##Note: I am translating another novel "Marvel: Little Genius". Please check that out as well!!##
In the European-style living room, within the European-style living room.
Unlike the imagined luxurious and extravagant style, the furniture here seems to have some age to it but doesn't give a sense of being worn out.
The antique furniture is well-preserved, and the overall decor of the space exudes a classical and traditional European charm, giving a sense of historical sedimentation.
It carries the taste of time's accumulation, and the room is adorned with carefully arranged flower arrangements by the hostess, adding a touch of vibrant colors.
At this moment, Takagi and Senichi stood by the French windows in the living room, looking at the scenery in the courtyard, but their faces showed a slight unease.
Because by the long table next to them, there were three ladies of the same age as Mrs. Matsushita, curiously sizing up Takagi and Senichi. Anyone would feel a bit awkward being stared at like that.
In the end, Takagi couldn't bear it anymore and turned his head, and the three ladies in turn felt somewhat embarrassed and bowed in their seats as a way of greeting.
Takagi and Senichi bowed in return, displaying a slightly awkward yet polite smile.
"I've never seen a real police officer before." The lady in the sky-blue coat smiled and broke the slight awkwardness by speaking first.
"Is this what they call 'criminal investigation,' bringing in all sorts of people for questioning?" The lady in the black sweater chimed in and asked with a smile.
"Ah, well... yes, hehehe..."
Facing the slightly curious enthusiasm of the ladies, Takagi answered with a smile, "But it's probably different from those handsome detectives in TV dramas who engage in gunfights. In reality, going around for inquiries is also part of a detective's job."
In simple terms, it's just small talk. Both sides are strangers, sharing the same room, so what else can they do?
However, the warmth from the two ladies only made the lady in the white dress seem a bit out of place. She hadn't said a word the whole time and appeared burdened with something.
Just then, Mrs. Matsushita approached with a tray of freshly brewed tea. "If you don't mind, let's all sit together."
"Well, we won't refuse."
As Takagi and Senichi sat down, Takagi picked up the teacup in front of him and praised, "This is really thoughtful."
"Huh?" Mrs. Matsushita looked puzzled.
"The flowers on the teacup match the ones on the table." Takagi put down the blanket and examined the flower arrangement on the table.
"Oh, wow, you're so sharp. No wonder you're a detective. You're the first person to notice." Mrs. Matsushita exclaimed, "What a keen insight."
"Are all detectives this amazing?" The lady in the black sweater looked amazed and turned to Officer Takagi, asking.
"No, no, Detective Senichi is one of the top elites in our police department." Takagi quickly waved his hand.
"Now that you mention it, you do look familiar."
"Oh, right, it's the one in the newspaper before, isn't it?"
Amidst laughter, the ladies continued their conversation.
Seeing that it was heading towards idle chatter, Takagi quickly changed the subject. "Um... may I ask who the ladies are..."
"Oh, we're all friends." Mrs. Matsushita explained with a smile.
"We're here together to learn flower arrangement and etiquette from Mrs. Matsushita." The lady in the blue sweater explained with a smile.
"Don't call me Mrs. Matsushita. I'm just sharing what my mother entrusted to me with everyone." Mrs. Matsushita said helplessly.
"That mother, is it this person?" Senichi stood up and walked to the photo displayed on the counter.
In the photo, there were four people in total: Mrs. Matsushita, her husband, a newborn child who seemed very young, and another elderly woman who should be her mother.
She wore a pair of glasses, a gray coat, and a gray-black scarf around her neck, with a black lady's beret on her head.
Looking at the material, it seems that they all contain fur. Even the clothes Mrs. Matsushita wore at that time were made of black fur.
It can be seen that the other party's family is wealthy. Various rare fur clothing can be seen everywhere in their house.
Of course, the clothes worn by the two people in the photo were not like the fluffy coats worn in the dead of winter, but more like felt coats, except made of fur.
"Well, my mother passed away five years ago," Mrs. Matsushita said with a touch of nostalgia.
"That badge, it looks a lot like your mother's," Senichi pointed to the badge Mrs. Matsushita was wearing and said with a smile.
"Huh? Why do you say that?" Mrs. Matsushita touched the badge and asked in return.
Senichi didn't say anything, just smiled slightly, then pointed to the brooch worn by the mother in the photo, which had the exact same shape as the one Mrs. Matsushita was wearing now.
"Oh, you're quite observant," Mrs. Matsushita said helplessly, and the ladies next to her burst into laughter.
"Oh, and that hat too."
Senichi extended his index finger towards the other side of the corridor, where a cute girl stood wearing that black lady's beret.
"Oh, May-chan, you're so cute~"
Following Senichi's finger, the ladies saw the girl standing there and all smiled, extending their hands to greet her.
"May, you're causing trouble again..."
Although Mrs. Matsushita said this, her eyes were filled with doting.
"But didn't you say you gave it to me?" May touched her hat and said.
"Well, but we'll wait until May grows a little bigger," Mrs. Matsushita supported her daughter's shoulder, "Look, we have guests, don't you want to say hello?"
"Hello~"
A sweet girl's voice sounded, and the girl bowed slightly to everyone present, while the ladies and Senichi also bowed in return.
Mrs. Matsushita smiled, nodded to everyone, and then led her daughter towards the room.
"It's really nice, passing it down from grandmother to mother, and then from mother to daughter," the lady in the sky-blue coat said, looking at the disappearing mother and daughter, couldn't help but sigh.
"Good things are always passed down like this," the lady in the black sweater agreed.
"In this regard, we should learn from them," the lady in the white dress, who had been quiet all along, said with a smile.
"Although we don't have much to pass down~"
"That's true~"
Accompanied by the joking words of the lady in the sky-blue coat and the lady in the black sweater, everyone burst into laughter, and for a while, the atmosphere was filled with harmony.
And at this moment, while laughing along, Takagi suddenly spoke in a quick and clear tone, straight from his mouth: "Does Sannitori Sanae and the three ladies often come to Mrs. Matsushita's house?"
In an instant, the previous laughter and joy came to an abrupt end, and the smiles on the faces of the three people froze.
It was as if the previous harmonious atmosphere was just an illusion.