Conan: Science Cartoonist Kudo Yuji

"I did all of this."

Outside the interrogation room, holding several sheets of paper with notes taken by Otaki, Yuji Kudo ignored the police officers' dissatisfaction, his mind still replaying everything Uchitake had confessed to them.

"It's strange. She seems completely unconcerned about what might happen to her, and her tone even suggests that she wants to forgive Ono and the other two."

"Do I need to remind you of that hypocritical face? She clearly had an expression that said she wanted to kill Ono Takuya, but her tone was excessively kind." Kudo Yuji walked down the corridor, leaving the Criminal Investigation Department amidst the astonished gazes of many police officers and students' parents, heading towards Hattori Heiji's office.

"However, I can tell that she really doesn't want us to find out."

Despite being a teacher, her acting skills are still not very good.

The three of them pushed open the door to Hattori's office and entered. Seeing the four girls enjoying yokan (sweet bean jelly) on the sofa, Conan noticed the flushed faces of Hattori and his son and immediately realized that the father and son had probably had a fight.

“I’ve already said it, no matter how much you try to help Uchitake, it won’t matter in this explosion. The person responsible for the explosion has to die, and even I can’t help her.” Hattori Heiji slammed his hand on the desk.

"You can stop the police from carrying out the execution, but can you stop those poor people in the West District whose eyes are green with hatred? If it weren't for the Self-Defense Forces stationed around Tokyo keeping those people in the relief center in the bomb zone, the whole of Osaka would be finished now."

“But this is not Professor Uchitake’s fault. I can guarantee that we went to the ruins of that apartment building and found traces of two explosions. Professor Uchitake’s explosion accidentally caused a gas vent to ignite, which led to the second major explosion.”

Hattori Mamoru took out his phone and showed his father the photos he had collected during the investigation, hoping that Hattori Heiji could invite some police officers who had studied explosives to form an investigation team. However, to his surprise, his father didn't even look at them.

"Go talk to those thirty-odd people in the shelter who are so desperate they're contemplating suicide. I think they'll understand that the so-called secondary explosion accidentally took away all their families," Hattori said, glancing at the Osaka police officer who seemed embarrassed by his superior's family troubles.

"Otaki, take this transcript and show it to Ono Takuya." "Yes, sir."

As if relieved, Otaki quickly left.

When only the Kudo and Hattori families remained in the office, Kudo Yuji, who had sat down on the sofa, casually placed the notes in front of Okita and kindly inquired about them.

"Did you go to the West District?"

"Hmm." Okita picked up the teacup and looked at Nohara Maki with some doubt, who shuddered suddenly because her father was sitting next to her.

"I see. A second explosion. Does that mean there's another group of people behind Uchitake-sensei using her as a scapegoat?" Kudo Yuji slammed his fist on the table, looking like he was mortal enemies.

"The one who disappeared from the Osaka Police Headquarters... Chief Aoyama from Tokyo, he's still missing." Hattori Heiji pushed aside his son who was blocking his way, trying to read something from Kudo Yuji's face.

"Aren't you going to send some people to look for it?"

“Even the Osaka police haven’t found him yet, so how could the Tokyo police possibly find him? Besides, I remember seeing him at the emergency hospital in the West Ward. It’s such a chaotic place; anyone could have kidnapped him.”

Yuji Kudo politely declined Hattori's observation with a smile. (End of Chapter)