Chapter 41: I, Haibara Ai, Am Super Fierce!
The Junior Detective League took action.
Conan went to the Projection Room to operate the Film Recorder, and Haibara Ai was in charge of turning on the Air Conditioning.
The other three children chimed in, adding explanations in turns.
Chi Feichi wasn't completely uninvolved either; he grabbed the Rope and played the part of the hanged dead person…
After the others went to the Projection Room to see the Method Conan demonstrated, Haibara Ai returned to the Screening Room, "Do you want to go over and take a look?"
Chi Feichi let go of the Rope in his hand and jumped down, "Let's go."
Haibara Ai turned to walk towards the Projection Room, "You tied Weights to yourself, your Body Weight increased. To prevent accidents during the demonstration, I just turned the Air Conditioning to maximum. Don't blame me if you catch a Cold."
Chi Feichi turned his head and looked at Haibara Ai.
Haibara Ai raised her hand and touched her cheek, "Is there something on my face?"
"Actually, you could have said it more directly and simply," Chi Feichi enunciated each word like teaching a child, "Be, care, ful, of, a, Cold."
The composed expression on Haibara Ai's face crumbled, and she blushed with embarrassment.
Did she think it was too sentimental to say it directly? Couldn't she just not say it directly?
ヾ(■Д■)ノ Couldn't she?
"You're so long-winded!"
"Wait a moment." Chi Feichi stopped, took out his Mobile Phone, and snapped a Photo of Haibara Ai with a *click*.
Haibara Ai was taken aback, "What are you doing again?"
"Let you see your expression just now." Chi Feichi edited the Photo, lowered his Mobile Phone, and let Haibara Ai see it.
Below Haibara Ai's Photo, a line of Characters was added:
[I, Am Super Fierce!]
Paired with Haibara Ai's expression that was clearly shy, embarrassed, yet trying hard to maintain composure, it was surprisingly fitting～
Haibara Ai: "..."
Chi Feichi gained an exclusive Meme of Haibara Ai, put away his Mobile Phone, and continued walking forward.
Haibara Ai hurried to catch up, "Delete it quickly…"
Chi Feichi, "I won't spread it."
Haibara Ai, "That's still not okay, delete it now."
Chi Feichi, "Won't delete."
Haibara Ai: "..."
If she were to fight Chi Feichi, her chances of winning…
Cough, never mind, maybe she should consider whether she could snatch the Mobile Phone from Chi Feichi…
No, she should think about other ways to get Chi Feichi's Mobile Phone…
…
In the Projection Room, Furuhashi Minoru personally confessed to the crime of murder.
"But, why did you do this kind of thing here?" Muramatsu Akio asked, lost and unable to understand, "I thought you always liked our Movie Theater."
"Actually, I've told myself many times that I can't do this kind of thing here, but I really couldn't bear it anymore," Furuhashi Minoru walked to the observation window, reminiscing and feeling sentimental, "To be honest, I like the scenery seen from this window the most. I can see the audience's reactions to the Movie from this VIP seat…"
Muramatsu Akio lowered his head, and Inspector Megure also sighed.
Furuhashi Minoru continued, "But, that hateful guy made our Guests slowly decrease. Yesterday was supposed to be Sunday, but there was only one Guest…"
Chi Feichi, who had walked to the Entrance: "..."
Today is Tuesday, yesterday was Sunday?
Yesterday was clearly a school day. He had always thought yesterday was Monday. After all, not only Teitan Elementary School, but also High School Student from Teitan High School and Ekoda High School were in school.
He thought it was just a Time confusion, but he didn't expect that even school days couldn't be used as a reference.
However, thinking of Conan's 'one morning of school, twenty days of vacation', it's not surprising…
Furuhashi Minoru was still continuing his sentimental speech, "So, I wanted to hang him in front of this window, to let him also experience what it's like, to see this desolate, miserable scenery, and this lonely feeling…"
"Even if he sees this desolate scene a hundred times, he won't be able to understand your feelings," Chi Feichi walked into the door, "Humans are born as independent and different individuals, and can never understand each other's feelings. Even if there is understanding, it's just derived from imagination and empathy. So-called understanding is just resonance produced by consistent views, similar experiences, and loneliness. In fact, no one can truly empathize with anyone else's feelings."
Inspector Megure: "Uh…"
Telling Furuhashi Minoru 'the other party can't understand you at all' now seems a bit discouraging…
But he couldn't refute it either. He couldn't bring himself to comfort Furuhashi Minoru 'I feel exactly the same as you' against his conscience, right?
Genta whispered, "Although I don't understand what Elder Brother Chi is saying, it sounds very reasonable."
"Yeah," Ayumi turned her head and asked Mitsuhiko, "Mitsuhiko, did you understand?"
"This…" Mitsuhiko chuckled dryly, "I didn't understand either."
Conan heard the three's whispers and couldn't help but find it funny and speechless. This is what's good about children, they have no worries, but why do they think it's reasonable even if they don't understand…
Furuhashi Minoru was stunned for a moment, then turned his head and smiled bitterly, "Maybe, but he's already dead, and saying this now seems useless."
"Alright, let's go to the Metropolitan Police Department for the rest." Inspector Megure said.
"Boss, I'm really sorry," Furuhashi Minoru apologized to Muramatsu Akio again, "I did such a selfish thing and made this Movie Theater lose face on its last day."
"Thinking about it now, maybe this is fate," Muramatsu Akio mocked himself, "Actually, even before he came, our Guests were getting fewer and fewer. Movie Theaters like ours simply can't get popular new Movies. It was already destined to close down. Plus, with so many Film Recorders, using Movies to create dreams may no longer be able to keep up with the Times…"
Chi Feichi had seen the development of Movies in his previous life. Even television, Computers, and Mobile Phones for watching dramas didn't lead Movie Theaters to ruin. If it were him…
"It can be done in two steps."
"Huh?"
Everyone else looked at Chi Feichi in unison.
Ayumi was about to refute Muramatsu Akio's words, but when she heard this, she blinked curiously and held back her words first.
"Step one, identify the selling point, specialize."
Chi Feichi's voice was still as calm as ever, "It doesn't matter if you can't get the currently popular new Movies. Take 'Classic Old Movies' as the Movie Theater's specialty. Boss Muramatsu has been in contact with Movies for so many years, presumably you have a high level of appreciation. Pick out all the Classic Old Movies, and categorize them well. For example, this week is Classic Horror Movie Screening Week, next week is Classic Comedy Movie Screening Week, arrange the schedule for the whole week… If Boss Muramatsu can't reach the level of appreciation to pick out classics, then hire someone. Reputation is very important."
The Movies Conan watched when he was a child can still be played now. Isn't it okay to only play Classic Old Movies if you can't get the screening rights for new Movies?
Muramatsu Akio was stunned in place listening. Thinking about it this way… it is indeed feasible, but why didn't he think of it before?
"Step two, create and consolidate advantages," Chi Feichi continued, "Do publicity, to let people know that there is a specialty Movie Theater here, to know which type of Movies are being screened this week, to get more people to pay attention to this Movie Theater. If you don't have Money, then slowly accumulate Reputation. In addition, the advantage of Movies lies in the viewing experience composed of picture, sound, and atmosphere. This is something that televisions and Video Recorders can't compare to. If you have enough funds, you can strengthen these aspects."
"So, so amazing…" Mitsuhiko's eyes were a little dazed.
Ayumi nodded, "I also think the atmosphere of watching Movies and watching TV is different!"
Genta said excitedly, "If I knew there were Classic Gomera Movies every week, I would definitely come and see them!"
Haibara Ai pondered, "Gomera alone is too monotonous. You can add Kamen Rider and other old Movies to form a viewing theme week suitable for children."
Conan nodded. If there was a theme week reviewing Classic Old Movies of Detective stories, and he knew that the schedule here was indeed all classics, he would also be unable to resist coming to see them.
If he encountered Movies he hadn't seen, no matter what, it would be just one word—binge!
He must binge-watch all the Movies he hasn't seen!
If he encountered Movies he had seen a long time ago, but thought were very classic, it wouldn't be impossible to watch them again.
This guy Chi Feichi's business acumen is a bit too good. The idea he came up with in a short period of Time is enough to make a Movie Theater that is about to close down recover its operation, and even have the potential to become popular.
"Boss!" Yuri Yuriko looked at Muramatsu Akio expectantly.
Muramatsu Akio hesitated, "This suggestion is really… really too valuable, we…"
"If you need investment, contact me tomorrow." Chi Feichi took out a Notebook, left his name and Phone Number, tore off the Paper and handed it over, "Before 1 PM tomorrow."
Muramatsu Akio breathed a sigh of relief. If Chi Feichi was the Investor of the Movie Theater, then it was Chi Feichi who was giving ideas for his own Movie Theater, and he wouldn't feel indebted. He took the Paper, "I will contact you tomorrow."
"Although I can no longer stand in front of that window and look out, the scenery outside that window will become more lively day by day in the future, right?" Furuhashi Minoru sighed, and then said to Conan, "Little brother wearing Glasses… since you know how to operate the Film Recorder, please help with the screening. After the screening starts, you can go to the Screening Room and watch with your companions. After the screening is over, just come here to turn off the machine. Yuriko can help watch during this period. Consider it my apology for spoiling your fun, please continue to finish watching today's Movie."
"Okay!" Conan nodded in agreement. He had already seen it many times, so it didn't really matter if he didn't watch it…
When the Police team left, Haibara Ai came to Conan's side, "Accept a Commission?"
"Huh?" Conan was a little confused.
Haibara Ai said, "Help me get that guy Chi Feichi's Mobile Phone, that's my Commission."
"What do you want to do with his Mobile Phone?" Conan asked in confusion.
"He took a Photo of me earlier," Haibara Ai said, "The Organization knows what I looked like when I was a child. If those guys see my Photo, you should know what the consequences will be."
"You can just tell him directly and ask him to delete the Photo, right?" Conan asked.
Haibara Ai's face darkened when she thought of the [I Am Super Fierce] Photo, "He won't delete it."
"That shouldn't be the case, if the person concerned requests it, no matter what…" Conan paused, and suddenly couldn't help but *pfft* and laugh, gloatingly saying, "Hey Haibara, you weren't also photographed doing something weird by that guy, were you?"
Haibara Ai sized up Conan, "Also? Something weird?"
"Cough…" Conan's gaze drifted away. He had only told Haibara Ai and Doctor Agasa that Chi Feichi was Video Recording him, but he didn't say that he was Video Recording him acting like a child and singing, "Okay, I'll accept the Commission. Anyway, I also have to confirm whether he still has my Videos."
[Note to readers: During the epidemic, don't panic, don't spread rumors, but pay attention to protection, pay attention to protection, pay attention to protection. Important things are said three times.
Regarding New Year greetings, I decided not to visit relatives this year. Anyway, I'll just stay at Home…
I wish everyone a smooth and prosperous year ahead.
...]
(End of chapter)