Ignoring the calls of "assistant, assistant" behind him from Rintaro Okabe, the two smoothly established a friendly relationship.
"Goodbye, Detective!" Rintaro Okabe said to Senichi with a crazy chuunibyou style, "Looking forward to the next meeting! It must be the Steins Gate giving us this fate."
Senichi was quite satisfied with getting to know Rintaro Okabe.
Sometimes being a detective does depend on connections; the more people you know, the easier it is to get things done.
As for Kogoro Mouri, he and Shiratori had an unremarkable presence, and now he was grumbling as he went home.
By the time Senichi walked out of the gate, the sky had darkened slightly. He straightened the wrinkles on his clothes, then got in the car to check the rewards.
But before he could take out his phone, as if by agreement, the phone kept ringing incessantly, one call after another.
Colleagues, relatives, friends, and even big shots like Saitama called to greet him. Senichi hung up and answered, becoming a human answering machine. It was clear how massive the impact of Senichi's live deduction broadcast was.
"Phew, it's finally over."
Senichi wiped the slightly damp sweat from his forehead. He never expected that appearing on TV would cause such a huge reaction. Dealing with this barrage of calls seemed more troublesome than solving the recent case.
However, the next thing to do diluted his previous irritability. Though he could control it with his consciousness, Senichi still extended his fingers to lightly tap the System panel, as if touching a substantial substance.
The next moment, his heartbeat echoed in his retinas.
[False "Hero"]
[Completion: Perfect]
[Congratulations to the host for gaining 3 years of Investigation skill and 2 years of forensic science skill.]
[Evaluation: The so-called hero was never there from the beginning. There was only a "leaping clown" packaged by coincidence. The so-called superpowers seemed unsolvable, but upon careful observation, they were full of flaws. You easily solved this case, and unknowingly, you gained the favor of destiny.]
The rewards for solving side cases are still more lucrative than those for mainline cases. This case may seem simple, but if you can't find the clue, it's actually quite unsolvable, so the rewards are quite substantial this time.
The Main Profession skills have always been precious, and getting two at once is a big win.
3 years of Investigation skill directly brought Senichi's skill to the 12th year, elevating his skill to B-rank.
In addition, Forensic science skill also increased by 2 years. Although it is still 2 years away from being a D-rank skill, Senichi is not a professional forensic expert. Being able to gather basic information from the corpses is sufficient, so it's not urgently needed.
After checking the rewards, Senichi started the car.
The black sports car flashed through the streets, the roaring engine gradually faded, like a phantom in the night.
The door was unlocked with the key, and the person inside heard the commotion and walked out and greeted Senichi with a smile.
"Why are you here?" Seeing that it was Ayako, Senichi asked with a smile.
"I missed you" Ayako took out slippers for Senichi from the shoe cabinet and said with a smile, "Auntie sent me a text at noon, asking me to come over for dinner tonight. When I came over, I happened to catch your live deduction broadcast."
"Ah, you saw it?" Senichi took off his shoes and put on the slippers Ayako handed him. "It feels strange to be seen on TV by someone you know."
"But you looked handsome." Ayako smiled slightly. "The live deduction broadcast was as exciting as watching a detective drama. Sonoko was screaming on the phone and telling me all about it."
Senichi could only shake his head helplessly. It seems that he needs to keep a low profile when going out during this period.
After changing shoes, Senichi went straight to the bathroom to wash his hands. As for dinner, he didn't have to worry – it was surely prepared and waiting for him to come back.
After all, Ayako had come over, and in such a situation, both Ayako and Senichi's mother wanted to showcase their signature dishes to each other.
Thanks to this, tonight's meal was exceptionally rich.
Steamed scallops, prawns stir-fried with peppercorns, and enticing eel brushed with sauce.
The dishes that could usually pass as "main courses" for a meal were just ordinary ones tonight.
In addition, there were some light dishes like tofu and vegetables.
As someone who only ate and didn't cook, Senichi could only express his satisfaction with dinner with the enthusiasm of "cleaning dishes."
After a satisfying meal, Senichi and Ayako leaned against the bed in the bedroom and watched TV. Of course, their thoughts weren't on the television; instead, they quietly chatted.
As for the topic, it revolved around their engagement.
This matter had been prepared for a long time, and now it was time to begin. The specific date was set for the beginning of next month, conveniently on a Saturday when guests could find time to attend.
The number of guests invited wasn't too many. Overall, it was more of a gathering than a formal ceremony, allowing friends and relatives from both sides to get to know Senichi and Ayako, the newly engaged couple.
After cuddling on the bed for a while, Ayako blushed and pushed Senichi away. After adjusting their clothes, the two began writing invitation cards.
After completing the invitations, they divided them, and Senichi drove Ayako back home.
"We're here."
The car stopped at the doorstep. Ayako softly acknowledged with an "Hmm" but didn't get out. Instead, she silently locked eyes with Senichi.
Initially, Senichi was a bit puzzled, but seeing Ayako's eyes, slightly evasive and shy, he didn't ask what she was up to like a typical guy. Instead, he gently placed his right hand on her shoulder.
Ayako's body stiffened slightly, but in an instant, she leaned forward with the force of the hand on her back. In the next moment, Senichi slowly pressed his lips against hers.
Engaging in such an intimate act at the doorstep made Ayako feel a bit awkward. Her hands unconsciously fumbled for a moment, and finally, she tightly embraced Senichi's broad back.
As the engagement banquet approached, the bond between the two became even stronger. They both wanted to spend more time together. Even Ayako, who was usually a bit reserved in this regard, became more proactive.
Time seemed to freeze, and after an unknown period, a distant headlight pierced through the car from behind at the Suzuki residence.
Sensing the glaring light, Ayako opened her eyes in surprise. Hastily, she leaned back, breaking away from Senichi, and quickly began tidying the slightly wrinkled clothes on her.
Senichi, too, was startled by the sudden flash of light. After all, they were at the Suzuki residence, and ordinary people wouldn't drive to such a place. The presence of the flashlight indicated...
As if in response to Senichi's thoughts, a short honk, like a "greeting," shattered the silence of the night.