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 considered his lunch.
Poor students couldn't afford extravagance.
As soon as he sat down, he overheard a conversation from the next table.
"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 continued to listen.
"Why did Kudo's parents come to school? Didn't he take a leave of absence today?"
"Eh? What does Kudo's absence have to do with his parents coming? He's taken leave before, but his parents never came to school for that."
Ren quietly absorbed the conversation, piecing together the situation.
"It seems Shinichi, who fainted in the alley on Saturday, must have been found by the police and taken to the hospital later."
"The hospital likely contacted his family through Shinichi's phone while he was unconscious, which explains why his parents returned."
"This is unexpected."
The situation was beginning to shift in a different direction.
The return of Shinichi's parents was bound to set off a chain reaction.
If they knew what had happened to their son, they were likely making plans for his extended absence from school.
"Could the couple be planning to take Shinichi abroad?"
"But even if they did, the outcome wouldn't necessarily be good for him."
If Shinichi sought protection abroad, there would undoubtedly be a price to pay.
Intelligence agencies like the FBI don't do anything without extracting their share of benefits.
Once they realized Shinichi was a "living specimen" 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 original story, Shinichi never seemed to think too practically. His decision to stay stemmed from his unwillingness to leave Ran.
Ren, caught up in curiosity, found himself eating faster.
After quickly finishing his meal and returning the plate, he made his way to the corridor outside the principal's office.
He pressed his hands against the window, peering inside, and let the 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 functions, but that wasn't an issue.
Ren pulled out his diary. The diary's recording function relied on what the eye observed, and it captured sound as well.
"...I extend my condolences for Shinichi's experience."
The opening statement almost threw him off completely.
"Why is the principal mourning? Did Shinichi get hit to death by that stick?"
This development was completely unexpected, and Ren rubbed his forehead, replaying 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 unconscious, but it definitely hadn't killed him.
Without dwelling on the ongoing conversation inside, Ren pulled out a 500-yen coin and infused it with his spirituality.
"Kudo Shinichi is not dead."
It was a simple two-choice divination, requiring only a straightforward method.
The coin landed heads-up—"yes."
To ensure accuracy, he repeated the divination four more times.
Each time, the coin landed 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 own identity."
"You're planning to fight the organization to the bitter end, refusing to restore your identity as a high school detective until the organization is destroyed."
Ren couldn't help but admire Shinichi's decisiveness.
This wasn't a choice someone with half-hearted determination could make.
"We didn't expect something 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 uncomfortable.
He had no idea how to comfort parents grieving their son. Words of solace seemed hollow and ineffective.
"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?"
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."
The principal nodded, visibly relieved.
Since the police were already involved, the school could cooperate without worry.
"Thank you for your understanding," Yusaku said, standing up.
"Yukiko and I will take our leave now. There are still matters to attend to."
The couple exchanged brief pleasantries with the principal before leaving the office.
Once they 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.
"The public security department has also handled everything. Shinichi's fingerprints, DNA, and even his school records have been completely transferred to his new identity."
"Every detail has been altered to ensure no one can trace him back."
"But by doing this..." Yusaku trailed off.
"This is a decision without any chance of turning back."
Once the identity of "Kudo Shinichi" was erased, there was no going back.
This was precisely why Yusaku had wanted his son to leave the country.
The organization could take years, or even decades to destroy.
If this dragged on too long, the name "Kudo Shinichi" might be forgotten forever.
Yukiko, sitting quietly, finally spoke.
"That child... he's just too stubborn."
Bonus Chps for every 100 PS, and if we reach 10 reviews, I'll also drop 5 bonus Chps.