Kobayashi Nana's calm, measured responses inevitably made Captain Hayashiki and the others think twice.
What if everything that happened today had been orchestrated by this boy from the shadows?
Even if his actions were righteous—if he was genuinely doing the right thing—Anti-Skill still had no intention of becoming a pawn in someone else's hands.
It wasn't surprising that some people in Anti-Skill let their imaginations run wild. The timing was simply too perfect.
Kobayashi had only just been discharged from the hospital. He hadn't even had time to eat lunch before receiving a call for help—and that single call set off the entire chain of events.
And this wasn't the first time.
In a very short span of time, Kobayashi Nana had seemingly locked onto "illegal experiments," uncovering two such facilities in succession—and outright destroying one of them.
If he were an Anti-Skill officer, achievements like that would probably earn him an immediate promotion to Inspector… or even Superintendent.
Under the oppressive gazes of Captain Hayashiki and the other male officer, Kobayashi remained perfectly composed.
"My phone number isn't exactly a secret," he said after a moment's thought. "It's not impossible to obtain. During the Black Moon Technology incident, I lent my phone to some of the kids so they could escape. My number probably spread around back then."
"Is that so?" Captain Haya frowned, unconvinced.
"Of course," Kobayashi nodded. "At the very least, I know that the Dark Side organizations got my number that way. So, it wouldn't be strange for the Talent Workshop to have it too. As for Mitori Keisaku—she likely saw my interview coverage, then found my information on a researcher's computer. That's how she got my number and decided to ask me for help."
"…That is a reasonable line of reasoning," Captain Haya admitted. "But it's still only your speculation."
"Correct," Kobayashi said calmly. "I don't know the actual truth either. You can always ask Mitari Keisaku herself."
Captain Haya laughed a couple of times, easing the tension. "Don't take it personally, Kobayashi-kun. I really was just curious. Occupational hazard—I can't help wanting to chase down every loose end."
"I understand," Kobayashi replied with a polite smile. "Curiosity is only human."
From the driver's seat, Yomikawa Aiho watched the verbal exchange in the rearview mirror and quietly shook her head.
Emotionally, she was firmly on Kobayashi's side.
But viewed objectively—especially from an Anti-Skill perspective—his behavior was undeniably suspicious.
The way he handled Captain Haya's questioning, his expressions, his phrasing—it was eerily similar to the seasoned old foxes she'd encountered during investigations.
Then again…
In a city as abnormal as Academy City, it wasn't all that strange for monsters to be born among children.
If they were talking about sharp minds and uncanny cleverness, Kumokawa Seria from earlier that day was far more dangerous than Kobayashi ever seemed.
And closer still—sitting silently beside Kobayashi right now—Torahachi Toumi was, in certain respects, just as abnormal an existence.
The reason Anti-Skill fixated so obsessively on Kobayashi Nana's killings, while largely ignoring his "partner," the other half of the so-called Male-and-Female Fiends, was simple.e
No one was surprised anymore when Toumi stabbed someone.
Captain Haya showed a hint of weary resignation. His gaze flicked briefly to Kohachi, clearly thinking along the same lines.
Still, as he'd said before, his questioning stemmed from professional instinct, not from an intent to accuse. Seeing that Kobayashi's answers were coherent and disciplined, he no longer worried about the boy saying something reckless.
A secret only needed to remain a secret.
"That'll do, Kobayashi-kun," Captain Haya said with a nod. "Just remember what you said today. Don't contradict yourself during the interview."
"…Interview?" Kobayashi asked. "What interview?"
"The same reporter as last time," Captain Haya replied. "Today's the day you were discharged, you know. You didn't seriously think no one would be tailing you?"
Although coverage of Kobayashi had been deliberately toned down, he'd still been a hot topic for a while. To journalists, he remained a prime target worth digging into.
Long before Kobayashi left the hospital, reporters from multiple outlets had already been lying in wait outside.
Even with Anti-Skill escorting him, interviews were impossible to completely avoid.
What no one expected, however, was that the first group to intervene wouldn't be Anti-Skill—but brokers from the Dark Side.
Naturally, Dark Side organizations had no intention of letting a crowd of reporters witness their actions. And according to their plans, Kobayashi would likely be recruited into the Dark Side soon, making continued media exposure inconvenient.
So, the men in black suits used a few tricks to divert the reporters away from the hospital.
That was why Kobayashi hadn't been harassed by the media when he followed Yomikawa Aiho home.
Unfortunately, the reporters had only been delayed.
Once they realized Kobayashi had already left, they refused to give up and staked out the Family Side apartment building, hoping to catch him sooner or later.
Before long, they witnessed the unforgettable sight of Kobayashi still in a wheelchair and Toumi leaping straight down from the building…
"In any case," Captain Haya said, "your high-profile actions put you under the media's cameras from the very beginning. And then you caused that massive incident at the Talent Workshop… Rather than letting reporters hound you endlessly, it's better to take the initiative and hold a press conference."
After all, the title of 'Hero Who Destroyed an Illegal Experiment Facility' hadn't faded yet. They might as well make use of it again.
Once bitten, twice shy.
Kobayashi hated being exposed to public opinion—but faced with reality, he could only nod in agreement.
"At the press conference," he asked, "can I mention Dolly?"
"No," Captain Haya answered without hesitation. "Her existence—and everything related to her is classified. You're not to say a single word about it. Otherwise…"
He paused, then continued evenly. "The consequences will be severe. I'm not threatening you. I'm stating a fact. You understand, don't you?"
"I understand," Kobayashi nodded.
Captain Haya smiled in relief. Talking to smart people was easy. Given his position, there were things he couldn't say right, and the fact that Kobayashi grasped his meaning made things much simpler.
"Please protect Dolly," Kobayashi said quietly.
"As if you need to tell us that."
Then Kobayashi made his own request.
"At the press conference, I plan to publicly release my phone number," he said. "That won't be a problem… right, Yomikawa-sensei?"
(End of Chapter)
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