"Eh?" Yukiko Fujimine's eyes widened in disbelief.
So, you teased me for only daring to kiss his cheek, telling me to drag Shuichi into a love hotel, making me think you were some kind of expert… and you're actually more timid than me?
"I'll leave you two to chat…" Yuka Takahashi forced a laugh, quickly making her escape, leaving Yukiko Fujimine alone, fuming.
"Damn it, I trusted her so much, even consulted her on everything…" Yukiko muttered.
"It's normal for friends to brag a little," Hayashi Shuichi said casually. "Kogoro's always boasting to me about being a playboy, a heartthrob."
Yukiko wasn't truly angry, and his words gave her an easy out. "By the way, how did you know Yuka's still… you know? And about her boyfriend? Don't tell me you deduced all that—it's impossible!"
"Of course it wasn't deduction," Shuichi chuckled. "Yuka's boyfriend is on the Teitan baseball team. Kogoro's his teammate."
"Kogoro's always bragging about his way with women, and Yuka's boyfriend actually believed him, asking for advice on getting closer to his girlfriend. Kogoro later told me about it as a joke."
"That's it?" Yukiko exclaimed, stunned. "I thought…"
"What, that I'm psychic or something?" Shuichi shot her an exasperated glance. "Those street fortune-tellers pull the same trick."
"No way!" Yukiko shook her head, skeptical. "Where do they get their info?"
"It's simple," Shuichi explained. "Pay a few students to be their informants. They gather gossip about classmates and spread word that the fortune-teller's legit. It's like a magic show—there's always a plant."
"But what if they meet a student they don't know about?" Yukiko challenged. "Wouldn't they get exposed?"
"They dodge the question or give vague answers," Shuichi said. "Experienced con artists can even fish for info on the spot, making you spill your own secrets without realizing it."
"If those guys were really psychic or had superpowers, they wouldn't be on the streets," he continued. "They'd either be scooped up by the government or locked away for research."
"That makes sense," Yukiko nodded, realization dawning. "If they were legit, Inspector Samezaki wouldn't need you as a consultant—they'd just hire psychics to catch criminals."
"Exactly. So, make your own decisions and don't rely on shady types," Shuichi warned. "Getting scammed out of money is bad enough, but getting played emotionally? That's a bigger loss."
"You've made it crystal clear—why would I go to them now?" Yukiko nodded impatiently. "By the way, why're you back? Didn't you say you were napping in the infirmary?"
"Why am I back?" Shuichi glared at her. "While I was lying in the infirmary, I overheard two girls talking about me. Wanna hear what they said?"
"Of course I do!" Yukiko's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "What'd they say?"
Shuichi's face was stone as he recounted every word he'd overheard in the infirmary.
Yukiko barely got through the first part before trying to bolt, but Shuichi pinned her to her seat, forcing her to hear it all.
"I-I didn't mean it!" she protested, her face the picture of innocence. "I was seriously trying to convince them not to confess so casually—love's not a game… ow!"
Before she could finish, Shuichi bopped her on the head. "You call that convincing? With that snarky tone?"
Yukiko slumped onto the desk, clutching her head and pouting. "It's just… their love letters were so sappy, full of praise for you. I got goosebumps reading them, so when I wrote back, I couldn't help but throw in a little sarcasm…"
"Thanks to you, they tore into me," Shuichi grumbled. "If this gets out, my image among the girls is toast!"
"Good riddance," Yukiko muttered under her breath.
"What was that?" Shuichi's tone sharpened.
"I mean, you don't even like those love letters," Yukiko said with a sheepish grin. "If your image tanks, no more girls will write to you. Isn't that a win?"
"A win?" Shuichi bopped her head again. "I don't like the letters, but I don't want my image ruined either!"
"I already wrote the replies, and they've read them. What's done is done," Yukiko said, feigning indifference. "What, you want me to track them down, take the letters back, and tell them their dream guy didn't even bother reading their confessions?"
Shuichi was momentarily speechless. "Fine, I'll get the letters back myself and explain everything!"
Just then, Eri Kisaki walked into the classroom. Yukiko's eyes gleamed with mischief as she called out, "Hey, glasses girl! Shuichi's going to confront the girls who wrote him love letters!"
"Hm?" Eri's gaze turned razor-sharp. "What're you up to?"
"Don't listen to her nonsense!" Shuichi quickly explained Yukiko's antics. "I'm just going to clear things up…"
Before he could finish, Eri nodded thoughtfully. "That's an option, huh? I should've done that back in junior high."
"Hey!" Shuichi's eyes widened. "My image—"
"Your image is better off ruined," Eri said, glancing at Yukiko. "Nice work for once, curly-haired fox."
"Tch, I do plenty of good things!" Yukiko huffed.
There was no reasoning with these two. Just then, Kogoro Mouri returned, and Shuichi recounted the whole mess to him. "Kogoro, you agree I should get the letters back and explain, right?"
"Yeah," Kogoro nodded.
"See? Kogoro gets it," Shuichi started, but Kogoro cut in.
"I'm saying Eri and Yukiko are right."
"What?" Shuichi's face was pure disbelief. Were his ears playing tricks?
"Shuichi, sacrifice one to save thousands," Kogoro said earnestly. "Like you said before, you can't hog the bowl and eye the pot. Leave some for the rest of us, man."
(Chapter End)
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/TripleCrown07
If you guys wanna check it out.