A Golden Autumn/Story/English

## Opening

**Edogawa Rampo**:
I think this is the end for me. ... Too hungry. I need snacks.

**Edogawa Rampo**:
What will this agency- No, what will the world do without its greatest detective, Atsushi-kun...?

As I enter the room, I find Rampo-san laying face-down on the desk in the center of the office, begging for someone to bring him treats.

**Nakajima Atsushi**:
Snacks, right? Give me one second.

Atsushi stands up and goes to take a look.

However, judging from his empty hands, one can only guess we're out.

**Nakajima Atsushi**:
Sorry, it doesn't look like there's anything left.

**Edogawa Rampo**:
No snacks, no energy, no motivation...

**Kunikida Doppo**:
We can't allow this... Rampo-san's power of deduction is the reason this detective agency still stands today.

**Yosano Akiko**:
Okay, would you like me to buy you something, Rampo-san?

**Edogawa Rampo**:
Really?!

**Yosano Akiko**:
Yep. I can pick it up while I'm out running errands.

**Edogawa Rampo**:
Thanks. That'd be great.

**Yosano Akiko**:
Alright. I guess I'll get going now then.

I get up from my chair, ready to leave, when Rampo-san stops me.

**Edogawa Rampo**:
Yosano-san, watch out for the sky.

**Yosano Akiko**:
The sky?

**Edogawa Rampo**:
Also dogs and kids... Well, you'll be able to smell it.

**Yosano Akiko**:
(... Smell it?)

I have no idea what he's talking about, but I heed his warning. It is Rampo-san, after all.

**Yosano Akiko**:
Understood. Since it's you saying it, I'll be careful.

**Nakajima Atsushi**:
Umm, should I go with you?

Atsushi stands up with a worried look on his face.

**Yosano Akiko**:
Don't get worked up, Atsushi. I'm not going too far, so I should be okay on my own.

Despite appreciating his concern, I refuse his offer and head out.

**Nakajima Atsushi**:
Are you sure it'll be alright?

**Edogawa Rampo**:
It's fine. Besides, this is something only Yosano-san can take care of.

**Nakajima Atsushi**:
Huh...?

**Edogawa Rampo**:
Ahh, I'm so hungry!

Paying no mind to Atsushi, Rampo-san returns to his face-down position on the desk.

**Nakajima Atsushi**:
Will she really be okay? If anything, I can lend a hand...

**Kunikida Doppo**:
Rampo-san said it's fine. Don't worry about it. More importantly, have you finished filing that paperwork I asked you about yet?

**Nakajima Atsushi**:
Ah, right. Yes, I'm almost done.

Following Kunikida's instructions, Atsushi returns to his desk.

## Part 1

I leave the agency and head to the grocery store.

I see the seasonings on display and smile with delight.

**Yosano Akiko**:
(Wow, what a deal. Maybe I'll get pepper too, since I'm already buying salt.)

I place the seasonings into my basket and walk toward the snack section.

From imported candies to children's treats, the section is filled with all types of snacks.

**Yosano Akiko**:
Hm, a candy that changes color when you mix it. Seems perfect for Rampo-san.

After adding the pink and purple mixing candies and some ramune to my basket, I move to the register, make my purchase and leave the store.

**Yosano Akiko**:
Alright, now to the post office.

I grab my grocery bags and start walking.

... Hm? Something hits me on the head.

**Yosano Akiko**:
... What was that?

It feels like something fell from the sky. I take a look around.

**Young Girl**:
Kyahhh!!

**Yosano Akiko**:
...?!

I run toward the sound of the screaming children and find two flustered siblings surrounding a dog.

**Young Boy**:
Pochi, what's wrong?

They lean in close to the anguishing puppy.

**Yosano Akiko**:
What happened?

**Young Girl**:
Pochi's in pain!

**Yosano Akiko**:
Alright. I'll take care of Pochi, but you two have to try and relax, okay? If you don't, Pochi will get scared.

Hoping to keep the dog from getting excited, I calm the children and kneel down to analyze the situation.

**Young Girl**:
Miss, do you know what happened to Pochi?

**Yosano Akiko**:
Don't worry, I'm a doctor...

**Yosano Akiko**:
(Albeit, not a veterinarian...)

I continue observing the dog's state while I speak.

**Yosano Akiko**:
(What's happening...?)

I can't put my finger on the cause of its suffering.

**Edogawa Rampo**:
Yosano-san, watch out for the sky.

**Edogawa Rampo**:
Also dogs and kids... Well, you'll be able to smell it.

Remembering Rampo-san's words, I look up to the sky and realize something.

**Yosano Akiko**:
How long has Pochi been like this?

**Young Boy**:
Only for a little while.

**Young Girl**:
We were all just playing on our walk...

**Yosano Akiko**:
I see... Since it hasn't been very long, I should be able to fix this.

Thinking about what I need for the treatment, I think about what I have in my grocery bags.

**Yosano Akiko**:
(You did it again, Rampo-san.)

Amazed once again by his intellect, I retrieve the table salt from the bag.

## Part 2

With the salt and the water given to me by a nearby store, I had everything I needed for the treatment.

**Yosano Akiko**:
Be strong.

I have the dog drink some salt water.

It's as if it doesn't have the strength to fight. It obeys every command.

**Yosano Akiko**:
That's a good dog. Just a little bit longer.

I observe while giving words of encouragement.

**Yosano Akiko**:
(Is it working...?)

Then, the dog spits something up.

I grab it and let out a sigh of relief.

**Yosano Akiko**:
Great, you didn't bite it quite as much as I thought you did.

With the cause of its pain removed, the dog starts to look a bit more relaxed as well.

**Young Girl**:
Pochi, are you okay?

**Yosano Akiko**:
This was just first aid. Once we bring Pochi to the hospital, everything should be fine.

**Young Boy**:
Thank you!

**Yosano Akiko**:
Don't thank me yet.

**Yosano Akiko**:
Sorry, do you mind carrying my things? I have to bring Pochi to the nearby animal hospital.

I lift the dog and walk with the children to the hospital.

## Ending

**Yosano Akiko**:
Sorry I'm late.

**Nakajima Atsushi**:
Yosano-san, are you okay?!

The moment I return to the agency, Atsushi rushes toward me with a look of concern on his face.

**Nakajima Atsushi**:
You were out for so long, I thought something might have happened...

**Yosano Akiko**:
Something unexpected came up. More importantly, Rampo-san's still alive, right?

I turn to look at Rampo-san as he raises his head from the desk.

**Edogawa Rampo**:
Yosano-san, welcome back. You could say I'm at death's door, just a matter of time before someone opens it. Did you bring me anything?

**Yosano Akiko**:
Yep. Is this okay?

Rampo-san's eyes sparkle at the sight of the brown paper bag filled with sweets.

**Edogawa Rampo**:
Magnificent! I love everything in here. Thank you, Yosano-san.

**Yosano Akiko**:
I should be the one who's grateful. Thanks to you, I saved a life.

**Nakajima Atsushi**:
Saved a life...? Did something that intense really happen?

While opening his candy, Rampo-san immediately responds by quizzing the surprised Atsushi.

**Edogawa Rampo**:
Question. What color is Yokohama during the fall?

**Nakajima Atsushi**:
C-color?!

Confused, Atsushi starts wracking his brain.

**Nakajima Atsushi**:
Colors you see in the fall... So like mackerel... or apples... or chestnuts...

**Kunikida Doppo**:
Do you think of anything besides food, Atsushi?

**Nakajima Atsushi**:
Ah, Kunikida-san!

**Yosano Akiko**:
Oh, you're here.

**Kunikida Doppo**:
Yosano-sensei, thank you for going shopping.

**Kunikida Doppo**:
Atsushi, try thinking of things unrelated to food.

**Nakajima Atsushi**:
Not... food...?

**Kunikida Doppo**:
Yokohama in the fall is yellow.

**Edogawa Rampo**:
Bingo! Exactly right. There is no red here. What you see are ginkgo trees.

**Edogawa Rampo**:
Quite the smart cookie you've become, Kunikida.

**Kunikida Doppo**:
Thank you.

**Nakajima Atsushi**:
Now that you mention it, yeah. The road to the station, the park... The whole town is dyed yellow.

**Edogawa Rampo**:
Precisely. And taking a walk under those gold, glistening trees can be quite lovely. However...

**Edogawa Rampo**:
When the fruits come falling, they bring an incredible stench along with them.

Rampo-san pinches his nose for a brief moment, then lets out a laugh.

**Edogawa Rampo**:
The areas with ginkgo trees are extremely popular with people who have dogs, but sometimes those little ones try eating the ginkgo...

**Edogawa Rampo**:
Which can be fine around adults. Unfortunately, kids are a lot more easily distracted and won't always realize.

**Nakajima Atsushi**:
Is it bad for dogs to eat ginkgo fruit?

**Yosano Akiko**:
There have been cases of dogs being poisoned from eating it.

**Yosano Akiko**:
Actually, there have also been cases where children have been poisoned by it too. You better be careful.

**Nakajima Atsushi**:
But I'm not... Anyway, okay. I didn't know about that...

**Yosano Akiko**:
And thanks to you, Rampo-san, I was prepared. I can always count on you.

**Edogawa Rampo**:
Heh heh. I mean, of course you can. I am a great detective, after all!

**Edogawa Rampo**:
And thanks to this candy, I think my brain is working again.

With that, Rampo-san digs in with a smile on his face and without a care in the world.

A Golden Autumn - Fin