Conan: I'm Really Not Tokyo Ghost Story

He then confessed to the murder.

The reason was that the woman in green was unwilling to make any excuses to explain that she had any close contact with the deceased—"I would feel disgusted just by touching such a guy. I'd rather die than tell such a lie"—that's what she said.

"...Since you've admitted it, it will be treated as a confession."

Inspector Megure breathed a sigh of relief, but Conan suddenly asked Sano a question.

Why did you say that just now?

Sano looked at Conan and asked, "What do you mean, why?"

"If there is no evidence, then create evidence. This is the most shocking, but also the most useful, statement I have ever heard. You told me this."

Conan pushed up his glasses: "Based on your past performance, you should have tried to make this old lady reveal her own flaws, instead of being so blunt as to tell her directly that there is no evidence, as if it were a hint."

...If Sano weren't here, Conan might have used his main account to make deductions to Inspector Megure via cell phone call. However, he also lacked the most crucial piece of evidence, but he had a way to obtain it.

That is to try to provoke the rebellious psychology of the woman in green and make her confess on her own.

Yes, the inspiration came from the previous case at the ice rink.

Conan wasn't sure if it would work, but he had to at least try it out first.

This was the only solution Conan could come up with.

...And on the surface, Sano's reasoning also achieved this effect.

But this was just an accident; the starting point was different.

Conan didn't think that Sano's words just now were intended to stir up the thoughts of the woman in green so that she would confess on her own.

"You think that guy deserves to die?"

After a few seconds of silence without receiving an answer, Conan asked the same question again.

Whether he deserves to die or not is none of my business. All I know is that I'm hungry.

"..."

Sano's answer caused a moment of silence.

Conan's lips twitched, and he almost couldn't catch his breath.

"Okay, okay, I know, you'll get your share of food!"

"police officer!"

Just then, a chubby policeman ran out of the elevator, carrying several bags, and handed them to Inspector Megure and Sano.

Sano opened it and took a look; inside were hot, roasted sweet potatoes.

What do you need this for?

Inspector Megure asked with some confusion, and the chubby boy replied.

"Ah, didn't Detective Sano say he was hungry? So I went to buy some food so he could have something to eat before he could properly handle the case."

Sano raised an eyebrow and put his arm around the chubby boy's shoulder.

"What's your name?"

"Me? Chiba, Chiba Kazunobu."

Sano rubbed Chiba Kazunobu's round face and laughed.

"Young man, you have a bright future. Keep up the good work, and you'll definitely climb higher than Inspector Megure in the future."

"Hey?"

Chiba Kazunobu was stunned, as were Inspector Megure and Wataru Takagi.

Once he realized what was happening, Inspector Megure's face darkened instantly. He grabbed Chiba and said, veins bulging on his forehead, "How much are these sweet potatoes? I'll reimburse you!"

Facing Inspector Megure, who was successfully provoked by Sano and was filled with rage, as if he wished he could devour him alive as the "culprit."

Chiba Kazunobu could only awkwardly wipe away his cold sweat.

In the end, Inspector Megure paid for the roasted sweet potatoes.

But just as Chiba and Shin received the money, Sano returned the roasted sweet potato.

"Sorry, someone's treating us to dinner, so please keep the roasted sweet potatoes for yourselves."

Sano called out to Sera Masumi, "Hey, wanna grab a free meal?"

Sera Masumi blinked in surprise, seemingly not expecting Sano to invite her along, but after thinking about it, she still agreed.

So, Sano and her two friends went downstairs to find the two best friends.

Inspector Megure, who hadn't even closed his wallet yet, vanished into the shadows.

Inspector Megure felt he had to retract his earlier statement.

What's most annoying about Sano isn't his self-centeredness, but... no, it's that all he does, besides his deduction skills, is...

They're all so annoying!!

……

Beihu Grand Hotel is a hotel not far from Beihu Restaurant.

Due to the negligence of the staff at Beika Hotel, Sera Masumi ended up checking in here, and incidentally, Conan's dinner was also arranged to be held here.

However, on the surface, it was said that Sano treated them to the meal.

At least Sera Masumi knew that Conan should have paid for the meal, even though the few Inspectors present at the time didn't say anything.

Yes, that's the unspoken understanding between adults.

In the bathroom, Sera Masumi had just finished washing her face and was deep in thought.

Make sense.

Sera Masumi did intentionally or unintentionally expose several flaws to Conan in order to test whether this elementary school student was Shinichi Kudo—although even without testing, she already knew in her heart.

But besides that, Sano, who is next to Conan, is someone Sera Masumi should pay even more attention to.

Chapter 536, Sera Masumi: You killed my older brother!?

This is a very perceptive high school detective.

Because she had investigated Sano's background beforehand, Sera Masumi was well aware of this. However, based on today's interaction, her doubts were actually amplified—such a detective with genuine skills, maintaining such a close distance with Conan.

Would they not notice anything?

Judging from Conan's reaction, and how much he trusts Sano, could it be...?

"Dong dong."

Suddenly, there was a knock on the bathroom door.

Sera Masumi turned her head and saw Sano leaning against the door, looking at her.

"...Please, this is the women's restroom. Isn't it a bit inappropriate for you to come in here?"

Sera Masumi pretended to be speechless and grumbled.

Regarding Sera Masumi's gender, she actually had quite a few experiences in her past life that made her aware of her own gender, not to mention that during the investigation after Inspector Megure arrived, she was always referred to as male.

But Sano is different.

In at least one or two instances where Sera Masumi was addressed, Sano used "she" instead of "he," a detail that perhaps went unnoticed by others.

Sera Masumi was unaware of the situation, but she herself had noticed it.

The person in front of me had already realized that she was a woman.

But it still comes down to the same thing.

It's enough that everyone knows what's going on; there's no need to bring everything into the open.

therefore.

Sano's presence here made Sera Masumi feel a little strange.

Is he planning to lay his cards on the table?

Should I accept this showdown, or...?

Should I use some tricks of my own?

However, before Sera Masumi could even finish her thought and reach an answer, Sano suddenly got up and walked completely into the women's restroom, closing and locking the door behind her.

"..."

Sera Masumi snapped back to reality and became alert.

This development seems a little off.

Is this guy some kind of pervert who just happens to like this kind of thing?

Sano didn't look at Sera Masumi; instead, he pushed open the toilet stall doors one by one to make sure that there was no one else in the toilet besides the two of them.

"……what you up to?"

Sano turned around and looked at Sera Masumi, who had crossed her arms and was finally displaying a more feminine gesture. After realizing what she was thinking, a big question mark appeared in his mind.

"You may question my character, but you can't question my aesthetic sense, okay?"

Sano gave a somewhat speechless twitch of the corner of his mouth, but to be honest...

That kind of fear, you could call it fear, right... cough.

After a shiver ran down his spine, Sano continued, "Although I don't care about size in that area, to be honest, you're really not my type. On the contrary, even Sonoko Suzuki is more attractive to me than you."

"what……"

Sera Masumi blinked and gave an awkward smile: "Ha, so what's this...?"

Sano lit a cigarette: "I just wanted to talk to you. I think you wouldn't want your purpose to be overheard by irrelevant people."

"Purpose?"

Sera Masumi feigned ignorance and asked, "What's your purpose?"

"Shinichi Kudo".