"Mmm..."
Jodie still didn't understand what was going on with this first-grade elementary student. His intellect was... unusual. And then there was the question of Vermouth's goal in disguising herself to infiltrate Teitan High.
"Things are still uncertain, but this repairman seems very far from simple." Akai Shuichi drew a line next to Tsuneo's photo, the arrow pointing directly at Dr. Araide on the other side.
If Tsuneo knew that Dr. Araide's identity was fake... then all these strange events would have a way to be explained. However, they couldn't be sure if he had a close relationship with the real Dr. Araide either. They would have to verify that later.
While the FBI held their small meeting, someone was also staring blankly at photos inside the Araide residence.
"What exactly is happening?"
"Why did you two buy so many fried chicken burgers?" Haibara, wearing a mini apron, opened the door for them. She had been at home busy making porridge.
"It was Tsuneo who said he was starving!" Professor Agasa said with a thin smile. I already finished a burger and two pieces of fried chicken in the car; she shouldn't be able to tell, right?
"Wipe the sauce off your mustache..." Haibara remarked as she turned to walk back to the kitchen.
"Tsuneo-kun?!" The Professor reached up and wiped his lip. Sure enough, there was sauce. He turned to glare at the repairman. After we got out of the car, I specifically asked you! You told me there were no traces?
"This burger is really good," Tsuneo noted with a nod. He hurried into the kitchen to scoop a large bowl of white porridge and sat at the table, eating and drinking simultaneously.
"It seems he did it on purpose," Haibara said. She had brought a bowl of porridge to her sister's room and, upon returning, shot a sidelong glance at the Professor.
"Honestly," the Professor patted his stomach helplessly. It seemed everyone was very focused on his health.
"I told him to eat grilled, but he insisted on fried, and he even got a double-stack," Tsuneo claimed, acting as if none of it was his fault. Next time there was a physical exam, he didn't want to get lectured along with the old man.
"Did you also ask for extra sauce for him?" Haibara didn't even need to think to know what had happened.
"You could be a detective yourself," Agasa muttered, finally getting his own bowl of porridge and sipping it slowly. Seriously, you two...
"How did things turn out?" Haibara asked about the aftermath of the bus hijacking. Compared to the Professor, the repairman would obviously know more details.
"The police had already decided to release Kunio Yajima, but this way is better—no risk involved," Tsuneo said, nodding as he took a large bite of his burger.
The fact that the unlucky guy he used as a shield had died was a bit of a hassle. He'd likely have to keep going back to the Police Department. However, with so many witnesses on the bus, there wouldn't be any other version of the story.
"And the bombs?" The Professor felt it was far too dangerous. Who would have guessed those two were carrying heavy bags of explosives?
"They were remote-controlled with timers. They probably planned to swap identities with the passengers and then stage a fake death," Tsuneo explained, already starting on his third burger.
Since the two hijackers went down so fast, they didn't even get a chance to make threats. The woman wanted to keep acting like a normal passenger to escape, but she got caught immediately. The trigger was in her hand, but she didn't have the courage to die with them. The police interrogation had made that part very clear.
"I really didn't expect to run into Dr. Araide on the bus," the Professor said, scratching his head. For Haibara, seeing him face-to-face was a bit too intense. Being seated nearby, Agasa had naturally noticed her reaction.
"Are you sure she was the only one on that bus?" Haibara asked with a frown. It was known that Vermouth was active while disguised as Dr. Araide, but what about that English teacher sitting next to him?
"My guess is they are currently just like you—staring at my photo and overthinking things," Tsuneo laughed.
"They?" Agasa and Haibara exchanged a look. As expected, there was a catch. Still, the repairman's intelligence work was truly impressive.
Meanwhile, on Fairy Island.
Accompanied by the Nagayama couple, Ikumi Kyoda was searching through an old house on the back mountain that had been closed for a long time.
"Ms. Kyoda, everything Grandfather left behind is here!" Shinji Nagayama pulled a locked wooden box from a corner.
"Do you have the key?" Ikumi knelt down to inspect the square box. It was dark wood with intricate carvings, about half a meter in length, width, and height.
"I don't recall Grandfather leaving a specific key when he passed away. This box has stayed here untouched ever since," Mrs. Nagayama recalled.
The wife looked to be in her thirties, dressed fashionably and beautifully—much younger than the forty-something Shinji.
"Haruko married me while Grandfather was still alive. She remembers many family matters better than I do," Shinji added. He wore glasses and a mustache, giving him a scholarly appearance.
"I see. If there's no key, we'll have to force it open." Ikumi looked around and found a shovel in the corner that looked like it had been discarded there for years.
The Nagayamas had no objection. Finding the so-called treasure to deal with the blackmailer was the top priority. Their eldest daughter was studying abroad; though they spoke to her daily, their hearts were constantly in their throats.
With two strikes of the shovel, the lock was smashed off. Ikumi opened the box. The three of them used flashlights to examine the contents.
"It's... all books?" Mrs. Nagayama was surprised. Why would anyone specifically lock a bunch of books in a box?
"They're all books on botany," Shinji noted, flipping through a couple of them. He had a faint memory of seeing these as a child. It was his grandfather's hobby, so it made sense he would treasure them.
"No, there's also a diary here." Ikumi pulled an old diary from a gap between the books. There wasn't much else. However, there were about twenty or thirty books in the box, and they were arranged in a rather peculiar way...
The three decided to carry the box down the mountain to the new house the Nagayamas had built ten years ago to examine it further.
"By the way, Mrs. Nagayama, does your daughter in America know about this?" Ikumi asked as they walked. Shinji was walking ahead, carrying the box.
"No, Shinji and I felt it was better not to tell Chizu. After it started, Shinji asked a friend abroad to help keep an eye on her," Mrs. Nagayama shook her head. Seeing her husband almost stumble with the box, she hurried forward to help.
"Oh..."
Ikumi Kyoda watched their retreating backs, then picked up the broken lock from the box. Her gaze grew deeper as she pondered something.
(End of Chapter)
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