On the rooftop.
No sooner had Fujino gotten there than he felt something hit him. His vision went black. Shizuka Hiratsuka had his head in a headlock, squeezing tightly and punching his skull playfully. "You're getting too extravagant, you know? Ten million yen! Can you even afford that kind of lifestyle, kid? I can't even get my hands on a watch like that!"
"Whoa! Wait a minute..." Fujino felt like crying.
I didn't recognize the true face of Mount Lu, only because I was in it.
What blinded my eyes!
Curses!
After a bit of a shakedown that ended with him producing a pack of cigarettes, Shizuka finally released her iron grip, ending her "fist therapy."
Turning back, she lit a cigarette and looked at Fujino, arms crossed. "Buying a ten million yen watch just like that... I really don't know what young people these days... ahem, students are thinking. So, do you have any living expenses left?"
Fujino, with his messy hair, felt a little warmth in his heart.
He thought he was just being lectured, but it turned out she was worried he couldn't make ends meet and wanted to see if she needed to lend him some money... a classic tsundere.
Well... she was pretty gentle, in her own way.
Just a little... violent.
Fujino took a deep breath and said, "I've made quite a bit from commissions lately. The watch was just to prove my identity. I'm not short on cash. As for living expenses... honestly, after I bought the watch, I still have over nine figures left in my account."
"Huh... what'd you say? Nine figures?!"
Shizuka's hand shook, and the freshly lit cigarette fell to the ground. She was clearly stunned.
"That's... over one hundred million?" she mumbled, counting on her fingers in disbelief. "Even a detective couldn't... could it be... did someone... sponsor..."
Fujino: "..."
Did someone what? Wait, why would she think that? Have you actually met a high school detective being funded by a rich woman?
Fujino instantly imagined all the possibilities, lamenting the messy circles some people move in, and automatically ignored the last part of her sentence.
"Hey, don't you underestimate a detective!" Fujino said with a deadpan look, indignant. "With my commissions now, it's easy to make a seven-figure sum from a long-term client, alright?"
"Uh..." Shizuka looked at Fujino suspiciously. "So, it really is from commissions?"
Fujino answered directly, "Of course it is."
System commissions should count, right? And robbery... robbing the rich to give to the poor, that should also count. Yep, it definitely counts.
"Well, that's a relief..." Shizuka sighed, coming back to her senses. She crept closer to him and whispered, "So, are you detectives still hiring? Do you think I could be one?"
Fujino: "..."
Hey, Miss Saintess, have some self-respect! Why would you want to be a detective when you're a perfectly good teacher? With your strength, you're more suited to being a fierce woman like Miwako Sato!
"Just kidding!" Shizuka chuckled and patted Fujino on the shoulder. "Why didn't you tell me you were a millionaire sooner? I thought you were... never mind! Since you're so rich, remember to treat me to that ramen you owe me. The most deluxe one, with extra crab sticks!"
"Sigh..."
Fujino tidied his hair, which was all messed up from the ordeal, and watched Shizuka walk off the rooftop with a light step, sighing.
He had lost several packs of cigarettes and was beaten up for no reason.
Hmm... I guess it wasn't really a beating?
The Next Day, Beika Town, Block 5
Ran and Kogoro-ossan were ready to go out early in the morning, taking Conan with them.
Ran was wearing the green top she had bought at the department store, with white high-heels and a pair of brown trousers. The outfit was perfect for the current autumn weather.
Kogoro-ossan was the same as always; it was hard to tell if he always wore the same suit or had multiple identical ones. Conan wore a yellow hoodie with a blue jacket.
"Ran!" Sonoko came rushing over.
Wearing a white headband, a pink blazer, a purple shirt, and a white mini-skirt with white stockings, she had the air of a young socialite. She greeted Ran, then glanced around but didn't see Fujino, so she asked, "Hasn't Fujino-senpai come out yet?"
"That kid's probably still sleeping in, right?" Kogoro-ossan guessed. "It is the weekend, after all. Let's wait a bit."
Conan frowned, feeling something was off. But in an instant, he came to a conclusion, his mouth twitching. "Did that guy forget what time it was?"
"I remember you were supposed to be going on a trip with us today... What's with this..." Haibara Ai stood on the fourth floor of the detective agency, next to Fujino, looking at the three people ready to go downstairs, and then at Fujino in confusion.
Fujino sighed. "Don't ask. It's too much to explain."
"Did you double-book?" Haibara Ai nodded, immediately understanding.
It seemed he didn't check the schedule, and now both parties had shown up at the same time? Haibara Ai's eyes flickered, and she simply reached out and patted Fujino's hand in a gesture of comfort.
Just as the two were talking, Professor Agasa arrived to pick up Haibara Ai and Conan.
"Fujino-senpai, are you going on a trip too?" Ran looked at the kids in front of her, confused.
"That's right!" Ayumi nodded. "Fujino-nii is going on a trip with us to Mount Fuji today!"
Sonoko frowned and thought for a moment. "But, Senpai is supposed to go to the Tokiwa Building with us... we had already planned it out."
Having just come down from upstairs, Fujino was now being stared at by everyone.
"Uh..." Fujino felt his scalp tingle under all those stares. "I didn't know when we were going to the Tokiwa Building, so I just happened to make plans that coincided with it."
"Well, this is a problem." Ran sighed regretfully. "We can't just split Fujino-senpai into two."
"Then we'll all just go to the Tokiwa Building together!" Sonoko thought for a moment, then snapped her fingers, suddenly proposing, "I remember the Tokiwa Group's main products are computers. I think that building has a bunch of the latest video game consoles in it!"
"Video games!" The Detective Boys perked up. "Really?!"
"Of course!" Sonoko Suzuki nodded. "After all, our family invested in their company!"
"That's great!" The kids immediately decided to go to the Tokiwa Building. Sonoko turned back and gave Fujino a mischievous smile, along with a "yes" gesture.
Fujino: "..."
Leave it to you.
Kids that age have no resistance to video games. In the end, Professor Agasa could only decide to take the kids on their trip tomorrow, and for today, they would all go with Fujino and the others to the Tokiwa Building in Nishitama City.