Oracle: Special Crime Countermeasures Division

Author's Note

About the Author

 Greetings, I am Rama Nishii, a Japanese author residing in Japan. I am passionate about foreign dramas, notably NCIS, Elementary, and Supernatural, to name a few.

My Writing Journey

 The unique ambiance and storytelling of these works had a powerful influence on me, and it is what motivated me to start creating my own novel along similar lines. My writing journey for this novel began in the summer of 2020, and it was subsequently serialized on a Japanese novel submission site starting in December of the same year. I brought the work to completion by August 2022. Following that, I took a little break, leaving it on the shelf for a while. But then, a thought struck me, "Why not try sharing it with a broader audience?" So, I decided to post the first episode here on Wattpad, and offer the complete series on Kindle, in both Japanese and English.

On Translation

While I love listening to English, especially in movies (I'm definitely team subtitles), I'm not particularly adept at speaking or writing it. Therefore, I sought assistance from AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepL to complete the translation. Although I did check for any mistranslations or incorrect notation, I can't claim perfection. Should you spot anything that doesn't make sense or is erroneous, I would appreciate it if you could let me know via the comments section of this story or by private message on Wattpad.

Understanding Japanese Honorifics

When reading this story, understanding the nuances of the honorifics and titles used can greatly enhance your comprehension of the relationships and emotional shifts between characters. If you find yourself unsure about the meaning of certain terms or phrases as you progress through the narrative, I encourage you to refer back to this section for clarification.

In this novel, the characters use the Japanese style of addressing each other with honorifics and last names instead of first names. This custom is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, where respect for others is expressed through language. 

 ・Mr./Ms. + Last name: This is the most common way to address someone in a respectful manner in Japan, and it will be employed by most characters in this book. For example, a character named "Reijiro Hino" will be addressed as "Mr. Hino" by others. This is similar to how it would be in English-speaking cultures.

 ・Last name only: At times, a character may call another character just by their last name without the "Mr./Ms." honorific. This can suggest a closer relationship, but it's also still respectful. In this novel, for example, the protagonist Sakuraba often refers to his close friend Reijiro Hino as "Hino". 

 ・Senpai: This is a term in Japanese that's frequently used in professional or educational contexts. It refers to a person who has more experience, is older, or holds a higher position. In this novel, Majima, who is a junior to Sakuraba, often refers to Sakuraba as "Senpai". 

 ・First name: Using first names without any honorifics is less common in Japan and suggests a high degree of intimacy or a long-standing relationship. This will be used sparingly in this novel to denote significant emotional development.

Please keep these customs in mind as you read. They're an integral part of understanding the characters' relationships and their emotional journeys.

Closing Remarks

I sincerely thank you for reading up to this point. I hope you enjoy the first chapter here on Wattpad. If you're intrigued, you can find the rest of the story on Kindle. Happy reading!