Traveling back thirty years to Conan, intercepting Princess Eri

Chapter 256 Yukiko comes back to catch the rapist
"Mr. Lin, thank you so much!"

Chibo Jinghua's cheeks flushed with excitement, and she excitedly reached out and hugged Lin Xiuyi tightly.

Caught off guard, Lin Xiuyi's hands hung awkwardly in mid-air, unsure of where to put them.

He could clearly smell the faint cherry blossom scent in Ikenami Shizuka's hair, as well as the unique fragrance of bamboo sword on her kendo uniform.

Not far away, the kendo club members were sitting around a wooden table enjoying their dinner.

Hearing the noise, they all looked over in this direction with suspicion.

One of the boys, wearing glasses, was so surprised that his mouth dropped open, almost knocking over his cup: "Our Kendo Club's unattainable beauty..."

"Sister Jinghua, let's tell the other people the good news first," said Midori Orisaka, arms crossed, with a forced smile.

“That’s right,” Ikeba Shizuka said as if waking from a dream. She quickly let go of Hayashi Xiuyi, unconsciously straightened her kendo uniform, and then walked briskly to the kendo club’s dining table.

As the girl announced the good news, the other members of the kendo club cheered.

Lin Xiuyi lowered his arm with some regret, and when he turned his head, he saw Orikasa Midori looking at him with her cat-like eyes, her gaze so sharp it seemed she wanted to poke two holes in his face.

"What's wrong?" He touched his face somewhat awkwardly.

"Was that a comfortable hug just now?" Midori Orikasa asked expressionlessly.

“It wasn’t my idea,” Lin Xiuyi spread her hands, her face full of innocence. “I didn’t expect her to react so strongly.”

Orikasa Midori snorted, "Luckily, the others aren't here, otherwise, who knows what kind of chaos would have ensued. By the way, where's Eri-senpai? Why isn't she here today?"

“Beika’s library burned down, so Eri went to Beika’s to borrow books today,” Hayashi Hideichi patiently explained. “Yukiko is still filming…”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the wooden door of the izakaya was suddenly pushed open, slamming against the wall with a loud bang.

Yukiko Fujimine stood at the doorway, wearing the most fashionable flared jeans and a printed shirt, with an exaggerated scarf around her neck.

"Hehe, the big star Fujimine Yukiko is back!" the girl deliberately dragged out her words.

That shout immediately drew everyone's attention.

The students in the kendo club all turned their heads, some looking confused, others unable to suppress their laughter.

Lin Xiuyi sighed, rubbing his forehead, while Orikasa Midori stared in shock, nearly dropping her teacup.

Yukiko then noticed that there were several unfamiliar customers sitting in the store, and she froze on the spot.

A moment later, she gave a dry laugh and bowed to the members of the kendo club, then blushed and hurried to the bar.

"What's going on? It's not open for business yet!" the girl asked, looking embarrassed.

“Those are from the Osaka University Kendo Club. They came to Beika to participate in the Kendo Tournament and have been coming to the store a lot lately,” Lin Xiuyi said, barely suppressing a laugh. “And you? What brings you back?”

"kendo?"

Yukiko shook her head; she had never been interested in these competitive sports.

Compared to the Osaka University students who were guests, Yukiko was more interested in Midori Orikasa, who was wearing the shop's uniform.

"Tsk tsk, I've only been gone a few days and you've already taken on a good apprentice? And she's even wearing my work clothes..." Yukiko crossed her arms, narrowed her eyes slightly, and her tone was full of jealousy.

"Senior Fujimine, this is the shop's uniform,"

Orikasa Midori showed no fear, raising her head to look directly into Yukiko's eyes, and replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"Now that you've left temporarily, the clothes no longer belong to you."

"What did you say!" Yukiko's eyes widened in anger, her delicate eyebrows raised high. "I made all the uniforms in the shop."

"But the clothes belong to the senior. You can't just leave and still occupy the position, preventing the senior from recruiting, can you?"

After speaking without changing his expression, Orisaka Midori looked at Hayashi Hideichi.

"Senior, I'll go pour tea for Sister Jinghua and the others."

After saying that, the girl walked briskly towards the dining table on her own.

“…Damn it!” Yukiko clenched her fists.

"Alright," Lin Xiuyi reached out and gently patted the girl's shoulder. "Xiao Lü is just learning cooking from me and helping out at the shop. She's not taking up your spot, so you can borrow her clothes for now."

"Tch, borrowing clothes is a small matter, what if she doesn't even know men..."

As Yukiko finished speaking, she glared angrily at Hayashi Hideaki.
"It's all your fault!"

"Yes, yes, it's all my fault!" Lin Xiuyi nodded repeatedly with a wry smile.

Yukiko looked around the store, searching for the figure who loved to argue with her the most, but she couldn't find it.

"Where's the girl with glasses? Why isn't she here?"

“Eri went to Beika,” Lin Xiuyi explained simply, casually tucking a stray lock of Yukiko’s hair behind her ear.

“Glasses Girl really can’t live without books,” Yukiko said, pursing her lips.

"Don't just talk about the shop," Lin Xiu said with a smile, "How about your side? How's the movie going?"

“Great!” Yukiko proudly raised her chin, her face full of pride. “We started filming a few days ago, and most of my shots were done in one take!”

"I asked the director, and at most in another month, my scenes will be finished and I can come back."

"Is that so?" Lin Xiu nodded.

"Hey," Yukiko said, poking his chest with a displeased look, "why do you seem a little unhappy that I'll be back so soon?"

“I’m very happy,” Lin Xiuyi said, holding her restless hand. “You can’t only show happiness by laughing out loud, can you?”

Just then, Shizuka Ikenami returned with a beaming smile after sharing the good news with her companions.

"Mr. Lin, thank you so much this time. Everyone is very grateful."

"It's nothing," Lin Xiuyi waved his hand. "If you can win the championship tomorrow, that would be the best way to thank me."

"Is this young lady also from the store?" Shizuka Ikenami looked at Yukiko curiously, her gaze lingering on their clasped hands for a while.

Before Lin Xiuyi could answer, Yukiko spoke first: "I am the chef in the shop, Xiuyi's assistant."

"Hmm?" Ikeba Shizuka raised an eyebrow in surprise. "But we've been here for several days, how come we haven't seen you before?"

After Midori Orikasa's counterattack, Yukiko felt that the woman in the kendo uniform was also implying something in her words.

“Yukiko’s main job is acting, and she’s been filming movies recently,” Hayashi Hideichi explained with a smile.

“My main job is a chef,” Yukiko emphasized with a hum, “and my secondary job is acting!” “I see,” Shizuka Ikenami smiled, her gaze shifting between the two of them, “No wonder you said that earlier.”

Yukiko immediately snapped like a cat with its fur standing on end, squinting and glancing sideways at the woman who was several years older than her.

What does this woman mean? Is she questioning her determination to become an actress?

Just then, the shop door creaked open, and a still somewhat dazed Lingzi walked in.

My little cousin rubbed her sleepy eyes, yawned, and asked, "Onii-chan, what are we having for lunch?"

After sitting down at the bar, the little girl finally saw Yukiko next to her. She was stunned for a moment, then her eyes lit up: "Yukiko-neechan, you're finally back!"

Reiko jumped up from her chair excitedly, her face beaming with a bright smile.

"Reiko! Have you missed me?"

The two girls, one big and one small, cheered and hugged each other.

Sitting next to her, Ikeba Shizuka looked at the two of them with some doubt. She felt that when the two of them looked at each other, their smiles were a little fake. Was it just her imagination?

"Sister Jinghua, how did your competition go today?" Lingzi asked with a sweet smile.

“We won,” Ikeba Shizuka smiled gently, reaching out to straighten Reiko’s disheveled collar. “There’s only one more match left tomorrow.”

"Really? You guys have to win the championship tomorrow!" Lingzi clasped her hands together, making a sincere blessing gesture, her big eyes blinking. "By the way, after the competition tomorrow, are you going back home, Jinghua-neechan?"

"The final tomorrow will be at 4 pm, just like today," Shizuka Ikenami explained. "We will stay in Mihana for another night and then head back to Osaka the day after tomorrow morning."

"That's it..."

A fleeting look of disappointment crossed Reiko's face. She had thought that after the match tomorrow, this female fencer from Osaka University would be gone.

These past few days, she's watched helplessly as her older brother and this female swordsman grow closer and closer.

As Hayashi Hideichi's younger sister, Reiko knows very well what her older brother likes and dislikes.

Lin Xiuyi has always been powerless against women who are beautiful and look dashing.

When she learned that Midori Orikasa was going to stay at the shop to learn cooking from Hideichi Hayashi, the little girl was eager to cause trouble and even told Yukiko about it, all because of this.

She didn't expect that as soon as Midori Orikasa arrived at the store, a woman with an even more dashing and confident aura came in.

Compared to Shizuka Ikenami, Midori Orikasa, this delinquent girl, has a more approachable, girl-next-door feel.

Ikenami Shizuka did not notice Reiko's unusual behavior.

Because the little girl is cute and speaks politely, like a little adult.

Everyone in the Osaka University Kendo Club, including Shizuka Ikenami herself, really liked Reiko.

Just then, the shop door was pushed open again, and Eri Kisaki walked in carrying her schoolbag.

Upon seeing Yukiko, she visibly paused for a moment, then the girl adjusted her glasses: "You got kicked out of the film crew again?"

"Glasses girl!" Yukiko cried out like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "I only come back once a week, can't you say something nice?"

"Wasn't that nice enough?" Eri Kisaki put down her bag expressionlessly. "Then let me put it another way: you got fired from the production team?"

"Glasses girl!" Yukiko's face turned ashen with anger.

"Hehe, the employees in your store really get along well," said Ikeba Shizuka with a strange expression as she looked at the two girls who were locked in a fierce argument.

Lin Xiuyi chuckled but didn't answer.

Lingzi secretly rolled her eyes. The girls in the shop were all rivals for love; it was no wonder they couldn't get along.

……

Because they needed to prepare for tomorrow's final, the Osaka University team ate a little something and then said goodbye and left.

Before leaving, Shizuka Ikenami took out five tickets to the finals of the kendo tournament from the inside pocket of her kendo uniform and handed them to Hideaki Hayashi: "Please make sure to come to tomorrow's match, Hayashi-kun, and everyone at the izakaya."

Lin Xiuyi thought for a moment. Aside from helping Professor Agasa move tomorrow morning, he had nothing else to do. He then reached out and took the ticket, still warm from the other person's touch.
"I will definitely go tomorrow."

After seeing off everyone from Osaka University, it was time for the izakaya to open for dinner. Just then, Kogoro Mouri returned with a beaming smile.

"Looks like your date with Liuli went well today?" Lin Xiu asked with a smile, pouring him a cup of tea.

"It was more than just smooth sailing!"

Kogoro Mouri winked and sidled up to his best friend, wanting to brag about his achievements that day. But seeing the gossipy girls watching, he wisely chose to keep quiet. He didn't want to be scolded by Ruri tomorrow.

Yukiko fiddled with the ticket with regret: "I have to go back to the film set tomorrow morning, so this ticket is a waste."

“That wasn’t meant for you in the first place,” Eri Kisaki said bluntly.

"I'm also a member of the izakaya community, so why isn't it for me?" Yukiko asked, hands on her hips, clearly indignant.

“There are five tickets in total,” Eri Kisaki counted slowly, “Shuichi, me, Reiko, Kogoro, and Midori, that makes exactly five people.”

"...Where's mine?" Yukiko stared wide-eyed. "That wretched woman, did she deliberately leave mine out? I'm part of the shop too!"

“You weren’t in the store while you were at Osaka University,” Eri Kisaki scoffed. “How could Ms. Ikenami possibly have thought of reserving a ticket for you?”

"Alright," Lin Xiuyi clapped her hands to interrupt their argument, "It's rare for everyone in our shop to be here. We've all managed to get together once in a while, so let's stop arguing."

After dinner, the izakaya opened for business.

"Hey, what am I supposed to do?" Yukiko tugged at Hayashi Shuichi's sleeve, then pointed to her fashionable outfit. "How am I supposed to work without a uniform?"

“Why would a big star like you need to work in a small place like ours?” Eri Kisaki said sarcastically. “You should go back to the film set as soon as possible.”

“Okay, you can wear mine for now,” Lin Xiuyi said, taking off her chef’s uniform and handing it to him. “I’ll just wear the old one.”

Yukiko took the clothes and felt the lingering warmth of her body on them. Her initial reluctance instantly turned into a secret delight.

She put on the oversized clothes, the sleeves were too long, and the hem almost covered her short skirt.

“It’s a bit too big,” Yukiko muttered to herself.

Then, as if remembering something, she suddenly raised her arm and took a deep sniff of the scent on her clothes.

When she came to her senses, Yukiko realized that everyone was staring at her.

Her face immediately turned red: "I... I smelled an odor on my clothes and wanted to find the source!"

(End of this chapter)