Endless Ghosts

The Ghost Infant was very busy.

After delivering the Killing Intent, it turned and floated back into the cell, wanting to try pulling the Shikigami off its imprisoned son's leg.

While it was hard at work.

Jiang Xia sorted through the cigarette case full of Killing Intent and looked at the two first graders beside him.

Conan was still clutching his neck and coughing—the white-haired old lady had choked him pretty hard earlier.

Ayumi patted his back. When she finished, she turned and secretly looked at Jiang Xia.

When Jiang Xia met her gaze, he casually asked, "Are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine!" Ayumi answered loudly.

After saying that, she hesitantly glanced at Jiang Xia. Based on the usual rules of TV dramas, someone who had just been saved should give their rescuer a kiss to show their gratitude—look, this big brother had even deliberately crouched down halfway. Her savior was giving such an obvious hint...

So Ayumi eagerly leaned closer. As she blushed and quietly wondered whether she should kiss his left cheek or right cheek, she whispered, "Tha..."

Before she could touch him, a hand suddenly landed on her shoulder from behind and stopped her.

Conan advised her with world-weary solemnity, "Don't kiss him."

...Based on last time's experience, she would probably only end up kissing a Mop.

And afterward, she would get blamed for something strange.

Ayumi had already been badly frightened today. If she suddenly suffered another blow from Friendly Forces, she might just burst into tears.

Jiang Xia definitely would not care about a child crying.

Then Conan would be the one who had to comfort her...

Ayumi did not know the Inside Story.

She looked at Conan in surprise, guessing that he was jealous. She began seriously agonizing over whether to choose the savior who had fallen from the sky or the classmate she had known longer.

Just then, a rapid series of footsteps sounded in the passage.

The police had found the dungeon.

Inspector Megure entered with several subordinates. Seeing the scene inside, he stopped in shock.

...In a society ruled by law, someone had actually built a private prison right under their noses.

It was absurd. Completely absurd.

Inspector Megure looked at the disheveled, miserable citizen in the cell and felt quite guilty. He walked over with concern, intending to offer some comfort.

Unexpectedly, the "victim" inside saw the police and suddenly pounced toward the Railing like a tiger, crying tears of joy as he shouted, "Let me out! I want to turn myself in!"

Inspector Megure: "...Turn yourself in?"

The moment those words were spoken, the Shikigami clinging to its son's leg suddenly let go.

The Ghost Infant had been huffing and puffing as it tugged at the Shikigami's legs. The moment the Shikigami loosened its grip, the two ghosts rolled into a ball and landed on the ground with a plop.

The Ghost Infant froze slightly.

A moment later, it came back to its senses, happily dragged the Shikigami back to Jiang Xia, and handed over the ghost it had picked up.

At the same time, it stared longingly at the cigarette case in Jiang Xia's hand.

Jiang Xia had unexpectedly gained something, putting him in a good mood as well.

He opened the cigarette case and tapped out a Ghost Mint, preparing to light the Killing Intent and celebrate.

Just as he was about to light it, a hand suddenly reached over from beside him, heading straight for his cigarette.

Jiang Xia instinctively raised his hand and dodged, then looked to the side.

The one trying to snatch his cigarette was actually a police officer.

Officer Sato frowned slightly. "You're smoking in high school? What will happen to your Lungs when you grow up? Where did you get that cigarette?"

By regulation, no place was allowed to sell tobacco or alcohol to minors. If he had stolen it from home... then they needed to have a talk with his parents.

Under her sharp gaze, Jiang Xia silently sighed.

For a long time, Jiang Xia had considered eighteen to be adulthood.

Who would have thought that after changing places, he would suddenly still be two years short.

With a police officer stopping him, Jiang Xia could only tuck the cigarette into his sleeve under the Ghost Infant's Q-Q gaze and explain, "I don't smoke. I just like the burnt aroma when a cigarette is first lit. It helps me think."

Beside him, Conan's eye twitched.

He remembered the last time, when they had rescued that kidnapped little girl, Jiang Xia had not only lit a cigarette, but smoked it all the way down soon afterward.

Besides, they had already caught the culprit. There was no need for anything to "help him think."

The police would never believe Jiang Xia's nonsense.

Just as Conan was thinking that, he saw Sato Miwako nod. "I see."

Conan: "...?"

Officer Sato was not entirely one to Judge By Appearance.

She mainly felt that there were quite a few differences between long-term smokers and people who did not smoke.

And Jiang Xia, whether it was the color of his teeth, the shape of his fingers, or the scent on his body, lacked all the characteristics a habitual smoker should have.

Besides... besides, Jiang Xia looked genuinely sincere. For some inexplicable reason, he was very approachable and made people want to believe him.

After seeing the police off and putting away his new Shikigami, Jiang Xia returned to the Logistics Company to hand over his shift.

The next day, after waking up, he sat there in a daze for a while, savoring the grand scene from his dream where he raised an arm in a shout and a hundred ghosts answered his call.

Then he pressed the Pattern Seal over his heart and released all the ghosts and Shikigami sealed inside.

Four ghosts lined up in order on the blanket. One Ghost Infant and three Shikigami.

The Shikigami were relatively obedient. Like actual paper cutouts, they lay spread flat on the blanket without moving.

The Ghost Infant looked around in confusion and habitually wanted to move closer to Jiang Xia.

Then it was mercilessly pressed back onto the blanket and forced to stand in line.

After arranging the ghosts, Jiang Xia pointed at them one by one. One, two, three, four.

...Only four.

He counted them again. One, two, three, four.

Still only this many.

...The dream had been better.

Jiang Xia propped up his chin and let out a faint sigh.

He wondered if lying down for another nap now would let him continue that dream.

On the blanket, the Ghost Infant stared thoughtfully at Jiang Xia's fingertip.

Then Jiang Xia began counting a third time out of boredom. One, two, three, four...

This time, after it had been counted, the Ghost Infant quickly rolled several times and moved to the end of the line.

Jiang Xia's counting finger stopped atop its head. "...Five."

It barely made a round number.

Both human and ghost felt better.

The Ghost Infant obediently rubbed its hands together, then looked longingly at the cigarette case beside Jiang Xia's pillow.

Jiang Xia tapped one out and twirled it between his fingers twice, but did not light it.

"It's not very convenient to keep calling you 'you, you, you.' How about I give you a name?"

The Ghost Infant: "..."

Remembering the names Jiang Xia had given those precious Potted Plants, the Ghost Infant not only wanted to shake its head, but also wanted to run away.

...But Jiang Xia was holding its food.

The Ghost Infant bit its finger, struggled for a long time, then nodded while swallowing its humiliation.

Jiang Xia was very satisfied with its cooperation. "I'll call you Xiao Bai."

The Ghost Infant subtly breathed a sigh of relief.

It was a little simplistic. But fortunately, it was not something like Cat Egg, Dog Egg, Pig Ear, or Green Comb...

So whenever Jiang Xia called it "Xiao Bai," it obediently answered.

Jiang Xia happily patted its head, got out of bed, and walked to the table to light the Ghost Mint.

While Xiao Bai happily inhaled the Ghost Mint.

Jiang Xia put the Shikigami from the bed back into the Pattern Seal, intending to tidy up and head to the Detective Agency for work.

Just then, the Doorbell suddenly rang.

Jiang Xia froze, then walked over and opened the door to find a delivery.

Jiang Xia: "..."

He had not bought anything online recently, and nobody usually sent him packages.

Only Sherry and her sister occasionally mailed him some homemade Health Medicine.

Thinking of that, Jiang Xia reached out and accepted the package.

Just like before, the sender field bore an "S," the initial of Sherry's English name.