Jiang Xia casually came up with an excuse. "The boss is following the direction Mr. Takei mentioned, so he doesn't need anyone's help. I wanted to come see where Takei might have drifted along the river. Maybe she got lucky and was rescued by some kind passerby who took her home. We're classmates, after all. I have to do my best to find her."
Conan nodded in heartfelt agreement, but halfway through, he suddenly remembered that he was no longer a high school student. So he smoothly patched things up. "Brother Jiang Xia's friends are my friends too! Just like Sister Ran and Sister Sonoko, I'll do my best to find her!"
Secretary Hanai, however, let out a sigh. She walked to the riverbank and gazed at the broad river, tears glistening in her eyes. "But it's been nearly a whole day, and there's still no sign of Naoko. Who could survive in the water for that long? She may already..."
She shook her head and did not finish, but everyone understood what she meant—Takei Naoko might already be dead. Rather than looking for her, they might as well look for the kidnappers.
Soon, as though she had no desire to continue talking, Secretary Hanai said goodbye and left.
Kinoshita Yoko watched her retreating back. Once she had gone farther away, Yoko sighed softly. "It wasn't just Miss Naoko who saw Secretary Hanai as an older sister. Secretary Hanai probably saw Miss Naoko as family too. To suddenly be separated by life and death... it really is saddening."
She suddenly imagined Jiang Xia falling into the river, his fate unknown...
Kinoshita Yoko: "..." Though she had not watched Jiang Xia grow up as Secretary Hanai had watched Takei Naoko, she had seen Jiang Xia's detective career grow step by step