After leaving the apartment and getting into Agasa's car, Conan still couldn't help defending his teacher.
"I told you, didn't I? There's no way Onizawa-sensei is part of the Organization. He's a righteous police officer, and his case-solving rate is ridiculously high. He's working overtime at the MPD every single day. How could he possibly be—"
"That's only because the teacher you admire happens to have the same hair color and eye color as someone extremely dangerous in the Organization," Haibara interrupted.
For the first time, she found Conan unbearably talkative.
'You've already said the same thing three times. Why do you keep repeating yourself?'
Agasa looked curious.
"So... Onizawa-san really is a trustworthy police officer?"
"Of course!"
Conan rested both hands behind his head.
"The fact that I'm still alive is the best proof. Sensei figured out my identity a long time ago. He was just curious about how I solved cases."
"And then, because I panicked... I accidentally shot him with my tranquilizer needle."
"And you're actually proud of that?"
Haibara sighed.
"From now on, be more careful. The fewer people who know our secrets, the safer we are."
Agasa nodded in agreement.
"Ai-chan is right. Shinichi-kun, you get so absorbed in investigations that your entire way of speaking changes."
"How many times have Ran and the others looked suspicious because of it? If enough little doubts pile up, they eventually become real suspicion."
Conan pouted with half-lidded eyes.
"Okay, okay, I get it. I'll be more careful from now on."
"I certainly hope you mean that."
...
After seeing the two children off, Akemi took out her phone and called Ritsu.
After recounting everything that had happened during their visit, she asked,
"When are you planning to tell Shiho who you really are? You know better than anyone that she's always hoped you were still alive."
Sitting alone in the break room, Ritsu's emotions were complicated.
It wasn't that he didn't want to tell her. He simply couldn't. At this stage, he still wasn't certain whether Shinichi was the ideal partner to cooperate with.
His current situation wasn't something that could be explained in just a few sentences. That was why he couldn't reveal the truth.
"When the time is right, I'll tell her myself. I'm sorry I made you lie to your sister."
Akemi smiled softly.
"I could never thank you enough, so how could you possibly owe me an apology?"
"Don't worry. I understand. When you've experienced betrayal... it's incredibly difficult to trust people again."
"So just follow your own plan."
Sometimes Ritsu honestly wondered whether Akemi was actually older than he was.
She always gave him the strange feeling that he was the younger one. She was always the one comforting him.
"...Thank you for understanding. I still have a lot to deal with here, so I'd better get back to work."
"Please be careful. You don't need to worry about me. I've decided not to leave the apartment for the next few days. And there's plenty of food at home."
"All right. Thank you."
After hanging up, Ritsu let out a weary sigh.
Thinking about the investigation, which still hadn't made any progress, made his chest feel heavy.
His gaze drifted toward the ashtray.
'I've smoked... this many already?'
He reached for his cigarette pack.
It was empty.
Clicking his tongue in irritation, he tugged at his tie before standing up to continue reviewing surveillance footage.
Deep down, he had a feeling this case wasn't as simple as it seemed.
Perhaps Akemi's deduction was correct. The attackers' real target hadn't been him. It had been the police as a whole.
That reminded him of the serial bomber from three years ago, the one who had never been caught.
'Could it be him?'
But that man hadn't possessed this level of capability nor had he sent any warning letters like before.
...
From February 2nd to February 6th
Five entire days passed.
Not a single useful lead surfaced.
The masked attackers who had appeared at the wedding had vanished without leaving behind the slightest trace.
Ritsu rubbed his sore eyes.
This was the first case he'd encountered that he couldn't solve quickly. Even worse, he couldn't accept the fact that criminals who had attacked police officers indiscriminately were still at large.
'Had they been planning this terrorist attack for years?'
He glanced toward the silent fax machine.
'Who could it possibly be?'
"Onizawa-kun... You haven't gone home to rest in two whole days. If this keeps up, your body won't be able to take it."
Megure walked over and gently patted Ritsu on the shoulder. He knew perfectly well that theman blamed himself for everything that had happened.
"...All right. I'll go home, clean up, and get some rest. Inspector Megure, I'll leave things here to you."
Watching Ritsu leave the office, Hayasaka couldn't hide the concern in her eyes.
Her attention returned to her computer screen. Only then did she notice, there was less than an hour left until February 7th.
'Time really does fly... It's your death anniversary again.'
"...Inspector Megure."
"Hm? Oh, Are you going to the cemetery? Go ahead. I'll watch things here."
"Thank you, Inspector."
Watching Hayasaka hurriedly gather her belongings before leaving, Megure sighed and slowly shook his head.
Living trapped in memories was exhausting.
He adjusted his hat. A dull ache suddenly throbbed through his head.
'I'm no different. I haven't managed to move on from the past either.'
Looking at the surveillance recordings that had already been reviewed countless times, Megure sat down, took out his phone, and dialed a familiar number.
His tone immediately became gentle.
"Midori? I'm staying overnight at the office again today. You should get some sleep."
"Mm. I finished the lunch you made for me."
"Yes. I washed the lunchbox too."
"All right. Good night."
Night had fallen.
Yet the MPD remained brightly lit. Many detectives were still working the night shift.
Ritsu rode the elevator down to the first floor. Stepping outside the main building, he instinctively headed toward the parking lot.
Then he reached into his pocket.
'...Damn.'
He'd forgotten his car keys.
Rather than returning upstairs immediately, he suddenly felt like taking a short walk to clear his head.
Streetlights stretched his shadow across the pavement. The evening breeze rustled through the trees.
He stood quietly at a crossroads with both hands in his pockets. Across the street stood the convenience store where he usually bought cigarettes.
His gaze drifted over absentmindedly.
Then—
He saw someone. A familiar figure dressed in a black hoodie. His crimson eyes narrowed instantly.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't believe he was seeing that face. His fists clenched tightly inside his pockets.
The investigation had already left him frustrated enough. And now, she had come to provoke him.
The traffic light turned green.
He strode quickly across the street, following the figure into a narrow alley.
The familiar face leaned casually against the wall, expressionless as it watched him approach.
Anger crept into Ritsu's voice.
"Vermouth. This kind of joke isn't funny. What are you doing back from America all of a sudden?"
The figure didn't answer. Instead, it simply snapped its fingers.
Only then did Ritsu realize—
'That's not Vermouth.'
Before he could even demand an explanation, a wave of scorching heat crashed into him.
BOOM!!
A violent explosion hurled him backward through the air.
He slammed onto the ground. His ears rang violently.
'...A bomb. And not an ordinary one.'
His vision gradually blurred.
Struggling to rise, he saw nothing more than a dark silhouette approaching him.
The figure stopped nearby, then left him with a cryptic remark.
"...I never expected that the fish who took the bait would be you."
----
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