"Actually, I'd only heard about her, too."
Sonoko shook her head and continued, "Her name is Aoyama Somoko. She transferred here this year and is now a member of the Kendo Club. She's really popular with the guys... I can't believe she's from the same kendo dojo as you, Fujino-senpai."
Fujino: "..."
You even know she's a new transfer student this year?
And you say you don't know her...
Typical Sonoko.
The reputation of Teitan High's intelligence network manager isn't just for show, I guess.
"But what did she want to talk to Fujino-senpai about?"
Ran looked confused then. "I thought I heard her say she wanted to ask Fujino-senpai for a favor or something just now..."
"And after school, too..."
Sonoko suddenly noticed something and looked suspicious. "Could it be that she's planning to confess to Fujino-senpai?"
"Ahem!"
Fujino cleared his throat, cutting off the two lovesick girls' baseless speculation. "That's completely ridiculous! What she wants to ask me about is probably something related to the Kendo Club."
"I think so too."
Ran nodded in agreement. "If she really wanted to confess to Fujino-senpai, she wouldn't be so direct about it. She'd probably use a love letter or pick a day at the kendo dojo. She definitely wouldn't be so obvious about it."
Fujino agreed with Ran's point.
But how did Ran know so much about this sort of thing?
Changing his thoughts, Fujino started pondering the earlier encounter again.
Aoyama Somoko. His first impression of that name wasn't great.
Combined with the series of "Aoyama" related things.
It immediately reminded him of the man who was the root of all evil in this world, the starting point of all sin.
However, what he was more interested in was the request she mentioned.
From the way she looked, it seemed like a legitimate request, not some kind of 'after-school confession under the setting sun by a junior.'
He just wondered how much the commission would be.
...
After school.
Fujino, carrying his bag, arrived at the Teitan High Kendo Club room.
Pushing open the door, his eyes fell upon a large pile of protective gear stacked in a corner, many wooden swords, and a long bench placed in the middle of the room.
A girl in her school uniform with long hair tied back in a ponytail sat on the bench, reading a book.
Fujino narrowed his eyes slightly and couldn't resist peeking.
It was a script for a historical drama...
"Ahem."
Aoyama Somoko coughed lightly, also noticing Fujino peeking.
But she didn't pay it any mind.
Standing up, she smoothed out her skirt, then politely greeted him, "Fujino-senpai."
"You must be... Aoyama Somoko-senpai?"
Fujino pulled his gaze back, was silent for a moment, then looked at Aoyama Somoko.
Aoyama Somoko wore her school uniform, her long black hair tied in a single ponytail with a red hair tie, with two strands of long hair falling past her shoulders on either side of her face. Her fair skin and refined, cool expression gave her the feeling of a traditional samurai girl.
"Yes, Fujino-senpai, you finally remembered..."
Seemingly satisfied with his recognition, Aoyama Somoko's expression remained calm. She put the book back into her bag and got straight to the point. "Actually, my request this time is to invite you, Fujino-senpai, to join our Kendo Club."
"Invite me to join the Kendo Club?"
Hearing that, Fujino glanced around the room.
If this were a classic plot, the Kendo Club would definitely be at risk of being disbanded due to too few members.
But he had heard about the Kendo Club. While their results weren't great, it wasn't bad enough to be disbanded.
Thinking this, Fujino still asked, "Is it because you don't have enough members and you're just using me to fill the numbers?"
"If it were just about filling numbers, I wouldn't trouble you, Fujino-senpai."
Aoyama Somoko shook her head, her expression looking quite serious. "Actually, the reason I'm asking you, Senpai, to join the Kendo Club is because of the previous captain."
"Your previous captain..."
Fujino sensed a key point. "Did something happen to him?"
"Nothing happened. He just got hit and killed by a truck that ran a red light, that's all."
Aoyama Somoko propped her chin on her hand and replied calmly.
Listening to the girl in front of him say such an unserious thing in a serious tone, Fujino couldn't help but feel speechless.
What do you mean "nothing happened, he just got hit and killed"?
Isn't that something?
Well, then again, this is Tokyo, a city bathed in the Beika Town aura.
In this crime-ridden city bursting with martial spirit, people dying seems to be as common as drinking cold water. Hitting and killing a couple of people apparently isn't a big deal at all.
There are even bystanders who would immediately step forward to play along.
"But even if the captain died, shouldn't you be able to handle things by yourself?"
Fujino thought Aoyama Somoko's skill level was pretty good.
As members of the same Konoha Kendo Dojo, he hadn't paid too much attention to her.
But purely in terms of skill, she was definitely an elite.
After all, she was a 'newcomer' who could advance alongside him.
"Under normal circumstances, yes. If it were a regular match, me serving as captain would be completely sufficient."
Aoyama Somoko's expression suddenly turned grim. "But the one participating in the upcoming competition is that monster from Kansai... the fierce beast Okita Souji."
"Okita Souji?"
Fujino was startled at the name and couldn't help but become serious.
Okita Souji seemed to be a character from Aoyama-sensei's other works.
He's making a guest appearance, even in Conan.
Just like Kaitou Kid.
Similar to Kaitou Kid, that "Blue Man" is also a freak (a person at a freakishly high level).
Although he doesn't have the level of power he originally did.
Even if he's significantly weakened, his combat power with a sword could reach A+.
He's certainly a formidable opponent.
If it were just Aoyama Somoko's skill level, she'd likely get thrashed.
No, it's probably fair to say that any high school student would get thrashed by him.
"See, as I expected, Fujino-senpai, you've heard of him too..."
Aoyama Somoko wasn't surprised. After all, that monster Okita Souji was a famous figure in the kendo world.
However, compared to him, she actually thought her 'unorthodox' senior, who didn't fight by the rules, might have an even more prominent reputation.
Being notorious is still a kind of fame, right? Who says you have to fight fairly when you're using a sword?
Although they hadn't faced each other before, she believed her senior definitely had the ability to fight Okita.
She was even a little curious to see what kind of match would unfold when that monster Okita faced Fujino-senpai.
"Hmm... he's quite a tough character."
Fujino nodded thoughtfully.
He was actually quite curious himself, just how far he could go if he fought against Okita Souji.
After all, with his full power unleashed now, he seemed to have already surpassed A-level.
Perhaps he could use Okita Souji as a whetstone...
With that thought, Fujino silently nodded, having understood Aoyama Somoko's intention. "In that case, I understand now. Your request must be for me to become the captain and lead Teitan High to defeat that guy Okita..."
Aoyama Somoko quietly nodded, confirming Fujino's guess.
"So, what about the commission fee?"
Fujino looked at Somoko and asked, "After all, this is a formal request. If there's no commission fee..."
"If we win the match, 75% of the prize money from both the school and the competition will go to you, Fujino-senpai."
Aoyama Somoko had already thought of a plan for the commission fee and immediately offered 75% of the competition prize money as compensation.
Before talking to him, she had already discussed this with the club members. Even though she was now the captain and Kendo Club manager, some things still needed to be talked about.
After she suggested it, the Kendo Club collectively approved the idea.
The reason it went so smoothly was because everyone wanted to see who would win between the 'Senior' from Konoha Kendo Dojo and the Kansai beast, Okita Souji.
Fujino thought for a moment, then agreed to the request. "In that case, I'll take on this request. Somoko-senpai, remember to give me a call before the match."
There is prize money in kendo competitions. The school gives some, the organizers give some, and Suwa Yuuji might give some too. Taking 75% should still be over one million Japanese Yen.
But the money wasn't really the point. For him right now, it was just a number.
The main thing was, he wanted to cross swords with Okita Souji.
"Ding-a-ling!"
Just as he was leaving the Kendo Club room, his phone suddenly rang in his pocket.
The latest novel is released first on 69...!!
Fujino took out his phone and saw a message from Haibara Ai:
Haibara Ai: [You're not home yet, did something happen?]
Fujino looked at the message, thought for a moment, and replied:
[No.]
[Just took on a request from a junior, but it's something for next month. Do you need me to bring anything back?]
Haibara Ai quickly replied: [I mentioned that the matsutake mushrooms you made for lunch today were delicious, and the kids started asking to come over and eat at our place. They've already come back with me now... *无奈.jpg (helpless.jpg)*]
"A bunch of little foodies... Though I think I did say they could come over and eat last time..."
Fujino mumbled to himself, then quickly typed: [Got it. I'll buy some seasonings on the way back and start cooking.]
Haibara Ai: [*Panda: Thanks.jpg*]
...
As the sun set.
Fujino bought some seasonings and just as he arrived at his doorstep, he heard a noisy commotion coming from inside.
Pushing open the door, he saw the Detective Boys gathered around the coffee table, curiously looking at something.
He walked over and saw the children gathered around a turtle...
Okay, it was the turtle he had caught fishing last time.
Haibara Ai had been taking care of it ever since.
Well, in a way, a turtle is an animal too.
"What a cute turtle!"
Ayumi looked curiously at the turtle on the table, looking like a cute little girl.
"It looks like a green sea turtle..."
Mitsuhiko examined the sea turtle in front of him, then turned to Haibara Ai and asked with a smile, "Is this your pet, Haibara-san?"
Haibara Ai nodded. "Yeah, Fujino caught it a while ago when he was fishing by the lake and river. He brought it back for me as a pet."
Mitsuhiko's expression was strange. "You can catch a sea turtle while fishing in a river?"
"Yeah, he really did catch it by the river."
Conan nodded, hesitating for a moment. "I saw it myself. Fujino was fishing for ages and除了 fish, he caught a whole bunch of tires, yen coins, boots, and a sea turtle..."
"Boots, and tires..."
Mitsuhiko was also speechless. "Can you actually catch things like that in real life?"
"Yeah, I used to think that only happened in cartoons."
Conan gave him a deadpan look. "Until that guy actually caught them..."
"My mom won't let me have a pet... She says if I take care of one now, it'll die quickly."
Ayumi sighed, then turned to Haibara Ai and asked, "By the way, Haibara-san, what's this turtle's name?"
Haibara Ai: "Hmm..."
To be honest, that question was a bit difficult for Ai.
While she had been taking care of the turtle, she hadn't actually named it.
"You're all here."
Fujino walked over, greeted them, and conveniently helped break the awkwardness. "By the way, do you all like animals? I have a bamboo rat in my room..."
"Bamboo rat?"
The attention of the little ones was immediately diverted.
Haibara Ai breathed a sigh of relief, and the countless turtle names that had flashed through her mind vanished.
"Is a bamboo rat a kind of rat?"
"Can you eat it?"
"It's a large rodent from China. I saw one at a pet store before."
"Is it cute?"
"It's kind of cute."
"By the way, what's its name?"
"Hichiyo."
"That's a weird name..."
The little ones happily skipped off to see the bamboo rat. Taking advantage of this time, Fujino returned to the living room with Haibara Ai and processed and cooked the matsutake mushrooms. Afterward, he went back to his room and called out to the little ones who were still playing with the bamboo rat, "Alright, time to eat!"
"It's ready already?!"
"I want to try Fujino-oniichan's cooking too."
The little ones put the bamboo rat back in its cage and excitedly left.
Fujino walked over and looked at the bamboo rat that had survived surgery a while back.
He saw the bamboo rat lying weakly in the sawdust in its cage, tears seemingly welling up in its eyes: [*I, the little rat, feel like I'm going to die again.*]
"Yep, Hichiyo-senpai is wilting."
Fujino chuckled lightly and shook his head, turning back to the living room.
The little ones were already gathered around the table, saliva practically dripping as they looked at the matsutake feast.
Even though they really wanted to eat, they remembered that you shouldn't start eating until the host has arrived.
Only after Fujino sat down did they all shout, "Let's eat!"
The small matsutake dinner was quickly devoured by the family plus the few kids.
After eating their fill, they sprawled out on Fujino's sofa and watched Kamen Rider on the large plasma TV.
Ayumi looked away from the TV and smiled at Fujino. "Fujino-oniichan, your cooking is really good!"
Genta: "Uh... it's a little worse than my mom's, but it's very good!"
"This kind of skill is comparable to a high-class restaurant!"
Mitsuhiko praised him. "The restaurant I went to with my dad last time didn't taste as good as this today."
Meanwhile, Conan sat to the side with a blank expression.
Compared to a high-class restaurant, yes, it was better, but in his opinion, food at high-class restaurants was just okay.
Truly delicious food was made by his Ran-neechan.
"I'm so jealous..."
Ayumi looked at Haibara Ai, a slight smile on her lips. "You get to eat such delicious meals every day."
"Yeah..."
Haibara Ai nodded, not saying much more.
It was indeed quite nice. If it were her old self, she would definitely be envious too.
But Akemi-neechan couldn't cook, and Fujino was often lazy, so most of the time, she was the one who ended up being the cook.
Just then, Ayumi suddenly asked Fujino, "We're going skiing with the Professor this weekend, Fujino-oniichan, do you want to come with us?"
(End of chapter)