The office that Gin arranged for me was quite nice.
The standalone two-story building faced a commercial street. Its style was very similar to the Mouri Detective Agency, but more eye-catching.
Kindaichi Detective Agency.
Hayashi Yoshiki had already decided to name the agency that—it was just a gimmick.
After all, he was essentially still a mystery novelist and had developed a significant fanbase through that identity.
The name Kindaichi would not only make those who knew him smile but could also serve as a conversation starter among fans, so it should be quite popular.
But since this place had been arranged by Gin, he still needed to check carefully to ensure there weren't any bugs or hidden surveillance devices.
Hayashi Yoshiki had good anti-surveillance awareness.
At least much better than the standard operatives trained by the Organization... Well, to be fair, there were also "coded" members like Vodka.
After a thorough inspection, Hayashi Yoshiki found nothing suspicious.
Once he had finished setting up the office, he went out to get signs and lightboxes made, then checked the time—16:43.
It was still a bit early.
Hayashi Yoshiki picked up his phone and opened his text messages. At the top of the list was a message from Yoko Okino.
"Yoshiki-kun, tomorrow is June 10th.""(?o?o)ノYeah"
That was the message she had sent at 9 PM the night before.
"Yes, I remembered it carefully. It's the date, right?""Yes (?▽｀)ノ?"
She really liked using emoticons.
Yoko Okino seemed especially energetic.
In the chat after 9 PM, she had kept sharing bits of her day and gossip from the entertainment industry. She seemed eager to talk—lively and open.
"I won't be done until around seven. Is that okay, Yoshiki-kun?"
She had sent that just a few minutes ago.
Hayashi Yoshiki: "No problem, then I'll just grab a taxi to your place around that time, Yoko."
Because they had mentioned drinking last time, Hayashi Yoshiki didn't plan to drive today.
After getting a cheerful "OK" reply from the other end, he put away his phone and decided to go to the bank since he had nothing urgent.
——The quarterly royalties from Shuangye Publishing had just been deposited yesterday. Besides the passbook being full and needing a replacement, he also needed to withdraw some cash.
Take a number. Wait in line.
After about ten minutes, Hayashi Yoshiki was standing in front of a bank clerk wearing a name tag that read Hirota Masami.
"Hello, could you please help me get a new passbook?"
"Of course, please wait a moment."
Hirota Masami was a new employee at Beika Bank, known in the neighborhood for her youthful appearance, gentle manner, and helpful attitude.
She checked the account information, confirmed the data, and efficiently issued a new passbook.
"Thank you for waiting. Here's your new passbook, Mr. Hayashi. Please take good care of it."
She stood up behind the counter and handed it over with both hands, then looked at him with bright eyes."Excuse me... but are you the famous writer Hayashi Yoshiki?"
"I might not be very famous, but you're probably referring to me."
Hayashi Yoshiki smiled. "Would you like an autograph?"
"Oh... thank you very much, if it's not too much trouble."
Since it was during work hours, Hirota Masami seemed a little embarrassed.
Hayashi Yoshiki graciously signed with a smile.
As she watched him walk away, Hirota Masami couldn't help but think what a bright and gentle person he was.
In truth, she wasn't all that interested in autographs.
But now that she was able to work at the counter like a regular person, she longed more and more for such an ordinary life.
Hirota Masami glanced around.
Behind the counter, her colleagues were chatting about the idols in entertainment magazines. A young couple in line were laughing about which restaurant to go to next. A little farther away, a family of three was coaxing a crying child.
Watching these scenes, the woman trapped in the mire of her reality felt a deep yearning.
Though she appeared calm and collected on the surface, her life had been chained from start to finish. The darkness ahead was so suffocating, she could barely breathe.
For this reason, Miyano Akemi would do anything to escape the Organization with her younger sister.
The Organization's price was 1 billion yen, and even then, it was uncertain whether they'd really let her sister go… But Miyano Akemi had to cling to this final hope.
Meanwhile, Hayashi Yoshiki withdrew cash from the ATM and left.
Of course, Hayashi Yoshiki recognized her true identity.
But he wasn't interested in getting too involved just yet. After all, she was currently in contact with Gin, and if his cover were blown, things could go badly.
…At least not until she was "dead."
Hayashi Yoshiki always planned for the long term.
He wanted a peaceful, independent life—but his identity as a member of the Organization was a time bomb that would eventually explode. Unless the Organization collapsed, no one could ever leave it.
(If I want real peace of mind, I need the names and faces of everyone...)
Especially those of Rum and Karasuma Renya.
Hayashi Yoshiki knew very well that his Cointreau persona couldn't develop in the open—it was too risky to go public.
He didn't think of himself as a good person.
He cared about his life a lot. He didn't want to cause trouble for the people around him if something were to happen to him…
Additionally, Haibara Ai—among the protagonists—was someone Hayashi Yoshiki knew he had to secure.
Otherwise, with her precise instincts, she could identify Organization members in an instant. To gain her trust, Miyano Akemi was undoubtedly the best bridge. Through her, it might even be possible to contact Akai Shuichi.