At noon, some students brought their own lunch, while others headed to the student cafeteria.
Ren was among those who went to the cafeteria.
A simple meal with a few dishes was sidered his lunch.
Poor students couldn't afford extravagance.
As soon as he sat down, he overheard a versation from the able.
"It seems that Kudo's parents came to school today."
"Yusaku Kudo and Yukiko Kudo? Why are they back?"
Ren was a bit surprised but tio listen.
"Why did Kudo's parents e to school? Didn't he take a leave of abseoday?"
"Eh? What does Kudo's absence have to do with his parents ing? He's taken leave before, but his parents never came to school for that."
Ren quietly absorbed the versation, pieg together the situation.
"It seems Shinichi, who fainted in the alley on Saturday, must have been found by the polid taken to the hospital ter."
"The hospital likely tacted his family through Shinichi's phone while he was unscious, which expins why his parents returned."
"This is ued."
The situation was beginning to shift in a different dire.
The return of Shinichi's parents was bound to set off a rea.
If they knew what had happeo their son, they were likely making pns for his extended absence from school.
"Could the couple be pnning to take Shinichi abroad?"
"But even if they did, the oute wouldn't necessarily be good for him."
If Shinichi sought prote abroad, there would undoubtedly be a price to pay.
Intelligence agencies like the FBI don't do anything without extrag their share of bes.
Ohey realized Shinichi was a "living spe" of the drug, his safety might be guaranteed, but his freedom would not.
"Well, I doubt Shinichi would choose something so extreme. He'd likely choose to stay."
"Whether Shinichi's decision is driven by realism or something else, though, is another matter."
In the inal story, Shiniever seemed to think too practically. His decision to stay stemmed from his unwillio leave Ran.
Ren, caught up in curiosity, found himself eating faster.
After quickly finishing his meal aurning the pte, he made his way to the corridor outside the principal's office.
He pressed his hands against the window, peering inside, ahe misty "eye" from his bracelet float into the room.
Inside were three people: the principal and Kudo's parents.
The bracelet's "eye" didn't have auditory funs, but that wasn't an issue.
Ren pulled out his diary. The diary's rec fun relied on what the eye observed, and it captured sound as well.
Then he heard it.
"…I extend my dolences for Shinichi's experience."
"???"
The opening statement almost threw him off pletely.
dolences?
"Why is the principal m? Did Shinichi get hit to death by that stick?"
"That's ridiculous."
This development was pletely ued, and Ren rubbed his forehead, repying the events from Saturday.
He was certain Shinichi had been alive when he saw him in the alley. If the blow had been fatal, Shinichi's body wouldn't have shrunk.
The stick had knocked him unscious, but it definitely hadn't killed him.
Without dwelling on the ongoing versation inside, Ren pulled out a 500-yen and i with his spirituality.
"Kudo Shinichi is not dead."
It was a simple two-choice divination, requiring only a straightforward method.
The nded heads-up—"yes."
To ensure accuracy, he repeated the divination four more times.
Each time, the nded heads-up.
The answer was clear.
"Shinichi faked his death."
"So, he had his parents stage his death? Shinichi, you're truly ruthless."
"You've essentially killed off your owy."
"You're pnning to fight the anization to the bitter end, refusing to restore your identity as a high school detective until the anization is destroyed."
Ren couldn't help but admire Shinichi's decisiveness.
This wasn't a choieoh half-hearted determination could make.
---
"We didn't expeething like this to happen to Shinichi."
Yusaku's exhaustion was evident.
Yukiko, her eyes red and swollen, sat silently beside him.
The principal, sitting across from the couple, looked visibly unfortable.
He had no idea how to fort parents grieving their son. Words of soce seemed hollow and iive.
"Mr. Kudo."
"Don't worry, Principal," Yusaku said calmly. "Yukiko and I will manage our emotions."
"But I hope the news of Shinichi's death doesn't spread within the school for now."
"Of course," the principal replied without hesitation.
"I promise no student will hear about Shinichi."
"Will the media outside catch wind of it?"
"No."
Yusaku shook his head, reassuring the principal.
"I've already discussed Shinichi's situation with the Metropolitan Police Department. For now, his death will remain a secret."
"I see."
The principal nodded, visibly relieved.
Sihe police were already involved, the school could cooperate without worry.
"Thank you for your uanding," Yusaku said, standing up.
"Yukiko and I will take our leave now. There are still matters to attend to."
The couple exged brief pleasantries with the principal before leaving the office.
Ohey got into their car, the weight of their emotions finally broke through.
"Hah… The school side is taken care of," Yusaku said, exhaling deeply.
"Yes. As long as there are traces left at the school, it should be fine," Yukiko replied softly.
Yusaku nodded.
"The public security department has also handled everything. Shinichi's fingerprints, DNA, and even his school records have been pletely transferred to his new identity."
"Every detail has been altered to ensure no one trace him back."
"But by doing this…" Yusaku trailed off.
He sighed deeply.
"This is a decision without any ce of turning back."
Ohe identity of "Kudo Shinichi" was erased, there was no going back.
This recisely why Yusaku had wanted his son to leave the try.
The anization could take years, or even decades to destroy.
If this dragged on too long, the name "Kudo Shinichi" might be fotten forever.
Yukiko, sitting quietly, finally spoke.
"That child… he's just too stubborn."
