Current life and flashbacks I

In the cozy living room of Shinro Suzuki's home, ten-year-old Shinichi was deeply engrossed in the latest "Need For Speed" racing game, his fingers expertly maneuvering the controls. The digital car he was commanding, the KiShin Alpha 01, roared through the virtual streets, evading the relentless pursuit of police cars.

"Vroom! Vroom!" echoed the sounds from the game as Shinichi deftly navigated the streets, the thrill of the chase palpable in the air.

"Oh no! You're about to get caught!" exclaimed Misaka, Shinichi's three-year-old sister, her eyes wide with excitement as she watched from behind.

Unperturbed, Shinichi replied with a confident snort, "Hmph. I'm driving the Alpha 01. They're too slow to catch me!" His hands were a blur as he expertly steered the car to safety.

The game announced his victory as he crossed the finish line, eliciting cheers from Misaka. "Yay! Big brother won! Yay!" she shouted, jumping excitedly on the sofa.

Shinichi smiled softly and gently ruffled her hair. "Don't jump too much; you might get hurt," he cautioned.

Misaka swatted his hand away, feigning indignation. "You're messing up my hair!"

"You must not love your brother much if you act like that," Shinichi teased, a playful glint in his eyes.

"I love you, but I love mom and dad more. Bleh!" Misaka retorted with a childlike innocence, sticking out her tongue before she hopped off the sofa and scampered out of the living room with her toy car in tow.

Shinichi watched her leave with a fond smile. It had been two years since he discovered that their father, affectionately known as Shin, was not just any parent but a magnate who owned KiShin, a leading name in the video game industry.

Shinichi discovered that his father was the mastermind behind the company responsible for the popular and innovative video games he and his friends adored. This revelation came unexpectedly two years prior, during a seemingly ordinary day at his elementary school.

Two Years Ago:

As Shinichi strolled towards his classroom, the murmur of his classmates caught his attention. He paused, his curiosity piqued by the snippets of conversation that floated his way.

"Really? Shinichi's dad owns KiShin!?" one of his classmates, a girl of no particular distinction, voiced in astonishment.

"No way, right? How could someone dressed so modestly have a father who's incredibly wealthy?" a boy, adorned with a flashy gold necklace and sporting a New York cap—a clear sign of affluence—expressed his skepticism.

"I'm with Kei-chan on this. If his family were really wealthy, why would he wear such plain shoes and carry a worn-out bag?" chimed in a girl, known for her elegant attire, in agreement with the skeptical boy.

Shinichi, hidden from view, absorbed their words in silence.

Then Arnold's voice cut through the speculation. Arnold, a close friend of Shinichi and an ardent admirer of Shinro Suzuki, spoke with conviction, "It's true! I swear! I've seen it with my own eyes. Plus, with the poster of Shinro I have in my room, there's no way I could mistake him!"

Shinichi listened, stunned, as Arnold passionately defended the truth. Arnold's unwavering belief in his father filled Shinichi with a mixture of pride and astonishment.

"Maybe Shinichi's dad just looks similar to KiShin's wealthy owner," another classmate suggested, skepticism clear in his tone.

Shinichi remained silent, hidden, as the voices and theories swirled around him, the reality of his father's identity dawning on him in the most unexpected of settings.

Arnold, visibly confused by the accusation, responded, "Arnold, you might be mistaken. Maybe your perspective as a foreigner affects your ability to distinguish Japanese faces?"

"Whoa, that's a low blow, Arnold!" came a retort from the crowd.

Arnold, taken aback, quickly clarified, "No way! I'm not clueless. Plus, my idol Shinro has a distinctive and attractive appearance. He's not just anyone!"

This sparked a reaction from some classmates, "Are you implying that we Japanese aren't as good-looking as your idol Shinro?"

Arnold, initially nodding, caught himself and corrected, "Absolutely not. Everyone has their own unique appeal regardless of nationality."

"But you just nodded, as if you agreed we all look alike except for your idol, before you changed your stance!"

"You're wrong. I didn't nod. You must be imagining things."

Shinichi, overhearing the heated exchange, remained hidden, absorbing every word.

Simultaneously, he noticed his friends Satoshi, Ryo, and Takeshi joining the conversation about his father.

"Could it really have been someone who just resembles him?" pondered one classmate.

"But then, how do you explain the coincidence of the names? Shinichi's last name is Suzuki, and his dad is named Shinro. He has to be the famous Shinro Suzuki!" Arnold argued, with nods of agreement from Ryo, Satoshi, and Takeshi.

"It might just be a coincidence, though. 'Suzuki' is a common surname here, and there are quite a few Shinros around," another classmate speculated.

At this, Arnold and his friends exchanged thoughtful looks, considering the validity of the point made.

"Perhaps Ryo, Satoshi, Takeshi, and I need to look into this further," Arnold concluded, realizing they needed more information to confirm whether Shinichi's dad was indeed the owner of KiShin, his idol.

Several classmates eagerly volunteered to join the investigation, their hands shooting up in enthusiasm. "Hey, can I help with your investigation?"

"Count me in, too!" another chimed in, followed by several others expressing their desire to participate.

However, Arnold, sensing the growing interest, tempered the excitement with caution. "If too many of us suddenly show up at Shinichi's place, it might look suspicious," he reasoned, suggesting a more discreet approach.

Shinichi, silently observing from the sidelines, took note of the shift in atmosphere as he finally made his way into the classroom. The room quieted down somewhat as he found his seat, an indication that the topic of their whispered discussions had not gone unnoticed by him.

Despite knowing his classmates' tendency for arrogance due to their affluent backgrounds, Shinichi sensed a change in their demeanor towards him over the past few days. It wasn't until he overheard their speculations about his family that the pieces fell into place.

Present Day

Reflecting on those events from two years ago, Shinichi couldn't help but shake his head. The memory still lingered, marked by the curiosity and ensuing distance it created among his peers. His friends' keen interest in investigating his father had inadvertently led to a reluctance on his part to invite them over as he once might have. Consequently, the visits that had been commonplace among friends became a rarity, changing the dynamics of their relationships.