Chapter 216: Lisa's Departure
Kir remained oblivious to Gin's simmering suspicions about the operation, and the subsequent web of actions he had set in motion. Having departed from Mount Kuribe a step behind him, she had only just returned to the Organization's base.
It was painfully obvious that she wouldn't be leaving anytime soon. She was to live here now, a convenient arrangement for certain individuals to keep her under their constant, suffocating watch.
By chance, she discovered she wasn't the only resident. There was one other person living at the base, a minor who couldn't be left to his own devices. Letting a boy with such a problematic personality live alone would not only attract unwanted attention, but it was also a disaster waiting to happen. It was simply more practical to keep him confined within these walls.
But that was an irrelevant detail.
The next day, Jodie Starling went to the police. By testing the fingerprints on Conan's phone—a device Shuichi Akai had once handled—they found a perfect match with the prints lifted from the corpse at Mount Kuribe. The official conclusion was reached: the charred, nameless body was indeed that of Shuichi Akai.
Upon receiving the news, Jodie's expression was a mask of professional composure.
But the moment she left the police station and settled back into the privacy of her car, the facade shattered. She couldn't stop the tears that burst forth, her shoulders shaking with silent, wracking sobs.
Her breakdown did not go unnoticed. Every moment was observed by Organization members tailing her nearby, who promptly relayed the report to Gin.
After school that day, Conan, Mitsuhiko, and the others made their way to the bookstore for their usual reading session. By coincidence, they ran into Ran, Sonoko, and Eisuke Hondou, who had also just finished their classes.
"Well now, if it isn't Ran and my dear Sonoko. Oh, and… hmm, the Detective Boys, I see. How fortunate to run into all of you today." A melodious voice, smooth as silk, drifted over from not far away.
"It's big sister Lisa!" Ayumi, Mitsuhiko, and Genta shouted in unison, their faces lighting up.
"Who is this?" Eisuke Hondou whispered, leaning close to Ran. He looked utterly confused by the others' familiar and enthusiastic greeting.
The sight of him so close to Ran sent a prickle of irritation through Conan.
"Lisa is the librarian at the Beika Library…" Ran began, offering a brief introduction to Eisuke.
Lisa's gaze fell upon the unfamiliar high school student. A warm smile played on her lips as she glided over to Ran's side, her attention slowly shifting to Eisuke. She leaned in just a little, blinking her long lashes. "I didn't notice before, but we have such a cute boy here. What's your name, little brother?"
Having never been this close to an unfamiliar and strikingly mature woman, Eisuke's face instantly flushed a deep crimson. "I… I am… Eisuke Hondou," he stammered, "a classmate of Ran and Sonoko's." As he spoke, his eyes darted helplessly toward Ran, a silent plea for rescue.
"Oh my~" Lisa noticed the gesture. She brought a hand to her slightly parted lips in feigned surprise. "It seems little brother Eisuke has a crush on our dear Ran."
"No!" Eisuke's face turned an even darker shade of red as he refuted her claim, but his flustered state only made him stumble over his words. "No, that's not it, um… what I mean is, that, crush…"
Before he could articulate a single coherent thought, Sonoko slapped him heartily on the shoulder, laughing. "I didn't expect you to have such good taste, kid!"
Ayumi, Genta, and Mitsuhiko, their curiosity piqued, crowded around Eisuke, adding to his predicament.
Only Conan was left standing alone, his eyes fixed on Ran and Eisuke with a resentful glare. The smile had completely vanished from his face.
"It seems a certain great detective just finished scheming against someone's sister, only to turn around and have his girlfriend stolen by her brother." Haibara's cool, gloating voice whispered in Conan's ear, and his already foul mood soured even further.
"That won't happen," Conan said, his voice low and decisive. "I won't let it."
With that, he surged forward, wedging himself squarely between Ran and Eisuke, physically separating them.
Just as he regained his footing, he heard Ran ask Lisa, a hint of confusion in her voice, "Lisa, shouldn't you be at the library right now? Why are you at the bookstore?"
"Oh, I just resigned," Lisa replied with a placid smile. "I'll be leaving Japan soon, so I came to buy some books to pass the time when I'm bored."
"Leaving Japan?!" Sonoko exclaimed. "That's so sudden!"
"Did something happen?" Ran asked, her brow furrowed with concern.
"It's nothing, just some things I must attend to." Lisa's expression was gentle, her voice reassuring. "Thank you for your concern, Sonoko, and you too, Ran. Besides, I'm only leaving for a while. It's not as if I'm never coming back. You're all welcome to contact me anytime."
Conan looked up at Lisa, a thoughtful expression hardening his young features.
'Lisa is leaving Japan soon, just like Kaeya?' he thought. He remembered that the frames of their Visions were identical. That suggested they knew each other, and their relationship was likely quite close. It stood to reason they were leaving Japan together, heading for the same destination.
Thinking this, Conan tugged on the corner of Lisa's dress. When she looked down, he put on his most innocent face. "Big sister Lisa, big brother Kaeya is also leaving Japan soon. What a coincidence! Are you two going to the same place?"
Lisa was stunned for a moment, then a soft smile returned to her face as she gave a slight nod.
Conan's eyes immediately widened, playing the part of a curious child to perfection. "Then, big sister Lisa, can you tell me where you're going? I'm really curious!"
"Hmm…" Lisa hummed, tapping a finger to her chin. Seeing the anxious, expectant look on Conan's face, she couldn't help but chuckle. "I can't tell you that, Conan. It's a secret." As she spoke, she wagged her index finger playfully in front of his face.
"But… Ah!" Conan was unwilling to give up. If he couldn't get the exact destination, at least finding out the country would be a start.
Unfortunately, before he could press further, Sonoko's hand tapped him on the back of the head.
"Why are you asking so many questions? Can't you see Lisa doesn't want to say?"
Even Ran gently instructed him to be more polite.
"Oh—" Conan replied with a long, drawn-out, and utterly helpless sigh.
Afterward, to see Lisa off and to celebrate Eisuke's recovery and return to school, Sonoko suggested they all go to karaoke together.
Ayumi and the others had to head home as it wasn't on their way, and Haibara vanished somewhere along the route. In the end, the only ones who arrived at the karaoke bar were Ran, Sonoko, Lisa, Eisuke Hondou, and the little tag-along, Conan.
Just before stepping into their private room, Lisa paused and glanced back over her shoulder.
She had sensed it long ago—someone was following them. They had been on their tail ever since they left the bookstore.
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