Ghost Detectives in the Detective World

Page 41

Sato was a little jealous, but in the end he didn't say anything more.

On the hospital bed, Matsuda, biting into an apple that Sayuri had peeled, casually asked, "I heard he'll be in jail for at least five or six years for attempting to murder a police officer. What about you? You're not going to stay with him after he gets out, are you?"

In his memory, it seemed that after Gao Bin was released from prison, Xiao Baihe was still with him, which is why he asked that question.

“It’s impossible for us,” Xiaobaihe shook her head. “I originally thought he would still be the kind boy who protected me when we were little, but that day, he actually said that it didn’t matter if innocent police officers died.”

“At that time, I knew that he had been changed by hatred and was no longer the same person he was when he was a child.”

"...It's time for me to wake up from my dream that I've had since I was a child."

Xiaobaihe gave a wry smile.

"As for the future, I might take my dad's advice and go on another blind date with one of the detectives from the First Division,"

At this point, she looked at Matsuda with a smile: "So, Officer Matsuda, would you be interested in going on another blind date with me?"

"If your father is still the one to reimburse my food and drink expenses, I'd be happy to do so anytime..."

Matsuda jokingly replied, but unexpectedly, Sayuri suddenly bent down and kissed him on the lips.

“This kiss is to express my apology for causing trouble for you that day,” Sayuri said awkwardly. “Also, thank you for standing in front of me that day.”

……

After enduring seven long days in the hospital, Matsuda couldn't wait to be discharged.

Inspector Megure was naturally overjoyed.

Unfortunately, just two days after Matsuda was hospitalized, Kogoro Mouri solved a murder case involving an elevator in Tokyo.

Moreover, because the murderer was a very famous fashion designer, the sleeping Kogoro Mouri suddenly became famous in Tokyo!

Previously, due to Matsuda's presence, Kogoro Mouri's title of famous detective was only valid outside of Tokyo.

Now, the aura of this sleeping detective has invaded Tokyo.

Inspector Megure was naturally under immense pressure, but seeing his trusted lieutenant finally return filled him with immense joy.

“By the way,” Inspector Megure said generously, “Matsuda, you’ve just been discharged from the hospital, so don’t go out on fieldwork for the next couple of days. Just stay in the office and work.”

Why wouldn't Matsuda be happy to travel less?

He never expected that before he could even settle into his office chair, another case would come knocking.

"Tell me," Matsuda asked the long-bearded man who had come to him to confess, "that you were the murderer in a case five years ago?"

"Yes, officer, please arrest me so I can atone for my father's sins!" the man cried bitterly.

"Officer, it was all my fault for locking up Akio for five years. Please arrest me too."

The man's mother, a pale and thin middle-aged woman, also spoke.

"Those two are prisoners, but what about you? What does this have to do with you?"

Matsuda looked at the four unruly kids who had come to the Metropolitan Police Department with the criminal with a headache.

"Officer Matsuda, we were the ones who discovered this case," Genta hurriedly boasted.

"Genta, you and I were arrested halfway through, it doesn't seem to have anything to do with us, right?" Mitsuhiko said somewhat embarrassedly.

"Officer Matsuda, the thing is actually like this,"

Ayumi climbed cutely onto the chair and recounted how the mischievous kids' original plan to go on an adventure in a haunted house ended up uncovering a murder case from five years ago.

Conan then provided supplementary information.

"Okay, I understand. To put it simply, five years ago, your son accidentally killed your husband. You were worried that your son would be taken away by the police, so you locked him up for five years. Then your son couldn't bear the inner torment any longer, so he convinced you to turn himself in."

Matsuda had a headache; this was a case from five years ago.

It would have been better if the police officer in charge of the case back then hadn't closed it.

If he had closed the case for other reasons, then with the sudden surrender of the perpetrator, the police officers who were in charge of the case back then would at least be suspended from their duties.

“That’s right.” Mrs. Yamamoto, the mother of the prisoner Akio, nodded.

“Officer, for the past five years, I have lived with guilt every moment. I always feel that my father is still haunting me. That feeling is driving me crazy.”

Prisoner Yamamoto Akio covered his face, lowered his head and said,

"Perhaps only after paying the price for the crimes I committed back then can I find some peace of mind."

No, actually your feeling isn't wrong.

Matsuda looked at the soul of the middle-aged man floating behind the prisoner.

Your father is really bothering you!

Seeing Yamamoto Akio's remorseful expression, Matsuda thought for a moment and led him to the interrogation room.

Then, to Akio's bewildered surprise, Matsuda exchanged a packet of Dust of Longing from the system and sprinkled it directly on the spirit behind Akio.

A faint figure gradually emerged as stardust fell.

"……dad!"

Akio looked at the figure that had appeared and cried out in surprise and terror.

"You really haven't forgiven me. You hate me, you..."

"Snapped!"

Akio's father, Mr. Yamamoto, slapped Akio across the face.

“Dad…” Akio covered his face and stood there stunned.

"Do you know why I said those things after you failed the exam?" Mr. Yamamoto asked his son.

Without hesitation, Akio replied, "Are you dissatisfied with my grades?"

"Humph!"

Mr. Yamamoto stared at his son with a dark expression, speechless.

“I said,” Matsuda said helplessly, “you’re already dead. If you don’t say what you have to say now, you’ll never have the chance again!”

Akio's father, Mr. Yamamoto, was undoubtedly a very traditional father.

He was extremely strict with his son, and would beat and scold him at the slightest problem.

However, she never expressed her care and love for her son.

"It's because you didn't make things clear," Matsuda reminded him, "that you two, father and son, are already separated by death. Do you want your son to continue living with guilt for the rest of his life?"

Mr. Yamamoto remained silent for a while before finally speaking.

"No, the exam results don't matter. What really annoyed me was your pathetic, dejected look after failing the exam!"

He scolded his son loudly.

"For a man, failure is not shameful. What is truly terrifying is not failure itself, but the lack of courage to get back up after a failure!"

Chapter 50 Father and Son

"Think about it yourself. Back then, did you give up after three failures?"

"The things I said back then were all meant to provoke you and help you get back on your feet!"

"So what if we fail three times! As long as we can get back up, pick ourselves up, and try again for a fourth or fifth time! We'll keep trying until we succeed! That's what makes a man of the Yamamoto family!"

"I……"

Zhao Fu stared blankly at his father. He never imagined that his father, who had called him a "scumbag" and a "good-for-nothing" after he failed the exam, would actually think this way.

"...Dad, I'm sorry!"

Akio knelt before his father's spirit and wept bitterly.

"Alright, what's past is past. Don't dwell on it anymore. What's important for you is the future!"

Mr. Yamamoto gently stroked his son's head with affection.

"For the past five years, I've lingered in this world because I was worried that you would never recover."

"Zhaofu, promise me that no matter what difficulties you encounter in the future, you will bravely face them and never show that cowardly appearance you had five years ago again!"

"Take good care of your mother. Although she locked you up for five years, it was because she spoiled you too much. Don't blame her!"

"Dad, I promise you! I will get back on my feet! And I will take good care of Mom!"

Akio wiped away his tears and made a loud promise to his father's spirit.

"That's good……"

Mr. Yamamoto nodded with satisfaction, and his soul began to transform into starlight, gradually dissipating.

Where Akio couldn't see, a dark vortex appeared out of nowhere, slowly drawing in the starlight that was the soul of Mr. Yamamoto.

"dad……"

Akio yelled and tried to pounce, but Matsuda stopped him.

"His wish has been fulfilled; it's time for him to embrace his next life."

Matsuda patted Akio on the shoulder.

"Don't forget what your father said, so that he can leave in peace."

"Officer, could you find me a razor?"

Akio Yamamoto wiped away his tears, and somewhat embarrassedly raised his hand to stroke his beard.

"I want to tidy up properly."

"Of course," Matsuda replied with a smile, then found a patrolman to take Yamamoto Akio to wash up.

When he finished tidying up and reappeared in the office, the four mischievous kids didn't recognize him.

Only Mrs. Yamamoto, seeing her son seemingly reborn and regaining his former vitality, broke down in tears once more.

"It's all my fault! If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have suffered for so many years..."

"Mom, it's not your fault. I promised Father I would get back on my feet and start a new life."

Akio Yamamoto held his mother in his arms.