Socially Hitman Side Story 13: 'The Blue Investigation Takes Extra Sugar'

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I am Dan Neraiuchi. I am a hitman.

Though I say hitman, I don't do things like killing people.

What I kill is... well, let's call it 'social status'.

It is 10:00 AM on a Thursday. Here at the 'Dash Detective Agency', it is peaceful again today.

My job is officially that of a detective. Since I basically discuss hitman work in other places, this office is like a camouflage.
The name 'Dash Detective Agency' is sometimes mistaken for 'Deodorizing Charcoal Detective Agency', but I personally like it.

The only regret is that I have run out of white sugar for my coffee. It's not that I can't drink it black, but I want to drink my golden ratio coffee of 7 parts sugar, 2 parts milk, and 1 part coffee. In particular, 'Sato & Nonaka Sugar' from Sato & Nonaka Sugar Co., Ltd. has been my recent obsession, but like a fool, I forgot to order it from the mail-order site Arizona. It seems to be a very popular product, and by the time I noticed, it was out of stock.

Oh well. For now, I ordered sugar from a different manufacturer. With the optional Ganda delivery, it should arrive by noon today.

Ding-dong.

Oh, a visitor.
It is extremely rare for a customer to visit here directly, thinking this is a real detective agency.

Click.

'...Um... this is a detective agency, right...?'

A young man in his late 20s is standing there, looking timid. What is with this lack of confidence? He should be more dignified. Well, if he was overwhelmed by my overflowing aura, then I suppose I am partly to blame.

Anyway, a customer is a customer. I guided this man to the reception area.

'...I... am this kind of person...'

As soon as he sat on the sofa, the man handed over a business card.
On it was written,
"World Blue Co., Ltd., Welcome Department, Sugar and Milk Provided Section, Isami Aotomo"
.

"Uh, Mr. 'Soutomoyuu'"

"...It's read 'Isami Aotomo'."

"My apologies. So, what brings you here today?"

"...There is someone I want you to find."

"A missing person?"

Aotomo handed over a photograph. It was likely from the World Blue Co., Ltd. entrance ceremony a few years ago.
Pointing to a female employee at the very edge who looked particularly pale and unwell, Aotomo continued.

"...Her name is Mel Aoza... she's a colleague who joined at the same time as me... and someone I like..."

Hey. What, what is this. Is this a lovey-dovey story? Is it? Yeah, yeah, I see. So it's a lovey-dovey story, is it? I see.

"...Until last year, she was in the 'I'm Leaving Now' Department... This April, she transferred to the 'Will You Be Using a Plastic Bag?' Section of the Welcome Department... Since our sections are next to each other, we had chances to see each other... and before I knew it, we became close..."

Hey. He really started gushing. I don't have the time to listen to your pointless lovey-dovey stories.

"...But... lately, she seems to have become suddenly busy... even though we are in the same company and in adjacent sections... I can't see her at all now... I don't even see her around... so I want you to investigate what she is doing..."

Hey.

Hey, hey, hey, hey.
Aotomo. That, you know, she must have had a change of heart. She probably found a more attractive man in the 'Will You Be Using a Plastic Bag?' Section. You're probably being dumped because you have such a gloomy look on your face. Not that I know for sure.

I mean, what kind of request is this? You shouldn't be asking a detective for something like this.

As I was thinking about how to decline this request, Aotomo brought up the subject of payment.

"...If you investigate for me... I will add this to the fee..."

Aotomo slowly took something out of his bag.
Th-that is.

"...It is a product catalog from our business partner, 'Sato-Nonaka Sugar Manufacturing Co., Ltd.'... You can also definitely order 'Sato-Nonaka Sugar'..."

"Let's do it."

I finished my black coffee and said.

◇

After Soutomo left, I decided to create an investigation plan. First, I need to gather information on Meru Aokura.

According to Soutomo, she is also an employee at World Blue and transferred to the 'Welcome, Will You Be Needing a Plastic Bag?' Department this April.
Until last fiscal year, she belonged to the 'I'm Leaving Now' Department.

Hmm, the 'I'm Leaving Now' Department, if I recall...

◇

"Manager Aoki, you have a visitor."

This is the headquarters building of World Blue Co., Ltd. I came to meet Naoki Aoki, the manager of the 'I'm Leaving Now' Department.
I told a young male employee at the entrance of the 'I'm Leaving Now' Department my business and had him announce me.

To think I would end up relying on Aoki.

If Meru Aokura was in the 'I'm Leaving Now' Department until March, there is no way Aoki wouldn't know anything. One of the tenets of a hitman is, 'Travel needs a companion, the world needs compassion, and leave the job to me.' Even if I'm not a hitman in this world, I hope Aoki hasn't forgotten this spirit.

I was shown to an empty conference room and was left alone with Aoki.

"To think you'd come here."

Aoki grinned.

"I heard about it. You did a tasting of the new sweets from Ohachido and Cafe Hana, didn't you?"

Spare me the excuses. Let's get to the point.

You're as blunt as ever. Fine. So, is it someone from the 'I'll Go Ahead' Department who's the target this time?

No, I'm here on detective business today.

Oh?

I'm looking for a woman named Meru Aoza.

Ah, that girl who was in our 'I'll Go Ahead' Department until March. She should be in the 'Welcome' Department, 'Will You Be Using a Plastic Bag?' Section now.

I know. But I heard she hasn't been seen lately. I don't have any connections in the 'Welcome' Department, so I thought I'd ask for your help.

I see. Wait here a moment.

Aoki left his seat and walked out of the conference room.

A few minutes later, he returned with a few sheets of copy paper.

Meru Aoza, Meru Aoza... let's see. Huh? It says here she's been 'seconded to the Sutton Republic branch' since last month.

The 'Sutton Republic'?

She's half-Japanese and half-Suttonian. Her mother is from the Sutton Republic and apparently works as an instructor for the Sutton folk art, the 'Yofuku Dance.' She herself is also a qualified Yofuku Dance instructor, which caught President Ao's eye. Then, with a single word from President Ao—'I want to spread the Yofuku Dance in Japan!'—her secondment from headquarters to the Sutton Republic was decided, and she was chosen for the position. It was such a sudden secondment that, on the surface, it seems it was handled as a 'survey on plastic bag usage in the Sutton Republic,' so there was no official personnel transfer.

So that's what happened.

Meru Aoza is on secondment to the Sutton Republic. I've obtained the information I wanted. Mission accomplished.

Sorry to bother you while you're busy. Thanks.

You're welcome. By the way, I heard a rumor...

What is it?

A girl named Hitomi Aoi from the Publicity Department suddenly quit. She was a bit of a handful, so people around her had their hands full, but it sounds like she left as if she were running away from some kind of terror. Do you know anything about that?

Aoki. I'm sure you're asking that question because you're certain of something.

"……Who knows?"

I grinned.

Socially Hitman, Dan Negorouchi.

He takes pride in his work.

(To be continued?)

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