Akechi... Goro.
Conan tightened the book in his hands.
"Saying I'm going to read with Brother Kazawa" was his most common and most useful excuse to go downstairs. That was also how Conan got out today. The book in his hand was the one Kazawa gave him back when they ran into Eri Kisaki — The Fiend with Twenty Faces.
As a die-hard fan of detective novels, of course Conan had read books by Edogawa Ranpo. He was also very familiar with the great detective "Akechi Kogorou" created by Edogawa Ranpo.
Even the "Detective Boys" team he formed with his elementary school friends came from that same series. It was Conan's idea, and the other kids happily agreed.
Akechi Goro saw Conan's reaction and pointed openly at the book in Conan's hands.
"You've read this book too, little guy? My dad is a big fan of this series, so he gave me this name. It's very similar to the detective in the story."
When Conan heard that, he gave a silly laugh, but he didn't fully believe it.
He remembered the night he shrank. When he met Ran at home, he panicked and glanced at his bookshelf, then quickly made up the fake name "Edogawa Conan."
The way this guy introduced himself didn't sound real at all. It also felt like he saw the book in Conan's hand and just made up the name on the spot.
"I'm back... huh?" While Conan and Akechi Goro were still awkwardly facing each other, a familiar voice came from the doorway.
Kazawa was back.
Akechi Goro immediately turned toward the sound, looking carefully at the entering Kazawa like he was judging him.
When Kazawa saw Akechi's face clearly, the smile on his face completely disappeared.
Conan rarely saw Kazawa make such a gloomy expression. The current Kazawa felt like a stranger.
"It's been a long time, Kazawa Akira," Akechi Goro said as he stood up and walked toward him.
"What are you doing here?"
"Why else would I be here? You should be asking yourself that."
Akechi Goro still had a gentle smile on his face, but his words were sharp.
Kazawa looked like he couldn't control his emotions anymore. He glared fiercely at Akechi in front of him.
"I really don't like seeing that expression on your face," Akechi stepped closer, "Try to control yourself, Akira."
The atmosphere between the two was clearly tense, with sparks almost flying between their eyes. Neither was backing down as they stared at each other.
"Ah, sir—your sandwich…" Enomoto Azusa came over with a tray, but seeing the situation in front of her, she didn't know what to do.
Kazawa snapped out of it, looked at Azusa and Conan, then turned and gave Akechi a glare before grabbing his wrist and dragging him outside the shop.
"Kazawa-kun…" Azusa watched Kazawa pull the new customer out, unsure if she should go after them. She softly asked Conan, "Did they have a fight?"
Conan worked his brain and blinked his eyes, piecing some things together. He also answered quietly,
"Seems like someone Kazawa-oniichan knew from before... Doesn't look like they get along."
"Do you think they'll start fighting?" Azusa was worried as she watched Kazawa take the man into a side alley.
"Probably not," Conan said, not too sure himself. He was thinking about whether he should go eavesdrop.
Fortunately, after a while, Kazawa returned.
He came back alone. It looked like he had calmed down and returned to his usual self, smiling as he greeted Azusa and Conan.
Azusa stood on her tiptoes to glance at the now-empty doorway and asked,
"What about the customer just now, the one named 'Akechi'?"
"Forget him. He won't be coming back," Kazawa said with a harsh tone.
"But he already paid... this sandwich…"
"I'll eat it for him," Kazawa said bluntly, pulling the plate over, "Giving it to him would be a waste."
Azusa rarely saw Kazawa show this kind of emotion. She couldn't help but chuckle a little.
"He's someone you knew from before? A classmate? You two don't get along?"
"Not a classmate." Kazawa only answered that much, then turned his mouth to the side,
"If you see him again, don't let him in. Just throw him out."
Kazawa seemed like he didn't want to talk about it.
But the more Kazawa avoided the topic, the more curious Conan became.
Kazawa looked emotional, but not emotional enough to cause a real fight. From what Conan knew about Kazawa, when Kazawa truly hated someone, his emotions would be cold, not explosive. He would stare at them quietly without saying harsh words—not like today, where he clearly showed dislike.
But if they were just friends who joked around, that would be too much. Kazawa wasn't someone who lacked self-control. He wouldn't act so hostile toward a friend.
Could it be that he was a former friend? Maybe they had a falling out over something serious? But Kazawa still trusted him, so he was willing to talk privately?
Conan's brain ran wild with guesses, and his eyes landed back on his book.
"So his name really is Akechi Goro?" Conan found it hard to believe. "Would parents really give their kid that kind of name?"
"'Edogawa Conan' isn't any more normal, Conan-kun." Kazawa shot back.
Conan opened his mouth to argue—that's not even my real name—but when he saw Azusa just a few steps away, he swallowed the words.
"So what's the real story?" Conan leaned close to Kazawa's ear and whispered.
Kazawa pouted and finally said, "Just an annoying guy."
"You two didn't look like you had that bad of a relationship."
"Don't be silly. Either me or him—never both." Kazawa rolled his eyes and added like he was angry, "...But if you really run into him outside and have no choice, you can ask him for help. He's annoying, but at least capable. Not useless."
Annoying—but trustworthy. Annoying—but not useless.
Such a twisted evaluation and relationship made Conan, who had never seen this kind of weird bond before, totally confused.
"Let's stop talking about that downer…" Kazawa sighed, disinterested, and took out his phone to open a news article. "I looked it up briefly. Mantendo held a launch event for a new game. Before the event, their company received several threatening letters telling them to cancel the launch. But it seems like they often get threats, so they didn't take them seriously and went ahead anyway."
Conan leaned in and read the news Kazawa found. Thinking of Joker's message, he shook his head.
"This probably isn't just an ordinary threat."
"Don't worry. Joker—no matter what he's planning—hasn't really hurt anyone since he first showed up. Maybe he found something, but couldn't come out himself, so he led you there instead." Kazawa skillfully shifted the responsibility to the alias, speaking with a straight face. "Didn't you say he found out who you really are?"
"Isn't that more worrying?" Conan crossed his arms and sighed. "That chuuni who goes on and on about 'cutting down evil' is actually pretty capable. If he can't stop an attack, what can I do?"
Who are you calling a chuuni? Kazawa glanced sideways and muttered,
"Maybe he just couldn't stop it and wants you to go collect the victim's corpse…"
Conan glared. "What do you mean 'collect the corpse'?!"
"Alright, alright, you're the great detective. You'll do better than Joker and stop it in time." Kazawa patted him on the back half-heartedly.
Says the one who's found so many bodies even Ran's gotten numb. She doesn't even scream anymore.
Conan rolled his eyes and snorted. "You're coming with me. No one listens to a kid. Even if I find something, I can't stop it."
"Alright, whatever you say." Kazawa looked helpless on the surface, but was smiling inside.
Perfect. His bar might finally get new stock of Dragon's Tequila.
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