Conan: Start from Lucky Three

Chapter 104 Remuneration
It was almost late at night when Shizuka Tachibana arrived home. After sending a text message to Sonoko asking her to help him take half a day off, Shizuka Tachibana fell asleep on the bed.

That night, Tachibana Shizuka slept soundly. The two kidnappers he had killed at the dock were clearly not very skilled, and they didn't even enter his dreams. When Tachibana Shizuka woke up refreshed, he checked the time and it was exactly 10:00 AM.

After washing and changing clothes, before leaving, Tachibana Seiji checked his phone and sure enough, there was a text message from Sonoko.

She had already helped Shizuka Tachibana take half a day off, and also asked Shizuka Tachibana to bring lunch for two when he came over at noon.

Tachibana Shizuka first found a restaurant to satisfy his hunger, then packed two lunches. The school cafeteria was just so-so. Even the most delicious food would become unimpressive after a while.

What's more, you have to queue up in both the cafeteria and the convenience store, and it is always better to have a hot meal than a cold lunch.

As the lunch bell rang, Tachibana Shizuka walked into the school. He first returned to his classroom to put down his schoolbag, then went to the next door with his packed lunch.

Most of the students in the class ran to line up for lunch, and only a few stayed in the class.

Among them are Xiaolan and Sonoko.

"I understand that Sonoko is too lazy to bring a lunchbox, but were you up late this morning too, Ran?"

Xiaolan always brings her own lunch box. Since she needed to bring food for Conan, she made her own portion as well.

If Xiaolan didn't bring a lunch box for herself, it would almost mean that Conan would not have a lunch box to eat at noon. Xiaolan would definitely not let this happen.

"No, Lan, I asked for that lunch on behalf of someone else!" Yuanzi Fly rubbed his hands, reached out to take the bag from Tachibana Seiji's hand, and then waved to the side.

"Takei-san?" Tachibana Seiji looked at the figure walking towards him in surprise. It was the Takei Naoko he met in the container area of ​​the dock last night.

Is this heart really that strong? He just experienced two kidnappings, and then two kidnappers died in front of him. How could he come to school so calmly?
"That's right, it's Naoko! Naoko will be having lunch with us today." Sonoko was still very happy.

Or perhaps it could be said that ever since Tachibana Seiji met Sonoko, he had never seen her worry for any reason.

"Naoko-ah" Sonoko's address to Takei Naoko also surprised Tachibana Shizuka. Speaking of which, just yesterday Sonoko, like Tachibana Shizuka, was calling Takei Naoko "Takei-san."

Why do we suddenly seem to be getting closer today?

Is friendship between girls always so fierce and unreasonable?
Tachibana Shizuka suddenly thought of the friendship between himself and Hattori Heiji. Well, it seems that the friendship between men is more rough.

When Takei Naoko came over, she didn't immediately reach for her lunch. Instead, she bowed to Tachibana Shizuka.
"Tachibana-san, thank you so much for saving me yesterday."

After she finished speaking, Takei Naoko handed over the check she had been holding in her hand: "By the way, this is the check my father asked me to pass on to you. He said it was the remuneration that had been agreed upon long ago."

"Hmm?" Tachibana Seiji didn't say much, just stood there and accepted Takei Naoko's thanks.

It was indeed Tachibana Shizuka who personally rescued Takei Naoko, and twice, so he deserved the thanks given by the person involved. But when Takei Naoko mentioned that her father asked her to give him the check, Tachibana Shizuka could clearly tell that Takei Naoko was lying.

This kid probably never lied before, so it sounded a little unnatural. Wasn't the check for him? Or was it from Katsuhiko Takei?
The latter possibility was quickly rejected by Tachibana Shizuka. Unless Takei Katsuhiko had lost his mind, he would know the consequences of refusing to pay a debt, especially to Sonoko.

In other words, Katsuhiko Takei asked Naoko Takei to hand over the check to Sonoko?
Just trying to be clever.

Tachibana Shizuka saw through the situation but kept silent. He gently took the check from Takei Naoko's hand. He glanced at the figure and saw that it was the agreed-upon 5 million yen.

Sonoko's contribution to making a figure like Takei Katsuhiko spend 5 million is invaluable. But after all, the money was given by Takei Naoko. In line with the principle of after-sales service, Tachibana Shizuka still expressed his concern for the girl in front of him:

"Why are you coming to school so soon? Why don't you rest at home for a while?"

Takei Naoko's eyes flashed, and she said softly, "There's not many people at home, so why not come to school to have some fun?"

Tachibana Shizuka nodded to show her understanding. It wasn't that Takei Naoko felt that the house was not lively enough, she was just not the type of person who liked to join in the fun.

The main reason was that Secretary Hanai, who hadn't been released yet, was not home, and Katsuhiko Takei was busy with company matters. Living alone in the empty Takei residence at this time was probably better than going to school.

"Does Ms. Hanai have any explanation?" Tachibana Seiji asked curiously. As one of the first kidnappers to kidnap Takei Naoko, Secretary Hanai revealed her identity in front of the detective in order to rescue Takei Naoko.

But strictly speaking, Hua Jing Mihua does not seem to be a kidnapper.

Naoko Takei was not coerced by Secretary Hanai throughout the process, and she was not restricted from moving around in the abandoned factory.

They didn't even get the so-called ransom, and Takei Naoko told the police that she knew the whole plan of Secretary Hanai and even provided assistance.

Rather than saying that Secretary Hanai was kidnapping, it would be more accurate to say that this was a provocation by Secretary Hanai against Katsuhiko Takei?
In any case, under the strong request of Takei Naoko, Takei Katsuhiko pinched his nose and asked Secretary Hanai to hire the best lawyer, Xiaolan's mother. Judging from the ability of lawyer Hime, it would not be too difficult to make a not guilty defense.

"That's good, everyone's happy now. Remember to rest during this period and don't stay at home all the time. It's good for your health to go out for a walk."

Tachibana Shizuka listened to Takei Naoko's unhurried narration, feeling very relieved. This was a rare incident involving Conan but without any casualties. Takei Naoko also seemed to be in good spirits.

He is usually so introverted, but he can still speak so much clearly and coherently now, which is great.

"Hurry up and eat, the food will get cold soon." In the short time that Tachibana Shizuka and Takei Naoko were talking, Sonoko had almost eaten half of her lunch. Tachibana Shizuka quickly asked Takei Naoko to go eat so that the students who had gone out to eat would not return to the classroom one after another.

After watching Naoko Takei return to her seat with her lunch, Seiji Tachibana placed the check on the desk in front of Sonoko.

"Thanks to Master Sonoko for being so kind, this is the reward from Katsuhiko Takei. How about we split it 50/50?"

(End of this chapter)