No detective!

It’s been a few days since we rescued Baba. It turns out the amount on the wanted poster was a mistake after all. The bounty was only 5 blueberries, equivalent to 500 yen, which I paid from my pocket so that we could settle the matter.

The biggest surprise, however, was that Bounty and Hunter were actually good guys. I can’t deny that bounty hunters are necessary to catch dangerous wrongdoers, but it didn’t fit those two.

When we left Tenchō to confront Hunter, they didn’t even fight. Hunter got on his knees straight away and begged for his forgiveness. He admitted that he was growing tired of seeking revenge and the constant danger of their job.

He had been pondering the idea of helping those in need instead, becoming the kind of people they hoped would’ve helped them in their youth.

He refrained from expressing that earlier since he didn’t want to appear vulnerable in front of his brother, who, it turns out, felt the same way.

Tenchō was more than happy to help them leave their perilous lives behind and, as a well-respected member of the community, easily got them jobs as physiotherapists for the elderly at the clinic where my grandfather is being treated.

Besides that, Yada and Baba are back occupying my yard as usual. However, there are two main differences.

Firstly, Yada is more cautious and protective of Baba. She doesn’t let him get too far away, usually hugging him tight throughout the day. This led to fewer thefts, which, to be honest, is such a relief.

Secondly, Yada asked me (Yes, she asked! Despite using as few words as possible.) if I would help her walk. Since it would further reduce the robberies, I gladly offered my assistance.

To apologize for what they had done, the brothers taught me the procedures for proper leg rehabilitation. They recommended starting with massages and instructed me on the movements and areas to focus on.

The first time I tried, my heart raced like a rabbit’s, feeling her legs' softness. Receiving a few kicks in the face was just the trick to get used to it.

However, I should take that action as a positive indication. Her leg muscles aren’t irreparable, and full recovery may be quicker than anticipated.

Now, we are attempting some exercises they suggested. She does straight leg raises and knees to the chest while I push and pull one leg at a time. We also tried leg adductions, which involved raising the lower leg towards the one I was holding and then returning it to the ground.

When she improves, we’ll begin standing exercises. For that, I shall construct a tool to help her stand using her arms. While I was thinking about that, my phone rang.

“No!” I answer instantaneously.

…

“Please, don’t hang up!” I pleaded, “I’m sorry, but part of me always thinks it is the radio contest calling again.”

I tried to pay attention, but Hai spoke too fast.

“Listen, you can explain it better when I get there. See you.”

I already had decided to make a quick trip there to buy more bonsai. Taking Yada wouldn’t be a bad idea, too. It could improve her motivation to walk.

So I put her on the Yadamobile (patent pending), where she clung to Baba tightly and calmly pushed them there.

As soon as I enter the store, I am startled by the destruction. Shelves were overturned, vases were shattered, and tools were scattered. The dirt from the bags that had burst left me coughing uncontrollably.

Niwashi, Hai, and even Tenchō were inside, cleaning the mess.

“What happened here?” I inquire, confused, as Hai drops the broom and rushes to embrace her sister.

“I think the store was robbed, Ru,” Niwashi explains.

“Why didn’t you call the cops?”

“We did. But they said all forces were occupied chasing a ferocious wild bird on the loose around town.”

I stare at Tenchō.

“Don't ask me. I know nothing about that. He was still at home when I left for the pastry shop this morning.”

“I called you because you’re pretty smart, Ru! I thought you could find the culprit!” Hai adds.

“Oh well… It seems it is up to me, huh?” I put on a deerstalker hat and curved pipe in my mouth.

“No!”

Maybe not the pipe, then. Let’s find the kill… I mean, the burglar!

I ask Niwashi to recount the events that transpired.

“It happened about half an hour ago while everyone was inside. The lights suddenly went out, and I heard a loud crashing sound. Once the emergency generator kicked in, I discovered that everything had been smashed. And worst of all, the Golden Good Luck Cat, which has been in the family for generations, vanished. I can’t believe I was the one to lose it after so long…”

“I see. Excuse me, is that a surveillance camera? May I inspect the footage from before the power outage?”

“Yes, the last 24 hours are saved on my phone. Here you go, Ru.”

“Thank you, milady.”

Let's fast-forward through it. The camera is pointed at the store's only entrance. In the morning, Niwashi arrived on foot, with Bon on a leash, and opened the shop. Half an hour later, Hai arrived on her decrepit scooter. Two hours later, Tenchō entered the store.

Just before the recording ends, a dirty middle-aged man walks in, wearing a handkerchief around his head, corners tied under his nose partially counseling his face, a black and white training jacket, and socks with sandals.

Upon further investigation, I noticed the same man in the far back of the store waving and smiling at me without a care in the world.

No one left the store during the incident. As much as it pains me, everyone is considered a suspect, and I have them all gathered here. Let’s start by hearing their alibis.

“Hai, my dear, what were you doing here on this fine day?”

“I started working here one day a week! Niwashi asked if I had time, and I agreed. I help with the animal section and sell veterinary products.”

“So, have you been here the whole time?”

“Yes.”

“Behind the counter?”

“Yes.”

“And were you the one who caused this?”

“Yes.”

…

“Am I a flying purple mammoth?”

“Yes.”

I can’t get far with this one.

Niwashi claims she was tending to the vines and watering the plants while Tenchō says he was here searching for a decoration for the bakery. He’s covered in dirt, probably from the cleaning.

Let’s talk to our prime suspect.

“Hello. Would you kindly tell me your name and why you came to this store?”

“Hello, I’m Dorobō! I needed a brush cutter and gloves, you see? I work for the city council, you see, and take care of the park vegetation.”

After collecting all the statements, it’s time to inspect the area.

I asked Niwashi to bring me a small brush and her finest grain soil. I dumped it over the little rack on the wall where the statue was before. After brushing, you could distinguish small dots, likely made by some bugs, but no fingerprints.

Next, I tried to determine the cause of the power outage. Cables in the wall leading to the electricity switchboard had been cut by something sharp.

Good. I’ve gathered all the facts. I line up all the suspects in front of me.

“Nobody left the store, so the culprit is still with us. It had to be someone who could steal without leaving fingerprints and had a distinct object to cut through the electricity wires. Who meets all the criteria? Yes! The culprit is you, Doro—“

“No!”

Yada's scream interrupted me as she squeezed Bon, who snarled at Baba after losing a round of cards. The force in the stomach made him spit something out, the Golden Cat.

Silence.

“You see,” Dorobō started. “When I was younger, people discriminated me because of my appearance and—“

“I get it, I get it! I’m sorry I doubted you! But enough backstories, I can’t take them anymore!” I said, trying to hide my shame by burying my face in my hat.

“Now that I think about it, I may have cut the wires while trimming the vines. I can get pretty engrossed in it.” Niwashi laughs a little.

“And I was ashamed to tell you, but… I’m a big fellow with a limp, you know? In the dark, I fell and crashed against the shelves… I just wanted to buy flowers for the princess. I’m sorry…” Tenchō confessed.

You bought her flowers at her own store…?

At that moment, a cop enters the shop.

“Excuse me, I came because of the phone call, but I couldn’t help but marvel at that young girl's detective abilities,” he said, pointing to Yada. “Would you be willing to help us in the Psychotic Emu Case?”

“No!”