Evening settled over Beika City.
Streetlights flickered on one by one.
Cars moved slowly through the quiet residential streets.
And outside a modest apartment building…
Four people stood watching the entrance.
Kogoro Mouri leaned against a telephone pole with his arms crossed.
"This is ridiculous…"
Beside him stood Ran Mori, trying to remain patient.
Near the sidewalk railing, a small boy peered carefully toward the building entrance.
Conan Edogawa.
And slightly behind them all…
Haruki Akizawa observed quietly.
The target of their investigation had not yet appeared.
According to the father who hired them, his daughter had been secretly meeting a suspicious man near this building every evening.
The father believed she might run away with him.
Or worse.
Kogoro checked his watch.
"Where is this guy?"
Ran whispered.
"Maybe they're late?"
Conan remained silent.
His eyes constantly scanned the street.
Every window.
Every passerby.
Then—
Haruki spoke calmly.
"Someone's coming."
All eyes turned.
A young woman exited the apartment building.
Mid-twenties.
Brown hair tied back.
Nervous expression.
The father had shown them her photo earlier.
This was his daughter.
She looked around cautiously.
Then walked toward the nearby park entrance.
Kogoro grinned.
"Let's follow her."
Inside the small park.
The evening air was quiet.
The woman sat on a bench beneath a tree.
Minutes passed.
Then footsteps approached.
A man appeared from the path.
Tall.
Wearing a dark jacket.
His face partly hidden under a cap.
He sat beside her.
They began speaking quietly.
From behind a nearby bush—
Kogoro watched impatiently.
"They're definitely planning something."
Ran whispered.
"Maybe we should just ask them?"
Kogoro shook his head dramatically.
"No! Real detectives observe first!"
Conan rolled his eyes.
Since when?
Meanwhile…
Haruki watched the pair carefully.
His Observation Boost sharpened small details.
The man's shoes were worn.
But his jacket was expensive.
Odd combination.
The woman looked anxious.
Her fingers twisted the strap of her purse repeatedly.
Then something else caught Haruki's attention.
The man subtly glanced around the park several times.
Checking for witnesses.
Not like someone in love.
More like someone cautious.
Suspicious.
Conan was thinking the same thing.
His mind rapidly connected details.
"Something's wrong."
If this was just romance—
Why so secretive?
Why so nervous?
Then suddenly—
The man stood up.
"Let's go."
The woman hesitated.
"But… my father…"
The man grabbed her wrist.
"We don't have time."
Conan's eyes sharpened.
Haruki's gaze hardened slightly.
Kogoro whispered.
"That's it!"
He jumped from behind the bush.
"Stop right there!"
The couple froze.
Ran sighed quietly.
There went the stealth.
The man frowned.
"And who are you?"
Kogoro dramatically pointed.
"I am the famous detective Kogoro Mouri!"
The man blinked.
Clearly unimpressed.
Ran stepped forward politely.
"We're just worried about her safety."
The woman looked confused.
"Safety?"
Kogoro puffed his chest.
"Your father hired us!"
Her face immediately turned red.
"DAD DID WHAT?!"
The man beside her suddenly looked nervous.
He stepped back slightly.
Conan noticed immediately.
"He's scared."
Haruki noticed too.
Not fear of the father.
Not fear of detectives.
Fear of exposure.
Something bigger.
The woman turned to the man.
"You said everything would be fine!"
The man forced a smile.
"Of course it will."
But his eyes darted toward the park exit.
Calculating escape.
Haruki spoke calmly.
"You're not planning to run away together."
Everyone turned toward him.
The man frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Haruki adjusted his glasses.
"You've checked the park exits three times."
The man's expression stiffened.
"You grabbed her wrist when she hesitated."
Silence.
Haruki continued.
"And your shoes."
Everyone looked down.
"Worn work shoes," Haruki said calmly.
"But you're wearing a jacket that costs at least two hundred thousand yen."
The man's face slowly hardened.
Ran blinked.
"What does that mean?"
Haruki's eyes narrowed slightly.
"It means he's pretending."
Conan's eyes widened slightly.
He had noticed the same thing.
But Haruki had spoken first.
Kogoro frowned.
"Pretending what?"
Haruki answered calmly.
"Her boyfriend."
The woman gasped.
"What?!"
The man suddenly pushed her aside and ran.
Conan shouted.
"He's running!"
Kogoro yelled.
"HEY!"
But Haruki had already moved.
Fast.
He cut toward the park exit.
Predicting the man's escape path.
The man turned the corner—
And stopped abruptly.
Haruki stood in front of him.
Blocking the exit.
Calm.
Silent.
The man cursed.
Then lunged forward.
Haruki stepped aside smoothly.
The man stumbled.
And crashed into a metal railing.
Kogoro and Conan arrived seconds later.
The man was pinned down.
Panting.
Kogoro grabbed his collar.
"Alright! Talk!"
The man glared.
But Conan stepped forward.
His eyes were sharp.
"You were trying to kidnap her."
Silence.
The woman gasped again.
The man finally laughed bitterly.
"Fine."
He sighed.
"I was going to take her to withdraw money from her father's company."
Ran looked shocked.
"You monster!"
Police sirens echoed in the distance.
Someone nearby had already called them.
The man slumped.
Defeated.
Later.
Police took the criminal away.
The daughter tearfully thanked Ran.
Kogoro scratched his head.
"Well… another case solved."
Conan sighed quietly.
More like barely helped.
But his eyes drifted toward Haruki.
Who stood quietly near the park entrance.
Thinking.
DING
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ]
Mission Completed
Mission: First Deduction
Result: Success
Bonus Achieved: Truth deduced before Conan.
Rewards:
Skill Fragment Acquired
Micro Expression Analysis (Fragment 1/3)
+3 Deduction
Another screen appeared.
[ STATUS ]
Name: Haruki Akizawa
IQ: 138
Observation: 97
Deduction: 91
Psychology: 81
Memory: 90
Skills:
Observation Boost (Lv1)
Skill Fragments:
Micro Expression Analysis (1/3)
Items:
Micro Camera Lens
Relationships:
Ran Mori — Friendly acquaintance
Conan Edogawa — Curious observer
Haruki closed the system window.
Then he noticed something.
Conan was staring at him.
Deep in thought.
Shinichi Kudo's instincts were screaming.
This man…
Haruki Akizawa.
His deduction speed.
His observation.
His calm reasoning.
It felt strangely familiar.
Almost like looking at another detective.
Conan smiled slightly.
Interesting…
For the first time since shrinking—
Shinichi Kudo felt something unexpected.
Excitement.
Haruki turned and walked down the quiet street.
Hands in his pockets.
Thinking.
Behind him…
The young detective trapped in a child's body watched carefully.
Two minds.
Both searching for truth.
And tonight—
A new rivalry had quietly begun.
End of Chapter 5.