Kidnapping? Prank?

October 10th, Monday.

Early in the morning, the Suzuki family received news that Suzuki Sonoko had been kidnapped!

Besides the kidnapping letter, there was also a mobile phone. However, the phone hadn't rung yet.

In the Villa in Beika Town, only Suzuki Ayako, the couple Suzuki Shiro and Suzuki Tomoko, and a maid were present. They didn't usually live in this Villa. It was just a small Villa they bought casually because it was "close to Sonoko's School." Besides Sonoko, only a maid usually stayed there.

After receiving the kidnapping letter, Suzuki Shiro and Suzuki Ayako were very panicked. Only Suzuki Tomoko appeared calm on the surface.

"I told you it wouldn't do for Sonoko to go to school without a bodyguard... Sigh... No one's answering the phone at the School either..."

"Shut up!"

Tomoko immediately silenced Shiro's incessant rambling.

Although they didn't immediately decide to call the police, Ayako still contacted Shiraishi.

After all, the incident happened in Beika Town, and Shiraishi was someone they knew. "Contacting someone we know" was much more discreet than "calling the police." Shiraishi definitely wouldn't make a big fuss, making it less likely for the kidnappers to discover them!

A short while later...

Ding dong--

Upon hearing the doorbell, Ayako immediately looked at the video intercom by the door and found...

"Sonoko?" Ayako was stunned.

It wasn't Shiraishi who arrived, nor was it anyone from the kidnappers, but... the "kidnapped" Sonoko.

"Huh? Big sis, why are you here?" Sonoko was puzzled why her sister was there.

As she opened the door, Sonoko realized it wasn't just her sister...

"Dad, Mom, you're all here? Are we... going out to play?" Sonoko asked, confused.

If they were going out to play, wasn't it a bit late to leave today?

"Sonoko... where have you been?" Shiro asked anxiously.

"Huh? I went out with Ran yesterday. Didn't I tell you, Mom?" Sonoko said as a matter of course.

Shiro and Ayako looked at Tomoko.

Tomoko: ...

Well, although she had appeared calm just now, in reality... she had also forgotten in her haste.

"Then... aren't you going to school today?" Ayako immediately asked.

"Today is Sports Day holiday! What's wrong with you guys?" Sonoko was greatly bewildered.

It was precisely because today, October 10th, was the birthday of Ran's mother, Hideo Eri, that Ran had pulled Sonoko along in advance to help decorate, hoping to create an opportunity for "spousal reconciliation" for her father.

Ayako and Tomoko looked at Shiro—no wonder no one answered the phone at the school!

Shiro: ...

"Hahaha, it's good that you're okay." Shiro chuckled foolishly.

"It seems it was just a prank..." Ayako finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Sonoko tilted her head, still not understanding what had happened, but she still said, "Okay, I'll go change first."

She had stayed at Ran's house last night and hadn't changed her clothes. Her mobile phone was also out of battery.

Seeing Sonoko run upstairs, Ayako's heart settled, but she suddenly said with distress, "Oh no... Kuro!"

Tomoko's eyes immediately narrowed, and she even let out a "hmph."

Seeing this, Shiro quickly tried to smooth things over, saying, "Okay, okay, it's good that you're okay. And let's not have Mr. Shiraishi come all this way for nothing. Let's all go out for a meal later... Hmm, we can also ask Shiraishi for advice on Sonoko's safety issues, to be prepared for the future!"

"Tch, what does he know..." Although Tomoko looked displeased, she didn't object.

But at that moment...

Ah--

A scream came from upstairs!

"Sonoko!"

Ayako and her parents rushed upstairs, with the plump Shiro almost tumbling down.

Then...

Click, thud--

The sound of a door slamming shut!

By the time the three of them reached the second floor, they saw... Shiraishi standing innocently outside Sonoko's bedroom door.

Shiraishi: ...

Ayako, Shiro, Tomoko: ...

The atmosphere was a little awkward.

"Kuro... what are you doing..." Ayako asked awkwardly.

"If there's a kidnapping case, the kidnappers usually monitor the residence. I didn't want to be discovered, so... By the way, who did you just say was kidnapped?" Shiraishi also found it utterly baffling.

Shiraishi circled the vicinity. Although he didn't see any kidnappers, he decided to infiltrate stealthily just in case!

After all, with Shiraishi's physique, even disguised as a delivery man or a salesman, he would be too conspicuous.

So, Shiraishi simply climbed over the wall with his bare hands and then climbed to the second floor to enter, only to find...

What happened to Sonoko being kidnapped? Although he hadn't seen clearly just now, Sonoko had grown quite a bit since before, but Shiraishi still recognized her!

Everyone gathered in the living room downstairs. After some explanation, Shiraishi finally understood it was just a false alarm.

"I'm truly sorry, Shiraishi, for making you come all this way for nothing. Let's go grab a bite together later!" Shirou said kindly.

However, Tomoko chimed in sarcastically at this moment, "It seems we were overthinking it. How could there be a kidnapper in the jurisdiction of the esteemed hero of the police world? Hehehe..."

"That's right, this is all part of our duty. Since there's no issue, I won't overstay my welcome!" Shiraishi, of course, didn't have a pleasant tone either.

Just as Ayako was caught in an awkward position...

Ding dong--

The doorbell rang.

Seizing the opportunity to interrupt the argument, Ayako quickly went to press the visual intercom.

"Hello, is this the Suzuki family? We have an appointment to deliver a wardrobe," two men dressed as delivery workers said "furtively."

"A wardrobe?" Ayako was stunned by the words.

Why would Sonoko buy a wardrobe?

Before she could react, the men discreetly flashed their Police IDs at the camera and whispered, "Ms. Suzuki, we are from Beika Police Station. We know something has happened at your home, please open the door quickly!"

Ayako and the other two looked at Shiraishi.

Shiraishi, however, was also bewildered and walked over—Shiraishi hadn't contacted the police station before!

But these officers weren't fakes. Approaching the visual phone, Shiraishi immediately recognized the officer speaking...

"Kuroki? He's indeed a police officer from our station," Shiraishi said, gesturing for Ayako to open the door.

"Huh?" Kuroki was surprised to hear the Chief's voice.

Kuroki Kenji was a Detective in the Haitani Unit. He had been ordered to reflect on his actions and had just returned to duty today.

Seeing Ayako actually open the door at Shiraishi's signal, Tomoko's face fell, and she seemed about to say something, but Shirou placated her with a smile.

After opening the door, two young men in delivery uniforms entered. One of them saw Shiraishi and immediately saluted, "Chief! You knew about Miss Sonoko's kidnapping case too?"

The young police officer beside him was stunned, only now realizing the identity of this "Little Giant"—he was one of the three new officers transferred today, the "potential rookie" Kanzaki Ryuichi, who had little prior experience.

Just then, Sonoko, having changed her clothes, came downstairs. She was a little flushed and embarrassed at first, but now hearing this person's words...

"Kidnapping? Me?" Sonoko pointed to herself, confused.

"Ah, apologies, officers, it was just a prank," Ayako quickly explained upon seeing this.

Shiraishi, however, frowned deeply and said, "Wait, where did you two hear about a kidnapping case? Did someone report it?"

Shiraishi was beginning to suspect something was amiss, and it was likely not as simple as a prank