Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sharp crack of gunfire echoed through the underground shooting range.
"Reload and continue!"
Hayashiki followed the command, removing the magazine from his M9 pistol and swiftly pressing bullets into it.
"Faster!"
The coach barked, his scarred face contorted into a scowl.
Hayashiki reloaded, raised the gun again, and without waiting for another cue, took aim and pulled the trigger.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Muzzle flashes lit up the chamber, bullet casings flew, and brass rounds tore through the paper target one after another, forming a tight cluster of holes.
"Accuracy's decent, but your draw is still stiff."
"This is just a stationary target. If it were a moving one—or worse, an armed target—your draw and trigger discipline would be too rigid."
"…It's trickier than I expected."
Hayashiki smiled faintly, somewhat apologetically, at the coach's gruff critique.
The man snorted, clearly unimpressed.
He didn't think much of this quiet, polite kid. His soft-spoken demeanor didn't fit the mold of an assassin—or anything useful.
Still… his skill wasn't bad. Weak physically, but his reflexes were impressive.
After several more rounds of practice—
"That's enough for today. You're dismissed."
"Thanks. But before I go—could you sign this for me, Coach?"
Without warning, Hayashiki pulled out a slip of paper and a pen, smiling brightly.
"What?"
"I have a habit of collecting names. When I meet someone interesting, I just can't help myself."
The coach looked at him like he was nuts.
"Weirdo."
Still, remembering Gin's orders to accommodate this "kid's" needs, he scrawled his name anyway and handed it back.
Hayashiki's smile remained—but this time, there was a subtle shift behind it. Something colder.
"It's not strange at all."
"Names carry weight. They hold a person's life within them. It's no exaggeration to say a name is as important as life itself."
The coach blinked.
What the hell is this kid talking about?
With a sneer and a muttered curse, he turned and walked off, clearly done with the conversation.
Hayashiki said nothing more.
After cleaning up and making sure there was no gunpowder smell on him, Hayashiki left the underground training facility.
It had been nearly a week since his book signing event—and things had been quiet.
Gin hadn't contacted him.
More importantly, thanks to Futaba Publishing's aggressive PR campaign, Hayashiki's new novel—just recently released—was already getting excellent reviews. His popularity was steadily climbing.
Much of that momentum came from the book signing event, where his appearance had captivated a huge number of female fans. Futaba leaned hard into that appeal, nearly putting his face on the cover of the next edition.
And of course, the presence of Yoko Okino at the signing had made it into the entertainment pages, further boosting his public profile.
Some fans were even begging for him to debut as a celebrity.
Sakae Yamagishi, Yoko's manager, had followed up several times—asking if he'd consider entering the entertainment industry.
Ring-ring~ Ring-ring~
"Hello, it's me."
"Excuse me, Teacher Hayashiki, this is Nanae Asamiya."
"Good afternoon, Miss Asamiya."
"Good afternoon. Sorry to call without notice, but our publishing house would like you to appear on a detective show airing on Nichimi TV. What do you think?"
"A detective show? Can you tell me more?"
"Of course. It's called The All-Japan Detective Agency Unit, aired every weekend evening. The host presents real-life unsolved mysteries submitted by viewers across the country. They sometimes invite celebrities to help crack the cases on-air."
"Sounds interesting."
"It's a perfect fit for a mystery author like you—and the show has strong ratings. It would be great exposure."
"Got it. Would it be alright if I watched the program first and gave you an answer?"
"Absolutely. I'll wait to hear back from you."
After hanging up, Hayashiki made a mental note to check the show later.
That evening, he took a taxi back to Mihua Second Apartment.
But instead of entering his own unit, he walked across the hall and rang the doorbell of the unit opposite.
Click—
The door opened, and Eri Kisaki stood behind it.
"Come on in, Tree."
"Thanks."
"You've been out training again? You must be exhausted."
"A little," Hayashiki admitted as he stepped in and changed into indoor slippers. "But things have been peaceful lately—I figured I should stay in shape."
"That's a good thing. Active boys are a plus," Eri replied, flashing a warm smile.
Her beauty, refined by maturity, was undeniable.
Though she had the elegance of a seasoned professional, there was nothing old about her. Smooth skin, sharp features, and a striking figure made her seem far younger than she was. She radiated calm femininity.
"Were you watching TV, Aunt Eri?"
"Actually, I was just on the phone with Ran. She asked me the other day if she really had a cousin like you. Said she bumped into your book signing event while shopping with a friend."
"It really was just a coincidence. We only met briefly, but I could tell she's a remarkable girl."
"Don't sound so lofty—you're only a few years older than her," Eri laughed.
Then, more seriously:
"If you don't mind, maybe spend some time with Ran and her friends. It's not good to always be cooped up alone… and I'd feel more at ease knowing you're around her."
"If there's a chance, I'd like that."
"She mentioned she's going to Dorobiga Paradise this Sunday. Are you interested in joining them?"
Seeing that he didn't immediately refuse, Eri looked genuinely pleased.
She knew all too well that her daughter was getting closer to Shinichi Kudo—the son of her old friend, Yukiko.
Not that she disliked Shinichi—he was talented and decent. But his tendency to charge into danger made her uneasy.
And, frankly, she'd long since stopped admiring the detective profession.
Compared to that, Hayashiki was… safer.
Polite. Calm. Brilliant. And, of course, his looks didn't hurt either.
"It does sound fun, but I may have a show recording on Sunday."
"A show?"
"Yeah, that detective program on Beika TV—The All-Japan Detective Agency Unit. Miss Asamiya just told me about it today."
"Oh, that one!"
Eri's eyes lit up.
"I'll be watching for sure."
"Maybe I'll get you a front-row seat," Hayashiki joked. "I'll try not to embarrass myself."
He smiled.
But deep down, his thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.
Dorobiga Paradise.
If he was right… the next plotline might begin there.