"Irei Günter von… is it?"
The day after meeting Koizumi Akako, Hayato Masaki received her message.
Unlike a certain modern-age magician clueless with tech, the witch was quite up-to-date.
Hayato had exchanged phone numbers with her.
He stared at the name in the text for a long moment, then opened the Death Note, grabbing a fountain pen from his desk's holder.
First, the name and cause of death.
Then, the time and detailed circumstances.
He filled nearly half a page, like a narrative diary.
Hayato's handwriting was neat.
The tidy paragraphs were oddly pleasing to the eye.
"…"
Now, he just had to wait.
With time to spare, Hayato organized his current tasks.
One: Learn a niche language.
Two: Get photos or meet the Black Organization's higher-ups and secure their names.
Speaking of, he'd gotten Vodka's real name at the bar that night. Given Vodka's straightforward nature, it was likely legit.
So, "Uozuka Saburo" being real meant "Kurosawa Jin," mentioned alongside him, was probably Gin's true name.
Confirm it with Koizumi Akako later?
If he could get a photo of the tycoon Karasuma Renya, things would be simple.
Before crossing into this world, Hayato knew the Black Organization's boss was Karasuma Renya, a magnate from half a century ago, wealthier than even the Suzuki Consortium or Ooka family.
Records said he was over a hundred years old forty years ago—and he was still alive.
If Hayato could pin down his face, he could use the Death Note to make him leak the Organization's entire roster, seizing control.
Hayato-kun
I used your trick to pick a restaurant today, and it was so delicious!
[Image.jpg]
His phone buzzed by his water glass. Hayato checked it—Yoko Okino.
In an era before widespread internet chats, people used calls or texts. Sending images was possible with MMS.
Yoko's photo showed two bamboo steamers of soup dumplings and an iced drink beside them.
Hayato: Soup dumplings? Looks tasty.
Yoko: Yes, so good! They even have broth inside!
Yoko: Steaming hot, paired with sweet, icy almond liqueur—I loved it!
Hayato: You drink, Yoko-san?
Hayato: Now I'm tempted to try it.
Since their outing a few days ago, Yoko had been texting him more often.
She'd share bits about her idol or acting gigs, sometimes just chatting casually… Her bright, lively tone shone through, painting her as a vibrant, life-loving girl.
From experience, when a girl shares a restaurant like this, it often hints at an invitation.
Whether she'd say it outright depended on her personality.
Yoko: Are you into that kind of food, Hayato-kun?
Yoko: Their menu has so much I want to try. Maybe we could go together sometime?
Hayato: Sure.
Hayato: Might need a few days, though.
Yoko: Okay, let's pick a date later, Hayato-kun. ^_^
Yoko seemed thrilled, tossing in an emoticon.
Was she catching feelings?
"…"
Yagami Light had drawn in the pop idol Amane Misa, too. Per the story's end, a year after Light's death, Misa jumped from a building on Valentine's Day, a tragic end.
Hayato passed no judgment.
He neither condemned nor praised the dead—his usual stance.
His only thought on Light was gratitude for testing the Death Note's limits, sparing him some trial and error.
Replying "Sounds good" to Yoko, Hayato tore a fresh page from the Death Note, tucking it into his notebook before heading out.
Ten minutes later, his silver sedan rolled out of Beika Second Apartment's underground garage.
It was 4:31 p.m.
Hayato was headed to Ekoda City. He'd seen a notice in their papers—Kaito Kid announced a heist for 8 p.m. at the Ekoda Museum.
This was Kaito Kid's first move since Spider's Japan tour began… so Spider would likely act tonight.
Ring-ring!
Mid-drive, his other phone lit up with Gin's call.
He answered.
"Yeah?"
"It's me. 10:30 tonight, the bar."
"Tonight?" Hayato kept his eyes on the road, steering into another lane. "Can't. I'm heading out now."
"…"
"New target to kill? Send the file, I'll check it later and get back to you."
"No need for you yet. But Cointreau, your detective fame's slipping. Don't forget the Organization's expectations."
"Not much I can do without cases."
Meanwhile, Mouri Kogoro's rep as a detective was soaring, thanks to Conan's heavy lifting.
"Don't worry, it's part of my plan. Finding cases… it's not hard."
Hearing this, Gin said nothing more and hung up.
Finding cases?
Surely Cointreau didn't mean making them, right?
***
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