The Detective Who Played With Time

Of course, this is probably also related to Shiina Hiyori, who is standing in front of it at this moment, carefully examining and observing its specific effects.

After all, for most guys, when faced with a confession or even a marriage Confessions from a girl with flowing silver hair and a pure, charming demeanor, it probably doesn't matter what the props are, or even if there are none at all.

However, once she made up her mind, it was destined that Shiina Hiyori would be determined to fight this battle. That was just her personality; she was exceptionally gentle when she was gentle, but when she became stubborn, even Ryuen Kakeru, the absolute Leader of the class, had to give in to her, and not just once or twice.

"And then, there's this archway..."

After finishing their work on the balloons, Shiina Hiyori and Karuizawa Kei began to struggle with the archway that was practically blocking their way and taking up almost the entire passageway.

Unfortunately, that's just how big the single dorm rooms at Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School are. This is even though Shiina Hiyori had already moved many of her personal belongings to the bathroom or Karuizawa Kei's place beforehand, leaving quite a bit of space free.

"Although the tutorial said that you can decorate this archway with whatever you like, it still feels a bit restrictive."

"Indeed, Hui, do you have any recommendations for a larger place? We've only just started and we already feel like we don't have enough space. We definitely can't finish decorating the dorm room."

To be honest, there's no shortage of open spaces at Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School, but the problem is that what the two of them were doing secretly couldn't be easily discovered by others, and they needed a place that was both large and secluded...

How's our Drama Club's activity room?

Karuizawa Kei made this suggestion.

First of all, as a classroom for club activities, the space is definitely sufficient. It can easily fit an archway, let alone four or five; the space is definitely big enough.

The second point is concealment.

As everyone knows, the head of the Drama Club Kitagawa Ryo, has been transferred to the Student Council as a Paru by the Acting Chairman, Tsukishiro, and naturally has no time to manage the Drama Club anymore.

Naturally, the key to the club activity room fell into the hands of the vice president Karuizawa Kei. After all, according to the practice of other clubs, in the absence of the president, the vice president and the instructor usually continue to organize and carry out daily training.

However, the situation in the Drama Club is clearly different from other clubs.

Although it's often jokingly referred to as Kitagawa Ryo's club on campus forums, Karuizawa Kei really wants to clarify that this is not a rumor but a fact.

Anyway, the situation is very simple now. As soon as Kitagawa Ryo left, the rest of the Drama Club members, just like the pilgrimage team whose master was captured, went back to Gao Village Flowing Sand River Flowing Sand River.

Forget about daily training and activities, after a couple of days even the people who came to show up at the appointed time were gone. When Karuizawa Kei locked the door, it was indeed secluded enough.

"It seems like it could work."

Shiina Hiyori also thought Karuizawa Kei's idea was good, so the two of them first assembled some small parts, such as balloons and light bulbs, in their dormitory, and then contacted the deliverymen in the ANHS campus to help pack and send all the props over.

Of course, the official explanation given was that it was a prop needed for Drama Club performance.

In just one afternoon, Shiina Hiyori and Karuizawa Kei successfully transformed the Drama Club's activity room.

"Candlelights outline the path, pink petals fill the gaps in the path, and at the end is a base surrounded by balloons, next to which are lights that spell out 'Marry Me'... I still really don't know what to put on this archway."

Karuizawa Kei turned the room lights back on and looked hesitantly at the still bare archway.

"Compared to the archway, I feel the overall setup gives off a more groom-to-be-married-woman vibe."

Looking at the arrangement before her, which was predominantly pink and white, Shiina Hiyori found herself in another dilemma:

"I don't think Liang would really like this."

"Actually, the form is not as important as the sentiment. This whole area was decorated Hiyori you, Hiyori... well, I did help out a little bit too."

Despite Karuizawa Kei's words of comfort, Shiina Hiyori still shook her head somewhat unsatisfied.

"The sentiment is indeed more important than the form, but these things don't seem to express my feelings... Hmm, they lack my personal touch?"

At this point, Shiina Hiyori couldn't help but recall the riddle she had prepared for Kitagawa Ryo in that simulation. It was a song taken from the classic mystery novel "And Then There Were None," which, after being cleverly combined with the various activities of that summer festival, ultimately pointed to the location of the truth.

"Just make sure Hiyori's character is unique, and that the final episode of Conan doesn't end with a Valentine's Day wedding special event."

Karuizawa Kei sighed and rubbed her forehead in exasperation. She knew her best friend's character all too well.

"For a master detective, a trick that's been used once isn't suitable to be used again, so don't worry, Hui."

Shiina Hiyori looked thoughtfully at everything that had been painstakingly arranged before her, then suddenly revealed a subtle expression like that of a client, thinking, "I think this is feasible."

"How about we tear everything down and start over?"

Shiina Hiyori was convinced of one thing from beginning to end: she and Kitagawa Ryo were destined for each other on a soul level.

Finding a person of the opposite sex with shared hobbies, interests, and topics of conversation in the vast sea of people is never an easy task. She just got this opportunity too early, so she never felt it was that difficult.

If we're really talking about the timing, she only realized this fact around the time she moved to the United Kingdom with her parents during middle school.

That's why she wanted to share everything with Kitagawa Ryo, even though they were separated by a huge time difference on opposite sides of the Earth—first books, then life, or perhaps, books were her life.

If reading is like interacting with characters from another world through words, then Shiina Hiyori's experience from the moment she met Kitagawa Ryo was a true two-player game.

"Therefore, if it's a ceremony between me and Ryo, these things absolutely cannot be missing."

When talking about topics she enjoys, Shiina Hiyori's eyes practically sparkle.

"I want to write things that only Ryo and I can understand, not just simple things like 'Marry Me' or 'I love you'."

"The same goes for this archway. I want to hang up photos of me and Ryo, and then there are the books, the books that he and I have read and discussed countless times."

Shiina Hiyori stood in front of the archway, her arms outstretched towards Karuizawa Kei, a satisfied smile on her face as if she had finally come to terms with things.

"That was a love letter I gave to him, and also a love letter he gave to me."

Almost without any thought, all of Kitagawa Ryo's memories of Shiina Hiyori, along with the titles of those books, were recounted in detail.

(Note: All book titles listed below are from mystery novels)

"To me, Liang is sometimes like someone from From Another World. There's no scheming or Malice in our interactions. I always feel that it's nice to Always a Child in front of you. Without realizing it, I've come to like you so much, I like you the most."

"Perhaps it is precisely because of this that I am able to recall those <The Forgotten Story>, and gradually retrieve the memories that disappeared along with <the Gone Girl>."

"But I also believe that, just as Sherlock Holmes dies in 'The Final Problem' but is Resurrection in 'The Empty House,' and just as 'The Long Goodbye' leads to the acquisition of 'The Book of Happiness,' 'Eight Million Ways to Die' is not enough to bring everything to an end."

"Because in my view, 'lovesickness' has never been 'Proof of Youth,' much less 'Offering to the Void.' You and I are not 'The Perfect Detective,' but simply kindred spirits who have naturally fallen for each other."

"However, I still hope our relationship can go further. This might be considered crossing a line, but I don't want it to remain a secret in my heart forever."

"The Rules of the Detective's have never existed for us. Just like many mystery novels, even if they violate the so-called twenty rules, they still present us with wonderful stories. Right now, I just want to be more intimate with you and 'depend on you,' and I want to achieve 'Complete Love' with Ryo."

That's why I chose to Confessions to you here Face to Face...

Seemingly sensing that the following content was somewhat inappropriate for children, Shiina Hiyori paused suddenly at this point.

Karuizawa Kei, standing nearby, was completely bewildered, wondering, "Who am I? Where am I? What is the other person saying? I can't understand a word!" When Shiina Hiyori tilted her head as if she had a lapse in concentration, she assumed she had finished speaking and was about to go over to ask or tease her when she heard her finally stammer out the last part of her sentence:

"So, I want to go with Ryo... into the <The Locked Room of Boys and Girls>."

That's a classic from Oyama Seiichiro's mystery novel, "The Locked Room Collector." The core locked-room mystery of the entire work stems from the sincere love between a high school couple, making it a story that evokes a sense of regret no matter how many times you watch it.

"Go, finish... both of ours."

"The Initiation Love."

Chapter 473: The Detective Who Plays with Time

After saying these words that Karuizawa Kei could hardly understand, Shiina Hiyori lowered her head again and stared at the ring she was holding in her palm.

All she had to do was return the ring—which had unexpectedly appeared in her room, been caught up in Ayatsuji Yukito's "The Decagon House Murders" by her father, and then sent to Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School under the guise of the Cultural Festival —to its owner, Kitagawa Ryo.

The date was set for Valentine's Day.

As she pondered this, Shiina Hiyori Ichinose Honami had once casually said to them, words that sounded like a declaration.

That entire day, every minute and every second belonged to her.

With her Shiina Hiyori closed, Shiina Hiyori's thoughts began to wander, guided by this single sentence.

Kitagawa Ryo's own thoughts and plans, the conclusions drawn from his conversation with Sakayanagi Arisu, Ichinose Honami's personality and way of thinking...

She never considered herself a detective, but years of reading had given her the relevant thinking and abilities.

If Soji Shimada, the author of "The Tokyo Zodiac Murders," was given the shocking and seemingly inhuman core plot by a demon who happened to pass by, then the one passing by now is probably an angel.

It is Cupid holding the bow of love, ready to shoot the arrow of love.

A gradually forming plan began to emerge in Shiina Hiyori's mind.

Every minute, every second...

But ironically, there are numerous cases that require the intervention of detectives.

Time is often the biggest liar.

Before we knew it, it was almost noon, and we could see many couples starting to leave the venue one after another, beginning to think about what to have for lunch.

Unlike the Cultural Festival, the atmosphere Hiyori were completely different this Valentine's Day. Most of the vendors setting up stalls at the Gymnasium were not food and beverage businesses. Although there were stalls selling desserts and snacks, many newlywed couples who had just made progress in their relationship naturally hoped to commemorate the occasion with a more formal and romantic meal.

That's why most couples chose to go to the Keyaki Mall to find a restaurant after they left.

As the one who had planned everything for today in advance, just to give Ichinose Honami the best Valentine's Day experience, Kitagawa Ryo had naturally prepared everything beforehand.

Just like the previous flowers, lottery, and photo shoot, with his prior behind-the-scenes manipulation, by 11:30 a. m., lunchtime, an open-air kitchen should be set up in the open space outside the Gymnasium, with all kinds of ingredients and pots and pans readily available.

This inspiration came from Kitagawa Ryo's experience during the Mixed Training Camp Special Exam. After all, back then he could only cook for the boys in his own group or even the larger group, which attracted a lot of other students to watch. Unfortunately, everyone had to go back home after being stopped by the supervising teacher. Otherwise, he really wanted to cook a special meal for Ichinose Honami and the others.

But even though it was past 11:20 on his phone, Kitagawa Ryo still hadn't spotted any of the equipment that should have been there by now.

"What's wrong?"

Ichinose Honami asked, somewhat puzzled.

After a morning of this, she was basically certain that this Valentine's Day celebration was a dream-fulfilling trip that Kitagawa Ryo had created just for her, even though he hadn't said it outright yet.

But that's okay.

After all, for Ichinose Honami, this style of carefully considering every detail and meticulously arranging every step only brings her surprise and increasing anticipation.

"Hmm... it's already noon, so I'm thinking about lunch."

Upon hearing Ichinose Honami also checked her phone:

"Indeed, it's about time for lunch. Liang, do you have any plans? Or are you going to eat at the Keyaki Mall like everyone else? I'm fine with anything."

"I do have some ideas... How about this, Honami, wait here for a while, I'll make a call and see how things go."

After saying that, Kitagawa Ryo waved to Ichinose Honami and hurriedly walked out of the Gymnasium, intending to ask the school staff who had been notified in advance about the situation. Everyone else had been fine all morning, so why was he the one who messed up?

"Okay, I'll wait."

Ichinose Honami also showed no sign of confusion or doubt. After all, after a morning of preparation, in her mind, every move Kitagawa Ryo was now a prelude to an even bigger surprise.

"So, this is the way to make Honami feel no strangeness, and to ensure that Ryo will walk towards our designated area without any warning."

"Surprises also need to be layered. Just like Honami knew that Liang would prepare everything for her, but the timing and degree of the surprises are very important."

"Coincidentally, I feel the same way about Liang."

"He probably already guessed that I would give him that ring today."

"But timing and method are where the most surprises and sincerity are truly revealed."

"Look, he's here."

Watching Kitagawa Ryo walk towards them step by step while actually talking on the phone to someone, Karuizawa Kei felt that it was best not to mess with mystery novel fans in this lifetime.

Otherwise, given the other party's cunning and shrewd mind, they could easily use some kind of probabilistic murder tactic like "Lovesickness" or "The Red Room": for example, using a hungry cat to knock over a fish tank, causing quicklime to react with water and generate heat to ignite; putting unprocessed methanol in a bottle and then using the angle of sunlight and a window to focus the light; or smearing white phosphorus on a blanket and using the temperature of an air conditioner at night to cause the low-ignition-point white phosphorus to spontaneously combust, and so on...

Maybe mystery novels should just focus on romance.

Of course, despite the complaints, when it was actually her turn to act as a wingman, Karuizawa Kei didn't hesitate at all, standing up from the bushes where she had been hiding and walking towards Kitagawa Ryo.

"Benefit?"

Upon seeing Karuizawa Kei, Kitagawa Ryo was momentarily stunned. He then glanced instinctively at the time on his phone before quickly recovering. He said into the phone, "Okay, I understand. The plan will proceed as scheduled. It was a misunderstanding on my end," and hung up. Looking up at Karuizawa Kei, he said:

"You guys are really amazing. This must be another idea that Hiyori."

"Well... although I don't really understand you mystery novel fans, there's nothing I can do, I still have to follow the procedures."

Karuizawa Kei, still with that troubled and bewildered expression, asked Kitagawa Ryo the question:

"Does Liang know what's going on now?"

"I pretty much know already."

At this point, Kitagawa Ryo shook his head, feeling both amused and helpless.

It must be said that even the most innocent-minded Shiina Hiyori occasionally pays special attention to these strange little things.

It was almost like a retaliation against Ichinose Honami's phrase "every minute, every second," Shiina Hiyori's trap for him at this Valentine's Day celebration was quite swift and decisive.