Conan: I'm Really Not Tokyo Ghost Story

"Hey, come here for a second."

Despite his doubts, Ito Taka stopped and went to Sano.

"What's wrong, Master?"

"I have something to do today. Go get me a hotel room and don't bother me."

Upon hearing this, Ito Taka was taken aback at first, then revealed a knowing smile.

"Oh my, I didn't expect that you, Master, would be resistant to this kind of question?"

"Stop talking nonsense and get lost."

Sano said somewhat impatiently.

Ito Taka lazily stretched out his hand: "Alright, alright, here, give it to me."

Sano typed a question mark.

Ito Taka sighed, "No way, Master. I could have taken care of this at home, but you insist on making me go out. Wouldn't that mean I have to pay for a room? If all else fails, I can pay you, Master, and you can take care of it outside."

Is this guy really that bold?

Before Sano could speak again, two unexpected guests suddenly entered the fray.

"Hey, Sano, I didn't expect to see you at home. I thought I'd never run into you."

Sano glanced at Conan, the plague god, and Osaka Blackie, who came up the stairs. While surprised that the two had come, he also grabbed Ito Taka.

Ito Taka, whose neck was being strangled by Sano, thought that the other party was going to take direct action and resort to force, but the whisper in his ear made his face stiffen.

"I heard you've been getting close to a criminal organization lately."

Ito Taka's pupils contracted slightly as he looked at Sano with some disbelief.

"You should know that I also have a detective identity, right? Do you want me to use it to boost my performance record?"

After meeting Sano's unwavering gaze for a few seconds, Ito Taka let out a long breath and tried to relax his body: "Ahhh, as expected of my master, I've lost to you. I'll leave in a bit and pay for it myself."

Sano released his grip, and Ito Taka was finally able to stand up straight: "But I'm a little curious, Master... how did you find out about this?"

"My friend told me."

Sano's calm response prompted Ito Taka to fire a row of dots.

...Why does this sound so familiar?

"What friend?"

The two people at the bottom of the stairs finally came closer. Although Sano didn't respond to their greeting, they still heard what Sano said.

They all frowned in confusion.

"What does this have to do with you?"

Sano then gave the duo a cold look and said with obvious disdain, "What brings you two unlucky plague gods here? If not, I don't want you to be near my house."

"...What plague god?"

Hattori Heiji muttered something in dissatisfaction, then continued to press for answers.

"What's the situation with the friend you just mentioned? Is it one of those two guys with the surname Hei?"

Two people with the surname Hei?

Sano paused for a moment, then realized that it most likely contained a Black Death as well.

This kid gets information pretty quickly in this area.

Sano glanced at Conan and casually said, "First, I don't think I have any friends. Second, among the people I know, the only one with the surname Hei seems to be you... Yes, I'm talking about you."

"Dark-skinned".

Hattori Heiji, who was initially puzzled by Sano's stare and questioning why he had the surname "Kuro" (meaning "black"), began to grit his teeth upon hearing the final form of address.

"Sano, don't be so..."

Before Hattori Heiji could even unleash his fury, Sano had already pressed a button on his phone.

"You just wait and see, if you dare to hurt me..."

Hattori Heiji's furious roar came through the phone's speaker.

But this instantly extinguished the anger in Heiji's heart.

"Snapped!"

Heiji Hattori lunged forward and slammed Sano's phone shut.

Of course, Heiji Hattori didn't try to steal the phone, because he knew he probably wouldn't succeed, and even if he did, it would likely be useless.

Therefore, Sano didn't dodge, but simply raised an eyebrow and said, "Seeing you appear in front of me so arrogantly, I thought you had lost your memory, but it seems you haven't."

Hattori Heiji, sweating profusely, twitched at the corner of his mouth and forced a smile.

"First, I think I can indeed have the surname Hei. Second, I don't think you, Sano, don't have friends. Aren't I your best and only close friend?"

He looked at Hattori Heiji, who was grinning obsequiously.

Conan, standing next to him, unconsciously revealed a dead fish-like expression.

...That's right, Conan had already told Hattori Heiji over the phone about the possible relationship between Sano and the "Black Duo".

There's nothing I can do, he won't reply to my texts.

If Conan doesn't confide in a good friend about all his thoughts, he'll be bursting with pent-up emotions.

Of course, Hattori Heiji's trip to Tokyo was not specifically for Sano.

There are other things to take care of.

It wouldn't hurt to stop by and say hello to Sano on the way, and maybe even test the waters a bit.

...Although Conan never thought he could succeed, this defeat was far too quick and too decisive. How could it be even more shameless than his own?

After inwardly expressing his disdain for Hattori Heiji, Conan posed a question to Sano.

However, it's not a particularly special problem; it's just a common case with some doubts.

To be precise.

It was the arson case that day, plus the case of Sato Miwako's father.

Takagi Wataru was knocked unconscious by the same prisoner from back then, and ended up being imprisoned at the last arson site set by the arsonist. Sano went in and rescued him, and after checking that his injuries were not serious, he simply threw him on the roadside and left without even saying goodbye.

He caused his group to be completely unaware of anything, worrying and anxiously waiting for so long. He acted recklessly and without any regard for others... Of course, that's not important now. What's important is...

How did Sano know that Takagi Wataru had been locked in the warehouse?

This is no longer information that can be deduced through reasoning, is it?

Even if Sano is incredibly capable, and even if he figured out which of the four suspects was the one from back then before he did, he still didn't confront them face-to-face.

How do you know that?

In addition, there is another point of contention in an earlier case where Kurosawa and Kyogoku Makoto appeared together.

Of course, Conan doesn't intend to bring this up, because he hasn't figured out the logic behind it yet.

Although Conan knew at that time that Kurosawa was acting on someone's orders to target them, he didn't care whether that person was Sano or not.

Conan didn't quite understand why his group was considered "dangerous".

Perhaps Kurosawa's side did indeed gather intelligence that there was danger there.

For example, two murderers planning to kill someone again.

But if that final outcome doesn't occur, then we'll all be safe.

Just in case, we should go even if it's a wasted trip.

It doesn't seem quite right, just like Sano entering the warehouse, it's hard to fathom.

Compared to that, the previous question is not so sensitive.

Therefore, Conan felt that the probability of getting an answer was very high.

As expected, Sano did answer, but not completely.

"Ah, that case, I heard from a friend that he saw Officer Takagi being carried in by a guy, so I went to check it out."

...Why are we friends again??

Sano didn't bother with the three's frustration.

Especially Blackie and Plague God, the fact that Sano gave them a perfunctory reply was already a sign of respect. Otherwise, if Sano hadn't even given them a second glance in front of Ito Taka, those two guys would probably have been so embarrassed they'd have built a castle on the spot.

Sano turned to Ito Taka beside him: "What, aren't you leaving yet?"

"Ok?"

Ito Taka blinked: "Because I'm curious about what you're going to be busy with next, Master. After all, it's something that made me give up the important matter of playing games with my friends. Also... I'm too lazy to go out anymore."

With that, Ito Taka called out to the girl who was waiting bored behind him, indicating that she didn't need to wait anymore and could go home to sleep.

Aside from Sano being speechless, the two plague gods were naturally puzzled.

"Sano, what do you need to do later?"

Facing Conan and Blackie's curious gazes, Sano made no attempt to hide anything.

He then pointed his thumb toward the door behind him.

The three of them immediately looked in the direction of Sano's thumb and saw the mess on the ground... well, it should be the result of his hard work all night.

Conan: "..."

Ito Taka: "..."

Hattori Heiji: "..."

"Master, a thief broke into your house!?"

Ito Taka said in shock.

"Go to hell."

Sano slapped Ito Taka on the back of the head without any expression.