Twins

The Junior High Acquaintance Murder Case

“Hoaaaahh…”

Kudo Shinichi yawned lazily right after his English teacher left their class room. The essay he wrote as a part of the pop quiz about the application of sentence construction made his neck stiff and aching. As he massaged the back of his neck with his dominant hand, he stretched his left arm forward and bent it close to his face for him to be able to see his wrist watch hidden in his two layers of sleeves.

“9:30. Good,” he mumbled to himself while getting a note-book sized, fairly thick novel from his bag. ‘The 10-minute break in between subjects and that Sanada-sensei who’s always late will give me enough time to finish this mystery,’ he thought, smiling.

Unfortunately, before he could open the page that the bookmark was showing, a brownish-black-haired girl grabbed the book he was holding and said, “Ara! Since when did Kaitou get to like mystery novels?”

The disrupted lad gave her an irritated look, but she just smiled at him in response.

“Sonoko and I will go to her dad’s art exhibit tonight. Wanna come with us?” said the girl in high spirits.

“I pass,” was Shinichi’s dull reply as he reached for the book that the giggling Ran was still driving away from him.

“You like art exhibits don’t you?” A short-haired brunette entered and slammed a piece of paper on the guy’s desk. “Plus, it’s Suzuki Corporation’s Annual Art Exhibit. My dad would be happy to see you there. He said you have an interest in art as much as he does when he saw you last time in the museum.”

Shinichi scanned the flier Sonoko curtly gave him and grimly smiled at it. ‘My brother is not that much into art. It’s the museum’s jewels and gems that he adores.’

 

“Do you have something to do today?” Ran asked, her tone concerned. “Band practice?”

‘Come to think of it, I don’t know that guy’s band schedule…’ Shinichi thought before answering. “Well, I don’t know yet. I’ll just call you guys later if I can come.” He gave them a quick smile.

The two girls pulled a chair close to Shinichi’s desk and sat there in front of him, as if there would be a conference among them three. “So, how has your band been doing?” Ran started.

“When’s your next live performance gonna be?” Sonoko followed.

Surprised with the sudden movements and questions, Shinichi tried his best to show a calm façade in spite of the sweat-dropping expression he had. “Uhm, we’re fine,” was the quick answer he came up with. He recalled the day when his brother told him something about his band. “I guess this month, we’ll be performing. Er, somewhere… sometime… somehow?” He laughed nervously, then immediately turned the conversation around with the curiosity he previously had. “So, Ran, how are you and Shinichi doing?”

“Eh?!” Ran’s eyes widened upon realizing what her friend was asking.