Phantom Thief of Heart!but conan

Chapter 837 Cause and Effect Loop
Not only Genzaburo who almost fell down, but everyone in the Shitara family except Shitara Renki, including Shitara Ayane who had mental problems and was no longer fully awake, all had changed expressions when they saw the man standing at the door.

Shitara Renki, the only one who knew nothing about the family secrets, looked at him blankly for a while, then after recognizing that it was Hanega Kyosuke, she approached him happily.

"Uncle Xiangfu, you look very energetic today. I was saying that you should pay more attention to your appearance and dress up properly." She adjusted the scarf on Yuga Xiangfu's chest, "Isn't this very handsome?"

Yuga Kyosuke, who was staring at the hall with a cold gaze, lowered his eyes to the girl standing in front of him, and his expression softened: "After all, it is a rare and important occasion, Masaru suggested that I do a hairstyle. How is it, not bad, right?"

Except for Shitara Choichiro himself, almost everyone in his family knew about his physical condition, so Shitara Renki quickly understood what he meant by important occasions.

I’m afraid it will be difficult for Grandpa to wait until the next birthday party. This should be the last birthday party of this scale in the Shitara family.

When Choichiro died, Genzaburo took over the position of head of the family. The remaining people in the Shitara family only had to sit at a square table, and the shabby house could hardly support any banquets.

Shitara Renxi looked gloomy, and reluctantly turned her attention to the person following behind him, forcing a smile: "Is that so, it turns out to be Mr. Chaoju..."

The following words got stuck in her throat as she looked at the image of the Qing Dynasty's Juzhengsi, and she could no longer utter the original praise and compliments.

When he first appeared yesterday, Secretary Chao Juzheng's look was already very impactful. The black and white yin-yang hair was dazzling and the trendy sunglasses were also eye-catching enough. However, today, it seems that he was actually restrained yesterday.

Today he changed into something that seemed more formal, and judging by the style, it was also a performance costume for the stage. However, the tuxedo, including the suit pants and the leather shoes on his feet, were all split in half in the middle, just like his hairstyle, and were made entirely of black and white. Even if he was not standing on the stage in the middle, it was still so dazzling that it easily caught everyone's attention.

"Isn't it a bit exaggerated?" Asai Narimi, who had become the focus of the whole audience, adjusted his bow tie and smiled nonchalantly, "I used to dress like this when I was in Europe. For a family like the Shitara family that has been carrying on classical music for many years, this might be a bit stimulating."

Is this a provocative question?

Conan felt his vision was damaged and the corners of his mouth twitched for a while.

Tang Ze raised his hand to cover the curve of his mouth, and a golden light flashed in his eyes.

Using a more eye-catching target to attract attention and thus conceal the real action can also be regarded as a common magic technique.

"Turns out it's Kyosuke..." Shitara Gensaburo, who was still in shock and had limp hands and feet, waited until he heard Hanega Kyosuke speak before his suddenly changed expression slowly recovered.

He exchanged a glance with Shitara Choichirō, who was sitting at the top and watching the scene in silence. He gritted his teeth and managed to calm himself down, but the gloom on his face could never be erased.

Suddenly dressed like this today, did Yuga Kyosuke discover something...

"The guests will be here soon." Yuga Kyosuke ignored the looks of others and straightened the loose hair on Shitara Renki's bun. "Go get ready. You have a grand appearance tonight."

There is also the Stradivarius, which has been absent from the world for more than 30 years and has almost become a masterpiece.

Whenever he thought about the last time it sang was more than thirty years ago, when Shitara Koto, who was only sixteen or seventeen years old at the time, gave a clumsy performance here, he felt that the sarcastic smile on the corner of his mouth was about to be suppressed.

"Huh, I've been looking forward to it for so long, and now I'm finally going to go on stage. I'm still so nervous." Shitara Renxi rubbed her fingertips, "I hope I won't let it down..."

Perhaps because of nervousness or excitement, after Shitara Renxi started talking, she began to chatter about her feelings and her expectations for tonight's performance.

The Shitara family is no longer as prosperous as it used to be, but after all, it is well-known as a family that has produced many musicians. In the banquet hall tonight, in addition to the Shitara family members and several privately invited guests such as Kogoro Mori, there are dozens of colleagues in the music industry.

Yuga Kyosuke knew that no one was expecting to see an excellent performance today. Everyone was just looking forward to the first cry of the famous piano after it was resurrected.

If his original design had been followed, this dinner would not have had the opportunity to be held at all. When it was getting dark, Shitara Gensaburo should have died in the burning flames, and then Shitara Ayane should have fallen to the ground with a loud bang amid the lingering sound of the Requiem.

However, if everything started with the ambitious and immature performance of Shitara Kōjin and ended with the natural, pure and melodious music of Shitara Renki, it can be regarded as a beginning and an end.

Yuga Kyosuke looked at her young and innocent face, then looked at the elegantly and gorgeously decorated hall, and chuckled softly.

----

"Master Xiangsuke, where did you go yesterday?"

When Tsukuro Hongsheng walked into the venue, he saw Yuga Kyosuke lying on the railing on the second floor, looking down at the circular stage that was illuminated by spotlights after the lights dimmed. He couldn't help but move forward and ask in a low voice.

"Don't call me that, Ms. Tsukuro." Yuga Kyosuke shook the cup in his hand and replied calmly, "I am no longer the young master you served 30 years ago."

"Sorry." Jinqu Hongsheng was stunned for a moment, then bent down slightly, "I'm used to calling you that."

Both of Haga Kyosuke's parents died shortly after the attack, so he was taken back to his mother's house to be trained as the heir of the Haga family.

Since both "Master" and "Madam" are dead, Haga Kyosuke has in fact already been the new head of the Haga family. Even if a respectful title has to be chosen, it should be Master instead of Young Master.

"You decided to take over the Shitara family's job because of that accident, replacing their elderly butler and coming here to work, right? It's been quite a few years."

"Yes. Back then, the butler of the Shitara family was traumatized by the attack, and within two years, it was difficult for him to continue to work at the same level as before. Miss Chinami has received a lot of care from their family, so it was difficult for me to refuse when they made this request." Jinqu Hongsheng lowered his head, "You look very handsome tonight, and you really look like the master back then."

"I'd rather be more like my mother." He touched his cheek, drank the wine in the glass, then acted as if he didn't want to talk anymore, put down the glass, and walked to the top of the dozens of steps.

At the same time, Shitara Gensaburo, who was standing on the other half of the corridor, was staring with wide eyes and looking at Shitara Renki with an expression of extreme fear, as she stood on the stage with her slender neck raised high, like a graceful swan.

From his perspective, that was not the pretty and lovely granddaughter, but the proud and beautiful Hanami Yuga with neat short hair.

This zither was bought by Chinami Haga and Danjiro Shitara as a gift to their only son Kyosuke. Strictly speaking, only half of it belongs to the Shitara family.

Now, Kyosuke has changed his surname to Yuga for thirty years, and this piano has nothing to do with them anyway.

However, when Chinami Haga brought it to the Shitara family, he was deeply fascinated by its unique rhythm.

Such a pure and soft voice, with an indescribable charm, delicate and gentle, as if telling a distant, ancient, unknown story...

On the stage, Renki Shitara closed her eyes slightly, put the bow on, and got into position.

The beautiful sound that he had not heard for many years came, and Shitara Gensaburo fell deeper into the phantom of the past. What did he feel when he heard it played by Shitara Tanjiro for the first time?

Yes, it is the breeze brushing against the green leaves on the treetops, it is the morning bell and evening drum echoing in the ancient castle, and it is the first ray of morning light penetrating the mist. Even those who do not know how to appreciate it will be easily brought back to that morning in the forest with crystal dew and be overwhelmed by its rich and mellow sound.

So that's how clumsy the lie that Big Brother told was. How could anyone fail to recognize such a unique and beautiful guitar...

He raised his head and looked towards the top of the stairs. The music in his ears had turned into a noisy human voice. The chaotic sound penetrated the barrier of time and fell into his ears.

"What do you mean, brother? After I bought this guitar, I took good care of it for a long time, and I also tuned it. This is a fake, there is no doubt about it!"

"Then you should ask the butler who is responsible for keeping it after the banquet. Anyway, I don't have it..."

"Then what is this?! How did you make such a similar imitation if you haven't seen it before?!"

"I, I... am Xian Sanlang. He wants to keep the zither at home for a while longer. He wants to use it to participate in the selection of the first prize..."

"If that's the case, why can't you just ask me directly? I agreed to your request out of trust. You really disappoint me!"

Xian Sanlang let go of the railing beside him and staggered towards the stairs.

How did he discover this scene back then?
After the banquet, the banquet hall, which had been cleaned up, looked like a quiet amphitheater.

The loud quarrels and heated debates echoed in the hall. Hearing his name being mentioned, he couldn't help the fear in his heart. He quietly walked around the main entrance and slowly approached from the corridor on the second floor.

When he opened the door and saw his eldest and second brothers fighting over a violin case...

Xian Sanlang looked over in a daze.

A spot of light, which was not sure whether it was the reflection from the makeup mirror or the watch, passed from below, brushing across the handsome eyebrows of Yuga Kyosuke, illuminating his slightly angry expression.

The chaotic quarrel was still ringing in his ears.

"Take this thing back yourself. If you refuse to return it, brother, I will call the police."

"This is your piano..."

"…Impossible, who on earth are you…"

"…Mine, my piano, my things!"

Amid Diao Yilang's final, almost voice-breaking shout, Dan Erlang, who had lost his balance, staggered, and the expression on his face finally froze on anger and disbelief.

The tall figure slid down heavily.

Just like pressing down on the scales of a piano, there were dull sounds of impact...

Whenever he woke up in the middle of the night, sitting in his messy living room, Shitara Gensaburo would always wonder, if it had been him standing there at that time, would everything have been different?
He had evil intentions and was helping the evildoers. Standing in front of the two brothers who were arguing fiercely, would he step forward as quickly as possible to stop them, or would he go a step further...

The spot of light passed again, along with the bright spots of light embroidered with gold thread by Renxi Shitara, which reflected faint star-like light, illuminating the faces around with appreciative smiles, as well as the mocking and disappointed face of the man nearby.

Hanega Kyosuke... No, this is not Kyosuke, this is his second brother, the one who has gone further than him and stands taller than him.

Second brother, Dan Erlang, Stradivari...

He married the only daughter of the Yuga family, who was very wealthy, and soon gave birth to a child. Not long after the child was born, he was considered a very talented musical prodigy. In every aspect, he had much more than his second brother...

Shitara Gensaburo's blurry eyes suddenly became clear at this moment.

He raised his hand and pushed it towards the man who was standing there in a relaxed posture, seemingly defenseless.

After waiting for several minutes with his eyes lowered, Yuga Kyosuke sighed softly, and just before the palm touched his body, he took two steps to the side.

Shitara Renshira played a long note that was slightly a quarter tone lower than the original pitch, and he praised it for being a very personal note.

It is also the last bar of the entire piece of music.

Just as the tail note of the violin was still echoing in the hall, a sharp scream, accompanied by the muffled groan of a man falling, resounded throughout the banquet hall.

Shitara Renxi, who was originally immersed in the sound of the piano, was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly grasped the precious treasure in her hand. She raised her head in the slowly brightening light and looked in the direction where the sound came from.

Xian Sanlang rolled down dozens of steps and happened to land on the last floor.

Bright red bloodstains had already appeared on the last few steps, and by the time they reached the marble floor, they had already formed a pool and were still oozing out, staining the entire floor.

Yuga Kyosuke lowered his eyes coldly, staring at the prey who was trapped in an illusion.

When Shitara Danjiro fell down, he was only in his thirties, but now Genzaburo is already 60 years old.

What a pity, he probably won't have the chance to experience how terrible it feels to struggle between life and death and then be slowly abandoned by others.

Diao Yilang, who was sitting not far from the stage, opened his eyes wide.

Instead of looking at his unconscious brother, he raised his head and looked at the top of the stairs.

There, as if Shitara Tanjiro had come back to life, the tall and graceful Hanega Kyosuke lowered his eyes, quietly looking at Genzaburo's motionless body, just as he had looked down at his second brother's body back then.

Shitara Choichirō pressed his hands on his heart and started coughing violently.

(End of this chapter)