As she spoke, Jodie cast a wary glance at the Tennis Bag.
Jodie: ...Could there be a Sniper Rifle or something hidden in that bag? What if he suddenly pulls out a gun and starts shooting... Damn it, I really should apply for a Bulletproof Vest.
But she quickly dismissed the thought: she strongly suspected that if she really wore one, she would immediately run into a shooting, then expose the vest during a police body search—this was not something an ordinary citizen should be wearing around. Her identity in the eyes of the police would only become even stranger.
While Jodie's thoughts ran wild, the young man across from her answered her question quite normally:
"I'm a tennis coach. I usually work at a Tennis Court in the city, and I happened to be passing by after work today, so I had my Tennis Bag with me. Oh, and if you need any guidance in that area, feel free to come find me anytime."
Then he checked his watch and said thoughtfully, "This rain should stop in a little while. If you don't mind, you can come sit at my place first, then come back in the afternoon. The timing will be just right."
Vermouth: "..."
Come sit at his house?
Just as she thought!
Naturally, Jodie had thought of it too—and had taken it even further.
Jodie could not help glancing at Suzuki Sonoko. ...That's far too convenient!
Suzuki Sonoko had led them here, and then, down to the very second, they ran into a "passerby" who happened to be passing through...
A coincidence on this level carried the scent of a conspiracy no matter how one looked at it. Could this seemingly innocent high school girl really be one of Uzo's pieces, guiding the setup?
Then what