After introducing the apartment's location, Izumi Kaori turned back to look at the celebrity Detective she had been following.
Though Jiang Xia said nothing, he was clearly in a good mood as he looked at the building, seeming eager to go inside.
Izumi Kaori relaxed. "Let's go find Naomi—I remember she's in 203."
When they reached the second floor, a quick glance down the spacious corridor brought the group of five's attention to the door of 203.
Several sizable bags sat beside it, containing a number of elegantly packaged meal boxes. They appeared to be food delivered from the Dolphin Restaurant Izumi Kaori had mentioned earlier.
"Why didn't she bring the takeaway inside? Did she go out?" Yamamoto Sakurako looked at the takeaway by her feet and sighed. "She was clearly hurrying us just now..."
Since they were all familiar with one another, she complained as she casually twisted the doorknob.
The next second, Yamamoto Sakurako froze. "...The door isn't locked."
"She probably forgot to lock it, or maybe she's home but busy touching up her makeup and didn't come out to collect the takeaway." Izumi Kaori did not pay it much mind. She called Naoko's name twice, and when no one answered from inside, she simply pushed the door open and went in.
The other two friends followed her inside with the ease of regular visitors.
Jiang Xia and Mouri Ran were not familiar with the owner of the apartment, so they did not go in right away. Mouri Ran intended to greet the owner before entering once she came out.
However, they did not get to see the owner come out to welcome them.
Instead...
"Ah—!!!"
Three screams rang out in unison from beyond the door, piercing through the apartment building and echoing all around like