Inside the brightly lit restaurant:
"What a stroke of luck…"
Shiro Kawabata raised his glass, downing the drink in one gulp. "I never thought I'd run into the famous Detective Fujino just by stepping out for dinner."
"Oh, come on, you're too kind."
Fujino flashed a practiced, polite smile, taking a sip of the drink in front of him as a courteous response.
Truth be told, he wasn't all that interested in small talk or social niceties. He was mostly here out of obligation. When a stranger starts buttering you up, they're either up to no good or they want something from you.
He was curious, though—what could this producer possibly want to hire him for? Plus, it didn't hurt that he'd get a free dinner out of it.
As Fujino had expected, once the timing felt right, Kawabata made his move. "Actually, Detective Fujino, there's something I'd like to ask for your help with."
Fujino took another small sip of his drink and said casually, "Mind telling me what this job's about?"
"Here's the deal."
Kawabata could tell Fujino had already seen through his little game. "We're in the middle of prepping a movie, but our lead actress broke her leg in a car accident. So, I was hoping you could help me find someone—a girl who's 'agile, skilled, young, and cute'—to step in as the lead."
"I'd advise against recommending anyone to him, Detective Fujino," a man with sly, fox-like eyes chimed in from the side, smirking. "Certain idiot producers will throw in a bunch of steamy scenes and pointless romance just to make a quick buck, even if it trashes the original story."
"Ahem."
Kawabata coughed awkwardly. "Mr. Kitaura, you're not talking about me, are you?"
The man named Kitaura turned his head with a light chuckle. "Who knows?"
"Love scenes wouldn't be the worst thing," said another man with a beard and glasses, joining the conversation. "But if you're unlucky enough to work on this guy's film, you might end up dead on set."
"Hey, come on, don't say stuff like that!"
Kawabata, flustered, reached for his glass but accidentally knocked over his soup bowl instead. Some of it splashed onto Fujino's pants, nearly scalding him.
"So sorry, Detective Fujino!"
Kawabata hurriedly grabbed his damp towel, wiping his own jeans first before dabbing at Fujino's pants. In the process, a bit of blue dye rubbed off onto Fujino's trousers.
Fujino looked up at him. *Are you trying to pick a fight or what?*
"Uh…"
Kawabata glanced at the blue stain from his jeans, feeling the embarrassment hit hard.
"Let me handle it."
Ai Haibara calmly picked up a towel and bent down to wipe the soup off Fujino's pants.
Fujino, meanwhile, stared mournfully at his casual trousers. *This guy's jeans are shedding color!*
---
The night sky over Tokyo was growing darker.
Soon, a light rain began to fall, pattering down like willow leaves.
Pedestrians on the street scrambled, hurrying into nearby shops to take cover.
After ordering, the food finally arrived at the table.
Everyone gathered around. This time, aside from Kawabata, Fujino, and Haibara, three others joined them: Assistant Director Motoji Ito, the square-jawed, squinting original author Kyogo Kitaura, and the film's director Kaizo Isogami.
They were all part of the same movie crew, and this dinner was meant to discuss the issue of the lead actress.
After an awkward pause, Kawabata seized the moment to ask again, "So, Detective Fujino, about what I mentioned earlier—do you have anyone in mind?"
"Hmm, I can't think of anyone off the top of my head… Tell you what, I'll give you a call if I come up with someone."
Fujino glanced at the fleshy jowls on Kawabata's face as he replied.
He *did* have someone in mind—Shizuka Hiratsuka would fit the bill. She was definitely skilled and agile; he could vouch for that. Young and cute? Well… Shizuka was *adorable*, wasn't she? Sure, she was pushing thirty, and her temper might've gotten a bit spicier with age, but still.
That said, Fujino had no intention of throwing the Iron Fist Saintess into the mix—especially not for a producer who seemed like he belonged in some unhinged B-movie.
"Haha… no problem."
Kawabata nodded with a laugh, clearly aware Fujino was dodging the question. He'd just ticked the guy off, so it wasn't surprising Fujino wasn't thrilled.
He reached out to serve Fujino some food, but then he glanced at the dishes in front of him and groaned. "Who ordered the preserved egg tofu and crab scrambled eggs? I'm pretty sure I said not to get those."
"Probably someone from your group," Fujino said, picking up a piece of sweet-and-sour pork. "I ordered this, and Ai, who's with me, got the steamed buns."
"Ugh…"
Kawabata let out a long sigh. "These people know I can't stand egg dishes, and they still order them."
"You don't like eggs?"
"Nope."
Kawabata pushed the dishes away from him. "Ever since I was a kid, just looking at egg stuff makes me wanna puke."
"Sounds like a rare physical condition," Haibara said as she picked up a steamed bun and placed it in Fujino's bowl. "I hear their buns are pretty good. Give it a try and see if you like it."
Fujino took a bite and nodded. "Not bad. The chef's probably from China."
"I'll grab some soy sauce," Haibara said, turning the lazy Susan to reach it. But before she could grab it, someone spun it away.
Haibara: "…"
She tried again—and it got moved again.
Haibara: *Getting annoyed now.*
Fujino glanced around, then reached out to turn it himself.
Kaizo Isogami, sitting across from them, spun it back.
"…"
Fujino's eyes narrowed, an almost imperceptible aura radiating from him.
Isogami suddenly felt a chill down his spine. He looked up to see the detective staring straight at him. Swallowing hard, he picked up a piece of preserved egg and gave an awkward smile.
Fujino silently turned the table back, grabbed the soy sauce, poured some into Haibara's bowl, and set it back down.
"Peking duck's here!"
A waiter rolled up with a cart, presenting a perfectly roasted duck—whole, not sliced—its aroma filling the air.
"Finally!" Kawabata said excitedly. "Their Peking duck is top-notch." He turned to Fujino. "By the way, Detective, got a favorite actress?"
"Sharon Vineyard, I guess…"
Fujino thought for a moment before answering.
Sharon Vineyard was none other than Belmod—the "Thousand-Faced Witch" he'd encountered last time he rescued Haibara, dressed in black. He wondered if she was currently posing as Chris Wynyard. If so, maybe he could set up a showdown: Iron Fist Saintess vs. Thousand-Faced Witch. Who knows what kind of sparks that'd ignite?
He'd have to test the waters when he got back to school in a few days.
"New system mission detected! Please check it out!"
Just as Fujino was musing about Belmod, a system alert jolted him out of his thoughts.
A notification popped up in front of him:
**[Detective Job Mission: Rain Phantom of Chinatown]**
**Objective: Solve the Rain Phantom case in Chinatown**
**Rewards: 1 million yen, 200 detective reputation points**
"Rain Phantom of Chinatown…"
Fujino stared at the mission, dumbfounded.
A case? While he's out eating dinner?
No, wait—that wasn't the point. Why was this case popping up in Tokyo? Shouldn't it be in Kanagawa?
"Ah!"
Before he could think further, a pained groan came from beside him.
He turned to see Kawabata clutching his throat, frothing at the mouth, before his head slammed face-first onto the table.
Fujino: "…"
*No screams? That feels… off.*
"AH!!!"
Right on cue, a girl at the next table noticed Kawabata collapse and let out a piercing shriek.
There we go. Now it felt right.
---
With a dead body in the mix, the restaurant erupted into chaos.
Fujino went through the usual detective routine, checking on Kawabata.
"How's it looking?" Haibara asked, walking over. "Any chance he's still alive?"
"Cyanide poisoning," Fujino replied. "He's gone."
"I'll call the police…"
Haibara pulled out her phone and dialed.
The others around the table stood up, crowding closer.
Amid the confusion, Kaizo Isogami edged toward the body with a towel in hand. Just as he was about to swap it with Kawabata's, a hand grabbed his arm.
Fujino yanked Isogami's arm up. "Mr. Isogami, what are you up to?"
"Uh…"
Isogami froze. "I just wanted to check if he was really dead."
Fujino gave him a deadpan look.
*Check if he's really dead? That's… kinda believable, actually.*
Snapping out of it, Fujino eyed the towel in Isogami's hand and said firmly, "You're the killer, aren't you, Mr. Isogami?"
Isogami: "Got any proof?"
Fujino: "That towel in your hand is the proof."
Haibara: "I saw you swap it too."
Isogami: "…"
---
Soon, Inspector Megure arrived with his team.
"Brother Fujino!"
Megure greeted him, glancing at Isogami. "He's the killer?"
"Yup."
Fujino nodded and explained, "The victim's Shiro Kawabata, a producer. Cause of death: cyanide poisoning."
He tugged Isogami's arm up slightly. "This guy's the culprit—Kaizo Isogami, a director. He used a cyanide-laced towel on the lazy Susan, taking advantage of the victim's aversion to eggs to pull it off. But when he tried to swap the towels, I caught him red-handed."
He handed the white towel to Megure. "This is what I took from him."
"So… case closed, just like that?"
Megure glanced at the body, then at the bearded man Fujino was holding, his expression a mix of awe and exasperation.
This kid ran into cases way too often. Camping during the day? Stumbles into a murder, takes down three bandits—one dead, one injured, one unhinged. The unhinged guy was already at Aoyama Psychiatric for evaluation. Now, dinner at night? Another case, and he nabs the killer before they can even tamper with evidence.
Lightspeed detective work.
Megure wondered if Fujino had taken his advice to visit a shrine yet.
Coming back to the moment, he waved to the officers behind him. "Take Mr. Isogami back to the station for questioning, like Brother Fujino said. And get that towel tested too…"
"By the way, Inspector Megure," Fujino said, watching Isogami get escorted away, "I don't have to do a full statement this time, right?"
Megure: "…"
*Why do I feel like you caught the guy on the spot just to skip the paperwork?*
Seeing Megure didn't respond, Fujino pressed, "Inspector?"
"Oh, the statement?"
Megure snapped out of it, clearing his throat. "It's still necessary, but since we've got the suspect and evidence, a quick oral account should do. Won't take long."
"Tch…"
Fujino clicked his tongue, visibly disappointed.
Megure: "…"
*So you DID catch him just to dodge the statement!*
---
By the time they left the police station, night had fully settled in.
It was 11 p.m.
Fujino sat in the driver's seat, eyes on the road. "Ai, you still hungry?"
No response. He glanced at the passenger seat and saw Haibara leaning against the door, hugging a takeout box of steamed buns from the restaurant, seatbelt snug, fast asleep.
Her short brown hair fell naturally, her pale face glowing faintly under the moonlight streaming through the window, a slight flush on her cheeks. Her nose twitched faintly with each soft breath.
*'Her mind might be an adult's, but her body's still a kid's, huh?'*
Fujino chuckled softly at her sleeping face.
He grabbed a jacket from the back seat and draped it gently over her, then turned his focus back to the road.
**[Detective Bounty Mission: (Bank Robber Arrest) Completed]**
**[Rewards: 1 million yen, 300 detective reputation points, 1 all-profession stat point issued]**
**[Detective Job Mission: (Rain Phantom of Chinatown) Completed]**
**[Rewards: 1 million yen, 200 detective reputation points issued]**
**[Current Balance: 8.68 million yen]**
**[Current Detective Reputation: 610/1500]**
"Eight million, six hundred eighty thousand yen, huh?"
Fujino murmured, eyeing his system balance.
Now that he thought about it, if you added the 4 million he'd donated earlier, he'd have over 10 million by the end of this whole thing.
Not that he regretted it.
Honestly, Fujino wasn't sure why he'd impulsively donated that money.
Maybe… it was just a pathetic grab at some kind of redemption.
Sure, the people he'd killed were criminals, but the moment he took a life, some things could never go back to how they were.
In a way, he'd become a "murderer" himself.
*(End of Chapter)*