Disclaimer: Detective Conan is not mine. This fanfic is a translation.
Enjoy Reading!
----
After leaving the library and returning to the single dorm room provided by the school, Ritsu took out his phone and composed an email to the mysterious man behind the folding screen.
The contact had come faster than expected. However, he couldn't agree immediately, doing so would only arouse unnecessary suspicion. Even if the genius girl didn't doubt him, the organization behind her would certainly dig into his background.
[Do not alert the enemy.]
After reading the message, Ritsu deleted it. He then noticed a few unread emails, not from them, but from someone he had only known for a month: Hayasaka Yuna.
[Hayasaka: Why did you suddenly submit your resignation, Inspector? I went to your place, but no one was there. Did something upset you, so you went out to clear your head? (_)]
[Hayasaka: Was it because I'm not very capable and made you unhappy… so you left? (︿)]
[Hayasaka: Are you really not coming back?]
The first two messages still had emoticons. The last one even used formal language.
It wasn't that he wouldn't come back.
It was that he couldn't.
Once he stepped onto this path, there was no turning back until the mission was complete.
Silently, Ritsu deleted all three emails. Then he adjusted his phone settings, blocking every familiar number so none of them could call him again.
As for unknown numbers, he wouldn't answer those either.
Looking at the now-empty inbox, Ritsu closed it with a solemn expression. What he needed to do now was prepare for infiltrating the organization. He had to reinforce his knowledge of organic chemistry and pharmaceutical engineering.
Fortunately, he still had time. There were more than two weeks left before Columbia's graduation in May.
The laboratory was quiet, filled only with the sound of pages turning. Under the bright xenon lamps, the atmosphere felt cold and sterile.
Leaning lightly against the lab bench, Miyano Shiho focused intently on the book in her hands. As expected, it contained concepts she hadn't yet considered.
Then she suddenly realized.
She hadn't asked for that guy's name.
Flipping to the author page at the front of the book, she found that instead of a photo, there were only two plain words printed in black on a white background: "Author."
What a terribly dry joke.
Alex Felton.
That was the name.
It sounded nice enough. Whether it was his real name or a pen name was unclear. Since he could speak Japanese, he probably had a Japanese name as well.
Shiho wasn't the type to finish a good book in one sitting. Glancing at her watch, she decided it was about time to head to the cafeteria for lunch.
Hopefully they had her favorite, salmon burgers.
Turning right after leaving the lab, she spotted the two black-clad men assigned to watch her. Normally, she wouldn't say anything unnecessary to them unless she needed money.
But today was different.
This was important, for both the organization and herself.
"Call Gin. Tell him the author of that book has been found."
"That book?"
Shiho frowned, her expression turning displeased. Before she could speak again, the shorter of the two men quickly forced a smile and said.
"I'll inform Mr. Gin right away."
Despite her childish appearance, the outline of a cold beauty was already beginning to take shape. Even a slight frown carried an intimidating presence.
Shiho wasn't trying to scare them. She simply had no fondness for the organization that effectively imprisoned her. Still, she was valuable to them, which granted her certain privileges.
For example, these two low-ranking operatives without codenames treated her like royalty, terrified that a single complaint from her might lead to them disappearing into the depths of New York Harbor the next day.
At the cafeteria, Shiho looked around but didn't see Ritsu. She went to Section D and picked up a freshly made salmon burger.
Gin's response came quickly. Before she even finished eating, the two men in black sat down across from her, precisely why no one at school ever dared approach her.
"Miss Miyano, Mr. Gin would like you to take the call personally," the shorter man said respectfully, handing over his phone with both hands. He had even sprayed it with disinfectant beforehand, afraid it might dirty her hands.
As soon as she held the phone to her ear, she heard that chilling voice.
"The gentleman asks, what is the author's name?"
No matter how many times she heard Gin's voice, it still sent a shiver down her spine. The fear was instinctive. That man had taken countless lives, feeling fear was only natural.
"I forgot to ask," Shiho admitted. After a brief pause, she added, "But I can confirm he speaks Japanese. He's probably of mixed Japanese and American descent. I've already invited him. After graduation, I'll bring him to the research facility you've prepared."
There was a long silence on the other end, as if Gin were thinking.
Just as Shiho wondered if the call had dropped, his voice came again.
"Get the name he commonly uses. Send it to me by email."
"Understood."
The call ended abruptly, as usual. After returning the phone, Shiho noticed the faint stares around her. With a cold expression, she wiped her hands with a wet wipe and said.
"Still sitting here? Do you want me to treat you to lunch?"
"S-Sorry for disturbing your meal. We'll leave right away… right away, haha."
Once they left, Shiho resumed her lunch.
Pan-seared salmon with skin, paired with avocado and pickles, topped with mustard and mayonnaise, it was a classic combination. American fast food really did excel in burgers. The soft bun was delicious too.
All together…
Today's calorie intake seemed a bit excessive.
Glancing down at her nonexistent belly, Shiho reassured herself
'I'm still growing, this is fine.'
With that thought, the guilt of indulging in her burger vanished.
After leaving the cafeteria, she headed to the library.
If there was one place she was most likely to find Ritsu, it was definitely there.
And sure enough,
He was sitting by the window.
The only problem was—
He seemed to attract attention.
Ritsu himself was puzzled. He was in the United States, so why were there still people pestering him? Worse, the kind who wouldn't take a hint and kept pushing even after being rejected.
"Excuse me, please? I need to talk to him."
Ritsu turned, wondering who had the audacity this time.
Then he saw her.
A tea-haired girl under five feet tall.
No.
A dangerous member of the organization: Miyano Shiho.
The blonde girls surrounding him had looked annoyed at first, but the moment they saw who it was, they quickly nudged each other and left.
"???"
Both of them were surprised.
Ritsu hadn't expected this petite girl to have such an intimidating presence. Had she done something shocking at school? Like dissecting a corpse with a scalpel while smiling eerily?
Shiho, on the other hand, hadn't realized her reputation had reached this level.
'Just how many stories have they made up about me? Some kind of mafia boss's daughter or something?'
…Well, whatever.
If it worked in her favor, a misunderstanding wasn't a bad thing.
----
Attention, Dear Readers!
Do not give this story any Powerstones!
Instead, submit your memes HERE!!
For 10 memes submitted here, I will publish bonus chapter!