Tokyo: Rabbit Police and Her Evil Partner

Chapter 507 Old Country House
On the surface, Kujo Yui would never allow Metropolitan Police Department officers to do such a thing.

Article 103 of Japan's National Public Service Law clearly stipulates that civil servants "may not concurrently hold positions in private enterprises that are for profit, such as those in commerce, industry, and finance, nor may they establish their own for-profit enterprises."

This regulation applies to all national civil servants, and criminal police officers, as the core law enforcement personnel of the Metropolitan Police Department, are naturally within the scope of the prohibition.

In addition, the Local Civil Servants Law also prohibits local civil servants from engaging in part-time work, including police officers. Violators will face penalties such as salary reduction, suspension, or even dismissal.

There are always some police officers who want to defy the law and make some extra money on the side. Every year, a number of them are brought to court, and the severity of the punishment is outrageous.

For example, the deputy section chief of the fire department in Ehime Prefecture worked part-time at a beef restaurant after get off work to supplement his family income. After being reported, he was suspended from his salary for two months.

For example, a female employee of the National Taxation Bureau worked as a hostess in a brothel. After the incident was exposed, she received severe disciplinary action and almost got fired, losing her job as a civil servant.

If Fushimi Shika were to openly take on a part-time job as a financial advisor, someone would definitely be investigated, and if anything goes wrong, Kujo Yui would have to clean up the mess.

It is important to know that criminal police officers may have access to sensitive information such as case details and company backgrounds. If their company has business dealings with parties involved in the case, they are easily suspected of abusing their power for personal gain.

For example, in an investigation involving economic crimes, if a detective works for that company, it would directly violate the principle of recusal... not to mention that the company that Fushimi Shika intends to work for has yakuza connections.

But rules are dead and people are alive.

Kujo Yui, a litigious lawyer, knew more about the relevant legal provisions than Fushimi Shika. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Find a friend who isn't a civil servant, and start a company. It needs to be non-profit. I'll put in a good word for you with the approval process... You can work for this company as a 'non-profit side business.'"

She paused, then added, "The Metropolitan Police Department has new regulations that allow public servants to engage in non-profit activities, such as volunteer service and cultural lectures. You need to apply and declare your income in advance, but Section Chief Kinoshita won't hold you back."

Fushimi Shika understood immediately.

He does charity work at a non-profit company, providing free support services, and no one can find fault with him.

As for the specific job duties, I'd rather not say. If you insist on knowing, it involves educating gang members about the law, which is essentially a way of persuading them to do good, similar to a legal education program on television.

Furthermore, the Inagawa-kai can regularly pay Fushimi Shika a salary in the form of donations.

For example, Gen Satake thought that Fushimi-kun's popular science education was very good, which turned his gang members into law-abiding citizens. He was deeply moved and donated 100,000 to 200,000 yen to a charity company, which was quite reasonable.

The charity company has received the money and has countless ways to legally and compliantly give it to Fushimi Shika.

Leaving aside the more distant examples and the more complex methods, let's take the simplest and most direct approach: donating money to Ping Yingzi, a child with intellectual disabilities, is a way to help the poor and needy.

Fushimi Shika thought this was a good idea. He would ask Kazama Takusai if he would like to start a company and become its president. Since he was just idling around anyway, he might as well make a contribution to society.

After discussing the important matters, Kujo Yui did not get up and leave.

According to social etiquette and unspoken rules of officialdom, she also had to say a few heartfelt words to her subordinates to build rapport.

"By the way, I just noticed that Tamako started calling you Shika-kun." Kujou Yui couldn't keep her hands still and started peeling an apple again.

Anyway, someone put a bowl of fruit next to the hospital bed, so why not peel it?

"Oh yeah, Tamako insisted on calling me that, I couldn't stop her." Fushimi Shika sighed, shook her head, and remarked, "It's so cloying, isn't it? It's so embarrassing if people hear it..."

Kujo Yui could only cough and change the subject, trying to get closer to Tamako from another angle: "Actually, I've always supported Tamako's free choice in love."

"Is that so?" Fushimi Shika's face was full of disbelief.

"That's right, I didn't object when you were dating Tamako, did I?" Kujo Yui's hands were very steady as she peeled the apple, showing that she was a skilled knife user when she was young.

Fushimi Shika recalled it carefully and realized it was true. When Kujo Yui went to Sugamo for the handover inspection, she saw him and Hira Sakurako with her own eyes. Afterwards, she didn't say anything like "I'll give you one million to leave my daughter." She only made a request that "premarital sex is not allowed."

Frankly speaking, from a mother's perspective, this request is reasonable.

Fushimi Shika was a little puzzled. If that was the case, why did Kujo Yui always give him a cold shoulder?
Intelligent people don't need to say anything to communicate; a single glance is enough for the other person to understand. Kujo Yui knew what he was thinking and explained, "I had a failed marriage, so I know what it's like to have differing ideas with your husband, and I also know what it feels like to lose your husband early."

"I think I can live to be a hundred years old."

Fushimi Shika thought to himself that there was an old saying that goes, "Good people don't live long, but evil people live for a thousand years." Maybe he could live to be a hundred.

Kujo Yui gave him a helpless look. She finished peeling the apple, but instead of giving it to Fushimi Shika, she took a bite herself: "What if our philosophies don't align? Why did you only say 'live to a ripe old age'?"

“That’s called complementary personalities, not a clash of ideas,” Fushimi Shika said.

Kujo Yui couldn't continue the conversation with this guy. She wanted to be courteous and show him affection, but he always pretended to be stupid, so she was too lazy to say anything more. She put the apple aside, got up and left, leaving Fushimi Shika to rest alone.

The patrol boat sailed back to the port area and docked at the pier.

After disembarking, the group split into two: one went to the Metropolitan Police Department to handle the aftermath, while the other took the wounded to the hospital for consultation.

The following day, NHK issued a news report stating that the perpetrators of the Sunshine City bombing had been brought to justice.

The Metropolitan Police Department held a press conference. Kujo Yui sat in the center, dressed in a suit, facing the camera flashes and answering reporters' questions politely. Gen Tamako and the others were also interviewed, which was a pleasant surprise, but they couldn't say anything to the reporters and could only nod and bow, acting as human backdrops.

After that, the Metropolitan Police Department underwent a large number of personnel changes. Chief Inspector Fujiwara was transferred to become a member of parliament, and Yui Kujo was promoted to become the first female chief inspector of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, fulfilling her childhood dream.

As the saying goes, when one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. A group of people under her followed suit and moved up the ranks. Director Fujiwara's old subordinates made room for her... Of course, she didn't move any of the people who were more troublesome to move, leaving those older men to languish in their official positions.

Fushimi Shika's reasons for refusing to carry out the bomb disposal mission have been explained, which has salvaged his reputation in the lower ranks of the Metropolitan Police Department. He is still the same senior, Harumori, who rose through the ranks by hooking up with a rich woman.

He spent seven days recuperating in the hospital, and now has a scar on his back. They said it might fade with the changing seasons, and the burn wasn't too serious.

Fushimi Shika didn't care; he couldn't see his own back anyway, so there was nothing for him to worry about. But Minamoto Tamako felt sorry for him and bought some supposedly effective scar-fading medicine, which turned out to be a complete rip-off and utterly useless.

After being discharged from the hospital, Fushimi Shika brought up the trip to Hokkaido again, and also explained his intention to "date seriously," indicating that his meeting with the head of the family was not for the purpose of engagement.

This time, Gentama readily agreed without hesitation, and even seemed a little excited.

For her, this period has been a time of great fortune, with one good thing after another.

First, he eliminated the leader of Cat Island, then received a commendation and became a formal criminal police officer (passing his initial training ahead of schedule), taking a big step closer to becoming a famous detective and police inspector!

Now Fushimi-kun says he wants to 'seriously date' her and is going to meet her grandfather with her, which makes her feel incredibly safe. It's rare to find such a good boyfriend. I've heard that some of her juniors' boyfriends don't wear condoms and don't want to take responsibility!
Yuan Yuzi is enjoying success in both her career and love life, and her life is heading towards perfection.

As she packed her luggage in her room, she couldn't help but hum a little tune, and then she started singing it out loud: "Odoru pom-pokorin~"

Fushimi Shika had already packed everything. This is how guys go out: all they need to bring are a few pairs of underwear, a few pairs of pants, and a few clothes... maybe a few spare batteries, so they don't have to find a place to charge their phones when they run out of power.

Hira Sakurako was reluctant to part with the electric appliances at home and didn't want to go to Hokkaido, but Minamoto Tamako said that there was no room for discussion. She couldn't keep bothering Kazama-senpai to take care of them, could she?

They have their own things to do too!

Kazama Takusai has been very busy lately. Fushimi Shika and Watanabe Shun got him drunk and came up with a bad idea, persuading him to start a charity company. They even came up with a name for him: "Kazama Office," dedicated to helping the disadvantaged.

Under the influence of alcohol, Kazama Takusai agreed and signed the corporate contract in a daze. Fushimi Shika helped pay the money, completed the formalities, rented an office in Ikebukuro, and then sent Kazama Takusai, this duck, to work.

"Since you're just sitting around doing nothing anyway, why not find something to do and earn some extra money to save for your retirement?" Fushimi Shika kept repeating this to Kazama Takusai like a mantra.

Kazama Takusai was persuaded. Since it wasn't his money being used, it wouldn't matter if the company went bankrupt. He might as well find something to do.

Moreover, these days, calling yourself "president" still carries a lot of prestige.

He's a man of action. Once he's agreed, he treats it like a serious matter. These past two days he's been busy supervising the renovation of the office building. Of course, the renovation costs are also being covered by Fushimi Shika. Once the renovation is complete, the business will officially open, providing free assistance to the disadvantaged. All income will come from donations.

Kazama Takusai was eagerly anticipating his first customer, wondering who it would be who would come seeking his help.

Right now, Minamoto no Tamako has packed her suitcase, had lunch with Fushimi Shika and Hirai Sakurako, and is preparing to head out to catch her flight.

They flew from Tokyo back to Hokkaido, a journey of only about two hours. The trip went smoothly without any major mishaps. Notably, Minamoto no Tamako kept humming a song, and her ahoge (cowlick) kept swaying back and forth.

After the plane landed, the three collected their luggage. Minamoto no Tamako was the first to step out of the airport, opening her arms and taking a deep breath of Hokkaido's fresh air.
Ah! That taste I miss!

Fushimi Shika, carrying his luggage in both hands, felt a slight itch on his back. He wanted to scratch it but couldn't free his hands, so he could only maintain a constipated expression and say, "It's just the smell of fish."

"What fishy smell? That's the smell of the sea!" Gen Tamako still has feelings for her hometown.

Ping Yingzi was still wearing a mask and refused to show her face, so no one could smell anything. She was engrossed in playing her Little Tyrant game console.

Many airports in Hokkaido are located by the sea. Nemuro Hanasaki Airport, where they are located, is situated in Nemuro City, the easternmost city in Hokkaido, only five kilometers from the Pacific Ocean. The surrounding area is a birdwatching paradise, with the Harukutai area home to more than 370 species of wild birds, which are especially spectacular during the migration season.

Autumn has arrived, and a cool breeze is blowing through the streets, making the air crisp and refreshing. The three of them took a taxi to Naoro's old house. Since his grandfather and father passed away, the house has been empty. Now that someone has finally come back to visit, they can at least tidy it up and stay for a while, making the old house feel more alive.

In Fushimi Shika's imagination, Minamoto no Tamako's old house should be in the city center, a quiet oasis amidst the hustle and bustle, just like those wealthy heiresses who built small houses and courtyards in the city center where land is incredibly expensive.

However, the Yuan family's old house is located in the suburbs. Its only redeeming feature is its proximity to the sea, but it can't be considered a sea-view house because the view is just average. The yard and windows face the dock, where there are many fish markets and unloading workers, and the fishy smell becomes even stronger when the wind blows.

Fushimi Shika got off the car with his luggage and stood at the entrance of the old house. Looking around, he found that the whole area was abandoned. The small courtyard was overgrown with ivy, the stone steps and wooden fence were covered with moss, and several roof tiles were broken.

"Ah, Mrs. Kubo and Uncle Komura have both moved away."

Gen Tamako looked at the old house next door. The street was somewhat desolate, and the houses on both sides seemed to be vacant, with signs for rent and sale hanging at the door.

It's clear that this seaside town isn't very lively.

“Let’s go inside,” Fushimi Shika said, with a bad feeling. “I don’t think anyone can live in there.”

"How could that be!" Yuan Yuzi muttered, unlatching the wooden fence, crossing the desolate courtyard, and walking to the old house gate, where she took out the key from her pocket.

The keyhole was a bit rusty, and when she turned it hard, it creaked and rattled.

"Cough cough... cough cough cough!"

As soon as the door opened, a thick layer of dust rushed out. Yuan Yuzi waved her little hands, fanning the dust back and forth. When the dust settled, she looked inside and found a hole in the wall, frightened mice scurrying about, and dust on the furniture as thick as a fingernail.

It seems like it's really uninhabitable now.

"Let's go book a hotel." Fushimi Shika turned and left.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Yuan Yuzi quickly grabbed him and said, "At least tidy it up a bit, I still have a lot of things from my childhood here... If you tidy it up, it can still be lived in."

She paused, clasped her hands together, and pleaded earnestly with her eyes: "I want to stay here with Lu Jun for a few days."

Fushimi Shika and her innocent-looking eyes met. After a moment of silence, she softened, feeling her immunity gradually decreasing: "Alright, but we definitely can't finish packing in one day. Let's book a hotel first and leave the luggage there."

"Yay!" Gen Tamako was very happy.

The three of them left the old house and rented a guesthouse near the dock.

Hira Sakurako originally wanted to rest at the guesthouse, but Gen Tamako was worried about leaving her alone. Ever since the kidnapping incident, her desire to control Hira Sakurako had become a bit too strong. She had to take Hira Sakurako with her wherever she went, or ask someone to help take care of her. In short, she couldn't let Hira Sakurako be alone.

The three returned, and Yuan Yuzi took out repair tools from the storage room in the old house's courtyard.

In the past, Naoro Minamoto would repair the house himself, so he had all kinds of tools and materials. Now the heavy responsibility of repair fell on Shika Fushimi. After looking around, he listed the places that needed repair: a few tiles on the roof were broken, there was a hole in the wall, and the water pipe was blocked by foreign objects... He would leave the wooden fence and the door lock for the time being.

Fushimi Shika rolled up his sleeves, leaned the ladder against the eaves, and asked Hira Sakura to lend a hand and help him hold it up. He climbed up the ladder, lifted the roof to replace the broken tiles, and then repaired the eaves with nails and wood.

After he finished, he looked down and saw that Hira Sakura was sitting by the ladder playing games, while Gen Tama was wearing yellow latex gloves and squatting in the yard, concentrating on pulling weeds.

Yes, it looks like a peaceful and idyllic scene.

But Fushimi Shika was very unhappy. He slid down the ladder and questioned, "I told you to hold the ladder, what are you doing playing with the NES?"

"You wouldn't die if you jumped off a train, this is nothing, no need to help." Ping Yingzi played with Tetris in her hands, without looking up.

That's the truth.

Fushimi Shika, too lazy to care, continued repairing the hole in the wall.

He used a fire to smoke out the rats and cockroaches from the wall, and cleaned the interlayer to prevent people from hearing thumping noises from inside the wall in the middle of the night, which might make them think there were ghosts knocking inside.

After finishing, Fushimi Shika squatted by the wall, nail in his mouth, and used a wooden board to repair the hole. He was rough with his work, after all, he had no experience in this area, and the patch wasn't very nice, but it would do for now. If he wanted to renovate, he would find a professional renovation team later.

After pulling out the weeds in the courtyard, Yuan Yuzi went to pull down the ivy on the wall.

Hira Sakurako actually went to help, saying she was worried that Gentamako would be strangled by the ivy. She held a pair of scissors and stood by, ready to rush forward and cut the murderous ivy at any moment.

The three of them were busy with their own tasks, and by sunset, the old house was almost completely repaired.

Fushimi Shika repaired the walls, fixed the roof, unclogged the pipes, and even lubricated the door locks; Minamoto Tamako pulled out the weeds, removed the ivy, and swept the dust out of the house.

The old house isn't exactly brand new, but it's still habitable.

There's no electricity in the house tonight, so I have to go to the town hall to pay the electricity bill tomorrow. Without light bulbs, the cleaning can't continue.

Gen Tamako took off her gloves, opened the window, pulled open the sliding door, and sat on the tatami mat by the porch.

An autumn breeze swept in, cool and refreshing. The fishmongers had all packed up their stalls, and the air became fresh, carrying the scent of fallen leaves.

Her hair swayed as she watched the setting sun gradually sink below the horizon.

As night fell, Fushimi Shika sat down beside her and asked, "What are you looking at?"

"It's nothing," Gen Tamako said with a smile, "I just suddenly realized that I've never been as happy as I am today, even after being in Tokyo for so long."

Fushimi Shika was anything but happy. He was filthy, exhausted, and unable to empathize with Minamoto no Tamako. But this time, unusually, he didn't spoil the mood. Instead, he hummed in agreement and gazed at the bright moon rising over the sea.

Yuan Yuzi began to ramble on and on:

"I checked the weather forecast, tomorrow will be another sunny day, I need to get up early and hang the blankets from the closet out in the yard to air them out..."

"When I pay the electricity bill tomorrow morning, I can also go to town to buy some daily necessities, like slippers, towels, and a washbasin..."

"Are you planning to eat out or cook for lunch? If you're eating out, I can recommend a small restaurant, but I don't know if the owner has moved..."

……

Fushimi Shika's weary heart gradually relaxed.

He listened quietly, occasionally chiming in. Yuan Yuzi talked for half an hour until Ping Yingzi got impatient and asked when they could go back to the guesthouse for dinner. Only then did she come to her senses and ask somewhat embarrassedly, "You won't find me annoying, will you?"

“No, I didn’t find you annoying at the police academy, so I certainly won’t now,” Fushimi Shika said.

Genjiro remembered that she had complained to Kawai in the police academy cafeteria that Fushimi-kun was probably avoiding her because he found her annoying.

She felt inexplicably moved and at peace, and was about to lean on Fushimi's shoulder to savor the tranquility and happiness of the moment, when Hira Sakurako urged her again from the side:
"Aren't you hungry? Can dating fill your stomach out of thin air?"

Genjitama blushed as she got up to pack her gloves and other cleaning tools; Fushimi Shika turned around and glared at Hira Sakurako, whispering, "What's the rush? Are you going to starve to death if we wait a little longer?"

"I'm going to sue you for child abuse."

Hira Sakura has learned to use the weapon of law.

Fushimi Shika, the first victim, actually smiled. He beckoned to Hira Sakurako with a smug look on his face, as if to say, "Have you memorized all the laws and regulations related to children? Come here, let me test you..."

As Hira Sakura approached, before she could even speak, Fushimi Shika's five fingers transformed into the gesture of holding a flower on a Buddha statue, and he flicked her forehead sharply!
She cried out "Ouch!" and tilted her head back, receiving a solid flick on the forehead.

Fushimi Shika's pleased smile vanished, leaving only the evil master's cold laugh: "You brat, you really deserve a beating. They say seven or eight-year-olds are disliked by both humans and ghosts, and the ancients were right."

Hira Sakurako was very unhappy. She covered her forehead, expressionless, and ran to complain to Gen Tamako.

After packing her things and locking the doors and windows, Minamoto no Tamako left with Fushimi Shika and the others, walking along the coastal path back to the guesthouse.

Upon hearing Hiraoko's complaint, she first looked down and carefully examined Hiraoko's forehead. Finding no swelling, redness, or broken skin, she felt relieved and offered a mild reprimand to Fushimi Shika:
"Apologize now, and don't flick Sakura's head again next time."

When Fushimi Shika walks with his hands behind his head, he's not cosplaying Detective Conan's walk, but rather scratching an itch by putting his hands behind his back: "She was the one who said she was going to sue me for child abuse."

Genji Tamako casually asked, "Eh, why?"

Fushimi Shika said, "She's holding a grudge because I made her miss dinner. What a willful child, completely inconsiderate of the adults' hard work." He shook his head as he spoke, looking like he had an unfilial son: "When I was a kid, I didn't have these conditions! Let alone eating dinner on time, I was lucky to even have a hot bowl of shit to eat!"

After saying that, he suddenly realized something.

Oh, have I reached the age where I can say, "Back then, we didn't have these conditions"?
That doesn't seem right; it's just that the conditions for saying that statement have been met.

(End of this chapter)