After finishing the breakfast Ran made and watching her leave for school, Watanabe Tetsu went downstairs to the agency and turned on the computer.
His fingers moved quickly over the keyboard. He typed in a URL and, after a series of verifications, finally logged in successfully.
The URL came from Macallan's meMouries—an assassination website. Employers could post information about their target and pay the fee to the site's intermediary agency. After the assassin completed the job and the intermediary confirmed it, the payment would be released to the killer.
Macallan had taken several jobs here before.
But this time, Watanabe Tetsu was here to post one.
Name: Tanaka Kentarō (photo attached)
Frequent location: Beika, Tokyo
Occupation: Pickpocket
Reward: 5 million yen
Requirement: Target must be killed outside of Tokyo
After clicking "submit," Watanabe closed the computer.
For his own safety, Tanaka Kentarō had to die.
And having him die outside Tokyo was to ensure Mouri Kogoro wouldn't easily connect the dots.
At 9 A.M., Mouri came down from the second floor and saw Watanabe staring blankly out the window.
"Kotetsu, did you sleep well last night?" he asked.
Watanabe turned around. "Very well. Ran-nee even told me a bedtime story."
"Good, good." Mouri nodded. "Today I won't take any cases. I'll handle your school admission first, so you can start attending classes."
As if you normally get any cases.
Watanabe's expression remained earnest. "Okay."
With that 2 million yen foster fee in mind, Mouri took the matter very seriously. After handling the admission paperwork, he brought Watanabe to a mall to buy a schoolbag and other supplies. Come lunchtime, they even enjoyed a nice meal at a high-end restaurant.
They didn't return to the agency until late afternoon.
"Here, Uncle Mouri. Thank you for today."
Watanabe handed him an opened can of beer.
Mouri tilted his head back and gulped down more than half, letting out a satisfied sigh.
"Your uncle entrusted you to me. I can't let him down. Kotetsu, you start school tomorrow—study hard, and don't fight with your classmates."
"I understand."
Seeing how sensible the boy looked, Mouri nodded in satisfaction.
[You have mail]
[Puppet Gu successfully implanted. Player may now control target's mind.]
[Note: prolonged control may cause cognitive damage or even dementia. Use with caution.]
So it worked?
As expected, putting the Puppet Gu into the beer was the right move.
Watanabe tested it: Give yourself a slap.
Mouri, mid-drink, suddenly stiffened. He raised his left hand and—without hesitation—slapped himself across the face.
Watanabe immediately asked, "Uncle Mouri, what happened?"
Mouri blinked in confusion, staring at his hand. He couldn't figure out why he'd suddenly struck himself.
"Nothing… I just felt a little dizzy. Needed to wake myself up."
That evening, after Ran came home and learned Watanabe would start school the next day, she said, "Then starting tomorrow, Kotetsu can go out with me. And I'll make a delicious lunch box for you, okay?"
"Thank you, Ran-nee!" he said happily.
"By the way, is your schoolbag and stationery all ready?"
"Yes. Uncle Mouri took me shopping today."
"That's good. We have new lunch boxes and water bottles at home—I'll go find them."
She was just like a young mother preparing everything for a child's first day at school.
After dinner and a bath, when bedtime came, Watanabe nestled against Ran, breathing in the light scent on her body, and drifted into a peaceful sleep.
Wednesday—Watanabe's first day of school.
He woke up early. Ran was no longer beside him.
He knew exactly where she was. After stretching and yawning his way out of the room, he saw Ran in the kitchen wearing an apron, busy preparing lunch.
"Good morning, Ran-nee," he greeted.
"Morning, Kotetsu!" she turned with chopsticks and a lunch box in hand. "Go wash up first, then eat breakfast."
"Okay." He headed to the bathroom.
Breakfast was a sandwich with milk—very nutritious. As Watanabe ate slowly, Ran came out of the kitchen and placed a lunch box and water bottle on the table.
"Kotetsu, remember to pack these in your schoolbag, or you'll go hungry at noon."
"I won't forget, Ran-nee," he assured her.
After breakfast, the two left home together.
Teitan Elementary and Teitan High were on the same route. At the elementary school gates, Ran waved goodbye.
"Then I'll head off first. Kotetsu, get along well with your classmates, okay?"
"I will, Ran-nee!"
Watanabe flashed a sweet smile and walked into the campus.