"Well, damn," Fujino sighed, thinking for a moment before stepping forward to address the Minasho and Honami sisters. "So, do you two have any plans for what you'll do next?"
"Plans, you say?" Honami and Minasho shook their heads. "We're not sure. We might have to ask the orphanage director for help finding work again."
"The director?" Fujino's brow furrowed slightly at the mention, suddenly remembering that these two were orphans. It's true that kids from orphanages often have a hard time finding jobs, especially since Japan's policy is that you're expected to be independent once you turn eighteen. If that's the case, they probably just finished high school at the orphanage and then dropped out to work. Discrimination based on education is a tough hurdle everywhere. Without connections, they'd likely be stuck with odd jobs. Finding stable, respectable work would be a real challenge.
"The director is a really good man," the Shimogasa sisters explained. "He helped us find Ms. Suou's job, and even this one..."
"Is that so?" Fujino nodded, agreeing that the director sounded like a decent person. However, given their circumstances, they'd likely only find work in the service industry, like being maids before or waitresses now.
Thinking along those lines, Fujino considered it for a moment, then suggested, "Actually, you don't need to bother the director. If you don't mind, you could come work for me."
"Work for Detective Fujino?" The two sisters blinked in unison, curiosity in their eyes. "As detective assistants?"
"Actually, it's for a drink shop downstairs from my place," Fujino explained. "I opened a drink shop, and my sister manages it. But we've never had any helpers. If you don't mind, you could help her with the work."
"Yes, you two sisters would be perfect to help out," Miyano Akemi, standing nearby, nodded, a gentle smile on her face. She was fully on board with Fujino's suggestion. Being orphans... well, she could certainly empathize. Plus, the work at "Snow King Ice City" was indeed piling up, and it was getting too much for just her to handle.
Haibara Ai glanced at Fujino, then at Miyano Akemi. She looked at the Shimogasa sisters, thought for a moment, and then nodded in agreement. To be honest, she saw a bit of herself in these two sisters.
"But..." The sisters hesitated. "We don't have a house or a place to stay in Tokyo."
"Our house is quite big. There's an empty room right across from the detective agency on the second floor," Fujino considered this point and offered, "If you two don't mind, you can stay there."
"That's right, that's right," Miyano Akemi nodded, chiming in. "We have plenty of empty rooms."
"In that case..." The sisters thought it over and decided it sounded good. A smile bloomed on their faces as they bowed politely. "We sisters will be a bother to you."
"No bother at all, it's a win-win," Fujino waved his hand dismissively, then joked, "Of course, since I'm providing a place to stay, the salary won't be ideal. Be prepared for that."
"Fujino-kun..." Miyano Akemi shot Fujino a slightly reproachful look.
"Just kidding," Fujino chuckled, rubbing his neck awkwardly. "But the salary won't be super high, that's true. It'll depend on the sales. After all, it wouldn't be worth it if hiring staff meant losing money."
"It's fine!" The sisters shook their heads, not caring about the salary. "Providing a place to stay and giving us work is already wonderful."
Fujino nodded, quite pleased with the two sisters. If he offered work and a place to stay, and they still made demands, even he couldn't play the philanthropist.
He turned to look at Shimono Shinobu. "Ms. Shinobu, do you have any plans?"
"I stayed here because of Mitsuyuki... Since this hotel isn't his, there's no point in me staying here anymore..." Shimono Shinobu thought for a moment before answering, "I'm planning to leave and try my luck elsewhere... see if I can open my own restaurant."
"Hmm, well, I wish you good luck," Fujino nodded, not really thinking about offering her a job. He was only running a drink shop right now, and he didn't need a chef. Maybe later, if he opened a restaurant, he could hire her as a manager? But that was all for the future.
---
The next morning, the guests at the hotel departed. The Shimogasa sisters packed their bags and followed Fujino's group back to Tokyo. Before leaving, Fujino left his business card, and Miyano Akemi exchanged contact information with Shimono Shinobu, wanting to chat more about drinks.
Shimono Shinobu was actually quite sad about Arimori being arrested. But even if she was upset, she had no reason to blame the detective. After all, Arimori really did commit murder.
Back in Tokyo, at the Fujino residence.
"This will be your room from now on." Fujino took out a key and opened the door opposite the detective agency on the second floor. What greeted their eyes was a dim room, full of dust and some miscellaneous items. Fujino glanced around, chuckling sheepishly. "It's still a bit dusty right now. It's been empty for too long, sorry about that."
"Such a spacious room, just for us two... are you sure it's okay?" Honami and Minasho were both astonished. They had assumed the room provided would just be a simple room, like what they had at the hotel or with Suou Beniko. But to their surprise, the room Fujino offered, though called a 'room,' was clearly an entire apartment!
The two sisters even wondered if they'd have to work for free just to stay there. After all, a room of over one hundred square meters, in this bustling commercial area, would cost a lot to rent even with a discount! Even Mouri Kogoro's floor, which wasn't as big as Fujino's, would cost at least three hundred thousand yen a month, even with favors. A commercial-use room like Fujino's would probably go for over four hundred thousand yen in rent alone! No wonder they thought that way.
"It's fine, it's just an unused room," Fujino didn't mind. He looked back at the room. "Besides, even if it stays empty, there are fixed taxes to pay every year. I figure it's better to have someone live in it. A bit of human life brings good feng shui. But the furniture, cleaning, and decorating this room will be up to you two."
"No... no problem!" The sisters waved their hands repeatedly. For a room like this, they would even be willing to pay, and there was no way they'd bother him with cleaning or furnishing. Just getting to live there for free already moved them deeply.
"There are brooms, mops, and cloths downstairs at Snow King Ice City. You can ask Akemi-nee for them later," Fujino handed them the key. "Well, from now on, this will be your home."
"Okay!" The two took the key, nodding, their hearts feeling warm as if they had finally found a place to belong.
Fujino looked at their happy faces and nodded, feeling a lot better himself. He supposed it was empathy, since they were all orphans. But then, his expression turned a bit strange. This four-story building now housed five people. And the kicker was, all five of them were orphans... The Miyano family's parents were gone, his own parents in this world were gone, and these two sisters grew up in an orphanage. A whole building, and not a single parent among them? That's just wild... Might as well rename this small building 'Seven O'Clock Office Building.'
Just then, Haibara Ai came upstairs from downstairs, glanced at the Shimogasa sisters, and a thought flickered in her eyes. She had no objection to these two sisters moving in. It was like her... if only she could be like these two sisters...
It seems they're settled... That's good.
Shaking off her thoughts, she handed a letter to Fujino. "You have mail."
"Mail for me?" Fujino was surprised, taking the letter with curiosity. He looked at the postmark. Fujino: "..." He had no idea when it arrived.
"Judging by the postmark, it was probably sent five days ago, which means three days before we left," Haibara Ai noticed Fujino's expression and continued, "Considering Japan's postal speed, it should have arrived on the afternoon of the day we left."
"Two days, huh?" Fujino nodded, feeling more at ease. He was increasingly satisfied with Haibara Ai, his "time-telling princess." At least now he didn't have to rack his brain trying to guess the time alone...
Then, he opened the envelope. Inside was a two million yen check and a letter. Fujino unfolded the letter, and its contents appeared before his eyes:
[Hearing of your wisdom, I hope you can spare some time to share dinner.
Address: Tottori Prefecture, Twilight Mansion
Date: November 12th
—Forsaken by God, Phantom's Child]
"Twilight Mansion..." Fujino's eyes narrowed slightly as he read the letter, a faint smile playing on his lips. It seemed this storyline was upon them. He hadn't expected to be invited himself.
"Is it a case?" Haibara Ai looked up at Fujino, noticing the smile on his lips. She figured nothing else could make him look like that besides a huge case fee.
"It's an invitation to a dinner party," Fujino lowered his gaze, pulling the check out. "The commission is roughly two million yen."
"Two million yen just for an invitation to dinner?" Haibara Ai frowned, staring intently at the check, her eyes full of suspicion.
***