The First Investigation of Rookie Career Police Officer Akechi - Chapter 15
Chapter 15 : Izakaya ‘Noro-chan’
“Look, here it is.”
While saying so, Kobayashi passed through the noren curtain[1]. Akechi and Nakamura followed. ‘Welcome!’ a lively voice could be heard from the back.
Located in the drinking district near Akabane Station’s east exit, izakaya ‘Norochan’ can be found by venturing a short distance down a side street.
The place is quite small, featuring about five counter and table seats. Despite its size, it’s evidently a popular spot, as all the seats except for the four-person table in the back are already filled.
Three of them were guided to the table in the back, with Kobayashi sitting at the far end, while Akechi and Nakamura took seats closer to the front. Akechi, glancing around, asked Kobayashi.
“So, this is the place where Mr. Yoshida and the others were drinking on the day of the incident, right?”
“Yeah, actually, it’s a place I’m familiar with.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“I see, Assistant Manager Kobayashi, thank you for the meal!”
“What do you mean by ‘I see’?”
As they were chatting, a muscular, short-haired waiter came to take their orders.
“Hey, welcome! What can I get you… Wait, isn’t that Kobayashi? What’s with the handsome and pretty companions?”
“Oh, Inoue, today it’s a workplace social with the young guns. For starters, three draft beers and some edamame, please. And bring us a variety of dishes. Is Noro-chan here today?”
“Got it, three draft beers and edamame. I’ll also bring a few tasty dishes. Noro-chan is in the back. Should I call him over?”
“Thank you. When the place settles down, please do.”
“It seems like you’re more than just familiar with this place… Do you know someone here?”
Nakamura asked in a curious tone, and Kobayashi replied.
“Oh, it’s a restaurant owned by two of my classmates from elementary school. The food is delicious, so I visit occasionally.”
While saying this, the beer and edamame arrived, and the three of them raised their glasses for a toast.
†?†?†
“Mmm, this is delicious! Excuse me, can I get another beer, please? Mr. Takayanagi, who we heard from today, sure was talkative, wasn’t he? Seemed like someone who might spill secrets right away.”
Nakamura finished her glass in one go, placed it on the table, ordered a refill, and then spoke in hushed tones, glancing at the other customers. Akechi nodded with a smile.
“Indeed, that’s true. But thanks to that, I was able to learn various things. Besides Yoshida-san, Takayanagi-san, and kadono-san, there was someone else at the drinking party on the day of the incident…”
With these words, Akechi took a sip of his beer. Kobayashi collected the dishes that had been brought to the table and proceeded with the conversation.
“Look, here we have a salad, a sashimi assortment, and some chicken karaage. There’s no doubt that someone else was there. Why the need to hide it… And they mentioned something about ‘In,’ I wonder what that could be.”
“It’s a mystery, isn’t it? Could it be some sort of code word? But at least we figured out something about ‘BC’.”
While serving salad onto small plates, Akechi responded.
“Was it NBC? So, what exactly is that?”
“I looked it up on the internet, and it seems to be an abbreviation for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical, referring to nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons.”
“The content is quite concerning, isn’t it? So, does this mean Mr. Yoshida was working on something related to NBC, and he was in the Facility Planning Division, right? And then, he got a sudden transfer after that argument with a guy named Haruki?”
“And then, Mr. Yoshida’s job was taken over by Haruki, the planning officer who was transferred from the Facility Planning Division… There seems to be something going on here. Besides, I don’t like this guy, Haruki. His attitude was as if he didn’t want the culprit to be caught.”
“If Akechi-kun dislikes him, I do too!”
Akechi, perhaps a bit tipsy, unusually made some unkind remarks about others. Nakamura also seemed to be affected by alcohol but appeared to be her usual self. Just at that moment, a slender man wearing a twisted headband emerged from the back of the restaurant.
“Kobayashi-kun, it’s been a while! You look well.”
“Oh, Noro-chan! Sorry to bother you when you’re busy. I have a small favor to ask.”
“Kobayashi-kun, anything you ask for is okay with me.”
The man whom Kobayashi referred to as Noro-chan answered with a smile. Kobayashi continued talking.
“Actually, I’m conducting an investigation into a certain case, and I’m tracing the movements of a customer who visited this establishment on March 23rd of this year. If there’s any remaining surveillance camera footage, could you please show it to me?”
“Sure, no problem. I’m a bit of a worrier, so I keep the data for over a year. Do you want to take a look now?”
“As expected of you, Noro-chan! Thank you!”
Kobayashi stood up in his excitement. Akechi, who had been eating sashimi, and Nakamura, who had been biting into some karaage, exchanged glances.
??(Noren) – a traditional Japanese curtain or Japanese fabric divider, that used for dividing between rooms and hanging on walls, in doorways, or in windows.?
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Translated by : Cutae30