【Fast New】London Fog

"It must have been this time last winter," Tamada Ryoko sat across from Kudo Shinichi and Police Officer Takagi. The petite woman was holding a hot water cup, looking a little depressed. "Nadeko said that she was going on a trip with her lover, and said with a happy face that it was their secret base. Every time we asked to see her boyfriend's photo, she would fool me. It's strange, even for a relationship. Okay, we are three roommates. When I last contacted her on the line the morning before yesterday, I also said that if my lover came to see her later, I really didn’t expect this kind of thing to happen..."

A similar conversation was going on in the two inquiry rooms.Kuroba Kaito next door was leaning against the corner of the wall, looking calmly at Miyuki Shinagawa who was looking down and pinching her fingers opposite Police Officer Sato.

"I heard she said that they have been dating since high school, so Ryoko and I are also wondering if the other party is her teacher, or something... Because it is a teacher-student relationship, I am a little afraid of others' comments...?"

"No, that's not right," Kudo crossed out the names of Tamada and Shinagawa on the notebook after exchanging information between the two parties, "If it's a teacher-student relationship, then it's fine if you don't mention that the other party is a teacher when you talk about it. This is not a friend. Reasons for complete secrecy.”

"That's right," Kaito Kuroba, who had been keeping quiet all the time, couldn't help but ask, "Is there no surveillance camera in the apartment where the deceased is?"

"I asked the exact same question as Kudo-kun before," Police Officer Takagi explained, "The answer is that there are surveillance cameras, but the apartment is not in good use. The explanation I got is that the security in this area is very good, and it has been many years There was an incident. The camera was turned off last year, and there are only two security guards on the night shift. If that lover goes in and out of Ms. Yotsuya’s apartment, there is no way to check it. It’s a headache..."

"However, the cameras of the neighborhood where Ms. Yutian and Ms. Shinagawa live can completely provide an alibi for the two of them at the time of the crime." Kudo Shinichi added, "Didn't you directly check the chat records in Ms. Yotsuya's phone? ?”

"I only checked the call records. The mobile phone and other related relics have been confiscated by the parents of the deceased. Because of the privacy issues involved, the police will not be able to bring them back for investigation so soon."

"Did you get any useful information from your parents?"

Officer Takagi shook his head, "Those two are still in grief and have not been allowed to come to the Metropolitan Police Department for the time being."

Ryoko Tamada and Miyuki Shinagawa left together. They both looked very sad. The sudden loss of their close friends who had been with them for three or four years was unacceptable anyway.Kuroba Kaito came forward to comfort him before, although he didn't know if it would be helpful, but he still got a thankful response from the police officers.

"It's a great help, Kuroba-kun." Officer Sato handed him a cup of warm coffee, "And it's the first time I saw Kudo-kun so reassuring of others. In the past, everyone who wanted to ask questions had to go through it himself. , this time it was proposed that two people split in half, which saved a lot of time.”

"Ah, don't say that, I'm under a lot of pressure." Kaito Kuroba smiled and picked up the cup of coffee, "And if you want coffee, just give it to Shinichi. I'll just drink water!"

As he said that, the young man walked to the next room, knocked on the door and went in. Kudo and the gloomy young man named Jiro Watanabe sitting opposite both looked up at him.Kuroba put the coffee on the table, then leaned into Kudo's ear and said something, the latter listened to his words with lowered eyes, and then nodded slightly.

Police officer Sato, who saw them at the door, sighed again. He didn't know how to say it, but in short, it felt like "these two are so nice".However, the progress of the case is not very good. Akiyama Rei on Kuroba's side is Yotsuya Nadeko's colleague at the opposite desk in the office. Although she has no clear alibi, there are no flaws in her words and expressions, and she has the same low tone. Some daily performances of Yotsuya Nadeko are revealed.

"She is really a very, very nice person, and she feels very warm when she smiles. At the beginning of the internship, everyone was a newcomer, but she was the one who worked the hardest. Although she made mistakes, it was completely impossible to blame. "

"Besides, she often talks about being sorry. It can be said that she is a little unconfident. She is always worried about what she does not do well. She has always been strict with herself. In this way...and she is really considerate of others' feelings."

This is the information provided by Ms. Akiyama. On the other side, Watanabe Jiro also came out of the inquiry room. Kudo Shinichi raised the transcript in his hand and sighed.

"That guy was completely in shock. He said it was because he had important documents to hand in, but Ms. Yotsuya hadn't come to work for a long time, so he asked his boss to find Yotsuya's registered address from the company files."

"The first half has been confirmed by Ms. Akiyama. Then how did he get into the apartment?" Kuroba asked.

"After explaining the situation, I went up with the security guard downstairs, and then directly reported the case."

"Did you mention anything about your partner's lover?"

"No, but there are rumors that both Watanabe-kun and Ando-san expressed affection for Ms. Yotsuya. How about you?"

"Ms. Yotsuya doesn't seem to have any contact with her friends at work or school days. Ms. Akiyama only said that she met Yotsuya and Ms. Nishii for dinner."

"Nishi World?"

"Yes, that person is said to be the best friend with Ms. Yotsuya, because Ms. Yotsuya's cell phone wallpaper is a photo of the two of them, and I have mentioned this person to my colleagues outside of work."

Several people at the conference table fell silent.After a while, police officer Megure came in to inquire about the progress, and informed Mr. Ando and Mr. Kinoshita, the two remaining main contacts of Yotsuya Nadeko, who were away on business trips and not in Tokyo. The results of the telephone inquiries were similar, and now only the last one was left. people.

"Miss Nishii? Wait..." Shinichi Kudo stopped Police Officer Sato who was about to call for someone, "Is the order of the inquiries random? Why did Miss Nishii come in last instead of talking to Miss Yutian and Miss Shinagawa before?" come together?"

"Ah, this is Miss Nishii's request to be ranked last. Seeing that the other party is in a particularly bad mood, we didn't make it difficult for her."

"That's it." Kudo nodded, and Officer Sato led the lady in.Xijing Shijie has pure black short and medium hair, which looks a little disheveled at this time, and there are some freckles on his pale cheeks.She lifted the collar of her sweater and sat down opposite Officer Sato.Worse than the sadness expressed by Tamada and Shinagawa, the expression on Nishii's face could already be described as sorrowful.

"We are also very surprised by your friend's surprise," Police Officer Sato said comfortingly, Nishii was slightly taken aback, and then nodded slightly.

Officer Sato then asked a few basic questions, and the answers were similar to those of the previous ones, but if it was the case of a secret lover, it was Nishii Sekai who was most likely to know.

"Where were you from the early morning of the day before yesterday to yesterday morning?"

"alone at home."

"Can anyone prove it?"

"No... drank some wine, so I went back to sleep."

"So... have you heard about Yotsuya-san talking about her boyfriend?"

"no."

...was denied.Nishii kept his eyes down, and Kudo added, "Do you know where Ms. Yotsuya traveled last winter?"

It was probably an unexpected question, Xijing World was stunned for a moment, and did not speak for a while.The scene fell into silence, and no one wanted to press her until Kaito Kuroba walked up to her and squatted down, catching her eyes.

"Hey, what kind of person does Yotsuya-san look to you?"

"The most gentle person in this world..."

"If it's too sad, you can continue it another day? But if you think about it now, it might help a lot. So, for the world's most gentle Miss Yotsuya, please—"

Xijing World's entangled fingers loosened and squeezed again. She hesitated for a while, and then reported a place name.

"In Qianye County, which is five or ten minutes away by car, there is a two-story wooden house by the lake of Qinai, which was built by her grandfather and father together."

"Bright sunshine in summer, snow and fog in winter." Xijing said slowly, "This is what she described."

Kudo quickly wrote down the address, thought for a while and continued to ask, "Have you ever heard Ms. Yotsuya mention Watanabe-kun and Mr. Ando, ​​or other men?"

"It was mentioned that Watanabe-kun and Ando-san took good care of her and treated her very well, and—"

"and?"

"Said Ando-san gave her flowers before, and they were very beautiful roses."

Xijing Shijie finally looked up at the sky outside the blinds, his eyes were empty.

"Is it really hurt, that lady just now." Hei Yu lay down in front of the table with a paper cup in her mouth.After the inquiry was over, Shinichi Kudo was still sitting at the table sorting out the transcripts and materials.

"Nishi World? It's inevitable."

"Shinichi is so indifferent, would Shinichi feel so sad if I died instead?" Kaito Kuroba looked at him expectantly like a large pet, but instead of being caressed on the top of his head, Kaito looked at him. Note folder swipe.

"Are you an idiot? Quickly take back those words. The scourge will last for a thousand years. I think you still have a long life."

"Then I will borrow your blessing."

"Next, Officer Megure and I are going to go around the scene, you stay here well, if you are bored, go back to school first."

"Ahhhh? Why didn't you take me there? Didn't you say it's very close to here?" Kuroba started to protest again in a second, and Officer Sato and Officer Takagi also looked over with some amusement.

"..." The detective turned his face away awkwardly, "So—"

"?"

"I'm hungry."

"what?"

"Suddenly I want to eat the lemon pie from the cake shop next to Ximending Station, go buy it for me."

Kudo-kun is arrogant.

It's tsundere.

Sato and Takagi looked at the back of Kuroba Kaito, who had no choice but to obey orders, and slandered.Kudo Shinichi picked up his coat and wrapped himself up, then sighed softly.

Whether it's the inadvertent gaze, or the words like drinking less coffee on an empty stomach——

I'll be distracted if you're around.

The real reason for this is only known to him.