"If I didn't say that, was I supposed to tell Mr. Aso that the Phantom Lady wanted to help his family?" Hayashi Shuichi frowned slightly. "Would he still have believed me then?"
"Hmph. I may be a phantom thief, but the things I do are far better than what those government officials get up to," Tomizawa Chikage said, a look of indignation appearing on her face. "What gives them the right to sit high and mighty above everyone else?"
"I didn't expect you to be such a cynic," Hayashi Shuichi teased.
"I don't believe for a second that you haven't thought the same thing." Tomizawa Chikage raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest as she stared straight at Hayashi Shuichi.
"When I was young, I was indeed a lot like you. But now that I'm older, I've long since learned to accept reality," Hayashi Shuichi sighed lightly. A trace of sentimentality floated across his face, as if he were recalling his passionate, youthful days.
"You call yourself old?" Tomizawa Chikage rolled her eyes at him. "Then what does that make me? An old hag?"
After chatting for a few more moments, Hayashi Shuichi bid her farewell. "I've done what I promised you, so I won't disturb your recovery any longer. Come sit at the izakaya when you have time."
"I would actually like to go," Tomizawa Chikage looked at Kisaki Eri and teased, "I'm just afraid your little girlfriend here won't welcome me."
"We run a business; anyone who comes is a guest," Kisaki Eri replied stiffly.
Leaving Beika Central Hospital, Kisaki Eri walked silently beside Hayashi Shuichi, her brow furrowed and a hint of worry in her eyes.
Noticing her unusual mood, Hayashi Shuichi tilted his head slightly and asked curiously, "What are you thinking about now?"
"I suddenly feel it's a bit tragic," the girl sighed softly. "That child named Narumi actually has to rely on money from theft to treat his illness. Otherwise, he would just have to wait for death. Shouldn't helping him be the responsibility of society and the government?"
"That question is for those tax-collecting high officials to reflect on, not us," Hayashi Shuichi smiled, taking her hand and squeezing it gently. "Since it's still early, let's go on a date."
"Eh?" Kisaki Eri was stunned for a moment, then asked with anticipation, "Where to?"
"To your favorite place, of course," Hayashi Shuichi said with a smile.
"Thiiiis... iiiis..." Kisaki Eri gritted her teeth, her face darkening as she asked, "The date spot you mentioned?"
"I didn't say anything wrong. Isn't this the place you like to stay at the most?" Hayashi Shuichi replied with a look of utter innocence.
"I like books, that's true," Kisaki Eri huffed. "But that doesn't mean a date has to be in a library! And do you dare say your purpose for coming here is really to date me?"
Hayashi Shuichi offered an apologetic smile, knowing he was in the wrong. His main purpose for coming here was, naturally, the drug-trafficking Library Director.
According to Nishimoto's confession from Moon Shadow Island, every time he contacted the supplier to buy drugs, the other party arranged to trade near the Beika Library.
Inspector Samezaki and the others didn't think much of it when they saw the report, but Hayashi Shuichi immediately recalled the psychological trauma from his previous life—the Library Director who hid drugs inside the bookshelves.
Kisaki Eri had obviously realized this as well. She said somewhat angrily, "You only get this active when there's a case involved!"
"We're talking about narcotics," Hayashi Shuichi whispered back as he scanned the surroundings. "I am absolutely sworn against gambling and drugs."
The place they were currently standing in was the first-floor lobby of the Beika Library. Since it was the weekend, there were many people here to read, and the lobby was bustling with activity.
"You must be mistaken. This is a library; why would drug traffickers come here?" Kisaki Eri shook her head, her eyes revealing a trace of certainty. "Could they possibly disguise drugs as books?"
"There is a very high possibility to that theory," Hayashi Shuichi replied absently while dealing with his childhood friend, walking over to the library's floor guide.
"Just tell me where you want to go," Kisaki Eri said impatiently. "I'm very familiar with this place."
"Which floor is the children's reading area?" Hayashi Shuichi thought for a moment before asking.
After so many years, his impression of the Library Case was limited to the emotionless face of the Library Director slowly rising along with the elevator.
However, since the drugs were found by the Detective Boys in the original story, they obviously wouldn't be stored in the section for profound academic texts.
"The place where children read should be the Children's Book Section," Kisaki Eri replied without thinking. "That's on the third floor."
"Let's go. We'll check there first," Hayashi Shuichi said, stepping toward the elevator. Kisaki Eri had no choice but to follow him.
The two entered the elevator. Just as Hayashi Shuichi was about to press the button to close the doors, a young man pushed a cart full of books and squeezed his way in.
The space in the elevator instantly shrank, forcing Hayashi Shuichi and Kisaki Eri to stand pressed closely against each other.
"Apologies..." the young man apologized. Then, looking at Kisaki Eri, he exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, it's you. Miss Kisaki, who likes reading on the fifth floor."
"Mr. Tamada," Kisaki Eri greeted him politely.
The young man was a library staff member, Tamada Kazuo.
The library's fifth floor housed profound books on law, politics, and religion. Let alone children, even adults rarely read on the fifth floor.
Kisaki Eri, a young teenage girl, was a regular visitor there, which naturally made a deep impression on the library staff.
"I remember that book you asked me about last time was returned a few days ago," Mr. Tamada reminded her. "If you want to borrow it, you'd better hurry."
"Okay, I'll go in a bit," Kisaki Eri's eyes lit up, a look of delight appearing on her face.
Mr. Tamada pressed the button for the fourth floor, then looked at the lit button for the third floor below it with confusion. "You aren't going to the fifth floor to read today? The third floor is all children's books, right?"
"Well..." Kisaki Eri turned to look at Hayashi Shuichi.
"We are here to find extracurricular reading material for my younger brother," Hayashi Shuichi smiled naturally. "The school asked them to write a book report. Since the kid couldn't come because he wasn't feeling well, we had to help him out."
The elevator arrived at the third floor, and Hayashi Shuichi and Kisaki Eri walked out. The girl nudged her childhood friend in confusion. "Where did you get a younger brother?"
"Don't you know perfectly well whether or not I have a brother?" Hayashi Shuichi spread his hands. "I couldn't very well say my little sister is sick, could I? Wouldn't that be cursing Reiko?"
"Hmph, you really are a good brother who dotes on his sister," Kisaki Eri narrowed her eyes slightly, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Unfortunately, that little girl doesn't want to be just your 'good sister'."
Hayashi Shuichi gave a dry laugh and hurriedly changed the subject. "Alright, let's not talk about that. Follow me."
Walking into the Children's Book Section, they saw mostly children under ten years old. Seeing Hayashi Shuichi and Eri enter, quite a few kids looked over curiously.
Hayashi Shuichi was just about to start inspecting the bookshelves when a gentle voice spoke up: "Did you go to the wrong place? The books here aren't suitable for you..."
(End of Chapter)
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