Seven days later, a huge airship slowly lifted off from Tokyo Port, heading straight toward Osaka. Inside the airship, a group of children w
Seven days later,
a huge airship slowly lifted off from Tokyo Port, heading straight toward Osaka.
Inside the airship, a group of children were shouting excitedly.
"It’s Tropical Land!"
"Amazing... the castle looks so tiny!"
"It looks like it’s made out of toys."
Compared to the lively chatter of the children, Kogoro Mouri sat tensely, breaking out in cold sweat as he trembled in his seat.
Standing beside the kids, Ran admired the scenery but couldn’t help glancing at him:
"Dad, still can’t get over your fear of heights?"
"Sh-shut up! I’m not afraid of heights—!"
"Uncle Mouri."
Hayashi Yoshiki walked over.
"By the way, have you watched that drama Yoko Okino starred in recently?"
"Of course!"
At the ntion of Yoko Okino, the usually sleepy Kogoro Mouri imdiately perked up.
"I’ve been glued to the TV supporting her these past few days! Have you watched it too, Yoshiki?"
"Yes, she acted really well."
"No doubt! She’s number one! Both in acting and beauty, and..."
Kogoro Mouri began chattering nonstop.
Hayashi Yoshiki glanced at Ran, who exchanged a silent smile with him.
The children soon started talking about Kaito Kid.
Sonoko Suzuki’s uncle, Jirokichi Suzuki, had built the world’s largest airship and challenged Kaito Kid by using his treasured, priceless jewel as bait—he had eagerly hoped the challenge would make front-page news, but the incident at the research institute involving the ard gang overshadowed it.
"Do you think Kaito Kid will really co?" muttered Genta Kojima.
"Of course, he even sent a reply to my uncle."
Sonoko took out her phone and showed a photo of the invitation she’d taken.
"Thank you for inviting aboard the airship. I am happy to accept.
However, at 72 years old, I cannot bear to see you in a state of tension for six hours, so I will co to collect the jewel at dusk when the airship flies over Osaka.
Until then, please enjoy the airship journey in peace."
As Hayashi Yoshiki smiled watching this scene, he suddenly felt soone tug at his shirt.
He looked down and saw it was Ai Haibara.
"What’s wrong? Speaking of which, you’re not wearing a cute dress today."
Hayashi Yoshiki smiled and crouched down.
"...Don’t joke around."
There was no way she would do that kind of cute dress-up in front of everyone.
Ai Haibara showed a disdainful expression but quickly asked again:
"Did the police not ask you to get involved in tracking down that criminal group that stole the bacteria?"
"Why does everyone have that idea?"
Hayashi Yoshiki looked puzzled. "Detectives are good for solving mysteries, but catching an ard group is too much to ask, right?"
"That’s good."
To everyone’s surprise, Ai Haibara actually smiled.
Her face wore a light, easy smile.
"According to current information, the group stole a certain Class 4 bacterium.
Once infected, the fatality rate is as high as 80%, and there is currently no effective treatnt."
She paused, then looked at Hayashi Yoshiki.
"I dreamt that you, idiot, pushed yourself too hard and broke out in a rash.
According to news reports, the most obvious symptom of this bacterium is a red rash, followed by high fever, then complete organ failure leading to death."
"You dare openly call an idiot?"
Hayashi Yoshiki laughed and ruffled her hair hard.
Ai Haibara didn’t mind having her hair ssed up at all.
She just felt relaxed—last night’s dream had been very unfriendly to her, seeing Hayashi Yoshiki infected with the bacteria, red rashes spreading from his hands... she couldn’t bear the thought.
The Red Siase Cats’ criminal statent said they would act within seven days.
Today was the seventh day, but here, high in the sky, they were completely safe.
Hayashi Yoshiki studied her for a mont and finally muttered,
"Hmm..."
"What’s wrong?"
"After getting used to seeing you in dresses, this outfit feels a bit lacking..."
"Could it be that you’re a lolicon?"
Ai Haibara grumbled.
But seeing Hayashi Yoshiki smiling so sweetly, she humd in response.
"I can’t wear dresses in front of them."
"I see."
Hayashi Yoshiki stood up.
Ai Haibara said nothing more.
At that mont, Dr. Agasa glanced around and couldn’t help but ask,
"By the way, are we the only ones invited this ti?"
"Ah, of course not. There’s also a reporter nad Fujioka..."
Sonoko said, just as the man approached.
He was a casually dressed man in his thirties, with a sowhat sloppy deanor.
"That’s him—Fujioka Takamichi. He really wanted to report on Uncle Jirokichi and Kid’s showdown and applied to co aboard. There’s also another..."
Before Sonoko finished, a group of people quickly arrived.
"Hello, sorry to bother you! You must be Hayashi Yoshiki?"
A man stepped forward and pulled out a business card.
"Let introduce myself. My surna is Mizukawa, director at Nichiuri Television."
"Nice to et you."
"These two behind are reporter Kasumi Nishitani and caraman Junpei Ishimoto."
The man and woman behind greeted them.
Hayashi Yoshiki looked very pleased and shook their hands.
Then, with a bright and gentle smile, he handed a notebook to reporter Kasumi Nishitani:
"Nice to et you... Sorry for the unusual request, but could you kindly write your full nas clearly in this notebook?"
"Ah, sure."
Looking at Hayashi Yoshiki’s face, Kasumi Nishitani didn’t refuse.
"Oh, I heard that the famous mystery writer Hayashi Yoshiki is terrible at naming things, so he likes to collect other people’s nas."
The caraman Junpei Ishimoto laughed.
Hayashi Yoshiki nodded, looking at the cara in his hand:
"Have you already started filming?"
"Yes, since our TV station has exclusive broadcasting rights for this showdown, we started recording now. It might be used later as bonus footage."
"I see."
Hayashi Yoshiki took back the pen and notebook from Kasumi Nishitani.
Because Junpei Ishimoto had to carry the cara, he couldn’t take the notebook to write, but to be friendly, he said his na—four kanji characters—aloud.
Hayashi Yoshiki happily wrote it down in the notebook.
"These four characters, right?"
"Yes, that’s right."
"Thank you."
Hayashi Yoshiki’s thanks were sincere.
Speaking of which, he actually had a little experint he wanted to try with the Death Note...
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