did you know?"

"Bread crumbs"

They pointed to Yuka's chest. If you look —— peeking out from a crimson coat ——was a cream-colored sweater dotted in black specks. Pointing at it, the 【Master Detective】 continued.

"It's a notably charred color. Also, although some of your hair is disheveled, only the ends are straightened out. A sign of a frantically used hair iron. Did you simply not spend enough time on it? No, it looks like you intended to use it properly, but were forced to use it in such an errant way. You could naturally assume that it's a result of stubbornly searching for the hair iron that consumed most of your time. Also, there are threads sticking out unnaturally from the collar of your coat. This could be the trace of a tag that was yanked out in a hurry. That's all."

He/she lifted their cup with a clink. And with that, they swallowed the pitch black liquid. The coolness of their profile showed no signs of even the faintest hint of bitterness.

Once again, Yuka looked down at herself. She was wearing a crimson coat that was bought specially for today, and paired with it was a cream sweater with a rounded collar plus a black skirt. On her feet, she wore leather shoes. Her shoulder-length amacha sweet tea colored hair was partially frizzy, though she still managed to take care of the ends.

And then there were the bread crumbs that were left sticking to her.

Yuka was taken aback by all the things they had pointed out.

But soon after, her face lit up.

As an aspiring detective, she's yearned for this kind of precise deduction skill.

"Tha-..... That's amazing! Just as expected of a 【Master Detective】!"

"Praising people so carelessly will result in brain rot."

"Ough-"

"Something like this is not even the ability of a 【Master Detective】. These are the most basic fundamentals that even an amateur should be able to do...... right from the start. To my knowledge, it's not standard for a detective to bring along bread crumbs to a crime scene now is it?"

"I-, I'm sorry."

Yuka patted off her sweater, and the black food particles were brushed from her cream-colored top. She moved her leather shoes to sweep the fallen crumbs to the edge of the wall.

She once again turned her attention to the person in front of her. They were still so young, but they certainly seem like a 【Master Detective】. Even though he/she says that even an amateur can do it, his/her observational skill is beyond that of an ordinary person.

Yuka was so excited. She bowed her head in greeting.

"Once again nice to meet you, I'm Yuka Kisaragi."

"Halara Nightmare"

Yuka acknowledged the name with a nod.

I was given very minimal information about the 【Master Detective】  I'd been scheduled to accompany today. The 'Jeweler Campanella Murder Case' that took place the other day at the only public casino in the area —— the genius who led to its solution was Halara. He/she was one of the shining stars in the sky. They're a detective for Yuka to look up to. 

Yuka stared at Halara with admiration. Without a response, Halara got up from their seat. Then, in one fluid motion, they handed a slip to Yuka who accepted it without a thought. 

Yuka’s head tilted as she found herself caught by a ruthless follow-up.

"Three million, plus the coffee bill. That is your payment."

"Huh-?"

"It'd be in your best interest to pay up before you forget."

"Wait, what, weren't you kidding before?"

"Does talking about a debt with someone you've just met sound like a joke according to your trite standards? That's quite nonsensical."

"Sure it's a strange joke to make but... even so, eh-?"

"Rest assured that you won't be charged any interest. Just make sure you've set up a payment plan."

Halara walked off, leaving a confused Yuka in their wake. Their back held a beautiful and dignified posture. However, it seemed like they had no intention of looking back. With the check in hand, Yuka felt her head spinning.

"Eh-...... Ehh-"

One thing is for certain.

Yuka has been haunted by bad luck ever since this morning.

But the worst part of all was, without a doubt, the presence of this detective.

As her head sank in disappointment, Yuka couldn't help but think.

Halara Nightmare must be some sort of demon.

***

"W-, Well then, let's change the mood shall we!"

"............"

"Halara-san please say something too!"

"Anything in particular?"

"...... I can't even think of anything I had in mind."

At any rate, the two arrived at the manor where the scene of the crime took place.

Diverting her attention from the debt of three million, Yuka looked up at the old-fashioned building.

The walls were constructed with dull red clay brick tiles and lines formed with white granite. Placed atop that was a massive black roof. The exterior was reminiscent of an antique dollhouse. Additionally, the property was encompassed by a magnificent rose garden. The vibrant dew-covered petals almost looked artificial. Everything was so breathtakingly beautiful that it looked like something straight out of a vintage masterpiece. 

Yuka couldn't help but let out a sigh of awe.

"How atmospheric~. Ah-, hey, please don't leave me behind!"

Halara had begun to walk off while I was immersed in the building's peculiar and chilling atmosphere.

Yuka rushed to follow behind their slender back. It was as if they were swimming in a sea of roses as they made their way along the path.

Eventually, the two arrived in front of an arched doorway.

Waiting there was a gentleman dressed in a brand-name suit. His eyes were amber. His hair black. His physique appeared portly. Twisting his magnificent mustache, he raised his booming voice.

"Hey there, Halara-san! I haven't seen you since the 'Jeweler Campanella Murder Case'! I'm glad you could make it! It was worth the trouble of going through the Unified Government to make a request with the 【World Detective Organization】!"

"...... As I suspected, this was no mere coincidence, but rather a request on your behalf, wasn't it?"

"Eh-, do you know each other!? And what's more...... through the Unified Government no less...... Could it be that he's that big of a deal?"

"Hahaha, oh, you could say the Unified Government tends to be a bit involved when it comes to matters of international trade. I can't get into any details, as much as I'd love to talk about it.  Anyways, when it comes to securing the food supply in this district it is I, Richard Thomson, who's your go-to guy! Also, what's there to hide between Halara-san and me? We've solved a case together after all!"

"H-...... He's a real talker."

Suddenly, Richard moved in closer. Feeling pushed by the pressure of his prattling words and moundish belly, Yuka took a step back. Meanwhile, Halara narrowed their eyes in displeasure. 

Gracefully, he/she crossed their arms. Letting out a small breath, Halara continued.

"If you'd mind refraining from distorting the facts. We did not solve it together. The case had indeed been solved....... however, it was all by my ability alone of course."

"Eh-, if that's the case, then what about Richard-san?"

"He was merely the first person to discover the incident. Rather than finding a solution, he challenged my theory based on his own faulty recollection, and thanks to this I had to explain  【Postcognition】 at the request of the police."

"【Postcognition】?"

Yuka found herself tilting her head. She was unfamiliar with the term.

In order to prevent further questions for the time being, Halara spoke up.

"It's my ability as a 【Master Detective】 ..... we'll be needing it for this crime scene as well. I'll discuss it later. So then...... since you're aware of these abilities, you should already understand right?"

"Yes, of course! I am fully knowledgeable about all of it! Just as expected of me. All pro~per preparations have been made accordingly, of course!"

Richard puffed out his chest. From a pocket on the inside of his coat, he pulled out a photograph and presented it to Halara. Yuka took a peek at the picture from behind him/her.

Similar to a portrait, the upper half of a lady was shown. She was a slender and petite woman. However, she had a firm and straight posture, staring at the camera with a steely gaze—— Strangely, her eyes seemed somewhat out of focus—— Her hair was tied up in a golden bun, and her eyes were a deep blue. She was beautiful, yet had a somehow frighteningly icy air about her. It was a perilous sheet of ice over a deep lake that could crack at any moment.

Nervously, Yuka asked.

"...... Is this?"

"The victim in this case. It's my wife. She was quite a cold woman. To be honest, our whole relationship was cold, but I never expected something like this. Whether I'm sad or not, I'm still not sure. I'll worry about that a bit later. Incidentally, I had a business meeting that day, so I have a flawless alibi, ahem. If you ask me, my wife would complain to the chef about the taste of the soup. It seems pretty suspicious to me, so I hope you'll be able to help me out here."

"H- he really is a chatty guy."

Yet again, Richard moved forward. Yuka slowly backed away. Halara took a long thorough look at the picture that they had received before returning it. Nodding, Richard opened the door.

"Here, go right on ahead. We'll go over the details on the way to the crime scene. Why, I couldn't even tell you how glad I am that you came, Halara-san. Ever since the 'Jeweler Campanella Murder Case' I just haven't been able to contain myself from telling my family all about your story, Halara-san. Hahaha. Ah-, as for a full-scale police investigation, I have all the power and resources needed to keep them out of it, so feel free to......"

"Eh-, why would you want to hold back the police?" Yuka voiced her surprise.

Rumor has it—— now was it Kanata Ward, or Kanaya Ward—— that some places have been under lockdown and the police haven't exactly been operating properly. However, places such as that are the exception. The legal organization should be operating in proper accordance here. But even so, is there any sense to purposefully suppressing them? In response to Yuka's question, Richard softly curved the flesh bordering his mouth. 

He spoke while displaying a clownish grin.

"Because, having a 【Master Detective】 solve it would be more fun, wouldn't it?"

There was a childishness in his eyes, 

and a warped sense of delight began to surface.

***

"...... Is that guy alright?"

It seemed that Richard had the intention of sticking around the crime scene. However, it appeared that there was a problem with his cargo ship, so he left while grumbling something about just getting started. 'Please don't solve the case until I return' he added, but I'm not really concerned about something like that. 

After making sure that he had gone down to the first floor, Yuka then went to inquire Halara.

Located on the second floor —— in front of his wife's bedroom, he/she answered with indifference.

"Probably not. However, as long as 【Master Detectives】 exist, so too will there be people who hold an excessive admiration for them, or even an addiction...... There’s no telling what type of bad precedent it could set if it were a person in power."

Yuka reflexively shifted her gaze downwards.

That admiration of 【Master Detectives】 is something she could understand. To some people, those who possess supernatural abilities and eliminate unsolved mysteries are like that of stars shining in the sky. There are some who may wish to bask in the radiance of that light up close. However, despite the murder of a family member, it was nothing short of abnormal to request a 【Master Detective】 while shutting down the possibility of a quick solution.

Yuka's skin crawled with disgust as she asked.

"Are you going to accept this request?"

"Five million."

"Eh?"

"It was mentioned to me a short while ago. This is the amount he said he had set as a reward for my success...... I have no obligation to help others, but I work sincerely according to the payment I receive...... That is my pride as a detective."

"So that’s the only reason."

"It's reason enough, among other things."

Yuka almost raised her voice. However, in response to this Halara spoke calmly. 

He/she emotionlessly included more reasons.

"The police have had no involvement in this case. Hence, the situation where the more time passes, the more evidence is lost...... Given the circumstances, there is no detective better suited for this case than me. Still, even if I decline this request, he would probably just vet another 【Master Detective】 to appoint anyway. It's a waste of time."

"Surely......"

"The quickest and most rational decision would be for me to continue with the investigation."

Yuka gave a deep nod. To reject a request based on emotion would also be an unethical decision. Once she came to an understanding, Halara then placed their hand on the door. 

Nevertheless, without pressing the matter further, she continued to ask questions.

"Then let's move on with the investigation. It'd be foolish for a 【Master Detective】 and trainee to continue to stand around talking to each other...... Before going any further, I'm sure you've already been properly briefed with a sufficient overview regarding the case thus far before arriving here, right? Mister Richard did speak rather quickly."

"If that's the case then please leave it to me! Uhh let's see now...."

Yuka twiddled her thumbs around in the air. 

She then began to explain the overview of the murder case as told by Mister Richard.

***

To recap, the story goes like this.

Mister Richard has a family of five—— however, his second born daughter is staying in a dormitory—— Therefore, at the time of the incident, there were seven people in the mansion: him, his wife, his eldest daughter and his eldest son, a cook, a maid, and a gardener.

It was there that Mister Richard's wife, Beatrice Thompson, was murdered. 

No one had seen her after she ate dinner and went to her room at 8 p.m.—— This has so far been confirmed by the initial police report —— The estimated time of death was between 9 and 10 o'clock p.m. The cause of death was stabbing. The murder weapon, a knife, was left lodged in her chest. There were no fingerprints. Also, a water pitcher—— which she loved to use when she went to bed —— was confirmed to have been laced with stolen sleeping pills. 

Because of this, it's been concluded that the crime must have been premeditated by an insider. 

The first to discover the scene were the gardener and the eldest daughter. The gardener would visit the victim every night at 10 o'clock to consult with her about remodeling the garden, and when she did not respond he then approached her eldest daughter —— Afterwards, both parties felt uneasy about there being no response, and so as a result of breaking down the door, the dead body was discovered —— This was at about half past 10 o'clock. Additionally, there were signs of intentional destruction within the room at the time. The eldest daughter then immediately called out to the eldest son, who was in the garden, and asked him to report the incident.

And then there's the key detail.

The room was a locked room.

"The crime scene was a closed room with both the windows and doors locked at the point which it was first discovered when the door was opened. Furthermore, the victim was leaning against the door, and there were no signs of it having been opened directly beforehand."

"Well done. Seems like nothing has been misremembered." Halara gave a brief nod, their pale hair swaying with the motion.

Naturally, Yuka puffed her chest proudly. She had also been honing her memory as a part of her training to become a 【Master Detective】. She also had a bit of a talent for picking up on fast-talkers, which was something she was prepared with at the very least.

Halara stared at the door with the knob still in hand. 

Gazing at the floral reliefs carved across its surface, he/she continued. 

"Wherever there's a locked room, there is an explanation behind it. It's the detective's job to uncover it."

Halara opened the door with a click.

Stepping through and, suddenly, looking to the side —— Yuka took a sharp breath.

***

It looked as though there were many girls standing there. 

Dolls were lined up in front of a mainly yellow floral-patterned wallpaper. 

The smallest one was a baby, while the largest figure looked to be around 10 years old. Everything looked to be things belonging to girls of various sizes. But oddly enough, there was also a strange sense of uniformity. 

Lovely beings clad in a luxurious and solemn aura. Their eyes were made of deep blue glass, and their heads were covered in gold thread. Their shrewd features somehow had an uncanny resemblance to the victim's wife. Moreover, there were other bizarre details as well.

All of their heads had been torn off. Some were set up to be holding dolls, while others were lying on the floor. Many of them were grouped together and placed against the wall.

It was as though the dolls had also been murdered.

"Wh-, what is this--. How disturbing...... So it was the dolls that they were referring to when they said some of the rooms showed signs of intentional destruction. But still, why is it like this?"

"......On the other side of the doll...... there is a fireplace to the right hand side when you enter through the door." 

Halara muttered under their breath as they covered their mouth. He/she stepped forward to approach the mantlepiece of the elegant fireplace. Halara crouched down to peer inside before looking up. 

Yuka followed their lead and crouched down beside them, copying their actions. Before them was a grimy chimney that extended from their field of view. The distant opening was tightly sealed with a fine mesh. She nodded with a hum. 

"It seems unlikely that the killer could have escaped by climbing up here."

"However, it doesn't seem irrelevant."

"Eh?"

"Look here, there are traces of soot on the floor."

Yuka lept back at the mention of it. That was a close one. She almost stepped on a piece of evidence. 

Seeing her panic, Halara adjusted their glasses. 

"I thought you were conscientiously avoiding it...... Seems I overestimated. Are you really so dense as to have not noticed?"

"Th-, that's not it! I noticed! Of course I noticed!" 

Despite her insistence, she of course did not notice. Halara's gaze was truly cold. 

Yuka was quick to redirect it by changing the subject.

"Uhmm, well...... Let's see, the victim was lying in front of the door, and the eldest daughter thought about the possibility that someone could have broken in, so she went to check the window...... but found that it was locked."

"So, she found the eldest son in the garden and called out to him...... I see, it is visible from here perhaps. There don't appear to be any contradictions evident in those facts themselves at the moment."

Halara and Yuka moved over to the window to look out over the garden. 

The rose garden could clearly be seen from the wife's bedroom window. Though it was now daytime, we confirmed that there was a haze from floodlights scattered about for illumination. That meant that the eldest son could have been seen without any problem even at night.

Touching the golden crescent lock, Halara nodded with a hum. 

"The locks on the windows are rather standard...... so I can't say for sure that there's no possibility of tampering. However, there are no scratches. I don't see any evidence of thread or any other such material being used."

Halara turned while muttering to themself. 

Once again, he/she looked over to the door the victim was leaning against.

"...... There isn't much blood. In other words, the criminal did not pull out the knife after dealing the blow."

"That is true, isn't it."

The two discussed their thoughts about the bloodstains on the carpet, though the body has already been removed. The crime scene was not preserved exactly as it was in its original state. The family must've had some sort of hand in it. At this point, there may be some things that an investigation won't be able to uncover.

Yuka spoke up without thinking. 

"Hmm, I guess there's nothing more to see here other than the information that's already been given so far. There's got to be things that we're missing. That's the problem with being a detective who's always asked to do things after the fact. Ahhh, if only we could see the crime scene right at the time of the body's discovery."

"You wish to see it?"

"Eh?"

"Who...... do you think I am?"

"Who?"

"I'm Halara Nightmare."

The phrase rolled off Halara's tongue in the most natural way. Yuka cocked her head. 

Well, I've already gone through introductions. Regardless of if it's impossible to tell whether they’re a man or a woman, there was no doubt that the person standing before me was Halara Nightmare. Isn't that so?

But he/she continued on. 

"The 【Postcognition Detective】, Halara Nightmare."

***

What exactly is this 【Postcognition】.

Halara began to explain.

"My 【Forensic Forte】 is 【Postcognition】 ...... It quite literally is the power to see a snapshot of the past. However, it can only be used at murder scenes. To be precise, it's the ability to see how a crime scene 【appeared at the time it was first discovered】 with one's own eyes. Another way to describe it would be 【crime scene-limited psychometry】, if that's easier to understand."

Yuka couldn't help but gawk in surprise. 

She knew that the 【Master Detectives】 who work in the field had special abilities. Yuka herself had something that could be considered as such. Halara's was outstanding, however.

It's almost too convenient.

As far as a detective's supernatural ability goes, it could be considered among the best.

Halara continued in the wake of Yuka's astonishment.

"My power allows me to see the 【moment the first witness saw the crime scene】. In other words, not the culprit, not the victim, but how it appeared when a third party first entered. The memory or perception of the witness does not affect my 【Postcognition】. What I see is what actually was there. When it comes to my power, the witness is not a camera or a recording device, but rather a trigger...... Perhaps the best way to think of it is like a bookmark stuck between the pages of when the body was found. It's not a power that can be taken advantage of unconditionally, however.”

Perhaps it was something akin to envy and jealousy that swirled in Yuka's eyes like heated candy. Halara continued to explain the activation conditions and limitations of their power.

"First, I must be standing at the crime scene...... this condition is absolutely required. I must also know the victim's name and face. That's why prior research is crucial. Lastly, 【Postcognition】 is only effective in a 10-meter radius around the body. At the moment, I can only see the crime scene and the victim. I can't see any living things that were at the scene.” 

Yuka's eyes flickered with a blink. So even if the culprit was hiding at the crime scene—— it wouldn't be possible to immediately identify them. Her face must've been brimming with the question as to why. Halara promptly gave an answer.

"...... I’m not so good at looking at people."

"B- but still, I think this is a more than capable ability! This is a 【Forensic Forte】!  I'm so envious! I absolutely admire you!"

"Sorry, but I'm tired of hearing compliments."

"Actually, maybe I did go a little too far with the praise......"

"Time is of the essence. Let's take a look for now, shall we?" 

With that said, Halara raised their left hand to cover their left eye. 

That was the moment Yuka put down her favorite crimson bag she'd been carrying on her back—— which could be used in three different ways by adjusting the belt. She undid the metal clasps and opened the leather flap. She pulled out a sketchbook and a box of colored pencils. She readied the black one first. 

Halara gave an expression as if to say 'what is that'. 

Yuka turned to puff out her chest toward him/her.

"Ehehe, if that's what your ability can do, Halara-san, I think I could be of some help to you, even if just a little."

"...... What do you mean?"

"As a matter of fact, my 【Forensic Forte】 is 【Sketching】!"

Halara's eyebrow slightly twitched at such a cheerful declaration. Perhaps that ability would've been self-explanatory enough. Yuka continued regardless for the sake of explanation. 

"Ah, I may be a trainee detective, but I have fully mastered my forte. If I can keep it up like this, I should be on track to receive my detective deed! Heeheehee-...... Well, uh so, with this ability, by just listening to what someone says, I can faithfully depict 【a person's description of a scene】 without error, completely unaffected by the influence of my subjectivity or imagination! Though, there's no way for me to be sure whether or not the 【person's description】 is an 【imaginary scene】 or a 【real scene】......"

"Does that mean that you can be influenced by the imagination of another person?"

"Yes. A lie is a lie and will be recorded exactly as it is. But in your case, Halara-san, if you describe the scene exactly as you see it, I think I'll be able to get a picture perfect replication of what it looks like!" Yuka explained.

Her power was the exceptional ability to discern the vague image within a witness's mind. Even if the image in itself is false, she wouldn't be able to disclose the nature of its authenticity. That's why Yuka was so envious of Halara's ability to remain unaffected by the subjectivity of another person's perspective. Still, her ability to take only a vague testimony from the witness themselves—— including the image of the culprit that they witnessed and the scene at the time of the crime—— and be able to properly materialize it, was very useful. It might also be useful in this circumstance as well.

Halara hummed with a brief nod. 

"I see...... While it may be possible to reproduce an image as seen by an eyewitness that would otherwise be difficult to convey clearly, there is a possibility of being manipulated by a deliberately false testimony, or an ability perhaps."

"Exactly!"

"......It's quite half-baked for a detective."

"Ngh-"

"Honestly it could be quite convenient for this particular instance. It's exhausting to explain things only I can see."

"Really?"

"People do not believe what they cannot see. I have often been called a liar...... It was thanks to this that when I worked with Mister Richard on the 'Jeweler Campanella Murder Case'...... not only did I have to explain my forte, but I also had to go through the arduous task of proving it through drawing an explanation of the circumstances at the time and comparing them with the physical evidence."

Yuka nodded in response to Halara's words. His/her ability is nothing more than a 【vision】 of the past. Perhaps there will always be skeptics and those who continue to insist that it's flawed. As a trainee, she could only imagine the troubles that they deal with. 

But there's no need to worry this time. Yuka spoke with conviction. 

"It'll be alright! Because I believe in Halara-san's 【Postcognition】 and my 【Sketching】 from the bottom of my heart, without a doubt!"

"......Your own 【Sketching】 as well, huh?"

"Ah-, sorry."

"I don't mind. You should have confidence in your 【Forensic Forte】. The most important quality for a detective is the ability to suspect others...... but perhaps I've spoken too much. Let's continue."

With one eye closed, Halara began to concentrate. 

Yuka was momentarily captivated by their serious and beautiful profile. But the instant his/her mouth began to move, she shook her head and picked her colored pencil back up to begin moving it with blinding speed.

A drawing etched into a sketchbook.

Along with Halara's words.

Through combining the two, the findings that were revealed are as follows.

***

The first witness of the scene had broken through the locked door. It was at this time that the victim's body, which had been leaning against the door, appeared to have moved. There were traces of bloody finger marks on the knife and the surrounding area of the clothes on the victim, who had fallen to the side—— though this was confirmed in the initial police investigation, no fingerprints were reported to be found—— and so it was theorized to have been caused not by the culprit, but by the victim. 

In other words, the victim's death was not instant.

Furthermore, traces of water stains were found trailing from the victim's mouth to their throat. 

Also the head of one of the dolls—— which had apparently not fallen off, yet seemed as if it had been placed with the rest of the heads in the real life scene —— was lying in a position where it could easily be seen from the open door.

And the biggest difference of all—— there were no traces of soot in front of the chimney.

After drawing the description above, Yuka put down her colored pencil with a sudden flick. The fresh corpse of the victim was vividly recreated on paper. The sight was brutal, although I hadn't given it much thought at the time my colored pencils were in motion. She closed her eyes to offer a moment of silence. She then asked Halara.

"I understand things for the most part...... but what could be the meaning behind these differences?"

"............"

"Halara-san?"

"I understand, but......if that's the case...... no...... It's far too simple...... namely, "

"Halara-saaan?"

"I've got a hypothesis in mind. All that's left is to substantiate the evidence."

With that said, Halara began walking to leave the room. Yuka hurriedly stowed her sketchbook and colored pencils into her bag. Brown, light orange, red—— disregarding the order that they were placed in—— they were tossed directly into the bottom of the box. She slammed the lid shut and ran after Halara.

"Please wait, Halara-san. Where are you going?"

"An investigation is built upon two fundamental factors. First of all, check the crime scene, next is?"

"Next, is it...... um, perhaps"

"Yes, I'm sure you know what I'm referring to." 

Halara came to a halt in a corridor with beautiful stucco walls. He/she turned to Yuka and, with a quick motion, held up two fingers. He/she curled their fingers from two to one as they gave their answer.

"It's collecting testimony."

***

"You're the detective appointed by the Master, is that right?...... Haa, quite the beautiful person...... Ah-, no, what happened at the time of the Madam's death, was it?"

"To be more precise, it's about the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the body and how you were spending your time that night. I’d appreciate your cooperation."

The gardener narrowed his puffy eyes at Halara's statement. 

He was at a loss for words within the garden that was filled with the suffocating fragrance of roses. 

The gardener was a man in his fifties. He was dressed in a pair of trousers, shirt, and rubber apron suitable for tilling the soil, and the look on his face portrayed a gentle personality. At the same time, it seemed to reveal an innately timid nature. He carefully tucked the pruning shears he was using into his apron pocket. He then anxiously asked Halara.

"Does that mean, as in an alibi? Am I being accused of something?"

"We're going around and asking everyone! Thank you in advance for your cooperation!" 

Perhaps it would be better to keep him calm by speaking to him herself.

Yuka spoke cheerfully so. Halara said nothing. The gardener nodded upon hearing this. He still seemed nervous, but he opened his mouth. 

"Haa...... Well, I don't have anything to hide or be ashamed of, so I'll answer you. Please hurry and clear up any of the Madam's lingering regrets."

"Right! ...... oouugh, I'm moved to tears by those words. I guess your Madam must've surely held a great deal of care and compassion for her employees!"

"No, not at all."

"Eh-"

Yuka froze in her tracks at this.

Isn't the memory of the deceased something that everyone glorifies? Especially if they were killed. However, the gardener's deep wrinkles distorted, like scars chiseled into rock. With a firm voice, he continued.

"The only time the Madam was kind was when she dealt with her youngest daughter, who is now living in a dormitory...... She was strict with everyone else, and our nickname for her was the 'Empress of Ice'...... There was no such thing as kindness."

Halara narrowed their eyes at his words. He/she folded their arms thoughtfully. 

Halara asked with a hardened voice.

"So everyone could have a motive?"

"......Well I never said that. I dread to think who in the house might have stabbed her. Even if I had found her 'murdered'...... Honestly, I didn't think about why."

"...... By the sounds of it, you were the first one to discover the body?"

"Oh, that's right." The gardener nodded simply.

Yuka reflexively held her breath.

This is important information. As you know, Halara's power recreates the crime scene found by the 'first witness'. Not the 'culprit', not the 'victim' —— but that of the 'first witness'.

 In other words, the 'first witness' is excluded as the culprit. 

It's imperative to determine whether or not the vision seen by Halara really belongs to the gardener. But the ability to rule out one person from being a potential culprit altogether is incredibly valuable.

"I see, in that case......" 

Halara tried to ask the question, and Yuka immediately took out her sketchbook. This is where her 【Forte】 comes into play. Halara nodded upon seeing this. 

"That's a good call."

"Halara-san praised my judgment!?"

"So, when you opened the door......"

"Ignored without a beat!?"

"Was the victim leaning against it?"

"Yes...... I had a bad feeling, so the young lady and I kicked down the upstairs door...... I thought it was strangely heavy, but soon after I was shocked when I caught a glimpse of the corpse."

According to the gardener's report—— the moment he opened the door, the impact had apparently caused the Madam's corpse to fall over. Since he was sure that he heard the sound of something hitting the floor, they believed that nobody had opened the door before then. 

A doll's head had fallen on the other side of the corpse, so he went on to look at the Madam's bisque doll collection. Seeing such a disastrous scene was as horrifying —— if not worse —— as when he found the Madam's body. The eldest daughter then went over to the window and checked the lock. As she did so, she noticed the eldest son in the yard, unlocked it —— which the gardener was certain that he saw that it had been closed until just before —— and called out to him. 

Meanwhile the gardener had checked the Madam's pulse and was once again confronted by death.

"I don't have an alibi for the night. I spent the day organizing a plan for remodeling the garden in accommodation to the Madam's ever-increasing wishes. Goodness, it was a tremendous amount of diagrams to do...... But I didn't even go upstairs until 10 o'clock when we were scheduled to have a meeting."

"What is the proof of that?"

"Unfortunately, there is none."

"But, Halara-san. He doesn't seem like a culprit, does he?" 

Yuka remarked and showed a sketch she drew based on the gardener's testimony.

Halara narrowed their eyes. Etched on the drawing paper was the scene that the gardener saw when he opened the door. There, a picture nearly identical to the one Halara saw with 【Postcognition】 was sprawled out. Judging by the angle at which the door was opened, there was no doubt that he was the person from the 【Postcognition】—— the 'first witness'. 

Yuka's ability does not negate the possibility of false testimony, but it seemed like it would be impossible to match something like the angle of the door just by guessing. That much can almost certainly be said for sure.

Halara nodded. Facing the gardener, he/she said. 

"That is all. Much appreciated."

"Yes...... Well then, I best be going. However, I wonder what's to become this rose garden after the the Madam's passing? After having come this far in making it so magnificent, it may simply be left to wither away. Ahh, it's a shame...... Truly, it's such a shame."

If that’s the case, might as well just light it on fire I suppose.

The gardener muttered under his breath.

Yuka felt all the hairs on her body stand on end in fear. 

In the depths beneath the gardener's words lurked thick and murky darkness—— a profoundly dark glow —— swirling within. There was no limit to the depravity of these thoughts.

 Yuka pulled at Halara's sleeves, wondering if he could be the culprit. Halara ignored her and began walking. She'll be left behind at this rate. Yuka rushed to follow the figure as it moved away from the rose garden. Yuka cast a slight glance over her shoulder as she made her way towards the mansion.

The gardener stood as if buried among the roses. 

He opened and closed the gardening shears with a 'shing'.

***

In a luxurious study lined with glass bookshelves, 

a sharp and rigid clacking sound rang out.

"The circumstances at the time of discovery, and alibi, right?" 

The eldest daughter murmured while moving the chess pieces. 

This woman...... is ok, right? Yuka couldn't help but worry.

The eldest daughter was a beautiful figure, with glossy black hair and becoming amber eyes. You could say that she probably resembled her father before he became obese, considering the matching colors of their features. She was a beauty dressed in men's attire with short, boyishly styled hair. Yet unlike Halara, whose gender was completely neutral, her ample breasts filled out the front of her white button-up shirt.

She continued to stroke the pawn pieces with her fingers as she sat in a multifunctional armchair. 

"Do you really you suspect me, the Amnea Thompson?"

"......That board."

"Ahh, this? I was just doing a bit of solo play."

"It seems like you are not even aware of the proper way to move the chess pieces. Can you not play chess, by chance?"

"Don't go and call me an idiot already!"

"I didn't say that?"

Halara crossed their arms coldly.

The eldest daughter —— Amnea —— burst into tears in front of them. Apparently, Yuka thought, it seemed the only reason she was in front of the chessboard was simply to try and impress strangers. 

Amnea smashed the chess board with force, the pieces making a rattling sound as they flew away.

Then, Amnea proclaimed in an exaggeratedly tearful voice. 

"Damn it, you guys are trying to bully me too!"

"I-intense victim mentality."

"Whatever, I am an idiot anyway! I'm so empty-headed that there's not enough to go around! But I leave that kind of thing to the owner of this room, my brother Dalmatia. And yet, you say things like this and that...... Hmm, unforgivable! I'll beat you!"

"Stop it! I'll hit back!"

"I'mb sowwy!"

"So quick to repent!?" 

Yuka's eyes widened. Amnea held her head and trembled at the threat, crying softly. Halara murmured out a hum in response to the child-like reaction. 

"......Well, it would be ridiculous to try and go up against me with brute force."

"Did you say something, Halara-san?"

"Don't worry about it...... So, about our conversation." 

At that, Halara's eyes opened wide before soon narrowing them down. Hm? Yuka tilted her head. What might it be? It felt like Halara's expression had an added childishness to it that I'd never seen before. Following their gaze, Yuka noticed. 

"............ Ah-, a cat?"

Yuka quickly approached the fireplace, and Halara also came along without reproach.

 Yuka craned her neck, and when she looked into a wicker basket she saw a kitten wriggling and cooing. It looked just like a white furball. The kitten rolled over without a hint of grumpiness. An adorable pink paw was pointed at Halara, but without touching it, his/her expression softened faintly.

Yuka absent-mindedly asked. 

"Halara-san, do you like cats?"

"............ It's nothing we need to be talking about."

"No no no, I absolutely love it! After all, it is Halara-san you know? That sense of peacefulness that lights up in your eyes, isn't it?"

"What do you take me for?"

"What, that you're a cat lover? Why don't we talk about it!" 

Amnea exclaimed, her footsteps were loud as she got next to Halara. 

Amnea reached out her pale hand, to which the cat rubbed their face to be pampered. Amnea gave a sweet smile as her eyes narrowed with affection. She whispered through clenched teeth. 

"Since she's finally dead, I took in an unfortunate cat thinking I could care for it."

"Eh...... Your mother died and it hasn't even been resolved yet."

"Is that bad? I've always dreamed of having a cat since foooorever. I wasn't even allowed to talk about it out loud, ya know. It'd be the last thing I'd say. It was really hard for me to even leave the house...... so regardless of whether or not it's out of line, just leave me alone." 

Amnea whispered, her profile drooping like that of a wilted flower. Her eyes were moist with a profound sadness that was difficult to put into words. Yuka went silent, unsure of what to say.

Halara observed Amnea's expression before opening his/her mouth. 

"...... So then, would you mind telling us your story again?"

"Ahh, sure thing man. I've got nothin to be guilty about. I'll tell ya anything you wanna know." 

Amnea puffed out her chest as she spoke.

There was hardly any disparity between the story of the eldest daughter, Amnea, and the gardener's testimony. She only added more details about the situation when she called out to the eldest son. Yuka's sketchbook depicted a young man looking up toward the second floor from a rose garden. He's slender and quite handsome. His black hair and amber eyes resembled that of Amnea and their father. Yuka stared at it, pondering the possibility.

"Are you and your brother twins?"

"Yep, you nailed it. Technically, I'm supposed to be the older sister, but we are twins. I'm on good terms with Dalmatia...... who, unlike me, has the lion's share of smarts." 

Amnea laughed frankly at saying that. The carefree expression on her face invokes a genuine feeling of familiarity. Yuka thought of how nice it would be to have a twin. 

At that, Halara wordlessly raised an arm, and Amnea snapped to attention with her back straightened.

"Yii-!"

"Why"

"......I've got most of it. Let's get going." 

Halara said and began walking. What the hellll, that guy was a bastard to the end, Amnea said to the kitten. The white furball responded with a mewmew. It had heart shaped ears. The pointed tip of its heart-shaped nose twitched with a snort. The sound made Halara stop in their tracks.

With his/her back to Amnea, they inquired. 

"Just to be sure, I'd like to ask you something...... If something were to happen to you, do you have any guarantee of where the little one will go?"

"Don't be stupid! As a cat lover, of course I've decided on it! If something happens to me, my friend will take good care of it."

"......I see, alright then."

A sense of relief.

With that said, Halara exited the room. He/she also spoke to the chef and the maid. However, it resulted in nothing noteworthy there. Both men claimed to have been working at the time of the incident, had no alibis, and had not even seen the body. Mister Richard had spoken about his suspicion about the chef, but there did not seem to be any particular pieces of evidence to support this. 

Hearing all they needed to, Halara nodded and returned to the crime scene. Inside the room, the headless dolls were silent like statues of death. At the center of their blue-eyed gaze, Halara said.

"I’ve figured out the method behind the creation of the locked room."

***

"Well, saying that I figured it out isn't quite accurate...... because we already had the answer as soon as we checked the crime scene."

"A-amazing! Is that even possible!?"

"Of course it is. The person before you is Halara Nightmare. Something such as this is not even a problem." 

Halara answered smoothly. Their eyes held no hint of a bluff, but rather a sharp confidence that gleamed like a sword's edge. It was a star-like light, befitting of a detective. 

Yuka clenched her fist. Sure enough, just as expected of Halara-san.

He/she tilted their head in turn. 

"Or rather. I think we're in the foundational basics at this point. Did you really not even notice?"

"Ngh-, I- I'm a trainee detective, so"

"Even as a trainee, you need to realize that above all else you still wear the title of detective."

"U-oughh...... I didn't notice at all, so please explain it to me." 

Yuka folded easily. She knew that she wouldn't get anywhere even if she wracked her brain about it. Halara let out a sigh and shook their head before he/she opened their mouth to speak.

"Haa...... First, let's discuss the matter of 'why were the dolls destroyed?'. There must be a reason for why the culprit would destroy them. There is also a reason behind the fact that the head of one of the dolls had rolled into a position that was immediately visible upon opening the door."

"Why is that?" 

Yuka asked while looking at the heads that were now pressed against the wall. The reflections in their glass eyes gave the impression of being wet. That chilling glow seemed to evoke hatred for the murdered. Yuka wondered, why had the dolls' heads been ripped off and rolled away? 

Halara offered an explanation.

"It's 'to draw attention to the dolls'."

"To the dolls."

"This will also answer the 'traces of soot marks on the floor after opening the locked room' question. The room was indeed a locked room at the time of the crime. If that's the case, then how did the killer escape?"

"Yeah, that's the issue......"

"They didn't escape. They were hiding halfway up the chimney leading from the fireplace."

Yuka's mouth suddenly opened.

So that's it. The far end of the chimney was blocked off with a net. The room cannot be entered or exited from there. However, it is possible to hide halfway up. 

The rest is simple.

The eyewitnesses who found the doll's head were partly compelled to pay attention to the destruction caused to the bisque doll collection. While their attention was focused on that, the killer was able to slip out of the fireplace and escape. They would then nonchalantly join up later as if nothing happened.

In that case, Yuka declared.

"I- I see! That would mean that the eldest daughter Amnea-san, who was with the gardener during the initial discovery, and the eldest son Dalmatia-san, who was in the garden, can be ruled out from the list of possible suspects!"

"...... I'd hoped that you wouldn't say something so boring."

"Eh-!?"

"Behind the creation of every locked room is a purpose for its existence. It is those who are not deemed potential culprits that raise suspicion here. It's safe to say that the maid and the cook can be ruled out." 

Halara explained calmly. Uughh, Yuka thought, feeling as if she wanted to cry. 

At the same time, an image came to mind of the gardener murmuring ominously, his shears moving with a 'shing, shing'. Shifting in and out of view, treacherous thoughts were obscured by the parallax within his thicket of words.

Impulsively, Yuka raised her voice. 

"Understood! It was the gardener then."

"Didn't you believe in my 【postcognition】 and your 【sketch】 from the bottom of your heart?"

"Oh- oh yeah...... so then, who?" 

Yuka asked, on the verge of tears. Halara once again let out a sigh. However, they detached their sagacious gaze from Yuka to cast it into space. Halara muttered in contemplation.

"Since they were in the fireplace when the door was opened by the first witness, the culprit was excluded from being with the first person to discover it.... along with the eldest daughter Amnea."

"In that case then, the eldest son, Dalmatia-san? Huh...... but, Amnea-san saw Dalmatia-san in the garden......"

"It's only logical to assume that couldn't possibly be true. Given that Amnea is not the first witness...... it is plausible that she could be a perpetrator. In short, the murderer is Dalmatia, and Amnea is involved as an accomplice through giving false testimony."

I see, Yuka energetically bounced up and down in excitement.

Now the mystery was all but solved.

That should be it.

That is, until Halara opened their mouth to continue.

It was then that the door swung open. A low, beautiful voice began to flow through.

"Oh my, have I been noticed?"

"Y- you're......" 

Yuka's voice couldn't help but tremble.

A slender human bowed gracefully before them, announcing their name with grandeur.

"Salutations, I am Dalmatia Thomson. My father's favorite 【Master Detective】 had finally arrived, and when I came to extend my greetings...... it seems I was exposed before the reconnaissance." 

Murmured a man styled in a distinctive black and white suit. He had black hair and amber-colored eyes. A beautiful young man, just as Yuka depicted in her sketch. His sophisticated and intellectual impression was even stronger when I saw it in person. Shaking his head, the eldest son —— Dalmatia —— forced out in a strained voice.

"Nothing that can be done once it's been found out. Just as you've deduced......I am the one who killed my mother. It's too late to be making any excuses now, I......"

"Why"

"That's what I'll be trying to tell you right now." Dalmatia shrugged off Halara's question as if in inconvenience and shook his head in exasperation. Halara did not care for these theatrical gestures, however. Indifferent, he/she continued questioning.

"Why, are you telling such lies?"

***

"Eh?"

"Huh?"

The two voices overlapped.

The voices of Yuka and Dalmatia.

What are they talking about, Yuka wondered. Wasn't it none other than Halara themself who presented this deduction just a moment ago! Yet at the same time, Yuka began to realize.

It was clear that Halara was trying to go somewhere with this.

He/she spoke in a dry tone. 

"As I just told you before. This stuff is way too basic. It's not even a question. That being the case, there must also be a purpose behind creating a 'locked room meant to be breached'."

"Is...... is it"

"In other words, the problem itself is a trick that assumes the presence of my 【postcognition】." 

Halara asserted.

And so the mystery continues.

Yuka suddenly found herself in a daydream —— standing on a stage where the spotlights focused solely on Halara Nightmare —— only on the person whose beautifully pale complexion was brilliantly illuminated.

Halara continued to seize control of the scene with overwhelming charisma.

As the leading role (detective), he/she told the supporting cast. 

"As told by the client. 'I used to tell my family all about Halara-san', in addition to his habit of running his mouth too fast and blurting everything out. The family had plenty of opportunities to learn the details about my 【postcognition】 if that's the case."

"Which, I'm sure probably happened......"

"Therefore, the task was carried out with the anticipation that the traces of soot would be revealed during the use of 【postcognition】...... There's a lot of strange things going on otherwise."

"Wh- what's so strange?" 

Dalmatia asked with a trembling voice. He glared at Halara with a glint. However, the spotlight remained fixed, continuing to shine only above Halara's head.

He/she responded smoothly.

"First of all, there'd normally be no point in making the victim take sleeping pills. She was —— as one could surmise from the way she was staring at the camera and her lack of focus —— a petite woman with poor eyesight."

"Ah-"

"Anything could've been done to exploit her weaknesses. It would be much more sensible to kill her that way and make it look like the work of a burglar rather than going through the trouble of a locked room. And yet, it was by putting the sleeping pills in the pitcher that the culprit was quickly narrowed down to those involved."

I-indeed, Yuka nodded. That's certainly true. 

Even the initial police investigation limited the culprit to those involved because of that water pitcher. There was no point in setting such a thing up since the victim was a delicate woman who could easily be killed.

Furthermore, Halara continued. 

"Also, although I was promptly called in at the request of the victim's family in this case, police analysis should have originally confirmed that the soot on the floor was from the fireplace. Moreover, it's highly likely that subsequent investigations would reveal the false testimony. And the reason I took the time and effort was because I knew from the beginning that the client would let me solve the mystery —— thus." 

Halara fixed their gaze on Dalmatia. He flinched and clutched his chest while being pierced by their sharp gaze. It was as if he'd been stabbed through the heart. It was there that Halara pushed their verbal blade even further in.

"To become officially identified as the culprit by a Master Detective certified by the World Detective Organization. That was precisely your goal. Once the Master Detective identifies the culprit, the investigation will be closed at that point."

In other words, there’s another culprit.

Halara asserted definitively. Yuka was speechless. What kind of criminal would try to use 【Master Detectives】 for such a purpose? Still, though, Yuka thought. Despite her worry, she opened her mouth.

"But, Halara-san...... isn't it strange?"

"What part?"

—————————————————————

Notes:

There's a part that's describing the gardener's words as 見え隠れ(miegakure), which is a gardening technique that keeps parts of a garden hidden depending on where you're standing, and only becomes visible as you walk through. Closest thing I could compare it to was parallax, but in order to fit the gardening pun I added 'thicket' as a descriptor to try to reflect that.

While I tried to add honorifics, Halara and Yuka sometimes use a -shi honorific for Richard. I don’t know if people are generally familiar with it, so I just replaced it with Mister

Amnea speaks in a very masculine manner, so when I put stuff like ‘man’ and ‘guy’, it’s in a non-gendered dudebro kind of way.

[misasmemorandum]

『夷狄を待ちながら』　クッツェー　土岐恒二　訳

前々から気になってた作品なのだが、この作家さんの他の本を以前に読んだことがあって（多分マイケルKだったと思う）、あまり合わん作家さんだと思ったから読んでなかったんだけど、マーク・ライランスが主人公の文官の役を映画でしてるのを知って、映画を見る前に原作を読んでおこうと思って読む事にした。

主人公は文民の地方行政長官。性的能力が衰退する過程にある年齢にいる。そこに主人公よりは若く、目を痛めたくないしシワ予防にもなるからと真っ黒なサングラスをかける軍人（大佐）がやって来る。この軍人が苛烈な拷問を何も気にせずに行うのよ。そして、夷狄が攻めに来ると戦う。これ、本当に攻めに来てるのか、妄想なのか分からんのだが、ポイントだろうな。夷狄である非文明化された未開人を文明化させる名目の元、攻撃し侵略するってのだな。文明の奢った自信と暴力と無知と。

主人公が無断で任地を離れていたことが発覚して、拘束され拷問され食事も与えられない。衛生状況も最悪。主人公が文官だからか、よく考えて、それが書いてあるんだけど、まあ辛いのなんの。重要なんだろうけど、読むのがたいそうしんどかったです。（ここいらのシーンをマーク・ライランスが演じてるのを見るのも辛いだろうな、、、。）

巻末の福島富士男の解説によると、クッツェーは「帝国主義的侵略によって生じる辺境（植民地）における支配／被支配の問題を、主として暴力を軸に作品化してきた。その暴力そのものを病理として描き出すこと、それが重要なテーマの一つだった（pp３５２−３５３」のだそうです。ここいらは読むのは辛いけど考えながら読める。だが、私がこの人を合わんと思ったのが、主人公の性的な考えなどの描写が多くて、それが、そんなこ���詳しく知りたくないよとなってしまうんだ。男性のオスとしての本能を赤裸々に描いているんだろうけど、ちょっとしんどいです。

この作家の本を読むなら、次は『鉄の時代』だな。

最後に映画版のギフを貼っておこう。と思ったが、マークのギフが出てこないので諦めた、、、。

[findareading]

その風変わりな人はデッキチェアを広げましたが、これまた空中に浮かんでいます。ビーチパラソルでできた日陰にデッキチェアを浮かべて横になり、ポケットから本を出して読み始めました。ぴりりとした潮とヨードいっぱいの空気を胸いっぱいに深呼吸しながら。

— ジャンニ・ロダーリ著／内田洋子訳「オスティアの海岸で」（『パパの電話を待ちながら』2015年8月第7刷、講談社文庫）

[team-ginga]

ピッコロ劇団の『パレードを待ちながら』

　ピッコロシアター中ホールでピッコロ劇団オフシアター『パレードを待ちながら』を見てきました。

　舞台は第二次大戦中のカナダーー「そうかあカナダも第二次大戦に参戦してたんだ。知らなかった」と自らの無知を恥じながら見ていました。

　私はピッコロ劇団の『ロボットR.U.R』を2月に兵庫県立芸術文化センター中ホールで見て、人類の滅亡をロボット製作会社のたった7人（だっけ？）の男女で描くのは面白いなと思いましたが、この『パレードを待ちながら』は銃後を守る（という言い方がいいのかな）5人の女性を通して戦争を描くという芝居です。

　私自身は子どもの頃から戦争の悲惨さ、残酷さをこれでもかこれでもかと描く映画、ドラマ、芝居、小説、漫画を見てきて、そういうものに飽き飽きしていたので、こういうのは面白い試みだと思いました。

　ラストで3人の女性が軍隊のパレードを見る場面があります。

　題名が『パレードを待ちながら』なのですから当然と言えば当然ですが、女性が3人なだけに「楽隊の音はあんなにも楽しそうに……」と言い出すのではないかとちょっとびっくりしました（もちろんこれはチェーホフの『三人姉妹』のラストのあまりにも有名なセリフです）。

　それを意識して書いてるのかな。そうは思えませんが、演劇人なら『三人姉妹』のあのセリフを知らないはずがないので、意識して書いているのかもしれません。

　いい芝居だと思いましたが、その一方で「お気楽な話だな」と思ってしまったことも事実です。

　確かに出征して帰らぬ人となったカナダ人もいるのでしょう。夫を、父親を、息子を失ったカナダ人もいるのでしょう。

　カナダは被害を受けなかったなどと言うつもりはありません。

　でも、アメリカ本土と同じくカナダも攻撃は受けていないはずです。

　劇中、女たちは空襲に備えて訓練をしていますし、空襲警報が出たと思わせる場面もありました。でも、実際に空襲を受けたことはないはずです。

　大規模な空襲を何度��受け、2度に渡って原爆を落とされた日本や、ナチスに占領されたヨーロッパの国々に比べれば……と、どうしても思ってしまいます。

　ラスト近くで学校の先生をしている女性が夫の話をする場面があります。

　夫はそれまで朝起きると「バンバン」と言いながら機関銃を撃つ真似をしていたのですが、最近は原爆が落ちるところの真似をするようになったと彼女は言います。

　そりゃわかりますよ。カナダからすれば日本は敵国です。

　同盟国であるアメリカが敵国である日本に甚大な被害を与えたなら、喜ぶのが当たり前です。

　でもなあ……やっぱりそれってどうよと思ってしまいます。

　さすがにこのセリフはカットすべきだったのかな。でも、公演に際してそういう「忖度」をするのもどうなのかなーーふとそんな余計なことを考えてしまいました。

　『パレードを待ちながら』は明日14日（日曜）も11時と16時に公演があります。

　ぜひご覧ください。

[hisoca-kyoto]

ただいま定休日と合わせて展示入れ替え、オンラインショップの準備のためお休みいただいています。当初のお休みを延長して、明日13日（水）までお休みさせて頂きます。ご迷惑おかけしますがよろしくお願いいたします。

9日（土）にて今年最終の展示「暖かなクリスマス」無事に会期を終えました。最終日もプレゼントをお探しの方や前に気になられていたものを迎えにきて下さったり、ご自宅用にリースやスワッグをお選びの方など最後まで展示を楽しんで下さっていました。各作り手の方々にはクリスマスの時期に合わせた素敵な作品をたくさん制作いただきありがとうございました。また、今回ご参加いただきました方々が関西近県の方が多かったのもあり何度か展示にお顔を出してくださる中で、お客様へのご説明だけではなく作り手同士の会話が弾まれていて交流もしていただけました。素敵な輪が広がっていくと良いなと嬉しく拝見させていただいていました。

期間中、何度も追加のリースやスワッグを届けて下さったsuukaさん。繁忙期の中、広島より美味しいお菓子を届けて下さったハナ菓子店さん。今回のフライヤーのイラストやオーダー制のかぎ針編みの巾着を制作いただいたtoracoさん、國津果實酒醸造所さんには２日間ナチュールワインの試飲・販売会をしていただいたり、「暖かなクリスマス」のテーマ通りに1年の終わりのこの時期にお客様と共に笑顔あふれる暖かなひと時を過ごさせて頂きました。ご参加いただきました作り手の方々、お越しいただきました皆さま、遠方より気持ちを寄せいて頂きました皆さまありがとうございました。

只今、企画展にてご紹介いたしました作品の一部をオンラインショップへ掲載準備もしております。整いましたら改めてご案内させて頂きます。今しばらくお待ちくださいね。

それに伴い今週は14日（木）、15日（金）の２日間のみのオープンとなります。変更となりましたのご来店お際はお気をつけくださいませ。どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。

[mineo1]

mineo（マイネオ）契約事務手数料無料

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩mineo契約事務手数料無料お申し込みmineo🟩店舗でも紹介コードご利用でキャンペーンが適用されます　（紹介コード）→　（Z8C5C3Z4N0）🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟨契約事務手数料無料🟨🔴エントリーパッケージ使わずに自動的に適用されます🔴

[noradesign]

映画『アプローズ、アプローズ！囚人たちの大舞台』

Blu-ray BOX

[gallerynamba]

◆forte_forte（フォルテ フォルテ）SPRING&SUMMER SALE開催 30%OFF◆

開催期間：8月31日まで　 開催場所：Gallery なんばCITY本館1階店

上記期間まで、forte_forteのSPRING&SUMMER SALEを開催致しております。 多数のショーサンプルを揃え、百貨店よりも遥かに充実したラインナップで、厳選された商品ばかりです。 ブランドの真骨頂に達している珠玉の作品を御覧頂けます。 ボヘミアンやホーボーファッションを得意とする海外ブランドの中でも国内で最も人気の有るブランドです。 このジャンルで有名百貨店で直営店を構える事は非常に稀有な事です。 勿論、本国イタリアにおいても非常に人気が高く、フォロワーブランドが後を絶ちません。 弊社の御得意様はグスタフ クリムトの愛好家の方が多い為、その層に人気です。 是非この機会にGalleryなんばCITY店をご利用下さい。 スタッフ一同、心よりお待ちしております。

【ブランド解説】 フォルテ フォルテ(forte forte)はイタリアのファッションブランド。ジャダ・フォルテ(Giada Forte)とパオロ・フォルテ(Paolo Forte)の2人の兄弟がブランドを設立する。 ジャダ・フォルテはノッティンガム・トレント大学でニットウェアデザインを専攻し、卒業後にパリとイタリアのブランドで働く。 パオロ・フォルテはビジネスを勉強した後、ラグジュアリーブランドと取引のあるファミリー経営のニットウェアブランドで働き、その後ロンドンとニューヨークに移る。 海外のファッション業界での長年の経験を経た後に、ジャダとパオロの2人は自分たち自身のブランド「フォルテ フォルテ」をスタート。 フォルテ フォルテのコレクションは、デリケートでフェミニンなアイテムからなる。 洋服と着る人の間の距離をなくし、真の親密さを生み出したいという願いから、細やかなディテールを深く綿密に追求。 贅沢なイタリア製の素材を用いること、ハンドメイドのディテールが特徴的。 イタリアのみならず、ヨーロッパ各国や日本でも展開している。

Gallery なんばCITY本館1F店 〒542-0076 大阪府大阪市中央区難波5-1-60なんばCITY本館1F 【営業時間】11:00～21:00 【休館日】7月無休,8月24(木) 【PHONE】06-6644-2526 【e-mail】gallery@angel.ocn.ne.jp 【なんばCITY店Facebook】https://goo.gl/qYXf6I 【ゴルチェ派Facebook】https://goo.gl/EVY9fs 【tumblr.】https://gallerynamba.tumblr.com/ 【instagram】http://instagram.com/gallery_jpg 【Twitter】https://twitter.com/gallery_jpg_vw 【Blog】http://ameblo.jp/gallery-jpg/ 【online shop】http://gallery-jpg.com/

[hironoriyamazaki]

ありそうでなかった演者のための場所。 #最後まで読んでくれたらもう仲間 ●主催者と講師が目的を持って行うレッスン。 #もちろんそれが当たり前に大事 ●家で迷いながら行う個人練習。 #これが大事なんだけどみんなどうしてるの この２つを持ってオーディションや現場に行��ますよね。 この２つの間にもう一つの場所があったら良いなと思うんです。 サードプレイスってやつです。 「家・学校と、もう一つ夢中になれる場所」 「家・職場と、心の拠り所になるコミュニティ」 ーーーーーーーーーー あなたが自ら「俳優」と名乗る為には何が必要でどんな事をしていればいいのか？ あなたが人から「俳優」と呼んでもらう為には何が必要なのか？ ーーーーーーーーーー まずは子供の頃のように 公園に出掛けて、そこにある遊具で遊んでみて 何もない広い場所でも無限に遊べて 気づいたら知らない者同士が友達になっていて。 大人になった俺たちは 信頼できる人同士で集まって、もっと仲間を見つけて、1人では出来なかった事を、成し遂げてみましょうよ。 2023年は「民主化」の年だそうです。 「WEB3.0」ってやつです。 昔はパソコンを持っている人や企業が、ホームページを調べていました。情報が一方通行でした。←これが「WEB1.0」 そして、スマホの登場と4G電波によって、個人でも発信が出来るSNSの時代になりました。しかしこれらのプラットホーム(基盤)はGAFAと呼ばれるメガテック企業でした。Googleの運営するYouTubeに動画をアップして、facebookが運営するInstagramに写真をアップして。←これが「WEB2.0」 そうして、これからは「WEB3.0」 お店をネット上に出せるようになってた。 お店に行かなくてもどこの物でも買えるようになってた。 テレビ局のように、自分の動画を世界にアップする事が出来るようになってた。 雑誌のように、自分の写真や記事を世界にアップ出来るようになってた。 銀行に行かなくても、お金の支払い・送金が出来るようになり、 投票所に行かなくても、選挙が出来るようになるそんな時代。 テレビに出ないでも俳優になれるし 東京に行かなくてもスターになれる。 1人では無理だけど、 そんな古い風習じゃない物作りの方法で 映画を作ろうよ。 ドラマを作ろうよ。 曲を作ろうよ。 イベントをしようよ。 そして日本全国に知られなくたって、 仲間たちが「あなた」の事を知って、応援してくれてればいいじゃない。 現に今、日本国民が全員知ってる人って居るのかな？世代ごとに好きな分野が違い過ぎる。 昔はテレビしかなかったけど、今はみんながそれぞれ色んなものを見てる。 だからそんな新しい「芸能界」の形があってもいいし、作れば生まれるし、それが面白くて魅力的なら仲間は増える。 そんな場所を作りたいとずーーーっと言い続けて今もその為に色々行動している���の話。 来週は2回目の「脚本読解会」開催。 ゲストは同じくあの人♪ 3月にこの行動と場所を知ってもらい 4月からそんな新しい芸能の形が動き出し 5月からそんな人たちが出演する為の作品が生まれる「映画作家ワークショップ」開催し 7月か8月には、子供たちに「クリエイティビティ・感受性・経験・出会い」を提供するワークショップを開催していきます。 #ワクワクするじゃないか #あの煙の向こう側を誰か見たのかよ #星はある #時には起こせよムーヴメント #がっかりさせない期待に応えて素敵に楽しいいつもの俺らを捨てるよ #自分で動き出さなきゃ何も起こらない夜に何かを叫んで自分を壊せ https://www.instagram.com/p/CpzE1FsJWgo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[irafuwas]

The Night Ravens - 「Piece of my World」

The very first official soundtrack for Twisted Wonderland just released today, and one of the tracks included was the long-awaited full version of the opening theme, "Piece of my World". I took a crack at translating it, which you can view after the cut!

聞こえるだろう 扉の向こう キミを待ってる 行こうぜ Wonderland!

You hear it, don't you? What's there beyond the door is waiting for you Let's go to Wonderland!

ドキドキいつも欲しいんだ [さあ 合図して]

I'm always on the hunt for an adrenaline rush [Now give me the signal]

瞬きなんてしちゃダメさ [魔法は始まるよ]

Don't even blink [The magic's just beginning]

AH AH

誰もがそうさ 負けられない [月が煽る]

I know people say it all the time, but I'm not going to lose [The moon's urging us on]

尖る靴音鳴らしていこう ほら 夜が明ける前に

Let the sharp clang of your footsteps resound Come on, before day breaks

手探りだね 僕のカタチ 貫く熱は在るのに

I'm fumbling around, still trying to figure out who I am I know I can keep pushing on, and yet-

ねじれた リズムで踊ろう 俯き張る 意地も愛嬌さ かまわないよ　ちょっとワルいくらいがいいじゃない？ 刺激は僕であるためのピース 闇の中魅せてあげるよ　イカした世界を

Let's dance to this twisted rythym The way you hang your head, acting all stubborn, there's a certain charm to it Don't worry. There's nothing wrong with being a little bad, you know? The thrill of it all makes me who I am, it's a piece of me Here within the darkness, I'll captivate the entire world

覗いてみて 扉の向こう キミを待ってる　行こうぜ Wonderland!

Go ahead, take a look What's there beyond the door is waiting for you Let's go to Wonderland!

時計の針が滑り出す 「さあもっと上げて」

The clock inches ever forward [Now turn it up even more]

逸つ靴音　弾ける鼓動 ほら 誰よりも前へ

Your piercing footsteps, this throbbing beat Surpass everyone and everything

描いていた　僕のカタチ 歪さも気に入ってるのに

The concept of myself I've come up with I adore how distorted it is, and yet-

ねじれた世界で歌おう ざわめく胸の熱はほんとうさ シラけちゃうジョーシキ破り捨てていいんじゃない？ スリルは僕らが輝くピース 闇の中　見つけ出せるさ　繋がる答えを

Let's sing together in this twisted world This warmth stirring deep in my chest, I know it's real I'm sick and tired of these societal rules So why don't we just rip them up and throw them all away? The thrills we seek become part of us - look at how they shine It's here within the darkness that we're able to find the answer that connects us all

夜が分かつ時　超えてゆけるだろう [ねじれた世界が導く…]

When the night drives us apart, I'm sure we'll get through it [Guided by this twisted world…]

僕だけの運命が　拒めないように

So that I won't be denied my destiny

溢れだす魔法飲み干し 痛み苛立ちが邪魔をしても かまわないよ　全部　手に入れて見せるさ

I'll drink up this overflowing magic until there isn't a single drop left No amount of pain, no amount of frustration will stop me The world will be mine, just you watch

ねじれたリズムで踊ろう 俯き張る 意地も愛嬌さ かまわないよ　ちょっとワルいくらいがいいじゃない？ 刺激は僕であるためのピース 闇の中魅せてあげるよ　イカした世界を

Let's dance to this twisted rhythm The way you hang your head, acting all stubborn, there's a certain charm to it Don't worry. There's nothing wrong with being a little bad, you know? The thrill of it all makes me who I am, it's a piece of me Here within the darkness, I'll captivate the entire world

覗いてみて扉の向こう キミの中へ繋ぐWonderland!

Go ahead, take a look There beyond the door connecting to your heart lies Wonderland!

A-ha NaNaNa… Yeah-- Come along Wonderland!

TL Notes: This is not a 1-to-1 translation, and I took creative liberties with it :)

And many thanks to my friend Yuurei-san for helping me parse through this!!

[kenshfsblog]

数名から投稿楽しみにしているとリクエストがあったので、久しぶりに投稿。

年末年始にヨーロッパにいる友人に会うため旅行したのだが、友人と会った最初の2日間以降は一人旅。

某国の首都を訪問し観光したその夕方、某ゲイ用の出会い系アプリを開いて見ていたら、早速何人かからメッセージが。その中で写真とプロフが気に入った37歳の男が一緒にキメてやろうと誘ってきたので、その夜指定の場所に行って会うことに。

ホテルからタクシーで10分くらいの指定された住所で降りて部屋の場所を尋ねると、そいつはその目の前にあるバーで待っていると。恐る恐るそのバーの入り口を入ると、その男は待っていた。慎重180cmくらいの体格のいい男前だった。既に俺の入場料も払ったからと中に案内された。入り口のエリアはゲイバーなのだが、奥はゲイ用のレンタルルームとクルージングスペースになっているらしく、バーから奥の廊下に入ると薄暗く、廊下には多くの男達がいた。普段着の奴もいれば、上半身裸とか、革のハーネスとケツ割れ姿だけの奴など、年齢も20代～60代くらいと思われる奴までいろいろ。レンタルルームへ向かう途中廊下にいる男達と目があうが、何人かは気軽に挨拶してくる。中には早速ケツを触る奴も。ドキドキしながら部屋に向かった。

レンタルルームに入ると、薄暗い部屋にダブルベッドとシャワーブースのみがあり、ベッドの上には既に他の奴とやっていたと思われるキメ道具やゴミなどがあった。すぐに服を脱ぎ、ホテルから装着して来たハーネスとケツ割れ姿に（コックリングも装着済み）なると、すぐにどれだけ入れる？と聞いてきたので、自分でやると言って、10メモくらいをもらって新しい注射器にセット。それぞれベッドの上で入れ終わるや否や、カーッと体が熱くなり、すぐにエロモードに。ベロチューでスタートしたが、すぐにその男がチンコをしゃぶってと言って俺の口にチンコを押し込んできたが、いきなりのデカマラにむせながらもむさぼり付くように竿から金玉までしゃぶりまくった。そのまま69になりお互いのチンコをしゃぶっていたら、俺のケツの穴にその男の長い舌が入ってきて、そのまましばらくケツをなめられる状況に。俺はタチの頃からケツを舐められるのは好きだったので、そいつの長い温かい舌がケツの穴の中を舐め回る度にガマン汁垂らしまくって唸ってた。「綺麗なケツだ」と言われ、四つん這いで散々ケツと玉と竿を舐められた後は、そのままギンギンになった彼のデカマラが押し込まれた。突然デカいのが入ってきたので痛みで30秒くらい抜かずにストップしてもらったあとは、しばらくずっと掘られっぱなし。デカいのをピストン運動する度うめき声が抑えられず、おそらく廊下まで響いていたと思う。俺のチンコからはガマン汁はダダ漏れで、このままじゃ掘られて終わっちゃうよって思ったら、いきなり強く腰をビクンビクンと突き上げ種漬けされた。量が多いのか、ケツの奥に温かさと満腸感でイッたことがすぐ分かった。その男は既に俺が数人目みたいだったので、疲れたのでしばらく休憩すると。あなたはクルージングエリアに行って遊んできたらいいよって言われたので、まだ掘ってないし全然やり足りない俺はムラムラ全開のまま初めてのヨーロッパでのクルージングゾーンに。部屋から出てロッカーに荷物を預け、ワクワクしながら廊下の奥へ。そのフロアには多くのビデオルームが廊下の両サイドにあり奥に深く回廊の様になっていた。その男達が沢山いる通路をハーネス、ケツ割れ���ブーツ姿で歩くというのはさすがの俺も初めてで恥ずかしさと緊張感があったが、すれ違う男達に"Wow!", "Nice!"などと言われ、すぐに何人かに誘われた。とりあえずそのまま一つのビデオルームに入ると、部屋の上の方のテレビでゲイビデオが20チャンネルくらい選べるしくみで、両側の部屋との間にでかいGlory Holeが空���ていた。あちこちでビデオの声とは別にしゃぶっている音や、ケツを掘っている音などが聞こえ、キメているのにさらにアガりまくり。椅子に座るといきなり両側からデカいチンコがヌッと出てきた。なんでこの国の男はみんなチンコがデカいんだよって驚きながらも、早速片側のデカマラにしゃぶりつく。口いっぱいの太さの皮付きのデカマラのエロさに俺のチンコはビンビンダラダラ。夢中でしゃぶっていたら、隣の穴から腕が出てきて俺のケツをひっぱられ、そのままケツを突き出したら穴からけつの穴をペロペロと舐め始めた。あまりの気持ちよさとエロさにうめき声を出しながらデマからを必死でしゃぶった。隣のデカマラもしゃぶりたかったので、向きを変えて何度か交代でデカマラをしゃぶりながらケツを舐められていたが、突然固い太いチンコが俺のケツに入ってきた。あまりの変態なシチュエーションに興奮してうめき声を漏らしたが、その後は3度ほど交代で反対側の男にケツを掘られ、最初の男がうめき声とともに俺のケツに中出しをしたかと思ったら、しゃぶっていたデカマラがビクンとしたと同時に俺の口の中に大量のザーメンが噴射された。それぞれの男は”Thank you"と言って部屋を出て行ったが、同時にケツと口の中がザーメンでいっぱいになった俺は変態度が半端ないレベルだったのでそのままザーメンを飲み込み、ケツの穴にぶち込まれた二人目のザーメンもそのままキープしてビデオルームを出た。ますます変態度が上がり、ムラムラ最高潮の俺はそのまま廊下を一歩きしていたら、地下に続く階段が。ワクワクしながら階段を降りると、さらに広いクルージングゾーンが。大きなスクリーンでゲイビデオ放映している広間の左右に伸びる廊下は迷路のようなダークゾーンで、鉄格子と鎖などがぶら下がっているハードなエリア、ケツ掘りブランコルームやX字の形に4つの革ベルトが付いたSM？プレイルーム、ケツ掘りベンチや叉を開く医療用のベッドのようなベンチなど、いろいろなエリアが。既にやりまくっている奴らもいてあちこちで声が響いている。多くのムラムラした男達が獲物を探して歩き回っているが、俺の格好がハレンチだったのか、アジア人が珍しかったのか、暗い廊下では男達に声をかけまくられた。その、地下のクルージングエリアでのエロ体験についてはまた次回書きます（長文でちょっと疲れた）。自分がこんなにも変態だったことを改めて知ることになったエロい体験談はまた次回に。

[shiut]

Read a bit of that Rain Code light novel "Waiting for Yuma", so here's my lil translation of the prologue.

Let's talk about justice.

For instance, there is a certain system to the way this world works that we may call the embodiment of justice.

That is the [World Detective Organization] -------- an extra-legal organization dedicated to the [eradication of unsolved cases around the world].

It is a large-scale organization with detective agencies established around the world serving as branches. There are 1,000 detectives belonging to this organization. Some of them are called [Master Detectives] and boast their own unique [Forensic Fortes].

What is a [Forensic Forte]?

It is a supernatural ability used for investigation.

For example, Postcognition. For example, Disguise. For example, Spectral Projection. For example…… There could be such things as the extraordinary ability to turn back time.

Those who naturally possess the quality of various skills acquire these special abilities for the purpose of investigation through training at the World Detective Organization. Thus, only those who boast a [Forensic Forte] are recognized as [Master Detectives]---- The detective is awarded with a [Master Detective] deed. Possession of this deed is proof of their status as a [Master Detective].

In other words, the [Master Detectives] are the ones who solve all mysteries ---- the enforcer of justice.

However, I would like to ask you a question.

No, I suppose I want to ask myself a question by talking to the hypothetical existence of you.

What is justice?

Justice is an ambiguous word. Depending on one's subjectivity, it can change connotation as much as one likes. People have human justice, and unraveling unsolved cases does not necessarily mean that it will be understood. In fact, I know that the justice that the [World Detective Organization] strives for likewise conflicts with society.

Therefore, justice is a dubious thing. Nevertheless, if I were dare to define it, I believe it would be "to eradicate all unsolved mysteries from this world and bring happiness to everyone".

If only, someday.

If only there would be someone who shares these thoughts of mine, and is willing to make the endeavor to lend me their assistance could appear. Someone who could clear the grey sky of its falling rain, with whom to stand alongside.

I am, I am…… So that's how it is.

By any means, would we want to become friends, I wonder. Boring, albeit hopeful perhaps.

Well, my time is over. Let's put this tale to rest. Today once again, many mysteries await the detective.

[rikkymaruero]

またスポメン行ってしまった…。今回も入って5分で3Pに。上下の口に串刺しにされて乳首とチンポ責められて、最初からテンションMAXで頭真っ白状態でまず1発目。

種マンのまま3階でフラフラしてたらまた3Pに。太マラ兄貴に掘られてデカマラ咥えてえづきながらチンポうめーを連呼する。その後選手交代でデカマラで掘られると思ったら、俺のチンポに跨ってきてなぜか掘る事に…。気持ち良かったけど萎えてしまったので休憩。

その後、4階に行ったら3Pになって、なぜかまた掘る事に。トロトロマンコだったのでウケ兄貴の乳首責めながらガンガン掘って満足。

その後なかなかやれずにぶらついてたら、学生っぽい腹筋バキバキのイケメンがいたので、ダメ元でチンポ触ったらしゃぶらせてくれてラッキー。先走り多めのうまい固マラだった。

それから3階で横になってたら、太マラ兄貴にケツマンコ触られたので、足開いたら太マラがメリメリと入ってきて、乳首責められながら、ナマチンポやべーな、トロトロマンコたまんねー、種欲しいか？どこに欲しい？って言葉責めされながら乳首コリコリされたので、俺のケツマンコにぶっ放してください！と叫んだら、一言イクぞと言われてあったかい種が注がれる。

その後、坊主頭の兄貴に長マラしごいてアピールされたので、チンポ咥えて喉マンで味わった後、長マラロングストロークで抜き差しされてベロチュー乳首責めされる。乳首責めうますぎてケツマンコ締め続けてたら、ザー汁注がれて3発目。しばらくチンポ入ったまんまでいてくれたのでそれだけでケツイキしてしまう。

その後、また坊主頭の年下タチにケツマンコ掘られる。俺の前立腺に当たりまくってヤバい連呼してたら、4発目が注がれる。

今日はこれで終わり。こんなにやったのに掘られ足りなくて、今マンズリ中。乳首クリップ付けてケツマンコに電マ入れてチンコしごいてる…。

今度はAPA待機しようかな？笑笑

[1003zr]

2025-01-12

【俺と 親父とおっちゃんと 】

コロナ禍ちょっと前、６年くらい前のこと。

お盆休みで地元に帰ってて、大阪に戻る時におっちゃん（親父の幼馴染）のトラックが関西便があるって事で、おっちゃんのトラックで戻って来る車内でのこと。

「〇〇〇（俺）はまだ結婚しとらんし、もしかしてあれか、あっちの気とかあるんか？」

て聞いてきた。

たしかに、40前後で女っ気ないし、おっちゃんとトラックでズリ合いする時は、ズリネタはおっちゃんのエロ本とか、男女モノDVDやけど、おっちゃんとチンポ握り合ってズリ合いとかしてるんやから

「あっちの気」って思われても仕方ないわなw

だからそう思われてるなら、逆に言えるチャンスと思って

「セックスは両方イケる」て、エロに関してはバイってことで、とりあえず凌いだ。

寸前で「ゲイ」とは言えなかったのは、ノンケ同士ぽい関係が好きだったからかな。

そしたら、おっちゃんが

「あー、やっぱりそうか思うたわ。ワシも両方いけるんで。でも、おまえはどっちとやるんがええんや？」

てお互いにバイってことになって、でも俺はノンケ寄りを装って、チンポ入れるんはマンコやなぁ」て言うたかな(笑)

おっちゃんは「ワシも若い頃は女の方が多かったな」

て言うたから「じゃあ、今は女より男んが多いん？」て聞いたら、『遊ぶんは男やな』て。

トラックの中では、お互い初めて男とやった時のエロ体験や、俺と親父とのこととか話して、���もおっちゃんもチンポガチガチw

パーキングエリアに停めて、窓のカーテン締めてシートの後ろの１畳くらいのスペースに移って、とりあえず下だけ脱いでセンズリ。

エロ本もなんもいらん、お互いに胡座かいて壁に寄りかかって、無言で俺はおっちゃんの、おっちゃんは俺のセンズリを見ながら抜いた。

それまでも、ズリ合いはしたことあったけど、お互いに男ともヤるって知ってからのズリ合いは、親父と息子ほど離れた男ふたりが、それぞれに男を意識して男同士で見せつけるセンズリは改めて興奮したな。

おっちゃんと無言で向い合うも、おっちゃんがシャツの裾を首に掛けて乳首を弄れば、俺も返すようにシャツを首に掛けて乳首を弄りながらチンポ扱く。

胡座かいてた足が緩く解けて、乳首の刺激やチンポがガマン汁垂らすたびに、足がビクッと動く。おっちゃんの親指と俺の親指が何度か当たるうちに、もう避けることなく足と足を絡ませる。

おっちゃんがケツを下に滑らせて、俺の金玉を足で潰すように押し付けてくる。俺も同じようにおっちゃんの金玉を潰すように足を押し付ける。

指の股で玉袋を引き下げられた俺のチンポは、亀頭がパンパンに張り、一気にザーメンが上がるのを感じた。おっちゃんが金玉を潰すように更に足を押し付けてきた時に

「おっちゃん、俺いきそうやわ」

と、口に出た。

おっちゃんは、俺の目を一瞬見て自分のチンポを扱く手を早めた。

「もうちょい待てよ、一緒に出すで」

と、おっちゃんは乳首を弄ってた手を自分の金玉に伸ばして金玉を引き下げながら、太いチンポを握り直して、深く息を吸って

「おし、ワシも出すで、◯◯◯ももう好きな時に出せ」

おっちゃんから、射精許可を出されたようで俺はおっちゃんの言葉に興奮して、何故か敬語でおっちゃんに叫んでた。

もういきそうです！チンポ限界です！

あっ、あ、出ます！出ます！出まっ、、、

「あー、ワシもいくで！」「あっ、出る！、出る！」

と、俺が腹に出すのと同時くらいに合わせておっちゃんも自分の腹にザーメンをぶち撒けた。

「はぁ、はぁ、はぁ」

はぁ、はぁ、はぁ

と、暫くザーメンを拭き取るのも忘れて２人の荒い呼吸が落ち着くのを待った。

車内でセンズリする時は、ザーメン飛び散らんようにティッシュにだしたり、腹に出して拭く。ゴム付けてそのままゴムの中に出す時も。

丸まって山になったザーメンティッシュをコンビニ袋に詰めて、パーキングのゴミ箱に捨てに行くんやけど、他のトラックドライバーもなのか、ティッシュしか入ってないようなコンビニ袋がゴミ箱横にも置いてある。

これが、家族連れや、バス旅行の人とかトラックドライバー以外の人も多いサービスエリアとは違うとこ。

パーキングエリアは、トイレと自販機くらいって所が多いので、休憩するトラックが多いね。

乳白色のコンビニは街灯に透けて、��まったティッシュのシワの影や、緑色やピンク色の伸びたゴムも分かる。そんなコンビニ袋がゴミ箱から溢れる。

どんだけ福袋の山やねんと、その誰のザーメンか分からん袋を持って帰りたくなる（笑）

１発抜いてスッキリしたら再び大阪に向けて出発。

明け方に大阪に到着して、俺を降ろしてからおっちゃんは荷下ろし先へ。

その日はそれで終わり。

そのおっちゃんから、緊急事態宣言明けたタイミングで、京都便があるからそっち方面行くで。

て、連絡があってん。

で、その数日後に親父から「▲▲▲（おっちゃん）がトラックで京都行くからワシも行くわ」て連絡があって、久しぶりに親父も泊まると思ってたら、新世界で飲むからそのまま難波辺りのサウナで寝るわ、って。

なんや、残念と思ってたら前日におっちゃんから、「■■■（親父）とロイヤル泊まるんやけど来るか？」

て、メールがあってん。

新世界のロイヤル言うたら大型ゲイサウナやねん。

「親父、ロイヤルがゲイサウナって知ってるん？」

て、おっちゃんに聞いたら「詳しくは言うてないけど

『あっち系の男専用サウナ』とは言うてるで。

個室も取るし、アイツもええって言うとるしの」

俺は「ゲイサウナて分かってて行くって、親父はバイなんやろか？」

て、めちゃドキドキしてきて、ドキドキすんねんけど

男がアカンかったら、風呂場とか大部屋とかでトラブったら嫌やなと思ってん。

おっちゃんもそれくらい分かるやろうに、なんでロイヤルにしたんやろ？

と思ってんけど、これは後日、親父がバイって分かる時が来るんやけど、親父とおっちゃんは学生時代から男とも、女ともエロはやってたらしい。親父は基本的には女がええけど、おっちゃんは親父とやりたいて思ってたらしいわ。

ロイヤルの風呂場にはシャワーブースが５つ並んでて仕切の腰辺りの高さに穴が開けてあって、そこから隣を覗いたりチンポ突っ込んだりできるようになっとんの。

親父と顔合わすのはマズイからこのシャワーブースは丁度いいねん(笑)

おっちゃんに時間を聞いて俺はその時間に合わせて先に風呂入ってシャワーブースに入る。

目印に、ドアの上にタオルを外に垂らす。

隣りは空いてるけど、親父らが来る前に他の人が来たら段取りが狂うから、来ないこと願いながら待ってたら隣に誰か入って来てん。

穴から覗いたら、２人おる。

会話が地元の言葉やからすぐにおっちゃんと親父やと分かったわ

覗き穴は立ったまま上から覗くと角度的に向こうの足しか見えんから、俺ちょっとしゃがんで覗いたら、親父とおっちゃんのチンポが見えてん。

それだけでめちゃ興奮(笑)

で、親父たちの会話を聞いてたら、おっちゃんがこの穴の説明してた。

説明せんでも分かるやろ(笑)

で、おっちゃんがしゃがんで覗いてきたんで、確認の為に俺もおっちゃんを確認。

おっちゃんが親父に「〇〇〇（俺の名前）くらいの兄ちゃんがおるわ」て言いながら、おっちゃんが穴にチンポ突っ込んできた。

俺はおっちゃんの萎えたチンポ握って軽く扱いて、半勃ちくらいになったとこ咥えてわざとピチャピチャ音立ててしゃぶったら、おっちゃんも大げさに感じて、親父を誘う作戦は完璧。

やってんけど、おっちゃんのチンポしゃぶりながら俺もチンポ扱いてたからイキそうになってやばかった(笑)

本命は親父やからな(笑)

俺がおっちゃんのチンポしゃぶるの止めたら、おっちゃんがチンポ引っ込めて「■■■（親父）もしゃぶって貰えや」て、親父を仕切りの方に寄せてん。

こういう場で名前を呼ぶのはタブーやのに、幼馴染やと、名前で呼んでまうのが自然やわな。

俺は万が一、親父が覗き込んで来た時のために隙間を開けてタオルで薄っすら目隠しして、待っててん。

親父が一歩寄って壁にへばり付くようにして穴からチンポ出して来た。

目からタオルを取ると、壁穴から親父のチンポがボロンと垂れとる。

垂れとる言うても、萎えてるんやなくてちょっと半勃ちやったな。親父、おっちゃんが俺にしゃぶられんの見てて興奮したんかも（笑）

先ずは手を使わずに親父のズル剥けのドス黒い亀頭を舌先でつついて、引く感じもなかったからゆっくり亀頭吸い込むように咥えて、口の中で舌を這わせてウラ筋責めたらだんだん亀頭が張ってきて、親父のチンポがガチガチになってきた。

口を離して、根元から握って親父の血管ボコボコのチンポを目の前にしたら

もうおかしくなりそうで、また咥えて自分の唾と親父のガマン汁が口の中で混ざって口から垂らしながらしゃぶり続けてん。

壁の向こうで、おっちゃんが親父に、「しゃぶられとんか？気持ちええやろ？なぁ？」

『あぁ、奥までくわえとるわ、気持ちええっ』

て、親父のあんな感じとる声初めて聞いたから、めちゃ興奮してもうて、ふと思い付いてん。

「ケツやれるやん」

親父と顔は合わせんし、親父はまさか俺とは思ってないし。

しゃぶるん止めて、俺は立って壁穴にケツを向けて親父のチンポ当ててみてん。

親父はその感触でケツと分かったみたいでチンポ穴から抜いてもうてん。

あー、失敗やん、あのまましゃぶって親父のザーメン口に受けときゃ良かったて、もっかいしゃがもうと思ったら、ケツに指が入ってきてん！

風呂場には、サウナが３つ、湯船が３つ、洗い場があって広いから他にも人はおるけど、シャワーブースはトイレの個室みたいになってるから、個室には誰も入って来れん。

「ケツできるかも！」

と、俺は壁穴にケツの穴が見えるようにケツを当ててたら、

親父がおっちゃんに「ゴムあるか？」て、おっちゃんがオイルもあるで、てゴム開けるカシャカシャする音と、ローションのボトルを開ける音がしてん。

親父がもっかい指を入れてきてんけど、ローション付いてるからグッと奥まで来て、声が出てもうてんけど風呂場やから聞こえんなと思って、「ケツやばい」とか口にしたら

「ケツ気持ちええんか」て親父が言うてきてめちゃ焦ったわ

あんまりハッキリ喋ると、親父の地元の言葉に引っ張られて俺も地元言葉になってまいそうやから、適当に返事して

ついに親父がチンポ当ててきたから、今しかチャンスないと思って、俺、壁からケツ離して壁に向いてしゃがんで、親父のゴムチンポしゃぶってん。

しゃぶる必要ないくらいもうガチガチやったけど、ひと細工せなあかんやろ？ゴムがピチピチで、先を噛み切るの苦労したわ(笑)

そう、ゴムに穴開けてん。

親父が違和感に気付いてチンポ引っ込めたら噛み切ったのバレるから、親父のチンポ掴んだまま壁にケツ向けてケツ押しあててんけど、デカマラ過ぎてなかなか入らん。

親父が壁から離れたら穴開きゴムがバレてまうなて時に、「兄ちゃん、チカラ抜いて��吐いてみ」

て、親父が言うてん。

こんなん言うのて、親父初めてやないやん、ケツ掘ったことあるやん？

て、想像したらケツがグワッと開いた感じがしてヌルンと亀頭が入ってきてん、

ズキンとジワジワと、最初は痛かってんけど一回抜いたら、もしかしたらゴムが破れてるかも知れんから、なんとかガマンして後はゆっくり入ってくんのを息吐きながら耐えて、全部入った時には俺のチンポ萎え萎えやったわ(笑)

「兄ちゃん、動かすで」

て声がして、親父が腰振りだした。

俺も壁から離れんように、ケツを壁に押しあてて前の壁に手を付く。目の前の壁にある鏡にデカマラに苦しみよがる俺の顔が映っとる。壁１枚やけど俺の後ろには親父がおって、穴開きゴムとも知らずに、そのケツが俺とも知らずに、もうとっくに噛み切ったゴムの穴は大きく裂けて、生チンポで俺の生ケツを掘る親父の姿があるんやと思ったらケツがキュッと閉まって、親父が「おぃ、兄ちゃんワシそろそろ出すで」て

言うて、ピストンが速くなったんやけど親父もそう直ぐにはいかんから、ガン掘りが５分くらい続いて俺の方が足も痛くなってきて、チンポ萎える前に掘られながらいきたかったから「俺も、イキそうです」て、タオル噛みながら言うてん。

そしたら親父が「出せ出せ、ワシも出るわ、ええか、このまま出すで」

「はい、このまま中で出して下さい！」

て、返したかったけどはっきりしゃべるとバレるから「はい、俺も、イクイクイク！」

あー、兄ちゃん、出るで！あっ、出る！出すで！

て、俺が先にいって親父も俺のケツの中でいってん。

親父がチンポ抜こうとしたからすかさず根元のゴムを掴んで、チンポ見たらゴムがリング状態で完全に生チンポやってん（笑）

直ぐにゴムを外してフェラして完了。

親父のザーメンの味は親父の使用済みオナホとかゴムで知ってたけど、チンポから直で舐めるんは初めてやったから、しゃぶりながら俺また勃ってもうて、しゃぶりながらセンズリしたわ（笑）

親父に生チンポで掘られて種付けされてみたいけど、絶対にあり得んと思ってたから、あのシャワーブースはめちゃ完璧なシチュエーションやったわ。

俺が先に出て、風呂から上がって俺は帰ってんけど、親父らは個室に泊まったわ。

最初におっちゃんと話してたんは、ドンキでプロレスとかショッカーのマスク買って、個室で３人でやろうとか言ってたんやけど、個室やと照明落としても喋るとバレるし、マスクしてるとフェラできんしって事でシャワーブースを思い付いたんやけど、結果正解やったな(笑)

今、思ってもあの壁穴付きシャワーブースはエロい。

親父もまさか自分の息子にしゃくられて、生チンポで息子に種付けしてるとは思ってないやろし（笑）

[mineo1]

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