Conan: I'm Really Not Tokyo Ghost Story

Sano looked around and finally his gaze fell on a coffee shop: "If we could have a strong cup of coffee and a piece of sweet cake, that would be even better."

Vermouth: "?"

Is this kid trying to blackmail me?

...Could it be that they chased me for so long just to extort this little bit of money?

That's not just pure madness... Oh, this guy is definitely sick.

Vermouth recalled a rumor she had received earlier, which suggested that Gin had specifically requested Rum to transfer Amuro Tooru abroad to abduct people in order to treat the other party's illness.

No, it can't be called a rumor anymore.

Because Vermouth had already seen the psychiatrist in person.

Although Vermouth did not get the conclusion that "Rye had seen a doctor" during the probing process, she still had a lot to say about the other party, based on the testimonies of some eyewitnesses when they first arrived, as well as the organization's "unspoken rules".

Even Vermouth couldn't think of any other answers.

Of course, none of that matters. What matters is that Rye is indeed a fucking madman.

This has both advantages and disadvantages for Vermouth.

The problem is that you can't figure out the other person's thought process. Who knows if this guy will suddenly make a move and kill you... The stability is too poor, and it's easy to lose control.

The good thing is that, given the other party's thought process, things might not develop in the normal way.

Kill yourself.

Perhaps... there's still room for a turnaround?

After calming down a bit, Vermouth got up, dusted herself off, and said, "Alright, coffee and cake, it's on me. Which shop do you want to go to, or should I decide?"

"Let's go with that one, it's close by."

Sano led the way to the coffee shop, with Vermouth following behind... It was a great opportunity to slip away, but considering their previous experiences...

Vermouth felt it was better not to waste any more energy.

Vermouth couldn't help but ask, "Hey, how did you manage to find me? I checked myself when I changed clothes, and there wasn't anything left on me."

In fact, Vermouth seriously suspected that the problem lay with her own actions.

After all, the two only had two contacts at the station.

And it was Vermouth who was caught by the other party, her wrists grabbed.

Therefore, it's understandable that Vermouth would think that way... but when she changed her clothes, she first threw away all her clothes, and second, she checked her body.

Logically speaking, there shouldn't be any problems.

It's impossible that this guy's methods can penetrate the skin, right?

Faced with Vermouth's curious gaze, Sano stopped and looked up at the sky.

Vermouth paused for a moment, then looked up, but what could possibly be in the sky?

...Could there really be a UFO?

"Gah!"

Big Black landed quickly, stepping on Sano's shoulder, tilting its head at Vermouth, blinking, and then letting out a "ga" to greet her.

Vermouth blinked, finally realizing what was happening.

"You let a bird stare at me??"

"What's wrong with the bird? Don't underestimate the bird. If it weren't for it, would you have been following me around all this time?"

Sano touched the bird's head with his finger: "By the way, it also likes sweets."

Vermouth: "..."

What do you mean? Does that mean we have to treat this bird to a meal?

After pursing her lips, Vermouth followed him into the coffee shop.

……

A dark and stormy night for murder.

When Sano and his team of peripheral members returned home after a fierce battle.

I bumped into a dark figure as soon as I turned the corner at the stairwell.

Sano, who had been lost in thought, was startled and almost instinctively tried to make a move.

When I came to my senses, I realized it was the little girl standing there.

"...What are you doing standing here in the middle of the night?"

The little girl seemed quite sleepy, rubbing her eyes groggily, but her reply was full of surprise: "Midnight? Uncle, are you still half asleep? It's already past four o'clock, it'll be dawn soon."

Ok?

Sano paused for a moment, then turned to look at the moon in the night sky. Sure enough, it had already drifted away and was almost touching the edge... So a whole night had already passed.

So this little girl isn't sleepy because she hasn't slept, but because she hasn't woken up properly.

"It's only a little past four, and you're already up?"

Sano patted his pocket and pulled out a lollipop: "Kindergarten starts that early?"

He already has the air of Sano from his junior and senior high school days.

"No, kindergarten is closed today. I made plans to play with my friends."

The little girl took the lollipop, thanked them, and replied in this way.

"I see."

Sano didn't think much of it and was just about to go home and get a long sleep.

Then I could hear some noises behind me.

Turning around, I saw a huge fat man who was at least over two meters tall... No, for someone that tall, perhaps he shouldn't be called fat.

Instead, it should be said "strong".

In short, this is the person standing behind Sano.

Like a bear standing upright, he lowered his head and looked down at Sano.

The air froze for a moment, and Sano instinctively reached for his gun.

"Hey, Fatty, you're too slow."

The little girl's greeting made Sano pause in his actions.

After glancing back at the little girl who was complaining, Sano looked at the monstrous-looking guy and asked, "Is he the one you were talking about earlier..."

"friend?"

"Yeah yeah."

The little girl darted between Sano and the man, introducing him: "He's the chubby guy who just moved here a few days ago. He's a bit slow-witted, but he's a very nice person!"

"Little Fatty, this is... you can call him Uncle just like me, he's a really great guy!"

After the little girl introduced him, the chubby boy scratched the back of his head, revealing a very simple and honest... well, actually really silly smile, and called out "Hello, Uncle".

...I feel a little unworthy of being called "Uncle".

Sano stared at the chubby boy for a few seconds, then calmly hummed in agreement.

But after the two people, one big and one small, went downstairs, Sano turned around and saw two familiar figures again.

One is Ito Taka.

The other was a young man with dyed blond hair.

Sano didn't recognize the guy behind him immediately, after all, he had indeed been influenced by Gin in this regard.

But after the blond man saw Sano and nodded slightly as a greeting, the images from his memories popped up on their own.

On the Suzuki family's ship, there was a temporary waiter hired from Osaka.

So that's how it is. Are you one of Ito Taka's people?

Sano had initially suspected it was that kid, Kaito Kuroba.

Did you board the ship that day to observe me or something...? He narrowed his eyes.

Sano nodded in response.

Good morning, Master. Just finished your nightlife?

In response to Ito Taka's teasing, Sano simply asked, "Did you just move in?"

"Yes, with his brother."

Ito Taka nodded and asked, "You must have run into Master when you just went out."

"Ah."

Sano nodded: "Call him Little Fatty?"

"Hmm, but how did you know, Master... Oh right, he seems to have gotten to know your little girl quite quickly. You're going to play with her today, right? Has she already introduced you two to each other?"

Sano continued to nod.

"Both brothers have a family history of mental illness. The older brother's side is better and can basically be treated as a normal person, but the younger brother's side is a bit more troublesome."

Ito Taka poked his head out and saw the two figures downstairs, one big and one small. He lit a cigarette and said, "He's already sixteen years old, but his IQ will basically stay at the level of a six-year-old for the rest of his life. However, he's still quite honest and obedient, so he shouldn't cause any too much trouble."

Listening to Ito Taka's self-indulgent explanation, Sano lit a cigarette.

...Is this an intellectual disability? No, this doesn't seem to fall under the category of mental illness.

That must be due to other reasons.

Sano, also watching the two figures' retreating backs, suddenly paused in thought, then turned to Ito Taka: "Wait a minute, what did you say this guy was like?"

"Intellectually, he's six years old."

"No, no, no, I'm talking about my actual age."

"sixteen."