The rhythmic melody of lust echoed from the morning until the afternoon.
Only when the high sun began its westward descent did Yuu Hoshimiya finally cease his motions.
On the sofa in the living room of Jodie Starling's apartment, Yuu held her close, a satisfied smile playing across his lips.
It had to be said—this Western mare really knew how to take a pounding.
Coupled with the fact that Jodie was a trained agent, her physical endurance was surprisingly impressive.
Despite it being her first time, she had managed to endure the battle with him until now.
But this was her limit.
The blonde, busty, and glamorous beauty from across the ocean was now as docile as a kitten, lying in his arms and gasping for breath in small, weak spurts.
The entire apartment was a wreck: the coffee table was crooked, chairs were overturned, the TV had almost been knocked off its stand, and the dining table had collapsed.
The battlefield had swept through the entire place, proving just how fierce the war of the flesh had been.
At this moment, the beautiful FBI agent was completely drained of strength, lacking even a spark of her earlier frenzy.
Yuu Hoshimiya lifted Jodie's body, letting her press her soft breasts against his chest as he stroked her back, quietly activating his healing magic.
A surging, numbing energy flowed into Jodie's body, repairing all the internal strain and soreness.
Of course, he did this in secret.
As Yuu had predicted, to reach a formal contract with Jodie, he would have to help her capture Vermouth.
That was her one and only wish.
He couldn't do it right now, but that didn't mean there wouldn't be an opportunity later.
After all, Jodie only wanted to arrest Vermouth, not necessarily see her dead.
If he could catch her, he could naturally let her go...
Or rather, after the arrest, if the FBI were incompetent and let her escape, that wouldn't be his problem.
However, the specifics of how and when to execute this plan required careful consideration.
Jodie finally regained enough strength to open her eyes, her gaze filled with absolute tenderness toward Yuu.
During nearly four hours of intense combat, she had been thoroughly conquered by him.
As for the image of Shuichi Akai in her mind, it had long since been pounded into non-existence by Yuu's relentless thrusts.
Looking at the face so close to her own, Jodie couldn't resist leaning in to offer a sweet kiss.
She rested her head against Yuu's, closed her eyes, and quickly drifted into a deep sleep.
Physical recovery couldn't compensate for her mental exhaustion; this battle had been more stimulating than anything she had ever experienced.
Before long, Yuu heard the soft sound of her steady breathing.
He gently picked up her supple body and carried her to the bedroom, tucking her under the covers.
He gave her pale cheek a light kiss before turning to leave.
It wasn't that he didn't want to stay with her, but he had other arrangements to make personally.
As he left the building, he saw a police car driving away.
He asked the apartment manager, who was watching the commotion, and learned there had been a murder that was just solved.
Yuu recalled the incident—there was indeed such an occurrence in the original story.
But even without his memory, he knew that whenever Conan and Heiji were together, something was bound to go wrong.
Back home, Yuu immediately had Noah contact Hitomi Kujo.
The FBI agent was essentially taken care of; now it was time for the CIA.
The organization was becoming increasingly active in Japan lately, with assassinations and deals happening constantly.
If he didn't reach Rena Mizunashi while the FBI was distracted by Vermouth, it would be much more troublesome later.
Moreover, if he delayed too long, the convergence of destiny might force the original tragic plot to play out again.
Since joining the organization, Hitomi Kujo had been staying by Rena Mizunashi's side, and the two were on good terms.
Knowing that Yuu intended to help Rena, Hitomi was incredibly excited.
Through her mediation, the three of them agreed to have dinner together that evening.
Yuu had been on TV a few times with the police, so Rena, a reporter for Nichimori TV, had met him before.
Combined with Hitomi's relationship and their shared status as organization executives, they were technically acquaintances.
Yuu gathered some intel on Eisuke Hondou, showered, changed his clothes, and drove to Rena's apartment.
Soon, the car arrived at an apartment building in Haido Town.
Yuu took the stairs to Room 306 and rang the bell.
The door opened, and Hitomi Kujo rushed out, her small face radiant with a bright smile.
"Yuu! You're finally here! I've been waiting so long for you!"
She was wearing a light white skirt and a pale green top, looking very youthful and cute with a matching hair accessory.
She grabbed Yuu's arm, her small breasts pressing against him as she pulled him into the apartment.
Standing nearby, Rena Mizunashi watched Hitomi's display with surprise, though she kept her expression neutral.
She knew about the relationship between Yuu and Hitomi, and that it was the reason they both joined the organization.
Furthermore, through her own investigations, she was well aware of Yuu's philandering reputation.
Seeing Hitomi act so warmly and without a care made her—as a woman and a beauty with no shortage of pursuers—feel quite intrigued and puzzled.
Rena looked at the handsome youth and wondered if this meeting was actually just an excuse Yuu had made up.
Was his real target actually her?
Rena was confident in her own charm.
In her eyes, Yuu's womanizing was legendary, so it would be natural for him to have designs on her.
She had thought about it for a long time but couldn't imagine what "important matter" Hitomi was referring to.
Before today, she and Yuu had almost no interaction at all.
Yuu didn't know the CIA agent had thought so much in such a short time; if he did, he would have praised her.
Rena was actually half right.
His main goal was indeed her person, but the "important matter" was also very real and not an excuse.
"Alright, Hitomi. Let's go inside first."
After being affectionate with Hitomi for a moment, Yuu walked into the apartment with his arm around her.
"Miss Mizunashi, good evening."
"Good evening, Mr. Hoshimiya."
As they greeted each other, Yuu took the opportunity to observe Rena.
Since they were in her home, she wasn't wearing her sharp OL suit and black stockings; she had opted for comfortable loungewear instead.
Her hair was in a large braid, and her white T-shirt was stretched tight over her impressive chest.
Her light yellow shorts only covered half of her thighs, putting her long, pale, and beautiful legs on full display.
Even in casual clothes, her figure was incredibly hot.
Yuu's gaze lingered on her body for a long moment before he looked away.
Rena noticed this immediately, a slight curve touching her lips as she became even more certain of her theory.
However, she didn't feel much disgust.
One reason was that she already knew Yuu's personality, and the other was simply because the man looking at her was so handsome and sunny.
Humans are visual creatures; Rena was no exception. Generally, people don't feel displeased when appreciated by an attractive member of the opposite sex.
"Please, have a seat, Mr. Hoshimiya. Dinner is almost ready."
Once in the living room, Hitomi let go of Yuu's arm and sat him down.
"Excuse us for a moment, Yuu."
Rena added a word, and the two women headed into the kitchen to finish up.
Anyone with cooking experience knows that the actual frying doesn't take long.
The real work is the prep—shopping, washing, and cutting.
Hitomi and Rena had done all of that before Yuu arrived, so dinner was served very quickly.
Although he wanted to get straight to the point and reach a deal with Rena, he didn't mind waiting for a meal.
In fact, using the dinner to build a rapport would likely make the following negotiation go much smoother.
The three sat at the dining table. Yuu was in the middle, while Hitomi and Rena sat opposite each other.
They chatted casually as they ate.
During the meal, Rena and Hitomi mentioned that Rena had recently discovered she had a stalker.
Yuu recalled the plot. Before Conan began to suspect her, this actually happened.
He remembered it was just a prank by a young boy.
The reason was that Rena looked exactly like the boy's deceased mother, so he kept ringing her bell just to see her.
However, to be safe, Yuu decided to ask for more details.
"Miss Mizunashi, when did this stalking start?"
Rena wrinkled her nose in annoyance. "About three weeks ago. It always happens on Saturday mornings around six o'clock."
"Someone rings my doorbell, but when I open it, the hallway is completely empty."
"Mr. Hoshimiya, you know how long my hallway is. There's no way someone could run out of sight in the time it takes to open the door. And yet, I never catch anyone."
Yuu nodded and put down his chopsticks, leaning slightly toward her to show he was listening.
Rena continued, "Yesterday morning was Saturday, and I heard the bell again. But when I opened the door, I found a bottle of medicine on the floor."
"I took it to a doctor I know, and they told me it was sleeping pills."
Hitomi interjected indignantly, "It must be some perverted stalker planning to do something to Rena! He's so bold he's practically announcing his intentions!"
"He probably wants to drug her and do something disgusting! It's hateful!"
"If Rena hadn't stopped me, I would have called the police already!"
Yuu looked at Rena. "Miss Mizunashi, were there any other odd occurrences? Even the smallest detail might help."
Rena tilted her head in thought.
After a long pause, she said, "Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, I have to be at the station before seven to broadcast the morning news."
"Last week I was abroad for an interview and didn't get back until Friday. I didn't hear the bell the next morning."
"And just the night before last, when I was getting ready for bed after my shower, the apartment next door—which has been empty for six months—suddenly had lights on and a silhouette moving inside."
"I was too scared to sleep. Later I heard a noise, and when I opened my door, I saw a figure running away."
"Also... I don't know if it's my imagination, but I keep feeling like I'm being followed when I drive to work. Even at the station, I feel an uncomfortable gaze on me."
Rena laid out all the anomalies she had experienced lately.
Everything was exactly as Yuu remembered; nothing had deviated from his expectations.
Yuu furrowed his brow as if in deep thought, while he was actually planning how to reveal the truth to her.
It would be a small display of his ability to gain her trust and goodwill, making his later words more credible.
Seeing them both stop eating, Hitomi quickly said, "Yuu, Rena, let's talk while we eat! We can't let this hard-earned food go to waste!"
The atmosphere relaxed as they continued their meal.
A while later, Hitomi looked at Yuu and asked, "Yuu, what should we do next?"
Yuu replied, "It sounds like a stalker, but we need to investigate."
"First, I'll call the building management to see if the room next door was rented out or lent to someone."
Rena went to the living room, kneeling on the floor and bending over to search the coffee table cabinets for the management's number.
The posture was incredibly provocative—her perky butt, wrapped in those tight shorts, was pointed directly at Yuu. She even seemed to slow down her movements, as if intentionally enticing him!
Yuu's gaze grew increasingly heated.
Rena soon found the business card and handed it to Yuu.
Her face was tinged with pink, and her eyes sparkled; she had clearly noticed his intense stare.
Yuu didn't bother to hide it; the deal he was about to propose was much more "excessive" than a look.
He placed the call to management without saying anything else.
Perhaps due to Yuu's commanding aura, the manager was very cooperative.
By the time Rena returned from her room after changing her clothes, the call was over.
For the "investigation," she had swapped her loungewear for a pair of blue jeans and a light white T-shirt, looking very refreshed.
Hitomi immediately relayed the information: "Rena, we figured out the neighbor situation."
"The manager said the room next door has been used by the police for a stakeout since last week. They finished their surveillance just the day before yesterday. The person you saw was likely just an officer leaving!"
"Really?"
Rena looked delighted, but then her brow furrowed again.
"But the police wouldn't be bored enough to ring my bell every Saturday morning. Or leave medicine to scare me."
Yuu glanced at the pile of books and papers on the coffee table. "Rena, why do you have so many books here?"
Rena blinked. "Because of my job. I need to research my interview subjects, so I buy and print a lot of material."
"But most of it is one-time use. Once the interview is over, I bundle them up and throw them away."
"Why do you ask, Yuu?"
Yuu smiled. "I recall the recycling day for this building is Saturday. Do you always throw them out then?"
Rena nodded. "Yes. I'm afraid of forgetting, so I bundle them up on Friday night and leave them by the door to be taken out the next morning."
Yuu snapped his fingers. "Then that explains it."
Rena and Hitomi looked confused. Hitomi asked, "You mean the books and the doorbell are related? How?"
Yuu gave her a playful tap on the head.
"Of course they are. Because your 'stalker' was hiding behind those bundles of books. That's why Rena never saw anyone in the hallway."
Rena looked skeptical. "Yuu... those bundles aren't very tall. A stalker couldn't possibly hide behind them."
Yuu chuckled. "An adult couldn't. But a kid playing a prank certainly could."
"I asked the manager about owners in this building with children. Come on, Miss Mizunashi. Let's go pay them a visit and see if my theory is correct!"
Since they were done with dinner, the two women followed Yuu out of the apartment and headed upstairs.
There were many families with children, but Yuu knew exactly where he was going.
He led them straight to Room 424—the Sakaguchi residence.
Yuu rang the bell, and the door opened to reveal a young boy with a face full of freckles.
The moment the boy saw Rena Mizunashi, he panicked and tried to slam the door shut.
Yuu's large hand blocked the door and pulled it open. He grabbed the brat by the collar and marched him straight into the apartment.
Rena cried out in alarm, "Yuu! What are you doing? You can't just barge into someone's home!"
Yuu replied, "Don't worry. No one else is home."
Rena froze. Is that the point?!
Left with no choice, Rena and Hitomi followed him inside.
They soon reached the living room. Yuu tossed the boy onto the sofa as the three adults scanned the room.
On a cabinet sat a funeral photograph of a woman. Her eyes and features bore a striking resemblance to Rena Mizunashi.
Rena was visibly shocked by the photo.
Yuu went straight to the point: "Kid, are you the one who sneaks down to Room 304 every Saturday morning to ring the bell?"
The boy's eyes darted around as he lowered his head, not daring to look at them.
The three adults understood immediately.
Yuu added, "If you don't talk, I'm helping Rena move out today and she'll never live here again!"
"No!" the freckled boy cried out. He bit his lip before finally confessing.
"I... I was the one who rang the bell."
Rena knelt down and asked gently, "Why would you do that, child?"
Yuu spoke for him: "I suspect he's a big fan of yours. He knows you have the morning news on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays."
"He must have seen you running late once, so he wanted to ring the bell to make sure you woke up on time."
Hitomi realized the truth. "Since he's a student, he only has time on the weekend. That's why he could only do it on Saturday morning, and then hide behind the recycling bundles."
Rena asked again, "Tell me, did you hide behind the papers after ringing the bell?"
The boy, Yuta Sakaguchi, nodded as his eyes filled with tears.
"Because you look just like my mommy! I wanted to see you on the TV, so I went to wake you up in the morning!"
"What about the sleeping pills?"
"I heard you say on TV that you couldn't sleep well. Mommy always told me that medicine makes you sleep great, so I brought some for you."
Hitomi couldn't help but laugh.
"So the 'stalker' was just a kid after all. But you shouldn't play pranks like that anymore. Where's your mother? I need to have a word with her."
Yuta's head dropped sadly at her question.
Yuu pulled Hitomi back slightly and tilted his head toward the cabinet.
Hitomi finally saw the funeral photo and realized she had stuck her foot in her mouth.
Rena knelt down and gently stroked the boy's head, her voice incredibly tender.
"Child, I am not your mother. You mustn't do this anymore; it causes me a lot of trouble."
"You can watch me on TV from now on. I promise you, I won't be late ever again."
Hearing this, the boy gave a heavy nod. "Mmm!"
Though he was still crying, a smile broke across his face as he thought of his mother.