I'm in Conan, I'm not a gangster

Chapter 573 The Invisible Pressure on Makoto Kyogoku (1st Update)
Osaka Station, evening.

The Shinkansen slowly pulled into the station, and Shiraishi E led the still sleepy Sonoko off the train, while Kyogoku Makoto followed behind them like a silent bodyguard.

"We're finally in Osaka!" Sonoko stretched, feeling much more refreshed. "Emi, shall we go to Dotonbori for takoyaki later? I heard there's a really good, long-established place there!"

Shiraishi E nodded with a smile: "Okay, but we need to find a hotel to drop off our luggage first."

Makoto Kyogoku stood to the side, silently taking out his phone to check nearby business hotels. Just as he was about to say goodbye, Emi Shiraishi suddenly called out to him:
"Kyogoku-kun, where do you live?"

Makoto Kyogoku was taken aback, then shook his head: "I'll find a place to stay myself, I won't bother you."

Shiraishi E said directly, "I'll book you a room; you can stay at the same hotel as me."

Makoto Kyogoku immediately refused: "No, I don't need it—"

Shiraishi interrupted him: "You have no choice. Of course, if you don't want to fight me, then it's up to you."

Makoto Kyogoku choked for a moment, his fist clenching and then relaxing. He gritted his teeth and finally nodded: "...Okay."

……

Lobby of Conrad Osaka.

In the magnificent hall, crystal chandeliers reflected dazzling light, and well-dressed waiters respectfully took the three people's luggage.

Makoto Kyogoku stood on the marble floor, feeling extremely uncomfortable, as if he were stepping into some dangerous area.

The receptionist smiled and asked, "What type of room would you like?"

Shiraishi E said calmly, "Two presidential suites."

"Yes, sir." The receptionist skillfully operated the system. "Two presidential suites, totaling one million yen. Would you like to pay by card?"

Kyogoku Makoto's eyes widened in shock: "One...one million?! Just for one night?!"

Shiraishi handed over the black card without changing her expression, casually saying, "It's a waste for you, but for Sonoko, it's just daily expenses."

He glanced at Makoto Kyogoku, his tone calm yet carrying an invisible pressure: "She's the daughter of the Suzuki family. Everything she eats, wears, and uses is top-of-the-line. If being with me lowers her standard of living, wouldn't that be unfair to her?"

Makoto Kyogoku opened his mouth, his throat tightened, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Yes... Who is Sonoko Suzuki? She's the daughter of a top Japanese conglomerate, raised in luxury and frequenting the most exclusive places.

And him? Although he is not short of money, he is by no means a tycoon.

At that moment, Makoto Kyogoku felt a tightness in his chest, as if he had been punched hard, yet he was unable to refute it.

……

In the elevator.

The three ascended in silence. Kyogoku Makoto stared at the changing floor numbers and finally couldn't help but speak:
When will we fight?

Shiraishi leaned lazily against the elevator wall: "Let's wait until your challenge is over. I don't want to affect your performance."

Sonoko pouted: "Huh? We have to wait that long? Can't we change it to after dinner? We can treat it as post-dinner exercise!"

Shiraishi E chuckled: "Alright, then after dinner!"

Makoto Kyogoku took a deep breath and nodded solemnly: "No problem!"

……

In the presidential suite.

Makoto Kyogoku stood in the ridiculously spacious living room, somewhat dazed.

The floor-to-ceiling windows offer a view of Osaka's dazzling nightscape, the soft wool carpet makes almost no noise when you step on it, and the bathroom even features a jacuzzi.

"This is such a waste..." he muttered to himself. But soon, he shook his head, forcing himself to calm down.

Since we've already moved in, we can't waste this opportunity.

He picked up the room phone and dialed the hotel spa number:
"Hello, I need a professional sports massage therapist to help me relax my muscles."

Since he was going to fight Shiraishi E, he had to get into top form!
----------

Inside another presidential suite.

As soon as Sonoko entered the room, she kicked her high heels aside, plopped down on the soft sofa, rolled around a couple of times hugging a cushion, and exclaimed excitedly, "Ah~~ We're finally here! I can finally get some rest!"

Shiraishi E put her luggage away, then took a bottle of chilled champagne from the minibar, poured two glasses, and handed one to her: "Have something to drink first."

Sonoko took the glass, took a sip, and then, as if suddenly remembering something, leaned closer to Shiraishi E, blinked, and asked, "E, are you really confident you can beat Kyogoku Makoto? He's the national karate champion!"

Shiraishi E swirled her wine glass, a slight smile playing on her lips: "Half and half, I guess."

"Half?!" Sonoko's eyes widened, and she jumped up from the sofa. "Weren't you so confident at the station? I thought you were sure to win!"

Shiraishi E chuckled and reached out to pinch her cheek: "Tactically despise the enemy, strategically take the enemy seriously—isn't that common sense?"

Sonoko puffed out her cheeks, clearly dissatisfied with the answer. She thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up: "Then...is there any way to increase your chances of winning?"

Shiraishi E raised the corners of her mouth slightly, feigning contemplation: "Hmm... well, there is a way."

"What method?" Sonoko leaned closer, her face full of anticipation.

“If you want me to win…” Shiraishi E whispered in her ear, “then you have to give me a ‘massage’ and get me in a better state.”

Upon hearing this, Sonoko immediately perked up, patting her chest and declaring, "Leave it to me! Where do you want me to massage? Shoulders? Back?"

Seeing her earnest expression, Shiraishi E couldn't help but laugh out loud, then suddenly swept her up in her arms: "You need to massage everywhere—"

"Ah!" Sonoko exclaimed, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck. "Wait, wait! Didn't you say you wanted a massage?!"

“Yes.” Shiraishi E carried her towards the bathroom, saying seriously, “But you have to take a shower before the massage to relax your muscles.”

Sonoko instantly understood his "trick," her cheeks flushed, but she didn't struggle, only muttering softly, "...liar."

Shiraishi E lowered her head and kissed her forehead, her smile deepening: "That's called tactics."

...............

The bathroom was filled with mist.

In the spacious jacuzzi, Sonoko leaned against Shiraishi E's chest, poking his chest lightly with her finger: "You're so cunning... You're clearly trying to do something bad, but you say you're 'adjusting your state'."

Shiraishi E grabbed her mischievous hand and chuckled, "What, not working? I feel like I could take on ten Kyogoku Makotos right now!"

"You're bragging!" Sonoko said with a laugh. "In your current state, you probably couldn't even beat Ran, let alone Makoto Kyogoku!"

"Who said that? Didn't I utterly crush both of you last time?" Shiraishi E retorted.

Sonoko snorted and said, "I'm not talking about this kind of fighting, I'm talking about a real fight!"

"Even in a serious fight, I'd win," Shiraishi E said confidently. "I never do anything I'm not sure I can win!"

After thinking it over carefully, Sonoko also felt that Kyogoku Makoto could not possibly be a match for Shiraishi E.

Although Kyogoku Makoto had a winning streak of nearly four hundred matches, Shiraishi E had fought her way through a hail of bullets.

She simply didn't believe that Shiraishi E could lose!

After playing around in the bathroom for a while, the two felt hungry, so they dressed up and went down to the restaurant for a meal.

(End of this chapter)