Conan: Science Cartoonist Kudo Yuji

After soaking in the hot spring for about half an hour, Bai Ma put on his clothes again and stepped on wooden clogs again. When he suddenly came out of the hot water and was blown by the cold wind, his feet, which were warm just now, instantly became cold.

"It's so cold."

Seeing Kuroba Kaito take out thick socks to match the kimono from his arms like magic, Hakuba couldn't help but become happy. He hurriedly took them and looked around, looking for a place to sit down and put on his socks.

"Isn't this just not there?"

The clothes in the hot spring hotel are buttoned, so you can wear them while standing even in water, but you cannot wear socks bought from the shopping street while standing.

Hakuba sighed, holding his socks and preparing to put them on after going down the mountain and finding a place to sit, but he was pulled back the moment he passed Kuroba Kaito.

"If I put them on after I get down the mountain, my feet and socks will be cold and that won't work."

The reason they wore wooden clogs without socks was because they both had walked for a distance in slippers and their feet had adapted to the cold air. But if Hakuba, who had just come out of the hot spring, was blown by the cold wind again, he would definitely get sick.

"No, you're not wearing socks either."

Hakuba pointed at Kuroba Kaito who was wearing bare feet and wooden clogs and said that it was okay for him, but he was still forced to put on socks.

"Even if you say so, there's nowhere to wear socks."

The white horse looked at the trees on the mountain and said, "Otherwise, I can just lean against the trees to get through."

This is actually a good idea. With your center of gravity on the tree, you can lift your feet alternately. Unfortunately, it doesn't work on a hot spring mountain.

Because there were hot spring pools everywhere, the humidity on the mountain was quite serious at night. Not only was the vision a little blurry, but the mountain road was also very slippery, making it very difficult for them to climb the mountain.

"How about this, I'll hold your hand and you put your socks on."

Kuroba Kaito suggested while extending his hand, but was slapped back by Hakuba the next second. The magician yelled "It hurts, it hurts" and stared at Hakuba aggrievedly, but felt guilty because of the other's knowing expression. "You, you treated me like a woman again, right? I don't need your courtesy."

"You are really unreasonable. This is just help between ordinary friends."

"Humph."

With a snort, he crossed his arms and turned his head, then asked with narrowed eyes, "Besides me, have you ever helped other men like this?"

"Of course, Kudo Shinichi and Yuuji and the others, Mr. Kuroba is quite helpful."

Kuroba Kaito's kindness was not accepted in the end. Hakuba suggested not to hold hands, but instead she held the magician's uninjured shoulder, and the two of them faced each other.

There were no pleasant scenes, such as someone's feet slipping while putting on socks, or two people hugging each other or even kissing. Kaito Kidd has an exceptionally good limb control ability, and soon Hakuba stood up steadily and felt the warmth of his feet.

"It's about time to go back to the hotel. The great detective must be getting impatient waiting in our room alone."

Kuroba Kaito smiled and prepared to walk ahead down the mountain. As soon as he took the first step, he felt cold all over. He subconsciously rolled half a circle on the ground and pulled the white horse off. The two of them fell behind a tree.

"That was just now..."

Hakuba also felt it. She followed the direction of the sound and clearly saw a bullet hole on the tree next to Kuroba Kaito's previous position. A light, small-caliber sniper bullet was stuck in the tree.

"how so!"

Hakuba unconsciously tugged at Kuroba Kaito's sleeve.

"That guy... is targeting Kuroba Kaito!" (End of this chapter)