Conan: I'm Really Not Tokyo Ghost Story

So, only Vodka can take responsibility for that.

"Have you been too lax lately? Get your act together."

"……Yes."

"Work overtime today and complete a few more tasks."

"……Yes."

"Is your car almost out of gas? It needs some maintenance too?"

"……Yes."

"besides……"

"..."

……

This was a few days later, when Sano took a day off because he was too lazy to work.

Even if you're lazy, you still have to go out the door.

After all, staying cooped up at home all day isn't a good thing... The main point is, as I said before, the world isn't very good at developing entertainment.

Otherwise, in his previous life, Sano spent 365 days a year just going out to take out the trash and buy cigarettes, and he didn't necessarily live a very difficult life.

Of course, Sano didn't go out simply to have fun.

I just need to do some serious work while also seeing if there's anything fun to do.

Only.

"Ok?"

Said Cao Cao, Cao Cao.

Sano paused, leaned back, and tilted his head to the side, where he saw someone sitting on a bench, holding a bottle of coffee in one hand and the other in his pocket, lost in thought.

Asai Narumi.

...It seems like it's been a long time since I've heard from this guy?

Sano quickly searched his limited memory and found that, at least in recent reports, there was no mention of Asai Narumi's pseudonym.

Perhaps something was done, but others don't know, or perhaps it wasn't a big deal.

So nobody wants to report on it?

Looking at Asai Narumi, whose face showed a hint of worry, Sano thought for a moment.

I still went over there.

"What are you thinking?"

When Asai Narumi came to her senses and saw Sano, she immediately showed a hint of surprise.

"...Sano, sir?"

Sano sat down next to Asai Narumi without any hesitation and nodded.

"Hmm, something on your mind?"

Asai Narumi was taken aback... Although the two could be considered acquaintances, it wouldn't be strange for them to greet each other if they happened to meet, but to ask such a question right off the bat...

Privacy matters.

Is something wrong?

After scratching his head, Asai Narumi smiled and replied.

"Yeah, a little."

"Would you mind telling me about it?"

When Sano pressed further, Asai Narumi did not hide anything.

"Actually, it's nothing, just a work-related issue."

Slightly bewildered, Asai Narumi waved his hand and declined the cigarette Sano offered. He smiled and said, "As you know, I'm a doctor. Because I'm quite capable, I found a job quickly after coming to Tokyo."

Sano lit a cigarette and nodded.

"and then."

"Then... I encountered some things that made me realize that life often digs a hole for you when you think things are going the best."

Hearing Asai Narumi's bitter laugh, Sano exhaled a white dragon.

"Were you fired?"

"Hey?"

Asai Narumi was stunned once again, staring blankly at Sano.

"...Why do you think I've been fired? Is it just because I'm sitting here without moving even though it's a workday? But maybe it's because I took the day off and am tired from the accident?"

Generally speaking, if someone encounters difficulties at work, very few people would think of the worst-case scenario of being fired.

Although Asai Narumi knew that the person in front of him was a top-ranked young detective in the country, he might have noticed the truth behind it through some subtle detail that even he himself hadn't noticed.

However, the key points that Asai Narumi could think of were as mentioned above.

That doesn't make any sense.

Sano's certainty naturally piqued Asai Narumi's curiosity.

Looking at Asai Narumi, whose eyes were full of curiosity, Sano casually flicked his cigarette ash.

"Because I saw it."

"……What?"

As soon as Asai Narumi showed her confusion, Sano revealed the truth: "I saw you at another hospital before. I thought you had changed jobs, but looking at you now and what you just said, didn't you get fired?"

Upon hearing this, Asai Narumi, who had expected to hear a brilliant and chilling deduction, couldn't help but type a row of dots.

This reasoning is so simple and straightforward... No, this isn't reasoning at all, is it?

Receiving an unexpected answer, Asai Narumi felt the wind was a bit noisy today, leaving him somewhat bewildered. After a few seconds of silence, he regained his composure and smiled, "I see. But unfortunately, even so, it's not right... or rather, not entirely right."

Sano: "?"

What's going on? Are you playing riddles with yourself here?

Sano frowned; he was certain that Asai Narumi had switched hospitals.

Sano saw Asai Narumi's work ID that day.

If they were just temporarily reassigned to help out, this shouldn't be the case.

Not entirely correct, indicating a difference, but the difference is not significant.

"...You resigned?"

Asai Narumi paused for a moment, but this time she didn't seem so incredulous. She smiled and nodded, "Because I really couldn't continue doing this."

"Oh."

Sano said thoughtfully, "Were you ostracized, or could you not tolerate some shady dealings?"

"I'd say the former."

Asai Narumi sighed: "I don't know who I offended, but from a certain day onwards, I felt that my colleagues around me were looking at me with a very strange look, and they would point at me and whisper among themselves from time to time."

"By sheer coincidence, I overheard two people talking behind my back, saying that I got this position because I used connections and had an improper relationship with the vice president... I originally wanted to explain or just let it go, but the rumors got more and more exaggerated, to the point that it affected my normal work and even led to me being summoned for a talk by my superiors."

Upon hearing this, Sano threw away his cigarette butt and stomped it out.

...The claim of being ostracized was made by Sano himself, and now that it has been proven to be true, it is not surprising. But what surprised him was...

Asai Narumi's method of exclusion.

This should be considered Sano's blind spot.

Who knows, while Asai Narumi is considered a stunning beauty by others, she is seen as extremely dangerous by Sano... cough cough, anyway.

Sano was quite interested in the trouble that Asai Narumi mentioned.

"So you resigned?"

"Ah."

As soon as Asai Narumi nodded, Sano spoke again.

"But since you've already resigned from that hospital and changed jobs, yet you still say you're encountering difficulties at work... is it a similar problem?"

After a few seconds of silence, Asai Narumi nodded again.

"The second hospital, around the same time, experienced a similar situation to the first hospital, so I had to resign and move again. But, the third, the fourth, and now the fifth hospital, I initially thought it was just a coincidence, that I was just unlucky. But later I found out it was because the story had already spread in the industry, and the more places I moved, the more it spread."

With a dejected look on her face, Asai Narumi forced a smile: "This morning, I just went for my sixth hospital interview. The person who interviewed me didn't seem to know about the rumor, so they didn't show any signs of anything amiss and passed the interview, asking me to start work tomorrow. But... I guess even if I go, it won't be long before that situation happens again. I'm hesitating about whether I should go or not. Maybe I should just find a small clinic or open my own."

Sano remained silent, simply gazing into the distance.

"Oh, I'm so sorry to pass on my negative emotions to you."

Asai Narumi quickly adjusted her mindset and smiled, "But being able to talk about these things makes me feel much more relaxed. Thank you."

Before Sano could speak, Asai Narumi added, "By the way, have you eaten?"

Sano raised an eyebrow and patted his stomach: "...Not yet. What, are you going to treat me?"

"Ah."

Asai Narumi stood up and said, "It just so happens that my hotel is over there. Their buffet is pretty good. If you have a room voucher, you can save money."

Chapter 609, 612, Another fake loli?

Sano's focus on this matter was rather biased.

Are you staying at a hotel now?

"Ah... yes."

Asai Narumi knew what Sano was concerned about, and smiled and said, "Although my job has been unstable since I came to Tokyo, I also have a part-time job, and the salary is no less than that of my main job."