Tokyo Station.
Kurosawa Hoshino looked at Hattori Heiji, who was carrying a backpack and wearing a cap. "Aren't you going to stay a few more days?"
Truth be told, he'd gained a lot over the past two days. His Origin Points had suddenly jumped to eighteen—only two more to go.
Hattori Heiji and Conan, those two walking grim reapers, guaranteed at least two cases a day. He really didn't want them to leave.
"No, I'm done. I won't be coming to Tokyo again for a while." Hattori Heiji's gaze at Kurosawa Hoshino was complicated.
The events of the past two days had hit him hard.
They'd also shown him what a true genius looked like—or rather, that "genius" was just the starting line. He'd had no sense of participation in the cases they'd encountered. It was as if he'd swapped roles with the police officers he'd watched solve cases in the past.
He'd become the officer. Kurosawa Hoshino had become him. All he could do was watch blankly as Kurosawa solved cases, completely unable to help.
"Come on, Tokyo's still plenty fun. Come back again," Kurosawa urged.
Hattori waved a hand and pointed at Conan. "Goodbye, Kurosawa. I want to chat with this kid."
"Alright. I won't see you off." Kurosawa nodded and turned to leave.
Hattori watched his retreating figure, then said to Conan, "Kudo, do you think he's figured out your identity?"
"..." Conan stared with dead fish eyes. "You've seen the past two days. How could he have figured it out? I'd have to do something suspicious first."
For Kurosawa to discover his identity, he'd have to be caught acting in ways a child shouldn't—like searching crime scenes for clues. But every time a case came up, Kurosawa solved it before Conan could even finish looking for evidence. How could he possibly be suspicious?
The two cases he'd helped Kogorō solve before had happened while Kurosawa was out with Ran and the others. Even less chance of exposure.
"Uh... yeah." Hattori crouched down and patted his shoulder. "Kudo, you've had it rough. Facing a monster like that, you can't even win a single case. Anyway, I'm heading back to Osaka to keep improving. When I feel stronger, I'll challenge him."
Conan envied him sincerely. "You actually can improve. I can't even solve cases right now, let alone get better."
"Haha, how about this—transfer to Osaka?"
Conan was tempted. He was really starting to feel the strain of not solving cases. But he thought about his current body, the Black Organization, and Ran. He shook his head. "No. I have to stay in Tokyo. There are things I need to take care of."
"Suit yourself. Well, I'm off. Come visit Osaka sometime." Hattori turned, waved casually, and walked into the station.
Conan stood still, waiting until Hattori disappeared into the crowd before turning to leave.
Outside the station, Kurosawa Hoshino stepped out. He didn't even look at Sonoko and Ran, assuming they'd already left.
Slap.
Someone tapped his shoulder. He turned to find Ran and Sonoko grinning widely.
"Hehe, did you think we were gone?" Sonoko looked triumphant.
Ran added, "Hoshino, your awareness is slipping. We were hiding in plain sight, and you didn't even notice us."
Kurosawa chuckled. "There were too many people blocking my view. Of course I couldn't see you. By the way, why didn't you go see Hattori off?"
"Eh, you're both high school detectives. Shouldn't you have that whole mutual respect thing going? A farewell like that is for the two of you. We'd just feel like third wheels."
Sonoko's words clearly came from some novel or TV drama.
Ran reminded her, "Sonoko, Hattori didn't solve a single case these past two days. He wasn't any help at all."
"Oh, right." Sonoko smiled sheepishly. "Looks like Hattori's not up to par. He can't make Hoshino develop those kinds of feelings. What did Hoshino say before? Right—Hattori's just too incompetent. He couldn't satisfy Lord Hoshino."
"Oh, you're teasing me." Ran immediately tickled her best friend.
The words were exactly what Kurosawa had said to Ran when they played cards last time—Sonoko had just swapped the names.
After a moment of fooling around, Kurosawa saw Conan come out. "Hattori's gone?"
"Yeah. Heiji-nii is gone." Conan was still nervous, afraid Kurosawa might notice something off about him and Hattori, then suspect he was abnormal. But thankfully, Kurosawa only asked one question and said nothing more.
"Ran, Sonoko—shopping or heading back?" Kurosawa asked.
"Let's go back." Ran said. "We have school tomorrow. I want to go home and study."
"School, huh?" Kurosawa stretched his back. Honestly, after playing for so many days, he'd forgotten he was still a student. He'd thought they could keep having fun, but tomorrow turned out to be a school day.
Meanwhile, at Professor Agasa's house, Haibara frowned at the kind smile on his face. "Professor, you want me to go to school?"
"Yes, Haibara." Professor Agasa nodded. "You're a child now. Of course you have to go to school. Otherwise, if you stay home all the time, the neighbors will get suspicious."
"Don't worry. I rarely go out. No one around me will notice."
"No, Haibara. Going out and meeting new friends is good for your mental and physical health. Don't worry—you and Shinichi go to the same school. He'll help you fit in."
Haibara frowned, already imagining herself playing with a group of first-graders. The thought made her deeply uncomfortable.
But seeing Professor Agasa's easygoing demeanor paired with an unyielding aura, she knew she had no choice.
After a moment, she nodded. "Fine. I'll go to school. But Professor, you can't stop me from doing experiments."
"No problem. And if you make new friends who invite you out, I won't stop you either."
"I won't befriend some childish first-graders," Haibara said flatly.
Professor Agasa nodded, smiling without a word.
He'd seen this before. Shinichi had said the exact same thing. In the end, he'd made friends with a bunch of kids and often brought them here to play. He practically treated those kids like his own grandchildren.