Umaru: "He's just a classmate from our school."
"Oh, then it's fine. As long as you perfectly got the Chonmei plush, that's good."
Umaru put her hands on her hips. "What do you mean it's fine? Onii-chan, you idiot. If Umaru hadn't won at rock-paper-scissors today, and if Saiki-shishou wasn't there, and I didn't get this Chonmei plush, what would Onii-chan do? You should've at least waited for Umaru to come back before deciding anything."
Umaru picked up the Chonmei plush and walked back into the apartment.
Doma Taihei watched his little sister. Even though she had scolded him, she seemed to be in a pretty good mood. "My little sister has finally grown up. She's even made some sensible good friends."
...
Saiki gave a creepy smile.
[Hehehehehehe... hehe.]
"Saiki-kun, what's wrong? Are you sick?"
Shiina Mahiru looked a little panicked at Saiki. After he finished breakfast and was reading the newspaper, he suddenly showed a smile that was completely different from usual. Her reaction was so intense.
Shiina Mahiru placed her hand on Saiki's forehead, then placed her other hand on her own forehead to check his temperature. "It doesn't seem like anything's wrong."
Saiki: ...
Saiki removed Shiina Mahiru's hand.
[I'm fine. I just saw something happy in the newspaper.]
"What's up?"
Saiki excitedly took out the newspaper and handed it to Shiina Mahiru to explain.
[Look, 'Kindergarten Car Teacher.' His novel is getting adapted into an anime. It's airing this afternoon.]
Shiina Mahiru looked at the newspaper in confusion. Right there on the front page: Online novelist Kindergarten Car Teacher's masterpiece "Famous Detective Conan" novel-to-anime adaptation. Premieres today at 4:30 PM.
"Oh, so there's a new anime coming out. Do you really like this author, Saiki-kun?"
[Like him? I super like him.]
Saiki looked at Shiina Mahiru, a bit surprised.
[You seriously haven't heard of him? You haven't even read any of his novels?]
"Um, no. Is he really that popular?"
[Super popular, okay? His novels are insanely good. Since you've never heard of him, you really should check them out...]
Shiina Mahiru folded the newspaper neatly. "Mm, I... I'll go take a look."
Shiina Mahiru [Saiki-kun actually has an author he likes. That's kind of interesting.]
[Alright, time to head to school.]
...
Saiki picked up his bag and left for school. On the way, his mind was completely filled with thoughts of the Kindergarten author. This writer's novel was getting an anime adaptation. He was really looking forward to it.
After changing shoes, Yoshii Akihisa came over. "Saiki, Saiki! Have you heard? They say Kindergarten Car Teacher's novel is getting an anime adaptation. I'm his hardcore fan!"
Saiki originally had no interest and was planning to ignore him as usual, but when he heard Yoshii Akihisa talking about this work, he immediately got excited.
[Oh, you're a fan of his too?]
Yoshii Akihisa puffed out his chest. "Of course! Ten-year veteran fan, okay?"
[Then what's the protagonist's name?]
"Uh, that would be..."
Yoshii Akihisa thought for a moment and said haltingly, "It's... Edogawa Conan!"
Saiki stood up, ignored Yoshii Akihisa, and continued walking toward the classroom.
[You got it wrong. You're a fake fan. That's from a different work.]
"Huh? Really? Wait, I really am a fake fan... no, wait, I really am a true fan! I just accidentally said the wrong thing!"
...
"Ring ring ring ring..."
The dismissal bell rang. Saiki picked up his bag, walked out of the classroom, a slight smile on his face.
[Yare yare, it's finally over. For the first time, class felt so long. Now I can finally go home and watch it. I've been looking forward to this work for so long. It's got millions of fans, men and women, young and old. Even though the anime adaptation will change some things, I'm still really excited.]
"Boom."
Just as Saiki was about to reach the corner of the stairwell, a loud noise rang in his mind, and he stopped in his tracks.
[Seriously, better take a different route.]
Saiki had just turned to leave the stairwell when Yoshii Akihisa came up, shaking his head as if looking for someone.
"Man, where did Saiki go? I can't find him anywhere. No, I have to find him."
Yoshii Akihisa [I really am Kindergarten Car Teacher's true fan. Today I have to drag Saiki to my house to watch this show together. I have to prove I'm a real fan. I even know the female lead is called Mouri Yellow...]
(Thanks, but no thanks. The female lead is called Mouri Ran. I can't accept watching the first episode with a fake fan. So bye-bye, Akihisa.)
Saiki came to another stairwell. He hadn't even gone down yet when he stopped. With a quick glance, he saw a pink-haired figure squatting at the corner below.
It was Gotoh Hitori.
Right now, Gotoh Hitori was hiding in the stairwell corner. Every time someone came down, she would poke her head out to check, but when it wasn't Saiki, she would turn her head back.
Gotoh Hitori [Lately Saiki has been taking care of me a lot. I want to thank him properly. I'll invite him out for coffee jelly... and while I'm at it, maybe ask him for a little favor too. The day I agreed to work with Nijika and the others is coming up, but I really don't want to go. It's hard to refuse. Maybe I can get Saiki to help me turn it down or something...]
Saiki turned around and walked straight ahead without going down the stairs.
(Seriously, the first part sounded kinda tempting, but what was that at the end? You still have a lot of growing up to do, Gotoh. Not this time.)
Saiki went to a rarely used special passage. As soon as he reached out toward the door handle, he heard another inner voice.
Behind the door, Shikimori was holding a few test papers, looking for Saiki.
Shikimori [Seriously, where did Saiki go? Hiratsuka-sensei gave me the test papers and told me to bring Saiki to the office. It's been a while since I hung out with Saiki. After we finish whatever Hiratsuka-sensei needs in the office, I'll invite him to go play somewhere together.]
Shikimori [He probably won't refuse, right? Our relationship is so good... But what if he does refuse? Then what do I do? No, if that happens, I'll...]
Saiki turned around again and walked in the opposite direction. (Thanks, but no thanks. That delinquent teacher Hiratsuka definitely wants me to help her revise the test papers again. She might even make me come up with next month's exam questions. It'll waste a ton of time. And with Shikimori like this, I can't exactly refuse her. So better not even give her the chance to ask.)
Saiki reached the classroom door, planning to climb out the window, then go to the shoe lockers to put on his shoes. The others were all at the stairwells right now, so this would be perfect.
But the inner voices coming from inside the classroom made Saiki stop again.
Izumi Yuu: "Saiki-kun ran off so fast. Did you find him, Shiraishi-kun?"
Shiraishi shook his head. "As soon as school ended, he disappeared. We didn't even get a chance to say anything."
Izumi Yuu [Last time I invited him over to my house, he fell asleep. This time I have to treat him properly. I'll invite Shiraishi-kun too. Saiki-kun probably won't refuse.]
Shiraishi [First time being invited to a friend's house. I'm kinda nervous. The manga I lent Izumi... I didn't expect our tastes to match so well. Bringing Saiki along too, and I've got the new game console. Hehe, we're definitely gonna have a great time.]
[Yare yare, sorry. I've really got something urgent today. Next time.]