"That's right. Counting the day before yesterday, and today, that's four days of vacation."
Haibara continued her role as the timekeeper, looking at Fujino calmly with a slight smile. "If nothing unexpected happens, we should be able to stay here for about four days. The environment here is quite nice, isn't it?"
"Yeah, staying here for a few more days sounds good."
Fujino nodded. He quite liked environments like this – fresh air, no noise, far from the city's hustle and bustle...
The invitation ticket wasn't time-limited, so five days would actually be fine too.
Yet, as he thought about it, he felt a little strange.
He'd thought this was just a weekend, but it turned out to be five days...
He could only say he was getting more and more confused by the timing in the Conan-verse.
"What a terrible personality..."
Miyano Akemi glanced at Chizuru Bizen, frowning.
She'd watched a TV drama starring this actress a while ago, and her character's personality seemed pretty good.
Though she knew actors and their roles shouldn't be confused, she still turned to Fujino curiously and asked, "Fujino-kun, you seem to know a lot of celebrities. Are actresses usually like this?"
"More or less..."
Fujino looked a bit helpless. "I'd say most of them are."
"That's normal."
Haibara also nodded silently. "After all, their image on TV is just what actors perform for the audience. Who knows what they're like behind the scenes?"
"As for celebrities I know, Yoko Okino should have a decent character."
Fujino thought for a moment. "Minami Takayama is a bit silly, but in terms of character alone, she's good too. As for Yuko Ikezawa... hmm, that woman's personality is also a bit nasty, but not as bad as this, at least."
"Detective Fujino."
Just then, Honami walked over and lightly smiled, "Do you need help carrying your luggage upstairs?"
As she spoke, Minaho went to the side, intending to help Shiromoto and the others with their luggage.
But with the weight of a large suitcase and a travel bag, Minaho's small frame definitely couldn't handle it.
After picking up the travel bag, she almost fell on her rear trying to pull the suitcase.
Fujino gently pushed Minaho's back, then turned to Honami. "Don't worry about my luggage, Honami-san. You can just help Minaho take this gentleman's luggage up."
"Thank you very much!"
Honami and Minaho bowed slightly, then one pulled the suitcase and the other carried the bag as they headed upstairs.
"No problem."
Fujino watched the two sisters go upstairs, feeling like they were working a bit too hard.
From what he'd seen, it seemed like only the two of them were running around the hotel.
He turned his head, glanced around, and asked Arimori, "By the way, I haven't seen any other staff in this hotel. Why are these two young girls running around carrying bags?"
"To be honest, there are only a few of us here at this hotel," Arimori smiled, a little embarrassed. "Besides me, the manager, there are only these two sisters who just started working here recently, and a chef."
Miyano Akemi asked, "Is business not doing well?"
"That's not it," Arimori explained. "The location here is just too remote, and the wages aren't too high. These two were introduced to me by an acquaintance. Otherwise, besides my front desk duties, I'd also have to serve as a waitress."
"By the way, did you open this hotel?"
Fujino looked around. "I feel like this hotel has been here for a while, not like it was recently built."
"Actually, it's a hotel my father built..."
At this, Arimori's expression turned a bit strange, and she quickly changed the subject. "Detective Fujino, I'd better show you to your rooms first. After all, we can't have guests carrying their own luggage. Here, you can leave your luggage with me."
"Then we'll trouble you."
Fujino noticed Arimori's evasiveness.
But he didn't press the issue.
After all, it was their family business.
---
The sky gradually darkened.
After resting for a while in their respective rooms, Fujino and his group were led by Arimori to the restaurant.
The restaurant's theme was similar to the lobby: white window curtains, spotless white tablecloths, and a potted plant on each table, creating a relaxed atmosphere.
The head chef here was a woman named Shinobu Shimokasa, with shoulder-length short hair and a very cute appearance.
"Detective Fujino, this is our special vanilla milk tea."
"And the chef's exclusive soup, please enjoy."
The Shimokasa sisters served dinner at Fujino and his group's table.
"Vanilla milk tea?"
Miyano Akemi looked curiously at the vanilla milk tea.
The vanilla milk tea had no other garnishes; it was simply and cleanly presented in a high-stemmed glass.
"This is our signature drink here."
"It's milk tea made with vanilla."
"The vanilla milk tea is indeed homemade by Ms. Shinobu."
"Additionally, all the dishes here are prepared by Ms. Shinobu."
"It's absolutely delicious."
The Shimokasa sisters explained.
"Milk tea made with vanilla, huh?"
Miyano Akemi felt a bit curious and picked up the high-stemmed glass for a sip.
After a moment of silence, she murmured, "It's so good..."
Haibara Ai looked at Miyano Akemi in surprise, then also picked up her milk tea, took a sip, and nodded silently.
Fujino also took a sip, smacked his lips, savored it, and mused, "It must be a homemade recipe. Using vanilla as a seasoning, ground into a fine powder, then mixed thoroughly with a blender..."
"That's right, that's exactly how I make it. Are you a chef too?"
Just then, Shinobu Shimokasa, dressed in a white chef's uniform with an apron tied around her, walked over and looked at Fujino.
"No."
Fujino shook his head with a smile. "I'm just a detective."
"A detective... You must be the Detective Fujino Arimori mentioned, right?"
Shinobu thought for a moment, then looked puzzled again. "Not being a chef, yet being able to discern my process for making vanilla milk tea, could you have a 'golden tongue'?"
"This is the worst soup I've ever tasted!"
A woman's voice suddenly rang out. The few people turned around and saw Chizuru Bizen shouting discontentedly, "Chef! Where's the chef?!"
"I'm here."
Shinobu turned her head to look. Seeing that a guest was dissatisfied, she walked over and quietly asked, "Is there something you're unhappy with about tonight's dishes?"
"How can you even be a chef like this?!"
Chizuru Bizen frowned. "How on earth did you make such a disgusting soup?!"
Shinobu also couldn't help but frown, then pressed on, "If it's not good, could you tell me what exactly doesn't suit your taste, or if there's an issue with the flavor?"
"What kind of attitude is that?!"
Chizuru Bizen slammed her hand on the table and yelled, "When a guest complains, you should at least apologize first!"
"I am truly sorry!"
At that moment, Arimori hurried over, quickly bowed in apology, and promised to replace the dish, diffusing the conflict.