The Case Files of Jeweler Richard (Light Novel), Vol. 4

Format read: Paperback
Reading time: 4-5h
Tags: mystery, adventure, translation, friendship, found family, lgbt (bi, m/m, ace)
Own a copy: yes
Reread likelihood: 1000/10

Summary
As with all the volumes thus far, the book is divided into several cases as follows:

1. ???: After Richard's abrupt disappearance at the end of vol. 3, Seigi is left alone and confused as to what has happened to his boss. Seigi resumes his university life and tries to keep busy, but he is plagued by strange nightmares of Richard that leave him more confused than ever. Seigi decides to go back to l'Étranger and meets Richard's mentor, Saul, who sets him a gemology challenge in exchange for revealing Richard's whereabouts.

2. The Secret of Alexandrite: Seigi now knows where to find Richard; he needs to go to London, but where in London exactly? At the airport, Seigi meets a mysterious foreigner who vaguely resembles Richard, only to find out he's his older cousin, Jeffrey. Trapped on a 20h flight with this man as his companion, Seigi learns about Richard's past and the family curse that haunts him, and his own role in the Claremont family dispute.

3. Follow the Lapis Lazuli: Once in London, Seigi and Jeffrey play tourist all day long, eventually ending up at the British Museum where they go to look at their gem collection. Seigi develops a fever from being dragged around everywhere, and just as he thinks he'll never get to see Richard, clues start appearing in the gallery, which leads him straight to the person he's been chasing all these months.

4. The Gospel of White Sapphire: In order for the inheritance debate to end, and for Richard to be released from his familial duties, a plan is concocted in which Seigi and Richard pretend to be in a civil union so that the pair can inherit Richard's great-grandfather's prized diamond. Seigi, however, has a better idea, and ends up destroying the Claremonts' nefarious plans by putting himself at great risk.

Extra 1 - The Bicolor Tourmaline Tease: Richard is finally back in Tokyo after settling everything with his family in London, and the first thing he does is to present Seigi with a mysterious bicoloured stone meant to represent one's duality.

Extra 2 - Overcast Iolite: Richard explains the ancient use for iolite stones, and how they helped Vikings to navigate their way to England. Seigi decides that Richard is like a compass, too.

Extra 3 - Moonstone's affection: Richard and Seigi have gotten into the habit of going out for dinner after work. On this particular evening, Seigi comments on the moon's beauty, which sends Richard on a tirade about Japanese literature.

Review

How do you translate the phrase “I love you”–words that never existed in the Japanese language in the first place–into Japanese? (...) Souseki Natsume had declared that “I love you” should be translated as “the moon is beautiful.” (p. 310-311)

Nights were the worst because I'd have awful dreams whenever I tried to sleep–for some reason, Richard would be in my apartment, standing next to my bed. I just wanted it to stop already. Seeing someone in your dreams like that was such a bad omen. He'd always have this sparkling jewel-like smile on his face. He'd look like he was trying to tell me something, but it was as if I were watching a video on mute. And for some reason, my body wouldn't move, even when I tried to get up. When I told him I couldn't hear him, Richard would close his eyes and bring his face closer to mine, only to pull away and give me this vaguely cruel smile when I started. And then I'd wake up all alone in my room, drenched in sweat. (p. 9)

“Even though the answer has been staring you in the face all this time, you refuse to see, because it doesn't sit well with you. Are you even aware of it?”
“Aware of... what?”
“That you're in love with Richard.”
I felt like my heart had been torn from my chest with no warning.
No. No, come on. I mean, no. No. Just because I spend every waking moment thinking about him, just because my heart skips a beat every time I lay eyes on him, just because I'm having dreams about him kissing me every night, it doesn't mean I'm in love with him. I couldn't be. I mean. Like–“(p. 21).

Extra Quotations (because there are so many that I can't possibly stop at 2)

always