63: Chapter 63: Suddenly Feels Different

Midday.

In a sparsely furnished, somewhat messy room, a cell phone on the nightstand buzzed insistently.

Fujino, pulled abruptly from sleep, sat bolt upright. He stared blankly at the unfamiliar surroundings, his mind still foggy.

"Dark streets, red neon lights... another dream?"

It wasn't the first time he'd relived the damned truck-kun incident. Every night, the image of that speeding truck flashed through his mind... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a constant, painful reminder that he had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠died once already. It tormented him, like phantom limb pain.

His heart pounded wildly. Fujino reached into his pocket dimension, pulled out a Chunghwa cigarette, and took a deep drag. He used to smoke in his past life, but rarely did so now... The cigarette's calming effect slowly soothed his frayed nerves. An endless supply of Chunghwas providing tranquility... this isn't even smoking anymore, he thought. It's more like a side-effect-free potent tranquilizer. It even seemed to sharpen his reflexes slightly.

As he calmed down, the memory of being sent flying by that speeding truck running a red light still sent shivers down his spine. Honestly, he never wanted to experience that again...

His thoughts clearing, Fujino fumbled for the phone buzzing on the nightstand. The screen displayed the caller ID: Suzuki Sonoko.

"Moshi moshi! Fujino-senpai!" Sonoko's energetic voice burst through the receiver, full of the unique vibrancy of youth.

"Sonoko? Why are you calling me so early?"

"Early?" Sonoko sounded surprised.

"It's already noon! Senpai, don't tell me you overslept again and forgot we planned to go to the Teitan University festival today?"

"Noon?" Fujino glanced towards the window. Sunlight streamed through the partially drawn curtains, making him squint.

"Ahem," Fujino cleared his throat.

"I might have stayed up a little late last night... Anyway, when are we leaving?"

"Right now!"

"Got it. I'll head over..."

Fujino hung up, taking a deep breath. He touched the bedsheet beside him. Damp. He felt the back of his shirt. Also damp. Cold sweat.

"Maybe I should get my driver's license too?" Sonoko mused after hanging up. An image immediately popped into her head: cruising along the coast in a convertible sports car, Fujino sitting beside her, wind in their hair...

"Hehe," she giggled foolishly, a lovesick expression spreading across her face.

"What's so funny?" Ayako asked, coming downstairs and interrupting Sonoko's daydream.

"Nothing!" Sonoko quickly shook her head, snapping out of her fantasy. She turned to her older sister.

"Hey, Sis, want to come with us to the Teitan University festival?"

"The Teitan University festival?" Ayako's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Didn't you say you were going with Fujino-kun and Ran-chan?"

"Yeah," Sonoko nodded.

"They should be here any minute."

Ayako frowned slightly, looking hesitant.

"Will I be intruding?"

"Of course not!" Sonoko waved dismissively, smiling brightly.

"It's a rare chance! Let's all go out and have some fun." Ever since the incident at the forest villa, her sister had become something of a shut-in. Maybe this outing would help her relax and unwind, Sonoko hoped.

Underground Garage.

After washing up and changing into casual clothes, Fujino headed down to the garage beneath his four-story building. The garage was spacious, about a hundred square meters, filled with various tools and several parking spots. In the spot directly facing the exit sat his beloved Ford Taurus. Its sleek black body, though perhaps understated, was far from plain. Fujino vaguely recalled seeing this car model in a movie from his past life. Never thought it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠would become his car after transmigrating.

Outside the Mouri Agency.

"Ran, is the little brat not coming today?" Fujino asked, looking at Ran standing by the car window.

Today, Ran wore a bright yellow turtleneck sweater under a light green blazer, paired with a pink miniskirt and white stockings...

Perhaps a bit dated by his future standards, but undeniably trendy for the current era.

Unusually, the pint-sized shinigami wasn't hovering nearby.

"That little brat went off to play with his other little brat friends," Kogoro Mouri answered, walking over before Ran could reply.

As the saying goes, colleagues in the same profession are rivals – especially two famous detectives living right across from each other.

Knowing this, Fujino had strategically built a good relationship with Kogoro Mouri from the beginning.

Leveraging his years of social experience from his past life in China, he'd even become 'drinking ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠buddies' with the older detective, addressing each other as 'brother'.

Turns out, there's nothing a ten-thousand-yen bottle of foreign liquor can't solve.

If there is, add a Yoko Okino poster.

The drive to the Suzuki residence was uneventful.

"Fujino-senpai!"

From a distance, Fujino saw Sonoko waiting eagerly by her front gate. Today, she wore a dark blue long-sleeved sweater and a white miniskirt, looking youthful and cute. If she just ditched the headband, she'd be a real beauty, Fujino mused internally.

As they got closer, however, Fujino noticed another figure standing beside her.

It was Suzuki Ayako.

Ayako's style was completely different from her sister's. She wore a soft pink dress, her hair tied back in a simple ponytail with a decorative knot, radiating gentle elegance. If Sonoko represented vibrant energy, Ayako embodied grace and refinement – more akin to Ran, though likely without Ran's terrifying combat prowess.

Sonoko quickly explained that her sister would be joining them for the festival.

"I hope I'm not imposing, Fujino-kun," Ayako smiled sweetly, bowing slightly. Her smile was warm and difficult to refuse.

Fujino hadn't expected Ayako to come along. Fortunately, the Ford Taurus was a family sedan; the back seat was spacious enough for three young women without being too cramped.

Kogoro Mouri naturally took the front passenger seat. They couldn't very well make the esteemed older detective squeeze in the back with the girls, could they? Better to inconvenience Fujino slightly than 'Brother Mouri'!

As the Taurus, filled to capacity for the first time in a while, pulled away, Fujino glanced in the rearview mirror at the three women chatting in the back, then at Kogoro Mouri looking around curiously from the passenger seat.

Fujino's brow furrowed slightly.

Crap. I've become the chauffeur!

Taking two high school girls out should have been a fun, relaxing outing.

Why did it suddenly feel... different?

Like he was hauling the entire family around... Are they picking on me because I'm an orphan?!