Solving Cases is My Daily Life Now: Volume 3

Chapter 6

Masaru arrived the next morning to wake Rina up again, just as he said he would.

"Rina." Was all he had to say this time to get her standing up.

"You seem to be a bit used to this." Rina said, rubbing her eyes and then yawning.

"Well, Emiko was always a late riser as well." Masaru said, leaning against the wall.

"Was?" Rina asked, tilting her head.

Masaru looked up at her for a moment.

"I can't exactly wake her up everyday at the hospital, can I?" He asked, crossing his arms.

"I guess you've got a point." Rina said, stretching her arms, "All right, go outside and I'll be right out."

Masaru pushed himself off of the wall, and Rina got herself dressed.

When Rina stepped out into the hallway, Minami was standing there, making eye contact with Masaru. She had a smile on her face, but Masaru's expression was the same as ever.

"Am I...interrupting something?" Rina asked, raising an eyebrow.

Minami looked over at her and shook her head.

"Not at all. I was just coming to ask how the trip to the Yakamoto Estate went." She said, the smile not leaving her face.

"It didn't go horribly, considering we had to find it on our own." Masaru said, putting his hands into his pockets.

"Oh, I hope you're not mad at me!" Minami said, "I just wanted to see the great detective Mei told me about in action! It wouldn't be fair if I told you everything."

Masaru narrowed his eyes at her.

"Is this some kind of game to you?" He asked, clearly becoming agitated, "I don't know what Miyake told you, but I take my cases very seriously. I'm not some child playing detective, as you seem to think."

Minami's smile faded, but her face didn't give off any aggression.

"It wasn't my intention to make you feel like I was patronizing you. It's just fascinating to me...I've never seen a kid so devoted to doing things that adults normally do." She said.

"Well, I'm not an experiment for you to analyze. If we're clear on that, I think we'll be fine." Masaru said, calming down a bit.

"Yes, sir. No more playing around." Minami said, her smile returning.

She turned and began to walk to the dining room, and Rina and Masaru followed her.

"Since we're on the subject, why don't you tell us more about the Yakamoto's?" Masaru asked.

"Well, they were on the island first, it was their private island. When my husband decided that he wanted an island, there weren't any private ones nearby. So he made a deal with the Yakamoto's to be able to stay on this island as well." She said, "After all, an island with only two families is private enough."

"I suppose that's true." Masaru said, keeping his gaze forward.

"We talk to them occasionally, but mostly we stay out of each other's way." Minami added, glancing back at Masaru.

"That's all I needed to know. Thanks." Masaru said shortly.

Minami nodded with a smile as the reached the dining room and went inside.

When they had all finished eating, once again the four friends stayed behind to discuss the case.

"S-s-so you and Rina are going back to the h-house today?" Suzu asked, tilting her head.