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It had been almost six months since Ryunosuke and Susato’s return to Great Britain—which also meant five years had passed since the conclusion of Barok van Zieks’ trial. Thankfully, with more people showing interest in studying law, Ryunosuke’s presence in Japan became less critical, allowing him to finally return to his studies in London.
The place was still as cold as before, but the stone buildings didn’t feel as intimidating as they once did. Now, as he walked those streets alongside Susato, it felt like a second home. And, of course, being reunited with some of the people he treasured the most played a huge part in that feeling.
“I was thinking…” said Susato after a while. “Kazuma’s birthday is in just a few weeks, and it would be nice for us to celebrate it together.”
“Ah, you’re right,” Ryunosuke smiled. “It’s the first time the three of us will be together for his birthday, too.”
Susato returned the smile. “I’m glad you understand.”
“We should talk to him about it,” said Ryunosuke. “With Kazuma being Kazuma, I wouldn’t be surprised if he spent the day working if we didn’t plan anything.”
“True.” Susato nodded. “He has always been hardworking.”
I think ‘forgetful’ is the right word, in this case…
“Ryunosuke!” Susato stared at him with a disapproving look. “You are not implying Kazuma would forget his own birthday, are you?”
Yes, I am.
“No!” Ryunosuke answered quickly. “Of course not!”
“Well…” Susato averted her gaze. “To be fair, it has happened before, when he was studying to enter law school.” She made a brief pause, continuing in a lower voice. “More than once.”
Partner…
“It sounds just like him to forget about these things…” said Ryunosuke. “But what matters is that we don’t let the date pass by this time.”
“Agreed.” Susato’s expression brightened. “Do you think he’s still in his office?”
“It’s not far from here,” said Ryunosuke, “so we could pay it a visit and see for ourselves.”
“I suppose I’ll join you, then.”
That familiar voice made both of them jump. Ryunosuke looked to the side, only to see that Sholmes had materialized next to them. “Mr. Sholmes…? Since when have you been here?”
“The answer, my dear Naruhodo, is quite obvious…” He tipped his hat. “I have just arrived. So, where are we going?”
So you didn’t even know that part before you agreed…?
Susato filled Sholmes in, and it only seemed to increase his enthusiasm. So, they made their way to Barok and Kazuma’s office. Ryunosuke opened the door, finding what, at a first glance, seemed to be an empty room.
“Excuse us,” he said. “Kazuma? Lord van—”
“Ah!”
Susato’s surprised voice called Ryunosuke’s attention. He followed her gaze, soon finding the two people he was looking for. Strangely, they were sitting next to each other, on Barok’s desk. That’s quite a robust desk, to survive Prosecutor van Zieks’ massive frame…
Barok stared at him. “Do you have a problem with my stature, Mr. Naruhodo?”
Ryunosuke straightened his back, widening his eyes. “None at all, sir!”
Barok stayed silent for a moment, then, with a small sigh, shook his head. “Forgive my reaction… I wasn’t expecting visitors at this time. Is there something you need from either of us?”
Only then Ryunosuke paid more attention to his surroundings: the lights were out, both men had chalices filled with wine in their hands, and there was a delicate bouquet of red and white roses on the desk, beside Kazuma. They were in the middle of… something, weren’t they?
“Oh, dear…” said Susato, clearly coming to the same conclusion. “We didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“You two are busy, aren’t you?” asked Ryunosuke amid an awkward chuckle. “We can just come back at a better time, then.”
“It’s alright.” Kazuma offered them a reassuring smile. “I’ll meet you at your office tomorrow after work hours, then.”
“Sounds like a plan,” said Ryunosuke.
Susato smiled sweetly. “Please, enjoy yourselves.”
They were about to walk outside, but before they could reach the door, Sholmes casually blocked the way with his body.
“Oh, but my dear fellows…” said the detective. “I assume it hadn’t escaped your attention that an event of utmost importance was about to take place in this very room a moment before our interruption.”
“Yes…?” said Susato. “So, I think we should—”
“This room is, of course—” Sholmes made a brief pause for dramatic effect, tipping his deerstalker. “—the stage for an imminent tragedy.”
Susato tilted her head, unsure. “A… tragedy…?”
“What’s the meaning of this gibberish, man?” Barok scowled, bringing a hand to his face. “I simply wish to have a private conversation with my coworker.”
“That’s pretty much it,” Kazuma agreed with an amused smile. “Unless I let something really big pass unnoticed, I think you’re off-track this time, Mr. Sholmes.”
Barok was clearly displeased by that obvious invitation, but Kazuma simply grinned in response.
“Very well…” said Sholmes. “I shall enlighten you then, with another great display of logic and reasoning.”
Barok widened his eyes. “Wait…!”
“What is the matter, my esteemed friend?” Sholmes observed him for a moment. “Judging by your reaction, it’s almost as if you are hiding something.”
“You…” Barok grunted, then looked away. “I have nothing to hide.”
“Well…” Kazuma shrugged. “They’re already here, so, why not play along for now?”
Sholmes snapped his fingers, turning everyone’s attention back to him. “There are two questions that must be answered. The first one: what were our two prosecutor friends doing in such secrecy. And the second…” He waltzed toward Barok, throwing him a knowing glance. “The terrible secret Prosecutor van Zieks is so desperately trying to hide.”
“I told you I don’t—”
“Secrets, huh…” Kazuma seemed to be holding back his laugh. “This is getting interesting.”
Barok groaned, exhausted. “Why are you encouraging him…?”
“The answer is,” Sholmes continued, “of course, quite simple once you consider all the facts. As you can see…” He indicated the flowers next to Kazuma. “Our first lead is that bouquet of flowers, which are quite propitious for…” A dramatic pause. “A funeral.”
That caught even Ryunosuke off-guard. “Funeral…?’
“Indeed,” Sholmes continued. “A fact that is confirmed by those papers on Prosecutor Asogi’s desk.” He pointed at a small pile of neatly organized papers—Kazuma had always been meticulous with his work. “It doesn’t take such a sharp mind to come to the conclusion that those are, in fact, the last will and testaments of both prosecutors.”
“Mr. Sholmes, please…” murmured Susato under her breath.
“With all the facts in mind,” said Sholmes, “it is clear that, when we entered the prosecutors’ office…” He raised his finger with a confident grin. “A duel to the death was about to take place.”
“A duel…?” Kazuma repeated, raising his eyebrows.
“That’s preposterous!” said Barok.
“Now, for the terrible secret Lord van Zieks is hiding…” Sholmes closed his eyes, bringing a finger to his forehead. “You should be thankful we arrived when we did, Mr. Asogi… For, I assure you, your fellow prosecutor had the vilest of intentions.” He gestured toward Barok. “And I doubt you had any chance of being the victor of this duel, since it was rigged from the very beginning.”
“Why are you so certain that I would die?” Kazuma sighed. “I’m an experienced swordsman, you know?”
Barok faced him in disbelief. “Is that what is bothering you the most in this entire farce?”
Kazuma shrugged. “As a member of the Asogi clan, I simply take pride in my sword skills.”
“The proof that the duel was rigged,” Sholmes continued, ignoring the interruption, “is, of course, concealed behind Lord van Zieks’ back.” He snapped his fingers, then pointed to something behind Barok. Now that Ryunosuke paid more attention to it, Barok really had a hand behind his back all the time… “If you pay close attention, our prosecutor friend is trying his hardest to hide something from our eyes.”
“Hiding something?” Kazuma looked curiously at Barok, who averted his gaze.
“Precisely,” said Sholmes. “And, considering that a duel was about to take place, one can only assume that Lord van Zieks had a less than honorable intention.”
“Go straight to the point, man!” Barok grunted. “What are you accusing me of?”
Sholmes grinned to himself. “Obviously, of planning to strike Mr. Asogi from behind.”
The accusation made Kazuma look at Barok. “Really, Barok? After all this time?” He forced a sigh. “You hurt my feelings…”
Barok turned his face to the side. “Kazuma, please…”
“Kazuma is having fun with this, isn’t he?” murmured Ryunosuke to Susato.
“I would say so.” Susato glanced at Barok. “Poor Lord van Zieks…”
Sholmes snapped his fingers again, calling their attention. “But there was a small detail that stood in the way of Lord van Zieks’ plan: a normal weapon would make his intentions too obvious. So, of course, he had a customized dagger made especially for this occasion…” He circled the desk, indicating whatever Barok had behind his back. “Small enough to fit inside that tiny box.”
Kazuma furrowed his brow, seeming surprised for the first time in that deduction. “Tiny box…?”
“If you pay close attention to the label,” Sholmes proceeded, “it has the name of a well-known craftsman, famous for his intricate pieces of jewelry and ornaments.” He finished circling the desk, now slightly leaning in Kazuma’s direction. “However, it wouldn’t be too strange to assume that a small weapon isn’t beyond the man’s abilities. Don’t you agree?”
“A craftsman…?” Kazuma looked at Barok, then, as if hit by a sudden realization, brought a hand to his mouth, lowering his gaze. “Ah…”
“Do you finally understand the final piece of this puzzle, Mr. Asogi?” asked Sholmes. “Barok van Zieks is, of course…” Another dramatic pause. “Concealing a small dagger so he could stab you in the back before the duel took place, and so, assuring his victory.”
A long, awkward silence filled the room. Barok and Kazuma stared at the floor, both seeming on the verge of panicking. Susato had a hand over her eyes, apparently sharing their suffering.
“Uh… Mr. Sholmes?” said Ryunosuke. “There is just one thing…”
“There you are, with your habitual one thing,” said Sholmes. “Go ahead, my dear fellow, and say what is on your mind.”
Ryunosuke took a deep breath, then approached Kazuma’s desk, taking a look at its contents. “The papers you pointed out as their last will and testament… Actually seems to be a report on a group of luggage thieves arrested at the train station earlier today.”
“Is that so?” asked Sholmes. “It’s curious what people will include in their testament nowadays…”
Susato sighed. “Or maybe that isn’t a testament and we should leave the—”
“And,” Ryunosuke continued, “if Prosecutor van Zieks really is concealing a dagger in his hand… Isn’t it too small to actually cause any damage?”
“It would probably be no bigger than a sewing needle,” said Sholmes.
Ryunosuke flinched. “Ughh… I hate needles.” He stopped himself, slapping his own cheeks. Focus! “But that’s not the point! You still can’t kill a person with a needle!”
Sholmes reached for his hat, barely concealing a grin. “Want to test my theory, Mr. Naruhodo?”
“No, thank you!”
Susato moved closer to Ryunosuke, carefully holding his sleeve. “Ryunosuke… I really think we should—”
“Of course!” Ryunosuke looked at her, showing a wide smile. “I suppose it’s time to fix some parts of Sholmes’ great deduction, right?”
“No, I…”
But the gears in Ryunosuke’s head were already turning to uncover the truth behind that strange scene. “Considering their relaxed postures and how neatly the writing supplies are organized, it doesn’t seem like we interrupted the writing of these papers…” He pointed at the two prosecutors. “And this theory can be further proven by the pair of filled chalices.” He grinned, satisfied with that line of reasoning. “So, we can safely come to the conclusion that Kazuma and prosecutor van Zieks were already done with work, and possibly discussing a personal matter over a glass of wine!”
Barok seemed to wince at the suggestion, which only proved him right. It seems like we’re getting somewhere now.
“Which means…” Ryunosuke raised his finger, ready to deliver the final blow. “The only thing Barok van Zieks could be hiding inside that box is… it is…”
A sudden chill went down Ryunosuke’s body. The flowers… The dark office… The small box from a well-known craftsman…
Oh, no… He had made a huge mistake.
“Ryuu…” Kazuma muttered with a hand partially covering his face, his gaze still on the floor. “Could you just… leave us alone for a moment?”
Ryunosuke wished the floor would open beneath his feet, so he could instantly disappear from sight. “Ah… yes… certainly!”
Sholmes snapped his fingers with a wide grin. “And that concludes another great deduction by Herlock Sholmes.”
Susato groaned, grabbing him by the arm. “You’re coming with us.”
Ryunosuke and Susato quickly dragged Sholmes outside, closing the door behind their backs. Only when they reached the street did they finally let out their breaths.
“Oh my God!” said Ryunosuke. “Susato, did you realize what was happening there?”
“Of course I did!” she said. “I tried to tell you, but you wouldn’t listen!”
Ryunosuke stiffened his posture. “Forgive me!”
She scowled. “Apologize to Kazuma and Lord van Zieks!”
“I will!”
Their brief argument was interrupted by the sound of a hearty laugh. They looked to the side, only to see Sholmes with his body bent forward as he hugged his own stomach.
“That was quite an interesting turn of events, wasn’t it?” he asked. “To think dear Barok finally gathered the courage…”
Ryunosuke widened his eyes, appalled. “You… You knew what was happening…?”
“My dear Naruhodo…” Sholmes grinned. “Did you, perhaps, forget who I am?”
“Then… Why didn’t you agree to leave?” asked Susato. “Lord van Zieks was—”
“Clearly about to give up on his little plan of proposing to Kazuma,” said Sholmes.
She blinked, surprised. “Give up…?”
“Couldn’t you tell?” Sholmes continued. “It’s all in the details… The way he purposefully tried to keep a distance between him and his esteemed partner, or how he was trying to reach for his drawer, as if to hide that small box he had in his hand… I can tell with fair certainty that this wasn’t the poor man’s first attempt.” He smiled. “Despite his intimidating appearance and perpetual scowl, he is quite the shy fellow.”
“Oh…” said Susato. “I suppose so.”
Is he?
“So…” Sholmes continued. “After witnessing another of his failed attempts, I’ve decided to offer him a little help, as any good friend would do.”
Would a friend casually accuse another of attempted murder, though…?
“But, was it right of us to do it?” asked Susato. “It’s something really personal.”
“I wonder,” said Sholmes. “If there is something I’ve learned about our dear Prosecutor van Zieks, is that he has the tendency to clam up when it comes to his own feelings. Be it with me, or Iris, or even his own partner. Unless the other party is willing to pursue and understand his true emotions, he might easily be misunderstood.”
Oh…
“I see…” said Ryunosuke. “I think you’re right.”
“As for if I made the right call or not—” Sholmes grinned, pointing toward the office’s window—“we might hear the answer from the man himself soon enough.”
“I suppose so,” said Susato.
Sholmes nodded, briefly closing his eyes and crossing his arms. “I still wonder what that small dagger was for, though…”
Ryunosuke slouched, as if just kicked on the guts. Why did I expect anything different…?
“Oh, Mr. Sholmes…” murmured Susato.
Sholmes laughed once again. After years, Ryunosuke still couldn’t tell if that man was a genius or an idiot. Well… Maybe a little of both. The thought made him smile: that was what made that eccentric detective so great.
“Let’s make our way back now, my dear fellows,” said Sholmes. “Iris must be eagerly awaiting our return.”
Ryunosuke and Susato agreed, following him back to that familiar address on Baker Street.