"You're overthinking," Hayashi Shuichi laughed. "Yukiko and I aren't a couple. Mrs. Fujimine wouldn't say that. If anything, they just misunderstood."
Eri gritted her teeth. "What did that curly-haired fox tell her parents to make them think that?"
"Enough," Hayashi Shuichi cut her off. "It's late. Let's clean up, then I'll carry you home."
"Huh? Onii-chan's taking Eri-nee home?" Reiko protested. "Her leg's fine. Why bother?"
"Who says I'm fine?" Eri leaned on the counter, tried to stand, and fell back. "See? I can't even stand!"
"You were fine eavesdropping on Yukiko earlier!" Reiko exposed her. "I saw you pretending to pass by, walking back and forth behind Onii-chan."
"I saw that too…" Mouri Kogoro started, but Eri's glare silenced him. "Must've been my mistake. Eri's been at the counter all night, haha."
"See?" Eri smirked triumphantly. "My leg's not healed. Shuichi has to take me home."
"Kogoro-niisan, you…" Reiko glared, fuming.
Hayashi Shuichi chuckled, pinching her cheek. "Don't be mad—your face is puffing up like a bun! Eri's place isn't far. I'll be quick. Go upstairs with Wangcai and sleep early. We've got the amusement park tomorrow."
"Okay," Reiko nodded obediently.
As Hayashi Shuichi cleaned the kitchen, Reiko shot Eri a disdainful face, mouthing "liar" before running off.
"Little brat!" Eri, furious, wanted to chase her but feared he'd notice, so she pounded the table instead.
After tidying the izakaya, Hayashi Shuichi carried Eri home. Out of sight from the shop, she squirmed to get down.
Setting her down, Eri said sheepishly, "Sorry, my leg's actually…"
"I know you've been fine," he said, exasperated. "You think I didn't notice what Reiko pointed out?"
"Then why carry me?" Eri asked, eyes sparkling.
"It's almost midnight. I can't let you walk home alone," he said. "Hurry up, I'm exhausted and want a bath."
"Tch, can't you say something nicer?" Eri pouted, following him.
Sunday morning, Hayashi Shuichi was woken by knocking. Checking the clock, it was just past 7 a.m.
Yawning, he saw Reiko, hugging a panda plushie, shuffling toward the door.
"I'll get it," he said. "Go back to sleep."
Reiko mumbled, "Onii-chan, aren't we going to the amusement park?"
"It's only 7," he said. "Three hours until we meet. Sleep more, or you won't grow tall."
"Goodnight, Onii-chan."
As Reiko returned to her room, Hayashi Shuichi opened the door, expecting Kogoro, likely early again. Instead, it was Orisaka Midori, the delinquent from the flower shop, in sportswear, looking anxious.
"Midori? Why're you here?"
"Sorry, Senpai," Midori said. "The flower shop was burgled last night. I heard from the police you're good at investigations. Can you check it out?"
She was an acquaintance, so he couldn't refuse. Changing quickly, he noticed Wangcai awake, thinking it was walk time. Sighing, he leashed the dog and followed Midori to the shop.
"Any cash stolen?" he asked.
"No money taken," Midori replied. "But the flowers were all smashed."
"Smashed flowers?" Hayashi Shuichi frowned. "Thieves don't do that. Did your mom upset someone? Revenge, maybe?"
"That's what I think," Midori said, worried. "They only smashed flowers this time. What if they hurt Mom next?"
That's why she needs my help. He glanced at her. "Last time at the shop, you mentioned your mom was a delinquent in her youth?"
"Yeah, over a decade ago," Midori explained. "Mom became a delinquent in high school, met Dad then. She got pregnant with me, dropped out, and planned to marry after I was born. But a month before, Dad died in a street racing accident."
"After that, she cut ties with her old delinquent friends, took over my grandparents' flower shop, and raised me alone."
"A grudge from ten years ago wouldn't just result in smashed flowers," Hayashi Shuichi mused. "Has your mom clashed with anyone recently? Like a customer dispute or delivering the wrong flowers?"
"No," Midori said after thinking. "Mom's short-tempered but patient with customers. She's helped with flowers since childhood, knows their meanings, and never makes mistakes."
They reached the flower shop on the commercial street. Two officers were questioning Midori's mother about losses, with a crowd of onlookers.
The officers, izakaya regulars, greeted Hayashi Shuichi. After pleasantries, he inspected the scene.
The flowers on the shop's front racks were ruined—plants and broken pots tossed aside, soil dumped in piles. Inside, near the entrance, flowers were uprooted, pots discarded, and soil heaped separately…
(End of Chapter)
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