Conan's other me

Chapter 178 First Love Lover
Inside a teahouse called Sakuraya in Pontocho.

Geisha Kayo Ichi is playing guitar and singing as accompaniment, and a maiko named Chiga Rei is dancing to the song.

At the end of the song, the dance took a break, and everyone applauded. Uncle Maori, who looked straight at it, shouted excitedly: "Oh! Miss Chiga Rei is number one in Japan!"

"Thank you for your compliments. Thank you."

Qian Heling bowed to thank him, then sat down next to Uncle Maori and poured wine for him.

Uncle Maoli quickly picked up the cup to receive the drink.

"My Majesty Mouri Kogoro, it feels like he is in heaven..."

"Then you will never come back!" Xiaolan, who walked into the room and happened to hear these words, said in a bad tone, and even the corners of her hair trembled.

"Pfft-why are you here?"

"Hey," Yuanzi walked in after Xiaolan, "That's what the abbot told us!"

"It turns out the abbot told you," Long Yuan said, "Then you guys, please sit down together."

Feng Yuan walked into the room after Sonoko, and noticed that the three Sannoji benefactors he met yesterday were also there, and they seemed to be regular visitors here.

Hattori Heiji said a few words to Kazuha, and finally walked in and sat next to Chiga Rei, "Ah, you are from Miyagawa Town..."

"Well, my name is Qian Heling, thank you very much last time."

"Do you know each other, Heiji?" Kazuha asked.

"Well, I met once."

Chiga Ling and her companion, the proprietress of this store, met a robber who robbed a bicycle while walking on the road. Hattori Heiji helped solve the incident, so she met Chiga Ling.

Xiaolan on the other side angrily accused Uncle Maoli, who was dejected.

"Damn it, you'll do whatever you want if I don't pay attention!"

"Xiao Lan, please stop blaming your father," Long Yuan helped to smooth things over, "After all, we invited him here."

"That's right," Sakura Masao said, "We would like to ask the famous detective how he reasoned about Genji Hotaru's case."

"I heard that each of the members of Genji Hotaru has a copy of Yoshitsune, right?"

"I also have one in my hand. It's really a good book." Sakura Masao looked at Saijo Taihe, "Right, a used book seller?"

"Well, but I don't like that book very much. Although the title of the book is called Yoshitsuneki, it is actually a book describing Benkei."

"I like it very much," Mizuo Harutaro, who was sitting on the other side of the table, disagreed. "Especially Anzai's Benkei, it's the best."

"What does Anzhai mean?" Yuanzi asked.

"That's one of the titles of the Noh play. In order to escape the pursuit of Yoritomo's subordinates, Yoshitsune and his retainers pretended to be practicing monks and planned to pass through the gate of Anzhai in this way."

"When Yoshitsune's disguise was about to be seen through," Sakura Masao took over Mizuo's words, "Benkei suddenly took out the vajra stick and hit Yoshitsune hard."

"Eh? Why?"

"It's to deceive the guards at the pass. Ordinary people would never think that a retainer would dare to attack the master, right?"

"Later, Yoshitsune and his party successfully passed the test. Afterwards, Benkei immediately cried and apologized to Yoshitsune, but Yoshitsune praised Benkei for his quick response. This shows that their master-servant relationship is deep, and it became a good story."

Mizuo Harutarou finished, and the story was finished.

Fengyuan also knew this story, but he still listened patiently to the story.There were too many people on the field, and even Conan, who always liked to be in the limelight, remained silent, and Maplehara also habitually suppressed his presence.

After saying a few more words, Sakura Masao seemed a little sleepy, so he planned to go to the downstairs room to take a rest.

Since there were no other guests tonight, Yun Ji advised him to rest in the next room.

However, he said he was used to it and insisted on sleeping in the room below. He asked the other party to wake him up at nine o'clock and left the room.

Then, Sonoko opened the door on the other side and noticed that the river outside was the Kamogawa River.

"The cherry blossoms are really beautiful."

"Really." He Ye agreed.

"Xiao Lan, why don't you come and see me too."

Xiaolan walked over, and Kayo Ichi also said: "It's not bad for a couple to sit on the bank of the Kamogawa River and enjoy the cherry blossoms, but it's even more unique to enjoy the cherry blossoms on the other side across the river below."

Everyone's attention was temporarily attracted by the scenery downstairs.

However, Fengyuan noticed at a glance that the police officer Ayanokōji, whom he had seen on TV before, was looking up at them from below, and turned and left after realizing that he was looking at him.

"Officer Ayanokōji?"

"Have you met today?" Fengyuan asked, and Conan's tone sounded more surprised.

"Well, he warned Hattori today not to meddle in the case..."

"Yeah, weird policeman..."

They made some casual remarks, and then, at the suggestion of Mizuo Harutaro, Ran, Sonoko and Kazuha went to the terrace downstairs to enjoy the beautiful view of the night cherry blossoms.

In the room, Uncle Maori and Qian Heling played the traditional game of "Jinkunluo Chuanchuan".

In the game, two people facing each other sing and make fists or cloths in conjunction with each other's movements. It is a reflex game.

Maplehara, Conan and Hattori were sitting on the edge, listening to songs, watching Uncle Mouri play, and chatting in low voices.

Conan and Hattori told Fengyuan about their harvest today.

To sum it up simply, it is - no gain.

"Then, you two had a car accident?" Fengyuan asked.

"How do you know?" Hattori Heiji was a little surprised, "We both cleaned up before going back."

"But you didn't change your clothes, there are scratches on them," Fengyuan said casually, "There is still a mud spot on Conan's hair..."

"Ah?" Conan fumbled around on his head and took out a small, inconspicuous piece of mud. "Really, I didn't tell you earlier when I saw it..."

"I didn't have a chance before... What's going on?"

With Hattori Heiji's driving skills, it was obviously impossible for him to overturn his car without incident. Moreover, judging from Conan's appearance, they probably had some racing in the mud in the mountains.

Although he was glad that he didn't follow him, Feng Yuan was a little curious.

Hattori Heiji explained to Conan.

They investigated locations related to Yoshitsune and Benkei along the way. When at Kurama Temple, Hattori Heiji took Conan on a shortcut, and then was attacked with bows and arrows near the monk Kamiya Fudodo on the mountain.

Fortunately, Conan found out in time, Hattori Heiji missed the arrow, and the two immediately chased each other.

Seeing that the opponent missed a hit, he ran away on a motorcycle. Hattori Heiji and Conan also rode motorcycles, and together they staged a Hollywood-like pursuit drama.

then…

Not only did they fail to catch up, they also overturned.

"My butt still hurts a little now..."

Conan couldn't help complaining, he was bouncing around in the back.

During the period, part of the pursuit was still in the mountains and forests, and his bones were almost shaken apart.

"So that person is actually targeting Hattori..." Feng Yuan said.

"Ah, I think so too," Conan agreed, "That man is very good at bows and arrows..."

"Yes..." Hattori Heiji nodded in agreement. After the pursuit failed, he and Conan looked back at the arrow that shot into the tree, and it penetrated deeply.

"And among these recent incidents, the first person to die was killed with an arrow," Maplehara continued, "Let me ask, Hattori, have you got any clues that you didn't even notice?"

"How is it possible? I'm not an idiot..."

"Or, that person is your rival in love?"

"what?"

"He Ye?" Conan raised his eyebrows.

"Idiot, it's impossible for anyone to like that stupid woman——"

"I mean your first love." Fengyuan said.

His arrogant speech was interrupted, and Hattori Heiji was stunned for a moment, "How did you know?"

He told Conan about his first love today, but he hasn't told Fengyuan yet...

Is it possible that there is telepathy between Kudo and Kudo?
Maplehara gestured towards the terrace.

"Really, why does this woman say everything," Hattori Heiji complained casually, "I don't even know who that person is. Besides, even if it's just because of this, I won't kill someone right?"

What happened to Ke Xue is uncertain... Fengyuan complained in his heart.

Conan also thought about it for a while, "Speaking of which, Hattori, I always feel like I've seen your token of love somewhere..."

"That crystal bead?"

After talking about this, Hattori Heiji took out a delicate little cloth bag from his arms, and then poured the crystal bead into his hand so that the two Kudos could observe it carefully.

"How was it? Do you have any impression?" Hattori Heiji asked.

He really wanted to find the first love who made him look ten thousand years, so even though he might be made fun of by Kudo, he still didn't intend to refuse Kudo's help.

Of course, he didn't expect much, after all, he had been searching for so long without making any progress...

He thought so.

"Hey, Hattori, you met your first love at Sannoji Temple eight years ago, right?" Feng Yuan said.

"Ah? How did you—" In surprise, Hattori Heiji wanted to ask how Feng Yuan knew, but then realized that he had asked this question several times in a row, and stopped talking.

But Maplehara and Conan already understood what he meant.

"Idiot, I also know that you only mentioned it when you saw the cherry blossoms," Conan said, "Sannoji happens to have cherry blossom trees and the kind of lattice windows you described, but Fengbara has never heard you mention this...so..."

He glanced at the crystal bead again, "Could it be..."

"Well," Fengyuan said, "I think this crystal bead should not belong to Hattori's first love." "What did you say? I obviously picked it up under the cherry blossom tree where she played the ball..."

"This is the white hair on the forehead of the Buddha statue."

"Peko? You mean the glowing hair between the eyebrows of the Buddha statue?"

"Yes, some Buddha statues use crystal beads instead of white hair. You picked them up eight years ago, right? The lost Buddha statue at Sannou Temple..."

"It was also stolen by Genji Hotaru eight years ago." Conan suddenly realized, "I know! Maybe Genji Hotaru accidentally lost the white hair under the cherry blossom tree while stealing the Buddha statue, and then you happened to pick it up... "

"A few days ago, you were interviewed by a reporter, and you even took a photo to show off the crystal bead," Fengyuan said. "Only then did the other party know that it was you who picked up the pekoe..."

"That's why he attacked me..." Hattori Heiji suddenly realized, "I see, that makes sense..."

Although clues that may be related to the case were found, it also meant that the clues to his first love were cut off, and Hattori Heiji felt a little complicated.

"Ah, the moon has come out..." At this time, Long Yuan who had just returned from the bathroom said, Fengyuan and the others also looked at the moon.

"The moon..."

Looking at the moon, Conan looked nostalgic.

"what happened?"

"Ah, it's nothing. I just suddenly remembered that I had an appointment with Xiaolan before... But when I thought about it, I was already two hours late..."

"Is that too exaggerated?"

"I originally thought she would have left long ago, but I still went to the meeting place to take a look. But she was still waiting for me there, still worried that something had happened to me..."

"That's when, right?" Hattori Heiji cheered up immediately, with a smirk on his face, "You realize that she is no longer just your childhood sweetheart..."

"Idiot! That's not the case..."

Conan defended and looked at Xiaolan on the terrace below with some embarrassment.

Feng Yuan also remembered this incident, but he naturally did not have the sentimental thoughts Conan had now, but he picked up the juice and took a sip.

Seeing that Conan fell into memory, Hattori Heiji turned his attention to Fengyuan.

"Hey, Kudo," Hattori Heiji still had a smirk on his face, "That Kudo said that's not the case, really?"

"Really," Fengyuan replied, "he matured a little earlier than you."

More than me...?If this refers to my third year of elementary school, it means that Kudo was still before that...

What an exaggeration...

"What about you? When did you fall in love with your new woman?"

It would be nice if this guy Hattori was dumb...

Fengyuan sighed inwardly, "First grade."

"Huh? You are in the first grade of elementary school now, right?" Hattori Heiji said, "Doesn't this mean you didn't say anything?"

Fengyuan continued to drink his own juice, ignoring him.

"However, I was quite worried before..." Hattori Heiji held his chin in his hands and thought for a while.

"what?"

"Once I solved a love murder case," Hattori Heiji said, "At that time, I suddenly thought of what you two should do..."

"..."

"There's no need to worry about the result..."

Feng originally wanted to ask who Hattori would support if that was the case, but then he thought it was too weird, so he dismissed the idea.

Later, Uncle Maori and Qian Heling played another game called "Tiger" using a screen.

Long Yuan and the others also joined in, and the room became more and more lively, filled with singing and Uncle Maori's laughter.

Because it was too noisy, it was no longer suitable for low-pitched chatting, so Fengyuan and the others also watched.

After a while, almost just after nine o'clock, this harmonious and comfortable scene was broken.

A piercing scream came.

Everyone who heard the cry quickly ended the game and followed the sound to the basement, where they found Mr. Sakura Shozo dead in the underground warehouse.

"The carotid artery was severed with a sharp knife..."

Uncle Maori took a look and came to a conclusion.

The criminal's method was clean and neat, very similar to the recent murders, and it might have been done by the same person.

Maplehara stood by the warehouse door, watching Hattori Heiji and Uncle Mori check the situation.

Judging from the scene, Mr. Sakura Shozo seemed to be rummaging for something in the warehouse before his death.

The buttons on his suit jacket were torn off. It can be seen that the prisoner was wearing gloves and it was difficult to unbutton the buttons.The prisoner's motive was not money, because a wallet full of [-]-yen bills was placed on Mr. Sakura's chest.

After a while, Officer Ayanokoji of the Toto Prefectural Police, who was originally nearby, arrived at the scene.

It's worth mentioning that his pet didn't come.

Because the room was far away from the basement and too noisy, Fengyuan did not hear the other party's movements when he committed the murder. He could only faintly hear the sound of something being thrown into the river, but he didn't take it to heart at the time.

He discussed it with Hattori and Conan.

Considering that if the door is opened, the proprietress who is near the door should be able to hear the noise, and the prisoner seems to know that Mr. Sakura Shozo was looking for something in the warehouse at that time, the prisoner is most likely one of those people present.

After that, they went to Sakura Shozo's antique art store on Teramachi Road and found a copy of Yoshitsune in his study, signed by Ise Saburo.

This means that Sakura Shozo is also a member of Genji Hotaru, and a copy of the previous painting is also included in the book.

Conan therefore believed that the person who sent the letter to Sannoji Temple might be Sakura Shozo.

Then, they returned to Shanneng Temple, checked the clues with Xiaolan and others, and learned that the police did not find the murder weapon in the store or in the river.

The case could not be solved for the time being, and the night was already deep. Everyone was a little sleepy after walking for a day, so they prepared to rest.

Hattori Heiji intends to return to Osaka with Kazuha.

And even though Fengyuan reminded Hattori to be careful that the prisoner might still be staring at him, something happened to Hattori Heiji at night.

……

The next day, Kyoto, Umekoji Hospital.

Hattori Heiji with gauze wrapped around his forehead was lying on the hospital bed, Xiaolan and Kazuha went to buy fruit together, Fengyuan and Conan took this opportunity to talk to him.

"So, you lost the kendo competition?"

"What are you talking about!" Hattori replied angrily to Maplehara. Judging from his performance, he obviously recovered well. "That's because the guy was wearing a metal arm guard. I was just careless..."

When he was driving He Ye back last night, someone shot off the car mirror with an arrow, and then he was led into a small forest.

The man was carrying two bamboo swords and gave one to Hattori, looking like he was going to have a kendo duel.

Not to be outdone, Hattori Heiji went up and dealt a blow. As a result, he was cut on the arm guard and was cut between the eyebrows by someone's counterattack.

Even though it was just a bamboo sword, he was still seriously injured.

Then, his left shoulder was also slashed by the sharp blade that the other party took out later. Fortunately, Heye arrived in time and used a sock filled with stones to hit the other person back. He also lied that the police were coming and forced the person back.

"And what about the tranquilizer pistol I gave you last night?"

Because he was worried about Hattori Heiji's safety, Maplehara also handed Hattori Heiji the anesthesia needle pistol he carried with him.

"Uh..." Hattori Heiji was stunned for a moment, then used his good hand to take out the anesthesia needle pistol from under the pillow and handed it back to Maplehara, "This is a kendo duel, how can you use such a thing..."

"I think you just forgot." Conan couldn't help but complain.

Hattori Heiji was a little embarrassed because he had indeed forgotten.After all, it could barely be considered a fair sword fight at the beginning, but then it couldn't be considered fair after the opponent took out a real sword.

"Cough, let's not talk about this." Hattori Heiji said, "By the way, Kudo, I accidentally dropped my bag containing crystal beads last night, and that guy still wants to pick it up..."

"So, Fengyuan's guess is correct."

"Yes...that guy really came for the crystal beads..."

Hattori and Conan were both lost in thought. Kaede glanced at his watch and calculated the time. It was almost time for Xiaolan and Kazuha to come back.

"Okay, I have to leave first," Fengyuan said, and walked out of the door, "Hatori, you can take a good rest..."

Hattori Heiji and Conan looked at each other.

"What can Kudo do?"

"Ah?" Conan couldn't help rolling his eyes, "I said, can't you change your title?"

"No."

"...He should go to investigate the case." Conan gave up resisting and thought for a while, "I don't know him well in the capital, and I don't know anyone..."

"Oh... find out the truth by yourself, and then keep us in the dark who are in a hurry..."

"yes…"

"Hey, Kudo..."

"I'm persuading the Department, don't you want to--"

"We're back."

Conan's words were interrupted by Kazuha's voice, and Officer Otaki came in with her.

Xiaolan put the fruit on the bedside table, and Kazuye asked about Hattori's situation with concern. Then, Officer Shiratori and Officer Ayanokouji also came to inquire about the case.

However, despite the delay, after the police officers left and Ye Yu had something to do, and Xiaolan also went out to call her father, Hattori Heiji still sneaked out with Conan.

And Maple Principle came to Kyoto Station.

(End of this chapter)