Conan: I'm Really Not Tokyo Ghost Story

He simply continued forward, brushing past Shuichi Akai.

...Unlike the two previous times Sano bumped into people, last time Judy apologized immediately, so there was no need to do anything about it. But the time before that, he was the one who was bumped into, so the other party should apologize.

Similar to Judy's case, both sides were "initiating" this time.

It would be best if someone was willing to take responsibility and apologize. If neither party is willing to speak up, then it doesn't matter. Just pretend it never happened. If either party is unhappy or unwilling, then let it go.

Then it all comes down to who has the stronger fist.

Sano only wanted to go home, so he chose the middle one, but it seems the other person didn't think so.

"...Please wait a moment."

Sano, who had been called to a halt, paused and turned around: "What is it?"

Sano assumed the other person was unhappy with his abrupt departure and wanted an apology, but to his surprise, the other person asked, "Don't you recognize me?"

"...Should I recognize you?"

Sano was even more surprised than the other person. Although he did feel that the other person looked familiar, he couldn't remember when or where he had seen him before.

However, it's not a big problem, because the most crucial point is that the other party recognized him... strictly speaking, they should recognize his rye vest.

In this way, it would at least mean that the person the other party recognized was indeed himself, and not his original self who had no memory of him at all.

So just let things develop normally, there's no need to pay attention to anything else.

...Across from him, Shuichi Akai still looked dazed.

Did this guy really not recognize me? No, maybe it's because he doesn't know me at all.

After all, he was a new cadre. Even though he inherited his code name, there were many things he hadn't been exposed to yet, so there's nothing strange about that.

Furthermore, this might also be an opportunity.

Shuichi Akai's heart skipped a beat, and he smirked, "We bumped into each other at the back door of the bar a few days ago, and I even apologized to you, have you forgotten?"

As he spoke, Shuichi Akai raised his hand to cover his mouth and nose, revealing only the upper half of his face.

"...Oh, it's you."

Sano finally understood why the other person looked familiar: "So, is there something you need?"

"It's nothing, I just feel like we have a special connection."

Shuichi Akai tried to make his attitude seem friendly: "Want to grab a drink together?"

Sano raised an eyebrow, feeling that the scene looked somewhat familiar.

...It seems like this also happened when Sano left school during the day and bumped into Judy at the school gate.

Of course, Sano didn't think that the guy opposite him was actually gay and wanted to hit on him like Jodie.

Sano last saw the other party at the back door of the bar that the weapons dealer operated openly, so the other party was probably not just there to drink, but to buy guns or other weapons.

Those who obtain weapons through unofficial channels are certainly not good people.

They are most likely criminals, or even members of criminal organizations.

Therefore, you might say that a guy who walks the underground world would feel a special connection with someone just because he bumped into them twice, and even treat them to drinks.

Anyway, Sano wouldn't believe there was such an idiot.

Even if that one in ten thousand chance really happened, Sano didn't think the other person could survive the first few days.

If he's not gay and not an idiot, then there's only one possibility.

This person deliberately approached me, harboring ill intentions... well, perhaps "having ulterior motives" would be a better word.

As a member of the organization's executives, Sano has not been in office for very long, but he has already accomplished a lot of tasks. In particular, he is quite high-profile in his work, and his "characteristics" are quite obvious.

So even though the organization has always adhered to the principles of being low-key and mysterious, and most of the missions Sano participated in were based on the premise of "silencing witnesses," there are still quite a few people who have been in the underworld for many years and are well-informed enough to know of his existence.

The person in front of them might be from another organization that is at odds with the organization, or a lone wolf who has a grudge against the organization and is planning to start with Sano.

It doesn't matter.

Sano was still quite curious about what the other party wanted to do.

So Sano said, "No need for drinking, I'm still a minor. I can keep you company while we eat, but let's make it clear first, you have to treat me."

Ok?

They actually agreed?

Shuichi Akai isn't stupid; he can think of anything Sano can think of.

Shuichi Akai had absolutely no hope that "New Rye" would agree to go drinking with him. He reasoned that even an ordinary person, let alone a criminal, would likely feel confused and wary if suddenly invited to drink by a stranger.

The reason why Shuichi Akai would say that even though he knew it wouldn't work was simply because he wanted to find an excuse to keep the other person.

That's how contact is made.

After all, there wasn't really any mysterious "fate" between the two.

Who knows when we'll meet again?

In short, it's quite illogical that Shinryu would agree to his "drinking invitation"... now it's a dinner invitation.

...If you know someone has ulterior motives but remain calm and collected, there's only one possibility.

That means the other party also harbors ill intentions.

Could it be that the other party has actually recognized him, but is not confident in winning him over, so he is pretending not to recognize him to give himself a chance to "get close" to the other party?

So they set a trap to lure themselves into it?

Shuichi Akai's mind raced, but then he realized something was amiss.

Based on the known behavior and personality traits of the other party, they shouldn't be the type to do this.

If he recognized her, he should have drawn his gun immediately.

Of course, that intelligence might be false; the other party is actually very cautious and as steady as a rock, but is just pretending to be arrogant on the surface.

The purpose was to lull the enemy into a false sense of security.

Another possibility is that although the other party recognized him, he was confident in his own abilities and did not intend to take action directly. Instead, he wanted to see what this enemy was up to. Or, although he did not recognize him, he wanted to see what this person with ill intentions was up to for the same reason.

Regardless of whether the other party recognized him or not, at least one thing Shuichi Akai can be certain of right now is this:

Chapter 321, Sano: I am Uozuka Saburo!

As long as we take control tonight, nothing unexpected will happen.

Because tonight's "chance encounter" couldn't possibly have been intentionally orchestrated.

This eliminates the possibility that Shuichi Akai had already walked into a trap from the very beginning.

Although there are undoubtedly risks in staying with the other party, since embarking on this path, when has Shuichi Akai ever been free from risks?

So-called intelligence agents are just people who probe each other step by step, aren't they?

Even if both sides know perfectly well that the other is not a good person, they can still sit down and have a good chat. Although they are smiling on the outside, who knows what kind of evil schemes they are plotting in their hearts, and they may be thinking about how to kill each other.

They're just like gamblers at a gambling table.

With that in mind, Shuichi Akai no longer hesitated: "Can I choose where we eat? To be honest, I'm under a lot of financial pressure. If you choose, I'm afraid I'll go bankrupt."

Shuichi Akai made a rare joke, though it revealed his ulterior motives.

...Because Sano just refused to drink, saying he wanted to go eat, because he was underage.

At first, Shuichi Akai was naturally a little surprised, but then he thought about it again and realized that the other party was just making things up.

Even if the other person had only been in the organization for a short time, Shuichi Akai was unwilling to believe that the organization would accept a minor whose mind might not even be mature yet.

Not to mention how capable someone so young must be.

However, it seemed unlikely that Shinryaku intended to use such an outrageous reason to lure him into a trap, so Shuichi Akai turned around and used a similar "joke" to test the other party's attitude.

If the other party agrees, then everything will be fine; but if they don't agree...

That proves that the other party has something to hide, and a very big one at that. Whether Shuichi Akai should continue to follow up is something he needs to think about.

At the same time, Shuichi Akai was also taking the opportunity to test the other party's personality.

Shuichi Akai faces considerable risks if he follows the other party's steps, but the other party will also face the same risks if they follow him.

Therefore, if Sano agrees to Shuichi Akai's proposal, there are only two possibilities.

First, the other party is genuinely "confident".

Second, the other party is a complete idiot.

In comparison, the latter has a probability of only one in ten thousand.

"Sure, since you're treating, you can order whatever you want. But it can't be too bad. I don't need you to treat me to something like a roadside stall."

Sano said indifferently.

...I really agreed.

Without any hesitation, Shuichi Akai walked straight to the roadside and flagged down a car: "Let's go then."

Having taken a few seconds to think, Shuichi Akai's course of action became clear.

Since the other party has agreed, I have to continue taking this risk until there are obvious abnormalities, and I will not back down.

Come on, new rye.

If you have the ability, then go ahead and use it.

……

Mihana Central Building, Observation Restaurant.

This is considered one of the top high-end restaurants in the entire Beika area, and even in the whole of Tokyo.

Meanwhile, in the restroom on the same floor where the restaurant was located, Ai Haibara had just taken off her disguise, changed into her own clothes, and was about to push open the stall door to go out.

Before Ai Haibara's hand could even touch the doorknob, a chilling aura suddenly rose from behind her.

This is……!?

Ai Haibara's pupils contracted, her body stiffened instantly, and her face turned deathly pale.