Once the trip to Osaka was confirmed, Ran thought that since they were going to Osaka, she should naturally meet her best friend. She excitedly called Toyama Kazuha.
"Moshi moshi, Kazuha! I'm going to Kiyomizu Temple in Osaka today with Brother Kanjuro and Sonoko!"
"Really, Ran! That's great!" On the other end of the phone, Toyama Kazuha's crisp voice was filled with undisguised joy. "I just happen to be off today! When will you arrive? I'll wait for you at the entrance of Kiyomizu Temple!"
"We should arrive before noon! This is great, I get to see you again!" Ran was also very happy.
After hanging up with Ran, Kazuha thought for a moment and then dialed the cell phone of her childhood friend, Heiji Hattori, her tone expectant: "Heiji! Ran and her friends are coming to Kiyomizu Temple today. Why don't you come along? It's been a while since we last met!"
Heiji Hattori's voice on the other end sounded somewhat tense, with an absent-minded urgency: "Ah... Kazuha, sorry, not today. There's a very urgent case in Tokyo that needs to be handled; I can't get away." His mind was filled with the terrifying information about Kanjuro provided by Shinichi Kudo (Conan) and the suspicious points of the Suzuki case. He was frantically checking various files and clues, trying to find a flaw in Kanjuro, and had no time for anything else; he didn't even listen carefully to who Kazuha said she was picking up.
"Another case..." Kazuha pouted, her tone clearly disappointed and slightly annoyed. "Fine, fine, Great Detective, you go ahead and be busy!" She hung up the phone in a bit of a huff, secretly sulking. (This Heiji, all he knows is cases, cases, cases!)
She didn't know that the "urgent case" Heiji Hattori spoke of was closely related to one of the people she was about to meet—Kanjuro... On the other side, Kanjuro drove a luxury car, carrying Ran and Sonoko all the way to Osaka. Inside the car, Sonoko maintained her act of a frightened little bird needing care, occasionally leaning back against the seat "sorrowfully," while Ran gently kept her company, trying to distract her. Kanjuro watched this scene through the rearview mirror, a faint, ambiguous curve always on his lips.
At noon, the car arrived punctually at the famous Kiyomizu Temple. The ancient temple was solemn and the trees were lush; it was indeed a place that could bring peace of mind.
As the three of them got out of the car, they saw a girl in a neat dress with a high ponytail, looking youthful and lively, standing on the steps at the entrance of Kiyomizu Temple, standing on her tiptoes and looking around. It was Toyama Kazuha.
"Kazuha!" Ran waved and shouted happily.
Hearing the voice, Kazuha looked over, and a bright smile immediately bloomed on her face as she Ran to meet them: "Ran! Sonoko! You've finally arrived!" She first gave Ran a hug, then looked concernedly at Sonoko, whose face seemed a bit "pale," and lowered her voice: "Sonoko, I... I heard about what happened to you. Are you okay?"
Sonoko managed to squeeze out a "strong" yet "fragile" smile and nodded: "Mm... I'm okay, thank you, Kazuha."
It was then that Kazuha's gaze fell upon Kanjuro, who had been standing quietly beside Ran. With just one look, her heart involuntarily skipped a beat.
(What... what a handsome man...)
(Is he the Brother Kanjuro Ran mentioned?)
Today, Kanjuro was wearing simple casual clothes, but they could not hide his innate handsomeness and that unique, mysterious aura. Standing against the backdrop of the ancient temple, with the sunlight casting dappled shadows on him through the leaves, he looked indescribably harmonious and dazzling.
"This must be Mr. Kanjuro, right? Hello, I'm Toyama Kazuha, Ran's best friend." Kazuha quickly composed herself and greeted him gracefully, but the tips of her ears felt slightly warm.
Kanjuro smiled slightly, a smile that was gentle yet carried a perfect touch of distance, making one feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze yet dared not desecrate him: "Hello, Miss Kazuha. I often hear Ran mention you. Thank you for coming to meet us today."
His voice was deep and pleasant, and his gaze was clear and sincere, instantly winning Kazuha's great favor.
"It's no trouble at all!" Kazuha waved her hands hurriedly. "I'm very happy to be your guide! I'm very familiar with Kiyomizu Temple!"
Ran looked at the two of them chatting happily and felt glad that her best friend liked Brother Kanjuro. Only Sonoko, when no one was looking, stole a glance at Kanjuro with a complex expression, a mix of obsession and possessiveness that only she understood.
Kanjuro's gaze faintly swept over Kazuha's energetic figure, and a faint, imperceptible light flickered in the depths of his eyes.
(Toyama Kazuha... daughter of Inspector Ginshiro Toyama... Heiji Hattori's childhood friend...)
(An unexpected harvest.)
(It seems this trip to Kiyomizu Temple will be... more interesting than expected.)
He could already see another pure chess piece about to be stained with his color by his own hands, falling into the invisible web he had meticulously woven. Beneath the peaceful surface of the ancient temple's blessings, dark undercurrents were quietly surging. The ancient temple was quiet, and the scent of sandalwood drifted in the air. As the host, Kazuha enthusiastically led Ran, Sonoko, and Kanjuro through Kiyomizu Temple to sightsee and pray. Her lively and cheerful personality was like a ray of sunshine, temporarily dispelling some of the gloom hanging over Sonoko and Ran's hearts (at least on the surface).
However, Kazuha's gaze kept drifting toward Kanjuro, who was always calm, elegant, and handsome beyond mortal limits. She couldn't contain her curiosity and, while Kanjuro stepped away to admire the ancient trees in the courtyard, she quietly grabbed Ran's arm and whispered:
"Ran, that... Mr. Kanjuro, what exactly is your relationship with him? You two seem very close." Her eyes held a young girl's pure curiosity, along with a hint of attraction she hadn't even noticed herself.
Ran's cheeks turned slightly red at the question, and she quickly explained: "Kazuha, don't get the wrong idea! Brother Kanjuro... he's like an older brother to me; he takes great care of me." She instinctively hid the shocking truth that Kanjuro was her biological father, using the vague title of "Brother."
"Eh—like a brother?" Kazuha blinked her large eyes, her tone filled with undisguised envy. "That's so nice... Ran has such a handsome, gentle, and reliable-looking brother! I wish I had a brother like that too!" As she spoke, she couldn't help but steal another glance at Kanjuro's tall back, her heart racing for some reason.
Ran felt even more embarrassed by her words and gave her a light nudge: "Kazuha!"
Their whispering did not escape Kanjuro's keen perception, but he didn't mind. His attention was now completely focused on Toyama Kazuha. From the moment he first saw this energetic girl, an extremely faint but incredibly familiar sense of bloodline resonance had quietly awakened within him.
(This sensation... there's no mistake...)
(Toyama Kazuha... does my blood flow within her?)
A faint trace of surprise flashed through Kanjuro's deep eyes, which then turned into realization and... a deeper interest. He carefully sensed the faint pull from the common bloodline, confirming it wasn't an illusion.
(Eighteen years ago... that chaotic and crazy night... that underground ritual that gathered many women...)
(It seems the range of participants was even wider than I imagined. Even the daughter of a high-ranking official of the Osaka Police Department was not spared.)
This discovery made Kanjuro feel that things had become even more interesting.
Sonoko, who had been secretly observing Kanjuro's expression, keenly captured the momentary change in his eyes when he looked at Kazuha—it wasn't the admiration of a man for a woman, but a deeper, scrutinizing gaze with a certain... sense of confirmation. Sonoko's heart immediately became clear as a bell.
(No way... again?)
(Could Kazuha also be...?)
Sonoko's mouth twitched slightly, and she began to complain wildly in her mind, (How many women were in that damn basement eighteen years ago?! Papa Kanjuro, you're too... too incredible! How many is this now? Even the daughter of the Osaka police chief is your offspring?!)
She felt speechless, yet at the same time, she felt a twisted sense of respect for Kanjuro's ridiculously powerful "seeding" ability. Under Kanjuro's shadow, the world seemed to be getting smaller and smaller, filled with the bloodline marks he had left behind.
Kanjuro withdrew his gaze, his face returning to its usual gentle and calm expression, as if the discovery just now was a trivial matter. He walked toward Ran and Kazuha, who were chatting and laughing, his tone natural:
"The atmosphere here truly brings peace of mind. Miss Kazuha, thank you for showing us around."
Kazuha waved her hands hurriedly, her smile brilliant: "You're welcome! I'm very happy to show you around!" Looking at Kanjuro's handsome face so close by, her cheeks involuntarily flushed again.
Kanjuro smiled slightly, his gaze seemingly sweeping casually over Kazuha's vibrant face, while his mind was already calculating.
(Toyama Kazuha... Heiji Hattori's childhood playmate, Ginshiro Toyama's only daughter...)
(This identity is quite interesting.)
(Perhaps... she can become a good pawn, whether for restraining Heiji Hattori or for... a more far-reaching layout.)
The incense for prayers still curled in the air. Beneath the tranquility of Kiyomizu Temple, Kanjuro's dark network silently extended once more, bringing another "daughter"—lost and ignorant of the truth—into his sights. Under the gaze of the gods, the threads of fate were once again gently plucked by those invisible hands. After wandering around Kiyomizu Temple for a while, Sonoko's eyes darted as a plan formed in her mind. Suddenly clutching her stomach and putting on a look of discomfort, she grabbed Ran with her other hand:
"Ran, I think I'm a bit thirsty, and I want to get some local souvenirs for my mom and sister. Could you come with me to those shops over there?" As she spoke, she shot Kanjuro a "well-behaved and sensible" look.
Ran didn't suspect a thing and immediately nodded with concern. "Sure, Sonoko, I'll go with you. Mr. Kanjuro, Kazuha, then you two..."
Kazuha was about to say she could go along too, but Sonoko beat her to it. "Just let Mr. Kanjuro accompany Kazuha while they wander around here a bit more! We'll come find you once we've bought our things!" She practically half-pushed and half-pulled Ran away, leaving Kanjuro and Kazuha alone together.
Kazuha watched Ran and Sonoko's retreating figures, feeling a bit at a loss for a moment. Facing Kanjuro alone made her inexplicably nervous, and her cheeks felt slightly warm.
Kanjuro saw through Sonoko's little trick and was quite satisfied with her "sensibility." He looked at Kazuha beside him; dressed in an elegant kimono, her figure appeared even more slender and her face more charming. With a gentle gaze, he suggested:
"Miss Kazuha, since they've gone shopping, there's a goldfish-scooping game over there that looks quite interesting. Would you like to try it together?"
His invitation was natural and polite, his voice deep and pleasant. Kazuha looked up, meeting his clear, smiling eyes. Her heart skipped a beat, and she nodded almost subconsciously. "Sure... sounds good."
The two walked side by side toward the goldfish-scooping stall. Their wooden geta clicked crisply on the stone path. The afternoon sunlight filtered through the trees, dancing across them. Kazuha stole a glance at Kanjuro from the corner of her eye; his profile was as perfectly sculpted as a statue, and his calm expression made her nervous heart relax without her even realizing it.
"Miss Kazuha," Kanjuro began casually, his voice as warm as idle chatter, "I heard from Ran that your father is an officer at the Osaka Police Department? He must be very busy with work."
"Yes," Kazuha nodded, her tone carrying a sense of habit. "Dad is indeed very busy, often working overtime with one case after another." She paused, seemingly remembering something, and a fleeting, imperceptible gloom flashed in her eyes, but she quickly brightened up with a smile again. "But I've been used to it for a long time! He always spends time with me whenever he's free!"
"And... what about your mother?" Kanjuro continued to guide the conversation, his gaze calmly fixed on the path ahead.
At the mention of her mother, Kazuha's expression stiffened slightly. She bit her lower lip gently before saying, "Mom... she rarely lives with Dad and me. I don't know exactly why; it seems like it's been that way since I can remember... There seems to be some kind of... rift between them?" Her tone carried a hint of uncertainty and faint disappointment, but she quickly pulled herself together, flashing a bright but slightly forced smile. "But, well, both Mom and Dad are very good to me! Even though they aren't together often, they both care about me a lot!"
Kanjuro listened quietly, capturing key information from her words and subtle expressions—the parents had been living apart for a long time, and their relationship was delicate. This seemed to align with the bloodline resonance he sensed and the chaotic ritual eighteen years ago. Toyama Kazuha's mother was likely one of the participants back then.
At that moment, Kazuha turned her head and looked at Kanjuro curiously. "Mr. Kanjuro, what about you? What about your family?"
Kanjuro met her pure, curious gaze, a perfectly timed, slightly lonely smile appearing on his face, and his voice dropped a few octaves:
"I... am an orphan. I haven't had parents since I was a child, and I don't know who they are."
He spoke these words nonchalantly, yet they were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, sending ripples through Kazuha's heart.
"Oh... I-I'm sorry! I shouldn't have asked that!" Kazuha panicked instantly, her heart filled with apology and a sudden surge of sympathy. Looking at Kanjuro's handsome profile, which seemed shrouded in an air of loneliness, and imagining him growing up with no one to rely on, a strong sense of protectiveness and heartache welled up within her.
She stopped in her tracks and turned to Kanjuro, her gaze incredibly serious and gentle, her tone carrying a warmth that was almost like a promise:
"Mr. Kanjuro... if, if you don't mind..."
Her cheeks flushed slightly, but her gaze remained firm. "You can treat Ran and me as your family! In the future, if you come to Osaka or need help with anything, you can come to me! I... I will treat you just like a sister treats her brother!"
Her words were sincere and fervent, filled with a young girl's pure kindness and compassion. She wanted to warm this "brother" who seemed perfect yet had such a tragic background.
Kanjuro looked at the girl before him, her eyes clear as she tried her best to comfort him. The loneliness on his face quickly vanished, replaced once more by a gentle smile—though deep within that smile, a cold light that no one could understand flashed by.
(Family? Sister?)
(Truly... adorably naive.)
(You are already of my blood; why would you need to 'treat' me as such?)
(However, this sympathy and kindness... I am more than happy to accept.)
He nodded gently, his tone carrying a perfectly measured sense of "gratitude." "Thank you, Kazuha. You're just like Ran—very kind."
His acknowledgment made Kazuha smile happily, as if she had accomplished something great. Her previous tension and awkwardness vanished into thin air.
However, she didn't know that her heartfelt sympathy and kindness were drawing her step by step into a dark trap already woven for her, one named "family" and "dependency." The surface of the goldfish-scooping water reflected their seemingly harmonious figures; beneath the rippling waves lay unfathomable calculations and a transgressive fate about to be triggered.
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