142: Chapter 142: The Missing Novelist

"What on earth are that child's guardians thinking?!"

Miyano Akemi suddenly spoke up, her voice filled with resentment. "When you found her yesterday, she was lying in a puddle in the heavy rain... Today it's the same! They're so irresponsible!"

Fujino, hearing this, looked at Miyano Akemi, momentarily stunned.

Since the Soul Lotus's creation, she had always seemed gentle and agreeable.

This seemed to be the first time she had actually gotten angry.

Could it be because of Ai Haibara?

Makes sense.

Even though she lost her memories, they were still sisters.

Some bonds cannot be broken.

Just like that, the day passed without incident. Miyano Akemi stayed by Fujino's bedside, caring for the still-unconscious Ai Haibara.

This time, Ai Haibara's condition was even more severe than before.

The two of them worked until noon before Ai Haibara's temperature finally returned to normal.

In the blink of an eye, time reached the afternoon, approaching evening.

"Ding dong!"

The doorbell rang.

"Is there a visitor?"

Miyano Akemi, who was caring for Ai Haibara by the bed, started to get up but was gently pushed back down by Fujino.

"At this time, it should be a client."

Fujino slowly stood up. "Akemi-nee, you rest for a bit. I'll get the door."

With that, Fujino walked slowly towards the second-floor detective agency.

Just as Fujino left, Ai Haibara woke up from her dream.

Opening her eyes, she saw the familiar room.

She slowly sat up, rubbing her still aching head. Then, a damp towel fell onto her lap.

"You're still very weak. Just lie down for now."

Just then, a familiar female voice sounded beside her ear.

Ai Haibara turned her head and saw Fujino Akemi, who looked so much like her sister, sitting by the bed.

'Somehow, I ended up back here again...'

Ai Haibara squinted her eyes.

Honestly, her head felt fuzzy. She couldn't figure out why she had returned here...

Both the woman who looked like her sister and the good-person high school detective gave her a strange feeling.

"Why did you come back again?"

Miyano Akemi looked at Ai Haibara, puzzled.

"Were you kicked out by those relatives?!"

"No..."

Ai Haibara shook her head, speaking softly, "I snuck out myself."

"Snuck out yourself?"

Miyano Akemi frowned upon hearing this.

Was she not adapting to the relatives' home environment?

That shouldn't be...

She must be unwilling to talk about it.

Thinking this, Miyano Akemi continued, "Then do you know your parents' contact number? I can help you contact them."

"My parents..."

Ai Haibara paused, then continued, "They are no longer alive."

Miyano Akemi was momentarily stunned, then continued, "Then do you have any other family members, or any relatives?"

Ai Haibara shook her head.

Miyano Akemi fell silent.

Inexplicably, she felt a sense of shared misfortune with the little girl before her.

At least she still had a relatively decent younger brother.

But this child...

Meanwhile, Fujino had just descended from the fourth floor to the third when he saw a young woman standing in the hallway outside the detective agency door.

She was a young woman around twenty years old, with long brown hair and slightly narrowed eyes. She wore a dark green dress, a beige suit jacket over it, and carried a small handbag. She looked quite charming, possessing a delicate, slightly melancholic girlish air.

"May I ask what ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you need?"

Averting his gaze, Fujino asked the girl curiously.

The girl turned upon hearing him, looked Fujino over, then asked uncertainly, "Excuse me, are you Detective Fujino?"

"Yes, I am."

"Actually, I have something I'd like to commission..."

After confirming she was a client, Fujino warmly invited the girl into the detective agency.

Entering the agency, the girl curiously examined the simple yet luxurious decor, then followed Fujino and sat down on the sofa used for receiving guests.

"My name is Niina Kaori."

The woman took a business card from her bag and handed it to Fujino.

Fujino accepted the card.

The layout was simple, white, containing Niina Kaori's current company, home address, and contact number...

Hmm, so this girl was an OL (Office Lady).

Speaking of which, he should probably get some business cards made one day.

Fujino put the card away, looked at Niina Kaori sitting opposite him, and asked puzzledly, "Could you be the daughter of that best-selling novelist, Niina Jintarou?"

Niina Kaori nodded. "That is indeed my father."

"I see..."

Fujino's eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing this.

If his memory served him right, this should be the Niina Jintarou from the 'Missing Mystery Novelist Case'.

Niina Jintarou was a famous mystery novelist, known for his work 'Detective Samonji'.

Samonji was a fictional detective who carried a bokken, wore all black, enjoyed showing off with his wooden sword, and spouted philosophical sayings.

Speaking of which, the character he played at the ski resort a while back was Detective Samonji.

Actually, he didn't even need to play the part; his usual classic windbreaker and suit ensemble already resembled Samonji quite closely.

And he even had the nickname 'Detective Samonji'.

But well, he didn't pay much attention to it.

After all, he had many nicknames, so many that he himself couldn't quite remember them all.

Detective of Pitch Black, Poirot of the Heisei Era, Detective Samonji... things like that.

"So you're Mr. Niina's daughter."

Confirming her identity, Fujino poured a cup of black tea and got down to business. "May I ask what Ms. Niina wishes to commission?"

Niina Kaori lowered her head in thought for a moment, then spoke, "Actually, my father is missing."

"Mr. Niina is missing?"

Fujino pushed the black tea towards Niina Kaori, asking calmly.

"Yes."

Niina Kaori picked up the teacup, took a sip, and continued, "Not just my father, my mother has also disappeared without a trace. They only left a note saying 'going out for a bit' and left."

"When did they disappear?"

Fujino asked further.

After thinking for a moment, Niina Kaori replied, "The time of disappearance was about two months ago, on August 12th, the week before Detective Samonji was published in Bungei Jidai."

"August 12th?"

Fujino took out his phone and checked today's date.

October 20th, Saturday.

Alright, the Conan world timeline remained as bizarre as ever.

Putting his phone away, Fujino continued asking Niina Kaori, "How did you discover they were missing? Normally, if someone is missing for two months without contact, even if you don't report it, someone else should have, right?"

Although he knew some plot points, he still needed to ask for details.

After all, if things deviated from his memory, it would be awkward later.

"Normally, yes."

Niina Kaori nodded in agreement, explaining, "I did try to report it, but because there were no threatening calls, and the publishing company has been receiving manuscripts normally every week, they advised me not to worry."

"They haven't contacted me for two months. I've asked everyone I know around, but no one knows their whereabouts... I'm really worried about them."

Saying this, tears welled up in Niina Kaori's slightly narrowed eyes. "Honestly, I've been to other detective agencies, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠their answers were all more or less the same. It was only through inquiries from acquaintances that I found my way to you, Detective Fujino..."

Saying this, Niina Kaori looked up, her teary eyes fixed on Fujino, full of expectation. "Right now, Detective Fujino, you're the only one who can help me."

"Under normal circumstances, this case indeed wouldn't warrant a commission..."

"How could this be..."

Receiving the same answer, Niina Kaori's head drooped, disappointment evident.

"However, I am different from those unprofessional detectives."

Building suspense, Fujino continued, "I accept all commissions from clients. Even if there's no kidnapping, I will still help you find them."

"Thank you very much!"

"Regarding the commission fee... Since the nature of this case is still undetermined, the fee cannot be confirmed yet."

Saying this, Fujino asked Niina Kaori, "Determining the fee based on the nature of the case after its conclusion shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"No problem!"

Niina Kaori immediately agreed.

For her, finding a detective willing to investigate was already difficult enough. The commission fee...

Paying based on the specific circumstances of the case seemed very reasonable to her.

Indeed, listening to acquaintances and coming here was the right choice.

After accepting the commission, Fujino planned to head to the publishing company with Niina Kaori.

He remembered the publishing company was the key breakthrough point in this case.

"By the way, Ms. Niina, could you wait for a moment?"

Fujino stood up from the sofa, explaining, "I need to go upstairs to change clothes and let my sister know..."

"No problem."

Niina Kaori nodded. Fujino then returned to the fourth floor.

Fourth-floor bedroom.

Her left hand held a bowl of porridge, her right hand held a spoon, scooping some up, blowing on it gently, then feeding it to Ai Haibara, who was leaning against the headboard. Ai Haibara's face was flushed, and she opened her small mouth silently...

"Akemi-nee, she's awake already?"

Fujino walked into the bedroom.

"Mhm, just woke up."

Miyano Akemi placed the porridge bowl on the bedside table.

"She probably hasn't eaten all day, so I heated up some porridge."

"I see..."

Fujino took a black suit jacket from the wardrobe.

"Going out so late?"

Miyano Akemi looked at Fujino taking out the black suit, asking curiously, "Is it a commission?"

From her observations during this period, Fujino usually didn't care about his attire when going out under normal circumstances.

Only when investigating certain commissions would he deliberately change into a suit.

"Mhm, just accepted a commission."

Fujino took off his tracksuit, revealing the white short-sleeved shirt underneath, then put on the black suit jacket. "The client is the daughter of a popular novelist, commissioning me to find her missing father."

Before leaving, Fujino didn't forget to add, "By the way, Akemi-nee, please buy dinner from the convenience store. You probably don't need to wait for me."