10. Progress
"How is Xiaobai?" asked Yingli as Xiaobai looked at Xiao Ai while Xiaobai went to the kitchen.
"It's good, but it's not great. Xiao Wai replied.
"......" looked at Xiao Aizhong suspiciously.
"He always kept things in his heart and couldn't see through them, and although he always had a smile on his face, I knew he was lonely. Xiao Wai replied.
"And myself, why not?" Xiao Ai said to himself after answering.
Perhaps, it's just because both of them are lonely, so she understands Xiaobai's mood very well.
"You can see that you are the same. Ying Li looked at Xiao Ai seriously, and said after a while.
"......" Xiao Ai's eyelids lifted.
"Only the lonely will understand the lonely man. As if to understand Xiao Ai's doubts, Yingli said with a smile.
"Although I don't know what you've experienced that makes you feel lonely, I can see that Xiaobai fills your life. As he spoke, he looked towards the kitchen.
「……」
"This kid hurts my heart. Actually, how can I be a good mother and a good aunt?" As if thinking of something, Yingli lowered his head as if talking to himself.
"If you have a chance, come to my house with Xiaobai for a few days to have fun. Then, Ying Li looked up at Xiao Ai and said.
"Of course, it's not this place, it's the house I'm renting now. As if to add something, Eiri continued.
"Hmm. The two sides stared at each other for an unknown amount of time, and Xiao Ai nodded in agreement.
"Looks like it's back. Then, it seemed that footsteps were heard outside.
"Daddy, hurry up. Then, I heard Xiaolan's voice coming from outside the door.
"What's there to hurry, it's all here. Maori's voice rang out.
"Hurry up, hurry up. Lan's voice.
"Okay, okay, I'll open the door, open the door......" Then, the sound of the door opening sounded.
"I'm back. Looking at the Maori group who came in, Yingli said.
"Dad, what are you still doing standing in front of the door, go over. Then, Ran half-pushed Maori to the table.
"......" Maori tapped the tip of his right index finger on the bridge of his nose, not knowing what to say.
"It's all back. Xiaobai came out of the kitchen with a tray in his hand and a brewed tea on it.
"So, let's get back to business. With the help of Xiaolan and Conan, the tea was passed to the people present one by one, and then, Yingli said.
"Huh?" the Maori group was stunned.
"Have you ever seen this person?" Eiri took out a photo from his satchel and gave it to Maori.
"Looks like I've seen it somewhere. Maori took the picture and looked at it carefully.
"In the beautiful tree. Yingli reminded.
"I remember that. Maori affirmed.
"I remember I was drunk and took a phone call while I was napping in Miyu, and because I couldn't hear clearly from inside, I walked outside, and then the man in this picture walked in from the outside. Maori thought for a moment and said.
"Are you sure?" Eiri looked at Maori and confirmed.
"What, I'm not trustworthy?" Maori said, looking at Eiri.
"Not that, after all, you were drunk. Ying Li said.
"yes, will anyone who sees it remember it so clearly?" Conan said.
"Hmph, detectives won't forget the faces they've seen once...... Although I want to say that. Actually, when I got back to the store after answering the phone, I saw him sitting there. And I sat motionless for half an hour, and then I left the store and heard a mess nearby, some construction site where someone had been killed or something. Maori said with a smug expression, but when he got to the back, he became serious.
"So, do you remember when this person entered the store?" Eiri continued to ask.
"At 9:25, I'm sure. Maori said triumphantly.
"Exactly that?" Eiri and the others looked surprised.
"I read the time when I answered the phone. Xiaobai took a sip of tea while holding a teacup on the side.
"......" Then, everyone present squinted slightly at Maori.
"Hey, what a look is this. Maori cried out in discontent.
"Pyeongtaek is between 9:30 and 10:00, and if Usami enters Mibi at 9:25, then he has an alibi. It seems that he has finally found something favorable to Usami.
"In that case, Usami's alibi is valid. Kuriyama said with a smile.
"But this man's words have to be reliable. Yingli looked at Maori and said.
"What, do you still doubt my words?" Maori said loudly to Eiri on one knee.
"Of course, didn't you drink at the time?" Eiri responded, not to be outdone.
"What?"
"Drink it, it's the same as usual. 」
The two began to argue again.
"I don't want to bother, but have you ever doubted this alibi?" said Xiaobai as Maori and Eiri continued to argue.
"Huh?" Then, the two who stopped arguing, and the people present looked at Xiaobai.
"......," Xiao Bai smiled and looked at Xiao Ai.
"When Uncle Maori goes to the store, the trench coat is often hung up for the proprietress to help you, right?" Seeing that Xiaobai didn't answer and looked at himself, Xiao Ai seemed to understand the meaning and looked at Maori and asked.
"yes. Maori nodded.
"Then, Xiaobai's three possibilities are established. Little lamented.
"Three possibilities?" Eiri and Mori were unsure of what to say.
"I'll tell you about this. Xiaolan said on the side.
"In the afternoon, when I heard Miss Kuriyama talk about the case that her mother accepted to defend herself, Xiaobai mentioned three possibilities. First, Mr. Usami was really drunk, but it was too much of a coincidence. Second, he is exonerating himself. And the third possibility, that is, to exonerate others. Lan continued.
"Now, there's a fourth possibility. Xiaobai took a sip of tea.
"The fourth possibility?" Eiri looked at Xiaobai.
"Complicity. Xiao Ai said to the side.
The ...... fell silent.
"It's less likely, though. I'm more inclined to the third possibility, where the evidence is that the phone time may have been turned over and cannot be used as an alibi and the box of matches. Then, Xiaobai took out a box of matches from his pocket and put it on the table.
"Matches?" Eiri picked up and looked at it.
"Miji?" read as she looked at the words written on it.
"MIMASU?" MORI READ AS SHE LOOKED AT THE WORDS.
"MIMASU?" EIRI GLANCED AT MORI, THEN TURNED THE MATCHBOX UPSIDE DOWN.
Then, the people present seemed to think of something.
The room fell silent again.