Tokyo: I'm really not a killer

Chapter 87 Truth Revealed After Drinking

Komi Yui was taken back to her apartment.

She thanked the team members who brought her back, and leaning on her guide cane, she groped her way up to the second-floor outer corridor. Standing at the door of room 201, she listened intently for a moment, and only after confirming that there was no unusual noise inside did she take out her key and open the door.

As soon as the door opened, a figure rushed over and hugged her tightly.

"Ms. Komi! You're back! That's wonderful!" Rin Shinomiya's voice was filled with undisguised joy. She hugged Yui Komi tightly, almost jumping for joy. "We were so worried! Are you alright? Did they give you any trouble?"

Komi Yui was slightly taken aback by the sudden, enthusiastic hug, but then a gentle smile appeared on her face as she patted Shinomiya Rin's back lightly: "I'm fine, Shinomiya-san. I'm sorry to have worried you."

"That's great! That's really great!" Shinomiya Rin released her, looking her up and down as if to make sure she was truly unharmed. "That lawyer was amazing!"

At this moment, Yuan Zhensheng also stood up from beside the low table and walked over.

His face remained calm as usual, but his tone was gentler than usual: "It's good that you're back. Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine, thank you Mr. Suzuki." Komi Yui nodded slightly in his direction. "Thank you for helping me hire a lawyer as well."

"It's nothing," Yuan Zhensheng said briefly.

Rin Shinomiya's excitement hadn't subsided yet. She pulled Yui Komi to sit down at the low table, then turned to rummage around: "We have to celebrate! Miss Komi is back safe and sound, that's great news! Oh, and there's some in the fridge—ah, oranges! And the senbei I bought earlier!"

Like a busy little squirrel, she laid out all the snacks she could find on the low table. Although the items were simple, she thought it was enough to make up a small celebration.

"Here, Miss Komi, have an orange to calm your nerves!"

Rin Shinomiya peeled an orange and handed it to Yui Komi. Then she picked up a senbei (rice cracker), took a crunchy bite, and her face beamed with simple joy. "Although Hideaki Shiraishi ran away and the trail to the Swamp Man went cold, at least Miss Komi is safe and sound! That's the biggest progress!"

She looked at Hara Zhensheng, her eyes sparkling: "Right, Hara-kun? We didn't work completely for nothing!"

Looking at Shinomiya Rin's optimistic attitude of "as long as our people are safe, everything will be fine," Yuan Zhensheng was speechless, but also found it a little funny.

This guy's mood swings are quick. He was incredibly depressed a few days ago, but now he can be happy because "something bad didn't get any worse."

"Well, I guess so," he replied perfunctorily, sitting down at the table and picking up an orange.

As Komi Yui held the oranges, she could feel Shinomiya Rin's genuine concern, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart.

The tension, anxiety, and cold pressure I felt in the yakuza office these past few days seemed to have been somewhat diluted in this small but warm apartment.

"Thank you," she said softly, a faint smile on her lips.

"What are you thanking me for! We're all in this together!" Shinomiya Rin nodded vigorously, then, remembering something, said to Hara Masaki, "Hey, you little brat senpai, don't just sit there eating! Say something! Let's make the celebration a little more lively!"

Yuan Zhensheng glanced at her: "Celebrating what? Celebrating that we're all stuck here, one of us is a wanted fugitive, one was just invited to 'chat' by the police station, and the other is slacking off on vacation?"

"Ugh! Why are you such a spoilsport!" Shinomiya Rin puffed out her cheeks. "Can't you think of something positive? At least the three of us are all here safely! And Ms. Komi's house hasn't been taken away, so we still have a place to stay!"

That's true. Komi Yui smiled gently: "Miss Shinomiya is right. It's something to be happy about to come back safely and be with everyone."

Looking at the serene smile on Komi Yui's face, and then at Shinomiya Rin's puffed-up yet energetic appearance, the frustration in his heart caused by the setback in his plan seemed to subside a bit.

"Alright." He picked up the kettle, poured water into all three of their glasses, then raised his own. "Then—"

Celebrating Ms. Fumi's safe return.

"That's more like it!" Shinomiya Rin immediately raised her glass, clinked it against Hara Masao's glass, and then carefully touched the glass that Komi Yui had placed on the table. "Cheers!"

"Cheers." Komi Yuiya smiled and raised his glass.

The three cups clinked together somewhat awkwardly, making a soft sound.

The glass contained only ordinary water, but under the warm yellow glow of the table lamp, it looked as if it were filled with beer.

"I feel like I haven't had enough water." Komi Yui smiled gently and turned to Hara Masao. "We're running low on ingredients. Mr. Suzuki, could you please come with me to the nearby shopping street to buy some things? I'd like to make a slightly more substantial dinner."

Yuan Zhensheng initially wanted to refuse, as he was used to being alone and preferred to eat nutritious porridge for his three meals.

But seeing the instant light in Shinomiya Rin's eyes and Komi Yui's quiet waiting posture, he swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

Komi Yui had helped treat his wounds several times, and he owed her a lot of favors, so it wouldn't be appropriate to refuse.

"Okay." He stood up. "What do you need to buy?"

"Let me make a list." Komi Yui walked to the small cabinet next to the low table and skillfully took out paper and pen from it—even though she couldn't see, she already knew where everything was placed.

She dictated the ingredients she needed to buy: chicken, tofu, radish, shiitake mushrooms, kelp, mirin, and soy sauce.

"I want to make chicken and tofu hot pot, and cook a pot of rice. That should be enough for the three of us," said Yui Komi.

"Yay! Chicken hot pot!" Rin Shinomiya cheered. "Should I come too—"

"You stay here." Yuan Zhensheng interrupted her, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You're a wanted criminal, your face is too conspicuous. Miss Gu Jian and I will go."

Shinomiya Rin immediately wilted, but knowing he was telling the truth, she could only reluctantly nod: "Then—you guys come back soon."

Hara Masaki changed into the appearance of an ordinary middle-aged office worker and put on glasses; Komi Yui picked up her guide cane, and the two left the apartment together.

The shopping street was bustling in the evening, with housewives leaving get off work and students going home from school weaving through the crowds. Hara Masaki walked half a step ahead of Komi Yui, both to guide the way and to shield herself from the throng of people.

He deliberately slowed his pace to match Komi Yui's rhythm.

"There are two steps ahead," Yuan Zhensheng whispered a reminder.

"Thank you." Komi Yui gently tapped the ground with her guide cane and stepped onto the stairs accurately.

They went to the butcher shop first, and Yuan Zhensheng selected chicken thighs according to the list and asked the owner to cut them into bite-sized pieces.

Komi Yui stood to the side, listening intently to the sounds of the shopkeeper weighing goods, quoting prices, and giving change, occasionally asking in a soft voice:

6

Mr. Suzuki, is the meat fresh?

"Looks good," Yuan Zhensheng replied, paying as he did so.

Next was the tofu shop, where the owner was a kind old lady who clearly knew Komi Yui.

"Miss Komi, are you here to buy tofu today? And this is—" The old lady sized up Hara Masaki.

"I'm a friend, Mr. Suzuki," Komi Yui said with a smile. "Could you please give me two pieces of soft tofu?"

"Okay." The old lady quickly packed the tofu and gave her an extra small packet of bonito flakes. "These will really enhance the flavor of the soup."

"Thank you." Komi Yui took the money and placed it accurately on the counter.

When buying vegetables, Hara Masao was in charge of selecting them. He picked up a radish, and Komi Yui asked, "Is the radish heavy? Is the skin smooth?"

"It's quite heavy, and the surface is clean," Yuan Zhensheng said.

"That's good, please choose this one." Komi Yui nodded.

The whole process was quiet and harmonious. Yuan Zhensheng discovered that although Komi Yui was blind, she was very familiar with this shopping street. She knew the location of each stall, the voices of the shopkeepers, and even the way certain products were displayed.

After finishing their shopping, the two of them were carrying quite a few things. On their way back, they passed a small pastry shop, where an enticing sweet aroma wafted out.

Komi Yui paused slightly in her steps.

"Would you like to buy some desserts?" Hara Masaki noticed her pause.

He remembered that she once cut honeydew melon for him as a snack.

"Ah—is it alright?" Komi Yui asked a little shyly. "Miss Shinomiya seems to really like sweets, so today—"

It's a day worth celebrating.

"Then I'll buy some." Yuan Zhensheng walked towards the shop and bought two servings of chestnut yokan.

On their way home, the setting sun cast long shadows of the two of them.

Komi Yui carried a cloth bag full of ingredients, while Hara Masaki carried tofu and vegetables in one hand and yokan (sweet bean jelly) in the other.

They didn't say much, but the atmosphere wasn't awkward; instead, it had a quiet, everyday feel to it.

"Thank you for today, Mr. Suzuki." As they approached the apartment building, Yui Komi spoke softly, "Not only for grocery shopping, but also for everything that happened before. The lawyer's matter, and—your continued care."

Yuan Zhensheng was silent for a moment.

He did all this largely to maintain the stability of the safe house and his own safety, but hearing her sincere thanks, he could only vaguely reply with a "Mm."

"Although Miss Shinomiya is always very anxious, saying that the clues have gone cold and nothing has been accomplished—"

Komi Yui continued walking slowly, her voice gentle, "But I feel that it's already good enough that the three of us can be together peacefully like this, and eat together. I will continue to wait for Father's matter. Miss Shinomiya's injustice will also be cleared up one day—there's no need to rush, right?"

Her gray eyes gazed ahead, a faint, reassuring smile playing on her lips.

Yuan Zhensheng glanced at her but did not answer.

He carried the heavy load of groceries, walking in the afterglow of the setting sun. Listening to the calm words of the blind woman beside him, the cold calculations in his heart seemed to be temporarily softened by the warm yellow glow.

"Let's go," he said. "Shinomiya must be getting impatient."

The two walked up to the second-floor corridor, and the door to room 201 was immediately pulled open from the inside. Shinomiya Rin poked her head out, her face full of anticipation: "You're back! You bought so much stuff! We can have a big meal tonight!"

Komi Yui smiled and nodded, "Yes, I'll prepare it. Miss Shinomiya, could you help wash the vegetables?"

"Of course!" Shinomiya Rin immediately rolled up her sleeves, full of enthusiasm.

Hara Masaki put the things into the kitchen and watched as Komi Yui skillfully fumbled with the knives and cutting board, while Shinomiya Rin chattered away, helping out.

Under the warm yellow light, the sizzling sound of frying chicken and the bubbling sound of soup gradually rose, and the aroma of food spread, temporarily dispelling the danger and unease of the outside world.

Although Komi Yui is blind, she still handles the ingredients with practiced ease and method.

Rin Shinomiya helped wash vegetables and hand things over; although she was clumsy, she was exceptionally enthusiastic.

Yuan Zhensheng leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching them busy themselves, and was occasionally ordered by Shinomiya Rin to get a bowl or hand over a plate.

Soon, a simple dinner was laid out on the low table: steaming white rice, fragrant miso soup, a bubbling chicken and tofu stew, a small dish of pickled vegetables, and freshly bought chestnut yokan.

"I'm starting!" Shinomiya Rin clasped her hands together and eagerly picked up her chopsticks. She picked up a piece of tenderly stewed chicken, blew on it, and popped it into her mouth. Her eyes immediately narrowed with happiness. "Delicious! Ms. Komi's cooking is amazing!"

"These are just some home-style dishes; I hope they suit your tastes." Komi Yui smiled gently and picked up her chopsticks as well.

Yuan Zhensheng looked at the steaming food in front of him and picked up his bowl and chopsticks.

The taste was indeed much better than the nutritious porridge he made himself.

Shinomiya Rin ate very quickly, as if she wanted to make up for the stress and exhaustion of the past few days.

Halfway through the meal, she suddenly remembered something, her eyes lighting up: "That's right! How can a celebration be without alcohol! I remember Miss Komi's house has some—"

As she spoke, she got up and began rummaging through the cabinet. Komi Yui tried to stop her, but it was too late. Shinomiya Rin pulled out a bottle of sake and several small cups from deep within the cabinet.

"See! I told you there was!" She proudly placed the bottle and glass on the table. "It's sake! Not too strong, just right!"

Yuan Zhensheng frowned: "I have things to do tomorrow."

"Just a little bit!" Shinomiya Rin had already opened the bottle and poured water into all three glasses. "It's worth celebrating that Ms. Komi is back safe and sound today! Besides, we haven't relaxed in a long time."

Komi Yui hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said, "It shouldn't be a problem if it happens once in a while. Mr. Suzuki, please have some too."

""

Seeing that Shinomiya Rin had already pushed the wine glass in front of him, and then looking at Komi Yui's gentle smile, Hara Masaki ultimately said nothing more.

Rin Shinomiya raised her glass first: "A toast to Ms. Fumi's safe return!"

"Cheers!" Komi Yuiya raised his glass.

Yuan Zhensheng also picked up his cup and gently clinked it with theirs.

The sake has a slightly sweet taste and a hint of spiciness.

Rin Shinomiya drank a little too quickly, choked a bit, coughed a few times, and her face turned slightly red.

Koji Yui sipped her drink slowly, a faint blush rising on her face.

Yuan Zhensheng only ate a little bit, spending most of his time eating vegetables.

After a few drinks, the atmosphere gradually became more lively.

Once Shinomiya Rin started talking, she began chattering about the funny things that happened when she was on duty, complaining about how lazy Hara Masaki was, and talking about her ambitions when she was a police officer.

Komi listened quietly, occasionally interjecting with a question or two, asking about the details.

Yuan Zhensheng remained silent for most of the time, simply listening. The alcohol made Shinomiya Rin's face increasingly red, her eyes sparkling, and she began to talk more and more, her voice growing louder and louder.

"—Actually, I became a policeman because I wanted to prove something to my dad!" Shinomiya Rin downed another glass of wine, her voice tinged with drunkenness and barely perceptible grievance. "I'm not some useless pawn—I wanted to achieve something on my own and show him—"

She paused, her eyes somewhat unfocused: "But—but it seems like I've messed everything up. I can't figure out the case, and I've become a wanted criminal—and you've all been dragged into this mess, hiding with me—"

"Miss Shinomiya, don't say that," Komi Yui gently comforted her. "You've just been dragged into something bad."

"But—but I'm so unwilling to accept this!" Shinomiya Rin's voice trembled with tears as she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Why am I being framed? Why can that swamp man get away with it? My dad—my dad—"

She suddenly choked up, slumped onto the table, her shoulders shaking slightly: "He doesn't care about me at all—never since I was little—he's never satisfied with anything I do—I desperately wanted his approval, but in the end—in the end, I can't even be a policeman anymore—"

Koji reached out and gently patted her back without saying a word, simply keeping her company quietly.

Hara Masaki looked at Shinomiya Rin, who was sobbing on the table, and then at Komi Yui, who was silently comforting her.

The warm yellow light enveloped the small dining table, steam rose from the food, and the wine bottle was already half empty.