Reading settings
Chapter 603 Something Happened? Anyone Dead?
Chi Feichei wasn't in a hurry to go back Home. He drove Haibara Ai to Beika Town and found a Coffee Shop.
After the Waiter brought two Iced Coffees, Haibara Ai took a sip and asked, "Are you going to Doctor Agasa's House later?"
Chi Feichei sat across the Table, looking down at his Mobile Phone and checking emails. "We're both free tonight..."
Haibara Ai was taken aback, then understood, her Eyes lit up. Seeing people at the next Table, she leaned forward slightly and asked in a low voice, "Is there a Goal?"
Free tonight, can we go out for a Feast, go to a bar, go for a drive? No, if it were that, Chi Feichei wouldn't be so mysterious, he would just say 'Let's go for a Feast tonight.' Then it must be going after a Bounty! Having something new to do, and getting Pocket Money, isn't that something to look forward to?
"There are quite a few," Chi Feichei said, still looking down at his Mobile Phone emails. He freed up his left Hand, took the Car Key from his Pocket, and placed it on the Table. "Help me get the Map from the Passenger Side Compartment in the Car, I'll plan the Route."
"Okay!" Haibara Ai picked up the Car Key and ran out the Entrance.
Chi Feichei glanced up, then looked back down, continuing to select Bounties.
His Mom is just a menace.
Chi Kana had studied at London Women's City School from elementary school to High School. Her courses included Language, Mathematics, and Science, as well as languages like French and Latin, Arts such as Drama, Etiquette, Artistic Style, Music, and Dance, and Economics as an elective.
From a young age, she was taught according to a fixed Development Direction. His Mother also cultivated his Mom in areas like 'elegance and propriety', 'Social Charm expert', and 'Economics'. Coupled with Chi Kana's Personality, habits, and natural Charm, she became such a menace.
In Childhood, even if the original consciousness made mistakes, Chi Kana would patiently explain and correct them.
To Group employees, Chi Kana could clearly remember everyone she had contact with, regardless of their Identity or Position, even cleaners. She would treat them gently and rarely lose her temper. At most, she would strengthen her Tone and appear angry, or if it was really bad, she would warn with a regretful, gentle, yet serious expression, 'I'm very sorry, but if this continues, I'm afraid I'll have to dismiss you.'
Actually, his Mom didn't like Social Interaction. Attending the Game Launch Banquet this time was entirely for him. Most of the time, she stayed Home in her Office handling Affairs, rarely going out, and didn't have many Friends. But those who had met Chi Kana found it hard to forget her Gentleness.
Life is just so annoying. Some people use all sorts of Means and put in a lot of Intentions to engage in Social Interaction, but the Effect is not good. Others are not interested in Social Interaction, yet they have natural Social Charm.
In this World, if you were to compare with his Mom, this menace, there are probably only three people who could - Kudo Yukiko, Belmode, and Kisaki Eri.
In terms of Appearance and figure, none of the four were lacking. Having matured over the years, they also possessed a unique Charm that young Girls didn't have.
Kudo Yukiko was lively and cheerful, seemingly forever retaining a bit of innocent childishness. Kisaki Eri was rational and capable, truly worthy of the name Queen of Justice. Belmode was mysterious and unpredictable, her smile always carrying a hint of hidden Danger. Chi Kana was elegant and Gentle. As soon as you saw those Eyes and heard that Sound, your Heart would melt.
Young Girls like Mouri Ran felt a bit too young.
Compared to them, Chi Kana wasn't as whimsical and unrestrained as Kudo Yukiko, unable to subdue a large Group of people in a courtroom duel with just her presence. She didn't have agile skills, and if she didn't suddenly have a brain twitch and enter a yandere state, she also didn't have Belmode's hidden aggressiveness. But in terms of Social Interaction, Chi Kana was definitely the strongest of the four.
There was no deliberate affectation, only a Gentleness and elegance that went deep into the Human Heart and touched people's Hearts. That Gentleness was not hypocrisy. If a person was not on Chi Kana's 'enemy' List, Chi Kana would genuinely, gently, and respectfully treat them.
Facing such a person, regardless of gender or age, upon contact, there would always be some initial Good Impression. Her occasional small, spoiled gestures were even harder to refuse... even for Pets.
But sometimes, Gentleness is also Poison.
Because the feeling of being treated gently was too good, when you lost it, you would always feel Regret, reluctance, and a Depressed Mood, even a short separation was unavoidable.
In the original consciousness's Memory, there were some Clips that he still didn't dare to recall in detail.
When he was five years old, Chi Kana left for the First Time. The original consciousness saw his Mother off, followed the Butler back Home, watched the Butler and Servants busy working at Home, and sat alone in the Living Room, feeling lost and missing her.
Seeing the Sofa in the Living Room, he would recall his Mother sitting with him, looking at picture books. Seeing the Garden, he would recall his Mother sitting on the Grass, smiling and waving at him. Returning to the Entrance of the Room, he would recall his Mother squatting down to give him a gentle hug.
It seemed like everywhere he looked, Memories related to Chi Kana would be evoked.
One Day, two Days, three Days... Every Day after School Dismissal, the original consciousness would Call, but gradually, sometimes even getting in Connection with Chi Kana became difficult.
The original consciousness felt abandoned.
But even when he wanted to throw a tantrum, throw Things, or make a fuss, it seemed he could hear her gentle and serious voice beside him saying, 'You mustn't,' and then he would forcefully stop himself.
That Day-by-Day Accumulation of forbearance that was almost driving him crazy, he had touched it once, and the suppression made him feel like he couldn't breathe.
After the third separation, when the original consciousness saw Chi Kana off, he discovered a 'Secret Tip' - he couldn't immediately go Home to face that Place full of beautiful Memories, because seeing it would make him miss her even more.
Haibara Ai's Situation was better. After all, they had only been together for a few Days, and she wouldn't be as attached as the original consciousness. Although she would feel some reluctance and loss, it wouldn't be to the Point of sadness.
However, This Time it was best not to go back Home.
Whether it was his Home or Doctor Agasa's House, Haibara Ai and Chi Kana had been together.
First, find something to distract her Attention. By the time Haibara Ai was tired and went back to sleep, and then woke up, she would have almost adapted.
Haibara Ai herself wasn't a Child. Her perspective and mind were there. She understood that she wasn't abandoned, understood that they could meet again Afterwards, and wouldn't feel that the distance across the ocean was too far...
He wanted Chi Kana and Haibara Ai to mutually compensate for some Life's missing pieces, but he didn't want Haibara Ai to become Depressed again.
A minute later, Haibara Ai returned with the Map and Car Key, followed by two Little Friends...
"Brother Chi!" Mitsuhiko greeted him, his Eyes still unable to hide his happy expression. "It really is you! I saw your Car over there earlier and wasn't sure. How did you and Haibara come here?"
Conan remembered Doctor Agasa telling him that Haibara would be seeing Chi Kana off today. "Did you send Mrs. Kana to the Airport and then come here with Haibara for Coffee? You guys are really leisurely."
Haibara Ai handed the Map and Car Key to Chi Feichei, secretly giving a pre-arranged Answer, "We're really sorry to hear that. We were planning to find a nice Place later and go for a more leisurely drive..."
Chi Feichei understood in his Heart and calmly took the Map and Car Key.
He guessed that when Haibara Ai went out to the Car to get the Map, she was seen by Conan and Mitsuhiko.
It seemed that Conan hadn't asked Haibara Ai what she was getting the Map for, but in his Heart, he would probably subconsciously Guess that they were going to some unfamiliar Place, or looking at a Route to plan something.
If they were just driving around Beika Town and Beika Town, there would be no need for a Map at all.
Haibara Ai was worried that Conan would make wild Guesses, so she gave Conan an Answer in advance - they just wanted to go for a drive in a new area.
Conan leaned closer to Haibara Ai and teased in a low voice, "Hey, hey, can't you learn from Mrs. Kana and speak more gently? Don't always be so thorny?"
"Is that so?" Haibara Ai replied calmly, "I think I'm like Brother Hissashi, not easily influenced by others, and more insistent on Self."
Conan chuckled dryly in his Heart, speechless.
That's right, with such a Gentle Mom like Chi Kana, wasn't Chi Feichei still cold-faced every day? He really was insistent on Self.
"Huh? A drive?" Mitsuhiko hadn't noticed the two Little Friends Whispering and looked tangled. "But..."
"What's wrong?" Chi Feichei knew that meeting Conan meant no good. He guessed there was another Incident. "Anyone dead?"
Conan: "..." His Words were still so blunt.
"N-No, nothing like that..." Mitsuhiko sweated, looked around, walked closer to the Table, and said seriously in a low voice, "It's Police Officer Takagi who's in trouble."
Haibara Ai glanced sideways. An old acquaintance was in trouble, they couldn't ignore it.
"He lost his Police Handbook," Mitsuhiko continued in a low voice.
Haibara Ai: "..." Lost his Police ID... Okay, that was quite serious. If he couldn't find it, he would definitely be scolded like a Dog by Inspector Megure.
"This morning, before going to Work, he discovered that his Police Handbook was missing. He searched the Room but couldn't find it," Conan said, no longer silently teasing Chi Feichei, and explained the Situation to Chi Feichei. "According to him, yesterday when he was on Duty, the Handbook was still on him. On his way Home, when he passed by that Park over there, Police Officer Takagi saw two Men fighting by a Bench. When he went to stop the dispute, he showed his Police Handbook, which made those two stop."
"The Police Handbook was probably dropped at that time," Mitsuhiko added. "But he searched by the Bench all morning and still couldn't find the Police Handbook."
"Could it have been picked up by one of the two Men who were fighting?" Haibara Ai asked.
Conan had obviously also thought of this Point. "According to Police Officer Takagi's Memory, when the two Men were fighting, he heard the older one call the younger one 'Banzaki'. The Man called Banzaki seemed to be a Singer who couldn't become famous no matter what, and the older Man was his Agent. He kept saying that his Agent couldn't find him decent Work, and he had endured it for several years. He seemed to think his Agent was cheating him, and the Agent seemed to have borrowed Money from him. Also, Police Officer Takagi remembers that the Man called Banzaki was wearing Slippers. I think he should live in this Vicinity..."
"So we split into two Groups. Conan, Police Officer Takagi, and I came to this Vicinity to ask around and see if anyone knows the Singer called Banzaki. As for Genta and Ayumi, they stayed at the Park to search," Mitsuhiko explained, looking at Chi Feichei with Expectation. "Brother Chi, you have an Entertainment Company, you should know a lot about these Singers, right? Do you know a Singer called Banzaki?"
Chi Feichei: "No idea, don't know him."
Mitsuhiko: "..." His Answer was really straightforward.
Chi Feichei used his Mobile Phone to Call THK Entertainment Company. "However, I can help you ask Toshiya."
Mitsuhiko had just felt disappointed, but hearing Chi Feichei Say that, Hope rose again.
The Phone Call connected quickly, and Odagiri Toshiya said casually, "Yo, Hissashi, what made you think of calling me today?"
"I need your Help," Chi Feichei said, his Tone still calm, getting straight to the Point. "Do you know a Singer surnamed Banzaki? He lives near Beika Town 2-chome Central Park, and is around thirty years old, though not very old, he should have debuted for several years."
"Ah..." Odagiri Toshiya recalled. "I have no Impression at all. Are you asking about him because you want to sign him?"
"I heard about this person and wanted to understand the Situation," Chi Feichei said. "I need his Address or Contact Information."
"I understand. Then I'll help you ask the people in the Company who are responsible for contacting outside Singers," Odagiri Toshiya said readily. "If they know, I'll have them Call you."
"Okay."
(End of Chapter)
Chi Feichei wasn't in a hurry to go back Home. He drove Haibara Ai to Beika Town and found a Coffee Shop.
After the Waiter brought two Iced Coffees, Haibara Ai took a sip and asked, "Are you going to Doctor Agasa's House later?"
Chi Feichei sat across the Table, looking down at his Mobile Phone and checking emails. "We're both free tonight..."
Haibara Ai was taken aback, then understood, her Eyes lit up. Seeing people at the next Table, she leaned forward slightly and asked in a low voice, "Is there a Goal?"
Free tonight, can we go out for a Feast, go to a bar, go for a drive? No, if it were that, Chi Feichei wouldn't be so mysterious, he would just say 'Let's go for a Feast tonight.' Then it must be going after a Bounty! Having something new to do, and getting Pocket Money, isn't that something to look forward to?
"There are quite a few," Chi Feichei said, still looking down at his Mobile Phone emails. He freed up his left Hand, took the Car Key from his Pocket, and placed it on the Table. "Help me get the Map from the Passenger Side Compartment in the Car, I'll plan the Route."
"Okay!" Haibara Ai picked up the Car Key and ran out the Entrance.
Chi Feichei glanced up, then looked back down, continuing to select Bounties.
His Mom is just a menace.
Chi Kana had studied at London Women's City School from elementary school to High School. Her courses included Language, Mathematics, and Science, as well as languages like French and Latin, Arts such as Drama, Etiquette, Artistic Style, Music, and Dance, and Economics as an elective.
From a young age, she was taught according to a fixed Development Direction. His Mother also cultivated his Mom in areas like 'elegance and propriety', 'Social Charm expert', and 'Economics'. Coupled with Chi Kana's Personality, habits, and natural Charm, she became such a menace.
In Childhood, even if the original consciousness made mistakes, Chi Kana would patiently explain and correct them.
To Group employees, Chi Kana could clearly remember everyone she had contact with, regardless of their Identity or Position, even cleaners. She would treat them gently and rarely lose her temper. At most, she would strengthen her Tone and appear angry, or if it was really bad, she would warn with a regretful, gentle, yet serious expression, 'I'm very sorry, but if this continues, I'm afraid I'll have to dismiss you.'
Actually, his Mom didn't like Social Interaction. Attending the Game Launch Banquet this time was entirely for him. Most of the time, she stayed Home in her Office handling Affairs, rarely going out, and didn't have many Friends. But those who had met Chi Kana found it hard to forget her Gentleness.
Life is just so annoying. Some people use all sorts of Means and put in a lot of Intentions to engage in Social Interaction, but the Effect is not good. Others are not interested in Social Interaction, yet they have natural Social Charm.
In this World, if you were to compare with his Mom, this menace, there are probably only three people who could - Kudo Yukiko, Belmode, and Kisaki Eri.
In terms of Appearance and figure, none of the four were lacking. Having matured over the years, they also possessed a unique Charm that young Girls didn't have.
Kudo Yukiko was lively and cheerful, seemingly forever retaining a bit of innocent childishness. Kisaki Eri was rational and capable, truly worthy of the name Queen of Justice. Belmode was mysterious and unpredictable, her smile always carrying a hint of hidden Danger. Chi Kana was elegant and Gentle. As soon as you saw those Eyes and heard that Sound, your Heart would melt.
Young Girls like Mouri Ran felt a bit too young.
Compared to them, Chi Kana wasn't as whimsical and unrestrained as Kudo Yukiko, unable to subdue a large Group of people in a courtroom duel with just her presence. She didn't have agile skills, and if she didn't suddenly have a brain twitch and enter a yandere state, she also didn't have Belmode's hidden aggressiveness. But in terms of Social Interaction, Chi Kana was definitely the strongest of the four.
There was no deliberate affectation, only a Gentleness and elegance that went deep into the Human Heart and touched people's Hearts. That Gentleness was not hypocrisy. If a person was not on Chi Kana's 'enemy' List, Chi Kana would genuinely, gently, and respectfully treat them.
Facing such a person, regardless of gender or age, upon contact, there would always be some initial Good Impression. Her occasional small, spoiled gestures were even harder to refuse... even for Pets.
But sometimes, Gentleness is also Poison.
Because the feeling of being treated gently was too good, when you lost it, you would always feel Regret, reluctance, and a Depressed Mood, even a short separation was unavoidable.
In the original consciousness's Memory, there were some Clips that he still didn't dare to recall in detail.
When he was five years old, Chi Kana left for the First Time. The original consciousness saw his Mother off, followed the Butler back Home, watched the Butler and Servants busy working at Home, and sat alone in the Living Room, feeling lost and missing her.
Seeing the Sofa in the Living Room, he would recall his Mother sitting with him, looking at picture books. Seeing the Garden, he would recall his Mother sitting on the Grass, smiling and waving at him. Returning to the Entrance of the Room, he would recall his Mother squatting down to give him a gentle hug.
It seemed like everywhere he looked, Memories related to Chi Kana would be evoked.
One Day, two Days, three Days... Every Day after School Dismissal, the original consciousness would Call, but gradually, sometimes even getting in Connection with Chi Kana became difficult.
The original consciousness felt abandoned.
But even when he wanted to throw a tantrum, throw Things, or make a fuss, it seemed he could hear her gentle and serious voice beside him saying, 'You mustn't,' and then he would forcefully stop himself.
That Day-by-Day Accumulation of forbearance that was almost driving him crazy, he had touched it once, and the suppression made him feel like he couldn't breathe.
After the third separation, when the original consciousness saw Chi Kana off, he discovered a 'Secret Tip' - he couldn't immediately go Home to face that Place full of beautiful Memories, because seeing it would make him miss her even more.
Haibara Ai's Situation was better. After all, they had only been together for a few Days, and she wouldn't be as attached as the original consciousness. Although she would feel some reluctance and loss, it wouldn't be to the Point of sadness.
However, This Time it was best not to go back Home.
Whether it was his Home or Doctor Agasa's House, Haibara Ai and Chi Kana had been together.
First, find something to distract her Attention. By the time Haibara Ai was tired and went back to sleep, and then woke up, she would have almost adapted.
Haibara Ai herself wasn't a Child. Her perspective and mind were there. She understood that she wasn't abandoned, understood that they could meet again Afterwards, and wouldn't feel that the distance across the ocean was too far...
He wanted Chi Kana and Haibara Ai to mutually compensate for some Life's missing pieces, but he didn't want Haibara Ai to become Depressed again.
A minute later, Haibara Ai returned with the Map and Car Key, followed by two Little Friends...
"Brother Chi!" Mitsuhiko greeted him, his Eyes still unable to hide his happy expression. "It really is you! I saw your Car over there earlier and wasn't sure. How did you and Haibara come here?"
Conan remembered Doctor Agasa telling him that Haibara would be seeing Chi Kana off today. "Did you send Mrs. Kana to the Airport and then come here with Haibara for Coffee? You guys are really leisurely."
Haibara Ai handed the Map and Car Key to Chi Feichei, secretly giving a pre-arranged Answer, "We're really sorry to hear that. We were planning to find a nice Place later and go for a more leisurely drive..."
Chi Feichei understood in his Heart and calmly took the Map and Car Key.
He guessed that when Haibara Ai went out to the Car to get the Map, she was seen by Conan and Mitsuhiko.
It seemed that Conan hadn't asked Haibara Ai what she was getting the Map for, but in his Heart, he would probably subconsciously Guess that they were going to some unfamiliar Place, or looking at a Route to plan something.
If they were just driving around Beika Town and Beika Town, there would be no need for a Map at all.
Haibara Ai was worried that Conan would make wild Guesses, so she gave Conan an Answer in advance - they just wanted to go for a drive in a new area.
Conan leaned closer to Haibara Ai and teased in a low voice, "Hey, hey, can't you learn from Mrs. Kana and speak more gently? Don't always be so thorny?"
"Is that so?" Haibara Ai replied calmly, "I think I'm like Brother Hissashi, not easily influenced by others, and more insistent on Self."
Conan chuckled dryly in his Heart, speechless.
That's right, with such a Gentle Mom like Chi Kana, wasn't Chi Feichei still cold-faced every day? He really was insistent on Self.
"Huh? A drive?" Mitsuhiko hadn't noticed the two Little Friends Whispering and looked tangled. "But..."
"What's wrong?" Chi Feichei knew that meeting Conan meant no good. He guessed there was another Incident. "Anyone dead?"
Conan: "..." His Words were still so blunt.
"N-No, nothing like that..." Mitsuhiko sweated, looked around, walked closer to the Table, and said seriously in a low voice, "It's Police Officer Takagi who's in trouble."
Haibara Ai glanced sideways. An old acquaintance was in trouble, they couldn't ignore it.
"He lost his Police Handbook," Mitsuhiko continued in a low voice.
Haibara Ai: "..." Lost his Police ID... Okay, that was quite serious. If he couldn't find it, he would definitely be scolded like a Dog by Inspector Megure.
"This morning, before going to Work, he discovered that his Police Handbook was missing. He searched the Room but couldn't find it," Conan said, no longer silently teasing Chi Feichei, and explained the Situation to Chi Feichei. "According to him, yesterday when he was on Duty, the Handbook was still on him. On his way Home, when he passed by that Park over there, Police Officer Takagi saw two Men fighting by a Bench. When he went to stop the dispute, he showed his Police Handbook, which made those two stop."
"The Police Handbook was probably dropped at that time," Mitsuhiko added. "But he searched by the Bench all morning and still couldn't find the Police Handbook."
"Could it have been picked up by one of the two Men who were fighting?" Haibara Ai asked.
Conan had obviously also thought of this Point. "According to Police Officer Takagi's Memory, when the two Men were fighting, he heard the older one call the younger one 'Banzaki'. The Man called Banzaki seemed to be a Singer who couldn't become famous no matter what, and the older Man was his Agent. He kept saying that his Agent couldn't find him decent Work, and he had endured it for several years. He seemed to think his Agent was cheating him, and the Agent seemed to have borrowed Money from him. Also, Police Officer Takagi remembers that the Man called Banzaki was wearing Slippers. I think he should live in this Vicinity..."
"So we split into two Groups. Conan, Police Officer Takagi, and I came to this Vicinity to ask around and see if anyone knows the Singer called Banzaki. As for Genta and Ayumi, they stayed at the Park to search," Mitsuhiko explained, looking at Chi Feichei with Expectation. "Brother Chi, you have an Entertainment Company, you should know a lot about these Singers, right? Do you know a Singer called Banzaki?"
Chi Feichei: "No idea, don't know him."
Mitsuhiko: "..." His Answer was really straightforward.
Chi Feichei used his Mobile Phone to Call THK Entertainment Company. "However, I can help you ask Toshiya."
Mitsuhiko had just felt disappointed, but hearing Chi Feichei Say that, Hope rose again.
The Phone Call connected quickly, and Odagiri Toshiya said casually, "Yo, Hissashi, what made you think of calling me today?"
"I need your Help," Chi Feichei said, his Tone still calm, getting straight to the Point. "Do you know a Singer surnamed Banzaki? He lives near Beika Town 2-chome Central Park, and is around thirty years old, though not very old, he should have debuted for several years."
"Ah..." Odagiri Toshiya recalled. "I have no Impression at all. Are you asking about him because you want to sign him?"
"I heard about this person and wanted to understand the Situation," Chi Feichei said. "I need his Address or Contact Information."
"I understand. Then I'll help you ask the people in the Company who are responsible for contacting outside Singers," Odagiri Toshiya said readily. "If they know, I'll have them Call you."
"Okay."
(End of Chapter)