Morning sunlight illuminated the courtyard of Teitan Elementary School.
Children laughed and ran between classrooms.
For them, the world was simple.
School.
Friends.
Lunch.
Games.
But sitting quietly near the window of Class 1-B…
Was someone who did not belong among ordinary children.
Conan Edogawa.
Formerly Shinichi Kudo.
A high school detective trapped in the body of a child.
Conan sighed quietly.
"Elementary school… seriously?"
His teacher wrote math problems on the board.
But Conan's attention was elsewhere.
More specifically—
On a certain person.
Haruki Akizawa.
The man had appeared twice during investigations.
Twice.
And both times…
His deduction speed had matched Shinichi's own thinking.
Conan rested his chin on his hand.
"That guy isn't normal."
"Conan!"
A cheerful voice interrupted his thoughts.
Conan looked up.
Standing beside his desk was Ayumi Yoshida.
Behind her stood two boys.
Mitsuhiko Tsuburaya and Genta Kojima.
Genta grinned widely.
"Hey Conan! Want to play after school?"
Conan blinked.
Then forced a smile.
"Sure…"
Ayumi clapped happily.
"Yay!"
Mitsuhiko adjusted his glasses.
"Maybe we should explore the neighborhood!"
Genta pumped his fist.
"Yeah! Let's search for treasure!"
Conan sighed internally.
"What am I doing with my life…"
Meanwhile.
Across Beika City.
Haruki Akizawa walked calmly through the university campus.
Students moved between buildings.
Normal life.
Peaceful.
But Haruki's thoughts were not peaceful.
Last night's system alert still lingered in his mind.
The possibility that the Black Organization might be watching him.
Haruki entered a quiet park near the campus.
Then—
DING
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ]
Skill Fragment Completed
Micro Expression Analysis — Unlocked
A new interface appeared.
[ SKILL ACQUIRED ]
Micro Expression Analysis (Level 1)
Ability:
Detect subtle facial movements that reveal hidden emotions.
Effects:
• Increased accuracy in lie detection
• Improved interrogation capability
• Better prediction of emotional reactions
Limitations:
• Requires direct visual contact
• Can be fooled by trained individuals
Haruki considered the ability.
Very useful.
Especially against criminals.
But also—
Against people hiding secrets.
Then another notification appeared.
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ]
New Mission Generated
Mission: The Silent Test
Objective:
Identify whether someone is secretly observing you.
Clue:
A watcher may attempt indirect interaction.
Reward:
Skill — Danger Prediction (Level 1)
Haruki's eyes sharpened slightly.
"So they really are testing me."
That meant the surveillance had progressed.
Someone might soon approach him.
But not openly.
More likely—
A staged encounter.
Haruki continued walking through the park calmly.
Acting normal.
Observing everything.
At the far end of the park—
A man sat on a bench reading a newspaper.
His posture was relaxed.
But his eyes occasionally moved.
Watching.
Hidden behind the newspaper's edge.
He spoke quietly into a small device.
"Target is approaching."
A voice answered through the earpiece.
Cold.
Low.
Recognizable.
Gin.
"Test him."
Haruki walked past the bench.
The man suddenly stood up.
And bumped into him.
"Ah! Sorry!"
The man smiled apologetically.
But Haruki's eyes instantly focused.
Micro Expression Analysis activated.
Tiny movements.
Barely visible.
The man's smile.
Forced.
His eyebrows.
Slight tension.
Hidden aggression.
Fear.
And something else.
Observation.
The man wasn't apologizing.
He was evaluating Haruki's reaction.
Haruki immediately understood.
"This is the test."
But outwardly—
He remained calm.
"No problem."
He picked up the book that had fallen from the man's hands.
Their eyes met briefly.
The man's pupils contracted slightly.
Haruki noticed.
Interesting.
Haruki handed the book back.
"Here."
The man nodded.
"Thanks."
Then walked away.
Haruki continued toward the park exit.
But his mind moved quickly.
That man was not just a random observer.
He was trained.
Controlled breathing.
Careful eye movement.
Professional.
Haruki checked the system again.
[ PROBABILITY ENGINE ]
Identity Possibilities:
Ordinary civilian: 3%
Private investigator: 11%
Criminal organization operative: 86%
Haruki's thoughts sharpened.
Eighty-six percent.
Almost certain.
The Black Organization had begun testing him.
But the encounter had been simple.
Just observation.
A reaction test.
Haruki adjusted his glasses.
"If they wanted me dead…"
"I wouldn't have walked away."
Which meant—
They were still unsure about him.
Good.
That uncertainty was his shield.
Later that afternoon.
Outside Teitan Elementary School.
Four children walked along the sidewalk.
Ayumi Yoshida,
Mitsuhiko Tsuburaya,
Genta Kojima,
and Conan Edogawa.
Genta suddenly shouted.
"Hey! Let's make a detective team!"
Ayumi clapped.
"Yes!"
Mitsuhiko nodded excitedly.
"We could solve mysteries!"
Conan sighed.
But then—
His eyes noticed someone walking across the street.
A familiar figure.
Tall.
Calm.
Glasses reflecting sunlight.
Haruki Akizawa.
Conan stopped walking.
His classmates continued ahead.
But Conan watched carefully.
"What is he doing here?"
Across the street—
Haruki also noticed Conan.
Their eyes met briefly.
Again.
Two detectives.
Different lives.
Same city.
And somewhere in the shadows…
Another pair of eyes watched them both.
From inside a parked car.
Vodka lowered binoculars.
"He met the kid."
Gin lit another cigarette.
"Doesn't matter."
Smoke drifted slowly through the car.
"We keep watching."
Haruki turned the corner and disappeared from view.
Conan looked thoughtful.
He didn't know why.
But something told him—
Haruki Akizawa would soon become deeply involved in his world.
And when that happened…
Things would change.
End of Chapter 9