Chapter 228: The Tiger Of The Metropolitan Police, Shangshan Che! A Confession Twelve Years Late
【Welcome to Unique Salvage · Myriad Branches!】
【Here, you will experience countless Branching Futures extending from the “Myriad Branches.”】
【Each time you fully experience a branch, your state of mind will improve to varying degrees.】
【Summoning, begin!】
……
Shangshan Che curled up groggily in the cold iron cabinet, peering out through the tiny gaps.
That thing… the Kitsune-dog should have gone far away by now, right?
No, urban legends like that can’t really exist, can they?
It’s the twenty-first century now.
The abandoned campus at midnight was eerily quiet, with no moonlight at all, not even the sound of insects.
Inside the iron cabinet, Shangshan Che, sandwiched between two unconscious good brothers, thought:
“Trying to hide in a cabinet like in a game to avoid the ‘chase’? These two are something else…”
As he thought about it, Shangshan Che suddenly felt a violent wave of dizziness.
Dizzy enough to feel nauseous.
He immediately covered his mouth with his hand, barely managing not to vomit all over his two brothers.
Pale-faced Shangshan Che leaned arduously against the iron cabinet, thinking groggily: “Anyway, I hope this isn’t real, and the police get here soon…”
Snap!
The next moment, the iron cabinet was forcefully opened by someone.
The girl with a small kendo pendant around her neck crossed her arms and looked into the cabinet puzzledly,
“Shangshan Jun, what are you three doing?”
As soon as Lili Zi spoke, Shangshan Che felt his stomach churn even more violently, feeling the world spinning even while leaning against the iron cabinet.
He hurriedly pushed Kumamoto and the other out, stumbling to the window in two steps instead of three, and vomited messily.
After vomiting for a full half minute, nearly emptying his bile, the exhausted Shangshan Che hung over the dusty windowsill and heard Lili Zi complain from behind,
“Unbelievable… One flat girl can scare two into fainting and one into puking. You three are really embarrassing.”
As she spoke, Shangshan Che felt someone gently pat his back.
He slowly turned his head and saw Lili Zi’s slightly worried gaze,
“Your face looks like you’ve been in the ICU. You okay?”
“I’m fine…”
Shangshan Che panted, wiping the cold sweat from his face, and replied softly: “I don’t know why, but I suddenly got really dizzy and nauseous. Nothing else.”
After saying that, Shangshan Che tried to push himself up from the windowsill with his hands, but halfway up, he lost all strength and slumped back down.
He was about to smash his head into the window frame.
At the critical moment, slender but strong arms wrapped around his chest, pulling Shangshan Che up.
Lili Zi pursed her lips, looking down at the paler-than-paper Shangshan Che, and sighed helplessly: “No end to this. Fine, I’ll carry you out.”
“I just didn’t expect you to call the police too. Good thing you’re not afraid of embarrassment… Otherwise, those two unconscious guys wouldn’t get home easily.”
Before Shangshan Che could reply, he felt himself being deftly flipped over and placed on Lili Zi’s flat, solid back.
His chin rested weakly on the girl’s shoulder; if he looked down, he might see views not visible normally.
But Shangshan Che just thought hazily.
Why does this feel… somewhat familiar…
His head growing dizzier, Shangshan Che couldn’t think much more and was carried effortlessly by the unflushed, unlabored Lili Zi to the doorway of the abandoned campus.
In the sparse light rain, a van following traffic rules with hazard lights on was parked there.
The door opened, and muffled voices drifted over.
One tense and unfamiliar, the other relaxed and practiced.
“Inspector Nanjo, th-there are two people coming out from inside.”
“Phew… But there are five in total.”
Nanjo Emi, with her neat short hair, exhaled a smoke ring and patted the back of her new patrol minister subordinate, making the recently graduated Shizuma Mafuyu tremble,
“Mafuyu, go ask where the other three bear children ran off to.”
“O-okay.”
Then, Shangshan Che heard Lili Zi chatting rapidly with a vaguely familiar female voice.
He felt himself being carried a short distance more, then heard someone say,
“—Nice to meet you, I’m Nanjo Emi.”
“You’re safe now.”
Hearing these words, Shangshan Che jerked his head up to look at Nanjo Emi leaning against the van door.
But after looking up, with his mouth open, Shangshan Che didn’t know what to say.
That was normal.
It was his first time meeting this Inspector Nanjo, so what was there to say?
She took the cigarette from her lips, slightly startled: “What’s wrong?”
“No, nothing…”
Shangshan Che shook his head and was carefully placed by Lili Zi into the back seat of the van.
The other two unconscious good brothers and the girl were carried back one by one by Lili Zi and Shizuma Mafuyu, neatly piled in the trunk.
The van started up.
Shangshan Che leaned weakly against the car window, staring blankly at the misty fine rain outside, feeling his childhood friend nudge his waist with her elbow and ask softly,
“Hey, Shangshan Jun… Your face looks really bad. If you’re scared, just stay over at my place tonight.”
—Shangshan Che’s parents had both died in a car accident long ago, so he lived alone now.
—And because the Tokugawa family’s great-grandfather had passed away years ago, her parents had to return to the family to fill some positions.
Nowadays, the Tokyo home had only two people including Lili Zi.
Considering that, Lili Zi said this.
“Yo.”
From the passenger seat, Nanjo Emi glanced at the rearview mirror and laughed: “High school sweethearts already shacking up before finishing? But first, we need to do statements.”
Lili Zi nodded generously: “Of course we’ll cooperate, Inspector Nanjo.”
.
Soon, the van stopped at the Police Station doorway.
Still somewhat dizzy, Shangshan Che was helped by Lili Zi into the statement room and sat down.
There, he saw the girl sitting directly across from him, sitting primly.
“Hello, Mr. Uesugi. I’m Shizuma Mafuyu, handling your statement today.” Shizuma Mafuyu bowed slightly. “Please treat me well!”
Next, Shangshan Che told everything from start to finish, holding nothing back.
The whole process took less than thirty minutes.
Snap.
Shizuma Mafuyu closed the notebook in her hand and bowed to him again,
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
After the statement, Shangshan Che could have left.
But he stayed in the hard chair, staring dazedly at the new Metropolitan Police recruit across from him, as if he hadn’t heard Shizuma Mafuyu’s words.
For some reason, his nose suddenly felt sour.
“Mr. Uesugi? Mr. Uesugi?” Shizuma Mafuyu waved her hand in front of his eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“No, nothing.”
Shangshan Che shook his head, stood up, and extended his hand to Shizuma Mafuyu: “Thank you, Officer Shizuma.”
She blinked, smiling as she clasped his hand with both of hers.
“No problem.”
……
After leaving the police station, Shangshan Che naturally followed Lili Zi home in a daze.
Knock knock knock.
At the door, he saw Lili Zi actually knock.
Shangshan Che was stunned: “Someone’s home?”
Before Lili Zi could nod, the door opened.
A fairly mature, clear female voice came from behind the door: “Little Sister, why so late…”
A college girl in a white T-shirt with a high ponytail yanked open the security door and stopped upon seeing Shangshan Che behind Lili Zi.
Her expression subtle.
Shangshan Che could feel the college girl look at him, then at Lili Zi, before finally asking,
“Who’s this…”
“Doesn’t Sister Hoshi know?” Lili Zi pulled Shangshan Che over and grinned at her. “Shangshan Che, my childhood friend.”
Hearing the introduction, Tokugawa Hoshi narrowed her eyes and seriously sized up Shangshan Che.
Moments later, she stepped aside,
“Anyway, come in first. It’s late.”
She closed the door, and after Shangshan Che changed shoes, a rough, callused hand extended before him,
“Hello, Shangshan Jun. I’m Lili Zi’s Third Sister, in Tokyo for a match and crashing here for a bit.”
Shangshan Che shook her hand.
But hearing “in Tokyo for a match,” he instinctively looked up: “Here for the Seed Battle?”
“Huh?”
Tokugawa Hoshi raised an eyebrow,
“What? It’s the National Kendo Tournament.”
Lili Zi chimed in from the side, eyes a bit envious: “Sister Hoshi won the national championship last year and wants to defend it this year.”
Thinking Shangshan Che was shocked by the title, the girl patted his shoulder and said loudly,
“Sister Hoshi often stayed at our house since we were kids, but you two just never met.
The Jade Dragon Flag starts in two or three months, so she’s here partly to coach me.”
Tokugawa Hoshi shrank her neck and raised her hands: “Don’t flatter me… By your age, you’ll probably have me pinned on the ground with sword technique.”
Minutes later, Shangshan Che sat on the sofa, TV on, sipping barley tea Lili Zi brought, when she casually said,
“By the way, Shangshan Jun, if nothing unexpected, I’ll get into University of Tokyo.”
She blinked: “As a kendo special admission student.”
Shangshan Che, halfway through the cheap barley tea, set down the teacup and gave her a thumbs up,
“That’s great.”
From the dining table nearby, Tokugawa Hoshi watching them tsked twice.
—Little Sister made it obvious, and this guy still doesn’t get it?
—Wooden or stone-made?
When Lili Zi went to her room to change, Tokugawa Hoshi sat beside him, coughed, and asked,
“Um, Shangshan Jun, how are your grades now?”
Shangshan Che, leaning on the sofa watching the new episode updated an hour ago, replied without thinking,
“Average…”
Tokugawa Hoshi frowned and pressed: “You don’t want to get into University of Tokyo?”
“If we’re talking want or not, of course I do.” Shangshan Che set the teacup aside and replied seriously. “But with only over a year left, my grades have no way to save…”
“—Men can’t say give up lightly!”
Tokugawa Hoshi slammed her hands on Shangshan Che’s shoulders, staring into his calm eyes: “Here! Give me your parents’ number, I’ll…”
“Sister Hoshi.”
Suddenly, Lili Zi’s voice came from nearby, interrupting Tokugawa Hoshi,
“Shangshan Jun’s parents passed away long ago…”
She didn’t finish.
But Tokugawa Hoshi understood.
She released her hands, lowered her head, and sighed,
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine.”
Shangshan Che shook his head.
For some reason, he had no real feelings for his so-called parents, or even almost no memories.
Of course, he was grateful for the huge sum they left, enough to coast to age 120.
The living room fell into an awkward silence.
Lili Zi clapped first: “It’s so late, Shangshan Jun and Sister Hoshi must be hungry. I’ll make some late-night snacks!”
She strode to the refrigerator, deftly took out ingredients, and went into the kitchen…
Sizzle sizzle.
The gas stove ignited.
After a long silence, Tokugawa Hoshi said softly: “Shangshan Jun, if you want to chase our Lili Zi, even University of Tokyo might not be enough.
After all, she’s from the Tokugawa family.”
After she finished, Shangshan Che replied calmly,
“Lili Zi and I are just childhood friends.”
Tokugawa Hoshi’s eyebrow twitched, her left fist clenching behind her leg.
After a while, she tsked unpleasantly,
“Fine, if you want to get into University of Tokyo with her, start working hard now.”
She pulled a business card from her pocket and handed it to Shangshan Che.
“—If you decide, come find me here.”
……
After finishing the big bowl of wide noodles late-night snack Lili Zi made, the pensive Shangshan Che lay on the makeshift futon and opened Line.
He tapped the profile picture of his best online friend of several years, Work to Die【Work to Die】.
The other’s profile picture was still lit.
“Corporate slaves have it rough…”
He sighed, then recounted today’s events, Lili Zi’s choice, Tokugawa Hoshi’s invitation, and his hesitations.
—After all, she was the most socially experienced among his friends.
—Surely with unique insights.
Minutes later, she replied.
Shangshan Che looked immediately.
【Work to Die: You idiot, bro?】
【Work to Die: Seriously, bro, what are you hesitating about? What’s there to hesitate?】
【Work to Die: Exams or sword practice, whatever it is, give it your all before saying “not for me” without regrets, right?】
【Work to Die: You gonna do nothing and let such a great girl leave you?】
【Work to Die: If so, you’ll regret it forever.】
【Work to Die: Real talk, you’re like a total noob right now!】
Opening Line brought a barrage of “blessings.”
But Shangshan Che thought she was right.
What exactly was he hesitating about?
Thinking carefully, Shangshan Che found nothing worth hesitating over.
So why did he think that way earlier?
Weird.
【Work to Die: Oh, if you want to join the Metropolitan Police later, I have connections.】
【Moon Sand Sauce: Got it.】
……
Over a year passed in a flash.
After the college entrance exam came graduation season.
With a click, the high school graduation photo was captured in the camera.
After the photo, everyone would go their separate ways, perhaps never to meet again.
Sakura Capital High School was named that because the campus was planted with many cherry blossom trees.
And now, at the school gate, under the largest cherry blossom tree.
The girl who won almost every kendo match she entered in high school looked up calmly at her childhood friend before her and asked,
“Shangshan Jun, don’t you have something to say to me?”
“Now that you mention it, yeah.”
After staring at the girl for a long time, Shangshan Che said slowly: “Feels like your figure’s improved a lot, so which brand of protein powder have you been drinking lately?”
He asked earnestly,
“Can you recommend it?”
In the silence, the girl was stunned.
She stared into Shangshan Che’s determined eyes, seeing how serious and eager for knowledge he was.
Lili Zi closed her eyes and said softly: “ON Gold Standard Double Chocolate. A bit pricey but effective…”
“Got it.” Shangshan Che pulled out his mobile phone to note it down, then waved. “See you, Lili Zi.”
Lili Zi waved back,
“See you, Shangshan Jun.”
Watching Shangshan Che leave, she stood alone under the withered cherry blossom tree.
After a long time, she couldn’t help tilting her head back and laughing out loud.
……
Today was University of Tokyo’s opening ceremony.
Lili Zi, carrying her sword bag, stood at the gate, staring somewhat dejectedly at the welcome banner with wreaths.
Without thinking much, she shook her head and tried to enter.
But just as she was about to go in, she bumped into someone.
“Ouch!”
A familiar pained cry came, along with something falling to the ground.
“Sorry, I wasn’t watching the road…”
Lili Zi looked up before finishing, seeing the youth in University of Tokyo uniform grin at her,
“What a coincidence, Lili Zi. You picked this time for the opening ceremony too.”
Lili Zi blanked for a moment, stammering: “Shangshan Jun… H-how are you here…”
“Why can’t I be here?”
Shangshan Che bent to pick up the item, countering: “Got into University of Tokyo, so naturally come to the opening ceremony. Isn’t that obvious?”
Lili Zi’s mouth hung slightly open.
For the first time in a long while, she didn’t know what to say.
Then, she saw Shangshan Che tap the protein powder can in his arms: “ON Gold Standard Double Chocolate. Effects are great, tastes good too.”
Lili Zi felt the world was absurd: “You asked about that before because you really wanted to drink it?”
“What else?”
Shangshan Che smiled, but Lili Zi now wanted to punch that smiling face into a pig head.
She didn’t know why she was so happy yet had this urge.
“Shangshan Jun.”
“Yeah?”
“If we weren’t at University of Tokyo’s gate with people around, I’d beat you unrecognizable.”
The two walked shoulder-to-shoulder into the University of Tokyo auditorium and sat in the front row.
The student representative above droned on, while the two below whispered quietly,
“Lili Zi, what do you want to do in the future?”
“Sword practice, get even stronger than now.”
“Figures.”
“Shangshan Jun got into University of Tokyo on kendo special admission too, right? Same thinking?”
Shangshan Che didn’t reply.
……
“You’re slipping, Shangshan Jun.”
Sweaty Lili Zi lowered her bamboo sword, eyeing the utterly routed Shangshan Che, and raised an eyebrow.
“Been focusing on detective stuff lately.”
Removing his gear, Shangshan Che sat wearily on the ground.
He recalled what Tokugawa Hoshi once said.
Only like this…
Lili Zi sat close beside him: “Detective after graduation? Not bad.”
“No, police.” Shangshan Che said calmly, as if discussing dinner. “Graduating this year, then taking the Category I exam.”
“We’re only juniors…”
Lili Zi’s sweat-wiping hand paused: “University of Tokyo allows early graduation?”
Recalling that night years ago, Shangshan Che held up a finger: “Probably, connections.”
Lili Zi gestured hurriedly,
“Police work is exhausting, tons of cases, low pay. Better come be a kendo teacher with me—hone technique and earn easily…”
As she spoke, Lili Zi’s voice faded.
Because Shangshan Che leaned down to her,
“Sorry.”
Lili Zi pursed her lips, lowered her eyes, and hooked her lip: “Shangshan Jun, why apologize to me?”
In the silence, Lili Zi asked,
“When do you leave?”
“Pretty much, these two weeks.”
Lili Zi laughed: “Then wish you smooth sailing, future police chief?”
“Stop, those four words are a pipe dream…”
They bantered a bit, then Shangshan Che invited: “Dinner tonight?”
The girl shook her head,
“Nah, I’ll practice more sword. Feeling a bottleneck breakthrough soon.”
“Wish you break through soon, then crush Gen Shinsui at the next tournament?”
“Don’t jinx it…”
Lili Zi waved, smiling as she saw Shangshan Che off.
She thought this wasn’t the first time she’d done this.
After long silence, tears blurred her vision for the first time since she could remember.
……
Graduating a year early and passing the <5% pass rate National Civil Service Category I exam.
After seven years, Shangshan Che met again the woman who said “You’re safe now” in the midnight abandoned campus.
“Long time no see, Inspector Nanjo.”
Shangshan Che eyed the barely changed Nanjo Emi over seven years in surprise: “Feels like yesterday.”
“I’ll take that as you saying I look young.”
The woman who slacked beautifully for seven years with no promotion shrugged.
Now in the position Shizuma Mafuyu held seven years ago as her assistant, Shangshan Che asked curiously: “Inspector Nanjo, are you married now?”
Nanjo Emi stared silently, then said irritably after a bit,
“I’d have to be door-slammed in the head to marry… Better work a few more years then retire. With Mafuyu as police superintendent, she can cover me easily.”
“Not me.”
She waved: “How’s it going with that girl?”
“—She’s a Tokugawa.”
Nanjo Emi was stunned for a long time.
Finally, she sighed softly,
“Then good luck, Shangshan Jun.”
……
Five years flew by.
Shizuma Mafuyu, with heaps of achievements, became the renowned police chief; Nanjo Emi stayed inspector unchanged.
Meanwhile, “Metropolitan Police Tiger” Shangshan Che’s name echoed across Tokyo and the Eastern Region.
In five years, Tokyo’s crime rate dropped 10% because of this man.
In the office, the mature and intellectual Shizuma Mafuyu said earnestly to the man before her,
“If it’s you, Shangshan Jun, you could absolutely become superintendent… That’s what I think.”
“No, Sister Mafuyu.”
Shangshan Che removed his police cap and placed it on the wooden desk: “I just don’t want to disappoint the one still waiting for me.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Shizuma Mafuyu stood, bowing slightly as at their first meeting,
“Then, wish you smooth sailing, Shangshan Jun.”
—Leaving the Metropolitan Police, twelve years after parting under that cherry blossom tree, Shangshan Che dialed the familiar yet distant number for the first time.
After anxious waiting, the call connected.
The other end spoke softly, giving a very faraway address.
Shangshan Che replied calmly, then raced there with all his might, as on every night for so long.
Until he saw that familiar, utterly unchanged back.
“Lili Zi—”
He took a deep breath, trembling, finally answering the question from that high school graduate girl twelve years ago.
……
【Branch One · The Correct Answer Twelve Years Late】
From the chaos, another tendril extended from the surging possibilities.
Thus, Shangshan Che opened his eyes in a daze again, looking at the heavy, dusty token in his hand.
Engraved on it were the ancient words 【Walker】.
Seeing questions, adding a note:
Unique Salvage opened countless if-lines; this is one of them…
Won’t write too much, probably ends in one or two chapters.
