books44 Chapter 258 Biting into the Forbidden Fruit
Chapter 258 Biting into the Forbidden Fruit
Ms. Kobayashi handed the prepared bag of candy to Haruya Kuromon:
“A lot has happened in Beika Town recently. Children don’t have the same access to information as adults, but they have more sensitive hearts. As their homeroom teacher, I have seen their anxiety and helplessness. I’m asking for your help this time, officer.”
She had observed the state of the Junior Detective Club; it was truly worrying that even the most active group in the class was experiencing problems.
Her purpose for this parent-teacher meeting was to gather volunteers and comfort dogs, and to urge parents to spend more time with their children.
"It's alright, I've got your back." Kuromon Haruya patted the shirt pocket where his ID was, his smile always so reliable. "We police officers also regularly conduct ideological and political education for teenagers, so listening to their troubles is a piece of cake."
Ms. Kobayashi breathed a sigh of relief: "Then I'll leave the boys' side to you. I'll go to the playground first; the children should come to you during their free time later."
"Ok!"
After bidding farewell to Mr. Kobayashi, Yoruichi Kuromon looked around, then casually sat down on the steps, propped his face up, and gazed at the sky, emptying his mind to fulfill his duties as a psychological counselor NPC.
Attending a parent-teacher conference for Shirley... it's really not very motivating.
Parent-teacher meetings are nothing more than periodic reports, informing parents of teaching effectiveness, student grades, and overall progress. Kuromon Haruya had already overseen and reviewed these things more than a decade ago, when Sherry went abroad to study.
Not only Sherry, but also Akemi Miyano when she transferred to elementary schools in various places, he personally handled all the arrangements.
"Sigh~ Sigh—"
Think about it lately, all he's been doing is worrying about other people's kids! He's ignored Sharon and Gin for so long, isn't he worried about someone replacing him as boss?!
Thinking of this, the old father felt a lump in his throat and buried his face in his hands in grief:
"I also long to see little Sharon from his elementary school days—so bright and innocent, barely able to speak, babbling away, hiding behind his parents' legs and shyly smiling at strangers—"
If he could do it all over again, Kuromon Haruya strongly requests that the time travel be changed to 46 years ago!
In his youth, he didn't know how to cherish things and let his children grow up without any support, preferring to leave them to Rum's jobs.
He vowed to do it again, and that he would record every moment of Sharon and Gin's lives from birth to infancy and childhood with a camera! He wouldn't miss a single blind spot!
Sharon must have looked exactly like the little cherubs in the murals when she was a child! Her silky, soft curls swayed with her steps, and her chubby cheeks were like the forbidden fruit of Eden, soft and fragrant, making her irresistible...
Gin wasn't very healthy as a baby. Wrapped in a dusty swaddle, he looked like a kitten huddled in a cardboard box at the end of an alley on a rainy day, only letting out a soft whimper when teased...
Unable to suppress his smile, Kuromon Haruya covered his face, his shoulders shaking, and chuckled, "Hehe, hehehe..."
Mitsuhiko, who originally had some troubles to confide in, suddenly didn't feel like talking about them anymore.
Although she longed to immerse herself in sweet fantasies, Haruya Kuromon was ultimately a reliable adult.
He looked up, patted the person next to him, and gestured for Mitsuhiko to sit down: "I've been waiting for you for a long time, Mitsuhiko, come on, come on!"
Mitsuhiko looked away, gave a soft reply, and awkwardly mimicked Mitsuhiko's posture on the steps: "...Um, Kuromon-nii, did something happy happen to you?"
"Hmm!" A happy smile still lingered on Kuromon Haruya's face. "I suddenly had a great idea for taking photos. I remember you have a lot of insights into photography, Mitsuhiko. I might need your help in selecting the final products later!"
Brother Kuromon, you actually remember one of my strengths that I casually mentioned...
Mitsuhiko stared wide-eyed at Yoruichi Kuromon in disbelief.
Born into a scholarly family where both parents are teachers, Mitsuhiko, as the second son of his older sister, was not strictly disciplined, but he could not escape the usual various progress indicators.
In his view, his understanding of videography was far from professional; he was a complete novice.
But Brother Kuromon values me so much that he even wants to consult my opinion!
Overwhelmed by the recognition he received, Mitsuhiko suddenly felt that he could completely open his heart to this older brother.
"Actually, I don't know why I've been having some more depressed thoughts lately..."
Yoya Kuromon didn't interrupt; his tolerant and warm gaze said it all.
"I don't know why, but lately I've been feeling a bit out of place in the Junior Detective Club. No, to be more precise, I don't quite understand what the point of joining is?"
With his hands supporting him, Mitsuhiko tilted his head back, scanning the sharp angles of the top floor of the teaching building, lost in memories: "Speaking of which, the Junior Detective Club was just an organization that Genta casually mentioned during that Italian robbery case."
I prefer scientific research and adventure to solving crimes and deducing my own. I joined the detective club simply because Ayumi, Genta, and I are childhood friends; we're always together. Since they joined, it was only natural that I wanted to join them too.
Confessing is like opening a small hole in the wall of the heart; once opened, it's hard to close.
The emotions that had been suppressed in his heart, which he thought he wouldn't mind, burst forth from the breach, stirring up Mitsuhiko's truest thoughts, which he least wanted to admit.
"If it were just ordinary reasoning, I wouldn't mind at all, but..."
But in reality, almost all the cases and requests our Detective Boys take on are solved by Conan alone. Even though we're called a team, with Conan's talent, whether we're there or not wouldn't affect solving the cases, right?
It was like a one-man show where only the protagonist was in the spotlight, Mitsuhiko couldn't help but laugh at himself.
Ayumi, who has known Conan for many years, instantly fell in love with him, and the calm and collected Ai Haibara also became close friends with Conan. In addition, the teachers and parents all have such high opinions of Conan.
Mitsuhiko, who is "mature and sensible, yet repeatedly gets himself into danger with his friends and fails to solve problems," feels inferior to Conan when he looks at him.
Even vile jealousy.
They were jealous of Conan's talent and glory, and jealous of the recognition he received.
He was unwilling to accept it; how could he be content after giving so much! Why was no one there to appreciate him, to notice him, to love him?
If the influence of emotions is only temporary, what makes Mitsuhiko even more desperate is that no matter how hard he tries or how much he fills in the gaps in his knowledge and skills at home, he will always be defeated by Conan.
"Haha."
Mitsuhiko chuckled dryly, “I’m like a runner left behind, desperately breathing, eating the dust he left behind, only able to watch his light and swift departing figure from afar.”
...We can't catch up at all.
A warm hand stroked the top of his head. Mitsuhiko looked up and saw that there was no sternness or reproach in his brother Kuromon's eyes, only tenderness and sorrowful regret.
Yoruichi Kuromon lowered his eyes: "You've had a tough time these past few days, haven't you, Mitsuhiko?"
Then he uttered a suggestion that Mitsuhiko had briefly considered but dared not even imagine. It was like in Genesis, when the serpent poked its head out from the branch of the tree that discerned right from wrong and plucked a fresh, juicy red apple:
"In that case, why don't you get out of your current painful situation and find a wider branch to stand on?"
There's more than one stage. This place is too crowded. Wouldn't it be better to choose a stage that suits you better?