Traveling back thirty years to Conan, intercepting Princess Eri

Chapter 246 Hattori Heizo Investigating a Case

“That was surprise,” Lin Xiuyi explained. “I just didn’t expect her to defeat Orikasa so easily.”

As they were talking, the door to the izakaya opened. Kisaki Eri rolled her eyes at her childhood friend, said nothing more, and went inside on her own.

Lin Xiuyi then invited the Osaka University students into the shop, and the previously quiet izakaya suddenly became lively.

With Kogoro Mouri and Reiko still nowhere to be seen, Midori Orikasa took on the role of waitress, serving tea and water, setting out tableware, and bustling about serving the guests.

"To celebrate our good results today," the teacher in charge pushed up his glasses and cleared his throat, "everyone can have some beer today, but be careful not to drink too much, and especially absolutely do not get drunk!"

Everyone agreed in unison, their excited voices almost lifting the roof off.

Midori Orikasa served them chilled beer, while Hideichi Hayashi took out several small dishes from the refrigerator—pickled cucumbers, edamame, and octopus slices—for them to enjoy with their drinks.

Among the Osaka University team members, only Shizuka Ikenami was a girl. After drinking a can of beer, seeing that the others were still noisily drinking with each other, she made an excuse and sat down at the bar.

"Does Miss Orikasa work here?" Shizuka Ikenami asked, trying to make conversation as she watched Shuichi Hayashi prepare the ingredients.

“No,” Lin Xiuyi shook her head. “Strictly speaking, she’s just helping out. She came here to learn cooking from me.”

“Girls should definitely learn cooking,” Shizuka Ikenami nodded in agreement. “It’s a really valuable skill.”

"Does Ms. Ikenami cook?" Midori Orikasa, who had completely become a fan of Shizuka Ikenami, hurriedly asked.

"I……"

Just as Shizuka Ikenami was about to answer, Mikio Morizono walked over with two friends. Hearing Midori Orikasa's question, he smiled and interjected,
"Ikebo is more than just good at it, she's a culinary master. When we went on a picnic before, everyone praised her cooking skills."

"Don't just praise me," Shizuka Ikenami glanced at the quiet girl standing next to Mikio Morizono and teased with a smile, "Isn't Miss Kazumi also very good at cooking? I've heard you say it several times. Her desserts taste amazing."

"I... my cooking skills are only so-so," the girl quickly waved her hand, a shy blush appearing on her face.

“To me,” Morizono Mikio said, holding the girl’s hand with deep affection, “the food you make, Kazumi, is the best in the world.”

"Is that so?" The girl forced a smile, quickly pulled her hand back and hid it in her sleeve. She glanced at the silent young man beside her, and when she saw that he didn't react, a look of disappointment flashed across her face.

Morizono Mikio didn't notice this, but Ikenami Shizuka keenly caught the subtle change and quickly changed the subject: "How did you get over here?"

“After all, Kazumi and Akio aren’t part of the team. They feel a bit restrained and uncomfortable sitting over there,” Morizono Mikio explained with a smile. “They can relax more here.”

"I suppose that's not why I feel uncomfortable," Ike Shizuka thought to herself, shaking her head.

Everyone in the kendo club assumed that the girl named Kazumi in front of them was Morizono Mikio's girlfriend.

Morizono Mikio has never denied this, but judging from the girl's reaction just now, she clearly doesn't quite accept being Morizono Mikio's girlfriend.

The members of the kendo club must have joked with the two of them, which is why the girl felt uncomfortable.

After chatting for a while, Morizono Mikio went back to the kendo club to drink. His figure stood out in the crowd, and bursts of hearty laughter could be heard from time to time.

Ikenami Shizuka wasn't very familiar with her two friends. After exchanging a few polite words, she rested her chin on one hand and her elbow on the bar, watching Hayashi Shuichi prepare the ingredients. Occasionally, they would exchange cooking tips, their conversation flowing smoothly and the atmosphere quite harmonious.

Perhaps she was too disappointed by the reaction of the young man named Akio beside her earlier, after Morizono Mikio left, Kazumi suddenly ordered several cans of beer.

Her eyes were somewhat vacant. She didn't need any snacks with her drink; she just drank it in big gulps. With each sip, the desolation on her face deepened, and the wine slid down the corners of her mouth, leaving dark stains on her clothes.

"He Mei, drink less," Ming Nan finally couldn't help but say.

He Mei ignored him and continued chugging her beer. When Mingnan repeated himself, the girl couldn't take it anymore and slammed the beer can she was holding heavily on the table.

With a loud bang, the girl, tears welling in her eyes, shouted, "This is my business, it's none of your concern!"

This shout immediately drew the attention of everyone in the izakaya.

"I"

A hint of sadness flashed across Mingnan's face. He lowered his head, his voice barely audible.
"I'm sorry, I was being nosy."

"Kazumi, what's wrong?" Morizono Mikio walked over quickly.

"It's nothing," Kazumi shook her head, glanced at Akio, bit her lip, and turned to Morizono Mikio. "I'm in a bad mood. Want to go for a walk with me?"

“Okay,” Morizono Mikio didn’t ask any more questions. He gently helped the girl, who was already a little drunk and staggering, to her feet and carefully walked out of the store.

After the two men left, the remaining young man sighed dejectedly. He scratched his head hard, his voice hoarse, "Boss, do you have any liquor? Give me a glass!"

The girl was drinking first, and now it's him. Anyone with a slightly more perceptive eye can see that there's something wrong between the three of them.

The conversations in the izakaya gradually resumed, but were noticeably lowered, with people occasionally glancing over furtively.

"This..." Midori Orikasa looked at Hideaki Hayashi, "Senior?"

“Pour it for him as he said,” Lin Xiuyi nodded.

Soju has a much higher alcohol content than beer, and after drinking a glass of soju, the young man's face immediately turned red.

"Continued Cup!"

“Sir, you’re drinking too fast,” Midori Orikasa couldn’t help but advise. “You’ll get drunk very easily.”

"It's better to be drunk," the young man said with a wry smile, his eyes glazed over. "I wish I could be drunk every day."

"Pour it for him," Lin Xiu said without looking up.

Orikasa Midori wanted to offer another word of advice: "Sir..."

"Pour it for him," Lin Xiuyi finally raised his head and said expressionlessly, "For a coward, being able to indulge in a drunken dream is a good thing."

"Cowardly? Yes, I am indeed cowardly, clearly."

The young man gave a wry smile, picked up the bottle of shochu that Orisaka Midori had just poured, and downed it in one gulp. The strong liquor immediately made him cough, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

The young man stared blankly at the table, muttering, "The three of us grew up together. Gan Xiong's family background is better than mine, he's better at studying, and he's more capable than me. It's normal for He Mei to like him."

Compared to him, I am just a complete loser.

Lin Xiuyi and Ikeba Shizuka couldn't help but shake their heads as they listened.

Orikasa Midori, being young, couldn't help but speak up when she thought about what had just happened: "But why do I feel like that Miss Kazumi doesn't seem to like Mr. Morizono?"

"That's your misconception. If she doesn't like Gan Xiong, who else could she like? Me?" The young man shook his head self-deprecatingly. "I just kindly advised her not to drink so much, and she got angry. It's obvious she's been looking down on me for a long time."

Ikenami Shizuka shook the beer in her hand and said softly, "I heard that Morizono-senpai is already preparing to propose."

"Really? That's a good thing," the young man said, his expression growing even more somber. "To see harmony and happiness, I..."

Before he could finish speaking, Eri Kisaki, who had appeared out of nowhere, snorted coldly: "Stop being so self-righteous. If Miss Kazumi marries Mr. Morizono and finds happiness, that has nothing to do with you."

"How could it have nothing to do with me?" The young man looked up, his eyes red, his fists clenching involuntarily. "If... if I hadn't given up..."

"You just said it yourself, you're just a loser," Lin Xiuyi mocked. "A coward who doesn't even dare to speak his own mind, to that Miss Hemei, you're probably not even a stray dog ​​on the street. How could her happiness or unhappiness possibly have anything to do with you?"

The young man abruptly stood up, the chair scraping harshly against the floor. "What right do you have to insult me?"

"Because I won't cower like a coward when facing a girl I like," Lin Xiuyi put down the kitchen knife and looked directly into the other person's eyes. "Do you think this matter will be over if you don't say anything?"

"Instead of hiding it and regretting it for the rest of your life, it's better to speak up and make things clear. Even if you lose face temporarily, you won't regret it in the future."

"Or are you worried about your rich and powerful friend?" Eri Kisaki said with a look of disdain. "Are you afraid that if you offend him, you won't have a good life in the future?"

"You're talking nonsense!" Veins bulged on the young man's forehead. "Gan Xiong and I are friends. I've never cared about his family background!"

"Heh, do you think we'd believe that?" Lin Xiuyi scoffed, her face full of disbelief.

"you."

The young man's face flushed red and then turned pale, as if someone had touched a sore spot.

Faced with the disdain from Lin Xiuyi and Fei Yingli, and fueled by alcohol, he finally couldn't take it anymore, clenching his fist and slamming it heavily on the table.

"Watch closely! I'm going to confess my love to Kazumi right now!"

After saying that, he stormed out of the izakaya.

“Senior, Senior Princess,” Midori Orikasa looked at the two of them, “weren’t what you just said a bit too much? He…”

“If he didn’t say that, how would he have mustered the courage to confess?” Chibo Jinghua tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Lin and the other person are actually helping him by doing this.”

"Huh?" Midori Orikasa finally realized what was happening, her eyes widening. "Senior, are you trying to provoke me?"

“Hmm,” Lin Xiu nodded and poured the egg mixture into the frying pan. “Whether it works or not depends on him. If he loses his courage when he gets to those two, then no one can help him.”

“If that’s the case, the best choice is for Miss Kazumi not to marry him,” Eri Kisaki snorted and turned back to the cashier.

“If he really succeeds in confessing, Morizono-senpai will be in big trouble,” Ikenami Shizuka said with sympathy, her fingers gently rubbing the water droplets on the beer can. “He really likes that Kazumi-san.”

"It's better for one person to be miserable than for three people to suffer," Lin Xiuyi said casually. "Even if Miss Hemei marries him in the future, what's the use if her heart isn't with him?"

"Lin Sang is quite young, but she seems to know a lot about relationships." Chi Bo Jinghua looked at Lin Xiuyi with amusement, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes. "If you meet a girl you like in the future, but her heart isn't with you, will you also choose to let go?"

"Why should I let go?" Lin Xiuyi said matter-of-factly. "Of course, I'll keep pestering her until she likes me alone, body and soul."

"Senior?" Midori Orikasa looked at Hideaki Hayashi in surprise. This is not what you just said.

“Everyone is selfish,” Lin Xiuyi said, clenching his fist. “I can use those words to advise others, but if anyone dares to use them to advise me, I’ll beat them up.”

"Isn't this a double standard?" Midori Orikasa muttered to herself.

“Only a saint could truly be completely free of double standards and treat all people and things equally,” Lin Xiuyi said irritably. “I am just an ordinary mortal, and I don’t have such a high level of attainment.”

Midori Orikasa was not good with words, and seeing that she couldn't win the argument, she could only sullenly shut her mouth, her cheeks puffed up like a little pufferfish.

Ikeba Shizuka laughed upon hearing this: "Lin-san is actually right. If you can easily give up on someone you like, what's the point of that liking? It's like practicing swordsmanship. If you easily give up because of other things, can you still say you like swordsmanship?"

"I see," Midori Orikasa nodded blankly.

By the way, Morizono Mikio. Doesn't that name sound familiar?

Lin Xiuyi frowned and pondered for a while, and the movements of her hands unconsciously slowed down.

"Senior, the eggs are almost burnt?" Midori Orikasa noticed him standing there in a daze and quickly pointed to the frying pan to remind him.

Lin Xiuyi then realized what was happening, quickly turned off the heat, plated the golden-brown tamagoyaki, and handed it to Ikeba Shizuka: "Miss Ikeba, here's your tamagoyaki."

The egg rolls exuded an enticing aroma and glistened with oil.

"Thank you," Ikeba Shizuka nodded, picked up her chopsticks, took a bite of egg, and put it in her mouth. "It's a little sweet. Did you add sugar?"

“Yes,” Lin Xiu nodded.

“In Kansai, tamagoyaki is usually made with broth, so the flavor tends to be savory,” Shizuka Ikenami said, picking up another piece and putting it in her mouth. “Although it’s a bit unusual, it’s nice to try something sweet once in a while.”

Is this considered the Japanese "sweet party" and "salty party"? Lin Xiuyi thought to himself with a bit of amusement.

"By the way, Ms. Ikenami, your match this morning must have been very exciting, right?" Midori Orikasa asked curiously. "I heard your first match was against Kyoto University, who were last year's champions."

(End of this chapter)