The three-minute time limit for answering the question made it fairly easy for mystery novel fans.
With just a glance, Ritsu could already tell the answer. Shinichi was probably no different. But for the wealthy and influential guests... once they saw the problem, they would likely start analyzing similarities and differences, only to miss the real clue.
At the very least, they wouldn't be able to find it within the allotted time.
After receiving the question, Shinichi carefully read through the information on all three people. Once he rapidly organized the details in his mind, he immediately locked onto the correct answer.
The fact that there was only a three-minute time limit indicated the problem wasn't difficult. Once the pattern was discovered, solving it became straightforward. Raising the corners of his lips confidently, Shinichi slipped one hand into his pocket and declared loudly,
"Moriya-san, I already know the answer."
"Oh? As expected of a high school detective. Then say the answer out loud."
"The answer is—""Momotaro!""
"Huh?"
Shinichi looked in surprise toward Ritsu, who had spoken the answer at exactly the same time.
'So Sensei had already figured it out and intentionally waited until he answered before speaking?'
Ran tilted her head in confusion.
"Why is it Momotaro?"
"The three of them were born in the Years of the Monkey, Rooster, and Dog respectively. Those are all companions of Momotaro, so the answer is Momotaro."
Teiji smiled and applauded lightly. After putting away his pipe, he looked at the two who had answered correctly and said,
"Well then, since both of you arrived at the correct answer, I'll reward you with a tour of my exhibition room. Mouri-san, you're welcome to join us as well."
"Okay!"
Teiji's exhibition room was located near the center of the second floor of the mansion, some distance from the staircase.
The room itself was spacious, yet contained very little. Aside from a table and chairs, the only displays were photographs of buildings hanging on the walls. Beneath each photograph were the building's name and completion date.
"Feel free to look around. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them."
Ritsu examined the photographs on the walls. He suddenly noticed that several of the buildings weren't designed with bilateral symmetry.
It seemed Teiji hadn't always been obsessed with symmetry.
Meanwhile, Shinichi had little interest in architecture. Walking deeper into the room with half-lidded eyes, he suddenly stopped before a photograph.
After staring at it for several seconds, realization dawned on him.
"Hm? Isn't this Kurokawa-san's house?"
"You know this building?"
"Yeah. I solved a case not long ago. The victim, Kurokawa Kengo, was the owner of this house."
Upon hearing that, Teiji couldn't help but remark,
"Now that you mention it, I heard Kurokawa was murdered by his maid not too long ago. That house was one of the first projects I designed after becoming independent. The others from that period were also designed when I was in my thirties. I wasn't very mature back then, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't spend too much time looking at them."
Ritsu glanced over all the works completed before Teiji turned thirty. Not a single one of them featured symmetrical architecture.
A vague suspicion surfaced in his mind.
Could this guy be planning to blow up all of his non-symmetrical works?
But he quickly dismissed the possibility himself. What kind of normal person would destroy their own life's work that way?
If Teiji had purchased explosives, there had to be another purpose.
"Kudo-kun, are you and Mouri-san very close? You aren't dating, are you?" Teiji asked with a smile.
"Huh?"
"Of course not!!!"
Ran's reaction was even stronger than Shinichi's. She began denying it the moment the question left Teiji's mouth.
'Young people these days really loved playing the "say one thing, mean another" game.
Was it really that hard to admit you liked someone?'
Ritsu, who understood neither romance nor young people's thinking, stared with half-lidded eyes. His expression practically screamed,
[I don't understand.]
"I see. I thought you two were a couple. You seem very close."
"That's probably because we've known each other since childhood. We've been classmates ever since kindergarten," Ran explained shyly.
Looking intrigued, Teiji asked, "Then do you usually go out together? To be honest, I'm planning to design facilities that appeal to young people, so I'd like to use your opinions as reference."
"Speaking of going out, Shinichi and I are going to see a newly released movie the day after tomorrow. I think young people generally like movie theaters and amusement parks."
"A movie, huh? Hehe, pardon my curiosity, but what movie are you planning to watch?"
Shinichi frowned.
"How come I don't know we're going to a movie on Sunday? I already promised Nakamichi and the others I'd play soccer with them."
"I sent you an email last night, didn't I?!" Ran puffed up in dissatisfaction.
She had specifically chosen The Legend of the Red Thread, a romance movie.
Shinichi really was a complete idiot.
Helplessly, Shinichi took out his phone and checked his inbox. Only then did he realize he had read the message and immediately forgotten about it.
With an awkward laugh, he said, "Ah... my phone didn't remind me."
"Hmph. As if I'd believe that. Anyway, I'll be waiting at the movie theater in the Beika City Building at ten o'clock the night after tomorrow. If you don't want to come, I'll just watch it by myself!"
"I'll go, okay? Seriously..."
Ritsu felt like he'd just been force-fed a ton of couple flirting.
'Could the two of you please consider the setting before acting all lovey-dovey?'
Letting out a heavy sigh, he looked around again but still found no useful clues. He couldn't figure out what Teiji was actually planning.
It seemed he'd have to probe further during tonight's transaction.
"Hahaha, watching you two really makes me feel that youth is wonderful."
Teiji stroked his mustache and narrowed his eyes meaningfully. "Just don't end up like me, still unmarried in your forties."
After browsing the exhibition room for dozens of minutes, there was nothing else to do. The afternoon tea gathering ended as night fell.
Spinning his car keys around a finger, Ritsu headed outside. He was considering dinner.
Should he grab something from a convenience store, or find a restaurant?
"Hm? Why are you two heading in different directions? Aren't you going to have dinner together?" Shinichi asked curiously.
"What are you talking about? My dad's waiting for me to go home and cook!"
Looking at the time on her watch, Ran suddenly panicked. "Oh no, it's getting late! See you the day after tomorrow, Shinichi. Drive safely, Onizawa-san!"
"Mm. You stay safe too."
Shinichi muttered something under his breath, probably complaining about a certain pachinko-obsessed detective at home waiting to be fed.
Then he followed behind Ritsu and asked, "Sensei, think of something to eat. No ramen, though. I've had too much of it lately."
"Do you have some kind of misunderstanding?"
"Huh?"
Opening the driver's door, Ritsu calmly replied, "I never said I was giving you a ride home. If I don't leave now, I'll miss dinner. Sorry, Kudo, take a taxi home yourself."
It wasn't that Ritsu didn't want to give him a ride.
He was worried that after dinner, the kid would latch onto him and start discussing Sherlock Holmes. If that delayed tonight's transaction, it would become troublesome.
"Wait! Dinner being a little late shouldn't matter, right?!"
Shinichi shouted loudly and tried pulling the passenger-side door handle, only to discover it was locked.
"Dinner can be late, but you can't keep your girlfriend waiting. Being late is a major dating taboo. Hopefully you won't be late for your date the day after tomorrow, Kudo."
Ritsu swiftly got into the car and started the engine.
Before driving out of the parking lot, he even rolled down the window and waved at Shinichi, who stood there with a face full of question marks.
Only after finally processing all the information did Shinichi strike a thinking pose.
"Makes no sense... Hayasaka-san clearly said Sensei didn't have a girlfriend. So where did another girlfriend suddenly come from?"
Far away, in the MPD office where she was on duty, Hayasaka suddenly sneezed. Rubbing her nose in confusion, she wondered:
'Was someone talking behind her back?'
----
bonus chap every 20 PS, now at 369 PS
read ahead on my pa reon.com/Siamus404