The Donor, You Have a Connection With My Buddha

A window seat Snow King Ice City.

After Mori Ran decided to go to Kyoto with her best friend and Fujino, who lived across the street, she started planning her trip like an excited little girl before leaving home. "Fujino- Senior, are there any fun places to visit in Kyoto that you would recommend?"

"I remember you went to Kyoto last time, didn't you? I think it was for a wedding. Didn't you do any sightseeing?"

"Don't even mention it, Fujino- Senior..."

Ran couldn't help but sigh upon hearing this. She rested her chin on her hand, her expression gradually turning from sunny to gloomy. "That guy Dad got drunk at the wedding and made a fool of himself, so I had to take care of him at the hotel. He didn't even step out of the hotel where the wedding was being held before coming back."

Fujino chuckled, thinking to himself that he was indeed Mouri-niisan. He then pondered for a moment and said, "There's not much to do in Kyoto. The places I would recommend are probably Kiyomizu-dera Kiyomizu-dera and such. To be honest, the winding streets are like an old-fashioned maze. If you don't know how to navigate them, you'll get lost."

"Really?"

The two girls spoke at the same time.

However, Ran was worried about whether she, who had no sense of direction, would get lost.

Sonoko, on the other hand, was wondering why Fujino seemed so familiar with Kyoto.

"Is it even possible that it's fake?"

Fujino sighed helplessly, "I saw it when I went to Kyoto with Momiji not long ago during summer vacation. It's easy to get lost in that place. The city planning is just for show, especially the protected areas near the tourist attractions."

Sonoko looked at him, her expression changing slightly, her delicate eyebrows arching slightly, sensing something was amiss. "Did you go to Kyoto with that young lady during summer vacation?"

Fujino nodded. "Yeah, she lives in Kyoto."

Sonoko looked at him, blinked, and felt it made sense. Then she looked down and felt something was off. "Fujino- Senior, why were you shopping in Kyoto with her?"

"..." Ran glanced at her best friend and suddenly realized that she seemed to have forgotten to mention this!

As a fish-like creature, Mori Ran doesn't have a very good memory and often forgets important things in a daze.

She didn't really take this matter to heart.

After all, Sonoko seemed to have given up on trying to conquer Fujino during her last trip to Izu.

However, to prevent the ship of friendship from capsizing, she quickly changed the subject, saying, "It's about the request. Miss Momiji was worried about her safety while traveling in Ryukyu, so she asked Fujino- Senior for help. Then she ran into us, who were filming a program in Ryukyu, and we also encountered a case!"

Sonoko glanced at her best friend suspiciously, feeling that this request was a bit inappropriate—who requests a trip together?

After some discussion, we decided to go to Kyoto tomorrow.

Ran and Sonoko left Snow King Ice City, planning to go home and prepare their luggage for their departure the next day.

Sonoko followed behind Ran, lost in thought, and suddenly asked her, "Hey Ran, what do you think is the extent of things between that Senior from Kyoto and Fujino?"

"Huh?"

Ran was taken aback by her best friend's question and hesitated, "Well... I'm not really sure either."

"Is that so?" Sonoko nodded upon hearing this, a thoughtful look in her eyes.

"That Sonoko..."

Ran couldn't help but ask, "You haven't given up on Fujino- Senior yet?"

"Hmm..."

Sonoko blushed slightly. "Of course, how could I possibly give up?"

"But, Sonoko, this can't go on like this!"

Ran whispered, "Senior like he doesn't have any romantic feelings for you. It seems like he only sees you as a friend."

She paused, then hesitated, "And what if, what if Miss Momiji and Senior are already dating..."

"Of course I know."

Sonoko lowered her head and murmured, "This sudden appearance of a childhood friend and some kind of childhood promise... I'm just not reconciled. I was the one who came first..."

Ran looked at her best friend, who was usually carefree but had now turned into a resentful young woman, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

She knows her best friend best; she's always falling for every guy she meets, and she can't stand the sight of a handsome guy.

But now, after all this time, I'm still thinking about someone...

Helpless, she could only pat Sonoko on the shoulder and chuckle, "Alright, Sonoko, I was just saying what if. Maybe they're just commissioning us... Anyway, you still have a chance. We can take a good look when we go to Kyoto tomorrow and then decide."

Sonoko was downcast for a moment, but Ran's words of encouragement swept away her gloom, and she perked up. "Yes, Ran, you're right... I still have a chance!"

Ran looked at her energetic best friend, opened her mouth, but ultimately didn't say anything.

To be honest, seeing her best friend so down always made her feel terrible...

I don't feel bad anymore.

But a sense of guilt, as if I had done something wrong, welled up in my heart.

Life is tough, Ran sighed.

The next day, at the exit of JR Kyoto Station.

"Kyoto truly is the spiritual home of us Japan!"

Suzuki Sonoko, with her hair down, wearing a burgundy shirt, a pink blazer, and a pale white knee-length blazer, carrying a travel bag, looked at the Kyoto Tower in the distance and remarked with great enthusiasm.

Then, she turned to Fujino, who was wearing a black suit and trench coat, and suggested, "Fujino- Senior, you should be very familiar with Kyoto, so why don't you take us to see some of the fun places here!"

"Hey! Hey!"

The older Mouri-niisan, reminded him, "You came here because of my request, why are you thinking about having fun as soon as you get here?"

Ran was wearing a dark blue long skirt suit with a light pink sweater underneath. She followed behind and smiled slightly at Sonoko: "Yes, we came here mainly because of Dad's request. Let's go shopping after the request is over."

"Yes, I have no objection."

Fujino answered, "Where are you two?"

"I don't."

Ai Haibara had an iris hair clip hanging from the end of her hair, wore a gray haori over a white T-shirt, and a pinkish-purple long skirt that swayed slightly as she followed behind with small steps.

"I don't have any either."

Conan, holding the back of his head, casually responded, then whispered to Ai Haibara beside him, "By the way, why did you come along too? If you ask me, you're probably worried that Fujino will be kidnapped by that young lady, right?"

Why can't I come over?

Ai Haibara glanced at Conan: "Speaking of which, who was it that kept calling him 'sister, sister' and begging his Ran to bring him here?"

"Cough, it definitely wasn't me!"

Conan coughed awkwardly, as if remembering something, and asked Mori Kogoro, "By the way, Uncle, who exactly is the person you've asked this time?"

"It is a temple called Kannō-ji Temple."

Mori Kogoro crossed his arms and said, "As for what kind of request it is, I don't know either, but you guys better not cause any trouble later!"

"Yes!"

The group responded, having already verbally agreed to Mori Kogoro's commands, but in reality, they let it go in one ear and out the other.

Since I came to Kyoto by high-speed rail instead of driving, getting to Kannō-ji Temple from the station became quite a hassle, and I guess I had to take a taxi.

Just as Mori Kogoro was about to look for a taxi, a long car with a silver figure on the hood pulled up in front of the crowd at the station, accompanied by a pleasant engine sound.

Ooka Momiji opened the car door, her light blue sundress swaying slightly as she greeted everyone, "Everyone, thank you for coming all this way."

"Miss Momiji?"

Ran looked her over carefully, then looked surprised. Sonoko narrowed her eyes slightly and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Momiji walked over slowly and smiled slightly at everyone, "After all, it's rare for you all to come to Kyoto, so I should do my best to be a good host."

"No, no, no!"

Sonoko shook her head slightly. "I mean, how did you know we were coming..."

Ooka Momiji glanced in Fujino's direction. "Because Fujino messaged me yesterday saying he's coming to Kyoto today."

"...?"

Everyone's expressions turned strange as they looked at Fujino standing to the side.

Fujino felt a little uneasy under the gaze and changed the subject, saying, "Speaking of which, Momiji, have you ever heard of a temple called Kannō-ji Temple?"

"Kannō-ji Temple?"

Fujino explained, "Mouri-niisan has a request from Kannō-ji Temple this time, and that's why we came here."

"I've heard of this temple; Iori should know the address."

"Then I'll trouble you to take us there."

Riding in Momiji's car, the group arrived at the Kannō-ji Temple that Mouri-niisan had mentioned.

Kannō-ji Temple is located in Kyoto, surrounded by apartment-like buildings, and the retro-style Kannō-ji Temple is hidden among them.

The temple gate is made of retro wood, with a sign that reads "Kannō-ji Temple" hanging on it. Looking inside from the gate, a stone-paved path leads directly to the Japanese-style temple building in front.

Fujino got out of the car and couldn't help but take a deep breath.

To be honest, he felt the atmosphere was not good from the moment he got on the bus.

With his keen senses, he vaguely felt a strange, oppressive feeling pressing down on him.

On the stone path in front of the temple entrance, several different figures were gathered together, discussing something.

The group entered the temple and continued on their way.

A round-faced man with a short haircut, thick eyebrows, and big eyes, wearing a black and gray robe, noticed the group and quickly walked towards Mori Kogoro, greeting him warmly. "Mr. Mouri, it's really kind of you to come all this way!"

"I am Ryūen one who contacted you before!"

The monk named Ryūen shook hands with Mori Kogoro, then introduced the others.

The kind-faced, squinting old man, named Enkai, is the abbot of this temple.

The man with a plump face, glasses, a purple suit, and dark skin is Sakura Masazō, an antique and art dealer.

The one over there with delicate features and wearing a kimono has a more noble status; he is Mizuo Shuntarō, the young master of the Mizuo School of Noh theater.

As for the last one, the tall, well-built man with round-framed glasses, it's the used bookstore manager Saijō Taiga.

It's worth mentioning that these people are all friends who study Kendo.

Fujino silently scanned the crowd, indirectly proving this point.

Although these people are basically different in appearance and have a large age gap, they all have one thing in common: their right forearm muscles are relatively well-developed.

This is the simplest standard for judging whether someone practices swordsmanship.

Of course, badminton and tennis players also have corresponding characteristics.

However, what Fujino found a little strange was that among these five people, Saijō Taiga, Sakura Masazō, and Enkai seemed inexplicably surprised when they first saw him.

Especially the old host, Enkai, was practically staring intently at him.

Feeling uneasy under his gaze, Fujino couldn't help but ask, "Excuse me, is there something on my face?"

"Nothingness is existence, and existence is nothingness..."

Abbot Enkai squinted at Fujino for a while, then slowly walked over and asked, "Young friend, may I ask who you are?"

"My name is Fujino, and I'm a detective."

Fujino frowned and glanced at the monk in front of him. "He lives right across from Mouri-niisan. I'm just here for a visit."

"I see."

Enkai nodded and called to the round-faced monk beside him, "Ryūen, come and take a look at this young benefactor."

"What's wrong with this benefactor?"

"Look carefully, look with your heart."

Enkai took two steps back, squinted slightly, and opened his eyes a little wider. "Did you see that? The Buddha's light behind him."

"I saw it! The Buddha's light is so dazzling!"

The monk named Ryūen immediately put his hands together and began chanting Buddhist scriptures. "Namo Amitabha Buddha..."

Abbot Enkai couldn't help but exclaim, "This benefactor is a person with great wisdom!"

"..."

Fujino remained silent as he watched the two monks 'perform' in front of him, a hint of innocent confusion in his eyes.

Great wisdom root, so what is this wisdom root?

Is the root a proper root?

Why do I feel like what you, Lao Deng, are saying about wisdom is a bit off-topic?

Is this a monk?

Enkai had no idea what Fujino was thinking. He took out a string of prayer beads from his pocket, kept turning them with one hand, and held the other hand horizontally in front of his chest. He bowed slightly and invited, "Esteemed benefactor, I see that you have an affinity with Buddhism. Why don't you become a monk at my Kannō-ji Temple?"

"Enter the Buddhist order?"

Fujino looked at the old monk in front of him, and his eyebrows twitched involuntarily. No wonder this guy was talking about Buddha's light and great wisdom just now. So this is what he was waiting for.

Putting aside whether this is proper or not, the key point is that this old bald monk is trying to drag him down with him!

Are Buddhist sects nowadays so careless?

Why do people always want to become monks or nuns?

What kind of operation is this?

"Huh?!!"

After a brief silence, everyone looked at the scene before them and couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

Sonoko also gasped in surprise, and after regaining her composure, she couldn't help but ask weakly, "What does 'entering the Buddhist order' mean?"

Everyone: "..."

Why are you spouting nonsense if you don't even know what it means?

Ai Haibara's expression turned strange for a moment. She touched the hair clip at the end of her hair to calm herself down and explained, "It means becoming a monk. This abbot wants to invite Fujino to become a monk."