Vol 2 Chapter 4 Part 4

A small rectangular charcoal grill had been set up in the tidied-up yard. The flames crackled loudly. Above us, the autumn sky had become completely dark. The yard was lit up by a lantern that Holmes had brought. I sat on a camping chair and excitedly accepted the juice that was offered to me.

Akihito opened a can of beer, laughed, and pointed at Holmes. “Man, Holmes. You’re still bothered by what the assistant head priest said to you?”

“Please refrain from pointing fingers at people.” Expression unchanging, Holmes carefully took meat out of a storage container and placed it on the grill. He’d brought five containers in all: Wagyu beef, Iberico pork, chicken marinated in herbs, vegetables, and lastly…

“I also made rice balls, if you’re interested.” Holmes held up the container with a smile. His perfect form made my face stiffen.

“You’ve got a girly side, huh?” Akihito said quietly. To be honest, I completely agreed.

“I’m not a girl, though.”

“Right, you’re a sheltered boy. Hahaha!”

Holmes openly frowned, which was a rare sight. Well, it might be pretty common when Akihito’s involved.

“Um, what’s all this about being a sheltered boy?” I tilted my head.

“I’m glad you asked, Aoi!” Akihito leaned in more than necessary. “The other day at Nanzen-ji Temple, this guy was about to chase after the counterfeiter, but the assistant head priest said, ‘A sheltered boy isn’t going to be able to catch him.’ I still crack up every time I remember that uncomfortable smile he had on his face.” Akihito chuckled.

Holmes sighed, seeming honestly annoyed. “Yes, it was very unpleasant. My grandfather is self-centered, and my father is nice but marches to his own beat. I have to take care of them and their houses, manage the store, sometimes I’m a cook, a driver, a baggage handler, a bodyguard, a translator, a butler… You’ll not find any sheltered boy like this,” he said, reverting to his Kyoto accent at the end. The sizzling meat started to char.

Akihito and I went pale. I held up my hands in an attempt to calm him down. “I-It’s okay. The assistant head priest doesn’t know how much you’ve been through.”

“No, I do understand. Compared to Ensho, I’m sheltered. I’m just frustrated that he was able to determine that.”

Holmes must’ve thought about a lot since meeting Ensho. Even though Ensho won the battle, that victory might’ve been more dangerous than we’d thought.

“What kind of life did Ensho lead?” I asked.

“Hmm… At a glance, his mouth was raised to the left, which is a common trait in people with emotional instability and drastic mood swings. However, he looked me straight in the eye and spoke without hesitation, so I knew he had self-confidence. I believe that his emotional instability comes from his early childhood, and his self-confidence comes from his own talent.

“Then there was his skill at imitation. It could be that he’s always been conscious of what others think. Based on that, I think he likely had to make use of his talent to get through an unfortunate childhood,” Holmes said smoothly. “It’s hard to imagine an ordinary person suddenly taking up counterfeiting, so I believe that one of his close relatives…perhaps his father, was a painter. That would’ve led to Ensho taking up art as well. Then, his father would’ve noticed his son’s talent and encouraged him to make forgeries. However, considering that Ensho took up priesthood after mastering his counterfeiting, he may no longer have any relatives he can depend on. Or perhaps he broke ties with them…”

Akihito and I were stunned. As always, he was too incredible.

“Is something the matter?” Holmes looked at us quizzically.

“Nah, I was just thinking that you really are ‘Holmes,’” Akihito said, dumbfounded.

I couldn’t help but laugh and say, “Yeah.”