(Jared's POV)
15th April
Baker Street…
"See? That's why I 'ate grown-ups. Excep' Jared, since 'e's bin sendin bees and honey 'o me. All they do is feed you a pack o' lies and take stuff away from ya!" Gina said, wearing Magnus McGilded's coat.
"Oh really, Miss Lestrade? ...Tell me, is that overcoat keeping you warm?" Holmes asked.
"Wot?"
"Oh my! Surely, you were given that!" Susato said, worried.
"Yeah, the dee let me keep it. After I looked daggers at 'im for long enough. 'E went through the pockets and then said, 'Go on, then, 'ave it' before tellin' me to scarper. Always pays off, givin' people a look like you 'ate 'em." Gina said.
"I can't help feeling that it's going to get you into serious trouble one day…" Ryunosuke said, sadly.
"Wot I really wanted was that nice, shiny disk, mind."
"The music box disk?" Susato asked.
"But Mr Windibank said it was practically worthless." Ryunosuke said.
"I think I'm gonna go and 'ave another bash. Give 'em a long, 'ard stare." Gina said.
"Unless you're Fluttershy or Shirabe Tsukuyomi, it wouldn't work." I said, frowning.
"Flu''er who? She-rabies?"
"I think not, Miss Lestrade. We shan't enter Windibank's again today." Holmes said.
"Why not?! That's not fair!" Gina yelled.
"It can't be helped, I'm afraid. The police are investigating the scene now, and taking a statement from Mr Windibank." Ryunosuke said.
"But that disk's mine! I 'ad the ticket for this coat, and it was in this coat's pocket! And there should be somefin' else an' all! That's wot that rotten cove said, ain't it?"
"Yes, he did mention something about another article, didn't he?"
"Well then, that's mine, too! Wotever it is!"
"Gina…" I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Now she's really pushing her luck…'
"Miss Lestrade, I think it's time to admit defeat. You've had your 'haul' for the day." Holmes said.
"Yeah! And it's all your fault, Holmes!" Gina said, angrily.
"So what are your plans now? Will you dine with us this evening?"
"Eh?"
"Iris would be delighted to cook, I'm sure. And I might entertain you with a modest violin recital."
"... No, ta." Gina said, scoffing.
"Oh…" Holmes said, letting out a sigh.
"Why would I come round your place, eh? 'Ave you lost your 'ead or somefin'?!" Gina exclaimed, walking away from us.
"Oh dear. She's gone." Susato said.
"Hm, having reviled on me quite unnecessarily, I might add." Holmes said.
"I...can't help wondering... ...if perhaps she might turn up anyway." Ryunosuke said.
"Interesting…"
"Once she's had a chance to calm down, I think there's a good chance she'll decide to come."
"... Very well, then. I'll inform Iris to set a place for our potential guest at the dinner table this evening. And one more thing... I should be glad of your company later, too."
"Sorry?"
"I believe I will have a rather splendid surprise to show you."
"Oh, how exciting! What is it?" Susato asked.
"You shall have to wait and see, Miss Susato. ...Until later, then!" Holmes said, walking away from us.
15th April, 3:46 p.m.
Holmes's Suite…
"Ah, Susie! Jared! And Runo! Come in, come in!" Iris said, excitedly.
"Good afternoon, Iris." Ryunosuke said, happily.
"Thank you so much for breakfast this morning." Susato said, smiling.
"Oh, don't mention it! ...Goodness! Look at the time already!" Iris said, looking down at her watch.
"Busy as always?" Ryunosuke asked.
"I am! I'm preparing everything for dinner this evening."
"Already? You're obviously cooking something special, are you?"
"Oh, yes! After all, we have a special guest joining us! Guess who it is! Go on! Hee hee, you'll never guess!"
"Um…" Ryunosuke said, as he thought this to himself. 'Look at those little eyes of hers shining!'
"Oh dear. It is awkward when you already know the answer, isn't it?" Susato asked.
"It's Ginny! Isn't that exciting?!" Iris exclaimed.
"Oh! Oh...what a surprise! Yes, that's wonderful news!"
"It really is wonderful." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Wow, Iris seems overjoyed at the idea!'
"I can't wait to learn some pickpocketing tips from a real professional!" Iris cheered.
"Same. Kyoko Sakura is good at stealing. When it comes to food." I said, clutching the strap of my sling bag. "Pickpocketing? Not so much. That's Gina's thing."
"Oh yes! That does sound like fun!" Ryunosuke yelled.
"I'm not sure that's entirely appropriate. Are you, Mr Naruhodo?" Susato asked.
"Erm... By the way, Iris, what's Mr Holmes up to?"
"Hurley? Oh, he's been like that ever since he got back." Iris said, looking over at Holmes.
"...Hellooo! Mr Holmes!" Ryunosuke said, angrily.
"I beg that you won't speak to me." Holmes said.
"Sorry?"
"I don't know who you are, but kindly take your leave. As you can see, I'm not here."
"..." Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself. 'I, I don't know how to respond to that.'
"I do apologise. When he gets like this, he's completely oblivious to everything." Iris said.
"Yes... I see…" Ryunosuke said, sadly.
"Really, he behaves just like a child sometimes, Hurley does."
"Mr Holmes and Iris have something of a parent-and-child relationship and Jared's the one that understands them both, don't they?" Susato asked.
"Yes, except that Iris is clearly the parent here…" Ryunosuke said, as he thought this to himself. 'Come to think of it... ...I wonder where her real parents are.'
"I'm the one that helps out Iris from time to time." I said, and I looked down at the floor. "Because Sherlock can be an insufferable ass. And he's emotional, despite being a genius."
"What's the matter, Runo? You have ever such a funny look on your face!" Iris said, looking at Ryunosuke.
"Oh...no...it's nothing." Ryunosuke said, letting out a sigh.
"I know what it is! 'Why does this girl and this fanboy from the future live here with Mr Holmes?' you're wondering. ...Am I right?"
"How?! How did you...?"
"Heh heh, oh, Runo! I can read you like a book!"
"Honestly. Same. I've known Sherlock for years. As well as John H. Watson." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Ugh... This girl is dangerous… And Jared's dangerous around this girl.'
"Don't worry, you can ask me anything! I won't mind." Iris said, happily.
"So, by Ginny...you mean Miss Lestrade, the young woman from the McGilded case two months ago, right?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Yes! Named after that Harry Potter character, Ginny Weasley! Who also stole my experimental smoke grenade launcher! Although after that trial, I invited her back here and we had dinner together. And now the three of us are the best of friends!" Iris said, excitedly.
"Oh! Hee hee, what a lovely tale!" Susato cooed.
"Yes! Now if I bump into her on the street...she runs away as fast as she can!"
"...Oh."
"And I chase after her down the back alleys!"
"I use the GPS to help Iris find Gina through the back alleys." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Interesting idea of friendship…'
"And then I let her and Jared have the latest colour of smoke grenade I've developed." Iris said, smiling.
"Oh…" Susato said, frowning.
"There are so many beautiful colours in the world! Ginny wants me to make a whole rainbow!"
"Yup. Gina was shocked when there's a whole magical girl group that's the color of the rainbow." I said, leaning against the wall. "That being Symphogear."
"I suppose this means... ...Iris, you've let Miss Lestrade keep the smoke grenade launcher, have you?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Yes, that's right! I'd got bored of it anyway. And I made Jared two smoke grenade launchers. I modified them to work with nitroglycerin and have a timer set with them. Hurley always reacts the same way when I shoot him with it now." Iris said.
"Nitro-9. Developed by Ace McShane. It's just like ordinary nitroglycerin, except it's got that kick to it. Sherlock doesn't like it when I send explosives everywhere around Baker Street." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Poor 'Hurley'...'
"Ooh, I can't wait for Ginny to arrive! It's been too long since she last came over. I'm so excited!" Iris said, excitedly.
"Same. Gina's amazing, Iris." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'I just hope she does actually come.'
"I'm sure you've been wondering why it is that Jared and I live here with Hurley, haven't you?" Iris asked.
"Well...it has crossed my mind. That, and where are your real parents?" Ryunosuke asked.
"My mummy and daddy aren't with me any more."
"...!" Susato said, at a loss for words.
"Mummy passed away when I was born. And at around the same time, my father... Well, he had to go to a faraway land because of one of the cases he, Hurley, and Jared were working on." Iris said.
"Oh... Wait a minute... Did you say, 'he, Hurley, and Jared'?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Yes. Daddy, Hurley, and Jared were always solving mysterious cases together!"
"Yup. We were. We were a great team." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'She didn't mention that before… Jared said he did, but I didn't believe him at the time.'
"He wrote them all up in his diaries. That's what's in the metal chest over there." Iris said, looking over at a metal chest.
"Really? He recorded them all?" Ryunosuke asked.
"So...you mean it's true? Mr Holmes... ...really did have partners with whom he tackled some of his most taxing cases?!" Susato exclaimed.
"Yup. He did." I said, happily.
"Oh yes! I mean, it's always nice to have one, isn't it?" Iris asked.
"So Mr Holmes's partner...was your father?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Exactly! Hurley and Jared told me I wasn't allowed to look in the chest. But that only made me want to look even more! ...So I opened it up." Iris said.
"And found your father's memoirs." Susato said.
"Yes. So I asked Hurley and Jared: 'Who wrote these?' Hurley nearly fell off his chair! And Jared dropped his mug of green tea. But then they told me. That's when I found out that the author of all those accounts... ...was my father." Iris said.
"Yup. In the future, they will be posted on the internet as blog posts." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'So Iris's father and Jared were Mr Holmes's partners…'
"I've practically lived with Hurley and Jared all my life. I was tiny when they took me in. So...it came as quite a shock. When Hurley told me he wasn't really my daddy, I mean." Iris said.
"It must have done." Ryunosuke said.
"I wonder why Mr Holmes and Jared chose to tell you. And at such a young age." Susato said.
"Hurley says it's because they wouldn't have been able to hide it from me." Iris said.
"Oh?"
"Well, having lived with Hurley and Jared all these years, you might say that their ways have rubbed off on me. There are some things I can just...see. Especially lies. I almost know when people are lying before they open their mouths sometimes." Iris said.
"Right…" Ryunosuke said, letting out a sigh.
"Anyway, I was so fascinated when I read Daddy's diaries. That's what inspired me to write 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes', actually."
"I'd always assumed Mr Holmes and Jared simply told you all those thrilling stories." Susato said.
"Oh no, Hurley's hopeless like that. He forgets everything. As soon as he's solved a case, it all but vanishes from his mind." Iris said, smiling.
"Oh, I see."
"The other day it was so embarrassing. As usual, he totally forgot about the case he'd just solved... ...so the very next day he gathered together all the people involved and proceeded to solve the case again! It was quite a shock for everyone!"
"Yup. It realy was." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. '...You can say that again.'
"...You share your father's surname, don't you, Iris?" Susato asked.
"That's right! Watson. Daddy is Dr John H. Watson! I learnt from his diaries that he's a doctor of medicine, you see. That's what prompted me to study and study so that I could earn a doctorate as well!" Iris cheered.
"In the future, Dr. John H. Watson had a daughter with Mary Watson named Rosamund, also called Rosie. It's a bit funny. Really." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Iris's father...who went to some distant land... ...and is a doctor by the name of John H. Watson…'
Flashback…
"The court will now hear the trial of Ryunosuke Naruhodo." The Judge said.
"The first case Ryunosuke ever took on." I said, as a voiceover.
"Kindly state before the court the name of the victim in this case." The Judge said.
"The victim's name was Dr John H. Watson." Ryunosuke said.
"Yup." I said, as a voiceover. "One of my best friends."
"That's right...visiting professor of medicine at Imperial Yumei University... ...and the man who, in the most bizarre of circumstances, lost his life, in this time and not the future, just before we left Japan." Ryunosuke said, as a voiceover.
Holmes's Suite…
"Miss Susato…" Ryunosuke said, sadly.
"...Yes." Susato said, frowning.
"Perhaps we shouldn't pursue this conversation any further at this time."
"...I think that would be for the best."
"Ah, my dear fellows! How good to see you!" Holmes said, walking over to us.
"Eek! Mr, Mr Holmes!" Susato cried.
"Whyever did you not make your presence known to me before?"
"...Haah." Ryunosuke said, laughing a little.
"Well, no matter now. So, how the devil are you?" Holmes asked.
"We've...been with you for most of the day."
"Goodness, really?"
"Do tell me, Mr Holmes, is your violin unscathed?" Susato asked.
"Hm? My violin? Whatever are you talking about, dear madam?" Holmes asked.
"Oh! Um…"
"Never mind that now. I have something far more interesting to show you. Behold, my dear fellows!" Holmes said, taking out a music box disk from his coat pocket.
"Oh, another music box disk."
"No, not 'another' disk, Miss Susato. This is the one Gregson demanded we hand over as evidence: Mr McGilded's disk!"
"Oh my!"
"Then, then...what's it doing here?!" Ryunosuke exclaimed.
"Heh heh heh! You know, at times, Mr Naruhodo... ...I think that though I have an undeniable turn for detection... ...I may well be even more adept at larceny!" Holmes yelled.
"Ooh! That would be wonderfully exciting! Jared and I would be your pickpocketing assistants! And Runo could be our go-to lawyer if we ever got caught!" Iris said, excitedly.
"Yup. You'd be our lawyer to get us out of trouble." I said, happily.
"Right…" Ryunosuke said, looking between Iris and I.
"Plus, Susie has such beautiful handwriting, she could write all our menacing crime notifications!" Iris chirped.
"Yes! I'd be delighted!" Susato cheered.
'I'm just going to pretend this conversation never happened, I think.' Ryunosuke said, thinking that to himself, before speaking aloud. "I, I don't understand... How did that disk come to be in your possession? I thought Inspector Gregson took it back to Scotland Yard."
"Quite correct. And that sort of uncompromising attitude is precisely why I always carry some of this." Holmes said, taking out a caramel bar.
"That's...a bar of caramel, Mr Holmes." Susato said, sadly.
"Your one and only friend in times of loneliness, if I'm not mistaken." Ryunosuke said, frowning.
"If you will humour me, my dear fellows... ...cast your minds back to when the good detective confiscated the disk." Holmes said.
Flashback…
"I'll be takin' that whatever-it-is of McGilded's down to the Yard, thank you very much! So hand it over!" Gregson yelled.
"Oh, yes, of course…" Ryunosuke said.
"If the police demand something as evidence, my dear fellow, we have no choice but to capitulate. It's all yours, Inspector." Holmes said, holding the music box disk.
Holmes's Suite…
"For the briefest of moments, I had the disk in my hand, did I not?" Holmes asked.
"Yes... Yes, you did. But...I still don't understand." Ryunosuke said.
"It was at precisely that moment, that I summoned my one and only friend into action. I pressed the disk into a pair of bars...like this." Holmes said, turning the disk over to reveal the caramel smudge.
"That's...that's amazing! The disk and all the miniscule protrusions have made an image in the caramel!"
"Indeed. This caramel is quite exceptional. I developed it myself, you know. Suitably soft for making impressions, but resistant to melting. The result of a precisely controlled solution."
"How extraordinary!" Susato said, at a loss for words.
"Carrying a pair of these on one's person frequently proves very useful indeed. Take a house key, for example. A simple press, and its unique form is duplicated. I can enter anyone's property at will. And never without high-sucrose nourishment." Holmes said, smirking.
"Yeees... It sounds...illegal." Ryunosuke said.
"From the image, I was able to create this. I confess I was most curious to know what manner of music would issue from the disk when played."
"Do tell us, then, Mr Holmes! What music does the disk play?" Susato asked.
"Well...unfortunately I have no idea." Holmes said.
"No idea?" Ryunosuke asked.
"None whatsoever. Are you familiar with the workings of a music box, my dear fellows?" Holmes asked.
"No, I'm afraid not."
"I am. It's like a record player, right?" I asked, looking down at the floor.
"Goodness! It is, Jared. It is like a record player." Iris said, smiling. "You don't know, Runo? Inside a music box, there's a special metal piece called a 'comb'. That's what produces the sound. Small protuberances pluck the different teeth of the comb as they rotate past it, making the different notes. The first music boxes to be invented used a rotating cylinder with protuberances on it."
"But over time, a new type of player was produced, which uses disks such as these. With that development, the popularity of music boxes spread far and wide. All around the globe." Holmes said.
"Why, exactly?" Susato asked.
"Because the disks are easy to produce, and can be interchanged to facilitate the playing of different tunes. There are a great many firms in Europe now manufacturing music boxes as a result."
"It is wonderful to be able to enjoy music, even when no performer is present."
"But it is the very success of the invention that means we are now presented with an insurmountable problem."
"What do you mean?" Ryunosuke asked.
"As you may imagine, the construction of one firm's music box does not match that of another. And we have no way of knowing in which music box this particular disk was designed to be played. There is no resolution to this problem, I'm afraid. It's quite intractable." Holmes said.
"And the resolution to this problem of the music box disks won't be resolved until the invention of the cassette tape, which won't come out until 1962. The problem would still be there." I said, clutching the strap of my sling bag. "But there are write-protected notches. It means that it prevents writing or modifying data on a storage device."
"Ah, I see. So that's why…" Ryunosuke said, his eyes widening.
"Naturally, I tested the disk in those few music boxes I have at my disposal. But as you can hear, to no avail. The results were equally unsatisfactory in this one. So... ...I am presently engaged in acquiring an example of all the music boxes ever made in Europe." Holmes said, smugly.
"E-Every single one?!" Susato exclaimed.
"That's Hurley for you. Always taking things too far." Iris said.
"But, my dear girl! An unsolved riddle is quite repugnant to my constitution!" Holmes said.
"But surely all the different types in Europe will amount to a huge volume of music boxes, won't it?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Hm, yes, that is certainly true. In the worst case... ...I shall just have to ask you to vacate the attic room."
"What?!"
"Still, Magnus McGilded." I said, looking down at the floor.
"Magnus McGilded... Not a name I expected to hear again so soon." Holmes said.
'Yes... It's only been two months since that grisly case…' Ryunosuke said, thinking that to himself, before he spoke aloud. "Mr McGilded perished within hours of the trial's conclusion."
"Yup. I've been all over time and space. And I've never reached a conclusion like that." I said, sadly.
"Was it the curse of the Reaper? No one knows, still now. The omnibus was reduced to a pile of ash. Not a shred of evidence remained. And with the man's death... ...the truth about the murder in which he was so intimately involved was buried." Ryunosuke said, as a voiceover.
"You haven't?" Susato asked.
"Nope. I haven't." I said, frowning.
"Even though we successfully established Mr McGilded's innocence in the trial…" Ryunosuke said.
"...The newspapers are still claiming that it remains an unsolved case." Susato said.
"The murder of the brickmaker, Mr 'Thrice-Fired' Mason... In the end, the truth of the matter remains a mystery. We still have no idea what really happened that night. And although Mr McGilded was found not guilty through my defence... ...I still don't know if that was the right judgement or not."
"It would appear the case is not yet closed." Holmes said.
"Well, it's time I started getting things ready for dinner, I think. Ginny will be here before long." Iris said.
"Thank you, Iris."
"Oh, well you must let me help you, then." Susato said.
"Of course, Susie! There's plenty to do." Iris said.
"I think I shall investigate the condition of my faithful performing partner. Now then...where did I leave it...?" Holmes asked.
"Let this be a lesson to you, Mr Holmes: Never leave anything too precious with the pawnbroker." Ryunosuke said.
"Hm, yes... You may be right."
"Oh, that reminds me! Of something Mr Windibank said before. He said that he had a manuscript of Iris's in pawn, didn't he?" Susato asked.
"Did he?" Holmes asked.
"Yes, he definitely mentioned it. 'Mr Holmes's latest tale of otherworldly mystery lies dormant in my storeroom,' were his words, I believe." Ryunosuke said.
"So you heard about that, did you? I expect you were as incensed as I was!" Iris said.
"Oh yes! The idea of such a wonderful story languishing in Mr Windibank's storeroom, gathering dust…" Susato said, letting out a sigh.
"My dear madam, I'm quite sure I told you already... ...the pawnbroker's storeroom is the safest place for it. More secure than a bank's vault!" Holmes said, angrily.
"And what about your Stradivarius, Hurley? Was that safe and secure?" Iris asked.
"Weeell... There may be the occasional mix-up."
"This is why I leave my things inside the TARDIS than at Windibanks." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Caused by a certain impetuous someone not too far from me now…'
"Do you have any idea how long it took me to write that Baskerville story, Hurley, Jared?" Iris asked.
"I do." I said, happily. "It took you a while."
"Oh, it sounds so exciting! 'The Hound of the Baskervilles'! I should love to read it!" Susato chirped.
"..." Iris said.
"..." Holmes said.
"Um…" I said, pacing back and forth around the room.
"...Ah!" Susato cried.
"..." Ryunosuke said, and he thought this to himself. 'What's going on here? Why does it feel like an icy chill just swept through the room?'
"Susie...what did you just say?" Iris asked.
"Erm…" Susato said.
"You said...'The Hound of the Baskervilles'... But...how could you know the full title?"
"Well, that's... ..."
"That's because Miss Susato and Jared are such great fans of all the stories about Mr Holmes, of course." Ryunosuke said.
"But Runo, 'The Hound of the Baskervilles'... ...has never been published." Iris said.
"It was published in an alternate timeline. Not this one." I said, looking at Ryunosuke. "That adventure did happen. John H. Watson isn't Iris Watson."
"What? How can a story be published in one timeline but not another?" Ryunosuke asked.
"It was due to my actions."
"It was. When I showed Hurley and Jared the manuscript, they told me that I wasn't allowed to publish it yet." Iris said.
"I don't understand…" Ryunosuke said, speechless.
"That's why they said that they'd keep it safe. Until it was the right time for the story to be made public, you see."
"So that's why the manuscript is at Windibank's...?" Ryunosuke asked.
"And yet, how could Susie here know its title? Well Hurley? What's going on?" Iris asked.
"..." Holmes said, when Gina entered the room. "...Ah!"
"Crap." I said, looking at Gina.
"...? What is it, Mr Holmes? Jared?" Ryunosuke asked.
"It would appear our guest has arrived." Holmes said.
"Miss Lestrade!"
"... ...This was a bad idea. I knew I weren't welcome. I'm goin'!" Gina said, terrified.
"No! Wait! ...Miss Lestrade! We've all been eagerly awaiting your arrival. ...Haven't we, Iris, Jared?" Ryunosuke asked, looking between Iris and I.
"Yup. We have." I said, smiling. "You really are amazing, Gina."
"... Oh yes! Just wait there, Ginny. We'll have everything ready in a jiffy! Come along, Susie!" Iris said, running to the kitchen.
"Right! Of course! It's a pleasure to see you here, Miss Lestrade. Please, make yourself at home!" Susato said, following Iris to the kitchen.
"Don't stand in the doorway, my dear girl. Come along in! What say you to some Mendelssohn? I won't take 'no' for an answer!" Holmes said.
"...Meddlesome it is, then." Ryunosuke said.
"..." Gina said.
"...Miaow." Wagahai said.
"That evening... ...Iris prepared us all a meal that was even more delicious than usual... ...Mr Holmes's violin performance was in no way meddlesome... ...and Gina, as we came to call her, taught us all how to steal things from one another without being noticed. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves...well into the night." Ryunosuke said, as a voiceover.
15th April, 9:34 p.m.
Naruhodo's Legal Consultancy…
"That was a very enjoyable evening, wasn't it?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Oh yes! Iris's cooking was truly divine!" Susato chirped.
"Yup." I said, clutching the strap of my sling bag.
"And I feel as though I can still hear the enchanting strains of Mr Holmes's violin even now." Ryunosuke said.
"Best of all...I bet I could steal the glasses from His Lordship's face next time we're in court! ... Naruhodo-san...could I consult with you about something, I wonder? I've already consulted Jared about it." Susato said, sadly.
"What's the matter, Susato-san?" Ryunosuke asked.
"... It's...about the telegram I received."
"Ah…" Ryunosuke said, as he thought this to himself. 'The one that arrived first thing this morning, I suppose.'
"... I've...I've been summoned."
"What?! Summoned? ...What do you mean?"
"The telegram was from the Lord Chief Justice's office. Lord Stronghart has asked to see me."
"The Lord Chief Justice? ...When?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Tomorrow morning." Susato said, frowning.
"What?! Then, then we have to start preparing at once!"
"Oh! No...that won't be necessary, Naruhodo-san. I've been summoned alone."
"Alone? What on earth for?"
"... I have no idea. I suppose I shall find out tomorrow." Susato said.
"I've also got a phone call from Team RWBY a while back. Apparently, they want me back at Vacuo." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'What's all this about? Whatever it is, it's making me feel very uneasy…'
*Knock knock*
"It's been a while since I last saw my girls anyway." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Oh, who could that be, I wonder?'
"Good evening, friends!" Iris said, entering the room.
"Ah, Iris. Hello again." Ryunosuke said.
"..." Gina said, entering the room behind Iris.
"And Gina, too." Susato said.
"Yes! Ginny's going to stay with us tonight. She's going to sleep in with me! ...Isn't that right, Ginny?" Iris asked.
"Well...yeah…" Gina said, letting out a sigh.
"How lovely! Let me make a pot of tea." Susato said, smiling.
"You know, I've learnt so much today!" Iris cheered.
"Oh, what...in particular?"
"All those things Ginny showed us! Wasn't it wonderful?"
"Ah, you mean all those pickpocketing techniques? We had fun trying them out on each other, didn't we?" Ryunosuke asked.
"I think I've awakened a natural talent! I could earn a living from it!" Iris said, excitedly.
'...You might be getting ahead of yourself a little there.' Ryunosuke said, as he thought this to himself, before speaking aloud. "So...what brings you up to our humble quarters at this late hour?"
"Well, you see... ...I came to return this." Iris said, taking out Ryunosuke's lawyer badge out of her pocket.
"Wait, what?! That's, that's mine!" Ryunosuke cried.
"Oh my! However did you...?" Susato asked.
"I told you, didn't I? I have a natural talent for it!" Iris cheered.
"That you do, Iris." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Oh yes, I'd forgotten... ...Iris literally is a child genius.'
"So anyway, here...you can have it back. Not that I really understand why you wear it, though." Iris said, sadly.
"Ah. Thank you." Ryunosuke said, grabbing his lawyer's badge from Iris.
"Alright then, good night!" Iris yelled.
"Yes, good night."
"... Hm... So this is your office, is it? What do you think, Ginny?" Iris asked.
"I think I wouldn't fancy me chances wiv a lawyer wot lives in a place like this." Gina said.
"Yes! Me too! Hahahaha!" Iris said, giggling.
"At least it would be better than having magicians' things everywhere." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'It seems as though Iris here... ...still has something she'd like to talk about.'
"I suppose...she probably wants to talk about the manuscript." Susato said.
"Yup." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Yes, I suppose she probably does.'
"Iris, I... I suppose you're hoping to talk about the manuscript, aren't you?" Susato asked.
"...Aren't you going to tell me?" Iris asked.
"... I'm so sorry. I...need a little more time...please."
"... Alright, I understand. I hope I haven't made you feel awkward."
"Oh no, not at all, Iris. Not at all."
"I dunno wot all this is about really, but... ...it's a story you made up, is it, Iris, this 'mantelscript' or wotever you call it?" Gina asked.
"It's not exactly a story that I made up. It's something I read in Daddy's diaries." Iris said.
"'Daddy's'...?" Gina asked.
"That's right. I don't suppose I've mentioned it to you before, Ginny, but... ...my daddy and Jared were Hurley's assistants once. His partners."
"Eh?!"
"They solved all sorts of strange and mysterious cases together."
"Is, is that right, mister?" Gina asked, looking at Ryunosuke.
"Apparently so. I was as surprised as you are, though." Ryunosuke said.
"And Daddy wrote all the details of every single case down, you see. In his diaries. So I study them and write my stories based on what actually happened." Iris said.
"So...where's yer old man now then?" Gina asked.
"... He...had to go away on urgent business. To a faraway land. And he'll be gone a very long time. So...I've never really met him."
"...Oh. Right."
"I know what happened. But it's a spoiler. Still, 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' was interesting." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Come to think of it... ...I don't know anything about Gina's parents either. Perhaps we should ask her.'
"Iris, this 'Hound of the Baskervilles' story... I take it that it's another tale inspired by your father's accounts?" Ryunosuke asked.
"That's right. I thought it was fascinating. But it's different somehow. From the other ones, I mean." Iris said.
"Oh? How?"
"I don't really know. But it must be special in some way. Because after I'd written it and I showed the manuscript to Hurley and Jared... ...they turned white as sheets. It was the first time I've ever seen them like that."
Flashback…
"It pains us to have to say this after you've toiled over it for so long, Iris... ...but this story must not be published at this time. ...Under any circumstances." Holmes said, sadly.
"I agree. Even when I experienced the early 21st century version of this story, it can't be published, Iris." I said, looking down at the floor.
"But why not? It's one of my best works!" Iris said, looking between Holmes and I.
"...we're not at liberty to say. Not now. So please, do not ask us." Holmes said, frowning.
"Yeah… It's best you don't ask us now. Ask when you're older." I said, letting out a sigh.
"... ...Alright then, I won't." Iris said.
"But we do solemnly swear that we will explain everything one day, Iris. When the time is right." Holmes said.
"Yeah. I promise we will tell you. It's too early in the time stream for us to tell you now." I said, clutching the strap of my sling bag.
Naruhodo's Legal Consultancy…
"And that's how the manuscript came to be with Mr Windibank, isn't it?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Yes. Hurley and Jared said it had to be somewhere very safe." Iris said.
"That really gets my goat, that does! 'hey're treatin' you like a child! It's mean, that's wot it is, keepin' secrets like that!" Gina yelled.
"I'm sure Mr Holmes and Jared aren't trying to be mean." Ryunosuke said.
"Eh?"
"If they said they weren't at liberty to talk about it, I'm sure there must have been a very good reason."
"... I think so, too." Susato said, sadly.
"Tsk, you lot are too trustin' for yer own good. But 'ey can't pull the wool over my eyes. Holmes is lyin' to Iris with Jared, I bet my life on it!" Gina said, angrily.
"What?!" Ryunosuke exclaimed.
"Hurley and Jared're...lying to me...?" Iris asked, looking down at her pocket watch. "Oh my goodness! Look at the time! Come along, Ginny, we should go back downstairs."
"Yeah...alright." Gina said, frowning.
"And please, don't mention any of this to Hurley, will you?" Iris asked.
"No...of course not. Good night then, Iris. Good night, Gina." Ryunosuke said.
"You must let me make breakfast for you tomorrow morning! I insist!" Susato said, excitedly.
"Oh, yes please! I can't wait, Susie! Good night, then!" Iris said, dragging Gina out of the room.
"Night, Iris." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Iris... It sure is easy to forget, isn't it? Sometimes she speaks just like an adult. But deep down, she's still just a child.'
"Well, I think it's time that I turned in for the night, too, Naruhodo-san." Susato said.
"Same. Night, Ryunosuke, Susato." I said, leaving the room.
"Dr John H. Watson... Iris's father... But also... ...the name of the murdered visiting professor at Yumei University. It can't be a mere coincidence... There's something deeper going on... ......... ...... ..." Ryunosuke said, as a voiceover.
"...ster Naruhodo... ...Mr Naruhodo…" Holmes said.
"Ryunosuke!" I said, angrily. "Wake up!"
'Those voices... That's...Mr Holmes and Jared!' Ryunosuke said, thinking that to himself, before speaking aloud. "What's going on? It's the middle of the night."
"It's Miss Lestrade... She's gone." Holmes said.
"Gina?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Yeah. Gina Lestrade." I said, happily.
"She was supposed to be sleeping in Iris's room. But her bed is empty." Holmes said.
"Well...she's an independent young woman. She probably decided to go home, no?" Ryunosuke asked.
"I think not. From speaking to her with Jared before she retired... ...I received the distinct impression that she was looking forward to breakfasting with Miss Susato. No, I don't believe the girl has gone home. But we've been waiting for over an hour now." Holmes said.
"Yup. Over an hour waiting for a pickpocketer to be back safe." I said, pacing back and forth in the room.
"Over an hour? Oh…" Ryunosuke said, his eyes widening.
"If you'll indulge me, look out of the window, my dear fellow." Holmes said, looking out of the window.
"Yup. It is a pretty grim sight." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'What's this about?'
"...! Wait a minute…" Ryunosuke said, and he thought this to himself. 'Why is there a light on at this time of night?'
"That's Mr Windibank's pawnbrokery." Holmes said.
"Mr Windibank's…" Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself. 'Oh no!'
Flashback…
"It's simple! If that story was really in old Windibank's storeroom... ...there's no way someone from 'alf way around the world - in other words, you - could know about it." Gina said.
"This is why I've been trying so hard to have Gina fully trust me." I said, as a voiceover. "To prevent something like this from happening. But I didn't try hard enough. Damn it."
"Sorry, Iris, but if you ask me, 'e's sold it. Wivout tellin' you." Gina said.
Naruhodo's Legal Consultancy…
"That does make a lot of sense." Ryunosuke said, as he thought this to himself. 'Could Gina have gone...?'
"It seems you have some knowledge of the situation, Mr Naruhodo, Jared." Holmes said, looking between Ryunosuke and I.
"Sorry? ...Oh, no! No, not really." Ryunosuke said, sadly.
"Well anyway, we must investigate." Holmes said.
"At once!" Susato said, entering the room.
"Miss Susato!" Ryunosuke said, worried.
16th April, 1:14 a.m.
Baker Street…
"The door to Windibank's... It's open!" Ryunosuke cried.
"And the lamp is burning." Susato said.
"Someone's inside." I said, sadly.
"It must be Gina...mustn't it?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Maybe."
"Let us hope it's nothing more sinister." Holmes said.
"What?"
"Come, there's not a moment to lose! Clearly something is afoot inside!" Holmes said, running towards Windibank's pawnbrokery.
"...There's no one here…" Ryunosuke said, sadly.
"...Oh yes... ...there is!"
*BANG!*
"AAAAAAAH!!! Mr Holmes! Mr Hooolmes!!!" Susato said, worried.
"What the-" Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself. 'Has Holmes been shot?!'
"Leave me, Mr Naruhodo!" Holmes said, as I placed my hand on his injury.
"Don't worry, I've got him." I said, my hand still over Holmes' injury. "Help GIna! If it is her!"
"But…" Ryunosuke said, looking between Holmes and I.
"After them! Go!" Holmes yelled.
"Right!" Ryunosuke said, running away from Holmes and I. '...Blast!' He then thought this to himself. 'I've lost them!'
"'Ello 'ello, what 'ave we 'ere?" The bobby asked. "The alarm was just raised from this pawnbroker's sir. Would you know somethin' about that?"
"Officer! Come with me! It's my friend! Mr Holmes! He's been shot!" Ryunosuke said, worried.
"Shot?!"
"With the policeman close behind me, I ran back to Windibank's…" Ryunosuke said, as a voiceover.
(Open POV)
Windibank's pawnbrokery…
"Mr Holmes!" Ryunosuke said, running back to Holmes and Jared. "Jared!"
"Mr Naruhodo!" Susato said, terrified.
"How bad is it?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Agh...never mind us. But there's much at stake. Behind that door... In the storeroom! ...Hurry!" Holmes yelled.
"Open the door!" I said, angrily.
Ryunosuke opened the door to the storeroom to see Windibank dead and Gina holding a gun.
"Huh?! It's...it's Gina?!" Ryunosuke exclaimed.