Kidnapping? Prank?

Monday, October 10.

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

Along with the ransom note was a cellphone, though it had not rung yet.

At the Beika Town villa were only Suzuki Ayako, Suzuki Shiro and Suzuki Tomoko, along with one maid—normally, they did not live in this villa either. It had merely been a small villa casually bought because it was "close to Sonoko's school." Other than Sonoko, only one maid was usually there.

After receiving the ransom note, Suzuki Shiro and Suzuki Ayako were both panicking. Only Suzuki Tomoko appeared outwardly calm.

"I told you Sonoko couldn't go to school without bodyguards... Sigh... The school isn't answering either..."

"Shut up!"

Tomoko immediately cut off Shiro's rambling.

Although they had not immediately decided to call the police, Ayako still contacted Shiraishi.

After all, the incident had happened in Beika Town, and Shiraishi was someone they knew. "Contacting someone they knew" was far more discreet than "calling the police." Shiraishi certainly would not make a grand entrance, making it less likely for the kidnappers to notice!

Not long after...

Ding-dong—

Upon hearing the doorbell, Ayako immediately looked at the video intercom, only to discover...

"Sonoko?" Ayako froze.

The person who had come was neither Shiraishi nor anyone connected to the kidnappers, but... the "kidnapped" Sonoko.

"Huh? Sis, why are you here?" Sonoko wondered why her sister was there.

Once the door opened, Sonoko discovered that it was not just her sister...

"Dad, Mom, you're both here too? Are we... going out to have fun?" Sonoko asked uncertainly.

If they were going out, was it not rather late to leave today?

"Sonoko... where did you go?" Shiro asked anxiously.

"Huh? I went out with Ran yesterday. Didn't I tell you, Mom?" Sonoko said as though it were obvious.

Shiro and Ayako looked at Tomoko.

Tomoko:...

Well, although she had looked very composed just now, she had actually been so worried that she forgot.

"Then... there's no school today?" Ayako immediately asked.

"Today's Sports Day holiday! What's wrong with you all?" Sonoko was completely baffled.

It was because today, October 10, was Ran's mother Hideo Eri's birthday that Ran had dragged Sonoko over early to decorate, hoping to create an opportunity for her parents to "reconcile as a couple."

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

Shiro:...

"Hahaha, it's fine as long as you're safe." Shiro chuckled foolishly.

"Looks like it was just a prank..." Ayako finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Sonoko tilted her head, still not understanding what had happened, but said, "All right, I'm going upstairs to change first."

She had stayed over at Ran's house last night, had not changed her underwear, and her phone had run out of battery.

Watching Sonoko run upstairs, Ayako relaxed, only to suddenly say awkwardly, "Oh no... Kuro!"

Tomoko's eyes immediately narrowed, and she even gave a cold "Hmph."

Seeing this, Shiro hurriedly tried to smooth things over. "All right, all right, it's fine as long as she's safe. Since Shiraishi came all this way, we shouldn't let him make a wasted trip. Let's have a meal together later... Mm, we can also ask Shiraishi for advice about Sonoko's safety. Better safe than sorry!"

"Tch, what would he know..." Tomoko looked displeased, but she did not object.

But just then...

Aah—

A scream came from upstairs!

"Sonoko!"

Ayako and her parents hurried upstairs. The chubby Shiro nearly crawled up the stairs in his haste.

Then...

Crash, thud—

The sound of a door slamming rang out!

When the three of them reached the second floor, they saw... Shiraishi standing outside Sonoko's bedroom door with an innocent expression.

Shiraishi:...

Ayako, Shiro, Tomoko:...

The atmosphere was somewhat awkward.

"Kuro... why are you..." Ayako asked awkwardly.

"If there's a Kidnapping Case, the kidnappers usually keep the residence under surveillance. To avoid being seen, I... Wait, who did you just tell me was kidnapped?" Shiraishi was equally baffled.

Shiraishi had circled around the nearby area. Although he had not spotted any kidnappers, he had still decided to sneak in discreetly just in case!

After all, with Shiraishi's build, even if he disguised himself as a deliveryman or salesman, he would have been far too conspicuous.

So Shiraishi had climbed over the wall with his bare hands, then climbed into the second floor, only to find...

Wasn't Sonoko supposed to have been kidnapped? Although he had not gotten a clear look just now, and Sonoko had grown quite a bit since before, Shiraishi had still recognized her as Sonoko herself!

Everyone came down to the living room. After some explanations, Shiraishi finally understood that it had been a false alarm.

"I'm truly sorry to have made you come all this way for nothing, Shiraishi. Let's have a simple meal together later!" Shiro said amicably.

But Tomoko spoke in a strangely sarcastic tone. "I suppose we were overthinking things. How could there possibly be kidnappers in the jurisdiction of a great hero of the police force? Hehehe..."

"That's right, it's all part of our duty. Since everything's fine, I won't disturb you any longer!" Naturally, Shiraishi did not respond warmly either.

Just as Ayako was caught in the middle...

Ding-dong—

The doorbell rang.

Taking advantage of the interruption, Ayako hurried to answer through the video intercom.

"Hello, is this the Suzuki residence? We're here to deliver the wardrobe you ordered." Two men dressed as deliverymen spoke "sneakily."

"A wardrobe?" Ayako froze at that.

Why would Sonoko buy a wardrobe?

Before she could react, the other party discreetly flashed his Police ID at the camera and whispered, "Ms. Suzuki, we're from Beika Police Station. We already know something has happened at your home. Please open the door quickly!"

Hearing that, Ayako and her parents all looked at Shiraishi.

But Shiraishi looked equally confused and walked over—he had not contacted the police station beforehand!

However, the officer was not an impostor. Upon reaching the video intercom, Shiraishi immediately recognized the officer speaking...

"Kuroki? He is indeed an officer from our station." Shiraishi signaled for Ayako to open the door.

"Huh?" Hearing the chief's voice, Kuroki was startled as well.

Kuroki Kenji was a detective from the Haitani Unit. He had previously been ordered to reflect on his actions and had only returned to duty today.

When Tomoko saw Ayako actually open the door at Shiraishi's signal, her expression darkened as though she wanted to say something, but Shiro stopped her with an apologetic smile.

After the door opened, the two young men dressed as deliverymen entered. Upon seeing Shiraishi, one of them immediately saluted. "Chief! So you already knew about Miss Sonoko's Kidnapping Case?"

The younger officer beside him froze, only then learning the identity of the "Little Giant" before him—he was Kanzaki Ryuichi, one of the three officers newly transferred in today, and the only "promising rookie" without much of a record.

Just then, Sonoko, having changed clothes, came downstairs. She had still been blushing awkwardly, but upon hearing what he said...

"Kidnapped? Me?" Sonoko pointed at herself in confusion.

"Ah, sorry, officers. It was only a prank." Ayako hurriedly explained.

But Shiraishi frowned deeply. "Wait. Where did you two hear about the Kidnapping Case? Did someone report it?"

Shiraishi had already vaguely realized that something was wrong. This was likely not as simple as a prank...