Chapter 119: Creepy

Kyouji Toda said nothing and simply listened as Akikawa Kyousuke spoke.

However, he was horrified to discover that the person before him, someone he had only met for the third time today, had revealed his identity, secrets, and personal details with unnerving precision.

A chilling sensation suddenly enveloped Kyouji Toda's body.

When Akikawa Kyousuke earlier guessed his police rank, age, and unmarried status, Toda Kyouji had been surprised, but not overly so.

After all, detectives could do the same.

But when Akikawa Kyousuke accurately deduced that he was from the Organized Crime Countermeasures Bureau, things started to feel strange.

---

If someone had been injected with barbiturates like sodium thiopental or sodium pentobarbital, or forced to take diazepam or similar drugs, they might experience what is commonly known as "truth serum" effects, revealing their secrets involuntarily.

Kyouji Toda could understand that.

Alternatively, someone could be hooked up to a multi-channel physiological recorder, with their real-time physiological parameters displayed on a screen to judge whether they were lying.

Kyouji Toda could accept that too.

---

However, standing before him was Akikawa Kyousuke, who simply stared at him, asked questions, listed options, and then gave accurate answers without requiring a response.

This filled Kyouji Toda with terror.

---

Despite the fear creeping into Toda Kyouji's heart, Akikawa Kyousuke didn't stop speaking.

"How many injuries did you sustain because of that international criminal organization? Is it just the scar on your right eye? Or was it a severe injury? Or did you barely escape with your life?"

"Oh, how pitiful."

---

"Why did you leave the Organized Crime Countermeasures Bureau? Was it simply because you were injured? Or because you surrendered when facing an opponent far more powerful and ruthless than you?"

"Ah, I see. That's why you voluntarily withdrew from the front lines."

"So, they are the reason you harbor such hatred toward criminals?"

"To vent the fear and humiliation in your heart, do you target prisoners weaker than yourself?"

---

"Oh."

Kyouji Toda suddenly heard Akikawa Kyousuke laugh softly, a sneering smirk escaping his lips.

Although Akikawa Kyousuke didn't give a direct response this time, Toda Kyouji could tell.

From the mocking laugh alone, Kyouji Toda knew Akikawa Kyousuke had guessed the truth.

---

It was as if Akikawa Kyousuke had stripped away his defenses, leaving a mix of anger, shame, and terror exploding within Toda Kyouji's heart.

He swung a punch directly at Akikawa Kyousuke's cheek.

But the punch stopped less than five centimeters away.

---

Kyouji Toda saw that Akikawa Kyousuke hadn't moved his head or body at all from beginning to end.

'Was he certain I wouldn't hit him?'

'No, his goal is to provoke me into attacking first!'

---

Kyouji Toda suddenly broke into a cold sweat.

He had lost his composure for a moment.

If not for Akikawa Kyousuke's complete lack of evasive action and the playful glint in his blue eyes, Toda might not have snapped back to reality.

He had nearly caused a disaster.

---

Akikawa Kyousuke's behavior mirrored how Toda Kyouji had treated criminals during his time at the Metropolitan Police Department.

He wanted to provoke the other party, forcing them to lose control.

Once they acted impulsively, they would be doomed.

---

At the same time, Kyouji Toda felt a deep sense of confusion.

Judging by Akikawa Kyousuke's frail physique, he would have been severely injured, possibly killed, by that punch.

'Doesn't this bastard fear death at all?'

---

"Hmm..."

Kyouji Toda heard Akikawa Kyousuke sigh softly, as though lamenting the failure of his plan.

The next moment, Akikawa Kyousuke's cold demeanor faded.

The childish expression and innocent mannerisms returned to his face.

---

"Since Officer Toda has no family, it seems I'm now the person who knows Officer Toda best in the entire world~"

Kyouji Toda stared at Akikawa Kyousuke, who now had the bright, idol-like expression of a child who had just made a new friend.

His cheek twitched violently.

---

Through Akikawa Kyousuke's words, Kyouji Toda suddenly realized something.

Akikawa Kyousuke had acted out earlier simply because he refused to accept Toda's claim of understanding him.

That's why he had taken those actions.

---

Suddenly, Toda Kyouji remembered something.

During his training at the Organized Crime Countermeasures Bureau, his instructor had mentioned certain "special individuals."

All they needed to do was ask questions and list options to discern answers, even if the other person never spoke.

---

The instructor had explained:

"Sixty to seventy percent of human communication consists of non-verbal behaviors, with the rest being sub-verbal or non-verbal actions.

Before information reaches a conscious level, it is processed subconsciously and expressed through subtle physiological reactions.

These cues are even more subtle than the microexpressions we're familiar with and are nearly impossible to detect with the naked eye."

---

"Only 'special individuals' trained in the confidential processing of intelligence can master this skill.

This isn't something achievable through talent alone.

One must be born with extreme sensitivity to emotional expressions and possess keen perception.

Even with years of training, only a select few can master this ability."

---

Back then, neither Kyouji Toda nor his fellow officers believed such claims.

They dismissed it as trivia.

However, after experiencing what had just happened, Toda Kyouji realized that perhaps the examples his instructor had given were true.

'How is this possible?! He's only 20 years old!'

---

The instructor's voice echoed in Kyouji Toda's mind.

He suppressed the shock and tremor in his heart, doing his best to avoid thinking about it.

Because if he let Akikawa Kyousuke take the lead, it would spell disaster.

---

"Hahahahaha!"

After a few moments, Kyouji Toda burst into laughter.

The horror in his heart was quickly overshadowed by delight.

---

"I just realized something. You didn't hesitate to expose your abilities and even tried to provoke me into attacking you.

Doesn't that mean you're afraid of the truth I uncovered about the case earlier, so you're trying to avoid risks in other ways?"

---

If Akikawa Kyousuke wasn't the murderer, why deny the evidence against him?

Wouldn't it be enough to present irrefutable proof of his innocence?

Why resort to such extreme measures?

It was precisely because Akikawa Kyousuke was the murderer that he had guessed the truth and tried to force Toda to act first.

---

With this realization, Toda Kyouji finally understood.

Victory still belonged to him.

---

(End of the Chapter)

The author notes:

Apologies to the readers; I didn't have much time to write today. Only two chapters have been updated.