Each detective—Dazai, Kunikida, Yosano, Kenji, and Tanizaki—was holding a slip of paper. Whoever had the smallest number got shouldered with the most burdensome work, which in this case would be the role of the bomber.
Tanizaki recalled the entire course of events. So far, everything had gone according to plan. Nevertheless, they were up against Dazai—a man who had been playing people, friend or foe, like a fiddle ever since he joined the agency. He was clever, and his behavior always made his intentions unclear as he led those around him into
confusion and panic. His past was almost a complete mystery, and before anyone even realized it, everything was going down the path he laid. He was like a certain folkloric trickster.
Would such a trick work on Dazai?
“Okay, we’ll start with me.”
Dazai unfolded the old newspaper scrap.
“3 & 4”
“Huh…”
Dazai frowned.
It worked. Tanizaki caught himself before those words slipped off his tongue.
“Looks like you’re finally getting what you deserve,” Kunikida said to Dazai.
Despite being dragged into this scheme, even the self-proclaimed “average guy” Tanizaki felt good seeing the plan go so perfectly. Dazai often led Tanizaki around by the nose and pushed his responsibility onto him, albeit not to the degree that he did with Kunikida. While saying this was revenge would be an exaggeration, it still did feel good to think of this as a little payback.
Next, Kunikida unfolded his slip of paper: “7 & 8”
The mechanism he created to switch piles was working like it should. In other words, the second switch was successfully carried out before Kunikida drew his numbers. Kunikida waved his paper in the air while boasting.
“I beat you, Dazai! This alone has already brought me all the satisfaction I need.”
“Darn, I was really looking forward to seeing you cry while holding a bomb and acting like a madman…,” Dazai muttered in abject disappointment.
Yosano then opened her slip of paper: “27 & 28”
Next up was Kenji: “33 & 34”
Kenji, the youngest detective and most recent hire, had the best luck out of everyone. From Tanizaki’s point of view, while Kenji was the only agent younger than him, not once did he ever honestly believe he could beat him. Tanizaki was the only one left who hadn’t unfolded his slip of paper yet.
“Let me tell you a little something before you open that, Tanizaki,” Dazai abruptly commented.
“Yes?”
“At this rate, there’s no doubt I’m going to end up with the lowest number. Perhaps this is payment for my wild lifestyle. So I’ve accepted my fate and will come up with a story for a man who has lost hope in humanity and excitedly dreams of blowing himself up while taking everyone with him. But first…I need a favor.”
“A favor?” Tanizaki curiously tilted his head to the side.
“When you think of bombers, you think of people barricading themselves in buildings, and when they do that, they always have a hostage. If possible, I’d really like someone sweet and passive for that role—someone whose appearance screams hostage. I thought I might ask your sister to play the part. Would that be all right with you?”
Tanizaki looked at Naomi to his side. Neither startled nor puzzled, she placed a hand on her cheek.
“I would love to, if you don’t mind,” Naomi replied while staring at her brother for some reason. Tanizaki had the feeling that something wasn’t quite right, but he nonetheless gave a noncommittal “I mean…as long as Naomi’s fine with it” and nodded.
“I’m glad you’re on board. Now, go ahead, Tanizaki. Unfold your paper. Your glorious numbers await you,” said Dazai.
The faintest of smiles played on his face.
Kunikida stood up almost simultaneously, knocking over his chair.
“Impossible,” he muttered. “Tanizaki, open it!”