Disclaimer: Detective Conan is not mine. This fanfic is a translation.
Enjoy Reading!
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Rena's work ability was quite solid. Bringing along several lower-ranking operatives from the operations unit, she successfully completed the arrest of Nishida Kohei and brought him back to the interrogation room.
Unfortunately, despite using various methods of torture, Kohei refused to reveal even a single word. On top of that, he was an orphan, there was no way to threaten him. After nearly two weeks of severe interrogation, his wounds became infected and necrotic, ultimately leading to death from bacterial infection.
After listening to Rena's report, Ritsu stood in front of a convenience store freezer, picking out his dinner. After some hesitation, he chose a hamburger steak bento. Grabbing his favorite Calpis, he walked to the register, paid, and stepped out of the store, only to feel someone's gaze fixed on him.
Turning around, he saw that familiar naturally curly short hair. Before he could even look further down, the guy clenched his fist and charged at him aggressively, throwing a full-force straight hook. If Ritsu hadn't reacted quickly, that punch would've left his face too swollen to show in public.
"You're serious about this?" Ritsu stepped back while grabbing the other man's wrist, sounding a bit helpless. "Kenji said you'd become more mature and steady, doesn't look like it at all."
"Tch. That's because someone deserves a beating." Jinpei forcefully shook off the grip on his wrist and frowned. "If you wanted to avoid me, you shouldn't have been wandering around my usual area."
Jinpei, who normally preferred staying home, had learned from his childhood friend Kenji that Ritsu was still active in Tokyo. Since then, he'd formed a habit. Whenever he had free time, he'd wander around Beika Town, hoping to run into him.
Three years had passed. Just when he was about to give up, all it took was stepping out to buy cigarettes… and he ran into him.
He was taller than when they graduated from the police academy. The youthful look on his face had faded. He seemed more mature now, but also carried a layer of gloom.
Although Hiro always avoided talking about what the two of them were doing, Jinpei wasn't stupid. With how secretive it was, it was obvious.
Most likely undercover work at the National Police Agency and in a dangerous, large-scale organization. Otherwise, every time the four of them gathered, Hirom wouldn't look so worried.
"Don't you have anything to say to me?"
"…Sorry for making you worry."
"I wasn't worried about you. Don't flatter yourself. Stay here and wait for me, don't you dare run… if you do, I'll beat you to death!"
As if afraid Ritsu might disappear, Jinpei had barely stepped into the convenience store before turning back and dragging him inside.
"Pack of cigarettes, my usual."
"Sure."
After paying and grabbing his cigarettes, the two of them walked to a utility pole by the alley. Jinpei skillfully lit a cigarette, clearly something he did often.
Watching him exhale smoke, Ritsu said with mild surprise, "Looks like Kenji wasn't lying."
"What?"
"You started smoking."
Jinpei clicked his tongue and shot him an annoyed half-lidded glare. "He even tattled on me? That guy smokes too, you know. Bomb disposal isn't exactly a normal job, and you know what the senior officers at the Metropolitan Police Department are like, 70% of them are smokers.
Rather than being forced to inhale secondhand smoke, I might as well join them."
He grinned the same unruly grin from their academy days. "Like they say, if you can't beat them… join them!"
"What kind of saying is that? I've never heard it." Ritsu chuckled, then added calmly, "Still, you should smoke less. It's not good for your health."
"I know. I've already cut back a lot."
Squatting by the pole, Jinpei glanced up and noticed the ring on Ritsu's left index finger. His mood visibly improved.
"So, how've things been with Zero lately?"
"We're doing fine. Don't worry."
"I told you, I'm not worried about you."
Jinpei stood up, looking at Ritsu, who was slightly taller than him now, and lightly patted his shoulder.
"Thanks for what you did for Ken. Too bad we couldn't catch that slippery bastard."
"It's what I should do, isn't it? As for the culprit, we'll catch him sooner or later."
"Yeah. I'll get going. I know you can't stay long. Drive safe on your way back." He pointed at the bento in the plastic bag and added, "Cut down on that unhealthy, low-nutrition stuff. Doesn't Zero know how to cook? Make him do it more."
"If he hears you say that, he'll get mad."
"Tch, who cares? I can't even see him anyway!"
After watching Jinpei leave, Ritsu headed to the parking lot. Sitting in his car, he finished his meal, but instead of returning to his apartment, he had another task to complete that night.
The mission was to recruit a programmer named Hara Yoshiaki, currently working as an engineer at the Tokiwa Group.
After cleaning up the trash, Ritsu set off for Yoshiaki's apartment in Nishitama City.
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1:28 AM
After finishing a drinking session, Yoshiaki took a taxi back to his apartment. Even as an engineer, it was hard to refuse those gatherings. The group of old men had forced quite a bit of alcohol on him. As he stepped out of the taxi, his legs felt like he was walking on cotton.
The driver hadn't helped either, reckless driving left him even more unsteady. Stumbling out, Yoshiaki grabbed onto a streetlamp and vomited violently. Wiping his mouth, he staggered upstairs, only wanting to get home and sleep off the exhaustion without thinking about work.
"Hic!"
Fumbling with his keys, he struggled to line them up with the keyhole. When he finally managed to insert it, he realized… the door was already unlocked.
Scratching the back of his head in confusion, his alcohol-addled brain struggled to process it. He shook his head and stopped thinking about it.
After closing the door, he walked barefoot across the floor toward the living room, leaning heavily against the wall as he moved. He was completely drunk.
After fumbling around for the light switch and failing, his patience wore thin. He headed toward the sofa.
"Hello."
A second voice suddenly echoed in the apartment.
Yoshiaki quickly backed up against the wall, squinting to make out the source. He could vaguely see a young man sitting there.
A ghost? Or… a burglar?
His sluggish mind finally caught up. Trembling, he reached for his phone to call the police. The man on the sofa sat calmly with one leg crossed over the other, completely unconcerned.
Of course he wasn't worried, the living room was already equipped with a signal jammer. Yoshiaki's phone had no service.
Seeing "No Signal," Hara Yoshiaki's face turned pale. His legs shook as he tried to escape.
Click.
The sound of a gun being cocked.
Slowly turning his head, he saw the barrel of a silenced pistol aimed directly at his head.
Who was this person… and why were they in his home?
Yoshiaki's mind raced, trying to recall if he had offended anyone. He had always kept a low profile. He hadn't clashed with anyone at work either.
Could it be jealousy over him joining the Tokiwa Group?
But that shouldn't be enough to cost him his life.