Holmes of Kyoto: Volume 19 [Parts 1 to 2] by Mai Mochizuki

Author:Mai Mochizuki
Language: eng
Format: epub

Our conversation was interrupted by the door chime.

“Good morning,” Aoi said as she entered the store. It was currently the afternoon, but at Kura, we usually said “Good morning” when entering, as was customary in the antique industry.

The atmosphere in the store immediately brightened.

“Good morning, Aoi,” Kiyotaka and I said in unison.

Kiyotaka was smiling happily. In his heart, he was probably even more lovestruck than his smile suggested, but he didn’t let it show. Instead, he greeted her with a seemingly calm and gentle expression.

Aoi bowed and looked at me. “Manager, why the long face?”

“Kiyotaka was bullying me just now,” I said.

“Huh?” She turned to face Kiyotaka in surprise. “Is that true, Holmes?”

“No, of course not.”

Seeing Kiyotaka’s panicked expression gave me a sense of satisfaction. “I’m just kidding,” I said with a grin. “We were actually talking about Aigasa’s book that’s getting a stage adaptation.”

“Oh!” Aoi beamed like a blooming flower.

“You’re looking forward to it, aren’t you?” I asked.

“Of course. I can’t wait to see Kisuke Ichikata play Holmes.” She clasped her hands in front of her chest. “But...” She sighed. “It’s still a long way off.”

“Yes, I believe it’s at the end of July.” I looked at the calendar. The play was going to be performed during summer break, but it was only early February now. “I’m sure the time will fly by.”

“Yeah.” She tilted her head. “But why did talking about Aigasa’s book lead to Holmes bullying you?”

“As I said, I didn’t bully him,” Kiyotaka insisted.

“He was just making observations that were too sharp,” I explained. “Well, it’s what he always does, anyway.”

Aoi seemed to understand immediately. Kiyotaka cleared his throat and changed the topic.

“Right, Komatsu’s agency is going to be helping Reito with a job. I might be away from Kura for a few days.”

“Got it,” said Aoi. She didn’t look surprised, perhaps because she’d already heard.

“Dad, if you’re busy, I’ll ask Rikyu to watch the store.”

“All right. What’s the job, by the way?” Right after asking, I slumped my shoulders. “Sorry, these things are supposed to be confidential, aren’t they?” For all its flaws, it was still a detective agency.

“Yes.” Kiyotaka nodded. “However, part of it isn’t detective work, but an appraisal job.”

“Huh?” Aoi looked up, surprised. “It’s an appraisal job?” Apparently this was news to her too.

“Yes, and I was about to ask if you wanted to come along. Would you be interested?”

“May I?”

“Of course. Reito said you were welcome to join us.”

“I’d love to, then.”

Behind Aoi’s cheerful expression was a determined gaze. Her enthusiasm had suddenly spiked after hearing the word “appraisal.” After all, although she was Kiyotaka’s fiancée, she was also his apprentice.

I nodded in approval. “That means Reito has more than one request for you, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. The other one is for the Komatsu Detective Agency as a whole. I can’t tell you about it, but to be honest, I haven’t heard the details yet either. There was one thing Reito asked me that struck me as odd, though.”

“What was it?” Aoi and I asked in unison.

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