126: Chapter 126: Don't Do Anything You'll Regret

"A bomb?!"

Sonoko exclaimed loudly.

Great, successfully attracted the entire class's attention again.

Sonoko coughed awkwardly, lowered her voice, and asked Ran, "What's going on? Why would there be a bomb in Beika City Hall?"

"I heard it was the architect, Teiji Moriya,"

Ran explained thoughtfully. "But luckily, the Beika Batman was there. It seems the bombs were already disarmed before Teiji Moriya's identity as the culprit was revealed."

"Did you see him appear?"

"He was the one who saved me."

Ran nodded. "Teiji Moriya broke free from police custody and charged straight ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at me. I was terrified at that moment, thankfully he was there."

"Did you get a clear look at his face?" Sonoko asked curiously.

"With the mask on, I couldn't see his face clearly," Ran shook her head.

"What about his voice?"

Sonoko's expression turned excited. "Was it really like the rumors say, deep and magnetic?"

"Mhm, although I didn't see his face, I heard his voice clearly,"

Ran continued, "It was just like the rumors – deep, magnetic, sounding like an adult male in his twenties or thirties."

"So the Beika Batman is a mature uncle!"

Sonoko swooned.

"I wonder what kind of handsome face is hidden behind that mask."

"Haha..."

Fujino, listening to the two girls chatter nearby, could only manage a dry laugh.

Uncle?

Well, it made sense. He did model the voice after Batman's.

And Batman's actual age was indeed around twenty or thirty.

Still, the feeling was quite interesting.

Standing right in front of you, yet you can't see me.

"Ahem!"

Just then, a woman's cough sounded from the front of the classroom.

Fujino looked towards the sound and saw Hiratsuka Shizuka walk up to the podium. "Today is the monthly exam. Everyone, prepare to head to your respective examination rooms..."

"Monthly exam?"

Fujino frowned upon hearing this.

Teitan High School did indeed have monthly exams.

The last test he took was just a small in-class morning quiz.

It only compared students within the class.

But the monthly exam compared students across the entire grade level, the whole school.

But if it's an exam, he wouldn't be able to farm Student experience points.

No Student experience points!

During the lunch break after the exams, the Teitan High trio gathered again.

"Fujino-senpai, how did you do?"

Sonoko asked Fujino.

"Alright, I guess. Should be able to pass at least."

Fujino replied readily to Sonoko's question.

Passing was definitely achievable, but getting a perfect score was uncertain.

After all, the monthly exam was different from ordinary morning quizzes.

It contained some trick questions designed to catch students off guard.

Although Fujino had inherited all the memories of his original self, some conceptual problems couldn't be solved by memory alone.

"Able to pass..."

Sonoko couldn't help but recall Fujino's usual diligent studying habits during class.

She wasn't sure if he was telling the truth.

If he barely passed, her own grades would likely plummet, and she'd end up in remedial classes.

Thinking this, she shot a sideways glance at Ran nearby.

"..."

Why was she suddenly surrounded by so many overachievers?

Normally, just passing an exam was satisfying enough.

But now, not getting an excellent grade felt inadequate. What was going on?

She wanted to say:

Stop competing!

If you keep competing, I'll actually have to start studying seriously!

She shouldn't have asked.

Out of sight, out of mind.

"Ahem."

Sonoko cleared her throat, quickly changing the subject. "By the way, Ran, since the exams are over, how about we go skiing this weekend to relax?"

"Skiing?"

Ran thought for a moment. "This weekend... I should be free."

Then, Sonoko turned to Fujino and invited him, "Fujino-senpai, do you have time to join us?"

"Skiing?"

Fujino echoed her query.

After pondering for a moment, he feigned composure. "My schedule... isn't confirmed yet. If nothing unexpected comes up, I should be free this weekend."

Afterward, the group discussed the relevant details.

They confirmed that, as usual, Sonoko would notify Fujino when the time came.

And so, the matter ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was settled.

Strolling down the hallway, Fujino glanced out the window.

Outside, the sun shone brightly. Cherry blossom trees lining the street beside the school building were in full bloom.

A few cherry blossom petals drifted past the classroom window on the gentle breeze, carrying the sweet scent of sakura.

It was a scene brimming with life, vitality, the transition from spring to summer.

Fujino: "..."

Alright, he had no more words to complain about this Conan world's ridiculous timeline.

But speaking of which, how did Sonoko and Ran adapt to this timeline?

They even knew what season the weekend fell into.

So Conan-like!

Indeed, transmigrators and ordinary people couldn't be judged by the same standards.

If he didn't pretend to be an 'ordinary person', he'd probably end up in Aoyama Mental Hospital, Beika Branch Ward 4, right?

[New Detective Profession Task Detected. Please check!]

Just then, a system notification that brought joy to his heart suddenly sounded in Fujino's ear.

He paused upon hearing it, a smile spreading across his lips.

A recovery mission is here!

He immediately opened the system task interface to check:

[Detective Profession Task: Elementary School Student Suicide Case]

Objective: Uncover the truth behind Mochizuki Minako's suicide by any means necessary and apprehend the culprit(s) of the case.

Reward: 1,000,000 Yen, +200 Detective Reputation.

Location: Marked on Host's HUD.

"Mochizuki Minako suicide case?"

Fujino murmured, looking at the system task before him.

After thinking for a moment, he finally recalled, "Isn't this the plotline from the 'Female Teacher in a Snowstorm' filler arc?"

Rumor had it that a female student, Mochizuki Minako, hanged herself due to unbearable pressure.

Due to pressure from the school and other parties, the case was hastily closed as a suicide before a proper investigation could be completed.

But the truth was, Mochizuki Minako didn't commit suicide; she was murdered.

Before her death, she had uncovered evidence of illegal enrollment practices involving two teachers at Haido Elementary.

Those two beasts, to prevent their illegal actions from being discovered, brutally murdered her and staged it as a suicide...

A young girl in the prime of her life, full of righteousness, tragically murdered by those she admired...

That was the gist of the case.

Simple, almost insultingly so.

Even the crime scene was riddled with inconsistencies.

Yet the culprits remained at large, even continuing to teach...

Recalling the memories from his past life, Fujino's expression gradually darkened.

Unlike previous cases, this one filled him with anger.

As his emotions brewed, the initial grim coldness transformed into a deeper, more profound killing intent.

His fists clenched, he punched the wall beside the window in the hallway.

A loud thud echoed.

The concrete wall panel actually cracked, forming a large hole.

Drops of blood seeped from his broken skin, staining the shattered concrete red.

Originally, it should have been Yonehara Akiko, Ran and Shinichi's elementary school teacher, who killed those three.

But now...

"Fujino, what's wrong?"

Just then, a female voice sounded from behind.

Fujino turned towards the voice and saw Hiratsuka Shizuka, wearing a white shirt, black suit vest, red tie, long suit trousers, and a white lab coat presumably pilfered from some laboratory.

Hiratsuka Shizuka was currently looking at him with astonishment.

Fujino first glanced back at the breached insulation wall.

Then he took a deep breath, calming himself. "It's nothing, Hiratsuka-sensei..."

"You're..."

Hiratsuka Shizuka noticed the bone-chilling coldness in Fujino's eyes.

Though she hadn't seen that particular look before,

she knew instinctively it was the expression of someone wanting to kill.

She didn't know what had provoked such a reaction from Fujino.

But stepping forward, she placed a hand on his shoulder and said softly, "Don't do anything you'll regret, understand?"

"I... understand."

Fujino nodded, the murderous coldness in his expression gradually fading.

But a somber look still lingered on his pale face.

"It's good that you've calmed down."

Hiratsuka Shizuka took Fujino's hand, inspecting it. "Hurry to the nurse's office and get that bandaged."

"Thank you, Hiratsuka-sensei."

Fujino bowed slightly, withdrew his hand, and headed towards the nurse's office.

Taking another deep breath, his mood gradually stabilized.

He had overreacted.

What's done cannot be undone.

He had to admit, Hiratsuka Shizuka, despite being somewhat unreliable, was indeed a guiding soul in critical moments.

If she hadn't snapped him out of it just now, perhaps...

Hiratsuka Shizuka stood still, watching Fujino's retreating figure with a faint sigh.

Then, she turned her gaze back to the concrete panel with the large hole punched through it.

She walked over and touched it lightly.

"How did he manage that?"

The moment she touched it, she felt the hardness of the concrete panel.

Her brow furrowed slightly. "What could possibly have provoked him to such an extent?"

After getting his hand treated, Fujino left school.

From the school parking lot, he rode his motorcycle home.

The wound under the bandage on his hand wasn't actually a major hindrance.

With his current 50% enhanced recovery rate, it would likely heal completely in a few days.

Due to the monthly exam, he hadn't gained any Student proficiency points today.

As for Swordsmanship proficiency...

He had originally planned to grind some at the Konoha Budokan.

But plans change. A trip to the dojo was probably off the table now.

Leveling up those two professions would have to wait.

The immediate priority was to head to Haido Elementary School.

As the Beika Batman, he needed to pay a visit to those two beasts.

But now wasn't the time. He had to wait until nightfall.

Nighttime was the Beika Batman's prime time.