At a luxurious residence in Kyoto, local construction tycoon Kensuke Achiwa stood at the entrance, gazing at the cherry blossoms blooming in the garden.
His eyes were filled with nostalgia, as if he had traveled back in time to when his wife was still alive. She used to love sitting right here, admiring the garden scenery.
"Satsuki, I've destroyed that deck of cards. That was the last piece of evidence you left behind. Now, no one will ever find out that you killed Meikei."
Kensuke Achiwa murmured to himself, "Toshiya Yajima, who noticed something was wrong, is also dead. Next, as long as Kaieda Tougo is killed, this whole thing will be buried. You'll remain perfect, without a single blemish."
Just then, a man's voice came from behind him.
"So that's how it is. You blew up the Nichibei TV building to cover up your wife's crime."
Startled, Kensuke Achiwa quickly turned around and saw someone standing inside the room, though he hadn't noticed anyone enter.
The man was dressed entirely in black, wore a black top hat, had a foreign face, and an expression as cold as ice.
"Who are you?!"
"Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is that I suggest you sit down quietly."
Kensuke Achiwa obeyed and sat across from the man.
It was mainly because of the silenced pistol in the man's hand and his terrifying aura. Kensuke Achiwa didn't dare resist at all.
"You're here to kill me?"
He asked, his expression grim.
"That's right."
"Why? Is it for the people at Nichibei TV?"
Kensuke Achiwa found it hard to believe.
From this man's aura, he didn't seem like a righteous person. Did he really care enough to avenge those innocent victims?
"I couldn't care less about other people's lives. It's just that someone I cared about happened to be in that building. So, you can only blame your bad luck."
"Even if I didn't come, you would've eventually been caught by the police."
"The flaws in your stupid murder plan are too obvious. Blowing up an entire building just to destroy a deck of karuta cards? How ridiculous. You could've just set a fire."
Toru couldn't help but complain.
Did it really require that much of a commotion to get rid of a deck of cards? Arson would've been much simpler.
If the Japanese police couldn't even track down such a large amount of explosives, then the National Diet Building and the Imperial Palace might as well be next on the hit list.
"W-wait a minute!"
Kensuke Achiwa panicked when he saw Toru's finger twitch and quickly tried to stop him.
Bang
A suppressed gunshot rang out. A 9mm bullet pierced straight through Kensuke Achiwa's forehead.
His words were left unfinished as his body slumped backward, collapsing onto the sofa.
Toru put away the pistol and stood up, his face expressionless.
"I'm not interested in hearing a criminal's explanation or emotional nonsense. Death is the only thing you deserve."
"Be grateful. Now you can go to hell and reunite with your wife."
He sneered and calmly walked out of the crime scene.
A street away from the mansion, Conan sat on the back of Heiji's motorcycle, urging him, "Hattori, hurry up. If we're too late, Kensuke Achiwa will definitely be dead."
"I'm already going fast, Kudo! You want us to crash and die like some reckless kids?"
Heiji cursed.
Soon after—
Screech
Heiji drifted the motorcycle sharply, the tires screeching against the pavement and kicking up plumes of white smoke.
Right in front of them, at the gate of the mansion, a man dressed in black just happened to be walking out.
"It's you, Martini!"
Conan's pupils shrank. He immediately recognized the man as a member of the Black Organization who had once captured him.
Conan jumped off the bike, crouched down, and pressed a switch on his shoe. A soccer ball popped out from his belt.
He launched a fierce kick, striking the ball with a force stronger than Tokyo University's soccer team even after ten meals of sea cucumber.
The ball shot toward Toru like a bolt of lightning.
Seeing the incoming soccer ball, Toru casually raised his left hand. With a leather glove on, he pressed down on the ball midair.
The ball spun wildly, generating intense friction against the glove, but Toru effortlessly stopped it with one hand.
Conan's eyes widened. Was this guy the Spanish goalkeeper Casillas or something? His reaction speed was unreal.
"Kudo, I'll help you!"
Heiji leapt high into the air. He didn't know where he'd gotten the wooden stick, but he used a Kendo finishing move and swung it down toward Toru, who was disguised as a member of the Organization.
But mid-air, Heiji suddenly panicked. He twisted his waist hard to change his trajectory, not caring if he got sprained, and landed hard on the ground.
Toru had drawn a pistol from his pocket and was aiming it at him.
At this distance, within seven steps, the gun had the advantage. Heiji knew full well he couldn't beat a bullet with a stick.
Conan gritted his teeth, but didn't dare make another move. His kick had failed, and now both he and Heiji were at a complete disadvantage.
"Kudo Shinichi, wasn't the last lesson enough? Still acting so recklessly."
Toru was visibly annoyed. This kid really knew how to piss him off.
Since you've made me unhappy, then I'll have to get your mom to cheer me up.
He had already made up his mind to let Yukiko comfort his emotionally wounded soul.
"Kudo, is this the guy who shrunk you?"
Even facing a gun, Heiji managed to stay calm, though his voice was tense.
"No, but he's a member of that Organization."
Conan glanced around, searching for a way out.
Even with all his wits, it was hard to outmatch such overwhelming power.
"Heh, forget it. My target's already dead. I don't have time to waste chatting with you."
Toru's tone was cold.
Conan's face turned serious. He asked quietly, "Kensuke Achiwa was killed by you, wasn't he? Why?"
"He did something the Organization didn't like, so he had to die. Kudo Shinichi, you're still useful to me, so I won't kill you for now. But if you keep poking your nose where it doesn't belong, I won't hesitate to send you to hell."
Toru's voice remained icy. His gaze swept to Heiji and he gave a grim smile.
"Heiji, I know who you are. Son of Osaka's police superintendent, Hattori Heizo."
"Why did you get yourself tangled in this with Kudo Shinichi? Do you realize you've been dragged into this mess?"
"Now your father Hattori Heizo, and your mother Hattori Shizuka, are on the Organization's radar too. Don't think being a police superintendent means you're safe. The Organization doesn't care who you are if they decide you need to die."
Toru slowly put the gun back in his pocket, turned his back to the two, and said, "By the way, Kudo Shinichi, a little tip. The one who shrunk you is called Gin."
"He usually drives a Porsche 356A. He's been active in Tokyo lately. That kind of classic car isn't common. If you spot it, maybe you can go pay Gin a visit."
With that, Toru walked away.
"Wait!"
Boom
Just as Conan was about to give chase, a massive explosion engulfed Kensuke Achiwa's mansion. The blast was just like the one that took out Nichibei TV.
The powerful shockwave knocked Conan and Heiji off their feet and completely erased Toru's presence from sight.
Cough cough... cough...
Conan struggled to his feet, covered in dust and smoke. He looked ahead, but Toru was nowhere to be seen.
"That guy must've used the bomb Achiwa prepared."
Heiji also got up.
Conan hesitated for a moment, then turned to Heiji and said, "Sorry, Hattori. I dragged you into this."
"Haha, Kudo, what are you saying? We're bros."
Heiji laughed and patted Conan on the shoulder.
But his expression was far from cheerful.
An organization that could shrink Kudo Shinichi, that killed people so easily... the power behind it was terrifying.
And now they'd threatened even his own family.
"A Porsche 356A really is rare these days... but why would he tell you that?"
Heiji rubbed his chin.
Conan replied, "There are factions within the Organization too. Martini probably wants to use me to get rid of Gin."
But even knowing that, Conan had no choice but to play along.
Especially now that he finally knew the name of the one who shrunk him—Gin.
"Sigh, let's call the cops first, Kudo."
Heiji looked at the ruins of Achiwa's mansion and sighed helplessly.
Conan nodded in agreement.
Was the case solved?
More or less. At least they now knew that Kensuke Achiwa and his secretary were the ones behind the bombing.
But since they were both dead, the police would likely never uncover their motives.
At the secretary's home, the police did find confirmation on her computer that the killer was a man in black, evidence Conan deliberately left behind, hoping the police could help investigate the Black Organization.
Of course, despite the Kyoto police deploying large numbers of officers, they found no trace of the man in black.
...
At 11 PM, Toru was ready to sleep.
He'd finished washing up, lay down in bed, and turned off the light. Just as he closed his eyes, he heard movement at the door.
"Who is it?"
Toru suddenly opened his eyes, his hand gripping the pistol by the pillow.
"It's me, Toru-kun."
"Ms. Ōoka?"
"Mm."
"Something wrong at this hour?"
Hearing it was Momiji, Toru slid the gun back into place.
"May I come in and talk, Toru-kun?"
"The door isn't locked. Come in."
As Toru finished speaking, the room door quietly opened. Momiji, dressed in a yukata and leaning on a cane, stepped inside.
Toru turned on the bedside lamp. In the soft yellow light, he noticed her light brown hair was slightly damp.
"You just bathed?"
"Mm."
"Your leg still isn't healed. How did you manage that?"
Toru sounded concerned.
"My body felt sticky and uncomfortable. I didn't actually take a bath, just had the maid help me wipe down."
As she spoke, Momiji subtly locked the door. Leaning on her cane, she walked up to Toru and sat down with difficulty.
"Ms. Ōoka, is there something you need this late?"
Toru asked.
"Toru-kun, just call me by my name."
"Momiji?"
"Mm."
Momiji's lips curled slightly, a little shy but clearly happy.
She took a deep breath and said, "The Kyoto police just called me. They said my teacher's body was found, hidden in Satsuki Hall."
"He disappeared five years ago. I didn't expect he had been killed all along. His body was still warm. As his disciple, I feel ashamed. I actually stayed in the Satsuki Association, the place where he died, for so long."
"Now that he can finally be laid to rest, I feel relieved."
Toru smiled. "It's thanks to the Kyoto police."
Momiji went silent for a moment. Then she said suddenly, "President Kensuke Achiwa and his secretary. Toru-kun, you killed them, didn't you?"
Toru was caught off guard. His thoughts raced. "Why do you think that?"
"I'm not sure. Just a feeling," Momiji shook her head.
Toru studied her carefully. He saw no fear or panic in her eyes. After a brief pause, he nodded.
"That's right. I killed them."
Even if Momiji told someone, no one would believe her, so Toru didn't mind telling the truth.
"Why did Toru-kun kill them?"
Momiji wasn't troubled at all by the deaths of Kensuke Achiwa and his secretary. In fact, she was secretly happy. She felt like she had discovered a secret about Toru, and was even happier that he had admitted it so openly.
If that was the case, then she had even more reason to protect Toru-kun's secret.
"Because they hurt someone important to me. Under Japan's laws, they might not have gotten the death penalty. With Achiwa's wealth and connections, he could've gotten out in just a few years."
"If the law can't give justice, then I'll take it myself."
Toru said calmly.
"Someone important..."
Momiji's heart raced. She thought he was talking about her.
And Toru's words gave her the courage to say what she had been holding back. She looked up, her voice nervous but serious.
"Toru-kun, I like you."
Toru raised an eyebrow. "Because I saved you?"
"Is it wrong for a girl to like the hero who saved her?" Momiji shot back.
If he's handsome, she'd give herself to him. If he were ugly, she'd repay him in the next life.
Toru muttered to himself.
Out loud, he said, "Momiji, have you heard of the suspension bridge effect?"
"When someone walks across a suspension bridge while nervous, their heart rate goes up automatically."
"If they happen to meet someone else in that moment, they might mistake the elevated heart rate from anxiety as attraction to that person. That's how feelings can develop."
"Toru-kun, are you saying my feelings for you are just the suspension bridge effect?"
Though she was still a high school student, Momiji was well-read and answered immediately.
"Exactly. What you're feeling now is likely just the suspension bridge effect," Toru said.
Momiji was firm. "No, like is like. Even if it is the so-called suspension bridge effect, I still like you."
"Toru-kun, this is the first time my heart has been moved. You're the first man I've truly liked. I will like you for the rest of my life."
A girl in love for the first time always holds the most beautiful hopes for love.
"For the rest of your life... that's heavy."
Toru was speechless.
Momiji stood on one leg. She suddenly undid the sash at her waist, and as the yukata slipped to the floor, her naked body was revealed in front of Toru.
Her skin was smooth and radiant, her waist slim and delicate, and her curves were shockingly full for her age.
A cast still wrapped one of her legs, while the other, uninjured leg was long and elegant. Against the pure white of her skin, the single tabi sock she wore only made the contrast more alluring.
Toru was a normal man. He couldn't hold back anymore. His voice dropped low.
"Momiji, with your status and mine, I can't give you a formal promise."
Toru could never be adopted into the Ōoka family, and Momiji could never marry into the Fujiwara. The status of their two families would not allow either side to concede.
"I don't care about that. I'm already prepared."
She turned her head slightly, biting her lip, her voice full of seduction.
"Toru-kun, my leg isn't convenient... you need to be gentle."
As a normal man, why would Toru hesitate now?
He proved his gentleness with his actions.
He gently laid Momiji down onto the fallen yukata. As she shyly closed her eyes, her lashes trembled slightly. In the rhythm of soft breaths, the two embraced.
(To be continued.)
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