Chapter 29: Two Beauties, Won Over
"I..."
"Smack!"
Before Yoko could get another word out, a second slap cut off every excuse she had left.
"Your original plan was to have Kogoro treat Fujie Akiyoshi like some crazed sasaeng fan and scare him off with a warning."
"But you never imagined in a million years that the man would love you so obsessively he'd throw his own life away just to get back at your coldness."
Makoto gently wiped away the tear tracks at the corner of her eye, his voice soft. "Cheap little tricks like that will never get you anywhere big."
"Thud!"
This nationally beloved idol suddenly dropped to her knees.
Like a devoted wife kneeling at the door to welcome her husband home.
Hands pressed flat to the floor, forehead resting against them, the very picture of submission.
"Higashino-san, I'm just a girl. I don't want to do anything big—just a small thing."
"Like... serving you, sir!"
This man was far too clever.
Clever enough to strip away every last one of her secrets, leaving nowhere to hide.
As a nationally beloved idol, if her image ever shattered, every bit of her glow would crumble to nothing overnight.
"Yoko-san, you're a top idol."
"Kneeling in front of me, begging an ordinary high schooler—doesn't that embarrass you?"
Makoto asked with a smile.
"Higashino-san, are you really an ordinary high schooler?"
She looked up, a charming smile on her lips.
At the age of a high schooler, he could already afford a Ferrari, and owned a place of his own in a luxury apartment complex in Roppongi.
What kind of staggering family background did that take?
His family's assets were probably worth at least ten billion yen, maybe even over a hundred billion.
And on top of that, the man in front of her, whether in height and looks or in intelligence and wit, stood head and shoulders above ordinary people.
Being with a man like this, Yoko didn't feel like she was losing out at all—if anything, she felt like she'd hit the jackpot.
"Click click click..."
Just then, the sound of a camera shutter came from not far away.
"Ha ha ha..."
"Yoko, I've finally caught you red-handed."
"With these photos and videos, you're finished—completely finished!"
A stunning woman with long golden hair held up her phone, laughing triumphantly.
"Y-Yuko-san?"
Yoko's face went pale.
That woman was her fellow idol and rival in the industry—Ikezawa Yuko!
Just recently, Yoko had snatched a leading TV role right out from under her, and word was it had left Yuko seething.
"You're the one who's finished!"
Makoto pulled Yoko up to her feet.
Being the delicate, frail idol that she was, just those few minutes on her knees left her wobbling on her feet, and she leaned against his chest.
"What did you say?"
Yuko frowned, unable to make sense of it.
"The one who's been stalking Yoko-san this whole time, secretly photographing her movements, even sneaking into her home to move the furniture, and calling her with all those strange calls—"
"That's you, isn't it, Ikezawa Yuko-san?"
Makoto sized up the woman across from him.
Her personality left something to be desired, her temper a bit worse still.
But her looks and her figure were both impeccable, no complaints there.
Only, unlike the girl-next-door charm of Okino Yoko, Ikezawa Yuko carried a more sultry, striking beauty.
Since she'd delivered herself right to his doorstep, there was no reason for him to turn her away.
Only...
Makoto rubbed at his own lower back.
Rough road ahead, buddy!
"Wh-what are you talking about?"
"Do you have any proof? Watch it, or I'll sue you for slander!"
Yuko shot back, though her voice lacked conviction.
"Aren't the photos in your own hand the proof right there?"
"And if I have the police investigate, it'll take them two days at most to find every fingerprint you left behind in Yoko's apartment."
"At that point, it'll be between you and the police—not something I have any say over."
Makoto smiled, a reckless kind of satisfaction washing over him.
With his deep knowledge of the Detective Conan storyline, he moved through this world like a fish in water—it was fucking satisfying.
"T-this..."
"Gulp!"
Yuko's eyes went wide, her face visibly paling.
If the police found out, if this ended up in the news, in court...
Even if she managed to bring down Yoko, she still wouldn't get her chance.
Worse, she'd lose every scrap of the fame and status she currently had, and end up just an ordinary woman.
And on top of that, she might even end up in prison!
"T-that..."
"H-Higashino-san, I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean it that way."
"Actually, I..."
Yuko forced an ingratiating smile, trying to explain herself.
But in her panic, the words kept coming out in a stammer, fear gripping her completely.
As a star, an idol, the one thing she feared most was scandal!
An ordinary scandal could still be explained away, but if she got arrested by the police for actual criminal conduct—
Then no explanation in the world would help her!
"It's not convenient talking here. Let's go upstairs."
"Both of you, come along."
"Don't worry, my place is plenty big."
Makoto waved a hand and led the two female stars into the elevator.
The door opened, and the lights switched on.
Both girls gasped in astonishment at the same moment.
It was... huge!
A living room with a ceiling seven or eight meters high, a crystal chandelier cascading down like a waterfall.
Massive floor-to-ceiling windows took in the entire Tokyo night skyline.
Next to this mansion, Yoko's own apartment might as well have been a slum.
Not to mention this place was a duplex mansion, two full floors, a full 800 square meters.
"Higashino-san!"
Yoko's heart softened, growing more and more convinced her choice had been the right one.
Beside her, Yuko's eyes lit up even brighter.
Every last bit of resentment and reluctance in her heart transformed into wild, giddy delight, as thrilling as hitting the jackpot on a lottery ticket.
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Sasaeng Fan — Korean fan-culture slang (사생, sasaeng) for an obsessive fan who stalks a celebrity's private life — tracking their schedule, breaking into their home, or showing up uninvited.
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Higashino Makoto — Protagonist. Transmigrated.
Ikezawa Yuko — Idol. Series: Detective Conan.
Okino Yoko — Idol. Series: Detective Conan.
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Translated by CheapBiscuit.
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