Conan: I'm really not the mastermind behind the scenes

Chapter 41 Prelude to the incident

In the afternoon, the sun was just right.

The noise of the playground downstairs can be heard in the distance in the library, but it is very quiet inside.

Kudo Shinichi, who was only 14 years old, took the initiative to strike up a conversation with the young teacher who was nearly ten years older than him, holding a copy of his favorite Sherlock Holmes.

……

Kudo Shinichi secretly observed this long-haired foreign teacher for several days.

Influenced by his father, he has been reading various mystery novels since elementary school. Among them, he likes the Sherlock Holmes series the most. He has read it many times and is almost exhausted.

He enjoys this hobby. The only drawback is that it is a relatively niche hobby and he has few people with whom he can discuss it.

The neighbor Dr. A Li doesn't read much novels. His childhood sweetheart Mao Lilan, another childhood sweetheart Suzuki Sonoko, and other boys who played football together in elementary school and junior high school have little interest in reasoning.

Originally, his parents were still here, and they were the most supportive of his hobby. However, they recently moved to the United States and only called him every few days to check on how he was doing.

So Kudo Shinichi wanted to see if he could find like-minded people in the new school.

Originally, he was optimistic about a boy named Hojo in his class.

Judging from the name and appearance, the person is most likely the younger brother of the author of "Detective Kyoko". The author Tooka Hojo once mentioned her brother's name and age on her personal website.

However, the reality disappointed Kudo Shinichi. Not only did Hojo not like reasoning, he also hated him. His attitude even affected other people in the class. Two weeks into the school year, there was no one he could talk to in the class.

A week ago, his nanny asked for leave, saying that the child at home was not feeling well.Kudo Shinichi did not fire her for taking a long leave as soon as she joined the job. He also told her not to worry and that she could come back after taking care of her children.

There is no one at home, and Xiaolan has to attend club activities that end in the evening. Kudo Shinichi is not in a hurry to go back to Rice Flowers. He will go to the library after school to read some original foreign language books that are not available at home, and at the same time pay attention to whether anyone comes to borrow mystery novels. .

——This is how he noticed Aoyagi Binguang, who came to borrow Holmes several times.

He had heard his name in class. Boys would discuss which female teacher was pretty, and girls would also pay attention to which male teacher was handsome. Teacher Amuro and him in the home economics class were mentioned many times by them.

"Do you like Sherlock Holmes too?"

Kudo Shinichi, who asked this question, was holding the original English version of Sherlock Holmes in his hand.

In the last column of the borrowing card for this book, there is an abbreviated name AA written, and the borrowing time was just a few days ago.

Aoyagi Binguang, the Roman pronunciation of Aoyagi Akimitsu, the abbreviation is A·A.

"like."

While Kudo Shinichi was waiting a little nervously, he saw Aoyagi Binguang smiling in front of him.

……

Because chatting in the library would disturb others, Kudo Shin put the book back and left together with Aoyagi Binguang who had completed the new borrowing procedures.

"Teacher Aoyagi, which mystery novel do you like best? Which detective do you like best? Do you prefer real-life reasoning or social fiction?"

They chatted while walking and finally met someone with the same interests and hobbies. Kudo Shinichi couldn't hide his excitement and asked several questions in one breath.

"My favorite detective is Poirot, and my favorite mystery novels are Ms. Agatha's "Curtain" and "ABC Murders."

Qingliu Binguang paused and continued:
"Both schools have their own strengths. The original one focuses on decryption, finding the criminal and the methods of committing the crime. The social school... This seems to be the school that emerged from Japan? It often reveals the murderer very early, and then tells his or her motive and mentality for committing the crime, and more Focus on portraying human nature.”

"My favorite social reasoning novel is Malice. The twists in it are quite amazing."

After listening to it, Kudo Shinichi asked: "Which Sherlock Holmes story do you like best?"

Aoyagi Binguang was not surprised that he suddenly turned to Sherlock Holmes. After thinking for a while, he said: "Currently I like "The Hound of the Baskervilles". I have just watched the Sherlock Holmes series. I may like more in the future... A friend of mine has read all the series." .”

"Then which case is his favorite?" Kudo Shinichi asked curiously.

Aoyagi Binguang answered directly without thinking: ""Five Orange Cores"."

"Eh?!"

Kudo Shinichi's eyes widened and he said in disbelief: "That was a rare failure case for Sherlock Holmes. How could he..."

Even as strong as Sherlock Holmes, there are areas where he is not good at - astronomy and politics.He quickly figured out the ins and outs of the case, but he did not expect that the other party would take action so quickly, and ultimately failed to protect his client. "Just because it was a rare failure for Holmes."

Qingliu Binguang walked down the stairs and raised his hand to steady the black rabbit on his shoulder.

"What can I say about him... He admires Holmes' ability and thinks he is a very powerful detective. But because of this, he hopes to see him fail to make sure that he is not omnipotent."

Qingliu Binguang smiled helplessly: "You can understand that he is Holmes's number one anti-fan."

As the ultimate true fan, Kudo Shinichi: "..."

I prefer to see detectives fail... Could it be that Mr. Aoyagi's friend views Holmes from the perspective of an enemy?

Are your thoughts so dark?

Kudo Shinichi couldn't help but be a little curious about this: "Then he..."

Before he finished speaking, he stuttered and his expression became distorted.

Qingliu Binguang looked over immediately: "What's wrong?"

"I spoke too hastily just now, and I accidentally bit the wound in my mouth..." Kudo Shinichi, whose mouth hurt, was a little slurred.

"Is the ulcer ruptured?" Qingliu Binguang asked curiously.

"No, it was when I had lunch today that I ate glass shards in my rice. Although I spit it out in time, it was still scratched inside."

When Kudo Shinichi saw Aoyagi Binguang frowning, he quickly explained: "I'm not sure whether it was a classmate who did it or whether the hygiene in the cafeteria was not up to standard. I have already told the class teacher and he said he would go and check the monitoring system."

He had some suspicion that it was Hojo who did it. The day before yesterday, he tried to put cockroaches in his shoe cabinet, but he was caught red-handed.

While talking, the two came to the first floor.

Aoyagi Binguang stopped and looked back at Kudo Shinichi: "I happen to have to go to Rice Flower today, so I'll take you back."

"Teacher Aoyagi, will this be too much trouble for you?" Kudo Shinichi was a little embarrassed.

"No trouble, anyway."

Aoyagi Binguang took the rabbit off his shoulder and handed it to Kudo Shinichi: "You help me hold him first, and I'll drive the car over."

……he?

Kudo Shinichi, who was holding the rabbit, was a little surprised to hear this pronoun, but he didn't ask any more questions and nodded.

----

Aoyagi Binguang came to the parking lot alone. After making sure there were no inexplicable "gifts" inside and outside the car, he opened the door.

As soon as he sat down, the phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated.

[...I have already contacted her.What do you want to do? ——Gin】

After reading the questioning email sent by this Sherlock Holmes fan and a fan of "Five Oranges", Aoyagi Higang smiled.

In the past two weeks, he was not only working as a teacher and trying to contact Kudo Shinichi, but he was also moving forward step by step according to the tentative plan.

[I just want to ask her to seek justice...]

After quickly sending the email, Aoyagi Binguang deleted both emails with one click.The car quickly left the parking lot and stopped in front of the teaching building. Kudo Shinichi held the rabbit and sat on the passenger seat.

Qingliu Binguang was about to tell him not to hold the rabbit so tightly when he suddenly turned his head and glanced behind him.

After a figure quickly retracted around the corner, he only saw a conspicuous piece of white clothing passing by.

Regarding this lame stalker, Qingliu Binguang didn't immediately get out of the car and rush over to pull him out. He calmly looked back as if he hadn't seen anything.

The black Mazda soon left Minato Middle School.

(End of this chapter)