Tokyo, the shady intelligence of private detectives

"Sir, would you like to adopt a Shiba Inu?" An elderly woman with gray hair came out from the cubicle.

Yuzuru Masahiro recalled what Junichi Watanabe had said; this old woman must be the head of the animal shelter.

He held onto the iron cage and asked, "Grandma, do many people come to you to adopt a Shiba Inu?"

The old woman squinted and thought for a moment, "It's alright, I get it every month."

"Sir, don't let their disabilities fool you, these two Shiba Inus are very well-behaved and intelligent."

Masahiro Hanyu leaned closer, as if observing carefully, and said, "I think... neither of these Shiba Inus seems as lively as Ono."

The old woman smiled. "So you came looking for me after seeing Ono, sir! Did Ozawa-san bring Ono with him again?"

Masahiro Hanyu had only been testing Ayari Ozawa because he remembered her words, and he was right.

"Grandma, do you know Ozawa-san's Shiba Inu?"

The old woman nodded with a smile, "I know him, of course I know him! Ono was only brought here for a day, and Ozawa-san adopted him."

"Ono is really likable. If I hadn't stayed behind on purpose, she would have been taken away by someone else long ago."

The old woman's words indicate that Ono was adopted here.

The address left by the mysterious person who provided the materials is also here, and the second piece of information mentions Shiba Inu Ono, which indeed hides crucial information.

So, if Ayari Ozawa adopts Ono from here, can it provide any other clues?

At that moment, a thought flashed through Yuzuru Masahiro's mind; he realized a problem with the old woman's words.

"Grandma, you kept Ono here so that no one else could take it, did you know that Ozawa-san would definitely come and adopt Ono?"

"Yes, someone told me that Ozawa-san would be coming!" the old woman said.

"Grandma, who told you that?" Masahiro Yuzuru pressed.

"It was a gentleman," the old woman said, trying to recall.

He said that this Shiba Inu, which Ono didn't have a name at the time, would definitely be liked by Ozawa-san, and asked me to keep it and not let anyone else take it away.

"Later, Ozawa-san did indeed come. That was the first time I saw her; she was such a beautiful woman!"

Masahiro Hanyu sensed that his investigation had gained hope. "Grandma, what's that gentleman's name?"

The old woman thought for a moment, then said, "I can't remember that."

"But I remember that it was not long after Ono was sent to the shelter that the gentleman came, as if he knew that Ono was going to be sent here."

Is it really such a coincidence? Ono was sent to the shelter, and then that gentleman came. And he was certain that Ayari Ozawa would adopt this Shiba Inu. There must be a story behind it.

Masahiro Hanyu casually asked, "Grandma, who brought Ono to the shelter?"

The old woman shook her head. "I don't know about that."

"All the animals brought here are strays; they're not registered."

"But I remember that although Ono was dirty at the time, he was very well-behaved. He was probably a domesticated animal, or maybe he was abandoned."

Masahiro Yuzuru had a gut feeling that the person who stole Ozawa's underwear was related to what he was currently investigating.

Having gotten no further clues from the old woman, Masahiro Hanyu said he would have to reconsider adopting the Shiba Inu.

Under the old woman's disappointed gaze, he left the animal shelter and headed to the Foggy Bar.

Who told Aya Ozawa that there was a Shiba Inu at the shelter that was suitable for adoption?

This person might be the gentleman the old woman mentioned earlier. Masahiro Hanyu wants to find out more from Ozawa, and that's how he'll find clues.

It was already dark when he arrived at the entrance of the Misty Bar.

Customers were coming and going at the bar, so it seemed like business was good today. Ozawa Ayari must be busy.

If you go to Xiaoze to inquire about the situation now, she might forget to explain some details because she's in too much of a hurry.

After much consideration, Masahiro Hanyu abandoned the idea of ​​asking immediately.

After all, only one day of the five-day entrustment period has passed, and there are still four days left. There is still time for everything.

Masahiro Hanyu ate a beef bowl and then returned to his rented apartment building.

As he went upstairs, he saw a slender figure walking ahead of him.

Wearing a cream-colored short-sleeved shirt and a plain long skirt, with a graceful and slender figure, she must be a young girl.

Hearing footsteps behind her, the girl didn't turn around but quickened her pace and went up to the fifth floor.

Masahiro Hanyu realized that this might be the female neighbor he had never met before.

The girl heard footsteps following her and became somewhat flustered.

She quickly opened the door to room 501, rushed inside, and slammed the door shut.

Masahiro Hanyu could vaguely see the girl's profile; she seemed quite pretty.

He was a little confused as to why this female neighbor seemed afraid to see people.

Back in room 502, Masahiro Hanyu washed up and rested. In the middle of the night, with a "clang," he heard noises coming from next door again…

The next day, Masahiro Hanyu slept in late and didn't get up until almost 10 a.m.

He plans to go to Ayari Ozawa's house today to find out more about the Shiba Inu, Ono.

Ozawa Ayari doesn't get off work until two or three in the morning and usually sleeps until noon, so he can't disturb her too early.

When he got up to wash up, he heard noises next door, followed by the sound of a door opening and closing, and then light footsteps coming downstairs.

Masahiro Hanyu checked the time. No wonder he hadn't run into his female neighbor this morning; it turned out she left around this time.

After going downstairs, Masahiro Hanyu first called President Satsuki and asked him to say hello to Ozawa, as he would be visiting his home at noon.

President Satsuki quickly called back, saying he had already spoken with Ozawa and that he could visit again after 1 p.m.

At 1 p.m. sharp, Masahiro Hanyu arrived at Ayari Ozawa's house.

After he rang the doorbell, he stood directly in front of the peephole so that Xiaoze could see that it was him.

Not long after, the gate opened, and Ayari Ozawa stood inside.

She wore a light pink short-sleeved T-shirt on top and a white short skirt on the bottom, her legs were straight, like white porcelain chopsticks.

Masahiro Hanyu bowed slightly. "Excuse me, Mr. Ozawa. There are some things I'd like to discuss with you in person."

Ayari Ozawa smiled. "Hanyu-kun, please come in!"

The two entered the living room, and Shiba Inu Ono followed them in, wagging its head, and lay down next to the sofa.

After Masahiro Hanyu sat down, Ayari Ozawa asked, "What would you like to drink? But I don't have any beer at home."

Masahiro Hanyu smiled. "Ice water will do."

Ozawa handed over the water glass with both hands. "Hanyu-kun, ask me whatever it is!"

Masahiro Hanyu took the water glass. "Thank you. I came here mainly to ask about some things related to Ono."

"Oh, I was talking about Ono!" Masahiro Hanyu pointed to the Shiba Inu next to the sofa.

Ayari Ozawa was somewhat surprised. "Ono? Is this related to my missing underwear?"

Masahiro Hanyu said seriously, "Yes, and it's very important."

Ozawa Ayari sat opposite her, her expression serious. "Alright, please go ahead!"

Yuzuru took a sip of water. On a hot summer day, the cool water made him feel much less hot.

"Was Ono adopted from an animal shelter by Ozawa-san?"

Ozawa nodded, "Yes, Ono is someone I adopted last year."

Masahiro Hanyu twirled the water glass in his hand. "Did Ozawa-san meet Ono by chance and then adopt him?"

Ozawa Ayari shook her head. "No, I used to have a Shiba Inu named Ono. It got sick and died. I was very sad."

"I remember I often carried photos of Ono with me back then. Tanaka, a photographer, was a regular at the bar, and he saw the photos."

Masahiro Hanyu's heart skipped a beat. "So it's photographer Tanaka!"