Novel "Let's Go Stealing!" ⑧

10 Individuality

November was drawing to a close, and the season had suddenly turned wintry. Yesterday, a package about the size of a small wardrobe arrived from Hijiri, and the two of them had begun the process of unpacking it in the living room.

"It's the same every time, but opening packages from Hijiri-san is such a pain..."

"Well, considering the items inside, it's to be expected... but lately, she's been going to such elaborate lengths."

Hijiri, Yoshino's aunt who worked at DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) as the head of its Special Technology Research Laboratory, would send new technologies and products developed at the agency to Yoshino for testing and evaluation. For Yoshino, it was a blessing to be able to get her hands on such outlandish, sci-fi, cutting-edge technology, which she also repurposed for her "stealing" activities. However, the process required to actually open them had become increasingly complex and difficult with each delivery. Especially since she started teaming up with Chie, the packages required clearing various authentication systems—electronic keys were just the beginning—or solving advanced mathematical problems to input the answer before they would open. It was hard to deny that it felt like overkill, even for a test of skill.

They had started on this current package thinking it would just be a simple lock, but they were completely stumped by the sturdiness of the old-fashioned, large warehouse lock. It was likely from the Edo period, but the modern lock-picking tools they used didn't fit. They tried making a spare key by pouring in a liquid resin that hardened instantly, but it lacked the strength needed to turn the lock and snapped off at the base. In the end, just like the thieves of the Edo period, they took an impression to make a metal spare key, and by the time they finally managed to open the warehouse lock, they were exhausted.

After finally removing the lock and opening the wooden box, they found a synthetic leather travel trunk inside. Of course, this also had a lock. A complex-looking, three-dimensional marquetry puzzle was used as the lock. The moment they saw it, their spirits broke, and they gave up on unpacking and went to bed.

Today, their lectures ended at noon, and as soon as they returned from the university, they started working on the marquetry puzzle. They had been at it for nearly four hours, but there was still no sign of it opening. Finally, Chie snapped, grabbed a stainless steel kitchen knife, and stabbed it into the synthetic leather trunk, but the blade of the knife chipped and flew off, nearly injuring Janis. Seeing that, Yoshino flew into a rage and brought out an engine cutter with a diamond-coated blade from the garage, but it couldn't even scratch the trunk; instead, the blade of the engine cutter ended up in tatters.

"Argh! So annoying! I guess it's 'the new product comes with the trunk'!"

"It looks just like ordinary synthetic leather, though... you know..."

As Chie said, even the texture and feel were exactly the same as synthetic leather. It seemed to be a new material that had the elasticity to dent slightly when pressed with a finger, yet showed extreme resistance to blades and friction.

Just as the two of them sighed and were about to have some tea to change their mood, Yoshino's smartphone signaled an incoming call. Looking at the display, it was a call from Hijiri.

"This is Yoshino..."

"Hi! Usually, I get a message as soon as the package arrives, but since I didn't hear anything, I decided to call you myself!"

Yoshino could hear a forced tone in Hijiri's voice. She must have called to probe them, anticipating that they were struggling with the unpacking.

"Ah... we... haven't opened it yet."

"Oh! It should have arrived yesterday morning, right?"

"...Yeah, it arrived..."

"And yet, you haven't opened it? Were you busy??"

"Not really... I'm not busy, but..."

"Then why? Did something happen?"

"Oh, come on! You're doing this on purpose, aren't you! You've been at it for a while now!"

Suddenly, a loud laugh rang out from the smartphone, loud enough for Chie to hear as well, even though it wasn't on speakerphone.

"Hey! You're laughing too much! Besides, the packaging has been way too secure lately!"

"Ahahaha! Sorry, sorry! Did you open the wooden box?"

"Yeah..."

"Not bad! That lock was made by the famous master, Joseph Plama. Even your grandmother took two full days to open it."

"Grandma did? She was a master lockpicker, right?"

"That's right. Apparently, Grandpa was so enamored with her skill that it took him three years to woo her. So, how did you open it?"

"The usual methods didn't work, so I ended up making a mold and carving a key."

"Ah, well, then Yuno, you still haven't reached your grandmother's level. She opened even that lock with just a single awl."

"N-no way, you're kidding, right? That's exaggerating things way too much!"

"I'm not lying. I saw it with my own eyes. Your father saw it too."

An awl was a sewing tool similar to a bodkin. It seemed physically impossible to open it with just that, but how did her grandmother do it? If she were still alive, she would have loved for her to pass on that technique. No, even just seeing the process in action would have been enough.

"So, what about the trunk?"

"That one is a total bust. I can't figure out the marquetry at all. Chie and I have been struggling with it for four hours, and there's no sign of it opening."

"...Well, I suppose that's to be expected. It wasn't made to be opened."

"W-wha???"

"I thought you might have grown a little, Yuno, but it seems you still have a long way to go. Aren't you getting too hung up on 'things that look like locks'?"

Yuno was startled. Chie, who had been listening to the conversation from the side, began to examine the trunk. She immediately noticed that one of the rivets on the four corners could be pushed in, and signaled to Yuno with her eyes. When Yuno nodded back, Chie pushed the rivet in.

Click, click, click.

Just as I heard the mechanical sounds from the top, middle, and bottom of the trunk, the front panel, along with its marquetry, opened like a door. Inside hung an expensive-looking fur coat and a wetsuit-like jumpsuit. At the bottom, alongside what looked like very high-end boots, were what appeared to be motorcycle boots.

“...It opened...”

“Is that so? That’s good. Listen, when you and Chie are working on something and hit a wall, try looking at everything from zero again. Your skills are undoubtedly top-notch. It’s almost impossible that something, no matter how complex it looks, would be completely beyond the two of you if you tackle it together. You shouldn't just charge head-on into everything.”

“...Understood. Thank you very much.”

“Hehe, you’re a good girl. That’s why I like you both. But you know, just because you can’t solve it by charging head-on doesn’t mean you should bring out kitchen knives or engine cutters. That’s not very mature.”

“You were watching!”

“Come now, I just told you to look carefully!”

While continuing the conversation, the two searched for a camera, but they couldn't find one. Since this room is cleaned every time they return home, it was clear there were no cameras or microphones in the room. If there were any, they would have to be in the wooden box or the trunk, but no matter how thoroughly they searched, they couldn't find a lens or a microphone.

“...Hijiri-san... I surrender...”

“...That’s your second loss, isn't it? You seem to have searched very hard, but there are no cameras or microphones in the wooden box or the trunk. What I was watching was the footage from the camera on the smartphone you are holding in your left hand.”

They had been had. While talking, Hijiri had hacked into Yoshino’s smartphone and was watching the situation in the room through the rear camera. The engine cutter and the broken kitchen knife they had used earlier were still left on the floor. Hijiri had simply been speaking the answer derived from that footage.

Thinking back, Hijiri had said they 'brought them out,' but she hadn't said they 'used them.' They had been beautifully manipulated by their own preconceptions and assumptions. As expected of 'Amauzu.'

“It’s a good thing I’m not your enemy, isn't it? I told you earlier, didn't I? If you tackle something together and it doesn't work, look at it again from zero. If you had thought about it calmly, you would have reached the answer, right?”

“...I have... no words...”

“As I said before, your skills are undoubtedly top-notch. But there is something decisively lacking. That is 'experience.' Since you are young, it’s unreasonable to tell you to 'become cunning,' but you are far too naive. Don't take everything at face value; start by doubting. Sometimes, it is essential to even doubt yourself. Do you understand?”

“...Yes...”

“Good! Then, today’s lecture is over. The coat and boots are a bit early, but they are your Christmas presents. Take this at face value. Also, I will email you the specifications for the suit and boots later. Please decrypt them using the algorithm I taught Chie.”

“U-understood!”

“Well then, that’s it. Seeya!”

The call ended. Both of them looked at each other with pathetic expressions. They still had a lot of training to do.

...Chie... I'm sorry... I even made you feel embarrassed.

We're in this together... I was completely useless too... I'm sorry...

In times like these, the two of them take a bath together. There, they first freshen up, reflect a little while wrapped in soothing scents, and have a grand discussion. Of course, it's about how to do better next time.

Damn it! Still, we were completely outplayed.

While soaking in the bathtub together, Yoshino muttered, resting her chin on the edge.

The alias 'Rain Bullfinch' isn't just for show, is it? ...But I'm really glad they're on our side!

That's true. We have to be satisfied with just that for now... Hey, by the way, am I too soft on people? Do I trust them too easily?

Eh... well... maybe. Even with Chie, it was pretty quick, right? You revealed you were a thief yourself.

Ahhh, that's right. I revealed it five seconds after we started talking, didn't I?

Yeah. Well, conversely, that's why I trusted you, Yoshino. If you were a bad person, you would have tried to hide it until the end, but you blurted it out immediately. I thought, 'Oh, this person isn't bad.' In that sense, I'm the same! Hahaha...

True! You still had me pinned down at that time, right?

Yeah, that's right.

In short, they were both 'good-natured.' To someone who looks at them favorably, that means they are honest and charming, but to someone who approaches with malice, it means they are full of openings.

Hmm, I wonder how we can fix that.

It's not easy, is it? Besides, if you were suspicious of everyone you met, you'd be a really unpleasant person!

Well, that's true, it would be unpleasant, wouldn't it?

Right? If you were like that, Yoshino, I don't think I'd be here with you right now.

That's for sure! I wouldn't want you to be like that either, Chie!

Saying that, Yoshino hugged Chie.

"W-whoa! Wait! Not yet! I'm not done talking!"

"Geez, Chie, you're so serious!"

"I was just about to say something important!"

"Oh, really? What is it? What is it?"

Yoshino pulled away from Chie, though she felt a bit disappointed. Chie's opinions at times like these were surprisingly often spot on.

"Yeah, so, if it's not going to be fixed easily, I think it's fine to just leave it as is. If we force it to be fixed, to the people who know us as we were, we'd suddenly seem unpleasant, right? We might even turn the people who looked at us favorably into enemies."

"Uh-huh, uh-huh, and then?"

"So, we should just act as we have until now, and then deal with it the moment we realize, 'Oh, this person is different.' As Hijiri-san said, if we're 'top-tier,' we should be able to do that, right? Deal with it."

"Well, I suppose."

"Since there are two of us, and basically you're the one doing the talking, Yoshino, I'll be watching the interaction with suspicion while you do..."

"And when you're talking, Chie, I'll take on that role, right?"

"Exactly! And the moment either of us notices, we change how we respond. That way, it doesn't matter if we seem unpleasant. It's the other person's fault, after all."

"I see."

"..."

"Huh? That's it?"

"Yeah. That's it."

The ending was a bit sloppy, but Yoshino somehow understood that Chie meant there was no choice but to gain experience while cultivating the eye to see through people like that. It was also likely that she just wanted to wrap up the conversation quickly. Chie looked at Yoshino with an expectant gaze.

Seeing that face, a mischievous impulse welled up inside her.

"Well then, let's get out before we get lightheaded."

Yoshino said this and actually started to stand up.

"What!"

Sure enough, Chie took the bait. She really is a good-natured person.

"What? Was there still something you wanted to talk about?"

"Uh... no, that's not it..."

"...What is it?"

"...What about the rest?"

"Of what?"

"Uh..."

Chie made a face that looked deeply disappointed and lonely, as if from the bottom of her heart. Yoshino had intended to keep this going for a few more rounds and make Chie say it herself, but she couldn't bear to see that look on her face. She lunged back into the bathtub and hugged Chie as if to devour her. This time, Chie didn't stop Yoshino.

After all was said and done, the two of them had been soaking in the bathtub for nearly two hours, and they were completely lightheaded as they lay on the floor of the washroom.

"Ahhh, I'm completely lightheaded now."

"Ugh, I feel sick..."

Janis, sensing that something was wrong with the two of them, rushed over, running around them while yapping and occasionally licking their faces. The groans of two naked women echoed in the washroom until late into the night.

11 December

As soon as December began, Yoshino and Chie carried out "thefts" in succession in T Prefecture and I Prefecture. Both were universities with resident security guards, state-of-the-art security systems, and a large number of security cameras covering the entire premises, requiring a much higher level of skill than the museum in C Prefecture last time. However, the two of them easily stole 22 items, including earthenware, stone tools, and magatama beads, and handed them over to the Union.

The Union had reported on the progress of the previous "theft." Chie had been monitoring it as well, but there was no sign that the museum in question had reported the damage to the police or security companies so far. If you monitor from two different directions and there is no movement, you can assume there really is no movement.

If the matter were to become public, the end of March and the end of September would be the most likely times. Various public institutions and companies perform their settlements and inventory checks during those periods. Next would be June and December. In other words, you have to be careful in months that are multiples of three.

The university this time had conducted its inventory in September. However, as far as Chie could investigate, there was no evidence that the contents of the storage room had been checked. It was a blatant false report because it was "done" on the books, but that was the nature of "storage rooms" at any university or art museum.

While returning from their overnight expedition, they received a call from an auto repair shop affiliated with the "Union." It was a notification that the car Yoshino's uncle, Hidehito, had given her as a celebratory gift had finished being modified.

A Ford Econoline. It was a large van, known as a "full-size van," which is often used as a forward base by SWAT or the CIA in foreign movies and the like. Yoshino left the operation of this car to Chie and had it modified to Chie's liking.

It was equipped with a 6.8-liter V10 engine, a 6-speed automatic transmission, and a wheelbase of nearly 4 meters. The rear wheels were dual-tire spec, and both the suspension and brakes had been reinforced. From there, Chie had a power generation system consisting of large lithium-ion batteries and solar panels installed, along with various antennas, and added a console desk, cooling system, and power supply in the center of the vehicle body. It should have been finished as a literal "forward base".

The one that took on all of those modifications was a repair shop called "Saito Shokai." Yoshino's Mini Cooper had also been worked on there. Although they called themselves a "repair shop," they didn't just repair and sell old cars; they also performed tuning based on their racing experience. The owner, who could truly be called a master craftsman with a passion for "making parts that can't be obtained" and reliable technical skills, in addition to many years of experience and intuition, ran the place.

Yoshino smiled as she recalled the owner's reaction when Chie brought the car to Saito Shokai. The owner, who was small, had messy, gray-streaked hair slicked back, and wore a goatee, was usually a friendly person who had the special skill of being able to speak in the Kyoto dialect with a particularly lighthearted atmosphere, but when it came to cars, he was a completely different person and would never allow any compromises until he was satisfied himself.

"What are you thinking, bringing something like this in! This is going to be a real pain just to lift up. What are you going to do with this?"

While he complained to Yoshino for bringing in a vehicle so large it barely fit into the factory, he still gave prompt instructions to his employees and moved other cars to make space for it.

In the office, which was typical of a car factory—plastered with car-related magazines, catalogs, and various decals, and which could hardly be called clean—he listened to Chie's requests with a pen tucked behind his ear. Each time, he would mutter complaints to himself like, "That's impossible!" or "Well, I'll have to make it somehow," while taking notes. It was funny because he looked like a father listening to his daughter's unreasonable demands.

Yoshino was looking forward to seeing how Chie's request to "install the large lithium batteries so they can't be seen," which the owner had made a fuss about being "impossible!," had been realized.

The same was true for Chie, whose excitement about owning a car for the first time seemed to be growing day by day. She was so enthusiastic that she had even built a simulator that perfectly replicated the driver's seat.

Although it was already time for the evening darkness to set in, the two decided to head to Saito Shokai and changed their route.

"Oh, I've been waiting for you!"

They handed the owner, who came out to greet them, three cases of beer they had bought on the way. They expressed their gratitude with the beer, which he called his own "fuel."

The owner himself walked them around to explain the improvements.

"You see how well I packed it in? I made sure the batteries can't be seen from the outside."

He opened the rear cargo door to show them the inside. On the right side of the center of the vehicle body was an empty console deck, and opposite it was a fenced rack with a door. Indeed, the batteries, which were as large as an air conditioner's outdoor unit, were nowhere to be seen there.

"Take a look at this. This was a real struggle!"

He closed the cargo door and operated the lift with a remote control, and the vehicle body was lifted upward. Even when he raised the lift until the roof of the car touched the factory ceiling, they still had to stoop to get underneath it.

When Chie looked at the underside of the vehicle, she let out a gasp of admiration. The rear suspension had been replaced with something completely different. It had been changed from a leaf-spring type to a front-fixed MacPherson strut. The batteries had been split and incorporated into the empty space of the lower arms, straddling the drive shaft.

"It wouldn't fit as it was, so I took it apart and split it up. And then, I had to change the shape of the fuel tank too. Since the capacity would decrease, I made space in the engine room and installed two 15-liter tanks, and finally, that was it."

It was as if that was everything. It sounded as if the total replacement of the suspension was something he hadn't really thought much about.

"I took out all the unnecessary seats, and I loaded as many solar panels as I could. The converter and such are behind the console. There are four 100V outlets and one 200V outlet. So, what do you think?"

"I can't believe you actually did it... that's amazing!"

"Are you crazy? Of course I'd do it if you asked! What, you didn't want me to?"

"N-no, that's not it! I said it, sure, but I didn't think you could pack it all in without it being visible no matter how you calculated it! I never imagined you'd swap out the entire suspension and take apart the battery to redistribute it."

"It took a lot of brainpower! Even though it's winter, I was steaming from the head thinking about it! It was a total puzzle! This car looks huge, but there's almost no space inside!"

Saying that, the owner handed Chie the vehicle inspection certificate, which included detailed specifications and strength calculations.

"Well, even though I changed a lot, the strength is perfect, and I kept the weight increase to just 10kg over the original. It was my first time working on this car, but I learned a lot."

This is what makes this owner so respectable. He must be well over sixty, but he never settles for the status quo, always aiming higher and never neglecting the importance of building on his experience.

He said there was absolutely no cause for concern even after a test drive of about 100km. Also, to make it easier for the petite Chie to drive, he had changed the pedal positions and increased the seat adjustment range. This wasn't part of Chie's original request, but it was a thoughtful touch typical of a true craftsman who considers the person behind the wheel.

"Thanks for the beer!"

Seeing their satisfied faces, the owner seemed relieved. He gave a little wave with a smile and trotted out to the road to guide Chie as she backed out of the garage. Chie also slowly pulled the car onto the road, putting the skills she had honed on the simulator to good use. When it lined up next to Yuno's Mini Cooper, its size was very apparent.

Chie took the lead as they headed home. She could see the owner waving with a smile in her rearview mirror until she turned left onto the main road.

Chie's car, of course, couldn't fit in the house's garage. She had ordered a large carport, but since it was a custom-made item, the installation was scheduled for next spring.

"How was the driving? I was watching from behind and thought you looked great."

"Yeah! It's the best! Especially the view. I'm a bit disappointed with the acceleration compared to the bike, but it's easier to turn than I thought!"

"I see. I'll have to practice driving it too. It's left-hand drive, after all."

"I think you'll like it too, Yuno? Especially the view!"

Chie seemed to really like the view from the car. With that much height, it certainly seemed like it would feel good. After that, Chie seemed to forget the fatigue of the long trip and was busy installing various small accessories.

The next day, after finishing her humanities lecture at the university, Chie was called over by Associate Professor Watanabe as she was about to leave the classroom.

"Yuasa-san, do you have a moment?"

"Yes? What is it?"

"I heard you were planning to go to graduate school, is that still the case?"

"Yes, that is my intention."

"Then, you aren't job hunting, are you?"

"Yes... I'm not, but..."

December had arrived, and job hunting for third-year students was becoming increasingly active. Some students had already received informal job offers, and such rumors were creating anxiety among those around them. While those who were on track to graduate were beginning their job search, there were still quite a few students who had no prospects yet.

"Actually, we've received an invitation from a university in Kansai to conduct a joint excavation. It's at the Makimuku ruins. Yuasa-san, are you interested?"

"Oh!? Of course I am!"

"Really? Well, I'm planning to take a few first and second-year students, and I was wondering if you could be their leader, Yuasa-san."

"That is... a great honor, but what about the fourth-year students and the graduate students?"

"Yeah... well, they all seem too busy with their own work to be bothered with this. Oh, it's scheduled for five days starting next Monday. Would that be okay?"

"Yes. I don't have any particular plans."

"That's great! The university will cover all travel expenses, it will count as attendance for your lectures, and you can even list it on your resume for graduate school, so could you please do it?"

"I'd like to consult with my family first, so would it be alright if I give you an answer tomorrow? Of course, I am considering it positively."

"That's true! Yes! Tomorrow is fine, so please, I'm counting on you!"

With that, Associate Professor Watanabe pressed her hands together. She seemed to be in quite a bind. In fact, it had been rumored for some time that Associate Professor Watanabe was not well-liked by other professors in the archaeology and history departments. She was someone who spoke her mind bluntly, and the fact that she was a young woman also seemed to be a factor that the old guard didn't like. I had even heard that several of the papers she had submitted had been suppressed.

The Makimuku ruins are one of the leading archaeological sites in Japan, where the possibility of it being the location of Yamatai-koku has been pointed out. It is hard to believe that all the fourth-year and graduate students would refuse, no matter what personal business they might have. It was entirely possible that professors who were unhappy that this offer had been brought to Associate Professor Watanabe had hoarded those students just to harass her.

As soon as I parted ways with Associate Professor Watanabe, Chie called me. It seemed she was still only able to attend lectures remotely, but she had likely been watching the two of us through a hidden camera.

"Yuno! What was that about?"

Chie must have been holding her smartphone with both hands, eager to hear the news as she made the call. As Yuno told Chie about what had just happened, a thought suddenly struck her.

"Chie, where are you now?"

"Uh... inside the Mini Cooper."

"Okay, I'm coming right over."

Yoshino made a sharp U-turn, headed back down the hallway, and made her way toward the parking lot. If she was going all the way to the Kansai region, there were some "pickles" she absolutely wanted to get her hands on.

As she jogged down the hallway, Yoshino began to map out a concrete plan in her head.

"Let's Go Steal!" (8)
End.

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