"How long are you gonna hold onto Kid's underwear?" Tsuneo asked, giving the young detective a deadpan look.
Given what just happened, Kid was a perfectionist. So that underwear…
Ran, still unconscious in her red gown, was carried out of the lifeboat by several officers.
A note on her revealed the truth: a few days ago, a cleaner had borrowed the gown from Ran, claiming it was to buy a matching set for his girlfriend.
"Damn it!" Conan huffed, tossing the clothes to the ground and glaring at Tsuneo.
"Didn't I tell you to keep watch in the banquet hall?"
As if I'd be into that guy's underwear!
"He's done with the Night Star," Tsuneo said, shrugging as he leaned against the railing, the sea breeze tousling his hair while Tokyo Bay drew closer.
"Why?" Conan asked, turning to shake Ran, trying to wake her.
Tsuneo's sharp eyes caught the distant ripples on the sea's surface. He smirked but said nothing.
Speaking of which, isn't that guy terrified of fish?
What an artist.
Kid the Phantom Thief, vanishing from the Sally Beth—this floating prison—carried a hidden struggle few could fathom.
…
"Huh?!"
"The real Night Star was with Tsuneo the whole time?!" Sonoko tilted her head, staring at her mom.
She'd volunteered to wear the real pearl herself, only to be shot down. How could her mom trust an outsider with it?
"Keen insight, sharp deduction skills, and that kind of physical prowess—I did my research," Tomoko Suzuki said, arms crossed, her expression serious.
"You knew, didn't you?!" Uncle Mouri slugged Tsuneo's chest, exasperated.
He'd spent the whole night staring at people's chests, trying to spot the real Night Star, only to get side-eyed by half the female guests!
Conan: Heh…
As if his motives were that pure…
"The results speak for themselves," Tomoko said, nodding at Tsuneo with a smile.
Conan and Tsuneo had already filled everyone in on the truth.
Kid had disguised himself as Ran early on, slipping close to Tsuneo during the banquet hall chaos.
Though it wasn't clear why he backed off after a single threat, it worked like a charm. No further trouble arose until the ship docked at Tokyo Port.
"K-Kid really wore this?" Ran and Sonoko crouched by the pile of clothes, staring blankly at the pink underwear, lost in thought.
"Of course. He's a perfectionist—he probably researched it thoroughly," Tsuneo said, nodding.
Forget size or fit—the guy likely handpicked the brand.
Conan rolled his eyes.
Why do you look so impressed?
Should I buy you a set tomorrow?
…
The next morning.
Tsuneo, in his tracksuit, was heading back from a jog in the park when he ran into the young man from upstairs, dressed in a suit, heading to work.
Since his breakup, the guy had been living alone in the apartment above Tsuneo's.
He looked haggard, his once-straight posture now slightly hunched.
Honestly, he seemed more like a lovesick teen burning out from passion than the composed guy he used to be.
"Mr. Yokokawa, something on your mind?" Tsuneo asked, steadying the man as he nearly tripped on the stairs.
"N-No."
"Thanks."
Yokokawa waved him off, thanked him, and left with his briefcase.
Tsuneo frowned, glancing at the second-floor apartment.
Taking a deep breath, he muttered to himself, "It's fine, it's fine. That grim reaper hardly ever shows up."
"My apartment's clean—no bad juju here."
"I'm definitely not some cursed thing."
"Absolutely not!"
…
That evening, at Dr. Agasa's house.
"With you around, everywhere's dangerous. What's that got to do with me?" Conan asked, tilting his head with a deadpan look.
And what's with the weird stuff you're saying?
Why does Haibara give me that odd look every time Miyano gets close?
"You know Uncle Mouri's got that 'plague god' rep with the police lately, right?" Tsuneo said, nodding at Conan, fully convinced. "I bet he brought some bad mojo home."
"Really?" Conan shot back. "I think the guy spawning urban legends is way more out there."
"You two have time to bicker, but not to help with my experiments?" Haibara said, glancing at them.
"I'm starting to think she's scarier than you," Tsuneo whispered to Conan, eyeing the scientist who was always itching to study him.
"No kidding," Conan muttered, the lab rat in him relating deeply.
Before Haibara could respond, a pair of hands reached from behind, clipping a cartoonish hairpin onto her head.
"…"
"I got this for you while shopping with the doc!" Miyano said, beaming.
My little sister's getting cuter by the day!
Dressing her up is so addicting!
Haibara gave a deadpan look to Dr. Agasa, who was conveniently staring at the ceiling.
What, you expect me to wear this during experiments?
"Ahem, speaking of that Yokokawa couple, I do recall them," Dr. Agasa said, clearing his throat.
He'd seen them a few times at the Columbus Restaurant.
They seemed fine back then, even chatting about wedding plans.
"Any idea why they broke up?" Conan asked Tsuneo.
If they were at the marriage-talk stage, a sudden split was odd.
"They say Mr. Yokokawa cheated," Tsuneo said, propping his chin on his hand with a smirk.
Cheating? No way.
I'd eat Tokyo Tower with soy sauce before I'd believe that guy cheated.
"Probably money," Haibara said, shaking her head. "That apartment you rent is fine for one person or a couple, but for a married life? Doubtful."
It was a practical, all-too-common issue.
Do we really need to dissect this? Aren't you guys overthinking it?
Science! Believe in science!
Haibara suddenly noticed no one was listening. Everyone was staring at the TV, mouths agape, eyes wide. Frowning, she turned to look.
(End of Chapter)
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