"...Uh, so Mr. Akechi has his own makeup artist?"
The accompanying PD and staff carrying makeup boxes stood behind them, looking at Goro Akechi sitting in front of the mirror and the tall woman beside him.
The woman had seductive gradient pink-dyed hair, sharply cut edges, and wore exaggerated, colorful sunglasses. Her entire appearance screamed her profession.
"I'm sorry." Akechi Goro turned around and offered an apologetic smile to the awkward TV staff. "This is my first time appearing on a TV program after returning to Japan. Since I'm not an entertainer, when I was overseas, most TV stations didn't provide makeup artists. I thought for my first domestic appearance, I should take it seriously... Really sorry about that."
Miyano Akemi, now completely disguised, gave a cool glance at Kazawa, who was still spouting nonsense.
He still had a disguise mask on his face, so of course he couldn't let the TV station's makeup artists touch him.
The mask was made of special material and required custom cosmetics. If anyone else applied regular foundation, it would peel right off. The powder wouldn't adhere properly—he'd be exposed.
"Can you wait outside?" Miyano Akemi crossed her arms, her long and vividly colored nails clamping against her sleeves like claws. She said sarcastically, "I'm not used to people staring while I do makeup."
The PD and makeup artist were clearly displeased by her rude tone. Shaking their heads, they didn't insist further. After confirming the rundown with Kazawa, they exited the dressing room.
After the door closed, Miyano Akemi sighed in relief, tossed the big cosmetic box into Kazawa's arms, and complained, "Alright, do it yourself. I don't know how to deal with this stuff. Seriously, as an undercover agent, you're showing up in the media this high-profile? Is that really okay?"
No problem. Kiel is still working as a host on Nichiren TV and doing just fine.
Kazawa certainly wouldn't retort with something like that. He simply grabbed her sleeve like a younger brother and shook it: "Sorry to trouble you, Akemi—can't exactly ask Hoshikawa to do it, can I? He'd totally mess it up."
"You people... always full of ideas." Annoyed, Miyano Akemi reached out and pinched his face. Knowing it wasn't real skin, she yanked on a patch hard.
"Let go, let go! If you keep pulling, it'll fall off!" Kazawa exaggeratedly cried out, satisfying her need to vent. He then gently patted her cheek, adjusted the mask, and said, "Don't worry. I'll be fine. If you don't want to stay, you can go back later."
Miyano Akemi naturally understood what he meant. As for who the guests were on this variety show, even if Kazawa didn't mention it, the media promotions made it clear.
"...I'm not that fragile. I did lie to them, I used them. That's all the more reason I should help however I can. And..." She stroked Kazawa's hair. "This is your first time on a variety show. As your family, I can't be absent, right?"
The boy Karasawa always made her think of Shiho.
Being taken from their families, always missing from life's important moments—wouldn't kids like them feel lonely?
How much did a young Shiho suffer during those years abroad, completely cut off?
A so-called genius like Kazawa, quietly bearing pressure and growing into who he was now—was it the same for her?
As long as she associated them in her mind, she couldn't stay cold to Kazawa. She only ever doted on him.
"Are you thinking about Shiho?" Kazawa sat at the makeup mirror, using the bright light to carefully apply powder and blush to the mask, mimicking variety show makeup and adjusting the mask's expression. He still picked up on her mood and comforted her gently: "She'll be okay. I saved you, didn't I? I'll save her too. Believe in me, Sister Akemi."
"I know." Despite her bold, avant-garde makeup, Miyano Akemi still smiled softly. "You kids are amazing. I know that."
So when Kogoro Mouri brought Ran and Conan into the dressing room, what they saw was a pink-haired woman in eccentric clothes gently patting Goro Akechi's shoulder, half-hugging him, and whispering something into his ear.
Conan: "…" This scene... I feel like I've just witnessed some kind of unspeakable transaction.
Ran also looked stunned and whispered, "So Akechi-kun is... um, the kind of guy women like?"
Kogoro Mouri scrutinized the woman, then shook his head with a complicated expression, sighing at the decline of societal values.
"Mr. Mouri, Miss Mouri, and little Edogawa." Kazawa noticed them enter and instantly understood their wild expressions. But following the principle of "as long as I'm not embarrassed, others will be," he stood up smiling, took Miyano Akemi's hand, and introduced her without a trace of shame, "This is Miss May, a makeup artist I invited personally to help me with my look."
"Mr. Mouri Kogoro." Miyano Akemi, unaware of any misunderstanding, immediately resumed her icy, posh expression. "Nice to meet you. That the TV station invited a young man like Goro and someone like you at the same time... Japanese TV truly works in mysterious ways."
Indeed, her acting skills were excellent. She nailed the persona of a smug, elitist fashionista.
Her overbearing attitude only made her look even more like a vain rich woman beside Goro Akechi, making the entire image awkward in Kogoro Mouri's eyes.
"...Nice to meet you, Miss May." Mouri forced a smile.
Miyano Akemi nodded curtly, not interested in small talk. She turned back to Akechi Goro, smiled gently again, and said, "Well, it's almost time for your segment. Do your best, Goro. I'm heading to the audience seats."
With that, she held her head high, clicked off in high heels, and left the dressing room.
"Um, Akechi-kun." Kogoro Mouri looked at the handsome young man before him and, based on his decent impression from before, tactfully said, "A woman like that... she's not easy to handle..."
Kazawa laughed inwardly but kept his expression sincere. He waved his hand and explained, "Don't misunderstand. Miss May is just a little impatient and antisocial. She's actually really kind. She's helped with my makeup a few times, all voluntarily. Her usual fee is no small amount."
Which only made it more suspicious, didn't it?
And if you really looked closely at Goro Akechi's face...
After a pause, Kogoro Mouri could only pat his shoulder and advise, "Being too handsome can be dangerous for a detective. Akechi-kun, you're still young. As your senior, let me pass on some wisdom. I have clients too, and when they see me, some get... unnecessary fantasies..."
Ran, already a little embarrassed, rolled her eyes and reached out to cover Conan's ears.
"Inappropriate stuff. Kids, don't listen. Just forget it."