4:14 PM, Tokyo Skytree.
Dressed in a grayish-green suit, Teiji stood behind one of the observation telescopes.
Glancing at the time displayed on his wristwatch, he noted that less than two hours remained before the bombs were set to detonate.
He wondered whether Shinichi had managed to figure out the bombs' locations yet.
After inserting a coin, he adjusted the telescope's angle. To his surprise, the trains on the Tokyo Loop Line, which should have been speeding along, were now stopped at the platforms.
"So, he figured it out?"
The corners of Teiji's lips curled upward slightly. Rather than feeling displeased, he calmly lit his pipe and took a puff.
After all, no one would know he was here. And no one would know his true objective.
"Kudo, what do you think he's thinking right now?"
"Probably that nobody knows he's here."
The sudden conversation behind him caused Teiji to freeze. The pipe slipped from his hand and clattered onto the floor with a crisp metallic sound.
Spinning around, he saw Ritsu pulling a gleaming pair of handcuffs from behind his waist.
"W-What?! How are you two here?!"
With both hands behind his head, Shinichi grinned broadly.
"It seems Moriya-san's brain development wasn't quite complete. To ask such a low-level question... did you buy your academic credentials?"
When it came to mockery, going all-in meant winning half the battle already.
"We're naturally here to arrest you." Ritsu stepped forward, casually spinning the handcuffs in his hand.
Wearing an innocent smile, he added, "Don't worry. Prison cells are symmetrical too. You won't feel uncomfortable living there."
What a brutal remark.
A perfect hit right where it hurt.
Knowing there was no way to escape, Teiji didn't answer. Nor did he display much emotion.
Calmly extending his hands forward, he said,
"It appears I underestimated the combination of a high school detective and a genius detective. Kudo Shinichi... this time, you win."
The handcuff clicked shut around his left wrist. But the second cuff never followed.
Confused, Teiji looked up.
Only to find Ritsu wearing a mischievous expression.
"You want both hands cuffed together for perfect symmetry?"
Ritsu smiled.
"Sorry. I don't intend to grant your wish."
Pulling out a prepared length of cord, he tied Teiji's right hand behind his back before calmly saying,
"Let's go, Master Architect Moriya."
'So Sensei's true nature is actually sadistic and vindictive, huh?'
Shinichi shivered involuntarily. It seemed he absolutely must never make his teacher angry in the future.
Otherwise, he'd probably be retaliated against until death.
"Heh."
Teiji genuinely felt uncomfortable.
All he could do was avoid looking at his own hands and follow the two of them out of Tokyo Skytree.
...
Shinichi was in such a good mood that he started humming some completely off-key tune that sounded like it had drifted in from outer space.
'Arresting the culprit alongside Sensei and getting to watch the interrogation afterward... this is awesome.'
But as the elevator reached the first floor, the pleasant ringtone from his phone echoed from his pocket.
Taking it out, he saw the caller ID.
[Ran.]
Only then did he remember.
He was supposed to have dinner with her today!
"Shit! I completely forgot about that!"
Ritsu looked puzzled. "What happened?"
Too busy to explain, Shinichi immediately answered the call and apologized.
"Sorry, Ran! I completely forgot we were supposed to have dinner together!"
"Shinichi!!!"
On the other end, Ran puffed out her cheeks angrily. "You always do this! So where did you run off to this time?!"
She had already been standing outside the Kudo residence for twenty minutes in the chilly wind. Fortunately, she had dressed warmly today. Otherwise, she might have caught a cold.
"I'm with Onizawa-sensei right now. H-He needed help choosing a birthday gift for his girlfriend and couldn't decide what to buy, so he asked me to help!"
Ritsu narrowed his eyes speechlessly.
Why drag him into this? And why specifically a birthday gift? The kid had practically created an entire birthday for a girlfriend who didn't even exist.
Still, Shinichi had been thoughtful enough not to mention today's dangerous events and worry Ran.
"Huh?" Ran frowned.
Something felt suspicious.
'A smart person like Onizawa-san would ask Shinichi, a guy with no sense of style and absolutely no romantic instincts, for gift advice?'
That made no sense.
"Then what gift did you end up choosing?"
Seeing Shinichi's desperate pleading look, Ritsu had no choice but to lean closer to the phone.
"Mouri-san? Thanks to your boyfriend's help, I finally decided on roses as a birthday present."
"Y-You idiot! Ran isn't my girlfriend! She's my childhood friend!"
Meanwhile, Ran barely even noticed the words your boyfriend. Her entire mind had been captured by one phrase.
Roses.
'So Onizawa-san is just as hopeless as Shinichi. His girlfriend really has it rough.'
Before hanging up, the kind-hearted Ran even offered some friendly advice,
Birthday gifts should be chosen with sincerity and thoughtfulness. And it was best not to pick something as common as roses.
After the call ended, Ritsu rolled his eyes and kicked Shinichi in the rear.
"Hurry up and go find her. Aren't you two supposed to watch a movie tonight?"
"Then I'll head out first, Teacher."
"Yeah. Have fun."
...
On the way back to the MPD with Teiji in custody, Ritsu received a call from Hayasaka.
All five plastic bombs had been successfully disarmed.
A smile spread across his face.
'As expected of the bomb squad's ace. Nicely done, Jinpei.'
Upon returning to the MPD, the standard interrogation procedures naturally began.
As Ritsu was about to enter the interrogation room, someone grabbed his left arm. Turning his head, he discovered it was Jinpei.
'Why is this guy still here?'
"Hey."
Jinpei frowned. "Do you really have to push yourself this hard? The suspect already confessed. Anyone can handle the interrogation."
"Officer Matsuda, what exactly are you getting at?"
Jinpei clicked his tongue.
"Your dominant hand is obviously your right hand. Then why did you use your left hand to push open the conference room door?"
"And when you walk, you're deliberately easing the pressure on your right leg."
"Your right arm and right leg are injured, aren't they?"
He crossed his arms. "Injured people should rest."
"Destroying your body through overwork isn't something an elite detective should be doing."
Upon hearing that, Hayasaka immediately pulled open Ritsu's suit jacket. Sure enough, blood was already seeping through the bandages around his right shoulder.
She glared at him.
"Is pretending to be tough really that fun? Why are you always like this?"
"Uuh..." Ritsu awkwardly scratched his cheek.
"I'll leave the interrogation to you. I'm going to deal with the wounds."
"Takagi's already back. Have him take you to the hospital."
"It's just a minor injury. There's no need to go to the hospital again."
He quickly added, "I'll take care of it myself, and you can inspect it afterward!"
The moment he finished speaking, he practically vanished down the hallway as though his shoes had been greased.
Watching him disappear, Hayasaka let out a helpless sigh.
"Honestly... how old is he, and he still hates going to the hospital?"
She muttered quietly.
"Why do I feel like I'm raising a child?"
...
Jinpei yawned and lazily rubbed his eyes. Picking up his shoulder bag, he headed toward the elevator.
At this point, he had finally acknowledged Onizawa's professionalism and abilities. The man truly deserved to be called a genius.
In fact... there were moments when Jinpei could almost see that person's shadow in him.
"Heh... honestly." He smiled bitterly.
"Am I really missing him that much?"
As the elevator slowly descended, Jinpei pulled out his phone and pressed the number 1 on speed dial.
A dog's barking immediately sounded from the other end.
"Ken, how's it going over there?"
"I just returned the police dogs and was about to get off work. What's up?"
"I want to go see him. You coming?"
Kenji was slightly surprised.
After all, except on the anniversary of that day, Jinpei never liked visiting places that brought back painful memories.
"Sure. Want me to pick up a bottle of Calpis from the convenience store?"
"Yeah. Meet at the entrance."
After hanging up, Jinpei stepped out of the elevator.
A faint smile tugged at his lips. For years, he had refused to accept the fact that thatperson was gone.
But now...
It was time to grow up and face reality.
And at the same time, it was time to be honest with his own heart.
'I miss you, Ritsu.'