The weather is lovely today—perfect for a bus hijacking.
After the incident known as "The Fourteenth Target," I cautioned Furuya:
"You've let me influence you far too much."
He looked disgruntled at first, but he eventually took the warning to heart.
"My apologies,"
he told me.
"It seems I've grown accustomed to your lethal methods without even realizing it."
For someone aiming to be the ideal Public Security officer, acting independently without consulting command is strictly forbidden. While a kill might be justifiable in certain cases, coordination and reporting are, at the very least, essential.
─── You've always saved me. My other self, my alter ego. There are many names for it, but...
Furuya paused and looked directly at me again.
─── Partner. That is what I consider you.
─── ...Furuya, that's a bit much. I'm just...
─── Call me "Zero." It makes it easier for me to remember my principles and my resolve.
─── I understand, Zero. And by the way, stop with these sudden bursts of sentiment; they're bad for the heart.
─── And who said I was being sentimental?
We exchanged light banter, laughing clearly in the depths of our shared mind. We will continue to move forward in this extraordinary, dark life, maintaining each other's balance.
That brings us to today's events.
I boarded a bus with the Detective Boys for a ski trip, but the situation is... complicated.
Vermouth, disguised as Dr. Araide, is feigning annoyance while Jodie-sensei corners her with questions. Meanwhile, Akai Shuichi has boarded the bus to keep an eye on Jodie.
The chaos has reached such a peak that the bus has become a microcosmic map of conflicting forces. Is this a mere coincidence? It has to be a joke.
The moment Akai Shuichi spotted me, he radiated a terrifying killing intent. Conan noticed it instantly and shifted into high alert. He began scanning his surroundings with a tense expression while shielding Ms. Haibara, who sat paralyzed with fear due to the overwhelming presence of the Black Organization around her.
Vermouth (as Dr. Araide) shot me a reproachful look.
What on earth is this? Is this actually hell?
One almost feels pity for the hijackers. They boarded this cursed express bus with such confidence, unaware it was already teeming with FBI agents and Black Organization members.
Suddenly, two men dressed in ski gear stormed the bus. They brandished pistols in the passengers' faces and barked:
"Stay quiet! Or I'll kill you!"
Screams erupted from every corner as panic set in.
A threat of this level means nothing to me. I considered taking them out quickly, but Akai Shuichi's piercing killing intent gives me pause. If I make a wrong move, Akai might attack me from behind.
In the midst of this, the culprits began lining up disguised bombs, shaped like snowboards, along the floor of the bus.
Seeing this, Conan tried to communicate with me via a message scribbled hastily in his notebook.
『Can you neutralize the culprits in this situation?』
『I can. Two pistols and a helpless woman in charge of the bombs. I can handle this however I want.』
『Then I'll give you the signal. You take care of the gunman.』
『Copy that.』
Conan quietly aimed his tranquilizer watch amidst the fear-stricken bus.
His target was the hot-tempered culprit approaching us.
A faint sound, like the chirp of a bird, rang out.
Seeing the man stumble and fall, his partner flew into a rage, unable to grasp what had happened.
"Did you do something, you brat?!"
he barked, leveling his weapon at Conan. I lunged from my seat instantly.
Incidentally, Conan had clearly sat next to me just to keep an eye on my movements. Such a blatant lack of trust is enough to bring tears to my eyes.
I drew my baton with a snap and swung it, deflecting the bullet's trajectory in one fluid motion. This baton is one of Professor Agasa's inventions—simple, lightweight, and incredibly durable. Conan had tossed it to me once, saying,
"Use this instead of a claw from now on."
It is about the length of a dagger, extendable, easy to carry, and exceptionally tough. It didn't sustain a single scratch even after parrying a bullet at point-blank range; the Professor truly outdid himself with this one.
I followed the parry with a direct kick.
The gunman's head slammed into the window with a heavy thud. He slid slowly down against the seat and stopped moving. Dammit, did I use too much force? No, he's still breathing. He'll be fine.
I neutralized his stunned female accomplice with a swift strike to the neck. Game over.
Amidst the cheers of the relieved passengers, "Dr. Araide" whispered in my ear.
"Thank you, "Kitty," for protecting "Cool Guy.""
"Good work on the mission, Vermouth. No need for the thanks."
"I knew you would protect "Cool Guy" and "Angel"... it seems my intuition was right."
By the time the passengers began disembarking one by one, the police had mobilized, cordoning off the entire area as a major crime scene. It was no surprise; a "high-end" hijacking involving a bomb and two handguns is a serious affair. The police will likely be working through the night to investigate the background of the incident.
─── The smuggling route for those handguns worries me. Do I have permission to track it down?
─── Understood. I'll adjust the schedule to give "Zero" enough time to move freely.
─── That helps. Thank you.
The last person to step off the bus was the FBI agent himself... Akai Shuichi.
He spotted me standing by the vehicle, and our eyes met in total silence. A profound stillness settled over us, cutting through the surrounding clamor. The air grew heavy with a tension like a wire stretched to its snapping point.
Cautiously, as if weighing every syllable, Akai Shuichi spoke:
"It has been a long time, Bourbon."
"I am glad to see Rye is in good health as well. We haven't had a chance to speak since then, so this is a fine opportunity."
"I wonder... was there ever anything between us worth discussing? Forgive me, I cannot seem to recall."
The click of a pistol's safety catch echoed from beneath Akai's clothes. His bloodlust sharpened, intensifying until it hit me with the force of a violent gale.
"There is no point in that. You know perfectly well that a firearm of this caliber means nothing to me."
"...... What exactly are you planning, Bourbon? Playing at being human, blending into society like this."
To speak as if I am not human is nothing short of slander, Akai Shuichi!
Jeers and cries of "Go home, FBI!" erupted from both Furuya and me internally, though I kept my face an absolute mask. I was not entirely sure what Akai was trying to fish for.
"Nothing. Surely I am entitled to my own private time, am I not?"
"You are a savage monster who sees humans as nothing more than prey to be hunted."
"Goodness, what a bleak outlook. It is not like that at all, believe me."
Conan must have noticed my conversation with Akai from a distance; he hurried toward me, leaving a trembling Ms. Haibara behind. Akai Shuichi narrowed his eyes at the small figure.
"Is this your pet?"
"No. Just a neighborhood kid. Cute, isn't he?"
"Tch."
He apparently misunderstood, assuming I was using the boy as a hostage. He clicked his tongue in disgust and vanished across the street. Your delusions are reaching new heights, Mr. Akai! I never said I would kill the child if you stepped closer!
"Amuro-san?"
"Ah, Conan. Is Ai-chan alright?"
"She's fine. Thanks for helping subduing the culprits. But more importantly... who was that person just now?"
"Oh, just an old acquaintance. An undercover FBI agent who defected from the Organization."
"!!!... An undercover agent."
"He remains a target for the Organization even now."
"...Does that mean you are also after his life?"
"No. I haven't received any orders to kill Akai Shuichi. And I am not such a corporate slave that I would act unless it was part of the job."
"A... corporate slave! You really are something..."
I simply watched Conan as he stared in the direction where Akai had disappeared, offering no further comment.