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[Anri] かなえさん、いるー?
Kanae-san, you home–?
[Narration] 呼び鈴を押しながらインターホンに呼びかける。鍵が開いているのはすぐ気がついたので、杏里は返事を待たずにノブに手をかけた。
She called out on the intercom as she rang the bell. Noticing that the door was unlocked, she turned the knob without waiting for a reply.
[Tenkyouin] そろそろ来る頃だと思ってたよ。
I thought you'd be coming to see me soon.
[Narration] 天京院鼎
Tenkyouin Kanae
[Narration] 杏里の先輩にして、肉体関係を伴わない唯一の友人。
Anri's senpai, and the only friend she has that she doesn't have a sexual relationship with.
[Narration] 学園随一の天才で、その思考と行動は常に紙一重だが、不思議に杏里と気が合うらしい。
The school's greatest genius, and strangely enough, she and Anri seem to get along well, even though they've always been somewhat disparate in their thinking and behavior.
[Anri] やあ、かなえさん。
Hey, Kanae-san.
[Narration] 孤独を好む天京院鼎の自室には、在室時でもたいてい鍵がかかっている。
Tenkyouin Kanae prefered the isolation of her own room, and usually kept the door locked.
[Narration] しかし不思議なことに、杏里が訪ねてきたときだけは、留守でもない限り、鍵は常にかかっていなかった。
But, the strange thing was that whenever Anri came to visit, unless Tenkyouin was out, the door was always unlocked.
[Narration] 以前、それを不思議に思った杏里が天京院に尋ねたことがあるが、答えは不敵な笑みだけであった。
Thinking this to be odd, Anri had once asked Tenkyouin about it, but a bold grin had been the only answer given.
[Narration] おそらく手品のようなものなのだろう。杏里は勝手にそう解釈している。
That she must be using some kind of magic trick was the answer Anri had come up with.
[Tenkyouin] コーヒーいるかい?
Want a coffee?
[Anri] 思いきり薄めたアメリカンを。ミルクと砂糖はいいや。
I'm feeling like a mild Americano. No milk or sugar.
[Narration] 杏里の注文を聞いて、天京院は自家製のコーヒーミルを操作した。
Taking Anri's order, Tenkyouin started up her home made coffee mill.
[Narration] ミキサーの破砕音にしか聞こえない騒音が数秒流れて、カップにコーヒーが注がれる。もう慣れっこの光景なのか、杏里は何も言わなかった。
For several seconds, the only sound was the grinding from the mixer, then the coffee poured out into a cup. Anri, long familiar with this scene, said nothing.
[Tenkyouin] はい。
Here.
[Anri] ありがと。
Thank you.
[Narration] 琥珀色の飲み物から立ちのぼる香りに、しばし沈黙するふたり。
They were silent for a time, while the scent from their amber drinks drifted upward.
[Narration] 静寂を破ったのは天京院の方だった。
Tenkyouin was the first to break the silence.
[Tenkyouin] だいたい話はわかってる。
I know the story.
[Anri] いつもの事だけど、かなえさんは話が早くて助かるなあ。
It's no different from usual, but you being so on top of things is very helpful.
[Narration] 楽天的な口調に、天京院は難しい声音で応じた。
Tenkyouin responded to that optimistic statement with a severe voice.
[Tenkyouin] おそらく、杏里が感じているより状況は厳しいよ。漠然と追っていたら、とても三週間では足りないだろうさ。
This situation is more serious than you seem to think. Three weeks won't be enough if you just run around randomly.
[Anri] そうだね。どうしたらいい?
You're right. What should we do?
[Narration] 明確な答えがあるに違いないという確信のこもった質問に、天京院の声はますます硬くなっていく。
The confidence that there was a clear solution implied in Anri's question made Tenkyouin's voice grow even harder.
[Tenkyouin] とにかく手がかりが必要だ。
Anyway, you need a lead.
[Anri] うん。どんな?
Yeah. Like what?
[Tenkyouin] ……杏里。自分のことだろう?少しは自分で考えなよ。
…Anri, isn't this your problem? You should think for yourself a bit.
[Narration] 杏里は喉の奥で笑い声をたてた。
Anri gave a little laugh from the back of her throat.
[Anri] ボクが少しぐらい頭をひねったって、どうせかなえさんの智恵にはかなわないからね。
I've already wracked my brain over this, but I know I'm no match for your wisdom.
[Anri] かなえさんを信じてるのさ。
I have faith in you, Kanae-san.
[Tenkyouin] ………………はぁ。
………Haa.
[Narration] 天京院からため息が漏れる。
A sigh escaped from Tenkyouin.
[Tenkyouin] そう言ってくれるなら、普段からもう少しあたしの言うことを守って欲しいもんだ。
You say that now, but it's not like you ever do anything I tell you to do.
[Anri] やだな、信じることと言うとおりにすることは別だろ?
Hey now, there's a difference between believing someone and following someone to the letter.
[Tenkyouin] わかったわかった、もういい。
Alright, alright. I get it.
[Narration] この話は終わり、という風に天京院が手を振った。
Tenkyouin waved her hand as she finished talking.
[Tenkyouin] ……いいかい、杏里。よく聞きな。
…Okay, Anri. Listen up.
[Narration] 口調に紛れもない真剣さを感じ、杏里は天京院に視線を向けた。
Hearing the seriousness in her tone, Anri looked over at Tenkyouin.
[Tenkyouin] あたしが出来る限り協力する。杏里は、とにかく手がかりを集めてくるんだ。
I will assist you as much as I am able. Anyway, it'll be up to you to go out and gather any clues.
[Tenkyouin] それが事件に関係あるものかどうかは、あたしが判断する。とにかくひとつでも多く情報を集めて、あたしのところへ持っておいで。
Then I will decide how, if at all, those clues are connected to this case. Anyway, once you've got a decent amount of information, come back here.
[Tenkyouin] あたしは、まあ……人づきあいがヘタだからね。安楽椅子探偵に徹させてもらうよ。
Me, well…. I'm not good with people, so I'll stay here and play armchair detective.
[Tenkyouin] けど、人手は心配しなくていいだろ?どうせ、手を貸そうって女の子が何人もいるんじゃないか?
But, there are other people who're worried about you, right? In other words, why not have those girls help you look?
[Anri] いやあ。それほどでも。
Haha, I couldn't ask THAT much of them.
[Tenkyouin] ……別に褒めてないよ。
…Don't feel proud about it.
[Tenkyouin] とにかく、情報でも証拠でも、何だったら噂話でもいい。検証と推理はあたしがやるから、杏里は集めることにだけ集中するんだ。いいかい?
Anyway, information, evidence, even gossip will do if that's what you can get. I'll do all of the verification and reasoning, so you can concentrate on the finding. Got it?
[Anri] わかった。
Got it.
[Tenkyouin] そうだな……。ちょうど三週間あるから、集めた情報は土曜日にまとめて持ってきてちょうだい。
Right…. We have exactly three weeks from today, so you should bring back all of the information you've gathered on Saturday of each week.
[Anri] 一週間ごとの成果を持ち込むわけ?ちょっとマイペースすぎない?
You'll only help me once a week? You sure are relaxed under this.
[Tenkyouin] あたしだって自分の研究があるんだよ。
I have my own work to attend to.
[Tenkyouin] 第一、ある程度まとめて持ってきてくれないと、検証も推理もしようがないだろ。
And the most important part of this is you finding stuff. I won't be able to give you any insight if you don't.
[Anri] ……そういうもんか。
…I see.
[Tenkyouin] それに、一週間ペースで〆切を決めれば、杏里も真面目に動くだろう?
Besides, I think the one week deadlines will make you work a little more dilligently, don't you?
[Tenkyouin] なにしろ気が多いからなあ、君は。
You're easily distracted, after all.
[Anri] うん、否定しない。
Yeah, can't argue there.
[Tenkyouin] 三週間……あたしのカンじゃぎりぎり間に合うと思うよ。あとは杏里の頑張り次第ということだ。
Three weeks…. It might just be enough time. The rest will be up to you.
[Anri] そうか。かなえさんが太鼓判を押してくれるなら安心だ。
Is that right? If it has your seal of approval then I've got nothing to worry about.
[Tenkyouin] あまり気を抜かない方がいいよ。
Just don't let your mind wander off.
[Tenkyouin] とりあえず人事を尽くそう。そうすれば、天命は後からついてくるだろうからさ。
Let's focus on talking to people first. We'll have to leave finding other stuff to luck.
[Anri] 同感だ。……そうだ、かなえさん。
Agreed. …Oh yeah, Kanae-san.
[Tenkyouin] なんだい、まだ何かあるのかい?
What, was there something else?
[Anri] ああ……思いついたんだけど、これから三週間の間、犯人が次の事件を起こす可能性はあるかな?
Yeah…. I've been wondering, is it possible that the criminal will strike again sometime in the next three weeks?
[Narration] 杏里の言葉に天京院が眉をひそめる。
Tenkyouin frowned at Anri's words.
[Tenkyouin] いや……そうだな。あり得るだろう。
Yes…. That's right. They might.
[Anri] これ以上被害者を出したくないんだ。そのためにも、一刻も早く捕まえないと。三週間なんて時間の余裕はないよ。
I don't want to see any more vitcims. So, we should catch this person as soon as possible. We can't afford to waste any time these three weeks.
[Tenkyouin] 焦って真犯人を見つけられなければ、それこそ元も子もないんだけどね。
If we don't find the real criminal quickly, we've lost everything anyway.
[Tenkyouin] ……けど、そこには目をつぶれと言って、素直に聞く杏里じゃないし……。
…But it wouldn't be like you, Anri, if you were to just let their crime slip by.
[Anri] はは。
Haha.
[Tenkyouin] ………………。
……………..
[Tenkyouin] なら、折衷案といこう。
Well then, I'll meet you halfway.
[Anri] ──?
–?
[Tenkyouin] これまでの被害者の共通点から、次に襲われる可能性が高い子を何人かピックアップする。
Using common features of the victims so far, I might be able to figure out likely future targets.
[Tenkyouin] 杏里はその中からひとり選んで、情報を集めつつその子の身辺を見張るんだ。
You then pick a one from that list, and watch over her while you're out gathering information.
[Tenkyouin] そこで犯人を捕まえられれば、わざわざ推理する手間も省けるしね。
Then if you happen across the criminal, we can save a lot of time and effort.
[Anri] ……ひとり?
…Only one?
[Tenkyouin] うん、ひとりだ。
Yes, just one.
[Tenkyouin] それ以上は二兎を追う者……になる可能性が高い。
We can't afford to try to do too many things at once.
[Tenkyouin] 何より犯人が行動を起こさなかった時のことを考えると、情報集めの方も進めていかないといけないからね。
We must consider the possibility that the criminal won't strike again, so we should focus primarily on gathering information.
[Anri] うーん、そうか……。
Hmm, I see.
[Tenkyouin] 待って。いま、被害者候補をリストアップするよ。
Hold on. I'll draw up a list of potential victims.
[Narration] 天京院はパソコンに近寄るとキーに指を滑らせた。
Tenkyouin sat down at her computer, and her fingers flew across the keyboard.
[Narration] 途端にミキサーの破砕音が室内に響き、ついで検索完了のチャイムが鳴る。
Just as the grinding of the mixer reverberated through the room, a chime rang out to mark the end of the search.
[Tenkyouin] 出た
Done
……。候補者は三人だ。
…. There are three possible victims.
[Anri] 三人か……。
Three, huh….
[Tenkyouin] さあ、選んでくれ、杏里。
Go on, pick one, Anri.
[Tenkyouin] 三人の中から誰を選ぶかは、君の直感にまかせるよ。
I can't narrow it down beyond these three, so I'll trust your instinct on it.
[Anri] そう?じゃあ──。
Yeah? Okay then–.
[Narration] 杏里はためらわず、指をさした。
Without hesitation, Anri pointed to one name.
[Narration] それは……!
It'll be….!