Bang!
There was only a single shot—then the hollow click of a jammed gun.
Shimizu Koji tilted his head and narrowly avoided it. In that instant, the distance between him and Gin shrank to almost nothing.
They were now within close-quarters combat range.
Gin's expression darkened as he tossed the handgun aside, seeming to regain a bit of clarity. He reached toward the inside of his trench coat—but before he could react, a fist cut through the air straight toward his face.
He raised his arm in haste to block it and took a step back, trying to create distance. Shimizu Koji, however, would never give him that chance. Another punch followed immediately, swift as thunder.
Gin hadn't expected his movements to be read so completely. Caught off guard, he nearly took the blow full in the face. He barely managed to twist aside on instinct, but Shimizu's fist still slammed solidly into his right shoulder.
Pain flared instantly. Gin retreated another step, his eyes growing colder and more terrifying.
In direct combat, after several exchanges, Shimizu Koji found himself temporarily suppressing Gin with sheer momentum. Thanks to his extraordinary perception, he could anticipate Gin's movements in advance. Yet the dull pain spreading through his arms and legs made his heart sink.
He didn't know what state Gin was in, but if this dragged on, he would likely be the one at a disadvantage—especially since Gin still had a partner.
His eyes seemed able to trace every motion of his opponent. That uncanny ability was the key reason he could interrupt Gin again and again, even posing a real threat.
But Gin's reaction speed was no slower than his.
To be honest, if yesterday's version of himself were standing here, Shimizu Koji felt he would have been utterly crushed.
Staring into those blood-red eyes that seemed to reflect the setting sun—beautiful enough to be terrifying—Gin wanted nothing more than to sneer, to spit out some cutting mockery about how furious he was.
Unfortunately, the relentless, storm-like assault left him no room to speak.
So it really is you, Akai…
He blocked another whipping kick from "Akai Shuichi," but in the next instant, a fist came flying toward his head.
Gin was starting to feel stifled. This "Akai Shuichi" seemed able to sense his intentions before he even acted, forcing him into constant defense.
As for doubting the man's identity—what a joke. Other than Akai Shuichi, the traitor who once escaped his grasp, who in Japan could fight him to a standstill?
And then there was Miyano Akemi.
Gin could clearly feel it: this man genuinely cared about whether she lived or died, yet never lost his composure or rationality. That kind of iron will belonged to no one else but Akai.
Nearby, Vodka gripped his gun, watching as "Akai Shuichi" fought while retreating, steadily pressing Gin back, waiting for an opening.
Finally, it came.
Gin was forced into a corner, and Shimizu Koji's back was completely exposed.
"Heh heh—die!"
Bang!"What—?!"
The shot was fired, but what hit the ground was not a bullet.
It was a soccer ball—out of nowhere.
Vodka clutched his wrist in pain and turned around, only to see a small boy standing at the warehouse entrance—Conan—frozen in the posture of having just kicked something away.
The next second, between several oil drums stacked in the corner, a massive, breathtaking explosion of flames erupted, instantly swallowing both Gin and Shimizu Koji.
"Vodka! What the hell are you doing?!"
Hearing Gin's furious, strained roar, Vodka felt his liver tremble. He nearly dropped his gun.
"Boss, I—"
From the raging inferno came the sounds of violent collisions. As Vodka hesitated, Gin burst out of the flames, his back ablaze, his clothes in tatters.
"Boss?!"
Vodka rushed forward, desperately beating out the fire on Gin's coat and hair.
"Go!"
Gin's back burned fiercely, and his neck—unused to the open air—felt both scalding and chilling. But there was no time to think. Inside the warehouse were still oil drums they had prepared in advance—originally meant as a final "gift" for Miyano Akemi's corpse.
Vodka hurriedly helped Gin into the passenger seat of their Porsche parked beside the warehouse, then jumped into the driver's seat and sped away.
Through the car window, Gin stared at the blazing warehouse. Only when another violent explosion erupted did a satisfied glint appear in his eyes.
Then he saw it.
From the sea of fire, the distant figure of "Akai"—face no longer visible—emerged, carrying Miyano Akemi's body on his back, one hand gripping a small boy.
It didn't matter.
Even if things hadn't gone exactly as planned, what that "Akai" ultimately gained was still nothing more than a cold corpse.
Gin seemed to forget the pain of his burns. A familiar, chilling smile curled his lips.
"Let her body be our gift the next time we meet."
Sitting in the car, Shimizu Koji glanced into the rearview mirror and noticed something wrong with his eyes.
They were crimson—deep, blood-soaked red—with a black, comma-shaped mark at the edge.
In his previous life… or rather, his last reincarnation, he seemed to have belonged to a clan called Uchiha.
He had only been there for two days before the clan was annihilated. He hadn't escaped either. On the night of the massacre, those blood-red eyes were all he saw.
As he calmed down and escaped danger, the red faded from his pupils, gradually returning to normal—along with the extraordinary perception and overwhelming strength draining away like a receding tide.
Could it be that his body—or his soul—still retained some of the power he once had?
Shimizu Koji quickly shook his head. He couldn't be sure. After so many rebirths, this was the first time something like this had happened.
He glanced at Conan, unconscious after being knocked out with a precise chop, then looked back at Akemi lying in the rear seat. After a moment's thought, he pulled out his mobile phone.
That young lady—the one his classmates talked about—was supposedly the daughter of a powerful conglomerate. She had even said she'd do anything for him.
The phone number had only been written on a confession card, but he still remembered it.
Suzuki Sonoko… if he recalled correctly.
Without hesitation, he dialed the number from memory. For a brief moment, he felt nervous, hoping she hadn't changed it.
On the streets of Beika's shopping district, Suzuki Sonoko and Ran walked side by side.
Sonoko's gaze darted around constantly. If one looked closely, nearly every stop of her eyes landed on a reasonably handsome man.
Unfortunately, judging from her steadily mounting disappointment, none of these ordinary mortals met Miss Suzuki's standards.
"Huh? Sonoko?" Ran suddenly noticed her friend had stopped and turned back.
In the crowd, Sonoko stood frozen, phone in hand, hesitating.
"It's an unfamiliar number."
At a time when mobile phones were still rare, that made it even stranger.
Ran stepped over, shielding Sonoko from the passing crowd, and led her into a nearby alley.
"Hello?" Sonoko answered cautiously.
"…Huh?! Shimizu-kun?!"
Ran watched as Sonoko's expression shifted from confusion to shock to overwhelming joy in an instant. Curious but polite, she stayed silent.
"W-What?! Oh—okay, okay, I understand!"
After hanging up, Sonoko immediately made another call. Hearing words like injured and hospital, Ran frowned slightly.
Then Sonoko ended the call, finally exhaling in relief—and suddenly threw herself at Ran, hugging her tightly.
"Ahhh! Shimizu-kun actually called me!!!"
"H-Huh?! Shimizu…?"
After the excitement, Sonoko seemed to realize that reacting like this to news of someone's sister being badly injured wasn't exactly appropriate.
She paused, adjusted herself, and explained everything to Ran.
"So that underclassman contacted you because his sister was seriously hurt?"
"Yeah! And he knew my number—and that my family has a private hospital! He knows so much about me!"
Watching Sonoko beam as if declaring her love to the heavens, Ran's eye twitched.
"…But wait, Sonoko," Ran said with a teasing smile,"Isn't he younger than you?"
Under Ran's knowing gaze, Sonoko's cheeks reddened, her expression turning awkward.
"Cough—"
"Ohhh? So you like younger guys~?"
"Ran! That's not it! Not what you're thinking! Shut up!"