Conan: Rice Flower Spring

Chapter 396, page 390: Pure, Dark-Skinned Sports Boy
The banknotes are problematic? How could that be?

Could Lin Longma not know whether there was a problem with the money he gave?
The organization does indeed engage in many illegal activities, but counterfeit money is not actually within its business scope.

Even if they were to counterfeit money, who would counterfeit Japanese yen? Wouldn't it be better to just directly counterfeit US dollars?
We Mihua people want to have our own US dollars!
Since Lin Longma was certain that the money he gave was correct, the problem clearly lay with the shop assistant who had called him over.

"You guys go ahead, I'll take a look and be right back," Lin Longma said to Suzuki Sonoko and Michiwaki Masahiko before turning and returning to the restaurant.

Sonoko Suzuki knew Ryoma Hayashi's identity. It was just a simple meal at a seaside restaurant. As the chairman, Ryoma Hayashi wouldn't give counterfeit money to skip out on the bill.

As for Masahiko Michiwaki, he devoted all his energy to Sonoko Suzuki.

Seeing that Sonoko Suzuki didn't seem worried, he didn't take it seriously. He was still thinking of trying to improve Sonoko's favorability so that he could ask her out alone in the next day or two.

Ryoma Hayashi was naturally wary of Masahiko Michiwaki, but Kaneda and Shiraishi outside the restaurant had already received a hint from Ryoma Hayashi and were secretly following Sonoko Suzuki and Masahiko Michiwaki.

If Michiwaki Masahiko harbors ill intentions and tries to force himself on someone, he might just get to see a burly man jump out of the bushes or green belts by the street.

Back at the restaurant, Lin Longma approached the tanned clerk and asked, "Hey buddy, is there something you need from me?"
By the way, what should I call you?

The shop assistant probably didn't expect Lin Longma to be so straightforward. After a slight pause, he quickly introduced himself.

"My name is Makoto Kyogoku, and I am a third-year student at Beika High School in Tokyo."

Tokyo, Beika High School, third year of high school. Lin Longma quickly grasped several key elements in a single sentence.

Then, out of the blue, he asked Kyogoku Makoto, "Have you practiced karate?"

"I've practiced!"

"How's your skill level?"

"Winner of the Karate Tournament!"

The winner of the karate tournament, or to put it in a more anime-like way, is the national karate champion.

At least in the realm of high school karate athletes, Makoto Kyogoku can be said to have already cleared the level.

It's not simple.

The karate that Makoto Kyogoku and his friends practice is completely different from real-world karate.

For example, Ran Mouri might kick a security door away or smash the cement on a utility pole with a punch.

Not a single scratch was broken on my hand.

If you're interested, you can try it on a security door or a utility pole.

It doesn't need to be as advanced as Ran Mouri's level; it's enough to be able to kick open a security door with one foot and punch a telephone pole without hurting your hand.

If security doors were so easy to breach, why would we need to invent door-breaking hammers?

"You've participated in karate tournaments, so you should know Sonoko, right?" Ran Mouri has also participated in karate tournaments.

She was also the winner of the women's group, and Sonoko Suzuki had cheered for Ran Mouri back then.

Or rather, whenever Ran Mouri has a match, Sonoko Suzuki is sure to be there. The loudest cheers from Sonoko are undoubtedly for Ran, Ran's childhood best friend.

Upon hearing Ryoma's question, Makoto Kyogoku's wheat-colored face visibly flushed red.

The visual effect was absolutely stunning; his entire face was a dark reddish-black.

Ryoma Hayashi never expected that he would meet such an innocent high school boy in Japan.

Or is he a dark-skinned physical education student?
A pure-looking, dark-skinned male high school athlete? That's quite an impressive attribute.

"I did see Suzuki at the competition venue; she was cheering for her friend. The way she gave it her all for her friend left a deep impression on me."

Alright, no need to ask anymore, this guy named Makoto Kyogoku is definitely playing the role of someone who falls in love at first sight.

Others fall in love at first sight either because of their appearance or their personality.

However, Makoto Kyogoku is quite unique; he fell in love at first sight with Sonoko Suzuki because of her "desperate" efforts.

It's just that talented people often have some strange little quirks.

"Alright, alright, you can tell us about your appreciation for the garden when you have the chance. Let's get down to business."

After seeing that Kyogoku Makoto was no longer so nervous, Ryoma asked him about the important matter.

He returned to the restaurant because Makoto Kyogoku called him back under the pretext that there was a problem with the money.

I wonder what Kyogoku Makoto is planning to say to him.

When the topic turned to business, Kyogoku Makoto's embarrassment vanished, and he spoke earnestly to Ryoma Hayashi:
"Mr. Lin, that Michiwaki Masahiko is not a good person!"

Kyogoku Makoto knew very well that speaking ill of others in private was not a respectable thing to do, and he probably never did such a thing in his daily life.

At this moment, he couldn't help but feel a little conflicted when he spoke, but considering that the girl being lured was Suzuki Sonoko, Kyogoku Makoto became more determined.

"Mr. Lin, this is not me deliberately speaking ill of Masahiko Waki. It is what I saw with my own eyes!"
He's been at the beach for a few days now, and in the first few days he often tried to strike up conversations with women there.

He's brought girls to eat here a few times too.

"Mr. Lin, this kind of person is really not suitable for Miss Suzuki!"

Compared to Kyogoku Makoto's anxiety, Hayashi Ryoma remained remarkably calm. Kyogoku Makoto was simply worried that Suzuki Sonoko would suffer a loss.

But with Kaneda and Shiraishi by her side, it would be difficult for Suzuki Sonoko to suffer any losses.

Therefore, after receiving new information from Makoto Kyogoku, the more composed Ryoma was able to quickly detect the anomaly.

"Kyogoku-kun, are you saying that Michiwaki Masahiko has been 'hunting for women' on the beach these past few days?"

The term "hunting for women" was actually accidentally let slip by Sonoko Suzuki herself, and Ryoma Hayashi just happened to use it.

“Yes, that’s right.” Makoto Kyogoku nodded repeatedly. The word “womanizing” was a very accurate description of Masahiko Michiwaki’s behavior.

"He's succeeded quite a few times?" Masahiko Michiwaki has a good appearance, and he knows how to take care of himself.

This resulted in a very high success rate for Masahiko Michiwaki in seducing women on the beach.

Anyone who has this idea, or who doesn't reject the possibility of a romantic encounter, will basically not miss out on Michiwaki Masahiko, a young man with a decent appearance.

“That’s right, he’s brought girls to the shop several times.” Kyogoku Makoto’s expression was displeased. Although he was unhappy with Michiwaki Masahiko’s behavior, he was reluctant to do so because the restaurant belonged to his relatives.

However, they could only subtly refuse Masahiko Michiwaki's arrival through their service attitude.

As it turns out, Masahiko Michiwaki seems to really like the food at Makoto Kyogoku's restaurant. Even with Kyogoku's attitude, he still keeps coming back.

It's like I like the way you look at me but can't do anything about it.

Through Kyogoku Makoto's description, Hayashi Ryoma learns that Michiwaki Masahiko is undoubtedly a seasoned womanizer.

And that's what Lin Longma found most strange.

(End of this chapter)