Disclaimer: Detective Conan is not mine. This fanfic is a translation.
Enjoy Reading!
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Trying to recreate a drug based on incomplete data is extremely difficult. Fortunately, the laboratory equipment was sophisticated enough and the researchers were clever enough that the drug development in Laboratory No. 5 proceeded in an orderly and steady manner.
For those engaged in scientific research, staying up late was routine. Ritsu had long since grown accustomed to a reversed day–night schedule. After all, whether it was the laboratory, the cafeteria, or even his own bedroom, none of them had windows. If he didn't pay attention to the time, he had no way of knowing what hour it was.
Sometimes, he didn't even know what day or month it was.
To maintain a healthier lifestyle, Ritsu had set rules for himself. For example, getting at least six hours of sleep every day, and doing over an hour of exercise daily.
After waking up to his phone alarm, Ritsu crossed off the previous day on the calendar. He brushed his teeth and washed his face, then began his morning workout. Due to limited space, his routine consisted mostly of strength training, along with high knees and sprint drills in place.
Just as he finished his ninth set of tuck jumps, there was a knock on the door.
Ritsu grabbed a towel to wipe his sweat and draped it around his neck, then walked barefoot to the door. The moment he opened it, he was hit with an overpowering scent of cologne and, surprisingly, the source of it was Vodka.
"Morning, Nanase," Vodka said cheerfully, looking him up and down. "Didn't expect you to be in such good shape. Do you work out regularly?"
Why did this feel like running into an old man during a morning workout, only for the man to stop, inspect his physique, and offer praise and unsolicited concern like some elder?
"Good morning, Vodka-san. As you know, scientific research also requires maintaining good health, so I've made a habit of exercising."
"That's a good habit. If only the weaklings in the organization's research department would learn from you."
The burly Vodka clearly looked down on the sickly, stick-thin researchers in the lab. That Takai he'd met once before definitely fit the bill—short, skinny, with sunken cheeks like a bean sprout.
"I'll keep it up. By the way, Vodka-san, is there something you needed this early?"
"Heh." Vodka let out a short, odd chuckle and lowered his voice mysteriously. "Go take a quick shower and change your clothes. I'll wait for you in the parking lot… I'm taking you somewhere interesting."
It sounded like a sly adult luring a teenager under twenty to go partying in Kabukicho. Thankfully, at this hour, that area wouldn't even be open. Otherwise, it'd be hard not to get suspicious about his intentions.
"Understood."
He quickly dashed into the bathroom for a shower. Since he was heading out, he decided against wearing his usual shirt and white lab coat. After looking through his wardrobe, he picked an outfit that would probably feel "familiar" to members of the organization.
A pure black hoodie over a dark navy shirt, paired with black athletic pants, and even his skate shoes were black.
There was only one rule for fitting in with the organization: just wear black.
Before leaving, Ritsu hesitated for a moment while staring at the still-closed door. In the end, he slipped a piece of paper through the door crack to inform Shiho that he was going out with Vodka.
Just as Shiho was about to open the door, she heard a rustling sound from below. Looking down, she saw a slip of paper being pushed inside. She bent down to pick it up, then immediately pulled the door open, startling Nanase Tōru, who had just straightened up.
"What are you doing?"
"Oh… I wanted to let you know I'm going out with Vodka."
"Oh. Then go on, be careful."
"Got it."
After a quick farewell, Ritsu hurried out. The two guards by the side entrance didn't stop him, Vodka must have informed them in advance. Normally, Ritsu wasn't even allowed to go to a nearby convenience store and had to give money to guards to run errands for him.
He got into a sapphire-blue Porsche 914. As a law-abiding citizen, the first thing Ritsu did was fasten his seatbelt. Glancing sideways, he noticed Vodka had his on too.
That was unexpected. He'd assumed people in the organization would be the type to ignore traffic laws entirely.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Vodka simply smiled and said nothing, starting the car and driving out of the research facility. They headed south, merging onto Tokyo Metropolitan Route 19, the Machida–Chōfu Line.
Watching the scenery pass by, Ritsu already had an answer. This route led to Kanagawa Prefecture, especially once they entered the Kanagawa Route 7 Yokohama North Line.
"Are we heading to Yokohama?"
"You know your roads pretty well."
"My geography grades were decent back in school."
Vodka didn't bother hiding it and said directly, "Aniki wants you to participate in training with the action unit. If you perform well, you might get promoted to the action unit."
"So we're going to… the organization's base in Yokohama?"
"Yes."
After about an hour's drive, they arrived at the organization's base located at 1-7 Suehirochō, Tsurumi Ward, Yokohama. From the outside, it looked like a large abandoned factory near the harbor.
Following Vodka inside, Ritsu quickly noticed concealed surveillance cameras placed in hidden spots. The area around the factory offered no cover, anyone approaching carelessly would definitely be caught on camera. Easy to defend, hard to attack.
The interior pathways of the factory were complex, with wooden crates deliberately placed here and there, who knew what they contained.
Vodka knocked twice on a steel panel. A sound came from behind, and when Ritsu turned around, he saw a metal crate slide aside automatically, revealing a hidden door.
"Pretty impressive, huh?"
"Yeah."
It really was impressive. Moreover, even if this base were reported to the authorities, it wouldn't be very useful. It was clearly just a temporary training site for the action unit. Destroying it would bring no benefit, possibly even the risk of exposure.
Ritsu wasn't the type to do something so pointless, so he simply followed Vodka through the hidden door.
The training center was located on the basement level. After descending the stairs, there was only one path forward. The floor was patterned with black-and-white tiles and what gave Ritsu a headache was that there was a wire-mesh gate every ten meters.
"Hey, don't step on that!"
Ritsu froze mid-step, his left foot suspended awkwardly in the air. He had been about to step on a white tile when Vodka grabbed his elbow and stopped him.
"What's wrong, Vodka-san?"
"You can't step on any of the white tiles. Stomp twice on a black tile, and the gate will open. Remember that."
"What happens if you step on one?"
Vodka grinned wickedly. "You can try it yourself."
With that kind of grin, did he really think Ritsu would be stupid enough to try?
Ritsu just smiled silently and followed behind Vodka, successfully passing through the long thirty-meter corridor. Internally, he couldn't help but complain.
'Stomping like that looks ridiculous… How much does the person who designed this mechanism love black and hate white? And honestly, this setup is kind of pointless. Security up top is already tight enough. Why go through the extra trouble?'
"Oh, by the way, my aniki designed this mechanism."
"…Gin-san?"
"Of course. I only have one aniki!"
…Huh.
He really hadn't expected Gin to have the time for something like this.