Traveling back thirty years to Conan, intercepting Princess Eri

Hattori Heizo sheathed his bamboo sword and let out a long sigh of relief.

He walked up to Ikenami Shizuka, bowed deeply to her, and said sincerely, "You flatter me, Miss Ikenami. Your swordsmanship is very impressive. I won this match by sheer luck."

Ikeba Shizuka also sheathed her bamboo sword, the disappointment on her face quickly fading, replaced by a calm smile.

"A loss is a loss. You are indeed better than me. This match was very enjoyable. Let's have another good match next time!"

The girls in the corridor also came over one after another. Yukiko patted Shizuka Ikenami on the shoulder and comforted her, "Shizuka-neechan, you've already done a great job! You'll definitely win next time!"

Reiko hugged Ikenami Shizuka's arm and said with a smile, "Shizuka-neechan is the best!"

……

Cheers and laughter mingled in the courtyard, completely dispelling the somber and oppressive atmosphere brought on by the case.

"This guy is really all-rounder," Kogoro Mouri nudged his friend with his elbow, "He's smart, and he's so good at fighting..."

Lin Xiuyi raised an eyebrow, somewhat amused: "Why do I always feel like your tone is a little sarcastic?"

"Really?" Kogoro Mouri laughed. "What do I have to envy? It's just an objective assessment. Hattori Heizo is indeed very outstanding, that's a fact."

Lin Xiuyi detected a hint of reluctance in his laughter.

The two grew up together, from kindergarten to primary school, and then to middle school, and were almost inseparable.

Kogoro Mouri may seem carefree and even a bit unreliable at times.

But Lin Xiuyi knew that this friend was actually very thoughtful.

In the past, no matter what happened, Hayashi Shuichi would almost always seek out Mouri Kogoro for help.

But things changed after I arrived in Osaka.

Here, the person who often acted with Hayashi Hideichi became Hattori Heizo.

Kogoro Mouri noticed this change.

Although he didn't say it, he couldn't help but have some thoughts in his heart.

It wasn't jealousy, but a sense of loss from being marginalized.

Just like when a child's best friend gets a new playmate, even though you understand, you still feel a little uneasy.

"Don't worry," Lin Xiuyi put his hand on Kogoro Mouri's shoulder and chuckled in a low voice, "He and I don't actually get along very well."

"Hattori is too much of a proceduralist; he insists on doing everything according to the rules. As for me... I value results more."

"As long as the final result is good, the process can sometimes be a bit flexible."

"Really?"

Kogoro Mouri scratched his head. Although he was a little confused, he knew that Shuichi Hayashi hadn't forgotten his good brother, and that was enough for him.

……

After the kendo competition, Shizuka Ikenami, as the host, prepared a sumptuous tea and snacks to entertain everyone.

Low tables and cushions were set up in the courtyard, and everyone sat around them, eating wagashi (Japanese sweets), drinking matcha, and chatting.

The conversation ranged from kendo matches to the Terracotta Army incident, and then to each other's lives and plans, creating a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

For the next few days, Osaka was unusually calm.

The news of the Shimazu family murder case was widely reported in the media for several days, but as the police released account books as evidence and confirmed Shimazu's crimes, the public opinion gradually calmed down.

Public attention shifted to condemning the ruthless thieves and expressing sympathy for the innocent victims, rather than questioning the police's actions. While the police outwardly declared the case "basically solved," they secretly continued their investigation into clues related to the "zoo" organization.

However, these are all internal matters and are no longer reported publicly.

Social order has been restored, and the streets of Osaka have returned to their former prosperity and bustle.

For Lin Xiuyi and his companions, this rare period of peace was the perfect opportunity to explore Osaka.

Their itinerary was disrupted by various events, and they were unable to visit many of the planned attractions.

Now I can finally relax and fully experience the charm of this famous Kansai city.

Lin Xiuyi and the others went to Osaka Castle Park, climbed the castle tower, and overlooked the entire Osaka landscape.

Under the sunlight, the castle tower was resplendent in gold. Although the cherry blossoms around it had passed their peak season, there were still scattered pink blossoms among the green leaves.

Reiko ran around excitedly, while Eri and Ruri discussed the history of Osaka Castle.

Yukiko and Chikage Tomizawa were taking pictures everywhere, while Midori Orikasa was asking Shizuka Ikenami for kendo tips.

Lin Xiuyi and Mouri Kogoro found a shady spot to sit down, watching the girls and enjoying a rare moment of leisure.

As for Hattori Heizo and the others, after learning that the police had reached a conclusion on Shimazu Katsu's case and made it clear that they did not intend to let outsiders interfere with the subsequent secret investigation, they did not pursue the matter further.

They were originally members of the Kyoto University Mystery Club, and came to Osaka out of curiosity about the case. Now that they had no room to get involved, they packed their things early the next morning and returned to Kyoto.

Before leaving, Hattori Heizo specifically sought out Hayashi Hideichi.

"If there are any new developments in the case, or if you encounter any problems, please remember to contact me."

"Don't worry, I will," Lin Xiu nodded.

The two didn't exchange many pleasantries, but they both understood the meaning in each other's eyes.

Although they have different personalities and ways of doing things, they are always the same kind of people when it comes to pursuing the truth.

……

Time flies, and my days in Osaka were pleasant but short.

In the blink of an eye, a week has passed.

It was time for Lin Xiuyi and the others to return to Tokyo.

The night before their departure, Ikeba Shizuka hosted a farewell dinner at her home to see off Lin Xiuyi and the others.

Everyone sat around the table, enjoying the food and reminiscing about the happy time they had spent in Osaka this past week.

Reiko clung to Shizuka Ikenami's arm, her little face full of reluctance: "Shizuka-neechan, can I come to Osaka to visit you again?"

Ikenami Shizuka patted Reiko's head, a gentle smile on her face: "Of course you can, you're always welcome to come visit me."

Yukiko also showed a reluctant expression: "Shizuka-nee, thank you so much this time. You must come to Tokyo to visit us when you have time in the future."

“Okay, I will.” Ikenami Shizuka nodded, her gaze falling on Hayashi Hideichi, her tone tinged with worry, “Be careful on your way back to Tokyo. If anything happens, remember to contact me immediately.”

"Don't worry," Lin Xiuyi knew she was still worried about the thieves who killed Shimazu Katsu. "We'll be careful."

The atmosphere at the dinner was warm yet tinged with a touch of sadness before parting. Everyone chatted for a long time until late at night before returning to their rooms to rest.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Lin Xiuyi and the others packed their luggage and arrived at Osaka Station. (End of Chapter)