Conan shot Tsuneo a sidelong glance.
What's going on in this guy's head?
Why's he so thrilled about someone hiring a hitman…?
"By the way, did you skip school today?" Tsuneo asked, holding a plate of fruit and plopping down in front of the TV to watch a drama.
Careful, or you'll get caught and spanked!
"Dr. Agasa called in sick for me. I swung by the crime scene earlier and figured I'd drop by," Conan said, eyeing the array of snacks on the table with a slight pause.
Wow, this guy's got more variety than a convenience store, including foreign treats. Where'd he even get these?
"This chocolate?"
"Yukiko and her husband mailed it to me from overseas," Tsuneo said, tearing open a piece and eating it right in front of Conan.
"Hey, hey, hey, there's not a share for me in there, is there?"
Conan stared, exasperated, sensing it was entirely possible.
This was the guy who'd even skim off snacks Mingmei asked him to get for Haibara.
"What're you talking about?"
"What's yours is mine!" Tsuneo said, feigning offense.
That said, when those two called, they didn't mention anything about sharing with you…
This was totally his personal perk.
"Forget it, you eat it," Conan said, shaking his head at the half-bitten chocolate bar dangled in front of him.
This guy won't even open a fresh pack for me.
"Oh, right, take these!" Seeing the famous detective about to leave, Tsuneo stuffed a few packs of snacks from Yukiko and her husband into his hands.
"?" Conan blinked, confused.
You're not trying to poison me, are you?
Teaming up with that scientist?
Seeing Conan's "touched" expression, Tsuneo coughed lightly. "When you go back to school, share these with Genta and the others."
What's with all these wild thoughts…
Are you sick? Should I have Haibara whip up some medicine for you?
"I sometimes wonder if those three are your secret kids or something," Conan said, tossing the snacks into his backpack with an exasperated jab.
This guy wasn't exactly the type to dote on kids.
He'd beaten up who-knows-how-many underage delinquents.
"Actually, you're my secret kid," Tsuneo said, turning with a dead-serious look.
"If you don't believe me, we can do a paternity test."
"…" When it came to nonsense, the famous detective never won.
I'm seventeen, you're twenty-three, and you have the nerve to say that?
"Keep an eye out lately for any word on hitmen," Conan said as his parting shot, slinging his backpack over his shoulder and leaving the apartment.
Tsuneo turned back to the drama starring Yoko Okino.
"Hitmen, huh…"
Speaking of, he'd heard last night that an old friend was looking for him. Might be worth meeting up later.
…
The afternoon rolled around quickly.
"That was pretty risky, huh!"
Dr. Agasa sat in Tsuneo's car, still feeling the odd vibe from the house they'd just visited.
"Risky?" Tsuneo grinned.
Couples who bicker and threaten each other openly like that rarely end up in a bloodbath.
They're nothing compared to the types who smile to your face and stab you in the back without hesitation.
"Let's hurry and get this stuff back home," Dr. Agasa said, buckling his seatbelt and glancing at the arguing couple still visible through the window.
He'd bought a bunch of lab supplies and called Tsuneo to haul them back in his pickup.
But on the way, the repairman got an urgent repair job, and Dr. Agasa tagged along for the ride.
Turned out, the couple wouldn't stop arguing, giving him a headache.
"Tsuneo, they're starting to fight. Is that okay?"
As the car started, Dr. Agasa craned his neck to look back at the house, asking nervously.
"No big deal. They go at it, pulling hair and all, twice a month. You get used to it," Tsuneo said, flipping on the radio to a corny joke show.
He hadn't sent in any letters lately—wonder if that female host was still alive.
Dr. Agasa subconsciously touched his bald head.
No wonder that guy's got the same hairstyle as me…
"Strange, this voice sounds like the same person, but the style's totally different," Dr. Agasa said, noting a shift in the host's delivery.
"Maybe they wised up, too…"
Tsuneo thought today's jokes were a step up—not as cringe-worthy.
Are the people of Beika Town secretly evolving behind my back?
No, looking at Dr. Agasa, clearly not much had changed…
"What's up?" Dr. Agasa pulled out a chocolate bar, happily munching away.
Sure enough, a sweet treat now and then made the sunshine feel brighter!
Double the effect if you sneak it!
"Nothing. You'd better clean up the evidence. I don't want that guy nagging me," Tsuneo said, eyeing the crumbs on Dr. Agasa's mustache.
That shrunken scientist will hit me with verbal crits.
She'll list off my vitals in that flat tone of hers.
I don't understand half of it, but it sounds dangerous…
"No worries, no worries!" Dr. Agasa said, claiming he was a pro at this.
"I heard from Shinichi you guys got tangled up in another case this morning, right?"
"Yeah, all because that Grim Reaper keeps going to the park to kick his ball," Tsuneo nodded. This had absolutely nothing to do with him.
"A shooting's no small matter," Dr. Agasa said, having seen the news.
The female president of a major electronics company, gunned down in a park.
There were even more police cars on the streets today because of it.
"We're almost home. Hurry up and eat…"
No time for savoring now…
…
Night fell.
After a long absence, Tsuneo slipped into his gear, blending into the dark underbelly of the city's dazzling lights.
Tonight, he had a meeting at the usual spot.
In an alley behind a bar's back door.
"Take a seat," Amuro Tooru said, sitting on the steps, still wearing his motorcycle helmet, keeping himself well-guarded.
Tsuneo glanced at the two punks clearly knocked out beside him and chuckled.
Places like this always attracted troublemakers.
Speaking of, was this guy working at the bar? He always set meetings here.
It wasn't impossible…
"Here's the payment for last time. If it's not enough, let me know," Amuro Tooru said, patting a large duffel bag beside him.
"What's with the generosity this time?" Tsuneo unzipped the bag, peeked inside, and nodded, satisfied.
A whole bag stuffed with ten-thousand-yen bills!
Where should I eat lunch tomorrow?
Looks like that old guy Pisco spilled quite a bit.
"The Organization might be making a move soon," Amuro Tooru said, clenching his fist.
No, scratch that—they've already started moving!
(End of Chapter)
------------------------------
Thank you for enjoying my stories! If you want to go further and support my work, Patreon is the best way to do it — many of the newest chapters will be posted there!
👉 pat*eon*com/DaoistRoeoNQ