Chapter 296: Gin, Stop This!

BONUS CHAPTER#4

Yusaku Kudo stared at the time on his phone, confused.

Had he really been unconscious that long?

...Something smells fishy.

He got up quickly and crept out of the warehouse, cautious and alert.

The place was empty—just some distant noise coming from the front yard.

...

After a little sneaky recon and asking around, Yusaku discovered—to his utter dismay—that the whole incident had already been solved. Half the truth had been unveiled by Jiangxia Tongzhi, and the other half spilled by the fake Yoshifusa himself.

After that, the impersonator was hauled off to the police station to give his statement.

A few officers stayed behind to clean up and also to keep an eye on the very freaked-out Brazilian kid who couldn't speak a word of Japanese.

Yusaku adjusted his sunglasses, stood silently for a long moment, and came to a painful realization:

His dramatic "grand return to make up for the little detective's shortcomings" was now officially cancelled.

Still, after a night like that, Yukiko had probably cooled off a little... Right?

So, Yusaku decided to switch to a backup plan—he made his re-entry just in time to act as a translator when someone tried and failed to communicate with the Brazilian kid.

As a novelist with great intellectual prowess (his words), his Portuguese was flawless.

Sure, it wasn't quite the theatrical entrance he'd envisioned.

But later, observing Yukiko's expression... he had a feeling it somehow worked out.

...

After successfully scaring off Keiko's murderous aura, Jiangxia planned to get a proper night's sleep.

He figured he'd head back to Tokyo as soon as the trains started running.

Even though Yukiko Kudo had brought him here on her motorcycle, as Hiromi's childhood friend she'd probably stay until the will was read—which wasn't until 10 AM.

But Jiangxia had somewhere to be.

Endo Mami's live "reasoning game" show aired at 11 AM, and if he asked Neighbor A... er, sister, for a ride again, he might not make it back in time.

That would be a problem.

He'd miss any ghosts and murderous aura that might pop up on the way.

And if another detective solved the case before him, the leg-hugging shikigami might just... detach and leave him behind. No regrets. No goodbyes. Just... poof.

In a big, chaotic city like Tokyo, that would make tracking ghosts way harder.

He might never find that one again.

So, Jiangxia woke up early to catch the very first train.

After a few transfers, he got on the Shinkansen.

He thought he could sleep until he reached Tokyo.

He thought wrong.

As the train neared Tokyo, it suddenly screeched to a halt—

The tracks ahead had exploded.

No groups claimed credit.

Based on the scene, and initial police reports, the media guessed it was either a suicide or a targeted attack.

Only one body was found—charred and blown to pieces.

Nearby was a half-destroyed briefcase.

Jiangxia blinked.

Maybe this was Endo Mami's "event constitution" at work again.

Like, the moment she and Jiangxia crossed paths, the universe rolled a random encounter check and went, "BOOM! You're in a murder case now!"

If so, all he had to do was solve it and get a ghost out of the deal.

He pulled up a news site, scanning through the photos.

He focused on the legs of the people in the background, looking for any signs of a shikigami attached to someone.

Then he spotted her.

A "woman" with long, silver hair wearing a black coat and a matching top hat, clutching a suspiciously bulging briefcase.

Only her back was visible—half of it, really.

The rest was blocked by a familiar hulking man in black.

Jiangxia: "..."

He stared at the photo, expression slowly going from hopeful to blank.

After a moment, he switched off his phone, gave up on finding a ghost today, and went back to sleep.

All while quietly praying the train would get moving again soon.

...

Back in Tokyo, at a villa—

Endo Mami's birthday party went ahead as planned.

Jiangxia didn't show.

Two of the attendees were low-key disappointed.

But, well, they were already there, so... party time.

Ran Mouri was in the kitchen helping Endo Mami.

(TL NOTE: Name changed in this book. OG's name was Asami Uchida. This character has different behaviour and additional story so I assume the name was changed.)

Sonoko Suzuki, meanwhile, was sitting at the table with a group of university students.

She sipped her drink, eavesdropping on their conversations and quietly rolling her eyes.

Besides Sonoko and Ran, everyone else belonged to the Touto University Deduction Research Club.

Supposedly a bunch of smart, calm, rational folks.

But when Sonoko politely flattered them—"Seniors, not only are your grades amazing, but you're all so talented!"—the atmosphere turned... weird.

First, the club president, Manabu Sawai, smiled and praised her as eloquent and sweet.

That was normal.

But then the vice president, Tomoko Hayasaka, launched a sudden attack:

"Oh please, he's the real sweet-talker here. Don't fall for it. Sawai's a total playboy. Has a trail of broken hearts behind him."

Manabu didn't want to fight. He quickly changed the subject, complimenting Endo Mami's latest novel and her winning the "Newcomer Award."

Then, with thinly veiled shade, he looked at another club member and said:

"Such a shame, Morimoto. I heard your work was nominated too. So close, huh?"

At the mention of Endo Mami, everyone perked up—in a vengeful way.

One had lost to her in a tennis match.

Another had been beaten in the university beauty contest.

And of course, there was the novel.

Basically, everyone in that room had been crushed by Mami at some point.

Sonoko listened to the gossip, half-bored.

But something about it gave her a weird premonition.

Mami-senpai... might be in real danger.

And then she remembered that Mami had invited Jiangxia to this party.

...No, no. Jiangxia didn't cause murder cases.

It's just that he had bad luck.

Or maybe he was too observant, always picking up on weird vibes that others missed—

Then getting tangled up while trying to stop them.

Yeah, that was it. Definitely.

Sonoko downed her juice and tried to shake the ominous thought.

...

For some reason, Endo Mami seemed extra quiet today.

Way less sparkly than usual.

After dinner and a few rounds of cards, night fell.

The group planned to go to karaoke next.

But when they looked over, they saw Endo Mami sound asleep on the sofa.

At Manabu Sawai's suggestion, the group decided to let her rest.

"She's probably exhausted. We'll go ahead to karaoke, and she can join us when she wakes up."

The crowd agreed and shuffled out the door.

Then, quietly, Manabu Sawai slipped back inside.

"I forgot something," he said.

Once alone, he got to work.

First, he set up a timed incendiary device.

Then he gently moved Endo Mami from the couch...

To somewhere just a little closer to the hallway.

*Goal #1: Top 200 fanfics published within the last 31 - 90 days by POWER STONES.

Progress: 6/60(approx) for 10 BONUS CHAPTERS

Goal #2: One BONUS CHAPTER per review for the first 10 REVIEWS.

Progress:2/10*