Conan: I'm really not the mastermind behind the scenes

After Aoyagi Akimitsu and Edogawa Conan left, Morofushi Kagemitsu remained in the room and did not leave.

During that time, he didn't turn on the lights, nor did he rummage through Aoyagi Akimitsu's bag to get the novel he had recommended before leaving. He just stayed there, so quiet that it was as if he didn't exist.

An hour passed just like that.

An hour later, before the Metropolitan Police Department had sent any word, the roommate who had taken him in had already finished eating and returned.

Hearing the noise outside the door, Morofushi Kagemitsu was initially alert, then relaxed—he recognized Aoyagi Akimitsu talking to Edogawa Conan outside—a few seconds later, the lights came on.

The entire living room instantly became bright, and the bright light shone obliquely into the adjacent bedroom, stopping just a step away from Morofushi Kagemitsu's eyes.

Aoyagi Akimitsu closed the door, carried the food box into the bedroom, and turned on the light. Seeing Morofushi Kagemitsu get up, he handed him the food.

"This is eel rice from an izakaya. I don't know how it tastes. You try it first, and if you don't like it, I'll go to the nearby convenience store and buy you something else."

"No need, thank you, this is enough."

Morofushi Kagemitsu declined the other person's offer. He reached out and took the food box, only then noticing that only one person had returned: "Where's Conan-kun?"

“He’s checking next door,” Aoyagi Akimitsu said. “The bug on Mr. Mori is still working. If I went over there, it might alert those people, but it’s okay if the child is moving around and doesn’t arouse suspicion.”

Zhu Fujingguang's gaze was complicated: "Is he capable?"

Although he increasingly suspected that Conan Edogawa's identity was not simple, no matter what, he was still a minor. How could Aoyagi Akimitsu entrust the entire mission to him so easily?

Aoyagi Akihiro laughed: "Don't underestimate him. He's more reliable than many of the police officers here."

If it were Furuya Rei, he might have retorted, made sarcastic remarks, or used the opportunity to test the waters, but this time it was Morofushi Kagemitsu who was preoccupied with his own thoughts.

So he fell silent again, and during his brief silence, Aoyagi Akimitsu walked past him.

The FBI agent took off his hoodie and threw it aside, then picked up a bathrobe provided for guests in the room.

"You eat first, I'm going to take a shower. Conan will be back later to get his things for the hot springs, so you don't need to open the door for him, it's unlocked."

Morofushi Kagemitsu, who was about to put down the food box, paused again upon hearing his words: "Aren't you going?"

Sending Conan Edogawa to investigate could indeed be explained by the excuse that "he's a child and wouldn't arouse suspicion." But soaking in a hot spring is one of the few legitimate opportunities to remove one's clothes, escape eavesdropping, and gather together to discuss the matter, yet he didn't go?
"No, I won't go. The disguise mask will wrinkle if it's soaked in water for too long, which is too much trouble."

Aoyagi Akira tapped his cheek, indicating that he was currently in a special state.

He sighed again as he spoke: "Besides, I have tattoos. Japan is different from the United States. It seems that there is a lot of prejudice against people with tattoos, so I don't want to attract attention."

Morofushi Kagemitsu subconsciously looked at Aoyagi Akimitsu's shoulder.

He remembered that Rei Furuya had told him that the organization Akimitsu Aoyagi had infiltrated used various animals as code names, and those members would tattoo the corresponding animals on their bodies.

Previously, when the police discovered the remains of the killer "Spider," one of the pieces of evidence identifying him was the spider tattoo on his face.

Aoyagi Akimitsu's tattoo is on his shoulder, and it's quite large—this is what Furuya Rei told him—many places in Japan restrict entry to people with tattoos, and hot springs are one of them.

So that's how it is... Is it because you don't want to go to the hot springs that your tattoo will attract attention?
Morobuchi Kagemitsu thought silently.

……

Aoyagi Akimitsu went to take a shower, while Morofushi Kagemitsu sat down to eat, continuing to keep an eye on his phone.

He waited for nearly twenty minutes. He finished his meal, but there was still no news from the Metropolitan Police Department, and Aoyagi Akimitsu hadn't come out of the bathroom.

Morofushi Kagemitsu tidied up the disposable chopsticks and plastic food container he had used, wiping away his fingerprints. At that moment, the door opened again, and Edogawa Conan returned.

Just as Aoyagi Akimitsu had said, he had come back to retrieve his things for the hot springs. Seeing Morofushi Kagemitsu sitting there with his phone, Edogawa Conan wasn't surprised. He quickly ran over and handed over what he was carrying.

"This is……?"

Morobuchi Kagemitsu looked down at the very thick folder.

"These are the materials that President Takeuchi gave us this morning."

Conan Edogawa glanced towards the bathroom. "Uncle Mori's notes from his visit this afternoon are also in here. He said Mr. Aoyagi should take a look, so I brought them over. Inspector Morofushi, please give this to Mr. Aoyagi when he comes out."

"Conan, are you done—?"

Ran Mouri called from outside. Conan Edogawa raised his voice and said, "Almost there," then hurriedly grabbed his yukata and other essentials and left quickly.

Morofushi Kagemitsu watched the strange child who came and went so quickly close the door, then glanced at the still-closed bathroom door across the way, and put down the folder.

...Let's wait until Aoyagi comes out. Although he seems unconcerned, going through diplomatic personnel's files is a serious matter, and I don't want to leave any evidence against him.

……

Another ten minutes passed.

Just as Morofushi Kagemitsu was considering whether to first send a message to the Public Security Supervisor to inquire about the situation, or to knock on the door to ask Aoyagi Akimitsu why he was taking so long to shower, the bathroom door finally opened.

Aoyagi Akimitsu, with black hair and green eyes, came out.

He didn't remove his colored contact lenses, but the disguise on his face was gone, and he was holding a thin layer of skin and a wig in his hand. The hair hidden underneath was finally freed, slipping down and naturally draping over his shoulders.

Perhaps because it had been tied up tightly for almost a day, the already slightly curly long hair looked even curlier and a bit messy.

"Conan's back?... Hmm? He delivered this document?"

Aoyagi Akimitsu's yukata was quite modest, revealing only a small patch of skin at the collar, so no one could see his tattoos.

He casually placed the face mask and wig he was going to use on the living room table, and when he turned around, he met the gaze of Morofushi Kagemitsu.

Looking at that long, flowing hair and those emerald green eyes, Morofushi Kagemitsu felt as if an invisible needle had pierced his heart once again.

"Zhu Fu?"

Aoyagi Akimitsu called out to him.

The voice, so different from Aniset's, pulled Morofushi Kagemitsu back from his thoughts.

"What are you thinking about? Why are you ignoring me?" Aoyagi Akimitsu looked at him, his tone seemingly somewhat dissatisfied. "Has Conan returned? Has the Metropolitan Police Department sent anyone over to your side?"

"Feel sorry."

Upon hearing this tone, Morobushi Kagemitsu instinctively responded in this way.

He then realized what he had done and quickly added:

“Conan came back ten minutes ago, and this is what he brought. The Metropolitan Police Department hasn’t contacted me yet—but their application has been approved, and backup will definitely arrive tomorrow morning… Please don’t contact any other backups.”

Looking at that handsome face with deep features, and at the other person's bare feet on the ground, whose actual height was obviously about the same as his own, Morobushi Kagemitsu took a deep breath.

He suppressed the strange emotions welling up inside him once again. (End of Chapter)