How to Survive With a Death-Flag Character Setting in Detective Conan - Chapter 18
Higashino Hiromu and Araide Tomoaki were chatting happily when the system task suddenly updated.
【 Upcoming Event 】: Attack resulting in death at Teitan High School
【 Murder Weapon 】: Folding chair
【 Cause of Death 】: Brain death
【 Suspects 】: Tsukamoto Kazumi, Tanaka Noriko, Kobata Hiroshi
【 Death Countdown 】: 00:29:59.59
Higashino Hiromu’s smile instantly vanished from his face.
Why?!
He was only here to deliver a message, but how did it suddenly turn into a life-threatening situation?!
If this incident had nothing to do with Araide Tomoaki, he’d twist off his own head and kick it like a ball!
Sure enough, among the three suspects, two had emotional entanglements with him!
【 Tsukamoto Kazumi 】: Third-year student at Teitan High School, former captain of the karate club. Grateful toward Araide Tomoaki. No connection with you.
【 Tanaka Noriko 】: First-year student at Teitan High School, an obsessive fan of Araide Tomoaki. Resents you after hearing you persuaded Araide Tomoaki to resign.
【 Kobata Hiroshi 】: Second-year student at Teitan High School, dislikes Araide Tomoaki because the girl he liked was infatuated with him. No connection with you.
Alright! With intel this clear, the murderer must be Tanaka Noriko! She’s the only one who would hate someone for convincing Araide Tomoaki to leave.
But seriously, why did he have to keep running into mentally unstable people? What did an innocent bystander ever do wrong?!
And this time, the countdown was especially tight—less than half an hour!
Could this world just give him a break?!
Araide Tomoaki was startled when he saw Higashino Hiromu’s pained expression. He immediately stood up, helped him up, and asked, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Mouri Ran and the other two also came over with worried faces. “Higashino senpai, your face looks so pale. Do you want to lie down and rest for a bit?”
Higashino Hiromu shook his head, then solemnly placed his hand on Mouri Ran’s shoulder and said seriously, “Ran-chan, may I ask you a favor?”
Mouri Ran looked puzzled but still replied, “Of course, what is it?”
“For the next half hour, can you stay by my side the entire time?”
Mouri Ran’s eyes turned into dots. “Eh?”
Higashino Hiromu covered his forehead, looking extremely weak. “I feel like I might faint in half an hour. I hope you can catch me.” In truth, he hoped the karate champion could block the fatal strike for him!
Sera Masumi patted her chest and said, “I can help too! I’m really strong!”
Higashino Hiromu looked at her gratefully. “Then I’ll be counting on you both!”
Araide Tomoaki had already changed out of his white coat. Taking out his car keys, he walked over to Higashino Hiromu, supported him by the arm, and said, “I’ll drive you to the hospital.”
“Thank you, Senpai!” Higashino Hiromu hooked his arm tightly around his neck, thinking, You can be my hostage for now. I refuse to believe the culprit would dare attack while you’re right next to me!
So the five of them arranged themselves like this: Higashino Hiromu in the middle, his left arm hooked around Araide Tomoaki’s neck, his right arm supported by Mouri Ran, Sera Masumi following behind, and Suzuki Sonoko leading the way in front.
Their strange walking formation naturally caught the attention of passersby.
Tsukamoto Kazumi, passing by, asked curiously, “Mouri, what are you all doing?”
Mouri Ran explained, “It’s nothing. Senpai’s not feeling well, so we’re taking him to the hospital.”
Tsukamoto Kazumi looked at Higashino Hiromu, the tallest in the group, who was leaning against the shorter Dr. Araide with a pale face, and couldn’t help twitching her lips. “You’re that weak?”
Higashino Hiromu said weakly, “Sorry, I just look tough on the outside.”
It was the first time Tsukamoto Kazumi had ever met someone so honest.
She gestured for Araide Tomoaki to move aside, indicating that she would carry him instead.
However, Higashino Hiromu refused no matter what. He clung tightly to Araide Tomoaki’s neck and said, “No! No one can separate us!”
Everyone froze.
Higashino Hiromu coughed lightly and added, “I mean, since Senpai is a man, it’s better to let him carry me. I can’t trouble you girls.”
Araide Tomoaki smiled helplessly and nodded.
Tsukamoto Kazumi raised an eyebrow. “What, are you looking down on women?”
Higashino Hiromu replied solemnly, “Of course not! Women hold up half the sky! I’d never look down on you. I barely even think highly of myself! I just personally prefer being close to men!”
His words stunned the four girls. They stared blankly at him.
Araide Tomoaki: ……
It hadn’t been that long since they last met, but his junior seemed to have changed quite a bit.
Tsukamoto Kazumi was speechless for a moment before finally saying, “Th-then, I’ll come with you to the parking lot.”
Higashino Hiromu said gratefully, “Thank you so much!”
Having another former karate captain meant another layer of protection for survival!
They didn’t walk fast, and by the time they reached Araide Tomoaki’s car, the countdown was almost at zero.
Just as Higashino Hiromu was wondering why the culprit still hadn’t shown up, Suzuki Sonoko suddenly shouted, “Hey! You there! What are you sneaking around for?!”
A boy was crouching behind Araide Tomoaki’s car, fiddling with something. The moment he heard Sonoko’s voice, he bolted.
At the same time, Mouri Ran, Sera Masumi, and Tsukamoto Kazumi reacted instantly and chased after him.
Higashino Hiromu: !!!
Eh?! Wait! What about me?!
Terrified, Higashino Hiromu threw both arms around Araide Tomoaki and hurriedly reactivated the skill 【 100% Barehanded Blade Catch 】.
He didn’t care whether it worked or not; at least it made him feel safer!
All this time, Tanaka Noriko had been quietly following them. When she saw Higashino Hiromu clutching Araide Tomoaki, she finally snapped.
Dragging along a folding chair, she approached the two from behind and raised it high, aiming straight for Higashino Hiromu’s head.
Sensing danger, Higashino Hiromu immediately grabbed Araide Tomoaki and spun around, pulling them both to the side.
The folding chair in Tanaka Noriko’s hands came crashing down, not on Higashino Hiromu, but right onto Araide Tomoaki’s car.
Suzuki Sonoko: Whoa!
Higashino Hiromu: !
Araide Tomoaki: ……
After receiving the system prompt 【 Successfully Escaped Death Threat 】, Higashino Hiromu quietly let go and slipped behind Araide Tomoaki for cover.
Looking at the side mirror that had detached from the car and was lying on the ground, Araide Tomoaki rubbed the bridge of his nose tiredly and asked, “Student, do you have some kind of grudge against me?”
Terrified, Tanaka Noriko immediately dropped the folding chair and frantically denied, “No! Tomoaki! I don’t have any grudge against you!”
Araide Tomoaki frowned and corrected her, “You should address me as Dr. Araide or Araide sensei.”
Tanaka Noriko reluctantly muttered, “Araide sensei.”
Suzuki Sonoko picked up the broken side mirror and said, “This is completely wrecked.” She turned toward the girl. “We’re definitely going to have to call your parents.”
Meanwhile, Mouri Ran and the others had caught the boy who was causing trouble and dragged him over to Araide Tomoaki.
“What the hell? What are you doing?!” the boy protested indignantly. “Why are you girls ganging up on me like a bunch of female tyrannosaurs?”
Sera Masumi raised her hand threateningly, and he instantly flinched back.
Sera Masumi gave a mocking laugh. “You’d better confess what you did before I really lose my patience.”
Kobata Hiroshi shrank back under her glare and muttered, “I just… let the air out of his tires, okay?”
Tsukamoto Kazumi immediately shouted, “That’s a crime! Don’t you have any common sense?!”
Kobata Hiroshi raised his hands to cover his face in fright. When he realized he wasn’t being hit, he awkwardly lowered them again and muttered defensively, “Nothing bad happened anyway!”
“If something had happened, you’d be finished!” Sera Masumi snapped. “So what do we do now? One smashed the side mirror, the other let the air out of the tires. Should we call the police?”
Araide Tomoaki felt a headache coming on and said helplessly, “Let’s first contact the school administration and inform their parents.”
Higashino Hiromu disagreed. “What if the parents try to deny responsibility?”
Araide Tomoaki shook his head. “It’s fine. There are security cameras in the parking lot. If they don’t cooperate, we can call the police later.”
He knew the school would most likely persuade the parents to settle it privately. After all, news of students damaging the school doctor’s personal car would sound terrible if it spread.
Before long, the incident of two students deliberately damaging the school doctor’s car had spread throughout the entire school. When the students who hadn’t yet gone home heard about it, many secretly wanted to eavesdrop outside the Principal’s office. But when they saw the Disciplinary Director guarding the door, they all ran away in fear.
The two students’ homeroom teachers contacted their parents. After the parents arrived and saw the surveillance footage, they agreed to settle the matter privately.
Everyone conveniently ignored the fact that Tanaka Noriko had been aiming for the back of Higashino Hiromu’s head, or perhaps they simply didn’t want to think about it too much. After all, attacking someone would have escalated the case into a criminal matter.
Higashino Hiromu also chose not to pursue it further.
After discussing compensation, both sides signed a settlement agreement in front of the Principal. The parents immediately transferred the compensation money to Araide Tomoaki, while Tanaka Noriko’s parents additionally gave Higashino Hiromu compensation for mental distress before leaving the school with their children in embarrassment.
Taking advantage of the moment, Araide Tomoaki submitted his resignation to the Principal.
The Principal had originally tried to persuade him to stay, but Araide Tomoaki explained some of the recent events, such as how some students had been sending him love letters while others began resenting him. Such a situation, he said, was not conducive to students’ social development and could damage the harmony of their relationships.
After thinking for a moment, the Principal finally agreed. He said regretfully, “Dr. Araide, you truly are excellent. I’ve been practicing the health exercises you taught me every day, and my back feels so much better. Staying here as a school doctor really is a waste of your talent.”
Araide Tomoaki smiled and replied, “I’ve also enjoyed my time here at Teitan High. Once I have somewhere new to go, I’ll let you know right away.”
The Principal instantly broke into a wide smile. “That’s great! When the time comes, I’ll make sure to schedule an appointment with you!”
The moment Araide Tomoaki left the school, the news of his resignation spread like wildfire.
One had to admit, the Teitan High students’ information network was truly impressive.
But as rumors passed from one person to another, two separate incidents merged into one distorted version: two students who hated Dr. Araide had deliberately damaged his car, which made him completely lose faith in his students and decide to resign.
The students who adored Dr. Araide were furious and swore that those two would pay the price. The ones who disliked him secretly rejoiced, but fearing backlash, could only pretend to be angry too.
As for Mouri Ran and her friends, who actually knew the truth about Araide Tomoaki’s resignation, they just fell silent.
Forget it. No need to say anything. Letting those two learn their lesson might not be a bad thing.
Since Araide Tomoaki’s car had been sent for repairs, he had no choice but to ride the bus with Higashino Hiromu.
Higashino Hiromu took him straight back to Tohto University.
“Sensei should still be in the lab right now. You should go talk to him.”
He thought to himself, Professor Yasuda is definitely going to be grateful to me again. I’ve personally brought his prized student right to him!
Then maybe if I skip internships from now on, he won’t scold me…
CHARACTER PROFILE:
Tsukamoto Kazumi
Manga/Anime: Detective Conan
Role: High school student and former captain of the Teitan High karate club
Personality: Straightforward, outgoing, tomboyish, practical; skeptical of supernatural phenomena
Notable Traits: Skilled in karate; taught Mouri Ran the swivel roundhouse kick (whirlwind turn around kick)
Background: Former leader of the karate club before Mouri Ran took over. Close friend and mentor to Mouri Ran in martial arts. Known for her level-headedness and frustration toward supernatural rumors circulating at Teitan High School.