As the old proverb goes: "Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will never be defeated." To win any war, intelligence is paramount.
Yuu Hoshimiya had read or watched nearly a thousand chapters of Detective Conan, so his grasp of the world's intelligence was exhaustive. Akane Koizumi, however, was a total enigma. Aside from the general lore he knew from his previous life, he realized he knew almost nothing about the specific nuances of her magic and her heart.
Over the past few days, as her personal apprentice and now her friend, Yuu felt the time was right to start asking direct questions.
Originally, Akane had taken an interest in Kaito Kuroba because her divination revealed he was the Phantom Thief Kid. Her obsession with him stemmed from a young girl's pride—she wanted to conquer the one man who didn't fall for her charms like the rest. In the original story, her pride led her to fall deeper into a one-sided attraction. However, as Yuu spent real time with her, he realized there was a massive turning point in this reality.
Akane hadn't fallen for Kaito yet. At most, she had a passing curiosity. Kaito was talented and charming as the Kid, but he paled in comparison to the magic prodigy standing right in front of her. Yuu didn't just ignore her supernatural allure—he surpassed her in talent, was taller, more handsome, and carried a dominant aura that Kaito lacked.
Visual appeal was crucial. Yuu knew he was a man of the world; he appreciated external beauty first and then looked for the soul. With girls like Ran, Sonoko, and Akane, he found both and treated them with genuine care. With women like Nana Osanai or Tomoko Itakura, he was content to simply enjoy the surface. No one is truly above the allure of the flesh. Even saints acknowledged that sex and food are fundamental human natures.
"Akane," Yuu said, breaking the silence of their lesson. "How do you actually feel about the Phantom Thief Kid?"
Akane blinked, her elegant brows furrowing. "Why bring him up so suddenly?"
She knew Kaito was Kid, and she had assumed Yuu was asking out of suspicion. Truthfully, since taking Yuu as her student, she hadn't given Kaito a second thought. Yuu's talent was so staggering that Kaito's parlor tricks felt like child's play.
Yuu didn't beat around the bush. "I know Kaito Kuroba is Kid. I'm considering whether or not to reveal his identity to Aoko."
It was common knowledge in Class 2-B that Aoko Nakamori detested the Phantom Thief, mostly because her father, Inspector Ginzo Nakamori, spent his life fruitlessly chasing him.
"I'm not surprised you figured it out," Akane said, tapping her chin with a finger. "With your mental strength and observation, it was only a matter of time. Even detectives like Conan or Heiji Hattori would figure it out if they spent a few days in our class. Saguru Hakuba already has."
She shrugged. "I'd call him a friend, I suppose." She briefly explained how she'd discovered his secret and their few interactions.
Yuu realized that her feelings were still in the 'slight interest' stage. This was his chance to move in—emotionally and physically—and dismantle Kaito's potential lead. Once Akane was fully conquered, he would have no more weaknesses in the supernatural realm. She would be his perfect cover, explaining away his 'precognition' and 'contracts' as joint magical ventures.
With his magic and physical prowess, Yuu was now in the top tier of power in this world. He was on par with Kyogoku Makoto; if he had a gun, even the "Karate God" wouldn't stand a chance. Gin and Akai were no longer threats unless they caught him in a long-range sniper nest. In a direct fight, they were dead men.
Having power meant having confidence. He was finally ready to step onto the main stage and direct the story toward his desired ending.
"Since you're friends with Kaito, I'll hold off for your sake," Yuu said, watching her carefully.
"Don't," Akane interrupted reflexively. "My relationship with him isn't nearly as close as the one I have with you."
She flushed slightly. She didn't want Yuu thinking she was intimate with any other man. In her mind, Yuu had already seen and touched every inch of her during their 'mishaps.' She had thought about demanding he take responsibility, but she knew he had other women.
Yuu had been honest about his philandering. He knew it would drop his favorability initially, but it was better than being caught in a lie later. Akane had been disgusted at first, but as she got to know him, she began to understand why women flocked to him. He was a king among men, far beyond the petty wealthy elite who kept mistresses. If anyone deserved a harem, it was him.
But Akane was still a maiden at heart. She hid her heartbeat behind a mask of cold arrogance, fearing he would see how much she was beginning to crave his attention.
Yuu saw right through her. "I see. In that case, I'll find a chance to talk to Aoko alone."
Akane's expression turned twitchy. Whether it was the thought of him being alone with Aoko or simply jealousy, she looked adorable in her flustered state.
"I don't want Kaito arrested," Yuu explained. "I just think it's pathetic that Aoko is kept in the dark by the person she trusts most."
He intended to take Aoko as well. If Aoko was the one who initiated things after being heartbroken by Kaito's lies, Kaito couldn't even blame him—much like Conan's situation. Aoko wasn't as submissive as Ran; she was a girl who wore her heart on her sleeve and wasn't afraid to fight. Once she realized Kaito had been playing her father for a fool, her feelings for him would freeze over.
"Bah! How lecherous," Akane scoffed, though her eyes betrayed her. "Just admit you want Aoko's body too."
She wasn't really worried about Aoko; she was annoyed that Yuu was so focused on a 'clumsy' girl instead of focusing on his 'mentor.' In her mind, Aoko had just become her rival.
Yuu shrugged. "A beautiful woman is a fair target for any gentleman. Whether she chooses me is up to her. I just can't stand seeing her played like a monkey by Kaito."
Akane stared at him for a long moment before waving her hand dismissively. "Fine, fine. Just don't use the magic I taught you to seduce her. No hypnotism or mental suggestions."
"I'm not that low," Yuu frowned. Using mental magic for sex was no different than rape.
Akane nodded, satisfied. She believed him. "Well, that's enough for today." She looked at the clock, feeling a pang of regret. She had enjoyed these private hours in her bedroom. "You can take the grimoires home to self-study... but if you want to keep coming here to learn under me, you can. It's up to you."
"If I have time, I'll definitely come," Yuu answered without hesitation. Why study alone when he could be in a room with a beautiful witch? It was the perfect environment to catalyze their relationship.
Akane nodded, keeping a straight face while her heart leaped with joy. She knew that even if he didn't come every day, he would still be a frequent visitor to her bedchamber.