The main Hokage man will only hinder my speed in making hand seals

This is an ordinary small town that is quite prosperous. The pedestrians coming and going on the street are all dressed decently, just like the fashion of the last era.

The white car slowed down and drove into the parking lot outside the hotel, slowly parking in the parking space.

Odasaku, who was in the driver's seat, got out first to get the luggage, while Kunikida, who was in the passenger seat, leaned over to shake the person in the back seat.

"Dazai, hey, Dazai, wake up, we're here, get off the bus and get your luggage."

Dazai dodged his hand and mumbled incoherently, like he was talking in his sleep: "I know, Kunikida-ma, stop making noise..."

"You guy, why are you calling me mom?!" Kunikida clenched his fists tightly, ready to punch Dazai at any time.

"If you don't want to be beaten, get up quickly."

“Yes, yes, yes.” Dazai slowly climbed up from the back seat, still complaining, “Kunikida-kun is so strict with me.”

Odasaku opened the door of the back seat and said, "Dazai, we're at the hotel now, go to your room and sleep."

"It's such a waste of time to just sleep in the room while traveling." Dazai took the luggage and walked in front with great interest.

Odasaku followed and said, "Yes, let's go investigate together this afternoon."

Kunikida picked up his luggage, his voice full of helplessness: "Odasaku, being too indulgent towards naughty kids will only breed scum in society."

"Dazai is an adult now, he knows his limits." So Odasaku felt that he couldn't really discipline Dazai like a child.

Besides, this was originally just his private trip, and he had no complaints about troubling Dazai and Kunikida to accompany him on the investigation.

The room was booked online before departure. The three of them put their luggage away and then met at the cafe next to the hotel.

Odasaku took out the newspaper and placed it between the three of them.

He pointed to one of the news items in the newspaper and reiterated the purpose of his trip to Dazai and the others.

"Ranpo said that there will be some exciting follow-up to this news, which may help my writing."

"So I will go to the relevant places to investigate in the next two days. Do you have any ideas?"

Kunikida picked up the newspaper and read the news carefully: "Are the work pressures of today's young people too great? A young female reporter committed suicide because she couldn't bear the pressure..."

"The case was closed as suicide three months ago. What else could there be? Is there another hidden story?"

Looking at the above records, no evidence of homicide was found, but several people saw that the deceased was in a trance and had suicidal tendencies.

"No." Dazai took the newspaper from Kunikida and pointed at the photo of the deceased: "She doesn't look like a suicide enthusiast."

The woman in the newspaper has short, neat hair, a determined look in her eyes, and exudes a vibrant energy that moves forward courageously.

If such an ambitious woman chose to commit suicide, it was definitely not just because of work pressure.

In other words, can suicide, chosen because of being oppressed to the point of having no other options, really be considered suicide?

Those who oppress are the murderers.

Odasaku believes that one should not judge people by appearance: "But it is not appropriate to judge the character of others based on appearance alone."

What if the deceased had a fragile heart hidden under a strong appearance?

Dazai gave them an example: "If someone told me that Kunikida-kun committed suicide due to excessive work pressure..."

Some workaholics have firm beliefs that can be seen from their appearance, so they will never give up their lives or surrender easily.

"Asshole, don't compare me. I'm just carrying out my ideals." Kunikida's fists hardened again.

He slapped the newspaper on the table and said, "I will never, ever, ever commit suicide! My ideal will never fall!"

Dazai spread his hands, with an expression like this: "Look."

"Sure enough, things are not that simple." Odasaku was quickly convinced.

But if that's the case, then the police who closed the case as suicide have a big problem.

Just as they were lost in thought, the waitress from the coffee shop came over with coffee in her hand: "Guests, this is your coffee~"

"Thank you." Kunikida thanked him politely.

But after putting down the coffee, the waitress did not leave immediately. Instead, she stood aside holding the tray and looked at the three of them.

Dazai put on a gentle smile, "Miss, is there anything else I can help you with?"

"Well, I see that some of the guests don't seem to be locals. Where are they from?" The waitress suppressed the excitement in her eyes.

"Yokohama." Odasaku answered simply, "We are here for tourism."

"Hey! Isn't that a super prosperous port city? That's great!" The waitress became even more excited.

She blatantly pried for information: "It seems that these guests must be successful people with successful careers, right?"

Her eyes roamed back and forth between them, as if trying to determine which of them had the higher social status.

Dazai pointed at Odasaku and said, "We are just ordinary office workers, but this is a famous writer in Yokohama."

The waitress' eyes lit up instantly: "Wow! Great! Is the writer here to collect materials for his writing?"

Without waiting for Oda's answer, she actively recommended herself: "I am very familiar with the area. If you need a guide, Mr. Writer can come to me!"

Odasaku couldn't understand why she suddenly became so enthusiastic. He was about to politely refuse, but Dazai answered first.

"That's great. Who knows, you might be used as a character prototype in a novel."

"Dazai..." Kunikida wanted him to stop making strange promises for Oda.

Moreover, there was something wrong with this waitress. It was as if she was approaching him deliberately with some purpose. Kunikida was a little wary of her.

"Really?!" The waitress didn't even think that this might just be a polite remark.

She was so excited that she almost jumped up: "My name is Nomoto Chiyo, I am 21 years old. Mr. Writer, please don't make any mistakes."

"Before, a talent scout told me that I was suitable to be a star, but I just lacked an opportunity to become famous. A big boss also told me that I could be a singer."

"If Mr. Writer can make me famous..." Nomoto Chiyo looked at Odasaku shyly: "I can repay you in any way you want."

Chiyo Nomoto has the expression "want to be a top star" written all over her face, and it seems that she is completely immersed in the fantasy of a life of luxury and decadence.

Odasaku looked at Dazai for help.

Make Nomoto Chiyo famous? He can't do it, and he won't do it.

Odasaku thinks of himself as just an ordinary writer raising five children.

Dazai looked calm and supportive: "I think Miss Nomoto does have the potential to become famous. I guess all she needs is an opportunity."

"It's okay. I'm just a little young and pretty, and I have a little bit of talent." Nomoto Chiyoko never stopped smiling.

After Dazai praised her until she was confused, he changed the subject and asked what he wanted to know.

"Is Miss Nomoto busy with work? I see the cafe is right in front of the station. You must be dealing with a lot of different customers on a daily basis, right?"

Nomoto Chiyo revealed a trace of distress on her face: "I'm not busy, but I did meet a lot of strange customers."

She has encountered scammers several times. They said they would make her famous, but after taking advantage of her, they disappeared.

"It seems that Miss Nomoto is a thoughtful person who will take good care of every customer." Dazai continued to praise.

"Even if there is something that is bothering me, seeing the energetic Miss Nomoto will cheer me up again."

Dazai suddenly pointed to the land bridge not far from the store and said, "After all, there are no measures to prevent suicide there. If it weren't for Miss Nomoto, the suicide rate might have skyrocketed."

Depression, suicide, redemption... Nomoto Chiyo's eyes wandered. Doesn't this sound like a character that could easily become popular?

If it were written in a book...

"Actually, there is one person who is my regret." Nomoto Chiyo seemed to have remembered something sad.

"I had a regular customer before. I noticed that she was very sad during that time. I tried my best to comfort her, but I still couldn't change her fate."

"I often think that I should have cared for her a little more and shared my energy with her. Maybe... maybe she wouldn't have given up her life..."

Dazai's smile remained unchanged, and he continued to inquire without leaving any trace: "Suicide? Could it be Miss Ichikawa mentioned in the news? Because of work pressure... What a pity."

"But Miss Nomoto has done a good job. I think Miss Ichikawa would not want to see you blame yourself for this."

Nomoto Chiyo rubbed her eyes and said, "During that time, Miss Setsuko was always worried about her work. I consoled her several times, but the result was still..."

Kunikida and Odasaku looked at each other.

Setsuko Ichikawa, female, journalist, fell to her death from an overpass three months ago.

According to Chiyo Nomoto, did Setsuko Ichikawa really choose to commit suicide because of work pressure?