Chapter 431: Flowerlock Holmes and Rinji Watson

"Even though I expected this, I can't believe you actually wore that stupid deerstalker hat."

Rinji had been waiting at the street corner for over ten minutes when Fujiwara finally arrived, panting slightly from having run part of the way.

She was, of course, wearing the brown deerstalker she always used when playing detective.

The style was made famous by Sherlock Holmes and became popular with mystery fans around the world.

"So you borrowed it from the drama club again? You never skip the theatrics, even when causing chaos."

"This is a rare chance to investigate an urban legend! Of course I need props~"

Fujiwara pulled out another hat and handed it to Rinji.

"Here, as my assistant, you get one too."

"I'm not interested in being lumped together with you."

Still, Rinji accepted the hat and put it on.

"So where should we start, Mr. Watson?"

"You came all the way here and don't even know what to investigate? Miss Holmes, seriously?"

Rinji pulled out his phone and marked a location on the map.

"Earlier, I got the studio's address from the magazine publisher. Let's check it out—they've apparently been investigating the 'weather maiden' for a while now. There's a chance they already have solid intel."

[Change the term from Sunshine Girl to Weather Maiden. Seemed more Appropriate]

"OK, let's go~"

"Don't try to take over. This investigation matters a lot to me, so don't cause trouble."

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After weaving through some buildings and a few blocks, Rinji and Fujiwara arrived at the location marked on the phone.

The magazine listed the name of the studio but not its address. However, since the article was credited to a studio rather than an individual, it was easy to look up and find the place on a map.

The location was a basement-level room, with stairs leading directly to the street above.

But... instead of a place you'd expect a writing studio to be, it looked more like a bar from the outside.

"Is this really the place?"

"If you're bored, you can head back."

"No way. Opportunities to investigate urban legends like this don't come often." Fujiwara smiled. "And it's so rare for someone like you to show interest in this stuff and even investigate in person. I'm seeing a surprisingly childish side of you."

"Stop trying to psychoanalyze me."

Rinji knocked on the door as he spoke.

Knock knock knock.

After knocking, the two of them waited outside.

Rustling sounds came from inside, and after about thirty seconds, the door opened.

The person who answered was a sleepy-looking woman, probably in her early twenties, wearing super-short denim shorts. Her black hair draped over her bare shoulders, and one of the purple spaghetti straps on her top had slipped down her arm.

She had the kind of mature beauty that radiated allure.

"Ugh... who is it?"

"Hello, is this the K&A Office? I'm—"

"Eh? Natsumi?" Fujiwara suddenly called out the woman's name.

The woman blinked, then her drowsiness faded as recognition set in.

"Chika?"

...

Inside the studio, while the coffee table had some trash scattered on it, the place was relatively tidy.

A blanket on the couch made it obvious that the woman, Natsumi, had just been napping there.

After placing two glasses of juice in front of them, Natsumi smiled.

"Didn't expect you to find me here, Chika. What a surprise."

"I didn't expect to see you either, Natsumi. It's been ages~"

"...You know her?" Rinji asked.

"Yeah." Chika smiled. "Natsumi's dad works at the Ministry of Finance and is an old friend of my dad's. We met when we were kids."

"Wow..."

"To wake up and find two kids wearing detective hats at the door." Suga Natsumi chuckled. "So, what brings you here? Something you wanted to ask me?"

"It's like this..."

Rinji began explaining.

"I read the report your office published on the weather maiden and came to see if I could learn more about your findings."

"I see, I see."

Natsumi looked at them with interest, eyes lingering on the detective hats.

"Ah~ young people really are into weird stories these days. Taking time to investigate urban legends... how youthful."

Rinji: "..."

He felt like she saw him as some cringey middle schooler obsessed with urban legends.

"Sure, since you're Chika's friend, I'll share a bit more." Natsumi suddenly put on a serious face. "This is valuable info I spent a lot of time digging up. I don't tell just anyone."

"Thank you~" Chika turned to Rinji and grinned.

"See? You're lucky I came along, or you'd never have gotten this info."

Rinji: "Yeah, lucky me. Now I get to be mistaken for an easy-to-fool kid thanks to you."

He could clearly see the teasing glint in Natsumi's eyes. She'd definitely lumped him in with Chika, the Cancer of Earth.

Which was fair. No self-respecting person would come hang out with Chika otherwise.

Click.

Just then, the door opened again.

A scruffy middle-aged man walked in, unshaven and slouching. He tossed a pack of beer onto the table.

"What's up, Natsumi? Visitors?"

Noticing Rinji and Chika on the couch, he casually cracked open a beer and took a swig.

"Ah, Keisuke."

Natsumi smiled.

"These two cute kids came asking about the weather maiden."

"Oh? They found us because of the article, huh? Kids these days sure have time on their hands." The man chuckled. "Sure, just tell them whatever."

Right after he said that, Rinji spoke up.

"Your name is Suga Keisuke, right? You're the one who wrote that report on the weather maiden, didn't you?"

"Huh? Yeah, that's me. What, you want to hear more stories? You're one curious kid—"

"Age 42. Head of K&A Planning Studio. You handle editing and project planning for the magazine. Officially, you're the only one registered to the company. Natsumi is likely a relative of yours. You were once married to Asuka Mamiya, who died in a car crash four years ago. Currently, you're in a custody dispute over your daughter Moka. Am I wrong?"

Clatter.

Keisuke dropped his beer can.

"How... how do you know that?"

"Just making sure you take me seriously. If you think I'm just some curious high school kid here for fun, that'd be a problem."

Rinji turned to look Keisuke directly in the eye.

"I'm not here for kiddie stories. I want everything you know."