Hasuko went back again to that day.

There were lots of lights and bright colours. In the air floated a well-known melody of classical music. People were enjoying the night with drinks in their hands and greetings were being repeated everywhere.

To a 7-year-old Hasuko, this rituals of society ment nothing. She was alone, wandering within the crowd, apologizing every time she hit someone's leg. Eventually, she arrived at the end of the room, where there were not so many people. She looked bored at the crowd. If she had been 30 cm taller, she could have seen her parents chatting happily with the host couple at the other end of the room.

It was then that he discovered another child, sitting in an armchair. A boy who seemed about her age, with very dark hair, almost black and light-colored eyes. He was wearing a navy blue, single-button jacket, and under his neck was a red bow tie. He seemed to be absorbed in looking at the people, but he was not surprised when Hasuko spoke to him.

"Hi!" she said. "Aren't you bored?"

"I'm not bored. I'm thinking." he said. He continued to stare at people in silence. After half a minute, Hasuko interrupted him again.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked out of curiosity. The boy let out a long sigh and rested his head on his right arm.

"About everything." he pointed with his hand at the room. "I am a detective and I deduce things from everything."

"A detective? So young?" said Hasuko skeptically. "Impossible! How old are you? Seven?"

"I'm six. And I really am a detective. I have already solved many cases! Do you want me to prove it?" The girl nodded. "OK. You are seven years old, you are an only child, you don't like parties or pink colour and you are from Kansai."

"Boring! You don't have to be a detective to know that. Even I can do the same with you!"

"You do?"

"Of course! You are also an only child, you find parties boring, you are a fan of mysteries, you live here and you have a detective senpai." she breathed. Then she smiled. "How was it? Did I get it right?"

"Wow, you're good. You noticed that I wasn't with any sibling and the way I talked."

"And if you get angry when you say you've solved many cases, then there's someone better than you. It's very easy to guess..."

"You could be a detective, too. We could even form a team to find the truth!" said the boy, really excited.

"Find the truth? Sounds good. I'm in!"

She held out his hand. The boy looked at her in surprise, and then shook her hand.

"It's a promise! Now we both have to find the truth!" exclaimed the boy. She looked at Hasuko with his bright, curious eyes, and she felt that her eyes would shine the same from that moment on.

"By the way, what is your name?" The boy had gotten off the chair and was now by her side.

"I'll tell you, but only if you don't laugh."

"Why would I laugh?"

"Because I have a very strange name." Hasuko blushed. She didn't like her name.

"Ha! I bet my name is even weirder." replied the boy, to her surprise.

"Oh, yeah? I doubt it."

"All right, let's see. What's your name?"

"... Hasuko" she admitted. '"Hasu" is written with the kanji of "lotus."' She added with a sigh.

"With the lotus kanji? Nice! You could be "Lotus Tantei". Yes, it's could-

"Yes, but that doesn't mean it's not a strange name." interrupted Hasuko "Although "Lotus Tantei" doesn't sound bad. Detective Lotus... "

"I'm sorry, Lotus-chan, but my name is even stranger. In fact, it is not written with kanji." The boy smiled "My name is ... "

Ring-ring-ring!

Hasuko lifted his head from the pillow, still half asleep, and stretched out her arm to turn off the alarm clock. Then, she turned and stared at the ceiling. She remembered her dream and closed her eyes. She still didn't know how, but it was going to be an important day.

"Whenever I dream with the little detective, it's going to be an important day." she thought. Then she smiled.