How should I tell Fujiwara about this woman's identity?
Countless thoughts flashed through Conan's mind.
From eavesdropping on Gin, he had learned about Curacao.
So when Genta, Ayumi, and the others asked him to get Dr. Agasa to bring them to the Aquarium, he agreed.
Conan didn't expect to actually find a Black Organization member. Honestly, he thought coming here would be a complete waste of time.
After all, even Gin said that Curacao might have already betrayed the Organization and fled Japan.
But to think he'd stumble upon her by sheer luck. Not long after entering the Aquarium, he saw this woman.
With his sharp intuition and keen observation, Conan was nearly certain this woman was the Curacao the Organization was after.
But why was Curacao injured and not seeking medical attention or returning to the Organization?
If she was trying to escape from them, she shouldn't be wandering around a public place like the Aquarium. It was too conspicuous.
And after a round of questioning, he found out she had amnesia.
It didn't seem faked either. She had no reason to lie.
Conan's first thought was to get her phone, hoping to find data or clues about the Black Organization.
His excuse was simple: he said he was trying to find her family.
But that plan failed. Curacao's phone had a lock screen password. It wasn't face recognition, which meant Conan couldn't unlock it easily.
Right at that moment, Toru and Haibara showed up.
As Conan pondered how to bypass Haibara and quietly inform Toru of Curacao's identity, Genta and the others helped out in a big way.
"Fujiwara-nii!"
Seeing Toru, who had saved them before during the fire and terrorist attack, the kids lit up with excitement.
After greeting him, Genta, Ayumi, and Mitsuhiko immediately forgot about the "big sister" they'd just met. Their attention shifted entirely to Haibara and Hayasaka.
"Hi! My name is Ayumi. What's yours?"
"...Haibara Ai."
"Hey, Haibara, what's your relationship with Fujiwara-nii?"
"...He's my brother."
"That's so cool! I want a big brother like that too~ How old are you, Haibara?"
"Ten... nine."
"Then we're the same age. What school do you go to?"
"I just moved to Japan. I used to go to school in America."
...
"Big sis, your hair is blonde. Are you a foreigner?"
"Yes, I am."
"But you look Japanese."
"I'm mixed. Half-Irish."
"Can you tell us your name?"
"Smith. A. Hasaka."
"Basaka? Oh, I know that guy! He's the huge dude over two meters tall!"
"It's Hasaka, not Basaka!!!"
...
Conan gave Genta and the others a silent thumbs-up.
Watching Haibara get swarmed by the kids and clearly overwhelmed, he smirked inwardly.
Heh, now you know how I feel.
While Haibara was tied up, Conan quickly approached Toru. He didn't dare bring up Sherry with Haibara around.
Instead, he held up the phone and said, "Fujiwara-nii, this is that big sister's phone. She has amnesia. I was hoping to check it to find her family, but it's locked."
"Oh, and look at all the injuries on her. There was a big car accident nearby yesterday. Could she be a survivor from that crash?"
Conan prayed Toru would get the hint.
Since he was in the CIA, he should know the real story behind yesterday's so-called accident. If he was also investigating the Black Organization, he'd be able to figure out that this woman was suspicious.
Conan knew better than anyone that going up against a massive transnational crime syndicate alone was suicidal. He wouldn't just put himself in danger—his whole family could get dragged in.
To completely take them down, he had to rely on the power of the government.
Toru took the phone from Conan with a smile.
Looks like Kudo Shinichi still doesn't know that I already know who he is.
Toru played along, taking the phone and saying, "Thanks, Conan-kun."
"With this phone, it shouldn't be hard to find her true identity."
He emphasized the word true deliberately.
Conan's heart leapt with joy. He got it. This guy understood.
Wait. Then what was that look in his eyes just now?
Was he suspicious of me?
No way. He couldn't have figured out that I'm Kudo Shinichi, right? Otherwise, he wouldn't have been kept in the dark by Sherry.
Conan didn't want to be exposed. He wanted to borrow the power of the government, but he didn't want to be dragged into the CIA's world.
"Conan, did you call the police? For someone with amnesia, the best option is to let the police handle it."
Before Conan could reply, Curacao suddenly said anxiously, "No, don't call the police. I don't want to go to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department."
Even with amnesia, her instincts told her she shouldn't go near the police.
Conan actually thought calling the police was the right move. But at that moment, Ayumi and the others rushed back to Curacao.
"Sis doesn't need to go to the police! The Junior Detective League will help you recover your memory! We don't need the police uncles!"
"Yeah! Our Junior Detective League will solve the case and bring back your memories!"
Watching the excited kids surrounding Curacao, Conan's expression twitched.
Seriously, kids. When someone is this against going to the police, isn't that a huge red flag?
He glanced at Toru and noticed that he wasn't insisting on calling the police either.
What is this guy thinking?
Conan felt a bit unsure.
"Sister, come play with us over there!"
Ayumi tugged on Curacao's hand.
Curacao smiled gently and nodded.
The kids immediately swarmed around her. It was obvious—they weren't trying to recover her memories. They just wanted to play with the pretty silver-haired big sister.
"Conan, hurry up! Fujiwara-nii, do you wanna come too?"
"I'll pass. You guys go have fun."
"Okay~!"
Conan hesitated, then followed.
He couldn't let his guard down. If Curacao suddenly snapped and took the kids hostage, it would be a disaster.
As he left, he glanced back at Haibara, who was smirking at him.
Conan quickly looked away and hurried after the others.
As for the phone's contents, he'd find a way to get them from Toru later.
"Phew, kids are exhausting."
Hayasaka sighed in relief.
Thankfully, she hadn't been pulled in to play. She had no desire to babysit on her day off.
"Hayasaka, can you help Haibara and me grab drinks from over there?"
Toru pointed at a nearby drink stand with a long line.
Hayasaka's face fell, but she still smiled and said, "Okay, Young Master Fujiwara."
After Hayasaka left, Haibara spoke softly, "That woman's Curacao?"
"Yeah."
"Her amnesia is real?"
"Seems like it."
"No wonder I couldn't sense the Organization's presence from her. Is it because of the amnesia?"
"Haibara Ai, you're like a bloodhound."
"This isn't the time for jokes. I'm being serious."
Toru chuckled. "Can you crack this phone's password?"
Haibara took the phone and fiddled with it. "It's a bit of a hassle, but using the CIA's tools and that supercomputer you built for me, I can do it in two hours."
Once Toru had money, the first thing he built was a supercomputer for Haibara.
Later, when he had even more funds, he could build a full pharmaceutical lab at the Advanced Nurturing High School.
"The computer's in the car. Haibara, go work on it."
"Got it."
"Sorry you can't enjoy the Aquarium."
"I'm not a kid. I won't cry over skipping a fish tank."
Then she added, "...But next time, take me shopping in Omotesando."
Omotesando. A luxury shopping street.
"You don't even have clothes for that kind of place right now."
"Are you coming with me or not?"
"I'll go."
Haibara smirked. "...Besides, even if I'm not here, you've still got a pretty woman to accompany you around."
With a teasing smile, Haibara put on her mask, took the phone, and left for the parking lot.
She didn't ask why Toru let Curacao off for now. She trusted he had his own reasons.
Not long after, Hayasaka came back with drinks. When she noticed Haibara was gone, she asked, "Where's Ms. Haibara?"
"She went to play with the kids."
Hayasaka thought for a moment. That made sense. Kids liked hanging out with other kids.
Wait a minute. Doesn't that mean I'm alone with Young Master Fujiwara now?
Is this... a date?! Kaguya-sama, forgive me. I never expected I'd go on a date with him before you did!
In the distance, Vermouth was in a restaurant overlooking the Aquarium. She wore a hat and was scanning the area through a high-tech scope.
She had casually used the search function to look for Haibara.
She didn't expect to actually find Curacao here in the Aquarium.
"Curacao's really here? Why didn't she report in? Huh, that's Boy... He found her too? Hmm?"
She spotted Haibara through the scope.
"That little girl... Why does she look so familiar? And that foreign-looking girl too. Boy always ends up surrounded by beautiful women."
Just then, Vermouth's phone vibrated.
It was a message from Gin.
[Bourbon and Kir have been captured. Come help interrogate.]
Vermouth lowered the scope.
She didn't report that she had found Curacao.
Because right now, Curacao was with her little lover. And she didn't want her little lover to get hurt.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)