How to Survive With a Death-Flag Character Setting in Detective Conan - Chapter 10

Higashino Hiromu had just gotten up not long ago when he received a call from Shirabu Kenjiro.

“Calling me so early in the morning, is something the matter?” Higashino Hiromu asked.

Shirabu Kenjiro got straight to the point, “What’s going on between you and that kouhai from the Law Department?”

Higashino Hiromu was stunned. “What?” He thought for a moment and asked, “You mean Hatori Yuiichi? What about him?” He had only met that kouhai yesterday.

Shirabu Kenjiro said, “It’s not what happened to him, it’s what happened to the two of you! Gossip about you two has already exploded on the university forum. I sent it to you, take a look for yourself.”

Higashino Hiromu opened the chat app in confusion. Shirabu Kenjiro had sent him several posts, which he quickly skimmed through, feeling utterly speechless.

He remarked, “These people can come up with so many stories just from a few photos. That’s impressive.”

Shirabu Kenjiro asked, “Aren’t you going to clarify?”

Higashino Hiromu raised an eyebrow, thinking, This rumor came at just the right time, giving me free publicity. I couldn’t be happier. It’s just a bit unfair to that kouhai.

But he said aloud, “The best way to handle rumors is to ignore them. After a while, the hype will naturally fade.”

Seeing that he wasn’t affected in the least, Shirabu Kenjiro admired his composure. “As long as you know what you’re doing.”

Still, Higashino Hiromu was grateful that Shirabu Kenjiro had specially called to remind him. He thought he should maintain good relationships with his classmates; otherwise, if something happened at the university, no one would inform him.

So, on his way to the university, he passed a snack shop, went inside to make a purchase, and brought snacks for his kouhai and Shirabu Kenjiro.

Although Professor Yasuda taught classes, he didn’t personally supervise many students. Since the seniors were all out doing internships, only Higashino Hiromu and two juniors were stationed in the lab.

Meanwhile, Shirabu Kenjiro was majoring in sports medicine in the neighboring lab. When Higashino Hiromu dropped by with the snacks, he immediately drew a lot of attention.

Shirabu Kenjiro glanced into the bag, speechless. “Why would you think I’d like these snacks?”

Higashino Hiromu looked at him in surprise. “Eh? You don’t like them?”

A senpai nearby leaned over for a look and said, “These snacks are way too high in calories. Not recommended for people in a fitness phase.”

“Not recommended even during recovery, either,” another senpai added. “Eating snacks means you have to analyze the ingredient list. Too troublesome. Better to just ban them altogether.”

Higashino Hiromu: ……

Shirabu Kenjiro gave him a look. “See? This is what our major is like.”

Higashino Hiromu glanced at the obvious muscle contours on their arms, at a loss for words.

Are the students in the sports medicine department really this intense?

Shirabu Kenjiro shoved the bag back into his hands and said, “So you’d better give these to someone else. No one here will eat them.”

Helpless, Higashino Hiromu had no choice but to take the snacks away. Since there were already some in the lab, he brought this bag to the club activity room instead.

Today, there happened to be people in the club.

As soon as Higashino Hiromu pushed the door open, he saw a pink-haired girl cleaning.

“Good morning, Kaichou~”

Higashino Hiromu recalled the member list he had memorized yesterday. She was the secretary, Toyama Mima.

“Good morning.” He rubbed his nose and said, “Could you not call me kaichou? It feels weird.”

“If we don’t call you ‘kaichou’, then what should we call you?” A cheerful male voice came from behind him, teasing, “If Toyama only calls you senpai, then how would that set you apart from us regular members?”

Turning around, Higashino Hiromu said, “You’re not just a regular member either.” It was Adachi Shizuku, the vice president.

Toyama Mima greeted, “Good morning, Fuku-Kaichou.”

At once, Adachi Shizuku shuddered all over and quickly waved his hands. “Don’t call me that. It sounds disgusting.”

Higashino Hiromu glanced at him. “Heh.”

Adachi Shizuku’s cheeks flushed slightly. “I didn’t expect this title to feel so embarrassing.”

Higashino Hiromu said coolly, “You only feel the pain after the arrow hits you, huh?”

Adachi Shizuku awkwardly rubbed his nose. His gaze shifted downward, noticing what Higashino Hiromu was carrying. With delight, he exclaimed, “Oh~ snacks! Are those for us?”

Higashino Hiromu handed the bag to him. “Yes, I brought them for everyone. Take what you like.”

Adachi Shizuku placed the bag on the table and called Toyama Mima over to choose together.

“By the way, did you finish processing the club membership applications?” Adachi Shizuku asked as he tore open a snack and ate while speaking.

“There are a few left. I’ll be done this morning,” Higashino Hiromu said, taking out the completed application forms and handing them to Adachi Shizuku.

“As long as you’re sure.” Adachi Shizuku, chewing on dried squid, spoke unclearly.

“How are we arranging the interviews?” Higashino Hiromu asked.

“You can decide,” Adachi Shizuku replied.

Higashino Hiromu: ……

He reached out, pinched Adachi Shizuku’s bulging cheeks, and said fiercely, “If I have to decide everything, then what’s the point of having you as the vice president?”

Adachi Shizuku mumbled indistinctly, “If you’re not happy, you can just dismiss me~”

Higashino Hiromu: ……

Toyama Mima said, “Adachi senpai, you really shouldn’t say that. This year, there are so many applicants. If you give up your position, someone else will take it right away!”

Adachi Shizuku replied indifferently, “Then let them have it~ I don’t care about the title.”

Adachi Shizuku majored in archival studies and had only joined the club to practice organizing files. He had no interest in managing the club.

Higashino Hiromu thought he really ought to have joined the library instead.

Adachi Shizuku flatly refused. Impossible, the workload at the library is too heavy, and I wouldn’t be able to slack off!

“Then why don’t you give the position to Matsuzaki? You’re about to graduate anyway, so stepping down early would be fine~” Toyama Mima teased.

Adachi Shizuku immediately retorted, “No way! I won’t let that kid climb over my head!” He was already in his senior year, his final year.

Matsuzaki Toru, the club’s treasurer, was a third-year finance major. He and Adachi Shizuku, if not outright rivals, were at least unable to get along.

By the way, Toyama Mima was majoring in secretarial studies, also in her third year.

Together with Higashino Hiromu, the three of them made up the management of the Criminal Psychology Research Club, plus a few older members who hardly ever showed up.

“By the way, why are there so many applicants this year?” Adachi Shizuku flipped through the application forms, puzzled. “This already exceeds the total membership we’ve ever had, right?” Normally, the club was lucky to recruit three to five people a year, but this year there were more than fifty applications.

“You don’t know?” Toyama Mima looked at the two of them, both equally confused, and explained, “Former president Kaneda said during recruitment, ‘This is my last time handling new member recruitment as club president, so I must make sure to promote it well and build a solid foundation for Higashino.’ Then he printed Higashino senpai’s photo on the recruitment flyers.”

Both turned to her in shock.

Higashino Hiromu asked in confusion, “But I didn’t see my photo on the recruitment notice.”

Toyama Mima replied, “It was only on the flyers. The bulletin board announcement had to be more formal.”

Higashino Hiromu asked with a troubled look, “Would anyone even want those?”

Toyama Mima nodded. “Of course! We printed five hundred copies and distributed all of them.”

Higashino Hiromu’s expression froze. He asked in disbelief, “How many did you say?”

“Five hundred. And that wasn’t enough! Lots of freshmen came to ask us for more.” Toyama Mima added regretfully, “If only we had printed more. But Kaneda kaichou said that this amount was just right. If we printed too many, they’d lose their value.”

Higashino Hiromu felt as if struck by lightning.

He had never expected the former president to set him up like this, using him as a tool for recruitment!

“Hahahaha! So you’re saying Higashino’s photo might have passed through the hands of five hundred or more freshmen?” Adachi Shizuku laughed so hard he could barely straighten up. “Not bad, not bad, free publicity for you! This year’s freshmen will definitely remember you! Hahahaha~” As he spoke, he patted Higashino Hiromu on the shoulder.

Higashino Hiromu held his forehead in exasperation.

He said, “No wonder I saw so many membership applications that said things like ‘Here for the handsome guy,’ or ‘Want to see the charming onii-san’… I was wondering who was so popular.”

Adachi Shizuku covered his mouth. “Pfft! It was you!”

Higashino Hiromu rolled his eyes skyward. “I rejected all of those.”

Adachi Shizuku wiped away tears of laughter and asked, “Huh? Why?”

“Because it’s obvious they’re not sincerely interested in the club. They’re just joining for fun. That’s not good for students who genuinely want to study criminal psychology.”

Toyama Mima timidly raised her hand and said, “But… even among us older members, not many are really studying seriously…”

Higashino Hiromu: ……

He cleared his throat lightly. “From now on, don’t say things like that in front of the freshmen.”

Adachi Shizuku nodded. “I get it. We have to act all serious and look professional!”

Higashino Hiromu shot him a glance, silently worrying for Hatori Yuiichi. Just from seeing this unreliable bunch, one could tell what kind of club this was. He wasn’t sure if his kouhai would learn anything here.

While the three were chatting, a girl suddenly walked in from outside.

She wore a red spaghetti-strap long dress, her chestnut-brown hair curled in waves, paired with bright red lipstick. Her aura was overwhelming, and she looked like someone not to be trifled with.

In fact, her temper really wasn’t good.

Hoshimoto Kana swept her eyes across the room as she entered and asked, “Just the three of you?”

Toyama Mima said, “The others haven’t come yet today. Did you need something?”

Hoshimoto Kana rolled her eyes. “What, I can’t come if I don’t need something? I’m a member of this club too.”

“I didn’t mean it that way…” Toyama Mima said weakly.

Hoshimoto Kana rolled her eyes again, raising her hand impatiently. “Enough. Don’t put on an act in front of me. I don’t buy it. I came to tell you that Friday evening, there’ll be a farewell party for the Kaichou at Haido City Hotel. Make sure you’re there.”

Adachi Shizuku raised his brows and asked, “A farewell party? Wasn’t it supposed to be a trip to the hot spring town? Why the change of place?”

Hoshimoto Kana said disdainfully, “What’s so great about those little places? What good hot springs could there be out in the wilderness? Who knows if the water’s even clean? What if you end up with a skin disease? If we’re going to soak in a hot spring, then we might as well go straight to Haido City Hotel.” She flicked her hair back and lifted her chin. “Anyway, I’ll pay for it. Consider it letting you all broaden your horizons.”

“Oh, and the new members should come too. I’m not short on money~”

With that, she twisted away on her high heels and left.

The three of them: ……

Adachi Shizuku clicked his tongue. “Even knowing she’s rich, I still want to punch her!”

Toyama Mima suppressed a laugh. “Don’t be like that. Hoshimoto may speak harshly, but she really has contributed quite a lot of money.”

Adachi Shizuku scratched his head. “I really don’t get why this ojou-sama insisted on joining our club.”

Toyama Mima replied, “I think it was because of the former president?”

Higashino Hiromu didn’t join in their gossip. He was just thinking that, in the world of Conanology, someone like Hoshimoto Kana would definitely be marked as a death-flag character, most likely destined to be killed by a so-called “best friend.”

He wondered which of the two would be in greater danger if both of them were present at the same time.