"What do you know? I haven't even said anything yet!" Chikage Tomizawa's brow was furrowed, her exquisite face a mask of sheer frustration. She puffed out her cheeks, looking ready to demand a full explanation.
"I'll tell you later."
Hayashi Shuichi tilted his head slightly, catching a glimpse of Master Kisaragi through the corner of his eye as the old artist spoke with Director Ochiai.
Chikage, who had been on the verge of a temper tantrum, froze. Her mind flashed back to the words she had nearly blurted out moments ago. After a brief pause, the realization finally clicked.
"I see."
Just then, Reiko emerged from the museum, leading Rei Furuya and Narumi.
Seeing the yellow-haired thug's body lying on the ground in a gruesome state, Reiko's brow twitched slightly, but her pale, delicate face showed remarkably little distress. Both of her parents were prosecutors, and her home bookshelves were filled with case files; crime scene photos were a common sight for her.
Furthermore, given how frequently incidents occurred in Beika City lately, actual corpses were becoming a semi-regular occurrence. Reiko had, quite morbidly, grown somewhat accustomed to the sight.
Rei Furuya, on the other hand, swallowed hard. Though he was visibly nervous, his fear was eclipsed by a surge of excitement.
"Master, you were incredible! I saw everything—the way you and Mr. Kudo took down those two thugs... those moves were just too cool..."
Before he could finish, a heavy hand descended onto his head. Smack!
Chikage stood with her hands on her hips, gritting her teeth in fury. "Didn't I tell you lot to stay hidden?! Who gave you permission to peek! Those thugs had guns—what if they had turned around and shot you?!"
"Tch. Weren't you peeking too?" Rei retorted, his face full of defiance.
"That's different!" Chikage's voice rose as she lectured him. "I was checking to see if they needed help! If Shuichi and the others ran into trouble, I could have at least lent a hand!"
Rei tossed his head back, his expression dripping with disdain. "Master and Mr. Kudo are pros. They don't need help from someone like you!"
"Hmph! They're pros, but you think I'm not? I'm the—"
In her impulse, Chikage nearly blurted out that she was the Phantom Lady. Fortunately, Shuichi was quick. He grabbed her arm, pulling her back before she could self-destruct in public.
"Go on," Rei pressed, his eyes wide with curiosity. "You're the what?"
"Instead of worrying about that, why don't you look at Narumi!" Shuichi glared at his disciple, pointing toward the boy trembling nearby. "He's been scared half to death by the body!"
"...Crap, I forgot!"
Rei spun around to look at Narumi. The boy's face was as white as a sheet, his hands clamped tightly over his eyes as his entire body shook with fear.
"Are you okay?" Rei's heart tightened as he hurried to Narumi's side.
"The... the body is so scary," Narumi whispered, his voice thick with tears. "There was so much blood."
"Go sit over there and rest for a bit," Chikage said softly, patting Narumi's shoulder.
"Okay," Narumi nodded obediently. With Rei supporting him, he stumbled toward a nearby bench.
"Am I... am I useless?" Narumi asked dejectedly once they sat down. "I wanted to be a doctor so I could help kids like me, but the moment I saw all that blood, my legs turned to jelly. I couldn't even stand."
"It's perfectly normal the first time you see a body," Rei encouraged him with a smile. "When you grow up and study medicine, you'll see plenty of them. You'll get used to it eventually."
Narumi looked up, asking tentatively, "But wasn't this your first time seeing one too?"
"I..."
Rei's mouth hung open for a moment, and his smile vanished instantly.
"I've seen a body before. It was... my mother."
"...I'm sorry."
Narumi hadn't expected such a heavy answer. He immediately bowed his head in a guilty apology.
Seeing the beautiful "girl" in front of him worrying on his behalf, Rei immediately straightened his back. He puffed out his chest, putting on a brave face.
"Don't worry about it! I'm fine!"
After the police arrived, everyone at the scene was taken to the Metropolitan Police Department to give their statements.
Worried that Narumi's health wouldn't hold up, Shuichi found Inspector Megure, explained the situation, and managed to get Narumi and Chikage's statements moved to the front of the line.
Two hours later, when Shuichi, Yusaku, Reiko, and Rei finally emerged from the station, Chikage had already taken Narumi back to the hospital.
"Master, why didn't you tell me Narumi was leaving early?" Rei groaned, clutching his hair in frustration. "I didn't even get to say goodbye."
"Say goodbye..."
Shuichi looked at his disappointed disciple with a blank expression. Is this kid actually smitten with Narumi?
"You spent half the day with Narumi. Didn't you notice...?"
Just as Shuichi was about to reveal the truth, Reiko cut him off. "Onii-chan!"
His little cousin blinked hard at him, clearly signaling for him not to spoil the secret that Narumi was actually a boy.
"Notice what, Master?" Rei asked, sounding confused.
"Your brother was going to ask if you noticed that Narumi's body was at its limit," Reiko scolded. "Don't forget, he's still a patient!"
"Still, he could have spared a second for a goodbye," Rei muttered, scratching his head. "Oh well. I know he's at Beika Central Hospital anyway. I'll just go find him to play later."
Seeing his stubbornness, Shuichi decided to stop caring. Perhaps this was a necessary lesson. If Rei Furuya didn't end up being "twisted" by this experience, he would surely transcend the trials of lust in the future.
"Master Kisaragi is about to come out," Yusaku Kudo whispered, stepping closer to Shuichi.
"Reiko, take Rei back home," Shuichi instructed. "I have some business to take care of."
Without waiting for Reiko to respond, he hurried off with Yusaku.
"Always busy!" Reiko sighed in exasperation. "Come on, Rei. Let's go back to the Izakaya."
Two minutes later, Master Kisaragi exited the police station after finishing his statement.
He stood by the roadside, glancing left and right. Once he was certain no one was paying him any attention, he hailed a taxi.
The moment the taxi pulled away, a black sedan parked around the corner quietly pulled out to follow.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Shuichi glanced at Yusaku Kudo through the rearview mirror. "Do you think he's going there?"
"The probability is high," Yusaku nodded with conviction. "Judging by his behavior at the museum, his obsession with that painting is profound. Now that he thinks he's fooled everyone, he won't be able to wait."
Inspector Megure, who was driving the car, looked at the two of them in confusion. "Hayashi-kun, why are we tailing Master Kisaragi? Is there a chance those escaped thugs might target him?"
"You'll understand in a moment," Shuichi said, offering no further explanation as he kept his eyes locked on the taxi ahead. "Keep close. Don't lose him..."
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