Strange. If it's revenge, why separate the soil? Hayashi Shuichi frowned, prodding the dirt with a stick.
Wangcai joined, digging with paws. Hayashi Shuichi shooed him away. The dog whimpered, turning to sniff the ruined flowers and pots.
"Any findings, Senpai?" Midori asked eagerly.
Hayashi Shuichi pointed with the stick at the soil, flowers, and pots. "Cleaned up, or was it like this?"
"It was this way when Mom and I arrived," Midori explained. "She salvaged some salvageable plants."
"Oh, Senpai," she whispered, "think it's those punks from before?"
The ones who'd tried robbing her, beaten back with Hayashi Shuichi's help, injuring his arm.
"Impossible," he shook his head. "The officers said he won't be out for ten days at least."
"Not him? I haven't upset anyone," Midori muttered.
"Really?" He smiled. "No recent 'robberies'?"
"Senpai, I wouldn't!" Midori blushed. "They robbed me first…"
"Doesn't matter—don't do it again," he warned. "Legally, it's robbery. Got it?"
"...Fine," she grumbled.
Not close enough to lecture further, he pondered. "Separating soil and flowers… like searching for something buried."
He scanned around. "Any of these front pots sold recently?"
Midori checked. "Quite a few chamomile mint and lemon balm."
"With pots?" he asked.
"Of course," she said. "Buyers grow them themselves."
"Who to? Know them?"
"Ask Mom," Midori said. "I don't remember selling those."
Hayashi Shuichi asked Mrs. Orisaka about buyers.
"Sold yesterday," she said. "Don't know details, but they mentioned an amusement park—maybe a shop opening."
"Usually, who buys these…"
Wangcai suddenly barked at a balding middle-aged man in the crowd.
"Quiet, mutt…" Hayashi Shuichi scolded, then paused. Wangcai sniffed the ruins—smelling the culprit?
"Sir, you…"
The man bolted across the street.
Guilty as charged. Hayashi Shuichi chased. Wangcai lunged, biting the man's calf.
The man yelped. A motorcycle roared from an alley, rider swinging an iron bar at Wangcai's head.
"Let go!" Hayashi Shuichi yelled.
Criminals could wait; he couldn't explain a dead dog to Reiko.
Wangcai released, leaping back, dodging the bar, and returning to Hayashi Shuichi.
The men sped off on the bike.
Hayashi Shuichi tried noting the plate—none. Right, under 50cc, no registration needed here.
The officers caught up. "What's that about? Those guys…"
"The vandals," Hayashi Shuichi said. "They hid something in a front pot while Mrs. Orisaka wasn't looking."
"Last night, couldn't find it, so they smashed them all, dumped soil to search."
"Did they get it?" Officer Kitano asked.
"Idiot, if they did, why come back?" Officer Jioka snapped.
"Mrs. Orisaka said chamomile mint and lemon balm went to the amusement park," Hayashi Shuichi noted. "They'll check there. Alert the park station."
"We'll report it," Kitano assured.
Back at the shop, a purple-haired girl in sunglasses bid Mrs. Orisaka farewell, smiling at Hayashi Shuichi.
As she vanished into an alley, he asked, "Who's she?"
"Don't know," Midori said. "She asked about chamomile mint and lemon balm buyers too."
Hayashi Shuichi paused. "…You told her?"
"It's no secret," Midori said. "Used in drinks at cafes—fresh-picked, so they buy potted."
Noticing his expression, she asked, "Senpai, should Mom not have?"
"She could've found out anyway," he mused. "She's likely involved."
"Huh?" Midori gasped. "With those men?"
"Different group, from the actions," he said. "I'm heading to the park today. If resolved, great. If not, and they don't find it, they'll return. Be careful."
"Don't worry, Senpai," Midori said, swinging her wooden sword. "If they come, Mom and I'll beat them senseless!"
(End of Chapter)
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