Conan: I'm Really Not Tokyo Ghost Story

Normally speaking, if you're not buying a house, there are only a few types of housing options.

Broadly speaking, they can be divided into rental apartments and hotels.

The hotel's expenses are undoubtedly higher.

Of course, there are many types of hotels, such as inns, guesthouses, restaurants, and hotels, and each type has different levels... But since Asai Naruto used the term "hotel," it can't be bad.

Even in China, where Sano lived in his previous life, hotel prices were relatively high, let alone in Japan, where the cost of living is much higher...

Of course, salary is another matter entirely, as Asai Narumi is a doctor.

The salary should be considered upper-class in Japan.

So now a part-time job is enough to keep up with his main job... Could this guy be...?

Sano, who had unconsciously started thinking in a dirty mind, quickly shook his head.

"Does changing hospitals mean we have to move to a different place?"

Sano asked, "Why not just buy a cheap car and drive it?"

"Haha, you're obviously the type who's never owned a car before."

Asai Narumi explained, "Buying a cheap car is not only difficult, but it also consumes gas. The main problem is that it's hard to park. You either have to find a house with parking, or you have to find a house with a parking lot nearby. Paying for parking is secondary; the important thing is that it's inconvenient."

Is that so?

Sano blinked. Come to think of it, that makes sense. Even the Mori family, with their three-story house, doesn't own a car. When they need a car, they usually rent one. Only the Kudo Mansion and Professor Agasa's house have independent buildings with garages, making parking convenient... even the flower garden.

It's not too good either.

At least in the neighborhood where Sano lived in his previous life, there were so many cars that there weren't enough parking spaces.

They've almost completely blocked the road.

"There's no other way. Until things settle down, we'll have to live outside."

Sano looked around: "Which hotel are you staying at?"

"The Beihu Grand Hotel, that's the one over there, the one you can see."

Sano looked in the direction Asai Narumi was pointing.

...This building looks familiar...it's the Beihu Zunhao Hotel.

This name sounds familiar?

No way, is this really that dramatic? Are we going to run into that tomboy?

In other words, is that plague god about to start causing trouble again?

Come to think of it, Sano hadn't even noticed whether Sera Masumi had been discharged from the hospital yet.

Even if they've been discharged from the hospital, at this point in time, they should all be in school, right?

Sano, feeling that there was nothing seriously wrong, went with Asai Narumi to... well, the hotel. Fortunately, their destination was the buffet restaurant, not their room.

Otherwise, even if Sano felt he had a clear conscience, he wouldn't feel any guilt.

But to say there's absolutely nothing strange about it.

That's pure nonsense... Just thinking about it gives me the creeps.

"Take whatever you want to eat, it's quite expensive to buy meal tickets separately."

Asai Narumi winked playfully at Sano: "Otherwise, we'd be at a loss."

Sano: "...Okay."

That's all I'm saying, why are you even looking at me!

My hair stood on end!

Sano kept rubbing his arm while picking up a plate to serve the food.

But before he knew it, Sano accidentally bumped into an unidentified object.

Looking down, I saw a little girl.

She had short, golden hair with a slight wave.

Her hairstyle is somewhat similar to that of Sera Masumi.

"Excuse me, I'm blocking your way, but it's also your fault for not paying attention to where you're going..."

Mary Akai looked up, instinctively wanting to utter her family's catchphrase.

Before he could finish speaking, he was stunned again after seeing Sano's face clearly.

"..."

Sano narrowed his eyes and looked down at Akai Mary.

...To take back what I said earlier, this girl's hairstyle doesn't resemble Sera Masumi's at all.

Especially the bangs at the forehead.

That tuft of hair was curled into a circle, and it looked awful no matter how you looked at it.

What were they thinking, coming up with such an awkward hairstyle?

While puzzled, Sano's focus didn't completely stray.

The girl's face, and her eyes... Sano felt that she looked more and more familiar the more he looked at her.

Does she look somewhat like Ai Haibara, that fake loli?

The eyes are the only special feature... especially if you add this location.

And then, after looking up, her reaction was as if she recognized herself.

"Sano?"

Behind him, Asai Narumi called out tentatively. Sano calmly withdrew his gaze from Akai Mary and turned around to reply, "Coming."

Asai Narumi peered curiously at Akai Mary and asked, "Is that girl someone you know? Is she mixed race? She's so cute."

"Who knows?"

Sano also glanced at Akai Mary's hurried departure.

...They're not even eating, why are they so vigilant?

But as a renowned detective, even with the highest level of vigilance, shouldn't I still have a certain degree of trust? Is there some secret she doesn't want me to discover, from a girl who looks like she's about to enter junior high school?

What secret could it possibly hold?

After peeling the lobster in his hand, Sano put it in his mouth, rubbed his oily fingers, and a somewhat uncertain guess began to form in his mind.

But this situation doesn't seem quite right.

...No, I need to find an opportunity to investigate this further.

"Excuse me, I need to use the restroom."

After wiping his fingers with a piece of paper, Sano made up an excuse to leave, but he still went to the toilet first to wash his hands clean.

Then he pulled out the map again, on which Erhei, which Sano had casually left on the blonde loli earlier, was emitting a striking red light.

"Heh, they run pretty fast."

Looking at the red dot on the map that had already climbed several floors from the staircase, Sano curled the corner of his mouth, turned around and went straight to the elevator. He kept pressing the button for a certain floor, and then, depending on the situation, pressed the new floor button to cancel the original floor, not falling behind at all.

"Ding!"

Finally, the red dot stopped at a certain floor and didn't go any higher.

Sano finally stopped making any further moves until the elevator doors opened.

I stepped out of the elevator.

Unhurriedly, he timed his move perfectly. After turning the corner at the end of the corridor, Sano happened to see the blonde loli opening the door. However, he didn't approach her immediately. Instead, he waited until she opened the door and stepped inside with one foot.

He then quickly moved closer.

"Snapped!"

Just as Akai Mary was closing the door, she was about to turn around and investigate.

A large hand blocked the door, and out of the corner of Akai Mary's eye, she caught a pair of shoes and a shadow on the wall... Oh no!

Mary Akai's expression immediately changed, and she felt a strong sense of crisis.

Just as Akai Mary was ready for battle, she turned around and saw that the person behind her was Sano, and her body relaxed a little.

Of course, there are only a few.

Mary Akai's eyes still retained at least a minimum level of vigilance.

"you……"

Before Akai Mary could speak, Sano suddenly reached out and grabbed her.

This caused Mary Akai's expression to change again... Although, based on what Sera Masumi had told her, the young detective in front of her didn't seem to be an enemy, that was just an assumption. Whether it was to play the long game and not make a move, or to be cautious and not drag others into the mess, she didn't want to get involved with him.

At least, not at present.

But luck is always so cruel; the people you don't want to run into are the ones you do run into, and not only that, you can't shake them off... Akai Mary is certain that she paid close attention when she came up.

No one was following me.

They were already at their doorstep when this guy showed up.

...If the reason I failed to notice this guy's approach was because his footsteps were too light and I was careless because we were almost back at the "safe house," then the former is a real problem.

The title of "young detective" may be fitting, but it should only refer to his reasoning ability.

In conclusion, it can be confirmed that Mary Akai is certain.

This guy is definitely more than just a detective!

...Not to mention that they're now "attacking" me. Do they think it's time to close the net?

Almost instinctively, Mary Akai raised her hand and slapped Sano's hand away. At the same time, she brought her other hand together and pointed a knife straight at Sano's throat.

Seeing this, Sano's interest immediately intensified.

The two movements, one defensive and one offensive, have different focuses. They combine the flexibility of a mixed style with the sharpness of a martial arts style, and... there is also a hint of Jeet Kune Do.