Four Seasons of the Sky

In the descending elevator, besides the Junior Detective Agency, there were several children from other venues and their mothers.

A terrifying accident had occurred, leaving everyone unsettled. Especially as they passed the burning fortieth floor, the orange-red glow lit up the glass of the observation elevator. Aside from the worldly Junior Detective Agency, who remained fairly calm, the other three children had already begun sobbing and were quickly pulled into their relatives' arms for comfort.

Holding two scrolls wrapped in cotton cloth and leaning silently against the railing, Kisaragi Hōzui looked especially forlorn against this backdrop.

The three elementary schoolers exchanged looks, nudged and shoved one another, then timidly made their way over to the old man.

Kisaragi Hōzui was indeed a strict man and not particularly easy to talk to, but he was not harsh toward children. He merely glanced at them, tightened his hold on the paintings in his arms, and said flatly, "What is it? Are you scared too? We'll be there soon. It's fine."

Having never married and possessing no interest in family life, Kisaragi Hōzui was not particularly patient with children. He had never considered such things in his life plans, but offering a few comforting words to the rare friends of his young disciple Yusuke Kitagawa—though the age gap between them was hard to comprehend—was no trouble.

"Um, Grandpa, are those Yusuke's paintings?" Ayumi Yoshida, who had been pushed forward to speak, raised her head, her eyes fixed entirely on the scrolls in his hands.

To them, Yusuke Kitagawa's most appealing identity was still that of a Phantom Thief of Hearts.

Having seen him hand the scrolls to Kisaragi Hōzui before entering the elevator, all three of them were itching to investigate.

Since the Phantom Thief Troupe had stepped in tonight, perhaps the calling