Conan: I'm Really Not Tokyo Ghost Story

As long as everyone shares the same stance.

So even if there are seemingly unavoidable conflicts, they can disappear instantly. They can even act together and do things that they shouldn't have done under the original stance, which will become reasonable. The most important thing is that the new stance is very vague. If you have to say it, it is a neutral chaotic camp.

I tried to guess, but I couldn't figure anything out.

As for whether this would still make them seem "inferior" and lower the overall sophistication... Sano was initially a little concerned about this, but he gradually came to understand it, because sophistication is something that exists independently.

Gin has a high-class image, right?

The result was that there was also Rum and BOSS above.

Shuichi Akai isn't bad either.

In the end, he was just a top employee, not even a team leader.

Even taking Sano's own pseudonym as an example, Rye is just an executive.

As long as the "mastermind" behind this fabricated organization doesn't show up.

That way, you definitely won't lose your class.

If those in positions of power don't lose their prestige, it's too easy for those in lower positions to maintain theirs.

...Another rather special factor is that some intentional or unintentional signs have made this step inevitable, even if Sano doesn't take the initiative now.

That would mean being passive in the future, so it's better to take the initiative and be more proactive.

all in all.

That's perfectly reasonable.

...Although the current result seems to have deviated a little bit.

It shouldn't be a big problem.

"In short, you're not a member of that Black Organization, right?"

Shuichi Akai has decided to wrap things up.

...Originally, Shuichi Akai's trip was just to test the waters.

Let's see if we can gain anything.

Of course, Shuichi Akai certainly wouldn't think he could achieve the big results in one go... but because of Conan's straightforward actions, the progress bar was pulled to the bottom all at once... and of course, he didn't think that the matter was over yet.

Of course, for the time being, a temporary conclusion is inevitable.

But that didn't stop Shuichi Akai from giving it one last try before leaving.

"I find it a little strange that you think I'm part of that organization."

Sano did not show any abnormality as Akai Shuichi had hoped, nor did he end the topic directly as Akai had wished. Instead, he said, "Even if you are not like Conan and do not particularly trust me, what reason do you have to doubt me? I am neither like those suspects, whose eyes are red, nor am I like them, who are all black."

"...Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist."

Shuichi Akai first answered Sano's first point, and then moved on to the second point...

"As for whether or not you are surnamed Hei, haven't you already answered that question yourself?"

Conan, who was standing next to him, nodded in agreement.

...Sano used his own already refuted statement, especially one that he himself had refuted, as a reason, and Conan didn't find it strange at all.

Because Sano has always been like this.

In all verbal disputes, the key is to "win".

Regardless of whether Sano agrees with what he says, as long as it's plausible.

Then this guy will be able to say it.

However, it is just fallacy. As long as the person is clear-headed and articulate, it is not particularly difficult to refute Sano.

At least Shuichi Akai has this level of skill.

Sano responded to this by saying...

"But even if it can't be proven that I'm not a member of that organization, that doesn't mean it can be proven that I might be a member of that organization... After all, the principle of 'innocent until proven guilty' and 'whoever makes the accusation must prove it'—do I need to explain that?"

“You’re right, that’s why we can sit here so quietly, isn’t it?”

Since Sano refused to give him a way out, Shuichi Akai decided to stick to his guns.

However... Conan gave Shuichi Akai a pitying look.

Perhaps it's true that Shuichi Akai could refute Sano's two or three points.

But after considering my own skill level and past experience, I realized...

Conan felt certain that the final outcome was already predetermined.

"Alright, let's have a proper discussion then."

Sano clapped his hands: "According to your logic, no matter how you look at it now, I can only make sense on the surface. So, following this line of thought... I think you should also say something to defend yourself?"

"……I?"

Shuichi Akai tilted his head, slightly confused: "What's wrong with me?"

Sano smiled and said, "You suspect that I am a member of that organization without any evidence. The only reason you have is that you think I am involved with two or three of them. You don't even believe anything I say. Since that's the case, it should be okay for me to suspect you for the same reason, right?"

Shuichi Akai was taken aback: "...Who am I involved with?"

"Do you think I wouldn't know about your relationship with Black Fox?"

As soon as Sano said this, Shuichi Akai immediately realized what was going on, but before he could explain...

Sano then said, "I can even put this guy aside now and just say that I... According to what you said, I might be a member of that organization. So if I really am a member of that organization, and you know me, can I also think that you are actually one of my people?"

"This……"

Shuichi Akai didn't immediately understand.

"Okay, let's put you aside for now. If I were a member of that organization, following the same logic, could Conan be on my side? And if you two could be members of that organization, then Ran Mouri, Sonoko Suzuki, those elementary school students, and everyone else you know, could they all be members of that organization?"

"In other words, could all the people you know, and all the people they know, also be members of that organization? And could their social circles intersect and expand, so could all of Japan, or even all of the people on Earth, be members of that organization?"

"..."

Shuichi Akai stared blankly at Sano's mouth, which kept opening and closing.

The bullets came out like a machine gun, so fast they were overwhelming.

Before we can even process the previous point, the next one arrives.

They didn't even have a chance to think about the flaws, let alone consider a counterattack.

In the end, it became so confusing that you couldn't hear anything the guy was saying.

All you can see is a mouth moving.

When Conan saw this, he gave a deadpan look... just as expected.

...a complete and utter defeat.

This was expected.

……

It wasn't until Shuichi Akai left the Sano residence and stood outside the door, when the incessant chatter finally disappeared from his ears, that he gradually came to his senses.

After taking a deep breath, Shuichi Akai felt a slight urge to cry.

...This is the first time I've felt that the world is so beautiful, quiet, and vast.

The air was so fresh and comforting.

"It's so good to be alive..."

Seeing Shuichi Akai's remark, Conan couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"I warned you long ago that you shouldn't mess with Sano, but you still insisted on going against him."

Shuichi Akai rolled his eyes and said helplessly, "...That's because you're too direct. How can it work if you don't go to extremes?"

...The shadow of last night seems to have fallen on Shuichi Akai's mind again.

Actually, Conan is one of them.

Not to mention the whole bunch of stuff that came up later, even the original goal, Yoshino, slipped through their fingers, and they got nothing.

It's fine if we get nothing.

After all, judging from last night's situation, everything happened too suddenly, with one side in the light and the other in the dark. Conan and his companion were in a very passive state, and the Black Rye and Black Cat side gained the upper hand. It would be strange if they could turn the tide.

Most importantly, it's that frustrating feeling of not being able to do anything.

Conan went through countless hardships and racked his brains to find the truth, but apart from the initial kick that temporarily saved Waltz's life, he was just a bystander throughout the rest of the story. He watched Yoshino being taken away, watched that group of people being killed, and watched Ran Mouri being in danger but was powerless to help. He only found out at the very end.

Even the waltz is dead.

Shuichi Akai was even more upset.

Having finally discovered the truth, he wanted to go and save the people while also avenging his sister.

The results of it.

He was pinned down by a gun the whole time, unable to even peek out; he wasn't even as good as Conan.

Especially as an FBI ace investigator and top sniper, even if Shuichi Akai thinks Conan is not simple and is willing to look at him with more respect, he will still subconsciously place himself in a higher position in his heart.

This does not mean that Shuichi Akai thinks he is superior to Conan.

However, as a mature man, Shuichi Akai felt that he should bear more responsibility... In other words, he should feel more guilty about this failure.

all in all.

Both of them were deeply frustrated, which is why they were so eager to "atone for their crimes."

"By the way, why do you trust him so much?"

Faced with Shuichi Akai's question, Conan replied matter-of-factly, "Because it's obvious he couldn't be a bad guy. Otherwise, how could he not make a sound knowing such a secret as mine... A drug that can shrink a person, even if it's not the Black Organization, would be a very valuable resource for other organizations... To be honest, I think the FBI and the Japanese government would be the same."

"So, you trust me a lot?"

Conan looked at Shuichi Akai, blinked, and nodded.

...Rarely, Conan revealed a bit of his true feelings after shrinking.