How to Survive With a Death-Flag Character Setting in Detective Conan - Chapter 23 (Part 1)

After falling into darkness, Higashino Hiromu didn’t lose consciousness.

His current state was strange, like being trapped in sleep paralysis. His limbs wouldn’t move, his eyes wouldn’t open, yet he could still sense everything around him.

He heard Hatori Yuiichi knocking on the door and calling out to him, but he couldn’t respond.

Thankfully, Hatori Yuiichi was quick to notice something was wrong. After calling twice with no response, he pushed the door open and came in.

Higashino Hiromu heard the sound of his footsteps, the window opening, and the ventilation fan turning on.

He thought, My kouhai really is sharp! Luckily, he didn’t come to soak with me. If both of us had collapsed in there, who would’ve saved us?

But when a towel was placed over his body, another thought struck him.

Wait… isn’t my current position kind of indecent?

He felt Hatori Yuiichi wrap the towel around him, then gently turn him over and lift him horizontally into his arms.

Higashino Hiromu thought in dismay, Eh?! Why is he holding me like this? Can’t he just carry me over his shoulder?!

Unfortunately, he couldn’t open his mouth to complain.

Then Hatori Yuiichi carefully dried his body and helped him put on his pajamas. In the process, his hands inevitably brushed against his skin.

This is so awkward! Higashino Hiromu thought. Thank goodness I’m “unconscious,” or I’d want to dig a hole and hide in it!

Once he was tucked under the blanket, Hatori Yuiichi contacted the others. Higashino Hiromu heard the entire conversation, including the report and the call to the police, and mentally gave him a big thumbs up.

Yes! That’s exactly how you should put it!

After Mouri Kogoro and the others left, Hatori Yuiichi sat by his bedside to watch over him.

Higashino Hiromu was deeply moved.

My kouhai really is so clever and so considerate!

However, he hadn’t escaped danger yet. Because he had fainted too suddenly, he hadn’t even seen the suspects’ profiles. And the countdown wouldn’t pause just because he was unconscious. He could only repeat in his mind, Wake up, wake up, please wake up! He needed to at least find out who was trying to kill him.

As he chanted this over and over, he suddenly “saw” the system interface.

Higashino Hiromu: So the system can be viewed with one’s mind…

Then, something unexpected caught his attention. The death countdown had stopped.

That had never happened before!

Though he didn’t know why, his instincts told him it must be connected to the culprit. Without hesitation, he selected the suspect list to view the details.

【 Yumino Ruko 】: Owner of the hot spring inn and ex-wife of Higashiya Kento. She has devoted herself to preserving her ancestral property but is forced to share profits with her scumbag ex-husband. She harbors deep resentment toward him, and her patience has reached its limit. She has no hostility toward you.

【 Kuwahara Makoto 】: Head chef of the hot spring inn. His younger brother went missing two years ago in the mountains of Gunma Prefecture. He took this job to search for him and recently found a new lead. He has no hostility toward you.

【 Ono Reimi 】: Housekeeper at the inn. One of the earliest employees, but after seeing news about a wild man in the area, she feels unsafe and is considering resigning. She has no hostility toward you.

【 Higashiya Kento 】: Shareholder of the inn and Yumino Ruko’s ex-husband. A gay man who deceived his way into a sham marriage, with a bad temper and violent tendencies. He often visits the inn under the pretense of “inspections,” engaging in unspeakable acts. He has developed improper desires toward you.

When Higashino Hiromu finished reading, his stomach churned violently.

Especially when he saw those last four words!

Although he had come out publicly and always maintained an objective attitude toward this group, after seeing Higashiya Kento’s information and recalling his appearance, Higashino Hiromu felt so disgusted that he wanted to vomit.

What the hell! Cheating in marriage and domestic violence, too! He’s practically the embodiment of garbage!

No wonder the man had shown up several times today; he’d had his eyes on him all along!

And based on these profiles, it was almost certain that Kuwahara Makoto’s brother’s disappearance was tied to Higashiya Kento!

Higashino Hiromu noticed something else, too. The system’s information was becoming more detailed, almost hand-feeding him the truth. This time, it was practically pointing straight at the killer. Unlike before, when even after everything ended, the culprit still wasn’t clear.

And this case was different from the previous ones; it was a third kind of situation.

The person who bore malice toward him wasn’t his intended killer; rather, that same person was someone else’s revenge target. The reason his death countdown had paused was because the would-be killer had been restrained by someone else and couldn’t act.

The best solution, in theory, was to wait. Once Higashiya Kento was killed by another, Higashino Hiromu would naturally be out of danger.

But that would mean Kuwahara Makoto’s life would be destroyed for the sake of avenging his brother.

After thinking it through, Higashino Hiromu decided to stop Kuwahara Makoto’s revenge.

Just like with Asai senpai before, once the criminal is brought to justice, they receive the punishment they deserve, and the victim’s loved ones can move forward with their lives.

Now, he had to wake up as soon as possible and send out the warning before the murder took place!

Sitting beside him, Hatori Yuiichi noticed Higashino Hiromu frowning. His eyes twitched beneath his lids, as if he were in pain.

Reaching out, Hatori Yuiichi gently smoothed his brow and whispered, “Senpai, what’s wrong? Are you hurting?”

Higashino Hiromu’s lips trembled slightly, but he couldn’t speak. His eyelids felt as though they’d been sealed shut with cement.

Seeing that Higashino Hiromu still had a furrowed brow, Hatori Yuiichi lifted his head onto his lap with both hands and began massaging his scalp.

“Does this feel any better?” Hatori Yuiichi asked as he continued to massage him.

This time, his technique was different from when he’d blow-dried Higashino Hiromu’s hair; he used a bit more strength.

Higashino Hiromu felt an almost indescribable comfort spread through his head. Wow… Hatori kouhai’s massage skills are seriously good. As the pressure hit the acupoints on his scalp, he felt his mind growing clearer.

Seeing the tension slowly fade from his senpai’s brow, Hatori Yuiichi thought his method was working and focused even more intently on his movements.

After a long while, Higashino Hiromu finally felt the heaviness on his eyelids loosen. With great effort, he slowly opened his eyes.

The ceiling light was glaringly bright, forcing him to shut them again. A shadow soon fell over his face. When he blinked them open once more, he saw Hatori Yuiichi’s hand shielding the light for him.

Higashino Hiromu managed a faint smile and whispered weakly, “Thank you…”

His voice was faint, but Hatori Yuiichi still caught it. “Do you feel any pain anywhere?” he asked.

Higashino Hiromu wanted to shake his head, but he didn’t even have the strength for that. He forced his lips to move and murmured, “Help me… call Conan…”

Hatori Yuiichi didn’t understand what business Higashino Hiromu could have with that kid, but he didn’t hesitate. He immediately picked up his phone and called Matsuzaki Toru, asking him to bring Edogawa Conan over.

Edogawa Conan had been fast asleep and looked a little dazed when he was dragged out of bed. But the moment he saw Higashino Hiromu lying motionless on the futon, his expression instantly turned grave.

“What happened?” he asked in a low, serious voice.

Hatori Yuiichi briefly described how Higashino Hiromu had suddenly collapsed, then added, “Senpai asked me to call you. I’m not sure what he wants to tell you.”

Edogawa Conan’s instincts flared. If Higashino Hiromu wanted to see him in such a condition, then it had to be something important.

Higashino Hiromu spoke haltingly, his voice scattered and weak, “Two years… missing… chef… younger brother… killer… ex-husband… revenge…”

Time was running out, and he didn’t have the energy to speak in full sentences, only enough to string together crucial words.

But the little detective understood immediately.

Edogawa Conan’s eyes sharpened as he pieced it together aloud, “You mean the chef’s younger brother, who went missing two years ago, is related to the boss’s ex-husband, and now the chef plans to take revenge on him?”

Higashino Hiromu’s lips curved slightly, his eyes narrowing in affirmation. Correct.

Then he added, “Ex-husband… gay… drug… chainsaw…”

Edogawa Conan’s face darkened. “You’re saying Higashiya Kento is gay, he drugged the chef’s brother, and killed him with a chainsaw?!”

Higashino Hiromu blinked again.

Exactly.

With great effort, he moved his arm until he managed to grasp Edogawa Conan’s small hand. “Dangerous… don’t… go alone… Amuro Tooru… Mouri-san… Hattori…” he whispered.

Still reeling from what he’d just heard, Edogawa Conan nodded quickly. “Got it. I won’t go alone.”

He wanted to ask how Higashino Hiromu knew all this, but there was no time for that now. The priority was to stop Kuwahara Makoto’s act of revenge and arrest Higashiya Kento before blood was spilled.

As Hatori Yuiichi listened to their conversation, his brows knitted tighter and tighter. When he heard words like “gay,” “drug,” and “chainsaw,” a dark shadow flickered deep within his eyes.

After Edogawa Conan and Matsuzaki Toru left, Higashino Hiromu let out a long sigh.

Honestly, a matter of life and death like this shouldn’t have been left to others, but in his current state, he couldn’t move at all. He could only pin his hopes on Conan.

With Amuro Tooru, Mouri Kogoro, and Hattori Heiji involved too, maybe their detective instincts would shine through and help him avert this crisis.

At that moment, Hatori Yuiichi suddenly stood up. Instinctively, Higashino Hiromu reached out and tugged at the hem of his clothes.

Hatori Yuiichi turned and reassured him softly, “I’m not leaving. Just getting you a glass of water.”

Realizing that, Higashino Hiromu withdrew his hand awkwardly.

Only then did he realize that deep down, he was still frightened.

Hatori Yuiichi lifted his head gently and helped him drink. “Senpai,” he said softly, “I’m right here. You can rest easy and sleep for a bit.”

Higashino Hiromu pursed his lips shyly and whispered, “Thank you…” Then, obediently, he lay down and closed his eyes.

Perhaps the sedative had finally taken full effect, because not long after, he drifted into deep sleep.

And as he slept, his body acted honestly; his hand unconsciously tightened around Hatori Yuiichi’s finger.

Feeling his pinky being held was a little awkward, Hatori Yuiichi simply placed his entire hand into Higashino Hiromu’s palm, their fingers interlocking. Then he lay down beside him, resting on the blanket.

* * *

After Edogawa Conan and Matsuzaki Toru left, they woke Hattori Heiji and relayed Higashino Hiromu’s message to Amuro Tooru and Mouri Kogoro.

Amuro Tooru glanced at the clock and said, “The police won’t arrive that fast. We’ll have to act first.”

To avoid alerting the enemy, they decided to have Edogawa Conan knock on the door himself. But when they arrived, both Kuwahara Makoto and Higashiya Kento were not in the room!

Edogawa Conan’s expression turned grim. “Damn it! Kuwahara Makoto-san’s already made his move!”

Hattori Heiji frowned, thinking hard. “Where would he take him?”

Edogawa Conan’s eyes flashed as a thought struck him. “I think I know where!”

He ran straight to the owner’s room and knocked rapidly.

Yumino Ruko opened the door, looking puzzled at the group standing outside. “Guests… is something wrong?” she asked, clearly confused.

Edogawa Conan immediately asked, “Boss, when your grandfather and father went up the mountain to cut wood in the past, where did they usually rest?”

Yumino Ruko blinked, taken aback. “There’s a small hut in the back mountain where the lumberjacks used to rest. It’s just behind the small waterfall. You can reach it from the boardwalk.”

The moment she finished speaking, all the men turned on their heels and bolted out the door in unison.

Edogawa Conan shouted as he ran, “Matsuzaki oniisan, wait here for the police!” Then he sprinted after them, calling, “Wait for me!”

Only Amuro Tooru stopped, turned back, and scooped Edogawa Conan up under his arm before dashing off again.

Edogawa Conan: ……

The three men moved fast—shockingly fast. Even with Edogawa Conan tucked under one arm, Amuro Tooru’s speed didn’t lose out to Mouri Kogoro or Hattori Heiji in the slightest.

They ran all the way to the waterfall, panting as they scanned the area. “Where’s the rest hut?”

Edogawa Conan pointed ahead. “There! There’s light over there!”

The three followed his direction, and sure enough, they found it.

They hadn’t gone far when the outline of the small hut came into view. Flames were bursting from within as if someone had set it on fire.

Still tucked under Amuro Tooru’s arm, Edogawa Conan adjusted his glasses’ focus and peered through the hut’s window. Inside, Higashiya Kento sat slumped on the floor while Kuwahara Makoto raised a chainsaw high above his head.