Chapter 115:Should I Call You Akikawa or the Criminal?

"Wow, that's shocking! Sonoko, Sera, look—among all the works at this film festival, the one with the highest media rating is The Sound of Silence by Ms. Soma."

At the restaurant on the third floor of the Harbour Royal Court Hotel, Mouri Ran's surprised voice echoed.

"That's ridiculous! Isn't she a drug addict? How can someone like her make an award-winning movie?"

Suzuki Sonoko grabbed Mouri Ran's phone and looked at it, her eyes widening immediately.

"Sonoko, let me clarify that morphine isn't considered a drug in Japan—it's an anesthetic."

Sera Masumi quietly added from the side.

"Either way, it's not something good! I can't believe people addicted to those things can create great works!"

Suzuki Sonoko voiced her disbelief.

"Uh... that doesn't seem to have anything to do with whether you can create good works or not..."

Conan, who had just taken a bite of Western-style scrambled eggs, mumbled.

"Stephen King had a history of drug and alcohol abuse in his early years."

"Stephen King? Who's that?"

Suzuki Sonoko looked blankly at Conan upon hearing this.

"...The author of The Shawshank Redemption and The Shining," he clarified.

"Oh! Now I get it!" Sonoko suddenly realized. "That said, I'm kind of curious about Ms. Soma's movie now... Sera, Ran-chan, and Conan, do you want to watch it?"

"But aren't Ms. Soma's and others' screening rooms and exhibition halls out of service? After all, a murder just happened..." Conan pointed out.

"Oh, that's just one phone call away," Sonoko said confidently, patting her chest with a smug expression.

"We already reserved seats this morning to watch Sakura Rain, directed by Tanaka. After that, I'll call them to arrange a private screening and book the theater for us!"

"Wow, as expected of Sonoko. What incredible ticketing power!" Sera Masumi remarked in awe.

"Speaking of which, why don't we buy some rice balls to take with us? Today's the first day the film festival is open to visitors—there'll definitely be a crowd!"

"Ran-chan, you have a point. It'll also save us time to watch more movies," Sonoko agreed.

As the girls chatted, they finished their breakfast.

The Harbour Royal Court Hotel offers a breakfast buffet from 5:00 to 10:30 AM every morning, and the entry time for the film festival exhibition area starts at 8:30 AM.

Since the exhibition area is only 500 meters from the hotel entrance, Mouri Ran and the others leisurely finished their breakfast by 8:20.

The three girls and one elementary school student picked up their trays, bowls, and chopsticks, preparing to return the utensils to the hotel restaurant.

But as Suzuki Sonoko turned around, her eyes suddenly lit up.

She spotted a familiar figure.

"Mr. Akikawa!"

Akikawa Kyousuke and Itakura Misaki, who were also dining, looked up.

"Miss Suzuki, how are you?"

Recognizing Sonoko, Akikawa Kyousuke greeted her politely.

"We're sitting so close, and I didn't even notice!"

"Maybe it's because Miss Suzuki was too absorbed in the conversation," Akikawa Kyousuke replied with a smile.

"Well then, Mr. Akikawa, would you like to join us for a walk today?"

Suzuki Sonoko warmly invited him.

Itakura Misaki, who had just taken a sip of milk, froze upon hearing this.

She recalled Okino Yoko's eyes from yesterday and quickly intended to decline.

However, before she could say anything, Akikawa Kyousuke spoke first:

"Sorry, I'll be busy greeting directors and screenwriters today. I won't have time to watch any movies..."

"Oh, I see. That's such a shame. Next time, then... hehe!"

Suzuki Sonoko waved to Akikawa Kyousuke while holding her tray with one hand.

But because the cup on her tray suddenly tipped over, she nearly lost her balance.

Fortunately, Sera Masumi reacted quickly, using her knee to firmly catch the falling cup.

'As expected, this cool detective is incredibly skilled...'

Akikawa Kyousuke thought to himself.

He hadn't eaten anything that morning, only drinking a bit of water.

After Itakura Misaki finished her breakfast, the two prepared to leave for the film festival's exhibition area.

Before leaving, Akikawa Kyousuke briefly returned to his room.

When he was ready and entered the film festival exhibition area with Itakura Misaki, it was already 9:30 AM.

Perhaps because the exhibition area hadn't been open to tourists for the past two days, the shooting incident from two days ago hadn't dampened the tourists' enthusiasm.

The venue was packed with visitors, comparable to a theme park.

Akikawa Kyousuke noticed that Itakura Misaki seemed a bit distracted since they entered the venue.

And he knew exactly what she was thinking.

"If Miss Itakura wants to see Miss Yoko, then go ahead," Akikawa Kyousuke said.

"No, no, no! That would be far too incompetent as an agent!"

Although Itakura Misaki said this, her expression was conflicted.

"I'll be chatting with Director Hota later. There's nothing much for Miss Itakura to do, so there's no need for you to stay."

"Uh... are you sure that's okay?"

Itakura Misaki asked hesitantly.

"It's fine."

"Uh... then... then I'll go. If you need anything, call me—I'll definitely answer!"

Itakura Misaki said to Akikawa Kyousuke before heading off.

After parting ways with his agent, Akikawa Kyousuke went alone to Hota Yoshitoki's exhibition room.

There, he met the director with the expressionless face he had encountered just two days ago.

After waiting for Hota Yoshitoki to have some free time, Akikawa Kyousuke chatted with him for a while before leaving the personal exhibition room.

As he walked through the film exhibition area, Akikawa Kyousuke recalled his meeting with Toda Kyouji yesterday.

"Yesterday, before I left, he confirmed if I would continue participating in the subsequent film festivals. When he asked, his pupils dilated.

Additionally, Toda Kyouji's eyebrows and the corners of his lips were slightly raised.

All of this suggests that he was genuinely curious about my answer.

If you're not very curious and are just making casual conversation, your microexpressions would be entirely different.

I stayed at the hotel during the opening ceremony and the night of the murder.

Whether I went home yesterday also depends on whether I attend the film festival today.

As a criminal investigator from the Third Division, it's not difficult for him to get information about the residents of the hotel where the murder occurred.

Assuming he asked me these questions with that information in mind, his purpose was to confirm whether I'd go home and determine my future itinerary.

And I said I'd come today to continue participating in the film exhibition. I believe Officer Toda won't miss this opportunity.

Also, now I'm still in a state of being 'alone'—something he must have worked hard to achieve."

Akikawa Kyousuke pondered deeply.

This was a test.

If Toda Kyouji harbored ill intentions toward him, he wouldn't let this opportunity slip by.

The outcome of this test would also determine Akikawa Kyousuke's future attitude toward Toda Kyouji.

Just as Akikawa Kyousuke was walking toward the next exhibition hall, he suddenly felt someone tap him on the shoulder.

'As expected, what an eyesore.'

Akikawa Kyousuke thought and turned around.

Sure enough, he saw Toda Kyouji, dressed in a suit, his scarred right eye making him look sinister. He was smiling at him.

"Hey, what a coincidence."

"Should I call you Akikawa-kun or the criminal?"

(End of Chapter)