**Chapter 143: The Missing Novelist**

"This child's guardians, what on earth are they thinking!" Akemi Miyano suddenly exclaimed, her voice full of resentment. "Yesterday when you found her, she was lying in a puddle in the heavy rain... and today it's the same. They're really irresponsible!"

Hearing this, Fujino looked at Akemi Miyano, momentarily stunned.

Ever since Akemi's birth, she had always appeared gentle and kind. This seemed to be the first time she had ever gotten angry.

Was it because of Ai Haibara?

That made sense.

Even though she had lost her memory, they were still sisters.

Some bonds simply can't be broken.

And so, with nothing else happening, Akemi Miyano spent the entire day by Fujino's bed, taking care of the still-unconscious Ai Haibara.

This time, Ai Haibara's condition was more severe than before.

Both of them worked tirelessly until noon before Ai Haibara's temperature finally returned to normal.

As time passed, evening approached.

"Ding dong!"

The sound of the doorbell echoed.

"Is there a guest?"

Akemi Miyano, who was by Ai Haibara's bedside, was about to get up but was gently pressed back down by Fujino.

"At this time, it should be a client."

Fujino slowly stood up. "Sister Akemi, you should rest for a bit. I'll go get the door."

With that, Fujino walked slowly towards the second-floor detective agency.

As soon as Fujino left, Ai Haibara woke up from her dream.

Opening her eyes, she saw the familiar room.

She slowly sat up, holding her still-aching head, and a wet towel fell in front of her.

"You're still very weak. Lie down for now."

At this moment, a familiar female voice sounded in her ear.

Ai Haibara turned her head and saw Akemi Miyano sitting by the bed, looking very much like her sister.

'Did I end up back here without realizing it...'

Ai Haibara squinted.

To be honest, her head was still foggy, and she couldn't figure out why she had returned here...

Both the woman who looked like her sister and the kind-hearted high school detective gave her a strange feeling.

"Why did you come back again?"

Akemi Miyano looked at Ai Haibara in confusion. "Did your relatives kick you out?!"

"No..."

Ai Haibara shook her head and spoke softly, "I sneaked out on my own."

"Sneaked out on your own?"

Akemi Miyano frowned upon hearing this.

Could it be that she was not comfortable with her relatives' environment?

That shouldn't be the case.

She must be unwilling to speak about it.

Thinking this, Akemi Miyano continued, "Do you know your parents' contact information? I can help you reach them."

"My parents..."

Ai Haibara paused before continuing, "They're no longer alive."

Hearing this, Akemi Miyano was momentarily stunned before asking, "Do you have any other relatives or family members?"

Ai Haibara shook her head.

Akemi Miyano fell silent.

For some reason, she felt a sense of shared misery with this little girl in front of her.

At least she still had a somewhat decent brother.

But this child...

Meanwhile, Fujino, who had just come down from the fourth floor to the third floor, saw a young woman standing at the door of the detective agency.

She appeared to be about twenty years old, with long brown hair and slightly squinted eyes. She was wearing a dark green dress, a cream-colored blazer, and carrying a small handbag. She had a delicate, somewhat shy, and reserved demeanor.

"Can I help you with something?" 

Retracting his gaze, Fujino asked the girl curiously.

The girl turned to look at Fujino and asked, "Are you Detective Fujino?"

"That's right, I am."

"Actually, I have something I'd like to ask for your help with..."

After confirming that she was a client, Fujino warmly invited the girl into the detective agency.

Entering the detective agency, the girl curiously glanced around the simple yet luxurious setup before following Fujino to sit on the guest sofa.

"My name is Kaori Shinmei."

The girl took out a business card from her bag and handed it to Fujino.

Fujino took the business card.

The layout was quite simple: white, with Kaori Shinmei's company, home address, and contact number...

Ah, so this girl is an office worker.

Thinking he should get some business cards made himself someday, Fujino put the card away and looked at Kaori Shinmei. "Are you the daughter of the best-selling novelist Jintaro Shinmei?"

Kaori Shinmei nodded. "Yes, that's my father."

"I see..."

Fujino squinted his eyes.

If he remembered correctly, this should be the same Jintaro Shinmei involved in the case of the missing mystery writer.

Jintaro Shinmei was a famous mystery novelist, best known for creating Detective Sazomonji.

Sazomonji was a fictional detective who carried a wooden sword, dressed in black, and often struck cool poses while delivering profound lines.

Come to think of it, the character he played at the ski resort some time ago was Detective Sazomonji.

Actually, he didn't need to act much; his usual classic trench coat and suit combo already made him look like Sazomonji.

He even had the nickname of Detective Sazomonji.

But he didn't mind much.

After all, he had many nicknames, so many that he sometimes couldn't keep track of them himself.

Black Detective, Poirot of the Heisei Era, Detective Sazomonji... and so on.

"So, you're Mr. Shinmei's daughter."

After confirming her identity, Fujino poured a cup of tea and got to the point. "What would you like to commission me for, Miss Shinmei?"

Kaori Shinmei lowered her head and thought for a moment before speaking, "Actually, my father is missing."

"Mr. Shinmei is missing?"

Fujino pushed the tea towards Kaori Shinmei and asked calmly.

"Yes."

Kaori Shinmei took a sip of tea and continued, "Not only my father, but my mother is also missing. They left behind only a note saying 'gone out for a bit' and disappeared."

"When did they go missing?"

Fujino asked.

After thinking for a moment, Kaori Shinmei replied, "They went missing about two months ago, a week before the latest Detective Sazomonji was published in the Literary Times, on August 12th."

"August 12th, huh?"

Fujino took out his phone and checked the date.

It was October 20th, Saturday.

Well, the timeline in the Conan universe is as bizarre as ever.

Putting his phone away, Fujino continued to ask Kaori Shinmei, "How did you find out they were missing? Normally, if they've been missing for two months without contact, even if you didn't call the police, someone around you should have."

Despite knowing some of the details, he needed to ask for more specifics.

Just in case there were any discrepancies with his memory, it would be awkward.

"Normally, yes."

Kaori Shinmei nodded in agreement and explained, "I did try to report it to the police, but since there were no threatening calls and the editorial office received manuscripts weekly, they told me not to worry."

"They haven't contacted me in two months. I've asked everyone I know, but no one knows where they are... I'm really worried about them."

As she spoke, Kaori Shinmei's slightly squinted eyes welled up with tears. "Honestly, I've been to other detective agencies, but they all gave me the same unhelpful answers. Through multiple referrals, I finally found you, Detective Fujino..."

Looking up, she gazed at Fujino with tearful eyes full of hope. "You're the only one who can help me now, Detective Fujino."

"Under normal circumstances, this case might indeed not warrant a commission..."

"How could this be."

Hearing the same response, Kaori Shinmei lowered her head, her expression filled with disappointment.

"But I am not like those unprofessional detectives."

Fujino continued, "As long as a client commissions me, I will accept, even if it's not a kidnapping case. I will help you find them."

"Thank you so much!"

Relieved to hear he accepted the commission, Kaori Shinmei bowed slightly in gratitude.

"As for the commission fee... since the nature of the case is unclear, the fee cannot be determined right now."

Fujino asked Kaori Shinmei, "Is it okay if we determine the fee based on the nature of the case after it's concluded?"

"No problem!"

Kaori Shinmei agreed immediately.

For her, finding a detective willing to investigate was already a big relief. The commission fee...

Determining it based on the case's specifics seemed reasonable to her.

Indeed, relying on referrals to come here was the right choice.

After accepting the commission, Fujino planned to visit the editorial office with Kaori Shinmei.

He remembered that the editorial office was key to solving this case.

"Miss Shinmei, could you wait for a moment?"

Fujino stood up from the sofa and explained, "I need to change clothes upstairs and inform my sister..."

"No problem."

Kaori Shinmei nodded, and Fujino returned to the fourth floor.

In the fourth-floor bedroom, Fujino opened the door and saw Akemi Miyano sitting by the bed.

She held a bowl of porridge in her left hand and used a spoon with her right, gently blowing on it before feeding it to the resting Ai Haibara. Ai Haibara, her face flushed,

 silently opened her mouth...

"Is she awake already?"

Fujino entered the bedroom.

"Yes, she just woke up."

Akemi Miyano placed the porridge on the bedside table. "She hasn't eaten all day, so I warmed some porridge."

"I see..."

Fujino took a black suit from the wardrobe.

"Going out so late?"

Akemi Miyano asked curiously, seeing Fujino take out a black suit. "Is there a commission?"

From what she had observed, Fujino didn't usually care about his attire when going out unless it was for an investigation.

"Yes, I just received a commission."

Fujino removed his sportswear, revealing a white T-shirt underneath, and changed into the black suit. "The client is the daughter of a famous novelist, asking me to find her missing father."

Before leaving, Fujino reminded, "By the way, Sister Akemi, please buy dinner from the convenience store. You don't have to wait for me."

(End of chapter)