Chapter 113 - Akiya became Natsume's disciple, while Ranpo paid a surprise visit to Bankoudou

Sorry for no updates in the last few days. I got sick 😷.

———

At the Bankoudou Hall, Asou Akiya's apprenticeship ceremony went very smoothly.

In accordance with proper etiquette, the gift he presented to his teacher was a box of tea, something Japanese people greatly enjoyed drinking.

With a gentle expression, Natsume Souseki accepted the gift and formally established their master-disciple relationship. From that day onward, Asou Akiya became his student, and he became Asou Akiya's teacher. For Natsume Souseki, who had no children, and Asou Akiya, who was an orphan, this bond was no less significant than forming a familial relationship. It was, in many ways, equivalent to becoming family.

Randou observed the apprenticeship ceremony from the sidelines, quietly pondering how he ought to address Mr. Natsume.

Jealous?

Not at all.

After witnessing the respect Akiya showed toward Natsume Souseki, he had completely changed his perspective. He mentally erased every Japanese teacher-student romance story he had ever heard of and chose to view their relationship through a pure and uncomplicated lens, simply watching the way the two interacted.

"Natsume-sensei, Randou is my lover, and the only person I will ever marry."

Asou Akiya took Randou's hand and, for the first time, introduced him to Natsume Souseki with complete solemnity.

"I no longer have parents or any other elders in my life. I brought him here to meet you because I hope you'll give us your blessing."

Natsume Souseki looked at the same-sex couple who had been together for four years and immediately sensed the dense, unmistakable atmosphere of affection between them.

The corner of his mouth twitched.

Then he let go of any lingering reservations.

"I wish that no matter what difficulties you encounter, each of you will spare a thought for the other. Don't give up on one another lightly."

"Thank you, Natsume-sensei."

"Mm, thank you Natsume... -san."

Randou still could not bring himself to follow Akiya and call him "Sensei." Somehow, he felt that if he did so, he would lose the confidence and footing he had managed to maintain.

Asou Akiya laughed and said, "Natsume-sensei should become an educator."

Seated in his chair, Natsume Souseki looked as though, if he had a pipe in hand, he would very much like to take a puff right now.

"I don't have that kind of energy anymore."

Asou Akiya sympathized with him.

"Huh? Natsume-sensei still hasn't managed to retire successfully?"

"No." Natsume Souseki shook his head. "The application process is still being held up. I'll have to wait until the people above me approve it."

He was, after all, one of the government's advisers, responsible for offering strategies and solving problems. Having worked for the government for so many years, he had become someone the high-ranking officials—those unwilling to expend too much brainpower themselves—had grown heavily dependent upon.

Asou Akiya said, "Once spring arrives and the weather turns warm, perhaps you'll finally succeed."

Natsume Souseki's eyes flickered thoughtfully.

"I'll take that as a good omen."

This year, once the harsh winter passed, the pressure from the military factions of various countries encroaching upon Yokohama should lessen somewhat.

"Since you trust Randou, I'll speak frankly," Natsume Souseki said. "Have you decided what path you want to take in the future? The Port Mafia, the Special Ability Department, the police force, the Military Police... or perhaps some other profession entirely. To be honest, you're not particularly suited to the Port Mafia."

Randou's fingers tightened around Akiya's hand as he gazed at the composed and disciplined face of the black-haired young man.

Was Akiya planning to change jobs?

And if Akiya left...

What was he supposed to do?

Asou Akiya fell silent for quite some time.

Suppressing the countless emotions rising within him, he finally spoke in a hoarse voice.

"If you had asked me that question four years ago or even eight years ago, I would have chosen to leave the Port Mafia without the slightest hesitation."

Natsume Souseki fixed his gaze upon his disciple.

So, in the past, he had wanted to escape from the Mafia.

Then, one question after another surfaced in his mind.

[Did you truly have no way to escape?]

[The Port Mafia's Analyst. If he devoted his full efforts to it, could he really not break free from the Port Mafia?]

[What exactly was it that bound your hands and feet?]

Asou Akiya said, "Perhaps I've given you the illusion that I'm a genius—"

He turned to look at Randou.

"If you knew my past, you'd know that four years ago I was a complete nobody. I wasn't that capable or powerful. It was Randou's appearance in my life that changed me."

Hearing that, Randou lowered his head and began absentmindedly playing with Akiya's fingers. The pads of his own fingers were marked with the calluses left behind by years of writing and handling firearms.

"I became who I am today because I wanted to give him a home."

Natsume Souseki replied in an approachable tone, "I can give you a new choice."

Asou Akiya smiled.

Starlight seemed to shimmer within his dark eyes.

"No need, Natsume-sensei."

"I'm no longer afraid of the Mafia."

"I've already... become capable of facing the darkness for the sake of the love in my heart."

"Please, allow me to stay."

For Randou's sake, he could not join a government agency or the Special Ability Department. Randou's identity would never withstand an excessively thorough investigation. More importantly, he had no desire to elevate their love into a conflict between nations, forcing the future fully healed Arthur Rimbaud to become trapped between the interests of two governments.

As for other professions...

The Armed Detective Agency was indeed a suitable place to spend one's later years in peace, but it was not a place suited to either him or Randou. With Ranpo and Fukuzawa-sensei there, the agency already had more than enough pillars to support it.

He had spent eight years in the Port Mafia.

His roots had long since been stained black.

Why bother changing professions now?

His greatest advantage was his knowledge of the plot.

And the Port Mafia was one of the primary centers where the plot unfolded.

Natsume Souseki could not help but feel a sense of regret.

Akiya's methods were not ruthless enough. In that regard, he was still inferior to Mori Ougai, who had personally experienced the battlefield. Yet, just as Akiya himself had said, the opportunity for persuasion had already passed. For Randou's sake, and for various other reasons, this man was no longer willing to switch over to the lawful side.

"If you choose to remain," Natsume Souseki said, "you'll inevitably find yourself in a position where you must continue climbing upward."

"Naturally."

Asou Akiya bowed deeply to Natsume Souseki, the one and only person who had ever tried to guide him toward the light.

"Now that I have become your disciple, I will no longer be content with mediocrity, nor will I tarnish your reputation. Whatever talents I possess, I will rise to the position those talents deserve. To cultivate the virtue necessary to match that position—that is the goal of my growth."

To possess virtue equal to one's position...

Hearing those words, Natsume Souseki felt some of the knots in his heart loosen. After this heartfelt exchange between master and disciple, he smiled and spoke the concluding words of the day.

"Then aim for an executive position."

"I'll teach you and make the road ahead a little smoother."

"Also, before I retire, I have a vague plan in mind concerning the future layout of Yokohama. I'll probably need your help for it. Since you've become my disciple, then show me what you're capable of! Do your best and give me something worth seeing!"

Outside Bankoudou, the faint sound of approaching footsteps suddenly drifted over.

The people inside, who had been chatting and laughing moments before, all froze at the same time and exchanged suspicious glances.

Natsume Souseki: [You brought someone with you?]

Asou Akiya: [I'm innocent! I came straight here with Randou after work to see you!]

Randou: [That's right. I can testify that Akiya is telling the truth.]

Then, from outside, the clear and lively voice of a young boy rang out.

"Fukuzawa-ossan! I'm sure he's over here!"

A moment later, Fukuzawa Yukichi's voice followed.

"Are you certain? There would be people inside a tunnel like this?"

Hiss—

Asou Akiya's scalp went numb.

How had Ranpo managed to find Bankoudou?

"Akiya didn't come home, and neither did Randou-san. The moment I noticed that, I knew the two of them must have had some private business to take care of!"

Edogawa Ranpo knew very little about Natsume Souseki.

However, he understood his two guardians perfectly.

"Akiya knows Natsume Souseki, so all we had to do was follow Akiya's car, and we'd eventually find him."

Edogawa Ranpo rubbed his hands together eagerly.

"This isn't cheating, you know."

It was simply the choice a smart person would make!

Pushing open the door to Bankoudou, he was greeted by complete darkness inside. After finding the light switch, Edogawa Ranpo flicked it on.

As he stared at the lecture hall before him, his brows gradually furrowed, and he remained silent for a very long time.

Fukuzawa Yukichi asked, "Did you fail?"

Edogawa Ranpo did not answer.

Instead, he thoroughly searched every corner of Bankoudou. After exhausting himself, he finally collapsed into a chair with a miserable expression. The seat still retained the warmth of whoever had been sitting there moments ago.

"That's not fair at all! They've completely broken the rules of hide-and-seek!"

"Hm?"

"It was Randou-san! Randou-san used Illuminations to take everyone away with him!!!"

"..."

I knew we shouldn't have followed your guardians.

Fukuzawa Yukichi swallowed the words of righteous admonishment that had reached the tip of his tongue. Keeping a serious expression, he walked over and gently patted Ranpo's head, comforting him the same way one might soothe a sulking cat.

"We'll work harder next time and find them on our own."

Edogawa Ranpo drooped visibly.

"Okay..."

Meanwhile—

Inside a massive golden cube stood three people.

Natsume Souseki reached out and touched the subspace cube with astonishment written across his face.

"A space created by an Ability that can move freely through physical matter?"

This is a top-tier infiltration ability!

Asou Akiya was seeing this situation for the first time as well. He shot Randou a questioning look.

Randou tugged awkwardly at his scarf. His gaze wandered, and he replied in a gentle, innocent tone, "I panicked for a moment, and instinctively felt that I could use it this way."

Asou Akiya: "..."

Please don't ever panic and instinctively decide that killing people is as easy as chopping vegetables!

An Ability indispensable for home life, travel, murder, and corpse disposal—

None could compare to Illuminations.

Once again, Asou Akiya received a wary look from Natsume Souseki. The man's expression seemed to say:

[Just what kind of French Ability user have you tricked into your hands?]

Asou Akiya silently replied:

[The kind comparable to a nuclear weapon. You simply don't dare to guess.]

Inside the subspace, Asou Akiya smiled brightly as he squeezed Randou's hand.

"My wife ♂ is the best~"

Having made love not long ago, Randou's thoughts immediately wandered in a different direction.

Cough, cough.

In front of Natsume Souseki, a layer of unspoken affection clouded the French beauty's eyes. His legs tensed ever so slightly, his thighs unconsciously drawing together, while half of his body leaned against Asou Akiya's side.

"Mm."

With that single, simple response, enough dog food was served to leave Natsume Souseki completely stuffed.

Natsume Souseki felt a headache coming on.

Could the two of you at least behave a little more innocently in front of your teacher?!

Stop making everything so suggestive!