Sonoko led Heiji and the other three to a harbor. It was a small private cove, and there was even wire mesh at the entrance to keep outsiders from wandering in.
When they arrived, a man in his fifties or sixties wearing a sailor's uniform hurried over and bowed deeply to Sonoko. "Miss Sonoko, everything is prepared."
Sonoko nodded, walked to Heiji's side, and hugged his arm tightly. "From now on, he's Heiji. You'll do exactly what he says."
She was clearly trying to build up his presence.
"Please rest assured, Miss Sonoko. Mrs. Suzuki already gave instructions. On the Alice, we follow Heiji's decisions first."
The sailor bowed respectfully to Heiji.
Sonoko froze for a moment, then pouted in dissatisfaction. "Mom seriously doesn't trust me at all."
Kazuha snickered. "Sonoko, I think Aunt Tomoko is just worried about you."
Sonoko rolled her eyes at her, but her face was full of pride.
The sailor led them to a cruise ship docked in the cove. "Miss Sonoko, Heiji, and the two young ladies, this is the private ship under Mrs. Suzuki's name, the Alice."
Kazuha's eyes widened as she stared at it. "Sonoko… this is Aunt Tomoko's?"
A single-deck ship sat quietly at the dock, its body pure white. Calling it a "cruise ship" felt a bit much. It was more like an oversized, upgraded yacht, but far more luxurious than any yacht Kazuha had ever seen.
"Yep. Mom uses it for banquets. The guests are usually wives and daughters from big financial groups," Sonoko said casually.
She was clearly used to it.
Heiji gave the sailor a polite smile.
"My name is Matsumae Yoshihiro. I'm responsible for maintaining this ship," the sailor said.
"Maintenance?" Heiji glanced at the Alice, then asked, "It has auto-navigation, right?"
"Yes. Normally, when Mrs. Suzuki holds a banquet, there's no need for crew on board."
For that kind of gathering, they naturally wouldn't allow men to be around. Even the servers would all be women.
Heiji nodded. "Then stay here."
Matsumae Yoshihiro was startled. "But the auto-navigation system still needs someone to operate it."
"I know how. It's fine."
Hearing that, Matsumae Yoshihiro nodded respectfully.
"Heiji, you can pilot a ship?" Yukiko walked over, surprised.
Heiji smiled like he was keeping a secret. "Take a guess."
Yukiko rolled her eyes, walked straight onto the gangway, and boarded.
"Heiji, what are you still doing?" Sonoko leaned on the railing and shouted back at him.
Heiji nodded and followed them up.
"I wish you a pleasant journey," Matsumae Yoshihiro said, bowing from the shore.
"Heiji, we should set off," Sonoko said.
Whether Heiji really knew how to operate the Alice or not, Kazuha and Sonoko didn't doubt him. He'd surprised them enough already.
Heiji nodded and headed straight for the cockpit.
A set of footsteps followed behind him.
"Yukiko, why are you following me?"
Yukiko walked in with her arms crossed, chin slightly raised. "I just want to see if you actually know what you're doing."
Heiji shrugged. "Suit yourself."
They entered the cockpit one after the other.
Inside, there were instruments and buttons everywhere, enough to make anyone dizzy.
Heiji scanned the setup once, then frowned. "This ship's been modified."
Yukiko's lips curved. "Don't tell me you can't drive it after all."
Heiji glanced back at her and smiled with confidence. "Just watch."
He started moving quickly, checking systems and pressing buttons in rapid succession.
Yukiko stepped right in front of him, blocking his path.
Heiji stopped short. He was only half a meter away from her. If he'd been a step slower, he would've crashed straight into her.
"Yukiko, now's not the time."
He'd been running a quick check. Besides not turning on auto-navigation, he'd activated almost everything, and if that wasn't shut down in the right order, who knew what would happen.
"I already memorized most of the sequence. I'll help you."
Yukiko turned to the controls and began repeating what Heiji had just done.
The task itself was simple. Just light presses. The hard part was the order, and it couldn't be wrong.
To Heiji's surprise, she didn't make a single mistake.
Heiji clicked his tongue quietly. Yukiko's memory was terrifying.
He shook his head and went to prepare the final steps for departure.
With Yukiko's help, it got a lot easier. Once everything was ready, Heiji weighed anchor.
The ship moved.
"Yukiko, keep an eye on the rear for me."
Heiji took the helm.
Yukiko nodded and went to a screen by the window, watching the back of the ship.
The Alice slowly reversed, leaving the harbor.
Up on the bow, Kazuha and Sonoko leaned over the railing, quietly admiring the endless waves.
"Kazuha, let's put on bikinis and sunbathe," Sonoko suddenly said in a low voice.
"Right now?" Kazuha hesitated, but she was tempted.
"Yeah. It's not like there's anyone else here. Heiji's the only guy, hee-hee."
The two girls immediately ran inside to change.
Back in the cockpit, after setting auto-navigation, Heiji turned to leave.
Yukiko called out behind him.
Heiji stopped.
She stood a short distance away, watching him with eyes that seemed unusually serious.
"About what happened last time… I'm sorry. I didn't know you were actually working a case."
Heiji frowned, then shook his head. "Last time? I don't remember."
Yukiko blinked, then joy flickered across her face. She shot him a look that was equal parts smug and sweet, then turned to leave.
"Anyway, I apologized. You're not allowed to be harsh with me again. Otherwise… hmph."
Heiji stood there, confused. What exactly had happened "last time"? He genuinely couldn't recall.
But Yukiko took it the other way. She thought he was pretending not to remember to spare her embarrassment, and the thought made her chest feel warm.
After checking the auto-navigation system once more, Heiji left the cockpit and walked out onto the deck at the bow.
By the pool, three beautiful girls lounged on deck chairs in their swimsuits, sunglasses on, completely relaxed.
"Heiji, it feels so good out here. Come over!"
"Heiji, want to swim?"
"Oh my. Seeing three beauties in bikinis, don't you feel lucky?"
Heiji ignored them, dove straight into the pool with a splash, and started swimming freely.
Since it was a vacation, he was going to relax properly.