“Mugging incidents happening around Ehn, who has a prior record. And while she’s being marked as a suspect, her old buddies suddenly show up… I’m thinking this might all be related.”
“So they couldn’t accept that Ehn left her life of crime and started walking down an honest path, and started doing this and that to get her back… Yes, that does happen.”
“Yeah, I’m thinking it might be that too. But, like… I don’t know how to say it, but it feels strange.”
“What feels strange? You mean about those two being suspicious?”
“They do, but that’s not it… Hm, how should I put it…”
Yuugo agreed with Phi and Angel, but his gut told him something felt odd. But he just groaned, unable to find the right words to express himself.
Instead, it was his little brother Phi who put this feeling into words, and explained it.
“What I thought was odd, was that those two appeared in front of everyone like that.”
“…What do you mean, Phi?”
“Let’s say Ehn’s friends committed those muggings to bring her back to them. Being under suspicion by the guards would drive her into a corner psychologically, and then they would use sweet words to bring her back to them.
But if that was their plan, isn’t it strange to try to convince her in front of Melt and the owner of the cafe?”
“Yes… It’s obvious that people around her would stop her. And that’s what actually happened.
If they really wanted to take her back, it would have made a lot more sense to do it when she was alone, and no one could get in their way.”
“But they didn’t do that. They walked right into the cafe despite their faces and names being wide open to you all, and acted suspiciously. Even if that was just a coincidence, Jinba, a guard, was there too. Why do something that’s not only contradictory to their goals, but even dangerous?”
“Yes! That’s it! Ah, having you explain it for me is a load off my back!”
Yuugo said while clapping.
He then thought about those questionable parts, and remembered what Delta actually said.
“Also, that Delta guy was strangely reasonable. Or rather, quick to give up. He went out of his way to risk himself by going to the cafe like Phi said, but backed down the moment I got in his way just a little. Kind of weird, don’t you think?”
“Did he go there because he was worried about an old friend being under suspicion by the guards… No, his words and actions were too mean-spirited for that to be the case. There’s no doubt their goal was to take Ehn back.
But what if it’s unrelated to the muggings?”
“I’m also thinking about the victims saying they saw Ehn. Ehn is a girl, and her friends are two boys. I doubt people would make a mistake like that, so could it be they really are unrelated…”
“Ah…! I dunno! The more I think about it the more complicated it gets!”
The moment they reached the answer to one question, another question popped up.
Angel smiled awkwardly at Yuugo’s confusion, and after a moment, spoke to him.
“Well, we better leave it to the guards, rather than try to do something. Let’s stop with the detective work for now.
More importantly, give me back the communications device, Yuugo. I want to add new features.”
“O-oh, hold on. I’m pretty sure it’s… Uh?”
Angel changed the subject, as she felt trying to piece things together when they lacked information might just lead them to the wrong conclusion.
Yuugo looked around his pockets after being told to give the communications device back, but his expression became progressively more flustered.
“…Hey, what’s wrong? Where is it?”
“…Not here. I must have dropped it somewhere…”
“Ahhhh!? What did you do!? I put a lot of time into that!?
Where did you drop it!? Think!”
“H-hum… I took it out in front of the cafe to show Melt, and then we went to the back so… I left it on the table…!”
“What kind of joke is this!? Go there first thing in the morning and see if it’s in the cafe! You can take the one I’m holding, so find it! Got it!?”
“Y-yes!”
Angel waved around her hammer with an angry expression, and Yuugo responded while straightening his back.
She took out the other communications device from the valley in her chest, and handed it to him with a sigh.
“Ah… I should’ve made it so it was possible to track their location. I implemented your suggestions in part just for the fun of it, but why did I put in useless features at this point…”
“S-sorry! I’ll find it, so let me off the hook.”
“Of course! Just so you know, I know your weakness in Blaster and Phi! Just try coming back with your head down if you don’t find it, and something might happen to one of those two!!”
“E-eek…! Save me big brother…!”
“Wawawa!? Please don’t do anything to Phi!”
Yuugo was flustered, as An took a hostage and looked threatening with her angry expression.
There was the problem with the muggings, but Yuugo now had a problem he had to solve first, after spending this lively night with An and Phi.
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The comms are gonna be used to spy on the mugger later on isnt it? Its such a toku trope
Oh no don’t do it to innocent Phi. Do it to me instead
What a noble sacrifice o7