1.13: Finding Common Grounds“W-what?” I stammered. “Why? Why do you hate men so much? Seriously… tell me why? Did someone hurt you? I had a friend who was hurt deeply by some selfish, heartless asshole. It drove her to her death!”

  I swallowed hard. “I… I know how that feels. I get it. Men can be awful.”

  Her expression shifted… barely, but enough. A flicker behind her eyes.

  “Mm.” Rui looked away. “It’s not complicated. A lot of women end up dead because a man thinks he’s entitled to something. Happens all the time. Especially in this city. Women have always been objectified and demeaned. We’re even somehow convinced that they’re doing us a favor.”

  She spoke ftly… not ranting, not especially emotional either. She sounded tired.

  Clearly she wasn’t ready to say more.

  Before I could comment, a cold dread crept up my spine. I thought of the elevator behind me… the deathtrap waiting to cim its next victim—and shuddered.

  “I get it,” I whispered. “Suicide… loss… I’ve been close to the brink too. Today even. But something in me keeps screaming to keep going.”

  My voice cracked. “In fact… I was victimized too. Noh-face—” I trembled at the word. “—It vioted me… beyond words. It broke me. It toyed with me, tortured me. In the end, it even stole my identity.”

  Saying it aloud cracked something inside me. All the fear I’d suppressed since the train surged up at once.

  My knees buckled. The wall caught my weight. I shook uncontrolbly… almost like earlier, but somewhat different.

  I felt raw and exposed.

  “Uwaaaa…” I sobbed, unable to stop myself.

  Rui stared at me in silence. For a second… a single second… she looked almost sympathetic. Then she rolled her eyes like I’d ruined her instant ramen.

  “What made you show up to my door in that stupid costume?” she asked. “You think I can take you seriously like this?”

  I sniffled loudly. “W-well… I have reasons…”

  “Reasons,” she repeated, unimpressed. “Right. Whatever. Look, I’m sorry I kicked your helmet. Your hair is bck, right?”

  I gasped and clutched my head.

  My perfect disguise—compromised??

  I patted the helmet frantically. “W-wait—my mask is fine! How did you know about my hair?! Are you actually an extremely incredible detective?!”

  Rui puffed up proudly, hands on hips.

  “Oho! Naturally. A statistical deduction! Do not underestimate my detective skills.”

  I stared at her, stunned. “Th-then… can you tell me what my face looks like?”

  She paused. Considered. Then nodded sagely.

  “Umu. None.”

  She nailed it.

  Yet again.

  “You are the real thing!” I sprang upright in awe. “I want to hire you immediately! Please, Detective-sama!”

  She recoiled slightly, bat lifting like a warning antenna. “Why are you so impressed? You literally told me your face is gone.”

  “Oh.”Noh-blink.“Right.”

  “But!” I pointed dramatically. “You still guessed my hair’s color! I have plenty of evidence! You’re amazing!”

  Her lips fttened. “That one… was not exactly rocket science. Almost everyone here has bck hair. Some brown. You don’t seem like the bleached-hair type. Simple deduction.”

  I froze.

  …

  …

  …

  “YOU FRAUDSTER!”

  She flinched, bat twitching like she was about to deliver divine retribution.

  I shrank instantly. “S-sorry! Sorry, Detective-sama! Please don’t kill me!”

  Rui stared… then suddenly snorted.

  Then giggled.Then ughed outright, her hand over her mouth.

  “Baka,” she huffed between ughs. “What kind of brain did your parents give you? Fine. I’ve decided. I’ll take your case.”

  My heart soared. “R-really?!”

  “Yeah, yeah.” She waved her hand. “You’re totally harmless. And still very annoying. Painfully so.”She crooked a finger at me as she turned toward the door.“Name’s Shinohara Rui. Call me Rui-Rui, or Shinohara-san. Or Rui-sama. Actually, Rui-Rui-sama sounds best.”

  She ughed again, the sound ringing in my noh-ears like bells.

  “Come on. Let’s have some tea. And then we’ll discuss your price.”

  Relwing