Conan: Rice Flower Spring

Chapter 395, page 389: The shop assistant who refreshed on Izu Beach

"Photos. Photos?!"

Despite Michiwaki Masahiko's calm demeanor, Ryoma Hayashi could still tell from his micro-expressions that the kid was uneasy when Suzuki Sonoko mentioned the photo.

No, it should be very uneasy.

Interesting, very interesting. Lin Longma hasn't even started asking any other questions yet, and this guy's already panicking?
What did Sonoko Suzuki photograph?

Seeing that Michiwaki Masahiko still wanted to say something to Suzuki Sonoko, Hayashi Ryoma directly changed the subject:

"Michiwaki-kun said he's been eating here for the past few days, so that means you've been here for a few days now?"

“Yes, yes, Uncle Hayashi.” Michiwaki Masahiko looked at Suzuki Sonoko and also addressed Hayashi Ryoma as uncle.

Lin Longma raised his hand to stop him: "Hey~ Sonoko calls me uncle because I have a good relationship with her elders."

That's why they call me uncle.

"Mr. Michiwaki and I are complete strangers, how can I let you call me uncle?"

Lin Longma's behavior was extremely disrespectful; anyone else would probably have turned on him.

But Masahiko Michiwaki simply ignored the insult and didn't even try to refute it.

“Mr. Lin is right, I have indeed been here for a few days.”

"Since you've been here for a few days, haven't you tried to strike up a conversation with anyone on the beach?"

I think I've heard a saying before, let me think...

They all say the most effective way to forget a relationship is to start a new one.

What are your thoughts on this statement, Waki-kun?

When Masahiko Michiwaki was chatting with Sonoko Suzuki earlier, Ryoma Hayashi silently remembered his purpose for coming.

What did he say back then? He was cruelly dumped by a woman. This trip was a heartbreak trip.

What is this? A heartbroken male college student is asking for shelter.
But everyone else is asking rich women to take them in, so why is it that Masahiko Michiwaki is asking a high school student to take him in?
Is this right?
Ryoma didn't think too much about it, because the high school student was Sonoko Suzuki, who was not only a high school student but also one of the richest women in Tokyo.

Seeking refuge with Sonoko Suzuki. This doesn't seem like a problem.

But Masahiko Michiwaki probably doesn't know about Sonoko Suzuki's family background. Why is he so determined to get her? What exactly is he after?
Faced with Ryoma's difficult behavior, Masahiko Michiwaki was slightly embarrassed, but he still tried his best to "save face".

For example, although he had the idea of ​​starting another relationship on the beach in Izu, he still hadn't met the right person after so many days.

Now that he has met Sonoko Suzuki, he suddenly feels that all the days he has waited have been worthwhile.

It's worth waiting even for these many more days.

It's true what they say, men understand men best. There wasn't a trace of emotion in Masahiko Michiwaki's words; they were all just techniques.

But Sonoko Suzuki actually fell for it.

Just as our Miss Garden was completely captivated, the busy shop assistant seemed to finally notice them, the customers who hadn't ordered yet.

The tanned shop assistant strode toward them with an air of menace, not wearing much clothing because the restaurant was right on the beach.

Lin Longma could tell from the muscular physique of the shop assistant that he must have been doing long-term combat training.

He's a trained fighter.

Although the young man looked unfriendly, Lin Longma observed that his hostility was more directed at Michiwaki Masahiko, who was smoking.

Soon, the young man placed an ashtray heavily in front of Michiwaki Masahiko.

"Sir, please don't litter your cigarette butts after you finish smoking. It's a hassle for us to clean up afterwards!" "Gentlemen, what would you like to eat?" After "lecturing" Masahiko Aisle, the waiter picked up a pen and notebook and stood aside to record the food that Ryoma Hayashi's table had ordered.

"Give me a plate of their signature fried noodles," Lin Longma said to the waiter after glancing at the menu with pictures on the wall.

The two exchanged a brief glance, and Lin Longma was surprised to find that the young man's eyes were quite sharp.

"Give me a bowl of seafood fried noodles, and I'll also have a draft beer!" Masahiko Michiwaki doesn't need to be discreet; openly, he's a man who enjoys both cigarettes and alcohol.

Finally, Sonoko Suzuki saw that Ryoma Hayashi and Masahiko Michiwaki had both ordered fried noodles, so she ordered a vegetarian fried noodle dish for herself as well.

But to be honest, this stir-fried noodle dish is not usually on Suzuki Sonoko's menu.

It can only be said that Sonoko Suzuki's behavior is similar to that of a girl on her first date with a boy she likes in real life.

Before dating, a few bites are enough to fill you up; after dating, you need three bowls of rice. As for after marriage?

They were never full, it was a bottomless pit that could never be filled, brothers!
(Just pretend I was talking about eating.)
"Here are your fried noodles, gentlemen. And your draft beer!" Not long after, the waiter arrived carrying a tray with three plates of fried noodles on it.

He held a mug of beer in his other hand.

The beer mug was roughly placed in front of Masahiko Michiwaki, followed by three plates of yakisoba placed on the table in front of the diners.

Ever since the shop assistant appeared, Lin Longma had been observing him.

He discovered something very interesting: the young man's hostility towards Michiwaki Masahiko was not unfounded.

The shop assistant was quite helpful before; others had also provided service, though not as attentive as the properly trained staff.

But generally speaking, they were still very polite.

Their table was an exception for this young man, and at the same time, Masahiko Michiwaki was an exception for their table.

Simply put, this shop assistant was only targeting Masahiko Michiwaki.

But the interesting thing about this shop assistant goes far beyond that.

If that were all, the shop assistant wouldn't have piqued Lin Longma's curiosity so much.

The reason this young man intrigued Lin Longma was because Lin Longma discovered that this young man was skilled at both taking orders and serving food.

He barely dared to look at Sonoko Suzuki.

If that were all, it wouldn't be so bad. But Lin Longma also discovered that when the shop assistant wasn't around, he would secretly look at Suzuki Sonoko.

Moreover, the way this guy looked at Sonoko Suzuki was anything but innocent!

Whether he liked it or not was another matter, but Lin Longma felt that this guy must know Suzuki Sonoko.

This kind of seaside restaurant not only serves food quickly, but everyone also eats very fast. Even though Masahiko Michiwaki ordered a draft beer, he only drank a few sips before there wasn't much left.

When it was time to pay the bill, Michiwaki Masahiko was about to reach for his wallet when Hayashi Ryoma stopped him.

"Forget it, do you really expect me to pay for our meal? I'll pay."

Lin Longma simply took out a few banknotes and handed them to the shop assistant next to him.

After paying, the three prepared to leave the restaurant.

Suddenly, the shop assistant, who had been looking down as if checking the banknotes, called out to Lin Longma, who was walking out.

"Sir, there might be something wrong with your banknotes. May I take a look?"

(End of this chapter)