"Alright, you got it, now get out!" Ms. Murakami waved them off. "Don't disturb my sleep anymore! I'm napping until tomorrow morning!"
Leaving the teachers' office, Yukiko Fujimine pulled out the note with the character "leader" (長) and handed it to Shuichi Hayashi. "I lost. You're now the class president of 1-A."
Shuichi casually stuffed the note into his pocket. "Let's go eat lunch."
Back in Class 1-A, Shuichi, Eri, and Kogoro sat together eating lunch. Eri was all smiles, her mood buoyant, devouring her bento at record speed.
Yukiko, in stark contrast, barely touched her bread and milk, looking listless.
Glancing at the dejected girl, Shuichi suddenly remembered something. He pulled a bento box from his bag and set it on Yukiko's desk. "Here, I made this for you. Got sidetracked by the riddle stuff and almost forgot."
"This is for me?"
Yukiko rubbed her eyes in disbelief, then eyed Shuichi suspiciously. "You didn't put laxatives in it, did you?"
"…If you don't want it, fine," Shuichi said, his face darkening as he reached to take it back.
"No, I'll eat it!" Yukiko quickly grabbed his hand. "It's just weird. You're always picking on me—why the sudden kindness?"
"Call it an izakaya employee perk," Shuichi said offhandedly. "It's just leftovers from last night anyway."
Yukiko opened the bento and dug in eagerly. Eri glanced at her, huffed, but said nothing more.
After lunch, Shuichi pretended to nap at his desk, Kogoro chatted with classmates about baseball, and Eri buried herself in her textbook.
Yukiko had planned to rest too—after staying up late obsessing over the class president race, she was exhausted. But her friend Yuka Takahashi, with her round face and cute looks, bounded over with a newspaper, brimming with excitement.
"Yukiko, there's news about your parents in the paper!"
It had been over two weeks since her actor parents left for a shoot, and Yukiko missed them. She eagerly grabbed the paper.
"On April 17, several prominent American actors will visit Japan for a Japan-U.S. film exchange event at Mihama City Hall. Confirmed attendees include Carole Kane, Martin Sheen, Sharon Vineyard…"
Sharon Vineyard? That's Belmod!
Shuichi's eyes snapped open. As a fan of the Detective Conan anime, he had a soft spot for the Black Organization's enigmatic "witch" due to her complex role and striking appearance. Was she coming to Japan for the film event, or was the Black Organization planning something?
"The Japanese stars attending include Ryoko Nakano, Yumiko Araki, Ken Takakura, Kosuke Fujimine, and Ayako Fujimine!"
Yukiko beamed as she read on. "My parents' names are really here! April 17 is a Friday. If they're coming to Mihama for the event, they'll definitely be home."
"So many stars are attending!" Yuka said, curious. "Yukiko, will your parents take you to the event?"
"It's a work thing. No way they'd bring me," Yukiko said, shaking her head.
"Aw, that's a shame," Yuka sighed. "I was hoping you could get me some autographs."
"The event's Friday at 7 PM. If you want autographs, wait outside Mihama City Hall," Yukiko suggested. "If you're lucky, some stars might sign on-site."
"I'd feel lonely going alone," Yuka said, clinging to her friend's arm. "Yukiko, come with me! With your parents being stars, you must know tons of celebrities. My chances of getting autographs would be way higher with you there."
"Sorry, I work evenings now," Yukiko said, clasping her hands apologetically. "I really can't go."
"You're working already?" Yuka gasped. "Where? I'll visit you sometime!"
"Uh…"
Yukiko hesitated, unsure whether to share the izakaya's address.
Shuichi, who'd been "napping" nearby, suddenly sat up. "Takahashi, can I borrow that paper?"
"S-sure!"
Yuka, startled that Shuichi spoke to her, handed it over eagerly.
She leaned close to Yukiko, whispering excitedly, "Hayashi-kun talked to me! If I confessed now, do you think I'd have a shot?"
"Huh?"
Yukiko glanced at her friend, then at Shuichi, baffled. Sure, the guy was good-looking and a bit clever, but his personality was awful—always teasing and bullying, not to mention a total pervert who stared at girls' butts.
Someone actually likes him?
No way! I can't let my friend fall into that trap!
Yukiko clenched her fist resolutely and pulled Yuka to a corner of the classroom. "Give it up, Yuka. Even if you confessed, it wouldn't work."
"Why not?" Yuka asked, puzzled. "Does Hayashi-kun already have a girlfriend? Is it Hii?"
"Tch, you don't know him," Yukiko said, glancing around before lowering her voice conspiratorially. "I've got intel: Shuichi Hayashi's a lolicon. He's not into girls our age—he likes elementary schoolers."
"What?" Yuka's eyes widened. "Hayashi-kun's that kind of creep? Are you sure?"
"No mistake! He's a total pervert!" Yukiko said, warming to her tale. "This weekend, I saw him at an izakaya, fawning over a ten-year-old girl named Reiko, making her call him 'Onii-chan.' You should've seen his creepy, excited face."
"Ugh…" Yuka's expression turned to disgust. "Who'd have thought a handsome guy like him was like that?"
"Exactly. Stay far away from him," Yukiko sighed. "I'm stuck sitting next to him, but if I had a choice, I'd switch seats in a heartbeat."
"Yukiko…" Yuka hugged her friend sympathetically. "That must be tough."
I didn't lie—just twisted the truth a little! Yukiko thought, glancing at Shuichi reading the paper. That guy's like a pit of hell. Any girl who gets close faces eighteen layers of torment and a bad end. I'm doing a good deed!
(End of Chapter)
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