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Chapter 770 We Can Help Eat [Happy New Year]
Outside in the Living Room, Haibara Ai glanced back at the bustling Kitchen, then turned back and focused on arranging the Dolls one by one.
She could feel an invisible net slowly closing in on her. Sometimes she felt uneasy, but whenever she thought that she had nowhere to escape and didn't want to leave her current Life, she resolved to work hard and try to protect it, no matter what...
"Ding-dong! Ding-dong!"
The Doorbell rang.
"Just a moment!" Seeing that Hissashi and Doctor Agasa were busy, Haibara Ai got up, went around the Kitchen, and headed to the Living Room Door of Room 1103.
Mouri Ran stood smiling outside the Door, accompanied by a certain Elementary School Student and Suzuki Sonoko.
Haibara Ai was surprised in her Heart, but maintained a calm Face as she opened the Door and stepped aside, "Please come in."
After Mouri Ran entered, she explained, "Conan told me that Ai is celebrating Girl's Day here today, and Doctor Agasa would be here too, so I came to see if you needed any Help."
"Sonoko just wanted to join the fun~!" Conan said with a grin. *Subtext: Don't expect Sonoko to be of any help!*
"What do you mean by that, you Kid?" Suzuki Sonoko retorted, speechless.
"Nothing," Conan quickly backed down, not wanting to argue with Suzuki Sonoko. He handed the Box in his hand to Haibara Ai, "Ayumi asked me to bring this over. The Doll is inside."
Haibara Ai took the Box and headed towards the Kitchen, "Brother Hichiji, it's Sister Ran, Sonoko, and Edogawa. Ayumi asked Edogawa to bring the Doll."
Mouri Ran changed into Slippers and followed her into the Kitchen, "Brother Hichiji, I came to see if I could Help with anything."
"Oh? Ran's here!" Doctor Agasa, who was helping prepare the Sweet Wine, greeted them with a smile.
"It smells delicious!" Suzuki Sonoko also rushed into the Kitchen.
Conan followed into the Kitchen and couldn't help but sniff the air. Delicious!
Hissashi saw Hassashi and Feimo also running into the Kitchen to join the fun, creating a chaotic scene. His Face darkened slightly, "Everyone, get out."
Silence.
The next second, everyone obediently retreated from the Kitchen, watching Haibara Ai arrange the Dolls and waiting for the meal to begin.
"Brother Hichiji is even making the Sweet Wine himself?" Mouri Ran asked in surprise.
"Yes," Doctor Agasa turned to look at the Kitchen, smiling, "Hissashi seems to have been preparing since last night."
Conan stood in front of the Display Stand and noticed how smoothly Haibara Ai was arranging the Dolls after yesterday's practice. He turned to Mouri Ran, "Sister Ran, it looks like we're not needed at all."
"We can Help eat!" Suzuki Sonoko said, her face lighting up.
The others: "..." They suddenly suspected that Suzuki Sonoko had come solely for the food.
"What's wrong?" Suzuki Sonoko didn't see anything wrong with her statement, "Brother Hichiji is definitely making a ton of food. There's no way he, Doctor Agasa, and Ai can finish it all."
The others: "..." She had a point. Suzuki Sonoko spoke the Truth.
Hissashi felt that this was Haibara Ai's first Festival at Home, and a rather special Girl's Day, so he had gotten a little carried away.
An Hour Later, A Group of People stared blankly at the Table filled with Hishi Mochi, Crystal Sakura Shingen Mochi, Sweet Wine, Yogurt Jelly, Coconut Milk Jelly Cake, Crepe, Petal Pastry... fifteen Snacks in total.
The Benefit of having many people was that everyone could try a little of each without getting overwhelmed, and still eat their fill.
As Suzuki Sonoko contentedly patted her Belly to aid digestion, Hissashi emerged from the Kitchen again, carrying a Fruit Platter with elaborate carvings.
A Group of People shared the Fruit Platter and continued to digest. Gradually, another Fragrance wafted from the Kitchen.
Conan and Haibara Ai's eyelids twitched, recalling the Fear of constantly being threatened by weight gain.
Sure enough, less than an Hour later, Hissashi announced from the Kitchen, "Dinner is ready. Come and try China-style Chicken Hot Pot."
Chicken remained Humanity's best culinary Friend.
At seven Point in the Evening, Suzuki Sonoko waddled into the Living Room to digest, "China-style Hot Pot is really delicious! I'm full, full, so full again... Huh?" Why did she say 'again'?
Mouri Ran remembered her forgotten Old Dad, "Oh right, I almost forgot about my Father..."
Hissashi's Head popped out of the Kitchen, "I'll make some..."
"No, no, that's alright," Mouri Ran quickly refused with a smile, "Don't trouble yourself, Brother Hichiji. He's probably already eaten out!"
"Yeah, yeah," Conan nodded in agreement, "When we left, Uncle said he was going to a newly opened Izakaya for Dinner!"
Hissashi retreated back into the Kitchen. The others were too stuffed to move, and he didn't expect anyone to Help with Packing Up.
In the Living Room, Mouri Ran and Conan both sighed in relief.
If they let Hissashi prepare food, he would likely make even more. If they took leftovers Home, they would probably end up eating even more, resulting in a cycle of overeating and digesting, then overeating again. Even pigs weren't fed like this, it was terrifying.
"Luckily, I was worried about Father drinking at the Office all Day being bad for his health, so I convinced him to go Mountain climbing with me Tomorrow," Mouri Ran said with emotion, "Tomorrow we can properly digest all this food."
"I'll go too," Haibara Ai stated seriously and proactively.
"Huh? You guys are going Mountain climbing?" Suzuki Sonoko still didn't grasp the situation, and said with some Regret, "I have a Banquet to attend Tomorrow... Oh, By the Way, Brother Hichiji, President Kamei's Birthday Banquet is Tomorrow, are you going? You should have received an Invitation Letter, right?"
"Not going." Hissashi's reply came from the Kitchen.
"Then, what about Doctor?" Haibara Ai Looked Towards Doctor Agasa.
"Uh, Tomorrow I have an appointment to visit a Friend..." Doctor Agasa scratched his Head with a dry laugh. Crap, his Diet was going to be restricted again for a while.
In the Kitchen, Hissashi had an Earphone in his right ear, listening to the conversation between a Girl and a Middle-aged Man on the other end. He cleared the Table and prepared to Start Doing the dishes.
The Mobile Phone given to Ubu Saika had been tampered with and was constantly under Surveillance, not just the Phone Call, but occasionally he would also monitor Ubu Saika's surrounding Environment.
This was to Confirm Ubu Saika's Situation. Recently, the Organization had no Actions requiring his attention, giving him ample Time to assess Ubu Saika's condition.
So far, Ubu Saika showed no Trace of Reporting to Police or contacting the Police, and had no Connection with Suspicious Person. She could be tentatively Judged as trustworthy.
She had made four Phone Calls Home in total, but each time they were hung up after being answered. The remaining calls were to Classmate or Teacher.
Today, he had arranged for Ubu Saika and Kurahashi Kenichi to meet. He had only asked Yingqu Yan Nan to arrange transportation for Ubu Saika, without Surveillance on the Father and Daughter. At the same Time, he activated external Eavesdropping on the Mobile Phone.
If the Father and Daughter showed any Abnormality or dissatisfaction with the Organization, on such a special Day of reunion after hardship, and without Surveillance, they were likely to reveal their Truthful Idea.
"...This is a Gift I bought for you. I never got to Keep Company with you to celebrate Girl's Day when you were a Child..."
"...I'm fine, don't worry... Father, you and the Organization... I wanted to Ask, how long have you been in the Organization?"
"This... about four or five Years, I Guess."
"Then the Money you sent to my Bank Account..."
"Y-Yes, it was earned from Work for the Organization."
In an Italian Restaurant in Shibuya District, Kurahashi Kenichi and Ubu Saika sat together. Looking at his Daughter, who still had Red shoulder-length Short Hair but was now much more composed, Kurahashi Kenichi felt a pang of guilt.
He had hoped for his Daughter to Growth and become sensible, but he had envisioned a natural, time-driven maturity, not one forged through terrible History.
Especially the Black Coat she wore was jarring to his eyes.
Working for the Organization, even they disliked wearing such dark colors, finding them too Repression. *By the Way, of the eight of them, only he was still alive.*
Thinking of this, Kurahashi Kenichi felt even more uneasy, "Ayaka... I'm sorry for getting you involved..."
"I've already Said, you don't need to worry," Ubu Saika said with a smile, "Raki is very kind to me."
Hearing that Code Name abruptly, Kurahashi Kenichi's Face paled. He would never forget that young, indifferent profile, that hoarse, unpleasant voice, that calm yet forceful Attitude.
*'Kurahashi, contact everyone except Funato and meet in Shinjuku Ward...' 'Bring in the Bag by the Entrance. There are six Bombs inside. You wouldn't be stupid enough to leave Fingerprint...' 'How to avoid Police suspicion is your Matter.'*
"Father?" Ubu Saika asked, noticing Kurahashi Kenichi's distraction, "What's Wrong? You look pale."
"It's nothing," Kurahashi Kenichi snapped back to reality, Gaze intently at Ubu Saika, "Ayaka, Raki... Raki is a very Dangerous Person!"
*‘Don't let your Vigilance down, don't trust him.’* He couldn't bring himself to say the warning.
Knowing that even the Hospital had Informant from the Organization, he doubted the Safety of this Restaurant. Although there were no other Guests nearby and Raki hadn't arranged Surveillance, he still couldn't voice his concerns.
"I know," Ubu Saika Nodded, "But he really takes good care of me."
Kurahashi Kenichi began to Doubt if he and his Daughter were talking about the same Person, though that was impossible. "What do they want you to do in the Organization?"
"Currently, I'm attending school. I can't say more, it's Organization Rules," Ubu Saika added, "Oh, By the Way, Raki asked me to call Home and tell Mother that I came to Tokyo to find you and attend school here. That's the Reason I gave when I left Home. Because I hadn't seen you before, I didn't know what to Say when I called, so I kept hanging up. I'll call now, so she won't worry."
Kurahashi Kenichi Nodded. His Daughter seemed the Same as before, rebellious and flamboyant on the surface, but actually someone who Care About Family. Her Nature and Personality weren't bad, just too Curious. Yet, something seemed different. She kept mentioning 'Organization Rules' and 'Raki said', as if she were brainwashed.
Beihu Town. Hissashi finished washing the Bowls, listened to the end of the Father and Daughter's meeting through the Eavesdropping, dried his Hands with a dry Towel, removed the Earphone, and used his Mobile Phone to convert the real-time Eavesdropping into a Recording before leaving the Kitchen.
The Eavesdropping would continue for a while, at least until Ubu Saika contacted Home two or three more Times and didn't reveal the Organization's existence, before reducing the Surveillance intensity.
In the Living Room, Haibara Ai Started Doing to Packing Up the Girl's Day Doll. Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko were helping to put the Plush Toy into the Box Aside. Doctor Agasa and Conan, deciding to Exercise to digest, helped carry the boxed Dolls to the Storage Room.
When Hissashi came out, the Dolls were almost completely Packed Up.
He didn't quite understand this Behavior of displaying them once a Year, then packing them away until Next Year. But for Little Girl, it must be Meaningful.
Haibara Ai seemed quite serious when arranging and Packing Up the Dolls.
[Unreadable characters] has started, unknowingly a Year has passed. May everyone have a smooth and successful 2021. [Unreadable characters]
(End of Chapter)
Outside in the Living Room, Haibara Ai glanced back at the bustling Kitchen, then turned back and focused on arranging the Dolls one by one.
She could feel an invisible net slowly closing in on her. Sometimes she felt uneasy, but whenever she thought that she had nowhere to escape and didn't want to leave her current Life, she resolved to work hard and try to protect it, no matter what...
"Ding-dong! Ding-dong!"
The Doorbell rang.
"Just a moment!" Seeing that Hissashi and Doctor Agasa were busy, Haibara Ai got up, went around the Kitchen, and headed to the Living Room Door of Room 1103.
Mouri Ran stood smiling outside the Door, accompanied by a certain Elementary School Student and Suzuki Sonoko.
Haibara Ai was surprised in her Heart, but maintained a calm Face as she opened the Door and stepped aside, "Please come in."
After Mouri Ran entered, she explained, "Conan told me that Ai is celebrating Girl's Day here today, and Doctor Agasa would be here too, so I came to see if you needed any Help."
"Sonoko just wanted to join the fun~!" Conan said with a grin. *Subtext: Don't expect Sonoko to be of any help!*
"What do you mean by that, you Kid?" Suzuki Sonoko retorted, speechless.
"Nothing," Conan quickly backed down, not wanting to argue with Suzuki Sonoko. He handed the Box in his hand to Haibara Ai, "Ayumi asked me to bring this over. The Doll is inside."
Haibara Ai took the Box and headed towards the Kitchen, "Brother Hichiji, it's Sister Ran, Sonoko, and Edogawa. Ayumi asked Edogawa to bring the Doll."
Mouri Ran changed into Slippers and followed her into the Kitchen, "Brother Hichiji, I came to see if I could Help with anything."
"Oh? Ran's here!" Doctor Agasa, who was helping prepare the Sweet Wine, greeted them with a smile.
"It smells delicious!" Suzuki Sonoko also rushed into the Kitchen.
Conan followed into the Kitchen and couldn't help but sniff the air. Delicious!
Hissashi saw Hassashi and Feimo also running into the Kitchen to join the fun, creating a chaotic scene. His Face darkened slightly, "Everyone, get out."
Silence.
The next second, everyone obediently retreated from the Kitchen, watching Haibara Ai arrange the Dolls and waiting for the meal to begin.
"Brother Hichiji is even making the Sweet Wine himself?" Mouri Ran asked in surprise.
"Yes," Doctor Agasa turned to look at the Kitchen, smiling, "Hissashi seems to have been preparing since last night."
Conan stood in front of the Display Stand and noticed how smoothly Haibara Ai was arranging the Dolls after yesterday's practice. He turned to Mouri Ran, "Sister Ran, it looks like we're not needed at all."
"We can Help eat!" Suzuki Sonoko said, her face lighting up.
The others: "..." They suddenly suspected that Suzuki Sonoko had come solely for the food.
"What's wrong?" Suzuki Sonoko didn't see anything wrong with her statement, "Brother Hichiji is definitely making a ton of food. There's no way he, Doctor Agasa, and Ai can finish it all."
The others: "..." She had a point. Suzuki Sonoko spoke the Truth.
Hissashi felt that this was Haibara Ai's first Festival at Home, and a rather special Girl's Day, so he had gotten a little carried away.
An Hour Later, A Group of People stared blankly at the Table filled with Hishi Mochi, Crystal Sakura Shingen Mochi, Sweet Wine, Yogurt Jelly, Coconut Milk Jelly Cake, Crepe, Petal Pastry... fifteen Snacks in total.
The Benefit of having many people was that everyone could try a little of each without getting overwhelmed, and still eat their fill.
As Suzuki Sonoko contentedly patted her Belly to aid digestion, Hissashi emerged from the Kitchen again, carrying a Fruit Platter with elaborate carvings.
A Group of People shared the Fruit Platter and continued to digest. Gradually, another Fragrance wafted from the Kitchen.
Conan and Haibara Ai's eyelids twitched, recalling the Fear of constantly being threatened by weight gain.
Sure enough, less than an Hour later, Hissashi announced from the Kitchen, "Dinner is ready. Come and try China-style Chicken Hot Pot."
Chicken remained Humanity's best culinary Friend.
At seven Point in the Evening, Suzuki Sonoko waddled into the Living Room to digest, "China-style Hot Pot is really delicious! I'm full, full, so full again... Huh?" Why did she say 'again'?
Mouri Ran remembered her forgotten Old Dad, "Oh right, I almost forgot about my Father..."
Hissashi's Head popped out of the Kitchen, "I'll make some..."
"No, no, that's alright," Mouri Ran quickly refused with a smile, "Don't trouble yourself, Brother Hichiji. He's probably already eaten out!"
"Yeah, yeah," Conan nodded in agreement, "When we left, Uncle said he was going to a newly opened Izakaya for Dinner!"
Hissashi retreated back into the Kitchen. The others were too stuffed to move, and he didn't expect anyone to Help with Packing Up.
In the Living Room, Mouri Ran and Conan both sighed in relief.
If they let Hissashi prepare food, he would likely make even more. If they took leftovers Home, they would probably end up eating even more, resulting in a cycle of overeating and digesting, then overeating again. Even pigs weren't fed like this, it was terrifying.
"Luckily, I was worried about Father drinking at the Office all Day being bad for his health, so I convinced him to go Mountain climbing with me Tomorrow," Mouri Ran said with emotion, "Tomorrow we can properly digest all this food."
"I'll go too," Haibara Ai stated seriously and proactively.
"Huh? You guys are going Mountain climbing?" Suzuki Sonoko still didn't grasp the situation, and said with some Regret, "I have a Banquet to attend Tomorrow... Oh, By the Way, Brother Hichiji, President Kamei's Birthday Banquet is Tomorrow, are you going? You should have received an Invitation Letter, right?"
"Not going." Hissashi's reply came from the Kitchen.
"Then, what about Doctor?" Haibara Ai Looked Towards Doctor Agasa.
"Uh, Tomorrow I have an appointment to visit a Friend..." Doctor Agasa scratched his Head with a dry laugh. Crap, his Diet was going to be restricted again for a while.
In the Kitchen, Hissashi had an Earphone in his right ear, listening to the conversation between a Girl and a Middle-aged Man on the other end. He cleared the Table and prepared to Start Doing the dishes.
The Mobile Phone given to Ubu Saika had been tampered with and was constantly under Surveillance, not just the Phone Call, but occasionally he would also monitor Ubu Saika's surrounding Environment.
This was to Confirm Ubu Saika's Situation. Recently, the Organization had no Actions requiring his attention, giving him ample Time to assess Ubu Saika's condition.
So far, Ubu Saika showed no Trace of Reporting to Police or contacting the Police, and had no Connection with Suspicious Person. She could be tentatively Judged as trustworthy.
She had made four Phone Calls Home in total, but each time they were hung up after being answered. The remaining calls were to Classmate or Teacher.
Today, he had arranged for Ubu Saika and Kurahashi Kenichi to meet. He had only asked Yingqu Yan Nan to arrange transportation for Ubu Saika, without Surveillance on the Father and Daughter. At the same Time, he activated external Eavesdropping on the Mobile Phone.
If the Father and Daughter showed any Abnormality or dissatisfaction with the Organization, on such a special Day of reunion after hardship, and without Surveillance, they were likely to reveal their Truthful Idea.
"...This is a Gift I bought for you. I never got to Keep Company with you to celebrate Girl's Day when you were a Child..."
"...I'm fine, don't worry... Father, you and the Organization... I wanted to Ask, how long have you been in the Organization?"
"This... about four or five Years, I Guess."
"Then the Money you sent to my Bank Account..."
"Y-Yes, it was earned from Work for the Organization."
In an Italian Restaurant in Shibuya District, Kurahashi Kenichi and Ubu Saika sat together. Looking at his Daughter, who still had Red shoulder-length Short Hair but was now much more composed, Kurahashi Kenichi felt a pang of guilt.
He had hoped for his Daughter to Growth and become sensible, but he had envisioned a natural, time-driven maturity, not one forged through terrible History.
Especially the Black Coat she wore was jarring to his eyes.
Working for the Organization, even they disliked wearing such dark colors, finding them too Repression. *By the Way, of the eight of them, only he was still alive.*
Thinking of this, Kurahashi Kenichi felt even more uneasy, "Ayaka... I'm sorry for getting you involved..."
"I've already Said, you don't need to worry," Ubu Saika said with a smile, "Raki is very kind to me."
Hearing that Code Name abruptly, Kurahashi Kenichi's Face paled. He would never forget that young, indifferent profile, that hoarse, unpleasant voice, that calm yet forceful Attitude.
*'Kurahashi, contact everyone except Funato and meet in Shinjuku Ward...' 'Bring in the Bag by the Entrance. There are six Bombs inside. You wouldn't be stupid enough to leave Fingerprint...' 'How to avoid Police suspicion is your Matter.'*
"Father?" Ubu Saika asked, noticing Kurahashi Kenichi's distraction, "What's Wrong? You look pale."
"It's nothing," Kurahashi Kenichi snapped back to reality, Gaze intently at Ubu Saika, "Ayaka, Raki... Raki is a very Dangerous Person!"
*‘Don't let your Vigilance down, don't trust him.’* He couldn't bring himself to say the warning.
Knowing that even the Hospital had Informant from the Organization, he doubted the Safety of this Restaurant. Although there were no other Guests nearby and Raki hadn't arranged Surveillance, he still couldn't voice his concerns.
"I know," Ubu Saika Nodded, "But he really takes good care of me."
Kurahashi Kenichi began to Doubt if he and his Daughter were talking about the same Person, though that was impossible. "What do they want you to do in the Organization?"
"Currently, I'm attending school. I can't say more, it's Organization Rules," Ubu Saika added, "Oh, By the Way, Raki asked me to call Home and tell Mother that I came to Tokyo to find you and attend school here. That's the Reason I gave when I left Home. Because I hadn't seen you before, I didn't know what to Say when I called, so I kept hanging up. I'll call now, so she won't worry."
Kurahashi Kenichi Nodded. His Daughter seemed the Same as before, rebellious and flamboyant on the surface, but actually someone who Care About Family. Her Nature and Personality weren't bad, just too Curious. Yet, something seemed different. She kept mentioning 'Organization Rules' and 'Raki said', as if she were brainwashed.
Beihu Town. Hissashi finished washing the Bowls, listened to the end of the Father and Daughter's meeting through the Eavesdropping, dried his Hands with a dry Towel, removed the Earphone, and used his Mobile Phone to convert the real-time Eavesdropping into a Recording before leaving the Kitchen.
The Eavesdropping would continue for a while, at least until Ubu Saika contacted Home two or three more Times and didn't reveal the Organization's existence, before reducing the Surveillance intensity.
In the Living Room, Haibara Ai Started Doing to Packing Up the Girl's Day Doll. Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko were helping to put the Plush Toy into the Box Aside. Doctor Agasa and Conan, deciding to Exercise to digest, helped carry the boxed Dolls to the Storage Room.
When Hissashi came out, the Dolls were almost completely Packed Up.
He didn't quite understand this Behavior of displaying them once a Year, then packing them away until Next Year. But for Little Girl, it must be Meaningful.
Haibara Ai seemed quite serious when arranging and Packing Up the Dolls.
[Unreadable characters] has started, unknowingly a Year has passed. May everyone have a smooth and successful 2021. [Unreadable characters]
(End of Chapter)
