Conan: I'm Really Not Tokyo Ghost Story

Sano was quite measured in his actions; at the time, it was just that the scene looked a bit intimidating.

Otherwise, let alone the two fake kids watching and Sakata, even Hattori Heiji himself would not have allowed Sano to kill him.

After all, Heiji Hattori isn't stupid.

...Although Heiji Hattori always felt that if he hadn't let Sano finish slapping him at that time, things might have gone beyond just whether or not he slapped Sano.

The explanation Conan gave to Hattori Heiji on behalf of Sano later seemed to further confirm this.

"Sano was recently diagnosed with mental illness, and his thought process is a bit abnormal. Sometimes he inevitably does things that are beyond what ordinary people can imagine, so please don't be angry."

Hattori Heiji, who had already had his face roughly treated and was arranging hotels for Sano and the others, was instantly shocked and bristled upon hearing this: "What the hell? Is Sano a lunatic?!"

Hattori Heiji's loud voice, which he didn't lower at all, caused Sano on the other end to instantly explode: "You're the one who's crazy, your whole family is crazy, I'm the one who's mentally ill, okay?!"

"...Is there a difference?"

Hattori Heiji asked timidly.

"Ha, short hair, short-sightedness."

Sano gestured towards Ai Haibara with his lip: "Come on, give this kid a little lesson."

Ai Haibara raised an eyebrow. Was she being used as an encyclopedia?

Don't you have a mouth?

However, considering that Sano had just lost control, Ai Haibara felt it was better not to argue with him for the time being, so she started to explain things to him.

"Neuropathy refers to diseases of the nervous system, which are mainly organic lesions of the peripheral nervous system, such as the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and spinal nerves, as well as the central nervous system. These lesions can cause abnormalities in the transmission of information and nerve impulses in the human body."

"Mental illness, on the other hand, is a mental disorder, mainly caused by dysfunction of the higher cortex of the brain. It belongs to a branch of clinical medicine, namely mental disorders. It is a functional disease, including cognitive impairment such as memory abnormalities, functional impairment such as organ dysfunction, and stress disorders caused by excessive stimulation."

This left not only Heiji Hattori speechless, but even Conan was stunned.

...Oh, I see. I've learned something new... What a load of rubbish! Do you really think they're newbies who don't know anything?

As detectives, Conan and Heiji Hattori naturally have a database of information on the finer distinctions between mental illness and psychosis.

If I had to put it into words, it would probably be like...sports cars and SUVs among cars?

The "mental illness" that ordinary people talk about is completely different from the "mental illness" in this scientific sense.

After all, to outsiders, these two diseases simply manifest as daily behaviors that differ from those of ordinary people.

However, the former might be closer to an insult, while the latter is closer to a formal academic term.

In any case, Hattori Heiji thought that Sano should understand what he meant by "crazy person".

Otherwise, they wouldn't have been so eager to refute it.

Seeing Sano staring intently at him, Hattori Heiji decided that it was best not to argue and to remain silent.

In short, Hattori Heiji now felt that he didn't need to argue with a patient.

Moreover, before leaving, Sano specifically stated that he, Hattori Heiji, had to come to see him off.

This also proves that Sano's anger has probably subsided.

After all, we're not elementary school students anymore. It's impossible for a small... conflict to escalate to an irreconcilable point. We can't just stop talking to each other altogether, can we?

...However, although Sano's request sounded like he was reluctant to part with Hattori Heiji...or perhaps it could be said that he was giving both of them a way out, hoping to tacitly move on from the matter.

But Heiji Hattori always felt that something was not quite right.

"I'm sorry about yesterday. I was too impulsive and went too far."

Inside the station, hearing Sano's apologetic voice, the slight doubt that Hattori Heiji had been harboring vanished instantly, replaced by a feeling of being deeply moved.

Unexpectedly, Sano didn't intend to tacitly move on, but instead chose to take the initiative to apologize. Considering his personality, this is truly...

That's rare!

"It's not your fault. After all, I was the one who started it. I was also wrong, and I apologize to you."

After being moved, Hattori Heiji patted Sano on the shoulder generously and apologized as well. However, when he smiled, he aggravated the injury on his face and started to grimace again.

Then, under the still somewhat suspicious gazes of the two fake children, Sano pulled Hattori Heiji aside for a heart-to-heart talk and farewell that lasted for more than ten minutes.

"Oh right, Hattori, here you go."

Just then, Conan suddenly seemed to remember something and interrupted the conversation, pulling a rope with a talisman hanging from his collar and handing it to Hattori Heiji.

"Isn't this Ye's talisman? How come it's with you?"

Facing Sano's somewhat curious gaze, Conan smiled and explained, "This amulet belongs to another one that Hattori has. Actually, the reason Hattori invited us to Osaka is because he had a strange dream before, in which I dreamt that someone stabbed me with a knife."

"Then the case came up, and Hattori felt even more uneasy, so he lent me this amulet temporarily. Later, things developed so fast that I forgot to return it to him."

Dream?

Upon hearing Conan's explanation, Sano raised an eyebrow and thoughtfully watched Hattori Heiji take the amulet and put it on.

...Although Heiji Hattori's childhood friend, Kazuha Toyama, never mentioned her, this thing was probably made by her for Kuroko, right?

How can he lend this to others? What's going on in that dark-skinned guy's head?

And this guy actually went to all this way just because of a dream.

...Could this guy really be gay too, and have some special feelings for Conan??

Ok?

Why should I say it myself?

Just after Conan and Heiji Hattori finished showing off their affection, the train arrived and the doors opened.

Ran Mouri and her group quickly got into the car, but Sano remained standing outside, even pulling Heiji Hattori up again, as if afraid he would run away.

...Why does this feeling feel so strangely familiar?

Hattori Heiji glanced at Sano's hand gripping his clothes and asked in confusion, "Sano, aren't you getting on the bus? The doors are about to close. If you don't get on now, you'll have to wait until the next shift."

As soon as he said those words, the strange sense of familiarity that Hattori Heiji felt inexplicably intensified.

The lights on the train doors have started flashing.

"Yes, it's about time."

Sano nodded, then grabbed Hattori Heiji's shoulders with both hands, turned him over so that his back was to him.

"As a close friend, before we part, I want to give you one last gift."

Gift?

Hattori Heiji tilted his head, completely bewildered, unable to understand what Sano meant by this action.

...Wait a minute, could it be that Sano is...?

Hattori Heiji suddenly widened his eyes, just as he was trying to figure out where that increasingly strong sense of familiarity came from, when a tremendous force came from his buttocks.

Then, in a very elegant manner, Hattori Heiji fell flat on his face.

Sano pulled his foot back and hopped back twice, boarding the train just before the doors closed.

Then, under the somewhat dumbfounded gaze of the four people beside him, Sano, through the train door glass, scrambled to his feet and waved goodbye to Hattori Heiji, who was cursing at the train.

See you next time, Blackie!

"Sano!!!"

"You son of a bitch, you bastard!!!"

Chapter 250, Page 249: A Fatal Blow from the Moral High Ground

Hattori Heiji's menacing figure and his likely silencing angry shouts gradually faded into the distance as the train beneath him accelerated.

"Ah, that feels so good."

Sano smacked his lips twice, looked at the four people beside him, raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's wrong?"

"nothing."

The four of them shook their heads like rattles.

...Good heavens, so there was a kick waiting for us here.

He even pretended to be nonchalant and deliberately tricked Hattori Heiji into coming over.

Hattori Heiji must be furious. He went to great lengths to invite people over and then went to great lengths to see them off, only to receive this...gift in the end.

That's absolutely insane!

Just how vengeful is this guy?

Can't be bothered.

Of the four people who were feeling sentimental, Conan had the strangest expression, because he had already heard Sano mention it yesterday.

But because of what happened later, I forgot about it again.

...I already felt guilty enough for not being able to save Hattori Heiji yesterday, and to not even be able to remind him is truly...a terrible sin.

Yes, let's mourn for Hattori Heiji once again.

"Let's go find a seat."

Sano glanced back at the station, which was almost out of sight.

Goodbye, Osaka.

Next time I come, this will be my territory.

The group walked through the carriage looking for empty seats. Sano, who was leading the group, accidentally stepped on a young man's foot without noticing.

"Are you blind? You stepped on my foot and you didn't see it?!"

As soon as the angry shouts rang out, Conan and the other three tensed up and hurriedly looked at Sano.

...Judging from Sano's performance yesterday, he might very well take direct action.

Should we stop them? Can we even stop them?

We have to stop them, after all, this time is different from last time. Putting aside whether Heiji Kobe will do anything because Sano hit him, the key point is that last time the other party did strike first, but this time the other party only cursed.

It wouldn't make sense for Sano to actually make a move.