“…… Aha, Hanyu-san is drunk, don't pay attention to her! There are still a few rounds to go, and the big losers are about to be revealed, so let's move on...... Continue ......"

Sousuke Araki touched the back of his head in embarrassment and glanced frantically at Atsukai Rito.

In the non-existent team voice channel, the two launched a fierce "self-help discussion".

"She's so bad at drinking, why didn't you remind me before you came......"

"Who knows, my sister usually says that alcohol can damage her precious brain cells and affect the progress of research, so she never drinks alcohol...... It's all to blame for Araki-kun who put the cup indiscriminately......"

"Is it any use talking about this now, stop her before she continues to go crazy...... Hello is the CEO and CFO of our company......"

"Hey, it's time to get off work, no matter how long the title is, it's useless, your Excellency will ask for more blessings."

On the other hand, Kohei Higashino, who has drawn clowns several times in a row, has become the "big loser" of this round of the game.

"Uh-aa-aa

Higashino slammed the clown card that had been with him all night on the table.

What awaits him will be a cruel fate.

"Boom."

"Really, is it going to be this point?"

Higashino Kohei swallowed his saliva and looked at the ten hero cups lined up in front of him.

Sousuke Araki and Ryoma are happily adding sake, beer, energy drinks, and kidney drinks to it......

The ultimate punishment, [Spiral Ascension Alcohol Package].

At the same time, Ryoma's phone rang before the second one.

"I'm drinking with my friends...... What the?!!! ”

Just when Higashino Kohei was mentally ready to "accept the punishment", Ryoma hurriedly took out the remote control and turned on the TV in the box.

“…… Breaking NewS, an apartment in Shinjuku, suddenly exploded violently and caused a fire......"

On the TV screen, marked "Urgent News," is a small apartment building with smoke and flickering fires.

"At the moment the fire has spread to the apartment next door, and the fire brigade and ambulance are carrying out rescue work on the scene...... We will continue to pay attention to further developments...... This is the live report brought to you by NHK International Channel reporter Chado Nord. ”

A blonde, blue-eyed, ponytail-tied foreign journalist is reporting from outside the police cordon in front of his apartment.

Behind him, several fire trucks and ambulances were engaged in intense rescue work.

"Hey, Hey, ......"

Looking at the inexplicably familiar apartment on the screen, a chill suddenly surged up Sosuke Araki's back, making him numb all over.

"Kohei !!!"

When Ryoma's shout sounded two days ago, Higashino Kohei had already rushed out of the box without saying a word.

……

Somewhere in Shinjuku.

In late July, Tokyo is already in the heat of summer, and it is pouring rain with thunder from time to time.

The old but modest apartment building has turned dark and emitting hot smoke after the fire has been extinguished.

A number of police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks are parked in the parking lot below the apartment building.

The evacuated people and the surrounding residents gathered outside the safety line, watching the scene of the fire and talking about it.

"Boom, boom, boom......"

A black-and-white locomotive, with an angry roar, broke through the rain curtain, cut through the cordon, and stopped downstairs with a screeching sound of brakes.

“…… This gentleman, this is the scene of the fire...... You can't go in ......."

Several staff members wearing reflective vests are placing no-entry seals at the top of the staircase.

“…… Your call is temporarily unreachable......"

Getting out of the car was a man drenched in torrential rain, and the phone in his hand was still in a hands-free state.

"Reiko ......"

Ignoring the resistance of the three men, he rushed headlong into the blackened staircase, where the smoke had not yet cleared.

“…… Reiko!! ”

Shouting someone's name, he sprinted upstairs along the same route he would never forget no matter how drunk he was.

It was Higashino Kohei who hurried back after seeing the news and calling Reiko Shirasui no one answered.

Stepping over the blackened stairs and corridors, Higashino made his way to his door.

The iron door, which was usually quite strong, was lying weakly on the outside of the corridor at the moment.

The surrounding walls, centered on this apartment, appear to be arc-like cracks that appear to have exploded strongly from within.

"Reiko!! Answer me!!! Where are you ......"

Higashino Yukihei rushed into the room without stopping.

"Kohei, from today on, this is our home."

Looking at the strange and familiar "home" in front of him, no matter how many injuries he had, he could heal as long as he returned here, he was slightly stunned.

"Well, even though it's just a temporary lot before saving enough for a down payment, you have to clean it up......"

This apartment, which the two of them carefully maintain and water with love on weekdays, has completely turned into a hellish charred place at this moment.

"Xinghei~ Why do you never smile, you have to learn to smile more, you see that the neighbors are frightened when you come to deliver the moving gift."

The smell of coke is mixed with the smell of burnt paste and the large number of water droplets left over after extinguishing the fire......

The precious and familiar things in memory have become shattered, blurry, and unrecognizable.

"Reiko...... Answer me...... Where are you? ”

Kohei Higashino didn't miss any corner and ran back and forth in the cramped two-bedroom room frantically, not finding the shadow in his heart.

“…… Not here...... Good...... Great......"

There was no figure in the room, and Higashino Kohei looked relieved and ran out of the door again.

"Sir, please calm down...... The post-fire accident investigation and site clean-up are currently underway, so you can't come in for a while......"

In the corridor, the three firefighters who followed him saw Kohei Higashino and immediately stepped forward to surround him, intending to take him downstairs.

"Get out of the way, Lao Tzu is not free now......"

"Uhh......h

"Oh ......"

"Uh-huh......"

As soon as the hands of several people grabbed the crazy Kohei Higashino, they felt a sharp pain between their legs, and then they fell to the ground weakly in a certain place.

Higashino Yuki's face was as dark as water, like a wounded lone wolf, and he ran quickly downstairs.

"Kohei ......"

A tall figure blocked him outside the door on the first floor.

"Calm down!!"

The man skillfully slapped away the whip between his legs, pressed his shoulders with both hands, and slammed him against the wall.

It was Sosuke Araki, who came after him, also soaking wet.

Not far away, Ryoma was standing in the rainstorm with a serious expression, asking several police officers about something.