After retirement I became a guardian of troubled youth

Hikaru Ueno didn't know what the four people outside were talking about when he was teasing the cat.

Anyway, when he came out they were having a friendly toast.

Everyone has a friendly smile on their faces, and it seems that they have established an initial friendship.

The kitten in Poirot's coffee shop was really afraid of him at first, and shrank under the sofa, not daring to approach him.

But at this moment, the kitten is completely different from the beginning.

It's even a bit sticky with wild light.

Quietly followed him out the door, sticking to his trousers all the way back to the table.

Then the whole cat suddenly exploded like a "meow" and raised its tail.

Hikari Ueno was taken aback by its sudden reaction, bent down and hugged the kitten in his arms, stroking and comforting it a little strangely.

The kitten let out another cry, and slowly relaxed in his arms.

Osamu Dazai put down his cup and turned his head to look over.

He stared at the cat for a few seconds, then reached out.

The kitten shrank reluctantly into Ueno Hikaru's arms, then seemed to feel something, shook its body, and obediently turned its head and jumped into Dazai Osamu's open arms.

The tail flicked vigorously revealed its reluctance, as if it had been coerced by the human beings on the opposite side.

Osamu Dazai touched its body twice casually, bent his eyes and said "Good boy", and then directly put him back on the ground.

The kitten left his arms, immediately turned half a circle on the spot, and ran away with a "whoosh".

Hikaru Ueno was slightly stunned, and turned his head to look for the missing kitten.

Toru Amuro was silent for a moment, and made amends: "It may be... somewhat shy."

Fear of certain "life".

Dazai laughed lightly and waved his hand.

"It's okay. In fact, I've never been very popular with small animals." He was smiling, but when he finished speaking, there was still a bit of imperceptible depression.

Hikaru Ueno felt the same for a moment.

He obviously likes small animals, but he will always be avoided by them, and he rarely even has the chance to touch them.

Hikaru Ueno has experienced such a life for a hundred years, and he has clearly experienced that kind of regret.

Therefore, I have a little more love for Osamu Dazai, who seems to be "sick and sympathetic" with him.

He patted Osamu Dazai on the shoulder and got a comfortable smile.

"It's okay, I still have an older brother." Osamu Dazai smiled at him.

Zhong Yuanzhong also sneered: "My brother is not a small animal."

Hikaru Ueno: "Hmm." It seemed that what Chuya said made sense.

Dazai Osamu: "..."

Everyone has more understanding and familiarity with each other, and less curiosity.

After Hikaru Ueno brought the children back, they chatted casually about their daily life for a while, and then each found a reason to leave.

Okiya Subaru was going back to school, and Amuro Toru went to receive other guests.

The children went to find a kind doctor grandfather.

Only Ueno Hikaru and his two younger brothers were left. After eating the sandwiches and small cakes leisurely, they said goodbye to Amuro and left together.

The weather today is fine, the early spring sun is warm and warm.

Hikaru Ueno narrowed his eyes, looked up at the clouds floating in the sky, and asked the two around him: "Where do you want to go?"

For Hikari Ueno, no matter where he goes, it is full of fun.

After all, this is the world.

"Hmm." Osamu Dazai suddenly said, "I'll go and report the latest investigation results to my employer first."

Ueno Hikaru remembered the purpose of the trip: "Kudo Shinichi?"

Osamu Dazai nodded: "When I was chatting with Mr. Amuro just now, I got some useful information."

"Hmm." Hikaru Ueno nodded, a little hesitant.

Osamu Dazai held up the phone that hadn't been dialed yet, and asked him, "Is there anything you want to say, brother?"

He looked at Hikari Ueno, as if expecting something.

Hikaru Ueno hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.

Osamu Dazai stared at him for a moment, answered vaguely, and walked a few steps to the side, avoiding him to make a phone call.

Hikaru Ueno's eyes fell on Dazai Osamu's back, and he paused for a long time.

After all, it is Dazai Osamu's job to find Kudo Shinichi who has been missing for a long time.

Although he intends to help Shinichi conceal his identity, but compared... Dazai Osamu's work is more important.

He will not take the initiative to say anything, but it is impossible to stop Osamu Dazai's work.

although.

He actually didn't really want Osamu Dazai to do such a job.

Think about how each other looked when they first met the day before yesterday.

Embarrassed and pitiful.

Every time Ueno Hikaru recalled it, he would feel distressed.

And vaguely blamed himself for leaving them behind for too long.

He didn't feel guilty at all.

Before reuniting with Dazai Osamu and Nakahara Chuya, Ueno Hikaru really felt that "everything depends on fate".

And so far, the meeting of the three of them is indeed by fate.

but.

After a little bit of understanding of their lives in the past few years, Hikari Ueno's idea of ​​"it's all about fate" has become weaker and weaker.

They lived so hard, from the noisy children back then to such outstanding young people.

And such outstanding children have been looking forward to reuniting with him.

He didn't give the proper response.

always feel a little...

Scum.

Hikaru Ueno is now considering whether to take the initiative to find the other three younger brothers.

By the way, Kaito can also be introduced to four other people.

They will surely become good friends too.

After all, excellent people and similar people will always attract each other.

but……

Hikaru Ueno hesitated.

Could it be that the other three people are not looking forward to the reunion like Xiuzhi and Zhongye.

Then he will disturb their lives...

On the contrary, it seems unnecessary.

"What are you thinking about?"

Suddenly there was a heavy weight on his shoulders, and Chuya's voice rang in his ears.

Hikaru Ueno was startled, and looked back at him.

Zhong Yuan also put a hand on his shoulder, raised his eyelids and looked at him.

The brim of the hat cast a shadow in front of his eyes, but his blue eyes appeared clearer.

In fact, this action is a bit twisted for the two of them.

After all, Hikari Ueno was [-] centimeters taller than Nakaya.

A height difference that's hard to ignore.

Hikaru Ueno obviously noticed this too, and slightly tilted his shoulders to Nakaya's side, trying to make the other party more comfortable, and then thought about responding: "I'm thinking... do you want to meet..."

Before he finished speaking, Zhong Yuanzhong had already guessed the follow-up, raised his eyebrows, and interrupted him: "Meet Ranpo and Gongmi?"

In order to prevent the two from bumping into each other, Ueno Hikari nodded slightly.

Zhong Yuanzhong also stared at him without saying a word.

Hikaru Ueno was a little uncomfortable being stared at by him, he looked away and asked, "What's wrong?"

"No." Nakahara also stepped away from his shoulder, standing a little further away from him.

Really only slightly.

Probably that is, following the movement of standing up, he retreated thirty or forty centimeters.

However, Hikaru Ueno was keenly aware that something was wrong, and looking back at him, the doubts in his eyes grew a little stronger.

Chuya Nakahara folded his arms around his chest, and instead of looking at him, his eyes rarely fell on Osamu Dazai who was on the phone.

Hikari Ueno felt even more wrong.

He moved a little closer, removing the little distance the two had just opened up, and even getting a little closer than before.

This distance allowed Ueno Hikari to clearly see any slight changes in Nakahara Chuya's eyes.

You can see the figure reflected in it more clearly.

Zhong Yuanzhong also took a step back, looking a little awkward, and asked him what's wrong.

Hikaru Ueno sized him up, until Nakahara Chuya looked away with red ears, and then suddenly realized and asked, "Are you... angry?"

Zhong Yuanzhong didn't look at him, and continued to ask: "Why am I angry?"

"Uh……"

Hikaru Ueno didn't know, he just vaguely felt Chuya's emotions.

And still wondering about this emotion.

He was silent for a moment, tilted his head, with a humble look of asking for advice.

The long white hair slanted to one side with his movements, and under the sunlight, it seemed to flow thousands of miles of fine silver threads.

Zhongyuan Zhong also looked at him seriously, and after a while, he sighed helplessly.

He said seriously: "It's not fair."

Hikaru Ueno: "?"

Nakahara also glanced at Osamu Dazai, and pointed at him from afar.

Osamu Dazai happened to look over, noticed his movement, and waved his hand exaggeratedly.

Nakahara Zhong also looked away speechlessly.

He looked at Hikaru Ueno, leaned forward with great momentum, approached him and said, "You see us both by fate."

"Why do you want to take the initiative to meet other people?"

After Zhongyuan Zhong also finished speaking, he suddenly seemed to feel a little embarrassed, straightened up and touched his neck, took a step back, and his voice softened: "Since you didn't take the initiative to come to us, then don't take the initiative to come to us." Find them."

Hikaru Ueno stopped and stared at him until he stared at the young man's already red ears even redder, then slowly looked away and responded to him: "Okay."

"Then don't go looking for them."

"First?"

Ueno Hikaru changed his words: "I won't go."

The most important thing is that the brother is happy.

For the rest, it depends on fate.

……

Yokohama, Armed Detective Agency.

Ranpo Edogawa, who was dragged away to another city for a business trip two days ago, just returned to the detective agency today.

The afternoon sun was just right, he was sitting on the table in front of the window, looking through the window at the crystal clear glass ball in his hand, suddenly remembered something, and suddenly raised his head back.

At this time, there was only one other person in the detective agency besides him.

"Kunikida." Ranpo called him.

The yellow-haired young man wearing glasses looked up from the computer with a solemn expression: "Mr. Ranpo?"

"Hmm..." Ranpo thought for a while, and asked, "Did Dazai not show up these two days?"

"Ah." Kunikida froze for a moment, then answered truthfully, "Yes."

He went on to say, "I'm very sorry Mr. Ranpo, I'll—"

"Yeah, I'll trouble you then." Ranbu interrupted him with a smile, jumping off the table.

"Eh?" Kunikida was taken aback for a moment.

Luanbu patted him on the shoulder and said, "Please help me find him... the day before yesterday, which train did you take?"

"Oh, okay."

"Ah, yes, there are more." Luanbu pushed open the door of the president's office, suddenly remembered something, turned his head and said, "I would like to trouble you to help me find any case in that city."

He paused, and emphasized: "It must be very difficult, very challenging, the kind that can perfectly show the power of a famous detective."

Kunikida responded in a daze, "Oh... yes."

Ranpo nodded in satisfaction, entered the office, and closed the door.

"President~ I want to go on a business trip again~"

While the door was closing, Kunikida Doppo heard this sentence.

He knew that there were some very complicated relationships between Dazai and Ranpo-san.

and so.

Did Dazai get into trouble again?

Kunikida Doppo thought calmly, turned on the computer again, and skillfully searched for Osamu Dazai's whereabouts in the last three days.