T.A Series Volume 13: The Teacher Who Vanished

Prologue - An Unexpected Request

"Eh!? Chika-san is the one who seeks our service!?" Shinichi looked up from his task, a curious expression on his face.

Teitan Elementary School had just ended for the day, and the schoolyard was bustling with children as they prepared to head home for the weekend. That was until 6-year-old Mouri Ran told her crush/friend since kindergarten, Kudo Shinichi, to head over to the Tantei Association main HQ as their friend, 9-year-old Shimizu Chika is currently waiting for them.

Chika Shimizu was no stranger to Shinichi and Ran. Her late mother had been the beloved chef at the kindergarten they all attended, and their friendship had been forged in the warmth of her delicious meals. The last time Chika had sought the Tantei Association's help, it had been to investigate a boy named Akimoto Nori, whom they now knew as 'Yori.' He had been involved in some shady activities, working for a criminal known as 'The Shark.' It had been a pivotal moment for their young detective club.

A lot of things happened shortly after the events of 'The Forgotten Noble Boy', the association's 9th major case. For 9-year-old Yori, he had sworn off a life out of crime for good and is currently seeing Chika. In addition to that, he had also received a sponsorship under Chika's wealthy father to study at the same prestigious school, as well as paying off his Tousan's chemotherapy treatment.

"Did she mention what is this about?" Shinichi who is still seated next to his partner-in-crime/co-founder, Kudo Ranran, was a bit curious about why would Chika suddenly seek out their services, as both children were busy packing their belongings into their rondesu bags while waiting for Ran to respond.

"It's urgent according to Sonoko, as this involves both of them at risk of getting the two kicked out of their school if we don't look into it." Ran insists.

"Eh? That serious?" Ranran blinked.

"What happened by the way? Don't tell me Yori revert back to his old ways," 6-year-old Hikari Takuma, a promising American Football Athlete headed over to their group, having packed away his things earlier on.

"Ah no, it's something both he and Chika witness in school, but no one believes them." Ran frowned.

Shinichi and Ran exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued. The Tantei Association had dealt with all sorts of cases, but one involving the possibility of their friends getting expelled was unprecedented.

"Please don't tell me is a ghost, cause our association don't deal with made-up supernatural existence." Ranran scoffed.

"Well, it may and it may not," Ran crossed her arms with a sigh.

Seeing Ranran, Shinichi and Takuma's puzzled expression on Ran's response, the brown-haired brunette later sighed to say, "You will see what I mean."

"I wouldn't take a case if it involved looking into ghosts, since they don't exist." Ranran reminded her.

"Look, Ranran, we're not saying it's definitely a ghost. But we can't rule out the possibility of something happening," Ran justifies, "And this involves maintaining their status in school. If the two get kicked out should we not look into their claims, there are not many prestigious elementary schools around the neighbourhood they live in, so the worst thing to happen is that Chika and him end up getting sent overseas, and you know Chika is particularly close to her father after losing her mother. Not to mention, Yori always drops by the hospital to see his father who is undergoing his treatments. I can't bear the thought of them being shipped overseas in the middle of nowhere."

Ranran remained unconvinced, but she couldn't deny the importance of Chika and Yori's situation.

"Alright," Ranran finally relented, "I'll go along with it, but only to prove that there's a logical explanation for whatever they've seen. No ghosts, got it?"