Traveling back thirty years to Conan, intercepting Princess Eri

After breakfast, everyone sat down to rest in the restaurant. Shizuka Ikenami picked up a brochure and began introducing the 400th anniversary celebration of Osaka Castle.

"Today's celebration is very lively. In the morning, there will be a samurai parade, wearing armor from the Warring States period, and swordsmanship performances."

"There's a food street at noon with all sorts of Osaka specialties; there's a parade in the afternoon, and a fireworks display in the evening."

As she spoke, she pointed to the pictures in the brochure.
"The samurai parade is particularly unique, and many tourists come specifically for it."

Everyone listened with great interest, and Reiko clapped her hands excitedly, saying, "I want to see the samurai! And I want to eat takoyaki!"

Midori Orikasa nodded, her eyes full of anticipation; she rarely had the opportunity to attend such a lively celebration.

Just then, Tomizawa Chikage, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up, interrupting Ikenami Shizuka: "Ms. Ikenami, excuse me for disturbing you, but could we go to Sennichimae Department Store first?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the restaurant fell silent.

Shizuka Ikenami paused for a moment: "What are we going there for? The Sennichimae Department Store burned down in a fire ten years ago. It has been rebuilt and turned into BIC CAMERA Namba Store, which mainly sells electronics. There's nothing fun about it."

Tomizawa Chikage's body stiffened slightly. Her main purpose in coming to Osaka this time was to investigate this matter.

Ikenami Shizuka is, after all, a local of Osaka, and they aren't very close. She can't completely trust the other person yet. If she reveals the real reason and the information leaks out, the consequences could be unimaginable.

After a moment of contemplation, Tomizawa Chikage made an excuse: "I just overheard someone say that after that fire, paranormal events often occurred there."

"Employees who were still working after the store closed would hear the fire alarm going off at the time the fire broke out, and they could also hear crying and calling for help from inside the building."

"Some people also say that when they take the elevator at night, it will suddenly stop at the floor where the fire occurred, and then they will hear cries for help coming from behind the elevator doors. I am interested in these things, so I want to go and see."

"A paranormal event?" Reiko's eyes lit up instantly. She moved closer to Tomizawa Chikage and asked curiously, "Chikage-neechan, is it true? Are there really ghosts?"

“Those are mostly just rumors.” Ikeba Shizuka shook her head.

She naturally didn't believe in any supernatural events, but Tomizawa Chikage's expression was too abnormal, clearly indicating that she was hiding something.

However, Shizuka Ikenami did not expose him on the spot, after all, everyone has their own secrets.

"However, because of these rumors, someone later built a shrine there to enshrine the Thousand Days of Light Jizo, a deity who was believed to be a savior of the souls who perished in the fire. It was right next to the building, and it was said that they hoped the souls of those who died in the fire could rest in peace."

"I just want to go and take a look; it won't take too long," Tomizawa Chikage insisted, her tone pleading.

“Miss Chiba, since Chikage wants to go and see, let’s take a detour,” Lin Xiuyi said. “Anyway, the celebration only starts in the morning, so it shouldn’t take up too much time.”

Ikeba Shizuka gave Lin Xiuyi a deep look, then smiled slightly: "Since Mr. Lin has said so, then alright."

……

After everyone had finished getting ready, they got into the Ikebab family's car and left the mansion, heading towards the direction of Thousand Years Ago.

Outside the car window, the festive atmosphere was already quite strong.

Colorful flags and banners celebrating the 400th anniversary of Osaka's founding were hung along both sides of the street, fluttering gently in the wind.

Many pedestrians had already changed into brightly colored yukatas or traditional costumes, their faces beaming with joy and anticipation. Vendors began setting up their stalls, and the enticing aromas of takoyaki and okonomiyaki filled the air, mingling with the laughter and chatter of the crowd, creating a vibrant and lively festive scene.

Inside the car, the girls were also caught up in the atmosphere, excitedly discussing the excitement they were about to see. Only Tomizawa Chikage seemed a little absent-minded, her gaze occasionally drifting to the street scenes rushing past the car window, as if she were checking the route.

The convoy soon arrived at its destination, the Thousand-Day Region.

The once grand and bustling Sennichimae Department Store was reduced to ashes and ruins in the devastating fire that engulfed everything ten years ago.

Today, a modern, giant building stands on the original site, with the "BIC CAMERA" logo in white lettering on a blue background standing out prominently.

This is its Namba branch, a large chain store known for selling all kinds of electronic products, home appliances and digital accessories.

"This is it." Ikenami Shizuka got out of the car first and pointed to the building in front of her with her cypress fan.

As the group entered the BIC CAMERA Namba store, they were instantly enveloped by a modern atmosphere that was completely different from the traditional festive atmosphere outside.

The spacious and brightly lit store is filled with a variety of electronic products on the shelves.

Aside from Kogoro Mouri, who was brimming with curiosity about the latest electronic products and as excited as a mouse that had fallen into a rice jar, the other girls clearly weren't very interested in these cold, impersonal machines.

Eri and Yukiko glanced at it casually for a few moments, then stood aside and talked in hushed tones.

Lingzi felt even more bored and clung tightly to Lin Xiuyi's clothes.

Ruri gently followed Kogoro Mouri, occasionally being pulled aside by him to look at configuration parameters she didn't understand at all.

Midori Orikasa and Chikage Tomizawa also showed little interest, with the latter's gaze wandering as if she were observing the mall's internal structure rather than the merchandise itself.

I walked around the mall but didn't find anything special; it felt more like a regular shopping trip.

A fleeting hint of disappointment crossed Tomizawa Chikage's eyes, but she quickly concealed it.

As you step out of the modern, high-tech glass doors of the BIC CAMERA Namba store, sunlight streams in once again.

Instead of immediately leading everyone to the main venue of the celebration, Shizuka Ikemura pointed with her fan to a slightly secluded corner adjacent to the shopping mall.

"Over there is the small shrine I mentioned to you, the one that enshrines the Thousand Days Ago Kōmyō Jizō-no-Mikoto."

The group followed her through a narrow alley and arrived at the shrine.

Compared to the grand and modern shopping mall next door, this shrine appears exceptionally small and tranquil.

The red torii gate is slightly old, and behind it is a small stone shrine enshrining a benevolent-looking stone statue of the Bodhisattva Zang-zang. Fresh bouquets and water are placed in front of the statue.

The atmosphere here is solemn and dignified, a stark contrast to the bustling commercial activity just a wall away, as if they were two separate worlds.

Lin Xiuyi and Mouri Kogoro unexpectedly spotted a familiar figure here.

Ono Kayoko stood quietly before the Jizo statue, her head slightly bowed, hands clasped together, her expression exceptionally focused and respectful as she paid her respects. (End of Chapter)