The deep silence cleared through the room, and the breathing of the trio became distinct. Sakurako Sakura, who was sitting on a chair by the window, Jinpei Matsuda, who was leaning against the wall, and Nao, who was standing upright in the center of the room, were in a triangular shape. And after Nao asked that sentence, the center of the solid figure was filled with an eerie aura mixed with a touch of embarrassment and anxiety.

For Nao, asking the phrase "how did her father die" was something she had wanted to do for ten years but had not been able to do. Ever since Saotome Harumi got drunk and made a fuss about the funeral, the cause of her father's death seems to have become a sealed youkai. Although she was not yet four years old when the funeral was held for Haoping, that hideous smile was still firmly engraved in her heart - the impression of her handsome and kind father being called a murderer, this kind of bad memory may not be forgotten by anyone for the rest of their lives. The cause of Saotome Kohei's death has become a hard thorn in her heart.

When Kohei first died, she didn't ask this question, but every time she was frightened by her mother's surging tears or gloomy face, and then somehow she cried too, followed by the birth of Natsu, and the joy of having her sister diluted her urge to know the truth, and then, when Natsu was two years old, her mother Junko left on that rainy day, leaving behind her who was only five years old and Natsu, who could just talk. After her mother left, life with her sister and grandparents became hectic and hectic, and she gradually forgot about it at a young age. Until the day of the sixth grade graduation ceremony...... The arrival of Harumi Saotome reawakened the memories in her heart, etching the lines of devilish handwriting like sulfuric acid.

"Your father is a murderer!"

Nao's increasingly slender eyes stared at Sakurako, who was silent, as if trying to see some clues from the subtle expressions on her face. She firmly believes that there is something strange about Kohei's death, otherwise Harumi Saotome would not have said such things, and her mother and grandmother would not have kept telling her. But at this moment, the almost physical sharp gaze didn't seem to affect Sakura in the slightest, it just tightened the fingers she was holding on to the handle of the chair.

"Why are you asking all this now?" Sakurako said flatly, "It's been ten years since Kohei's death, didn't you already ask about the cause of his death when you were a child?"

"Not yet! a tropical storm or something, how could I believe it!" Nao frowned tightly, "Although I was still young at the time, I didn't check the newspapers of the time when I went to school later. Not only were there no tropical storms at all, but there were no reports of shipwrecks at that time!"

Listening to Nao's slightly excited words, Sakurako and Jinpei's eyes widened. The former was just surprised, while the latter was utterly shocked.

"I remember my mother saying it was a tropical storm and crying for a long time about Hirohei's death. Jinpei took off his sunglasses, and the luster on his pupils was swallowed up by the darkness little by little, "But if what you say is true, then things get weird......"

"Of course it's true!" Nao stared straight at Sakurako, "and in retrospect, I didn't even see my father's body at the time, and I didn't have any of his colleagues or friends at my father's funeral...... Grandmother, since you used to be a police officer, you should know the real cause of your father's death, right? Or ...... Father, he didn't die at all?"

"Nonsense! Kohei, he's dead!" Sakurako's lips trembled violently.

"Then sue me! Father, he ......."

"I don't know. Sakurako interrupted Nao's continued questioning, and let out a sigh of relief, sinking into her chair. She glanced at Nao, who was suddenly silent, and closed her eyes haggardly, "I don't know either...... The events of his death were completely cordoned off, and even I, a former police officer with a little connection, could not find out. It's just that a foreigner who claims to be the boss of Kohei has sent his relics, as well as a large pension. Among the relics were only some of his torn clothes, handbags, and other items that identified him, and he himself was said to have sunk into the sea, so even the body was not found. ”

"Then you believe it?" asked Nao in disbelief, "No body, no reports, just the foreigner's words and some father's belongings?"

"What's the solution if you don't believe me?" Sakurako smiled bitterly, "The foreigner only showed up on one side, and after I found out that there was no tropical storm at the time, I couldn't find anyone with him." No matter how much I checked after that, I didn't have any clues about Haoping and the foreigner...... It's been ten years, and if he hadn't died, how could he have left you and Natsu and not come home? Four years after his whereabouts were unknown, he had already been pronounced dead. ”

"Why ...... that" Nao felt a little dizzy, and the injured area was also aching, and she couldn't help but lean against the wall weakly, "What about my father's place of work? What about the name of the company?

Sakurako shook her head: "Haoping has always been a very independent child, he went to study in the United States alone after graduating from high school, and after returning home after graduation, I didn't ask him too much about his work." I only vaguely remember that he seems to work for a certain company (pany), but what he does is ......"

“…… Pany?" Matsuda Jinhei raised an eyebrow sensitively, "Auntie, it can't be 'that' Pany, right?"

"How is that possible?" Sakurako raised her voice in surprise, "He was only eighteen years old when he went to study abroad, and the personnel selection and training of 'that company' were very strict, and he had no family background and no guide to the company, so it was impossible for him to enter that place." ”

Then his death became very strange. Jinpei flicked a cigarette from the cigarette case and put it in his mouth, but did not light it. As he spoke, the cigarette shook on his lips, "Does Haoping have any close friends?" If you can find it, maybe you will find something." ”

"I was looking for it at the time, but Nao was too young and Natsu was just born, so I couldn't do it. Sakurako sighed, "Haoping has no contact with his classmates or the like, only one child from the US military base has a good relationship with him, and he is a childhood sweetheart who has played with him since he was a child." However, after the child went to study in the United States with Haoping, it seems that he stayed there and did not come back. ”

"Wait, wait......" Nao stopped the conversation between the two and looked at Jinhei in confusion, "What is the 'company' you are talking about, does it have anything to do with my father's whereabouts?"

"You'll have to do some tutoring, Nao. Jin Ping raised the corners of his mouth at her, "For our industry, 'pany' (company)' is the same as 'firm', which is a common name for certain organizations. 'Firm' refers to the FBI, while the CIA, or CIA for short, is referred to as 'corporation'. ”

"C, CIA?!" Nao almost bit her tongue when she heard this name that seemed to only appear in TV dramas, "Father, how could he be ......"

"So it's just speculation, and there's no evidence. The only person who is likely to know what Haoping has done in the United States is his childhood sweetheart. Jinpei shrugged his shoulders and turned to Sakurako, "Aunt Sakurako, is there any news of that person?" or what is the name, what characteristics can be used. If you want to know the truth, you have to start here. ”

"It seems to be called Etves, a blonde American, but I don't know what the last name is. When Haoping was young, he often secretly went to the US military base to play, and it was there that he met, and he was going to study in the United States after graduating from high school, and he was also influenced by him. Sakurako thought back to the past, and a faint smile overflowed from the corners of her lips, "That's a very energetic child, very beautiful, and very polite." It seems that he followed his father to Okinawa because of a job transfer, and has been living near the US military base. Later, his father was going back to China, so he went back to the United States with Haoping, who went to study abroad. ”

"In that case, I'll take Nao back to Okinawa next time I'm on vacation. Jinpei smiled as he slowly walked up to Nao and rubbed her red hair, "Go back and see your former friends, and by the way, investigate the matter of that Eteves." ”

Hearing Jinpei's words, Nao's eyes widened in surprise.

During her time away from Okinawa, she saw the land surrounded by a glass-colored continental shelf in her dreams countless times. Okinawa's sandy beaches, Okinawa's sea water, Okinawa's soba noodles, Okinawa's sea grapes, ...... Just seeing these words inadvertently, she will have a strong sense of intimacy in her heart. As long as she thinks of the time she spent living in Okinawa, and when she thinks of Hiroshi and Rin Heikoba on the other side of the sea, her heart throbs irregularly.

"Don't get too happy, you have to wait until your summer vacation. Jinpei looked at Nao's small animal-like eyes and tapped her head amusedly, "But until then, you have to promise me to stay obediently and not act rashly." Since the accident was so tightly sealed back then, it must not be something that can be faced by one person - especially a curious little girl like you who wants to be a detective. ”

"Who said I wanted to be a detective?" "Nao waved off the hand above his head, squinting his eyes and baring out a mouthful of white teeth, "Since you said that we are a 'police family', how can we do it if we don't be a police officer! Her bright ponytail made a sharp arc in the air, turned around and bowed to Sakurako, who was smiling, and her thin but straight waist bent into a standard ninety degrees, "So, grandmother, how can you be a good policeman, please sue me!"

**

When Nao, who was forced to lie in the hospital bed for an extra day, re-entered the school with her injured arm hanging on, she didn't know that the reports that she and Kudo Shinichi had jointly solved the case of the "choking man" had been overwhelming. Because this case caused a lot of panic in society, Nao, who made the first contribution, did not escape the pursuit of the media like the last Kaihara Festival. Although her name is still not mentioned in the report, the characteristics of the "Oriental Katarina" are described in detail, as well as the detailed process of her sharp kick breaking through the door panel and rescuing the victim. Redhead, Okinawa cavity, karate, shoulder injury...... All the clues pointed to her clearly, and now not only the people Nao was familiar with, but also all the students who had seen or heard that she had provoked Kyogoku Shin at the club orientation party, knew who the name of this "red-haired female pirate of the East" was.

"Ahh Nao scratched Ruhai irritably, tried to ignore the students who were probing their brains outside the classroom door, and lay on the desk with a long sigh, "Even if you forget to tell the Twilight Police Department before leaving, you won't be able to announce it like this......, right?"

"Such a handsome thing, why don't you announce it?" Sakamoto Shumi propped her head and looked at Nao with infinite longing, "Not only did you solve the murder case last time, but even the murderer of the 'choke man' this time was found by you...... Nao, Nao, why don't you just open a detective agency after graduation! Detective, how handsome!"

"You're handsome!" Nao moved his hanging arm awkwardly and rolled his eyes at Shumi, "You might as well try to be watched from the school gate to the school! I can't even go to the toilet quietly, and I'm not here to investigate the case to let people watch...... It's good that school is finally over, but can you safely walk to the social office with this kind of formation?"

As she spoke, Nao's cell phone rang. She sighed as she pulled out her phone and looked at the "Nioh Masaharu" that was dancing on the screen, revealing a rather distorted smile.

"Good afternoon, werewolf mulberry ......"

"Why, how can our red-haired female pirate Sang speak so weakly?"

Nioh's voice on the other end of the phone was full of teasing, and Nao seemed to be able to imagine him leaning against the court, smiling wickedly as he swept the corners of his mouth with his pigtails. She lifted her hanging arm and hung up the schoolbag that had already been packed, handed Shumei a "go" look, then stood up and complained to the young man on the other side of the phone as she walked out the door: "You also saw the news and newspapers? Listen to the noise...... I'm having a hard time right now. ”

"Poof, in that case, fortunately we were sent home that day, and this formation is terrifying just to hear. Nioh's environment was never quiet, and the screams of the girls echoed faintly in the earpiece. But he seemed to be walking towards a quiet place for now, as the girls' voices of regret faded after they sounded. When the environment over there was completely quiet, he spoke up again, "How is it, how does it feel to be a middle school detective?"

"I only solved two cases, how can I be called a detective...... You're surrounded by admirers, aren't you?" Nao laughed as she stepped out of the classroom door, not forgetting to shoot a knife or two at the crowd of onlookers as she spoke. Suddenly, the crowd at the door was like Moses dividing the sea, giving her a straight path.

"It's not all, it's mainly the fans of the tennis club, I'm just incidental. Nioh's voice revealed a deep smile, "What, Miss Detective, do you care?"

"Ah, I'm glad that someone finally understands my pain. Nao strode down the hallway out of the crowd, eager to get out of the place quickly with the shrinking method. She glanced at the eyes around her that were either curious or eager to speak, and raised the corners of her mouth in a good mood, "It's good that your call was made in time, otherwise I really couldn't help it." By the way, what's the matter with me?"

"......," Nioh's voice paused for a moment, and resumed his previous nonchalant tone, "I just want to know if a person who was about to lose blood will die after climbing a tree and climbing over a wall, but it seems that you are still safe." ”

"I'm sorry I didn't hang up. Nao squinted her eyes and grinned, "But even if you don't call, I'll call you later." ”

"Oh, I haven't seen you for a day, I'm so enthusiastic, I'm going to get sunburned!"

"It's okay, I've got four days here to cool you down. Nao glanced at his coat pocket and said to Nioh with a little excitement, "I'm going to Kanagawa this Saturday to meet a very important person...... Do you have time that day?"

"Very ...... Important people...... "Nioh's voice suddenly lowered, and a low laugh from his throat shook Nao's eardrums, "Since you're a very important person, why ask me if I have time, Miss Detective?"

"Of course I'll let you lead the way!" Nao on the other side of the phone said a little strangely, "It's not that you don't know that I'm not familiar with Kanagawa...... What, what's wrong with you?"

"Uh......"

Nioh's soft laughter like a feather came to an abrupt end, and the whole person let out a long exhalation as if the electricity had been cut off. Just as he opened his mouth to say something, a loud roar slipped into his ears from the telephone receiver.

"-Saotome-san!!"

Nao, who had already walked to the shoe cabinet, heard the shout, and together with Shumi, she turned her head to look at the place where the voice came from, only to see a teenager wearing a black tie in the third grade walking towards her heavily, as if he was about to fight with Nao. Nao narrowed his eyes in displeasure, looked at the young man who was getting closer and closer through the gap in his eyelashes, sighed and said to Nioh on the other end of the phone, "Anyway, that's it, if you don't have time, just send me a text message." I have a few more things to do here, so I'll stop here. Practice with good work, werewolf mulberry. Good bye. ”

"Ahh......h

Before Nioh could finish speaking, Nao put down the phone. The moment the communication was cut off, a roar that could almost pierce the eardrum was squeezed out of the earpiece.

"Saotome-san!!I like you, please have a relationship with me!!"

The author has something to say: Wow, yes, yes -

I'm trying to write an emotional drama, don't hit someone in the face!!