Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Daily life
The subsequent handling of the incident prevented me from attending a class for three days.It's just that because I live in a dormitory on campus, my classmates, roommates, and the girl from the handicraft department who is as small and exquisite as a squirrel are very worried, so they came to visit me specially.I have always felt that I have no very close friends, nor any friends I can trust. I never thought that someone would care about me so much. Maybe this is considered very happy.I rediscovered the beauty of this ordinary life.
I heard that Kyoko Kirikiri came to school as usual the day after the incident.I heard Kyoko Kirikiri's name on the school radio, and she was called to the teacher's office in the junior high school.I can't help but think it's inconceivable that she should be at this school.That incident was too divorced from reality, so the Kirikiri I saw at that time also gave me an impression of being divorced from reality, as if she was not a real person.It's just that she is undoubtedly a person who exists in this real world, a girl who goes to middle school like her peers.
On the fifth day after the incident, I took advantage of my lunch break to visit the school building of the junior high school.I inquired about the classroom where Wuqie was from the class teacher.
The classroom is full of immature faces of middle school students, and Kyoko Kirikiri is among them.
She sat on the window seat, resting her cheek on her hands and looking out the window.People around her were pushing tables together to eat bento boxes, and others were chirping like birds.Among them, Kyoko Kirikiri's figure seemed isolated, but in a sense, like an inconspicuous shadow, she was completely integrated into the whole class.
The students in the class noticed that I was looking into the classroom and started commotion.This commotion spread all the way to Wukiri, and she finally noticed me.
Our eyes met, but she stared out of the window in a daze as if nothing had happened.
"Hey, why are you pretending you didn't see me?"
I walked into the classroom, stood beside Wukiri, and looked down at her with my hands on my hips.Now the eyes of the entire classroom are on us, and even the chattering students can't help but fall silent.
"It's not convenient to talk here, let's go out for a while."
I almost dragged the fog cutter out.Guess we'll be a hot topic in the classroom after this.
Together with Wuqie, I walked to the gate where there was no one in sight.We leaned together, hiding our figures in the shadows of rows of shoe cabinets.
Wuqie leaned against the shoe cabinet and hugged his arms.
"What's the matter?" Wuqie looked up at me and said.Although her tone was cold, she didn't seem to be in a bad mood.She should always feel this way.
"Did you hear that Mr. Asakura died. It was also reported in the newspaper, saying it was an accident."
"When I knew that he was taken away by the committee, I already expected this kind of thing. Presumably he also knows what will happen to him."
Wukiri's eyes fell on the floor, and she sighed.
"Are the losers of the 'Black Challenge' doomed to be killed by the committee?"
"Who knows. Maybe when the funds used to buy the criminal modus operandi can't be repaid."
"How could this be..." I supported the shoe cabinet with one hand and lowered my head.
Wuqie's little head was right in front of him.
I inadvertently glanced to the side and found students in junior high school uniforms peeking at us.They noticed our sight and quickly hid.
Because of that incident, we seem to be celebrities now.The news reports described us as ordinary people innocently implicated in the incident, and did not say that we participated in the incident as detectives.
"I said, sister Wuqie, this shouldn't be over, right?"
"What's the meaning?"
"Crime Victims Relief Committee - how can they get away with it! Listening to Mr. Asakura, it seems that there are many similar games going on. If this is true, it is tantamount to condoning criminal organizations."
"I feel more and more...you really want to be a hero, sister Jie."
I'm glad that she's still addressing her as Sister-sama.I even thought that after leaving the scene of the incident, whether my relationship with her was also written off, but it seems that this is not the case.
"Others say that those who want to be heroes die early."
"This is also equivalent to saying that this person risked his life." I proudly puffed out my chest. "As a detective, I have long been prepared to sacrifice, and this is not your patent."
"Really..." Wuqie looked up at me.Her eyes are very close to mine.
"What's wrong with you? Feeling uneasy?"
"No." Wuqie shook his head immediately, then continued with some hesitation. "After that day, I kept thinking about the detective Inuzuka."
"That self-directed and self-acted detective is really terrible."
"To me, a so-called detective...is a messenger of the unmistakable truth. So I've always been proud of myself as a detective. But..."
When she said this, she seemed to feel that she had said too much, so she suddenly shut her mouth tightly.
"It's okay, just tell me."
As I said this, her eyes wandered for a while, and finally she looked up at me.She looked up at me anxiously with an unprecedented vulnerability and helplessness.
"Detectives are not absolute... I have never felt this natural fact. I was a little surprised when I found out, that's all." She said this, lowering her head.
Those girls who peeked at us seemed to have something to say, I pretended not to see them, and put my hand on Wuqie's head.
"For me, you are the angel who brought us the truth. It is because of you that I can return to a peaceful life."
"A peaceful life..." As if it was an unfamiliar word, Wu Qie read it like a parrot, and then stopped talking.
"Are you free after school today? I have a place I want to go, do you want to go with me?"
"Is there a place you want to go?"
"The Detective Library. Perhaps the key to deciphering the secrets of the Victims of Crime Relief Council may be found there."
After a long silence, Kirikiri nodded.
"Then gather here after school."
I left before she said yes, and walked out the gate.The girls in junior high made way for me.
"We're dating, dating."
I told the girls this and they screamed.I listened to their voices from behind all the way back to my school building.
After school, when I got to the gate, I saw Kirikiri sitting in the corner of the stairs reading a book.
I couldn't help standing still and observing her.Kirikiri's eyes scanned the words on the book intently, her side face was very innocent, and she didn't look like a detective who could solve the bloody murder case.Among the students rushing home after school, her quiet figure reading a book is like a perfect painting.
Wukiri was aware of my gaze, and raised his head to look at me.
"Have you been watching for a long time?"
"Um, sorry." I ran to her side. "Because it's so cute."
"Give me a break."
"Why are you reading so intently? I see, it's Shimada Shoji's new book, right?"
"No, it's notes."
Fog cut showed me the notes on the black cover.Ah, by the way, I've seen this notebook before.She stood up from the stairs and patted the back of her skirt lightly.
"It says everything my grandpa taught me about being a detective."
"It's really admirable to still concentrate on research at this time."
"I've always been like this."
"Really. Well, considering where we're going next, maybe we should tighten our nerves a little bit."
The two of us went out through the gate together, across the campus, and out of the antique gate.There was nothing to talk about between us, so we just walked side by side in silence.To us, the shopping street playing Christmas songs is just a landscape that has nothing to do with it.
We are waiting at the bus station.
There is still a little snow under the feet that has not melted, and it will be scattered with a light kick.During the time waiting for the car, I just played with the snow like this, and the fog cut never joined in.
The bus came, and I sat in the row with Wuqie.In the eyes of other passengers, we are probably a pair of junior high school students and high school students who have a close relationship.I really hope that's the case.
"Is there anything unusual after that?" I asked.
"abnormal?"
"Didn't we hear a lot of secrets about the Crime Victims Relief Committee from Mr. Asakura? Although I can't say clearly, but I think... since we know the secrets of a large criminal organization, our lives may be at risk. will also be threatened."
"There's nothing unusual about me."
"Did your grandfather say anything? I also want to hear your grandfather's opinion. He should be equivalent to your master?"
"Grandpa is in Los Angeles now. I told him about the incident on the phone, but he didn't seem to care much. That said, it wasn't interesting enough for him."
"Hmm..." This grandpa's standard is really high.Will the little girl in front of me become such an international detective one day?
"Grandpa said there was only one thing he cared about."
"What's up?"
"Grandpa seems to have something to do with the establishment of the detective library."
"Oh... isn't this amazing? How powerful is your detective family?"
Her parentage surprised me once again.She has an uncanny pride in her role as a detective, which I already knew, presumably in the family she grew up in.
What kind of place is the Kirikiri's house?
"Like my house, it's very ordinary, there's nothing extraordinary about it."
"Then you said that you are ready to sacrifice as a detective. Where does your determination come from?"
Kirito looked at me with surprised eyes.
"Do you doubt that I have not?"
"No, I didn't doubt you." Wuqie turned his gaze out of the window.
"Are you still angry because I regard you as a murderer? I really feel embarrassed about this matter."
"I am not angry."
"Really, that's good..."
The scenery outside the car window gradually turned into a secluded residential area.Big trees were neatly planted on both sides of the road, their bare branches without leaves stretched out into the gray sky.It is incredible that there is no one in the street scene in front of you.
"Next stop, in front of the Detective Library—in front of the Detective Library—"
The bus announcement rang.
"Sister Wuqie, you press the button of the car."
"I didn't say I wanted to press it."
"Then can I press it?"
"Please feel free."
"...Let's press together, and I'll count one, two, three."
"Okay, press it quickly."
"Hehe, just kidding."
I leaned over the fog cut and pressed the button by the window.Not long after, the bus stopped.
As soon as we got out of the car, we were surrounded by a quiet, icy air.The atmosphere here is obviously different from that in the city.In front of us, the high wall is connected together, and behind the wall can be seen an old building like a haunted house.
We walked along the wall to the door of the detective library.
Finally we came to an iron gate with pillars on each side, which felt a bit exaggerated.The iron gate is wide open, and you can see the foyer of Western architecture inside the gate.We walked up slowly side by side along the stone steps where the snow had not completely melted.
"Have you been here before?" I asked.
"No, this is my first time here."
"Didn't you come here when you registered?"
"My grandfather did it for me."
"Well, does the Detective Library look like a place of study to you?"
Mist cut nodded.
"At first, I didn't really understand the significance of registering here, but after hearing your explanation, my lord sister, I feel a little bit clearer."
"What's going on?"
"If you want to be recognized as a detective, you have to work hard towards level zero." Wuqie muttered stiffly.
I finally started to understand her a little bit.She really is nothing but a detective.
Behind this, her extraordinary family environment must be at play.There should be some reason why she so strongly hopes to be recognized for her detective skills.
"Others will naturally see whether you have the ability. You must be fine, so you don't have to carry such a heavy burden, right?"
Wuqie ignored my words and just glanced at me.
"Besides, even if the level is raised, it doesn't necessarily mean that you are a good detective. You see, people like Koto Inuzuka are an example."
"However, if you want to be famous as a detective, you need a certain degree of praise."
"Getting a name...is it? This statement feels very confident."
Wuqie didn't respond to my words, and opened the door by herself, and I quickly followed behind her.
After entering the door, a smell of old books and old wood came to the nostrils.Although the current detective library is only fifteen years old, it is said that the predecessor of this building was a library built more than fifty years ago.
Wuqie stopped right where the front door entered, and looked around.She seems to have lost her way.
"Sister Wuqie." I called out to her back. "You go to the counter to update the card. After solving the last incident, maybe the level has been raised."
"Yes." Wuqie walked a few steps forward by himself, then suddenly stopped and waited for me.It seems she thought it would be better for me to lead the way.
I took her to the counter.
Recently, many places in the library seem to have become very fashionable, such as electronic procedures, and the counters are also made like those in banks or restaurants, but the detective library still looks like an old-fashioned library that maintains its fine traditions.The staff behind the counter are dressed in white shirts with black sleeves, and they are very classically dressed.
"Excuse me...I would like to trouble you to update the card..."
I took the card out and spoke to the staff behind the counter.This staff member is a middle-aged uncle in his fifties, with sunken cheeks, giving the impression of a literati.He looked at me for a long time, then took the card and looked at it for a long time.
"Please wait a moment." The staff stood up slowly and walked towards the computer inside the counter.I saw that the computer had three monitors, and while he was looking at one of the monitors, he inserted my card into a slot near him.
"...Hmm, the content has been updated. I'll make changes right away, please wait a moment. Can the photo remain as it is?"
"Yes, no change."
"OK."
"And her card, please take a look."
After finishing speaking, I urged Wuqie to take out the card, and Wuqie took out the card from the notebook and handed it to the staff.
"Please wait five minutes."
While waiting, we boredly looked around.The room where the counter is located has doors at the front and back and is a separate room.Go through the front door to enter the room where the detective files are displayed.
There were several staff members at the counter, all of whom seemed to be doing some routine work, and no gossip could be heard in this suffocating environment.The Detective Library has always advertised itself as neutral and has nothing to do with any organization, but who are these staff members?When you think about it, these people who work silently like machines look creepy.
"Okay, it's done." The uncle at the counter came back to us with two cards, and we took the cards.
May Yujie DSC number "887"
"Ah! I've improved a level! Great, great, great!" I couldn't help but jump up and down.
"Hush, please keep quiet in the museum." The staff reminded me.
"Sorry!" I apologized softly.
"Thanks to sister Wuqie, I was able to level up. After all, I didn't do anything. Sister Wukiri, where is your card?"
"My level has also increased."
Fog cut Kyoko DSC number "917"
"That's amazing! I've been promoted to two levels!"
"quiet!"
"Sorry..." I apologized again. "Achieved level '7' in the first grade of junior high school. It's quite remarkable. You are probably the first since the establishment of the detective library. You are really good."
"If this continues, in order to reach level zero, we need to resolve four incidents of the same scale as the Sirius Observatory incident."
Fog cut is as calm as ever.
"Yes, yes... But anyway, congratulations first, my level has been caught up by the rookies. But isn't the combination of high school girls and junior high school girls level '7' detectives amazing?"
"Combinations? I don't remember such a thing."
"Hey, I, I'm just talking. From the eyes of others, it's probably the effect of this kind of propaganda." I said in a panic.
Anyway, both me and her level up, which is a good thing.I especially feel happy that Fog Cut's talent has been recognized, as if it were my own.
"Aren't you happy?"
"Happy."
"If you're happy, just smile. Would you like to take a photo as a souvenir?"
"I was told to suppress my emotions as much as possible." Wuqie put the card back into the notebook, and turned his head away abruptly. "Leaving that aside, it occurred to me that a good idea would be to approach the Crime Victims Relief Council."
"Hey, you can still think about the next thing when you are so excited."
"The only one who is excited is sister Jie, you."
"That said, even so..."
"Take me to the room where the detective files are kept."
"Okay, okay, as ordered, miss."
I walked past the counter, opened the door in front of me, and my vision suddenly opened up.
This is the forest of detectives.In the room with a high ceiling, there are bookshelves standing upright like trees.It's just that it's not the green leaves that thrive here, but the files of the detectives.Some 65,500 detectives even blocked the sunlight coming in through the windows, making it impossible to see where you were going.
There are labels with DSC numbers on the bookshelves, and people who come to the library can refer to these labels to find the detective they are looking for.There were several other people in the library besides us.From divorce disputes to finding lost puppies, from homicide cases to international issues, people who encounter all kinds of difficulties will gather here.
"And then, what's your idea?"
"Through this level increase, I discovered that the level will be improved accordingly to the extent of the incident that is resolved."
"Hmm...and then?"
"The Sirius Observatory incident that implicated us could serve as an indicator."
"Ok."
"Haven't you noticed, my lord?"
"Uh-um..." I folded my arms and snorted.
"The Sirius Observatory incident used a criminal scheme planned by the Victims of Crime Relief Committee. By solving this incident, I increased my rank by two. But it should be said that I was lucky or unlucky... because I met' As long as you solve the incident that can be upgraded', this incident is such a difficulty. On the other hand, sister Yu has never encountered this kind of incident before, so after three years, it has only been upgraded to one level."
"Didn't others often say that the ability to encounter incidents is also the condition for becoming a great detective..."
"So I came to the conclusion... Among the high-level detectives, there should be people who have accepted the 'Black Challenge', especially those who have not been registered for a long time but have an exceptionally high level."
"Ah, so it is!"
"Maybe some detectives won not only once or twice in the 'Black Challenge', but many times."
"Yes, there must be such a person! Did Mr. Asakura just want to talk about this at that time?"
"Let's find out if there is such an eye-catching detective."
Foggie looked up at the label with the DSC number and shuttled among the bookshelves.She first walked towards the "000" bookshelf, which is the level 30 bookshelf of "Comprehensive·Comprehensive·Level 0".
That bookshelf is at the far end of the room.A small bookshelf stands there, like a throne, or a display shelf of secret treasures.
There are three files on the bookshelf.
"Although it's just a rumor, I heard that there were four 30-level detectives in the past, and the record of one of them was deleted. No one knows why."
I said to Wuqie as if I was whispering.
Wuqie remained silent, and took down one of the files.
The dossier was housed in a high-end-looking leather binder with the detective's name and DSC number written on the back.
The DSC number "000" under the month of Longzuo Temple has three zeros shining brightly.
As soon as the file is opened, the first page is the resume in the uniform format of the detective library.From the registration photo, he is younger than I thought and handsome.He is not the type of weak scholar. To be honest, he should be the kind of manly handsome man who is suitable for growing a beard or combing his hair back.Judging from the date of birth, he should be forty-two years old now.
"The number of incidents he's solved is astounding."
The number of pages sealed in the file is the most among the three level 30 detectives.
"I remember this person is an easy chair detective, nicknamed 'The Earl of the Easy Chair'. He doesn't need to spend time going to the scene and investigating, so he can solve so many incidents in parallel on the desk."
"Hmmm, what a laid-back detective."
"How can you say such things to Detective 30?" I criticized Wuqie.
"I'm sorry." Wuche apologized honestly.
"Yes, yes, remember to be respectful."
"So what about this one." Wuqie took down the file next to it.
Jonny Yap DSC number "000"
"This guy is famous, he's American." I immediately started showing off my knowledge. "He's the only detective in this country who is allowed by the police to carry a gun. Hey, but I only know that there's some sort of agreement between the FBI and the police about that... anyway, he's coming to this country Often, not as a detective, but as a 'law enforcement officer'."
"I know him too."
"Ah, yes."
"I learned how to shoot from him in America."
"Oh...uh, huh? You know him?"
"I don't know if he still remembers me."
"I didn't expect you to know someone at level 30... The photo looks a bit like Brad Pitt, so handsome! Introduce him to me!"
"He lives in New York. My lord, do you understand English?"
"Ah..." I could only stay silent like this.
"I didn't know he was level 30 before."
Fog Cut put Jonny's file aside and took down the third file.
Yujingling DSC number "000"
Opening the file, there was a conspicuous blank on the resume.There are no photographs, gender cannot be determined, and age is unknown.Although there are not many cases solved by this man, each one is a wonderful case that fascinates detectives and reasoning fans all over the world.For example, the "Road Hill House Murders" in the UK, the "Great Lakes Serial Murders" across Canada and the United States, etc., even I have heard of them.
"This file has no reference value." Wuqie immediately put the file back on the bookshelf. "I didn't even write down the contact information. I don't know if I can talk to the staff here and help us get in touch with him."
"No, this is impossible. The staff will not directly serve as an intermediary between the detective and the client, but they can leave a message for the detective through the counter."
"I can't help it." Wuqie showed a dissatisfied expression, and touched his three-strand braid. "But Level 30 is too special. I don't think they are the kind of detectives we are looking for."
"Then let's look for Level 20?"
"Okay." We walked to the corresponding bookshelves.
Level 20 refers to a detective whose secondary classification is level zero and whose level is the highest level zero.Since the first-level classification is not zero, it must be found on the shelves of different categories.
We are like walking in the detective forest, looking at countless files while walking forward.
"I heard that there are about twenty detectives in the 20th grade."
"It's quite a lot."
"But this is the level of only one out of 3,000 people? Thinking about it this way, I feel that 3020 people are really unattainable."
I sighed heavily.
After that, we spent about an hour picking out seven level 20 detectives.We especially selected those who had not been registered for a long time.
Among these detectives, has anyone accepted the "Challenge of Blackness"?
We went to the reading room and looked at the summaries of events bound in the file.It's just that whether these events are "black challenges" is of course not written above, and we can only roughly judge whether there is such a possibility.
"Sure enough, level 20 didn't write a direct contact method."
"What should I do?" Wuqie leaned out from the seat next to him, and asked while staring at the file.
"I can only leave a message."
Detective libraries are old school, and even in this age of email, leaving a message is valid.
Wuqie and I put our heads together and wrote a note for the 20th-level detective.The text is extremely simple, because we feel that it can arouse the detective's interest more.
"That's enough." After I left the message at the counter for safekeeping, I planned to leave the detective library.
"Come on, let's go back, sister Wuqie." Wuqie nodded and followed behind me.
We went through the gate and out onto the street where the winter wind was blowing.We walked together to the bus station and waited for the bus.
"You don't live in a dormitory, do you? Are you a day student?"
"Well, grandpa is taking care of me."
"Huh? Where are your parents?"
"They're all gone." Wuqie said, looking ahead at the road.
"...Sorry, I asked something bad."
Speaking of which, when she mentioned her father earlier, she seemed to have a complicated reaction.It seems that it is better to keep the topic of family as little as possible.
The bus came and we sat side by side as we did when it came.Fogcut pressed the button to get off the car halfway.
"I get off at the next stop, which is closer."
"Really. If there is a 20th level who contacts me, I will tell you right away."
Wuqiri just nodded, without even saying goodbye, he just got out of the car.
— This kid is really difficult to get along with.
But I think her character is very straightforward.Her single-minded sincerity towards detective work cannot be explained by a sense of mission alone.
She has a pure love for detective work.
The scenery outside the car window has begun to darken.I got out of the car at the shopping street halfway and planned to walk back by myself.
It's almost Christmas.
Before that there is a final exam.
Exams are over and it's winter vacation.
Do I have to eat chocolate cake alone this Christmas?
The note left in the detective's library went unanswered, and the days went by, and winter vacation came.
As soon as the winter vacation comes, the dormitory suddenly becomes empty, because everyone will go back to their homes.Especially because the winter vacation is short, many people go back as soon as the vacation is over.
I don't want to go home.Because my parents are both working, even if I go back, I can't have a family reunion and share the family relationship, and I don't want to go home for other reasons.
Let’s spend Christmas in the dormitory this year too——
I lay face up on the bed, staring at the familiar ceiling.At this moment, the face of Kyoko Kirikiri appeared in my mind.
I don't know what she is doing now... I should have left her contact information.I don't know if she has a cell phone.
I suddenly thought of one thing: if I go to the detective library and ask, maybe I can get her contact information.Because she is a newcomer, it is very likely that she will leave her contact information on the file, so that it will be more convenient to accept the commission.
I hurried to the detective library immediately.
The detective library was quiet as usual, but there were more people than usual today.Probably because there are more people in trouble at the end of the year.
"Is there any message for me?" I went to the counter and asked, but there was no message.
Then I checked Kyoko Kirikiri's file.In the event record column, the Sirius Observatory event has been added.
The page of the resume has the phone number written on it.I took the number down and left the detective library.
After returning to the dormitory, I called her.The voice of an elderly male came from the receiver.
"Hello……"
"Hi, I'm May Yujie from the same school as Xiangzi. I was taken care of by Xiangzi before..."
"Ah, you are Miss Detective Wu Yueyu, right? My granddaughter is also taken care of by you."
"No, no, student Xiangzi really helped me a lot."
"Really, you are too polite."
The other party's response sounded very happy. This person should be her grandfather, has he returned from Los Angeles?
"Excuse me, is student Xiangzi at home?"
"I'll let her pick it up."
Not long after, the sound of Xiangzi came from the receiver.
"Hello."
"Ah, sister Wuqie."
"My lord sister?"
"Well, long time no see!"
Having not heard her voice for days, it made me emotional.
"Looks like it hasn't arrived in a week."
"Don't talk about that, can you come to school the day after tomorrow?"
"sure."
"See you at the school gate at seven o'clock in the evening."
"At that time, the school gate should have been closed."
"But it will open the day after tomorrow. Why do you say? I'll tell you when the time comes. You must come!"
I hung up the phone before hearing her answer.
Now she must be feeling overwhelmed.
While imagining her expression at this time, I got into bed.
The note left in the detective's library went unanswered, and the days went by, and winter vacation came.
As soon as the winter vacation comes, the dormitory suddenly becomes empty, because everyone will go back to their homes.Especially because the winter vacation is short, many people go back as soon as the vacation is over.
I don't want to go home.Because my parents are both working, even if I go back, I can't have a family reunion and share the family relationship, and I don't want to go home for other reasons.
Let’s spend Christmas in the dormitory this year too——
I lay face up on the bed, staring at the familiar ceiling.At this moment, the face of Kyoko Kirikiri appeared in my mind.
I don't know what she is doing now... I should have left her contact information.I don't know if she has a cell phone.
I suddenly thought of one thing.
If you go to the detective library and ask, you might be able to get her contact information.Because she is a newcomer, it is very likely that she will leave her contact information on the file, so that it will be more convenient to accept the commission.
I hurried to the detective library immediately.The detective library was quiet as usual, but there were more people than usual today.Probably because there are more people in trouble at the end of the year.
"Is there any message for me?" I went to the counter and asked, but there was no message.
Then I checked Kyoko Kirikiri's file.In the event record column, the Sirius Observatory event has been added.
The page of the resume has the phone number written on it.I took the number down and left the detective library.
After returning to the dormitory, I called her, and the voice of an elderly male came from the receiver.
"Hello……"
"Hi, I'm May Yujie from the same school as Xiangzi. I was taken care of by Xiangzi before..."
"Ah, you are Miss Detective Wu Yueyu, right? My granddaughter is also taken care of by you."
"No, no, student Xiangzi really helped me a lot."
"Really, you are too polite."
The other party's response sounded very happy. This person should be her grandfather, has he returned from Los Angeles?
"Excuse me, is student Xiangzi at home?"
"I'll let her pick it up."
Not long after, the sound of Xiangzi came from the receiver.
"Hello."
"Ah, sister Wuqie."
"My lord sister?"
"Well, long time no see!"
Having not heard her voice for days, it made me emotional.
"Looks like it hasn't arrived in a week."
"Don't talk about that, can you come to school the day after tomorrow?"
"sure."
"See you at the school gate at seven o'clock in the evening."
"At that time, the school gate should have been closed."
"But it will open the day after tomorrow. Why do you say? I'll tell you when the time comes. You must come!"
I hung up the phone before hearing her answer.
Now she must be feeling overwhelmed.While imagining her expression at this time, I got into bed.
From the morning of the day, sporadic light snow began to stop and fall.On this day, the dull gray sky also feels like nothing.
I leaned against the pillar of the school gate and waited for the fog cut to appear.It was almost seven o'clock, the appointed time, and the headlights of the speeding cars on the road in front of us reflected the fine crystallization of snowflakes, which dissipated into the cold night sky.I took a deep breath to warm my frozen fingertips, and the breath I exhaled turned into a cloud of white mist and stayed in the air for a short time.
Kyoko Kirigaki finally appeared, and she walked over from the opposite side of the road.
Dressed in her uniform, overcoat as usual, she approached me in the darkness of the snowy night.
"I'm sorry to have called you out so late."
Before she walked to the school gate, I waved and greeted her from a distance.
"It's because there is Christmas mass today." Wuchee said, putting his hands in the pockets of his coat. "That question you asked on the phone earlier. You hung up before I could get an answer, so I'm here today to tell you that. Well, I'm going back."
Wukiri turned around and actually started walking back down the road.
"Wait a moment!"
"What's the matter?" Wuqie turned around.Her expression didn't change, and I even thought she looked more indifferent than usual.
"Just today, can you stop worrying about your usual living habits and come live with me for a while?"
"--What's the meaning?"
“好啦好啦。”我一把抓住雾切的手腕，把她往门里拉。
正前方可以看到教堂，里面似乎已经开始举行弥撒了。平时都不会打开的灯，今天却把下着雪的天空映照得十分明亮。在一片黑暗之中朦胧浮现出一座孤零零的教堂，这情景十分梦幻。
“这边走。”我招手唤着雾切。
校舍大门敞开着。平时这个时候大门应当已经关上了，但是圣诞节的晚上圣歌队要在教室里做一些准备工作，所以今天门是开的。
只不过里面没有开灯，一片漆黑。
“要进去吗？”雾切有些犹豫地停下脚步。
“是啊。你该不会是怕鬼吧？”
“……我觉得这里不可能有鬼。”
“你没听说过吗？据说晚上学校里经常会闹鬼的。”
“……那是假的，怎么可能会有鬼，不符合逻辑。”
雾切警惕地四下张望，她的身体因为紧张而绷直了。
“没事的，来吧。”
我仍然抓着雾切纤细的手腕，沿着漆黑的走廊往前走。虽说这是个神圣的夜晚，夜晚空无一人的校舍也仍然令人感到毛骨悚然。要是会突然出现什么东西的话，大概也是火鸡怪或者拿着斧头的圣诞老人这一类的怪物吧。
我带着雾切走上校舍的楼梯。
走到最顶层，我用力把面前的门推开。
“又没有钥匙，你是怎么打开门的？”
“其实是有点小诀窍的。只要握着门把手上下晃动几下，门锁就会脱开了。”
“——原来是这样。”
我们来到了天台上。
天台上也积了薄薄一层雪。当然，这里没有半个人影。至少在这个圣诞夜，我们是首先在这里留下足迹的人。
我们一起走到围栏边，俯视着对面的教堂。
教堂好像整个变成了一盏灯，将周围照得十分明亮，可以看到那些去参加弥撒的人，其中有穿制服的学生，带孩子的父母和成对的男女情侣。
“看，很漂亮吧。”
我偷偷瞟了一眼雾切的侧脸，询问她的感想。然而她的表情还是跟往常一样，呆呆眺望着围栏下面的情景。
“我说，雾切妹妹，我还是非常感谢你的。”
我这样一说，她就把脸转了过来，歪了歪脑袋。
“虽然我们相遇的方式很糟糕，不过我一直觉得幸亏我遇到的那个人是你。该怎么说呢……我一直都在一边当侦探一边上学，但我还是觉得自己这种存在方式很不协调。说实话，我就是很疑惑自己为什么要当侦探。”
"yes."
“这个……我以前都没跟你说过，我小时候失去过一个妹妹。”
雾切无言地迎上我的视线。
“妹妹被绑架之后，就这样被杀害了，这案子一直没有破。是啊，这曾经就是我想当侦探的理由。因为没能保护好妹妹，我觉得很不甘心，所以才立下了当侦探的志向。搞不好那个时候被绑架的会是我，因为妹妹跟我长得很像。这样一想我就越发觉得——”
我说到这里就说不下去了。我把手指搭在围栏上，注视着远处下着雪的天空。
“有的时候，我几乎找不到继续当侦探的理由了。想要帮助别人，想要替别人解决困难，这种想法我当然也有。但是这是不是只是我在自欺欺人呢……我有时会这么想。说到底，我大概只是想洗脱自己的罪孽，所以才通过当侦探这件事来排解情绪的……”
"Ok--"
“但是看到你的时候，我觉得我这种瞻前顾后的想法很蠢。你成为侦探的理由——我不大清楚，但是身为侦探的你，让我觉得非常耀眼。这种一往无前的精神，我很想向你学习。”
“我成为侦探的理由……”
雾切这样低语，跟我一样注视着飘雪。
“你没想过吗？”
"No." He replied without hesitation.
“真是潇洒，你是个天生的侦探。不过……将来有一天，你也许也会像我一样为这个理由而烦恼。希望你那个时候也要保持现在这种纯粹。我想说的就是这些。”
教堂的门开了，手捧蜡烛的圣歌队开始在门外排队，看来弥撒已经结束了。点点烛光像路标一样向着校门延伸。
“对了，我有件东西要给你。”
我从大衣口袋里取出了一个小纸袋，上面贴着丝带封口贴。我把它交给雾切。
"what is this?"
“圣诞礼物。”
“……可以打开吗？”
"Ok."
雾切接过纸袋，拆开丝带封口贴，把里面的东西拿出来。
那是我在购物街偶然见到买下来的，一朵在试管里培育的小小的、美丽的玫瑰。不知为什么，我总觉得这跟她给我留下的印象有某种程度的重叠，所以正好把这当做送给她的礼物。
“这个叫做试管玫瑰。简直跟你一模一样……我要是这么说你会不会生气？”
雾切的眼睛闪闪发亮，她摇了摇头。
“那个……呃……谢谢，很漂亮……”
她的脸微微红了，目不转睛地凝视着玫瑰，看样子她很喜欢这件礼物。雪花沾在了试管上，让那结晶体看起来越发晶莹剔透。
“那个……结姐姐大人。”
"what?"
“我是你死去的妹妹的替身吗？”
雾切的视线穿过试管里的玫瑰仰视着我。
“那、那怎么可能！绝对没有这种事，你就是你。怎么可能会有人能够代替死去的妹妹。”
"Yes, that's good."
“你能理解我吗？”
“我明白的。”雾切这样说道，把试管玫瑰抱在胸前。“只是顺带一提……我也必须向结姐姐大人你道谢。谢谢你在那起事件当中一直相信我。”
“哪有……我没做过什么值得让你感谢的事……”我有些不好意思起来，赶紧否认。
我突然想起了那天晚上的事。
“说起来！那个时候我们约好的事还没做到呢。”我这样说道，把右手伸出来。
“约好的事？”
“你说过真正的握手还是留到一切解决，你我都平安无事的时候再说。还记得吗？”
雾切点点头，向我走近了一步，然后伸出了她的小手，我们冰冷的指尖轻轻交织在了一起。
“请多指教，雾切响子妹妹。”
“——请多指教，结姐姐大人。”
就在这时，我大衣里面的手机震动起来。我拿出来一看，是个没见过的号码。
我向雾切使了个眼色，她点了点头，我按下了通话键。
“喂……？”没有反应。
“喂？”我又说了一声，然后凝神听着话筒里面的声音。
这时，电话线路那头传来了雄壮的音乐声。
音量逐渐大了起来。这首曲子是——瓦格纳的《女武神的飞驰》？
随着音乐声的逐渐增大，不知从哪里传来了响亮的轰鸣声。这声音不是电话那头传来的，而是从下着雪的夜空之中传来的。
黑暗中有红白光闪烁着。伴随着肆无忌惮的噪声，那东西以惊人的速度向这边靠近。那是一架直升机。
表面光滑的灰色飞行物来到了我们的头顶。螺旋桨的旋转所产生的风压把我们的头发吹乱，雾切一手按着裙子，紧紧抓着围栏。
仔细一看，一名男子正岔开双腿站在敞开的机舱口。贴身的西装下摆上下翻动着，漂亮的领带在风中飘飞。最厉害的是，圣诞帽的白色绒球正在他头上跳来跳去。
"Merry Christmas!"
我的手机里突然传出了一个男声。与此同时，飞机上的男子夸张地把拿在左手上的手机高高举起，像是在给我展示一样。
这到底——是怎么回事？
直升飞机一面在空中盘旋，一面向校舍天台靠近。看样子《女武神的飞驰》是直升飞机里面播放的背景音乐，而且从男子右手拿着的小号来看，好像一部分还是现场演奏的。
我目瞪口呆地仰头望着，那名男子手上拿着小号，就这么直接从直升飞机上——跳到了天台上！
男子整理了一下西装的衣襟和领带，冲着直升机打了个手势，于是那架直升机立刻升上天空飞走了。
男子向着我跟雾切悠然走近。Who is he?难道是犯罪受害者救济委员会派来的杀手吗。
我跟雾切彼此依偎着摆出警戒的态势。
Huh?但是这名男子——我好像在哪里见过。大概三十岁过半，容貌野性十足的绅士——
“向你们问好！两位美丽的少女侦探。”
“你难道是……”
“正是！我就是外号'最快激情（Allegro Agitato）'的大侦探，七村彗星。”
I remembered!我们在侦探图书馆给双零级侦探留了便条，他就是其中之一的七村彗星。 DSC编号“900”——编号“9”的双零级相当罕有。
“难道是……'黑之挑战'？”
“正是。”七村从西装内袋里拿出了那个黑色信封。
不出所料，我们果然得到了接近犯罪受害者救济委员会的机会。
不过，没想到令人肃然起敬的双零级侦探会来得这么突然……而且我想都没想过，他出场的方式会这么夸张……
“看来洋馆已经迫不及待要迎接我们的到来了。”我接过黑色信封，跟雾切一起看里面的内容。
this is……
“这起事件够得上召唤双零级的本人，虽然对于你们两位新人可能会成为很凄惨的经历，不过——怎么样，要不要跟我一起去呢？”
我跟雾切互相望了一眼，然后同时点头：“当然！”
敬告侦探
倾听——黑之呐喊
地点——诺曼兹酒店，8000万
凶器——小刀，500万
凶器——手枪（左轮），1500万
凶器——铁锤，300万
凶器——绳索，300万
凶器——汽车，1000万
手法——密室，1亿
手法——消失，1亿
其他现金——10亿
总开销——13亿1600万
以上述开销，召唤以下
Notes:
Notes: