Traveling back thirty years to Conan, intercepting Princess Eri

"Are you really going?" The female secretary looked up in surprise.

“Of course,” Ichikawa said, his usual composure returning as he turned around. “That old man, Takeshita Matsufumi, is highly respected in the shopping district. If we can persuade him to support the acquisition plan, our work will go much more smoothly.”

His lips curled up slightly, revealing a smug smile, as if he could already see the dawn of victory.

After the female secretary left, Ichikawa trembled as he pulled a bottle of whiskey from deep inside the drawer and took a big gulp straight from the bottle.

Amber liquid dripped down his chin, much like the bloodstains that the windshield wipers couldn't wipe away that night.

The spicy liquid stung Ichikawa's throat, causing his body to tremble involuntarily.

"damn it……"

He muttered to himself, and the pale face of Takeshita Naoko appeared before his eyes again.

Twelve years have passed, and that ghost has never truly left him.

Thinking of this, Ichikawa took out a brown paper bag from the bottom of the safe.

The documents inside were yellowed, and on top was a newspaper from twelve years ago, with the headline in the social section proclaiming: "Fatal car accident near the University of Tokyo, female high school student dies after failed rescue attempt."

Ichikawa's hands trembled slightly as he looked at the smiling photo of Takeshita Naoko in the newspaper.

That smile was so radiant, so innocent, yet it was forever frozen in that moment.

"Old man, are you trying to settle accounts with me now...?"

Ichikawa crumpled the newspaper into a ball with a cold laugh, but when he saw the crumpled photo of Naoko Takeshita, he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt and reluctance.

He quickly reached out and smoothed it down: "I'm sorry, Naoko, I didn't mean to, I really didn't..."

Ichikawa's voice grew softer and softer until it almost turned into a sob.

His body trembled slightly, and tears slid down his cheeks, wetting his collar.

Back then, Ichikawa, who had joined the Metropolitan Police Department, was considered one of Takeshita Matsufumi's most promising students. He often visited Takeshita's home and that's how he met Takeshita Naoko, who was seven years younger than him.

The girl's beautiful smile and straightforward personality quickly attracted Ichikawa.

He was filled with love for Naoko Takeshita, and his heart would beat faster every time he saw her.

Ichikawa originally planned to pursue Takeshita Naoko after she went to university.

He worked hard for this, hoping that his career would be successful and that Naoko Takeshita would notice him more.

He works overtime until very late every day, just to complete more tasks and gain his boss's appreciation and promotion.

That night, Ichikawa received orders from his superior to go to the University of Tokyo to arrest students.

He felt that his chance for promotion and a raise had come, so despite the torrential rain, he drove very fast, thinking he would get there as soon as possible to make a contribution.

However, as they approached the University of Tokyo, it got dark and the roads became slippery. Caught off guard, Ichikawa's car struck a girl who was walking in a hurry.

At the time, Ichikawa was only thinking about getting a promotion and a raise, so he didn't get out of the car to check on the girl's condition. Instead, he continued driving to the University of Tokyo.

He had only one thought in his mind: to complete the task as soon as possible and gain his superior's appreciation. He was completely unaware that his decision would change his life.

It wasn't until the next day that Ichikawa learned that the girl he had bumped into the previous night was actually Takeshita Naoko, whom he had liked for a long time.

At that moment, Ichikawa felt as if he had been struck by lightning, and he was completely stunned.

According to the doctor's diagnosis, Naoko Takeshita did not die when she was hit. If she had been taken to the hospital in time, she could have been saved. However, Ichikawa did not even get out of the car.

That night, due to the torrential rain and the government's lockdown of the area near the University of Tokyo, the streets were deserted. No one noticed Naoko Takeshita, the poor girl who had been hit by a car, lying in the heavy rain until her body became completely cold.

In order to cover up for Ichikawa and to prevent the police from being accused of failing to help someone after hitting them, the Metropolitan Police Department announced that Ichikawa was drunk that night, which is why he hit the person. Naoko Takeshita was taken to the hospital and was pronounced dead.

At that time, Ichikawa felt filled with guilt and self-reproach.

He knew that he was the one who killed Takeshita Naoko and ruined her life.

After that, Ichikawa was dismissed from the Metropolitan Police Department, which caused him to be depressed for a while. Later, he was introduced to the Shimadzu Group.

Even now, Ichikawa still feels guilty about Naoko Takeshita's death.

But guilt can never compare to money and status.

Even if Takeshita Matsufumi is Takeshita Naoko's father and his former teacher, he will still beat him to a pulp if he gets in Ichikawa's way.

After years of struggling in society, Ichikawa had come to believe that money and status were everything.

With these two qualities in a man, you have everything.

Even his beautiful female secretary, a college graduate from a prestigious university, still had to be manipulated by him in order to get promoted and get a job.

……

The next morning, the overcast sky foreshadowed another heavy rain.

During lunch break, Lin Xiuyi finished using the restroom and was about to return to the classroom when she was stopped by her homeroom teacher, Murakami Yui.

"Lin Xiuyi, come with me for a moment."

Murakami's voice was more tense than usual, and it trembled slightly, as if she was trying hard to control her emotions.

Lin Xiuyi followed the teacher to the empty classroom next to the infirmary.

This classroom is rarely used; it contains some worn-out desks and chairs, and the windows are covered with a thin layer of dust.

Yui Murakami peeked into the corridor, and after confirming that no one was paying attention, she gently closed the door.

"Teacher, did you need something from me?" Lin Xiuyi asked, somewhat surprised.

Yui Murakami took a deep breath: "I heard that you were also present when the shopping district held a meeting to oppose the demolition?"

“Yes,” Lin Xiu nodded, “I went in place of Kogoro. His house is near the shopping street.”

“You…” Murakami hesitated for a moment, “Did you see a man named Ichikawa there?”

“There is indeed such a person. He is in charge of demolition for the Shimadzu Group,” Lin Xiu nodded. “By the way, Professor Takeshita also said that Ichikawa was the murderer who killed his daughter.”

Upon hearing this, Murakami Yui's face instantly darkened: "That Ichikawa... what does he look like?"

Lin Xiuyi recalled carefully: "Probably in her thirties, with slicked-back hair, and a height of..."

"enough!"

Yui Murakami suddenly interrupted him, her voice sharp and unlike the teacher who usually loved to joke with her students.

Realizing her blunder, she forced a smile: "I'm sorry, the teacher was just... a little surprised."

Lin Xiuyi wasn't so easily fooled: "Does the teacher know this Ichikawa? Or... do you know Takeshita-sensei's daughter, that Miss Naoko?" (End of Chapter)