Chapter 142: Two detectives
Translator: Soafp
“The pass case you picked up in front of the station—it's merch from a movie, right?”
“The kind of people who buy that stuff are few and far between. That means they're pretty serious movie fans. Also, that smartphone case—it’s from another movie, isn't it?”
“With this level of film enthusiasm, I’d guess you’re someone who also enjoys writing reviews.”
She was spot on.
Even incorporating that embarrassing moment when I dropped my pass case on the train into her deduction.
“So, you not only enjoy watching movies but also reviewing them. That's one of your hobbies, right?”
“Y-Yeah… you’re right… I can't believe you figured out that much.”
“Of course, it’s not just from our conversation. I'm also reading your reactions.”
“Wow… (impressed).”
“That’s amazing!”
Even Shiori-san, who has turned into a “That's Amazing” bot (no offense), is impressed by her.
“So, is that everything?”
“…ah.”
“Wait, is there more? Hmm, there’s still plenty of clues, so don't say anything yet—oh, dancing.”
“Yeah, that too.”
“That’s amazing!”
“…Wait, there's still more?”
“You really pick up on a lot.”
But the skies were starting to cloud over a bit.
“Ah—camping! You went camping with Shiori, right?”
“Well, I just tagged along with her, that's all.”
“Then curry! Cooking, right? Shiori said your cooking was great!”
“Y-Yeah… that’s true…”
“Wait, there’s still more?”
“Ah… (in despair).”
Honestly, after she got about a third of my hobbies right, I wanted to call it quits.
But this Rikka Tachibana… she could read my face so well, and now she knew I still had more hobbies.
I couldn't hide anything.
Come to think of it, Hatsune-san used to say my face was too easy to read.
I should've taken that into account back then…
“Eh? Crosswalks?”
“Well, I don't know if you'd call it a hobby, but I've been doing it for about a month now (feeling confident).”
“Eh?”
“Haha…”
“Why?”
“It's kind of a childish thing, you know… (averting my gaze).”
In the end, I had no choice but to answer her questions.
“Wait, there’s more?”
“Isn't this enough already? (terrified)”
“Nope.”
“Ugh…”
“Ugh, I didn’t want to mention this, but clubbing! Sorry!”
“Yeah, that’s true…”
“So that was real… wait, there’s still more…? Your face says it all!”
“Haha (please kill me).”
“Just tell me…”
“Polo (deadpan).”
“???????”
“You’re amazing, Hajime-kun!”
“This isn’t logical at all. None of it is connected…”
“…”
In the end, she couldn't deduce all 23 of my hobbies.
I'll never forget the look on her face when I said “Polo.”
There’s no way anyone could guess half-body baths, so it's not her fault.
At least I managed to keep my three creative hobbies a secret!
“Wow, Hajime-kun, you really have so many hobbies! No wonder you know so much!”
“Thanks. But my knowledge is still pretty shallow, though—I'm just picking things up here and there (Polo).”
“That’s not true! I've never seen someone talk so passionately about half-body baths before!”
“(Should I be happy about that?)”
“I’m going to start doing it today!”
“That’s great to hear.”
…I should just be glad it was useful.
Shiori-san looks so happy right now.
“…Hmph…”
Meanwhile, Tachibana-san is a different story. She looks utterly dejected.
“So, your name's Hajime Toumachi, right? You're really… unusual, huh?”
“…I guess so.”
My hobbies, my hair color—all of it.
It all started with the “requests” from the forum users.
“Hajime-kun, you're amazing!”
“No, not really (embarrassed).”
…And that's something I'll never tell anyone.
Not these two, anyway.
If I did, it would just confuse them even more, and I'm not eager to talk about it myself.
Not even my family knows about it.
Not even Nina…
“So, can I take a stab at deducing something too?”
“Eh?”
“Shiori?”
At that moment, a memory flashed back.
[— “Actually, I dyed my hair because of some suggestions online.” —]
That day we spent in the mountains.
I remember telling her that.
Online—forums—requests—they all connect. They could be connecting now.
Could it be that she's known all along that I've been trying to change myself because of the forum?
It's possible.
Small animals have sharp instincts to survive in the wild.
That's how these fragile creatures at the bottom of the food chain have managed to survive for so long.
Maybe Shiori-san has that kind of instinct too—
“Hajime-kun, you want an after-meal coffee right now, don't you? Am I wrong?”
“…You've seen right through me!! (dramatic recoil)”
“…”
“I did it!”
“(Warm smile)”
“…You're definitely hiding something.”
“No, not at all (averts eyes).”
That was close.
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These two knew him more than himself