Return to Tokyo: Mikiya Kokutou's Detective Casebook

Since I had said I was going back to Tokyo, I had to return no matter how reluctant I was. I had come alone, but I was leaving with three people.

Aozaki Touko and Araya Souren also went to Tokyo with me, so when Mikiya Kokutou found Garan no Dō, no one would miss the chance to come into contact with the world of magecraft.

On the way back, I told them that the friend we would be helping this time was Kenneth El-Melloi Archibald of the Clock Tower.

During the Fourth Holy Grail War, all of his Magic Circuits had been severed and then casually stitched back together. We would also make a prosthetic hand for his fiancée.

My real plan was to use the power of money to make them stay in Tokyo and work for me.

Then, after curing Kenneth, I would use his name as a Lord to get Rin and Sakura into the Clock Tower to study. Normally, the Clock Tower required not only tuition fees but also entrance examinations. However, an introduction from someone at the level of a Lord could waive the exam.

After that, I would get in touch with Marisbury Animusphere, the Lord of the Department of Astrology. He needed money, and I had money. I would whip him mercilessly with money and successfully become a shareholder of Chaldea.

This period happened to be when Chaldea was most short of funds, and also when I could do whatever I wanted.

If the Incineration of Human Order really happened in the future, I could leave myself a way out in advance. Although this timeline supposedly did not have the Doctor, anything was possible in this world of magecraft.

As for Waver, he had not yet reached the level he would attain ten years later. There were some things I could not count on him for, so I chose Kenneth instead.

After returning to Tokyo, I met Fujino and the Tohsaka family. The resentment radiating from Fujino sent a chill down my spine. Fujino, you were just too young. Otherwise, who wanted to be a monk?

When I told them I wanted to send Rin and Sakura to the Clock Tower, Rin was delighted. Sakura hesitated somewhat, but ultimately accepted, because they understood that without enough power to protect themselves, it would be difficult to live the lives they wanted. They decided to give it their all.

We then went to Kenneth's hospital. As always, he lay in his hospital bed. Sola was fine, aside from having lost one hand. She could live normally in every other respect.

Still, after suffering such a huge blow, it was hard to say whether this young lady, just beginning to understand love, would be capable of loving anyone in the future.

Kenneth was somewhat surprised to see me, but when he saw the people behind me, he cried out, "You're Aozaki Touko! Why are you here?"

I soothed him. "I spent a great deal of money specifically to hire Aozaki Touko and Araya Souren to resolve your physical problems. They have a way to restore your body."

Upon hearing that, Kenneth immediately went from shock to delight. "Really? I can recover?"

Aozaki Touko said, "We will only know after examining your body in detail. All right, unrelated personnel, leave. We need to assess his physical condition now."

She glanced at Sola beside him and said, "You are the lady who needs a prosthetic for the missing part of your hand, correct? You truly are a beautiful lady. Do not worry. I will make you one exactly like the original. It absolutely will not affect the use of your hand."

Sola happily thanked her upon hearing that she could be treated as well. Aozaki Touko declined. "I merely accepted someone's money. It is only work. If you want to thank someone, thank my employer."

Everyone else, including me, left the room. During that time, Miss Sola kept thanking me, and even the way she looked at me had changed. She was not coveting my body, was she?

After some time, Aozaki Touko and Araya Souren came out. "The adjustments will take a long time. We recommend replacing his body directly instead. The patient has agreed as well. If we begin preparations now, it will probably take around a month to finish."

I replied, "You are the experts. You can decide that yourselves. I will not interfere. I will wait for your good news."

I had already arranged accommodations for the two of them near the hospital. The equipment they would commonly use was all in the basement. If they needed anything else, they could contact me, and I would have someone prepare it. With that, I gave them the keys and address.

It was time for a long-overdue bath again. I had sneaked off for a soak today, and to prevent Fujino from ambushing me, I had even set up a barrier. I had thought no one would disturb me, but then the door suddenly opened, and Fujino entered.

I shouted, "How did you get in here?"

Fujino, wrapped in a bath towel, walked into the bath and said, "Big Brother, Fujino has become quite proficient with the Twisted Mystic Eyes of Death Perception."

I immediately understood. I would never be able to enjoy a proper bath again.

Meanwhile, at a press conference held by the Mifune City police.

A reporter from Mifune City Television asked, "Officer Daisuke Akimi, is it true that the police solved this case so quickly with the help of a high school student?"

"An enthusiastic citizen did assist with the investigation, but it would not be convenient for me to reveal that person's identity. However, please trust in the investigative ability of the Mifune City police. All crime will be brought to justice."

Mikiya Kokutou was rather slim. He neither dyed his hair nor wore it long, had an ordinary complexion, wore no accessories, and had a pair of black-framed glasses.

He did not pay particular attention to his appearance and habitually wore dark clothes. With a little effort put into dressing up, he could be considered handsome.

His specialties were his ability to get along harmoniously with anyone and detective-level information-gathering skills.

He had a mild temperament and was gentle and kind. He showed unconditional trust and goodwill toward strangers.

He usually appeared mature and steady, able to remain rational at all times. He kept a proper distance from women without overstepping boundaries, which made him quite popular with girls in certain respects.

Mikiya Kokutou had not met Shiki Ryougi on that snowy day, even though they later became classmates in high school.

However, since Shiki Ryougi already had me as her fiancé, she did not interact much with her other classmates, and Mikiya Kokutou thus followed a normal path in life.

His uncle, Daisuke Akimi, was a police officer who often took on difficult cases.

Mikiya Kokutou would follow the clues his uncle provided, peeling back the layers bit by bit. Influenced by his talents, he would base his analyses on all the available information, make reasonable deductions, and mobilize his extensive network of contacts for investigation, ultimately helping his uncle solve cases time and again.

With Araya Souren causing no trouble, Garan no Dō never being found, and none of the serial murder cases from The Garden of Sinners occurring, Mikiya Kokutou was admitted to university after graduating high school.

That August, he met Shizune Seo, a girl with the ability to see the future, and helped her regain her confidence.

Shizune Seo was a student at Reien Girls' Academy. She confided this matter to her roommate and friend Azaka Kokutou, Mikiya Kokutou's younger sister, and admitted that she had feelings for him. Thus began the three-person affair of love first, murder later.

After graduating from university, Mikiya Kokutou founded a detective agency with a group of like-minded friends called Yorozuya, dedicated to helping everyone resolve their troubles.

After graduating, Azaka Kokutou and Shizune Seo chose to work at Mikiya's Yorozuya as well.

Thus began the next chapter of his life.